We explore the key trends set to define a new digital decade.
We live in a time of near-constant innovation. In fact, with digital change coming from a variety of specialisms, it can be difficult to know where to focus our attention and energy. For candidates, it has never been more important to adopt a mantra of life-long learning. While it’s vital that organisations mobilise their existing skills base and invest in new expertise to face new challenges and embrace groundbreaking technology. We take a look at some of the biggest trends of 2020 and how they could influence your digital recruitment strategy or compensation expectations, below.
Edge Computing will Change The Way We Think About Data
Edge computing is when data is processed at the edges of a network rather than in a central hub or cloud. This means data is processed close to the device where it was generated. The rising importance of edge computing has been driven by the billions of IoT (Internet of Things) devices in use around the world. Strategy Analytics report that data will be processed by edge computing in 59% of IoT uses by 2025. It’s vital that organisations engage forward-thinking data specialists, and have a full understanding of how different areas of niche data expertise can combine to support their business.
The Digital Customer Journey Evolves
Customers in 2020 will be more savvy than ever before, and they will no longer tolerate a disjointed or outdated customer experience. A Walker study, reported on by SuperOffice, found that, by 2020, customer experience will outrank price and product as the key brand differentiator. Customers expect a seamless user journey that flows between platforms, effortlessly. Brands who fail to deliver on this or who maintain outdated legacy systems will be left behind. Smarter use of analytics can help organisations to predict and meet customer needs while engagement with full stack developers can help to create a cohesive user experience. Our 2020 Salary Survey found that UX designer salaries increased by 4.13% in 2019, and the ongoing focus on customer journey means it’s likely that this trend will continue to grow.
AI Advances Drive Innovation in Marketing
AI is already a significant part of our lives. Many of us have invited AI assistants into our homes, and it has significant applications in automation, navigation, and research. Though still in its infancy in marketing, AI use is expected to grow and it could be game-changing for marketers everywhere. AI has the potential to improve brand loyalty by collecting and analysing key insights, driving personalised offerings, and automating customer interactions. By looking to implement new technology in innovative ways and connecting with marketers who have experience working alongside AI tools, organisations could outperform the competition.
5G Will Transform Product Development
5G is currently being rolled out quietly across the UK, and this next generation of mobile internet will have significant benefits for users and developers alike. Promising speeds that are 100 times faster than 4G and lower latency, 5G is expected to be available across the UK in 2022. This provides a unique opportunity for developers to create new products that make the most of this expanded capability. Forward-thinking organisations will begin to explore these possibilities now. While product designers and managers may see opportunities (and compensation) increase. Our 2020 Salary Survey found that product managers already command the highest entry level salaries, with junior product managers earning an average salary of £36,000.
Want to find out more about the trends that will shape 2020? Download the latest Xcede Salary Survey today to discover what’s happening in your industry or get in touch with one of our expert consultants to discuss your digital sector recruiting needs.
