What Does the Future of IT Look Like?
There’s a moment in the old sci-fi movie Terminator 2 where the protagonist John Conner contemplates the future—which hasn’t been written yet. In the real world of IT, technologies are moving us rapidly toward a future state where artificial intelligence (AI) like Skynet is a regular part of our lives. Like the movie, we don’t know exactly what the future of IT holds, but we can make some intelligent guesses about where we’re heading.
What Does the Future Hold for the IT Industry?
The Future of Technology
There’s no question IT is transforming us. Two decades ago, technology was an afterthought, housed in a basement server room. Today, CIOs have a place at the strategy table, running companies that understand their business is IT. Far from being in the back office, the world is now run by IT. But it isn’t a static process—IT is changing even as we write this. What can we expect in the coming years?
- AI will automate more workflows in the future, changing work forever. But far from being a worry that you will lose your job, instead, the machines will take away mundane tasks and allow human decision-making and creativity to increase.
- Advanced analytics will go beyond historical data to solve problems before they can happen. Predictive analytics will continue to improve outcomes in almost every industry. These algorithms will be everywhere, from predicting which patients are more likely to get sick to assessing when equipment should be repaired before it breaks down.
- Autonomous robots will be everywhere. They’ll deliver good but also handle things like disinfecting surfaces in hospitals or speeding up a factory assembly line.
- An increasing number of Internet of Things devices will impact fields like healthcare. Remote monitoring patients after surgery will continue to improve healthcare outcomes. With the adoption of edge computing, these devices will be more effective than ever before. Sensor-filled computers will communicate and make decisions to improve our health.
- Businesses will continue to move big processes to the cloud. As-a-Service models will take over security and infrastructure along with data storage. Cloud will be the new normal, with on-prem infrastructures largely a thing of the past.
- Cybersecurity will incorporate AI algorithms to speed up our security response. Security architectures will respond faster and more effectively than humans can in order to keep our data safe.
- Remote work will continue, with the majority of companies continuing to engage in dispersed IT work models. This will necessitate the optimization and resiliency of IT networks and the very internet we all depend on. Look for 5G as the new standard.
- Speaking of 5G, these networks will deploy and improve rapidly to deliver high bandwidth and low latency that can handle the demands we will place upon these secure networks. (We already know China is working on the first 6G networks.)
- Virtual and augmented reality will become normal tools for onboarding and employee training. These tools are already in use in medical schools and research facilities.
- High-tech jobs will be created while low-tech jobs will disappear. Companies are already upskilling their workforce to prepare them for this future state.
Are You Excited for the Future of IT?
The Custom Group of Companies matches technologists with forward-thinking companies to create this brave new world. Talk with our team today. We’re here to help.
