What is foundational technology?
Foundational technology is the base layer of tools, systems, and infrastructure that powers nearly everything we do. We’re not talking about the latest app or trendy gadget. Foundational technology is the core tech that makes those innovations possible in the first place.
Understanding what foundational technology is and how it affects our everyday lives matters more than ever. These systems help power everything from mobile banking to virtual classrooms. They’re what fuel the tools of today and the ideas of tomorrow.
In this guide, we’ll explain foundational technology, examine real-world examples, and explore how it shapes innovation, inclusion, and our digital future.
Understanding the foundation of technology
What, exactly, makes a technology foundational? These are the systems that support and accelerate other innovations. It’s the tech that enables other technologies to exist and evolve.
Foundational technology is a core part of people’s lives because it simplifies life. The internet, 5G, artificial intelligence, metaverse, and Web3 are all examples. These technologies are incredibly interconnected—they’re built on and feed into one another.
The reason for their interconnectedness is twofold:
- One is that they evolve from one another. For example, the internet opened the door to global connectivity, paving the way for transformative technologies like Web3 and created the need for critical innovations like cybersecurity.
- The second reason is that people rely on each of these technologies for end-to-end business outcomes. Think of it this way: Without the internet, you don’t have e-commerce. Without cloud computing, you can’t scale your app to millions of people.
These technologies make everything else possible. They’re called foundational technologies because so much depends on them—not just to function, but to grow, scale, and iterate.
How foundational technology powers digital transformation
Every era brings its own wave of new technology. Today, even small businesses and local vendors use tools like QR codes to accept payments or share menus. They may not know the mechanics behind the tech, but they know it works—and that it matters to their customers.
That’s the power of foundational technology: It reshapes how people live, work, and do business. We’ve gone from standing in line at the bank to sending money instantly with the tap of a screen. From visiting physical stores to ordering groceries straight from our phones. These shifts aren’t possible without core tech like cloud computing, mobile networks, and AI working in the background.
This kind of digital transformation isn’t just about convenience. It’s about scalability, efficiency, and access. Businesses of all sizes can now automate tasks, analyze data in real time, and reach customers all over the world. All because foundational technologies help make it happen.
And it doesn’t stop at business. Foundational technology is reshaping health care, education, government services, and how people connect with one another.
Once these systems are in place, they become the springboard for every innovation that follows.
Examples of foundational technologies
Examples help get to the core of what foundational technology is. Here’s how it’s shaping the world right now (and opening the door to what’s next):
| Foundational technology | What it enables |
| Internet | E-commerce, social media, global communication |
| Cloud computing | Remote work, data storage, software-as-a-Service (SaaS) apps |
| Artificial intelligence | Predictive analytics, chatbots, automation |
| 5G | Faster mobile access, Internet of Things (IoT) devices |
| Blockchain | Secure transactions, digital currency, land records |
Each of these technologies is foundational because it provides the backbone for many other digital systems.
Think of the internet as a digital highway, cloud as the warehouse, AI as the brains, 5G as the lightning-fast courier, and blockchain as the vault. Each has its part to play in making online communities work.
And what makes them foundational is how they work together. AI gets smarter with data from the cloud. 5G makes internet-powered services more seamless. And blockchain links up with other systems to enable secure, verifiable exchanges—whether that’s data, assets, or identity.
These technologies work in concert to create entirely new possibilities—be it personalized health care, global financial access, or intelligent automation.
That’s what makes them foundational. They’re the starting point for what’s next.
The role of foundational technology in inclusion and connectivity
Mobile technology has transformed access in places like India, where large populations have leapfrogged traditional infrastructure and gone straight to mobile.
Mobile connects people with knowledge, markets, services, and community—all driving inclusion. It’s enabled greater access to:
- Jobs
- E-commerce businesses
- Insights into consumer behavior
- Digital payments
- Last-mile delivery (a logistics term referring to the final leg of a product’s journey to a customer)
- More essential features of modern living
The impact of foundational technology extends beyond individuals. Schools, healthcare providers, nonprofits, and small businesses all benefit from these technologies. Teachers in remote areas can use video platforms to deliver lessons. Doctors can review medical records through cloud systems. Entrepreneurs can run full e-commerce stores from their phones.
When technology meets people where they are, the possibilities are endless.
Foundational technology and the future of innovation
If there’s one constant in tech, it’s that progress builds on what came before. That’s the magic of foundational technology—it sets the stage for every breakthrough that follows.
Take AI, for example. It didn’t emerge in a vacuum. It needed the internet to share data, cloud computing platforms to store and process it, and modern processors to crunch the numbers. Now, tools like generative AI are changing how we work, create, and make decisions—all because of the systems that came before it.
The same goes for virtual reality, quantum computing, and whatever comes next. These cutting-edge technologies are layered on top of decades of digital infrastructure.
At Intuit, we believe creating a culture of innovation is about building smart and dreaming big. That means understanding the core systems powering what’s possible. It means investing in tools that scale, connect, and simplify. It means staying grounded in the technologies that create real, lasting change.
Want to explore what’s next? Check out our online resources to learn more about AI skills and other emerging technologies. Or explore careers at Intuit to start on a path that combines today’s technology with doing the best work of your life.