How familiar are you with the latest trends in solution architecture?

We need to add performance as a criterion to derive cloud native solutions. Cost optimization and vendor locking are the other 2 aspects to be considered.

In my experience, the Generative AI solution architecture is trending. As we all know the solution architect is the one gives solution to the problem, we started seeing everything that are not automated and assist our business better as problem. So, the trending in solution architecture is Generative AI solution architecture that addresses the above said main problems. So, knowing where and how to provide the solutions using Generative AI tools and technologies is the key for a solution architect at this current trend.

As more and more companies adopt a multi cloud strategy , solution architects ask themselves if they need to get certified on all these cloud platforms - the answer , IMHO, is yes .Although many capabilities are similar , the way to implement patterns , use resources and the terminology is different . Remember , in the world of multi cloud , solutions can span more than one public cloud , and can many times be implemented in various cloud platforms .

A solution architect MUST be at least get acquainted with the features provided by major 4 cloud providers plus soft AI capabilities. In addition to have some hands on experience with couple of programming languages, modern view on data governance (taxonomy/ontology/enterprise data catalog), be well versed in one of SQL dialects. Have knowledge of enterprise architecture and understand what “the clear architecture” is. Design patterns, and awareness about cybersecurity threats. Some familiarity with system analysis and a lot of experience in at least one business domain. Be able to express ideas via diagrams. That is what I think makes decent solutions architect. (And this is what I personally can “bring to the table” :-) )

Cloud is providing scale to organisations to innovate around data and get the business insights and transform their business from it. Most of the hyperscaler clouds are providing data platform and AI services which is helping organisations to accelerate their ambition of becoming data-first or data driven organisations. Also cloud is making industry specific readymade templates available e.g. Google cloud is making CORTEX FRAMEWORK available for SAP and SALESFORCE customers to use readymade templates to accelerate their insights from data using services like BIGQUERY ( serverless Data warehouse service at petabyte scale) and other DATA and AI services

Data retention is also a crucial factor to determine. The right to privacy & right to delete will also be part of the data architecture.

Another important aspect is touch of data. Most of the use-cases should be solutions to require low touch from data engineering and be easily self serviced.

Want to improve on being data-driven? How about becoming 'Information Informed'? One of the challenges presented by the data-driven trend is that we are seeing increasing absorption of raw data that is mostly amplifying 'noise'; thereby reducing the efficacy of the solution. What seems to be lacking are the filters and refinements that increase the signal level - the identification and contextualization of meaningful and actionable information from the data. For solution architecture, the implication is that our models must become grounded in business concepts and semantics and this must be propagated through to technical design and implementation. Information vs. data - know the difference.

Data driven solutions need to have data of good quality - data needs to be sanitised. This is vital for these solutions to analyse the data. Data is crucial in many solutions and the quantity/quality of the data being processed by these intelligent systems plays a huge part in the insights procured

Agile and DevOps are two distinct but related approaches to software development that aim to improve the efficiency, speed, and quality of delivering software solutions. While they have different focuses, they often complement each other when used together.

Solution Architects play a leading role along with designers in shaping up vague concepts before tech leads and engineers build them in Agile way. As teams orient towards product operating models, solution architects partner with product managers on shaping up options for achieving the desired outcome.

When embracing Agile and DevOps methodologies in solution architecture, be mindful of potential challenges. These include cultural resistance to change, communication and collaboration issues, a risk of prioritizing speed over quality, potential tool overload, security and compliance oversights, neglecting long-term planning, scope creep, testing and quality assurance gaps, documentation reduction, and the need for clear success metrics. Recognizing and addressing these challenges proactively is vital for a successful transition to agile and DevOps practices in solution architecture.

In the Agile and DevOps ecosystem, there's a growing emphasis on User-Centered Design (UCD). This approach prioritizes end-user needs and experiences, ensuring solutions are both functional and user-friendly. As architectures evolve rapidly, ensuring the user remains at the core of design decisions becomes crucial. For a solution architect, integrating UCD principles within Agile workflows can lead to more effective, intuitive, and well-received solutions. Familiarity with tools like design thinking workshops and rapid prototyping can provide pivotal insights during the development phase.

Agile and DevOps both requires the capacity to emphatically engage with stakeholders to understand immediate needs AND identify areas where flexibility is required. Stakeholders include operations, infosec as well as business representatives, preferably actual users.

