The 12 Main Technology Trends of 2022 According to Gartner

Every year, the US consulting firm Gartner publishes a study with the top technology trends of the year. In 2022, the list consists of 12 strategic technologies that will enable companies to accelerate growth, digitalisation and business process efficiency. We review the top 12 technology trends of 2022 according to Garnter!

In addition to Garnter's Magic Quadrant, the consultancy conducts an annual research on which technologies will have the biggest impact on the business world in the coming years. The 2022 list consists of 12 technology trends that, according to the consultancy, will multiply the power of digital business and innovation in three to five years and enable CEOs to drive growth, digitisation and operational efficiency.

Gartner's predictions indicate that the 12 strategic technology trends of 2022 will accelerate digital capabilities and drive growth by solving the most common business challenges faced by CIOs and IT departments, positioning CIOs and IT executives as strategic partners in the organisation.

David Groombridge, Gartner's VP Analyst, explains: "“CEOs know they must accelerate the adoption of digital business and are seeking more direct digital routes to connect with their customers, but with an eye on future economic risks, they also want to be efficient and protect margins and cash flow.”

Some of these innovations represent the technical capabilities needed to compete in a digital world, while others provide business-oriented capabilities to stay ahead of the competition.

However, all the trends on the list are expected to contribute to the achievement of the following results:

• Greater trust in engineering: The technologies on the list consolidate a stronger IT foundation by ensuring that data processing and integration is done more securely, both on local servers and in the cloud, by offering more cost-effective scalability options. 
• Driving change: The trends mentioned are expected to accelerate business digitisation of businesses by automating their processes and optimising their artificial intelligence (AI) capabilities, as well as increasing the speed and intelligence of data-driven decisions.
• Accelerating growth: The strategic technology trends on the list will multiply companies' IT capabilities and enable them to expand their market share, maximise value creation and enhance their digital competencies.

The 12 Main Technology Trends of 2022 According to Gartner

1. Data Fabric

What is it?

Data Fabric is an end-to-end data management and data integration solution that translates into an architecture and set of data services that standardise data management processes across multiple cloud, on-premise, perimeter and hybrid multi-cloud devices.  

What does it mean for businesses?

According to Gartner, this data architecture makes data integration more flexible and robust, making data available across all corporate platforms and to all employees within a company. In addition, the Data Fabric can be reinforced with analytical capabilities so that the data structure itself suggests in which environments data should be modified and used, which, according to the consultancy, can reduce companies' data management efforts by up to 70%.

2. Cybersecurity Mesh

What is it?

It is a flexible and scalable data security architecture that includes multiple, widely distributed security services. 

Why does it improve business security?

According to Gartner, cybersecurity mesh allows independent security solutions to work together to improve the overall security of the company. On the other hand, this architecture brings control points closer to the data assets that have to be protected.

In this sense, the cybersecurity mesh allows companies to quickly and reliably verify identity, context and compliance with data policies, both in the cloud and in physical environments.

3. Privacy-Enhacning Computation

What is it?

Privacy-Enhancing Computation is a type of computing that protects data in real time while it is being used, rather than protecting it only when it is not being used. This process enhances data privacy and allows data to be exchanged more securely and efficiently. 

Why is this a trend?

Gartner claims that this type of computing secures the processing of personal data in untrusted environments, which is increasingly necessary due to growing consumer concern about how companies use their data and the tightening of privacy and data protection laws such as GDPR. Privacy-enhanced computing allows organisations to maximise the value of data without putting it at risk.

4. Cloud-native platforms

What is it?

Cloud-native platforms are those technologies that enable the construction of new, resilient, elastic and agile application architectures in the cloud.

According to Gartner, these platforms optimise the traditional cloud integration approach, which complicates maintenance and does not take advantage of the benefits of the cloud. 

5. Composable Applications

Composable applications are built from business-centric modular components that facilitate the use and reuse of code, speeding time to market for new software solutions and multiplying business value.

6. Decision Intelligence

More than a technology, decision intelligence is a practical approach that improves the business decision-making process by modelling each decision as a set of processes and using intelligence and analytics to inform, learn and refine decisions.

Gartner explains that this approach does not only improve the decision-making process, but also automates it through the use of augmented analytics, simulations and artificial intelligence.

7. Hyperautomation

What is it?

Gartner describes it as follows: "Hyperautomation is a disciplined, business-driven approach to rapidly identify, vet and automate as many business and IT processes as possible.

According to the consultancy, hyperautomation fosters scalability, remote operation and business model disruption.

8. AI Engineering

The application of engineering in artificial intelligence boosts AI capabilities by automating the updating of data and applications. 

According to Gartner, combined with strong AI governance, AI engineering optimises the business value of artificial intelligence.

9. Distributed Enterprises

By distributed enterprises, Gartner refers to companies that apply a business model that prioritises digital and remote processes to digitise touch points and communication channels with customers and partners, as well as to provide a better experience for their employees.

In a context in which both customers and employees are increasingly demanding virtual service offerings and a hybrid work model, especially since Covid-19 has changed the future of work, the consultancy states that organisations that apply this business model will better satisfy both their clients and employees'. 

10. Total Experience

Total experience is a business strategy that integrates employees experience, customer experience, user experience and multi-experience across several touchpoints to accelerate growth.

Gartner states that creating a total experience increases employees and customers' satisfaction, trust and loyalty, as well as customer advocacy through holistic experiences that encompass all stakeholders.

11. Autonomic Systems

What are they?

Autonomic systems are self-managing physical or cloud software systems that learn from their environment and dynamically modify their own algorithms in real time to optimise their behaviour in complex ecosystems. 

What can they be used for?

Gartner mentions that such systems create a set of technological capabilities that cope better with change, support the arrival of new demands and requirements, optimise process performance and defend themselves from cyberattacks without the need for human intervention.

12. Generative Artifficial Intelligence 

Generative AI is a type of artificial intelligence similar to machine learning, which learns about devices from data, generating innovative new mechanisms that resemble, but do not replicate, the original process.

According to Gartner, generative AI has the potential to develop new forms of creative content and accelerate R&D cycles in fields ranging from medicine to product creation.

Conclusion

Gartner predicts that those organisations that adopt these technologies will be able to develop a roadmap to ensure reliable and sustainable long-term business growth, meeting their business objectives more effectively and driving differentiation.