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In their 2017 threat predictions report, McAfee Labs disclosed some frightening information regarding the ongoing rise of cyber-attacks. Health, public, and education sectors make up over 50% of the incidents alone. Now, drones and IoT (internet of things) devices are prime aim for hackers, but even mobile devices are a continuing target. These attacks are a huge threat for companies looking to build trust with buyers and potential leads.

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Organizations already recognize how mobile technology and the Internet of Things can impact brand value. In fact, more than 70 percent of respondents to the SoDA Report (“Society of Digital Agencies”) that being perceived as an early adopter of technology is “key” or “important” to their brand positioning. 

Marketers often feel poised to successfully forecast and adapt to technological innovations, but how quickly do consumers adopt these digital advances? According to Pew Research, about 28 percent of Americans hold “strong” preferences for being early adopters, while 26 percent firmly avoid early adoption.

This post delves into some of the latest technological developments that are bound to impact your marketing efforts.

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Artificial intelligence is here to optimize your tasks like never before! From taxes, to Healthcare, businesses are moving into the new era. Marketers and businesses will now have the ability to streamline their processes, while eliminating time wasting decisions. 

Apple, Dell, Facebook, Google, Microsoft and Samsung are just some of the companies that have acquired AI startups and are developing new platforms for AI progress. AI saves users time by reducing the choices and decisions they need to make.

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From creating new roles and cross-functional teams to developing customer narratives, organizations are ramping up their martech efforts like never before. Recently these 3 heavyweights spoke at the Oracle Modern Customer Experience Summit, where they were united in transforming the face of digital change and connecting with customers.

Here are 3 examples of how data can transform the way marketers connect to their audience.

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Marketing moved into the digital age quite some time ago, and with any transformation it has come with its fair share of growing pains. Online marketing has become an industry of its own, comprised of Pay Per Click, blogging, and SEO, etc. There’s not a day a user can log online without being hit with some form of online marketing. So, how can you ensure you are following best practices?

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While the purchase funnel has served B2B marketers well over the years, a recent study conducted by Latitude found 87% of buyers now travel a less linear, more complex pathway to final purchase. The four key pillars of the funnel­–attract, convert, close, and delight–are still relevant but, you may want to start thinking about the mental state and behaviors of your buyers during the purchase cycle.

Latitude’s study uncovered six behavioral and mental states buyers will experience:

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It comes as no surprise that companies are focusing their resources on IoT but the actual dollar amount may surprise you. In 2016 alone, spending on the Internet of Things totaled an estimated $737 billion. Predictions are stating that organizations are going to continue to invest in hardware, software, services and connectivity that enables IoT. 

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Whether its meeting deadlines or finding ways to improve your lead generation activities, there are a couple B2B technologies that can help your company increase efficiency and help delegate time for those time-sensitive tasks. Here are a couple of ways to increase your company’s productivity through the world of tech!

The video-chatting capabilities of Skype for Business, sharing opportunities of WebEx, and simplicity of GoToMeeting are great ways to work collectively in and away from the office, but there are other B2B collaboration platforms you may want to consider.

When you hear marketing in 2016, what comes to mind? Whether you sell shoes, food, or computers, technology is the backbone of all successful marketing strategies. Businesses incorporate various technological mediums to gain emotional insights while engaging with audiences alike to eventually gain loyal customers. Take a few minutes to see how digital, social, and mobile marketing can transform your marketing endeavors as well as please existing customers.