Are you looking to start investing in technology? If so, there have been a variety of innovations in sectors such as virtual reality gaming and manual labor automation, which have made advanced technology available to the public. In this sector there are a number of consumers looking to make a technology investment, and many are willing to take big risks to do so.
Keep reading for the seven technology investing trends in 2017 that investors should watch out for. All seven of these trends are bound to attract both attention and capital in the year.
1. Social Media
Certain aspects of the sector, such as marketing data and social analytics are growing exponentially, however, social media is still considered to be relatively new. Many predict that social media will make a tsunami in news dissemination and marketing.
To date, targeting specific individuals, which is known as influencer marketing, remains the best way of reaching a potential audience. Advertising on social media is predicted to generate $11 billion in revenue in 2017. Additionally, 44% of adults in the United States get their news from Facebook (NASDAQ:$FB). Social media is expected to replace mainstream media, such as news stations, since media online has converted every citizen, young or old, into a news source.
2. Enterprise Software Will Become Easier
Employees will be able to work easier and with more support as enterprise software is becoming easier and more intuitive to use. Organizations that use enterprise software have spent trillions of dollars, but users of the software often complain about their experience, the inflexibility, and having to rearrange their work in order to fit the software.
Those who are interested in investing in technology are searching for enterprise software which mimics favorite apps, improves productivity and improves decision-making abilities. It is likely that this software will be cross-functional with native integration and smart communication.
3. Edtech
Many have predicted that we are entering a ‘multi-decade technology-inspired education renaissance’. Founder and CEO of Haroun Education Services, Chris Haroun believes that web services like Amazon’s (NASDAQ:$AMZN) and online education platforms like Udemy.com are providing accessible and cheap education and edutainment ( entertainment that incorporates education) to the masses in “more than 190 countries.”
Elaborating further, Haroun states that “today a child in the middle of Africa has faster and greater access to information on their smartphones than Bill Clinton did in the 1990s. A single smartphone has more processing power today than every computer in the world that was used to put the first person on the moon.”
If you’re thinking about investing in technology, follow the growth of edtech. This is by far the most important sector to invest in for 2017 as edtech will have a positive impact on society. Haroun says that “all problems in the world can be solved by education – every single one, without exception.” He goes on to say that he supports “edtech startups, governments, and organizations that help to make affordable and accessible technology-enabled education, which is just as much of a right for humankind as water, air, freedom of expression and freedom to coexist.”
4. It’s a Mobile-first World
Some investors who are looking to make a technology investment are pouring their heart, soul and money into companies who are working on re-inventing the internet for a mobile-first and mobile-only world. Already our mobile-first world is changing the way that consumers go to services and demographic locations, as we now have on-demand screen location, context, and intention-aware devices. To be more effective and personal, developers will have to start taking into consideration the fact that we live in a mobile-first world. In order to keep up with the demand for real-time personal engagement, developers and publishers will have to redesign everything on the web that is not designed for mobile phones.
5. Using technology to extend medical tools
One area of funding concentration in 2017 will be using technology to extend medical tools. For instance, GlaxoSmithKline (NYSE:$GSK) has paired up with Alphabet (NASDAQ:$GOOGL) (Google’s parent company) to create miniature electronic implants which will treat diabetes, asthma, and various other chronic conditions. Additionally, health care will be revolutionized thanks to Nanobots, which are lab-generated and 3D printed organs, as well as wearable devices which transmit on-demand vital signs. Nanobots will soon become affordable and available, so if you are looking to make a technology investment, this is an attractive option.
6. Virtual Reality and Augmented Reality Gaming
One example of an AR game which became an overnight global sensation was Niantic’s PokemonGo. The general consensus surrounding PokemonGo is that it could have had even more sticking power if their customer service was better (there was no PR person for the first month following the release of the mobile AR game).
To no one’s surprise, it is very possible for massive gaming empires to draft off the popularity of Niantic’s game. Additionally, content creation will advance in the next year, making it another option for those looking at technology investments. It is not just technology companies who have invested in content creation for VR gaming, but companies such as Fox, Disney, and Technicolor have all jumped on board.
7. Automation is becoming a huge industry
Automation is becoming a huge industry that will replace labor jobs that do not require human intelligence. For instance, by the year 2025, farming, factory work and data entry will largely be automated. As a result, many consider this to be a major technology investment. It has been estimated that in the next ten years, up to half of manual labor jobs could be replaced. Automation will be a blessing for many, but it will be the lowest paid and the less educated that are likely to suffer.
Featured Image: depositphotos/MichalLudwiczak
