Navigating the tech landscape: Andela’s predictions for 2024

In the fast-paced world of technology, staying ahead of the curve is important for businesses to thrive. As we look towards the future, it's hard to anticipate the trends and developments that will shape the tech landscape in the coming years. Guided by the insights of key leaders in the organization, our predictions not only reflect the current state of affairs, but also forecast transformative shifts that will define the coming years.  

1. 2024 will be the year that tech talent from Africa starts to feel like part of the workforce  

Jeremy Johnson, Andela’s Co-founder and CEO, foresees 2024 as the year when African tech talent establishes itself as an integral part of global tech workforces. Africa has the fastest-growing population of developers with over 22 million individuals joining the workforce each year, and substantial investments from tech giants like Google, Amazon, and Microsoft.  

The continent is becoming a key player in the tech market and is also the youngest continent in the world with 60% of the population under the age of 25. With Africa emerging as a significant source of software engineering talent, Andela plays a major role in training 35% of the continent’s engineering population. Andela’s own talent pool in Africa has grown 179% a year on average for the past nine years.  

2. Skills gap will require companies to look borderless  

Companies are struggling to fill technical roles quickly and lack the know-how and processes to re-skill and upskill as needed. Alvaro Oliveira, Chief Talent Officer at Andela, predicts the skills gap will continue to get more severe for most companies.  

According to Gartner, talent scarcity is reaching crisis proportions, with 78% of CEOs expressing concerns. The demand for tech talent has never been higher and it’s requiring companies to think differently about their teams.  

To combat this, CIOs will need to embrace borderless hiring methods, new technologies to improve how skills are measured and identified, and the use of online learning platforms, such as AI-based evaluations to help bridge skills gaps.

3. There is no one-size-fits-all solution when it comes to AI  

The anticipation of AI dominating the tech landscape is met with a nuanced perspective from Fabio Soares, Engineering Manager at Andela. Soares argues against the existence of an AI silver bullet (only one technique), emphasizing the importance of experimentation with various techniques. He envisions that, in 2024, the winning combination will be the collaboration between human engineers and GenAI (generative artificial intelligence). This synergy is expected to drive down the cost of custom software development, allowing engineers to focus on efficiency and problem-solving.  

Technologists will continue to experiment with several techniques to compare the results that each one could bring. Based on the results, teams will assess which ones work best to solve the specific business problem they were trying to address.  

For example, a business needs to assess the quality of their data results. To do this, developers might use Kedro for data treatment pipelines, BigQuery for data lake, t-SNE/PCA/Autoencoders for dimensionality reduction algorithms, unsupervised techniques like HDBSCAN scan, Gaussian mixture, and supervised techniques like LightGBM, ANNs, KNN. It requires a mix of techniques to address the problem.

The emphasis on experimentation and the absence of a one-size-fits-all solution align with the dynamic nature of AI development.  By embracing this experimentation mindset and continuously evaluating the results, organizations can unlock the full potential of AI and drive innovation across various domains.

4. The lens for DEI will expand beyond quotas  

Kelly Wenzel, Chief Marketing Officer at Andela, envisions an expansion in the lens for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI). As the percentage of companies that fund a dedicated DEI function continues to drop and companies default to “check the box” DEI efforts, Wenzel predicts that innovative companies will lead the movement by considering the diversity of teams, including gig and contract workers. This shift represents a broader and more holistic approach to DEI, going beyond full-time equivalent (FTE) quotas.  

Her prediction aligns with the evolving nature of DEI efforts, emphasizing the importance of considering diversity in all aspects of the workforce, including contingent workers. It recognizes the importance of diversity in all its forms and acknowledges the valuable contributions that non-traditional workers bring to the table.  

By embracing a more inclusive definition of diversity and considering the unique perspectives of gig and contract workers, organizations can foster a culture of innovation and create a competitive edge in the tech industry.

Conclusion

Our 2024 predictions provide a glimpse into the future of the tech industry. From redefining work structures to the rise of African tech talent, the synergy of human-GenAI collaboration, and an expanded view of diversity and inclusion, these predictions underscore the dynamic nature of the tech landscape. As we embark on this journey into the future, one thing remains certain: change is not just inevitable; it is the driving force behind progress in the world of technology — and your team is at the center of it.  

Andela, as a leading global tech talent marketplace, is committed to empowering organizations to harness the full potential of technology. By connecting businesses to top AI experts and facilitating the acquisition of in-demand skills, Andela is shaping the future of technology and driving unprecedented growth. Embrace the possibilities of 2024 and embark on your digital transformation journey with Andela today.

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