Finance Cybersecurity As we spend more of our lives online, we’re going to need to keep our digital lives secure. Companies that develop technologies which keep computer systems and critical data out of the hands of hackers have been tremendous investments over the past several years; they’ll probably continue to thrive in the future. Security software – companies that produce antivirus software to protect our computers and smartphones from malware will likely continue to see high demand for their products. Best of all, that demand is likely to always be there. This makes for a very attractive business model. Identity and access management – you’ve likely encountered apps which require multi-factor authentication to access your online accounts (to do your banking, for example). The companies that develop such systems to control identity and user permissions will likely continue to do a brisk business in the years to come. Threat intelligence services – consulting firms that help businesses, governments and other organizations understand, identify and protect against cyberthreats will likely have no shortage of customers in the coming years. Digital money This is another trend that’s gained a lot of attention over the past several years. At this point, direct investment in digital money is highly volatile and highly speculative. That said, it may become a commonplace medium of exchange in the future. Cryptocurrencies – some have questioned whether digital money such as Bitcoin, Ethereum or others has any value whatsoever. Others have made millions from it. Which side will be proven correct? Hard to say for sure. But for investors with a strong stomach for risk, there might be an intriguing investment opportunity here. Blockchain tech – cryptocurrencies are built on blockchain technology – a decentralized ledger of tamper-proof digital data that’s exceptionally useful in a number of industries beyond finance. Whatever you think about the investment merits of cryptocurrency itself, you can bet your bottom dollar that companies developing blockchain-related applications have a bright future ahead of them. Robots Let’s be clear: it will be some time before we see the kinds of human-like robots that are common in our favourite sci-fi movies. But with the rapid development of computing power, data processing and sensor technology, it seems as if there’s a long-term investment opportunity for any company that builds or develops automated technology. Industrial automation – developments in artificial intelligence (see above) and advances in robotics are converging to make humans obsolete in factory assembly lines and warehouses. Service by machine – industries such as hospitality and retail are using robots more and more to enhance efficiency, while household robots (vacuums, lawn mowers, window cleaners, etc.) handle repetitive and mundane tasks. Dr. Robot – you might not know it, but robots are already assisting in the operating room, where they’re capable of incredibly precise, controlled surgical cuts and movements. Other robots can help with targeted radiation therapy, UV therapy and other procedures. The “anti-global” economy Covid-19 demonstrated the limits of far-flung supply chains. In the future, many economists expect companies to work hard to bring the global economy a little closer to home. That realignment will likely create opportunities in the following areas: Local manufacturing – war, pandemic, natural disasters or other unforeseen circumstances can cause massive disruptions to how companies make and sell their products and services. As companies strive to make manufacturing more of a local (or at least, regional) affair, that could mean increased business for companies manufacturing automation, working on logistics technology and building localized production capabilities. 30 | www.snowbirds.org
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