Top 5 Digital Transformation Trends

This will be my last blog on Think Digital First in 2017, so I want to make sure I am being as transparent as possible around digital transformation trends.

2018 is just around the corner. 2017 has been a huge year for me, and I have garnered a lot of important, future-proofing information.

Part of a shift in my business was moving towards digital transformation. This was understanding how businesses can go through a transformation that will allow future growth.

I came across a great infographic on Pinterest that was created by Futurum that details some key digital transformation trends for 2018.

I will break down the infographic to give you an insight into what they have said. As well as this, I also want to talk about what I think are going to be the 5 biggest digital transformation trends for 2018.

1. Blockchain

This is a relatively new term to me, but something that has been floating around the internet for a number of years.

A blockchain is a continuously growing list of records, called blocks, which are linked and secured using cryptography methods. The Harvard Business Review describes it as:

“an open, distributed ledger that can record transactions between two parties efficiently and in a verifiable and permanent way. For use as a distributed ledger, a blockchain is typically managed by a peer-to-peer network collectively adhering to a protocol for validating new blocks.”

Yes, it sounds confusing. And it is. Bitcoin also used to be confusing, until it became more mainstream and now one single bitcoin is worth over £13,000.

2. Artificial Intelligence

This is not the first time, and it certainly won’t be the last time that I talk about artificial intelligence.

AI paired with chatbots is going to be an amazing way to offer the best customer service on online. Artificial Intelligence will be one of the biggest digital transformation trends for 2018.

With chatbots becoming more intelligent, and AI becoming more advanced, communication is going to change throughout 2018. I, for one, am very excited to see what happens!

3. Virtual Reality

Whilst virtual reality is still new to the world of digital transformation, it is hard to deny the impact Pokemon Go had earlier this year. The time spent by users on the Pokemon Go app surpassed daily activity on Facebook and Twitter over the first six months of the app going live.

I even wrote a piece of content about Pokemon Go, and it became the most viewed, liked, commented and shared piece of content I had ever written.

4. Accepting Failure, And Rebuilding

From first-hand experience, failure is one of the most difficult things to face. I have had to close businesses down, and start from the ground up again, but that has made me a stronger person, both as an entrepreneur and multi-business owner.

You may find that when you go through a digital transformation that your business is not where you expected it to be and that’s OK. All of the greatest entrepreneurs failed at some point, and it’s OK for it to happen to you too.

5. Embrace Change

It’s ok to change. Change is not a bad thing. You are going to be facing a lot of business problems in 2018 when you go through a digital transformation. To continue growing, things are going to have to change.

As I have said before in previous blogs, going through a digital transformation is a must. As the online world continues to evolve, you need to evolve with it.

I hope that the above five digital transformation trends will help you prepare for 2018, and beyond. If you would like to see the full infographic, click here.

Have an amazing new year, and here’s to 2018!