5 Transformational 2024 Tech Trends You Should Be Aware Of
2023 was arguably one of the largest years for the IT industry in a long time.
We witnessed several significant innovations and technological changes within our space – all taking place at an extreme pace that made it almost impossible to keep up.
The most notable of these, and by far the most widely covered, was the rise and explosion of AI’s popularity. This was especially apparent as more businesses began to understand the impact of just how beneficial this technology could be on their workflow.
Now, 2024 is shaping up to be another huge year for the IT industry, with several notable changes and innovations on the horizon that every business should be keeping an eye on throughout the year.
To help you with this, we’ve put together 5 of the most significant 2024 tech trends that all IT professionals need to respond to.
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AI will continue to make its way further into daily business life
AI, in particular Generative AI like ChatGPT, is set to embed itself even further into everyday business life.
Solutions like Copilot for Microsoft 365 promise to be successful, assisting users with tasks such as recording/summarising meetings and interviews, brainstorming plans, writing communications, and creating presentations – and these will continue to evolve and play a larger role in business as the year progresses.
In fact, Gartner predicts that by 2026, over 100 million humans will be engaging “robocolleagues” powered by AI to contribute to their work.
In 2024, IT teams should be proactively embracing AI tools for the workplace and taking charge of the digital transformation process.
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Cybersecurity will become more advanced to target evolving threats
Throughout 2024, we will see more advanced and mature cybersecurity services come to market that are better placed to target the rapidly evolving threats that businesses face every day.
According to Cybersecurity Ventures, the global annual cost of cybercrime is predicted to reach USD $9.5 trillion in 2024 – with the rising cost of damages expected to hit USD $10.5 trillion by 2025.
This means that the mindset around cybersecurity solutions will begin to shift from an optional business expense to an essential tool to protect business operations.
2024’s cyber threats pose a greater risk to businesses than ever before. IT professionals should keep up to date and be more proactive in cybersecurity and digital risk mitigation strategies.
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We will see further adoption and migration to SaaS-based cloud platforms
Software as a Service (SaaS) is not a new 2024 concept. However, as more businesses adopt a vertical integration strategy to take greater control of their operations, we will see further migration towards industry-specific SaaS-based cloud platforms.
These SaaS solutions are much more cost-effective for businesses over the long term and allow for greater scalability as the business grows.
SaaS-based cloud platforms also provide several additional benefits to businesses with hybrid or remote workforces, allowing for ease of accessibility, online storage and greater levels of security.
This will see 2024’s SaaS environment grow rapidly with a significant uptake in adoption.
This leads to the next tech trend for 2024…
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Flexible technology will grow to allow for more productive hybrid teams
While some companies are calling their employees back into the office, either full-time or at least a few days a week, the reality is that flexible working arrangements are here to stay.
In fact, the Australian Bureau of Statistics found that in August 2023, 37% of employed people regularly worked from home.
So, to allow for more productive and engaged teams – whether they’re working entirely from one location or split between the office, home or on the road – flexible work technology, such as Microsoft Teams, will become vastly more popular throughout 2024 than ever before.
Businesses will depend on IT professionals to be able to support these new working styles to ensure maximum productivity and connectivity.
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IT leadership will evolve, shifting focus from technology to strategy and management
Following on from Australian businesses calling their employees back into the office, IT leadership will now need to adopt new management strategies throughout 2024 to manage a hybrid workforce.
This means that 2024’s IT leaders will need to have more than just technical expertise to execute their role.
They will also have to develop new skills in areas such as team management and strategic planning to ensure that their hybrid team can enjoy a positive working environment that fosters productivity and growth throughout the entire company.
Of course, if your organisation needs assistance in managing your IT department in 2024, Centrix is here to help.
Let Centrix support your 2024 IT and cybersecurity needs
Our team at Centrix is always ready – we help small businesses up to large corporate organisations succeed by managing, supporting and protecting critical IT infrastructure.
Backed by our extensive knowledge and expertise, Centrix is here to support your organisation with comprehensive IT Connectivity and Collaboration Service Packages, Cloud IT, Cybersecurity Protection, Managed IT Services and other IT Solutions.
So, are you ready to thrive in 2024’s digital landscape?
To learn more about our Managed IT services, book an IT Health Check or contact us today.