Emerging tech trends to stay ahead of the competition

Investing in the right tech can help businesses to stay ahead of the competition by streamlining processes and boosting engagement and productivity.

Those who aren’t keeping up with tech trends run the risk of falling behind, said workplace expert Michelle Gibbings.

“Outdated technology often lacks capabilities and features, slowing production and leading to increased manual work and inefficiencies. If your competitors are streamlining their operations (and you’re not), you’ll find yourself falling behind both in terms of productivity, service delivery and innovation,” she said.

“Organisations that fail to invest in the latest relevant technology may also struggle to attract and retain skilled professionals, leading to a talent gap and decreased competitiveness.”

Artificial intelligence (AI) has become the latest trend to take the workforce by storm. The capability this tech has to eliminate manual processes gives employers more time to focus on other things.

“Much of the technology that was on the fringes is now mainstream. Most notably, AI language and digital-based tools like ChatGPT, Character AI, Midjourney, Socratic, and [Dall-E] (to name a few),” Ms Gibbings explained.

“Organisations continue to explore and expand their use of augmented reality and virtual reality technologies, which offer immersive and interactive experiences that can transform areas such as training, education, and remote collaboration.”

“As well, quantum computing, robotics and automation continue to evolve and elevate problem-solving (in the case of quantum computing) and processing and productivity (in the case of robotics and automation),” she said.

According to Ms Gibbings, these forms of tech are transforming the workforce.

She continued: “We’re seeing that this new digital and automated world is shifting emphasis on skills and capabilities. It prizes curiosity, creativity, problem-solving, initiative, adaptability and EQ.”

“We’re also seeing that some of the fastest-growing occupations require higher-level cognitive skills and explicit social-emotional skills.”

To maximise the potential tech can bring to an organisation, managers should keep up to date with emerging trends. Ms Gibbings also recommends encouraging employees to do the same, as this can spark innovation.

“[Tech can] identify repetitive and time-consuming tasks that can be automated using technology. This allows your team members to focus on more strategic and value-added work. Streamline workflows and processes through digital automation, eliminating bottlenecks and reducing manual errors. Use analytics insights to identify improvement areas, optimise workflows, and make data-driven decisions to enhance performance,” Ms Gibbings said.

“As part of this, encourage team members to stay abreast of emerging technologies and trends. Provide opportunities for experimentation and innovation and encourage them to contribute ideas on how to leverage technology to improve outcomes.”

She added: “But let’s not forget the human-to-human connection because there is much humans can do that computers and robots can’t.”