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A Look at Technology Trends that are Transforming Business

I was recently featured on CanadaOne.com. In the article I talk about the leading technology trends that will transform your business.

The Role of Today’s Manager Includes Leadership

Managers change how people behave; leaders change how people think. No matter what economy we’re in or how a company is structured, the need for management and leadership will never go away. What will change are how we manage and how we lead, as well as the tools we use to perform those functions in a better and more efficient way.

The Next Generation of Email Marketing

Junk mail is good mail that went to the wrong person. For email marketers, the same concept is true. What one person considers spam is the perfect message for someone else. The key is to make your email message highly relevant so recipients don’t dismiss it as junk.

The Opportunity In Disruptive Technologies

If you asked CEOs what keeps them up at night, the majority would say it’s the potential impact a new disruptive technology can have on their company. They’ve seen disruptive technologies change industries and put companies out of business fast. They’ve also seen it put companies out of business slowly (think Kodak or Motorola).

Is an App Necessary For My Business?

No one can deny that the original telephone Alexander Graham Bell invented in 1876 has changed significantly. From a luxury item proudly displayed as the centerpiece of the home to something small, portable, and powerful that people keep within arm’s reach 24/7, the humble telephone has evolved into a mini personal computer capable of much more than traditional voice phone calls.

High-Efficiency Jet Engine

An innovative jet engine called Pure Power™ is due to appear in the Bombardier C-series jet starting in 2013. It features an advanced gear system that decouples the air fan and the compressor turbine, allowing them to turn at different speeds.

Continuously De-Commoditize

Look at every product and service you have and ask, “Why is this item a commodity?” Then ask, “What can we do to make it different?” For example, look at the features and functions of your products, how things are housed, how convenient the product or service is, what the customer experience is like, how something is processed or made, etc.

Decommoditize by Identifying New Needs

No matter how mundane your product or service is, chances are people have different needs around it today than they did a few short years ago. As the world, economy, and culture changes, so do people. Their reasons for buying something yesterday may be different from their reasons today. As such, you need to always be looking at what your customers’ current needs are and then find ways to de-commoditize your product accordingly.

Make Your Commodities Stand Out

No matter what industry you’re in, chances are you have a few products or services in your line that are commodities. From food and beverage items to household products to daily services, commodities are everywhere and make bottom line profits harder and harder to attain.

Always Take Competition Seriously

Look at the specific ways in which you compete in the marketplace as well as what makes you unique. Then decide how technology can redefine the way you compete. For example, when was the last time you bought something from the Polaroid Company? At one time, they were the king of instant photography. But then technology and digital photography changed their industry, and the way they competed (instant photography) changed…but Polaroid didn’t change with it.

Take a Moment To Understand How Technology Is Affecting Your Customers

Look at how technology is affecting your customers in your industry right now. But don’t just look at productivity. Look at the overall customer experience as well as who is buying your offerings.

Do-It-Yourself Smart RFID Tags

A new Internet service called touchatag (formerly tikitag) allows you to create your own radio frequency identification (RFID) tags and 2D barcodes (QR codes) that automatically launch online applications (including Skype, iTunes and Web browsers) using a variety of devices.

Smart Drug Dispensing Pill

A new medical device, which is scheduled to enter clinical trials later this year, will make it possible for doctors to more accurately dispense drugs that treat gastrointestinal (GI) disorders such as colon cancer, colitis, and Crohn’s Disease.



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Trends for 2012

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