These days, technology is advancing quicker than ever. It seems like every day new technology and innovations emerge. So, it can be difficult for businesses to keep up-to-date with all of these changes. 

But it’s important that you’re aware of upcoming tech trends because they could help you improve processes, discover new opportunities, and grow your business. Plus, if your competitors take advantage of these tech trends before your business does, your company could fall behind. 

Let’s take a look at 5 top tech trends for 2020 that you need to know. 

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Artificial Intelligence

Artificial intelligence (AI) has been a big innovation in recent years that many businesses are already taking advantage of. Businesses can use AI to automate processes, improve the customer experience, boost their digital marketing efforts, make data-driven business decisions, and so on. Some companies like Amazon, Postmates, Dominos, and others are even experimenting with drones and robot deliveries. 

Heading into 2020, artificial intelligence is only going to get smarter and more powerful. Virtual assistants and chatbots will be the go-to for customers seeking advice, self-learning algorithms will get better at predicting consumer behavior, AI will boost eCommerce personalization, and much more. In addition, artificial intelligence tools are becoming more affordable, so small businesses can definitely take advantage of this trend in 2020. 

Edge Computing

Gartner defines edge computing as “part of a distributed computing topology where information processing is located close to the edge, where things and people produce or consume that information.” In simpler terms, edge computing processes data near the edge of your network, closer to where it’s needed, which helps boost response time and save bandwidth. 

So, what does this mean for businesses? Well, there are a number of ways edge computing can benefit businesses; it can improve network performance by reducing latency and increase speeds for end-users, make it easier for businesses to scale their operations, and it offers security advantages as well. 

DARQ

According to Accenture, 89 percent of businesses are currently experimenting with one or more DARQ technologies. DARQ roughly stands for distributed ledger technology, artificial intelligence, extended reality, and quantum computing.

Many businesses are using extended reality to transform employee onboarding; instead of having new employees read through a training manual, with extended reality employees can get a first-hand view of a task. For example, Volkswagen announced in 2018 that they were going to train 10,000 employees on how to service a vehicle using this technology. 

Hyper Automation

Hyper automation is the combination of advanced technologies like artificial intelligence, machine learning, automation tools, and packaged software to automate tasks. Hyper automation cannot create processes for you but it follows a set of procedures and works alongside humans to improve mundane and repetitive processes and reduce errors. 

With hyper automation, you can also create a digital twin of the organization (DTO). A DTO is like a virtual replica of a process, product, or service. With this virtual replica, you can visualize functions, monitor and analyze performance, and identify opportunities for optimization. 

Human Augmentation

Human augmentation refers to the enhancement of human abilities, both physical and mental, through medicine or technology. For example, there are human augmentation devices like electronic glasses that help the legally blind see and human augmentation technologies such as exoskeletons and prosthetics are being researched to enhance the strength and the endurance of members of the armed forces. 

In the near future, businesses could be able to use human augmentation to make better business decisions, reduce human errors, and increase productivity. 

Conclusion

These are just a few of the top tech trends your business should take notice of in 2020. But you also need to consider tech trends like multi-experience, robotic process automation, virtual and augmented reality, and more. Be sure to stay up-to-date on the latest tech trends so that you can keep up with the competition. 

Further Reading

Emerging Trends That Will Define the Next 10 Years of Software Testing [Part 1]

DevSecOps Trend Report