Digital Lifescapes

The savvy CEOs of multinational organizations will accelerate their investment in digital transformation projects in 2022, and beyond, to improve their competitiveness. Every industry leader that is forward-looking will act swiftly to grasp the upside opportunity. Global oil & gas companies face a myriad of operational, commercial, and existential security threats. According to the latest worldwide market study by ABI Research, oil & gas firms apply digitalization to combat these threats and will spend $15.6 billion on digital technologies by 2030. Oil & Gas Digital Apps Market Development Investments in digitalization can help to analyze a supply pipeline’s condition, prepare for fluctuations in the changing prices for oil and gas, as well as aid action plans to create more sustainable operations and transfer to producing renewable energy sources. "Safety and Security are top priorities for oil & gas operators. Data analytics allied with IoT platforms have become ...

CEOs who have continued their quest for a "return to normal" environment during the COVID-19 pandemic created significant challenges for human resource (HR) leaders who had to develop new policies. Senior executives that resisted the need to change perpetuated a culture of ongoing denial. Now, organizations must focus on equipping people managers, who are the stewards of sustainable performance, with the right skillsets to ensure they and their teams succeed in their preferred "hybrid working" environment, according to the latest research by Gartner. To achieve these desired outcomes, Gartner recommends that organizations pursue new tactics to ensure managers are prepared to lead people in this new setting -- hoping that a hybrid work model is eventually manageable and successful. However, many troubling questions still remain. Why not simply accept the 'remote working' phenomenon, and learn how to evolve away from a 'command and control' mindset tha...

The number of mobile communication subscriptions worldwide is currently estimated at 8 billion, with 6 billion on smartphone connections, from a user base of 5.9 billion unique subscribers among a global population of 7.9 billion. Fifth-generation (5G) mobile service subscriptions using a compatible device significantly grew during the COVID-19 pandemic, but 4G connections remain the dominant force within the global telecom service provider sector. While the use of mobile phones is common throughout developing nations, 4G services are still an emerging technology in many parts of the world. Overall, 5G subscriptions will likely grow from 580 million at the end of 2021 to 3.5 billion by the end of 2026. 5G Mobile Market Development According to the latest worldwide market study by Juniper Research, revenue generated from 5G mobile services will reach $600 billion by 2026 -- representing 77 percent of global network operator-billed revenue. The adoption of 5G services across consumer and...

Given the trend thus far, quantum computing developments will be slow and steady. Meanwhile, optimistic growth projections abound. Enterprise spending for quantum computing will grow from $412 million in 2020 to $8.6 billion in 2027, according to the latest worldwide market study by International Data Corporation (IDC). This represents a 6-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 50.9 percent over the 2021-2027 forecast period. The forecast includes core quantum computing as a service, as well as enabling and adjacent quantum computing as a service. IDC states that major breakthroughs in quantum computing technology, a maturing quantum computing as a service infrastructure and platform market, and the growth of performance-intensive computing workloads suitable for quantum technology will drive the majority of the market growth. Quantum Computing Market Development IDC also expects ongoing investments in the quantum computing market will grow at a 6-year CAGR (2021-2027) of 11.3 per...

Wireless communications technology applications will gain new momentum in 2022. Looking ahead, wireless device connectivity innovations such as Wi-Fi 6 and Ultra-Wideband (UWB) technology adoption will accelerate new growth. According to the latest worldwide market study by ABI Research, next year Wi-Fi 6 will reach over 1.5 billion annual chipset shipments, while 6 GHz enabled Wi-Fi 6E chipsets are forecasted to nearly triple. Meanwhile, Ultra-Wideband devices are expected to reach nearly half-a-billion units as adoption increases within smartphones, wearables, speakers, personal trackers, and RTLS applications. Wireless Innovation Market Development "The wireless connectivity landscape continues to evolve thanks to the emergence of new technologies, enhancements to established technologies, and continued innovation and competition across the chipset, module and device ecosystems," said Andrew Zignani, research director at ABI Research . 2022 will be a critical year for wire...

