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Scotland's dominant industries are failing to prepare for an era of profound disruption, technology experts have warned.

Accountants Grant Thornton and transformation consultancy This Is Milk, which recently organised a debate on the subject, are calling for greater collaboration between political and business leaders to prepare for the forthcoming changes.

They are predicting a “decade of disruption” as machine learning, artificial intelligence and automation overtake service and people-based roles.

Angela Prentner-Smith, founder and managing director of This Is Milk, said firms such as Uber and AirBnB are only “part of the story”.

“The pace of technological change is now so rapid that all businesses will face some disruption,” she explained.

“Increasing automation and artificial intelligence poses a significant threat to jobs, but only if businesses and politicians ignore the change that is coming. By embracing new technology and using it to empower our business strategies, there's an opportunity to develop a completely new, sustainable economy that benefits us all.”

Her firm and Grant Thornton are urging increased investment in digital readiness as thousands of traditional careers will be made redundant, with a shortage of skills in new tech-focused roles. They want the debate over Scotland's economic prospects to have less focus on politics, where Brexit and a potential second independence referendum dominate the agenda.

Stuart Mackay, technology consultant at Grant Thornton, said the rate of technological development in the next 10 years is expected to outpace that of the last century.

“The decisions and actions we take as a country over the next few years will be crucial,” Mackay said. “We will need to focus on ensuring digital infrastructure is future-proofed, our students are up-skilled and ready to play leading roles in new industries, and our wider economy is proactive about taking on the challenge of the disruption era.”