Digital Lifescapes

There is a pivotal shift within the global smartphone market. Recent data from IDC highlights a more cautious outlook for 2025, with projected worldwide smartphone shipments seeing a significantly reduced growth rate. This revised forecast underscores the intricate interplay of global economic factors and geopolitical dynamics on pervasive personal communication devices. IDC's latest update projects a mere 0.6 percent growth in worldwide smartphone shipments for 2025, a stark reduction from the earlier 2.3 percent expectation. Global Smartphone Market Development This recalibration is largely attributed to prevailing economic uncertainties, including inflationary pressures and rising unemployment, alongside the persistent specter of tariff volatility. Despite these global tensions, it's interesting to note that the United States and China are still identified as the primary drivers of this modest growth. China, a critical market, is forecast to achieve a 3 percent year-over-yea...

The semiconductor industry is poised for a significant resurgence in 2025, with artificial intelligence (AI) and high-performance computing (HPC) as the primary catalysts for growth. According to the latest worldwide market study by International Data Corporation (IDC), the semiconductor market is expected to experience 15 percent growth in 2025, largely propelled by the increasing demand for AI and HPC applications. This surge is not merely a continuation of existing growth trends but represents a paradigm shift in the industry's dynamics. Global Semiconductor Market Development One of the most striking statistics from the IDC study is the projected 24 percent growth in the memory segment. This exceptional increase is primarily attributed to the rising adoption of high-end products such as HBM3 and HBM3e, which are essential components for AI accelerators. The anticipated introduction of HBM4 in the latter half of 2025 is expected to further fuel this ongoing growth trajectory. Me...

The commercial aviation industry has been at the forefront of innovation, constantly pushing the creative boundaries of what's possible in aircraft design and manufacturing. However, with this pursuit of advancement comes an unwavering responsibility for safety. Recent events have cast a spotlight on the importance of rigorous adherence to aircraft assembly, testing, and maintenance procedures -- serving as a stark reminder of the critical role technology plays in ensuring the safety of passengers and crew alike. Aerospace Digitalization Market Development The dramatic images of a hole appearing in a Boeing aircraft operated by Alaskan Airlines sent shockwaves through the aviation industry, highlighting the potentially catastrophic consequences of even the slightest deviation from established quality-control protocols. In the wake of this incident, aerospace manufacturers have been galvanized into action, recognizing the urgent need to embrace appropriate technologies that can enha...

Growing awareness of sustainability and the threat of a global temperature increase is motivating strategic shifts in government and commercial organizations. Leaders are adopting carbon management tools to address the anticipated 18 percent GDP loss from climate change by 2050. These carbon management tools are used to calculate, manage, monitor, and report emissions, and help measure operational results throughout the global supply chain. According to the latest worldwide market study by ABI Research, the carbon management software solutions market is projected to grow at a CAGR of 19.7 percent, reaching $5.5 billion by 2032. Carbon Management Apps Market Development Scope 3 emissions, which can be 5 to 25 times higher than Scope 1 and Scope 2 emissions, constitute up to 90 percent of the overall environmental impact, according to the Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP). Accurate measurement of Scope 3 emissions is crucial for government and business leaders to enhance resilience and eff...

As a senior executive, have you considered how the rapidly evolving blockchain and distributed ledger technologies could revolutionize your organization's operations and competitive standing in the Global Networked Economy? Across the globe, the enterprise demand for blockchain applications is on the rise, driven by the need for operational efficiencies, transparency, and security in business transactions. As organizations grapple with the challenges of digital transformation initiatives, blockchain technology offers a promising solution to streamline processes, reduce fraud, and enhance customer trust. Blockchain Market Development Despite the prior volatility and hype cycles associated with blockchain use cases, its potential to revolutionize industries from finance to supply chain cannot be understated. According to the latest worldwide market study by ABI Research , the blockchain and distributed ledger technology (DLT) market is expected to reach a value of $25 billion by 2027...

Battery power management is a critical technology for the evolution of Electric Vehicles (EVs). It's the process of optimizing the use of battery energy to maximize the range and performance of an EV.  A Battery Management System (BMS) can monitor the battery's state of health and use a variety of algorithms to control the charging and discharging of the battery. BMSs can also help to improve the efficiency of the EV by reducing energy loss. Advanced BMS software could save automakers $18 billion annually in 2030, equivalent to $76 billion cumulatively from 2024. ABI Research finds that intelligent BMS software can reduce the size of EV batteries without reducing their range. This performance efficiency helps to cut the cost of manufacturing EVs, enabling automakers to mitigate the effects of limited battery production and achieve greater profitability. Battery Management System Market Development "OEMs are struggling with two competing issues: the demand from customers fo...

