Without a doubt, new trends are emerging that redefine the “new normal” for small business. They influence what your small business will need to do to remain relevant. Status quo is no longer a viable option for small business owners.
Consumer Customization
Wasn’t it Burger King who adopted the “have it your way” commercial in 1976? That was some smart, futuristic marketing! Who knew that a 1976 slogan would so aptly describe today’s consumers.One size no longer fits anyone. Consumers are looking for products or services that adapt to their unique needs. To meet your clients’ call for customization, rethink your product/service offerings and make them more flexible. Think Gumby!
Sales Transformation
The traditional sales model has been evolving for some time now. Consumers still want to buy; they don’t want to be sold. Advancements in technology, including robust websites, social media, and an inbound marketing approach, make it easier for consumers to make informed purchases.Instead of relying on the “sales professional” to teach them the features and benefits of a product/service, today’s consumer are conducting extensive online research and making their buying choices. They self-sell.
As you transform your sales approach, think “pull” rather than “push” technology.
Continual Change
Heraclitus, the Greek philosopher, was the one who said, “The only thing that is constant is change.” Although he penned this phrase around 400 B.C., many small business owners adopted a “set it and forget it” philosophy of business growth and development.The rapid innovations in technology has certainly leveled the playing field for small businesses...but don’t get too comfortable or attached. Staying stationary is not a viable business option.
“Nimble and quick” -- a term previously reserved for St. Nick -- is the hallmark as small business learns to embrace a culture of adaptability.
Smarter Marketing
Over the past few years, it has become more challenging for small business owners to gain traction -- especially if functioning as a generalist. Although you want to hedge your bet and “be everything to everyone”, the small business marketing message is getting lost in the ocean of marketing messages.Marketing personas and niche marketing help small business owners pop up in the crowd with targeted messaging that is music to the ears of your target audience.
In addition to targeted messaging, don’t forget responsive websites! Meet the client where they are -- whether its in their office on their desktop or on the go with their smart phone. (P.S. 94% of smartphone owners are looking for local information on mobile devices.)
Data Decision-Making
Thank goodness! This is my personal favorite. Thanks to advancing technology (again), small business owners don’t have to rely solely on their “gut intuition” when it comes to decision making.The widespread, and increasingly affordable, access to analytics allows small business to make smarter decisions with an eye toward a better return on their precious investments.
Whew! My head is spinning. How about yours? And, this is just the tip of the iceberg. With lots more changes in the wind, small businesses with adaptability, flexibility, and agility will lead the way. There’s a “new norm” in town! There’s no going back.
In a recent study,
technology research firm Gartner identified a number of top technology
trends emerging in 2014, with the potential to have a significant impact
on enterprises over the next three years.
David Clearly, a vice president at the firm, said there is a “Nexus of Forces” made up of social, mobile, cloud and information technologies, which are converging and creating demand for “advanced programmable infrastructure that can execute at Web-scale.”
Here are 5 of the top trends Gartner identified:
Mobile Device Diversity and Management
The Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) phenomenon is a new reality in the workplace.
According to Gartner, one result of BYOD is “a doubling or even tripling of the size of the mobile workforce.”
Provisioning for all of these devices is a major undertaking, with the need to secure network access for employees, guests, and partners, even when they are using personal devices at work.
Mobile Apps and Applications
Gartner predicts improvements in JavaScript performance will push HTML5 and browser-based enterprise application development environments into the mainstream.
The firm recommends the development of richer voice and video as a key focus for developers, which can already be seen as WebRTC grows in prominence.
Gartner believes the number of mobile apps will grow—while the number of larger applications shrink–with apps becoming smaller and more targeted than more comprehensive applications.
The Internet of Everything
Along with smart TVs and field equipment, the “Internet of Things” is beginning to take off, with a staggering array of devices, appliances and vehicles just waiting to have their own IP addresses.
Garter lists four basic usage models created by the combination of data streams and services digitizing everything: “Manage, Monetize, Operate and Extend,” which are applicable to any of the four fields of the Internet: people, things, information and places.
The reports cautions that “most enterprises and technology vendors have yet to explore the possibilities of an expanded Internet and are not operationally or organizationally ready.”
Software-Defined Anything
This is another area that’s been very buzzy lately, usually focused on Software-Defined Networking, or SDN.
Gartner predicts Software-Defined Anything (SDx) will result in emerging standards bridging capabilities to benefit portfolios, while challenging individual technology suppliers to achieve true interoperability standards, as opposed to seeing increased siloing.
“Vendors who dominate a sector of the infrastructure may only reluctantly want to abide by standards that have the potential to lower margins and open broader competitive opportunities,” Gartner says, “even when the consumer will benefit by simplicity, cost reduction and consolidation efficiency.”
