The Opportunity for Responsible Business

 

The Opportunity for Responsible Business:

Ethics, Human Rights, and Technology in the Fourth Industrial Revolution

As technology transforms every facet of society, there is an increasing focus on societal impact. Today’s consumers shop with their values, and look for companies with ethics at their core.

 

CONSUMERS SEE HUMAN RIGHTS AS A BUSINESS IMPERATIVE

90% of consumers believe companies have a responsibility to improve the state of the world

87% of consumers believe companies have a responsibility to advocate for human rights

 

GOOD ETHICS IS GOOD BUSINESS

% of consumers who:

Are more loyal to companies that demonstrate good ethics 86%

Would consider not buying from companies that demonstrate poor ethics 75%

Spend more money with companies that demonstrate good ethics 69%

 

TECHNOLOGY CAN HELP OR HARM SOCIETY

% of consumers who are concerned about emerging technology’s potential to bring:

Misinformation 93% 
Surveillance 91%
Job losses 88%
Threats to democracy 85% 
Damage to the natural environment 83%
Increased/widened inequality 77%

67% of consumers say technology is neither good nor bad — how it’s used is what matters

81% of consumers believe emerging technology can make the world a better place

 

Base: 2,403 consumers in the United States.
Source: Business and technology ethics survey, Salesforce Research, October 2018.

 

The technology industry stands at an inflection point. Salesforce believes that businesses have a responsibility to lead positive change. Learn how we approach ethical and humane use of technology here.