The 2022 Gartner Hype Cycle for Natural Language Technologies, “will assist IT leaders in assessing how and where these new opportunities and methods can best be applied.” We’re thrilled to announce that Unbabel is identified as one of the three Sample Vendors listed in the LangOps category.
We believe that this recognition of Unbabel reinforces our innovation, credibility, and leadership position in the market. Gartner has given LangOps a “high” benefit rating, which we believe signals that the technology can make significant contributions to organizations and society as a whole. Here’s what you need to know about LangOps and how it’s only in the early days of mainstream adoption.
LangOps Explained
According to Gartner, “Enterprise natural language operations (LangOps) are practices that support management of the full life cycle of the language models and solutions implemented within enterprise architectures.” One of the key features of LangOps solutions is that “the need to provide better user experiences with less friction, by including information in the applications where it is needed — bringing orientation, decision and action into one place or tool.”
Another important element of LangOps is flexibility or customization, as “enterprises increasingly want to customize and adopt capabilities based on business requirements.” Gartner suggests, “LangOps may initially be limited in scope to a single natural language technology area, such as text analytics, conversational platforms or translation. But over time, synergies across multiple NLT areas will drive language centers of excellence and development of broader cross-functional enterprise LangOps stream.”
Gartner further states, “Cross functional uses for language technology include translation model customization, which might be used across multiple areas, including marketing, customer service, and websites. Text analytics models and approaches are another use case. These can be used for speech analytics of customer satisfaction, evaluation of social media, or analysis of financial reporting material.”
Where Is LangOps in this Gartner Hype Cycle report?
When it comes to mainstream adoption, Gartner writes that LangOps has less than 1% target market penetration and a maturity listed as “embryonic.”
Mainstream adoption is expected to occur between five and 10 years. Challenges along the way will include immature practices and methods, language applications that span different natural language technology (NLT) platforms, and organizational issues.
The success of LangOps at an enterprise will require collaboration between people with different skills and reporting responsibilities. Gartner recommends that users of LangOps solutions “define a strategic enterprise NLT roadmap. This will start by viewing language initiatives as part of a broader portfolio, not as discrete projects. Enlist the support of CxO level sponsors as part of the planning. Diverse business areas will eventually be involved, so this allows different groups to better work together and to reduce “turf” conflicts. Focus initially on language areas already in use where added technical support will improve operations.”
Although enterprises are just beginning to understand the value LangOps brings to their business, this decade should see the technology lift off and achieve mass adoption. Unbabel has already positioned itself as a force to be reckoned within the space. We’re excited that we’ve been identified as a Sample Vendor in this report as we continue in our mission to help brands deliver exceptional customer experiences through frictionless communication.
Fast track your company’s digital transformation by watching sessions from last year’s virtual summit LangOps Universe 2021.
Gartner, “Hype Cycle for Natural Language Technologies, 2022”, Bern Elliot, Adrian Lee, 11 juillet 2022. GARTNER and HYPE CYCLE are a registered trademark and service mark of Gartner, Inc. and/or its affiliates in the U.S. and internationally and are used herein with permission. Gartner does not endorse any vendor, product or service depicted in its research publications, and does not advise technology users to select only those vendors with the highest ratings or other designation. Gartner research publications consist of the opinions of Gartner’s research organization and should not be construed as statements of fact. Gartner disclaims all warranties, expressed or implied, with respect to this research, including any warranties of merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose.
