We’ve got a roundup of some of the expected business technology trends for the year ahead. We believe it is important to be informed of the skills and products your business should be looking out for. We also just think gadgets are cool!
It would seem that a lot of the technology trends are going to be driven by the rise in hybrid/work from home and sustainability.
Hybrid Working
As the shift into workplaces away from the traditional office continues we can expect an increase in the use of portable computers. These include smart monitors (PC’s that don’t need a pc unit to run) and 2 in 1 laptops which are both a computer and a tablet. Employees working remotely will encourage advances in software that can analyse training needs for new members of staff and guidance videos and product walkthroughs. We should also see advances in webcam quality and other connecting software as we become more reliant on them.
Sustainability
The drive in sustainability will mean more repair and reuse of devices and new ones being made of more recycled materials. There will also be a focus on how we can transform ever increasing data centres and the CO2 emissions they create which includes “green power, water reclamation, zero water cooling systems, recycling and waste management, and more”.
VR and AR
VR and AR has been trending for a while and looks set to continue to do so as it becomes more integrated into our lives. The areas of particular growth expected in AR include online shopping especially virtual fashion. VR is proving useful for researchers and in medical professionsand is no longer considered just for entertainment.
VR/AR gadgets are expected from Apple who are allegedly launching a VR/AR headset this year and HTC VIVE Flow VR glassesare now available which can stream digital content, be used for some gaming and even mindfulness meditations.
AI (Artificial Intelligence)
AI will increase in use in marketing as analysis of customer behaviour in real time allows for the creation of ever more personalised campaigns. Robotic Process Automation (RPA), which is the use of software to automate business processes such as replying to emails and processing transactions is becoming increasingly popular as these types of systems provide cheaper and improved customer service.
AI will also assist in language translation and be used in the fight against cyber attacks by being able to identify new threats and create alerts once detected.