Six Technology Trends for 2022

Moving into a new year, technology will continue to transform how you do business. So, we put together a list of technology trends for 2022 geared towards helping you connect with your customers, keeping your network secure, driving growth, productivity, and efficiency, and staying relevant. Here’s what you should look out for…

1.    Artificial Intelligence & Augmented Reality

From conversations with your Google Assistant to using Snapchat’s filters when taking selfies, artificial intelligence (AI) and augmented reality (AR) have become a part of everyday life, stretching from business to entertainment and many places in between.

In the coming years, the demand for machine learning algorithms will be huge. No surprise, really, as they are already being used to challenge climate change, explore space, and develop cancer treatments. Next stop is the smart toilet—capable of helping you diagnose things!

Increased accessibility and improvements to AI and AR is useful to small business owners when it comes to making informed decisions about what customers really want. These incredibly smart technologies can help you in innovative ways by:

• Improving customer service with 24/7 engagement through the use of chat bots.
• Tapping into customer response patterns and developing messages that connect.
• Providing intuitive, tailored customer experiences that allow customers to test products and services to make data-driven decisions.
• Streamlining your hiring process with the use of candidate screening, automated communication, information collection, and performance analysis.
• Increasing your digital security with the review and recognition of behaviour patterns on apps, software, and stored data.

2.    Everything as a Service (Xaas)

The public cloud and Software as a Service (SaaS) shifted traditional buying patterns. One-time business expenses for software and infrastructure are being traded for subscription-based technologies. For example, Hardware as a Service (HaaS) helps you stay on top of hardware and software requirements.

And if we have learned anything from the Covid-19 pandemic, it is that consumers want what they want when they want it. As a result, a technology trend for 2022 will see Everything as a Service (Xaas) reach its peak with pay-as-you-go models for everything. That is going to make it very convenient to update software when you need it.

This increasing demand for just about anything has your business operating at top speed to increase customer value without affecting your bottom line or reputation. The best way for you to establish and maintain an XaaS product is to:

• Find ways to maximize the value of your offer.
• Provide a service that offers unique benefits to your customer.

3.    5G Everywhere

The demand for faster business, smart cities, and advanced navigation increases our need for high-speed internet. As networks expand availability and technology advances, there will be a significant growth of 5G networks worldwide starting in 2022.

Some carriers began rolling out 5G in 2021, prioritized deploying low-band 5G frequencies (about twice as fast as LTE) in populated areas and plan to expand into rural markets. The next wave holds significant growth potential that allows for future applications and experiences yet to be imagined.

Ushering in a network for future generations is revolutionary for business in Canada, allowing you to get innovative and advance your business in an ever-changing digital landscape. The experience that 5G offers will help:

• Increase your productivity.
• Transform your services.
• Create more jobs.
• Support your communication.
• Provide opportunity for Internet of Things (IoT) technologies and products. 

Bell is leading the way in Canada’s 5G network innovation. Click here to see what they have in store for the future.

4.    Hybrid Cloud

Cloud-based services are a game-changer for information technology (IT). The perfect mix of public and private clouds is about to take centre stage as a technology trend for 2022. Meet the hybrid cloud!

Global events have reshaped the way companies work, further increasing the adoption of cloud-based storage—and the associated security risks that go with it. According to McAfee, company use of cloud solutions increased by 50 percent between January and April 2020. At the same time, external security threats increased by 630 percent! The report suggests that cloud-native security solutions are critical for detecting and preventing attacks.

To safeguard against security threats, it would be beneficial for you to:

• Shift your focus to data in the cloud and cloud-native security services.
• Provide cloud-delivered network controls and connect your remote users directly.
• Unite your cloud-delivered network security and cloud-native data security.

Using more than one cloud to solve your technology and business challenges will become more and more normal—and necessary. Shared cloud security can be complicated. That’s why it’s important to have a solid understanding of cloud storage solutions to provide you with a secure network, access management and data encryption, and a plan for disaster recovery. Or, you can work with a trusted company like us at Com Pro!

