In 2020, Schneider Electric published its technology trend report that was inspired by remote
work, collaboration, and organizational opportunities. The report focused on methodologies
that would enable businesses to keep up with flexibility, market demand, and product
satisfaction while Gartner predicted that distributed cloud, AI engineering, cybersecurity
mesh, and composable business drive would be part of the top tech trends of 2021. Following
the pandemic in 2021, most businesses became aware that tech trends directly affect business
operations and employee performance.
Working less but smart became a priority for organizations, particularly those dealing in
software development. Simply put, the pandemic has accelerated the speed of digital
transformation and this development can no longer be passed over. While we are not fortune-
tellers, we can predict one thing as we shift into 2022, these top tech trends are likely to stay
and shape businesses in the next few years.
So let’s take a look at the top 8 tech trends of 2021!
- Digital Twin Tech
- Automation
- Natural Language Processing
- Utilization Of APIs
- AI Democratization
- Acceleration of Cloud Computing
- Machine Learning And Deep Learning
- Conclusion
1. Digital Twin Tech
The concept of digital twins has been around for a few decades, but this trend has recently gained momentum due to the underlying technology that has allowed this concept to acquire advanced capabilities. Initially, digital twins were adopted for their ability to keep track, simulate and streamline the data of multiple devices, however in recent years the Internet of Things(IoT), 3D simulation, big data along with artificial intelligence (AI), and other technologies have transformed this technology. Cloud-enabled digital twins are set to slowly take over traditional analytics methods. Along with mirrored environments, intelligent twins can build on compatible and comprehensive data that will allow businesses to acquire more flexibility, optimize their operations and identify issues at the earliest. The adoption of digital twins will allow businesses to revise their strategies based on the acquisition of useful data.
2. Automation
It’s not a surprise that automation was one of the top trends in 2021. 80% of companies are now using automation software and plan to make the most of it to boost productivity.
Automation allows employees to focus on self-development and spend less time on repeated
and low cognitive demand tasks. For instance, instead of performing a task over and over again, a developer can simply use a bot that automates repetitive tasks. Not only does this save time, but it also makes software
development more dynamic.
Some benefits of automation in software development are:
- Speedy changes
- Replacement of manual processes
- Automated testing
- Increased team efficiency
The Trampery describes automation as ” The King”’ of all software development stages. Find out more about Gartner‘s IT Automation predictions here.
3. Natural Language Processing (NLP)
In 2020, the NLP market was valued at around $ 16 billion and was estimated to grow up to $127.26 billion by 2028. Natural language processing is an AI field that focuses on allowing machines to understand human language. NLP has been at the forefront of tech trends as the pandemic transformed business operations. Since 2021 focused on simplifying processes, NLP solutions have been inevitably popular in the robotics and process automation sectors.
Some common examples of NLP are:
- Email Filters
- Language Translation
- Search Results
- Smart Assistants
NLP is set to alter the way users interact with the Web as it will allow more tailored experiences by pulling precise information when conducting searches. Hence, it will considerably affect how we receive information such as product reviews or recommendations.
Early adoption of NLP can help businesses revise their marketing tactics and gain an edge over competitors.
4. Utilization Of APIs
Application Programming Interfaces (APIs) are constructs used in programming languages that make it easier for developers to create complex functionalities. The increased utilization of APIs will be fundamental to the success of businesses as traditional services shift online. The sudden increase of services such as online payment or user management can be largely attributed to APIs.
In 2021, it became essential to optimize APIs for better performance while providing secure and reliable real-time data access.
With new formats and protocols at hand, developers could deliver APIs that were not only developer-friendly but also secure and easier to integrate.
APIs will continue to matter in 2022 since they allow faster innovation and allow businesses to create high-quality products and stand out from the competition.
5. Artificial Intelligence (AI) Democratization
While we were all just getting acquainted with the benefits of AI and data democratization, the pandemic has made the implementation of AI vital for businesses. Companies, software development houses, governments, and other agencies sought the help of AI and machine learning to deal with the spread of the virus. Consequently, most businesses followed in their footsteps and adopted similar tools. Oftentimes we do not realize that AI is already part of our daily lives. A simple example would be Netflix suggestions or shopping recommendations.
AI not only makes business processes more efficient but also enables the creation of novel business models and the rapid execution of new products or services.
AI can assist with skill shortages but also increase the ability of employees through the help of digital assistants- two factors that will determine the success of remote teams in the next few years.
52% of companies accelerated the implementation of AI due to the pandemic. AI has rapidly become part of mainstream technology and this trend is expected to grow further in 2022.
6. Acceleration of Cloud Computing
With the surge in remote work and the increase in e-commerce activities, cloud adoption became a tech norm for some businesses. While most organizations are still at the early stage of cloud adoption, this step will enable businesses to unhitch productivity gains, drive effectiveness and innovate at scale.
Major players like Amazon Web Services, Google Cloud Platform, and Microsoft Azure are the leading authorities when it comes to Cloud.
With new trends, comes the opportunity for brand new job creations, tech savvy people can now seize some amazing roles such as DevOps Cloud Engineer or Cloud Reliability Engineer.
According to Forbes, we will see continuous innovation in Cloud and its implementation will be driven by sustainability and evolve according to new case requirements.
7. Machine Learning And Deep Learning
You’ve probably heard it all before, machine learning (ML) and deep learning were huge in 2021. Parts of AI, machine learning, and deep learning have revolutionized almost everything whether it’s personalized shopping experiences or logistics.
Machine learning is a component of a segment of AI. Algorithms are programmed to learn from Big Data (large volumes of data) to perform actions. Actions are undertaken according to past patterns and historical data. The critical information gathered produces more accurate patterns and hence more solid forecasts.
According to Techcrunch, every Fortune 500 company utilizes ML. By keeping up with ML innovations, businesses can plan the most efficient strategies to keep up with customer demands.
Conclusion
Knowing what lies behind can help businesses assess which technology trends worked best for them and which ones they should discard. Since most organizations now operate online, business leaders must equip themselves with the right tools to keep pace with market changes. Some other trends that were popular in 2021 are 5G, augmented reality, and cybersecurity. As we thread along this new way of living, businesses must be cognizant of emerging technologies that will shape the way we work and do business. Through the adoption of the above latest tech trends, businesses could gather key insights and improve their strategies and processes. New tools and concepts have made it possible for strategies to be adjusted and for productivity to be enhanced within remote teams.
As McKinsey stated ”We’ll experience more technological progress in the coming decade than we did in the preceding 100 years put together”.