Six technology forecasts for 2021

By Key Digital

22 Feb 2021

drew-beamer-xu5mqq0chck-unsplash-2.jpg

As we all know, 2020 was something else. Many things happened and they will all likely be talked about in future high school History lessons. But there are one or two positives to take from 2020.

Having to work from home meant people had more time to themselves and their families, and technology was pushed through a forced evolution to compensate for the new working environment and the rise of certain viruses.

We’re all happy about the new year, and 2021’s technology is going to have some memorable trends and changes of its own, six of which we are going to cover in this here blog post.

Hybrid Working Situations

If past trends are anything to go off, we’re going to be bouncing between working from home and working at the office. Coronavirus cases will drop and people will think it’s safe until a sudden spike of infections – probably caused by going to work – and back home we go!

So with all of this being a risk, we predict that 2021 is going to have a lot of fluctuating work environments and hardly any consistency. As sad as it is to hear, it’s very likely. At some point though, we will find a balance, which will potentially throw us into permanent hybrid working. This means that technology will have to catch up so that we can switch between a fully stacked office workspace to a minimal home office without compromising on doing our job.

Individuals will need to communicate effectively and constantly share files over the cloud, increasing the need for document management systems.

Teams will likely be restricted to their own areas in the office space to avoid the risk of catching Coronavirus, so – with regards to print technology – MFDs/MFPs will be allocated to each team hub, as opposed to being available for all employees to use.

Increased Use of the Cloud

According to the Quocirca Global Print 2025 Report, 73% of organisations reckon that they will transition to cloud print management by 2025. But the presence of the Coronavirus will likely speed up this process as more people are having to work from home and distant from people when they are actually in the workspace.

The events of 2020 have changed the world of printed documents, and the effects will remain relevant for years to come. These changes were likely to occur at some point, but they came about significantly faster thanks to the rapidly growing need for them.

Cloud solutions were already the print industry’s most popular and leading trend, and the pandemic has only gone and made the trend more powerful and relevant for businesses.

The Importance of Security

As the need for print management and cloud working increases, security risks increase. More new technology means more new vulnerabilities for people to exploit. As businesses transition from a physical to a remote workplace, their cybersecurity will be one of the main considerations.

We believe that 2021 will be the year that businesses invest more into their cybersecurity for both remote and real life working to ensure their sensitive information, data and employees are safe. Because, as we all know, the risks that come from not having a high level of security are detrimental, and investing in better cybersecurity isn’t as difficult as it may seem.

Faxing. Yes, Faxing

Now before you start typing on your fancy, modern keyboard about how outdated this blog is, just give it a chance.

This one mainly relates to the healthcare industry, as 75% of all hospital communication came through a fax machine, and about 9,000,00,000 pages are faxed each year. That’s a lot of paper.

PHI security (Protected Health Information) is incredibly important for healthcare, so when a potential customer wants to acquire a new print management solution, they often ask why the fax machine is so important.

Healthcare’s focus on ensuring security for their people, communication and business has only been increased due to the presence of the Coronavirus. Alongside this, cloud communication is likely to creep its way into the healthcare system slowly on a case-by-case basis. We understand that most of what goes on in healthcare happens actually at work, but services will likely try to transition to the cloud for external communication tools, such as secure messaging.

Because of this, many vendors offer a secure and simple solution that helps track and enable efficient faxing for everyone. A combination of this and the Coronavirus means that 2021 is likely going to have a lot of progress for faxing and healthcare.

Telepathic Technology

Believe it or not, the Coronavirus pandemic has led to improvements in how people deal with hygiene and how contactless and efficient technology can be. People now understand how to avoid transmitting bacteria and viruses to one another and how to act if they show symptoms of illness, and hopefully, these practices are carried over into the future.

So hopefully the way we’ve all had to deal with technology can remain the same, if not, get even better.

For more insights into agile and remote working, click here.

