2018 is still a couple of weeks away, but we’re already seeing the market preparing for another great year ahead. Businesses are gearing up for a faster market growth and a more stable economy. New companies are entering the market and fighting for the same target customers. Things are about to get more exciting
There will be a lot of big changes happening in 2018 and we can start seeing some of the trends shaping up today. To help you adapt to the challenges of 2018, here are the four big changes that will affect your business in a substantial way.
AI to the Rescue
Artificial Intelligence or AI has been creating headlines since the beginning of 2017. Better implementations of AI and accessible products such as IBM Watson made AI a very handy tool for businesses. In data analysis, for instance, AI practically eliminates the major barriers to doing big data analysis.
AI will certainly be even bigger in 2018. It is being implemented in various parts of business operations, adding functions such as automatic marketing forecast generation and AI-based HR management to the mix.
Engineers as Leaders
Yes, engineers are now filling some of the most important positions on the market. I find this particular trend the most exciting of them all for one particular reason: engineers are good at finding solutions to the problems they face. Problem-solving is a valuable quality in today’s market, particularly since you will be facing a lot of competition.
As your business run into issues in production or distribution, leaders with an online master of engineering degree have what it takes to solve those issues in a logical, efficient way. Even top universities such as the University of California Riverside are adjusting their engineering online programs to meet this growing demand for leaders.
More Towards Automation
The accessibility of artificial intelligence also brings another interesting trend to the business landscape: automation. Automation allows businesses to ramp up their efficiency level to an incredible height. Instead of having 10 employees working on routine, day-to-day tasks, businesses can simply automate those tasks and allocate employees for more productive and valuable tasks.
In sales, for example, everything from generating quotations to analyzing customer needs or preferences can be fully automated. Instead of handling these tasks, sales officers can do more sales visits and be in the field most of the time.
Experience-Driven Marketing
Last but certainly not least, there is the fact that customers – the audience in general – are more attracted by experience than quality. Businesses that can deliver the best customer experience from start to finish will be the most successful in 2018.
Customer experience affects every part of the business too. The way you market your products, the packaging,and form of the products themselves, and the aftersales services you offer customers must all be geared towards delivering smooth and positive customer experience from the beginning.
Are you ready to embrace these changes and improve your business? 2018 will be an exciting year for sure, and adapting to these changes will help your business stay ahead at all times.