5 Information Technology Trends 2021

As 2020 comes to an end, we at Ameritech Data Solutions believe it is important to look to the future rather than hang onto the past. We could write a lengthy article summarizing what happened in 2020 and recount all of ADS’ big wins, but we would rather take the time to provide value for our partners and customers, informing what lies ahead. Therefore, we compiled a list of our top Information Technology Trends in 2021:

Artificial intelligence has seemed to be a trend for the past 10 years. However, there is a real reason why it continues to be year after year. 2021 is no exception. Artificial intelligence is driving innovation in many different industries and information technology is one of them.

We expect to see a growth in the typical categories including conversational AI, facial recognition, and data processing.

An emerging category that we see having a large presence in 2021 is workplace AI, which helps workers connect more efficiently heading back to the office or staying home.

The invention of the cloud has revolutionized many industries including the data protection space. Cloud backup means utilizing these remotely accessible servers to store vital information for your business. Cloud computing is so beneficial for small businesses for many reasons. For one, it gives owners the peace of mind knowing that if disaster strikes their business can continue running and their information is safe on the cloud.

The internet of things is the network of physical objects that have sensors, software, or other tech for the purpose of connecting and exchanging data over the internet. This includes your smart home devices, wearables, and smart city to name a few.

When it comes to the workplace we see smart desks making an emergence. We believe the internet of things will make conferencing easier and voice assistance will grow. It might sound sci-fi, but we might even see robots in the workplace soon. We have already seen robots that help vacuum and mop, so expect more to come in the future.

We believe that we will see public cloud growth slow down while the utilization of edge computing will exponentially increase. Edge computing is done near the source of the data, instead of relying on the cloud at one of a dozen data centers to do all the work. Data is slowly moving out of the data center and into racks located on the edge. We’re seeing the transformation of schools, warehouses, and offices into miniature data centers.

With the growth of edge computing continuing to speed up, the deployment of 5G will pair along with it. Private 5G is here now, and we expect it to fuel edge computing in 2021. Businesses can have a complex infrastructure in offices or warehouses for robots and commonly used machines/tools.

According to Invesp, 67% of consumers worldwide used a chatbot for customer support in the past year. Considering that percentage was zero not too long ago, we expect that number to climb closer to 100% in 2021. We believe that businesses trying to cut costs in 2021 due to the pandemic will cause a growth in chatbot technology.

40% of consumers do not care whether a chatbot is real or human as long as they are getting the help they need. As technology and robotics evolve, people will start to more widely accept chatbot customer service. This technology helps businesses have 24-hour customer service, gets customers an instant response, and assists customers in getting answers to simple questions.

Cybersecurity

This year, when the economy was devastated by the pandemic, hackers targeted businesses for financial motivations. Unfortunately, we believe these ransomware attacks will only grow throughout 2021. Now more than ever, it is important to ensure your business’ data is secure from attack. A proven way to avoid falling victim is by supplying education to your staff on how to treat emails and files coming from odd sources.

We also see changes due to the 5G deployment stated above. 5G is undoubtedly a massive step forward in progressive tech, but cybersecurity needs to ensure it keeps up. With high-speed data transfers, attacks can happen in the blink of an eye. Much higher levels of cybersecurity and monitoring will be required and it is important to choose a trusted and experienced option.

As you are completing your budget and strategy for 2021, it is imperative to look at trends for the future. We stress the importance of investing in your IT infrastructure for efficiency and protection. Ameritech Data Solutions is your complete technology solution for TAB, manufacturing, and mid-sized companies. From database development and Microsoft automation to crucial IT support, we have the experience and know-how to keep your business running at peak performance.