Latest news

1

Roundhouse secures approval for new £15m office and industrial scheme in Preston Momentum

Roundhouse secures approval for new £15m office and industrial scheme in Preston

25 Jul 2025

2

Homebuilder's high-performing sales advisers clinch awards Ben Garland and Julia Lorente

Homebuilder's high-performing sales advisers clinch awards

24 Jul 2025

3

Work is set to start on Multiversity project Multiversity Blackpool

Work is set to start on Multiversity project

24 Jul 2025

4

BAE Systems welcomes MOU between Republic of Turkiye and UK for purchase of Typhoon aircraft Typhoon production Warton

BAE Systems welcomes MOU between Republic of Turkiye and UK for purchase of Typhoon aircraft

23 Jul 2025

5

Assystem to double UK jobs to deliver Sizewell C EDF Assystem

Assystem to double UK jobs to deliver Sizewell C

22 Jul 2025

Background image for hub sign up block

LBV Hub

Leverage Lancashire Business View platforms

Post your news
Post your events
Post your offers
Build your network
Improve your SEO
Gain coverage in the magazine
Sign-up
Events
Lancashire Built Environment Conference 2025
BEC 315 X 315 Px
Networking
25 Sep 2025

Lancashire Built Environment Conference 2025

Blackpool Football Club, Blackpool, FY1 6HX

08:30 - 13:00

CMI Level 5 Project Management Course
UCLanAerialCampus.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Seminars
21 Feb 2025 - 21 Feb 2026

CMI Level 5 Project Management Course

Preston Campus, Preston, PR1 2HE

08:00 - 17:00

CMI Level 5 Management and Leadership Course
UCLanAerialCampus.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Seminars
21 Feb 2025 - 21 Feb 2026

CMI Level 5 Management and Leadership Course

Preston Campus, Preston , PR1 2HE

09:00 - 17:00

Preston Tech Connection: Buzz Word Bingo. Challenging Todays's Buzzwords In Tech
July PTC banner long updated.png.png
LBV Hub Networking
29 Jul 2025 - 29 Jul 2025

Preston Tech Connection: Buzz Word Bingo. Challenging Todays's Buzzwords In Tech

Society1, Coworking Space, Preston, PR1 3LT

18:00 - 19:30

Preston Freelancer Meet-Up: July
Longer July Banner.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Networking
31 Jul 2025 - 31 Jul 2025

Preston Freelancer Meet-Up: July

Society1, Coworking Space, Preston, PR1 3LT

10:00 - 11:30

Advantage: AI – A Workshop for Business Leaders – August 14th
Navy--Event Tile.png.png
LBV Hub Seminars
14 Aug 2025 - 14 Aug 2025

Advantage: AI – A Workshop for Business Leaders – August 14th

Door4 Office, Burnley Wharf, Burnley, BB11 1JG

09:00 - 12:00

The Business Network Central & East Lancashire
LBV Header (24).png.png
LBV Hub Networking
21 Aug 2025 - 21 Aug 2025

The Business Network Central & East Lancashire

Mytton Fold, Langho, BB6 8AB

11:30 - 14:15

Morecambe Bay Walk
Walk.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Awards
30 Aug 2025 - 30 Aug 2025

Morecambe Bay Walk

Arnside, CARNFORTH, LA5

09:30 - 14:00

Longridge Soap Box Derby
Screenshot 2025-06-10 090035.png.png
LBV Hub Fundraisers
14 Sep 2025 - 14 Sep 2025

Longridge Soap Box Derby

Berry Lane, Longridge, PR3 3WH

10:00 - 16:30

Cumbria Business Expo 2025
https---cdn.evbuc.com-images-880461633-4862066883-1-original.20241022-110415.jpeg.jpg
LBV Hub Exhibitions
19 Sep 2025 - 19 Sep 2025

Cumbria Business Expo 2025

Carlisle Racecourse, Carlisle, CA2 4TS

09:00 - 15:00

Help to grow management course
Help to grow - barriers to growth.png.png
LBV Hub Seminars
26 Sep 2025 - 16 Dec 2025

Help to grow management course

Preston Campus , Preston , PR1 2HE

09:00 - 15:00

RISE - Lancashire's unique leadership programme for women
thumbnail_Emma Weston Illustration WENDY BOWERS RISE Illustrstion.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Seminars
22 Oct 2025 - 18 Mar 2026

RISE - Lancashire's unique leadership programme for women

East Lancashire Chamber of Commerce, Clayton le Moors, BB5 5JR

09:30 - 15:30

Advertise with us

Reaching 50,000 members, our print, digital and event platforms offer a fantastic way to raise your business profile and help you grow.

Find out more LBV 123 Online Graphic
Subscribe now

Weekly news bulletin