Kicking off the new year in my new role as Country Manager for Citrix Canada, I took a hard look at the year ahead and saw a few trends emerging. So, like your friend or family member who sent their holiday card after the New Year, I’m going to do the same with what we can expect in 2022.

Many are entering the year unsure of what to expect, again. After two of the most unpredictable and unprecedented years ever, we are still trying to adjust to the extreme changes forced on businesses by the pandemic. At Citrix, we look forward to helping our customers tackle the challenges of the new year and the ever-changing business landscape, including what I expect to be three of the bigger business trends in Canada for 2022.

Virtual Business is Here for Good

Traditional work models are a thing of the past. With the ongoing pandemic continuing to shape the way we live and work, employees and business leaders alike have adapted to remote and hybrid work models. They have come to see the benefits flexible work can have on employee engagement and productivity, work/life balance and mental health, talent recruitment and retention, operating costs, and even the environment. It’s clear that flexible work models are here to stay.

Our research shows that 90 percent of office workers want to continue with these new models. In response, businesses will begin designing and implementing human-centered digital workspaces that enable their employees to securely and reliably access the apps and data they need to do their job and collaborate with their team, no matter where their “office” looks like.

These workspaces will be supported with policies that encourage equitable working methods. To avoid a “digital divide”, business leaders will seek ways to ensure that all employees have the tools they need to be productive, present, and able to advance their careers from any location across the globe.

The Emergence of a New Class of Workers

Over the last decade or so, knowledge workers left their corporate jobs in waves for consulting and freelance work, creating what many called “the gig economy.” Just as traditional work styles have transitioned to hybrid models, we will soon see a new class of hybrid jobs emerge.

By leveraging hybrid work models and digital technologies, companies will be able to deliver the combined flexibility and autonomy typically associated with freelance and gig work with the job stability and benefits found in the corporate world.

An Unprecedented Wave of IT Innovation with New Tech

Innovation reached new heights in 2020 and 2021 as businesses were forced to implement new technologies and business strategies to survive the pandemic.

Our own research shows that investments in new technology and flexible work models over the last year fueled a $678 billion boost in revenue across industries. It’s clear this trend will continue as 69 percent of business leaders around the world said they will increase their R&D investment over the next 12 months to sustain this unprecedented growth.

This innovation boom will result in advances across numerous areas, including parallel internets, hyper-automation, more accessible AI, decentralization, and the metaverse.

Looking Forward

As we forge ahead, I am confident that our team will find new and innovative ways to help our customers turn challenges into opportunities, drive business outcomes, and transform their businesses for modernization and growth. I couldn’t be more excited about the opportunity that lies ahead for all of us and welcome the opportunity to connect.