Alan Kay, the renowned computer scientist, put in memorably some forty years ago: “the best way to predict the future is to invent it”. Few among us though, have the capacity to actually create the future, but what we can do as business owners is identify where the world is heading and prepare our company for tomorrows arrival.
Each Dowco milestone or turning point in our history was first discovered, then shared with the industry. In the 1980’s it was Dowco’s first foray into the world of 2D CAD. The 1990’s saw a jump to 3D modeling with Tekla. In 2008 it was the acquisition of FabTrol Systems Inc. In these post global economic recession years of 2010 to 2013, Dowco has invested in the development of new business processes, project and business metrics, as well as a newly formed ‘managed task’ IT-enabled outsourcing approach…all in our efforts to better serve customers.
Typically, most see innovation as a way to differentiate and grow business. For the bold and brave, innovation starts with a novel insight or idea that has the potential to profoundly change the way we do what we do. Innovative ideas deal with those white spaces in the market that many don’t see or feel the need to explore.
What we do now understand with clarity is that while it is always important to maintain and improve upon our internal processes, we need to spend more time and effort understanding and discovering solutions to customers’ problems.
The world has become flat and continues to change at an accelerated rate. It’s time we recognize that most companies’ systems and functions are designed to efficiently deliver a business model that was successful yesterday. The same can be said for industry. Are projects designed and built as they were in 1970? Of course not. Was globalization of industry and services a factor in 1990? Not really.
What most of us accomplished yesterday won’t help us succeed tomorrow. For that, you must continually turn to new ideas and concepts.
Let us not miss the next growth opportunity in BIM and Virtual Design and Construction Services.
