“We are morphing so fast that our ability to invent new things outpaces the rate we can civilize them.” ― Kevin Kelly, The Inevitable: Understanding the 12 Technological Forces That Will Shape Our Future. This book, the inevitable illuminates how technology will help shape how we do business and in the hedonistic mantra, of better, faster, more we can thank the B2B industry for being the tortoise.
I was lucky enough to be asked to author this paper on where investment levels are in commerce in 2026. There is no right or wrong, there is just where it is. Sounds trite. But the march towards continued investment is a factor of what and when - no longer really a a why. The study was compiled by YouGov and commissioned by Commerce PayPal and Glass Atlas to understand where operators are and what they are thinking about.
In studying this , I leanred there are entire industry segments protecting well built moats, sectors that, by their design are being pushed faster thatn others - hositality as one, where immedaite response, conversational commerce and operational excellence are now table stakes. But this tech stack can be complicated, create friction and prevent progress.
But in most cases, where progress is building we are seeing confident, considering and solution led growth. I say this as an inverse reflection on the consumer side of the market but smart leaders in the B2B space are replacing legacy, providing change that was needed, not prescribed and the direct output is more capability. This base solution first and nice to haves second presents a more comfortable base to begin with.
I will talk at length about this paper and what it means for many sectors over the coming months. There are lessons for the consumer indsutry and cautionary tales too - investment and technology move at vastly different paces. I framed this using Kellys book - the Inevitable. There is no longer a question of why. It is happening. all around you, every day - your choices force you to look inward.
This paper represents months of hard work, strong faith in each other and developing a frame through which this should be understood.
With thanks to Nanci Kelley Mirza Jonny Taylor Stephen Kenealy Jacqueline Stoklas and the team for letting me build this story with them. It is only day one and there is lots in here to get through.
Download the full report here: https://lnkd.in/dMreT8VM
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