The business world is changing monumentally every month it seems. The phrase, “The only thing that is certain is change,” is usually attributed to an old historian. More likely, that proverb was also spoken by a plethora of modern-day entrepreneurs and marketers. From pandemics to 5G broadband to globalization, the business world is full of dramatic new innovations and developing trends.
But exactly how rapidly is the world of commerce changing and how extreme are the changes? Consider that less than two years ago, the concept of masses of employees working from home with remote software programs was unknown. Remote work and hybrid working were still newer concepts that weren’t widely accepted by many industries. While no one could predict the recent, startling transformation of the workplace, there are some prognosticators who have ventured their thoughts about coming business changes.
Keep Up With the Changes
Before discussing upcoming changes, it is important to determine just how you are going to recognize and adapt to them. Though recent history demonstrates you cannot predict what dramatic changes will occur, there are proven ways to deal with them. Your best opportunity to be prepared for the next trend to sweep the business world is by advancing your education. Surprises will continually occur and, with ongoing business training, you can be ready for those with a profound understanding of how commerce works and how entrepreneurs in the past have dealt with change.
Work From Home Today
It is still amazing to consider the shift that happened in 2020 when multitudes successfully began to work from home. The trend of remote work or hybrid working has continued into 2021 and will last into 2022 at least. A recent entrepreneur article pointed out some of the best reasons this trend is likely to be perpetuated:
- Can you believe it, productivity increases during remote work and hybrid working?
- You can move around and stay put. No longer do you need to live within “commuting distance” of headquarters.
- You acquire more time for life. It takes less time to get ready and, when the workday is over, family time begins.
- A dedicated office workspace is no longer necessary at the worksite. This cuts down on the company’s overhead and carbon footprint.
Show You the (New) Money
Some distinctly new forms of business funding are emerging. The first of these, cryptocurrency, is really an old form of financing wearing brand new clothes. Venture capitalists have begun to offer digital currencies to customers and investors.
While there is some concern about the volatility of these, in general, they cut down on fees, transfer instantly and, thanks to blockchain technology, cannot be hacked. Another dramatic financial shift is coming through crowdsource funding. These platforms result in a smaller initial capitalization but at least you do not have to make your banker happy.
Keep Your Associates Closer
Between cargo ships backed up at American harbors and vaccine passports, lots of walls got thrown up around international brick-and-mortar commerce as a result of the pandemic. Many businesses came to the conclusion that the way to avoid this sort of problem in the future is to source locally and seek regional partnerships. An added benefit of this movement is a lowered carbon footprint for many businesses and the world overall, even if it is just temporary.
Building Better Businesses
Surely, these are not the only coming developments in the world of commerce, though focusing on such trends helps to prepare businesses for other shifts headed your way. To be an entrepreneur in the coming years implies you are watching for changes and are ready to adapt. Your business must evolve or dissolve in these times of great change! Changes are coming and your company must adapt.
