The world of digital marketing has been continuously expanding, and there is no doubt that as society progresses so do the means of getting our messages out there.
With the number of tools available to help us grow our consumer base and drive CRM to new heights, it can get daunting pretty quickly. However, knowing the latest trend can help you pick out your next investment or prepare your business for the next pivot.
In this article, we’ll round up the latest marketing technologies that we should keep our eyes on – and try to get ahold of if we can – this 2018. From AI to chatbots, it keeps on getting better!
#1 Chatbots
We get it, providing customer service is hard, but did you know that some power users have now been able to create their chatbots from scratch?
It might sound like something only a guru could pull off, but the availability of chatbots have made it easier for people to be able to create a customer service desk that does not have to be staffed at all.
Here’s the good news. In the past decade, it’s been noted that people have been more open to the idea of speaking with a bot, especially one that has been programmed. Yes, the initial setup can be tricky but imagine the cost-savings of not having to hire people to answer basic questions about your business.
Think about FAQs being accurately answered by a bot immediately. That does wonders for your customer service goals and helps promote you as a brand cares!
Related: B2B Chatbots and How This Tech Can Improve Your Conversions
#2 Voice-based technology
A lot of digital marketers and search engine operators have said this time and time again. We are moving to a voice-dominated digital world. We can’t say it started with Siri, but you’ve got to admit that Apple made it popular with their assistant; Alexa made commerce available in your homes; and of course, who can forget to say, “Hey, Google!”
We are moving towards a world where we would rather speak to our gadgets than type on them, and it has been boosting commerce. Did you know that thanks to smart speakers, like the Echo and Google Home, it has been recorded that 57 percent of U.S. households that own these devices have made purchases using the power of their voice?
And, that’s not all; there have been calls to start making commerce more voice compliant with search.
Related: Ways Marketers Can Harness the Potential of Voice Recognition Technology
#3 Augmented, virtual, and mixed realities
There have been strides in providing an immersive experience for people who demand more. This also means there have been significant strides by marketers who are trying to figure out how they can use these different “realities.”
It’s no doubt that retail will be the most affected by these changes, but it does not mean it ends there. As the technology behind mixed realities becomes readily available to everyone, the playing fields will also start to change.
This means new opportunities for media, marketing, and most importantly, experiences. It’s experience that drives a lot of demand, and once people are hungry for more, it’s when marketers like us can step in. AR, VR, and MR are worth your time.
#4 Big data gets bigger
What do you do with all that consumer data? You use it to better understand your market. We have barely even seen the potential of big data to make a difference in the marketplace.
One of the first rules of production is building for the intended user; we’ve seen it in search engines and the rise of bespoke services. If we were able to properly harness the power of big data, then we’ll be able to create products that people need.
If we play our cards right, we’ll end up with products that can make a difference in the world that we live. And, that is the ideal marketplace.
Related: Approaching Psychographic Segmentation In B2B Marketing
#5 Artificial intelligence
That Go tournament really got people going about how AlphaGo was able to beat its human rival, but before we think Sarah Connor and Terminators, let’s think about the potential ramifications of AI.
Artificial intelligence can become the ultimate aid to processing vast amounts of information logically and quickly. Think about machine learning and predictive analytics, and how it can help solve not only your customer experience and interaction dilemmas, but also real problems.
Imagine combining big data and artificial intelligence, the ability to analyze and form rational conclusions out of patterns, and building seemingly perfect products. Or, even the combination of AI and an assistant like Alexa or Google, this might be the fuel that we are looking for to drive commerce to new heights.
Technology is changing, and people can hardly keep up. Marketers get ready. The future is coming, and it is coming in really fast.
