Virtual desktops will gain popularity in 2021

Desktops-as-a-service, or virtual cloud desktops, will gain popularity in 2021. These are offerings like Amazon Workspace, Microsoft Windows Virtual Desktop, Google Chromebook. The offerings enable the entire environment of workstations to be delivered as a service — a display that connects to personal computing in the cloud. It reduces the in-house infrastructure requirements on businesses, reducing IT maintenance. But now, with COVID-19 causing more of a remote-work culture, Virtual Desktop has become even more important, because with this technology companies no longer have to ship hardware to people's houses.

Why virtual desktops will gain popularity in 2021

Users can simply use their own PC to connect to virtual cloud desktops. This is more cost-efficient because it's user-based, and typically only cost businesses if they're used. The whole mix of maintaining the hardware goes away, so I think this is a technology that’s here to stay.

Organizations will take a ‘customer 360’ approach to business

Most businesses don’t have large technical teams, meaning SaaS solutions will begin to enable more businesses to take a 360-degree view of their customers and engage with them at every touchpoint. The key component to a successful Customer 360 strategy involves pre-built templates that provide a service that optimizes integrations across systems and enables them to build a true 360-degree view of their customers. Using the right mix of solutions democratizes and enables a business to quickly react to problems because the templates are already built and can be used by less technical people. Integrating systems such as Salesforce, NetSuite, SAP, Shopify, Workday, and many others enable this view across the customer journey, creating a better experience and longer-lasting customer relationships.

Manoj Choudhary, CTO, Jitterbit

Manoj Chaudhary is the Chief Technology Officer and Senior Vice President of Engineering, leading the technical side of product strategy as well as technology development and operations. Prior to this role, Manoj involved with Jitterbit as a technical adviser, helping to guide the company’s pioneering transition to a multi-tenant cloud architecture.

Manoj has previously worked as CTO and VP of Engineering for Loggly and Tenfold and served as Director of Engineering at Cast Iron Systems leading up to and following its acquisition by IBM.