The Need for Speed in the Online World

Like everything in life, we want things bigger, faster, lighter, slimmer, and just generally BETTER.
In this post I will be discussing the FASTER aspect of our human demands.

The same is true about the majority of processes we undertake in our everyday lives, things are generally better if they are done more efficiently, and ideally finished yesterday! 

From cars to dinner and from shopping to weight loss, things are just better if they’re done with haste.

Processes that were once enjoyed at great length, like going on a weekend shopping trip, are long gone. This is now far too time consuming and pointless. Instead of spending hours debating what to buy little Timmy for Christmas as you scale every shelf in Hamleys, decisions are made in breakneck speed at the click of one button. And before you know it, your item is being flown to you via a small computer controlled drone (it’s destination and route probably determined by an algorithm) direct to your doorstep within minutes. This isn’t so unbelievable, Amazon are already there with Prime Air! 

Our need for speed has never been so urgent. With technology speeding up every single process we perform; it is now, more than ever before, paramount that we keep up.

As suggested in my previous post, algorithms act as a catalyst to the majority of processes. 

Using an example of how algorithms have acted as a catalyst for an everyday process, I will use the example of searching for a restaurant in London. 
Before Google, I would have probably asked a few of my friends if they could request anywhere or keep my eye out in the Metro for any good reviews.
Today, in my Google dominated world, searching for the latest restaurant that will cater for sophisticated dietary needs as well as my culinary preferences, has never been easier. Through a simple statement entered into Google, 'Newly opened restaurants in London, suitable for celiacs, serving Asian and Italian infusion.' This statement generated a mass of potential results, 1,320,000 to be exact! 

But how will algorithms continue to make this process even faster and more seamless? I feel that this process could be tapped into more effectively by organisations, in this example restaurants. 

As consumers we are now asking questions to our our peers, or anyone who will listen, via Twitter. 
I envisage the creation of algorithms that scour the Twitter-sphere searching for questions such as, 'Need to find a newly opened restaurant in London! Any ideas?', once these questions or statement have been identified, the algorithm will then assess the individual user's profile as well as the material they have shared to date, following the gathering of all this vital information that will then be able to feedback to the user with a suggested restaurant that will specifically cater to their very personal needs, wants and desires. as well as informations and offers relevant to that specific consumer.  

Many organisations have large teams of social media support staff dedicated to monitoring social conversations to locate these specific mentions that will aid in their marketing efforts, similar to that of the previously outlined process. However, the manually operated human process takes a large amount of time, dedication and resource. 

So, in answer to my concerns and questions around how algorithms are threatening our jobs and some of the processes that are executed by humans, could be achieved FASTER and more efficiently through the use of specific algorithms. 

So, will this bold suggestion be actualised in our ever growing and all encompassing demand for faster results and our very NOW culture? 

Stay tuned for more Algo-Marketing musings from me! My next post will host some key suggestions on how you can keep up with your all important consumers online. 

@Gemma_Clarkson