The impact of technology is seen in nearly every industry, and every region of the world. The Global Networked Economy is in a perpetual state of evolution. This creates both challenges and opportunities. Following the COVID-19 global pandemic, the market saw some recovery due to rising demand from remote working and the need for a connected ecosystem. Now there are new overarching issues affecting the global supply chains for many consumer electronics sectors. According to the latest worldwide market study by ABI Research, these conditions have led to weaker demand, but with technical advancements in Artificial Intelligence (AI), Fifth Generation (5G) mobile connectivity, and new form factors, 2023 will be a recovery year for the consumer technology market. Consumer Technology Market Development "In smartphones, the replacement cycle followed by the migration to 5G smartphones and eagerness to embrace new form factors like foldable devices will be the main growth drivers for acce...

In spite of the volatile global semiconductor industry being plagued by ongoing macroeconomic and political disruption issues, the secure microcontroller (MCU) market should continue to prosper. While the forecasted total available market has contracted -- especially in the smart home, retail, advertising, and supply chain spaces -- secure MCU shipments will likely be temporarily affected.  According to the latest worldwide market study by ABI Research, the secure microcontrollers market will grow to reach $2.2 billion by 2026. Secure Microcontroller Market Development "In part, this is due to the niche nature of security demand which commands a higher value proposition," says Michela Menting, research director at ABI Research . In the short term, potential supply chain issues due to trade embargoes and global COVID-19 pandemic quarantines at manufacturing sites will affect availability. Yet, demand for security, especially in general purpose microcontrollers, will ensure the...

Business technology leadership matters. Across the globe, more leaders have been pursuing bold Digital Transformation (DX) initiatives with the goal of creating new sources of business value through digital products, services, and experiences. As an additional benefit, the COVID-19 pandemic revealed that digital transformation efforts improve an organization's resilience against global market disruptions. Global DX investment is forecast to reach $3.4 trillion in 2026 with a five-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 16.3 percent, according to the latest worldwide market study by International Data Corporation (IDC). Digital Transformation Market Development "Despite strong headwinds from global supply chain constraints, soaring inflation, political uncertainty, and an impending recession, investment in digital transformation is expected to remain robust," said Craig Simpson, senior research manager at IDC . The benefits of investing in DX technology -- including aut...

Executive leaders of fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) are seeking guidance on how to apply new business technology in their manufacturing operations. CIOs and CTOs are tasked with gaining insight into the best solutions for digital transformation. ABI Research evaluated the impact politics, regulation, the economy, supply chain, ESG, and technology are having on FMCG, pharma, producers of steel, chemicals, pulp and paper -- as well as the mining and oil & gas sectors. Digital Transformation Market Development "Our assessment found that the FMCG sector is under pressure from all sides," says Michael Larner, industrial & manufacturing research director at ABI Research . Securing raw materials is challenging considering lockdowns in China and limited grain supplies from Ukraine. Supply shocks are raising input costs, and operating costs are rising with higher energy costs coupled with the pressure to pay higher wages and work sustainably. "We all hoped that with th...

Forward-thinking retailers now have a bright future. In contrast, those that failed to enhance their business model via digital transformation have struggled, declined, and their assets were eventually liquidated. The key difference between these two business outcomes is applied strategic foresight. Even as the world continues to emerge from a global pandemic, retail is growing at levels not seen in the last two decades. Retail sales grew by 7 percent in 2020 and by over 14 percent in 2021, which is in stark contrast to the 3.7 percent annual growth between 2010 and 2019. The increased demand for retail has put a strain on supply chains and retail operations worldwide. As a result, retailers and stakeholders are turning to automation solutions such as mobile robotics for operational ease. Retail Transformation Market Development According to the latest market study by ABI Research, worldwide commercial robot revenue in retail stores will have a Compounded Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of o...

In uncertain times, such as the post-pandemic economy, smart business leaders will consistently invest the time and effort to gain a competitive edge. Moreover, these savvy leaders have a keen sense of the need for ongoing digital transformation. The worldwide artificial intelligence (AI) market -- including software, hardware, and services -- will post a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 18.6 percent in the 2022-2026 forecast period to reach $900 billion in 2026, according to the latest market study by International Data Corporation (IDC). "The COVID-19 pandemic quickly revealed that our current systems are not as resilient as we thought they were," says Martin Nuska, AI analyst at IDC . Artificial Intelligence Market Development The quest for substantive digital transformation became an urgent necessity, due to disrupted supply chains, and a critical need for fast and accurate insight to support key decision-making processes. This is expected to lead to huge opportuniti...

Across European nations, more CIOs and CTOs are investing in public cloud services that become the essential foundation for the design and delivery of innovative digital transformation projects. Public cloud computing spending in Europe will reach $113 billion in 2022 and will double to $239 billion by 2026, growing at a 22 percent 5-year CAGR, according to the latest market study by International Data Corporation (IDC). Investments in Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) will continue to lead most of the spending in Public Cloud in Europe in 2022, but Platform-as-a-Service (PaaS) will be the fastest-growing segment. In fact, PaaS enables digital business deployment via the quick testing and production of new software applications. Public Cloud Market Development Professional services, banking, and discrete manufacturing will be among the top spenders in public cloud services, absorbing almost 60 percent of the overall public cloud services spend in 2022.  Human-centric industries are adju...

