There’s no denying the growing reliance on digital technology in the business world. The more you use these vital tools, the more you realize how valuable they truly can be. The realm of future technologies, or technology not widely used yet, is one area that you can watch to get ahead of the competition.
A lot of these technological resources are going to be commonplace in a few years. If you start now by partnering with tech professionals in your given vertical – like retail app developers – you could be an early adopter and be ahead of the game. For those who work in business, watch these tech trends bloom and boom in the coming years. By getting started now, you can reap their rewards right away instead of after everyone else catches on.
Why is Future Tech Important for Business?
The key to future tech is that it might not seem like it’s a huge trend yet, but it’s expected to play a vital role in business down the road. Something like mobile apps for business seemed a bit odd a few years back, but now most major companies have applications or some mobile interface. Here are a few of the things to watch for in 2020 and beyond.
Artificial Intelligence Plays a Role in Every Industry
Something we used to read about in science fiction novels was artificial intelligence. This technology served as a computer to assist in everything from operations to decision making and executing actions. The best part of AI is that now we see it in some pretty surprising places. For one, Honda started using AI as early as 2013 in their vehicles. Now, things like voice-activated assistants in cars are seen as common. We also find AI in manufacturing, helping to identify issues in machinery. Even someone who works in marketing can explore AI to assist as a chatbot or other customer service-related features. It’s not outlandish to say that looking into AI now could make you seem like a visionary in just 6-12 months.
Augmented Reality
Much like AI, augmented reality uses technology to transform the user experience. Instead of asking computer questions or finding out information, AR helps to turn something like a shopping trip into an online and in-person hybrid expertise. Pinterest nailed the AR game early on with its ability to allow users to take a picture and find products instantly. We see more retailers using the service as well, even outside of apparel and home fashions. The best part of AR is that it does not usually require additional hardware for the consumer. Having a smartphone, which many people nowadays do, is the only prerequisite for using this technology. As a business, offering these options can help increase your organic growth and make more sales.
Personal Profiling
The idea of market research only exposes you to those who agreed to participate in a formal process. Now, implementing profiling systems into your business can help track what customers want to buy, what they don’t want to buy, and everything in between. A key element to personal profiling is managing how you learn about your customers. Seeing what purchases lead to other inquiries on your site can help you connect dots you didn’t even know existed. Better yet, customers are organically doing these things in their shopping habits. Don’t worry about asking them to change their practices; implement a profile system that offers the consumer organized information about their purchases. You can manage the rest in terms of data for business decisions.
Why Future Technology Matters in 2020
With more people working with digital tools and remote locations than ever before, technology shows its full influence right before our eyes. Get ahead of the curve and make the most of these resources before finding yourself playing catch up.
