Newbury Business Today

The information revolution

9th September 2010

Email: richard.maynard@newburynews.co.uk

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Charles Zealey, of ITSolve, covers all aspects of business and personal computing

The focus of my job at ITSolve is to explain to customers and potential customers the importance and extent of the IT revolution which is all around us. 
It is so easy to lose track of the pace of change and to accept the changes that are going on without asking the basic question “What does it mean to me?”  But if the information revolution is to really work in our favour we have to be asking that question.
Change…
I well remember the time when I discovered in some of my late father’s papers a bank statement dated sometime in 1955.  Why?  Well, the numbers were interesting – a salary and mortgage payment that would be derisory by modern standards.  But what took my attention?  It was hand written.  In 1955 a Midland Bank statement written out by hand.  But how else would it have been done?
Thoughout the sixties and seventies computerisation continued apace with banks and other organisations embracing the power of computers.  But these were mainframe computers, air-conditioned, large and in-accessible.  Into the eighties and we see the introduction of the personal computer; the nineties with the emergence of the internet, and home computing and e-mail; in the last ten years the web has established itself with social networking, and other web applications taking centre stage.  What will the next 10 years hold?  Who knows?
So what?
History is all very fine and interesting but what does it mean for me?  Surely the point is clear?  If the pace of change has been what it has been over the past 50 years what will it be over the next 50?  In the global business arena we have seen Microsoft rise from nothing to its present almost dominant position in 30 years.  We have seen the mighty IBM spawn a whole new industry only to sell out and return to its roots.  We have seen Google come from nowhere to ubiquity in 10 years.
So that is the big picture.  But if that is true of big business, is it not true of your business?  Are there not opportunities that you can exploit in your arena?  Perhaps by making your name better known – marketing?  Perhaps by making your offer to your customer better?  Perhaps by improving your service or product delivery? Perhaps through better after-sale service? Surely you cannot ignore the opportunities the next 10  years will provide.
Well, actually, yes, I should…
If you are interested in preparing your business for the next 10 years you really need to take some action now. 
The best thing you can do is to take some time for some unconstrained thinking about the future.  After all you are the best person to take that step.  You have the information and the market knowledge. 
If you feel you need some help e-mail me: charles@itsolve.co.uk and I’ll arrange to give you some assistance.  Get it right and the rewards are great.

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