Special Edition: BizTrends 2018

[Submit news]( [Advertise]( [List company]( [View newsletter]( [Share]( [My account]( [Follow]( [Unsubscribe]( &mi=1067513&nh=5wntA) #BizTrends2018: All the latest industry trends! Welcome to another edition of BizTrends and a bright and shiny New Year! Disruption has become a part of our lives in every industry, fuelled by new technologies and unprecedented change in the future of work and society. The only way to navigate is to understand what is coming and develop an ability to predict the future so you are as prepared as you can be during these continental shifts. And the way to do that is by studying trends and reading everything relevant to your business and your industry. Trends provide hope, as there is some security in certainty. Yes, they predict cataclysmic change in some instances, but guess what, everyone is together in this. We are all living through this disruption and the dawn of artificial intelligence, robots and other innovations that were the stuff of sci-fi novels a few decades ago.We thank all our expert contributors and our sponsors for helping us record these historical times and bring you the latest trends for 2018 in our industry. Click through to the BizTrends2018 [special section]( for ease of reference. Now go out there and disrupt 2018! Louise Marsland BizTrends2018 Editor & Trends Curator [Ad on Bizcommunity]( [Biz] Top trends [#BizTrends2018: Identity crisis - the business of being WOKE] [Identity crisis - the business of being WOKE]( [Dion Chang]( In many ways 2017 was the watershed year for being 'woke': politically, economically, socially and culturally. Technology has for many years been the primary disruptor of business, but a socio-cultural wave will hit businesses in 2018. Brace yourselves for a year of dual disruption...[read]( [#BizTrends2018: Just-in-time marketing: The strategies of today's savviest CMOs] [][The strategies of today's savviest CMOs]( It's a world of changing consumer dynamics - one in which companies' ability to flow with trends has become key... [read]( [#BizTrends2018: The ever-changing consumer] [][The ever-changing consumer]( [Dave Nemeth]( In order for businesses to strive and even survive in many instances, it is vital that they take on a 'human-centered' approach to every aspect of their business and invest more time and effort on truly trying to understand their customers... [read]( [Advertising]( [#BizTrends2018: A short to-do list for the New Year] [][A short to-do list for the New Year]( [Pepe Marais]( So where does 2018 leave us mere mortals, all analogue by design, in a digital world that is catapulting forward at the speed of light? What are we to do in the coming year, in order not to be left behind...? [read]( [#BizTrends2018: The changing media environment for ad agencies] [][The changing media environment for ad agencies]( [Odette van der Haar]( Like all sectors within the economy, we face economic and political instability which can have an impact on investment and ultimately marketing spend... [read]( [Ad on Bizcommunity]( [#BizTrends2018: Storytelling has to sit at the core of it all] [][Storytelling has to sit at the core of it all]( [Brett Morris]( 90% of all internet traffic will be video based in 2019: there's absolutely no doubt that the way brands communicate will have to cater for an insatiable need for agile, high-quality video content... [read]( [Amanda Dlamini, strategic planning manager at Y&R.] [][Treading softly - creativity in sensitive times]( [Amanda Dlamini]( The world of advertising and creativity has come under great scrutiny in recent years. The rise of consumer activism has caused ordinary people throughout the world to question the integrity of brands as well as corporations at large... [read]( [#BizTrends2018: Sex, data and advertising] [][Sex, data and advertising]( [Natalie Otte, Ilse Dinner]( Forget about Harry and Meghan, the match of the century is advertising and research, with data playing cupid... [read]( [#BizTrends2018: Go where the people are] [][Go where the people are]( [Gau Narayanan]( Demands on corporates are changing and agencies need to respond better... [read]( [#BizTrends2018: Brands need to stop thinking like brands and become more human] [][Brands need to stop thinking like brands and become more human]( [Dean Oelschig]( Brands need to become more human and create work that receives permission to communicate with their audiences... [read]( [Nicole Solarsh Glickman, creative group head at House of Brave.] [][Refocus on the business of advertising]( [nicole glickman]( For years we've been told that the future of advertising is the internet and data. So, we all followed the trend and jumped onto the super highway. From the days of dial-up to LTE and fibre, we have continuously raced ahead, finding new ways to create new waves. Today, streams of videos, interviews, content, shows, sounds, and apps, are brought to us by brand X... [read]( [OJ Van Jaarsveld, account director and film producer at Young Gun Films.] [][The collaborative SA film producer-consumer cycle]( OJ Van Jaarsveld of Young Guns Films