Digital Lifescapes

The way we work is undergoing huge changes. Technological advancements like automation, artificial intelligence (AI), and cloud computing are fundamentally altering the landscape of office worker employment. Business leaders are grappling with a new reality: the talent skills gap between their current knowledge workers and the growing demands of digital transformation raising the bar of expectations. A recent  International Data Corporation (IDC) survey of North American IT leaders uncovered the latest employee learning and development insights. Nearly two-thirds of respondents reported that a lack of critical skills has resulted in missed revenue growth objectives, quality problems, and a decline in customer satisfaction. These issues represent a significant drag on a company's top and bottom lines. Future of Work Apps Market Development "Getting the right people with the right skills into the right roles has never been so difficult," said Gina Smith, PhD, research direc...

The digital workplace solutions market has been on the rise in recent years as many large enterprise organizations have embraced hybrid working and remote work models. Solutions like Unified Endpoint Management (UEM), Desktop as a Service (DaaS), and Digital Employee Experience (DEX) tools have enabled companies to support their distributed workforce and enhance employee productivity.   Digital Workplace Market Development However, a new study from Gartner reveals that the digital workplace is about to play an even bigger role as companies turn their focus toward Environmental, Social, and Governance ( ESG ) initiatives. According to Gartner, 80 percent of digital workplace and IT leaders will integrate their tools with ESG management and reporting solutions by 2027 -- that's up from less than 5 percent today. This expected rapid convergence is being driven by growing regulatory requirements around ESG disclosure, as well as rising CEO and leadership prioritization of environ...

Most CIOs recognize the essential role that emerging technology has in enabling digital business transformation. However, what they often don't know is how prepared their employees, IT systems, and internal processes are to embrace change. Gartner has highlighted the six key trends that will have a significant impact on enterprise IT infrastructure and operations (I&O) organizations over the next 12 to 18 months. "I&O leaders have little time, skills and budget to track emerging trends and the full impact of those on I&O," said Jeffrey Hewitt, vice president at Gartner . Savvy leaders should apply the top trends within I&O for 2024 to identify which are most likely to impact their organization, and then implement effective actions in response. According to Gartner's research, the top trends in 2024 are as follows: Machine Customers Machine customers are non-human economic actors that obtain goods or services in exchange for payment, such as virtual per...

The Global Networked Economy -- a term synonymous with the interconnectedness of businesses, individuals, and governments worldwide -- has undergone a remarkable transformation in 2023. Fueled by the rapid growth of digital technologies and the global internet, this phenomenon has given rise to a worldwide marketplace that has already revolutionized the way we live, work, and play. The impact of Generative Artificial Intelligence (GenAI) in 2024 will be equally disruptive to many traditional business leaders. GenAI will also create huge opportunities for the fearless pioneers. Global Networked Economy Market Development The Global Networked Economy's evolution traces back to the advent of the Public Internet. The introduction of eCommerce, social media, and cloud computing has been instrumental in reshaping how businesses operate and engage with their customers. This interconnected ecosystem empowers savvy leaders to access new markets, trim operational costs, enhance commercial e...

Savvy leaders in the C-suite continue to invest in digital transformation that fuels net-new growth, regardless of global economic volatility concerns. Other leaders, consumed by fear, are undecided or already retreating.  Rising prices and interest rates along with other economic factors beyond a company’s control are leading CFOs to show the most concern about profitable growth, inflation, and balance sheet health in 2023, according to the latest market study by Gartner. Yet nine out of 10 CFOs plan to fund organic growth in 2023 at the same level or greater levels than their investment in 2022. Digital Growth Market Development "Macroeconomic factors that companies can do little to nothing about have created an uncertain setting in 2023, and have also led to many sleepless nights among CFOs," said Shannon Cole, senior director at Gartner . Borrowing has become more expensive, and inventory and fixed-asset values remain volatile, which inevitably leads to downstream income ...

Within the C-suite of forward-thinking organizations, something remarkable is happening. More executive leaders are now focused on an inspirational alternative to the legacy status quo "Return to Normal" mindset. According to the latest market study by IDC, Asia Pacific excluding Japan (APeJ) "Future of Work" spending is forecast to grow at a CAGR of 18.4 percent and reach $196.2 billion by 2026. IDC expects APeJ FoW spending to grow at a year-over-year rate of 19.9 percent in 2023 compared to 21.5 percent in 2022. Despite the slowdown of the growth rate, the total spending of the market continues to increase over the forecast period. Future of Work Market Development IDC defines the Future of Work (FoW) as a fundamental change to the work model to one that fosters human-machine collaboration, enables new skills and worker experiences, and supports a re-imagined physical workplace and border-less digital workspace. This IDC market forecast presents spending forecast...

