Development 1: Existing concepts take off and evolve further
It seems like we have been talking for ages now about concepts like Artificial Intelligence (AI), the Internet of Things (IoT), cloud computing, augmented reality and blockchain. In 2018, however, the long-discussed potential of these technologies was finally embraced. With the opening of Microsoft Azure data centres on South African shores, some companies began to feel more confident about utilising cloud-based solutions to cost-effectively modernise their systems and enhance their competitiveness. The complete move to cloud may take some time as some companies will migrate slower than others.
In 2019, that mindset is expected to further take hold, as these buzzword solutions simultaneously change and converge, offering entirely new solutions that will become critical to businesses looking to secure an advantage. Underpinning almost all of them, though, is the “megatrend” of AI, according to Gartner’s chief of research, Brian Burke.
Paired with the sister process of machine learning, Artificial Intelligence is drawing on a combination of narrowly programmed instructions and extensive data analysis (typically facilitated by the cloud), AI will take over simple functions once performed by humans to increase efficiency and accuracy. Expect increasingly sophisticated online chatbots, with sentiment-analysis and -response abilities, to be joined by physical robots that automatically perform tasks. Drones and self-driving cars are perhaps the most well-known examples of the latter.
If this sounds too far-fetched and futuristic for your office-bound business, consider the usefulness of Robotic Process Automation (RPA) instead. RPA is an ever-more-important tool, plugging into the work of developers, as it uses AI to automate assorted business software functions, such as transaction processing and the more complex task of supply chain optimisation. It’s reported that 60% of occupations could have 30% or more of their activities automated in this manner, freeing workers to apply their efforts to multifaceted tasks and decision-making beyond the capabilities of computer intelligence.
At the same time, 2019 will be a year where smart workplaces proliferate on the back of IoT uptake. Consumers in suburban areas are warming to the convenience of areas where every device is linked to the Internet, typically by wi-fi. Although remote control of technology in this context is the main appeal, IoT’s revolutionary capabilities to capture and process data for actionable insights has vast benefits for business. Healthcare practitioners, for example, are already utilising this technology to connect to, and monitor, their patients via wearable devices.
As for evolving cloud technologies, where once a business would commit to either a public or private cloud, there are now multi-cloud environments that combine the platforms for a better, all-round more flexible experience. Tech giants like Microsoft are already coming to the party with hybrid cloud solutions that mix on-premise and data centre-based cloud infrastructures, for example.
Development 2: New tech solutions will start to gain traction
It’s possible to argue that the newer digital solutions to emerge are also evolutions of existing technology. However, the leaps from step one to two are large enough to consider them as fundamentally changing the nature of work on their own.
Digital twins, for example, could be considered intrinsically linked to IoT technology. Here, physical assets like factories, or even cities, are given a virtual model treatment. Combined with sensors at the real-life site and network connectivity, it becomes possible to gather system data, remotely monitor and even accurately simulate future scenarios, especially when combined with augmented analytics. With the ability to avoid downtime, identify safety issues and digitally test-run new processes without any operational disruptions, digital twin technology will have major repercussions for manufacturing, industrial and mining industries especially – and those pioneering organisations in each sector that embrace the solution.
Quantum computing, meanwhile, is a complete paradigm shift in terms of processing power and speed. Promising to function at a subatomic level, using qubits as opposed to conventional digital bits, and allowing for potentially millions of simultaneous calculations, the theoretical benefits of quantum computing for business include everything from substantially smarter, problem-solving AI to improved battery performance. Quantum computing is likely to only see commercial application at some point in the mid-2020s butGoogle, IBM, Intel and Microsoft, in addition to assorted start-ups, are all investing in this next “space race,” so start considering its potential now, especially in relation to analytics-centred cloud services.
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