Tech trends for 2015: the year in which the digital-first world takes hold

4. The world realises the "Internet of Things" is just the Internet

Everyone is buzzing about the Internet of Things (IoT). The IoT is the extension of the internet, connecting us to millions of machines, sensors, and objects around us. The IoT will transform the world as we know it, creating a giant, global network of devices and machines that are connected, communicating, and exchanging data. This market will see 50 billion devices connected by 2020 and a value of $14.4 trillion (around £9.5 trillion, AU$17.5 trillion). Its potential impact is huge.

And while the IoT is viewed by many as a nebulous, futuristic concept, in reality, it already exists: we wear pedometers, smartwatches, and cameras, our pets are micro-chipped, and we drive cars with built-in sensors. Thanks to the IoT, many of our everyday appliances will soon have the ability to self-monitor and communicate with a network – think Marge's fully automated "Ultrahouse 3000" in The Simpsons.

Organisations in both the public and private sector are already using sensor-based technologies to improve inventory control and manage energy through smart grids. As we progress through 2015, more and more people will come to realise the IoT is simply the next evolution of the internet.

5. The Chief Data Officer and Chief Digital Officer will become mainstream

To help guide the enterprise on its journey to digital transformation, two C-level roles will find themselves at the executive table: the Chief Data Officer and the Chief Digital Officer. While their roles are unique, both will focus on the strategic importance of information in a digital economy.

The Chief Digital Officer will be the executive advocate for the digital customer and will emerge to oversee both the strategy and the technology for a seamless and satisfying digital customer experience. According to Gartner, 25% of businesses will have a Chief Digital Officer by the end of 2015.

The Chief Data Officer will emerge as the executive advocate for data management – using the exploding volumes of data and analytics to improve decision making and identify new revenue opportunities. Across the organisation, every function will want access to data and insights about their operations. The Chief Data Officer will make this possible by optimising the management of data (integrating, deploying, securing, governing) and mobilising the organisation around an Enterprise Information Management (EIM) strategy.

The digital-first world is coming like a fast-moving train. It's fuelled by disruptors like cloud technology, the IoT, and a shifting workforce. The impact of its changes will soon be felt. Are you ready?

• Mark Barrenechea is the CEO of OpenText