2021 Business Predictions: Mark Berridge, Link ICT

It’s that time of year, when Business Link Magazine invites the region’s business leaders to offer up their predictions for the year ahead. 

It has become something of a tradition, given that we’ve been doing this now for over 30 years.

IT and Telecoms support providers have been in high demand as schools and businesses turn to technology to help them carry on working or learning remotely. 

In this edition of our predictions we talk with Mark Berridge, from Link ICT in Derby – a senior IT technician. Mark has been busy providing outsourced IT services and establishing IT networks and phone connectivity.

With 2021 ending, and in line with the news headlines already in 2021, I'm stuck on the fence whether this season has been the worst yet, or whether there have been positive changes for the future.

On one hand I've come across the effect of a worldwide pandemic, the way it has harmed people as well as their livelihoods and how it has affected businesses and countries. On the other hand, I have seen the whole world change for the better, with individuals coming together to safeguard one another by isolating at home, away from all family and work, understanding how to use new and different technologies to keep each other safe.

We have all been forced to learn how to adapt to this new working environment, some of us working from home where we can, using software options for example Zoom and Teams to collaborate with one another. Next year, I foresee a continuation of the trend, with the need for more remote support for all those working out of office, and businesses moving towards cloud-based solutions. We may possibly see the removal of the requirement for on-site hardware, as cloud-based solutions mean forget about need for on-site servers and networks.

My conclusions are that I am looking forward to a brighter future, where technology continues to bring people safely together. Regardless of the future holds, I look forward to continuing to aid users in the ever-evolving world of technology.