In this era of unprecedented technological growth, an enterprise has two choices: look boldly toward the future, or opt for a more conservative route.
It’s understandable why businesses sometimes choose the latter path; they want to see demonstrably positive ROI signs before plunging into relatively new territory. Unfortunately, waiting isn’t usually the best course of action, as you run the risk of losing customers to sleeker, more sophisticated, and more user-friendly competition.
In this article, let’s talk smart business – the business of embracing emerging technologies. Let’s survey a couple of reasons why integrating new tech can help your business, then explore three of the leading emerging technologies you should know.
Why Embrace Emerging Technologies?
History repeats the same story time and again. From the first Homo Sapiens who embraced fire (the most primitive form of human technology) to the Industrial Revolution and Computer Age, those who embraced the vanguards of technological innovation were handsomely rewarded for being venturesome and open-minded.
Recent studies back up this phenomenon. According to a comprehensive study by Deloitte, companies with a growth orientation “are ahead of their competition … delivering significant value through technology.” The study goes on to suggest that businesses should adopt tenacious, curious and agile tech approaches to thrive in the current market landscape.
Partner with expert mobile app developers like TheAppLabb to integrate emerging technologies like the following and seize the opportunity to embrace future-facing tech.
Artificial Intelligence
Artificial Intelligence (AI) isn’t new; it has been around, in some form, for at least a few decades. Still, its contemporary applications make it an emerging technology worth tracking.
You can adopt AI in several ways. As you develop a mobile app for your enterprise, you may use AI and machine learning through chatbots and conversational UI – client-facing technologies that make the customer experience more interactive and engaging. These features utilize natural language processing, sentiment analysis and speech recognition to proximate a customer service experience, allowing you to offer each user a helpful, intuitive guide through your product or service.
Augmented Reality and Virtual Reality
Augmented Reality (AR) and Virtual Reality (VR) are essential tools in elevating the customer experience. When you integrate AR and VR into your company’s mobile app, you offer customers an immersive, engaging way to interact with your product or service.
For instance, if you run a hotel, you can offer virtual tours of rooms using 360-degree video. As another example, if you own a paint store, your app might allow prospective customers to see different paint shades on their walls as they move their camera view through their house. There are thousands of untapped ideas for AR and VR technology – you are bound only by your imagination.
The Internet of Things
Essentially, the Internet of Things (IoT) describes a network of physical devices capable of connecting and sharing data.
Through smart wearables, sensor integrated apps or iBeacon, you can connect your app to other physical objects to gain business insight and improve the user experience. IoT has recently revolutionized the healthcare industry, as several providers and other healthcare verticals turn to IoT for real-time patient monitoring, drug management and disease control. And this Forbes article details how IoT can benefit small businesses as well.
If you are interested in integrating emerging technologies, partner with experienced mobile app developers. They can help you develop, test and validate your idea to ensure that it aligns with your business and brand goals.