The 5 Biggest Business Trends for 2023

In a recent article in Forbes (Oct. 3), futurist and business and technology advisor Bernard Marr outlines what he sees as the “The 5 Biggest Business Trends for 2023” that he says will have the greatest day-to-day impact on the way we work and do business in the coming year.

While none of these should come as a surprise to anyone who’s been paying attention, he digs into each one with specifics and suggestions on how to prepare and manage through them in 2023. Here they are, with a brief excerpt from his article for each.

1. Accelerated digital transformation

“In 2023, we see the continuation of innovations and developments in transformative technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI), the internet of things (IoT), virtual and augmented reality (VR/AR), cloud computing, blockchain, and super-fast network protocols like 5G.”

2. Inflation and supply chain security

“The economic outlook for most of the world doesn’t look great in 2023. We are told by experts to expect ongoing inflation and subdued economic growth. Many industries are still plagued by supply chain issues that emerged during the global shutdowns caused by Covid-19 and have only gotten worse due to the war in Ukraine.”

3. Sustainability

“The world is increasingly waking up to the fact that the climate disaster will pose a much bigger challenge than anything we have experienced in recent decades and will dwarf the challenges faced by the Covid pandemic. That means investors and consumers prefer businesses with the right environmental and social credentials, and buying trends are increasingly being driven by conscious consumers…”

4. Immersive customer experience

“In 2023, customers crave experience above all else. That doesn't necessarily mean that price point and quality take a back seat, though. Both play a part, to some extent, in the way we experience the process of choosing, purchasing, and enjoying the goods and services we spend our money on.”

5. The talent challenge

“Over the past year, we have seen huge movements of talented people, referred to as the great resignation and quiet quitting, as workers reassessed the impact of work and what they want to get out of their lives. This has put pressure on employers to ensure they are providing attractive careers, the flexibility of hybrid work, and an enticing work environment and company culture.”

Bernard Marr is an internationally best-selling author, popular keynote speaker, futurist, and a strategic business and technology advisor to governments and companies. He is the author of 20 books, writes a regular column for Forbes, and advises and coaches many of the world’s best-known organizations. Connect with him on Twitter (@bernardmarr), LinkedIn, or Instagram (bernard.marr).