'Multifunctional homes' among top consumer trends for 2019: Report

Euromonitor International's Top 10 Global Consumer Trends 2020 report has identified emerging and fast-moving trends that we expect to gain traction in the year ahead. These trends include "multifunctional homes", "private personalisations", "we want clean air" and "reuse revolutionaries" among others and provide insight into changing consumer values. These also explore how consumer behaviour is shifting and causing disruption for businesses globally. For each of the 10 trends, Gartner has explored the specific characteristics and how the trend manifests, the business environment, data showing behaviour/motivation and case studies about how industries are responding. It also talks about the digital changes that the companies would need to embrace as they move along - such as how robots will be an integral feature for the year or how the transportation changes will ensure frictionless mobility or how people can consume more content in less time.

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According to Gartner, Inc. over the next two years, 50 per cent of the organisations will experience increased collaboration between their business and IT teams. "Business units and IT teams can no longer function in silos, as distant teams can cause chaos," said Keith Mann, senior research director at Gartner. "Traditionally, each business unit has had its own technology personnel, which has made businesses reluctant to follow the directive of central IT teams. Increasingly, however, organisations now understand that a unified objective is essential to ensure the integrity and stability of core business. As a result, individuals stay aligned with a common goal, work more collaboratively and implement new technologies effectively across the business." Dwelling on the evolution of the role of application leader, Gartner said it had changed significantly with the replacement of manual tasks by cloud-based applications in digital workplaces. The application leader must ensure that this transition is supported by appropriate skills and talent.