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TechTrends 2019: Beyond the Digital Frontier Summary

Introduction

TechTrends 2019 marks the 10th anniversary of Deloitte's annual report on emerging technology trends. The report reflects on how the past decade has seen a rapid transformation in technology, with once-revolutionary innovations becoming foundational elements of business strategy. While the early reports focused on topics like cloud, cybersecurity, and digital experiences, today's landscape demands a more proactive and strategic approach to innovation. The report emphasizes the need for organizations to sense and act upon future opportunities, guided by nine macro technology forces that are shaping the current and future technological environment.

Core Content

The report identifies nine macro technology forces that underpin current and future technology innovation:

1. Digital Experience
2. Analytics
3. Cloud
4. Digital Reality (AR, VR, IoT, etc.)
5. Blockchain
6. Cognitive Technologies (AI, ML, RPA, etc.)
7. Core Modernization
8. Cyber Risk Strategy
9. The Business of Technology

These forces are not just trends but are becoming the building blocks of enterprise transformation. They are evolving rapidly and their combined impact is driving meaningful change across industries.

Main Points

Digital Experience

• Initially focused on customer-facing tools via specific channels (social, mobile, web).
• Now encompasses all digital interactions across the enterprise, including employees and constituents.
• Human-centered design and user engagement are central to business strategy, enabling new ways of working and delivering value.

Analytics

• The ability to analyze data is no longer just about understanding the past but also about predicting and prescribing actions.
• Advanced analytics and cognitive technologies are enabling automation and decision-making, reducing the need for manual processing.
• Organizations must move beyond traditional data sources to leverage diverse data types such as machine logs, biometrics, and sentiment analysis.

Cloud

• Cloud computing has evolved from a cost-saving tool to a strategic enabler of business transformation.
• Companies are increasingly using cloud not just for infrastructure but to support AI, blockchain, and digital reality.
• Cloud-native services and platforms are redefining how businesses innovate and scale.

Digital Reality

• Encompasses AR, VR, MR, and IoT, offering more natural and immersive interactions.
• Enterprises are investing in these technologies ahead of consumer adoption.
• Digital reality is redefining how people engage with data, technology, and each other.

Blockchain

• Originally linked to cryptocurrencies, blockchain is now a key enabler of trust.
• It is being adopted across industries to streamline processes and enhance transparency.
• The development of enterprise-grade solutions and common standards is expected to drive widespread adoption.

Cognitive Technologies

• Includes AI, ML, NLP, RPA, and neural networks.
• These technologies are helping organizations process and make sense of vast data sets.
• They are not just tools for analysis but are also enabling automation and new forms of decision-making.

Core Modernization

• Aims to modernize legacy systems to support new innovations.
• Involves replatforming, revitalizing, and rethinking core IT infrastructure.
• It is essential for creating a scalable and adaptable technology foundation.

Cyber Risk Strategy

• Cybersecurity is no longer just a compliance activity but a strategic function.
• It must be integrated into business strategy, risk management, and digital transformation.
• A comprehensive approach to security, privacy, and data integrity is necessary to protect against evolving threats.

The Business of Technology

• Companies are rethinking how they organize and manage their IT functions.
• Technology leaders must align IT with business outcomes and drive innovation across the organization.
• This requires a cultural shift toward being data-driven and technologically agile.

Case Study: Walmart

Walmart exemplifies how large organizations can embrace these macro forces:

• The company has modernized its core systems, enhancing supply chain, e-commerce, and store operations.
• It has invested in virtual reality for employee training and mobile technologies for real-time data access.
• Walmart has also built its own cloud network to support various business functions.
• In its latest innovation phase, it is acquiring digital-native brands and creating a dedicated team to incubate and grow them, reflecting a startup mindset.

Conclusion

The report concludes that the future of digital transformation lies in the controlled collision of these macro forces. By integrating them into business strategy, organizations can unlock new opportunities for growth, innovation, and competitive advantage. The challenge is not just to adopt new technologies but to reengineer how they are used, managed, and integrated into the broader enterprise. As the digital frontier continues to evolve, the ability to sense and act upon these forces will be the key to success.

Key Takeaways

• Digital, analytics, and cloud are now foundational but still hold untapped potential.
• Digital reality, blockchain, and cognitive are emerging as macro forces with significant future impact.
• Core modernization, cyber strategy, and the business of technology are essential for sustaining innovation and transformation.
• The report encourages a forward-thinking, strategic approach to technology, emphasizing the importance of collaboration, agility, and integrated thinking.

Authors

• WileyD. B. – Global Chief Technology Officer, Deloitte Consulting LLP
• Scott Buchholz – Emerging Technologies Research Director and Government & Public Services CTO, Deloitte Consulting LLP