Trustnet Magazine 64 July 2020 | Page 22

Your portfolio 22 / 23 Sam Shaw reveals which trends the experts are backing to dominate the tech sector over the coming decades The hype cycle When Microsoft chief executive Satya Nadella described two years’ worth of digital transformation taking place in two months, he spoke on behalf of an entire planet. The coronavirus pandemic, in forcing so many aspects of life to be replaced by online equivalents, has rapidly accelerated numerous themes set to power growth in the technology sector for the foreseeable future. Jon Guinness and Sumant Wahi, who run the Fidelity Global Communications fund, observe “a step change in existing structural trends such as grocery, m-commerce (commercial transactions conducted electronically by mobile phone), digital entertainment, working from home, virtual schooling, telemedicine and the digital transformation of enterprises” as a result of the global lockdown. While online adoption was forced rather than chosen in many cases, they believe much of it will remain in place long after the crisis eases, with opportunities from three audiences. Consumers will make “profound changes” to their lifestyles; TRUSTNET