The technological journey to a more efficient enterprise never ends. There are endless new tools which a company can adopt to become more productive. “Digital Transformation” is the latest buzzword to describe what has been happening in companies since the advent of Lotus 123 on an IBM PC which allowed companies to instantly get access to what-if scenarios impossible to duplicate with a pencil.

Transformation never ends.

In 1978, using metal to print newspapers and magazines was commonplace.

A young Rich Tehrani received this metal type from the New York Times as a gift and its its helped him remember that change is constant and adaptation is a necessity for survival.

This is one of the last metal-based newspapers they were printing as they were going to start using computers. At the time, the cost to automate was astronomical – you needed a mainframe and custom software and proprietary interconnections. Choice was very limited but even with this enormous cost, it was a more effective way to run your business. As a bonus, the smaller publisher couldn’t afford to compete. Digital transformation was a strategic differentiator and there was a barrier to entry for the smaller players.

Apple’s Mac and Adobe PageMaker software changed that, allowing anyone with a few thousand dollars to start publishing – to film, not lead-based metal. This was a huge improvement in the industry allowing many thousands of new publishers to start a business.

The web then transformed publishing again. In fact it made access to information so ubiquitous that it devalued advertising and subscriptions forcing publishers to use analytics and other advanced targeting techniques to generate revenue.

Adapt or die

Transformation is constant. Human beings weren’t as strong as Neanderthals but we were adaptable. We developed tools and technologies allowing us to deal with the change of the day which was generally climate-related such as droughts or freezing temperatures.

From 1955 to 2015 88% of Fortune 500 were eliminated! Even more of a concern for incumbents – the pace of innovation is accelerating.

Who would have guessed Amazon would be worth twice as much as Amazon or that Tesla would be worth more than Ford and almost as much as GM?

In summary, you adapt or you fail to exist as a species or as a company. You utilize technology to evolve or you soon won’t have an office – not even at WeWork!

The simplest way for the broadest number of companies to digitally transform is by improving their communications solutions.

An organization with 1,000 people could be losing $11 million per year due to ineffective communications according to an independent survey shared with me by Jon Brinton of Mitel.

Communications is the low hanging fruit of digital transformation and the industry is continuing to transform from inflexible hardware to infinitely flexible software.

We are embarking upon a ten-year super-cycle of digital-transformation enabled communications solutions meaning as a telecom market, there are some great times ahead. It’s not just about collaboration – there are a host of new communications-enabled solutions which will allow companies to become more efficient and more profitable. For those of you purchasing these solutions, the longer you wait, the the further you will fall behind. Time to get moving.

It will be an exciting future indeed!

The communications digital transformation event we need now!

Communications 20/20 will be held July 18-20, 2017 at Caesars Palace,

Las Vegas, Nevada and will focus on the next wave of technology and innovation that will transcend the importance of person to person contact, disrupting the future of the entire communications industry. Communications 20/20 will provide vital knowledge and insight through unique programming, hands on training, live demos, keynotes, exhibits and networking events.

This unique conference will allow for individuals and companies entrenched in the traditional communications ecosystem that want to understand how to adapt and profit from the new software-defined communications trends that will permeate through all industries and enterprises.