It’s safe to say that the world has changed over the past year. In fact, that’s a bit of an understatement. Our way of life has been irrevocably altered by the impact of COVID-19 and lockdown. Whilst we all adjusted to working from home, wearing our masks and constantly sanitising our hands, the B2B technology industry has been at work behind the scenes.
Businesses of all sizes have suffered over the past year, no matter their industry or specialisation. An alarming 42% of businesses said they had less than six months’ cash reserves. It’s been a long and difficult year for all. You’ve already heard time and time again the importance of marketing and communication during the pandemic. Even now, in the midst of everything, we’re beginning to see brands that have prioritised their marketing do better than the rest. That’s why it’s crucially important to utilise any and all guidance out there to navigate such an unprecedented time.
To help you do just that, we’ve put together the 6 most impactful B2B technology trends to help guide you through a post-COVID landscape.
Fast & adaptive data
One thing that you can always rely on when things are uncertain: data is always becoming faster and more intelligent. The businesses that are utilising the latest and most advanced data are able to report more efficiently and accurately. They’re then able to forecast with ease and are far more likely to succeed than any competitors with lacking data. Digital transformation is always changing at a break-neck pace.
But what good is data if it’s not adaptive? Human beings just aren’t as good at making decisions as machines are – daunting, but true! Older, outdated tech models designed around human learning won’t be able to keep up. The best organisations will be the ones that get ahead by taking bold steps to integrate the latest data models. It’s always a scary prospect to upend your system and replace it with something entirely new, but real results are driven by real change! Your data needs to be adaptive to ensure you’re always handling data that is reliable, scalable and never lags behind the times.
Machine learning
Speaking of adaptive data… machine learning is set to take over the business world by storm. It’s predicted to be at the core of every organisation as its main performance driver due to its incredible ability to predict trends and make smart decisions with astounding accuracy. How do you get this amazing tech for your own company, I hear you ask? The answer is MLOps. MLOps is the process of taking an experimental Machine Learning model into a production web system. The best way to innovate after a crisis is to have the best tools available so you can make the best decisions possible. From development to deployment, utilising MLOps is sure to transform your business for the better.
Latest innovation
When the pandemic hit, businesses had to change how they interacted with their customers and employees overnight. In the depth of a crisis situation, a handful of businesses stepped up and created bold new innovations to help us adjust to our new situation. Companies like Microsoft and Zoom saw huge successes with their video conferencing platforms (Microsoft Teams and Zoom, respectively.) Whilst companies like Skype fell to the wayside. The difference between a company like Zoom and a company like Skype is that Zoom was constantly innovating their platform and met the needs of their customers. By prioritising innovation during a time when their product was the answer to so many problems, Zoom’s revenue surged 307%.
Work from anywhere
With work from home not going anywhere, the way every company operates is changing forever. The soaring popularity of video conferencing software means employees have the freedom to work wherever their productivity performs best – whether that’s at a desk, on their sofa or even in the great outdoors! So long as there’s a smart device, they’ll be able to work. Companies are forced to view work from home as not only a viable but also a more efficient option for everyone involved. This leaves the door wide open for tech developers to innovate new software and platforms to boost the remote working environment.
Prioritising equality
It’s a well-documented fact that BAME workers were hit worst by the pandemic job crisis. The drop in employment for BAME workers was 26 times higher than for white workers. As the Guardian reports: The employment rate for people from BAME backgrounds slumped 5.3% in the year to September 2020, compared with a 0.2% decrease in the number of employed white workers. With such staggering numbers, it’s vitally important that every industry focuses its efforts on improving equality and putting actionable measures in place to achieve workplace equality.
Whilst these initiatives are often led by HR professionals, it’s actually tech leaders that are playing a critical role in the designing and implementation of DEI (Diversity, Equality and Inclusion) solutions that work to reduce bias and improve hiring.
If you’re a technology company looking for more help navigating a post-COVID world, check out our Ultimate Guide for in-depth marketing strategies. Looking for even more solutions to drive results? Contact us today for a free consultation, or head over to our digital marketing page to see the other services we can offer to help your business grow.
