Digital transformation is the new black. It is one of those catch-all terms that seems to describe any investment in trending digital technologies and modern processes and philosophies. Depending on the role, department and mindset, digital transformation means many things to many different people But,Ā digital transformationĀ is much more than just “digital.” It is also the construct for the future of business. I recently appeared on CIO Talk Network with host Sanjog Aul and Steven John,Ā Global CIO of H.B. Fuller, a…
Contrary to Its Name, Digital Transformation is not Digital-First: An Interview with Steve Snyder of the Massachusetts Convention Center Authority
“To thrive in a digital economy, create a safe and empowered environment for employees to learn and take risks.” Technology may be at the core of digital transformation, but itās severely limited in its promise if it’s not influenced by human beings. Yet, every day, companies invest in digital transformation strategies and roadmaps that are absent of human-centered insights and perspectives. On this Ā episode of Digital Outliers, I sit down with Steve Snyder, CIO, Massachusetts Convention Center Authority to talk…
Digital Transformation ā Rewriting the Rules of Business
We live in an era of digital Darwinism. As customer expectations evolve and move toward personalized experiences and beyond transactions, companies in every industry must focus digital transformation on not only digital, but also people, purpose, and relevance. Digital transformation has become an absolute must-have to secure future growth, improve customer experience and loyalty as well as operational efficiency. Along with it,Ā digital transformation also represents an opportunity to rewrite the rules of business? I got to spend some time with…
Digital Transformation Needs Change Agents and Leadership Not Just Technology
Over the last year, I partnered with BMC on a new podcast series called “Digital Outliers.” We hand-picked 11 incredible guests working in critical areas of digital transformation and the future of work including IT, humanities and innovation. The result was humbling. Each episode dives into the trends shaping how companies work and compete. Our guests also offer prescriptive guide points for executivesĀ and change agentsĀ driving digital efforts to modernize culture, productivity, innovation, and experiences. My first guest in Episode 1…
Moving Beyond Demographics: Today’s Hyperconnected ‘Generation C’
Several years ago as I was writing The End of Business as Usual, I researched how the customer journey was evolving. Specifically, I studied how traditional touch points compared to digital touch points and more so, how customers were hacking their way to desired outcomes. Along the way, I found that when it comes to “digital customers,” alignment in behaviors and preferences spanned generations beyond traditional demographics. At the time, I referenced this group of hyperconnected customers “Generation C” where…
Brian Solis Offers Best Practices for Delivering Micro Moments on Ciscoās Connected Futures Site
Solis is featured and quoted throughout Kevin Delaneyās article āDefying Demographics: Todayās Hyperconnected Consumer āGenerationāā on Ciscoās Connected Futures site. Solis is introduced into the piece defining his concept of Generation C: āāGeneration C is a concept I developed to categorize this new connected customer.ā Unlike traditional demographic groups, Solis explains, Gen C is āpsychographicā ā defined not by age, geography, or income, but by behavior. That is, digital behavior. Its members could include your precocious pre-teen or your…
I Answer Your Questions About the State of Digital Transformation
Where are companies at in their digital transformation efforts? This was the question I set out to answer in, āThe 2014 State of Digital Transformationā report. Ā After two years, it was time to check-in on the digital transformation landscape again to learn how companies are changing, what challenges theyāre facing now and what opportunities theyāve uncovered. Recently, I hosted a webcast on behalf of Altimeter and Prophet to share the findings from the latest āState of Digital Transformationā report. Over…
The Opposite of Change is Conformity: A framework for driving meaningful digital transformation
Digital transformation is a buzzword. On top of that, the termĀ digital transformation causes debate amongst those working in or studying the fieldĀ and confusionĀ among everyone else. But at the same time, digital transformation is also one of the most promising and impactful trends in business (r)evolution today. Why? It carries with it the ability to modernize how businesses work, market and serve. AndĀ more so, digital transformation offers a unique glimpse into how disruptiveĀ technologiesĀ are affecting human behavior, expectations and values. It has…
Apple’s Odd, Yet Effective, Social Media Strategy
CIO’s Matt Kapko recently explored why Apple’s social media strategy seems to play the game differently, according to its rules, and not the best practices of everyone else. WeĀ talked at length about it now and over the years. This time, I focused specifically on the question about why/why not have an @Apple account. Part of my thoughts made it into the final article, the rest is below for you to see. Excerpt: Apple does social media differently than its…
Digital Transformation and the Race Against Digital Darwinism
Digital Darwinism is a fate that threatens most organizations in almost every industry. Because of this, businesses not only have to compete for today but also for the unforeseeable future. Digital Darwinism is the phenomenon when technology and society evolve faster than an organization can adapt. There are many reasons for this of course. Every fabric of a company is strained due to internal and external influences. The challenge lies amongst the very leaders running the show today. Their mission…