5 Ways Technology Is Reshaping Marketing And Sales
No matter the industry you are in or type of business you have, there is no denying that new technologies are reshaping the way things are done. Marketing and sales departments are at the brunt of many of these technological advances, and it is essential that these teams can keep up.
In recent years, there have been huge revelations within technology, including artificial intelligence, augmented reality and voice technology. All of these pose new opportunities and threats to businesses, and ultimately the sales and marketing landscape is changing. We have narrowed it down to 5 ways that technology is impacting every marketing and sales team across the globe;
1. Social Media Is More Important Than Ever
Social networking has been around for decades, and marketing teams have been adopting the technologies for a long time already. But in recent years, there has been a huge shift in consumer focus. Today, the majority of consumers are using various social media channels not only for keeping in touch with friends and up to date with the news, but also for making purchasing decisions and connecting with brands.
Social media is now one of the most important marketing channels that any business can use. All social channels are invaluable for marketing and sales campaigns which will drive sales and attract new business. This technology also provides sales and marketing teams with previously unobtainable data. The introduction of sentiment analysis can reveal customer reactions to products and services, which can be used for strategic decision making going forward.
2. Redefined Relationships Between Marketing, Sales And Technology
Ten years ago, the realm of technologies and systems was generally confined to the IT department. Today, sales and marketing teams are required to take more responsibility for the technology they use. As these team members use more and more solutions for their roles, it is vital that they have some influence over them.
This means that the relationship between IT departments and marketing and sale staff has transformed. Businesses are now required to have team members that are able to collaborate across departments, especially when it comes to new technology investments.
3. Augmented Reality Brings New Marketing Opportunities
Augmented reality (AR) has been around for a while, but it has only been in recent years that businesses have begun adopting it. As technology companies are starting to make augmented reality more accessible to businesses of all sizes, the opportunities for sales and marketing teams has increased.
Marketing campaigns can now go beyond imagery and video content, and AR can be used to provide a more immersive experience to consumers. This technology opens up a whole world of new opportunities for businesses to showcase their products and services, and this is something that marketing and sales teams now need to embrace to avoid being left behind.
4. Artificial Intelligence Redefines Customer Experiences
Artificial intelligence (AI) is becoming commonplace among many businesses. Marketing and sales teams are finding these new technologies to be incredibly useful, particularly for customer interactions. Every aspect of a customer journey can be enhanced with artificial intelligence, including customer service and advertising.
Sales teams can utilise AI to reduce the amount of time spent answering everyday customer queries. Consumers today are comfortable asking their questions to digital assistants and chatbots, and businesses can use these technologies to build strong relationships whilst reducing manpower.
Marketing activities can be improved through artificial intelligence, and it can be used to drive sales through personalised product recommendations and advertising.
As we have already discussed, social media is more important than ever for marketing and sales teams. One area that social networking sites are investing a lot of time and money into is live video. Many brands that adopt live video for their digital marketing are seeing huge ROIs and increased brand engagement.
Live videos can showcase products, services and people in a fully immersive experience. It adds a sense of immediacy to interactions which consumers respond well to. Marketing and sales professionals are having to shift their strategies to incorporate authentic and creative live video content.
For many businesses, keeping up with these everchanging technologies and learning to embrace them is an ongoing challenge. For sales and marketing teams to stay ahead of competitors, it is vital that they are made up of the best people for the job. Top talent within marketing and sales is required to harness the full potential of these growing trends. Your business’ ability to embrace new technologies is only ever as strong as the team implementing and learning them.
