Tech

Top Technology Trends Predicted for 2020

Published

6 years ago

November 15, 2019

2019 Was a good year for tech, with some major acquisitions, new innovations etc. that kept tech enthusiasts on edge. Now, many folks are wondering what the new technology trends will be for 2020.

This comes as no surprise since technology is developing and evolving at a rapid pace and no one wants to be left behind. Having knowledge of what the key technological trends for 2020 will be puts individuals and businesses in a position to look to the future and plan ahead.

Let’s take a look at the top technology trends that have been predicted for 2020!

1) 5G Data Networks:

The roll-out of 5G networks has been a long time coming and this will be met by a lot of enthusiasm by mobile phone users throughout the globe. Although 5G networks first became available this year, they have been quite expensive and have been limited only to major cities. This is a pity since the increased bandwidth of 5G networks give one much faster download speeds and a much better mobile connection and those lucky enough to have experienced 5G certainly do not want to look back.

The good news is that the coming year will see a wider roll-out of 5G networks, making it more widely accessible with better coverage, and at more affordable prices. This means that you could soon be benefiting from faster internet speed on your phone with the ability to stream better quality music, videos and online content at lightning speed while on the go or at home.

5G is not only a wonderful convenience for individuals but businesses will also enjoy its faster and more stable connections wherever they happen to be.

2) Flatter Organizational Structures:

Companies are finally realizing that too much management is a bad thing as it hinders productivity and operational efficiency.

Flatter structures are replacing more traditional, hierarchical ones to improve the way in which the company operates and processes information.

3) Democratization:

Over the past few years, the average man on the street has been gaining increased access to new technologies, knowledge, design trends, data and development. Experts have predicted that 2020 will see this becoming much more widespread, with most people being able to access business or technical information without the need for extensive training.

This is also known as “citizen access” and has come about due to new developments in technology and more user-friendly software and data for the layman. You therefore do not need to be trained in the technical industry to have access to and, sometimes make use of) innovative technological products and services. In fact, all that is required is enthusiasm and a willingness to learn new concepts!

4) Hyperautomation:

Automation is not a new concept and has been around for many years. However, hyperautomation is a fairly recent development and involves applying advanced technological ideas (such as machine learning and artificial intelligence) to further increase the automation of processes that previously were performed by humans.

In the past year or so, hyperautomation has been refining and improving the sophistication of robotic tools in order to analyze, monitor, design and automate at a higher level.

This has resulted in what is known as digital twinning of an organization’s human counterpart. Of course, no digital tool could ever replace the uniqueness of a human being, but 2020 will make them much more effective, efficient and strategic.

In the coming year, we can therefore expect to see an increase in digital twins in organizations which will allow management to visualize how they can improve operational efficiency and drive value through the hyperautomation process.

5) Autonomous Driving:

While self-driving vehicles have been around for a couple of years, we are definitely not at a point where folks routinely travel in autonomous vehicles.

In 2020, we can expect a lot of development from the Tesla company when it comes to autonomous driving as they plan to release a completely self-driven vehicle in the next few months. Such vehicles will be able to brake automatically, change lanes and manage speed while the car’s owner sits back and relaxes.

Cars will not be the only vehicles that can be automated as there are currently incredible breakthroughs in the automation of delivery vehicles and trucks.

6) Digital Debit:

Do you enjoy using convenient payment options such as Apple or Google Pay? Well, 2020 will see the launch of another great payment method in the form of Facebook’s Libra, which is an innovative cryptocurrency.

These advances in payment methods will soon mean that traditional banks will not hold the monopoly in this area and that consumers will have more of a say!

7) RPA and Chatbot integration, “no-coding” chatbots:

Avi Benezra, one of the first masterminds to create “no-coding” chatbots said “it’s interesting that finally Microsoft and other big tech players jumped on board with no-coding chatbots. Obviously we have several years lead over them because by now, we have integrated an entire ecosystem that encompasses omnichannel communication, RPA to automate daily tasks and cut down on human error – and off course much safer payment systems through AI-assisted payment processors that remove humans as the weaker link in card fraud. Where we are ahead, is that our no-coding chatbots rely on a sophisticated chatbot store, where you can buy chatbots from the best developers in the world – similar to how you’d buy a WordPress theme from the best web developers at a fraction of the price.”

Final scoop:

Yes, 2020 will be packed with tech surprises: Innovation is happening faster than ever and new trends will no doubt keep disrupting workforces and industries around the globe.