Savvy vendor CEOs know that every employee that comes into contact with a customer can potentially impact new growth. And, they're raising the bar of expectations. Sixty-four percent of customer service and support leaders now report "grow the business" is their most critical priority in 2022, according to the latest market study by Gartner. The results of Gartner's survey of customer care and support leaders, conducted in August-September 2021, indicate a significant shift towards "adding value" and growing existing clients that have become a top priority for forward-thinking organizations. "Business growth as a goal is well-aligned with the idea of value-added customer service that creates more value for the customer beyond simply resolving their issue," said Brad Fager, research director at Gartner . Reimagine Customer Service Value Creation Adding value in customer service interactions can lead to new revenue streams while also protecting exis...

Mobile channels are increasingly important for enterprises to connect with employees, business partners, and customers, with telecom service providers emerging that offer a comprehensive platform that enables the management of this essential tool. Plus, they're now frequently cloud-based solutions. These solutions are collectively known as Communications Platform-as-a-Service (CPaaS) offerings. There are a number of services that can be considered part of CPaaS platforms, including messaging technologies such as SMS, Rich Communication Services (RCS), and Over-the-Top (OTT) messaging applications. Also offered are push notifications, digital voice services, and email. CPaaS Market Development According to the latest market study by Juniper Research, CPaaS revenue generated within the North American marketplace will reach $15 billion by 2026 -- that's rising from $3.7 billion in 2021. The study found that significant demand for mobile channels -- such as SMS and mobile voice -- ...

Savvy senior executives have moved beyond denial. They know their "Future of Work" vision can't include a return-to-normal approach. Instead, it embodies the adoption of hybrid work models by a majority of forward-thinking organizations, supported by the broad deployment of digital business technology. Driven by digital transformation initiatives and the realities of a rapidly evolving global economy, employers will adopt more dynamic ways of working. Meanwhile, employees will redefine themselves as members of reconfigurable teams that adapt quickly -- anytime, anywhere, and from any location. Led by CEOs and the board of directors, Future of Work initiatives will be key enterprise-wide imperatives. The insights gained from digital-first ways of working will enable organizations to respond to the needs of key stakeholders, with solutions that empower an acceleration of workflows. Future of Work Solutions Market Development "As organizations continue to define and ref...

Many nations across the globe are eager to welcome additional, readily available and competitively priced, broadband internet access services. The Fixed Wireless Access (FWA) market is expanding to fulfill the demand for high-speed broadband connectivity for both business and consumer segments. Fifth-generation (5G) FWA, a powerful platform providing an alternative broadband service offering, will be accelerating the FWA market. According to the latest worldwide market study by ABI Research, the FWA market will exceed 180 million subscriptions and generate $70 billion in revenue in 2026. The 5G FWA market will then account for 40 percent of the total global FWA market. 5G Wireless Broadband Market Development Since 5G deployments continue to accelerate, operators are taking advantage of the 5G technology to provide high-capacity FWA services. High-speed and low latency supported by 5G networks enable providers to offer an attractive alternative to fixed broadband services in the areas ...

The informed CEO, and board of directors for multinational enterprises, will seek digital growth from their business technology investments. Moreover, the ongoing global pandemic and the surge in digital services are making cloud computing the centerpiece of new digital experiences, according to Gartner. "There is no business strategy without a cloud strategy," said Milind Govekar, vice president at Gartner . "The adoption and interest in public cloud continues unabated as organizations pursue a 'cloud first' policy for onboarding new workloads." Global Cloud Computing Market Development In 2022, global cloud revenue is forecast to total $474 billion -- that's up from $408 billion in 2021. Over the next few years, Gartner analysts estimate cloud revenue will surpass non-cloud revenue for relevant enterprise IT markets. Gartner analysts believe that more than 85 percent of organizations will embrace a cloud-first principle by 2025 and will not be able to ...

