The Future of Digital Shifts

Will the tectonic shift in our digital future make or break brands? Every year a brand survives in today’s competitive landscape, becomes a race to understand the new “it” trend and how to integrate it into their marketing strategies. After this year’s CES we saw how businesses have gotten creative with AI, VR, and robotics. Brands turned mundane tasks into extraordinary digital experiences, that not only wow’d but left many of us feeling like we’re already behind the times.

So what exactly does this shift look like and what will it mean for your brand? We already know that VR and AI are here to stay. Here’s what else your organization should pay attention to:

Vocal Browsing Becomes King

It wasn’t long ago that we were all clicking on a keyboard to do a Google search. Now with Apple’s AirPods, Google Home and Amazon’s Echo, these brands have changed the game. They are creating an experience by totally eliminating the use of our eyes and hands. Vocal browsing extends to various parts of our lives such as socializing, driving, cooking waking, exercising, and even machine operation.

Mobile Apps Gone

Brands have already started to see a decline in mobile apps downloads and a steep drop in ROI’s from apps. The app store is extremely crowded and we will continue to see companies simply allowing their apps to expire and disappear from the store.

Wearable Cut Down Cost of Healthcare

Companies will aim towards creating a healthy lifestyle culture inspired by gamification and fitness trackers. The anonymized data collected will allow organizations to make better choices for health insurance packages and coverage. Companies will start to sponsor wearable fitness trackers as part of an added bonus.  

Immersive Shopping

As we start 2018 we’ve already seen a lot of brands from fashion to cars that have added in an immersive shopping component. This phenomenon is not just stateside but it’s become a global trend as China’s mega-giant, Alibaba had announced the use of VR way back in 2016.

Digital Giants Part of Our Lives

According to Gartner, “By 2021, 20% of all activities an individual engages in will involve at least one of the top-seven digital giants.” So what does that mean for you? Google, Apple, Facebook, Amazon, Baidu, Alibaba, and Tencent are already in our lives. As our physical life, finances, and healthcare become digitized, it will for sure be connected to one or many of these digital giants.