Emerging technology is a hot topic. The best way to realize the potential benefits and potential of all these things is in the context of modern IT approaches. Emerging technology was a phenomenon a few years ago. It was strange, but hadn’t there always been new technology? It felt like this new trend was worthwhile on the other. Although cloud computing and mobility have been around for a while, some people were still debating their disruptive potential. However, most companies were already on a path to completely changing the way they use technology.
CompTIA created the Emerging Technology community and the research team began to study emerging technology through broad tracking mechanisms, individual reports, and individual reports on internet-of-things and artificial intelligence. Two main lessons emerged over time. The first was that adoption was not in line with expectations. Whether it was end users who implemented technology or channel firms that sold technology, adoption was slower and more steady than it was rocketing. However, emerging technology was not disappearing from the minds of people. There were many uses for emerging technology, and interest was high.
Emerging technology seemed a bit misunderstood. The benefits and potential of all these things were best realized within the context of modern IT approaches. CompTIA research began a new project to better understand emerging technology. The whitepaper can be downloaded now. I will also be discussing the topic at ChannelCon in a panel discussion. Here are four key points that will help you understand how emerging technology fits into IT planning.
Strategic IT includes emerging technology.
Recent blog posts of mine discussed how strategic IT is a shift away from tactical thinking that has dominated for many decades. The future of technology is part of this. Companies are becoming more aggressive with their technology approach. IT leaders need to be more aware of emerging trends that could have an impact. A change in the competitive landscape is also happening. IT leaders need to be aware of emerging technology and how it can help them avoid losing market share to a competitor or a startup that has a different business model.
Emerging technology is not about the platform, but about the solutions.
This is the most significant difference between today’s emerging technology versus the trends of the past. Stratechery’s Ben Thompson wrote an article in the beginning of the year about how the basic computing platform has stabilized. If this is the case, then more energy will be directed towards solutions that sit on the platform. Emerging technologies are not standalone pieces that can be implemented, but rather components of those solutions. This shifts the IT’s main task from maintaining a platform to creating tailored solutions.
IT teams are now faced with the task of evaluating emerging technology.
Emerging technology eventually becomes a tactical activity. Companies make a procurement decision, implement the new tools and modify workflow to maximize their benefits. Businesses must consider a new strategic task before they can make a purchase decision. The formal evaluation of emerging technology is no longer a casual awareness. When evaluating which technologies may be able to help them move forward, companies must balance their budgetary concerns with their desire for technical change and support capabilities. This evaluation should be cross-functional, but the IT team might lead because technical details will drive many decisions.
In existing job roles, emerging technology skills are required.
New job titles are one of the most obvious examples of emerging technology causing confusion. Numerous reports have been written about how new job titles are poised to grow rapidly, but the truth is that these highly specialized titles may not be applicable across all businesses. Instead, there are a stable set of job positions across infrastructure, software development and cybersecurity; and all of these jobs need to be able to use new skills in emerging technologies.
It is unlikely that many companies have taken the time and thought to consider the innovative aspects associated with the emerging technology trend. The culture of strategic IT has enabled cutting-edge companies to adapt to new behaviors and have had great success. These success stories can help us learn from others and provide best practices and knowledge for others.