IDC FutureScape: Worldwide Small and Medium-Sized Business and Digital-Native Business 2023 Predictions

IDC FutureScape Figure

• Figure: IDC FutureScape: Worldwide Small and Medium-Sized Business and Digital-Native Business 2023 Top 10 Predictions

Executive Summary

IDC FutureScape Predictions

• Summary of External Drivers

• Predictions: Impact on Technology Buyers

• Prediction 1: By 2027, Total Budgets Dedicated to IT Investments and Connectivity Services at Global SMBs Will Increase by 45% as SMBs Turn to Technology to Compete with Larger Businesses

• Associated Drivers

• IT Impact

• Guidance

• Prediction 2: By 2026, at Least 40% of SMBs Will Introduce Metrics to Track and Effectively Measure Business Value from Their Core Business Activities, Their Ecosystems, and Their Impact on the Environment

• Associated Drivers

• IT Impact

• Guidance

• Prediction 3: By 2025, 30% of SMBs Will Shift Half of Their Core Workloads to the Cloud to Drive Business Agility and Future Resilience

• Associated Drivers

• IT Impact

• Guidance

• Prediction 4: By 2027, Two-Thirds of SMBs Will Increase Investments in Automation and Digital Tools to Make up for the Shortage of Workers and Increased Labor Costs, Reduce Manual Processes, and Boost Productivity

• Associated Drivers

• IT Impact

• Guidance

• Prediction 5: By 2025, 30% of SMBs Will Leverage Live Streaming Technologies to Launch New Products and Enhance the Customer Experience by Facilitating Easier Product Discovery and Checkout

• Associated Drivers

• IT Impact

• Guidance

• Prediction 6: Over Half of Medium-Sized Businesses Will Hire Key Technology Decision Makers by 2026 as They Continue to Invest in Digital Transformation and Seek to Have IT Thought Leadership on Staff

• Associated Drivers

• IT Impact

• Guidance

• Prediction 7: By 2025, 30% of SMBs Will Consider Intelligence Decision Systems to Promote R&D and Supply Chain Management

• Associated Drivers

• IT Impact

• Guidance

• Prediction 8: By 2027, the Number of Digital-Native Businesses on the S&P500 Will Have Doubled, Leading to a Digitally Driven Economy

• Associated Drivers

• IT Impact

• Guidance

• Prediction 9: By 2025, 30% of DNBs Will Shift Focus from Speed to Market to Demonstrable Business Outcomes to Secure Capital, Boost Differentiation, and Achieve Sustainable and Resilient Growth

• Associated Drivers

• IT Impact

• Guidance

• Prediction 10: By 2027, 30% of Venture Funds Will Have Implemented Robust ESG Criteria to Qualify for Investment

• Associated Drivers

• IT Impact

• Guidance

Advice for Technology Buyers

External Drivers: Detail

• Storms of Disruption — Accelerating, Interconnected Uncertainty

• Geopolitical Reality — Sovereignty in the Digital World

• Digital Business — Stepping Stone to the Future Enterprise

• Meaningful Intelligence — Differentiated Decision Power

• Mainstream ESG — Sustainability Is Measured and Mandatory

• Work Mode Upheaval — New Models and Leadership

• Everything as a Service — Thriving Through the Change

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• Related Research