Here are the top 3 tech trends that are going to affect how you do business, both online and offline!
1. Artificial Intelligence
Tech Giants like Google have invested $400 million into AI start-up DeepMind. Not to mention others like Microsoft, Facebook and Tesla also jumping into the fray.
With these major players developing AI systems, you can be sure that Artificial Intelligence isn't a "fad" that's going away anytime soon.
How This Will Affect Your Business:
- Customer-Facing activities like Marketing and Customer Service as AI will be able to use "deep learning" to constantly improve with new customer queries and solutions.
- Cyber Security - AI will be able to propagate over a network to develop measures against malicious activity.
- Transport with Self-Driving Cars like Tesla's auto-pilot system
- ERP (Enterprise Resource Planning) systems will be affected by AI as machine learning will be able to "evolve" and find more effective and efficient ways to achieve better resource management.
2. Blockchain and Cryptocurrencies
Blockchain is the technology behind cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin and Ethereum. Major players like Microsoft and many other online businesses have begun to accept Bitcoin as a form of payment.
Currently, a single Bitcoin is valued at approximately $8,000 NZD, a 900%+ price increase over the past year.
How This Will Affect Your Business:
- No more foreign exchange fees or bank transaction fees
- Cyber Security
- Micro payments - one of the main advantages of Bitcoin over our current dollar system is that it cannot divide further than $0.01. However, cryptocurrencies can subdivide further (to infinity).
- Macro payments - very large amounts can be sent without large transaction costs.
3. Virtual Reality
With Facebook investing $2 Billion to buy VR start-up Oculus, Virtual Reality and Augmented Reality are not far into the future.
How This Will Affect Your Business:
- Virtual Meetings that facilitate more international partnerships
- Virtual Prototyping - have a product idea? Craft it virtually and bring it into reality with 3D printing (Tesla is already doing this to build spacecraft parts!)
- Virtual / Augmented Reality shopping - shopping malls will be able to track customer habits and provide discounts/deals that are customized to that particular individual, as they walk by a store (remember Pokemon Go? The technology is already here).
Conclusions
It's more than likely the 3 tech trends above will be integrated together to provide tech-savvy businesses an extreme competitive advantage.
P.S. Don't fall behind on technology! You don't need to be a tech expert to supercharge your business with the latest IT equipment and technology, leave that part to us!
