The Future of Business: Gartner’s 10 Strategic Tech Trends Reshaping Business in 2023

“In order to be irreplaceable, one must always be different.” — Coco Chanel

As we look ahead to the future of technology, it’s important for business leaders to stay up to date on the latest trends that will shape the industry.

Gartner has put a beautiful lens on the tech trends to pay attention to for 2023.

According to Gartner, a leading research and advisory company, there are 10 strategic technology trends that will have a significant impact in 2023 and beyond.

From AI to industry clouds, these trends offer exciting opportunities for businesses to innovate, improve operations, and drive growth.

Let’s explore each of the 10 strategic technology trends identified by Gartner…

10 Strategic Tech Trends for 2023 According to Gartner

The 10 Tech Trends for 2023, according to Gartner are:

1. Digital Immue System
2. Applied Overvability
3. AI TriSM
4. Industry Cloud Platforms
5. Platform Engineering
6. Wireless — Value Realization
7. Superapps
8. Adaptive AI
9. Metaverse
10. Sustainable Technology

I’ve included brief descriptions to help make each trend more clear, insightful and actionable at a glance:

1. Digital Immune System (DIS)

A digital immune system (DIS) is a term used to describe a set of cybersecurity technologies and processes that work together to detect and respond to potential cyber threats and vulnerabilities.

The goal of a digital immune system is to protect an organization’s digital assets and infrastructure from cyber-attacks, just as the human immune system protects the body from diseases.

It integrates multiple layers of security, including firewalls, antivirus software, intrusion detection and prevention systems, and artificial intelligence and machine learning algorithms to constantly monitor and adapt to the changing threat landscape.

By leveraging a DIS, leaders can improve their organization’s overall security posture and protect against cyber threats.

The DIS can provide a proactive approach to cybersecurity, rapid response to cyber threats, continuous monitoring, identification of vulnerabilities, and improved overall security posture.

By implementing a DIS, leaders can enhance their cybersecurity defenses and mitigate the impact of potential cyber attacks.

Here are some ways that a leader can use a DIS to improve cybersecurity:

1. Predict and Prevent Cyber Attacks: DIS can help to predict and prevent cyber attacks before they occur by analyzing network activity and detecting potential threats.
2. Rapid Response to Cyber Threats: DIS can respond to cyber threats in real-time by automating security responses and quickly containing and mitigating the impact of an attack.
3. Continuous Monitoring: DIS can provide continuous monitoring of network activity and threat intelligence to ensure that the organization is protected against emerging cyber threats.
4. Identifying Vulnerabilities: DIS can identify vulnerabilities in the organization’s network and applications, and provide recommendations for remediation.
5. Improve Overall Security Posture: A DIS can improve the overall security posture of an organization by providing a proactive approach to cybersecurity that leverages artificial intelligence and machine learning.

2. Applied Observability

Applied Observability is a term used to describe the practice of collecting and analyzing data from various sources within an IT system to gain insight into its behavior and performance.

The goal of applied observability is to understand how the system works and identify potential issues before they cause disruptions.

This can be achieved through monitoring key metrics, tracing events and transactions, and logging events and exceptions.

It combines different observability techniques, including logging, monitoring, tracing, and profiling, to provide a comprehensive view of the system and its interactions.

The goal of applied observability is to improve the reliability, performance, and troubleshooting of IT systems, allowing organizations to make informed decisions about their technology infrastructure.

By applying Applied Observability, leaders can gain valuable insights into their business operations and drive continuous improvement.

Applied Observability can help leaders to identify bottlenecks and performance issues, enhance customer experience, predict and prevent issues, optimize business operations, and drive innovation.

By leveraging data and analytics, leaders can make informed decisions and drive business success.

Here are some ways that a leader can apply Applied Observability to drive business success:

1. Identify Bottlenecks and Performance Issues: Applied Observability can help leaders to identify bottlenecks and performance issues in business operations. By leveraging real-time data and analytics, leaders can gain insights into the root cause of these issues and take action to improve performance.
2. Enhance Customer Experience: Applied Observability can help leaders to improve the customer experience by gaining insights into customer behavior, preferences, and sentiment. By analyzing customer data, leaders can identify opportunities to improve customer interactions and satisfaction.
3. Predict and Prevent Issues: Applied Observability can help leaders to predict and prevent issues before they occur. By analyzing data and identifying patterns, leaders can gain insights into potential issues and take proactive measures to mitigate them.
4. Optimize Business Operations: Applied Observability can help leaders to optimize business operations by gaining insights into the performance of different systems and processes. By identifying areas for improvement, leaders can streamline operations and improve efficiency.
5. Drive Innovation: Applied Observability can help leaders to drive innovation by gaining insights into emerging trends and customer needs. By leveraging data and analytics, leaders can identify new opportunities and develop innovative solutions to drive business success.

