Rapid technological advancements have been impacting organizations across all industries for quite some time now, but the novel global situation truly turned the world of business upside down. The emergence of COVID-19 has had an incredibly transformative effect on sectors across the board, shifting power and causing economic uncertainties. Evidently, our world is quickly changing, and here are just some of the most prominent and important trends that are set out to reshape our future and the business landscape in 2022:
A new wave of entrepreneurship
One positive outcome of the pandemic was a new flow of creativity. People all around the globe were forced to reexamine their traditional assumptions, such as business conducted solely in person, giving birth to a wide array of new ideas and businesses. As a result, entrepreneurship was redefined, adding more variety and diversity into this space.
This trend will only continue to rise in 2022, especially as we see a record number of startups and small businesses taking off. Possibly the most interesting development is individuals turning their passions into a living. More than ever before, creative, imaginative, and crafty people are sharing their unique skills online and turning them into viable businesses, something we will be seeing even more of in the near future.
Growth in artificial intelligence
From personalization and improving search engine results to controlling and understanding devices and even automating entire industries, artificial intelligence has truly become an essential part of business. Companies are already using predictive AI analytic tools to forecast consumer and market trends, but this will become even more prominent in 2022.
Cloud computing will grow exponentially in the upcoming years, with the cloud becoming more established and a higher percentage of workloads running on the cloud. The internet of things is set to push this area further, forcing even the less technologically advanced sectors such as construction to include AI and cloud computing into their day-to-day operations. All of these innovations enable companies to provide deeper customer experiences and seize on opportunities more effectively since clients can be contacted across different channels. By using a cloud PBX communication solution from Broadvoice, for example, businesses can interact with customers via phone, video, SMS, or chat.
The rising need for sustainability
Climate change and the devastating ecological disasters we have witnessed over the last few years have highlighted the need for more sustainable solutions. But apart from the initiatives we might already be used to, such as green, renewable energy alternatives, sustainability is now a priority even in the less evident areas.
For instance, the oil and gas industry is now using more efficient hydrogen sulfide removal equipment in an effort to minimize waste and reduce pollution. As H2S can be a particularly damaging compound, utilizing effective and affordable removal solutions helps to create a more stable by-product that is significantly less dangerous to the environment, thus allowing the industry to increase their sustainability efforts with one simple solution.
More flexible, flatter organizations
Even organizational structures are beginning to change. Many companies have traditionally been quite hierarchical and strict in their structures, especially when it comes to the more conservative side of business like the legal industry. However, this is slowly shifting to a new business model, as the pandemic has shown organizations they need to be agile and adaptable in order to overcome the unpredictable landscape.
Combined with the changing nature of work that includes freelance and remote workers, this forced companies to adopt a flatter, more flexible structure that enables them to reorganize teams quickly and respond to change as necessary. In turn, flatter company structures are becoming more popular than top-down formations.
The prevalence of blockchain technology
Blockchain technology allows companies to track transactions and do business even with unverified parties, without the need for financial institutions. Not only does this innovation reduce common business conflicts, but it also comes with other advantages such as higher security, transparency, and decentralization.
Apart from financial aspects, we are seeing the adoption of blockchain across many different industries as well, from gaming and art to governance. It’s recommended for all companies to begin studying blockchain technology in depth, as it’s expected to bring great business opportunities in 2022 and beyond.
As the world recovers from the coronavirus pandemic and new technological advancements enter the mainstream, there’s no doubt 2022 will see great progress in these areas. Hopefully, these innovations will only be positive, leading to a better future for businesses and people alike.