As demand for the internet of things (IoT) and intelligent solutions continues to grow, the 5G landscape must evolve. Over the next couple of years, we expect AI to gain more traction in this space — enhancing availability, managing traffic and providing self-healing capabilities to the network. Moreover, the rise of private networks and hybrid solutions, facilitated through network slicing, is anticipated to become the predominant approach for ensuring quality service.

Ian Fogg, Director of Network Innovation at CCS Insight, joined Christina Cardoza, Editorial Director of the insight.tech Talk podcast, to discuss the future of these technologies and intelligent networks. We look at how 5G and IoT networks have to adapt to the rapid pace of innovation, what's still to come in the 5G space and when it'll be time to start thinking about 6G.

The discussion explores:

• The changing 5G and IoT network landscape
• Growing demand for IoT and intelligent solutions
• AI's role in the future of 5G and IoT networks
• Sustainability efforts with intelligent networks
• The future of networks and 6G.

Listen to the episode on Spotify and Apple Podcasts. To learn more about our expectations for the future of your industry, watch our Predictions event. You can also download a free booklet featuring all 95 of our predictions for the technology industry in 2025 and beyond.

This episode was originally published on insight.tech.

Digital transformation has become a fundamental driver of change across industries, altering how businesses approach procurement, IT infrastructure and decision-making. Procurement is undergoing significant changes as digital transformation reshapes traditional sourcing and supplier management. Organizations are shifting from manual, siloed systems to integrated digital solutions, using AI-driven tools to improve compliance, risk management and cybersecurity. These advancements aim to enhance operational efficiency and adaptability, going further than solely reducing costs.

Greater flexibility is becoming necessary, replacing rigid approval cycles with more collaborative approaches. Businesses must be able to respond quickly to market changes, supplier challenges and regulatory requirements, using digital marketplaces to streamline software procurement. These platforms provide transparency and efficiency, reducing delays in decision-making.

In this podcast discussion, Bola Rotibi spoke to Marta Whiteaker, a leader in AWS Marketplace development, and Sid Vajpayee from Zscaler, a global provider of secure cloud transformation services. The episode covers procurement, partnerships and important areas of digital transformation, such as the evolution of digital marketplaces, the role of channel partners, security, customer challenges and future trends.

Our discussion unpacked how marketplaces have simplified procurement and billing for partners, unlocking digital transformation for customers.

The episode explores:

• The role of marketplaces in driving digital transformation.
• Challenges and benefits of marketplace adoption.
• Best practices for navigating marketplace partnerships.
• Security implications with software marketplaces.

CCS Insight has produced a free report detailing the key points of the podcast discussion, available here.

MWC 2024 unveiled game-changing innovations that will redefine how we connect, including private mobile networks and AI that learns to optimize performance. Ahead of this year's event, we're revisiting these developments and announcements.

In this podcast episode with Christina Cardoza, Editorial Director at insight.tech, and Wei Yeang Toh, General Manager of the Ecosystem Development Organization at Intel, we unpack these exciting trends and explore the future of intelligent networks.

The discussion explores:

• Key network trends from MWC 2024
• Advances and benefits AI brings to the network space
• How these key trends and themes impact the industry
• Importance of the hybrid model for intelligent networks
• The horizon for 6G networks
• Ecosystem partnerships for network modernization.

For in-depth analysis of announcements in the network space from MWC 2024, read our Insight report. And to stay abreast of what's coming at this year's event, register for our webinar here.

This podcast was originally published on insight.tech.

In October 2024, CCS Insight unveiled our top predictions for the world of technology from 2025 and beyond. Over two sessions, our Predictions 2025 and Beyond event explores how emerging technologies in areas like connectivity, artificial intelligence and spatial computing are set to reshape industries and everyday life. We dive into how these advancements could revolutionize healthcare, transform the way we connect and create exciting new opportunities for businesses and consumers alike.

Day two of Predictions delved into connectivity and networks, with our analysts unpacking innovative developments in connectivity, from Open RAN and 5G RedCap to 6G, eSIM and fixed wireless access. We explored how these emerging technologies would shape the market in the coming years. Additionally, we examined the intersection of health and AI, highlighting how AI-driven innovations in wearables would transform personal healthcare and place greater focus on employee well-being. It features interviews with Marc Allera, CEO of EE, and Stefan Streit, chief marketing officer at TCL Europe.

To watch the full event and download our booklet featuring all 93 of this year's predictions, fill in the form here.

In October 2024, CCS Insight unveiled our top predictions for the world of technology from 2025 and beyond. Over the course of two days, our Predictions 2025 and Beyond event explores how emerging technologies in areas like connectivity, artificial intelligence and spatial computing are set to reshape industries and everyday life. We dive into how these advancements could revolutionize healthcare, transform the ways we connect and create exciting new opportunities for businesses and consumers alike.

Day one of Predictions 2025 and Beyond examines the rapid rise of AI fuelled by significant investments across the industry and how AI models and on-device technologies will shape digital experiences by 2025. We also explore the evolving landscape of regulation, with CEO Geoff Blaber delving into the impact of the EU's Digital Markets Act and the influence of geopolitics on tech players. Lastly, we dive into spatial computing, assessing how advancements in gesture-based interfaces, wearables and augmented reality smart glasses will fundamentally change the way people interact with technology.

