How Swiss companies benefit from the technology shift: Five trends
Every company now relies on digitization. But the biggest technology innovations today are not defined by the tools themselves, but by how well they are made for individuals.
Technology adapts to people, no longer people to technology, is the core statement of the "Accenture Technology Vision 2017″. This study looked at the disruptive technology trends of the next three years and examined and analyzed Swiss companies with regard to these trends.
Disruption is strongly perceived
In Switzerland, people are well aware of the changes brought about by technological change: 86 percent of the Swiss executives surveyed perceive moderate or complete disruption in their respective industries, which is more than the global result (75 percent). However, most Swiss executives also confirm that their company is only investing in digitization in selected business areas. This underscores the gap between the clear perception of disruption and the comprehensive strategies with which Swiss companies are interacting. In this year's Technology Vision, Accenture identified five trends that highlight the importance of focusing on "technology for people" to achieve long-term success. Tomorrow's decision-makers are using these trends for strategies that give them a clear digital edge.
Trend 1: Artificial intelligence becomes the new user interface
Artificial intelligence (AI) is being used in more and more areas because it enables simple and intelligent interaction between humans and machines. As a result, AI is becoming the new user interface that will fundamentally change the way we interact with virtual systems. Artificial intelligence is now real and people are aware that AI will have a huge impact on our lives. Forty-one percent of experts surveyed by Accenture believe AI will radically change the way their company gains new insights about and interacts with customers. In addition, nine out of ten Swiss companies - 10 percent more than the global average - believe it is important or even extremely important to offer products and services through centralized platforms, assistants or message bots. Swisscom, for example, is using AI to better serve customers by equipping its call center with "Best Solution." This is an AI-driven program that finds a quick and effective solution for the customer, enabling an optimal customer experience.
Trend 2: The ecosystem becomes a macrocosm
Platform providers that enable access to different services via a single access point have completely turned the rules of competition on their head. Companies are now forced to rethink and adapt their previous business models. A single platform strategy is no longer enough. Instead, a comprehensive and robust ecosystem approach is required to give companies a competitive edge in the "new information age". A large majority of Swiss executives surveyed (86 percent) believe that digital ecosystems are fundamentally changing the way their company creates value. More and more companies are integrating their core business functionalities into third-party platforms, and around three-quarters (73 percent) of the companies surveyed are planning initial steps to become part of the digital ecosystem.
Trend 3: Portals for freelancers gain in importance
Technological changes combined with increasing competition are not only influencing what companies provide to their customers, but also their HR strategy. 76 percent of companies confirm this, feeling pressure and a desire for more innovation in human resources. To drive productivity and efficiency, more and more companies are turning to less traditional measures that are flexible and effective, such as mandating freelancers.
The number of online platforms where freelancers offer their support has increased sharply. At the same time, collaborative tools for employees to work together regardless of location are now ubiquitous. These developments are leading more and more companies to dissolve their traditional hierarchies and replace them with online marketplaces for freelancers. As a result, we are witnessing one of the biggest changes in the way companies are organized since the Industrial Revolution. 94 percent of Swiss executives plan to rely even more heavily on freelancers in their company over the next twelve months.
Trend 4: Design for people
As technology is increasingly expected to support employees and customers to achieve required goals, it is essential to adapt technology to people's needs and behaviors. Switzerland's leaders recognize: When technology removes the barriers to effective human-machine cooperation, adapting to specific human behaviors increases not only the quality of the user experience, but also the effectiveness of technological solutions. This change turns a simple relationship into something much more valuable: a partnership. Two out of three decision-makers surveyed said that in the future, companies will need to focus even more on what their customers want in order to better understand how technology can deliver even greater value to consumers.
Trend 5: Breaking new ground
In a digital economy based on ecosystems, not only must new products and services be developed, but new rules must also be established, such as technology standards or ethical norms. In fact, 79 percent of Swiss executives believe that their company will open up completely new digital business areas in the future that have not even been defined yet. In shaping such new digital rules of the game, companies must take a leadership role to achieve their digital goals. Those that lead the way will find a place at or near the center of their new ecosystem. A large majority (81 percent) of Swiss decision-makers feel obliged to define rules for the entirely new business areas.
Source and further information: Accenture
