Accelerating digital and technological advances are sure to become more a part of our everyday lives and work in the coming year. Unprecedented announcements such as that of the Metaverse, prove how the world is more digital than ever.

The pandemic wreaked havoc across the globe and renewed digitization in a way that none of us ever imagined. The marketing industry is no exception, a ‘digital first’ strategy now forms the core of the best-renowned campaigns and advertising houses.

Brands, agencies, and even individual marketers can navigate their way through these key trends to make the best of this digital age:

Augmented Reality and Virtual Reality

While these technologies were on the top even before the pandemic, they only became more relevant during and after the lockdown. 2021 marked the use of AR and VR by numerous consumer brands in the region as well as across the world. Make-up brands such as Charlotte Tilbury and Sephora attracted a massive audience with AR lenses.

Meta's first brand campaign gives viewers an insight into how it will take onlookers on a virtual journey 

Lest we forget how social media giant, Facebook changed its name to Metaverse and redefined its transition to a virtual world where people can socialize, work and play. Moreover, as professionals from across all fields are adopting the culture of working from home and remotely, the idea of conducting work meetings and gatherings virtually converges well with maintaining a healthy work culture.

Blockchain Technology

In the simplest of terms, blockchain is a shared, immutable ledger that records data that one can only add to, not take away from or change. In this way, by forming a chain of data, businesses can secure information, assets that are meant to remain confidential.

While Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies grew intensely popular among the general financial and investment worlds in late 2017 and early 2018, they have since become more of a niche area for cryptocurrency enthusiasts. However, blockchain technology remains a quickly-growing area of growth for companies across a host of industries. It is possible that blockchain technology will ultimately be seen as the most important innovation to come out of the cryptocurrency boom.

Digital Payment

Since the pandemic forced people to stay indoors, a compelling increase in online transactions was recorded. Major corporations, small businesses, and everyday users are relying more on digital payments for everything from buying a car to reimbursing a friend for lunch.

In a recent study by Infosys, 2.07 billion consumers are anticipated to use mobile wallets to make purchases in coming years. Marketers can use this technology to promote shopping portals and products through carefully articulated campaigns.

Smart connectivity through 5G

Faster digital connections, powered by 5G and the Internet of Things, will unlock the untapped potential and add to the value of a marketer’s strategy.

Fully realized 5G networks will usher in a host of new options for streaming content, live events, gaming, and other high-quality immersive and interactive experiences. They’ll also open the door to new models for personalized marketing and advertising.

Micro-video content

Short 6-15 second videos are taking the internet up by a storm. TikTok and Instagram Reels have rapidly become the two largest contributors to driving engagement for brands and influencers.

Brands who capitalize on this micro-video trend – and seemingly algorithmically favored format — will win in 2022.