Across the globe, the future for leaders of government agencies who crave digital business transformation progress is looking good. Artificial intelligence (AI) and no-code or low-code solutions will enable them to overcome software development challenges. Worldwide government IT spending is forecast to total $589.8 billion in 2023 -- that's an increase of 7.6 percent from 2022, according to the latest worldwide market study by Gartner. "Global challenges like inflation and workforce scarcity and their local repercussions are testing the abilities of government CIOs to respond with appropriate service delivery mechanisms and organizational accountability," said Apeksha Kaushik, principal analyst at Gartner . Government IT Solutions Market Development In addition, the ongoing IT Great Resignation and the competing demand from the commercial sector have forced governments to re-examine their approaches to counterbalance internal talent scarcity. In 2023, government IT organ...

Digital identity combined with security, privacy, and data management are interrelated requirements, and in some cases, they are indistinct. In the U.S. market, digital identity is described as the online persona of a human subject. The term "persona" means an individual who can present themselves in a variety of ways online. However, the definition varies between countries. This description is further complicated by the current multi-use ecosystem of digital identity. Digital Identity Market Development According to the latest worldwide market study by Juniper Research, the number of digital identity applications in use will exceed 4.1 billion globally by 2027 -- that's rising from 2.3 billion in 2023. This represents a growth of 82 percent over the next four years. The increase will be driven by the use of government-backed digital identities to replace physical identity documents as a source of verification for third-party apps, such as banking and financial services. ...

As we look to the year ahead, there will be significant challenges and opportunities facing the Chief Human Resource Officer (CHRO) role. In order to be successful, savvy HR leaders must be prepared to take proactive steps that adapt and evolve. "HR leaders have faced an increasingly unpredictable environment amid many organizations mandating a return to office, permanently higher turnover and burnt out employees," said Emily Rose McRae, senior director at Gartner . HR Innovation Market Development One of Gartner's key predictions for 2023 is that the use of artificial intelligence (AI) and automation will continue to increase within the enlightened digital workplace. This transition will require HR leaders to develop new skills and competencies in order to effectively manage and lead teams that are increasingly relying on these enabling technologies. Additionally, HR leaders will need to ensure that their organizations are investing in the necessary infrastructure and re...

A reduction in office occupancy and lease terminations, due to the growth of remote work, has had an inverse effect on consumer spending. As an example, despite the economic issues in some markets, spending on smart home devices grew in 2022. According to the latest market study by ABI Research, by the end of the year, smart home hardware revenues  -- including devices, hubs, and controllers -- will surpass $30 billion worldwide, that's up by 15 percent over 2021. Smart Home Market Development According to the ABI assessment, driving investments in the face of a sharper economic reality is a growing expectation among consumers for smart home capabilities that deliver greater value. "The COVID pandemic-induced emphasis on home improvement boosted the Smart Home industry," said Jonathan Collins, research director at ABI Research . The Work-from-Home phenomenon moved into a more mainstream awareness that continues to bolster spending as consumers look to replace or improve d...

Cloud computing adoption continues to gain momentum across the globe. The public cloud services (PCS) market in Asia-Pacific (excluding Japan) will reach $165.2 billion in 2026, according to the latest market study by International Data Corporation (IDC). IDC expects the Asia-Pacific market to grow at a higher year-over-year (YoY) rate in 2022 at 31.4 percent, in comparison to 30 percent in 2021, as cloud migration continues to accelerate. However, IDC expects the YoY growth rates to slow down beginning from 2023 with a YoY growth of 28.3 percent to 22.4 percent in 2026. Asia-Pacific Cloud Services Market Development "Majority of organizations have pivoted rapidly toward a digital-centric modus operandi to adapt to new ways of operating, working, and selling products and services amid various disruptions," said Estelle Quek, senior research manager at IDC . These organizations demand better business outcomes from their adoption of digital technologies to increase efficiency, ...

Recent global economic trends may motivate some leadership teams to make across-the-board cuts to their operations. However, the savviest executives will selectively optimize their operating budget to sustain strategic imperatives. Just 7 percent of Chief Finacial Officers (CFOs) plan to decrease customer service spending over the next 12 months, according to the latest market study by Gartner. Moreover, 21 percent plan to increase customer spending, and 72 percent plan to maintain spending. "In response to inflation, supply chain disruptions, and a tight labor market, CFOs will make trade-offs in spending that affect customer service and support (CSS) leaders," said Sarah Dibble, Director at Gartner . CSS Business Technology Market Development Their essential function is not a top priority for cost-cutting, compared to commercial real estate expenses or facility management and finance, which are most likely to face budget cuts next year.  Nearly all CFOs will prioritize digi...

Urban areas within cities account for more than 50 percent of Earth's population and are estimated to be responsible for more than 70 percent of global carbon emissions. To combat this, decarbonization strategies are being employed by forward-thinking city leaders around the globe. According to the latest worldwide market study by ABI Research, smart city technologies will be a critical asset for this transformation. Municipal decarbonization will be a component of local government efforts for Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) policies. Government ESG Market Development "The principles behind smart city technologies, such as increasing efficiency, better data management, and better decision making are also essential for decarbonization and reaching net-zero goals," said  Dominique Bonte, vice president at ABI Research . Technologies such as digital twins, smart street lights, micro-grids, computer vision, smart city management platforms, and micro-mobility are al...

