Interview: Andrew Belger, TeamViewer

After years of extensive disruption, will 2024 see the dust settle or can we expect the same rate of change?

Innovation cycles have been getting shorter for decades. With the latest developments in artificial intelligence (AI), organisations will not experience a slowdown, but rather, a further increase in disruption.

Business-focused disruption tends to happen behind the scenes, irrespective of the hype. For example, the impact of AI has been significant in the business-to-business (B2B) and industrial sectors for several years. Recent improvements in its processing power means the ability of AI technology to analyse and visualise vast amounts of data and provide real-time insights has resulted in a plethora of use cases.

Furthermore, organisations will encounter another major disruption once quantum computing technology is available on a wider scale.

Is on-premises officially dead? Where is cloud headed in the year ahead, and what are the implications for government?

There are a variety of needs for both cloud and on-premises environments, especially when considering critical infrastructure that must be maintained. Some organisations need to comply with the data residency regulations of countries such as Australia and regions including the European Union that mandate that data isn’t stored in a distant cloud.

Government organisations must ensure data is stored and processed in a controlled environment while leveraging the latest technology to maintain maximum security and efficiency. This presents a challenging balance for IT departments; however, solutions are available, including for specialised use cases. For example, an on-premises server protected by conditional access can facilitate secure external collaboration while all data is hosted and processed in an on-premises environment.

Machine learning, AI and automation grabbed all the headlines last year — what separates the hype from reality in terms of useful application?

The potential applications of AI have been most associated with the rapid rise of generative AI (GenAI) since several companies made their tools publicly available. However, the most significant impact of AI lies in data analytics and workflow automation, including process automation and accessing real-time analytics.

For business applications based on AI that conduct data analytics, the primary challenge faced by business leaders is ensuring the quality and quantity of data. As a tool is trained based on the data it receives, every digital interaction can be used to improve organisational processes and ultimately drive automation. It is essential for users to investigate and distinguish between useful data and useless data for this to succeed.

In an ideal world, what would government, innovators and the tech industry successfully deliver in 2024?

The technology industry is currently focused on the compliant, accessible and inclusive use of AI; however, innovators face challenges that must be addressed including the reliability and trustworthiness of AI.

Once AI-integrated solutions are reliable and in strict compliance with regulations, the industry may see an increase in the level of trust afforded to this technology. Regulators and innovators must work together to create an inclusive AI environment and dispel the fear of the dystopian Skynet narrative.

Andrew Belger is the head of sales for Australia and New Zealand at TeamViewer. He manages enterprise and channel sales, including business development and strategic partnerships. Andrew has more than 20 years’ experience in the technology sector and has previously held various sales leadership roles at specialised technology companies.