Nibletz Staff
The business world today is vastly different from the business world of 20 years ago. The digital age has meant that when changes happen, they are swift and often brutal. Think how much humankind has changed over the past 100 years; our lives have shifted more than they did in the previous 1,000 years combined.
It’s into this volatile, exciting marketplace that you’re thinking of launching a business. That’s a good idea, for sure. The modern business world is open to new ideas and innovations, and you’ll find plenty of help and encouragement along the way.
However, you have to start thinking about the future – now. This can be a task of enormous mental gymnastics. When you’re launching a business, you’re focused so much on the moment, the here and now, and the immediate future. Asking you to think about the next five, 10, or even 15 years seems almost impossible – but it’s a necessity. If you don’t start your business on the right track, then you might never be able to catch up.
Technology Is Changing…
… so your business plan needs to as well.
It’s a simple fact that life is becoming more automated. For example, 38% of jobs in the US are at risk of being replaced by technology in the next 15 years. That’s a staggering number, and one that is only going to grow as tech becomes more accessible.
That’s why it’s good to go into business for yourself, of course; it’s the most surefire method of future-proofing yourself against technology. You do, however, have to ensure your business is ready to adapt to the changing times.
Understand The Trends
Look at the way that businesses are developing when it comes to choosing a niche for your company. More and more is being done online, using cloud-based services. The industrial and manufacturing world is stuttering, and will be the first battle line when it comes to technology making human jobs obsolete. Are you going to be starting your business in a niche that’s relevant in a decade’s time?
Services businesses are the perfect solution to this problem; anything that involves a human mind that can think. While there are great advancements in AI, and you should take the time to learn how artificial intelligence works, there will always be a place for the free-thinking of creators and in service work. It’s best to focus your entrepreneurial ambitions in these areas.
Be Tech Positive
There is no place for technophobia in a modern businessperson. You have to be willing to embrace business gadgets and the change they offer. Become an early adopter right from the get-go of your business. If you leave tech as a consideration until you are established, then you’re already behind.
Research, go to trade shows, read journals about how AI, technology, and even things like virtual reality are changing the business world. Provided you stay informed and pick a niche that is going to have a place in the world of the future, your business will be able to not just survive, but thrive.
