Even if we are very far from flying cars, spaceships capable of traveling at the speed of light or other received ideas of the technologies of the future, it must still be noted that technology in general has made leaping progress in within a few decades.

And it's not about to stop. Whether in biology or genetics; in quantum physics or in computer science and in the energy field, things can change appreciably as long as a revolutionary discovery arrives or that one simply continues on this momentum of systematic progress.

Here's a look at the technological upheavals that may lie ahead for the next decade, according to a report by the Global Council on the Future of Programs and Society at the World Economic Forum, which took place a few months ago.

1. AI

The concept of artificial intelligence (AI) dates back to the dawn of time or almost, at least to the mechanical men of ancient Greece. Nowadays, AI is more than a trend or a futuristic vision, it is a reality

Indeed, according to a good quarter of decision-makers surveyed by Accenture around the world - and for 41% of Swiss decision-makers - AI will profoundly transform their business in the next 3 years! Consequence: 85% of them will invest massively in technologies related to AI in these same 3 years.

According to Accenture, AI could double Swiss economic growth in the next 20 years, while profoundly changing human-machine and business-customer relationships. 79% of Swiss decision-makers agree with this.

Accenture even sees the need to adapt to machines disappear, because it is the machines that will automatically adapt to the needs of humans! Even some of the leading experts on AI are pretty taken back by this.

1. Digital ecosystems

This second trend is to bet on the right digital platform, a platform that is as SPOC as possible, robust, reliable, with the aim of making life easier for employees and especially customers. It is even a question of betting on a set of platforms, a digital ecosystem, therefore, which will merge various and multiple services from various and multiple suppliers ( partnerships ) in the same e-place, always with the aim of offering the end customer everything he asks for, even more!

75% of decision-makers see their digital ecosystem and their partnerships as essential to their competitiveness (78% of Swiss decision-makers).

At the Swiss level, three-quarters of the companies questioned already implement digital ecosystems and partnerships are hatching here and there: Logitech has for example worked closely with Amazon to " alexize " its concept of smart homes . Other partnerships are emerging in the same logic: Novartis with Qualcomm , Siemens with IBM , etc.

1. Freelance workers

The worker of the near future will be more and more mobile and volatile due to Covid, moving from one e-office to another according to the mandates and the mild climate (physical or fiscal). Platforms such as Upwork, Freelancer or Fiverr are good precursors of this new "species" of workers.

The company's challenge for 2020 will therefore be to get hold of the right freelancer at the right time for the right mandate via the right platform (or the right digital ecosystem).

Accenture speaks of this change at the worker level not as an evolution but as a revolution as important as the industrial revolution!

Moreover, 85% of decision-makers are considering hiring freelancers in the coming years.

The freelancer having no borders, it is an obvious solution to the lack of IT specialists which is looming on the Swiss horizon (shortage quantified by Accenture at 25,000 resources by 2024).

1. From product to partnership

It is no longer just a question of selling a product X to a customer Y, but of establishing a lasting partnership with this one, of e-loyalty by establishing an emotional connection with him, of understanding his current needs , but especially his future aspirations.

80% of decision-makers are aware, according to Accenture, that it's not just about understanding where their customers are today, but where they want to be tomorrow.

A great challenge, since 36% of Swiss decision-makers admit to having difficulty in clearly perceiving the aspirations of their customers, and this in spite of more and more data and available, via CRM tools in particular.

This type of transition is going to require a new thinking in leadership which many organizations are already starting to talk about. In fact, at many of the top conferences last years, many of the speakers on leadership and innovation have already been addressing this issue with great enthusiasm.

1. New digital markets

Not only to be present in its usual market, but to create new markets, such is the stake of this fifth trend highlighted by the analysis of Accenture.

This requires the establishment of evolving standards (technological, ethical, transnational, etc.).

65% of global decision-makers - and 75% of Swiss decision-makers - believe that government standards are not keeping pace with technological change.

76% that it is therefore a question of enacting its own standards without waiting for government bodies to do so or of assisting legislators in their standard-setting process. 81% of Swiss decision-makers think the same.