Smart Machines
You may want to call this “The Rise of the (Smart) Machines.”
Gartner forecasts that over the next two decades, there will be a “proliferation of contextually-aware, intelligent personal assistants, smart advisers (such as IBM Watson), advanced global industrial systems and public availability of early examples of autonomous vehicles.”
According to the firm, this will be the most disruptive in the history of IT.
Whatever the consequences of these titanic shifts in technology and how it’s used, you have to admit: These are interesting times.
Read more at http://www.business2community.com/tech-gadgets/top-5-emerging-technology-trends-2014-0856397#YlYGEHbIsxvMuup9.99
David Clearly, a vice president at the firm, said there is a “Nexus of Forces” made up of social, mobile, cloud and information technologies, which are converging and creating demand for “advanced programmable infrastructure that can execute at Web-scale.”
Here are 5 of the top trends Gartner identified:
Mobile Device Diversity and Management
The Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) phenomenon is a new reality in the workplace.
Related Resources from B2C
» Free Webcast: The Future of Marketing: Social Listening + Action
Business
are in the middle of deciding how they want to address the expectations
of their employees, and some business are pushing BYOD themselves, in a
bid to save costs on hardware and software.» Free Webcast: The Future of Marketing: Social Listening + Action
According to Gartner, one result of BYOD is “a doubling or even tripling of the size of the mobile workforce.”
Provisioning for all of these devices is a major undertaking, with the need to secure network access for employees, guests, and partners, even when they are using personal devices at work.
Mobile Apps and Applications
Gartner predicts improvements in JavaScript performance will push HTML5 and browser-based enterprise application development environments into the mainstream.
The firm recommends the development of richer voice and video as a key focus for developers, which can already be seen as WebRTC grows in prominence.
Gartner believes the number of mobile apps will grow—while the number of larger applications shrink–with apps becoming smaller and more targeted than more comprehensive applications.
The Internet of Everything
Along with smart TVs and field equipment, the “Internet of Things” is beginning to take off, with a staggering array of devices, appliances and vehicles just waiting to have their own IP addresses.
Garter lists four basic usage models created by the combination of data streams and services digitizing everything: “Manage, Monetize, Operate and Extend,” which are applicable to any of the four fields of the Internet: people, things, information and places.
The reports cautions that “most enterprises and technology vendors have yet to explore the possibilities of an expanded Internet and are not operationally or organizationally ready.”
Software-Defined Anything
This is another area that’s been very buzzy lately, usually focused on Software-Defined Networking, or SDN.
Gartner predicts Software-Defined Anything (SDx) will result in emerging standards bridging capabilities to benefit portfolios, while challenging individual technology suppliers to achieve true interoperability standards, as opposed to seeing increased siloing.
“Vendors who dominate a sector of the infrastructure may only reluctantly want to abide by standards that have the potential to lower margins and open broader competitive opportunities,” Gartner says, “even when the consumer will benefit by simplicity, cost reduction and consolidation efficiency.”
Smart Machines
You may want to call this “The Rise of the (Smart) Machines.”
Gartner forecasts that over the next two decades, there will be a “proliferation of contextually-aware, intelligent personal assistants, smart advisers (such as IBM Watson), advanced global industrial systems and public availability of early examples of autonomous vehicles.”
According to the firm, this will be the most disruptive in the history of IT.
Whatever the consequences of these titanic shifts in technology and how it’s used, you have to admit: These are interesting times.
Read more at http://www.business2community.com/tech-gadgets/top-5-emerging-technology-trends-2014-0856397#YlYGEHbIsxvMuup9.99
In a recent study,
technology research firm Gartner identified a number of top technology
trends emerging in 2014, with the potential to have a significant impact
on enterprises over the next three years.
David Clearly, a vice president at the firm, said there is a “Nexus of Forces” made up of social, mobile, cloud and information technologies, which are converging and creating demand for “advanced programmable infrastructure that can execute at Web-scale.”
Here are 5 of the top trends Gartner identified:
Mobile Device Diversity and Management
The Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) phenomenon is a new reality in the workplace.
According to Gartner, one result of BYOD is “a doubling or even tripling of the size of the mobile workforce.”
Provisioning for all of these devices is a major undertaking, with the need to secure network access for employees, guests, and partners, even when they are using personal devices at work.
Mobile Apps and Applications
Gartner predicts improvements in JavaScript performance will push HTML5 and browser-based enterprise application development environments into the mainstream.
The firm recommends the development of richer voice and video as a key focus for developers, which can already be seen as WebRTC grows in prominence.
Gartner believes the number of mobile apps will grow—while the number of larger applications shrink–with apps becoming smaller and more targeted than more comprehensive applications.
