What do you do if you're an IT executive trying to stay ahead of industry trends?

One way is to spend time with organizations and individuals shaping the industry. For instance: Understanding the problems and opportunities technology Startups are trying to address (inclusive of particular markets and industries you are interested in) will present strong indicators that will help.

Develop and update technology roadmaps regularly to align with your organization's strategic goals. Use insights from analyst reports to understand market trends. Anticipate industry shifts with scenario planning and implement agile methodologies for quick adaptation. Continuously gather and analyze customer feedback for innovation. Implement pilot programs for new technologies and stay updated with industry publications and organizations to drive innovation.

As an IT executive, staying ahead of industry trends requires a proactive and multifaceted approach. Engage in continuous learning through industry publications, webinars, and conferences. Network with peers and thought leaders to exchange insights. Foster a culture of innovation within your organization by encouraging experimentation and collaboration. Invest in emerging technologies and skills development for your team. Implement agile methodologies to stay adaptable. Regularly analyze market trends and customer needs to align your strategies. Emphasize cybersecurity and data privacy to build trust and resilience.

Il faut aimer la créativité et animer sa propre curiosité pour traverser les évolutions technologiques. Il faut également faire le tri entre la mode et le changement réel. Pour les outils, il s'agit souvent de mode : une fois Angular, une fois React, une fois Vue, une fois Node.... dans tous les cas la révolution est le développement de JS après il faut savoir s'adapter. La formation de base, essentielle pour moi, dans l'informatique c'est l'algorithmie. Une fois que l'on maitrise cela, il n'est pas si complexe de suivre ce qui se passe.

Network widely not just with peers but also suppliers and consultancy firms. Be aware of road maps of key products and advice from organisations like Gartner.

L'information est la clé de la réussite ! Nous suivons des pairs et nous sommes des pairs pour d'autres. Les formations accessibles en ligne venant de partout dans le monde en temps réel sont partagées au plus grand nombre et cela permet de vraiment gagner du temps et de ne pas se laisser dépasser, ou pas trop souvent ;-)

A great way to stay ahead of the IT trends is to make sure you have very strong relationships with your vendors. Each vendor has a roadmap. Each roadmap gives you insight to a 6-18 month window. Once you acquire this insight and knowledge, it is now time to engage your CTO or if that is you it is time to take that information and see how you can leverage it in your organization. From data analytics to AI to M2M/IoT to biometrics and all other tech, it is critical to understand how that can be utilized in your company and to prepare to create trial environments to build solutions

As an IT executive leveraging data to stay ahead of industry trends, focus on developing robust data analytics capabilities. Implement advanced data collection and processing tools to gain real-time insights. Use predictive analytics to forecast trends and identify opportunities. Encourage data-driven decision-making across your organization. Foster a culture of continuous improvement by regularly reviewing data and adjusting strategies. Invest in training your team on data analytics and ensure data governance practices are in place to maintain data quality and security. Collaborate with external experts and leverage AI and machine learning for deeper insights.

Build a capability map of your team. Ask then to self-assess their skills in various domains. As part of a programme or project of work, include skills uplift and development as part of the outcomes, and set a target for the capability uplift. In technology Strategies on a Page we produced in a previous role, there was a section in each on the expected uplift in skills, and details on how we were to reach that target - courses, certifications etc. By embedding skills or capability uplift in a project, you also ensure that the project as a whole is more sustainable.

La théorie de l'évolution est toujours valable. Sans adaptation point de salut. Nous avons une chance extraordinaire de pouvoir vivre ces évolutions sur des décennies et donc d'en profiter nous mêmes.

The challenge goes beyond simply keeping up with trends. Every website throws buzzwords about embracing change and upskilling. The true hurdle for IT executives is securing buy-in from key stakeholders, especially CEOs and boards. Focus on the business impact. Translate trends into how they affect the company's bottom line, like AI saving money or cybersecurity threats costing millions. Don't just propose new tech, present a clear ROI analysis. Think future-proof strategy, not just reaction. Showcase success stories of companies that thrived by embracing new technologies. Finally, demonstrate value with a pilot project. Start small, achieve success, and gain trust for larger initiatives.