Digital Transformation & Emerging Technologies · technologies. Our recent survey of U.S. CIOs and other senior IT decision makers found several technologies will play a significant

Digital Transformation & Emerging Technologies:The Canon O�ce of the Future Survey,Conducted by IDC

An IDC InfoBrief, Sponsored by Canon | December 2017

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An IDC InfoBrief, sponsored by CanonDigital Transformation & Emerging Technologies: The Canon Office of the Future Survey, Conducted by IDC

© IDC Visit us at IDC.com and follow us on Twitter: @IDC

Executive SummaryThis IDC InfoBrief explores how digital transformation (DX) is shaping the office of the future and its related technologies. Our recent survey of U.S. CIOs and other senior IT decision makers found several technologies will play a significant role, but the key discovery was the importance of cloud, security, and artificial intelligence (AI)/robotics.

Looking ahead, all technologies – whether a multifunction printer (MFP) or some other network solution – will play a role as DX initiatives shape the future office.

Cloud

AI/robotics

Digital security 84% of respondents say that network security is critical to transformation

Businesses no longer fear robotics and AI but are ready to embrace them

68% say boosting profitability and productivity will be the key benefit of cloud’s role in transforming business processes over the next 2-5 years

The increasing sophistication of cyberterrorism and other threats will remain significant security risks

54% agree that robotics will eliminate many manual tasks, giving workers room for creativity and innovation

By 2021, IDC predicts spending on cloud services and cloud-enabling infrastructure will more than double

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MethodologyReport data comes from a September 2017 web survey of 500 U.S. CIOs and other senior IT decision makers conducted by IDC. Qualified respondents met at least one of the following criteria:

Make strategic decisions and/or define policy

Have hands-on responsibility for deploying technologies

Provide guidance on the relevant technologies

Have direct purchase/approval authority

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Nearly nine of ten (88%) CIOs and other senior IT decision makers believe that their company’s DX initiative has a high positive impact on worker productivity today and will continue to drive it in the future. Two critical outcomes of transformation are increasing employee productivity and improving the effectiveness of business operations.

DX strategies are instrumental to the success of future workplaces

Information Transformation Priorities (Top 3 Responses*)

39% 38%34%

Improve effectiveness of business operations

Increase employee productivity

Reduce cost

Q. What are your organization’s top priorities for transforming how information workers work with information?

*Out of a total of 10 responses. Respondents could choose more than one.

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Digital security, cloud services, virtual assistants, and AI will be integral parts of the future office AI solutions and virtual assistants will make business processes smarter, and help offload mundane tasks, freeing up workers to focus on value and innovation. Organizations are also starting to build up a range of technology capabilities. Digital security and cloud services are the most common in today’s workplace, but in the next two years:

42% of respondents plan to implement

virtual assistants

41% plan to implement AI solutions

54% agree that robotics will eliminate many manual tasks

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Network security is critical to transformation, and 84% of CIOs and other senior IT decision makers report that it will continue to be very important in the office of the future – why?

Threat of sophisticated cyberattacks keeps IT decision makers focused on security

Because 42% believe the increasing sophistication of cyberterrorism, Trojans, viruses, and other threats will remain significant security risks. Adverse effects of such attacks include:

Loss of confidential information, personal data, and privacy

Damage to business reputation and negative publicity

Compliance issues, fines, and lawsuits

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Driven by DX initiatives, the explosion in types, channels, and volume of content is fueling an increased requirement to address internal security and compliance needs. Mobility, storing information on public sites, and the difficulty of securing new technology deployments all speak to a wide range of threats and challenges.

84% 84%82%

81% 80%78%

77% 77%

Network security

Content security in the cloud

Content security on

premise

Solutions security

(incl. PCs, printers)

Disaster recovery

Mobile device

management

User authentication

Compliance

Q. Thinking about information security and compliance within your organization, please rate each of the following in terms of its importance to the office of the future.

DX initiatives will fuel an increasing need to address security and compliance

37% of respondents see significant security risk in employees printing, scanning, faxing, or copying documents

Note: Numbers reflect % of respondents rating a “4” or “5” on a 5-point scale where “5” = very important

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Cost remains the greatest obstacle to workplace transformationCIOs and other senior IT decision makers see the cost of acquiring the needed technology (42%) as the biggest impediment to transforming the workplace for the future.

42%

32%

30%

25%

25%

High acquisition costs for technology

Support costs of the technology too high

Implementation time too long

Other higher priority initiatives

No visibility into cost and/or no clear ROI

Q. What do you see as initial barriers to adopting technology related to the office of the future?

% of Respondents

Top 5 Responses*

*Out of a total of 11 responses. Respondents could choose more than one.

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Nearly half of CIOs and other senior IT decision makers expect ROI by 2 years!

36%24%

20%

7%

13%

2 years

5 or more years

1 year

4 years

3 years

Q. What is the length of time that you expect new technologies to provide a return on investment?

Companies are measuring the ROI of these new technologies when deciding which will be integrated into the workplace and they are looking for quick paybacks on their investment.

Return on investment is frequently measured and a quick payback expected

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Note: % of respondents, N=501

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MFPs play a key role in the office of the future

Cloud

Digital Security

Robotics Wearables

ArtificialIntelligence

Augmentedand/or Virtual

Reality

Mobile/BYOD

Paper and digital content will coexist. The MFP caters to both information formats.

The smart MFP ties into the emerging DX ecosystem shown in the graphic by enabling information workers to create, access, and disseminate business documents and information in the office of the future.

Smart MFPs will impact several key business benefits (e.g., worker productivity, innovation, easier access to information, fostering a collaborative work environment) by intelligently functioning within a secured cloud.

IDC prediction: Smart MFPs will serve as the foundation for a majority of enterprise printing solutions in the office of the future.

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Spending on cloud services and cloud-enabling infrastructure will more than double by 2021

68% 84%

say cloud will be most helpful in transforming business processes over the next 2-5 years to boost profitability and productivity

say that content security in the cloud will be very

important in the office of the future

Source: IDC Predictions

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Conclusion DX and its related technologies are shaping the office of the future. New technologies will not completely replace the old but instead redefine how we use them. DX technologies such as cloud, security, AI, robotics, and others are leading the way, and existing infrastructure technologies such as MFPs will need to demonstrate a DX evolution to remain relevant. Buyers should seek out such solutions from their MFP providers. In preparation for such discussions:

Evaluate your organization’s DX maturity and establish priorities for implementing transformative technologies

Understand how cloud, security, AI, and robotics technologies will drive your priorities for the future office

Recognize the coexistence of digital and paper processes in the office of the future, and that printing and imaging will be part of your DX strategy

Seek a holistic approach to hardware, software, and services that ties into DX technologies

Identify the cost, productivity, and regulatory benefits from such implementations

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Digital Transformation & Emerging Technologies: The Canon Office of the Future Survey, Conducted by IDC

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Digital Transformation & Emerging Technologies · technologies. Our recent survey of U.S. CIOs and other senior IT decision makers found several technologies will play a significant