says there are four main South African audience trends directly influencing what the film industry is doing, along with eight local film production trends, which in turn will affect the audience... [read]( [#BizTrends2018: E-sports in South Africa - it's only just begun] [][E-sports in South Africa - it's only just begun]( [Barry Louzda]( E-sports in the last two years has exploded onto the South African scene with not much in the way of any sort of understanding of how to get involved. The biggest question is, where is this going to go in 2018 and onwards? [read]( [Digital]( [#BizTrends2018: The Platform Economy] [][The Platform Economy]( [Josephine Buys]( The Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) is ushering in technologies that can enable us, the South African digital industry, to change the course of history... [read]( [#BizTrends2018: An augmented reality check] [][An augmented reality check]( [Johan Walters]( If we look at how tech companies are ploughing money into AR and VR developments it's easy to see why analysts are so bullish about the growth in this space... [read]( [Ad on Bizcommunity]( [Gil Sperling, CTO of Popimedia.] [][You guessed it, it's the year of video]( [Gil Sperling]( Cisco released a report late 2017 which, if its predictions are to be believed, adds fuel to marketers angling for increased budget for video creation... [read]( [Gustav Goosen, CEO of The SpaceStation.] [][The digital marketing trends marketers need to pay attention to]( [Gustav Goosen]( Truly understanding your customer... and other complexities we can expect in 2018... [read]( [#BizTrends2018: Personalised advertising, robots and AR] [][Personalised advertising, robots and AR]( [Bianca Quinn-Diavastos]( 2018 is going to be an incredible year for personalised advertising, robots taking over and your car knowing when you need milk... [read]( [#BizTrends2018: Delivering UX with soul] [][Delivering UX with soul]( [Mike Carter]( Programmatic has entrenched itself in our digital world and we all know it is not going anywhere, but we will see more channels being added, more capabilities and all being underpinned by artificial intelligence... [read]( [#BizTrends2018: South African businesses should be investigating AI (now)] [][South African businesses should be investigating AI (now)]( [Colin Thornton]( As more of our devices become synced and begin to communicate with each other, connectivity will soon take on an entirely new meaning... [read]( [Leigh Andrews, editor-in-chief of marketing and media at Bizcommunity.] [][Rewind from attention spam back to attention span]( [Leigh Andrews]( One of the biggest trends we're set to see this year is a plethora of marketing messages facing ever-decreasing attention from consumers. Take note of the clever planning required for yours to stand out from the snowballing amount of spam... [read]( [#BizTrends2018: It is time for marketing professionals to become more innovative] [][It is time for marketing professionals to become more innovative]( [Desiree Gullan]( From AI and data visualisation to cutting-edge segmentation and contextual marketing; industry players must have a firm grip on the latest trends... [read]( [Gabbi Brondani Rego, director at Urban Espresso.] [][More brands exploring the e-sports and gaming space]( [Gabbi Brondani]( The way PR is practiced and implemented has changed drastically in the past few years. The same goes for how brands communicate with their consumers... [read]( [#BizTrends2018: Location strategy's new role in the marketing mix] [][Location strategy's new role in the marketing mix]( [Marc du Plessis]( The increasing importance of location strategy as a key standalone element of any marketer's brand plans... [read]( [#BizTrends2018: Prescriptive data in the digital space, the next big thing] [][Prescriptive data in the digital space, the next big thing]( [Paula Raubenheimer]( The recent advances in data analytics and machine learning will see a huge shift in how we use data in 2018... [read]( [Mike Oelschig, head of strategy at Cerebra.] [][The (eventual) rise of the social command centre in South Africa]( [Mike Oelschig]( Terms like "command centre" or "digital centre of excellence" have been in the South African marketing landscape's lexicon for a few years now; but for the most part that has largely where the concept has remained. Until now... [read]( [Marcus von Geyso and Diogo Mendonça] [][Today's kids will never know...]( [Diogo Mendonça and Marcus von Geyso]( If you've seen the hilarious tweets accompanying the hashtag, #TodaysKidsWillNeverKnow, throwing back to the days of playing 'Snake' on a Nokia 3310 or walking around with a portable CD player stuffed in your backpack, you probably laughed, right before thinking, "Damn, I feel old."... [read]( [Laura Owings Rawden, director at Locomedia.] [][Your customers are smarter than you think - talk to them better]( [Laura Owings Rawden]( Marketing is all about crafting the right message for your audience. And since the dawn of the Mad Men age, there's been no limit to how we do that - until now... [read]( [Natalie Pool, Native VML's head of content.] [][Is the 280-character count the end of brands on Twitter?]