New technologies and trends are projected to make big changes in the retail and consumer goods industry for 2015. Trends are going to change the customer experience both in store and from home. Some of the biggest trends include: product customization, increased self-serve options, industry crossover, and increased mobile app usage.

Machine-to-Machine (M2M) Communications

Machine-to-Machine (M2M) communication is a revolutionary technology that allows effective supervision and maintenance of physical assets. M2M communication has historically represented the integration of microprocessors, microcontrollers and sensors with communications, monitoring and control systems to improve efficiencies and effectiveness of business operations.  

To market effectively to customers, brands are going to need to market in new and innovative ways. Some of the biggest marketing trends that are expected to pop up in 2015 include the personalization of campaigns, creative content, use of videos, and building relationship with customers through big data.

Looking ahead to 2015, it’s clear that the changes in consumer preferences will influence new trends in food retailing. The types of trends consumers will be seeking in restaurants will change as well as the way consumers buy their groceries. We viewed two research reports from Packaged Facts, leading food and beverage industry experts, Future of Foodservice: Food and Beverage Menu Trends & Opportunities and Online Food Shopping and Grocery Delivery in the U.S.: Future of Food Retailing, to determine what the biggest trends of the new year will be.

By the close of 2014 in the next couple weeks, sales of coffee in retail and foodservice are expected to hit $48 billion. To capture some of those sales, coffee shops and brands are going to have to be innovative, embrace change, and get creative with their business decisions. One company that has truly grasped these concepts is none other than K-cup creator, Keurig.

Even with all the different traditions and customs, one thing remains consistent during the holiday season: consumers shop. For almost all retailers, the end of the year holiday shopping brings in the biggest profits all year long. Presents, decorations, food, and many more items are purchased in abundance to prep for days spent with families and gifts for loved ones.

While CAPEX and OPEX are the key business components of Small Cell deployments to build a HetNet, it is also important for Mobile Network Operators (MNO) to identify new business opportunities from Small Cells to generate additional revenue that would offset the TCO. Generating these new revenue streams from Small Cells and creating a positive ROI is probably the most challenging business problem to solve from a strategic planning point of view.

Unity Marketing's look at the five most important trends for marketers targeting the U.S. affluent customer in 2015

The United States affluent consumer has never been more important to luxury brands worldwide. While the BRIC developing country markets for luxury (i.e. Brazil, Russia, India, China) grab all the headlines, the United States is by every measure the market that counts the most. The U.S. has eleven times more millionaires than China -- 11.53 million in 2013 according to the Federal Reserve Board vs. 1 million in China, as reported by Shanghai-based Hurun Research Institute.  

Recently released, the “Complete 2015-16 Global Cord Blood Banking Industry Report” reveals key benchmarks to track and why you should care. Benchmarks are critical to assess, because the global cord blood market has matured substantially over the past few years, creating both serious threats and novel opportunities. 

Therefore, judging individual company performance relative to the broader cord blood marketplace has become substantially more complex.

Computer technology has advanced from mainframes to desktops, then laptops and palmtops and is now moving onto, and into, the human body by way of wearable computers. This type of gadget provides the ultimate in-network access, which is hands-free, heads-up operation with complete mobility. With voice activation and head-mounted or touchscreen display options, users anywhere can communicate with computers through the internet. Wearable computers bring forth a whole new concept in mobile computing, computer portability and computer miniaturization.