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It certainly goes without saying that as we approach the end of the year our deepest thoughts are with those who have suffered this year. It certainly has been a year of hardship for many. Yet whilst our biggest hope for 2023 is for health and peace we are also once again hopeful of the power tech has to make positive change. Here are a few of our predictions for the year ahead.

Tech will shift ever more to greener operations

With the growing push for ESG initiatives and the urgency in averting the climate crisis, more and more companies (especially in tech) will move ESG to the top of their agenda, recognising the return-on-investment (ROI) that can save costs, open up the capacity for new product offerings and win customers, whilst also directly contributing to the global sustainability pledge.

5G will unveil its full potential

We expect legacy networks (2G/3G) to finally be abandoned and recycled for faster, more sustainable and reliable 5G. Widespread 5G deployment will bring great advantages to the public, connecting a wide range of IoT devices for increased engagement. This will require significant but worthwhile investment from companies looking to sustain high data usage, provide stable and innovative services, whilst also monetising their new business models.

One platform to rule them all

With the rising need for companies to cut costs in 2023, businesses will be looking to switch to vendors that can help them manage their operations more efficiently. This will include choosing SaaS platforms that can do multiple functions on one platform. Businesses will be looking to streamline their operations and abandon legacy systems and multiple add-ons, instead switching to digital platforms that can help them manage their finances, invoices and credit cards in one go.

Paying with what you can’t see

As the global shift to digital banks will continue to rise, so will the use of virtual cards. With an expected 80% of the population in the US to use digital services by 2025, banks are quickly recognising the demand and adjusting their services to online. Moreover, with consumers looking for ways to safely store their personal information and carry only mobile phones, the shift to digital banking and virtual cards will be a perfect alternative to help keep your money safe on the go.

The power of AI and robotics

2023 will see Artificial Intelligence and robotics becoming more and more prevalent as an increasing number of organisations embrace their benefits – from robots delivering groceries to sophisticated chat bots improving customer engagement, the power of these disruptive technologies at times seems limitless. With initiatives such as the one from the UK Government on AI regulations, AI will be seen as a powerful ally to solving many challenges, not only marketing and customer relations, but for talent finding and hiring as well. Moreover, if previously AI was only seen as a way to automate mundane tasks, today companies are exploring creative opportunities of AI in art and even care homes (using AI to recognise the emotions of residents), and that will only continue expanding in the next year and beyond.

Enter the Multi-Metaverse

The metaverse is currently seen as a consumer-led proposition that will help people experience games, videos and life as a whole on a new level, from virtual meetings to creating your own communities. However, 2023 will see the rise of the Industrial and Enterprise – something we see will have the biggest impact on our world. This will allow manufacturing companies to design and build products using AI and VR tools by spinning physical operations in a virtual world – something called digital twins. With investment in the Metaverse set reach over $824bn by 2030, businesses will be more actively implementing this infrastructure into their operations, boosting collaboration across borders.

Work tech-spiriences

Despite some companies increasing their efforts in getting people back into offices, remote work is here to stay. Moreover, digital nomadism has become more prevalent, as the number of people working from anywhere in the world will reach one billion in 2023. Therefore, businesses will continue recognising the importance of flexible working and providing all the necessary tools to accommodate international teams. This will also include investing in technology to help manage teams more efficiently and being compliant when it comes to paying salaries and taxes in different countries.

Public transport optimisation and sustainability

With the UK’s pledge to stop selling new conventional petrol and diesel cars by 2030, public transport and fleet operators will start making more aggressive moves towards more sustainable and efficient operations. This not only includes the use of electric batteries, but also investment in software providers that can help with maintenance predictions and servicing. We will also see more investment happening in the micromobility space, with rental e-mopeds and e-scooters becoming more sustainable and reliable. With the hopes of local councils creating necessary infrastructure, e-scooters will be the preferred means of transportation for people not only in urban areas but in rural ones too, limiting traffic congestion and its resulting carbon footprint.

News ways to deliver live news

Publishers will be looking for new ways to bring authentic news and value to their readers, especially as social media still has a long way to go in monitoring and battling fake news. With journalism jobs set to decline dramatically by 2030, technology will play a major role in securing quality content. Subscription-based publishing services and liveblogging will gain momentum as ways for media outlets to monetise their services and provide live updates on the most important news. And, of course, the Metaverse will continue playing an important role, as more Brits predict news will be delivered through that platform.

Verify everything, trust nothing

Cybersecurity will always continue being one of the most important company investments. With cyber threats becoming more and more sophisticated, companies will more vigilantly protect their assets and ensure robust training for their stakeholders, especially since 95% of cyber-attacks happen due to human error. Architectures such as Zero Trust will become more prominent, with organisations taking better control of their documents and materials. And finally, businesses will be looking at more ‘offensive’ approaches to cybersecurity, ensuring they are always vigilant to incoming threats and pen test more frequently.

Elena Davidson

Elena is the CEO of Liberty Communications

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