CompTIA Survey Finds Business Necessity Driving Emerging Tech Adoption

The majority of organizations are either implementing or are considering the adoption of three major, emerging technologies: artificial intelligence, virtual reality/augmented reality and blockchain, according to a recent survey from CompTIA. With these investments, companies are addressing a wide range of business needs. AI, for example, is enabling them to implement machine learning within Internet of Things projects. VR/AR is enhancing employee training while improving customer engagement. Blockchain is helping enterprises support digital identity and compliance/audit efforts. An estimated 700 business professionals took part in the research. The following are highlights from the survey, with charts provided courtesy of CompTIA

Among enterprises, 50 percent have already adopted AI. An additional 19 percent plan to adopt AI within the next year.

CompTIA reports that 53 percent of organizations which are considered “early adopters,” use AI for machine learning during Internet of Things (IoT) implementations. The same percentage of early adopters are using machine learning as part of their IT infrastructure efforts, while 52 percent are leveraging AI to create virtual assistants.

Two of five survey respondents express concerns about a lack of insight into AI decision making, as well as overall support for AI capabilities. Other top concerns include the reduction/downgrading of jobs (as cited by 34 percent of respondents) and “harm caused by AI” (32 percent).

Among enterprises, 44 percent either already have a VR/AR initiative underway, or they are experimenting with these technologies. An additional 18 percent plan to launch a VR/AR initiative within the next year.

More than three out of five “early adopter” organizations use VR/AR tech to train employees. One-half are deploying these technologies to improve customer engagement, while 47 percent do so to run virtual meetings.

High costs rank as the biggest barrier to VR/AR adoption, as cited by 52 percent of survey respondents. Other barriers include the learning curve, cited by 47 percent of respondents and the “functionality living up to the hype,” which was cited by 45 percent of respondents.

Among companies, 38 percent have either already purchased blockchain-enabled tools or they are developing tools which use blockchain. Nearly one-quarter are exploring the adoption of blockchain-enabled tools.

More than one-half of “early adopter” organizations are deploying blockchain to support digital identity efforts. Other leading blockchain adoption drivers include the need to improve asset management/tracking and regulatory compliance/audit both cited by 49 percent of respondents.

CompTIA indicates that increased transaction speed is driving interest in blockchain, which was cited by 55 percent of survey respondents. Other top drivers include greater security cited by 52 percent of respondents, better data integrity (48 percent) and the simplification of workflows (43 percent).