Tech trends 2022: The ultimate business leader roundup

Digital fatigue (and search fatigue) is real, so we’re combining all of the 2022 tech trends into one spot. Bookmark, scan, or deep dive into the topics that most interest you.

2022 e-commerce and commerce trends: Massive shifts in consumer behavior give rise to digital platforms, omnichannel, mobile, social, DTC

2022 e-commerce trends:

The e-commerce trends of 2022 are reflective of the societal changes from the ongoing pandemic, and they indicate that rather than being trends, indeed e-commerce is forever changed. From B2C and B2B, brands must focus on DTC, mobile, social as a search and selling tool, and data.

Top 2022 e-commerce trends:

1. Personalization: Real-time engagement + understanding preferences are a requirement
2. Service: The full spectrum of service is crucial, from pre-sale to taking care of customers after the sale, customer service is now an integral part of e-commerce
3. Omnichannel: Always-on, data-driven efforts will boost engagement, sales, and loyalty across all sectors and industries
4. Purpose: Sustainability, equality, environmental, and political stances are all now part of what makes a brand appealing – or not
5. CX: The entire customer experience must be seamless, from search to handing off between screens, to customer service
6. Payment and delivery options: Click and collect, curbside pickup, simple payment will all matter more
7. Direct to consumer: More and more brands are extending their go-to-market with DTC businesses
8. Social commerce: By 2027, it’s projected that social commerce will drive $604 billion in sales

Go deeper into 2022 e-commerce trends ⬇:

Click, click, buy: e-commerce trends driven by DTC, mobile, social

E-commerce trends reflect a society that's forever changed. Brands must focus on DTC, mobile, social as a search tool, and data.

Search, scroll, click, buy: Mobile commerce is not a phase, mom

By the end of 2022, it’s predicted that mobile devices will make up almost 73% of total e-commerce sales globally.

Mobile commerce trends in 2022 drive a massive share of all commerce revenue, including in B2B, B2C, DTC, and industries.

Call me maybe? Just kidding – no talking involved. Read up on 2022 mobile commerce trends ⬇:

Mobile commerce trends: Mobile sales will dominate B2B, B2C, DTC

Mobile commerce trends in 2021 will drive a lion's share of all commerce revenue, including in B2B, B2C, DTC, and industries.

Seeing the future: e-commerce product visuals aren’t just a trend; they’re foundational to future growth

E-commerce product visuals became differentiators for brands that stood out among online retailers during COVID-19. Expect to see more AR, 3D, and configurators across all elements of e-commerce.

The top e-commerce product visual trends:

1. Augmented reality: AR and AI will be crucial to e-commerce sales
2. 3D product visuals will become more popular as retailers attempt to stand out
3. B2B sales will begin incorporating visual product configurators
4. Online ads will feature AR, 3D, product configurators

See the bigger picture with the full article on product visuals ⬇:

E-commerce product visuals: 4 trends for beautiful CX in 2021

Online retailers leaned more heavily on e-commerce product visuals to engage customers during COVID-19. In 2021, expect to see even more AR, 3D, and product configurators as retailers navigate a dramatically different e-commerce landscape.

CPG retail 2022: Disruption is the name of the game for consumer packaged goods

Changing consumer behaviors and vastly-accelerated use of shopping options including BOPIS (buy online, pick up in store), curbside delivery, and mobile e-commerce altered the CPG retail industry.

Previously, brick-and-mortar retailers struggled to adapt in an era of online shopping, omnichannel, and direct-to-consumer brands. Amid growing awareness of climate change – and the horrible consequences of it – consumers of all ages are demanding eco-friendly products and practices.

These are some of the top CPG retail trends we’re likely to see rise in importance:

1. The digital shelf will become a battleground of epic proportions
2. Sustainability will rise, thanks to consumer demands
3. CPG retail will model DTC (or D2C; whichever you choose) practices
4. The customer experience will become more important
5. Delivery methods (including at-home, BOPIS and curbside delivery) and supply chain distribution will become focus of transformation for CPG

Read more about CPG retail trends ⬇:

5 CPG retail trends that will define the industry in 2021

Here are five CPG retail trends to watch in 2021. The COVID-19 pandemic will continue to impact the way CPG companies do business.

Wholesale trends 2022: Supply chain, tech, staffing come into focus

2022 wholesale distribution trends:

Wholesale distribution trends to watch include increased competition, continued supply chain disruption, and a talent shortage.

Based upon recent disruption and market dynamics, the wholesale distribution industry will continue to be reshaped by four major trends:

1. Increased competition and new disruptors
2. Global dynamics impacting supply chains
3. Social changes resulting in a talent crunch
4. Regulatory requirements adding complexity

Read all the details of wholesale distribution trends ⬇:

Wholesale distribution trends: More competition, supply chain disruption

After a tumultuous couple years, what trends can wholesale distributors expect now? Watch for continued supply chain disruption, increased competition, and a talent shortage.

2022 wholesale supply chain trends:

Wholesale supply chain trends reflect lessons learned from COVID-19 as distributors focus on supply chain planning and technologies.

Before COVID-19, wholesale distributors were sharply focused on supply chain execution – efficiently managing goods across warehousing, fulfillment and distribution functions. Now, distributors are looking at the world through a new supply chain lens: supply chain planning.

Take a deep dive into wholesale supply chain trends ⬇:

2021 wholesale supply chain trends: COVID resets priorities

2021 wholesale supply chain trends reflect lessons learned from COVID-19 as distributors focus on supply chain planning.

