The Importance of Information and Communication Technology (ICT)
Information and Communications Technology (ICT) is a blanket term that includes all technologies and services involved in computing, data management, telecommunications provision, and the internet.
All these technologies relate to the transmission and reception of information. ICT permeates all aspects of life, providing newer, better, and faster ways for people to interact, network, seek help, gain access to information, and learn.
In addition to its ubiquity, information communications technology (ICT) has enormous economic significance. According to research by consultancy IDC, the global information technology industry is on track to reach a value of $5.2 trillion this year (2020). The United States is the world's largest technology market, currently representing 32% of that total, or about $1.7 trillion for 2020.
The technology sector accounts for the majority of economic activity worldwide, as economies, work, and personal lives become more digital, more connected, and more automated. CompTIA's Cyberstates report revealed that the technology sector's economic impact in the US, measured as a percentage of gross domestic product, exceeds that of most other industries, including important sectors such as retail, construction and transportation.
CompTIA predicts that the global information technology industry will grow by 3.7% in 2020. But financial value is only one measure of the importance of Information and Communications Technology. ICT has importance in many fields, as we will discuss in this article.
Information and Communication Technology and Better Relationships
Communication is a key component of the ICT mix. In recent years, the incorporation of different types of technology has increased the number of options people and institutions have for making contact and staying in touch. Traditional on-premise private branch exchange (PBX) telephone systems built on hardwired devices and exchanges are giving way to new telecommunications infrastructure, based on digital data transfer.
Voice over Internet Protocol (also known as Voice over IP, or VoIP), for example, converts voice signals into a digital data stream that can be transmitted over a network connection, offering long-distance and international communications at a fraction of the cost of standard telephone calls. VoIP can be used on compatible telephone hardware, specialist VoIP handsets, desktop computers and laptops, or via mobile applications.
With cell phones, people now have a world of information, entertainment, and communication options, all at their fingertips. According to statistics from QuoraCreative, this year the number of smartphone users worldwide is projected to reach 2.87 billion. A study by Reviews.org revealed that 66% of Americans check their phones 160 times every day. Nearly the same number of people in the United States (65.7%) admit to sleeping with their smartphones at night
It is not difficult to understand the appeal. In addition to voice and video calls, mobile phone users have instant access to email, electronic fax (eFax), social media, chat, and instant messaging (IM) tools. All of this is supported by a vast and growing ecosystem of mobile apps and online resources.
With information communications technology (ICT) now blurring the lines between telephony and the internet, organizations now have access to Unified Communications or UC. VoIP-based platforms and related technologies that enable the blending of telecommunications with office productivity software, databases, multimedia, and online resources.
UC implementations can be localized within the enterprise, or made available to customers from the cloud, as an on-demand resource called “Unified Communications as a Service” or UCaaS. This requires a cloud-based approach to integrate business communications tools into one efficient platform. These tools can include services such as VoIP telephony, video conferencing, file sharing, collaboration, and instant messaging.
This approach highlights the consolidation and streamlining opportunities that ICT offers for companies. Unified Communications as a Service can be an alternative to an on-premises Unified Communications tool, a dedicated VoIP implementation, or a non-unified business communications toolset that includes a mix of cloud applications and traditional software from multiple vendors. Recent collaborations such as the merger of Microsoft Teams with leading UCaaS platforms opened up new possibilities for telecom businesses and retailers in 2020.
New Way of Buying and Selling Transactions
In retail and other consumer environments, the Information and Communications Technology infrastructure that once supported simple credit or debit card transactions and centralized record-keeping for commercial organizations continues to evolve, and eCommerce is now integrated with the shopping experience itself.
Today's consumers can shop for goods and services online from the comfort of their own home or mobile phone, using database technology and shopper-friendly websites or apps .
And cutting-edge technologies such as augmented reality (AR), virtual reality (VR), and artificial intelligence (AI) allow potential buyers to get instant interactive access to information about various products, and even to try them on in different products. simulation settings and environment.
Information Technology and New Commerce
In addition to new ways to purchase and new methods for displaying and promoting commodities, eCommerce and the evolution of ICT have brought significant changes to the way commercial organizations operate behind the scenes.
On the sales front, mobile devices and real-time communications, coupled with advances in data analytics and artificial intelligence, allow retail assistants and sales staff to tailor their promotions in line with known purchase histories and behavioral characteristics of individual customers. The same unified data management system can also optimize an organization's supply chain logistics, and facilitate customer fulfillment options such as same-day delivery, or in-store pickup
For organizations in the Information and Communications Technology solutions market, developments in cloud infrastructure now present a variety of options that include Software as a Service (SaaS) applications, data management tools, and a variety of new technologies.
According to CompTIA.org, this market has geographic variance that aligns with the level of technological maturity in different regions. So, in the mature US market, for example, technology services and software account for almost half of an organization's spending. Countries with lower levels of development tend to allocate more spending to traditional hardware and telecommunications services. In some developing countries that lack legacy infrastructure, technology buyers are finding an easier path by moving directly to the newest products and services.
For companies in the ICT service provider and seller channel, around 60% believe that economic success in 2020 and beyond will depend on their ability to reach new customer segments, either by expanding into new vertical markets or by growing the aggregate number of customers across the business. Managed service providers (MSPs) need to concentrate on taking additional business from existing clients by offering additional types or levels of services to increase their revenue and profit margins.
Organizations on both sides of the Information and Communications Technology supply chain will face ongoing challenges in sourcing ICT talent – either through recruiting external candidates, or training and “upskilling” existing staff.
