PwC US reveals technologies shaking up businesses this year


24 Jan 2013

Pervasive computing, cyber security and enterprise social networking are among the 10 most significant trends in technology reshaping organisations’ strategies, investments and business models this year, a new PwC US report suggests.

“Our top trends report shows that a diverse and complex set of technologies are emerging, which CIOs and the C-suite need to embrace and incorporate into their business, from strategy through execution,” said Chris Curran, a PwC principal and chief technologist for the US firm’s Advisory practice.

“Collaboration within organisations will be crucial to business success, as each of the technologies has the potential to be a key driver in an organisation’s business agenda,” Curran added.

The 10 trends that will impact businesses this year, according to PwC US’ 2013 Top 10 Technology Trends for Business report, are:

  1. Pervasive computing: This involves using mobile devices to digitally engage and interact with enabled objects in the vicinity.
  2. Cyber security: With technology-enabled processes bolstering and driving the global economy more and more, comes the continued need for cyber security.
  3. Big data mining and analysis: This trend is about making better business decisions by using the information gleaned from volumes of analysed data.
  4. Private cloud: Due to security and regulatory concerns, larger enterprises have been primarily operating in a trial mode of private/hybrid clouds and this will change in 2013. Consumers of IT are demanding greater value from IT services.
  5. Enterprise social networking: The key insight for companies succeeding in building value from enterprise social networking is social business processes redesign, as the technology becomes a core tool for the new social workforce.
  6. Digital delivery of products and services: Digital delivery of products and services, much of which has been consumer-driven, can open new avenues for growth, but companies must shift their underlying business operations to support this new business model.
  7. Public cloud infrastructure: Cloud adoption will continue to mature with hybrid cloud architecture becoming the mainstay as companies of all sizes leverage public cloud services.
  8. Data visualisation: Organisations will explore dynamic virtualisation techniques and advanced display devices to navigate through multiple dimensions of data.
  9. Simulation and scenario modelling: Companies are focusing on simulation models that enable executives to envision the potential impact of their choices before making investments.
  10. Gamification: This trend can transform a business with its combination of game mechanics, social networking, interactive media and behavioural analytics, the report claims.