Over the last few decades, the technological evolution has accelerated us into a future that past generations never would have imagined possible. From Virtual Reality and “The Cloud” to smartphones and touch screen tablets, technology is elevating services and experiences to a new level. As a savvy business owner, you already know embracing new technology is important for keeping up with global movements. It’s a timeworn fact that companies who stay ahead are more likely to come out on top.
Let’s take a look at some emerging technologies, and discuss how you can use them as a tool to skyrocket your success.
“Siri, optimize my business”
If you own a smartphone, you’ve likely taken advantage of voice-activated features to perform search queries, set alarms, and open phone applications. Or maybe you just like hearing your phone Artificial Intelligence (AI) say words like “Diphenhydramine”. However you use it, voice activation is an effective tool for users and businesses alike. In 2016, voice searches made up 20 per cent of all online queries, and that number is only expected to grow in the future. Voice-optimizing your online assets—such as your website, social media pages and review pages—gives users a new, more convenient way to find you. Think SEO, but for voice commands instead of keyboard searches. Strong voice-optimization can increase your likelihood of showing up in search results and will ultimately benefit your business.
Augmented Reality (AR) and Virtual Reality (VR)
As technologies like AR and VR have demonstrated, the future involves transcending the boundaries of our own reality. Businesses are no longer restricted to the physical world to promote themselves. AR and VR are predicted to become integral parts of marketing and consumer experiences within the next few years. And the best part? Anyone with a smartphone or tablet can access them. Since that includes most of the world’s population, this is good news for business owners.
AR involves layering new information on top of our current reality. Snapchat filters, Pokémon Go and many other applications are excellent examples of this technology at work. VR is the creation of a new world viewed through a smartphone or VR device, and can be everything from a video game world to a real geographical location. AR and VR can be used to tell a story, set up a virtual tour of an office or retail space or add useful filters over top of reality. Businesses now have a different way to engage and communicate with their audience, and this creates an endless buffet of new experiences for consumers.
Intelligent Applications
As we mentioned, phone AIs have become a prominent part of how users engage with their devices. But this is just the tip of the iceberg. Intelligent applications are expected to grow and evolve in the future, to the point where every application will feature a degree of artificial intelligence. This means enhanced customization of the technology we use, which translates to applications becoming even better at learning our patterns and habits. This matters for business owners because it’s another way to become integrated with their customer base. If an application makes sense for your business, artificial intelligence can help customize your services for each person who accesses it.
The future starts today
Marketing and communications are no longer one-size-fits-all, set-it-and-forget-it industries. Innovations in technology are making consumer experiences more personalized and more detailed than ever. And these changes are coming up fast. Will you be ready when the future hits?
Get in touch with us today to learn about connecting with the right technologies for your business.
Sources: http://www.guarana-technologies.com/2017/06/13/technology-trends-startup/
https://martechtoday.com/emerging-technologies-will-affect-business-2018-206042