3. AI TriSM

AI TriSM is a framework that leverages artificial intelligence (AI) to improve customer service operations.

AI trust, risk, and security management (AI TRISM) ensures AI model governance, trustworthiness, reliability, robustness, efficacy and data protection.

This includes solutions and techniques for model interpretability and explainability, AI data protection, model operations and adversarial attack resistance.

By leveraging AI TriSM, leaders can improve customer service operations and drive better business outcomes.

AI TriSM can help leaders to personalize customer interactions, automate customer service processes, optimize resource allocation, provide proactive customer service, and improve customer service metrics.

By embracing AI TriSM, leaders can improve customer satisfaction, reduce costs, and drive business success.

Here are some ways that leaders can leverage AI TriSM to enhance customer service:

1. Personalize Customer Interactions: AI TriSM can help leaders to personalize customer interactions by analyzing customer data and preferences. By leveraging AI to personalize interactions, leaders can improve customer satisfaction and loyalty.
2. Automate Customer Service Processes: AI TriSM can help leaders to automate customer service processes, such as chatbots and virtual assistants. By automating these processes, leaders can improve efficiency and reduce costs.
3. Optimize Resource Allocation: AI TriSM can help leaders to optimize resource allocation by analyzing customer data and predicting customer needs. By leveraging AI to optimize resource allocation, leaders can improve efficiency and reduce costs.
4. Proactive Customer Service: AI TriSM can help leaders to provide proactive customer service by analyzing customer data and identifying potential issues before they occur. By leveraging AI to provide proactive customer service, leaders can improve customer satisfaction and loyalty.
5. Improve Customer Service Metrics: AI TriSM can help leaders to improve customer service metrics, such as response time and customer satisfaction scores. By leveraging AI to optimize customer service operations, leaders can drive continuous improvement and achieve better business outcomes.

4. Industry Cloud Platforms

Industry cloud platforms are cloud-based solutions that are specifically designed to meet the needs of a particular industry.

As Gregor Petri, VP Analyst at Gartner puts it:

“In effect, industry cloud platforms turn a cloud platform into a business platform, enabling an existing technology innovation tool to also serve as a business innovation tool.”

Vertical cloud platforms combine software, platform and infrastructure as a service (IaaS) capabilities to provide specific solutions for different vertical industries.

These industry solutions are mostly based on public cloud services but offer industry players a more agile way to manage workloads and accelerate change against the particular business, data, compliance or other needs of their segment.

By leveraging industry cloud platforms, leaders can access customized solutions, improve efficiency, gain access to industry-specific expertise, scale operations, and enhance security.

Industry cloud platforms offer a range of benefits to businesses, and by embracing these platforms, leaders can drive business success and stay ahead.

Here are some ways leaders can leverage industry cloud platforms:

1. Customized Solutions: Industry cloud platforms can be customized to meet the unique needs of a particular industry. By leveraging these platforms, leaders can access solutions that are specifically designed for their industry and tailored to their business needs.
2. Improved Efficiency: Industry cloud platforms can help leaders to improve efficiency by automating processes and reducing manual tasks. By leveraging these platforms, leaders can streamline operations and reduce costs.
3. Access to Industry-Specific Expertise: Industry cloud platforms provide access to industry-specific expertise and best practices. By leveraging these platforms, leaders can stay up-to-date on the latest industry trends and gain insights into best practices for their business.
4. Scalability: Industry cloud platforms are designed to be scalable and can grow with the business. By leveraging these platforms, leaders can easily scale operations as the business grows and expands.
5. Enhanced Security: Industry cloud platforms provide enhanced security measures and compliance standards that are specific to the industry. By leveraging these platforms, leaders can improve security and protect against potential risks.

5. Platform Engineering

Platform engineering is the practice of designing, building, and maintaining technology platforms that support business operations.

According to Gartner:

“Platform engineering is the discipline of building and operating self-service internal developer platforms (IDPs) for software delivery and life cycle management.

Each platform is a layer, created and maintained by a dedicated product team, designed to support the needs of software developers by interfacing with tools and processes. 

The goal of platform engineering is to optimize the developer experience and accelerate product teams’ delivery of customer value”.

By leveraging platform engineering, leaders can drive business success by building scalable and efficient technology platforms, driving innovation, improving integration, and enhancing security.

Platform engineering provides a foundation for the technology solutions that drive business operations and by embracing this practice, leaders can stay ahead.