Customer service trends: Service is a requirement, from pre- to post-sale, and across all channels

What are the customer service trends most important to businesses? Consumers want immediate assistance, and they expect it across all channels and platforms.

The top 2022 customer service trends:

1. Companies must adapt to understand how crucial customer service is to the overall health of a business
2. Customer service and e-commerce will become companions
3. Service will become a sales tool
4. Omnichannel customer service will be a requirement
5. Tech like IoT and chatbots will become essential customer service and customer care elements

Read the customer service trends driving the future of business⬇:

Customer service trends: Service becomes savior

Customer service trends in 2022: More companies will make service a priority to drive growth, customer loyalty, and C-suite strategies.

What’s poppin’: Retail trends

CX retail trends: Defying the odds of declining of brick and mortar

There are four CX retail trends to watch as brick and mortar sees a revival, but requires that omnichannel becomes a requirement:

1. Contact centers get a higher profile
2. Delivery experiences now 100% part of the customer experience
3. Online reviews will become more important to sales and to customers
4. Customers will continue to be influenced by influencers and social commerce

Read the CX retail trends⬇:

CX retail trends: How to defy the decline of brick-and-mortar

Discover four CX retail trends that are crucial to adapting your sales for seamless e-commerce and customer experiences.

Retail 2022: Emphasis on providing full customer experience, no matter what

The retail landscape looks very different after (and amid) COVID-19. Today, retailers are implementing new strategies to future-proof themselves.

Get the strategies to help transform your retail efforts ⬇:

Retail 2021: Strategies for picking up the pieces after COVID

What will retail look like in 2021 after COVID-19 upended the industry? For retailers in 2021, COVID will have lasting effects.

Pandemic retail trends: The world turned upside down

There are three key retail trends that all retailers must understand to be resilient in the short, medium, and long-term future:

1. Online shopping shined in 2020 and will continue to grow
2. The rise in non-essential online purchases
3. Omnichannel is the new retail reality

Click your way to smarter retail⬇:

Must-know retail trends: From Boomers to Gen Z, the strategies that dominate

What key trends should retailers watch this year? Will consumers stick with online shopping or flock back to stores? We've got the answers.

🎼 Knock, knock, knockin’ on a digital door 🎼: Food industry trends

The food industry saw massive transformation over the last 18 months. Some common trends include:

1. 1. Cloud – Food companies accelerated their migration to the cloud in order to be more nimble and responsive to rapidly changing market conditions
   2. AI – Artificial intelligence technologies and real-time analytics play key roles in helping food companies respond rapidly to trends in order to fuel growth and avoid food waste
   3. Omnichannel – The ability to serve customers directly through online channels became more critical than ever for every industry during the pandemic, and food companies were no exception. Many saw an extreme shift away from restaurants and institutions to retail markets
   4. Sustainability – A growing number of consumers want to know more about the food they buy, putting pressure on food companies to provide supply chain visibility using advanced technologies like IoT

Get your fill of food industry trends⬇:

Digital transformation in the food industry: Trends, examples, and benefits

Digital transformation in food industry has accelerated as food companies aim to become more efficient and resilient.

Small business goes big: Small and midsize business trends extend market reach via digital

Prior to March 2020, many brick-and-mortar small businesses had little to no online presence, because they didn’t need it: They depended on pedestrian traffic and walk-ins to stay competitive.

That changed dramatically, with shutdowns and quarantines forcing stores to close, while social distancing guidelines led consumers to abandon popular shopping areas.

Small businesses trends are driving adoption of new technology to help set up elements crucial to survival, like:

1. 1. Remote orders
   2. Curbside pickup
   3. Buy online, pickup in store (BOPIS)
   4. Virtual personal shoppers
   5. Door-to-door delivery

No small thing: Learn the tech trends powering small and mid-size businesses⬇:

Small business trends: The big pivot to e-commerce

E-commerce is helping small retailers not only survive but thrive during the COVID era and beyond. Here we look at the benefits and challenges of e-commerce for small business.

Power to the people: HR trends

The profession of human resources and the world of business are adapting to the new future of HR reality: that people-first recruiting and retention will be what makes or breaks a company.

The employee experience sits atop HR trends, which also include engagement, productivity, wellness, flexibility, tech, and purpose.

According to Google and HR professionals, these are the top HR trends: 

1. Remote work: Flexibility, independence, and options for online trainings and upskilling are crucial
2. Improved employee experiences: From feedback to mentoring, retaining top talent requires adjustments
3. Diversity, inclusion, equity: Get ready to walk the talk – new generations aren’t going to accept a status quo where equality isn’t the foundation.
4. Technology: Machine-learning and conversational AI can guide employees along their days and career paths, while modern HR tools motivate employees and are user-friendly.
5. Well-being: Mental and emotional well-being will become central to the employee experience
6. Purpose-driven efforts: Employees want jobs that are personally rewarding. They expect their workplaces to define their purpose, then follow through to make them a reality.
7. Data as a driver: Whether talking results of employee surveys or budget allocations, data should be a trusted source when it comes to decision-making

The future of human resources, humanized. Take a deep dive into HR trends⬇:

2021 HR trends: The future of human resources, humanized

The employee experience sits atop 2021 HR trends, which also include engagement, productivity, wellness, flexibility, tech, and purpose.