China enters era of digital-driven expansion

At the IDC FutureScapes 2019, a forum focusing on trends in China’s ICT market held by IDC China on Monday in Beijing, a series of predictions on China’s ICT market were released.
IDC China Vice President and Chief Research Analyst Wu Lianfeng said the digital economy and digital industry will become the mainstream of the market and that IT-related expenditure will reach $1.3 trillion from 2019 to 2022.
“5G will be the key technology for enterprise to achieve the next phase of digital transformation. By 2024, more than 60 per cent of 5G connections will come from business application scenarios in industries,” Wu said in his speech.
IDC China managing director Kitty Fok said, from a global perspective, all industries will become digital industries and integration and cross-border will become the mainstream in the future.
She said China, characterised by the world’s largest middle class, boasts huge consumption potential and major business opportunities for smart devices and super applications.
“Digital transformation of enterprises is the core support of digital economy’s development. Growth and innovation relying on 11 digital technologies of the third platform, which include cloud computing, big data, mobile, social, artificial intelligence, block chain, Internet of Things, augmented/virtual reality (AR/VR), 3D printing, robots as well as next generation security are the core of digital transformation, “ Fok said.
In addition, Zhong Zhenshan, vice-president of IDC China, said the technologies of artificial intelligence, Internet of Things and security will come in top priorities.

Customer-centred strategy 
Compared to traditional companies, digital native enterprises has faster innovation speed, can fully empower employees with customer-centred strategy, embrace risks in a process of continuous learning and adaptation, and create new value for enterprises with technology and data, Thomas Zhou, associate vice president of IDC China, said.
He said digital transformation has changed applications, and changes in applications will change everything. Clouds, data centres and developers will serve as the cornerstones of the rejuvenating of enterprises.
“By 2020, 50 per cent of users from education sector and large enterprises will consider using VR/AR products, large screen whiteboard, tablet and smart wristband to improve working efficiency. 
The work, which includes space, culture and employees, supported by various smart devices and technologies will be mainstream in the future,” Antonio Wang, associate vice president of IDC China said.
In the consumer market, trends such as household storage, ageing population, consumption classification, 1.5-tier cities, screen shift and 5G will significantly affect the terminal market, which should be paid great attention from manufacturers, Wang added.