In today’s digital era, you’ll be hard-pressed to find a modern employee who does not communicate with their team via mobile or desktop video calls while working from home.
In 2021, it’s clear that the most prosperous industries are often those which exist solely online, or which have a strong digital presence.
As society continues to become more virtually sophisticated, people are looking for the most convenient ways to shop, game, communicate, and even eat. In the U.S. and beyond, we see multiple digital businesses that are thriving with these types of services, increasing their market share and profits continually.
In this article, we take a look at four industries whose online amenities have largely become a first priority for many Americans across the country.
Video Conferencing and Communications
It is already being predicted that by 2026, the video conferencing market could exceed $9 billion. In fact, as more and more businesses factor in remote working as a part of their company’s culture, the industry is poised to be one of the fastest growing sectors in the U.S.
Platforms like Zoom, Microsoft Teams, and Google Hangout are leading the trend, providing desktop and application solutions for the average employee. Additionally, video conferencing is already being heavily influenced by 5G technology as increased bandwidth and more reliable connections deliver an excellent digital communication experience.
Online Casino and Sports Betting
The U.S. has seen a sharp shift in the online casino and sports betting industry in recent years, as the passage of legislation in different locations throughout the country now allows for certain residents to play and wager online at their discretion.
For example, now over a dozen states, including recently regulated locations like Colorado and Iowa, have virtual sportsbook providers available for fans living in these specific places. The same is true for states like New Jersey and Delaware who were trailblazers in the digital casino industry a few years back.
However, the U.S. is not the only location who has hopped aboard. The industry is continually growing across the pond in the U.K. ever since citizens began to have access to online casino games in different categories such as slots and table game titles. Here, the market is worth approximately £14.3 billion per year. As technology advances and game developers find new ways to create captivating casino games plentiful in the virtual realm, the sky is the limit for both the industry and its many customers.
Social Commerce
In addition to internet communicating and gaming, nowadays people around the world have taken their shopping away from online retailers to a new digital environment: social media. In 2021, brands are taking advantage of apps like Instagram and Facebook to attract consumers directly as they scroll through their photo and content-filled feeds.
For example, in China, social commerce makes up a large majority of e-commerce sales. Third-party sellers promote products and services better than many websites that are attempting to do the same. Although still lower, the U.S. is catching up to China’s figures, with a market that is expected to reach 4.9% of all sales by 2023.
Online Food Delivery Services
Chances are you have ordered food off Uber Eats or one of their competitors at least once this year so far, if not dozens of times. These companies have created such a strong online presence in today’s modern world that it is difficult not to interact, especially when our stomachs beg to be fed quickly and conveniently.
In fact, in the UK there has been an approximate 39% increase in the number of food deliveries over the past three years. In the U.S., Uber Eats is leading the industry alongside fellow meal service provider, DoorDash. Statistics suggest that the future will be prosperous for these companies and perhaps tech innovations will aid them in their continued success.
This was already seen a few years ago in Iceland, when the very first drone-based food delivery network launched in the country’s capital. After all, speed and quality are two of the main things customers look for when ordering any product online, especially when it comes to food.
