We are in a world that knows no bounds. Technology is driving the growth engine, helping small companies become large enterprises faster than ever. Companies like Uber and Airbnb quickly grew from humble startups to major market players in their fields. What catapults their growth? These brands have an eye for the future. This works in their benefit. However, it’s not just what you know about the future; it’s also prepping for the future. This sets a future-ready company apart from ones that are not.
Focus on the Next, not just the Now
Being a future-ready enterprise is about constantly looking to see what lies ahead. Everybody can see what’s directly in front of them but how many know what’s coming up next? Technology allows us to see further. However, technology is a moving target. It changes so fast that it’s hard to pin down. Traditionally, companies purchase the latest tech every five years. Now, businesses need to keep their ears firmly to the ground to get the latest tech trends before their competitors.
Moving from Infrastructure to Mobility
For many startups and SMBs, the lack of infrastructure, huge capital investments, and large teams are the biggest barriers to growth. The advent of technologies like mobile, cloud computing, and unified communications allow small companies to outmaneuver even the biggest enterprises, with little cost. Today, many small businesses are running on a global-scale, toe-to-toe with their bigger rivals. Investing in technology is no longer a hefty expense. This means businesses of all sizes can be prepared and agile for new markets and customers.
Engagement is Key
Being future-ready is a commitment to technology. More importantly, it’s a commitment to the way businesses engage. With an increasing number of tech tools available for virtually every business function, it’s easy for businesses to get mired in a web of tools. Many businesses focus so much on tech adoption that they lose the sight of their real target—customer satisfaction. While there’s a proliferation of tech solutions, you must smartly choose the ones that’ll help you achieve your business goals. Put the maximum emphasis on engaging with your customers, exceeding their expectations through service. Use technology to get you there. Every future-ready company follows this formula. Think of Google and Apple— their innovations always center on delivering exceptional customer service.
Innovate, don’t Stagnate
Future-ready businesses harness the connected world. They bring together the best talents and tools to inspire innovation. Innovation, small or big, is all about driving what is next or what is possible. Social, mobile, big data, cloud, the Internet of Things—all of these are at the core of what is next. With SaaS, PaaS and IaaS, any company can innovate, grow, and succeed. However, due to the speed at which technology and the business landscapes are changing, they can easily lose the race.
It boils down to this: to build and nurture a future-ready company, you need to reinvent your business process. You need to deal with the emerging realities in your domain and to see what lies ahead. And technology will be the force that guides you there.
This post was written as part of the Dell Insight Partners program, which provides news and analysis about the evolving world of tech. For more on these topics, visit Dell’s thought leadership site Power More. Dell sponsored this article, but the opinions are my own and don’t necessarily represent Dell’s positions or strategies.
Image: Creative Commons
This post was originally published on MillennialCEO blog
