No industry evolves as quickly as technology, and as a person working in IT, chances are that you’re probably at the brunt of that. While developers may be working on creating and reiterating the different software and such that are the innovations, most of the time, it’s people in IT who are tasked with actually making it work on a daily basis. So, if you are thinking about getting into IT support in Miami or any branch of the industry, this is what you should keep in mind.

One thing to keep a look at is the actual new technology that is developing by the minute. Some of these may be niche, while others may be headed to an office or worksite near you. If you have plans to start IT consulting in Miami, this may be something you want to take a closer look at. Why so? Chances are that you’re going to be the one tasked with maintaining it. Of course, you just need to do this with what fits your industry. For example, one major 2018 innovation is the growing presence of 3-D metal printing. This could be huge because it will impact the manufacturing industry, so those who are doing IT work in factories and similar buildings may have something suddenly important falling in their lap.

The good news (depending on how you see it) regarding IT is that there is a growing emphasis on trying to make tech more accessible. This means a rise in user-friendly APIs, tools, and apps. This may be a bit of a double-edged sword if you work in IT. On one hand, in theory, putting this at a higher premium should make it easier for you to do your job with less explaining. On the other hand, this may encourage people to try and make changes they aren’t authorized to, giving you more work to do.

Perhaps the biggest boon for IT in 2018, is the fact that more and more people in business are coming around to the need for data. This means a surge in data collection and analytics tools across the board. If you’re in IT, this is music to your ears. IT often needs data in order to catch potential issues before they start, as well as decide how to allow time and manpower to certain tasks.

What do all these changes mean for the next generation of workers who may be looking to get into IT, or perhaps those who may be looking to make a career change after they’re already established? For one, it’s a good idea to take a hard look at your certifications and see what makes sense. A certification that once used to be a concrete way to increase your earning power may suddenly become useless. In addition, there may be a new certification coming out that fills that slot. Your goal should be to always have an ear to the ground to see what changes are coming, to be a better employee in your current and future IT positions.