CommunicAsia2015 Reveals A New Generation of All Things Digital

-Andrew Milroy, Senior Vice President, ICT Practice, Asia Pacific at Frost & Sullivan and CommunicAsia2015 Summit speaker shares his top technology predictions that will transform the digital landscape in 2015

SINGAPORE, Feb. 6, 2015 /PRNewswire/ — Asia Pacific is dynamic, engaged and more connected than ever, with different levels of business and technological maturity across the region. By 2017, the Internet of Things (IoT) market will be one of the fastest growing segments in the Asia Pacific technology industry. The total Asia Pacific spending on IoT spending is forecasted to be US$59 billion by 2020. Thereby proving that the Internet has revolutionised the way an individual communicate s and connect s with not only individuals, but communities and businesses too. While this creates immense opportunities for businesses to tap into, it also puts added pressure on businesses to innovate faster in order to keep up with the rapid adoption of all things digital.

With this in mind, Mr Milroy believes that 2015 will be the year to watch as more enterprises learn how to best leverage on the immense potential that IoT offers. He shares his views with CommunicAsia2015 , on the current and future of the regional digital landscape and its impact on enterprises and consumers of today. Mr Milroy offers a sneak preview of his keynote speech, so let’s take a look at some of the key trends set to change the digital landscape in 2015…

IoT gets real

At the crux of it all, the Internet of Things (IoT) is increasingly seeing an orchestra of IT enabled devices speaking to each other. In the past five years, IT enabled devices have become cheaper and more accessible across the region. Let’s face it, IT enabled devices has gone beyond typical computers and smartphones into enterprise assets. IT enabled devices are everywhere, and because of the increased access to IT enabled devices and more reliable networks at lower costs, the opportunity that businesses can gain and leverage from IoT is immense. Take transportation for example, there are increasingly more mobile applications available in Singapore that provides predictive bus schedules, reducing our waiting time. These technologies are testament to  the  Smart Nation vision, helping  to make more informed decisions in daily lives and increasing efficiencies.  On the other hand, IoT is predicted to have a hugely disruptive impact on manufacturing as it allows for increased automation in factories.  This may lead to a potential shift of the manufacturing industries from labor-intensive markets such as China and Vietnam back to North America , Western Europe and Japan .

Proliferation of wearables

More consumers are turning to wearable devices with the likes of fitness gadgets and intelligent watches. What’s really interesting to know is  how businesses can benefit from these wearable technologies,  particularly  in the shipping industry. Logistic companies are set to gain from wearables through the use of IT enabled helmets or goggles that display shipping orders, immensely reducing paperwork. Apart from that, the healthcare industry could leverage on wristbands to monitor patients’ health and display their medical records as opposed to the plastic wrist tags that they currently use.

Software Defined Everything

Another key trend to watch for is Software-Defined Everything (SDx). In the next decade, almost every industry will be re-defined by software.  The different components of the IT infrastructure will be virtualized and delivered as a service via cloud technologies. These networks allow for new business applications and services which in turn improve overall enterprise efficiencies. More importantly, it allows enterprises to fully utilize their servers through better hardware management. Take the aviation industry as an example; the festive season sees increased website utilization and bookings. SDx technologies distribute the traffic amongst via the cloud, allowing consumers to experience faster and more reliable service than before.

The market place is undergoing massive transformation. As structured and unstructured data in organisations continue to grow, security continues to be a concern. Watertight data security is combination of thoughtful strategizing and IT execution done right. It is important that businesses understand how they can leverage such technologies to improve organisational processes and efficiencies and remain agile in the choices they make today.