The year 2021 was a roller coaster — a lot happened, but let’s focus on the positives. Scientists found that broccoli has more protein than steak, NASA made oxygen on Mars and that big container ship stuck in the Suez Canal was finally removed. And martech saw landmark growth — it’s now worth a staggering $344.8bn.

With Statista projecting the 2022 global digital ad spend to hit a $524.31 billion record, it pays to know which martech your business should invest in. We took the liberty to do a little research on the top 2 trends, and here is what you need to know: 

1. Low-code and No-code Tech

A decade ago, building enterprise software was one of the most complex tasks in the IT industry. Programmers would stay up day and night, coding and debugging programs. Not anymore.

No-code development is a technology that allows non-programmers and not-so-tech-savvy marketers to build software without writing raw code. Instead, individuals create websites and applications on a graphical user interface (GUI).

The need to operate at digital speeds has further accelerated the need for low or no-code tech. According to the recent No-code Growth Marketing Report, 96% of those that haven’t used no-code tools are willing to use them in the future. That’s because these solutions eliminate the complexities involved in software development, allowing a company to adapt to the fast-changing digital world quickly.

Furthermore, no-code technology eliminates the need to hire top tech talents for your software development needs. Hence, you have a shorter development cycle, resulting in more efficient marketing and fewer expenses—two reasons why 84% of enterprises are embracing it. 

However, unlike no-code solutions, low-code technology does not replace developers. Instead, it makes things easier for them and is often used by personnel with some coding knowledge to create mission-critical custom applications faster.

Apart from website building, you can use low or no-code tools to create interactive guides for your website, project management, customer support, and automation applications. Some of the most prominent no-code platforms that use the drag-and-drop interface include Hubspot CMS, Bravo Studio, UserGuiding, Bubble, and ClickUp.

1. Customer Data Platforms

Customer Data Platforms (CDP) are another Martech trend giving marketers a run for their money. The truth is, even with data privacy laws like the GDPR and CCPA limiting user data collection,  businesses need a way to monitor consumer behavior —their future depends on it. 

With Google, Firefox, Safari, and Apple phasing out third-party cookie tracking, customer data platforms help provide consumer insights without violating privacy laws. The customer data platform market is expected to grow past $20.03 Billion by 2028.

The CDP is a marketer-managed system that collects zero or first-party customer data gathered via sources like surveys, polls, and even business emails. CDPs create unique customer profiles for leads and existing clients in their database. They also give marketers access to relevant customer data without risking their compliance. Notable CDPs include Oracle CX Marketing, Treasure Data, and Twilio Segment.

Over to you

Martech has revolutionized digital advertising, giving businesses robust solutions for lead generation, higher conversions, brand credibility, and more. You may also want to check out other emerging trends like influencer marketing platforms, chatbots, interactive content, and analytics tools. It’s high time you tap into these opportunities for business growth.