Top Trends You Need to Know for 2023 Strategic Planning

For more than 20 years, we have been working with businesses of all sizes to help them compete and grow in their specific industries. As 2022 nears a close, our internal experts have identified the top trends in distribution, field service, the home and building supply industry, residential home building and contracting, and manufacturing.

Here is a wrap up of the trends that should be on your short list of top business-building priorities heading into 2023, and over the next several years. For each, we provide a rundown and take you to the full article for you to learn even more about the trends that are most vital to your business objectives.

Home and Building Supply Industry

Ecommerce

We recently surveyed 200 U.S.-based lumber, building material, and hardlines software decision-makers to see how they are approaching the coming year. Our 2022 State of Lumber, Building Material, and Hardlines (LBMH) Report reveals that 63% of industry professionals consider ecommerce to be the most crucial feature in running their businesses. However, many LBMH companies still lag behind. Sales opportunities and accessibility to easy-to-use tools are making it more challenging for businesses to ignore ecommerce, and now the home building and supply industry leader consensus is that Finding the Right Ecommerce Solution is Crucial to Digital Growth.

Data Security

Whether in the lumber, hardware, or building supply industries, How You Protect Your Data Will Determine Customer Success. Choosing the right software will help you build a safe environment for your customers, stakeholders, and staff. There is nothing more valuable to your business than data, which is why it’s the number one target for cybercriminals. Companies must adopt cloud solutions to protect sensitive customer information from hackers. This applies to industry segments that store inventory, customer information, and accounting information, as well as those that accept payment virtually.

Mobility

In this industry, no one sits at a desk from 9-5. They are on the move checking email, communicating with colleagues, and running their businesses, all from their mobile devices. Having access to your business at arm’s length has never been more critical. This is just one of the reasons why smartphones and tablets have become indispensable to communication, sales, and relationship-building across all industries. In Finding Mobile-Driven Success in the Home and Building Supply Industry, we discuss how and why mobile-minded businesses are best equipped to thrive.

Manufacturing Industry

Supply Chain Disruption

More than ever, materials are being shipped on an unpredictable timeline, forcing manufacturers to prioritise aspects that are more within their control, like production efficiency. According to a recent survey, 97% of companies have reported changing their business processes to combat supply chain disruptions. Knowing the status of incoming goods is imperative, not only for production purposes but for customer satisfaction as well. Our industry experts identified the most common factors preventing manufacturers from rising above supply chain disruptions in Managing Supply Chain in Manufacturing.

Automation

We are increasingly seeing manufacturers moving toward automated work processes to increase efficiencies, accuracies, and production levels. But just how effective is automation? In Automation Can Save Time and Money, our experts explore how automation has resolved some of the challenges that our manufacturing customers have experienced in the past, including data inaccuracies and redundant workers.

Labour Shortages

Once hired, it is imperative to have visibility into data to understand what is working and what is not working for your employees. In addition to the increased visibility for management, technology also satisfies expectations from the next generation of workers who are digital natives. Ease of use, efficiency, and accuracy are some of the aspects digital natives look for in the tools they use to accomplish tasks. Allocating all resources efficiently will help save your company time and money. In Using Technology to Battle Labour Shortages, our industry experts present insights to reassure you there are better ways to battle labour shortages and the skill gap than “NOW HIRING” signs and overhauling onboarding training processes.

Our industry experts continue to explore the greatest challenges affecting the verticals we serve, and you can expect even more robust reporting in our blog in 2023. In the meantime, share some of these articles with your team and use them as a springboard for planning your strategic problem-solving approaches in the coming year.

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