Open Banking initiatives are driving market disruptors in financial services, with Banking-as-a-Service (BaaS) and Embedded Finance. They're an enabler for the delivery of these fintech digital services transformation concepts.  While the basic concepts are not totally new, their rise to prominence was fuelled by the European Union's Second Payment Services Directive (PSD2) and other key initiatives in recent years. This transition has helped shape interaction patterns between traditional and emerging actors in the payments marketplace. As such, Open Banking will be a game-changer for business model innovation in the face of customer demands for improved financial products and services. Open Banking Market Development According to the latest worldwide market study by Juniper Research, the value of global payment transactions facilitated by Open Banking will exceed $116 billion in 2026 -- that's up from just under $4 billion in 2021. This extraordinary growth rate of over 2,...

Chief executives are eager to accelerate a digital business growth agenda. Focused on business model reinvention, the remediation of technical debt, sustainable IT infrastructure and more, International Data Corporation (IDC) unveiled their Worldwide CIO Agenda 2022 Predictions. The key IDC predictions will likely impact CIOs and IT professionals over the next one-to-five years. IDC analysts believe IT leaders have opportunities that will not present themselves again in their lifetimes. Chief Information Officer Agenda Predictions With forward-looking insights, IDC provides senior IT leaders and Line-of-Business (LoB) executives with actionable guidance for managing IT investment priorities and implementation strategies as they continue to navigate the winds of change. The top ten IDC predictions are: 1: Through 2026, 65 percent of CIOs will sustain a cycle of tech-based empowerment, agility, and resilience through collaborative governance, new service delivery models, and a business o...

Nothing can stop the continued growth of global wireless communications. Despite a slight decline in the worldwide mobile subscriber base resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic, mobile network operators across different markets continue to expand fifth-generation (5G) infrastructure deployments. By the end of 2020, 264 million subscriptions were achieved. According to the worldwide market study by ABI Research, the 5G market will continue to accelerate and reach 2.6 billion subscriptions -- that's a significant contribution to mobile network operator revenue of $942 billion in 2026. 5G Wireless Network Market Development Driven by the investment of local network operators, China is a leader of the 5G market, holding more than two-thirds of worldwide 5G subscriptions at present. The United States is second in 5G adoption with more than 50 million subscribers, followed by the leading markets in Japan and South Korea. "Operators' effort to expand 5G networks, combined with qui...

The COVID-19 global pandemic fueled the trend of pushing executives outside of their comfort zone, while government-mandated lockdowns required their knowledge worker employees to work from home. Companies that previously avoided 'Flexible Working' models were forced to embrace the pervasive trend in a matter of weeks, as new remote working policies became a CHRO standard practice. As we enter 2022, more employers will empower their key employees to work wherever they desire and engage with customers whenever and however they prefer. Moreover, the ongoing transformation to an 'Anywhere Workspace' will drive strategic IT spending and advance cloud-based SaaS adoption. Business Technology Market Development Global enterprise IT spending is projected to total $4.5 trillion in 2022, an increase of 5.5 percent over 2021, according to the latest worldwide market study by Gartner. "Enterprises will increasingly build new technologies and software, rather than buy and imp...

The COVID-19 pandemic created unprecedented demand for emergency care. Many healthcare sector leaders would like to be at the forefront of tech-enabled medical caregiving. However, the fragmented way that hospitals acquire solutions can introduce cost, time, and resource inefficiencies that hinder care delivery. As a result, some healthcare providers have embraced the concept of the ‘Smart Hospital’ as a means of optimizing multiple aspects of their operational performance. The current model isn't perfect, and the implementation can present challenges -- such as cybersecurity, interoperability, and solution execution. Smart Hospital Market Development According to the latest worldwide market study by Juniper Research, the smart hospitals market will be worth $59 billion by 2026 -- that's up from $29 billion in 2021, representing an average annual growth of 15 percent. The concept of the smart hospital includes healthcare providers leveraging advanced analytics, connected device...

