Four Business Trends for 2015

The business world experiences annual trends. If you own a business or work in corporate America, it's worth learning what the latest trends are for 2015. Some trends are likely to come and go, but others are likely to evolve and change well into the future. Here's a look at four current business trends for 2015.

3D Printing

In the world of Healthcare Tech, 3D Printing is expected to continue its growth in popularity. According to IT Business Edge, 3D Printing is expected to see a ninety-eight percent growth during 2015. Right now, 3D printers tend to be on the expensive side, but a gradual change for more cost effective options is on the horizon.

The strive for less expensive 3D printers is going to attract new players in the market, although the biggest growth is likely to be in the next three to five years rather than this year. The biomedical field is expected to see an increase in its 3D Printing designs, for both prototyping new designs and for manufacturing medical devices.

Sales & Marketing Integration

Sales and marketing professionals and departments are going to be working more closely together in 2015. Consumers are more educated than ever, so they no longer value the hard sales tactics of old-school salespeople. Predictions are that the average person is half-way through the buying-decision process by the time they make contact with a company, which mandates that companies learn how their clients make decisions so they can properly guide them through the remainder of the buying process. Those companies that don’t make the change are likely to lose customers before they get the chance to open up the lines of communication with them.

Smart Machines

In our technologically advanced world, we use smartphones and tablets to conduct business. Now, our “machines” are going to help us conduct business even more so. Smart machines, which are not just computers, tablets, and smartphones, but all types of machinery, can adapt to their environments by learning and thinking for themselves. Smart machines can then use what they have learned to act on their own. Certain smart machines already exist to some extent, but the big trend is toward the evolution of these machines.

For example, virtual personal assistants already exist to help business owners complete administrative tasks. These machines are likely to evolve to learn better what their “boss’s” needs and wants are so that they can carry them out via a computer.

In the Cloud

Cloud computing is now primarily used to sync content and information across numerous devices (smartphones with desktops, laptops, and tablets, for example). This year and the years to come are likely to see an increase in cloud computing when it comes to syncing teams, clients with companies, etc. Not only is this trend expected to enhance user experience on the current types of devices we use, but it is also expected to creep into “wearables,” technological devices that we wear to compute like the recent introduction of Google Glass.

In 2015, we are already starting to see some business trends unfold and evolve. Only time will tell which trends are here to stay and which still have some work to do.