Business forecasts

In just a few months, the world economy we knew had changed radically, as a number of different factors, such as accelerating globalization, the demand for employees for a more flexible work environment, and, of course, the coronavirus pandemic, together created a “Perfect storm.” It is difficult to estimate at this time the economic impact of this crisis. It is clear, however, that the paralysis of air traffic, disruptions in supply chains and the forced resettlement of the workforce in so many countries will have an impact on production, consumption and growth this year. In addition, the changes in these weeks will influence the strategy of many companies and will change the way we work when the state of emergency ends and things return to a new normal, says Wizrom Software, one of the largest developers and integrators of IT solutions for Romanian businesses.
“We are going through a very sensitive moment, a turning point for us as people, but also for the business environment. This crisis has brought a series of challenges to an unprecedented level and imposed rapid changes in the way we all move, interact or work. It was a moment that highlighted very clearly the benefits that technology can offer – even if direct human interaction cannot be 100% replaced, those companies that had already taken steps towards a technology-based future were better prepared. to face the crisis period and even reduce, in some places, its impact “, pointed out Adrian Bodomoiu, general manager of Wizrom Software.
The most important technological trends in business for the rest of 2020, according to Wizrom Software representatives, are:

1. Automation

Automation not only replaces certain manual processes, but enhances employees’ capabilities and supports the transition of business operations to the next level. Automation is beginning to make sense, financially and in terms of productivity, in all economic sectors, but particularly in the production area. Manufacturers, for example, will focus more, after this period, on sophisticated automation solutions in order to prevent the negative effect of new disruptions in activity.
In addition, the extension of the crisis period has the potential to boost SMEs’ investments in digitization and automation of future business, either by adopting cloud solutions, accessible in terms of costs and implementation, or by implementing software. HR, accounting or sales automation, to help them streamline their operations and make remote work possible in optimal conditions.
2. Mobility
The pandemic affected all activities that required human-to-human interactions, virtually freezing entire economic sectors such as the hospitality industry and tourism, as well as certain segments of retail and transportation. At the same time, however, the same phenomenon boosted those activities that could be carried out remotely and online: distance work, online learning, online events (webinars) and the e-commerce area. The mobility that people previously enjoyed in the physical world has not completely disappeared, but has moved into a different environment, supported by technology. Even if, for the moment, this transformation is temporary, the business mobility experiment has all the potential to turn into a lasting one, as companies see in real time the economic or security benefits. Demand for mobility solutions was already on an upward slope, and this period will only accelerate the development of the segment in the future.
3. Business Intelligence as a strategy
This pandemic has clearly highlighted the need to better control the huge amounts of data that companies have and to use it better. Business intelligence systems include many capabilities, from the most commonly used, such as reporting and analysis, to more complex ones, for identifying trends and making predictions and future scenarios. The current context has highlighted the importance of the right insights to make critical business decisions, easier, almost in real time and in a scalable way for different lines of business.
4. AI integration
Artificial intelligence will begin to move from the concept stage to becoming an integral part of the new normal of professional life. Starting this year, we will see an acceleration of its integration with other technological trends. If we talked above about the even larger implementation of business intelligence solutions, for companies that have already ticked this moment, the next step will be to reorient to solutions that integrate Artificial Intelligence (AI) and can generate in-depth analysis in a shorter time, with a more direct and significant impact on the business.
5. Cloud computing
This trend is obviously not a new one for this year, but again, we will see a rapid acceleration of cloud-based solution deployments. These will also be seen by companies as a way to prepare for other periods similar to the current one, so as to ensure that they will be able to operate with fewer interruptions and increased productivity. The reorientation towards the cloud will be visible in all types of business software, from those that support marketing activities to sales, accounting and HR.
The representatives of Wizrom Software are of the opinion that if we look at these 5 technological trends as a whole, their convergence and interoperability becomes obvious. Companies that will understand these directions and holistically integrate these technological processes with their business strategy will only benefit in 2020 and the years to come.