Digital transformation is fast becoming an organizational issue. It is no longer just CIOs who are championing the need for digital change, but leaders across all business functions. For example, CMOs are finding that traditional ways of marketing are not as effective any more, while CFOs are discovering hat consumer and supplier transaction models have shifted. There is now an almost universal understanding with in businesses that all functions need to look at how they transform their own practices through digitization.

I cited digital transformation, smart cities, cross modal IT, multi cloud, and skills shortages as the five key trends that will continue to shape both the IT and business landscapes in Asia Pacific for 2016.

1. Traditional enterprises will transform into digital natives

There has been resurgence in confidence among CIOs that they.see more of their revenues flowing through digital channels. According to the Gartner CIO Agenda Insights report, only 16 percent of CIOs last year expected the revenues in their business to flow through digital channels, but that has more than doubled this year to 37 percent. This is recognition of the fact that digital initiatives are not just coming from the CIO, but from all functions of the business that are creating their own platforms and hiring digital natives.

2.Smart companies will build smart cities

Smart cities have been a topic of interest for a long time in Asia Pacific, with many countries in the region rolling out their own initiatives to tackle every thing from public safety to improved transportation. However,it has become apparent that few governments have the experience or the financial means to build and run these initiatives on their own. Instead, they are partnering with major industry players who are investing deeply in the Internet of Things(IoT). By bringing their own intellectual property, assembling ecosystems of technology providers and integrating them together, they can develop the solutions needed to make these cities a reality.

3.Crossmodal IT will unify business silos

It is now recognized that there are two modes that IT organizations can follow to meet the needs of the digital enterprise.

Mode 1 – Applications that handle traditional systems of record– such as CRM and ecommerce systems. These systems are built around predictability, accuracy and availability, given the sensitive data they hold.

Mode 2 – Systems of insight, that are more exploratory such as big data analytics. They give a perspective of what is going on inside a business– enabling users to test certain hypotheses by layering data sets over each other. These systems emphasize agility and speed, giving organizations the ability to quickly and inexpensively test ideas, throw away anything that doesn't work and test out new ones.

The need to fuse these two modes together to become cross model will intensify. Especially as organizations strive to continually optimize the cost of running their systems and incorporate their systems of insight into new business processes and customer interactions.

Smart cities have been a topic of interest for along time in AsiaPacific, with many countries in the region rolling out their own initiatives to tackle everything from public safety to improved transportation

4.Multi cloud will enable transregional business

According to De Luca, the emerging TransPacific Partnership (TPP)promises to bring significant benefits to economic trading conditions within Asia Pacific.To realize the full potential of this agreement, investment in technology infrastructure to connect these economies will be critical.Several companies are already expanding data center capacity tocater to the growing use of cloud computing. They are also investing in improving cross-border, high speed connectivity. The creation of direct routes between key are as like SouthEast Asia, Australia and the United States of America is well under way.

This opening up of the market will have an impact on how business esconsume cloud and expand the options that they have today. With as many as 70 percent of organizations either using or evaluating hybrid clouds now a days, as well as provisions in the TPP to protect off shore data and avoid electronic duties, creating a multi cloud across continental borders to allow businesses to expand becomes viable.

5.Skills shortage will spark a talent pursuit

Several factors will impact the technology employment market in2016, forcing many organizations to look at how they will fill the talent deficit to continue to innovate and remain competitive.

Addressing the IT skills short age will not just be about pumping ou t more IT graduates with in-demand skills like data science. Appealing to the interests of the best young talent while investing in increasing the productivity of existing employees will be critical to bridging the gap over the long run.

Governments recognize this economic imperative and generational shift by changing the labor market, introducing new tax incentives and passing laws to allow for easier investment, such as through crowd m sourcing. Continua l learning is also becoming a focus for governments, with Singapore investing SG$1.2 billion (US$0.9billion) in technology development to drive improvements with in its public sector.