Here are some ways that leaders can leverage platform engineering to drive business success:

1. Scalability: Platform engineering can help leaders to build technology platforms that are scalable and can grow with the business. By leveraging platform engineering, leaders can easily scale operations as the business grows and expands.
2. Improved Efficiency: Platform engineering can help leaders to improve efficiency by streamlining operations and reducing manual tasks. By automating processes, leaders can reduce costs and increase productivity.
3. Innovation: Platform engineering can help leaders to drive innovation by providing a foundation for new technologies and services. By leveraging platform engineering, leaders can stay up-to-date on the latest technology trends and gain a competitive advantage.
4. Integration: Platform engineering can help leaders to integrate different systems and applications, allowing for seamless communication between different parts of the business. By leveraging platform engineering, leaders can improve collaboration and efficiency.
5. Security: Platform engineering can help leaders to improve security by implementing security measures and compliance standards. By leveraging platform engineering, leaders can protect against potential risks and ensure that their technology platforms are secure.

6. Wireless — Value Realization

Wireless technology has evolved beyond just connectivity, offering a range of features such as location tracking, radar sensing, and ultra-low-power energy harvesting.

According to Gartner:

“Wireless-value realization refers to the expanding range of next-generation wireless protocols and technologies that will deliver value beyond connectivity, ranging from location tracking to radar sensing, to ultra-low-power energy harvesting.”

By leveraging wireless technology, leaders can drive business success by improving operations, enhancing security, reducing costs, collecting real-time data, and enhancing the customer experience.

Wireless technology has evolved beyond just connectivity, offering a range of features that can provide a competitive advantage to businesses.

By embracing these features, leaders can stay ahead.

Here are some ways that leaders can leverage these features to drive business success:

1. Location Tracking: Wireless technology can enable location tracking, allowing leaders to gain insights into how people and assets move through a space. By leveraging location tracking, leaders can improve operations and optimize resource allocation.
2. Radar Sensing: Wireless technology can enable radar sensing, allowing leaders to detect and identify objects and movement. By leveraging radar sensing, leaders can enhance security, automate processes, and improve operations.
3. Ultra-Low-Power Energy Harvesting: Wireless technology can enable ultra-low-power energy harvesting, allowing leaders to power devices without the need for batteries or wires. By leveraging energy harvesting, leaders can reduce costs and improve efficiency.
4. Real-Time Data Collection: Wireless technology can provide real-time data collection and analysis, allowing leaders to make informed decisions and drive business success. By leveraging wireless technology, leaders can gain valuable insights into their operations and make data-driven decisions.
5. Enhanced Customer Experience: Wireless technology can enhance the customer experience by providing fast and reliable access to information and services. By leveraging wireless technology, leaders can provide customers with a seamless experience that meets their needs and expectations.

7. Superapps

Superapps are all-in-one apps that offer a range of features and services, from messaging to shopping to finance.

According to Gartner, a superapp is an app that ”provides end-users (customers, partners or employees) with a set of core features plus access to independently created miniapps.”

They deliver a mobile-first experience that truly caters to a growing digital-native generation.

By leveraging superapps, leaders can drive business success by enhancing the customer experience, increasing engagement, diversifying revenue streams, gaining valuable data insights, and expanding partnerships.

Superapps offer a range of benefits to businesses, and by embracing this technology, leaders can stay ahead.

Here are some ways that leaders can leverage superapps to drive business success:

1. Enhanced Customer Experience: Superapps can enhance the customer experience by providing a one-stop-shop for a range of services. By leveraging superapps, leaders can provide customers with a seamless and convenient experience that meets their needs and expectations.
2. Increased Engagement: Superapps can increase engagement by providing users with a range of features and services that they use regularly. By leveraging superapps, leaders can increase user engagement and retention.
3. New Revenue Streams: Superapps can provide new revenue streams by offering a range of services and products. By leveraging superapps, leaders can diversify their revenue streams and increase profitability.
4. Data Insights: Superapps can provide valuable data insights into customer behavior and preferences. By leveraging these insights, leaders can make data-driven decisions and drive business success.
5. Partnerships: Superapps can enable partnerships with other businesses and services, allowing leaders to expand their offerings and reach new customers. By leveraging these partnerships, leaders can drive growth and reach new markets.

8. Adaptive AI

Adaptive AI is the practice of using artificial intelligence (AI) that can learn and adapt to new information and changes in the environment.

According to Gartner, Adaptive AI systems support a decision-making framework centered around making faster decisions while remaining flexible to adjust as issues arise.

By leveraging adaptive AI, leaders can drive business success by providing personalized customer experiences, improving efficiency, enhancing decision-making, improving security, and diversifying revenue streams.

Adaptive AI offers a range of benefits to businesses, and by embracing this technology, leaders can stay ahead.

