This year marks the third year in which both business and technology will be shaped and influenced by the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Both 2020 and 2021 could be analyzed and defined by how businesses and organizations responded to pandemic disruption. In 2022, companies are moving past uncertainty to focus on agility, working to take advantage of new trends and changing circumstances to improve their positioning. We narrow down three primary areas where trends stemming from the pandemic are likely to carry through this year.
Supply Chain Strategy Shifts
If you feel like the supply chain burst onto the scene as a trending topic, you're not alone. Whether for business or personal online shopping, stories of supply chain disruption have dominated headlines since 2020. Companies can no longer rely on a small number of massive fulfillment centers to meet customer demand; instead, businesses will increasingly rely on data and supply chain analytics to better understand how they can serve their customers from several smaller, localized fulfillment centers. Expect businesses to respond with a much more agile supply chain approach in 2022. Companies are working to quickly identify the tools that will help them weather the storm heading into 2022, but data-backed tools for supply chain management (including AI solutions and geographic information systems) have yet to be widely adopted.
B2B Sales Enablement Tools
As data practices grow and mature, we can expect to see more data-backed tools expand and be leveraged by those in B2B sales, this expansion is backed by investment. As business leaders look to apply new technology to their sales and marketing processes, we should see more collaboration between business units that have traditionally been siloed. For example, business leaders and data specialists are now working together to identify new opportunities, then building tailored models that can help optimize goal-oriented operations as prospects move into the funnel and along the customer journey. Data-backed B2B sales enablement can improve decision-making and investment allocations, making each campaign more effective and efficient in the process.
Technology Affecting the Landscape
The pandemic has revolutionized the business landscape across all sectors, triggering immediate changes that often have long-term consequences. The three trends that will shape the future post-COVID-19 landscape include increased resilience, greater flexibility, and macroeconomic implications. Each of these trends can have a positive or negative impact on emerging technology. This technology will continue to drive innovation in business models across industries, allowing new companies to enter the market and severely fending off incumbent operators. The technologies best suited to meet consumer needs will shape the future of business.
While industries continue to be affected by sudden changes, that doesn't mean all businesses will have to operate from a position of instability. Now that it’s becoming clear that companies will increasingly rely on technology, many businesses will prioritize upgrading their existing technology infrastructure. Taking a dedicated approach to data collection and analysis provides organizations with the clarity to cut through the fog and make educated decisions. When new policies or supply chain disruptions impact a company's operations, real-time data resources can allow them to adjust their predictions and ensure continued success. For businesses that invest wisely in their solutions, 2022 will be a year of transformation, clarity, and reliability.
