This week, Google surprised the technology and automotive industries by announcing that it would spin-out its self-driving vehicle group as a formal business unit under the Alphabet umbrella. What does Waymo mean? Waymo CEO John Krafcik explained at its press conference that the company name stands for, “Way forward in Mobility.” After years of speculation as to whether or not Google (now Waymo) would introduce its own fleet of self-driving cars, its now clear that the company will become an enabling partner…
CustomerGauge: NPS and the Digital Transformation of CX
My hardline view about the digital transformation was changed when I came across a Forbes article written by Brian Solis called “Who Owns Digital Transformation? According To A New Survey, It’s Not The CIO”. In the article, he mentions the very same skepticism I had, but with an important distinction:
“The reality is though that pretty much every company is investing in digital transformation. The difference between them and companies paving the way forward comes down to whether or not change progresses holistically in a unified manner or through individual groups without the benefit of common vision.”
Self-Driving Cars Drive Closer To Reality and Uber Is or Isn’t Behind the Wheel
I spent the day at Mercedes Benz Research and Development North America (MBRDNA) in Sunnyvale, California getting a full briefing on the state of the company’s EV, machine learning/AI and autonomous work. More on that soon. By the time I arrived home later that evening, thank you Guy Kawasaki for the ride, I received an email from Uber that it was set to debut a bold new autonomous pilot in San Francisco effective immediately. Wait. What? Wow. Indeed. Uber is extending its…
Medium: Medium’s Best Design Writing of 2016
Creative, insightful, helpful, and actionable; we’ve curated and categorized 75 of Medium’s best design posts from the past year.
[including] What is the Purpose of a Logo? Why it’s more about purpose than design; by Brian Solis.
In Context: Fostering a better customer experience across the organization
As Solis states, “each group inadvertently contributes to a disconnected approach to CX because they’re attempting to solve one part of the customer’s journey and experience from their silo. Yet, customers don’t see departments, they see one brand.” He defines CX this way: “it’s the sum of all engagements a customer has with your brand in every touchpoint, in each moment of truth, throughout the customer lifecycle.” I think he has it exactly right.
What CMOs Must Get Right In 2017 To Succeed as an ‘Experience Business’
Like clockwork, every December, experts voice their predictions and advice to guide us in the coming year. Sometimes I offer my thoughts. Mostly, I spend my time curating emerging and disruptive technology trends. This year however, my dear friend Giselle Abramovich with CMO.com, reached out with an exceptional question and I couldn’t resist…especially since the answer was limited to 25 words. Digital transformation and becoming a “customer experience business” is clearly the future for marketing. What is the one thing CMOs…
Travel Daily UK: WTM Conference set new record for attendees in 2016
World Travel Market London 2016’s Conference and Event programme experienced a 5% increase, taking the number of attendees to a record of almost 19,000.
The conference and events programme included sessions on aviation, hospitality, sports tourism, technology, digital, wellness and responsible tourism and featured some of the biggest names in the industry… Industry expert Doug Lansky and digital futurist Brian Solis were the keynote speakers.
QuickBase: Business Professionals Sound Off on Digital Transformation
Why are marketers undertaking digital transformation more quickly than everyone else? Solis suggested it’s because they are leading the charge in technology investments to upgrade and build touch points that lead connected customers along a more productive journey. And customer experience has become a major strategic priority for organizations that wish to remain competitive.
The Writers for Hire: Penny For Your Thoughts, How To Sell Thought Leadership To Your Team
In a recent exclusive interview, he said thought leadership can be measured by social media responses, like followers and “likes,” or book sales and placement on the New York Times Best Sellers list.
“These are the numbers that become the standards for the next generation of thought leaders,” Solis said.
ZDNet: Why AI and machine learning need to be part of your digital transformation plans
Tools like IBM Watson “introduce machine learning to understand what human beings have a hard time seeing in the context of their work,” said Brian Solis, principal analyst at Altimeter. “Machine learning will allow companies to see things they wouldn’t otherwise, because of the cognitive bias that exists in the relationship between humans and the data they collect.”