The year is slowly coming to an end. But what can we expect in 2020 and what trends will shape our lives? Gartner gave her forecast for next year at the IT symposium Xpo 2019. The research company bases its trend forecast on so-called Smart Spaces, a hypothetical physical environment in which humans and technology-driven systems interact in increasingly open, connected, coordinated and intelligent ecosystems.
In these Smart Spaces, Gartner defines ten trends for 2020 that are both technologically and humanly shaped.
Hyper automation
Automation is already a central and much discussed topic in many areas. Hyper-automation describes the combination of instruments such as machine learning, software or robotics with automation processes.
Hyper-automation thus describes the steps nitwemid are taking to improve and shape the future of industry.
Multi-Experience
Multi-experience combined two central trends of our time. While social networks have changed how people interact in the digital world, technologies like Augmented Reality, Virtual Reality and Mixed Reality help us to perceive the virtual environment. The combination of both aspects creates a multi-sensory and multimodal experience.
Democratization of knowledge
Sharing is a megatrend that not only changes the automotive industry, but also how we pass on knowledge. The democratisation of expertise is aimed at giving people access to technical and business expertise (such as the sales process and economic analysis). Data, platforms and analytics help to make access easier and easier.
Human enhancement
Digitisation does not stop at the user either. Developments such as Neuralink by Elon Musk and other ideas for the physical and psychological expansion of human skills fall under this trend. With digital implants and the associated access to data and interfaces, human expansion will soon no longer be limited to science fiction.
Transparency and Traceability Trends
Trust is good, but control is better. Consumers today are increasingly aware of the relevance and value of their data and want a transparent view of what is happening with their information.
But companies and political organizations are also placing greater emphasis on transparency and tracking. New technologies in particular require different policies and solutions than in the past.
“The Empowered Edge”
Edge Computing is, as I already mentioned, one of the central technologies of the next years. It will support processes more efficiently and purposefully in the future. Especially with the advent of the Internet of Things and self-propelled cars, such an optimization is urgently needed.
Decentralized Cloud
With the advent of edge computing, the cloud must reinvent itself. A few years ago, cloud computing was praised as the absolute solution for all IT processes, but now it needs to become more decentralized. Decentralized cloud therefore means the distribution of public cloud services to different locations. Away from one provider or service for everything.
Autonomy of Things
The Internet of Things becomes a signpost of our time. The devices begin to “talk” to each other and automate much of the still often manual functions with the help of artificial intelligence. Whether autonomous driving, robots for the household or drones that deliver parcels. The self-determined machines will become part of every cityscape. Gartner predicts that as AI advances, they will learn to interact with people and constantly improve.
Blockchain 2.0
A topic that became particularly relevant last year was Blockchain. More and more companies have relied on this technology to reposition themselves and bring confidence back into the Internet and corporate systems. But a real example for a successful, all-encompassing blockchain has not yet been found. This should change, because if the technology is used correctly, it has the potential to completely transform industry and everyday life and raise them to a new level of security and efficiency.
Security in Artificial Intelligence
As a result of increasing awareness of the importance of data and their benefits, innovation technologies such as AI and machine learning must also become increasingly safer. In order to keep the risks for companies and private individuals as low as possible and to reduce fears, security concepts of artificial intelligence are needed to protect them from misuse by third parties and to make them more trustworthy.
These ten trends are just some of the things that will shape our next year. However, they are a guide to the strategies that companies need to consider in order to remain successful in the long term.