The fact some of these were generated using LLMs or ChatGPT shows how much things are changing. While machines can understand some behavior, empathy will be a key item in the future.

I strongly believe that empathy is a key competency for me as a solution architect in creating user-centric solutions. While data and metrics provide valuable directional insights, talking to real users, observing their behaviors and walking in their shoes build crucial human-centric empathy.

A user-centric solution is a product, service, or design that places the needs, preferences, and behaviours of users at the forefront of its development process. In essence, it is an approach that priorities creating solutions that cater to the actual users' requirements and aims to deliver an exceptional user experience.

The best way to address a problem in hand and derive an apt solution is by spending more time in the design thinking, analysis and end user engagement with multiple iterations rights at the start of the solutioning phase. My experience says that It is always advised to engage with all stakeholders including the end users and the actual workforce right at the start to deliver the best results. Spending at least 30 percent of cost and time in design thinking and arriving at the right solution can save huge costs as it would substantially reduce changes and redoing of the solution at a later point of time. Everything is becoming user driven these days - Even the mode of delivery is becoming behavior driven over the traditional waterfall model

Each users'(stakeholders) challenges to be understood while designing the solution.This will ensure greater engagement after the product is ready as user has a purpose to use the product. Instead of "What we have" in product , we need to go for "What it solves your challenge" approach.

Ethical is a good one. I lost the count of times one single person decided the solution because of power and influence. In practice ethics goes to rubbish bin.

Accompanying the focus on ethical and sustainable solutions is the broader trend towards digital responsibility and alignment with Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) goals. Organizations are realizing that their digital footprints have tangible impacts, and there's an increasing emphasis on eco-friendly infrastructures, like green data centers, and using algorithms that are energy-efficient. Moreover, there's heightened scrutiny on ensuring technologies don't perpetuate biases or discrimination. For a solution architect, this means an ongoing commitment to staying updated with best practices, actively seeking out unbiased algorithms, and being proactive in reducing environmental impact through optimized architecture designs.

The intersection of ethical and sustainable solutions strives to create a positive impact on both people and the planet. Organizations that prioritise ethics and sustainability contribute to a better future by aligning their actions with values that benefit society and the environment.

We need to highlight the importance of stakeholder engagement in ethical and sustainable solutions. As ethical and sustainable solutions aim to create solutions that are fair, transparent, accountable, and responsible, it is important to engage with stakeholders to understand their needs, expectations, and concerns. Additionally, I am missing the metrics when it comes to Ethical and Sustainable solutions. As ethical and sustainable solutions aim to minimize negative effects and maximize positive outcomes for society and the planet, it is important to have clear metrics in place to measure the impact of these solutions.

Sustainability in business is more relevant than ever. Customers are under pressure to be?transparent with their data and processes. The need sustainability management solutions for ESG reporting, climate action, circular economy,?and social responsibility. Solutions that deliver company-wide functionality and industry-specific features that can help them incorporate sustainability in business at scale by embedding operations, experience, and financial insights into their core business processes.

Frameworks, are not trends but endurung principles that should be considered in design. By using frameworks you can consider emerging "trends" while ensuring your basic principles remain in tact. Adoption of new models will come with new frameworks. However, the hype of a trend should be carefully weighed against existing frameworks.

A notable trend in Solution Architecture involves integrating AI models to automate recurring tasks within existing applications, enhancing customer value. This must be achieved while safeguarding business data integrity.

Other things to consider when looking at new trends in solution architecture (SA). * Leverage AI/ML to automate daily EA/SA tasks - data analysis, identify dev/test/prod patterns, and generate recommendations for optimizing architectures. Review day-to-day tasks, look to AI/ML to automate repetitive tasks, become more efficient and spend time-saved higher-level strategic activities. * SA is becoming more integrated with overall EA to ensure solutions align with long-term business goals and technical strategies. * Designing solutions with a user-centric approach is more important than ever. User needs and pain points need to be considered at every stage of the solution development process.

It's important to note that many organizations are adopting a hybrid approach, leveraging both cloud and on-premises solutions to meet their specific requirements. This approach is often called hybrid IT and allows organizations to benefit from the advantages of both deployment models while managing the complexities associated with hybrid environments.

In my experience another two key areas are communication and collaboration. Solutions Architects needs to excel at communicating and collaborating at all levels, inside and outside architecture. For example, share and seek for feedback from peers. Recognise the audience and tell a story accordingly. Architects should never work isolated on themselves.