The information technology industry is revolutionizing the world economy by changing the way companies do business. Technological advances have transformed the ways in which companies organize production, invest capital, and create new products or services. Today it is quite difficult to imagine business without the Internet. The Internet has enabled instant communication from global business activities to something as simple as ordering a light bulb. The maturation of the digital age, including e-commerce, big data and social media, has reshaped the way people do business. The unprecedented explosion of connected devices around the world has created new ways for businesses to serve their customers. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an Original Essay The global fashion industry is demonstrating the effects of technology as the entire fashion supply chain is completely transformed. Fashion is a $1.2 trillion global industry, with over $250 billion spent on fashion in the United States each year (Maloney). It is truly an international industry with a long and complex supply chain spanning manufacturing, design and retail. This requires local brands to be in communication with overseas manufacturers. Advances in networking technology have made this possible through email and video streaming, which is fast, reliable and efficient. Telecommunications is a complex system of networks, such as the Internet, mobile devices and computers, that allows us to talk and do business with anyone, anywhere in the world. Technological advances not only impact the ability to communicate effectively for productive purposes, but they have also changed the way marketers should strategize and focus on digital advertising. In the modern apparel industry, manufacturing represents only a fraction of the business. It is a highly sophisticated field that requires fashion research, market analysis, brand licensing, materials engineering, advertising and distribution. When starting a brand, it is important to conduct thorough research and gather reliable information. The Internet allows companies to analyze other competitors in the market to make informative decisions, learn about a product or service, and learn about their consumers through surveys and data analysis. Consequently, not having well-founded information could result in a loss of revenue or potential buyers. Technology will change the future of the fashion industry through e-commerce, just as it already has. Many stores have become obsolete as customers shop online, in the comfort of their own homes, instead of going out. Most of this effect is due to people advertising and selling goods online. Amazon, for example, is one of the largest e-commerce platforms, in fact it is expected to account for 45% of all online sales in 2018 (Howland). As consumers spend more time online, brands must create an online shopping experience to successfully leverage e-commerce. Shoppers search for user-generated content online before making a purchase, such as fashion and lifestyle blogs. This has created new jobs in the industry, such as brand influencers, social media hackers, and digital marketers. One article states: “The number of mobile phone subscriptions, 6.8 billion, is approaching that of the global population, with 40% of the world's people already online” (Kvochko). This shows that in this new environment, the.