6 hot digital transformation trends, and 4 going cold
CIO | Apr 15, 2018
Now considered essential to driving profits, digital transformations are shifting from platform-first strategies to initiatives that leverage emerging technologies in service of clear customer and operational goals.
Copyright © 2018 IDG Communications, Inc.
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Digital transformation is a top priority for businesses and that won’t change anytime soon. But there are some digital transformation trends gaining traction, while others fall behind. Here are six of the hottest digital transformation trends and four that have gone cold.
Location services
Location services allow businesses to engage directly with consumers, improving the customer experience. But it’s also useful in healthcare, where it can be used to help patients navigate hospitals, figure out where to park and pre-register or check in to appointments.
Atomic pricing in the cloud
Pricing for cloud services has moved to a per-second pricing model. Dignity Health’s Doctor Shez Partovi says the company’s cloud platform can now automatically scale to accommodate an increase in demand, like hits for the flu during flu season. Paying on a per-second basis takes out the guesswork, and saves money.
Blockchain for business
While businesses aren’t sure how blockchain or cryptocurrency will work in the enterprise, most innovative leaders already have their eye on the technology. It’s already being used to help businesses create smart contract agreements and organize large datasets, although its true value in the enterprise is still undetermined.
Identity management in the cloud
Expect to see a push for streamlining online identity management. Businesses are eager to find an easier way for users to manage multiple online accounts and identities across various platforms. As a result, we might see a change in the way we login to websites in the coming year.
AI, machine learning
Machine learning is a subset of artificial intelligence, and it can help improve the accuracy and reliability of software algorithms. It’s a technology that will be fundamental to businesses eager to perfect chatbots, customer service and data management strategies.
Interactive voice
With the popularity of in-home voice assistants like Google Home and Alexa, businesses are eager to embrace interactive voice features. Healthcare content publishers like The Mayo Clinic have already made their content available on these devices, allowing users to ask their virtual assistants different health related questions.
Cooling
While those are the hottest trends in digital transformation, there are others that are losing favor. Cloud-first strategies have cooled off. At this point, if you’re only just starting to talk about the cloud, you’re behind the curve. Businesses are also abandoning a “mobile-first strategy,” which prioritized mobile and tablet platforms over desktop. There’s also a decline in building in-house IoT platforms now that third-party platforms are more widely available. And finally, businesses are done using multiple tools for collaboration, instead choosing one or two popular communication services for the entire company.
If your business is ready to embrace any of these six trends, you’re on the right path to digital transformation.
Location services
Location services allow businesses to engage directly with consumers, improving the customer experience. But it’s also useful in healthcare, where it can be used to help patients navigate hospitals, figure out where to park and pre-register or check in to appointments.
Atomic pricing in the cloud
Pricing for cloud services has moved to a per-second pricing model. Dignity Health’s Doctor Shez Partovi says the company’s cloud platform can now automatically scale to accommodate an increase in demand, like hits for the flu during flu season. Paying on a per-second basis takes out the guesswork, and saves money.
Blockchain for business
While businesses aren’t sure how blockchain or cryptocurrency will work in the enterprise, most innovative leaders already have their eye on the technology. It’s already being used to help businesses create smart contract agreements and organize large datasets, although its true value in the enterprise is still undetermined.
Identity management in the cloud
Expect to see a push for streamlining online identity management. Businesses are eager to find an easier way for users to manage multiple online accounts and identities across various platforms. As a result, we might see a change in the way we login to websites in the coming year.
AI, machine learning
Machine learning is a subset of artificial intelligence, and it can help improve the accuracy and reliability of software algorithms. It’s a technology that will be fundamental to businesses eager to perfect chatbots, customer service and data management strategies.
Interactive voice
With the popularity of in-home voice assistants like Google Home and Alexa, businesses are eager to embrace interactive voice features. Healthcare content publishers like The Mayo Clinic have already made their content available on these devices, allowing users to ask their virtual assistants different health related questions.
Cooling
While those are the hottest trends in digital transformation, there are others that are losing favor. Cloud-first strategies have cooled off. At this point, if you’re only just starting to talk about the cloud, you’re behind the curve. Businesses are also abandoning a “mobile-first strategy,” which prioritized mobile and tablet platforms over desktop. There’s also a decline in building in-house IoT platforms now that third-party platforms are more widely available. And finally, businesses are done using multiple tools for collaboration, instead choosing one or two popular communication services for the entire company.
If your business is ready to embrace any of these six trends, you’re on the right path to digital transformation.
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