Commercial fleet vehicles are the driving force behind commerce and public mobility. Fleet managers have the important role of organizing and overseeing vehicles for performance, maintenance, and tracking purposes. Telematics solutions collect, store, and analyze data that can be sent to fleet managers. This data helps fleet owners and managers evaluate vehicle maintenance, driver operation, and cargo management. Today's Internet of Things (IoT) technology is transforming fleet management with the ability to connect vehicles and capture a wide range of data about vehicle performance, route, passengers, and cargo. IoT Asset Tracking Market Development According to the latest worldwide market study by Juniper Research , global spending on asset tracking by enterprises will increase from $16 billion in 2022 to reach $45 billion in 2027 -- that's a substantial growth rate of 184 percent. The management and security of high-value assets are becoming of increasingly significant impor...

Savvy enterprise security and risk management leaders will continue to protect their organizations against new and emerging threats in 2022 and beyond, according to the latest global market study findings by Gartner. "Organizations worldwide are facing sophisticated ransomware, attacks on the digital supply chain and deeply embedded vulnerabilities," said Peter Firstbrook, vice president at Gartner . The pandemic accelerated remote work adoption, challenging the Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) to secure the distributed workforce -- while dealing with a shortage of skilled IT security staff. These big challenges create three overarching trends impacting cybersecurity practices: new responses to sophisticated threats; the evolution and reframing of an IT security practice; and rethinking business technology protection. IT Security and Risk Apps Market Development According to the Gartner assessment, the following IT security and risk-related issues will have a signifi...

In hindsight, a CEO's incessant quest for a "return-to-normal" business environment now seems odd. Today's global economy is unforgiving to the leaders who are unwilling to take remedial action in response to significant market disruptions. Clearly, applying a legacy status-quo mindset is unwise. Furthermore, long before the COVID-19 pandemic erupted, some enterprise employers already had concerns about their declining employee engagement. And, a few policymakers warned that moving essential manufacturing to the lowest-cost foreign provider was very risky. Regardless, it appears that "common sense" risk appraisals were relatively uncommon. Global Pandemic Ongoing Impact Assessment Executives are now very concerned about their ability to deliver substantive value propositions that satisfy employees, and a subsequent inability to retain and recruit talent, according to Gartner's latest 'Emerging Risks Monitor' report. Talent risks topped pandemic-r...

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,...

Real-time locating systems (RTLS) are used to automatically identify and track the location of things in real-time within a building or other confined areas. While numerous existing RTLS technologies, including Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, and UWB have been available, they haven't captured the market potential. According to the latest worldwide market study by ABI Research, 87 percent of enterprises said they have not yet deployed RTLS technology within their business, primarily because of the significant barriers to adoption. Most of the challenges of RTLS deployment mentioned in the ABI study point to the fragmentation of existing solutions, which impact the total cost of ownership, the complexity to implement, operate and maintain them. There are also uncertainties around reliability and maturity. RTLS Technology Market Development "All the barriers identified by the survey are currently constraining the RTLS ecosystem from developing and flourishing. Current solutions addressing this...

The technology sector is a key driver of the U.S. economy. Therefore, components like semiconductors play an important role in America's future. The 'CHIPS for America Act' is a new law that calls for incentives on domestic semiconductor manufacturing and investments in research and development. But these renewed efforts will require years of ongoing commitment. Meanwhile, despite the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, the semiconductor market performed well in 2020. However, new demand by industry was uneven throughout last year due to global lockdowns, remote working adoption, and shifts in consumer and commercial buying behavior. Worldwide semiconductor revenue grew to $464 billion in 2020 -- that's an increase of 10.8 percent compared to 2019, according to the latest market study by International Data Corporation (IDC). Semiconductor Technology Market Development IDC now forecasts that the semiconductor market will reach $522 billion in 2021, that's a 12.5 percent...

Across the globe, CIOs and CTOs will assess the potential benefits of distributed ledger technology applications that are empowered by purpose-built peer-to-peer networks. To date, the adoption and development of blockchain solutions have been somewhat problematic, due to a variety of complex challenges. Regardless, organizations are forecast to spend nearly $6.6 billion on blockchain solutions this year -- that's an increase of more than 50 percent compared to 2020. Blockchain investments will see growth throughout the 2020-2024 forecast period with a five-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 48 percent, according to the latest worldwide market study by International Data Corporation (IDC). "This is an important time in the blockchain market as enterprises across markets and industries continue to increase their investment in the technology. The pandemic highlighted the need for more resilient, more transparent supply chains, healthcare delivery, financial services, and...