The Connected Revolution

Applico is drawing a line in the sand: the Connected Revolution is here. Actually, it already started and we’re in the middle of it.

Applico is drawing a line in the sand: the Connected Revolution is here. Actually, it already started and we’re in the middle of it. Historians still argue to this day as to the actual dates of the Industrial Revolution. The majority of the population hasn’t realized that we’re in the next revolution, but, eventually they will start to catch on.

Over the past decade, you’ve heard “this is the year of mobile” at least a few times. Then that year comes and passes and everyone keeps saying that next year is the year where it will “explode.” The problem with this mindset is that people are viewing mobile as a bubble or fad like the internet. The difference is that mobile isn’t going anywhere. In fact, it’s spreading at a faster and faster rate.

Before I continue, I need to define mobile as there are many differing opinions on what that word means. Mobile is defined by the phenomenon of software being melded with hardware. Your phone running an operating system. Your “smart” TV running software. Your car being controlled by apps. See a trend? Software is embedding itself in our hardware. Some people call this the “internet of things.” But that doesn’t explain what’s really happening.

This is the Connected Revolution.

Entire industries are being turned on their heads. Traditional business models that have been insulated from change are being torn down in fascinating fashion. The entertainment industry got the first taste of this with the internet and then with mobile. The traditional business model for the music industry was disrupted. Then, newspapers. Next, television.

It is natural to expect that the news & entertainment industry would be the first industry to undergo massive upheaval by the Connected Revolution. Television, however, has had higher barriers to entry with distribution channels and high priced licensing deals for content. The distribution channels are being eroded by the day. People are viewing content on their phones, tablets, computers, TV’s, Xbox’s, etc. The world is a very different place and it’s only taken a few years. Disruption will ensue. It’s inevitable.

Another industry that has fallen by the wayside is the toy industry. Today, we consider toys to be physical objects like action figures and board games. Toys should include all types of games, including video games and mobile app games. Electronic games are all a form of casual, fun entertainment which is what the toy industry is supposed to personify. If the toy industry had embraced technology and the Connected Revolution, they could have seized upon this tremendous opportunity. Instead, they missed the ball. To provide some context, the mobile app game industry is expected to hit $15bn in revenue by 2015. The toy industry, today, is a $20bn industry.

Historians may dispute the date as to when the Industrial Revolution started, but, either way, it lasted for decades from the late 1700’s till the mid 1800’s. We won’t know how long the Connected Revolution will last, but we do know this: it is here and it is spreading into every industry.

It is important to embrace this idea that we are in a new revolution. This isn’t a slight adjustment to how we do business. This is a tectonic shift. Empires will crumble. Innovators will rise to glory.

As I said at the top, Applico has drawn a line in the sand. We have seen what effect the Connected Revolution has on our clients and what they need to do to succeed: they need to innovate. Their entire company needs to innovate. And, innovate through mobile technology. From this point on, every company should consider themselves a technology company.

We have adapted our business to account for what our clients need in the Connected Revolution. We help our clients accelerate mobile innovation throughout their entire company. We accomplish this by fostering a Culture of Innovation. We call this Cultural Innovation and we’re pioneering it.

Filed under: Platform Innovation | Topics: connected devices, connected revolution, cultural innovation, future, mobile, platforms, technology