Zoned out: What workers really do in virtual meetings
A survey of American workers shows they're highly distracted during online meetings. The list of things they do might surprise you.
As 2023 comes to a close, it’s time for us to look back and compile our customary list of best reads of the year.
It was a milestone year for the Future of Commerce, marking 10 years of publication. That kind of staying power is no small feat in the hypercompetitive publishing world.
We’re proud of our work, but have to acknowledge the fact that this year wasn’t easy. Like everyone in content, we’re bewildered by Google’s constant and mysterious algorithm changes. And who isn’t trying to get things done with budgets that continue to shrink in an shaky economy that teeters on the edge of a recession?
Still, we produced a lot of great reads across a broad range of topics, from e-commerce and customer experience to sustainability, and much more. We stayed true to our mission of being a thought leadership site where readers can find a diverse range of perspectives, practical advice, and news analysis.
We published many of our signature explainer posts about hot topics like carbon accounting and the customer-to-customer (C2C) model. We covered news such as the debut of FedNow, analyzed the sorry state of self-checkout in brick-and-mortar stores, and had fun reliving the 80s in a Gen X post.
Continue on for more of our best reads 2023.
Rock retail with the power of AI.
Get the retail revolution playbook HERE.
Life at work: Our best reads for 2023
We kept a close eye on workplace trends as post-pandemic models and economic pressures continued to reshape business and the ways people work.
Quiet hiring is up as companies brace for downturn
With a looming recession, pandemic-fueled quiet quitting gave way to quiet hiring as companies found ways to meet their talent needs without expanding their permanent workforce. Cindy Beauchamp delved into this trend, providing astute analysis of what it means for both employers and employees.
Layoff survivor guilt: Acknowledging and helping the walking wounded
The poor economy led many companies to lay off workers this year, leaving shell-shocked co-workers to pick up the pieces. Longtime contributor Paroma Sen penned a powerful piece on survivor guilt in the workplace.
HR strategies 2023: 4 ways to drive midmarket growth
The hybrid work models of the COVID era are here to stay, and HR leaders are working to hone those models with an eye on employee development and business agility. Victoria Richard detailed the trends, complete with super interesting research from IDC.
Psychological safety: Why companies need a fearless culture
With so much change in the workplace, the concept of psychological safety is gaining traction. Emilia Stöckler of NETCONOMY provided comprehensive coverage of the topic, breaking down the benefits for business.
Best practices across industries
Our contributors provided expert perspective and practical advice for tackling today’s business challenges.
What is value-based pricing: Definition, strategies, benefits
Setting the right price for products and services is always tricky. In this post, Jose Paez of Pricefx explains the ins and outs of one approach with tips on how companies can succeed with it.
E-commerce payment integration: Tap, swipe, or click into new markets
Payment integration is essential for every commerce platform. In this post, Sergio Granada of Perficient explains the top five benefits, including expanded reach, building customer trust, and more sales.
Chinese New Year supply chain disruption: What to expect
In this article, Sin To provides a wake-up call to businesses about the supply chain impact of the most important holiday for billions of people, and offers guidance on how companies can survive it. Heads up: In 2024, Chinese New Year is Feb. 10-24.
Influence this: New FTC endorsement guidelines impact brands, creators, and marketers
The US Federal Trade Commission put brands on notice that they need to make it clear to consumers when they’ve paid influencers or others to review or promote products. The news sent shockwaves through the sprawling influencer marketing space.
You should see me in a crown: Our best omnichannel content
Omnichannel has transformed commerce. In this piece, we feature the best content from our archives on this hot topic.
Best reads 2023: Getting real about sustainability
Sustainability is always a big topic for us, and in 2023, our contributors offered insight into how companies can move from concept to practice.
Sustainability in manufacturing: How paper and pulp companies can shine
As customer preferences line up with the regulatory push for sustainability, the opportunity for paper and pulp companies is growing, wrote Kai Aldinger in this post, where he explains how they lead the way.
Digital product passports: EU legislates circular economy
With the European Union’s new digital product passport, sustainability is moving from a nice to have to must have for businesses. Casey Paxton of Akeneo penned this great primer on the topic.
Climate change and inflation: The economic impacts of climate change
In this post, David Rand shines light on the connection between inflation and a warming planet with tips for businesses on how to protect the environment.
Fashion recommerce: A better model for a more sustainable future
Explore a new cost-effective approach that streamlines fashion recommerce and boosts the circular economy.
The robots are here: Perspectives on the AI revolution
Our list of best reads wouldn’t be complete without posts about AI. In 2023, generative AI was absolutely everywhere after ChatGPT exploded on the scene. We covered this hot topic from multiple angles (without using gen AI to do it).
Generative AI for sales: The power and the potential
Enterprises are excited about the prospect of generative AI to boost nearly every aspect of business, especially B2B sales. In this post, Grant Smith explains how the technology, when fueled by the right data, can help sellers fine-tune customer engagement for better outcomes.
AI for customer service: Faster fixes, happier agents
Customer service is another area where businesses are expecting big things from AI. In this article, Isabel Mora drills down into AI’s role in managing requests for service and speeding resolution to illustrate its benefits.
AI water consumption: Generative AI’s unsustainable thirst
In this eye-opening article, David Rand explains a major downside to the generative AI craze – the technology’s toll on water resources.
