Mobile

Implications - In recent years, we've seen the use of image analysis and processing expanding to better connect people to the products they seek within a retail capacity. Today, this has evolved to a place where image recognizing artificial intelligence is now being leveraged in app form for entertainment purposes. This shift highlights a new norm in youth culture where more lighthearted forms of entertainment are fueled by an increased appetite for instant gratification.

Homework Question - How could image search technology be used within your industry? [More]

Implications - Aligning with the culture of convenience consumers are so deeply immersed in today, financial institutions are creating and supporting features that create unprecedented levels of ease related to the transfer of money. Providing cross-app functionality and even voice control support to carry out such transactions, this shift toward simplicity speaks to the way in which the consumer desire for ease is increasing exponentially.

Homework Question - What step of your brand experience do consumers hate the most? How could you minimize or eliminate it? [More]

Implications - As consumer expectations of products in general are heightened, even the most traditional industries such as banking are debuting innovative offerings to appeal to specific consumer segments. One of the ways this is playing out is in the form of multi-currency bank accounts, allowing consumers to move between countries with ease. This is reflective of today's consumer base -- who more than ever before -- expects and values frictionless service from providers.

Homework Question - What steps are getting in the way of your customer having the easiest possible experience with your brand? [More]

Implications - As the population continues to increase and cities are becoming more congested, the pool of commuters that travel to work and school everyday is expanding. Brands are offering users enhanced control over this process by promoting a hassle-free experience. Providing consumers with alternatives and incentives during their daily routines and creatively working in favor of the commuter, they are assisting in establishing memorable connections and friendly interactions with those who fall in this category.

Homework Question - How can your brand create more enjoyable touch-points throughout the purchase journey for its customers? [More]

Implications - New apps and platforms are emerging to cater to travelers looking for a safer way to exchange and obtain currency for foreign countries. These new apps help convert funds and even deposit old currencies into other places like PayPal to ease the burden of exchanging money at the bank or in a different country. This new technology will help travelers save time and energy, allowing them to enjoy their time away and cut down on pre and post-travel errands.

Homework Question - How can you help reduce a consumers preparation time for leisure activities? [More]

Implications - Appealing to consumers' desire to realize their full potential, tech companies are releasing products with a focus on their ability to improve productivity. Often adopting a tech-enabled form of gamification to reach that end, this shift is reflective of the increasing role brands have to play when it comes to helping consumers become their idealized selves.

Homework Question - What are your consumers trying to achieve in their lives? How could you better align your brand with those goals? [More]

Implications - The health and wellness movement has led to more consumers than ever paying attention to the way they care for their minds and bodies. With this has come an influx of products and services to help facilitate this, and more recently, accompanying apps to helps consumers track their goals and progress related to self-care. This shift is reflective of a consumer base more willing to invest their time and money into their well-being, and a willingness to adopt technology to accomplish their goals.

Homework Question - What goals are your consumers most focused on accomplishing? What role could your brand play in helping them achieve those goals? [More]

Implications - Aligning with heightened consumer expectations with regard to convenience, food pickup experiences are getting a refresh by becoming more seamless. By introducing apps as well as in-store infrastructure to support the pickup process, brands are improving not only the customer experience involved in this process, but creating a smoother operation for the restaurant brands who adopt this approach.

Homework Question - What steps could you eliminate in your customer's journey? [More]

Implications - The adoption of eye-tracking technologies into entertainment and marketing-related products is on the rise, offering both function and intrigue for consumers who interact with it. Such technology has vast implications in industries concerned with accessibility, gaming and/or campaigning, and offer a high level of customization for consumers.

Homework Question - Conceptualize a product, service or campaign that could incorporate eye-tracking tech. [More]

Implications - The popularity of augmented reality within the entertainment space is vast, however the technology is now increasingly incorporated into functional apps that allow for the testing of design concepts before consumers purchase or move forward with them. These apps strengthen consumer loyalty for the fact that they offer consumers the perception of choice and customization, rather than pressuring them to purchase the products being sold.

Homework Question - Conceptualize an augmented reality app that could help test and improve consumer's path to purchase. [More]