In our current blog series, we are looking at predictions for 2024 and beyond, identifying what technologies will be hot—like generative AI (artificial intelligence)—and what technologies will not. Today, let’s look at the top 10 strategic predictions from one analyst firm.
Every year, Gartner analysts present the top 10 strategic predictions. This is perhaps one of my favorite crystal balls to look into each year because the predictions are, well, grand, and while some of them stick and some of them do not, it does give an interesting picture of what the future will hold. Let’s take a look at this year’s predictions right now.
Through 2026, 30% of large companies will have a dedicated business unit or sales channels to access fast-growing machine customer markets. The bottomline is with technology we will see the rise of a new, digitally enabled supply chain, sales, marketing, customer service, digital commerce, and customer experience. We have to. Gartner suggests by 2025, more than 25% of sales and service centers in large organizations will be fielding calls from machine customers. It is clear this is the direction we are headed.
By 2026, 50% of G20 members will experience monthly electricity rationing, turning energy-aware operations into either a competitive advantage or a major failure risk. We know the grid is aging—and we also know technology can help. We shall see if businesses heed this warning and take the necessary steps to optimize businesses when it comes to energy.
In 2026, 30% of workers will leverage digital charisma filters to achieve previously unattainable advances in their career. What exactly is a digital charisma filter? It prompts and sifts communications to make them more socially effective in various situations, according to Gartner. Ultimately, it will make leaders and coworkers more effective in social circumstances. It will expand hiring to include more diverse workers. It is an interesting concept, and certainly one to watch.
By 2027, 25% of Fortune 500 companies will actively recruit neurodivergent talent across conditions like autism, ADHD, and dyslexia to improve business performance. Good? 25% seems a bit low, especially if we are talking about fields like engineering, but I suppose something isn’t nothing.
By 2027, GenAI tools will be used to explain legacy business applications and create appropriate replacements, reducing modernization costs by 70%. With this we will see the rise of LLMs (large language models) to help modernize legacy business applications in a way that is a bit more cost effective.
By 2027, 45% of chief information security officers will expand their remit beyond cybersecurity, due to increasing regulatory pressure and attack surface expansion. Yup, don’t doubt that one. Cybersecurity certainly will need to evolve in the next five years. Expanding the portfolio of the CISO will enable a unification of security management.
By 2027, the productivity value of AI will be recognized as a primary economic indicator of national power. Ekk. Apparently, governments better get moving.
By 2028, the rate of unionization among knowledge workers will increase by 1,000%, motivated by the adoption of GenAI. Again, don’t doubt the need for this, although that is a rather large percentage. Interestingly, organizations that adopt GenAI and fail to clearly address AI anxiety among their knowledge workers will experience 20% higher rates of turnover. That is something to consider.
By 2028, enterprise spend on battling malinformation will surpass $30 billion, cannibalizing 10% of marketing and cybersecurity budgets to combat a multifront threat. Sure, misinformation—or as Gartner says malinformation—is certainly something we will certainly need to protect against. It will be interesting to see if that is the amount spent by 2028.
By 2028, there will be more smart robots than frontline workers in manufacturing, retail, and logistics due to labor shortages. We all know there is a labor shortage in many industries—and we know technology can fill in the gap, but we also know industries like manufacturing and construction are slow to adopt technologies. We will see how quickly this actually comes to fruition.
It is no surprise to see cybersecurity, robotics, and generative AI top the list this year. What is a bit of a surprise is the number of DEI (diversity, equity, and inclusion) initiatives that make the list, with two out of the 10 identifying ways that businesses will address the workforce. What are your thoughts? What will top your list for 2024 and beyond?
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