So as we say goodbye to yet another year of business and reflect on the changes that have taken place, it’s important to look to the future and see if we can predict what the next business trends will be. These could take the shape of technology, finance, marketing or even public policy. Whatever the changes, it’s good for entrepreneurs to be aware so they can prepare for them if and when they do occur.
Let’s take a look at some of the business trends of 2019 that all small businesses should be aware of.
Customer service
AI won’t take over. Despite what you may have heard, robots won’t replace humans when it comes to providing the service that customers want. There will be plenty of opportunities for AI in the future, but as of next year, it’s safe to say that humans will still be there to provide the bulk of the service.
Businesses need to understand the 21st Century customer with customers looking more and more towards a service that is not only fast and faultless, but one that also has the personalised touch. This applies no matter what the industry or service being provided. Many larger firms are seeing their business taken away from them by small startups who are providing customers with advanced user experiences.
The workplace
Employee happiness is prioritised and with unemployment currently at lows not seen for some time, https://www.ons.gov.uk/employmentandlabourmarket/peoplenotinwork/unemployment, it’s important to keep employees happy if you’re looking to retain them. This means ensuring your offices are up to standard like those at matrix-house.co.uk which provides offices to let Basingstoke and surrounds to meet your needs.
With increased use of technology such as video chat, there is less and less need for employees to come into work on a daily basis. This means that business leaders need to have a rethink when it comes to communication strategies within their businesses. Workplace collaboration will have to be encouraged and altered if many employees are working from different places.
Advertising and marketing
Marketing will continue to become more personalised and firms will be expected to keep up. Generic campaigns and impersonal emails just won’t cut it anymore. Firms will need to know more about their customers in order to send personalised content that will convince them to part with their hard-earned cash.