The Internet of Everything
Along with smart TVs and field equipment, the “Internet of Things” is beginning to take off, with a staggering array of devices, appliances and vehicles just waiting to have their own IP addresses.
Garter lists four basic usage models created by the combination of data streams and services digitizing everything: “Manage, Monetize, Operate and Extend,” which are applicable to any of the four fields of the Internet: people, things, information and places.
The reports cautions that “most enterprises and technology vendors have yet to explore the possibilities of an expanded Internet and are not operationally or organizationally ready.”
Software-Defined Anything
This is another area that’s been very buzzy lately, usually focused on Software-Defined Networking, or SDN.
Gartner predicts Software-Defined Anything (SDx) will result in emerging standards bridging capabilities to benefit portfolios, while challenging individual technology suppliers to achieve true interoperability standards, as opposed to seeing increased siloing.
“Vendors who dominate a sector of the infrastructure may only reluctantly want to abide by standards that have the potential to lower margins and open broader competitive opportunities,” Gartner says, “even when the consumer will benefit by simplicity, cost reduction and consolidation efficiency.”
Smart Machines
You may want to call this “The Rise of the (Smart) Machines.”
Gartner forecasts that over the next two decades, there will be a “proliferation of contextually-aware, intelligent personal assistants, smart advisers (such as IBM Watson), advanced global industrial systems and public availability of early examples of autonomous vehicles.”
According to the firm, this will be the most disruptive in the history of IT.
Whatever the consequences of these titanic shifts in technology and how it’s used, you have to admit: These are interesting times.
Read more at http://www.business2community.com/tech-gadgets/top-5-emerging-technology-trends-2014-0856397#YlYGEHbIsxvMuup9.99
David Clearly, a vice president at the firm, said there is a “Nexus of Forces” made up of social, mobile, cloud and information technologies, which are converging and creating demand for “advanced programmable infrastructure that can execute at Web-scale.”
Here are 5 of the top trends Gartner identified:
Mobile Device Diversity and Management
The Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) phenomenon is a new reality in the workplace.
Related Resources from B2C
» Free Webcast: The Future of Marketing: Social Listening + Action
Business
are in the middle of deciding how they want to address the expectations
of their employees, and some business are pushing BYOD themselves, in a
bid to save costs on hardware and software.» Free Webcast: The Future of Marketing: Social Listening + Action
According to Gartner, one result of BYOD is “a doubling or even tripling of the size of the mobile workforce.”
Provisioning for all of these devices is a major undertaking, with the need to secure network access for employees, guests, and partners, even when they are using personal devices at work.
Mobile Apps and Applications
Gartner predicts improvements in JavaScript performance will push HTML5 and browser-based enterprise application development environments into the mainstream.
The firm recommends the development of richer voice and video as a key focus for developers, which can already be seen as WebRTC grows in prominence.
Gartner believes the number of mobile apps will grow—while the number of larger applications shrink–with apps becoming smaller and more targeted than more comprehensive applications.
The Internet of Everything
Along with smart TVs and field equipment, the “Internet of Things” is beginning to take off, with a staggering array of devices, appliances and vehicles just waiting to have their own IP addresses.
Garter lists four basic usage models created by the combination of data streams and services digitizing everything: “Manage, Monetize, Operate and Extend,” which are applicable to any of the four fields of the Internet: people, things, information and places.
The reports cautions that “most enterprises and technology vendors have yet to explore the possibilities of an expanded Internet and are not operationally or organizationally ready.”
Software-Defined Anything
This is another area that’s been very buzzy lately, usually focused on Software-Defined Networking, or SDN.
Gartner predicts Software-Defined Anything (SDx) will result in emerging standards bridging capabilities to benefit portfolios, while challenging individual technology suppliers to achieve true interoperability standards, as opposed to seeing increased siloing.
“Vendors who dominate a sector of the infrastructure may only reluctantly want to abide by standards that have the potential to lower margins and open broader competitive opportunities,” Gartner says, “even when the consumer will benefit by simplicity, cost reduction and consolidation efficiency.”
Smart Machines
You may want to call this “The Rise of the (Smart) Machines.”
Gartner forecasts that over the next two decades, there will be a “proliferation of contextually-aware, intelligent personal assistants, smart advisers (such as IBM Watson), advanced global industrial systems and public availability of early examples of autonomous vehicles.”
According to the firm, this will be the most disruptive in the history of IT.
Whatever the consequences of these titanic shifts in technology and how it’s used, you have to admit: These are interesting times.
Read more at http://www.business2community.com/tech-gadgets/top-5-emerging-technology-trends-2014-0856397#YlYGEHbIsxvMuup9.99
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