Digital Lifescapes

Across the globe, the companies providing your mobile phone plan are no longer just the carriers you know. They are your bank, your supermarket, and soon your fintech app. The Mobile Virtual Network Operator (MVNO) model, long a niche mechanism for budget carriers to resell network capacity, has entered a bold new era of growth. It's driven by enterprises seeking to deepen customer loyalty and diversify revenue in an increasingly competitive Global Networked Economy. MVNO Market Development According to the latest Juniper Research market study, the global MVNO subscriber base will climb from 333 million in 2026 to 438 million by 2030; that's an addition of over 100 million users in just four years. While that subscriber growth represents just 3.4 to 4.2 percent of total global mobile subscribers, the total MVNO revenue is forecast to reach $54.4 billion by 2030. Fueling much of this growth is the emerging MVNO-in-a-box (or Telecom-as-a-Service) market; a category forecast to re...

Retailers are forging ahead in adopting artificial intelligence (AI) tools to master the increasingly complex world of supply chain management. According to the latest ABI Research market study, more than 90 percent of global retailers are deploying AI to bolster decision-making and optimize operations. This movement underscores a pivotal transformation: retail supply chains evolve from static cost centers into intelligent systems capable of real-time adaptation. Driven by pressures from fulfillment complexity, labor challenges, and rising customer expectations, AI now sits at the heart of next-generation retail strategy. Retail Supply Chain Market Development Traditionally, retailers have struggled to balance speed, cost efficiency, and customer satisfaction. Now, the combined forces of e-commerce growth and ongoing geopolitical disruptions have amplified this challenge. Warehouse congestion, longer lead times, and volatile demand forecasts have underscored the need for predictive and...

The traditional point-of-sale (POS) terminal has traveled a remarkable journey since IBM's first mainframe-connected models emerged in the 1970s. What began as clunky screen interfaces tethered to distant computers has evolved into a diverse ecosystem of payment solutions. Today, we stand at the precipice of the most significant transformation yet: the rise of soft POS technology that promises to democratize digital payments for businesses of all sizes. At its core, this evolution reflects a broader shift from hardware dependency to software flexibility. Global POS Market Development With their dedicated terminals, fixed installations, and substantial upfront costs, traditional POS systems have long served as gatekeepers to in-store or mobile payment acceptance. Small businesses, micro-enterprises, and mobile retailers often found themselves locked out of the digital economy, forced to rely on cash transactions or make significant capital investments in POS hardware. Soft POS techn...

Artificial intelligence (AI) has rapidly become the defining force in business technology development, but integrating AI into applications remains a formidable challenge. According to a recent Gartner survey, 77 percent of engineering leaders identify AI integration in apps as a major hurdle for their organizations. As demand for AI-powered solutions accelerates across every industry, understanding the tools, the barriers, and the opportunities is essential for business and technology leaders seeking to evolve. The Gartner survey highlights a key trend: while AI’s potential is widely recognized, the path to useful integration is anything but straightforward. IT leaders cite complexities in embedding AI models into existing software, managing data pipelines, ensuring security, and maintaining compliance as persistent obstacles. These challenges are compounded by a shortage of skilled AI engineers and the rapid evolution of AI technologies, which can outpace organizational readiness and...

While the 2025 economic outlook is uncertain, one thing is clear. The global technology sector continues to produce remarkable resilience and growth, defying earlier concerns about headwinds.  Forrester's latest worldwide market forecast reveals an acceleration in technology spending, projecting it to reach $4.9 trillion this year – a 5.6 percent increase from 2024's $4.7 trillion. This investment surge signals a fundamental shift in how business leaders across the globe are approaching their digital transformation journeys. Global IT Market Development    The magnitude of this spending becomes even more striking when we examine its composition. Software and IT services are poised to command two-thirds of global technology investments in 2025, highlighting the central role of digital capabilities in modern business operations. The software sector, in particular, stands out with its projected 10.5 percent growth rate, positioning it to capture an impressive 60 percent of g...

The global Information Technology (IT) distribution sector has long been a barometer for the broader IT industry's health, reflecting shifts in end-user demand, enterprise investment, and technological innovation. Recent data from IDC research indicates a notable resurgence in this space, with fourth-quarter revenues returning to growth, driven predominantly by personal computing and software expenditures. IT Distribution Market Development The global distribution sector has experienced a significant uptick in customer investments. This resurgence underscores the demand for PCs, laptops, and related software solutions, even where mobile devices have become ubiquitous. Personal Computing returned to normal distributor revenue levels in 2024 after a significant contraction in 2023. The $3.75 billion in sales recorded in Q4 continues to be fueled by Artificial Intelligence (AI) PC configurations, which grew 141 percent year-over-year. The data suggests that businesses continue to inve...

