10 STRATEGIC DRIVERS that will reshape Business in 2023
Integration of digital technology into all business areas is fundamentally changing how organizations operate and deliver value to customers. In this blog we briefly highlight the 10 Strategic Drivers that NEC expects will reshape an organization’s operations in the year ahead. For a more in-depth coverage, read and download our whitepaper here.
1. DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION
Digital Transformation is key for enterprises to enrich their operations with solutions that optimize business practices, drive workforce engagement, and create a competitive edge. 2023 will see widespread adoption of smart collaboration, cloud computing, data analytics, biometrics, and artificial intelligence to make workflows more efficient, smooth, rich, effective, and secure.
2. UBIQUITOUS CONNECTEDNESS
Organizations are capitalizing on mobility solutions that enable employees to work from just about anywhere, at any given time, whether on-site, at home, or while traveling. Instead of basing a company’s mobile infrastructure on one technology, multiple wireless technologies will be used to provide a more cost-efficient, and flexible foundation. 5G and Wi-Fi 6 will bring increased bandwidth and higher speeds, and open doors to new opportunities found in the Metaverse.
3. SMART COLLABORATIVE WORKSPACES
Hybrid working urges enterprises to keep remote workers engaged. Smart workspaces allow disparate teams to work together in real time with click-to-call conferencing, file sharing and digital white-boarding embedded in business workflows. Enhancing on-premises safety, workplace management solutions will optimize office space and facilitate the employee’s and visitor’s stay with automated and secure reservation, check-in, check-in, visitor management and surveillance.
4. FROM EXPERIENCE TO ENGAGEMENT
Companies are pushing hard to deliver connected Customer Experiences across media, channels, processes, and departments – making contact easy and pleasant, presenting options most relevant to the customer, and ensuring swift response to queries. Smart personalization engines that recognize a customer’s intent will boost business. Companies will also look for ways to fuel team engagement, with creative collaboration and instant video enhancing productive interactions.
5. THE RETURN OF COST CONSCIOUSNESS
Inflation, geopolitical tensions and a looming recession make enterprises cost conscious and risk averse. Cost reduction and optimization will play a significant role in decision making in 2023. While maintaining existing platforms to the maximum, enterprises will appreciate the cost-effectiveness and scalability of cloud solutions with all functionality integrated in one predictable, per user fee and based on month-to-month contracts with the flexibility to add or remove users at any time.
6. CLOUD CENTRIC OPTIMIZATION
Cloud computing has revolutionized IT and software delivery. A strong demand however remains to leverage existing infrastructures and add applications from the cloud to extend functionality. Smart enterprises will seek vendors that provide all solutions and offer the freedom to choose between a fully on-premises infrastructure, a 100% public cloud subscription-based solution or a hybrid model.
7. SECURING THE DATA-DRIVEN ENTERPRISE
The ubiquity of IT systems and our dependence on them make cyber security a key topic. As data sets grow, storage and backup challenges increase. Remote working requires sophisticated security management during online collaboration. Organizations will need to capitalize on all practices to protect networks, devices, programs, and data from attack, leakage, damage, or unauthorized access. Spendings on data- and cybersecurity will see significant growth in 2023.
8. BUSINESS RESILIENCE
Today’s enterprises depend on reliable access to applications, information, and people to operate smartly and effectively. This requires a robust always-on infrastructure that can self-heal should service disruptions occur. Supply chain disruption and shortages call for a holistic and proactive strategy with respect to securing resources, including energy, materials, components and human skills. This will require closer collaboration between (local) suppliers and customers than in the past.
9. EXTENDED REALITY
In 2023, AI tools will become widely available through cloud platforms and open-source software. Also smaller companies will start using off-the-shelf AI technology. Businesses will experiment to provide customers with Virtual Reality and Augmented Reality experiences. In retail this will allow customers to try products before purchasing. In education it t will make learning more interactive and in healthcare it will e.g. enable a doctor to practice on a simulation of the patient’s body before performing the actual operation.
10. SMART SUSTAINABLE SOCIETY
In building smarter societies, information and communications technologies ensure energy efficiency, sustainable economic development, safety and security, along with wise management of natural resources. Connected processes will save time and reduce costs, and impact of physical travel and transportation. Virtual and augmented reality technologies will remove the distance between people, information, and experiences, transforming the ways people live and work.
We are eager to hear your views on the trends and technologies that will drive changes to the 2023 business landscape. Please also let us know any questions or concerns you may have with how your organization should adapt to the market dynamics.
NEC and our Business Partners have all the expertise, solutions and services to address the digital transformation needs of your organization.