Emerging technologies is all the talk these days. Though the term appears to be self-explanatory, there are many lists being created and shared that are selecting the technologies that should be getting attention by businesses.
To keep up with the rapid innovation and disruption happening across all industries and stay ahead of their competition, CIOs and technology leaders should assess and effectively leverage emerging technologies for their net-new values – whether they are on the lists or not.
The Internet of Things (IoT) is one of those emerging technologies that has permeated itself into not only our professional world but also our personal lives. It is in one form or fashion inside all our homes and lives.
However, many people have serious concerns about dangers in the growth of IoT, especially in the areas of privacy and security, and consequently industry and governmental moves to address these concerns have begun including the development of international standards.
Because the world of emerging technology is fast-moving and ever-changing, and consequently, difficult to get a handle on the state of the various markets or leveraging them in driving business innovation, it is important to identify those that are worth your time.
As you assess the lists, don’t assume your business can’t be enhanced by the technologies covered. Many organizations, from healthcare to manufacturing, are considered early adopters, so it is not surprising when they “poo poo” something as having already tried that. Don’t immediately write off using emerging technologies in your organization because you’re unsure of how they can fit.
The breadth and strength of services is key in defining the next wave of cloud competition, and this is not a secret. Vendors are well aware of it. While infrastructure-as-a-service is still a growth market, a status quo has already arisen, one that is unlikely to change rapidly. As such, vendors have realized that next-generation services are their next avenue for net-new competition and are now being pursued by every vendor covered.
This change is rapidly shifting the established market dynamics of the cloud, further contributing to a multi-cloud reality.
Emerging technology is unlocking their business potential. Technologies such as blockchain, artificial intelligence (AI), and augmented and virtual reality are rapidly reshaping reality at a breakneck speed. This is why emerging technology strategy needs to be a core part of every company’s corporate strategy.
More innocuous technologies that still contain potential include biometrics—face, fingerprint, and retina scans. They are becoming mainstream methods for verifying identity. These methods will form the secure foundation for solutions delivered by IT companies moving forward.
Drones enable robotic automation with fewer geographical restrictions. Opportunities for development and integration are high for this market. It is an exciting time for innovation everywhere. It’s impact on business opportunities and customer experiences contain great potential.
Melody K. Smith
Sponsored by Data Harmony, a unit of Access Innovations, the world leader in indexing and making content findable.
