Which trends could shape your business in 2020?

The only predictable thing about business is that it isn’t predictable. It never stops changing. There’s always something new to learn and implement into the way you work. Consumer demands are always changing too, which is why your business needs to adapt over time. Just keeping up with current customer expectations can be tough enough to achieve as a business owner. But it’s essential not to lose track of the emerging issues which could affect how people might respond to the service or products you provide. It’s why I wanted to share at least a few of the trends which could shape 2020. After all, these – or other ones – might be the changes which could help or hinder your business.

Super-fast mobile drives demand

This BBC article highlights some very interesting technology trends - one of which is that mobile will become even zippier in the months ahead. This is all thanks, of course, to the roll-out of high-speed networks. So, what could this mean for your business? One shift is likely to be that those people searching for your services will be able to find you more quickly and easily, assuming you have a mobile-optimised site, of course. And this could mean not only more online enquiries but perhaps an increase in calls to your business by mobile or landline. Because online shoppers often wait until they’re at home to decide to call – even if they’ve been comparing your services to those of your competitors while on the train, or the bus or just walking down the street… There’s little doubt that the rise of super-fast mobile means companies must be well prepared to become even more accessible and responsive to their customers.

Trust takes on a bigger role

Trust: once it’s gone, it’s gone. The warm, fuzzy feeling is the basis of pretty much every buying decision ever made by anyone. No wonder it’s a vital aspect of customer relationships. And just when you didn’t think trust could become more important, it’s set to be an even bigger factor in the choices people make. In this analysis of digital marketing trends, the author shares his view that trust will be a crucial factor in the near future. This is thought to go far beyond marketing and to move into other areas of business. The article suggests that staying human in the face of the rising use of technology is essential. Consider fresh ways to keep your company at its most approachable and human. How can you build and maintain a great rapport with customers while also staying commercially viable? This is certainly something to consider as 2020 unfolds.

Personal is priceless

Following on from the point above, it seems people are craving the personal and the direct from companies, if this article is anything to go by. You see, consumers pay close attention to professionalism, expertise, efficiency and, of course, budget when choosing a service. But people are people. They don’t want to feel as if they are just some faceless number or one in a crowd of thousands. If you can set your company apart by developing and nurturing an authentic connection with new prospects, you could see 2020 become one of your best years ever. With the appetite for the personal set to increase in the years to come, look for ways to ensure your team treats each person as an individual. Do you have practices in place to make this happen? How can you get that message across, not only to your sales team but throughout the company and to everyone who interacts with your customers?

Office space is changing

If you have an office or several offices, you might want to pay attention to this trend. Offices and working spaces are changing. If you want to keep your team happy (and who doesn’t?), you may be interested to know the trend-watchers suggest that people are starting to prefer privacy to vast open plan offices. If you don’t consider these changing tastes, you could end up seeing a drop in the performance of your staff. Or, to put it a more positive way, now is a great time to consider reviewing your office space and asking employees what they think would enhance their working environment. While you probably won’t be able to meet all of their requests, whether it’s for a chocolate fountain, Table Football or even nap pods, this could be a real winner. You’ll make your office somewhere people actually want to be. After all, a shocking ￡195m is drained from the UK economy every single day because of unhappy employees looking to change jobs! With more contented staff, your business will be better prepared for any emerging challenges. You might also want to consider the rise of the phone booth in the office. While phone booths are a rare sight on the street now, they are becoming a feature in offices, allowing employees to enjoy more privacy. Could they be something to consider for your business?

Green grows in importance

It’s pretty common, when thinking about future trends, to visualise technology - shiny things which will create the kind of scenarios often seen in sci-fi films. After all, it is 2020, which sounds pretty futuristic! But it seems that consumers will be moving the other way in the year ahead. According to this survey by Pinterest, people are craving simplicity and growing ever keener to feel they are helping to take care of the planet. This makes it likely they will become even more concerned about knowing the background of the things they buy. The trend may well extend, if you provide a service, to your customers wanting to know the environmental pedigree of the products you use. So, if you aren’t doing so already, you really need to get your green on in 2020. Ensure you have all the relevant information to hand to share with customers and make it available on your website too. It’s also a good idea to check your employees are ready to answer those questions accurately and clearly when they do come.

Well-being is a winner

If the trend sooth-sayers are right, 2020 is set to be a very touchy-feely year. It has been shown that in times of uncertainty, people crave the familiar and the reassuring. A big part of feeling reassured is feeling safe – and this means feeling healthy. According to the trend watchers, 2020 is likely to feature a big drive towards wellness. This will go beyond specialist companies. It is thought that the brands which can help people move towards a better, healthier life will the ones to lead the way. So, take some time to think about how you can present what you do as a way to make people’s lives happier and full of well-being. Get it right and you could keep your business healthy for many years to come.

Keen to prepare for the year ahead? Take a look at Answer4u's quick guide to the six tools every business should be using!