Many companies are going to resuscitate the technology projects and investments they put on hold during the pandemic: Most of the trends we expect in 2022 will revolve around two pillars; people and data. The focus will be on how they interact with each other.
Here are our top 2022 technology trends that will create new opportunities for businesses.
1. Expansion of the 5G Network
The increase of 5G handset availability, the rise of remote working on the background of consumer acceptance will fuel the expansion of the 5G network in 2022.
Consumers are demanding better connectivity, high speeds, and low latencies. Companies on the other hand are strapping their boots in preparation for remote work. These two scenarios will be the biggest driving force behind the 5G rollout this year.
Moreover, government policies like the infrastructure bill are set to go into effect this year. The bill, among other promises, is set to expand broadband and 5G infrastructure nationwide.
This will make 2022 a pivotal year in the expansion of the 5G network. We anticipate more service rollouts and infrastructure deployments this year.
2. Quantum Computing
Quantum computing promises to solve problems beyond the reach of traditional computers.
In the next three to five years, quantum computers manufacturers are expected to generate revenue of $5 billion to $10 billion.
Quantum computing is ripe for adoption, and 2022 will prove to be the most critical year yet in its application and expansion.
Quantum technology and its promise of next-level computing will find application in cancer research, space exploration, and medicine studies.
Industry players such as Google and IBM have already started investing in quantum computing, a sign that the technology is no longer as distant as we think.
3. Artificial Intelligence
Artificial intelligence is no longer a promise, it’s already here with us. 2022 may prove to be the year that AI comes to life.
Worldwide artificial intelligence (AI) software revenue is forecast to total $62.5 billion in 2022, an increase of 21.3% from 2021, according to a new forecast from Gartner, Inc.
AI and robotic automation are disrupting the world as we know it. From healthcare to fintech, industries are beginning to embrace this fascinating field of computer science.
The applications of AI and its subsequent algorithms will play a larger role in hiring and recruitment, investment, and help with decision making.
4. Robotics will Help Firms Address Talent Shortages
2022 will happen on the horizon of the great resignation and the 2021 labor shortages. These circumstances will force employers to look at robotics differently as part of their grand customer service strategies.
Arecent robotics report from private-capital data andresearch company Pitchbook, projects that the global robotics market will grow to $45.5 billion in 2022. The report noted that venture capital investment in robotics reached a record $7.5 billion as of November 22.
Employers and companies will turn to the now advanced robotics technologies to address the seasonal labor shortages. Above that, robots will come in handy in filling gaps created by the 2021 great resignation.
5. Blockchain
2022 might be the year blockchain technologies go mainstream. According to experts, we may see:
- Widespread adoption of blockchain for peer-to-peer payments
- Rise of web 3 and the metaverse which will use blockchain technology to reimagine the internet
- Rise of the NFT Ecosystem
The decentralized nature of blockchain technologies makes many of these trends customer-driven. However, corporations (take Facebook for example) are already adapting to create platforms for the growing blockchain environment.
6. Digital Supply Chain for Moving Goods in Post Pandemic Era
2022 is the year most supply chains undergo a digital transformation. The push from consumers, lessons from the pandemic supply shocks, and the rise of the e-commerce ecosystem create a perfect storm for supply chains to go digital.
In 2022, you can expect supply chains to take a more demand-driven approach, be more customer-centric and automated. These will be the building blocks of the digital supply chain.
And it shows in the numbers. According to IDC statistics:
- By the end of 2022, disruptive labor shortages will prompt suppliers to embrace AI
- By 2023, 40% of G200 companies will develop their operations as remote first
This year supply chains will embrace real-time insight, AI, and machine learning for predictability and to create an agile supply chain.
7. Hybrid Workforce will Help Companies Get the Best Of Both Worlds
The pandemic together with the labor shortages give employers very few options outside embracing remote work.
Any employer who denies their employees the flexibility of remote work in 2022 will face attrition and be a victim of the great resignation.
This creates the need for compromise, and most employers can meet their employees halfway through a hybrid workforce.
In 2022 companies will focus on:
- Reinventing where work gets done as they formalize on hybrid models of working
- Shift their security focus on remote end-users who have proven to be the weakest link
- Find fast, secure and private connectivity for their remote workers
In 2022, workers will have the option of either working fully in the office, entirely at home, or a mix of both.
8. Cybersecurity Will Help Counter Rising Cyber Attacks
2020 and 2021 saw some of the biggest cyber-attacks. From the Twitter Cyber attack and the Colonial Pipeline Cyber attack to the Solar Winds nation attack.
Unlike previous years, businesses and the government plan to go into 2022 prepared for whatever malicious users will throw at them.
Investment in cyber security together with the development of protocols will take center stage this year, including:
- A focus on sharing operational tech (especially remote), connected tech, and the IoT
- A shift on regulatory compliance to keep up with the piling regulatory oversight
- Including remote workers, networks, and their devices in cybersecurity protocols
However, experts say it’s not all positive. Despite the many improvements, attacks will only get more sophisticated and we should expect Solar-Winds type attacks on both supply chains and vendors.
9. Unlocking Siloed Data to Drive Business Insights
Before Covid 19, legacy systems, the rise of tech stacks, and departmental specialization created a data silo problem in most organizations.
Data in large organizations became segmented and compartmentalized to a point that it impacted progress, teamwork, and agile workflows.
According to Mulesoft’s connectivity benchmark report, silos are a problem in 90% of organizations.
Due to lessons learned from the pandemic, 2022 is the year most of these silos fall, and companies usher themselves to a new age of centralization, remote collaboration, and data access.
In 2022, companies will create a cultural and technological shift towards sharing. Furthermore, they’ll embrace systems such as CRM’s and PRM’s to create a central point of truth for their data.
10. Telehealth Will Help Rebuild the Health Infrastructure
The ground for telehealth to go mainstream was set in back in 2021, and it will be manifested and come to age this year.
Covid on one hand stretched healthcare infrastructure to its limits, leaving the staff burnout and systems debilitated.
Patients, on the other, are still not willing to visit healthcare facilities in person unless extremely necessary. That’s because of convenience and the fear Covid put in people.
This situation automatically creates a case for telehealth.
This year, telemedicine will enable:
- Doctors to serve different locations without traveling
- Patients to complete tasks such as form filling from the comfort of their homes
- Doctors and patients to leverage digitally-enabled exam rooms
Above that, wearables, voice assistants and medical sensors will have increased adaptation across public and private sectors.
Where We Come In
Are you keen to realize value, accelerate growth, drive operational efficiency while reducing risk? Liberty Advisor Group has extensive experience reimagining and discovering more innovative ways of doing business and delivering results.
What is your ambition for 2022? With our experience, we empower our clients to realize their ambitions.
ABOUT LIBERTY ADVISOR GROUP
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