What does the future of tech look like? Well, the answer may differ depending on who you ask.
ZDNET recently conducted and released a review of some of the industry’s top research firms, who each weighed in on the topic. From Forrester and Gartner to CSS Insight, the outlook is both optimistic and cautious – with each firm laying out its own set of predictions. We’ll delve into the most pertinent ones below.
So, what’s next?
A large consensus among the companies reviewed, including Gartner and IDC, experts believe that the next calendar year will prove pivotal to the widespread adoption and use of new IT systems. Many recognize a growing need among major businesses to embrace the cloud and upgrade their infrastructure for efficient data and automation. However, the same experts warn that the majority of businesses will fail to achieve optimal value from their investments if key skills shortages prevent successful implementation.
Gartner’s assessment reveals that an estimated 65% of businesses will be unable to fully benefit from their cloud, data, and automation investments in the next four years as a result of critical skills creation and training gaps. A lack of understanding of cloud certifications, security and privacy, coupled with a shortage of qualified professionals in emerging technologies such as AI, automation, and machine learning leave businesses dangerously exposed.
Forrester also makes a point of addressing the evolving tech landscape and its future implications by positing the issue as a key challenge to CX teams’ ability to thrive in the coming years. It predicts a talent crunch in which executives are forced to seek out new sources of candidates, and where employees are monitored in an increasingly stringent way.
The prediction comes with a warning for companies; that overzealousness in monitoring of employees, as well as forcing them back into offices, could prove disastrous for overall productivity and morale.
While Forrester highlights the negative, CSS Insight specifically anticipates tangible changes to the way modern companies are run in this respect. It sees a coming surge in investments into products and solutions that enhance the employee experience both inside and outside of the office. In one interesting prediction, the research firm says enterprise collaboration tools will be able to create ‘immersive spaces’ that simulate the on-site experience for business professionals by 2024. It also anticipates an uptick in demand for software that reads and tracks the link between employee and customer experience by 2023.
As for the metaverse, experts are split on the direction in which it’s headed. Forrester sees the new domain falling short of ‘capturing the public’s imagination’, while CSS Insights believes the blockchain will have a major role in the future of technology. The latter makes a number of interesting predictions in this regard, including a ‘blockchain of you’ that lets developers build digital twins of people to support personalized services by 2028 and Meta’s launch of a virtual reality headset controlled by an inbuilt neural sensor by 2025.
Let’s not forget about the environment
One overarching theme that practically everyone can agree on from the review is the issue of sustainability.
According to Gartner and CSS Insights to Forrester and beyond, the future will – and in all senses, needs to be – environmentally cognizant. Gartner’s 2022 CEO and Senior Business Executive Survey positions environmental sustainability as a main driver of at least 80% of CEOs who invest in new products in 2022/23. IDC also says that investments in sustainability will be the focus of many companies by 2025.
Forrester goes a step further in anticipating a future where ‘greenwashing becomes a serious business risk’ and stresses the importance of businesses making substantial and tangible efforts on sustainability.
The takeaway? The future of tech is all but certain. But what is certain, is that IT leaders and organizations must be prepared to invest in the right technologies and training if they are to remain competitive during this formative time.
