2024’s Digital Trends

Technology continues to evolve at an accelerating pace each year. Recent years have seen remarkable advancements from generative AI to humanoid robots, software innovations to quantum computing, and beyond. In 2024, new developments will join this trend, impacting business processes, daily use, production, and economies. As digital transformation reaches unprecedented levels, we have compiled the key digital trends expected to shape the global technology landscape and influence the business world in 2024.

2024 is anticipated to be a year of significant technological advancements that will drive business transformation and meet the demands of digitalization. According to research companies, distances will shrink further, customer demands and business needs will be met more effectively, process optimization will become easier, and access to content, applications, and services will be enhanced. Consequently, technology investments are expected to become a crucial competitive advantage for organizations. Dr. Thomas King, CTO of DE-CIX, outlined five key technology trends for 2024: “optimized low-latency AI delivered through interconnected AI services,” “AIOps for network operations,” “the advent of SD-WAN exchange,” “communication privacy in the post-quantum era,” and “the globalization of network-as-a-service.” It is noted that the use of AI-powered services will increase, and optimizing data pathways and establishing direct, secure connections with external AI models or service offerings will become essential. In other words, 2024 will be a year of more agile, flexible, seamless, and easily integrable technology solutions in the business world.

AI applications, which played a supportive role for many professionals in 2023, are expected to become even more prevalent in 2024. Issues related to ethics, responsibilities, regulations, and different usage patterns across various sectors will deepen this year. Investments in AI technologies are projected to accelerate and become more widespread compared to previous years. A key focus will be on achieving faster and more practical solutions at lower costs. Discussions on the extent and responsible application of AI in businesses are also anticipated to grow.

AI systems have already demonstrated their usefulness in software development, communication materials creation, and other areas in 2023. Tools such as ChatGPT, introduced in late 2022, and applications that generate visual and textual content were widely discussed in 2023. These foundational tools, which assist in generating various types of content, are expected to proliferate in 2024. Significant developments are anticipated for ChatGPT, supported by Microsoft, and its competitors. Alphabet’s Gemini, designed as a competitor to ChatGPT, is expected to show promising advancements. OpenAI CEO Sam Altman announced that a more powerful version of ChatGPT would be released in 2024, potentially differing significantly from the current version. Investors will continue to support new software developments, with decreasing costs and increasing adoption as research progresses.

In 2024, the importance of cybersecurity technologies will rise, and the topic of “cybersecurity” will be discussed more frequently. Protection against cyberattacks, which can cause significant financial losses and damage reputations, will become a critical issue. Organizations will need to develop more effective protection methods and measures. Advances in AI and automation, high-level security measures in cloud technologies, rapid and effective threat detection, and the development of binding protocols will be key areas of progress.

Experts note that approximately 50% of businesses experienced attacks from suppliers in 2022, a figure that increased in 2023 and is expected to rise further in 2024. Businesses with weak network access controls with their suppliers will be more vulnerable to attacks. Enhancing network management and security measures, especially in the supply chain involving multiple third parties, will be critical in 2024. Ransomware attacks are expected to be a significant trend in network security, with research indicating that ransomware attacks occurred every two seconds in 2023 and are projected to cause a global loss of $71.5 billion by 2026. Insufficient oversight leads to critical security vulnerabilities, increasing the risk of unauthorized access and cyberattacks. Therefore, IT professionals must pay attention to third-party access permissions and implement necessary precautions. Training for system administrators and investing in new security measures and cybersecurity will be crucial for businesses.

IoT technology, a major trend in 2023, is expected to remain prominent in 2024. IoT will manifest through increased integration in daily life and more interactions between smart devices. This technology is poised to advance us further into the near future.

From smart homes to smart health technologies, IoT devices will see expanded usage across various sectors, including automotive and logistics. The number of IoT users is expected to reach tens of billions in 2024. IoT technology is anticipated to provide a competitive advantage in data collection and analysis through smart and effective solutions. Despite security threats, IoT’s ability to offer more efficient interactions will make it a key technology for businesses in marketing and communication in 2024.

Experts predict that the number of IoT-based attacks, which doubled from 2021 to 2022 and increased further in subsequent years, will reach significant levels in 2024. Despite these security threats, IoT’s advantages in providing efficient interactions will make it a significant technology in business operations.

The acceleration of e-commerce, mobile devices, and digital interactions, influenced by the global pandemic, signals major developments in data analytics for 2024. Companies are expected to increase their investments in strengthening their online presence, and big data will take on a new dimension in 2024.

Businesses are increasingly making data-driven decisions and shaping their processes based on data. Data analytics contributes significantly to storage and logistics, production, marketing, communication, customer relations, security management, and risk analysis. In 2024, data analytics-based solutions are expected to deepen and elevate management approaches. Organizations are likely to invest more in data analytics and seek expert support to communicate more effectively and personally with users, partners, and other stakeholders. Businesses that optimize their processes with agile and flexible data-driven solutions will gain a competitive advantage in 2024.

Eco-friendly technology aims to use the power of technology for a sustainable future while considering environmental responsibility. Businesses of all sizes and sectors can implement professional processes sustainably. 2024, marked by severe global climate challenges, is expected to see heightened awareness and increased focus on sustainability at the business level.

The global sustainability approach will make technological advancement and technology use critically important, with supply chain sustainability being scrutinized more than ever. In 2024, businesses will leverage various eco-friendly technologies to minimize environmental damage and achieve sustainability goals. They will adopt solutions such as green energy, more efficient production processes, smart city solutions, sustainable construction and design, digital innovations, agricultural technologies, and e-waste management. This commitment will reflect a more responsible approach to our planet in 2024.