Business Leaders Predict Industry Trends in 2023

Influencer Marketing Is on the Rise

Analysts predict that influencer marketing will continue to strengthen into a common marketing tactic. Social media and influencer marketing trends will also be on the rise in 2023, with some really interesting trends predicted for the year. 

In a period of pullbacks, retail media will become more prominent as marketers seek a direct line from ad impressions to sales.

Brenton Thomas, CEO, Twibi

Blockchain Offers Transparency

Blockchain technology offers a level of transparency, accuracy, and security in how they store and exchange information that is unparalleled. 

The opportunities for secure storage of files, better record-keeping, and improved transactions are already being explored now, so I’m confident that Blockchain is essential for finance professionals by 2023. 

This technology has the potential to revolutionize our industry, so I’m curious to see what innovations come from it over the next few years!

Lorien Strydom, Executive Country Manager, Financer

Fast Fashion Isn’t Trendy

More than ever, consumers are aware of the dangers of fast fashion. From harsh working conditions to unfair wages, it’s no secret that companies in the fast-fashion world are getting a good deal on their manufacturing, leaving a trail of consequences.

In 2023, I hope to continue to watch this movement grow, with customers deciding to invest in more quality and sustainable materials that will last a lifetime.

Cesar Cruz, Co-Founder, Sebastian Cruz Couture

E-Commerce Is Highly Personalized

Customers are increasingly looking for tailored experiences when shopping online—from personalized product recommendations to customized customer service—and businesses need to provide this if they want to keep up with the competition. 

With ever-improving technology and data collection, it is easier than ever for businesses to track customer behaviors and preferences and create a highly personalized shopping experience. 

This trend has been further sped up by the growth in using mobile devices and social media platforms; customers now expect seamless experiences across multiple touchpoints that are tailored to their individual needs. 

By leveraging customer data and using it to customize the shopping journey, businesses can build trust and loyalty with their target audiences.

Todd Saunders, General Manager, BIG Safety

AI Will Decentralize CGI

Until now, the mega studios have centralized and only used state-of-the-art VFX and CGI. There is still an aristocratic few that can deliver the sophistication of visual effects we see in Marvel movies. 

But that could dramatically change in 2023 and the years to come. Artificial intelligence is increasingly creeping into the CGI industry. We have seen glimpses of what the future holds with Open AI releasing Point-E, a machine-learning model that seamlessly generates 3D objects from simple text prompts. 

There are others like RADiCAL that intelligently pick up motion and reconstruct human motion in 3D environments. Ultimately, we are seeing 2023 where far less technically savvy players will have a go at CGI VFX thanks to AI, with the technical barriers to entry into CGI being significantly lowered.

Lotus Felix, CEO, Lotus Brains Studio

Holistic Recruiting Lowers Turn-Over

Person-focused assessments, also called “holistic recruiting,” are an approach that moves beyond experience and education in favor of evaluating each candidate on everything from personal values to communication style to extracurricular hobbies. 

Businesses are increasingly aware of how important teamwork is to longevity, and that means hiring new workers only when they’re certain to fit into, or progress, the company culture. 

For me, this means emphasizing a candidate’s potential for growth, holding longer interviews, and remaining open and flexible when considering skill sets and work history.

Rob Reeves, CEO and President, Redfish Technology

Low-code & No-code Platforms Are in Demand

With the increasing demand for web applications and the need for businesses to launch new products and services quickly and efficiently, low-code and no-code platforms are changing the game. 

These platforms allow developers to build applications with minimal coding, freeing up time and resources for more complex tasks, such as data analysis and design. As more and more businesses adopt these platforms, the demand for developers with expertise in low-code and no-code technologies is also increasing. 

This presents a great opportunity for professionals in the web development industry to upskill and stay ahead of the curve. As we move into 2023, I believe that the adoption of low-code and no-code platforms will continue to grow and shape our industry in a major way.

Alan Carr, Director, Webpop Design

Reusable Materials Are Innovative

I recently visited a manufacturing facility that was using a combination of recycled cotton, plastic, and rubber to create panels that not only had incredible insulating properties but also cost much less than traditional materials used in soundproofing. 

It’s exciting to see that businesses are finding innovative ways to repurpose waste products like these and apply them to an ever-developing industry like soundproofing.

