Top Three Trends for 2013

Now that we see 2012 in the rear-view mirror, it’s time to reset the GPS to identify and map the technical and communication trends that will shape what we do and how we do it in 2013. Analysts are untied in their predictions that mobile, social and online communications will continue to reshape how people communicate. Clearly, how customers interact with your company and their expectations about that experience has changed. Effectively managing that process and integrating the various communications channels may mean the difference between treading water in the New Year or riding the tide of change and innovation in customer communications. Here are three big trends for 2013:

We live in a device-dependent world, where 24/7 connectivity is the new norm. Indeed, nearly everyone has “gone mobile.” Analysts predict that about 1.7 billion mobile phones will ship by the end of the year, up nearly 9 percent from last year. And the tablet market is on track to exceed 100 million shipments in 2013. So don’t expect mobile madness to slow down anytime soon. Smart phones and tablets are overtaking traditional desktops and laptops with extraordinary speed. This means that one challenge to overcome this year is managing this mobile paradigm. That will require developing approaches that integrate your customer communications, marketing and IT systems in new and more flexible ways.