Digital Disruption: Advice from a Business Consultant in Toronto

As a Toronto-based business consultant, I work with clients across the USA and Canada. When it comes to digital disruption, there’s one thing I emphasize—no industry is immune.

I used to work for business giant Kodak. For decades, it was one of the most recognizable brands in the world. Today, it is virtually unknown by members of Gen Alpha.

My time at Kodak exposed me to some of the best-known theory in operational excellence—theory that has become the foundation of today’s leading-edge business practices. However, as a lean business consultant, I also learned the danger of complacency. Over time, I watched the trend–the denial, ambivalence, then a sluggish, ill-calculated reaction that sealed the fate of well-known brands like Kodak and Blockbuster. The world changes and continues to change rapidly. The way we consume, bank, and shop are all evolving. And this is likely to accelerate.

I strongly advise clients in competitive niches to embrace this reality sooner than later. And it’s tricky because there are so many unknowns. Even as a business consultant, I must face these unknowns and the likelihood of disruption in my own industry. It’s always tough to listen to one’s own advice, but as I write this, it’s exactly what I am doing.

This is my advice:

• Do not lose faith in your existing product & service portfolio, but look for ways these can evolve and improve
• Embrace the unknown by adapting current services to new applications (my services for business consulting in Toronto started years ago, moving from a focus in the automotive industry to manufacturing and then process improvement in industries such as agriculture to healthcare and software)
• Consider new additions to current services: for example, I historically focused on product delivery usually within a factory setting; consulting for a hospital meant leaving that setting to explore different facets of healthcare outside the typical hospital setting.
• Finally, keep stretching toward the unknown—your business will naturally evolve due to certain challenges like remote operations and digital meetings. Seize opportunities to keep growing

Considering all these factors can be eye-opening and offer some insight into what the future might hold for your organization. No business today can deny the potential of disruption, not even a business consultant. The only question is how far are you willing to stretch and experiment?

Ready to discuss the Future?

If you’re looking for a business consultant in Toronto (or across North America), I’m happy to discuss how to improve organization performance or accelerate goal setting. Get started by asking me a question about your business—any question. I’ll set up a complimentary consultation to discuss potential solutions and approaches.