IT AND TECHNOLOGY | SECTOR ESSENTIALS
TOP THREE TRENDS THAT IT AND TECHNOLOGY GRADUATES SHOULD KNOW Singapore is presently focused on the development and pervasive adoption of digital and smart technologies.
Trend #1 Cloud computing According to Alibaba Cloud 2021, Singapore is one of the top adopters of cloud computing in Southeast Asia, with almost nine in 10 tech decisionmakers indicating their companies are already using cloud-based services. During Singapore’s lockdown period in 2020, Alibaba Cloud reported an increase of more than 50 per cent in demand for its cloud computing technologies from companies in industries such as retail, education and logistics. In other words, this means that the industry can expect more intense competition, more consolidation among cloud service providers, and lower prices for small business and enterprise users. The city-state has already emerged as one of the biggest adopters of cloud technology in the Asia Pacific region, and with cloud computing seen as an integral cog in Singapore’s Smart Nation plan, it will continue to be a central component in a majority of organisations in the coming years.
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STEM Career Guide 2021
What this means for graduates Since most jobs in the cloud have simply been taken up by employees already working in IT and technology, there has not really been a huge demand for people with a cloud skill set. In addition, SMEs that have adopted cloud computing no longer need an internal IT department as most systems come with after sales services, making companies less reliant on their own departments to maintain and fix issues. But this is still the age of digital innovation, so demand is high for graduates specialising in cloud computing. However, keep in mind that most roles require a profound knowledge of specific technologies, such as Open Stack or Amazon Web Services. Cloud-computing candidates should also be adept in several programming languages and frameworks, such as Python and Java. While it is almost impossible to learn them all, focus on a couple of popular skills, such as Amazon Web Services, for instance, as it will likely continue to be a major cloud player over the next few years. But because the industry is so dynamic with new entrants regularly joining the fray, there may be a shift in dominance within the cloud scene.
Trend #2 Big data Word is that data is the new oil of the digital economy, and it does not take much to see why. Companies like Facebook and Google dominate the digital sphere because they mine millions of their users’ online habits, and use them to gain advertising revenue. They track the news clicked, any searches made and even how long cursors hover in a particular section of a webpage. Considering Mark Zuckerberg, Larry Page, and Sergey Brin are now billionaires, big data is a lucrative business if a firm knows how to make full use of it. But the industry is not just about getting advertising money. With today’s digital culture generating massive amounts of data, companies also use this data to gain insight into customer behaviour, learn more about their workforce, improve decision-making and drive growth.
