IDC Canada Releases Its 2018 ICT Predictions

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International Data Corporation (IDC) Canada just released its top information and communication technology predictions for 2018. The IDC Market Presentation entitled IDC Canada Predictions, 2018: Balancing Innovation, Value and Security in a Digitally Transformed World, was originally presented during IDC's annual Canadian ICT Predictions webcast on December 6th, 2017 and provides business decision makers and technology vendors with insight and perspective into the top developments that will affect the Canadian market over the next 36 months.

Drawing on IDC's industry-defining research and insights, IDC Canada's 2018 predictions explore the user trends and vendor strategies that will redefine the ICT market and redistribute market share in Canada. Our research helps leaders capitalize on emerging market opportunities and plan for future growth. Please visit http://www.idc.com/events/futurescapes  for a complete listing of all IDC FutureScape prediction web conferences available.

The 2018 Canadian ICT Predictions are:

Prediction 1: AI-Infused Assistive Technologies will Increase Productivity and Transform Processes in Leading Canadian Enterprises

Over 30% of Canadian businesses will introduce cognitively-enabled intelligent assistants by 2019, realizing up to four-fold improvements in productivity as the technology.

By 2021 we will see significant process automation use in Canadian enterprises that can evaluate conditions in real-time; make decisions for the next best action; augment human decision-making & automate machine decision-making.

Prediction 2: Inadequate Cybersecurity Protection Faces New Government Penalties in 2018

Canada's new Digital Privacy Act and the EU's GDPR are key drivers for a C$200 million increase in Canadian cybersecurity solutions spend in 2018 to exceed C$2.6B.

Prediction 3: Blockchain & DLT: Opportunities & Challenges to Define 2018

In 2018, IDC expects an order of magnitude increase in proof of concepts (POCs). Today, in 2017, 2.6% of Canadian large and midmarket organizations are active with blockchain technologies with an additional 31% having plans for the coming year.

Prediction 4: 2018 is a breakout year for Platform as a Service (PaaS) in Canada

We've measured a lack of urgency towards digital transformation and PaaS adoption in Canada. However, according to our cloud research, 2018 looks to be an explosive year for adoption with as much as 6 out of 10 mid and large organizations having PaaS plans.

Prediction 5: Mobile AR in The Enterprise Deployed in 2018 Will Help Pave the Way to Headset AR in The Longer Term

Mobile AR will provide a precursor to headset AR in the enterprise. IDC expects that shipments of AR headsets in 2021 will be 24 times as many as will be shipped in 2018.

Prediction 6: Standalone Intelligent Assistants Find a Home in Over 1 Million Canadian Households By 2018

IDC Canada expects 2018 to be a year in which consumer standalone Intelligent Assistant devices adoption will grow very rapidly, reaching 1 million households by the end of year.

By 2019 we predict that consumer perceptions around the security and privacy around Standalone Intelligent Assistants will have a lesser of an effect on future buying decisions.

Prediction 7: Managed Cloud Services Take Flight as Clients Use Service Providers in Managed Hybrid Model with Multi-clouds

IDC estimates that managed cloud services spending will grow from US$1.0 billion in spending in 2017 to US$1.6B in 2021, representing compound annual growth of 14.1%.

Prediction 8: Smart City Initiatives Face Challenges in 2018, Reinforcing Need for Outcomes-Based Strategy

In 2018, 30% of major global cities will develop an outcomes-based smart city IoT platform strategy. IDC expects Canadian cities to embrace this approach to meet citizen expectations and ensure long term success.

Prediction 9: Canadian Enterprises Will Capitalize on New Revenue Opportunities Through Data as a Service Offerings

By 2021 IDC forecasts the Data as a Service business to grow to more than C$700 Million in Canada.

Prediction 10: Canadian Innovation Leaps Ahead with Corporate Focus, Industry Hubs, And Government Supercluster Initiatives

IDC research into innovation has found that 15% of Canadian organizations have established corporate innovation centers, investing more than C$2.1B annually with 777 corporate innovation centers today and 900 by 2020.

According to Tony Olvet, Group Vice President of Research at IDC Canada, “Canadian business and IT leaders are now comfortable with cloud as a delivery model but more can be done to innovate. In 2018, we expect to see much greater adoption of platform as a service (PaaS) as a way enable digital transformation. PaaS allows Canadian businesses to be more agile – it is the gateway for organizations to take advantage of AI, blockchain, IoT and more flexible IT architectures.”

“The last few years have seen the IT industry substantially reshaped and we expect this to continue unabated in 2018” said Lars Goransson, Vice President, Group Vice President and General Manager at IDC Canada. “3rd Platform technologies such as Cloud, Mobility, Social and Big Data continue to drive tremendous change, and this is only further reinforced by Innovation Accelerators; such as AI, IoT, Next Gen Security, Robotics and Blockchain” concluded Goransson.

About IDC

International Data Corporation (IDC) is the premier global provider of market intelligence, advisory services, and events for the information technology, telecommunications, and consumer technology markets. With more than 1,100 analysts worldwide, IDC offers global, regional, and local expertise on technology and industry opportunities and trends in over 110 countries. IDC's analysis and insight helps IT professionals, business executives, and the investment community to make fact-based technology decisions and to achieve their key business objectives. Founded in 1964, IDC is a wholly-owned subsidiary of International Data Group (IDG), the world's leading media, data and marketing services company that activates and engages the most influential technology buyers.