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In early November 2021, the research company IDC released its forecasts for the development of the global IT industry in 2022 and subsequent years.

According to the researchers, businesses need to prioritize investments in digital tools to expand physical assets. As a result, by 2024, more than half of all investments in IT solutions will be related to digital transformation.

According to the analysts, the 10 most important IT predictions are as follows:

  1. Bringing a digital approach to customers and operations: By 2024, digitally transformed companies will deliver responsive customer experiences and sustainable operating models by shifting 70% of all technology and service spending to “as-a-service” and outcomes-focused models. This investment will be required to support a variety of customer engagement scenarios and data-driven operations.
  2. New Cloud Basics: By 2023, 40% of companies will redesign their cloud product selection processes to focus on business outcomes rather than IT requirements. Managing, optimizing and securing a variety of cloud resources and data sets will be the most important operational challenges for IT companies.
  3. Management becomes the top challenge for IT teams: By 2023, 80% of companies will use cloud services with Artificial Intelligence (AI) to manage, optimize and protect dispersed resources and data. Unfortunately, 70% of companies will not be able to achieve full value because of the mismatch between IT skills and the small number of highly skilled IT staff, and because of the active poaching of successful employees from mid-size to larger businesses.
  4. All-as-a-service is becoming ubiquitous: By 2022, 40% of large companies’ IT budgets will be redistributed through the adoption of integrated service packages in areas such as security, cloud platforms, virtual workspace and communications.
  5. Systemic technology transitions are coming: By 2026, CEOs facing system or mandatory transitions will triple IT spending to develop new environments, but will struggle to achieve the required 6x increase in operational technology efficiency. IT organizations working with customers across industries are encouraged to think now about how a few systemic changes (such as those related to 5G networks, electric vehicles or blockchain) will impact technology plans and business priorities.
  6. Automate and augment: By 2024, 70% of companies will get twice as much meaningful return on investment in technology that enhances employee and customer operations compared to investing in automating individual processes. The greatest gains will come from an integrated effort to enhance the decision-making experience and activities for customers, patients, students, and regular workers.
  7. Data Governance poses both challenges and opportunities: By 2025, regional differences in privacy, security, location, use and disclosure requirements will force 80% of businesses to redesign their data governance processes to operate autonomously. Successful companies will leverage digital sovereignty for new investments in resource and data management strategies and IT automation projects.
  8. Rethinking the digital experience: By 2023, 50% of multinational companies will devote half of their spending to new technology equipment and communications, as well as upgrading and rethinking the customer and employee experience. Companies that optimize digital as it relates to work, health and entertainment will have a long-term advantage in attracting and retaining customer loyalty and opportunities to grow their numbers.
  9. Sustainability becomes a reality: By 2025, 60% of countries will have digital sustainability teams tasked with assessing, certifying, and coordinating the use of data and analytics platforms for business and IT sustainability. By 2024, new tools, data, and analytics will make it easier to set meaningful sustainability goals, but meeting these business and regulatory goals will still be a challenge for most companies.
  10. Data controls will come under scrutiny: By 2025, public company valuations will be based on confidence in controlling the proper and effective use of data as much as financial controls, leading to increased spending on data-centric solutions. IT leaders must prioritize the selection of technology and service partners based on their ability to solve the most critical business challenges, IDC says.