10 IT trends for 2023

  1. Smarter devices
    Artificial intelligence (AI) has been gathering pace over the years and not just as a means to simplify life through smart devices. While robots, wearable technology, appliances were the targets for this at first the evolution into other areas in well under way. Smart software applications are another addition to the IT industry as digitizing workplaces grows in importance. It starts with something as simple as automation!
  2. Datafication 
    As AI begins to spread through smartphones and office applications to name a few areas of life simplification, then the need for securing and safeguarding the attached data ramps up too. Datafication modifies these human tasks and activities into data-driven technology and as such the demand for storing the data the right way will be key. 
  3. Computing Power
     With so many devices being computerized, the need for a strong computer infrastructure is high. Evolving it to accommodate computer power is essential, for example we are currently 5G but it won’t be long before we are in the 6G era and taking advantage of the extra juice that brings to our devices.
  4. Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML)
    AI is already recognized as a superior tool for navigation apps, image and speech recognition. Beyond this it is making strides in analyzing interactions, making connections and insights that help in prediction. Think patterns in customer behavior that drive revenues, or enabling authorities to make good decisions on resource allocation across many sectors. It is an industry thought to grow to $57BN in 2023 alone. It’s subset ML is also part of that industry growth.
  5. Extended Reality (XR)
    Extended reality comprises technologies that simulate reality, virtual reality (VR), augmented reality (AR), and mixed reality (MR) and all things in between. Right now it is a big trend enabling the real world boundaries to be broken down. It will have value for medical fields and retail as well as the gaming community.
  6. Virtual Reality (VR) and Augmented Reality (AR)
    Virtual reality and augmented reality will continue to be a growing trend with both seeing enhanced. For example virtual reality which immerses a user in an environment, has been used in gaming extensively but is making inroads in medical and automotive fields to name two. Meanwhile augmented reality which enhances a user environment is a great training tool using simulations from offshore training to manufacturing. The global AR and VR market is expected to grow to $209.2BN by 2023.
  7. WEB3
    Web1 gave us the original www read only static websites. Web2/ Web 2.0 brought us user generated content such as social media. Web3 is hoped to be the decentralized web where technologies like blockchain, cryptocurrencies, non-fungible tokens (NFTs), and decentralized autonomous organizations (DAOs) enable creation of online spaces. Detractors say the large amount of electricity will be consumed to run these technologies and it remains to be seen if Web3 will get off the ground.
  8. Robotic Process Automation (RPA)
    RPA is the use of software to automate business processes such as processing transactions or dealing with data. Though there is a risk that removing people from the repetitive tasks tackled by RPA will threaten livelihoods, but it will also create them by altering existing jobs, in fact McKinsey says that less than 5% of occupations can be totally automated and 60% can be partially automated.
  9. Edge Computing
    Edge computing has replaced cloud computing as the next big thing. As the amount of data organizations are dealing with rises, cloud has not always able to accommodate. For example getting data to a data center for processing. This is where edge comes in, data is processed on the edge or periphery of the network close to where the originating source is. It can therefore be used to process time-sensitive data in remote locations with limited or no connectivity to a centralized location. It is expected to reach $6.72BN by 2023.
  10. 5G
    5G services are expected to advance and enable services that rely on advanced technologies like AR and VR, alongside cloud based gaming services like Google Stadia and more. It will gain ground in applications such as traffic management and smart grid as two examples. Telecom companies like Verizon, T Mobile, Apple, Nokia Corp etc are currently creating the 5G applications that will push 5G Network subscriptions to $4.4BN by the end of 2027.