As the end of 2022 draws close, the digital industry is closely keeping an eye on the trends that are set to make noise in 2023. The Ecommerce industry faces a busy fourth quarter with both Black Friday and the Christmas period boom. Elon Musk’s Twitter takeover has not been quiet (it wasn’t expected to be) with several executives leaving the company. The digital skills gap remains a concern for businesses heading into 2023, and a major football club has introduced digital collectibles. 

Elon Musk Takes Control of Twitter, Cutting Several Executives 

Elon’s Musk Twitter takeover has left users questioning Twitter’s future of the possibility of the billionaire acquiring the social media platform. Since the takeover was completed in late 2022, Elon Musk has wasted no time In making major changes by firing several top executives; including CEO Parag Agrawal, chief financial officer Ned Segal, and the platform’s head of legal policy, trust, and safety Vijaya Gadde. 

Reports suggested that Musk is aiming to cull up to 75% of Twitter’s current staff to cut costs and re-focus the app. With these major changes, Twitter’s users are still in the dark about the popular social media platform’s future. 

The Digital Skills Gap is Jeopardising Growth

The digital skills gap has been a concern for many UK business leaders and with 2023 approaching, its negative impact on growth is among leaders’ biggest worries. 47% of respondents viewed digital skills as the ability to code and programme, build a website or create mobile/computer applications, according to a survey conducted by TechNative. 

6 in 10 (58%) people we surveyed in the UK told us that they have already been negatively affected by a lack of digital skills. Addressing the digital skills gap will continue to be a top priority for UK leaders heading into the New Year. 

Is the digital skills gap costing the UK billions in growth?

A new report from AND Digital has warned that failure to solve the ‘digital skills gap’ could cost the UK economy up to £50bn per year in lost growth. 61% of respondents to AND Digital’s survey said that their growth expectations would be at risk if their digital ambitions did not materialize. The same report estimates that a UK workforce of eight million individuals proficient in digital skills is needed to help close the gap. 

James Locker, head of AND Digital in Leeds, believes that the digital skills gap “isn’t a new problem” and as the report has highlighted that everyone “should be trying to get it as well known and as well founded as we can, so we can all start to build a narrative around it.”

Primark launching click-and-collect is a “pivotal move,” according to eCommerce expert

Highstreet retailer, Primark, recently announced their intention to go online by launching their new click-and-collect service. Customers of the popular fashion retailer have been wondering for years when Primark would have an online presence; and with the 1bn loss that occurred during store closures due to Covid, they have made their move. 

“Click and collect has become a huge asset to the high street, meeting in the middle of normal in-store purchasing and ordering online to the doorstep. The e-commerce sector is growing rapidly, and experts say the sector could see a 265% growth rate, from $1.5 trillion in 2015 to $5.9 trillion in 2023.

Therefore, from operating solely brick and mortar, Primark is making a pivotal move to transition itself into the e-commerce world.”

Could the UK struggle to fill 'jobs of future'

Whilst the possibility of jobs in the future being geared toward AI is an exciting prospect, the UK may struggle to fill those jobs if are not taught in schools; according to research. A YouGov survey commissioned by Amazon, 72% of secondary school teachers are in favour of making an active effort to boost education around AI and computer science.  

ASOS & New Look offer the best online customer experience, Zara the worst 

According to feedback from 152,000 fashion shoppers TrustPilot revi,ews from customers buying at fashion outlets such as ASOS, H&M, New Look, Next and Zara, Unified Customer Intelligence startup Chattermill has found that ASOS has received consistently high scores over the past 12 months, while New Look is recovering from a low period. Zara is the retailer with the lowest rating given by customers. This is due to how they handle returns and refunds; according to their customers.

Manchester United launch official NFT digital collectibles with Tezos

Manchester United have launched their first-ever official non-fungible token (NFT) collection, with the first drop of digital collectibles being given away to fans for free. 

The Premier League club says it wants to create a Web 3.0 community that will ‘educate, reward, and unite’ their global fanbase through digital and real-world experiences.

“Much like the football traditions of old, such as collecting match programmes, club badges, and sticker books, fans will soon have the additional option to collect this new type of digital memorabilia,” said Phil Lynch, chief executive of digital products and experiences at Manchester United.

NatWest’s Margaret Jobling crowned Marketer of the Year

Congratulations to Natwest’s CMO, Margaret Jobling, on being named Marketer of the Year at the 2022 Marketing Week Awards. 

Since joining the bank as its top marketer in 2020, Margret Jobling has been on a mission to give NatWest’s marketing real purpose, dedicating her leadership to a focus on financial well-being and the environment.