Here are some ways that leaders can leverage adaptive AI to drive business success:

1. Personalized Customer Experience: Adaptive AI can provide personalized recommendations and experiences to customers by analyzing their behavior and preferences. By leveraging adaptive AI, leaders can improve customer satisfaction and loyalty.
2. Improved Efficiency: Adaptive AI can improve efficiency by automating processes and reducing manual tasks. By leveraging adaptive AI, leaders can reduce costs and increase productivity.
3. Better Decision Making: Adaptive AI can provide valuable insights and predictions to leaders, allowing them to make data-driven decisions. By leveraging adaptive AI, leaders can improve decision-making and drive business success.
4. Enhanced Security: Adaptive AI can improve security by analyzing data and detecting potential threats. By leveraging adaptive AI, leaders can protect against potential risks and ensure that their data is secure.
5. New Revenue Streams: Adaptive AI can provide new revenue streams by enabling new products and services. By leveraging adaptive AI, leaders can diversify their revenue streams and increase profitability.

9. Metaverse

The metaverse is a virtual world that is generated by the convergence of physical and virtual reality.

According to Gartner:

“The Metaverse is a collective virtual open space, created by the convergence of virtually enhanced physical and digital reality.  It is physically persistent and provides enhanced immersive experiences.”

By leveraging the metaverse, leaders can drive business success by engaging customers, diversifying revenue streams, improving branding and marketing, driving collaboration and innovation, and improving training and development.

The metaverse offers a range of benefits to businesses, and by embracing this technology, leaders can stay ahead.

Here are some ways leaders can leverage the metaverse:

1. New Customer Engagement Opportunities: The metaverse offers new opportunities for customer engagement, including immersive experiences, virtual events, and social interactions. By leveraging the metaverse, leaders can provide customers with new and exciting ways to engage with their brand.
2. New Revenue Streams: The metaverse can provide new revenue streams by offering virtual goods, experiences, and services. By leveraging the metaverse, leaders can diversify their revenue streams and increase profitability.
3. Branding and Marketing: The metaverse can be used as a platform for branding and marketing, allowing leaders to create a virtual presence and engage with customers in new and creative ways. By leveraging the metaverse, leaders can improve brand recognition and customer loyalty.
4. Collaboration and Innovation: The metaverse can be used as a platform for collaboration and innovation, allowing leaders to work with teams and partners from around the world. By leveraging the metaverse, leaders can drive innovation and create new business opportunities.
5. Training and Development: The metaverse can be used for training and development, allowing leaders to provide immersive and interactive learning experiences. By leveraging the metaverse, leaders can improve employee skills and drive business success.

10.  Sustainable Technology

Sustainable technology is the practice of using technology in a way that minimizes its impact on the environment and supports long-term sustainability.

According to Gartner:

“Sustainable technology is a framework of solutions that enable environmental, social and governance outcomes at scale.”

By leveraging sustainable technology, leaders can drive business success by reducing costs, enhancing reputation, driving innovation, ensuring compliance, and improving operations.

Sustainable technology provides a range of benefits to businesses, and by embracing this practice, leaders can stay ahead.

Here are some ways how leaders can leverage sustainable technology:

1. Cost Savings: Sustainable technology can reduce costs by optimizing resource use, reducing waste, and improving energy efficiency. By leveraging sustainable technology, leaders can reduce costs and improve profitability.
2. Enhanced Reputation: Sustainable technology can enhance a company’s reputation by demonstrating a commitment to sustainability and environmental responsibility. By leveraging sustainable technology, leaders can improve brand recognition and customer loyalty.
3. Innovation: Sustainable technology can drive innovation by promoting new and creative ways of solving environmental challenges. By leveraging sustainable technology, leaders can drive innovation and create new business opportunities.
4. Compliance: Sustainable technology can help companies comply with environmental regulations and standards. By leveraging sustainable technology, leaders can protect against potential risks and ensure that their operations are sustainable.
5. Improved Operations: Sustainable technology can improve operations by optimizing resource use and reducing waste. By leveraging sustainable technology, leaders can improve efficiency and reduce costs.

Embracing the Future: Leveraging Gartner’s 10 Strategic Technology Trends for Success in 2023 and Beyond

The 10 strategic technology trends for 2023 identified by Gartner offer exciting opportunities for you to innovate, improve operations, and drive growth.

From AI to industry clouds, these trends will shape the future of technology and impact a wide range of industries.

By embracing these trends and developing strategies to leverage them, you can stay ahead of the curve and drive success in the years to come.

It’s crucial for you to stay up to date on the latest trends and make informed decisions about technology investments to remain competitive in today’s fast-paced business landscape.

With the insights provided by Gartner, you can start developing plans to leverage these trends and drive business success in 2023 and beyond.

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