As the pace of technology accelerates ever-forward, long-standing industries, methods of production, and certain kinds of commerce are disrupted. From manufacturing to marketing and everything in between, novel technologies are creating new sales environments, demand markets, and competition indexes.
Businesses that fail to keep up with the rapid pace of technological development may be swept aside by companies who are able to capitalize on the benefits of novel tech in their sector. If you own a small business, it’s especially important that you stay on top of these trends, as your long-term viability and bottom line both depend on it. In this post, we’ll cover three surprising areas where tech is beginning to disrupt ordinary business.
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Self-help
Self-help has been around for millennia as something of an industry, with books on how to improve your personal wellbeing having existed for as long as humans have been able to write anything down. In the 20th century, pop-psychology self-help and romance books boomed as an industry, and seems that with every decade a new trend or craze emerged.
These days, however, the novel forms of media and other technology available are shaking up the world of self-help. Here are a few case examples to illustrate the point:
- Smart watches: These clever gadgets make tracking your own fitness goals – an essential part of self-help – easier and more effective than ever. Where in the past, one might have to shell out hundreds of dollars a month for a personal trainer, now you can keep track of how well you’re meeting your goals with just a few taps of your Apple Watch fitness tracker. It can log vital data like your running pace, heart rate, and distance, making it simpler than ever to track your fitness progress.
- Cannabis: This may seem surprising, but with so many US states legalizing marijuana, the ancient leaf is seeing some serious innovation. From sleek and efficient vape pens that allow users to access the anxiety-reducing effects of cannabis on-the-go, to chemically innovative CBD + biotin gummies by CBDfx, which allow consumers to relax with CBD while also improving their haircare routine.
- Podcasts and audiobooks: sure, books and radio have been around for a while, but with on-demand and on-the-go options like podcasts and audiobooks, it’s easier (and more private!) than ever for users to gain the self-help wisdom they seek. While they’re running, for example, they might be tuning into their favorite podcasts, listening to important strategies for emotional regulation.
The self-help industry is set to grow more in the 21st century, but the spoils will go mostly to those who can tap into the novel technological methods being used in the space.
Content marketing
Content marketing is already a product of novel technology, with viral internet content appearing as an ideal space to market products and services to ever-engaged consumers. However, novel technological developments are likely to change the game in content marketing even more in the near future. This is through two main avenues, both powered by advancements in artificial intelligence (AI):
I. Targeted advertising is set to become the norm across all platforms, with users getting all and only ads that are tailor-made for their interests. As time goes on, these ads will become more and more direct – to the point where it will feel as though, as soon as a user thinks they may need something, they receive a link in their inbox with a helpful article, or an ad on their Instagram feed with a product to meet their need.
II. Content writing – articles directed to consumer interests with links to available products built-in – may also experience a major disruption once natural language processing (NLP), a form of AI, becomes more sophisticated. Already, simple articles like sports reports are written by NLP programs. Soon, many of the articles and posts found on the internet may be written by NLP AI.
Meat & dairy
Lastly, novel technologies will soon disrupt the meat and dairy industries. New forms of plant-based meat and plant milk are rapidly becoming more popular, as they often taste better, are healthier, and don’t require the slaughter of animals.
So-called Clean Meat may also soon by an alternative to animal meat. This substance is made from animal cells grown in a lab, rather than on an entire animal. Consumers will be able to eat real meat without any animal ever coming to harm, or taking up huge amounts of space in feed lots.
No one can say for sure the direction technology will go in the next few decades, but one thing is certain: many industries will be disrupted.
