<p>While no one can say exactly what the year ahead holds for business, there are some clear forces at work that you cannot afford to ignore when building your digital strategy. Preparing the Digital Business of 2013</p><p>1. With an eye firmly on the future, contributor Rob Howard takes a look back at the trends that shaped 2012 and speculates how they will shape the year to come in 2013: The Year of Big Data, Major Shifts &amp; Convergence:</p><p>The importance of data will become a central theme in 2013, as I anticipate we will see businesses take a more active role in controlling who owns the data created in their communities and in their social media channels. Businesses will seek to better understand behaviors, trends and recommendations that can be made available to their end consumers. As search continues to become smarter through the combination of social insights, less value will be placed on reporting. However, the consumerization of business intelligence will help quickly connect people to the information they need. Read more</p><p>2. With this piece, Dion Hinchcliffe takes a look at the digital forces that businesses cannot afford to ignore in the coming year if they want to remain relevant or in business at all Looking at Digital Business in 2013:</p><p><a href="http://www.cmswire.com/cms/social-business/top-three-weekend-reads-the-digital-business-of-2013-018981.php">Keep reading...</a></p>