Global cybersecurity spending within critical infrastructure sectors is forecast to reach $23 billion by the end of 2022, that's growing at a 10 percent CAGR to reach $36.67 billion in 2027 -- according to the latest worldwide market study by ABI Research. "Businesses, industries, and in fact the entire world, have never been more connected than they are right now. They have also never been more at risk," said Michela Menting, research director at ABI Research . Organizations and key verticals continue to integrate technologies such as the Internet of Things (IoT), 5G wireless networks, and blockchain-based distributed ledgers -- creating more points of connection, and more points of cyber-security vulnerability. Critical Infrastructure Security Market Development ABI Research has explored the cyber and digital security landscape in its entirety. Their analysis explores actionable cybersecurity trends and market growth forecasts from their ongoing research. According to t...

The main reasons for the Great Resignation are obsolete leadership, fearful middle managers, and a toxic culture that hinders employee engagement. Perhaps that's why some organizations are still struggling with the consideration and development of a flexible working model.  They're incapable of evolving to a more enlightened approach to work where employees are treated with respect. They're stuck in a bygone era of the 20th-century industrial revolution where 'shareholder value' tops all other values, and where spreadsheets and financial data analysis drives all key decision making. We should not be surprised that 76 percent of human resource (HR) leaders now feel that hybrid work challenges an employee's connection to organizational culture, according to a recent survey by Gartner. A 2022 poll of HR leaders reveals the most challenging aspect of setting their hybrid strategy is adjusting the current organizational culture to support a hybrid workforce. In fact,...

The ongoing adoption of flexible working models within the enterprise market has significant implications for typical IT organizations that must now support knowledge workers and front-line employees that operate outside the corporate network perimeter. The global COVID-19 pandemic created IT networking and security challenges. The expansion of the distributed workforce, an increasing reliance on cloud computing infrastructure, and the requirement to securely connect online employees -- wherever they choose to work, at any given moment in time. Legacy IT solutions that have rigid network underlays and a requirement for on-premises infrastructure cannot adequately deal with these trends. This 'Anywhere, Anytime Workplace' led to demand for new Secure Access Service Edge (SASE) solutions, with networking and security delivered as-a-service. Anywhere, Anytime Workplace Market Development   Although converging networking and security capabilities offer enterprises a promising solut...

The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) proposed rule changes that would require climate-related disclosures and periodic reports -- including risks that are likely to have a material impact on a corporation. Business technologies might be a key component of responding to new SEC requirements. Cloud service sustainability, carbon footprint measurement, and advanced energy grid management software are three environmental technologies that could reach early mainstream adoption within one to three years. "Environmental sustainability cannot be the responsibility of just a few industries -- if our climate is to be protected, sustainable business must be a global priority," said Annette Zimmermann, vice president at Gartner . Sustainability Technology Market Development According to the Gartner assessment, the transition to a net-zero economy will be as disruptive as the industrial revolution or the digital revolution -- requiring new technologies, business models, leade...

Forward-thinking senior executives have taken their lessons learned from the COVID-19 pandemic and used them for much-needed changes to their business operations. They now include new flexible working models (for progressive employees), and newly redesigned office environments (for traditional employees). Meanwhile, given the current business landscape, with rising costs for energy and a focus on reducing carbon emissions, increasing the level of automation in the remaining large metro office buildings will be a major priority. That's a likely place where a Smart Building technology might help a retrospective CEO rationalize their status-quo 'return to office' plan. When combined with higher salaries and better employee benefits, that office experience could help to retain some essential talent that might otherwise resign. Smart Building Market Development According to the latest worldwide market study by Juniper Research, the number of buildings globally deploying 'sma...

Supply chain issues are top-of-mind within many C-suites and for good reason. We now know that a 'status quo' mindset was fraught with inherent supply chain risks which were exposed by recent events that disrupted the Global Networked Economy. Sixty-one percent of supply chain leaders believe that the acceleration of remote work due to the global COVID-19 pandemic will create a permanent hybrid work model, even at the frontline, according to the latest market study by Gartner. The annual Gartner 'Future of Supply Chain' survey of 983 supply chain leaders identified the changes to the prior status quo that will likely shape global supply chains in the months and years to come. Supply Chain Transformation Market Development "In an environment of talent and labor shortage, supply chain leaders anticipate employee expectations to become more demanding and feel that they must prepare to meet those expectations – or lose to competitors that do," said Suzie Petrusic,...

This year may very well be another period of unprecedented challenges and opportunities. In 2022, several highly anticipated technology-related advancements will NOT happen, according to the predictions by ABI Research. Their analysts identify many trends that will shape the technology market and some others that, although attracting huge amounts of pundit speculation and commentary, are less likely to advance rapidly over the next twelve months. "The fallout from COVID-19 prevention measures, the process of transitioning from pandemic to endemic disease, and global political tensions weigh heavily on the coming year's fortunes," said Stuart Carlaw, chief research officer at ABI Research . What Won’t Happen in 2022? Despite all the headlines and investments, the metaverse will not arrive in 2022 or, for that matter, within the typical 5-year forecast window. The metaverse is still more of a buzzword and vision than a fully-fledged end goal with a clearly defined arrival d...