To watch the full event and download our booklet featuring all 93 of our predictions, register here.

Software marketplaces are an established concept that has been growing in popularity. Marketplaces offer many benefits, especially in easing the procurement and billing of services, presenting opportunities for partner services and simplifying access to them. Other benefits include accelerating and streamlining service implementation, which can save set-up time without requiring specialist skills.

To understand the role of marketplace solutions, I spoke to Mona Chadha, Director of Worldwide ISVs and Partners at Amazon Web Services (AWS). AWS Marketplace is 10 years old and has evolved considerably, but its mission has remained the same: to make it as easy as possible for customers to be in the cloud.

We were joined by Audrey Benjamin, Director of Business Development, Digital Velocity at CDW, and Maureen Little, Vice President of Global Strategic Alliances at Okta. CDW is a US provider of technology products and services and Okta is an identity and access management software company. Both are AWS Marketplace partners.

Our discussion unpacked how marketplaces have simplified procurement and billing for partners, unlocking digital transformation for customers.

The episode explores:

• How marketplaces help customers' journey to the cloud and democratize cloud adoption.
• The effects of democratization of procurement on costs and engagement.
• Growth opportunities for marketplace partners and independent software vendors.
• The future of marketplaces, including integration of AI and cybersecurity services.

CCS Insight has produced a free report detailing the key points of the podcast discussion, available here.

Collaboration and communication tools have evolved significantly, progressing from early email and instant messaging to the cloud-based, integrated and AI-powered platforms used by workforces today. The Covid-19 pandemic accelerated this evolution as businesses had to swiftly digitize processes and working models. As a result, workplaces have become more digitized than ever.

Innovations such as generative AI have led to advancements that promise to revolutionize how people work, empowering employees to achieve goals more effectively and helping drive overall organizational success.

To better understand how generative AI is shaping the modern workforce, I spoke with Tricia Davis-Muffett, Senior Director of Google Workspace Marketing, and George Shihadeh, National Sales Director for Workplace Collaboration at Onix in CCS Insight's latest podcast episode.

Our discussion unpacked the role of generative AI in the modern workforce, delving into real-world applications by enterprises across different sectors.

The episode explores:

• The role of generative AI tools in solving crucial challenges for businesses, such as difficult economic circumstances and hybrid working.
• The importance of security when integrating AI into companies of all sizes.
• The future of work and how generative AI tools will empower workplace transformation.
• Real-world applications of AI and enterprises' attitudes toward employee training.

CCS Insight has produced a free report detailing the key points of the podcast discussion, available here. 

In our annual survey of senior leaders, security continues to be the top priority for IT investment, with cyberattacks, passwords and network security crucial concerns. Phishing, malware and ransomware remain high-level concerns for senior leaders.

For CCS Insight's latest podcast episode, I was joined by Andy Wen, Senior Director of Product Management at Google, and Aspi Havewala, Vice President of Infrastructure at Verizon to delve into Google Workspace's approach to security.

Our discussion unpacked the security threats faced by organizations today, investigating the tools available to empower borderless collaboration in the modern workplace environment.

The episode explores:

• Google Workspace's security credentials.
• How to ensure successful implementation of digital transformation.
• Employee experience as a fundamental aspect of integrating new technologies.
• The impact of generative AI on security threats and solutions.

Since OpenAI's ChatGPT became publicly available in November 2022, the world has been captivated by the possibilities of generative artificial intelligence (AI). But AI isn't new: companies have been developing AI and machine learning technologies for many years. One organization with a rich history in this area is IBM. As the hype about AI continues to build, it's crucial that firms implement the technology effectively for their business. IBM has decades of experience applying AI in real-world solutions to deliver tangible outcomes in industries such as HR and healthcare.

In our latest podcast episode, Bola Rotibi, CCS Insight's Chief of Enterprise Research, was joined by IBM's Andi Britt, Senior Partner and Talent Transformation Leader, and Jon Lester, Vice President for HR Technology, Data and AI, to delve into IBM's AI vision and the technology's impact on the enterprise market.

The discussion unpacked the practical applications and complexities of generative AI, offering a glimpse into the future to shape effective AI strategies.

The episode explores:

• Current applications of generative AI in the real world
• Challenges faced by early adopters of new technologies
• Ethical implications and considerations for businesses
• Predictions for the future of AI.

CCS Insight has produced a free report detailing the key points of the podcast discussion, available here.

Artificial intelligence (AI) and edge computing are taking the Internet of things (IoT) to the next level, with new and exciting applications expected over the next year and beyond. But as the rapid pace of advancements and investments unfolds, it raises the question: are we accelerating too fast?

We recently talked to Christina Cardoza, Editorial Director at insight.tech, about our top IoT and edge AI predictions for 2024. We also navigate the responsible development of solutions and explore the impact AI is set to make in the coming years.

The podcast touches on topics including:

• The impact of edge AI on the IoT market
• Cloud computing versus edge computing
• The future of AI development and generative AI realities
• Business considerations for AI investments, including regulation
• Developing AI with privacy in mind
• The role of 5G.

For more insight on this market and our other predictions, read CCS Insight Predictions for 2024 and Beyond.

This podcast was originally published on insight.tech.