The modern enterprise mobile landscape is brimming with opportunities for technological innovations spurred by AI, machine vision, wireless connectivity, robotics, and more. VDC rounded up our most important Predictions for the upcoming year to help you strategically prepare for a productive 2024.
Enterprise Mobility & The Connected Worker
VDC's Market Landscape i2 Reports
Our Deep Dive Analyses Of industrial Tech Markets.
Enterprise Mobility Predictions
MWC 2024: Hype vs. Reality
While you wouldn’t have guessed it making your way through the packed aisles among 100K+ attendees, there was a sobering undercurrent at MWC 2024 with monetization challenges of recent mega themes a common refrain. One that VDC has been paying close attention to has been private wireless networks which have yet to fulfill early hype. Among the issues that continue to hold back adoption and investment is the continued lag in the device ecosystem – especially for industrial applications.
Exploring Enterprise Connectivity Options: Li-Fi
Light Fidelity (Li-Fi) is based on visible light communication (VLC) technology, which transmits information through light waves with a two-way network protocol to provide high-speed connectivity. As enterprises look for new ways to improve their network infrastructure and improve connectivity, how does Li-Fi compare to Wi-Fi, private 4G/LTE and 5G, and other alternatives? What are the primary benefits and costs associated with Li-Fi?
MWC Las Vegas 2024 Show Report
Enterprise connectivity was the primary focus of the third annual Mobile World Congress Americas event in Las Vegas. The question on everyone’s mind: how will AI play a role in the future of networks?
VDC Research sat down with solution providers across the industry to discuss trends and opportunities for the enterprise and government markets regarding network infrastructure solutions, IoT, AI enablement, and ecosystem dynamics.
LogiMAT Show Report
LogiMAT 2025 showcased the latest intralogistics solutions ranging from machine vision and robotics solutions to labeling and data capture technologies.
ProMat Show Report
ProMat 2025 highlighted the critical ways in which vendors are harnessing intelligent automation and robotics solutions to navigate ongoing labor shortages and drive data-driven decision-making to stay ahead of the competition.
Read the View to find out more.
Mobile World Congress Barcelona
MWC 2025 unveiled groundbreaking innovations as vendors revealed new ways to enhance private network capabilities, with major enterprises driving significant investments. As industries undergo rapid digital transformation, which innovations from MWC 2025 are poised to shape the future? Discover the game-changing solutions in our comprehensive event coverage.
COMPUTEX Show Report
COMPUTEX 2025 delivered a powerful showcase of next-generation computing technologies, with artificial intelligence (AI), Windows on ARM devices, and rugged enterprise solutions taking center stage.
This year’s event also underscored the strength of the Asia-based AIDC and enterprise mobility ecosystem. Vendors like Darveen, Getac, Emdoor, and HPRT showcased rugged tablets, intelligent fleet management systems, Copilot+ industrial PCs, and advanced thermal printing solutions, underscoring the region’s growing influence in commercial-grade technology innovation.
Download VDC Research’s COMPUTEX 2025 Show Report to explore insights on thermal printing, data capture, and POS technologies and to stay ahead of enterprise mobility and AI computing trends.
Snapdragon Summit Keynote
The 2025 Qualcomm Snapdragon Summit was fully centered on AI—the promised disruptor that has solidified its place in our personal lives and professional lives. For Qualcomm, the diverse array of AI applications presents an opportunity to blend its success in the mobile device market with its burgeoning business in IoT and embedded. With both its AI development solutions and chipsets, Qualcomm will continue to play a key role in enabling utility-scale edge AI applications. Moving inference closer to the user not only improves latency and responsiveness but also enhances privacy and personalization by leveraging local data, creating the potential for an agentic ecosystem that assists operations or individuals in their everyday lives. This VDC View highlights and analyzes the announced products and features as they relate to embedded and edge computing.
