Join Steve Hall and Stanton Jones, an ISG Distinguished Analyst, for the last episode of Imagine Your Future for 2023, as they unpack key trends shaping the managed services market. As demand for outsourcing went from strength to strength in 2023, discretionary spending experienced downward pressure. Hall and Jones explore what was driving these phenomena and what can be expected for 2024 based on the latest data from the ISG Index.

 They also discuss the rise of global capability centers and the challenges of finding talent in a supply-constrained environment. As we head into 2024, don’t miss their insights and predictions on the impact of generative AI on the industry, the integration of generative AI into enterprise applications and the impact this will have on IT budgets.

According to recent data from the ISG Index™, the robust expansion of the cloud services market has slowed down considerably in recent quarters. On the other hand, demand for managed services has reached new highs. It seems that enterprises are returning to the basics of core outsourcing. How can businesses drive operational excellence in this new context? And which factors are contributing to the shift?

In this episode of the ISG Imagine Your Future podcast, we delve into the current state of the technology market. Steve Hall speaks to tech titan Jagdish Mitra, Chief Strategy Officer and Head of Growth at Tech Mahindra to hear his insights. After touching on the enterprise shift back to basics, their discussion turns to the growth of engineering services outsourcing, the opportunities presented by digital outsourcing and ever-more critical role of data intelligence, especially in light of growing AI adoption pressures. Finally, Steve and Jagdish share book recommendations for fellow bookworms – don’t miss these timely reads!    

Artificial intelligence (AI) and generative AI are swiftly permeating our daily lives. From customer service chatbots to healthcare diagnoses, from writing loan applications to job hiring, the disruption is here. Many believe AI is fundamentally changing the way we do things. But since this premise of large-impact change is widely accepted, the question becomes: will this change be for the better?

It's critical to address the ethics of AI: how this technology disruption could reinforce or subvert current inequalities to improve or worsen them, or even create new inequities. To do so, we must understand how and where AI is most likely to exacerbate or cause inequities. With these vulnerabilities in mind, leaders must thoughtfully consider how to proactively prevent inequity in AI adoption globally.

In this episode of Imagine Your Future, we examine ethical challenges posed by AI and discuss the need for responsible development to mitigate the potentially damaging effects. Hosts Steve Hall and Karen Collyer speak to Dr. Neelam Raina, Associate Professor International Development and Design at Middlesex University, for her perspective. Tune in to hear them share the potential impacts of disruptive technologies and key ethical considerations surrounding data usage.

Cybercrime has become an ever-present threat that can wreak havoc on individuals, businesses and governments. From phishing scams and ransomware attacks to data breaches and infrastructure damage, the arsenal of cyber threats continues to expand. It is crucial, now more than ever, to be equipped with the knowledge and tools necessary to navigate the digital landscape securely.

To discuss the ever-evolving threat of cyber-attacks, Doug Glair, a Director in ISG’s cybersecurity practice, joins Imagine Your Future hosts, Steve Hall and Karen Collyer. They delve into the growing sophistication of cybercrime, the importance of educating employees, and how AI can be a double-edged sword: both enhancing cyber capabilities and helping adversaries to improve their tactics.

New challenges have been posed by remote work, and more will be posed by quantum computing. Organizations need to have a comprehensive resiliency plan in place to mitigate the impact of ransomware attacks. Resiliency requires proactive planning, board-level involvement and a holistic approach to cybersecurity. Tune in for our tips on how to safeguard your organization and personal data!

In recent years, artificial intelligence (AI) has made astounding progress in its capacity to recognize patterns, make predictions and even engage in meaningful conversation with humans. But what about its ability to create new and original content? This is where generative AI comes into play, representing perhaps the most widely discussed technological advancement of our era, particularly in the wake of the launch of ChatGPT in November 2022. 

In this episode, Imagine Your Future host Steve Hall is joined by Prashant Kelker, Chief Strategy Officer and Partner at ISG, to explore some of the opportunities, challenges and questions that are associated with this rapidly advancing technology. Listen in to their conversation to hear them separate hype from executable vision for trending topics in the AI space. How should enterprises and industries be thinking about AGI (artificial general intelligence)?

 Which new skill sets might be in-demand in the future to better collaborate with AI? And how will regulations shape the future of generative AI? Also, for the readers out there: don’t miss Steve and Prashant’s book recommendations to deepen your knowledge on all things AI.

After chairing two successive Future Workplace Summits in New York and London, ISG’s Iain Fisher joins Imagine Your Future podcast hosts Steve Hall and Karen Collyer to discuss the ever-changing landscape of work. With technology advancing at an unprecedented pace and the COVID-19 pandemic (among other geopolitical factors) reshaping our work and home lives, the future of work and the workplace of the future promise to be vastly different than what we have previously known.

You may be asking yourself: what’s the difference between the future of work and workplace of the future? The short answer has to do with the relevance of your physical location to your ability to do your job. When is work a “place” versus something we do anywhere, anytime with enabling technologies? For the more nuanced answer, listen in to this episode.

Whether you’re a business leader, a curious employee or simply interested in how work is changing, we invite you to tune in to find out how companies and individuals can best adapt to and plan for new ways of working.

Following another turbulent week for the banking industry, Imagine Your Future podcast host Karen Collyer speaks to Owen Wheatley, Lead Partner for Banking & Financial Services at ISG. Together they unpack some of the factors that contributed to the collapse of Silicon Valley Bank and the ripple effects in the market. Will there be others like it? And might we be on the verge of another global financial crisis on the same scale as the 2008 crash? Or are there any encouraging signs following the latest failures in the industry? Listen in as they answer these questions and look to the future.

This episode of the ISG Imagine Your Future podcast was recorded at this year’s ISG Digital Business Summit in London. Host Steve Hall speaks to Samantha Fanning, Head of Digital at UCL (University College London) about how she and her team are creating seamless digital experiences for both the students and staff of the university. Listen in to hear some of her top tips and lessons learned from the journey so far.

Disruptions are shaping and shaking up the CPG and Retail industries. Global supply chain challenges, rising inflation and competition for talent (caused in part by the Great Resignation) are the most well-known factors – but not the only ones. Still, no matter what, customers must remain the number one priority for these organizations.

How can CPG and Retail companies thrive despite these pressures – and retain loyal customers – in a highly disrupted and competitive market? Which technologies are transforming the industry?

To discuss this ongoing disruption, our ISG Imagine Your Future podcast hosts, Steve Hall and Karen Collyer, are joined by Sunder Pillai, ISG Director and Retail, CPG and Enterprise Practice Leader. Listen in to learn how to create a memorable and flawless customer experience – and why this is now more important than ever. Plus, find out how CPG companies are tackling spiraling costs and the environmental, social and governance (ESG) issues impacting their supply chain decisions.

For more information and insights from ISG’s CPG practice click here  

The metaverse – it’s been in the headlines, social media platforms and your kids’ video games, and now it’s rising to prominence as a business opportunity. But do you really know what the metaverse is? And what does it have to do with web3, the new internet you keep hearing about? 

In this episode of the ISG Imagine Your Future podcast, hosts Steve Hall and Karen Collyer catch you up with the basics of the metaverse and web3. They kick off their discussion by defining both technologies and exploring the current status quo. Then, together we get into the really interesting bits: the implications for the digital economy, security concerns and how businesses might leverage this tech. Listen in to hear what the future might look like as metaverse develops – and what smart moves you can make today in this space to reap “early adoption” advantages.