( [Natalie Pool]( If nothing else, Twitter has long since been defined by its ruthless 140-character count. It forced us to choose our words carefully. It challenged us to get the point. It reimagined short stories. It captivated our diminishing attention spans in a way that Facebook, TV, teachers and even news bulletins couldn't... [read]( [Samantha Wright, content producer at Tech Girl.] [][Death to the influencer - a shift in word-of-mouth marketing]( [Samantha Wright]( Influencer. The dirty word of 2017. It's interesting how the landscape shifts so quickly and in such a short period of time... [read]( [Marketing]( [#BizTrends2018: Africans for Africans by Africans] [][Africans for Africans by Africans]( [Nonye Mpho Omotola]( Africa has a population of over 1 billion people, 70% of which are youthful, aspirational and passionate about their continent. The proposition 'Africans for Africans by Africans' has become a dominant force with young people in Africa... [read]( [#BizTrends2018: Small is Africa's 'new smart' in 2018] [][Small is Africa's 'new smart' in 2018]( [Ailsa Wingfield]( Africa has become a continent of catchphrases, be it 'Africa rising', 'untapped middle class', 'e-commerce explosion', 'leapfrogging technology' or 'brand loyalists', the list is endless... but what do they mean in a real-world context...? [read]( [Ad on Bizcommunity]( [Matt Preschern, EVP and chief marketing officer of HCL Technologies.] [][Marketing in the era of 'always on' communication]( [Matt Preschern]( When the yachts contesting the [Volvo Ocean Race (VOR)]( left Cape Town on Sunday, 10 December bound for Melbourne, Australia. Matt Preschern, EVP and chief marketing officer of HCL Technologies, the technology partner of the VOR in Cape Town, who features on the Forbes list of the 50 most influential CMOs, shared the five most important trends he sees in marketing today... [read]( [Nicola Cooper, senior trend analyst and cultural strategist at Nicola Cooper & Associates (NC&A).] [][Connecting with ever-connected, ever-younger African consumers]( [Nicola Cooper]( With the largest 'youth bulge' in the world, the future of Africa is young, dynamic, determined. No one can afford to ignore the youth in Africa and the local and global business community needs to prepare for the ever-connected, younger generations... [read]( [#BizTrends2018: Branding is the key to unlocking company innovation] [][Branding is the key to unlocking company innovation]( [Mathew Weiss]( The economy in which we're operating post-2007 needs to be rethought as an evolution of a zero-sum game. Innovation is what breaks the zero-sum model for companies... [read]( [Heidi Brauer, chief marketing officer, Hollard Insurance.] [][A trends story from a magician's granddaughter]( [Heidi Brauer]( A marketing doyen waves her magic wand to wish in the trends she visualises for this year... [read]( [#BizTrends2018: Three things you have to know about your customers in 2018] [][Three things you have to know about your customers in 2018]( [Brandon de Kock]( There are clear super-trends that determine what people need, what they think and how they are likely to behave. Here then are the 'big three' undercurrents all marketers and brand owners should bear in mind when trying to guess what to do next... [read]( [#BizTrends2018: ...And the Bots are live!] [][...And the Bots are live!]( [Sue Disler]( Here are just a few questions to ask yourself that could influence how you move forward in 2018... [read]( [Chrisna Basson, head of strategy at Weathermen & Co, Namibia.] [][A positive perspective on moving towards 4.0]( [Chrisna Basson]( What a year it's been! But enough people have written about that, so I'd rather look at a few of the consequences we'll feel in 2018. Which, to my surprise, are mostly positive. I've highlighted four of the best... [read]( [#BizTrends2018: The in-store experience - an opportunity for brands] [][The in-store experience - an opportunity for brands]( [Caroline Currie]( How many times do you go to the shop for only one item and land up buying a number of products? The in-store experience is a valuable opportunity for retailers to build brand loyalty... [read]( [Media]( [#BizTrends2018: Five Predictions for media] [][Five Predictions for media]( [Lisa Macleod]( The demise of Twitter, consolidation in the media, the false economy of programmatic and other predictions... [read]( [#BizTrends2018: Transformation, agency consolidation and real consumer insights] [][Transformation, agency consolidation and real consumer insights]( [Kgaugelo Maphai]( There is no doubt that there's loads of uncertainty ahead of the coming year. I believe that digital integration, continued agency consolidations, consumer insights and the looming MAC Charter deadline will be recurring themes... [read]( [Ad on Bizcommunity]( [#BizTrends2018: Telling the truth is not a lie] [][Telling the truth is not a lie]( [Samantha Page]( Remind the world that responsible journalism in a healthy democracy holds power accountable and delivers the