By Business & Finance 
Data, AI and the IoT – what does 2019 have in store for businesses?
As we enter 2019, business leaders across Ireland are afforded the opportunity to not only look back upon the changes brought about in 2018 but also to look ahead and think about the world of possibility that lies in store for the coming months.
Within the past year, developments in software, analytics and processing power have propelled the emergence of ever-closer human-machine partnerships. This is evident in the connected cars, homes business and banking transactions we all enjoy today.
Predictions for 2019
However, as the power of technology multiples ten times every five years, our reliance on machines is only set to increase. Emerging technology will only accelerate and augment the digital direction we are heading in.
Here are some of the predictions for 2019:
- Data gold mine will require a multi-tiered approach to cloud
With data volumes predicted to reach 44 trillion gigabytes by 2020 and organisations adopting AI and machine learning at scale, a multi-tiered approach to the cloud is needed, changing the face of the modern data centre. For example, multi and hybrid cloud adoption models will further evolve and place cloud computing capabilities at every layer of the data journey.
- AI and machine learning will lead to the largest productivity increases we’ve seen in years
Advancements in AI and machine learning will lead to the largest productivity increase we’ve seen in years, not just for people, but for machines. These technologies will increasingly leverage the influx of data to drive greater efficiencies and insights that will optimise both the apps and devices we use every day, so we forge stronger human-machine partnership.
- 5G will speed up data, web apps and the shift to software-defined IT
5G promises to completely change the data game in terms of speed and accessibility. However, as businesses embrace 5G, organisations will also increasingly need software defined strategies to ensure all that data can move at speed and scale with automation and intelligence providing critical in this regard.
- AR/VR will bring more creativity to the workplace
With 98% of Gen Z (those born after 1995) having used technology in their formal education, their entrance to the workforce will spark a new evolution in technology. Advancements in AR and VR witnessed in 2018 will only accelerate with these technologies being adopted in the workplace during 2019. It will not only help fill a skills gap across certain trades and industries, it will give employees more freedom to do their best work untethered from the workplace.
- Collaboration will break out from the meeting invite
The coming year will advance collaboration beyond the meeting invite as more businesses adopt web-based collaboration tools, and device technologies take advantage in wi-fi connectivity and compute power to get more done, better, faster – together.
- Blockchain will create a chain reaction
2019 will be a formative year for the practical implementation of blockchain, as organisations work to evaluate whether its valuable to adopt today and whether it will add security and trust in their supply chain or across financial transactions. Companies are also looking at whether they have the right infrastructure, systems and services for the more targeted and useful application of this new technology.
There has never been a better time for technology – with innovation in 5G, AI and Machine Learning, cloud and blockchain transforming how everyday business and everyday life. In entering the year of the data-driven ecosystem, businesses in Ireland will need to harness the insights and opportunities from their growing bank of data to realize their digital transformation ambitions.
For in this ‘transform or die’ landscape, the decisions businesses in Ireland make today will frame their future success.
