According to insights from Zhitong Finance APP, drawing on research and expertise across multiple domains, Omdia has identified four major driving forces that will shape 2027: AI, supply chains, digital sovereignty, and physical AI. Together, these forces point to a common trend: AI must increasingly demonstrate that it can deliver tangible returns; enterprises must remain competitive amid ongoing supply chain volatility; organizations must weigh strengthening technological self-reliance against the resulting costs; and intelligence will extend further from software and screens into the physical world.

AI: From Investment to Commercialization

The AI technology race will continue, but the metrics for success are changing. Omdia predicts that 59% of enterprises will increase their AI budgets by 10% or more in 2027, intensifying pressure to prove that AI can deliver concrete returns. Companies will increasingly evaluate AI investments based on return on investment (ROI) and productivity gains, rather than technological superiority alone. Across infrastructure, software, services, and devices, market attention will shift to where AI can create value, how that value is realized, and which business models can convert AI adoption into sustainable returns.

Supply Chains: Crisis Becomes the "New Normal"

Technology companies can no longer assume that supply chain volatility will eventually end and that supply chains will return to normal. The combination of AI infrastructure demand, component supply constraints, geopolitical pressures, energy demand, and macroeconomic uncertainty is keeping markets in a state of heightened volatility. Currently, 60% of PC channel partners have been affected by hardware delivery delays, underscoring the operational pressures enterprises continue to face. The ability to manage these pressures will increasingly serve as a key measure of corporate competitiveness. Companies that can embed resilience into their operations will be better positioned to turn market volatility into a competitive advantage, while less agile competitors may gradually lose market share.

Digital Sovereignty: Self-Reliance Comes at a Cost

The question is gradually shifting from whether organizations need to strengthen digital sovereignty to how much self-reliance is required and how much they are willing to pay for it. More than 100 countries are currently advancing digital sovereignty initiatives, reflecting growing emphasis on control over data, infrastructure, AI, and digital supply chains. However, achieving complete technological self-reliance is typically neither realistic nor necessary. Enterprises need to determine which areas must be self-reliant, which areas still require partner dependence, and in which cases the business value of increased digital sovereignty is sufficient to offset the added costs and complexity.

Physical AI: Intelligence Steps Off the Screen

AI is accelerating its move from software and screens into the physical world. The continuous development of AI, edge computing, sensors, and connected hardware is driving the emergence of intelligent systems capable of perceiving, learning from, and responding to their surroundings. Global humanoid robot shipments are expected to exceed 700,000 units by 2030, reflecting growing investment in physical AI and the accelerating momentum in this field. The opportunity extends far beyond humanoid robots to encompass automotive, construction, energy infrastructure, workplaces, and connected consumer environments. As intelligent capabilities increasingly integrate into the physical world, enterprises will face new challenges related to governance, safety, liability determination, system integration, and trust.

Commenting on Omdia's release of "Drivers Shaping 2027," Omdia Chief Research Officer Evan Kirchheimer said: "The core theme for the tech industry in 2027 will no longer be just about what comes next, but rather what the investments and innovations of recent years will deliver when confronted with economic and operational realities."

"AI needs to prove it can deliver real returns. Enterprises need to plan for sustained supply chain volatility and uncertainty in advance, rather than waiting for things to recover on their own. The growing importance of digital sovereignty also brings difficult choices about costs and access. As AI moves into the physical world, enterprises will face a whole new set of opportunities and responsibilities."

"What makes these driving forces particularly important is that they are increasingly interconnected. Decisions in one area increasingly affect others, so enterprises need a comprehensive understanding of the entire technology landscape more than ever when deciding where to invest and compete."