5.    Flexible Workspaces

The evolution of flexible work arrangements and remote onboarding began back in 2020 and will continue to expand well into 2022.

Thanks to the pandemic, the future of employment has companies in nearly every industry offering their staff fixed flexible working arrangements. As awesome as this is, these new working conditions come with a set of challenges all their own. With some team members working from the office and others working from home, your company needs to utilize technology that provides you with seamless collaboration capabilities—regardless of where everyone is located.

The future of the hybrid workforce requires software and hardware tools that improve virtual meetings and online collaboration beyond the conference room, like desktop virtualization, video conferencing, and cloud computing.

A recent report from Frost & Sullivan estimated that the market of global video conferencing devices (hello Zoom, Google Hangouts, and Microsoft Teams!) will hit revenues of $7.71 billion by 2025—all driven by remote work environments! Great news for all those collaboration companies taking note, as major players like Cisco, Google, Microsoft, Poly, Salesforce, and Zoom are working to provide a level of unmatched collaboration like never before. Think intelligent cameras and collaboration systems equipped with AI that identifies who is speaking, and companion modes that offer a unified device experience for all participants. 

Adopting technologies that make it easy to work from anywhere, spark staff engagement, and propel productivity are key to moving your business forward as an employee-centric workplace.

And, as your business embraces a hybrid work model, you will find technology handling your remote onboarding process. An integral part of the hiring process, effective onboarding is essential to getting your new team members acquainted with the lay of the land. Without the ability to connect face-to-face, technology will be your hero when it comes to making people feel welcome. Best practices for a positive remote onboarding process include:

• Defining clear objectives and milestones.
• Using technology that is collaborative, intuitive, and scalable.
• Keeping lines of communication open.
• Getting creative with the process.
• Incorporating employee feedback.

6.    Cybercrime, Cloud Security & Ransomware

With the implementation of technology in the workplace, comes the inevitability of having to rethink the way you do business when it comes to keeping your data safe and secure. Unfortunately, the rise in systems and networks that support staff working from home, have criminals getting creative when it comes to network intrusion and data theft.

Cloud computing allows for anytime, anywhere access of your information from centralized data centres. While these facilities are not always controlled by those responsible for managing security, users are expected to keep data safe. Two factors that contribute to cloud data centres becoming targets of ransomware and crypto mining are:

• Lack of security awareness among your users.
• Inadequate visibility and control over cloud infrastructure.

Ransomware attacks are on the rise in Canada, with news outlets reporting that the latest attack on the Newfoundland and Labrador healthcare system has implications for national security. CBC News reported that more than 400 hospitals in Canada and the U.S. have been subject to attacks since the start of the pandemic.

Looking ahead, the sophistication and scale of cyber attacks will continue to persist, and you can expect a huge increase in the amount of phishing, disruptive malware, data harvesting, fake news, and malicious domains. As a business owner, it’s imperative to get proactive to stay ahead of such threats. You can reduce the risk of ransomware attacks and data leaks by managing the access to your data and enabling end-to-end encryption.

How Will These Technology Trends for 2022 Impact Your Business?

The technology trends listed here can help you accelerate your digital possibilities and drive future growth by solving common problems you face as a business owner in today’s tech climate. They offer an opportunity to make your company stand out from competitors, and they can help you fulfill goals and deliverables.

Some of these technology trends for 2022 represent technical capabilities required to compete in a digital world, while others provide business-oriented benefits that help you step ahead of the competition. Companies that include technology in their long-term plans will have a better chance for sustainable business growth.

How Do You Identify the Right Technology Trends for Your Business?

The integration of digital technology into your business will change how you operate and deliver value to your customers. Managed IT service providers are ideally suited to determine whether technology trends pose a threat or provide an opportunity and can most certainly help you prepare for and evolve with their implementation.

We provide a host of Managed IT services. We can help you gain insight into the impact that technology trends may have on your business.

Get in touch to see how these technology trends can work for your business!