What if COVID-19 happened before the age of technology? No smartphones, no internet, and no social media to entertain our bored selves? No one will be able to work from their homes and use food delivery apps to satisfy cravings. Imagine how people will get through the challenges of living in the middle of a pandemic without the delivery of products and services via virtual or digital means.
While the pandemic brought about unprecedented challenges, we can take some comfort that it happened when we are living in a highly technological era. In fact, it’s safe to say that once the pandemic clears, consumer trends will continue to evolve to address people’s ever-changing needs.
Technological trends to watch out for in 2022 onwards
The health crisis has been a major driving force for some life-changing technology trends, which are most likely to continue in 2022 and in the years to come. That is why companies and organizations have to keep up with the ever-changing consumer needs and stay relevant to modern times.
Indeed, change is not necessarily a bad thing and should not be feared, as long as it will help improve our lives and the world we live in. Having said that, we can expect the following digital trends to be more prevalent from 2022 onwards.
No-code or low-code app development
No-code and low-code platforms will continue to be more popular among tech-savvy individuals and organizations in the next coming years. For proper context, no-code or low-code development platforms let developers build apps with minimal usage of code writing—or none at all.
This type of app development does not require someone to be a programming expert. Instead, no-code or low-code software development uses visual components to customize a web or mobile application through a drag-and-drop system. Hence, this technology makes application and software development more accessible, efficient, and user-friendly.
Blockchain
More and more businesses are starting to consider adopting blockchain technology to improve their processes. A blockchain serves as a secure way of gathering and storing essential information in ledger systems that are difficult to hack and penetrate. Blockchain has enabled the development of cryptocurrencies, which include Bitcoin.
At the moment, not many people are open to the concept of blockchain technologies. However, blockchains do not only pertain to cryptocurrencies. In the next few years, we can expect to see how blockchains will revolutionize and improve how we spend for our personal and business needs, ensuring a higher level of data and system security.
Internet of Behaviors
Businesses should be aware of this new segment of the Internet of Things (IoT), which is called the Internet of Behavior. It uses technology to gather information and other essential data about consumers’ behavior.
Businesses can leverage consolidated data, with the help of technology, to influence consumers and their buying behavior. This technology will be more common in the next coming years as more people buy online.
Remote working
The work-from-home setup has been around for some time, especially among freelancers. Then the pandemic happened which called for physical distancing to prevent the further spread of the fatal COVID-19 virus. This precautionary measure affected millions of businesses and workers around the world.
To cope with these COVID-19 effects, businesses had to shift into remote working arrangements. Telecommuting has helped not only businesses to stay afloat but also allowed employees to keep their jobs—a win-win situation that helped revive the economy. Studies reveal that more than 70% of workers believe they are more efficient and productive while in a remote working setup.
As long as new digital solutions emerge, remote working will be here to stay. The need for a physical office or facility will lessen, if not disappear for good, even as the pandemic clears in the future.
Demand for certifications
Since more and more organizations have already adopted remote work, there has also been an increased demand for certifications to ensure that teams adhere to quality standards. Some of the most in-demand certifications employers look for nowadays include:
- Certified Business Analysis Professional (CBAP)
- IIBA Agile Analysis Certification (IIBA-AAC)
- Certified in Logistics, Transportation, and Distribution (CLTD)
- Certified in Production and Inventory Management (CPIM)
- Certified Supply Chain Professional (CSCP)
- Marketing and Social Media Analytics certifications
- Professional in Human Resources (PHR)
- Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR)
Looking forward to the future
On the one hand, the ongoing pandemic crippled our daily lives as no other global event did. It brought constant fears that someone in our family might catch the deadly virus.
However, the dreadful health crisis has also led the business sector to develop life-changing innovations that can help the majority cope with such an unexpected turn of events. By staying on top of technology trends, you’re setting yourself up for business and economic growth in 2022 and in the years to come.