Qualcomm Snapdragon Summit
At Snapdragon Summit 2025, Qualcomm presented its vision for an AI-driven world where intelligence is embedded everywhere, from devices to networks.
In this exclusive VDC View, we unpack the key announcements, analyze the practical realities behind Qualcomm’s AI ambitions, and assess what it all means for enterprise mobility, the edge, and the future of connected work.
NRF 2026
NRF 2026 underscored how retail technology adoption is becoming more pragmatic and execution-focused. Across AI, computer vision, RFID, edge computing, and workforce enablement, retailers are moving beyond experimentation and concentrating on solutions that improve store performance, reduce shrink, and integrate cleanly into daily operations. The show highlighted how reliability, scalability, and time-to-value are now shaping buying decisions as retailers plan for 2026 and beyond.
VDC Research’s NRF 2026 show report delivers expert analysis of the most important in-store technology trends, drawing on insights from Amazon Web Services, Axis Communications, BIXOLON, Bizerba, BlueStar, Brother Mobile Solutions, Citizen Systems, Datalogic, DPT, Epson, Everseen, Fujitsu Frontech, Honeywell, HP, Impinj, MediaTek, Motorola Solutions, NCR Voyix, Nedap Retail, Newland AIDC, ProGlove, Qualcomm, Samsung, SATO, ScaleFusion, Scandit, SeeChange, Sewoo, Toshiba Global Commerce Solutions, TSC Auto ID, Workday, Zebra Technologies, and other leading vendors shaping the future of retail execution.
VDC Views
Our Complimentary In-Depth Market and Industry Commentary
The Global Market for Industrial Networking
The global industrial networking technologies market is projected to surpass $5.8B by 2029, driven by rapid adoption of 5G, Wi-Fi 7, OT/IT convergence, interoperability, and cybersecurity. Leading vendors such as Belden, Cisco, HMS, and Siemens are shaping the competitive landscape, while high-growth sectors including semiconductors, energy, and transportation continue to accelerate demand.
Our latest report delivers the insights you need to succeed in this evolving market. It provides strategic guidance, opportunity analysis, detailed forecasts by product, region, and industry, and competitive intelligence on more than 70 vendors.
Industrial IoT Platforms
Inside This Report
The Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) is a global phenomenon rife with opportunity. By connecting industrial systems and analyzing the data they produce, industrial organizations can attain unprecedented levels of operational control, efficiency, production, and safety.
Many of the world’s leading hardware, software, and industrial automation suppliers have developed specialized platforms designed to facilitate their customers’ IIoT initiatives to seamlessly manage advanced analytics, application enablement, data management, device management, enterprise integration, and security. This research program will include expert commentary and strategic insights on industrial IoT-related products, solutions, and services.
Industrial Cybersecurity Research Outline
Opportunities & Forecasts Through 2028
The Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) is a global phenomenon rife with opportunity. By connecting industrial systems and analyzing the data, we are building a world in which industrial organizations can attain unprecedented levels of operational control, efficiency, production, and safety.
Industrial Research Outline
Opportunities & Forecasts Through 2028
The Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) is a global phenomenon rife with opportunity. By connecting industrial systems and analyzing the data, we are building a world in which industrial organizations can attain unprecedented levels of operational control, efficiency, production, and safety.
Machine Health Webcast
Opportunities & Forecasts Through 2029
Industrial machine health solutions, such as those for asset performance management, condition monitoring, and preventative/predictive maintenance, have emerged as critical tools in maximizing industrial organizations’ productivity, operational efficiency, and optimization. This report analyzes the global market for industrial machine health solutions and includes key segmentations and forecasts by geographic region and industry.
Hannover Messe
Sustainability, digital transformation and industrial AI were top-of-mind at Hannover Messe 2025. Read our VDC View for our complete show coverage and vendor highlights on Armis, AWS, Critical Manufacturing, Emerson, Eurotech, FermAI, HiveMQ, I-care, Litmus, Microsoft, Nanoprecise, Nokia, Nozomi Networks, PTC, Rockwell Automation, Siemens, and more.
