For the information technology, CIOs, senior business executives and leaders, navigating economic and market volatility will be a critical success factor in 2012 and beyond, according to an analysis by the global research firm Gartner Inc.
Many industry business models will be challenged through 2015 as customers continue to adopt an always-connected digital lifestyle and market competitors exploit emerging technologies to achieve business growth and success, said Gartner analyst, Ms Kimberly Harris-Ferrante.
In 2011, many industries globally had to cope with a sluggish economy that challenged enterprises to balance the sometimes conflicting imperatives of maintaining costs control while enabling innovation. The market, economic, demographic and technological environments that industries will face in 2012 will require them to be nimble in their operations and enterprise practices. Being agile and adopting new business practices will be imperative for survival in 2012, she said.
Cloud computing and social media will continue to provide industries with new avenues for effective customer communication and engagement. This will facilitate increased revenue and sustainable interaction with key customers.
New technologies such as media tablets and advances in mobile will have a disruptive impact on many industries, requiring changes to existing processes and propelling business transformation, she said.
With this year's industry predictions, Gartner analysts are highlighting the emerging trends that once addressed will better position industry leaders to align their business practices with the needs of customer and business partners.
Top predictions
Some of the top industry predictions are:
By 2016, most consumers in mature markets will consider in-vehicle Web access a key criterion in their automobile purchase.
By 2014, major national defaults in Europe will lead to the collapse of more than one-third of European banks.
By 2015, new, external social Web and cloud-based services will generate 25 per cent of consumer-driven banking products and services.
By 2013, iPad penetration among pharma sales reps will reach 85 per cent, then shift to applications that improve delivery and interaction tracking.
By 2016, the iPad will gain less than 50 per cent of the K-12 market as CIOs favour devices that are deployed more readily.
By 2015, 30 per cent of smart grid projects will leverage cloud services to address big data from converging technologies.
By 2015, 20 per cent of integrated delivery systems will be investing in new healthcare-targeted customer relationship management systems.
By year-end 2014, at least one social network provider will become an insurance sales channel.
By 2016, more than 5 per cent of searches will be integrated using mobile devices' video/audio sensors instead of typed or spoken phrases.
By 2014, the five largest PLM software providers will make social networking an integral part of their solution.