Ludovic Chung-Sao, Lead Engineer and Founder, Zen Soundproof

The Environment Loves Eco-Friendly Manufacturing 

As consumers and businesses become more conscious of their environmental impact, there is a growing demand for products and services that have a lower environmental footprint. This is driving manufacturers in the plastic mold industry to adopt more sustainable practices, such as using recycled materials and implementing energy-efficient manufacturing processes. 

Another trend that is likely to shape the B2B plastic mold manufacturing industry in 2023 is the continued adoption of Industry 4.0 technologies, such as the Internet of Things (IoT) and artificial intelligence (AI). 

These technologies are enabling manufacturers to streamline their operations and improve their competitiveness by increasing efficiency, reducing waste, and enabling more personalized and flexible production.

David Reid, Sales Director, VEM-Tooling

Virtual Healthcare Will Be the Norm

Since the pandemic, more and more people have been interested in virtual doctor’s visits, care, and recovery. They don’t want to leave their homes if they don’t have to. 

Telehealth, for example, has skyrocketed and will continue to be popular. We’ll see digital health tools for communication and care become the norm.

Harry DiFrancesco, CEO, Carda Health

Volumetric Imaging Enhances the Customer Experience

This technology offers businesses a new way of communicating and interacting with their customers, making capturing real-life nature and detail in a digital experience easier. 

With volumetric imaging, businesses can offer unique experiences and personalized products that could revolutionize how they interact with their customers. Through this technology, companies can create immersive experiences where consumers can engage with products much deeper. 

While there are still many questions that need answering about volumetric imaging’s viability in terms of cost-effectiveness and scalability, I am confident that this technology has tremendous potential for enterprise applications in this field if we introduce it strategically.

Sarah Gibson, Director, Proactive Healthcare

Buy Now, Pay Later Is Here to Stay

Payment options are shaping the high-ticket direct-to-consumer (DTC) e-commerce businesses because they offer customers a more flexible and convenient payment plan. 

BNPL financing allows customers to purchase products at high-ticket prices without having to pay the full amount upfront. Instead, they can make monthly payments. This trend is especially relevant where the average product cost is significantly higher than other types of e-commerce products. 

By offering BNPL financing, we are making our products more accessible to a wider range of customers, including those who may not have the funds to make a large upfront payment in the 2023 climate. Providing a flexible and convenient payment option, DTC companies like ours can increase customer satisfaction, reduce cart abandonment rates, and ultimately drive sales. This trend is not going away and is only going up!

Marc Werner, CEO and Founder, GhostBed

High-Touch, Low-Tech Builds Human Relationships

This year, trendsetters will embrace a high-touch, low-tech aesthetic, and content markers must follow suit. The constant chatter about AI, cybersecurity, and the right to online privacy will push many into a pseudo-offline space. 

While most won’t move off the grid, many will embrace products, services, and experiences that ground them in humanity. We’ve already seen the turn toward this. Trends like baking, cottage core, and crafting have skyrocketed over the past several years. 

In 2023, the urge to ground ourselves in time-tested, genuine, simple lifestyles remains strong. Content marketing must adapt to this trend. People are already rejecting generic blog posts, robot narrators, and images from the uncanny valley of computer-generated photography. 

Many companies will use these tools to take shortcuts, which will cause their followers to lose faith in their products. The ultimate content marketing strategy for 2023 is a high-touch, low-tech approach that focuses on authentic human relationships.

Amanda Edgar, CEO and Certified Ghostwriter, DAS Author Services

AI Is the Answer

As an Amazon Suspension Attorney, one trend I predict will shape my industry in 2023 is the increasing adoption of automation and artificial intelligence (AI). AI has already revolutionized the way businesses operate by providing better decision-making capabilities, streamlining processes, helping to identify opportunities for cost savings, and more.

In this vein, I believe they will increasingly use AI as a tool for businesses facing potential suspension issues on Amazon in order to identify potential causes for suspension and develop effective strategies to address them. 

This will help businesses stay in compliance with Amazon’s policies and ultimately result in fewer suspensions and a better shopping experience for consumers.

Leo Vaisburg, Managing Partner, Amazon Suspension Lawyer