Top IT Trends to Watch Out For in 2017

Cutting-edge technologies will continue to dominate in 2017. This means more efficiency and faster turnaround time for technology-based tasks. But as with all things new, there are also underlying implications that are bound to be felt in some areas.

Without further ado, here are the top IT trends for 2017 that are likely to impact in varied ways those in the business and tech sectors:

 

  1. The Rise of the Bots

Chatbots were one of the most hailed apps of 2016, pushing tech bigwigs like Microsoft, Slack, and Facebook to develop the technology in their backyard. In 2017, business bots will advance their way into research and development and sales or marketing, particularly in the e-commerce platform. For customer service, bots will be able to automate such processes as receiving orders or sending an inquiry to a customer representative agent.

 

 

  1. AI, Machine Learning, Deep Learning to Power Up Major Systems

Many of your business processes could be integrated with AI technology. But first, you’ll need to “feed” your cloud with tons of data and memory. Then machine learning and deep learning, which are subsets of AI, will be able to use their neural networks or algorithms to carry out instructions like recognizing images or detecting fraud, which can be of significant value when tracking or monitoring business scenarios in banking.

 

  1. Apps Becoming Smarter

Digital assistants are one of the most common examples of intelligent apps, taking charge of simple, routine tasks in the workplace such as sorting your e-mails and highlighting important content that you need to pay attention to. On the farther end of the spectrum, your software and big data needs will be powered by AI-capable technologies. For example, your AI-enabled e-commerce apps will be able to analyze market data such as customer preferences so you’ll be able to offer better choices for customers shopping online.

 

  1. The IoT in Humanitarian Missions

Nowadays, drones are no longer confined to be used by hobbyists alone. Both startup and major enterprises are exploring the ability of drones to deliver food and medicine in disaster relief operations, and animal conservation groups are also flying drones to track animal populations.

Next to drones, robots and autonomous vehicles are also part of the Internet of Things. Altogether, they can help your business revolutionize people’s life at home, in the office, on the roads, and in healthcare facilities. The caveat is that joining the fray might not give you instant success, as there are both technical and nontechnical issues you would have to contend with.

 

  1. Virtual Reality and Augmented Reality Going Mainstream

VR and AR are more popularly known among gamers, but as with all technologies, they have been evolving to capture the attention of other markets as well.

In the healthcare industry, for example, VR is being used to deliver therapy to stroke patients. The idea is to create a multi-sensory environment, where the brain responds to positive stimuli, helping people overcome their fears and recover from physical injuries.

You could also tap VR and AR technologies to train employees in remote scenarios or help your customers try out a new system under development using immersive experiences that are the definitive features of such technologies.

 

  1. Automation of Jobs

Automation of jobs has been around for quite some time but will continue with more complementary technologies apart from robots with AI capabilities. Specifically, jobs in warehouses, manufacturing, and trucking will be supplemented by computer vision, remote sensors, and autonomous driving. These technologies aim to eliminate unnecessary manual labor and expensive operational costs. Despite technological explosions though, you’d do well to train people in new jobs such as IT support outsourcing.

 

 

 

  1. Always on Mobile

People and systems are perennially going mobile these days. Customers are engaging with business on their mobile devices at every opportunity they could have. Businesses that do not have mobile sites or offer mobile services are bound to be forgotten any time soon. Employees are being encouraged to bring their own devices at work alongside certain parameters of course.

Your IT service desk has to follow in the always-on-mobile footsteps lest you fall out of the loop. Moreover, you could use mobile platforms to streamline your business and personal data to do away with disparate segregation of crucial data.

 

As the saying goes, the possibilities are endless. This also applies in the context of technological discoveries. If it seems to be a far-fetched idea, there’s also a good chance that someone is already working at it, ready to make that technology see the light of day sooner or later. It’s then very important for you to keep an eye on current trends and start visualizing how they could help your business grow in the now as well as into the future.

 

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