As the turn of the year approaches, the annual ritual of identifying tech trends and making predictions for the next solar orbit swings into action.
For example, few at the end of 2019 would have forecast that the world of work would be turned upside down during the following year by a global pandemic, leading to an unprecedented focus on devices and services that facilitated remote working, and ushering in a likely permanent shift to a hybrid model.
Then, just as economies were adjusting to and recovering from the pandemic, Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 caused a sharp rise in energy prices, increased inflation, supply chain issues and fears of widespread recession. This series of shocks has profound implications for the IT industry that look set to continue through 2023 and beyond.
So perhaps the biggest benefit of the annual round of tech soothsaying is not so much the fine-grained detail – which is often derailed by contact with unexpected events – as the chance to take stock of the general direction of travel.
Here are the three themes for future trends and predictions.
1. Optimizing IT systems for greater reliability, improving data-driven decision making and maintaining the value integrity of production AI systems.
2. Scaling vertical offerings, increasing the pace of product delivery and enabling connectivity everywhere.
3. Pioneering business model change, reinventing engagement with employees and customers, and accelerating strategies to tap new virtual markets.
Overarching all these trends is sustainability: “Every technology investment will need to be set off against its impact on the environment, keeping future generations in mind.
Think back to what your working life was like in 2019. If you’re like most people, what you’re doing now is strikingly different from what you were doing back then.
Furthermore, because the last few years have taught us that we live in unpredictable times, analyst have decided to look into the future and predict what may be coming in the next few months or years and why we need to position ourselves for what is to come. Below are few reasons why you should get into the tech space in 2023, if you are not already:
1. Remote and flexible jobs will continue to rise:
Though work-from-home was already gaining popularity prior to the 2020 pandemic, the Coronavirus epidemic helped us hit “fast forward” on this trend—and it looks like for many, there’s no going back.
Many businesses have discovered that giving workers more freedom results in more productivity and greater retention, while also improving their bottom line by eliminating the need for large office spaces.
Of course, there will still be plenty of people who can’t work from home due to the nature of their job, as well as those who prefer an office or hybrid experience. But for workers who dream of having a job that allows them to work from anywhere, the forecast looks sunny.
2. More contractors, freelancers, and nomads in the tech space:
Though some workers in Australia will be happy with a full-time remote job, many others realised they have the tools and capability to work for themselves in some capacity.
As a result, we expect to see more freelancers and contractors here in United Kingdom—and we also anticipate there will be more competition coming from international contract workers as well.
The tech space will not be exempt from this shift in the way we work, there are many professions in the tech industry that can be performed on a contract or freelance basis.
3. Virtual meetings are taking on a new (and weird?) form:
If 2020 was the year of Zoom, will 2023 be the year of Meta? We aren’t sure if Mark Zuckerberg’s big investment in the virtual space known as Metaverse will pay off for him, but we do know this. In the next few months and years, the way we meet in virtual spaces is going to change.
It may be some time before you’re wearing a VR set to meet your colleagues, but you can expect greater diversity in the options you have to connect with others working in the same space as you.
Currently, workers already use things like email, chat platforms like Slack, and a myriad of video calling apps to connect. Going forward, we may see more forum-like spaces for communication or new platforms and inventions that will make it even easier to speak with someone no matter where they are on the planet.
If you loathe virtual meetings, here’s another prediction you may prefer. Now that restrictions are loosening around the world, we’re also expecting 2023 to be the year that in-person networking events come back to life.
4. Four-day work weeks are coming soon:
If you’ve been paying attention to the news, you’ll know some big companies like Microsoft Japan and Panasonic have already started offering a four-day workweek to their employees—and in most cases, the results seem promising.
In the case of Microsoft Japan, the company said it saw a 40% increase in productivity, and a long-term study out of Iceland saw workers overwhelmingly report better work-life balance and a decrease in feelings of burnout.
It won’t take long for countries in the APAC region to notice this, and use a four-day workweek to retain their talent and even cut back on costs like electricity and office space.
In fact, New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinta Arden has already stepped forward to suggest companies roll out four-day workweeks as a way to get back on their feet following the Coronavirus pandemic.
5. Ethical companies will win the retention game:
Though things are improving now that borders are reopening, many companies are still struggling to fill their workforce with qualified candidates. Workers in 2022 have more options on where and how they want to work, and they have higher standards for what they demand from their employers.
It’s no longer enough to offer competitive pay and basic benefits. Employees want to know that the company they are working for respects them and the community at large.
This means that companies who want to hire and retain the best talent need to focus on increasing employee benefits in a meaningful way (no more pizza parties), and they need to be vocal and transparent about their company’s ethics and mission. Businesses that have skeletons in their closet should address them now, because employees won’t hesitate to do their own research and factor that into their decision on where to work.
If you’re looking to learn a tech skills and get into tech by 2023, and want mentorship, contact with me, and I will help take a big step forward into the future of work.
Peter Adetula
Tech Educator and Product designer at Shell
www.adetula.xyz
+44 7470 167390, +234 806 967 3351
