Emerging Technologies

Edge computing refers to devices that collect, generate, process or otherwise handle data and function not on what is commonly referred to as a computer network but in a hybrid setting. This vast array (and growing) number of devices in operations produce a substantial amount of data that is sent back to a common processing center and is further processed with the outcome put to use. This is what is expected to drive the Edge computing market to $7 billion by 2025. That is a 7-time increase from 2019. Once again, another technological initiative with new components that has begun to fall on the plates of program and project managers. It is also driving demand for data scientists, that is another profession in short supply.

Now for cloud computing. It is a technological architecture supporting a wide variety of information processing and usage functions and features. Cloud computing are hosted technology solutions of a contractor(s) for operations of their customers. It is expected to grow from a reported $370+ billion market in 2020 to a figure topping $830 billion USD in 2025. Once again, another technological initiative with double-digit growth rate. Like edge, cloud is coming across the desks of program and project managers more frequently these days. Some executives are thankful for removing the burden of thinking, planning and executing the technology infrastructure necessary for their success from their brains. It allows them to easily scale (+ and -) upon demand and that is a great benefit in today’s rapidly changing environment. Extending some of the underlying benefits of cloud computing is the fact (+ and -) that you have someone else responsible for privacy and regulatory compliance. That is another brain burden removed from the minds of executives.

The challenges of digital business transformation, privacy and compliance have fueled the growth of both edge and cloud solutions. This is particularly true for small and medium sized organizations. Many believe this trend will continue for the foreseeable future. With all that is changing, who could blame any business leader looking to off-load their IT infrastructure to a highly qualified 3^rd party. This allows them to concentrate on the business side of the growth equation. So, combined edge and cloud technology initiatives, will grow and increase expectations and demands being placed on program and project managers for at least the next few years!

Internal competition is on the rise!  All must exercise caution given the increasingly high level of internal competition that many organizations have begun to experience.  The Information Technology part of the organizations no longer owns technology.  Today, they may not even be called upon to support it!  Some internal business components of the organization have begun to research and analyze emerging technologies and build their business case for action, fund it and implements it.  Much of the time the implementation is on an external cloud by a technology vendor.  More often then not, that vendor introduced the emerging technology to that internal business component.

INSIGHT: In a report, Accenture stated that, “Leading in this new decade means working to redefine the intersection between people and technology.”  Clearly every part of today’s organizations must do this within as well as for their external customers as well as other stakeholders.

Internal competition around the use of emerging technologies given their potential implications both positive and negative will likely continue to grow rapidly at least through 2025. With that management at all levels need to keep this in mind as the challenges for growth between now and 2025 are not likely to decrease.  They will more than likely increase and an accelerating path ahead. The best approach for management going forward is to seek an objective source of information about the technologies that hold the most promise to their organization. Being cognizant of these and their potential implications is half the battle that we are all most likely to experience.  At least for the next few years. Are you competing internally? What is your personal strategy to win the technology race that we have entered? Two very important questions we must all consider and have answers to!

As if competition was not challenging enough, now we are competing within and throughout our organizations. All must exercise caution given the increasingly high level of internal competition that many organizations have begun to experience.  The information technology (IT) part of the organization no longer owns technology.  Today, they may not even be called upon to support it!  Some internal business components of the organization have begun to research and analyze emerging technologies and build their business case for action, funds it and implements it.  Much of the time the implementation is on an external cloud by a technology vendor.  More often then not, that vendor introduced the emerging technology to that internal business component and shows the value in a case study or white paper.

INSIGHT: In a report, Accenture stated that, “Leading in this new decade means working to redefine the intersection between people and technology.”  Clearly every part of today’s organizations must do this internally as well as for their external customers as well as other stakeholders.

Internal competition around the use of emerging technologies given their potential implications both positive and negative will likely continue to grow rapidly at least through 2025. With that, management at all levels need to keep this in mind as the challenges for growth between now and 2025 are not likely to decrease.  They will more than likely increase and an accelerating path ahead. The best approach for management going forward is to seek an objective source of information about the technologies that hold the most promise to their organization. Being cognizant of these and their potential implications is half the battle that we are all most likely to experience.  We should repeatedly answer a few questions over the next few years. Are you competing internally? What is your personal strategy to win the technology race that we have entered? How prepared are we with the necessary knowledge about the emerging technology? These are three very important questions we must all consider and had better have answers to!

Autonomous systems (AS) are another accelerating segment of the emerging technology marketplace in the next few years. The majority of the information under this heading relates to vehicles, but has expanded beyond that! Estimates of the autonomous vehicle (sometimes referred to as self-driving vehicle) market is projected to grow to between 30% and 35% compound annual growth rate (CAGR) from 2019 to 2025.  This would put the 2025 global market value of between $10 and $13 billion USD.

The overall autonomous vehicle market takes advantage of multiple emerging technologies and heavily relies on GPS, artificial intelligence, 3D imaging, LIDAR and RADAR, and advanced sensor technology to properly operate and guide the vehicles. Consider the increased complexity of programs and projects that have to integrate all those technologies and has life and safety at risk!

It should also be considered that this subject matter also includes an interesting development around digital communications networks. Autonomous Networks is considered by many as the ‘Future of Networking.’ It is the combination and integration of software-defined networks and automated network management capabilities. These capabilities completely integrate and automate self-operating digital communications networks.  Autonomous Networks (AN) is a group of networks under mutual administration that share/coordinate the same routing methodologies, techniques and other functional aspects to produce a seamless operating environment.  AN uses an internal gateway protocol and common metrics to properly and efficiently route packets within the AN and typically uses an external gateway protocol to interoperate with and route packets to other networks and or systems.

 It is also worth mentioning that another AS segment exists.  It is autonomous buildings sometimes referred to as SMART buildings.  This specific segment is expected to grow with a CAGR of between 30% and 35% and top $20 billion by 2025. There are some estimates that put this market value over $100 billion by that year. One has to wonder where we will get all the construction workers and technical staff for this much activity. This will likely create more projects with a shortage of properly skilled resources!

Once again, another emerging technology, Autonomous Systems (et-all), has a huge potential that is now dawning and rapidly becoming a much larger part of today’s environment with significant impact on nearly all multiple parts of the daily lives of all of us.  Like the other emerging technologies covered under this blog, it deserves regular monitoring from now until it becomes common throughout the world.

Based on a recent series of conversations, the theory, concepts, and technological development of ubiquitous connectivity is not widely known or understood.  It is a system of systems approach that seamlessly integrates the various modalities of communications and computing so that as you travel from location to location as well as device to system your connectivity, applications and data go with you. Some may think this is not that big of a deal.  However, done right it is.

Consider this ‘brain storming’ example that was recently crafted. You are driving home and your boss contacts you.  She has a question about some figured you published in your PowerPoint presentation. She has the presentation up on her laptop and its shared with you.  As your vehicle drives, the presentation is displayed on the screen in it. You pull into your garage and grab your communications device (next step beyond smartphones) and exit the vehicle.  The screen on the device is where you left off in the vehicle and your discussion continues.  You request detail and the spreadsheet used to calculate the data appears on the screens of both you and your boss.  As you walk into your home workspace, the desktop system activates and the communications and PowerPoint, and at this point Excel spreadsheet seamlessly transitions to it.  She requests a slight change - you make it and all versions of that document are automatically updated. She sees the updated version on her screen.

Consider the increased effectiveness and efficiency of such a system.  Not to mention the productivity value as well as the benefits of making sure everyone has the latest data/version! 

This is the integration of multiple emerging technologies at work!  I can't wait!!!