The new normal arrived in early 2020 to change things for good. The technology sector’s modernization, affected just as all others, will have a vital role in 2021 business operations. When talking about this new modality it’s impossible not to think of companies being faced and having to adapt to anywhere operations and its implications, such as digital transformation or cybersecurity. Within digitalization, we can find services that can be accessed on-demand over the Internet, establishing the tendency of everything as a service (XaaS). Also challenged by this unprecedented situation is customer experience, being tested at its best.
However, one of the most powerful trends coming this entering year is AI, Artificial Intelligence, and it’s rapidly expanding world of applications. Closely related to AI usage is the Internet of Things — AI focuses on receiving data while IoT works to capture a large amount of it being transmitted.
AI is making a positive impact on almost every human’s life thanks to the numerous applications across industries and modalities. Whether it’s a robotics prototype or a new feature of in-home technology or cellphones, Artificial Intelligence has slowly but surely taken over our everyday life. Furthermore, as the motor of Robotics, IoT, Big Data, and other emerging technologies it’ll continue to be the main source of innovation in the future.
When seeking an advantage over competitors and being more efficient, AI is a powerful tool that, if used correctly, can make a big difference. Being this said, we can expect to see all faces of AI in 2021, the good, the bad, and the ugly one that perturbs training data to deliberately throw off AI.
Just as it happens with Artificial Intelligence, the number of devices using IoT technology is growing exponentially. These devices range from medical equipment to Google Nest or Amazon Echo.
Blending IoT and AI together results in a powerful boost to operational efficiency. Businesses can manage their risks better and in a more timely manner, eliminating costly unplanned downtime and focusing on more important, time-sensitive tasks.
A major strategic point for IT-driven businesses for 2021 and beyond are anywhere operations. Thanks to the COVID-19 pandemic shifting most workers to a cozier, more familiar work environment (their homes), businesses have also shifted their way of working. Deploying business services across a distributed infrastructure based on reliable software has made it so that people can work anywhere and businesses can still reach their projected goals.
Without a doubt, when it comes to doing business in 2021, we see XaaS as a big part of it. As the name implies, it really means “everything” can be turned into a service! It’s not just technology— business efficiency support, customer engagement, and product development all fall under this umbrella label.
This is why providing cloud services is one of the growth trends in digital transformation. As examples of what we are referring to we can list SaaS, PaaS, Desktop-as-a-Service (DaaS), Hardware-as-a-Service (HaaS), Healthcare-as-a-Service (HaaS), Communication-as-a-Service (CaaS), Security-as-a-Service (SECaaS), Transport-as-a-Service (TaaS), etc.
The COVID-19 pandemic didn’t make customer experience important but, just like with everything else, it certainly transformed it. Lockdowns and lengthy isolation periods all over the world have made users incredibly dependent on seamless, engaging software experiences. Going forward, as a way to one-up competitors, business owners will undoubtedly have to put more thought into providing reliable digital channels for their customers.
The new normal is certainly here to stay, but that doesn’t mean businesses have to find themselves unprepared for what comes next. The trends listed in this article only scratch the surface of what a “normal” business can look and operate like after the COVID-19 pandemic. With these highlights in mind, our team of experts at TechAid can help you figure out how to best move forward with your business plans so as to help you achieve your goals.
This article was written by Federico Rodríguez Buvinic
Marketing & Sales Coordinator at TechAID
LinkedIn: Federico Rodríguez Buvinic
Bibliography:
https://mariansalzman.com/2020-trend-report/
https://www.zdnet.com/article/top-8-trends-shaping-digital-transformation-in-2021/
https://www.analyticsinsight.net/top-technology-trends-that-will-redefine-businesses-in-2021/
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