Trend analysis

Trend analysis makes it easier to anticipate developments in the future.

After all, before you can make a good strategy for the future, you need to know what you will face. Trend analysis makes it easier to anticipate developments in the future by mapping what is going on in your sector and society. Good trend analysis looks beyond the limits of your sector and identifies new opportunities and threats: it gives you a better and faster insight into new developments than the competition. Thorough trend analysis will make your organisation more flexible and versatile. Futureconsult has extensive experience in drawing up trend analyses. Our future strategists have performed trend analyses for various types of organisations, but your organisation will be the focus of our attention. We can help you get a future perspective on today’s trends.

What is a trend analysis?

Not every trend is relevant. Some trends hardly affect your organisation, while others turn out to be a short-lived hype. But how do you know the difference? Futureconsult has an extensive trend database that we can apply to your organisation. We do this by looking from the outside in: what is happening internationally, what is happening in other sectors, and what are the competitors doing? And finally, how does this affect your organisation and your employees?

We back up this analysis with data where possible, but quantitative evidence is often not yet available for very new trends. We then help to assess: what is the possible impact on your organisation and the expected pace of this development? Quantitative and qualitative trend analyses are complementary in this case.

Why a trend analysis?

A good analysis of trends and developments is always relevant. The actual reason for a trend analysis may vary:

The importance of trend analysis

Trend analysis is relevant to every organisation. For example, we investigated the future of building materials for a trade association in the construction sector: what are the most important trends? And what does that mean for the chain? Firstly, we explored the main developments in the sector: what do we build and how will we build in ten years? Then we extended our outward-looking approach even further: what will the city, road network, and houses look like in the future? What trends are apparent in the field of architects and urban planners?

Then we delved deeper into technological developments: what materials will be used in the future? Many universities and innovative start-ups are developing sustainable or self-repairing building materials. Technology also impacts construction organisations: what will the company of the future look like? Which tasks will still be performed by people, and what will be the impact of robotisation and digitalisation? All this takes place in a broad social and political context—for example, the focus on sustainability and climate.

In summary, we analyse the impact of trends at several levels:

We developed a trend analysis that went far beyond the sector by answering all these questions and many more. Thanks to this analysis, prefabricated construction came as no surprise; technology actually benefitted the sector, and mould as a building material doesn’t surprise anyone anymore. In short, the trade association members are now better informed and can determine a strategy before developments take them by surprise.

Why a trend analysis?

The case above is an example illustrating the importance of trend analysis. We have successfully carried out trend analyses for numerous companies, which allowed them to prepare for future developments in good time. Does your organisation want to join them? Then let Futureconsult’s trend strategists perform trend analysis for you. Don’t hesitate to get in touch with us to discuss the possibilities of a trend analysis.

Let Futureconsult perform a trend analysis for you.

Don’t hesitate to get in touch with us to discuss the possibilities of a trend analysis.

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