Industry executives and experts share their predictions for 2022. Read them in this 14th annual VMblog.com series exclusive.
The technology trends that will shape 2022 and beyond
By Matt Watts, Chief Technology Evangelist,
NetApp
The evolution of technology is constant, driving organizations
to continually invest in digital transformation initiatives. Where will the
technology evolution lead in 2022? Below are the top technology trends we
predict will gain momentum in 2022 and beyond as the digital transformation
accelerates.
Cloud
Adoption Growth
Cloud adoption will accelerate as supply chain constraints
drive information technology buyers to find alternatives to traditional
on-premises infrastructure. This transition will increase demand from
businesses for visibility into their data - how it is structured and where it
stored - to ensure efficient use of compute capacity in the cloud. Companies
that upgrade their IT networks and facilities for advanced analytics,
automation, and advanced manufacturing technologies will most efficiently adapt
to the cloud.
Technical
Talent and Skills Challenges
According to Forrester, there will be fierce
competition to retain and hire skilled IT workers, and companies will face a
13.8% attrition rate of IT personnel. To retain talent and thrive through the
shortage of skilled workers, organizations need to focus on training and
education programs for current employees. IT managers can also invest in
technologies that remedy the labor and skills gap such as low code, no code and
artificial intelligence (AI) solutions.
AI
Adoption at the Edge
The adoption of AI technology at the edge of networks
will continue to accelerate across the manufacturing, transportation,
agriculture, entertainment and hospitality industries. For example, the
agriculture and food processing industries will use AI for harvesting and
packaging. An explosion in ‘Tiny Machine Learning' chipsets for low-cost and
resource-constrained devices such as remote sensors that can collect and
process data at the edge will drive this trend. These chipsets will fuel the
ever-growing edge-core-cloud data pipeline, which industries will need to
access and leverage to differentiate themselves in the marketplace.
Realized
Returns on Digital Transformation
Data analytics and optimization of digital services
will drive increased return on investment (ROI) in cloud adoption throughout
the public and private sectors. For example, cloud financial operations
(FinOps) will improve through increased automation and the development of
smarter applications. Cloud providers will deliver more services through
containerized solutions and microservices.
Quantum
Computing Acceleration
Quantum computing will accelerate as major IT players
and startups use the technology for complex tasks such as drug discovery,
financial risk calculation, automotive battery design, and supply chain
optimization. Organizations will be more vocal about their quantum computing
strategy in 2022, sharing how they will deliver quantum computing as a service
to their customers and overcome challenges such as building a data pipeline
into the quantum computing cloud.
Sustainability
Sustainability and net zero carbon emission targets
will continue to be a top priority for organizations. Enterprise customers will
demand transparency from companies on their sustainability practices and
throughout supply chains. Hyperscale datacenters will drive innovation in
datacenter design and operations that increase resource utilization and
incentivize customers to understand and use the appropriate data storage and
processing technologies for their businesses.
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Matt Watts, CTE at NetApp
As CTE, Matt Watts provides guidance on NetApp’s overall strategy and technology solutions to a wide base of customers and the global partner community. Matt is also part of the international leadership team providing advice and guidance on technology and transformation.
Matt is increasingly in demand as a keynote speaker, having a way of combining his knowledge of the IT industry with anecdotes and stories that bring technology to life with witty, easily understandable examples.
Prior to this role, Matt Project Managed a number of significant IT projects; managed System Engineers responsible for providing installation and onsite support; as well as overseeing IT outsourcing contracts. This experience has given him contact with all levels of Leadership enabling him to understand, communicate with and support clients with their IT and transformation Strategies.
Matt Watts shares his experiences and industry learnings on his personal blog www.watts-innovating.com.