20's Predictions For The Built Environment

AANEW DE DE : NEW DE DE: CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY PREDICTIONS FOR THE 20’S

PREDICTIONS FOR THE 20’S

By Shawn Draper, Contributing Editor

We are entering a new decade and it seems appropriate if not necessary to share with you our predictions for the 20s.

We can usually point to larger business and cultural forces as the impetus behind BY SHAWN DRAPER, those changes.

As we look forward, we predict these forces will be even stronger.

They will facilitate faster, more dynamic changes in the construction industry.

CONTRIBUTING EDITOR, COMMARCH

www.commarch.com

We are entering a new decade and it seems appopriate if not necessary to share with you our predictions for the 20s.

Like many industries, the construction industry has historically been conservative, slow to make changes in products, distribution, sales and marketing. This is not to say the industry has been stagnant; there have been significant changes over the years. Almost always, we can usually point to larger business and cultural forces as the impetus behind those changes. As we look forward, we predict these forces will be even stronger. They will facilitate faster, more dynamic changes in the construction industry. With this in mind, we are pleased to share our predictions for the 20s.

Globalization ...

One of the greatest challenges to face the construction industry – and humanity itself – is climate change. Given its sheer size, we see a return to globalization as businesses and governments unite to address it. The gravity of the implications of climate change will force the construction industry to change products, materials, building practices and codes faster and with more urgency than ever before. The industry will have to be proactive about making changes. Taking a traditionally conservative approach to change by the construction industry will lead to changes being dictated by third party forces. Naturally, not all businesses will be on board with globalization, and they will be resistant to change. But there will be several businesses that will see globalization and the demands of climate change as an opportunity and will be strikingly successful.

May I Take Your Order? ...

Ecommerce retailers like Amazon have conditioned consumers to want and expect convenience and immediate gratification. This is one area the construction industry has been slow to adopt. That will finally change as the construction industry will embrace the ecommerce business model. Online ordering, logistics, payment, order history and customer service all go online to meet the demands of consumers. Today’s distribution partners will focus on delivery which will increase their margin and profitability by reducing their sales and customer service costs.

Social media purchasing will become a new normal for several areas of the building products, appliances, home décor and furnishings businesses.

Baby Boomers ...

The Wall Street Journal recently reported 21 million homes owned by Baby Boomers will go on the market in the next twenty years. That is a huge number, and it will create a glut in existing housing available to Generations X, Y, and Z. But will those generations want those homes built around the needs and desires of Baby Boomers?

Typically, they are seeking smaller homes with more convenient integrated systems.

We predict this will lead to a remodeling boom with an emphasis on systems updates to integrate HVAC, water and smart products like appliances, security and communications.

Putting The ‘Social’ Back In Social Media Social Media Is Here To Stay ...

Like it or not. The platforms may change but the desire of people to share, research, learn, recommend, remark and buy will only intensify in the 20s. The desire for more personal connections will continue to grow and dedicated groups and communities with shared interests will be the new avenue for connection. Micro-influencers will help to create and grow these communities and groups that will develop significant purchasing power and influence. Video will continue to grow as the preferred media on social media with the opportunity for marketers to create and publish video influencer campaigns to reach both targeted and general audiences. In the coming decade, we will see successful businesses continue to acquire the skills and experience to be professional self-publishers of meaningful content for their targeted groups and communities. At the same time, businesses that refuse to take this approach will gradually fade away.

The Customer Journey Will Be More Important Than Ever ...

The Cheshire Cat. The Cheshire Cat in Alice in Wonderland got it right when he said, “If you don’t know where you are going, any road will get you there.”

Whether it is circular or a funnel, businesses must know their customers and their journeys. It is paramount to their success. It is a critical tool for personalization, which will become the norm in this decade. The idea of delivering the right message at the right time to the right people will be realized on a one-to-one basis. Geo and persona targeting will advance to direct personal connections. Privacy will give way to convenience and the need to work together to address the bigger global forces.

Bird in the Hand ...

The best business people will recognize, embrace and focus on their existing customers. For most businesses, the top 10 percent of their current customers spend three times more per order than their average customer. The top one percent spend five times more. We predict there will be a dedicated effort to embrace existing customers as a source of preferred business growth. No longer will it be an afterthought. Existing customers will be the focus of growing businesses.

No More ‘Good Intentions’ ...

The construction industry will finally wake up and embrace the Hispanic workers and business owners that represent more than a quarter of the professionals in the industry. Diversity and inclusion needs to be more than good intentions. The best businesses will talk to and work with the Hispanic customers directly with respect for their culture and language of choice.

Diversity and inclusion will be more than an inward focus of leading businesses, it will be differentiating commitment that will grow revenues and profits significantly.

Banner Advertising is DEAD ...

As the interruptive approach to advertising continues to decline in effectiveness, marketers will come to their senses and stop buying digital banner ads.

Period. Media reps sell it knowing it is worthless, but it’s a revenue stream media buyers continue to provide. Paid social media advertising is now and will continue to be far more effective at targeting desired audiences.

Employee Advocacy ...

You may have read and heard us say that “People buy from people.� As we enlist technology to assist or even lead our outreach as businesses, our customers still value a personal connection. At the end of most all meaningful transactions is a personal interaction.

As more companies recognize this, they will give their employees the best tools to share the advocacy with their customers and the marketplace. This will allow others to see and experience the personal connection with the people that make up a company. We predict making employees accessible to customers through these advocacy programs will be a leading means of building relationships with customers. It will also help galvanize the relationship of employees to their employers, as they will want to be associated with success.

Feel Something ...

We mentioned before, we believe to connect with people on a personal level is the most desired and important part of business. We have faith that the construction industry will recognize and fully embrace the importance of the people they employ and serve. Wages, benefits, health care benefits, education and the well-being of the people they touch will become increasingly important to all involved in making decisions. Customers will purchase from businesses that demonstrate this commitment to all the people they serve. Sales and customer service will recognize the advantage of a personal connection and foster all relationships.

Marketing will leverage the power of this emotional connection to make people laugh, cry, cheer and share the best of what this industry does every day.

The new decade is filled with incredible possibilities for remarkable innovation and growth.

The year 2020 started full of promise only to be stonewalled by a pandemic, politics, economic turmoil and social upheaval. Through these incredible reckonings, we continue to seek the promise of innovation and growth for the new decade before us. We are fortunate to be a part of the construction industry. We look forward to joining you in being an important part of the new 20s.

www.commarch.com