Technology Trends for 2021

5G and cellular V2X (vehicle to everything) will accelerate intelligent transport and communication solutions. 5G car connectivity enables vehicles to connect to each other, to the infrastructure, to network services, and to other road users. Today, self-driving features are being incrementally added to vehicles for autonomous control. In 2020, several buses and trucks completed autonomous missions. Tesla’s FSD-equipped Model 3 completed and recorded the first instance of a self-driving trip, driving from San Francisco to Los Angeles without user input. Autonomous technology promises to provide safe and accessible transportation in the future.

Increasing sophistication of nation-state cybersecurity threats targeting US companies

The readily available nature and commodification of cyber weaponry and offensive elements have led to the rise of new tradecraft by nation-states. The landscape has changed in that cybersecurity attacks aren’t coming solely from nation threat agents but even non-state actors. In 2021, the number of sophisticated nation-state cyber threats targeting US companies will rise. Cybersecurity investments will shift from building threat detection defenses, to leveraging intelligence, applied data science and machine learning in order to determine how and when an attack will occur.

Telehealth/Telemedicine will continue to develop quickly

Amid the global pandemic, millions of people have experienced telehealth with a virtual exam for the first time this year. Healthcare delivery has tremendous opportunity, and telemedicine offers more than a safe and convenient experience for patients. In April of 2020, Forrester estimated that over 1 billion telehealth virtual "visits" would be completed by the end of the year, with 900 million or more directly tied to the fight against COVID-19. Additionally, the paradigm shift is expected to grow past the point of crisis to the tune of $155B by the year 2027 (Grand View Research). Telehealth no longer requires breakthrough technology invention and is mostly an integration effort of commercially available technology.

Remote workforce or work from anywhere is the new normal

Remote working or work from anywhere (WFA) will change the landscape of the future working world. When the pandemic is over, one in six workers is projected to continue working from anywhere or co-working at least two days a week, according to a recent survey by economists at Harvard Business School. There are many benefits to remote working and WFA, like reduction in real estate costs, access to global talent, and better work/life balance. Questions remain on the impact to personal relationships and mentorship, as well as customer and business partner interactions. In 2021, digital tools and platforms will help distributed workforces work more efficiently, effectively and securely.

AI and Robotics will gain a foothold will drive massive efficiency gains

AI and robotic automation are disrupting the world as we know it. From healthcare to fintech, industries are beginning to embrace this fascinating field of computer science. With the global coronavirus pandemic driving mass retrenchments and a shift to remote workforces, the need has never been greater for companies to leverage technology to reduce costs and grow revenue. In 2021, companies will invest significantly in AI and robotic automation solutions to streamline operations, cut expenses, and uncover unrealized value in many areas. This will drive massive change in industrial automation and manufacturing and will require significant retooling of existing infrastructure, technology, and processes.