2020 Vision: What does the Digital Future Look Like?

Distributed Team
Aug 28, 2017 · 5 min read

The only wrong move when it comes to digital transformation is not to make any move at all.Didier Bonnet

A combination of technological advances, and the subsequent generational shifts in digital behavior is currently shaping the the future of digital right before our eyes.

It is vital that you see what changes are coming in the digital world — so that you can prepare and most importantly ensure that you are at the forefront of digital transformation.

Here are 5 digital trends that will become more prominent in the near future:

#1: Digital Media Consumption will Continue to Grow

A study carried out by eMarketer between 2011 and 2015, revealed that there was a steady decrease in TV, print, radio and all other forms of media, whilst digital media steadily increased. This trend is expected to continue particularly as more people are gaining access to the internet globally.

Key Takeaway: Digital media consumption is continuing to grow, however, much of this growth reflects an increase in the use of smartphones, so ensure that all of your content is optimised for mobile.

#2: Digital Ad Revenue is Continuing to Grow

The increase in social media usage from mobile devices has enabled more people to embed the use of various platforms into their daily lives, as they seek conversation, entertainment and information.

Social media ads blend seamlessly into their newsfeeds. By 2020 it is predicted that the ad revenue for social media will comfortably overtake newspapers.

Key Takeaway: As consumers spend more time consuming digital media, online advertisers are increasing their ad budgets. By 2019, the social media spend in the US alone is expected to reach $17.34 billion

#3: Digital will Continue to Disrupt TV

TV viewership particularly among younger viewers has declined, as modern TV networks such as Netflix, Hulu, Apple and Amazon have exploded.

The fact that these modern TV networks enable us to watch what we want, when we want on whatever device we chose explains why it will continue to thrive.

Key Takeaway: As more and more of us turn to digital for our entertainment, traditional TV will face some major disruption in the coming years.

#4: Sales of VR/AR Devices is Expected to Grow

Source: BI Intelligence Estimates 2016

Virtual Reality (VR) and Augmented Reality (AR) has been in the spotlight over the past years with the likes of sony and samsung releasing their headsets.

It’s still early days for VR, and it will take some time before we start to see traction.

Currently, VR is limited to our visual and auditory senses however, it is predicted that in the future, VR will be greatly enhanced.

In an interview, Frank Akzor said: “Once you begin catering to the rest of the senses, like what we feel bodywise, temperature-wise, and smell, the reality factor of virtual reality becomes stronger and the virtual piece begins to fade.”

Key Takeaway: Whilst VR has had a slow start, as the technology improves, we can expect to see some steady growth in this area.

#5: Social Video will Continue to Grow Across Social Media Platforms

Social video is a relatively new term used to describe digitalised videos that are designed to go viral.

The key to making a great social video is to ensure that it is shareable.

If you’re not sure what I’m referring to, here’s an example by The Business Insider:
Source: https://www.facebook.com/thisisinsider/videos/1539314373042622/

This video alone has 43 MILLION views, and has been shared over 300 000 times!

The content need to be intimate, conversational and highly engaging, and should be designed to be effective with or without sound.

The business Insider have shared their monthly views from their videos:

Source: BI Intelligence Estimates

Key Takeaway: social video can be highly effective, offering massive opportunity

Conclusion

So here we have it, 5 digital trends we can expect to see in the near future.

If this post has got you thinking about your future digital strategy, remember, preparation is key!

Here at Distributed, we work in any area of digital media on a pay-as-you-go basis, meaning we are here when you need us.

We provide a dedicated, experienced project manager who can manage your distributed team of specialists and ensure that you deliver perfect work for your clients.

Let’s have a chat about your digital strategy and how you can ensure that you and your team stays at the forefront of innovation!

If anyone has any comments/suggestions/additions please reply or tweet us @dstbtd

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Distributed Team

Written by

A digital marketing support agency posting blogs about the world of data science, growth and more. LDN based — let us help you grow https://dstbtd.com/

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