You need to know now about coming innovations in bandwidth speed, AI/analytics, interoperability, cryptocurrency, and more.
You don’t need a crystal ball to gaze into your organization’s digital future, but you do need to know what capabilities are out there, what trends are growing, and what technologies your employees will need and want. Take time to learn about the hot technology for 2020 and what innovations will increase productivity, simplify data collection and analysis, and improve employee engagement and job satisfaction.
Technology evolves and changes daily. However, here are a few key trends experts predict for 2020:
- 5G network. If you haven’t begun using 5G wi-fi, you may want to put this high on your list for the coming year. This increased bandwidth will provide lightning-fast internet speed with an easier setup. It will make communication faster, better, and simpler than ever; and, increasingly, millennials and other employees will expect this.
- Prescriptive analytics, which helps determine the best course of action for a given situation, will enable historical data to be better organized and presented. At the same time, it will provide a better, more accurate understanding of changes that have happened and what these predict for the future. In general, companies that aren’t using analytics by 2020 are likely to lose their edge. Some experts go as far as to suggest that this will be essential to business survival moving forward.
- Artificial intelligence (AI) as a service. Watch for more companies offering machine-learning solutions and training materials on a subscription basis, sometimes with a hefty price tag.
- Voice-assistive technology. While concerns about privacy related to Siri and Alexa have made the news lately, more companies will be looking to use voice applications in the coming year.
- Demise (or at least the decline) of apps. Efforts are underway by some organizations to make apps accessible via the cloud, or they are moving to “progressive web apps” to make these tools more broadly useful and cost-effective.
- Robotic Process Automation (RPA). While not new, RPA is gaining fresh attention in tech and manufacturing circles. As this grows in popularity and reliability, more companies will be using this to boost the value of their existing workforce.
- Increased interoperability. Expect to see greater interoperability between systems and devices. For instance, more personal computers with embedded 5G and LTE connectivity will hit the market.
- Changes in cryptocurrency. Currently, Bitcoin is the king of the crypto market, and its price has risen in recent months. At the same time, blockchain technology will likely see more practical applications in areas such as healthcare. While it’s important to keep an eye on this technology, it’s too early to tell if it will significantly change the way we work, live, and conduct business.
Getting ahead of tech trends is essential to maximizing quality, outcomes, and cost-effectiveness. It also is key to attracting and keeping good employees in a tight market. According to a recent survey, 24% of workers have considered leaving their position over bad technology.
