Technological progress is making giant strides, and it is fairly easy to predict that, in the coming decades, a person’s daily life will change dramatically. The most successful companies will be those that introduce artificial intelligence, big data, blockchain and other technologies, combining them with a highly people-centric focus.

Blockchain, AR And The Quantum Leap Forward

In the coming years, every company will have to master new technologies to make a meaningful breakthrough to the next level. Among these technologies is blockchain, a sensation two years ago, which will simplify the exchange of data between companies. No less important is rapidly developing artificial intelligence, which allows for the optimization of countless processes.

Perhaps less obvious, but no less important, is Augmented Reality technology (encompassing both AR and VR). It is not so much about the possibility of a person being able to enter other worlds as it is about solving banal tasks, for example, repairing a car with the help of visual instructions.

Finally, quantum computing is the only technology listed here that no company has yet had time to adopt. It is not yet assured that quantum technologies will be introduced in the next 5 years, but they are developing rapidly enough that it should not be ruled out.

In fact, companies today simply cannot ignore this trend. Some say that, when quantum computing becomes a reality, it will be possible to figure out any password within an hour. In fact, this technology will facilitate the collection and processing huge amounts of data, which can be used to solve any number of global problems, such as the search for a cancer vaccine.

Biotechnologies And Medical Startups

The development of medical IT start-ups is now gaining momentum. The introduction of machine learning, big data, blockchain and other technologies can significantly accelerate the development and introduction of new drugs and treatment methods.

In addition, medical giants such as Merck (NYSE: ), Johnson & Johnson (NYSE: ) and Sanofi (PA: ) ADR (NASDAQ: ) accelerating the development process significantly by buying or funding start-ups. For example, small companies produced 63% of all medicines introduced on the US market in 2017.

Examples Of Medical Startups Include :

Israeli medical startup Vessi Medical Ltd. states that it is on the path to patenting a medical device that can freeze tumors and treat superficial bladder cancer more effectively.

Hayat platform, from Zynecoin Business Incubator, which is designed to decentralize medical data storage and improve the interaction between patients and health care providers.

Healthy.io and Samsung (KS: ) have developed a medical startup together offering a special TV screen via which users can take a urine test and find out the results without leaving home.

Aetna (NYSE: ), Anthem (NYSE: ), Health Care Service Corporation, PNC Bank and IBM (NYSE: ) announced their joint intention to create a blockchain-based system in the healthcare sector. The creation of an inclusive blockchain network will allow medical companies to develop, share and improve ideas that promote the digital transformation of the industry.

The Digital Footprint And Smart Marketing

In 2019, companies will collect more and more data about consumers, and will take advantage of their digital footprints. Businesses will begin to collect large databases of their customers' preferences, which will allow them to diversify and expand their sales and delivery offerings.

Today there are already a number of companies that are ahead of their time, having achieved significant success thanks to the analysis of customers' digital footprints. The Indian loan platform SlicePay has learned how to use technology to track human behavior: it receives data on how often clients go to a restaurant, what they buy on the Internet, and what photos they post on social networks. This information creates client profiles that replace standard credit histories. These profiles can make the difference as to whether a person has issued a loan or not.

The volume of accumulated consumer data will be constantly growing: In the future, this information will significantly expand the range of products and services offered by companies. Digital footprints are paving the way today for the emergence of both smart insurance, which allows you to calculate the cost of auto insurance depending on the client's driving style, and smart marketing, when a customer who buys something is automatically sent a selection of accessories that can be worn with it, such as hats or pair of shoes which go well with a dress.

A Man Is Smarter Than A Company

People in the post-digital era will learn to rapidly acquire new knowledge and expand their skill-sets. They will change jobs more often, choosing more technologically advanced companies. Meanwhile, some companies will not manage to introduce new technologies with enough time for their employees to master them. There is a gap forming between the capabilities of people and the level of development of companies; this gap does not favor the latter.

In 2019, some companies will have to adjust their personnel training strategies and help their employees develop the necessary skills for the future. As such, PayPal today offers its employees the opportunity to receive training via self-managed video. Employees select and view the videos themselves, and PayPal collects information about which topics are of the most interest to them. Therefore, it's not the employees adapting to the company, but the company to the employees, as it tries to meet the expectations of its personnel.

Hackers A Thing Of The Past?

The growing interconnection of different companies increases their vulnerability, and therefore the importance of addressing security issues is increasing. Today, most companies attempt to defend themselves against cyber threats themselves, but in the future they will have to create collaborative alliances to fight hackers.

In October of 2018, JPMorgan Chase (NYSE: ), Mastercard (NYSE: ) and Fidelity conducted joint cyber-security exercises. The result of the experiment was that IT managers discovered that they each respond to threats in different ways. In the post-digital era, to combat hackers, it is necessary to create models for managing cyber risks that go beyond simply the company itself: they need to be developed at the level of the entire ecosystem. Companies will have to create whole alliances to fight hackers, as the threats posed by them will become increasingly global in nature.

The Hunt For Clients

Companies in 2019 will have more opportunities to study their customers. Business will have access to more data that can be used to study the market and attract customers.

Today, the Indian brand Paper Boat requests customer feedback via WhatsApp, and then uses the data to make adjustments to the products it produces. The company even considers fleeting requests: During the holidays, small special deliveries of specific seasonal drinks are delivered to the market at the request of customers. Scan & Go has created an application that allows customers to scan products on store shelves and check their quality. In the future, the company wants to introduce iBeacon technology for navigation inside large stores.

The technology of digital doubles, which allows for the creation of digital models of objects, has a great future. The Port of Rotterdam plans to launch the “digital twin port” project by 2025. This will allow operators to receive real-time information about each vessel.