As missions grow in complexity and technology evolution accelerates, federal agencies are investigating and experimenting with advanced technology solutions. Long-term IT priorities indicate growing interest in and potential of sensor technologies such as Internet of Things (IoT), blockchain, and artificial intelligence/machine. Deltek believes advancements in the use of these technologies will accelerate as agencies gather experience and see promising results from their implementation.
Key Findings
Deltek found that agencies are slowly integrating sensor, blockchain, and artificial intelligence technologies into their IT ecosystems, but they face challenges that will require the help of industry partners to overcome.
Establishing and leveraging IoT capabilities requires focused investment in network infrastructure, cybersecurity, and advanced analytics. However, expanding use of sensors at nearly all levels of the information asset chain stretches current IT governance models, raising CIO authority and IT management challenges.
Agencies are investigating blockchain for a number of uses, but is hampered by a lack of strategic plans, in-house technical expertise, and basic understanding of how functionality.
Using blockchain will require agencies to buy new applications and hardware. They will also need to convert data into a standardized format that enables the building of daisy-chained blocks.
Agency use of AI is accelerating in a number of areas based on machine learning technology, including cyber warfare, robotics, border security, health care, and virtual assistants.
General AI development is taking place in the DOD and at civilian agencies like NASA, but its practical use is thought to be years away. However, two capabilities at the heart of what some call “narrow” AI – a capability programmed for narrowly-defined tasks – are machine learning and autonomy, which are already at play in DOD.
Critical Insight for Vendors
Deltek’s Emerging Federal Technology Markets, 2018 report provides a detailed look at the market factors shaping the federal procurement of sensor, blockchain, and artificial intelligence/machine learning technologies.
The report provides:
Insight into the factors, policies, and technologies shaping the market landscape.
Insight into the dynamics shaping the specific emerging technologies and agency spending on them.
Insight into the challenges faced by agency IT leaders.
Use cases for each emerging technology already being tested.
Recommendations to help contractors evaluate the impact of trends on their businesses.
Deltek's Emerging Federal Technology Markets, 2018 report is delivered in PowerPoint® format, including a PowerPoint® Executive Briefing, and an Excel® data workbook.