Ten years ago, flip phones were still around. Today, most of your target customers carry a bright, shiny smartphone in their pockets, and those smartphones have revolutionized the way businesses connect with their customers, from social media to search optimization. Given the breathtaking pace of change in digital advertising, here are three key ways you can expect marketing to change in the coming decade:

AI and Virtual Assistants Will Rise in Prominence

According to Entrepeneur.com, 61 million people in the U.S. own a digital assistant, and 20% of all mobile searches are conducted orally. That means that products like Alexa, Siri, and Google Assistant aren’t going anywhere. Google has even released plans to integrate voice query data into their search algorithm, which means leveraging data from voice searches is no longer a just good idea, it’s an essential best practice.

Augmented Reality

The customer experience is already beginning to change to incorporate elements of AR, with stores like Zara replacing mannequins with virtual cat walks and Walmart using an AR scanner to allow customers to find an item’s reviews and more. This tech continues to become more accessible and affordable, so don’t expect it to go anywhere in 2020.

Big Data

According to Enterpreneur.com, 35% of Amazon’s sales come as a result of the brand’s recommendation algorithm. That means that Amazon’s success is due, at least partly, to the company’s ability to crunch vast swaths of data. Companies like IBM, Microsoft, and Google are all investing heavily in big data, which means that the end of many roles currently filled at digital marketing agencies — things like SEO optimizers, digital advertising, and more — are due for large scale disruption.

Big changes are forecast for the coming decade, and if you want to make sure your business is ready to keep up with the next wave of innovation, consider joining AFEUSA. Members of AFEUSA enjoy a wide range of benefits, including access to discounts on tech companies like E6 Agency.