IDC FutureScape: Worldwide Connected Devices and Consumer DX 2021 Predictions

This IDC study discusses the worldwide connected devices and consumer DX 2021 predictions."The COVID-19 pandemic has radically changed the way people and companies use technology, forcing many to work and learn from home," said Tom Mainelli, group VP of Consumer and Devices at IDC. "The way companies procure, deploy, and manage devices is changing fast, and the ways consumers leverage technology, for both work and play, will continue to evolve in 2021 and beyond."

IDC FutureScape Figure

Executive Summary

IDC FutureScape Predictions

• Summary of External Drivers
• Predictions: Impact on Technology Buyers
  • Prediction 1: By 2021, More Enterprises and Small Businesses Will Leverage Systems Based on Chrome OS as the Platform Grows to Exceed 15% of Total Worldwide Commercial PC Shipments
    • Associated Drivers
    • IT Impact
    • Guidance
  • Prediction 2: To More Efficiently Onboard and Drive the Continued Development of Employees, 30% of Enterprises Will Explore Virtual Reality Technologies for Both Hard and Soft Skills Training in 2021
    • Associated Drivers
    • IT Impact
    • Guidance
  • Prediction 3: Consumer Spend on Technology-Based Services Will Continue to Expand, with Year-over-Year Growth Topping 10% in 2021
    • Associated Drivers
    • IT Impact
    • Guidance
  • Prediction 4: In 2021, 25% of Fortune 1000 Companies with Blue-Collar Employees Who Work Close to Each Other Will Begin Piloting Wearables to Detect and Enforce Safe Minimum Distances
    • Associated Drivers
    • IT Impact
    • Guidance
  • Prediction 5: By 2022, 30% of Enterprises Will Provision Some 5G PCs as They Adapt to a Significant Percentage of Employees Working from Home Permanently and the Resulting Connectivity and Security Issues
    • Associated Drivers
    • IT Impact
    • Guidance
  • Prediction 6: In 2022, Premium Video on Demand Will Reshape Movie Releases and Drive 20% of Worldwide "Box Office" Revenue
    • Associated Drivers
    • IT Impact
    • Guidance
  • Prediction 7: By 2023, 40% of Enterprises Will Enter Multiple Device-as-a-Service Contracts as They Explore the Benefits of Consumption-Based Procurement Models and Accelerated Device Refresh Rates
    • Associated Drivers
    • IT Impact
    • Guidance
  • Prediction 8: By 2023, More than 70% of Service-Focused Enterprises Will Use Augmented Reality Technologies to Drive Remote Self-Assistance, Expert Assistance, and Knowledge Capture and Transfer
    • Associated Drivers
    • IT Impact
    • Guidance
  • Prediction 9: By 2024, More than a Third of Global 2000 Companies Will Have Deployed Smart Assistant-Driven Work-from-Home Solutions to Facilitate More Frictionless Collaboration and Improve Employee Productivity
    • Associated Drivers
    • IT Impact
    • Guidance
  • Prediction 10: In 2025, Technology-Enabled "Live Sports and Concerts 2.0" Will Add 10% Incremental Annual Revenue to the Global Live Consumer Events Market
    • Associated Drivers
    • IT Impact
    • Guidance

Advice for Technology Buyers

External Drivers: Detail

• Accelerated Disruption - Crisis, Resilience, and Opportunity
• Strategic Innovation - Shaping the Future Enterprise Today
• The Next Normal - Resilient Business and Operating Models
• Digital Platform - Ecosystems at Scale
• Digital Divide - The Imperative of Connectivity
• Work Transformation - Redefining Teams, Skills, and Leadership

Learn More

• Related Research