While the ICT industry will move towards new aspects of intelligence, openness, service, and integration, 10 key trends are to reshape the landscape of the industry in 2018, according to Taipei-based and government-backed IT research institute MIC (Market Intelligence & Consulting Institute).

The ten trends are: precise recognition, retail intelligence, AI (Artificial Intelligence)-based security, software openness, edge-fog computing, technology servitization, network service miniaturization, telecom operation dataization, cross-border application, and concentrated industry,” says Chris Hung, deputy general director at MIC.

Top 10 ICT Trends to Observe in 2018

The 10 key trends are elaborated as follows:

1. Precise Recognition: Deep learning helps increase the precision level of recognition technology and spur innovation across industry sectors such as transportation, administration, public utilities, finance, automotive, medical care, and more.
2. Retail Intelligence: New retail service model can trigger demand for smart/intelligence product offerings. For instance, Amazon and Alibaba have unveiled their own smart retail concept with advanced voice and image recognition technologies to come out with new business models like Customization, Virtual-Physical Integration, and Multichannel Marketing and the demand for new products like AR (Augmented Reality) digital signage, cloud-based video recorder, smart POS (Point of Sale), and self-checkout machine.
3. AI-based Security: AI integrated security systems can safeguard national and cyber security better. A number of cyber and terrorist attacks in 2017, coupled with the widespread use of internet, the concerns for physical and cyber security are expected to rise sharply in 2018 and thus more AI-based security products can be expected for more precise intelligence analysis, identification recognition, system malfunction detection, and system failure prevention and correction.
4. Software Openness: Open-source software becomes the mainstream. The increasing popularity of cloud computing, big data, IoT (Internet of Things), AI, and Blockchain that are developed based on open-source software has forced leading companies like Microsoft and Apple to join the bandwagon by collaborating with open source communities to speed up their technology and application developments.
5. Edge-Fog Computing: The rise of fog computing helps solve future’s big data issues with a decentralized computing infrastructure that uses one or more collaborative end-user clients or near-user edge devices to perform low latency computation and aggregation on the data.
6. Technology Servitization: More new services will be derived from emerging technologies. A cloud-based architecture is a foundation for software servitization over the years especially in the form of SaaS (Software as a Service).

In the future, emerging technologies such as Container, Blockchain, AI, and Quantum Computing and more technology-centric services are going to gain an increasing attention.

7. Network Service Miniaturization: More micro-operators are to provide customization services. With the advent of the 5G era, the critical success factor for a business depends on what service it provides. Small cell, coupled with V2X and IoT applications, LTE D2D compliant to 3GPP standard will become the areas of focus in 2018. Meanwhile, the proliferation of micro-operators dedicated to providing regional services is expected to generate more customization services without having to obtain a spectrum license.
8. Telecom Operation Dataization: Data service is to become a main source of revenue for large-scale telecom operators which aim to tap new markets with greater diversity. Having a large amount of data, telecom operators are able to conduct the precise marketing strategy and better utilize service resources to stand out in the future.?
9. Cross-border Application: Smart cities become the best testbeds for smart applications in light of the fundamental changes in government policy concerning the smart city development. In addition, the proliferation of smart applications has also shifted the customer demand from single- to multiple-use and integrated solutions and has made smart cities the best test fields.
10. Concentrated Industry: Industry concentration is to be further intensified in 2018 owing to the increasing demand for cross-border application integration. Taking the semiconductor industry as an example, the IP deployment has become more widespread under the intelligence trend in the non-3C application sector but SMEs seems unable to afford alone. The industry concentration is further intensified as a result. The recent case would be Broadcom`s proposal to acquire Qualcomm. Nevertheless, this has reflected semiconductor vendors` intention to expand via M&As.

About MIC

Market Intelligence & Consulting Institute (MIC), based in Taipei, Taiwan, was founded in 1987. MIC is Taiwan`s premier IT industry research and consulting firm providing intelligence, in-depth analysis, and strategic consulting services on global IT product and technology trends, focusing on markets and industries in Asia-Pacific. MIC is part of the Institute for Information Industry. http://mic.iii.org.tw/english