The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has far-reaching effects on numerous technologies, including the technology sector. These effects are two-faced: meaning there are both positive and negative aspects to them.
On the positive side, the pandemic gave rise to remote working opportunities as companies tried to keep their operations afloat by allowing workers to render work off-site. There was also the increased focus shift on mitigating the risks on the end-to-end value chain as a proactive way of addressing the negative impacts of current and even future pandemics to the tech industry.
Meanwhile, among the negative effects of COVID-19 on technology include disruption of raw materials supply and value chain of electronics, as well as inflationary risk on tech products. These cover semiconductors, hardware and software, IT services, and network equipment.
Additionally, the pandemic has caused a monumental shift in how we use wireless technology in everyday life: from online classes and remote work to social media interactions and consumption of entertainment content. Accordingly, the wide-reaching effects of COVID-19 gave rise to certain tech trends that are predicted to shape the coming year.
Here are some of the biggest tech trends that are expected to shape 2021 and beyond:
Anywhere operations.
No less than Gartner, Inc. during its online symposium predicted anywhere operations to become one of 2021’s biggest tech trends. The benefits of this trend became highly apparent at the height of the pandemic when businesses rapidly shifted towards taking their operations and workforce remotely. This means that from now and until 2021, more and more businesses will rely heavily on tech products to conduct their daily operations. Marketing campaigns and services such as PPC advertising management services and search engine optimization (SEO) campaigns, for example, can expect to hug the limelight for the rest of the coming year as companies turn to such methods to market their products or services.
Internet of Behaviors.
There’s the Internet of Things (IoT) and then there’s the Internet of Behaviors (IoB). IoB simply refers to the way the private sector and governments monitor behavioral events using technology and using data derived from such exercise to modify the experience in a way that would influence the behaviors observed. An example would be online selling platforms monitoring buyers’ habits and then running site-wide marketing campaigns designed to make them buy targeted products according to their online buying behavior. Gartner surmised that as 2025 comes to a close, over 50 percent of the global population would have been put under one IoB program.
AI and Machine Learning.
Artificial intelligence (AI) has been around for quite some time but it doesn’t show any signs of slowing down. Ìn fact, AI is projected to hit the $190 billion-mark in 2025 and touch on numerous industries including their testing, development, and programming needs. Additionally, the fact that people in AI ($145,000/year) and machine learning ($1.25 million/year) are some of the highest-paid professionals these days make these twin trends all the more attractive for future workforces.
5G.
With the initial suspicions of masked espionage hurled at 5G now dying down, the tech is seen to get a shot in the arm as one of 2021’s projected big winners. The promise of fast data connection at a time when virtual communication and digital collaborations are a necessity, 5G is easily a tech trend that will shape the near future until a new one emerges. COVID-19 and the way it affected businesses and made them do 360-degree shifts to online operations made the prospect of lightning-fast internet a proposition that is absolutely hard to pass on.
Automation Plans.
Due to the devastating effects of COVID-19 on businesses, automation plans are now getting a second look to ensure that they are responsive to possible challenges of future pandemics. Automation plans are now being modified to infuse robotics and automated digital processes with low-code tools and pragmatic artificial intelligence. Ultimately, these steps are seen to make businesses more resilient and proficient as they prolong and extend their daily operations.
Cybersecurity Mesh.
As companies increasingly turn to remote work in light of the current pandemic, cybersecurity mesh is a teach trend that is sure to make it big in 2021. This tech allows companies to put a cybersecurity safety net over their individual remote workers instead of the entire organization. This allows for a staggering level of customization in terms of cybersecurity parameters, which would allow for individual off-site workers to enjoy tailored digital protection.
Truly, technology is, and will continue to be, a force to reckon with in terms of its potential to shape the global workforce. With these projected top tech trends in 2021, the future remains bright despite the widespread devastation being caused by COVID-19.
