Techblog
Startup Tech Trends for 2018
What are the tech trends facing startups in Southeast Asia? We take a look at the hot technology topics such as Internet of Things, robotics and augmented reality.
The internet has opened a range of possibilities, and harnessing them within the realm of a mobile phone’s screen has given birth to social media marketing to drive perceived coolness. It has also led to many hugely successful on-demand services such as Netflix, Uber, and Airbnb. People have migrated from bulky PCs to handheld devices and are looking for tools that offer convenience in their fast-paced lives.
Here are some of the trends to keep an eye on, as you build your business with the future in mind.
1. Internet of Things
Smart devices have taken over many aspects of today’s lifestyle. Smart devices in homes, cars and even healthcare have been developed for mass market use. The Internet of Things has made it possible to install chips and sensors in everyday items, from Fitbits and toothbrushes to refrigerators and cars. The next step will be that these smart devices collaborate for a seamless run during the user’s day allowing consumers to further personalise how devices work with each other. Some IoT devices are starting to introduce rules-based personalisation that allow consumers to program their devices without the need to learn code.
2. Robotics in e-commerce
Robots for the home are in development with roll-out targets set to 2020. Meanwhile, the use of robotics has grown in manufacturing, where they have revolutionized the factory floor. The technology is set to impact and disrupt industry practices even further.
Research company International Data Corporation (IDC) has predicted that by 2018, 45% of the 200 leading global ecommerce and omni-channel commerce companies will deploy robotics systems in order fulfillment, warehousing and delivery.
3. Tools to join the conversation
Social media has grown to unimagined proportions since Twitter and Facebook made their onscreen debuts. Business has realised using social platforms to engage with customers is effective but it is also labour intensive - you need a dedicated employee to manage it.
Chatbots allow for more automated engagements by helping business filter the first connection with the customer before an actual human needs to be involved. This means more engagement without increasing employee resources. The caveat for any marketer is to be able to join the conversation and deliver information without appearing invasive or disruptive. Asia is a polite society, after all.
4. Augmented reality
Google Glasses may have been slow to take off but that has not stopped developers from pushing the envelope, with Microsoft’s HoloLens, Facebook’s tryst with Oculus Rift, and most recently, Apple's iPhone X complete with facial recognition and new features for augmented reality apps. Many VR large-scale attractions and home-use games are already in development.
5. Bitcoins and Blockchain
Cryptocurrency has found niche markets, but it is pushing towards mainstreaming in the coming years as global economies mesh and political arenas start to look unstable. An interesting development is Blockchain, which allows the tracking of transactions online. Blockchain is already present in applications used by industries engaged in healthcare and finance, where they offer a secure “ledger” across computers and countries.
In spite of technological advances, it is worth remembering that some old-fashioned characteristics persist and are still valued. One is authenticity, something that Gen Xers and millennials are (perhaps surprisingly) very keen to see at the heart of where they engage – be it e-commerce or their workplace. They want to connect with companies that care, not only for their target customers but also for bigger causes, such as the environment.
Summary
- The Internet of Things will allow smart devices to work seamlessly together
- Robotics will disrupt commerce in terms of warehouse fulfillment and delivery
- Chatbots will offer marketers new ways to engage the customer
- Augmented reality development is being driven by gaming and smartphones
- Cryptocurrency payments and transactions will become widespread