Future proofing: how to catch the next wave of change

We’re living through another technology paradox. Like the industrial revolution before it, this digital revolution offers opportunity on the one hand, and disruption on the other.

We’re living through another technology paradox. Like the industrial revolution before it, this digital revolution offers opportunity on the one hand, and disruption on the other.

So, how can Tech decision-makers and Enterprises anticipate the future, navigate an ever more complex eco-system of solution providers, and position themselves to be the disrupter and not the disrupted?

How can you address what Clay Christensen calls ‘the innovators dilemma’ – a great book that explains why so many market leaders and incumbents miss the next wave of innovation in their respective industries.

Over half of the companies that made the Fortune 500 in 2000 are not on that list today.
Clay lays much of the blame at the feet of traditional ‘good’ management. Which means you need to disrupt yourself, before others do it for you. And how to do that is explained in another book – the excellent Zone to Win by Geoff Moore.

Geoff says prioritise your business on three horizons:

First, take care of Horizon 1. That’s your core business, which hits your number and keeps shareholders happy. This Horizon fuels the funnel of innovation.

Which brings us on to Horizon 2, these are the next-gen products and business lines, they may not be your core business right now and drive revenues, but they will do in year 2, year 3 and will move into Horizon 1 shortly after. Think Microsoft Azure, Intel’s IoT business for example… It’s critical that this Horizon is fully funded and the business accepts that it’s not going to be an immediate payback, the likelihood is you’re going to go into a J -curve and lose money. Will the business accept this?  Because history tells us that if you’re not fuelling Horizon 2, the entire business will be at risk.  

Lastly, Horizon 3 is where forward thinking enterprises are fuelling, funding innovation projects that may well be 3-5 years out and may not ever provide pay back, but the flipside is that investment in this Horizon may result in a truly game-changing solution or new product.

So work out where your zones are, work out the different value props and understand the investment and expectations of each zone.

And pulling this back to Technology investment and how best to use technology to become disruptive, well in our opinion, you need to change the rules of engagement- How can you make life simpler and enhance your customers life?

Try at all levels to reduce the layers of complexity that act as a barrier between you and your clients and take advantage of what tech allows you to do by connecting with anyone, anywhere. Enhance your customer experience and processes with real-time, cost-effective solutions that Cloud, IoT, Data Analytics, Mobility allow. The next wave is coming. Catch it or miss it. It’s your choice.

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