Get Ready for Rough Competition from New Business Models

Author : Donald Mitchell

Will your company still be independent and operating in its current form in seven years? The odds are against it

Chances are that your industry will experience three significant, business model improvements in that time These business model improvements have the potential to help you when you make them first or best soon thereafter, and to hurt you when others do

As a result, your company will either have to become a leader in developing these improved business models, create fast improvements in these models after they occur, almost instantly emulate new ones, be harmed by the success of those who use them or be acquired by someone whose business model is stronger

The choice is yours What do you choose?

Model Shifts Are Occurring More Rapidly

This rapid pace of business model innovation is new Prior to the 20th century, business models often remained unchanged for centuries In the first part of the 20th century, business models usually lasted for more than a decade

In the 1990s, we suddenly saw a few dozen pioneering companies successfully innovate new business models every two or three years under the same CEO In the near future, we can expect to see business model innovation become continuous as more than one company in an industry becomes adept at this critical activity

As a result, many skills that used to be very important like continuously improving existing processes and reengineering processes will become less valuable because frequent business model change will permanently eliminate most existing processes

This acceleration of shifts presents an important challenge for companies of all sizes, in all industries, and in all countries Being outstanding at what is important today will no longer be enough to succeed

Business model innovation and implementation must be added to your company’s strengths

Here’s an example to help you see how these generations of business model innovations impact companies After World War II, a number of companies made a business out of providing economic data Most people who needed these data bought hard-bound books that were consulted by hand when information was needed

Next, the formats were redesigned to make them easier to use, and paperbacks with supplements arrived Then, you could get the same information faster through time-sharing services where you paid by the hour

The next step was to make these data compatible with customer computer models so that electronic updating was automatic Next, to get customers for value-added services, the computer data providers offered the data for free

When the Web came along, the data became more extensive and were coupled with free software to allow you to answer any question you had To that was added the opinions of many leading experts about the data

The next business model will probably apply the data to improve your business for free Obviously, in each case there has to be some economic benefit for the service provider

Increasingly, that benefit is further and further removed from the original reason the product was sought This trend will undoubtedly continue because service providers can improve what they do for you in every area as they learn more about you

Donald Mitchell is an author of seven books including Adventures of an Optimist, The 2,000 Percent Squared Solution, The 2,000 Percent Solution, The 2,000 Percent Solution Workbook, The Irresistible Growth Enterprise, and The Ultimate Competitive Advantage. Read about creating breakthroughs through 2,000 percent solutions and receive tips by e-mail by registering for free at

http://www.2000percentsolution.com .