The rapid growth of eCommerce has brought convenience to consumers worldwide, but it has also opened new avenues for fraudsters to exploit. As online transactions become increasingly prevalent, retail merchants face mounting challenges in safeguarding revenues and maintaining customer trust. This evolving threat of merchant fraud prevention is at a critical juncture, with emerging technologies playing a pivotal role in the ongoing battle against sophisticated fraud threats. Fraud Prevention Market Development The eCommerce boom, accelerated by the COVID-19 pandemic, has created a fertile ground for fraudulent activities. Merchants across various industries are grappling with implementing robust fraud detection and prevention measures to mitigate unnecessary revenue losses from chargebacks and order reprocessing. The stakes are high, as evidenced by Juniper Research's latest market study which forecasts the value of eCommerce fraud will rise from $44.3 billion in 2024 to $107 billio...

The eCommerce payments landscape is significantly transformed, driven by technological advancements, changing consumer preferences, and evolving regulatory frameworks. As global commerce increasingly shifts online, the methods and tech underlying eCommerce payments are evolving to meet growing demands for convenience, security, and efficiency. According to the latest worldwide market study by Juniper Research, the global eCommerce transaction value is forecast to reach $11.4 trillion by 2029 -- that's up from $7 trillion in 2024.  This 63 percent increase over five years underscores eCommerce's rapid expansion and adoption in key markets across the globe. eCommerce Payments Market Development "Alternative payment options have grown substantially, with APM transaction volumes leapfrogging cards in emerging markets. As merchants look to attract new users and geographies, they must consider offering APMs a key strategy to accomplish this," said Lorien Carter, research an...

The subscription business model has been one of the big success stories of the Internet era. From Netflix to Microsoft 365, more and more companies are moving towards recurring revenue streams by having customers pay for access rather than product ownership. The subscription economy cuts across many industries -- such as streaming services, software, media, consumer products, and even transportation with the rise of mobility-as-a-service. A new market study by Juniper Research highlights the central challenge facing subscription businesses -- reducing customer churn to build a loyal subscriber installed base. Subscription Model Market Development The Juniper market study provides an in-depth analysis of the subscription business model market landscape and associated customer retention strategies. A key finding is that impending government regulations will make it easier for customers to cancel subscriptions, likely leading to increased voluntary churn rates. The study report cites the...

The European Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Generative AI (GenAI) market will reach $47.6 billion in 2024 and record a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 33.7 percent over the 2022-2027 forecast period. Europe represents around one-fifth of the global AI market according to the latest worldwide market study by International Data Corporation (IDC). While the share of GenAI reached only 9.6 percent of the total European AI market in 2023, it is increasing rapidly. Investment in GenAI will grow more than three times as fast as spending on the rest of the artificial intelligence market. As a result, GenAI will be more than a quarter of the European AI market in 2027. European AI Market Development Software will be the largest technology segment in 2024, with a market value higher than hardware and services combined. Furthermore, software is expected to have the fastest growth during 2022-2027, driven by demand for AI applications and platforms. The share of hardware technologies will...

The once-quiet hum of the warehouse is being overtaken by a new rhythm – the whirring wheels and gentle beeps of mobile robots. As eCommerce booms and customer expectations soar, the pressure is on for faster, more efficient online purchase fulfillment. Warehouse automation has mostly been taken on by big organizations with deep pockets, but growing accessibility and maturing vendors are allowing solutions to trickle down and grow through the market.  According to the latest worldwide market study by ABI Research, the global installed base of Autonomous Mobile Robots (AMRs) in warehouses will surpass 500,000 by 2030. Mobile Robotics Market Development "There are now many options to automate a warehouse. Both stationary and mobile automation solutions have continued to expand to new form factors and are becoming more effective as Artificial Intelligence (AI) processing grows," said Ryan Wiggin, industry analyst at ABI Research . After their year in the spotlight with high-prof...

Societal shifts have affected how retail customers shop. The move toward a 'cashless' society was accelerated during the COVID-19 pandemic, leading to more eCommerce transactions and online spending. Meanwhile, in-store retail Point of Sale (POS) terminals transformed. Traditional hardware-based POS systems evolved into specialized solutions, which provide compact mobile terminals. However, the arrival of software-based 'Soft POS' solutions will disrupt this market. Soft POS Market Development All POS systems process payment transactions by forming a connection between a buyer’s and a seller’s respective bank accounts for the transaction to occur, and actioning the exchange of funds. According to the latest worldwide market study by Juniper Research, the global transaction value processed via Soft POS solutions will reach $11.8 billion by 2028, which is up from $1 billion in 2023. New growth will be driven by Apple’s launch of 'Tap to Pay', coupled with the Soft...

Virtual payment cards, also known as temporary cards, are randomly generated temporary card numbers linked to a payment account that is used to process payments in place of genuine payment details. A virtual card is an online payment tool that has similar attributes as a traditional Credit or Debit card, with key components including a 16-digit card number, an expiry date, and a CVV number. These cards are digitized versions of a physical card or a card that only exists in its virtual form and is stored in digital wallets. The distinctive feature of virtual cards is the enhanced layer of security. Virtual Card Market Development According to the latest worldwide market study by Juniper Research, by 2028 global virtual card spending will have increased by 355 percent -- that's from $3.1 trillion in 2023. The key growth driver will be the adoption of API-based virtual card issuing platforms. Juniper analysts explored the use cases where virtual cards use temporary card numbers linked...

