14 01732 759725 INSIGHT investment and momentum behind physical AI. The opportunity extends far beyond humanoid robots, spanning vehicles, buildings, energy infrastructure, workplaces and connected consumer environments. As intelligence becomes embedded in the physical world, organisations will face new questions around governance, safety, liability, integration and trust. Connected forces Omdia Chief Research Officer Evan Kirchheimer said: “The defining technology story of 2027 will not simply be what comes next, but what happens as the investment and innovation of recent years meets economic and operational reality. “AI needs to demonstrate returns. Supply chain disruption needs to be planned for rather than waited out. The perceived imperative of digital sovereignty brings difficult choices around cost and access. And as AI moves into the physical world, businesses face an entirely new set of opportunities and responsibilities. “What makes these forces particularly significant is how closely they are becoming connected. Decisions made in one area increasingly have consequences elsewhere, making it more important than ever for businesses to understand the wider technology landscape when deciding where to invest and compete.” These forces are addressed in more detail in an e-book authored by Evan Kirchheimer, Fiona Kyle (VP of Research, Integrated Tech), Maxine Holt (VP of Enterprise and Channel Research), Nicole Peng (VP of Research, Consumer) and Ronan De Renesse (VP of Research, Telecoms). For more details visit https://tinyurl. com/4tak45bw. geopolitical pressures, energy requirements and macroeconomic uncertainty are combining to create persistent volatility. Already hardware delays are impacting 60% of PC channel partners, highlighting the operational pressures businesses continue to face. Omdia predicts that navigating these pressures will increasingly become a measure of competitive strength. Companies that build resilience into their operations will be best placed to turn disruption into advantage, while less agile competitors risk losing ground. 3. Digital sovereignty: independence comes at a cost The question is increasingly shifting from whether organisations need more digital sovereignty to how much control they need – and what price they are prepared to pay for it. More than 100 countries are now pursuing digital sovereignty initiatives, reflecting the growing importance to government and business of gaining control over data, infrastructure, AI and digital supply chains. However, complete technological independence will rarely be practical or necessary, says Omdia. Instead, organisations will need to determine what they must control, where partnerships remain essential and where greater sovereignty creates enough business value to justify the additional cost and complexity it brings. 4. Physical AI: intelligence escapes the screen AI’s move beyond software and screens and into the physical world is accelerating. Advances in AI, edge computing, sensors and connected hardware are creating intelligent systems capable of perceiving, learning and responding to their surroundings. Global humanoid robot shipments alone are expected to exceed 700,000 units by 2030, reflecting the growing In 2027, the technology industry will face the twin challenges of turning years of rapid investment and innovation into sustainable value and moving the focus from what technology can do to what it can deliver – economically, operationally and competitively. So says Omdia in its Forces Shaping 2027 e-book. Experts at the technology research and advisory group have identified four forces that they believe will shape the world of IT in 2027: the need for AI to start demonstrating real returns; the need for businesses to navigate a way through persistent supply chain disruption; the need for organisations to weigh the benefits of greater technological control against the costs of IT sovereignty; and the need to address governance and safety as intelligence moves beyond software and screens into the physical realm. 1. AI: rebalancing from investment to monetisation The AI technology arms race will continue, but the measure of success is changing, says Omdia. With 59% of organisations expecting their AI budgets to increase by 10% or more in 2027, pressure to demonstrate tangible returns will intensify. Enterprises will increasingly judge AI investments by ROI and productivity gains rather than technical superiority alone. Across infrastructure, software, services and devices, attention will shift to where AI creates value, how that value is captured and which business models can turn adoption into sustainable returns. 2. Supply chain: crisis is the ‘new normal’ Technology companies can no longer assume disruption will end and supply chains will return to normal. AI infrastructure demand, component constraints, AI monetisation, persistent supply chain disruption, digital sovereignty and physical AI will challenge businesses in the years to come says Omdia Four forces set to shape IT in 2027 Evan Kirchheimer
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy NDUxNDM=