Emerging Technologies, Disrupt or be Disrupted

Abstract

Emerging technologies are transforming and will transform the way we do business almost at the speed of light. When talking about emerging technologies we are looking at Social, Mobile, Analytics and Cloud, but also Internet of Things (IoT), New Way Of Working (NWOW), wearables, drones, advanced analytics, etc. These emerging technologies are not just IT challenges but are business imperatives. Emerging technology innovation is coming from all angles – it’s easy to become overloaded with the rapid pace of technological change. Digital developments are one of the main drivers of change, reshaping customer expectations, making products, services and prices easier to compare and opening up the market to a new breed of data-rich entrants and start-ups.

Most businesses are in markets where the depth of customer-centricity is the key differentiator, digital also opens up sharper ways to engage customers, understand their needs and provide customised solutions. In short, effective emerging technologies are now a disruptor and should become a competitive advantage. There are so many opportunities – each with its own costs, risks and complications – that it is difficult to cut through the noise and find the best way forward.

Because of these challenges, organizations often find themselves with two options:

• Invest in an unproven strategy which could result in a significant loss in time, money and opening new security threats.

• Wait for proven concepts in the market and potentially lose market share to innovative competitors.

This paper is about what’s happening and will be happening (emerging trends and technologies). How to respond as an organisation in a controllable and secure manner, without the risk of being too late in a highly competitive world.