One thing we can always count on in life is change. Time refuses to stand still, and so do several billion people that are always doing or thinking of something new. In general, people resist change because they grow comfortable with the status quo. Change introduces uncertainty and potential risks; it can be both exciting and scary because it often creates new winners and losers in the global marketplace. It challenges us to constantly adapt. Just when you think you’re done, something new pops up. Sort of like the “whack-a-mole” game, only less fun.
Perhaps this is why we often look nostalgically in the rear-view mirror, reflecting on how things used to be. Would we really want to go back? I think not. After all, how could we live without smartphones? The Internet? Perhaps what we are really longing for is simplicity and less stress (as if this was really the case back then). Stress from what? You guessed it – change, along with the usual worries about money, health and whether our kids brush their teeth.
Sound a bit depressing? That’s because we focus too much on the downside risks of change and not enough on the upside benefits. Here are a few of my favorite quotes on the subject of change:
“When you're finished changing, you're finished.” -Benjamin Franklin
“Change is the law of life. And those who look only to the past or present are certain to miss the future.” -John F. Kennedy
“To improve is to change; to be perfect is to change often.” -Winston Churchill
“Your success in life isn't based on your ability to simply change. It is based on your ability to change faster than your competition, customers, and business.” -Mark Sanborn
Still, even if we embrace positive changes and avoid complacency, the pace of change can be relentless at times. This is particularly true with all things digital. The IT industry is experiencing dramatic change at a rapid rate, and this is very disruptive to businesses and their employees. We can all think of prime examples of top-notch companies that failed to adapt quickly enough and ended up on the scrap pile of failure. Success is determined by how well businesses and employees respond to changing market conditions.
This is precisely why we hear a lot about the importance of IT and business transformation. When you look at the definition of “transformation,” you’ll find something like “a thorough or dramatic change in form or appearance.” We’re not talking about superficial or simple change here. The key distinction is that transformation is thorough and dramatic. Agility is also closely associated with transformation because businesses must be nimble and change efficiently, and this demands more simplicity and less complexity.
I’m excited about the global trend toward greater digitalization and the future internet-of-things. This is having a big impact on businesses and IT organizations around the world, and I agree with many IT industry analysts that it is time for businesses to renovate their core infrastructure. This includes print and other document-related workflows. I am also encouraged that more companies are stepping back and taking a more strategic view of their document-related business processes and embracing holistic solutions that drive IT standardization and simplification across the enterprise. It’s very challenging to work across organizational silos, which is why strong, energetic people are needed to drive real innovation. CIOs and other IT leaders must lead in this effort, but they have a great opportunity to make significant and lasting contributions to the business.
How can LRS help your organization transform your print infrastructure? We have been a successful technology company since 1979, so we know all about change. We are also well-versed in transformation, having successfully adapted many times to address ever-evolving market requirements and competitors. Rather than fighting market trends, we have embraced them to extend our technology leadership and provide greater business value for our customers.
We have always been pioneers in the field of print and output management. LRS continues to help customers simplify and standardize their IT print infrastructure; improve their document-related business processes; and save money. We’ve played an integral role in the evolution of digital documents and advanced the state of printing technologies, earning our reputation the time-tested way – by “walking the talk.”
It’s a given that applications come and go, and computing platforms rise and fall. However, there is one thing that will never change at LRS — our ability to deliver high-quality products with world-class service and support. Why mess with a proven formula, one that has made us more successful today than ever? Yes, some things never change, and that is good!