Tech

AI in Placemaking: How ERA-co is Using Smarter Data to Build Better Cities

Published

3 weeks ago

September 23, 2025

Jonathan Grilli

ERA-co is exploring new ways to apply AI in urban design, utilizing data-driven tools to support more thoughtful and responsive placemaking. Rather than replacing human insight, the firm sees artificial intelligence as a partner — one that can enhance how designers understand and shape the spaces where people live, move, and connect.

This approach isn’t about flashy tech or fully automated cities. It’s about asking better questions, revealing patterns we might otherwise miss, and using that knowledge to make decisions rooted in real-world behavior. For ERA-co, AI becomes most valuable when it helps clarify how a city works, layer by layer, so design teams can create places that are not only efficient but also livable and meaningful.

Understanding complexity before optimization

Before talking about smart tools or predictions, ERA-co begins with a foundational question: “What kind of problem is a city?” Nicolas Palominos, Head of Urban Design and Strategy R&D at ERA-co, references the work of Jane Jacobs to frame this.

“As Jacobs reminds us, cities exhibit complex system behavior, where multiple elements vary simultaneously, in subtle interconnected ways,” Palominos explains. “AI can augment our understanding of these parameters to design better places with optimized social benefit.”

According to Palominos, that kind of social benefit can take many forms. It might involve modeling a housing system that supports proximity-based living, such as the concept of the “15-minute city,” or applying predictive analytics to anticipate and respond to events like floods, heatwaves, or infrastructure failures.

ERA-co doesn’t use AI to chase efficiency for its own sake. Instead, the firm uses it to gain a more comprehensive understanding and a clearer picture of a place’s behavior.

Data that matches people, not just places

Not all data is created equal. When it comes to placemaking, ERA-co prioritizes what Palominos calls “spatial and temporal granularity,” which entails not only examining how a space functions on a map but also understanding how people interact with it over time — from hour to hour, and season to season.

“The most valuable data are those with the greatest spatial and temporal granularity for observing people and urban environments,” Palominos says. “Video footage, mobile data, street view imagery, and satellite imagery enable a deeper understanding of how different groups of people perceive and use public space.”

One recent ERA-co proof-of-concept used AI to assess how people visually perceive streetscapes, analyzing elements like enclosure, complexity, and human scale. These insights informed more nuanced design strategies that align with local behaviors, not just abstract zoning plans.

This level of detail matters because even small design shifts can have ripple effects on how people move, feel, and gather. With AI, ERA-co isn’t just tracking patterns but learning from them.

ERA-co’s AI mobility work: Subtle shifts, broader benefits

Some of the clearest applications of AI can be seen in mobility — how people and goods move through cities. It’s here that ERA-co sees measurable gains in both function and experience.

“AI-driven fleet optimization balances supply and demand in bus services and bike-share systems,” Palominos says. “On the consumer side, it streamlines courier and delivery services through route optimization.”

These systems don’t operate in isolation. When they’re better coordinated, they can relieve pressure on road networks, reduce congestion, and lower energy use. But what makes ERA-co’s approach different is that it doesn’t stop at logistics. It examines how those systems impact the daily lives of people who live in and move through a place.

The limits of AI and the role of design judgment

As much as AI can help us see more, ERA-co is careful not to let it make the final call. Cities are more than just systems — they’re layered with memory, identity, and human connection. And not everything meaningful can be measured.

“There have been cases where AI insights pointed us in one direction, but human judgment and cultural understanding led us another way,” Palominos notes.

Sometimes a place functions well on paper, but feels hollow in practice. Other times, a community gathering space might disrupt traffic flow, yet provide invaluable support for social well-being.

This is where design intuition becomes critical. ERA-co uses AI to inform, not dictate, the design process.

Planning for a future in flux

Looking ahead, ERA-co sees AI playing a growing role in helping cities adapt — not just to top physical threats like climate change, but also to slower, less visible shifts in how people live and connect.

“AI will amplify our understanding of how cities function through enhanced spatial representation and analysis, informing better human decision-making,” Palominos says. He references recent findings (like an MIT study showing people walk faster and linger less in public spaces) as examples of trends that would have been hard to anticipate without AI.

Still, the goal isn’t to automate responses to those behaviors. It’s using those insights to reimagine what kinds of public spaces people may need in the future, especially as patterns of connection and isolation shift.