How Do You Stay Ahead of Rapidly Evolving Technology Trends?
In the fast-paced world of tech, staying current is as challenging as it is crucial. We've gathered insights from Co-Founders and CEOs on their methods for keeping up with the latest trends. From testing emerging technologies and networking to utilizing IT organizations for unbiased insights, here are four strategies these technology leaders employ.
- Test Emerging Technologies and Network
- Dive Into Development and Mentor
- Follow Industry Leaders and Test Prototypes
- Utilize IT Organizations for Unbiased Insights
Test Emerging Technologies and Network
As the founder of Adaptify AI, an automated SEO platform, staying on the cutting edge of SEO and content marketing trends is key to our success.
One method I use is constantly testing new technologies and strategies, even if just on a small scale. For example, though chatbots are still emerging, we built one to help automate some of our customer service. Monitoring the results helps determine what may become mainstream.
I also make building relationships with others in the SEO and marketing industry a priority. Whether at conferences, over coffee, or online, connecting with peers leads to valuable information sharing. A few years ago, a colleague told me about the rise of voice search. We quickly developed expertise in optimizing for voice search, giving our platform an early advantage.
Finally, I encourage my team to follow industry leaders, take online courses, and read extensively. When Google released their mobile-first index, we were already optimizing our platform for mobile. Continuous learning and a willingness to try, fail fast, and pivot have been key to staying ahead in SEO.
Dive Into Development and Mentor
As a technology leader, one method I've relied on is actively involving myself in the development process alongside my team. By rolling up my sleeves and diving into the code or product design, I not only stay informed about the latest tools and methodologies but also gain a first-hand understanding of how these innovations can be practically applied.
Additionally, I make a point to mentor my team in areas where emerging technologies intersect with our core competencies. This collaborative learning environment accelerates our collective knowledge growth and enables us to rapidly integrate new technologies into our workflows.
Follow Industry Leaders and Test Prototypes
As the founder of an authentication platform, staying current with technology trends is critical to our success. I make it a point to follow industry leaders and communities discussing identity standards to spot trends early. For example, by closely following the FIDO Alliance and W3C Web Authentication Working Group, we built support for WebAuthn passwordless login over a year before major browsers adopted it.
Testing new technologies internally is also key. Though still emerging, my team has already built prototypes using decentralized identity models and behavioral biometrics. Trying new methods, even if they're not fully mainstream yet, helps determine what may gain adoption and where we need to focus our efforts.
Constantly reevaluating our tech stack and architecture ensures we stay nimble. When new standards or scaling challenges emerge, we pivot quickly. For example, as our customer base grew globally, we moved from a monolithic app to a microservices architecture. This change improved performance, security, and our ability to rapidly ship new features. Staying ahead of trends requires constant learning, an open and curious mindset, and the willingness to take calculated risks. The authentication space is always changing, so we must change with it.
Utilize IT Organizations for Unbiased Insights
Staying ahead of technology is a challenge, as it changes so often. I have used industry IT organizations to keep up with what is happening and what is beneficial within my organization. ILTA is an organization within the legal industry that focuses on IT and helping IT departments collaborate within the industry. You do have to use many different methods, like newsletters, networking, and speaking with vendors. Still, the benefit to these organizations is that they do not have anything to gain, so they provide unbiased information.