At no point in history have we had as much data as we do now; data that can be used to drive strategy and help make the decisions that ensure businesses are successful in the future. The global business intelligence market is expected to grow from $15.64 billion in 2016 to $29.48 billion by 2022.

Businesses can now choose from AWS, Microsoft Azure, Google Cloud, IBM Bluemix or any number of IaaS providers, and a host of BI service providers. However, with so much access to data, we don’t always know what to pay attention to, or how to use it in our decision making. Interestingly, smaller businesses of 100 people or less are the highest adopters of BI tools, using it to remain agile and get a competitive growth advantage.

However, with so much access to data, we don’t always know what to pay attention to, or how to use it in our decision making

Now, more than ever, we need to find new ways to gather business insights in virtual environments where managers live halfway around the world from their reports, and standardization is hard to achieve in home-working environments. The hardware you issue to employees needs to be able to gather intelligence for IT teams who are unable to ever deliver on-site assistance. Additionally, future insights around employee engagement and stress levels will become increasingly important to tackle the health issues of remote working and maintain an engaged workforce.

The hardware you issue to employees needs to be able to gather intelligence for IT teams who are unable to ever deliver on-site assistance

As businesses streamline their expenses, and are forced to adapt more stringent spatial measures in offices, many will downsize on their considerable office space expenses. Architecture and design will play a part in reshaping health-conscious offices, leading to healthier and more productive workforces.

Architecture and design will play a part in reshaping health-conscious offices, leading to healthier and more productive workforces

However, we are also entering a new normal with home working, already fueled by the sharp decline in office-space per employee and high real-estate costs in many markets. Remote employees can save money, as long as they have excellent communications tools at their fingertips.

Overall, different businesses will be able to innovate and adapt based on their unique circumstances, markets, and industries, but at the core of new ways of working will be a need for flexibility; flexibility to overcome challenges and have teams, managers and organizations who can work from anywhere, and adapt to anything. The external world is changing at a rapid pace around us, and having the right people, and the right technology for them to thrive in any environment, is what will underpin the greatest success stories of the coming decade.