IDC FutureScape Figure

Figure: IDC FutureScape: Worldwide Future of Operations 2021 Top 10 Predictions

Executive Summary

IDC FutureScape Predictions

Summary of External Drivers

Predictions: Impact on Technology Buyers

Prediction 1: By 2026, 70% of G2000 Companies Will Use AI to Develop Guidance and Insights for Risk-Based Operational Decision Making, Compared with Less than 5% of G2000 Today

Associated Drivers

IT Impact

Business Impact

Guidance

Prediction 2: In 2021, 33% of G2000 Operations Employees Will Work Remotely or in a Hybrid Environment That Is Enabled by a 20% Increase in Operations Technology Investments in Remote Capabilities

Associated Drivers

IT Impact

Guidance

Prediction 3: By 2022, to Support Autonomous Operations, Organizations Will Increase Their Investments in Data Governance, Digital Engineering Organizations, and Digital Operations Technologies by 40%

Associated Drivers

IT Impact

Guidance

Prediction 4: By 2022, 60% of Global 2000 Companies Will Use Customer Experience as the Top Driver for IoT Deployments, Compared with Operational Efficiencies Being the Top Driver in 2020

Associated Drivers

IT Impact

Business Impact

Guidance

Prediction 5: By 2024, 35% of G2000 Companies That Fail to Develop Digital Engineering Capabilities in Operations Will Be Unable to Take Advantage of Remote Monitoring Managed Services

Associated Drivers

IT Impact

Guidance

Prediction 6: By 2022, G2000 Organizations Will Reshore at Least 30% of Their Current Offshore Suppliers to Support Transparency and Resiliency for Geopolitical and Sustainability Risk Mitigation

Associated Drivers

IT Impact

Guidance

Prediction 7: By 2024, 60% of G2000 Will Invest in Knowledge Networks to Support Augmented and Virtual Reality for Field Service and Asset Management, Resulting in a 25% Decrease in Mean Time to Repair

Associated Drivers

IT Impact

Guidance

Prediction 8: The Number of New Operational Processes Deployed on Edge Infrastructure Will Grow from Less than 20% Today to Over 90% in 2024 as Digital Engineering Accelerates IT/OT Convergence

Associated Drivers

IT Impact

Business Impact

Guidance

Prediction 9: By 2026, Over 60% of G2000 Operations Will Use Digital Ecosystems to Procure Direct Materials for Operations, Reducing Operational Materials and Services Acquisition Costs by 15%, Compared with 2020

Associated Drivers

IT Impact

Guidance

Prediction 10: By 2026, 25% of G2000 Will Use AI to Accelerate Innovation in Products and Services by Identifying New Operational Capabilities to Drive at Least a 10% Increase in Annual Revenue for Those Companies

Associated Drivers

IT Impact

Guidance

Advice for Technology Buyers

External Drivers: Detail

Accelerated Disruption — Crisis, Resilience, and Opportunity

Strategic Innovation — Shaping the Future Enterprise Today

The Next Normal — Resilient Business and Operating Models

Intelligence Everywhere — Data Drives Action

Digital Platform — Ecosystems at Scale

Customer Engagement Redefined — Safe, Secure, and Sustainable Digital Experience

Work Transformation — Redefining Teams, Skills, and Leadership

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