It is always exciting to look back on the successes of recent past and consider the possibilities for the year ahead of us. The IT trends to look forward to in 2017 range from Intelligent Machines, Artificial Intelligence, AR and Connected Cars to Digital Twins which clearly suggest that business as we know it is about to get a lot more interesting. It could mean an entirely new way of doing business.

Technology trends that are expected to gain limelight in 2017 are:

Digital Twins:

Digital Twin is a digital replica of an industrial asset. It works by collecting sensor data on the asset and applies advanced analytics and self learning AI to gain insights about its performance and operation.

Digital twins are a visual representation of physical assets that will fill the gap between the digital and physical world. It will be used by enterprises to improve operational efficiency and planning services. Controlling and monitoring operational activities will become easier as it will offer improved user experience. It includes-

Big Data-

We live in a world that is driven by data. How an organization defines its data strategy and approach will make a crucial difference in your ability to compete in the future.

Big data is a term that describes the large volume of data being generated by everything around us at all times. Every digital process, every device produces it and every software, systems, sensors  transmit it.

Big data is arriving from multiple sources. It is not the amount of data that is important. It is what organizations do with that data that matters. To extract value from Big Data, you need optimal processing, power, analytics capabilities and skills.

Internet of Things-

We have seen multiple IoT ecosystems in the recent past, IoT is developing rapidly in various industries as it is used to transfer data across devices using internet.

Retail & IoT:

IoT is touching great heights especially in the retail sector for example- one can now edit their shopping list from any device. It is possible via connected applications that links your device with the physical store and keeps you updated.  Buyers convenience is redefined by making information available on a range of devices like smartphones, tablets, vehicles, wearables, etc.

IoT & Electricity:

The consumption of energy is going up every year and companies are struggling to keep up with the ever rising demand. The introduction of IoT in electric power Industry came as a relief to the companies as IoT is making energy use more efficient which would eventually relieve some stress on the energy demand.

Smart meters have become one of the top IoT devices. Smart meters are connected to the building with a smart energy grid, that allows the companies to manage energy flow more efficiently.

Augmented Reality-

The expectation from Virtual Reality is quite high in this year so it remains amongst the top developing technologies. This year will witness some major highs in the field of Augmented Reality as it takes over VR. AR is now available on mobile devices without the use of an external hardware. Consumers are looking for hands free version of Augmented Reality.

It has been around for quite some time but made it to the headline after the launch of Pokemon Go. It is still young and needs more attention.

Artificial Intelligence-

Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning are going to be an integral part of 2017 dealing with deep learning, natural language processing and neural networks. All these technologies are overlooking the traditional ways of writing algorithms that make the systems learn, understand and predict. A great example of a mix of these technologies is Chatbot that is improving the work environment of enterprises by connecting people, tools, software and much more.

Along with AI, machine learning is simultaneously developing as it is playing a significant part in connecting users to the world. These are not just buzz words anymore as they are making their way into the automotive industry. This change in automotive industry is largely due to user demand for smarter and safer cars.

Connected cars:

Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning technologies are expanding at a fast pace. This year we will witness the first autonomous self driving car.

Apart from these, 3D printers will be among the most purchased printer as there will be a significant drop in the price of these printers. Hence, most IT firms are expected to adopt it within the next five years.

Each of the above technologies collects information and uses it in different capabilities. As technology transformation evolves, so will its impact on business. 2017 is the year when enterprises will see a scaling up of investment towards these trends as they promise to bring big changes to enterprises in the year ahead.