Machine Health Report
This report analyzes the global market for industrial machine health monitoring solutions and includes segmentations and forecasts by geographic region, channel, and industry. Coverage includes a combination of research-driven commentary and competitive analysis on key vendors.
Industrial Networking
Discover how digital transformation and the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) are revolutionizing industrial operations worldwide. Our latest research report delivers in-depth analysis on the global industrial networking market—highlighting key trends, emerging technologies, and strategic insights to help organizations boost efficiency, flexibility, supply chain control, and
workplace safety.
Backed by extensive primary research, the report provides valuable data on market size, growth forecasts, and competitive dynamics, along with guidance for product strategy, partnership development, and go-to-market planning.
Whether you’re shaping digital infrastructure, optimizing operations, or evaluating investment opportunities, this report is your roadmap to smarter industrial connectivity.
Download the Research Outline to learn more.
Hitachi Analyst Summit
Hitachi Digital Services assembled over 40 leading analyst and advisory firms to unveil its bold vision for the future of enterprise transformation.
Discover how Hitachi’s AI-driven platform, HARC for AI, is reshaping digital innovation—and how your organization can harness it to drive scalable, resilient growth.
- Next-generation AI strategies for scalable, trustworthy implementation
- Industry-specific breakthroughs across energy, healthcare, manufacturing, and more
- Customer co-creation stories driving real-world digital impact
- Advances in IT/OT convergence and enterprise-grade cybersecurity
Download the full report to learn how Hitachi is enabling Industry 5.0—through collaborative innovation, intelligent automation, and industry expertise.
OT & XIoT Cybersecurity Software & Services
Industrial organizations are placing greater urgency on securing operational technology (OT) environments, where a breach can lead to catastrophic consequences far beyond financial
loss—including system-wide downtime, safety risks, and operational chaos. As OT and IT continue to converge, the complexity and stakes of protecting critical infrastructure have never been higher.
This report provides a comprehensive market assessment of global OT cybersecurity software and services, including segmentation by solution type, service model, region, and industry. It delivers in-depth market sizing and forecasts through 2030, supported by robust primary research, competitive analysis, and strategic commentary designed for technology vendors, security leaders, and industrial decision-makers.
Mitsubishi Acquires Nozomi
Mitsubishi Electric’s $1 billion acquisition of Nozomi Networks is the largest deal in the company’s history and a defining moment for the industrial cybersecurity market.
This bold move strengthens Mitsubishi’s ability to protect converged IT, OT, and IoT environments while giving Nozomi the scale and resources to accelerate innovation in visibility, resilience, and compliance. The deal also reshapes competitive dynamics and puts pressure on rivals such as Armis, Claroty, and Dragos as the race for OT cybersecurity leadership intensifies.
Read VDC’s complete analysis to learn what this acquisition means for manufacturers, critical infrastructure, and industrial operators, and how it could redefine the future of industrial cybersecurity.
Industrial Edge Management Solutions
As industrial enterprises accelerate AI-driven edge deployments, Industrial Edge Management Solutions have become the critical control layer of digital transformation, delivering unified orchestration, robust security, and real-time visibility across distributed industrial environments.
VDC’s research program provides in-depth analysis of market dynamics, competitive strategies, and growth opportunities. Featuring detailed segmentation, vendor benchmarking, and forecasts across cloud, hybrid, and on-premises models, it enables technology suppliers, investors, and enterprise leaders to seize emerging opportunities and drive the next phase of industrial digitalization.
Key Vendors Included:
AWS, ClearBlade, Dell, Emerson, Hewlett Packard Enterprise, IOTech, Litmus, Microsoft, Red Hat, Rockwell Automation, Siemens, SUSE, Wind River, Zededa, and more.
