Market trend identification

Market trends reveal where industries are heading, helping you build products for tomorrow's needs rather than yesterday's. Effective trend identification combines multiple data sources: industry reports, search trends, social media patterns, and patent filings.

Look for signals that persist across channels:

• Macro trends like remote work or sustainability affect entire industries
• Micro trends impact specific segments or use cases
• Technology trends include emerging platforms or capabilities
• Social trends reflect changing behaviors and values
• Economic trends influence spending patterns and priorities

Distinguish between fads and lasting trends by examining underlying drivers. Real trends solve persistent problems or align with demographic shifts. A useful tool to use is Gartner’s Hype Cycle, which measures hundreds of technologies on 95 standard hype cycles annually.^[1] Also track trend velocity (how fast adoption is growing) to time market entry correctly.