The most important technologies in 2021 will be artificial intelligence (AI), fifth generation networks (5G) and the Internet of Things (IoT), according to a new global survey of IT executives and CTOs from the professional organization IEEE. In particular, almost a third (32%) of respondents indicated artificial intelligence and machine learning, followed by 5G (20%) and IoT (14%).
Manufacturing (19%), healthcare (18%), financial services (15%) and education (13%) are the sectors that most experts believe will be most affected by technology in 2021, according to IT respondents and chief technical officers. "Digitalization has increased sharply this year and the trend will be even bigger in 2021," said Milen Ganev, a partner in the Bulgarian software company E-CARD, which is in the top 50 of Europe. According to him, the biggest challenge for next year will be dealing with various aspects of the recovery from COVID-19 and current business activities affected by the new situation. These challenges include the permanent hybrid office-remote work structure, the reopening of offices and facilities, the return of workers and the management of permanent remote work.
CIO and CTO respondents said they have accelerated the implementation of some technologies due to the pandemic:
More than half (55%) of the respondents accelerated the implementation of cloud computing; 52% accelerated the implementation of 5G; 51% have accelerated the implementation of artificial intelligence and machine learning.
Implementation of IoT (42%), augmented and virtual reality (35%) and video conferencing technologies (35%) has also accelerated due to the global pandemic, according to the IEEE analysis. One positive finding is that, compared to a year ago, CIOs and CTOs see their companies better prepared to respond to a potentially catastrophic data breach or natural disaster. Moreover, of those who said they were better prepared, 58% were adamant that COVID-19 had raised their alert level.
When asked which technologies will have the greatest impact on the global recovery after COVID-19, one in four (25%) respondents said that these are artificial intelligence and machine learning. "This shows that there is a growing perception and evaluation of these technologies," said Milen Ganev.
The two main concerns for CIOs and CTOs regarding cybersecurity are issues related to the mobile workforce. This covers cases where employees deploy their own work devices (37%) and ensuring the security of IoT infrastructures (35%). This is not surprising, as the number of connected devices such as smartphones, tablets, sensors, robots and drones is increasing dramatically, according to the IEEE.
The findings of the study speak of the industry's readiness to invest in artificial intelligence and to engage in building stronger cloud infrastructures, said Milen Ganev from E-CARD. According to him, this will make the business not only more profitable, but also more dynamic in response to anthropogenic events, such as the pandemic. "It will ensure that in the future every business can maintain its activity so that it runs smooth, even if in the background the organization is redistributing and redirecting its resources," he added.