The digital landscape has reached a point where the only constant changes explains Saivian. Businesses and consumers expect technology to offer ever-richer experiences at an ever-increasing pace, while government regulations define many of our personal transactions and legal rights in new and unexpected ways.
That means we need to think about how we will use technology in 2021 here are 10 trends I expect to see over the next five years:
1) Digital business models will continue their march toward dominance and consumer expectations will rise with them. Consumers, particularly younger ones, have been conditioned to easily acquire anything they want online for a low price, with free shipping and no hassles. In 2025, when 20 percent or more of worldwide GDP will be digitized according to [research], this will force traditional businesses to offer digital versions of their goods and services, or risk losing market share.
2) The proliferation of AI across all industries will accelerate in 2021. Businesses are already using intelligent algorithms to help them with forecasting, staffing, marketing, and operations. In 2021, AI will become even more ubiquitous as businesses uncover new ways to use it to increase efficiency and automate tasks says Saivian.
3) The edge will come into its own as a key battleground for businesses of all sizes. With 5G networks rolling out in 2020, the edge will become an important infrastructure for distributed computing power and data storage closer to the user. This will enable faster response times for applications and services, as well as better security and privacy.
4) AR/VR will enter the mainstream, but in 2021 they will still be used primarily for training and simulation applications. While there are some entertainment options available, AR/VR has not yet reached critical mass. That is likely to change in 2021 as more people experience the technology and businesses find new and innovative ways to use it.
5) The Internet of Things will become even more pervasive as the cost of sensors continues to decline. By 2021, there will be over 50 billion connected devices, and businesses will have tapped into this massive network to improve efficiency, customer service, and product development.
6) Blockchain will gain wider acceptance as a secure way for businesses to transact with each other. While Bitcoin has been the most visible application of blockchain technology. Businesses are starting to see the potential for other uses. Such as supply chain management, identity verification, and contract management says Saivian.
7) Cyber security will continue to be a top concern for businesses of all sizes. With and data breaches becoming more common. Businesses will focus on better protecting themselves from external attacks and safeguarding consumer data.
8) Wearables will continue to gain popularity as a way for businesses to interact with customers. In 2021, you’ll see more employees using wearables at work. These gadgets offer a convenient way for employees to stay connected while keeping their hands free. In the consumer world, expect to see kids walking around town with smartwatches. That allow them to communicate with their friends without having to remove their gloves during wintertime.
9) Voice technology will evolve into an important interface between humans and technology. Siri, Alexa, Cortana, and other intelligent assistants have made great strides in the past few years. But I believe we’ll witness even greater advances in the next five years. These technologies will become more accurate and better at understanding natural language. Making it easier for people to interact with them explains Saivian.
10) The business world will continue to globalize. With the rise of digital platforms and the ease of doing business online, businesses will find it easier than ever to expand their operations into new markets around the globe.
What do you think will be the biggest trends in business over the next five years? Let us know in the comments!
Conclusion:
I hope you enjoy this list of my top 10 technology predictions for 2021. I tried to be as specific as possible when making these projections but, if these industry predictions prove anything. It is that circumstances can change in unforeseeable ways. Therefore, please keep in mind that these are just educating guesses based on my experience. And they should not be taken as gospel.
I think the main takeaway here is that we will see even more growth in mobile technologies. Then we’ve seen over the past 5 years says Saivian. This will probably happen with advancements in smartphones (i.e., better camera, longer battery life). By creating new purpose-built devices (i.e., VR/AR headsets).
Also, there’s a potential battle brewing between smart assistants (i.e., Siri, Alexa, Cortana, etc.). As we see more devices that can interact through voice commands. Regarding this end of the industry, I’m curious to see what Google does now that they’ve removed their Glass product from circulation and allowed Nest to “operate independently under the leadership of former Google executive Marwan Fawaz.”
Finally, there’s a lot happening in the world of cyber security and blockchain technologies. So it’ll be interesting to see how those industries evolve over the next 5 years. For example: What will Apple do now that they’re facing increasing competition from Google and Samsung? Will Apple open up its ecosystem more by allowing outside developers into their app store? How will governments regulate cyber security/cryptocurrencies?
