The smartphone is the future, in more ways than one. A camera, computer, personal assistant, and so much more, it's a tiny package that packs a powerful punch. Its popularity is undeniable, and the technology behind it continues to grow and change, as you'll see in our Apple iOS 14 announcement article.
 
Despite its small size, the smartphone has made an indelible impact on our daily lives. With almost 3.5 billion smartphone users worldwide and the number only growing, its effects on society aren't surprising. Here are a few examples of how the smartphone has changed industries within the last decade or so.
 
Banking
 
Smartphones have cut down on processing time and pushed convenience, and the banking industry is perhaps the best example of that. Within a short span of time, smartphones and customers have pushed for a revolution in banking services. Although banking itself has existed thousands of years, in no other point in time has there been such a huge shift in how the industry works and operates
 
Personal finance reporter Kevin Peachey from the BBC even predicts that smartphones and mobile banking could eventually replace banking branches. As mobile banking processes become more streamlined and more secure, that's looking closer and closer to a reality.
 
Marketing
 
With portable cameras in our pockets and unlimited connectivity, the smartphone era has become an era of image management. Thus, it's no surprise that marketing has risen to the fore as one of the industries that have been irrevocably changed by smartphone use.
 
Mapping out the different ways how smartphones have impacted the field could be next to impossible, as there's so much about the cultural shift to smartphones that's evident in marketing. One simple example, though, is how it's opened the doors for new marketing tools. CEO of Triadex Services Greg Mesaros has spoken on the benefits of geofencing, a marketing technique that can only be possible with smartphones. Geofencing is affordable and convenient, allowing businesses to send targeted ads to customers based on their smartphone location data. This targeted approach thus makes campaigns more effective at much lower costs.
 
Entertainment
 
Another industry that's been shaped by smartphone usage is entertainment. For one thing, smartphones have improved accessibility and convenience. Consumers want all entertainment all the time, so it's no surprise why companies like Netflix and YouTube have made such a huge impact on modern entertainment through their mobile apps.
 
Mobile gaming is another thing that's started to climb in popularity, and looks likely to keep climbing far into the future. The relationship between smartphones and gaming is symbiotic. Mobile gaming was popularized by smartphones. And as smartphone sales eventually slow down, ComputerWorld predicts that gaming could push those sales to greater heights. Games have improved significantly, pushing smartphone manufacturers to catch up. For 60% of users who game on their phones, that's definitely a plus.
 
Smartphones Far Into the Future
 
The impact of smartphone usage on our culture and society is truly undeniable. The above examples are only a fraction of the huge shifts that have happened since the smartphone began growing in popularity. As technologies improve and more people have access to mobile and smartphones, these cultural shifts will only continue. What the future will look like in a decade or so is up to speculation, but one thing's for certain— it'll always be smart.