Trends for 2012

An index of the ‘ones to watch’ for business in 2012 could offer SMEs insight into areas of growth, opportunities for investment and the trends shaping the coming year.

Intelligence network Index B, which put together the list of 25 companies, has found that it is SMEs that are shaping the future trends, noting that "the companies that genuinely represent the future of business are often masked from view beneath a swirl of analysis and commentary about macro-economic issues, especially in times like these".

From the list, a number of trends are identified. These include the internet, mobile commerce, sustainability, new capitalism, one-man empires and community models.

Organisations such as Evernote and Dropbox are cited as organisations demonstrating the transition of the internet from serving communication and entertainment needs to tackling more functional, less sexy areas. Meanwhile, the report notes that smartphones are expected to become the most iconic device of the second decade of the 21st century, so companies working in this area are important.

The ideas and economics of sustainability are more entrenched than they once were, meaning that there are significant opportunities in this area - something being taken advantage of by companies such as Closed Loop Recycling and Whipcar. Connected to this, the idea of ‘new capitalism’ - combining profitability with business principles - is becoming increasingly influential.

Also worthy of note is that businesses modelled around online communities are ‘planting deeper roots’. Inspiration may be taken from businesses such as Kaggle, which provides a platform for data miners and researchers to collaborate on solutions to scientific challenges, and Songkick, which enables music lovers to keep track of live events and extend their participation in the experience.