Virtualization and Cloud executives share their predictions for 2017. Read them in this 9th annual VMblog.com series exclusive.
Contributed by Jeff Kavanaugh, VP and Managing Partner, High-Tech and Manufacturing, Infosys Consulting
Companies Look Towards Practical Applications for Digital Transformation
Digital transformation is already rushing at a breakneck pace, but global uncertainty may cause overall investments to taper off briefly next year. Companies will need to increase their focus on understanding the implications and opportunities of digital transformation, investing those dollars to implement what is already known and can be practically applied.
Artificial intelligence, IoT and digital automation technologies have already established themselves as key components in the push towards digital transformation, and in the face of a changing economy, stand poised for success in 2017.
2017 is the year of the amplified human: With all the hype from automation and artificial intelligence, next year we will reexamine the importance of people overall. In a business context, this means we will examine how people and companies can differentiate themselves through critical and creative thinking. Technology is providing an ever-longer lever to multiply our efforts, and the ability to think, communicate, and execute effectively will become a competitive advantage. We have gone from an environment where companies are starved for data, to one where we are drowning in it. The ability to think critically and creatively will make the difference.
The journey to cloud will continue in 2017: This is especially true in enterprise applications as routine business tasks and workflows will accelerate the transition to mobile. The great sensor consolidation will begin, as the froth of the IoT market will give way to expectations of profitability and viable business models. Digital manufacturing use cases will mature and real value will be realized beyond the highly visible early adopters.
Technologies will continue to intersect: Next year AI and big data will be the ultimate intersection points because they can turbocharge cost efficiencies and revenue opportunities in nearly every industry. As the use cases and business cases are developed, look for breakout stories for the companies where they combine two more of these technologies and apply with a fresh perspective
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About the Author
Jeff is VP and Managing Partner of the High-Tech and Manufacturing practices at Infosys Consulting. Jeff has been in consulting and industry for more than 20 years, and has become a noted expert on product development and supply chain.
