Which Five Emerging Tech Trends Will Redefine Enterprises in 2018?

Accenture’s 2018 Technology Vision report identifies five emerging technology trends that will be critical for enterprises over the next three years. The analysis emphasizes how these trends reshape daily life, reshape business‑customer relationships, and demand new strategic approaches.

Trend 1: Citizen AI

Artificial intelligence is becoming increasingly powerful and pervasive. Companies must harness AI responsibly, treating it as a learning system that requires ethical stewardship, transparency, and accountability, much like human education, to ensure AI serves both business goals and societal expectations.

Trend 2: Extended Reality

Immersive experiences that blend virtual and augmented reality dissolve physical distance, enabling users to interact with information and each other without spatial constraints. This “reset” of time‑space relationships allows enterprises to bridge today’s realities with future possibilities.

Trend 3: True Data

High‑quality, trustworthy data is the lifeblood of intelligent enterprises. Dirty or unverified data can corrupt insights, leading to faulty planning and operational failures. Organizations must invest in data‑science expertise and robust cybersecurity measures to build a reliable “data intelligence” foundation.

Trend 4: Large‑Scale Collaboration

Modern technology partners enable rapid ecosystem expansion, but legacy systems often hinder agile growth. Companies must modernize internal architectures—adopting micro‑services, blockchain, and smart contracts—to support scalable collaboration and maintain a central role in the digital economy.

Trend 5: Intelligent Internet (IoT)

Robots, immersive reality, AI, and connected devices are maturing, yet existing infrastructure cannot sustain their explosive adoption. Enterprises need a comprehensive overhaul of underlying platforms to unlock the full potential of next‑generation intelligent technologies.

While the report encourages readers to follow the WeChat public account for the full document, the core insights above provide a strategic roadmap for businesses aiming to stay competitive in a rapidly evolving digital landscape.