Demand and spending on Artificial Intelligence (AI) ) within the Asia-Pacific region will grow to reach $78.4 billion in 2027, according to the latest market study by International Data Corporation (IDC). The increase in AI spending reflects a shift toward leveraging technology to transform operations, improve customer experiences, and maintain a competitive edge in a rapidly changing market. IDC forecasts a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 25.5 percent for the period 2022-2027. Artificial Intelligence Market Development With a market share of 28.5 percent in 2023, the Professional Services industry is the primary leader in AI application adoption, growing at a CAGR of 22.4 percent during the forecast period. AI investment in professional services is on AI infrastructure provisioning, where end-users gain access to the resources for computing and storage, and for AI system development or the provision of AI services. In the banking industry, AI is revolutionizing customer experien...

Most digital transformation is enabled by cloud solutions. Worldwide spending on public cloud services is forecast to reach $1.35 trillion in 2027, according to the latest worldwide market study by International Data Corporation (IDC). Although annual spending growth is expected to slow slightly over the 2023-2027 forecast period, the market is forecast to achieve a five-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 19.9 percent. "Cloud now dominates tech spending across infrastructure, platforms, and applications," said Eileen Smith, vice president at IDC . Public Cloud Services Market Development IDC believes that most organizations have adopted the public cloud as a cost-effective platform for hosting enterprise applications, and for developing and deploying customer-facing solutions. Looking forward, the cloud computing model remains well positioned to serve customer needs for innovation in application development and deployment -- including as data, artificial intelligence ...

eCommerce is a major growth engine of the Global Networked Economy. It experienced an economic boost as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. At the same time, the continued shift of commercial and consumer transactions has contributed to even greater upward momentum. There are several trends that are driving the growth of global eCommerce. These include the rise of social commerce, the increasing importance of mobile commerce, and the growing popularity of cross-border shopping. Global eCommerce Market Development Social commerce is enabled by the use of social media platforms to sell products and services. This trend is growing rapidly, as more people are using the channel to discover, learn about and consider new offerings. Mobile commerce is the use of mobile devices to shop for new products and services online. This trend is also growing rapidly, as more people are using their smartphones and tablets to shop for a variety of items and complete purchase transactions. Cross-border shop...

Chatbots are now integrated within messaging software, mobile apps, websites and online services that use Digital Assistants as a form of communication. Chatbots can also be hosted on APIs in a variety of digital channels such as Over-the-Top messaging apps and telecom provider Rich Communications Services platforms. According to the latest worldwide market report by Juniper Research, global retail spend over chatbots is forecast to reach $12 billion in 2023 -- that's growing to $72 billion by 2028. AI Chatbot Market Development Increasing by 470 percent over 5 years, much of this growth will be driven by the emergence of cost-effective open language models, most notably ChatGPT, in regions such as North America and Europe. Open language models consist of large neural networks that are trained on substantial quantities of online information and learn through low levels of human supervision. According to the Juniper assessment, they are implemented into chatbots to automate function...

The financial payments sector has experienced rapid growth. New payment methods have been adopted and enhanced by financial service providers, as we increasingly move towards a global cashless society. Traditional financial IT vendors and payment solution providers are learning to adapt. This will include companies who operate in the prepaid cards marketplace. Prepaid cards are a well-established technology, and part of the evolving payments market. Even so, there have been many new developments and transitions that create opportunities for growth. Digital Prepaid Card Market Development According to the latest worldwide market study by Juniper Research, the value of digital prepaid card transactions will exceed $3.98 trillion globally by 2028 -- that's up from $528.7 billion in 2023.  By 2028, the value of digital prepaid card transactions will represent just under 60 percent of total prepaid cards spend, up from 15 percent in 2023, demonstrating the rapid growth of Fintech soluti...

The global financial services sector continues to grow as more progressive organizations seek to gain a meaningful competitive advantage from their digital transformation initiatives. Across the globe, many regions are seeing a significant rise in 'instant issuance' activity from a physical and digital perspective, from both traditional and emerging innovative banking institutions. Digital Payments Market Development Customers increasingly demand instant access to banking services, with physical instant issuance enabling them to leave their branch equipped with a ready-to-go payment card. According to the latest worldwide market study by ABI Research, the market for instantly issued physical payment cards will increase from 243.2 million shipments in 2022 to a forecast of 471.1 million in 2027. "Critically, instant issuance of payment cards is no longer limited to the physical," said Sam Gazeley, industry analyst at ABI Research . Indeed, the growing digitization of p...

The Open Banking business model has been advantageous for Third-Party Providers (TPPs), helping them to extend their offerings into other areas of financial services with new capabilities. Open Banking is also advantageous for traditional banking institutions, despite the perceived loss of custodianship over their data, by providing greater accessibility to more bank services. Furthermore, Open Banking can help serve Mobile Internet providers that are able to leverage it to create tailored services according to customers’ preferences and/or economic limitations. Open Banking Market Development Since traditional banking services are made more convenient by TPPs via greater data access, customers can proactively manage their finances and shape the development of new financial offerings. This is particularly noticeable in the realm of Digital Payments, where retail merchants and customers transact through eCommerce, which has the greatest number of use cases for Open Banking. These includ...