How can innovation accelerate business in 2023?

By Rennan Sanchez – CTO of Skyone

Several companies around the world are facing challenges to adapt to the technological age: on the one hand, they are looking for automation, information for decision making and strategies to improve their customers' experience, while on the other hand, they are concerned with cybersecurity and the complexity of organize all the data.

Looking at 2023 from this scenario, it will be possible to observe trends towards the intensification of the use of already mature technologies such as cloud computing, various cybersecurity solutions and iPaaS, seeking to improve data management and bring more operational efficiency.

Investment in digital transformation will continue to grow at an annual rate of 15.5% through 2023, according to research conducted by IDC . While security and risk management, application strategies and integrations, and infrastructure and operations, will also be priorities for companies, according to Gartner data.

In addition, we can still include technologies that have been developed and discussed, but have not yet reached sufficient maturity to find their defined place in companies, such as the metaverse. According to Gartner's research into the Top 10 Strategic Predictions for 2023 and beyond, by 2027, fully virtual workspaces will account for 30% of business growth in technology investment through the Metaverse, delivering a new office experience.

Going further with technologies that are already known and that can collaborate for the expansion of business, we have Artificial Intelligence, which is being increasingly approached, however, it needs more deepening and development so that, in fact, it is part of the reality of the deliveries of the companies, offering benefits to customers and to the organizations themselves that can benefit from its results.

All the technologies mentioned above, when applied consistently, converge to improve the offer of new experiences to employees, partners and customers and to offer better results from the improvement of data analysis for better decision making. From this, we can see how necessary it is to embrace the opportunities that technology offers.

Technological advancements

Technology trends for 2023 will impact corporate strategies for years to come, allowing organizations to consolidate their business priorities. Among the main features that will gain more and more strength are cloud computing, cybersecurity and data management.

The use of cloud computing helps companies to be faster and more efficient on a daily basis, while reducing costs. Thus, the expectation is that companies migrate to the cloud, applying the highest levels of cybersecurity protections, connecting applications and data so that they can make a difference in their businesses and their customers.

No wonder the word cybersecurity is in all trend forecasts for the coming years. Hacker attack attempts in Brazil grew 94% in the first half of this year, as indicated by the “NSFOCUS Global Threat Hunting System” survey. These attacks have even evolved over the years, as is the case with RaaS (Ransomware-as-a-Service), which is the sale of cyber attacks on the Dark Web.

Although these criminal approaches have intensified the race to create safer and more secure systems and technological environments, the maturity of cybersecurity in many countries, such as Brazil, is in full development, which makes companies more susceptible to attacks and incidents. of security. With this, and in addition to the new privacy regulations that governments have been adopting, cybersecurity will gain even more relevance.

With the increase in the use of the cloud by all companies, hackers are also getting better. Therefore, one of the main points for the next year is not only to have reliable equipment but, above all, to be aware that without a specialized team, digital security does not work.

Not least important, data analysis and management will be differentials for the growth of companies in the market. Here we have two points worth mentioning. The first is that the use of data needs to be done in a macro, micro, real-time, operational, cyclical, strategic, tactical and operational way. It is through the union of all of them that it is possible to improve the results of all types of decisions. Without data, there is no foundation and, without them, everything becomes a risk.

The second point is the need to broaden the vision of its use, companies that learn to use data in different ways are able to make smarter business decisions. This is the result of finding a decision model, which includes several techniques that generate insights capable of helping in the best actions to be taken.

Thus, from the point of view of business intelligence, the tendency is for companies to direct their technological investments with a focus on efficiency and reduction of operating costs, in order to increase their competitiveness. One thing is for sure, agility in the technological area and constant improvement will dictate the way companies integrate and follow their efforts towards technological changes.

And it is worth emphasizing that just acquiring solutions is not enough to meet emerging demands. The support of specialized professionals is necessary for guidance on how to correctly operate and configure the tools so that the results are positive.

Democratization of technology: challenges to overcome

To be able to implement or advance with the technological trends of 2023, companies must prepare, as the journey requires a certain investment of time and effort. In this sense, good planning becomes essential. By following a plan, it is possible to drive improvements, have a broad view of the necessary steps and identify what else is needed to achieve the intended goal, in addition to balancing the needs of the company.

We all have an ecosystem that is increasingly prepared to raise the level of companies and help them to pave the way for their maturation and greater development. An alternative, for example, is the use of low-code platforms that already have ready-made modules and collaborate with the acceleration of digital transformation, helping to circumvent these challenges, since the company does not need to depend on large technical and specific teams, in addition to optimize the work and accelerate adherence to what is to come. With the great demand for increasingly technical people, one of the strategies is to find ways to achieve excellent results even with lean teams.

The path to growth is increasingly prioritizing technological resources that bring operational efficiency and are aligned with the business development strategy. As for companies that have not yet started their digital transformation, they should start with the journey to the cloud, opening up possibilities for new technologies that will support the next phase of their business. Today, just implementing changes is no longer enough. It is necessary to be able to anticipate some challenges and adapt to the rapid changes that happen daily in the world of technology.

All these innovations have only been transforming the internal and external reality of companies thanks to the efforts of technology providers, who are developing a world that is increasingly interconnected and dynamic. It is essential, however, that managers and leaders are prepared for route changes and teamwork, so that the strategies are successful.