The Gartner 2018 Hype Cycle takes on the workplace, as the analyst predicts speech recognition will reach the "Plateau of Productivity" within the next 2 years. In the meantime, 6 other technologies should hit mainstream business adoption in 2-5 years.

"The effects of speech recognition can be seen on a daily basis. Consumers and workers increasingly interact with applications without touching a keyboard," Gartner says. "Speech-to-text applications have proliferated due to the adoption of chatbots and virtual personal assistants (VPAs) by businesses, and consumer adoption of devices with speech interactions including smartphones, gaming consoles and specifically, VPA speakers."

Gartner lists 35 technologies divided in 5 distinct trends in the 2018 Hype Cycle for Emerging Technologies-- a list with a focus on the technologies promising to bring a "high degree of competitive advantage" over the next 5 to 10 years.

The list is derived from over 2000 technologies set to blur the lines between human and machines. One such technology is, perhaps obviously, AI, which is set to play a critical role in enabling ubiquitous, always available companies connected into the business ecosystems of the near future.

“Business and technology leaders will continue to face rapidly accelerating technology innovation that will profoundly impact the way they engage with their workforce, collaborate with their partners, and create products and services for their customers,” the analyst says. “CIOs and technology leaders should always be scanning the market along with assessing and piloting emerging technologies to identify new business opportunities with high impact potential and strategic relevance for their business.”

According to IDC, global big data and business analytics (BDA) solution revenues will reach $260 billion in 2020 with a CAGR of 11.9% over the 2017-2022 period. Revenues for 2018 should total $166bn, an 11.7% increase over 2017.

The industries driving such revenues are banking, discrete manufacturing, process manufacturing, professional services and federal/central government. Combined, these 5 industries account for nearly 50% ($81bn) of global 2018 BDA revenues. The 5 industries are also the largest BDA opportunity in 2022, with a total investment reaching $129bn. The industries with the fastest BDA revenue growth are retail (13.5% CAGR), banking (13.2% CAGR) and professional services (12.9% CAGR).

"At a high level, organisations are turning to BDA solutions to navigate the convergence of their physical and digital worlds," IDC says. "This transformation takes a different shape depending on the industry. For instance, within banking and retail-- two of the fastest growth areas for Big Data BDA-– investments are all about managing and reinvigorating the customer experience. Whereas in manufacturing, firms are reinventing themselves to essentially be high tech companies, using their products as a platform to enable and deliver digital services."

Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corporation (NTT Corporation) announces a plan to consolidate all businesses-- NTT Communications, Dimension Data, NTT DATA and NTT Security-- into a single organisation under a combined NTT, Inc banner.

The single NTT Inc entity sits under the NTT Corporation, and will be lead by current CEO Jun Sawada. The realignment is set to be completed by end March 2019. The consolidated NTT Inc represents combined turnover of $38 billion (based on figures from the fiscal year ending 31 March 2018), with $20bn coming outside of Japan.

"While making NTT Group more competitive and profitable, our global governance will also benefit from embracing and integrating our people’s diverse talents, skills, and management experience in global markets," the company says. "The new structure will leverage their expertise to its maximum potential."