IDC FutureScape Figure

Figure: IDC FutureScape: Worldwide Small and Medium-Sized Business 2022 Top 10 Predictions

Executive Summary

IDC FutureScape Predictions

Summary of External Drivers

Predictions: Impact on Technology Buyers

Prediction 1: To Become More Digitally Resilient and Capitalize on Changed Market Conditions, 70% of SMBs Will Have Significantly Increased Their IT Spending by 2026

Associated Drivers

IT Impact

Guidance

Prediction 2: By 2023, 20% of Lagging SMBs Will Have to Broaden Their Partnerships to Stay Afloat, While 30% of Leaders Will Participate in Industry Ecosystems to Grow and Expand

Associated Drivers

IT Impact

Guidance

Prediction 3: At Least 20% of SMBs That Survived COVID-19 Will Cease Operations by 2025 as They Cannot Pivot Fast Enough to Digitize Their Operations to Meet Customer Demand

Associated Drivers

IT Impact

Guidance

Prediction 4: By 2023, 50% of SMBs Will Reorganize Their Company Structure, Deploying Remote and Virtual Distributed Structures Through Technology

Associated Drivers

IT Impact

Guidance

Prediction 5: By 2024, 75% of Start-Ups Will Have a Digital-First Strategy, Either Adopting Next-Generation Technologies, Placing High Emphasis on Innovation, or Focusing on Digital Disruption

Associated Drivers

IT Impact

Guidance

Prediction 6: By 2022, 10% of SMBs Will Account for 20% of New Job Creation in Developed Economies as Digitally Determined SMBs Experience Faster Business and Revenue Growth than Digital Laggards

Associated Drivers

IT Impact

Guidance

Prediction 7: By 2024, 33% of SMBs Will Experience Security Breaches Quarterly, Causing Business Disruptions of at Least One Week per Quarter

Associated Drivers

IT Impact

Guidance

Prediction 8: By 2024, 33% of SMBs Will Provide Multitech Customer Experience by Using Data-Oriented and Virtual Experiences

Associated Drivers

IT Impact

Guidance

Prediction 9: By 2024, 70% of SMBs Will Invest in Enhanced Connectivity and Communications Services, Making the Move from On-Premises to Managed Services to Drive Competitiveness, Resilience, and Customer Experience

Associated Drivers

IT Impact

Guidance

Prediction 10: By 2024, 40% of SMBs Will Increase Investments in Analytics and SCM Solutions to Optimize Their Inventory Management and Business Planning

Associated Drivers

IT Impact

Guidance

Advice for Technology Buyers

External Drivers: Detail

Pervasive Disruption Continues — Volatility, Opportunity, and Resilience

The Future Enterprise — Thriving in a Jungle of Agile Innovation

Embracing Digital First — New Strategies for Complexity and Ubiquity

The Velocity of Connectedness — The Future Is Data in Motion

Intelligence on Demand — Navigating the Torrent of Data

Digital Ecosystem — Thriving in a Multiplatform World

Engagement Reimagined — From Responsive to Anticipatory

Learn More

Related Research