CES 2026
CES 2026 marked a turning point as physical AI moved from experimentation to real-world deployment across robotics, automotive, and the intelligent edge. This VDC View captures the most important technologies, partnerships, and architectural shifts shaping the next phase of industrial automation, software-defined vehicles, and intelligent edge systems.
The show report highlights major takeaways from leading vendors such as
Ambarella, Analog Devices, Ambiq, Apex.AI, Aptiv, Arm, BMW, Boston Dynamics, Bosch Sensortec, CEVA, Elektrobit, floLIVE, Ford, Foretellix, Green Hills Software, Hailo, Hyundai Motor Group, Hyundai Mobis, Intel, Lantronix, Lucid, Mercedes-Benz, Mentee Robotics, MIPS, Mobileye, Nordic Semiconductor, NVIDIA, Nuro, NXP, PTC, Qualcomm, QNX, RTI, Semtech, Sonatus, Sony Honda Mobility, SoundHound AI, Telit Cinterion, Texas Instruments, Volkswagen Group, Waymo, and Zoox.
2026 IoT, Embedded & Industrial Technology Predictions
Inside This Report
The IoT, embedded, and industrial computing markets have entered a period of sustained transformation. As industry priorities continue to evolve, the year ahead will drive fundamental changes in platform architectures, development models, and go-to-market strategies.
This research note highlights the key trends expected to influence hardware and software decision-making through 2026 and beyond.
2025 i2 Reports - Our comprehensive market landscape reports
2024 i2 Reports
VDC Views - Expert analysis and commentary of critical market trends and news
NRF 2026 underscored how retail technology adoption is becoming more pragmatic and execution-focused. Across AI, computer vision, RFID, edge computing, and workforce enablement, retailers are moving beyond experimentation and concentrating on solutions that improve store performance, reduce shrink, and integrate...
At Snapdragon Summit 2025, Qualcomm presented its vision for an AI-driven world where intelligence is embedded everywhere, from devices to networks. In this exclusive VDC View, we unpack the key announcements, analyze the practical realities behind Qualcomm's AI ambitions, and...
The 2025 Qualcomm Snapdragon Summit was fully centered on AI—the promised disruptor that has solidified its place in our personal lives and professional lives. For Qualcomm, the diverse array of AI applications presents an opportunity to blend its success in...
COMPUTEX 2025 delivered a powerful showcase of next-generation computing technologies, with artificial intelligence (AI), Windows on ARM devices, and rugged enterprise solutions taking center stage. This year's event also underscored the strength of the Asia-based AIDC and enterprise mobility ecosystem....
MWC 2025 unveiled groundbreaking innovations as vendors revealed new ways to enhance private network capabilities, with major enterprises driving significant investments. As industries undergo rapid digital transformation, which innovations from MWC 2025 are poised to shape the future? Discover the...
ProMat 2025 highlighted the critical ways in which vendors are harnessing intelligent automation and robotics solutions to navigate ongoing labor shortages and drive data-driven decision-making to stay ahead of the competition. Read the View to find out more.
LogiMAT 2025 showcased the latest intralogistics solutions ranging from machine vision and robotics solutions to labeling and data capture technologies.
Enterprise connectivity was the primary focus of the third annual Mobile World Congress Americas event in Las Vegas. The question on everyone's mind: how will AI play a role in the future of networks? VDC Research sat down with solution...
Light Fidelity (Li-Fi) is based on visible light communication (VLC) technology, which transmits information through light waves with a two-way network protocol to provide high-speed connectivity. As enterprises look for new ways to improve their network infrastructure and improve connectivity,...
While you wouldn’t have guessed it making your way through the packed aisles among 100K+ attendees, there was a sobering undercurrent at MWC 2024 with monetization challenges of recent mega themes a common refrain. One that VDC has been paying...
The modern enterprise mobile landscape is brimming with opportunities for technological innovations spurred by AI, machine vision, wireless connectivity, robotics, and more. VDC rounded up our most important Predictions for the upcoming year to help you strategically prepare for a...
