2021: A reset moment for people, business and planet

What can we expect in 2021? I’ll be frank. There are more questions and more uncertainty than I can ever recall at any other moment in recent memory. The level of disruption, the constant redefining of a new normal has left everyone in a state of flux.

But not to downplay this monumental challenge before us. This is truly a time of opportunity. History shows crises spark record acceleration in development. We’ve seen two years of digital transformation in two months! That’s unprecedented. A massive shift across all business and society to online and a digital way of life. What COVID has done has reset expectations on the way we live, work and play. And this presents boundless opportunities for technology. But opportunities that technologists like us at HP must use to genuinely impact everyone for the better.

 While answers remain a rare commodity, here are my five predictions for how technology can potentially change things for the better in 2021 and how Asia can be at the heart of many of these trends.

 1.      Imperative for digital integration to realize digital economies and society

 A World Economic Forum study shows that an estimated 60-70% of new value created in the economy over the next decade will be based on digitally-enabled platforms. Globally the US is in position to drive this revolution and the US-Japan Digital Trade Agreement is evidence of it assuming a global leadership role. But China has declared its mission to build a digital silk road across ASEAN. This will clearly spark broader and tighter digital integration for businesses and governments across the Asia Pacific region. To tap these growth opportunities, communities at all levels must accelerate the move to digital. New capabilities and an unprecedented focus on data will transform the models of business, work, learning and play accelerate change with new vigor. How we manage this change and interact in this digital economy will be crucial to personal, societal and commercial development.

 2.      New normal drives universal upskilling around personal, fluid, and life-long learning models

The last 12 months has put a spotlight on people and business being future-proof. This requires new knowledge, a new level of agility and adaptability for business leaders and for individuals from all generations and all areas of society. For business leaders and corporate professionals, there’s a need to lead and collaborate across a diverse workforce – across locations, profiles, capabilities and cultures. There is a stark realization that digital skills need elevating at all levels and across all generations. The impact on schools has had huge implications in society for students, but most of all for parents and teachers as they nurture the next generation of professionals and leaders. Learning in the future must be personalized, fluid and life-long.

 3.      The rise of the ‘wherever office’ -- a hybrid of virtual, physical but secure at all times

 The blueprint for future cities and future working environments are being formulated as the world emerges from COVID-19. Smaller offices, distributed corporate footprints and a shift to the suburbs will see new ways of working emerge. The “Wherever Office” and a truly digital and virtual workplace made mobile across a spectrum of locations will be the norm . Optimal collaboration, personalization and a custom experience will be key to ensuring a productive and effective workforce. This comes at the cost of growing risks to data, users and business integrity. The future of work must be a seamless hybrid model of virtual and physical, but be secure at all times.

 4.      4th Industrial Revolution accelerated manufacturing and supply chain shifts with additive printing demand surging

Global supply chains will face continued disruption and change which is revolutionizing the manufacturing sector. The acceleration of the 4th Industrial Revolution in manufacturing enabled by AI, IoT, additive printing among others saw rapid innovation to meet demand in pandemic-related products. HP itself leveraged its market-leading print innovation capabilities to ramp up production lines for critical ventilator parts and PPE such as surgical masks. This new-found capability has opened up possibilities for distributed manufacturing and home manufacturing models. The additive printing market is projected to be worth $45B by 2030 with Asia fast catching the US as the leading region. Manufacturers and consumers are primed to take advantage of this emerging opportunity to produce on-demand and drive new economic opportunities.

 5.      The Great Reset to drive unstoppable tech for good movement

The year ahead will see companies and brands be judged by more than the profits they generate. They will also be measured by the value they create for society as a whole. For technology, our goals must now incorporate the ideals of inclusivity, equality, and sustainability. Tech leaders must build trust in emerging technologies like AI, 5G, Blockchain, and robotics. As industry leaders, we must empower communities through the power of technology. Help eliminate the digital divide that prevents too many from accessing the education, jobs and healthcare they need to thrive. HP continues to drive toward a net zero carbon, fully regenerative economy while creating the industry’s most sustainable portfolio of technology, services and solutions. HP was built for this moment. We stand for a new era of opportunity – where human rights are universally protected, climate change reversed, and the digital divide eliminated for all.

To conclude I want to put this reset opportunity in terms that should leave no doubt over why we must act with purpose. A recent report by Nature magazine notes that 2020 is now officially the year the Earth reached a critical crossover point in that the total produce of humans surpassed all global living biomass. In plain terms, the total mass of human-made materials in the world is now greater than the impact of all living things. World War 2 saw the “Great Acceleration” in urban and industrial development. We are at a similar moment today but let’s be sure we use this reset to deliver good on ALL levels, for ALL people and ALL things.