Who would have thought in early 90s that making an international money transfer, speaking and seeing someone across international borders and different time zones, or even a myriad of entertainment from games to music, and movies could all be done by just one device, your phone!

Businesses are impacted first of all by a combination of external forces, mainly the customer who is responding to a nearest competitor as they seem to be able to better understand the 'why' than you do. 

They are also impacted by internal forces that are still trying to make what worked in the early days of the millenium slightly better, and prior to this crisis didn't really take the time to look at the changing 'behaviour' of the customers who once thought you were the brand to be with.

Since the start of this crisis eCommerce sales have rocketed with several sectors reporting the equivalent of 5-10 years growth in just over 3 months, whilst others in physical retail have come to an abrupt halt with the ensuing job loss fallout!!

Over the years I've seen and been involved with all kinds of 'transformation' projects - still am.

Very few have been proactive in nature, and most have been driven out of an urgent and reactive necessity to a decline in growth, loss of market share, along with the inevitable decline in profit. 

Every company is in constant search of that 'silver Bullet' that will change the way the company can perform, operate, and grow. 

We all know there is no such thing as a silver bullet but it doesn't stop the deluded from buying into the tech vendors view of what 'Digital Transformation' should include, and of course it has to include their latest game changing technology solution. 

After all isn't that what we mean by being 'digital'?.

Physical retail most definitely took an internalised and incremental approach to transformation, and for many laggards they are now paying an accelerated hefty price.

For those left in the retail dust storm that's not over yet by a long way have little choice but to 'transform'.

Today's consumer isn't behaving how yesterdays consumer was that's for sure. 

Today over half the world's population is now on social media - use that privilege wisely and you will reap huge rewards.

Use it to carry on with your intrusive 'advertise and promote' mindset and no doubt your nearest competitor who understands the medium better than you and invested in upskilling their entire team in the context of a 'social strategy' will no doubt be your undoing.