Focus on the digital technology that will transform your business
It’s about not being disrupted and not disappearing from the marketplace
Managers need to focus on the digital technology that will make their company stand out and be noticed.
Accenture, for example, has started using holograms as a way for senior executives to interact with employees and clients on the other side of the globe in real time – demonstrating our ability to weave digital technology into our communications.
Managers of all companies need to be looking at the possibilities of digital technologies to transform their businesses. Now this doesn’t mean you need to invest in holograms but you should invest in the solutions that will differentiate yourself in your industry.
The best companies in all industries are investing in digitalising their operations
This time we are working in is full of opportunities. There is so much new technology available for companies to leverage to make their businesses more effective, cutting edge and profitable: from cloud technologies to artificial intelligence and robotics to simply better utilising big data.
When I look at the common denominator across all our clients in growth markets – from health care to financial services to resources to consumer goods – the best companies in all industries are investing in digitalising their operations. This is because, across industries, businesses are now subject to massive disruption. It’s not just about being better. It’s not just about being more productive. It’s about not being disrupted and not disappearing from the marketplace.
Consider the power of application program interfaces, or APIs, which in a technical sense are a set of protocols for building software applications. But in the bigger picture, APIs enable the freedom to redefine industries. For example, APIs have absolutely transformed the travel industry. These days most customers go to travel websites to book their trips. These websites are essentially a collection of APIs that access data from hotels, airlines and cruise liners, update in real time and provide an easy-to-use interface for booking and ticketing purposes. Once an industry embraced a new technology the whole modus operandi for doing business was flipped on its head.
The same is true for how online streaming movie and TV providers have leveraged APIs to rapidly churn out new apps for smartphones, game consoles and smart TVs – driving another nail in the coffin of quaint corner video shops.