2020 tech trends that demand fast, reliable connectivity
It doesn’t seem that long ago when businesses viewed ‘digital’ in terms of upgrading computers.
The need to keep up with the way products like Microsoft Office sucked up significant amounts of hard drive space and memory, at each new iteration, dominated the discussion. Fast forward to today and digital has taken on a whole new meaning, morphing relentlessly into the all-encompassing business culture known as digital transformation.
But as businesses focus on the ‘front-end’ benefits of doing everything cheaper, faster, and more effectively, they soon realise that connectivity is the technology that underpins success.
Here are the main 2020 tech trends dependent on fast and reliable connectivity:
Cloud Computing
Cloud Computing discussions have become repetitive over recent years, and the fact remains that less than half of all enterprises use public cloud services right now (Forester Research).
Yet this is set to change rapidly as the business trailing behind realise they are in danger of losing a competitive edge.
According to statistics published by IDC, worldwide spending on public cloud services is set to grow from $229 billion in 2019 to nearly $500 billion in 2023. Western Europe is set to account for 20% of global spend.
Analytics is the new competitive edge
Analytics is set to become one of the most dominant focal points in 2020. Regardless of what industry you are in, the ability to collect customer data, process it and turn it into valuable insights is transforming competitive edge.
Making business decisions based on a hunch is no longer viable. Businesses need access to facts if they are to capitalise on opportunities and minimise threats.
And generating insights in real-time gives businesses the means to react instantly.
User (UX) and Customer Experience
The need to provide more profound, meaningful engagements between workers, retail and business customers is a crucial driver of digital transformation.
Advances in technology such as hardware (large format displays and video walls), software (marketing, training and productivity apps) and multimedia content are driving a need for high-speed, resilient connections.
Distributed workforces
2020 is set to see remote working become the new normal.
As research from companies including Gallup prove that workforces who operate remotely are more productive than those stuck behind desks all-day, remote working is set to become commonplace.
However, the benefits of remote working don’t just focus on productivity: the ability to recruit the best talent without being restricted by geographical boundaries continues to drive decisions.
When it comes to physical buildings, enterprises are increasingly questioning the logic of large corporate HQs in favour of flexible regional business space.
And the technology that underpins everything from cloud access to collaborative working is connectivity.
XaaS
Everything as a service (also referred to as anything as a service) is set to go mainstream in 2020.
Rather than delivering applications and services locally or on-site within an enterprise, XaaS makes products, tools and technologies available through the Cloud.
Three dominant Cloud-based technologies lead the XaaS revolution:
01 Software as a Service (SaaS)
SaaS provides a range of software applications such as Google Apps, Microsoft Office 365 and Salesforce.
02 Platform as a Service (PaaS)
PaaS includes Amazon Web Services (AWS), Elastic Beanstalk, and Google App Engine: pre-configured virtual machines and other resources for application development and testing.
03 Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS)
IaaS allows businesses to benefit from vendors who deploy and manage virtual machines in their own data centres — including Microsoft Azure, Google Compute Engine, and AWS Elastic Compute.
IoT
It’s sobering to think that the number of devices connected to the internet now exceeds the number of people on the planet (Gartner).
However, the growth of the Internet of Things (IoT) isn’t restricted to things like smart TV’s, smart fridges and security cameras used in the home.
29% of businesses have already installed IoT technology according to Vodafone’s latest IoT barometer.
Everything from machine learning to artificial intelligence and experiential retail experiences has an impact on the need for high-speed data transfer.
The death of ISDN and the move to VoIP and SIP
ISDN, the technology that allows voice and data transmission over a single analogue line is winding down quickly. BT, for example, will no longer sell ISDN connections in 2020 and is planning to phase the technology out by 2025.
The migration to VoIP, which allows calls to be made digitally over an IP network is well underway. However, around 8 million businesses still use ISDN.
Migrating to VoIP needs thought and planning, especially when it comes to connectivity. Business with low demand for data might not need the ultra-fast bandwidth associated with Fibre Leased Lines — but businesses aiming to embrace everything digital probably will.
How to future proof your connectivity
With Fibre Leased Line, WiFi 6, EFM, FTTC or ADSL options available, making the right choice to provide immediate gains and protection for the future can seem daunting.
However, reaching out to a voice and connectivity specialist at RunTech can provide you with all the knowledge and expertise you need to make informed decisions.
About RunTech
RunTech is a pioneering technology and innovation company, helping clients to create meaningful experiences in connected spaces. We deliver AV, voice and data solutions to break down boundaries, overcome distances as a barrier and redefine possibilities in the workplace, hospitality, retail and leisure.