There’s no real way to deny it at this point: technology is going to be the future of the world. For most of us, tech is woven into everything we do, and this will certainly continue to become more prominent in the future. As a city with plenty of space to grow, Cardiff has been investing heavily in tech development, and here are just a few great examples.
Software Development
Software development is an incredibly broad field, covering everything from finance to entertainment. This means there has been plenty of opportunity for Welsh companies to get involved over the years, resulting in several established companies like all-rounder developers Method4 and rapidly growing startups like TestLodge, both at home and abroad.
There are plenty of other areas of software that could be worth further investment, including the rapidly growing online casino market. The last decade of smartphone domination has seen progressively more people get into the various slot games and live games of online casino betting at Paddy Power and other huge British casino brands. Development in this industry ranges from games to websites to bespoke apps, and it’s a market Cardiff companies could easily move into.
VR Development
There is a little overlap with the software development side of things when it comes to VR, but it certainly also involves working with hardware. Virtual reality technology is still only at the very beginning of its relative lifespan, and that means there is a wealth of opportunity in the market – something that Cardiff has already started looking into.
The largest Cardiff company by far in the VR field is Virtus Tech, a startup founded by a Cardiff University alumni back in 2016. Virtus specialises in creating VR training software for a range of purposes, including employee training for many large companies in sectors ranging from insurance to healthcare. Alongside more specialist local companies like Rescape Innovation, the VR scene in Cardiff is going strong.
Blockchain
Blockchain is one of those cutting-edge tech terms that seems to be everywhere but somehow is still very unknown to the average person on the street. In the simplest possible terms, it’s a way of keeping digital records of transactions that are effectively impossible to tamper with or sabotage. Aside from the related cryptocurrency applications, the potential effects on logistics alone are incredible.
A local startup company called Stofl has already stepped into this particular market, working mainly on the consultation side for companies looking to start integrating blockchain tech. While only in the early days themselves, the founders are looking to work with organisations at all levels to help gradually build up a global network in the IoT space. They’re currently working with groups as far apart as South Africa and Denmark, and expect to grow quickly in scale.
Cardiff has a lot of potential for each of these industries and many more tech areas besides. With some healthy investment, the city could be well-positioned to play a major national and international role in the years to come!
