10 Upcoming Business Trends That Drive Success

Business is moving at the speed of light – and at the speed of digital technology. We’re halfway through 2018 already. Has your business met its 2018 goals yet? Are you on track to meet those goals before 2019 rolls in? Part of meeting existing business goals and projecting future goals is understanding upcoming business trends and deciding now how they will affect your business. Let’s examine some projected business trends and a few ways your company can use them to your advantage.

1. Chatbots
   Chatbots –  computer programs that simulate conversations with humans – are becoming increasingly more prevalent. With consumers becoming more and more used to 24-hour-a-day customer service, chatbots have become a marketplace necessity.
2. Go Cashless
   Cashless payment methods are expected to grow by as much as 80 percent by the year 2020. That means apps like Samsung Pay, Google Pay, Apple Pay, and other mobile wallets are gaining serious traction and disrupting cash use even further than credit cards alone.
3. Mobile technology
   The majority (51%) of web traffic now comes from smartphones and tablets. In fact, it’s not an upcoming business trend, it’s a growing one. Optimize user experience on mobile devices by creating simplified websites and easy-to-navigate apps.
4. Voice Based Search
   Siri and Cortana have lead the way for voice-activated search functionality. Voice search creates new opportunities for mobile device and stationary computer users to quickly and easily find what they’re looking for online and handsfree.
5. Workplace Wellness
   Wellness programs have become a popular method of making the mental and physical health of employees a priority. Helping team members create work-life balance and offering attractive benefits packages increases employee morale and productivity.
6. Freelance Workforce
   A growing freelance workforce offers many advantages for your business. It’s an opportunity to outsource tasks that are outside your scope of expertise and a chance to help aspiring business owners grow and develop their businesses without competing with yours.
7. Live Video Marketing
   With the introduction of Periscope, social media stood up and paid attention. Facebook and Instagram live were born and live video has never been the same. People love the instant gratification, and the peek behind the scenes they get from live video streaming.
8. Automatic Automation
   As e-commerce continues to break ground, automation marketing will continue to make strides. That includes e-mail marketing, sales platforms, product management, and customer relationship management. It’s the most strategic way to capture leads and manage customer engagement.
9. Environmental Sustainability
   Corporate waste, polluted oceans, and sustainable sourcing are huge issues – and they always will be. More and more B2B and B2C consumers are choosing to work with companies who champion environmental concerns. Protecting the earth’s natural resources will become an increasingly important business platform.
10. Graphic Design
    Business will never be without graphic design. From web development to product tags to interior and exterior signage, graphic design is trending toward bold typography, hand-drawn graphics and icons, and vibrant duotones.

Is your business on pace with these trends? Staying relevant and top-of-mind with your target audience makes understanding upcoming business trends critical. At DPRINT, we have the graphic design know-how and future-casting your business needs to grow, develop, and thrive.