As more enterprise CIOs and CTOs transition to the cloud, the opportunities for managed service providers (MSPs) expanded. At the same time, the managed cloud services market has become more complex as organizations increasingly look to their service providers for superior solutions and business technology leadership. A worldwide survey by International Data Corporation (IDC) examined the service and business requirements that MSPs and their ecosystem partners need to optimize their growth opportunities and drive competitive advantage in the market for managed cloud services. Managed Cloud Services Market Development Due in part to the COVID-19 pandemic, leaders utilize public cloud capabilities (IaaS, PaaS, SaaS), innovative technologies and processes (IoT, edge computing, blockchain), and multi-cloud management platforms for their growth strategies and to ensure business resiliency. While very few organizations have shifted all of their IT applications and infrastructure to the cloud...

The COP26 Summit (in Glasgow, Scotland)  brought parties together to accelerate action towards the goals of the Paris Agreement and the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change. Meanwhile, the circular economy is a key sustainability strategy adopted by industry leaders in their efforts to achieve progress. While the circular economy is still in its infancy in terms of data and metrics, it's a growing phenomenon where technology sectors -- such as the Internet of Things (IoT) for asset tracking -- are set to grow rapidly within the next five years. Global technology intelligence firm ABI Research forecasts that the world will achieve over 10.5 percent circularity by 2030, as sustainability efforts and incoming legislation start to take effect. Circular Economy Tech Market Development "The circular economy is an often-misunderstood concept that goes much further than waste management and can become a blueprint for cities. It is a movement away from our take-make-waste economy ...

In today's environment where business technology is a key enabler of competitive advantage, CEOs need to be sure that someone is confidently leading digital business growth across the organization. The default is the Chief Information Officer (CIO) role. According to the latest worldwide market study by Gartner, in order to accelerate business value creation, CIOs and other IT executives should focus on three key areas -- leading from anywhere, nurturing connections, and reaching beyond. Mbula Schoen, senior research director at Gartner , said that as organizations continue to emerge from the disruption of the COVID-19 pandemic, CIOs and IT executives will need to generate value in fundamentally new ways. Business Technology Market Development Gartner forecasts that by the end of 2022, the share of knowledge workers working remotely will increase to 47 percent -- that's up from 27 percent in 2019. However, simply moving from onsite to remote is not the destination but merely a...

Business-to-Business (B2B) payments represent a significant upside growth opportunity for fintech vendors. While many businesses have been transferring funds to each other for a long time, the typical process remains difficult to navigate due to the many workflow challenges. B2B payments can take a variety of forms ranging from basic cash payments to sophisticated instruments like virtual cards, which solve the problems of B2B payments to varying degrees, but some core challenges remain. The ever-greater use of process automation is also a key trend within the B2B payments arena and represents a potential solution if the underlying payment systems can support the necessary elements. B2B Payments Market Development According to the latest worldwide market study by Juniper Research, the transaction value of B2B domestic payments across payment methods will exceed $54 trillion in 2023 -- that's up from $49 trillion in 2021. The research findings predict a growth rate of 10 percent, re...

According to the latest worldwide market study by International Data Corporation ( IDC ), spending on compute and storage products for cloud computing infrastructure -- including dedicated and shared environments -- decreased 2.4 percent year-over-year in the second quarter of 2021 (2Q21) to $16.8 billion. This decrease comes after six quarters of year-over-year growth, and most notably compares to the 39.1 percent annual growth seen by the market in 2Q20, when the world just entered the pandemic with the first wave of business and country closures causing a spike in investments in cloud services and infrastructure. In contrast, investments in non-cloud infrastructure increased 3.4 percent year-over-year in 2Q21 to $13.4 billion recovering from a 7.2 percent decline in 2Q20. Proving, once again, that the demand for Hybrid IT infrastructure continues to fluctuate from quarter to quarter and year to year. Cloud Computing Infrastructure Market Development Spending on shared cloud infrastr...