There are so many factors and trends that influence our current global economic climate. I constantly hear the words demographic shifts, disruptive innovation, globalisation and climate change and that doesn’t include technology buzz words like AI, RPA, Cloud, Robotics and Crypto "mumbo jumbo". What does it mean and what is my position in this brave new world that is evolving at such an exponential rate?

I've probably learned more in the last few years than ever before, and I am excited about the future and, at the same time, terrified! As an account manager working in a software development company, how will these megatrends manifest themselves in my world, and how will it affect the way I do business?

For the past 20 years, the theory of disruptive innovation has been enormously influential in business circles and a powerful tool for predicting which industry entrants will succeed. The theory of disruptive innovation, introduced in these pages in 1995, has proved to be a powerful way of thinking about innovation-driven growth.

A new generation of client has emerged that is becoming more aware and conscientious about their impact. The choices that they make and how to become more efficient in the workplace, which will have an impact on the wellbeing of staff and the environment. Within the context of my service offerings, how do I tend to these needs, knowing that there are positions that will become redundant and that the solutions that we offer, will further expedite the changes?

In addition to the above, another dominant impact currently within our industry is the "Internet of Things". With the economic viability and the emergence of it still being analysed, it is a matter of time before it becomes part of the evolution of our work environment. The question is how do I confront this?

Example of disruptive innovation

One of the most significant disruptive technologies of recent years is hyper-personalisation. Hyper personalisation is a form of artificial intelligence that enables businesses to deliver highly personalised experiences to their customers. By understanding customer preferences and behaviours, businesses can provide each customer with a unique experience tailored to their needs.

As the Fourth Industrial Revolution approaches and with all the questions that I have of how I evolve, the one trend that has not changed is building relationships, trust and integrity. Climate change may impact where I get my coffee from, AI may influence how I purchase my coffee, Cryptocurrency may be the means to pay for my coffee. With all these global, irreversible changes, that affect our economics and society, the way I do business will not change. Building relationships and sharing a coffee, even if it has been delivered by a drone, will still matter.

AI has the potential of keeping technology beneficial and helping us to have more time to connect and reinvent ourselves as a civilisation. Using Artificial Intelligence and real-time data, companies can create super-personalised strategies and improve user experience. This type of innovation has broad applications in the marketing and communication world. It could possibly help us eradicate diseases, poverty, corruption and war. Workplaces could potentially have employees finding purpose and developing new skills.

What are we as a society looking for behind this technology and what is it all about? What’s the role of humans in all of this? Do we as the human race need a strategy or will we eventually find our purpose? Deep thoughts to ponder on.

I’ll leave you with the following saying which Aristotle foretold, “The end of labour is to the gain of leisure.” Want to go for that coffee?

Disruptive technology is here to stay, and it is changing the world around us at an unprecedented pace. If we want to stay ahead of the curve and thrive in this new world, we need to be willing to embrace this change. We need to be open to new ideas and new ways of doing things. We need to be willing to learn new skills and adapt to new challenges.

If we are willing to do this, then disruptive technology can be a powerful force for good. It can help us to solve some of the world's biggest problems, such as climate change and poverty. It can create new opportunities and new jobs. It can make our lives better in countless ways.

But if we are not willing to embrace disruptive technology, then we will be left behind. We will not be able to compete in the global economy. We will not be able to solve the world's biggest problems. And we will not be able to create a better future for ourselves and our children.

So let's embrace disruptive technology. Let's use it to create a better world for everyone.

Disruptive technology is a powerful force for change, but it is important to remember that it is just a tool. It is up to us to decide how we use it. We can use it to solve problems, create opportunities, and make the world a better place. Or we can use it to create new problems, exacerbate existing inequalities, and make the world a worse place.

The choice is ours. We need to be mindful of the potential consequences of disruptive technology, and we need to work together to ensure that it is used for good.

Editor's Note: This post was originally published on 9 April 2019, and was updated on 5 December 2023