As the digital industry and business alike make the transition post Covid-19, we have seen an increase in businesses investing in technology to deliver new digital channels and delivery methods to keep a strong relationship with their customers.
According to a survey conducted by Startups Magazine, a survey featuring 750 UK business leaders revealed the following:
56% of firms have successfully adopted one or more new technologies since March 2020
54% say the pandemic has inspired long-term digital transformation projects
45% plan to hire new tech staff in the coming 12 months
53% plan to invest more heavily in digital skills training
As over half of UK leaders see digital transformation at the forefront of their strategy in 2022, what are the key tech trends we can expect in the wake of this?
Gender diversity to increase
Although the number of females working in the digital and tech sector has risen; with almost 150,000 jobs created for women over the last two years according to the Office of National Statistics. This is a sign of hope, and with the increase of hybrid roles around the UK, gender diversity in positions is likely to also increase.
The pandemic has been somewhat of a burden for many businesses, but at the same time it has created opportunities for women and the investment in diversity programmes has set a positive tone for more female digital and tech leaders in the next few years.
Sustainability emerges as a key factor
There’s no doubt that sustainability has emerged as a top priority for UK leaders in 2022. According to The Telegraph, Auditing energy use and opting for more efficient ways to use it, such as by using smart devices, is a key trend for business, and 66.2pc of British midsized companies have audited their energy use, according to NatWest.
However, sustainability has not always been a top priority for digital leaders. But with tech an important part a business’ energy consumption, leaders must ensure they address issue, as the sustainability trend shows no signs of slowing down.
Cyber threats will continue to be an issue
Cyber threats are nothing new and have been an issue for UK digital leaders for a while; however the sudden transition of digital change over the last two years and the tech that has been introduced has made businesses more susceptible to cyber threats. There is concern over the lack of skills in this area. A study by Harvey Nash revealed that nearly half (43%) of the 823 UK digital leaders surveyed admitted they had a shortage in this area.
As cyber criminals find new ways to exploit the vulnerabilities in digital systems, digital leaders must ensure their workforce are skilled in this area and the technology they install combats all threats.
The number of ‘Technology companies’ to increase
As digital and tech constantly evolve, businesses of all sizes are being faced with the challenge of keeping up with the latest changes, innovating their services in order to keep up with consumer demands and changes in their buying habits. As a result, more businesses are referring themselves as a “technology company”. Retail and restaurants to name a few, are some of the sectors that have developed new e-commerce capabilities and channels including apps and various AI and AR implementations.
We will certainly see more businesses taking this approach in 2022: adapting and innovating through technology to adjust to the ever-changing environment. As organisation vision digital transformation changes in the present and years that follow, One thing is clear: Technology is a crucial part of the post-pandemic recovery.
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