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The Future of IT: Four Big Trends Shaping Tomorrow

By Leah Gabriel Nurik on 2010-10-22



The IT industry and business in general is on the cusp of dramatic changes, according to Gartner’s Peter Sondergaard, senior vice president of the market prognosticating firm. These dramatic changes will come about as four trends combine and lead to an “unimaginable force” impacting not just IT, but also the capability of business and government. “Whether IT acts now or not, the combination of these trends will drive dramatic change in your enterprises’ business model and strategy,” Sondergaard said. Here’s a look at the trends that will shape business and IT in the years to come.
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1 Cloud Computing

It’s not just about buzz anymore, when it comes to the cloud. It’s here, and businesses are moving data and apps offsite quickly. However, with change comes struggle—and moving to the cloud is no different.

Cloudy Future Crystal Clear

“Cloud computing will transform the IT industry as it will alter the financial model upon which investors look at technology providers, and it will change vertical industries, making the impact of the Internet on the music industry look like a minor bleep,” says Sondergaard.

Cloud Pricing and Licensing Shifts

The financial shift is already happening. Software vendors are rushing quickly to change pricing and licensing structures while end users are sizing up budgets and implementing compliance solutions to make sure they are not overpaying based on out-dated contract structures.

2 Business Impact of Social Computing

We see the impact social networks shifting lifestyle trends and personal relationships—it’s a brave new (and some say “creepy”) world because of Facebook and Twitter. Gartner says social computing’s impact on shifting ethos and culture doesn’t stop at the individual, and will impact the way we do business—in a good way.

ocial Computing will Lead to Productivity

“Social computing, not Facebook, or Twitter, or LinkedIn, but the technologies and principals behind them will be implemented across and between all organizations, it will unleash yet to be realized productivity growth, it will contribute to economic growth,” says Sondergaard.

Predictability vs. Strategy

Today’s organizational architectures are better suited for predictable and routine business activities, says Sondergaard. For those focused on discovery, negotiation and complex decision making, social computing will greatly benefit how they perform their job functions.

3 Context-Aware Computing

Super-intelligent devices—from smartphones to connected medical equipment—mean more communication technologies everywhere, and that is changing how, when, where and the cost of connecting and communicating.

Blended Solutions Driving Intelligence

Sondergaard predicts the creation and deployment of blended solutions that combine data, text graphics, audio and video with location, language, desires and feelings, which will be used to determine patterns that make enterprise computing more intelligent.

Big-Impact

“Context Aware Computing while linear in its impact on IT will have profound impact on organizations, on the way we do business,” said Sondergaard.

4 Pattern-Based Strategy

A Pattern-Based Strategy provides solutions and frameworks capable of proactively seeking, modeling, and adapting to information from many different sources, traditional and non-traditional.

More Productivity with Patterns

Current pattern-based technologies such as social network analysis, context aware technologies and predictive analytic tools will shift and mature, and allow IT leaders to create more productive and cost-effective solutions.

IT Spending Outlook Bleak

Along with the excitement of what the future will bring, Sondergaard also painted a bit of a bleak reality and limited growth in IT spending, specifically in traditional verticals such as manufacturing and financial services.

Timid Growth Over Next Five Years

2011 spending is forecasted at a weak growth rate of 3.1 percent to reach $2.5 trillion. According to the analyst firm, the next five years does not hold explosive market growth, and will equal only $2.8 trillion in 2014.

Biggest Spend to Come from Emerging Markets

“Several key vertical industries, such as manufacturing and financial services will not see IT budgets recover to pre-2008 levels before 2012 or 2013,” Sondergaard says. ”Emerging economies continue to be the locomotive of enterprise IT spending, substantially outpacing developed economies.”

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