Technology Adoption Roadmap for Midsize Enterprises
Author: Nicholas M. Hughes
A little while ago, Gartner released their 2022-2024 edition of the Technology Adoption Roadmap for Midsize Enterprises. I read it, and it’s a pretty interesting document. The infographics that come out of Gartner are awesome. So, let's dive into the tech world of midsize enterprises, those cool cats with revenues between $50 million and $1 billion. (Wait... $1B is a MIDSIZE enterprise?! Don’t tell Dr. Evil...) They've got their eyes on the prize and are shaking things up in the tech scene. Here's the lowdown from a Gartner report on their tech adoption roadmap for 2022-2024.
Key Takeaways
Cybersecurity: Midsize enterprises are taking cybersecurity seriously. They're investing heavily in Managed Detection and Response (MDR) and other threat detection technologies. They're assembling their own digital defense team to tackle the rising tide of ransomware attacks. According to the Gartner timeline, midsize enterprises were aiming to have Network Detection and Response (NDR) and MDR fully operational by the end of 2022.
Productivity and Operational Efficiency: These enterprises are also harnessing the power of AI, Data Science, and Machine Learning platforms to boost their operational efficiency. On top of that, they're exploring Enhanced Internet for a more reliable, high-performance online experience. It's a smart move in an increasingly digital world.
Future of Work: When it comes to the future of work, these enterprises are prioritizing hybrid and remote work environments. They're focusing on strengthening their infrastructure for remote and hybrid work, even if it means putting collaboration and productivity tools on hold. It's a strategic move that reflects the changing dynamics of the workplace.
Network Efficiencies: Interestingly, they're already looking beyond 5G services. They're planning to deploy identity-based segmentation, SD-WAN, and Network Traffic Analysis by the end of 2023. They're paving their own digital highways for secure and consistent network coverage.
API Management: They're also turning to API management PaaS to handle unpredictable API traffic and compensate for limited internal support skills. It's a practical solution that leverages external expertise to manage their digital interfaces.
Natural Language Processing (NLP): However, it's not all smooth sailing. They're encountering challenges with Natural Language Processing (NLP). Despite the potential of NLP technologies, the complexity of human language is proving to be a tough nut to crack. It's a reminder that not all tech advancements can be adopted at the same pace.
In a nutshell, midsize enterprises are making some bold moves in the tech scene. They're not just following the trends, they're helping to shape them. Their ambitious tech adoption roadmap is a testament to their commitment to innovation and progress.
Value vs Risk
Don't miss the eye-catching infographic in the Gartner roadmap document. It's like a treasure map for tech adoption, charting the course for more than 400 midsize enterprises across 53 technologies and 6 categories. Each technology gets a scorecard, rated from low to high on both Enterprise Value and Deployment Risk. It's a simple yet powerful way to identify the tech superstars - those high value, low risk technologies that should be at the top of any organization's priority list. This infographic is more than just a pretty picture, it's a strategic tool for navigating the ever-evolving tech landscape.
Some of the technologies that really stood out to me are the ones flagged as high value and low risk:
Security Orchestration Automation and Response (SOAR) Solutions: This is like having a digital security guard that never sleeps. SOAR cybersecurity solutions streamline and automate the response to cybersecurity threats. They're high value because they can significantly reduce the time and resources required to manage security events, allowing businesses to focus more on their core operations.
Integration Platform as a Service (iPaaS): iPaaS is a suite of cloud services that enable users to create, manage, and govern integration flows between disparate applications and data sources. Its high value stems from its ability to streamline business processes, improve data accessibility, and enable more efficient use of resources.
Virtual Machine Backup and Recovery: This technology ensures that virtual machines, which are software systems that emulate a computer system, can be quickly restored in the event of a failure or data loss. The high value of this technology lies in its ability to provide business continuity, minimizing downtime and data loss. However, I’d argue that any data should certainly be backed up... but the virtual machines themselves should just be easily rebuilt using automation.
Robotic Process Automation (RPA): RPA uses software robots to automate repetitive tasks, freeing up human workers to focus on more complex and creative tasks. Its high value comes from its potential to significantly increase productivity and efficiency, reduce errors, and improve customer service.
Digital Experience Monitoring (DEM): DEM monitors and analyzes the performance of digital services from the user's perspective. Its high value comes from its ability to provide insights into user experience, helping businesses to improve their services, boost customer satisfaction, and ultimately, increase revenue.
Cloud Data Warehouse: A cloud data warehouse stores large amounts of data in the cloud, making it easily accessible for analysis and reporting. Its high value stems from its ability to enable businesses to make data-driven decisions, provide scalability, and reduce the cost and complexity of data management.
There are also some technologies that stand out as potentially having a large impact on organizations, although they present more risk, especially for those who may not have the expertise for implementation:
API Management PaaS: This is a platform that helps organizations create, manage, secure, and scale APIs in a cloud environment. Its high value comes from its ability to effectively manage the interactions between different software platforms, making it easier for systems to communicate and share data. This can lead to more efficient operations and the creation of new services or business models.
Citizen Automation and Development Platforms (CADPs): CADPs are tools that allow non-technical users to create or automate digital processes. The high value of CADPs lies in their ability to democratize IT and drive business-led automation. By enabling non-technical users to contribute to digital initiatives, organizations can accelerate innovation and improve agility.
Artificial Intelligence IT Operations (AIOps) Platforms: AIOps platforms use artificial intelligence and machine learning to automate and enhance IT operations. The high value of AIOps comes from its ability to analyze vast amounts of data from various IT operations tools and devices, helping to identify and resolve issues more quickly and efficiently. This can lead to improved system performance and availability, as well as reduced operational costs.
What Next?
Wrapping up, the tech adoption roadmap for midsize enterprises is a fascinating journey, filled with strategic choices and innovative leaps. From fortifying their digital fortresses with SOAR solutions to empowering their teams with CADPs, these organizations are making smart bets on high-impact technologies. They're not just spectators in the digital revolution, they're active participants, shaping their own destinies. Whether it's mastering the art of API management or leveraging AI to streamline IT operations, these enterprises are making moves that signal their readiness to embrace the future. It's clear that in the game of tech adoption, these midsize enterprises are playing to win.
