EF News
We asked - you answered!
As part of our new Big Question feature, we asked four Forum members their thoughts and views on the business trends that will emerge this year.
Johnny Woods, Thrive
One of the big trends I feel will continue to develop this year is flexible working. This was something I was always intrigued by but reluctant to embrace. As an office-based, service business, being forced to work from home has been a revelation. The typical 9-5 has been replaced with staggered hours providing team members with the opportunity to work through the day at a time that suits. This has resulted in a win-win scenario with a boost to employee happiness and improved team productivity. With big brands like Google and Microsoft leading the charge, I can only see more companies embracing this working style in 2021.
Sarah Thackray, BeaconHouse Events
2021 should see the return of in person events, with a difference. We cannot simply expect a switch back to offline events as quickly as we were forced into the virtual world. It will take time; perceptions, behaviours and budgets have changed. Enter the year of ‘hybrid’. An event where some attendees are physically in a venue space, while others are somewhere else in cyber space, logging on. Despite our environment, we all want to absorb the same content, engage in the same discussions and meet the same people. The opportunity of hybrid events is vast, and hugely flexible.
Karen Weir, Weir Insurance
I think we have progressed 10 years in tech terms in the last 8 months. Certainly more remote working and less commuting will mean that people will spend more locally, and opportunity for less centrally located businesses to connect to a new customer pool. Consumers expectations have also changed, with contactless delivery and shipping becoming the normal – there is certainly space for more really good logistics companies! E-learning will be a game changer in 2021 in my opinion. Companies engaging enough and prepared to make the effort with good content and the right technology will do very well.
Chloë Clover, Wander Films
I think businesses will continue to adapt and innovate more than ever. With the help of video and social media, the world is a lot smaller and businesses are open to being more relatable and accessible too! We've seen a huge increase in businesses wanting to stand out online and using social media content as a way to connect with people that they can't physically connect with. Another trend I think will emerge this year is automation. It's part of adapting and innovating, but so many companies will find faster and smarter ways of working which will allow their teams to focus less on admin and more on their roles. 2021 is definitely going to be a scary time for a lot, but in the business world it is going to open up so many opportunities and we're really stoked to see how things progress!
