2021 has been a year of immense change in digital with no signs of slowing down in 2022. Tech trends from the rise of Web3 to the increased adoption of artificial intelligence (AI) and virtual reality (VR), the past year has opened a host of new digital web offerings for Australian small and medium-sized businesses (SMB).
Small businesses are the lifeblood of the Australian economy, accounting for over 97% of all Australian businesses, and over 2.3 million employees. Next year, SMBs must focus on how to set themselves apart by planning ahead and adapting to the latest digital tech trends. Here are a few that will take the industry storm next year:
Headless will drive omnichannel experiences
Put simply, headless technology is the separation of the front end of a website (the visible elements that users interact with) from the back end. Headless adoption is growing in Australia, with two-thirds of Australian businesses (66%) already using the technology. Transitioning to headless site infrastructure allows SMBs to seamlessly connect with their customers across all devices to serve personalised digital experiences and is set to be the future of all websites. A headless website also makes it easier to collect, aggregate and clean first-party data which is now more important than ever in a post-cookie world.
Welcome web3
Web3 is based on the increased availability of high-speed internet connections through wireless carriers like 5G networks. A new generation of technologies, bolstered by smarter websites, powerful mobile devices and rapid internet speeds, are giving SMBs pioneering ways to access data and opportunities to reach consumers. The cost to publish content and advertise in a Web3 environment is significantly lower through traditional media channels. Lowering the cost of entering a market encourages small business creation and helps more new small businesses thrive.
The rise of AI and VR
To help SMBs increase customer engagement, AI and VR help bolster the buyer experience in line with their customers’ needs. AI helps personalise their customer experiences while VR can bring them to life. Think chatbots — those non-human customer service beings that are trained to engage in human-like exchanges online.
Using AI to automate marketing campaigns based on analysis of the kinds of goods customers are likely to buy, suitable price points and the times customers are most likely to make a purchase help greatly improve cost efficiencies, resource delegation, and saves significant amounts of time.
If the COVID-19 pandemic has taught us one thing it is that now more than ever, people matter. For brands to succeed they must understand the value of human connection and replicate this in their digital services. It is important SMBs employ innovative technologies to ensure a firm foundation for success. Technologies like headless, Web3 and AI and VR will be central to making this a reality. So, what’s your first move in 2022?
By Ricky Blacker, APAC Site Leader at WP Engine