SINGAPORE – In a recent FutureScape report, IDC FutureScape: Worldwide Future of Work 2024 Predictions — Asia/Pacific (Excluding Japan) Implications, IDC predicts that by 2025, 60% of A2000 firms will upgrade hardware and software technologies to increase worker retention with personalized work experiences and enhanced collaboration by 2025. Collaborative applications are becoming more visual and will continue to develop characteristics not unlike a multiplayer game that enables a more personalized view of work and teams, better alignment to projects, and hands-on collaboration applications.

• Generative AI emerges as a game-changer for organizational advancement, weaving a seamless tapestry across three key fronts: Intelligent Document Processing (IDP), Generative Automation, and Knowledge Sharing.
• Smarter Document Handling: By 2026, businesses that link GenAI to smart document handling will discover 20% more ways to use it, boosting productivity, scalability, and delivering better customer experiences.
• Generative Automation: Business teams using code generation copilots will achieve 70% success rate in streamlining jobs with task/workflow automation, replacing low-code and IT-supported development by 2024.
• Efficient Knowledge Sharing: In 2025, GenAI tools will enable senior leaders to double the productive use of unstructured data by discovering untapped insights and knowledge, driving 20% growth in sustainable business benefits.

As GenAI takes center stage, its adaptive capabilities are set to streamline processes, automate tasks, and redefine the skillsets required for various roles. While this evolution brings forth unprecedented opportunities for upskilling and reskilling, it also underscores the imperative for organizations to adapt to this paradigm shift, ensuring the alignment of talent with the dynamic demands of the future workplace.

This prediction not only foretells a redefined professional landscape but also emphasizes the pivotal role of GenAI in driving organizational agility and competitiveness. In this dynamic environment, the significance of skill development cannot be overstated, as it becomes the essence of staying competitive and relevant. GenAI is not just a technological advancement but a catalyst for change in the skill landscape. The imperative for skill development is no longer a choice but a necessity in a landscape where GenAI is reshaping how we work.

• Job Evolution: By 2027, 40% of current job roles will be redefined or eliminated across A2000 organizations accelerated by GenAI adoption.
• Tailored Skills Boost: Enterprises will leverage personalized technology skills development to drive $1 trillion in productivity gains by 2027, enabled by GenAI and automation everywhere.
• Tech Skill Support: By 2027, 80% of A1000 organizations will mitigate technical skills shortages using digital adoption platforms.
• AR/VR engineering and training: By 2028, half of large businesses will use prompt engineering to prototype AR/VR simulations, reducing development time from weeks to hours and creating precision training.

Simultaneously, digital twins and sustainable office design are capturing attention, reflecting a growing focus on environmental consciousness in the region. Organizations are recalibrating priorities to balance technological innovation with a commitment to sustainability, showcasing a harmonious approach where cutting-edge technology aligns with ecological stewardship in APEJ's business narrative.

• Digital Twins Maturity: By 2028, digital twin technologies will enhance virtual and physical office user experiences, driving a 30%+ improvement in retention of workers in A1000 companies.
• Green Offices: By 2028, half of the biggest companies are set to invest in what we call "Climate Heavens" for their offices. This means using things like assets and renewable energy to cover 30% of their ongoing operating costs, making workplaces more eco-friendly.

"As the benefits and applicable use cases of GenAI unfold, organizations are exploring the outcomes that GenAI can potentially bring to business operations and innovation. The focus on skill development becomes a necessity and a strategic imperative, as GenAI enables personalized development. Simultaneously, the reimagination of workplaces, with digital twins and sustainability stand out as key foci for companies," says Dr . Lily Phan, Research Director, Future of Work, IDC Asia/Pacific.