IDC FutureScape: Worldwide Future of Connectedness 2024 Predictions
This IDC study provides IDC's 2024 top 10 predictions for future of connectedness."The enterprise road map to becoming agile and connected will be one that requires a continued shift toward cloud connectivity, where ubiquitous access to applications and services also embraces next-generation AI capabilities to increase agility," commented Paul Hughes, research director, Future of Connectedness Agenda program at IDC. "Whether driven by operational, economic, or sustainability goals, IDC expects businesses to increase adoption of managed services and increasingly lean on connectivity and professional services providers for guidance to help ensure that their multi-network access strategy delivers increased network efficiency and employee productivity and enhances customer engagements."
Please Note: Extended description available upon request.
- IDC FutureScape Figure
- Executive Summary
- IDC FutureScape Predictions
- Summary of External Drivers
- Predictions: Impact on Technology Buyers
- Prediction 1: By 2026, Customer Experience Will Overtake Employee Experience as a Top Priority, with 90% of Cloud-Based API Platforms Offering AI-Enabled CPaaS/UCaaS Capabilities for Personalized Customer Engagement
- Associated Drivers
- IT Impact
- Business Impact
- Guidance
- Prediction 2: By 2028, 80% of Enterprises Will Integrate Low Earth Orbit Satellite Connectivity, Creating a Unified Digital Service Fabric That Ensures Resilient Ubiquitous Access and Guarantees Data Fluidity
- Associated Drivers
- IT Impact
- Business Impact
- Guidance
- Prediction 3: By 2026, Integration Complexities, Undifferentiated Software Experiences, and a Lagging Compatible Device Landscape Will Result in Only 35% of Enterprises Realizing Material Benefits from 5G Use Cases
- Associated Drivers
- IT Impact
- Business Impact
- Guidance
- Prediction 4: By 2025, 40% of Enterprises Will See Large-Scale Project Success from Generative AI as They Evolve Various Aspects of Network Strategy, Design, Performance, and Security
- Associated Drivers
- IT Impact
- Business Impact
- Guidance
- Prediction 5: By 2027, 100% of the Global 5000 Will Use a Cloud Networking Service with Orchestration Overlays to Connect to, Within, or Across Clouds, Driving Multicloud Adoption and Reducing Risk of Cloud Lock-In
- Associated Drivers
- IT Impact
- Business Impact
- Guidance
- Prediction 6: By 2026, with the Accelerated Adoption of GenAI, 35% of Enterprises Will Enhance Edge Computing Use Cases with Contextual Experience, Further Aligning Business Outcomes with Customer Expectations
- Associated Drivers
- IT Impact
- Business Impact
- Guidance
- Prediction 7: By 2025, 55% of Enterprises Will Benefit from Optimized Operational Efficiency, Enhanced Security, and Reduced Network Costs by Leveraging SD-WAN and Security for Cloud-Managed Networking and Security
- Associated Drivers
- IT Impact
- Business Impact
- Guidance
- Prediction 8: By 2026, 75% of Enterprises Will Have Assigned All Deployment Responsibility, Operational Control, and Technology Innovation for at Least One Major Network Domain to a Trusted Management Partner
- Associated Drivers
- IT Impact
- Business Impact
- Guidance
- Prediction 9: By 2024, 60% of Enterprise Professional Services' Emphasis Will Be on Adoption of New and Existing Network Technologies to Help Drive Utilization, Optimization, Value, and Renewals from IT Investments
- Associated Drivers
- IT Impact
- Business Impact
- Guidance
- Prediction 10: Enterprises Will Rely on Partnerships with Service Providers to Integrate ESG Use Cases for Efficiency and Regulatory Compliance, with 60% Automating the Management of Sustainability Metrics by 2027
- Associated Drivers
- IT Impact
- Business Impact
- Guidance
- Advice for Technology Buyers
- External Drivers: Detail
- AI Everywhere — Generative AI Takes the Spotlight
- The Drive to Automate — Maximizing Efficiency and New Opportunities
- Cybersecurity and Risk — Building Resilience Against Multiplying Threats
- The Digital Business Imperative — Competitiveness and Outcomes
- Everything as a Service Intensifies — Transforming Models to Drive Change
- Shifting Tech Regulatory Landscape — Navigating Risk and Opportunity
- Operationalization of ESG — Measuring and Implementing Sustainability
- Learn More
- Related Research
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