Obtain software for its across-the-board functionality

However, a few years ago, continuous innovations have transformed the industry, and they have begun to affect the makeup of hardware and software companies. This innovative environment has generated a so called “digital economy”, which has not only sped up global connections, but also put international business within the reach of enterprises of all sizes. Here are some of the interesting technological trends that are happening and the great influence they have had in creating opportunities for investors:

The Internet of Things (IoT) has become a new force that drives both innovation and new opportunities by bringing every consumer and activity into the digital world. 

Leading businesses are also making similar changes in their organisations by digitising every employee, process, product and service. By tapping into the digital ecosystem, ordinary businesses can tackle challenges that were previously well beyond their scope. These connections will offer new services, reshape experiences and enter new markets by creating digital ecosystems. 

This includes the Internet of Me, another trend that not only empowers people to simply personalise their lives with “my playlist”, “my new feeds”, “my recommendation”, but also lead enterprises to actively create a connected world in which their customers’ preferences, behaviour and contexts are pulled together to make daily experiences simple and personal.

Intelligent hardware is one of the trends that play an important role in bridging the last mile between the digital enterprise and the physical world. As leading enterprises come face-to-face with the Internet of Things, they are uncovering opportunities to embed hardware and sensors in their digital toolboxes. They are using highly connected hardware components to give customers what they really want, not more products or services, but the product that offers tangible results. 

The transition of measurement also aims to extract information or find results. That’s why “wearable technology” has so much potential for enterprise. The Smart Watch, a wearable computer developed from fitness bands, has been gaining popularity over consumer technology for health and wellness applications. It’s also in line with consumer behaviour, which is evolving as people become more health conscious. Consumer-facing companies like those in healthcare and life sciences can also use wearable technology to improve the efficacy of their products and services, and to increase effectiveness of their operations and supply chains.

Digital industry platforms and digital ecosystems are the trends fuelling the next wave of breakthrough innovation. Increasingly, platform-based companies are capturing more of the digital economy’s opportunities for strong growth and profitability. Rapid advances in cloud computing not only eliminate the technology and cost barriers associated with such platforms, but also open up this new playing field to enterprises across industries and geographies. 

In other words, platform-based ecosystems are the new plane of competition. In the digital economy, these platforms also serve as business model strategies that create competitive differentiation. Over the past decade, technology and Internet-born companies like Apple, Facebook and Salesforce.com have dominated the headlines with their platform-based businesses. But, at this moment, established non-tech industry enterprises are also moving quickly with major strategic initiatives to become platform-based businesses.

Another trend is software services. 

Increasingly capable software has been geared to help employees make better and faster decisions. With an influx of big data and advances in processing power, data science and cognitive technology, software intelligence is helping even machines to make much better informed decisions. 

Business and technology leaders must now view software intelligence not as a pilot or a one-off project, but as an across-the-board functionality. It will not only drive new levels of evolution and discovery, but also propel innovation throughout the enterprise.

Concerning the growth of industry with respect to this technological innovation, these trends will continue creating value through global connection and the advanced technology. The trends will make both lifestyles and enterprises more efficient and eventually make opportunities with pleasant returns for those who see the treasure trove hidden in these technology trends. 

Investment contains risk. The investor should thoroughly study prospectus, product features and returns conditions before investing.

 

This article is contributed by Asset Plus Fund Management.