truth at all costs, despite what the architects of hate may say... [read]( [#BizTrends2018: A few 'bone shakers' for media in 2018] [][A few 'bone shakers' for media in 2018]( [Graham Deneys]( Going into 2018, we need to give the word disruption the respect it deserves... [read]( [Omar Essack, CEO of Primedia Broadcasting.] [][Advertising platform accountability]( [Omar Essack]( We live in a world of blurred lines. There are companies that look and feel like cab companies. We love the services they deliver, so we're grateful for them but they claim not to be cab companies... [read]( [#BizTrends2018: Down with 'short-termism', more focus on customisation] [][Down with 'short-termism', more focus on customisation]( [Ryan Williams]( Developments will accelerate or land in the next 12 months, include brand equity, ad blocking, digital growth, big data and growing businesses... [read]( [#BizTrends2018: The near future of data fusion] [][The near future of data fusion]( [Peter Langschmidt]( The future of research and particularly media research, will be data fusion as opposed to the traditional single source... [read]( [Kevin Welman, director and co-owner of ByDesign Communications.] [][The rise (and rise) of influencers and specialists]( [Kevin Welman]( There are two major trends effecting communications this year: influencer marketing and the rise of specialists... [read]( [Eyewitness News reporter Gia Nicolaides.] [][Information overload - finding the 'right' kind of news]( [Gia Nicolaides]( If you heard the news today, it's because you chose to. It doesn't mean that you and I have consumed the same news and even if we have, the information and our level of engagement may be different... [read]( [Daniel Munslow, independent communications consultant.] [][Are you a reputational resilience expert or crisis fodder?]( [Daniel Munslow]( 2017 was not a good year for companies handling crises. The number of casualties was alarming. We had our pick of it - from motoring, to beverages, to aviation, and everything in between... [read]( [Mobile]( [#BizTrends2018: Get ready for fluid reality and a collapsing conversion funnel in 2018] [][Get ready for fluid reality and a collapsing conversion funnel in 2018]( [Nunu Ntshingila]( By 2020, more people will have mobile phones than running water or electricity at home. And for the first time in history, more people will be connected to the internet than not... [read]( [#BizTrends2018: Top mobile trends for the 2018 consumer] [][Top mobile trends for the 2018 consumer]( [Lynette Hundermark]( Before we can start talking about any trends, marketers need to be aware of the fact that mobile starts with an understanding of how fiercely personal this device is, it has become more of an appendage than a device... [read]( [Ad on Bizcommunity]( [#BizTrends2018: Predicting future consumer behaviour] [][Predicting future consumer behaviour]( [Diane Gantz]( The insights industry is transforming in order to remain relevant in a new fast-moving world where consumers have easy access to endless choices... [read]( [#BizTrends2018: The rise of AI and gamification in in-transit advertising] [][The rise of AI and gamification in in-transit advertising]( [Devon Brough]( Geo-targeted advertising is becoming more and more important for marketers; and artificial intelligence in vehicle transit advertising will also become more common place over the next few years.... [read]( Industry trends [Education & Training]( [#BizTrends2018: The year of collaborative learning] [][The year of collaborative learning]( [GetSmarter]( By the year 2020, more than a third of the desired core skill sets of most occupations will be made up of skills that aren't yet considered vital to the job today... [read]( [Ad on Bizcommunity]( [IT & Telecommunications]( [#BizTrends2018: What's on the ICT agenda in 2018?] [][What's on the ICT agenda in 2018?]( [Jarryd Chatz]( Savvy business owners understand the value of trendspotting, particularly when it comes to trends with wide-ranging industry bearing and the potential to disrupt. So, what's on the agenda for 2018? [read]( [Ad on Bizcommunity]( More Trends By Industry [Africa]( [Agriculture]( [Autmotive]( [CSI & Sustainability]( [Construction]( [Education]( [Energy]( [Finance]( [Healthcare]( [HR]( [ICT]( [Legal]( [Lifestyle]( [Logistics & Transport]( [Marketing & Media]( [Property]( [Retail]( [Tourism]( FOLLOW US [Facebook]( [Twitter]( [LinkedIn]( [YouTube]( [Instagram]( [Google+]( [RSS]( [List company]( [List CV]( [List new business]( [List portfolio showcase]( [List profile]( [Submit event]( [Submit gallery]( [Submit job ad]( [Submit new appointment]( [Submit news]( [Submit noticeboard]( [Submit op-ed contribution]( [Home]( [My job ads]( [My events]( [My company]( [My CV]( Advertising: We welcome your sales enquiries! Email [sales@bizcommunity.com](mailto: sales@bizcommunity.com) and read more about our [advertising rates]( Cape Town, 1st Floor, 4 Treaty Rd, Woodstock, Cape Town, 7925, South Africa. Tel +27 (0)21 404 1460© 2018 [Bizcommunity.com](. All rights reserved. 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