IDC Canada Unveils its 10 Canadian Tech Market Predictions for 2021 and Highlights the Digital Path Ahead to Succeed in the Next Normal

TORONTO, ON., December 16, 2020 — International Data Corporation (IDC) Canada just released its technology predictions for 2021. The IDC Market Presentation entitled IDC Canada Predictions 2021: Digital Priorities for the Future Enterprise (IDC# CA47071220), was originally presented during IDC’s annual Canadian Tech Predictions webcast on December 8th, 2020 and provides business decision-makers and technology vendors with insight and perspective into the top developments that will affect the Canadian market in 2021. The webinar is now available on-demand here: https://bit.ly/340XEIV

As business and IT leaders look ahead to 2021, IDC expects that technology will play an increasingly critical role in the post-pandemic economy. This year’s predictions examined the leading priorities of the Future Enterprise in 2021 and were tied to IDC’s “Future of X” agenda items, plus one additional prediction on digital transformation spending in Canada.

According to Tony Olvet, Group Vice President of Research at IDC Canada, “The number one priority for Canadian businesses in 2021 is digital resiliency and our predictions reflect that priority. The pandemic caused an accelerated move to digital technologies and services in large part to serve customers and support employees in new ways. But as business and IT leaders look ahead to the post-pandemic economy, we don’t expect them to go back to the old ways of doing business. Digital investments will continue, and the notion of resiliency will remain high on the executive agenda.”

IDC Canada’s ten tech market predictions for 2021 are as follows:

1. In 2021, Digital Transformation (DX) drives 3rd Platform and Innovation Accelerator spending above 50% of the Canadian ICT market​

2. In 2021, Canadian organizations accelerate the digitization of their workflow 2-3 times faster than the automation of their physical environment ​

3. By the end of 2021, 60% of Canadian companies will have adopted new technologies to improve mental health support for their employees ​

4. By the end of 2021, 50% of Canadian large enterprises will use AI for process and workflow automation​

5. By the end of 2021, more than 75% of Canadian organizations will adopt on-demand infrastructure as public cloud users move to hybrid​

6. By the end of 2021, two out of five organizations will need to remediate technical debt, further strengthening business resiliency​

7. The demand for remote access will grow in 2021 to be more than twice what it was pre-COVID​

8. In 2021, 40% of Canadian consumers will choose their technology provider based on the brand’s ‘privacy’ policies​

9. Four out of five Canadian organizations plan to incorporate SOME principles of zero trust by the end of 2021​

10. New partnerships and digital investments accelerate innovation in Retail, Healthcare, and Financial Services in 2021 and beyond

“As we focus on 2021, digital transformation is now driving business decisions. But DX isn’t driven by technology – it’s powered by technology. DX is about accomplishing the business’ goals and missions through the most appropriate and relevant tools available today and tomorrow,” said Lars Goransson, Managing Director at IDC Canada. “DX has been core to surviving the pandemic and it will be central to competing in the Next Normal. DX isn’t technology, it is business,” concluded Goransson.

For information about the published IDC Canada Predictions 2021 presentation, IDC Canada Predictions 2021 Webcast, quotes, or to arrange a one-on-one interview with Tony Olvet, please contact Cristina Santander at askidc@idccanada.com.