The Market Trends Forecast for 2021 According to Gartner
The year 2020 was unprecedented in many ways and had a profound impact on all aspects of our lives. With the start of the new year, businesses around the world are looking forward to what lies ahead in 2021. Gartner, a leading research and advisory company, has recently released its market trends forecast for 2021. Let’s take a look at the key trends that businesses should be aware of.
1. Hyperautomation
Hyperautomation is all about combining different technologies, such as artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning (ML), robotic process automation (RPA), and intelligent business management software (iBPMS), to automate and optimize processes across the entire enterprise. In 2021, we are likely to see more companies embrace hyperautomation to increase efficiency, reduce costs, and improve customer experiences. According to Gartner, hyperautomation will be one of the top strategic technology trends in 2021.
2. Multiexperience
Multiexperience is the notion of integrating multiple touchpoints from different devices and channels to create a unified user experience. This trend is driven by the increasing use of technologies such as virtual reality (VR), augmented reality (AR), and mixed reality (MR). In 2021, businesses will need to provide seamless and personalized experiences across different platforms to meet the rising expectations of users. Gartner predicts that by 2023, more than 25% of the mobile apps, progressive web apps, and web portals will have added voice search, facial recognition, and AR capabilities.
3. Distributed Cloud
Distributed cloud refers to the distribution of public cloud services to different physical locations while maintaining the operation, governance, updates, and evolution of these services centrally. This trend is particularly relevant for businesses that operate in multiple locations and want to benefit from the scalability and flexibility of cloud computing without compromising data sovereignty and compliance requirements. According to Gartner, by 2025, the majority of cloud service platforms will provide at least some distributed cloud services that execute at the point of need.
4. Privacy-Enhancing Computation
Privacy-enhancing computation is a set of techniques that enable computing on encrypted data without revealing the data itself. This trend is becoming increasingly important as privacy regulations, such as the European Union’s General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA), impose stricter rules on data processing and sharing. In 2021, businesses will need to invest in privacy-enhancing computation technologies to protect sensitive data and build trust with their customers. According to Gartner, by 2025, half of the large organizations will adopt privacy-enhancing computation for processing data in untrusted environments.
Conclusion
In summary, the market trends forecast for 2021 according to Gartner highlights the growing importance of technologies such as hyperautomation, multiexperience, distributed cloud, and privacy-enhancing computation. Businesses that want to succeed in the new year need to stay ahead of these trends and adopt them strategically to drive growth, innovation, and resilience. By doing so, they can navigate the uncertainties of the post-pandemic world and position themselves for success in the years to come.
