It's that time of the year when predictions for business in the next year and industry trends start filtering in to newsdesks and you know the end of the year is near! The fact is that the world is in a state of constant digital evolution, making business today very fluid. One of the most sought after skills in any career today is flexibility, in the context of being able to adapt to change and take chaos in one's stride as almost every industry is "disrupted" by disruptive technologies. This "on-demand economy" of ours presents unique challenges for business and individuals because we are expected to be "always on" and brands need to be immediately responsive to consumer demands. We need to promote "experience", but also make sure data is being collected and analysed correctly to amplify business decisions. In the top technologies to watch in the next five years, Forrester says that the internet of things (IoT) will drive new levels of customer insight and engagement. And more data of course. But not to worry, robots and artificial intelligence will be on hand to assist with some of it! Have a great week! Louise Marsland Africa Editor: Bizcommunity.com
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