FOLLOWING an unprecedented streak of fast-paced growth and profitability, businesses are beginning to feel the need for deep soul searching. As a new decade approaches, they must look inwards for a total re-examination of their purpose and place in the world, says a new report by Accenture. Now in its 13th year, Fjord Trends 2020 takes its annual look ahead to the future of business, technology and design, according to Fjord, design and innovation from Accenture Interactive, the marketing and design arm of Accenture which has been ranked the world’s largest digital agency for the fourth year in a row.
2019 has been a year of climate crisis activism, Big Tech accountability, the booms and busts of the gig economy, and the commitment of 181 top CEOs to redefine the Statement of Purpose of a Corporation. Changing mindsets, accelerated by rising digital adoption, have reached the C-suite, forcing leaders to reconsider the very principles their organisations are built on. The report notes that economics and politics, capitalism and resources, and technology and society have long been entwined, but only now have the consequences of their entanglement burst into the public consciousness.
“Protests about capitalism’s trajectory of endless growth defined by profit alone are moving from shouting in the streets to conversations in the boardroom. With this comes an imperative to find new ways to measure growth,” said Mark Curtis, cofounder and chief client officer at Fjord. “These new values may change how we perceive the meaning of business in the decade ahead. One thing is clear: winners will be those organisations with sustainable business models and a long-term view of themselves and their impact on the world.”
Brian Whipple, CEO, Accenture Interactive, added: “We’re starting to see our clients reorienting towards purposeful transformation. The decade ahead will see a challenging of fundamentals, which provides an opportunity for businesses to transform their offerings into something more mindful, meaningful and forward-thinking. The shift from a ‘me’ to a ‘we’ mindset will prompt a need for design to switch from a user-centred to a life-centred approach.”
Fjord Trends 2020 examines seven emerging trends expected to shape the business of experience and provides practical advice on how organisations can embrace the new era ahead.
When it comes to facial and body recognition technology, what is the trade-off between privacy and convenience?
.png "Advances in biometric tech and 5G are creating exciting opportunities for new products and services. As our physical features become increasingly machine-readable — just like human barcodes — brands will design new products and services that are more personalized than ever.")
Fjord Trends 2020 draws upon the collective thinking of Fjord’s 1,200+ designers and developers in 33 studios around the world. The annual crowdsourced report is based on first-hand observations, evidenced-based research and client work. This year, the contributions from Fjord’s new Tokyo studio and the acquisition INSITUM have added another 250 points of view from Japan and across Latin America, making this the most globally diverse set of Fjord Trends ever.
This content was originally published here.
