We cannot predict the future, but we can prepare (for) it. The question is how?
"Inspiration was the guiding principle," says Walter Vanherle, one of the driving forces behind this second edition of ‘Vision 2030’ and innovation guru at BDO Belgium. "Giving people a taste of the technological opportunities and innovations the future holds for entrepreneurs and executives – while showing them how they can use these novelties to strengthen and consolidate their organisation, their business and their competitiveness."
The strength of Inspiration Day was in the variety and mixture of topics, innovative technologies, keynote speakers and roundtables. ‘Vision 2030’ became a full day of 'speed dating' and networking with tech experts and experience experts. Exchanging experiences and best practices with fellow entrepreneurs from a wide variety of sectors. "You don’t inspire people by locking them in an auditorium all day long, but by immersing them in real innovation stories that may look like science fiction, but are not. Using concrete cases, experiences and experiments, you make a tangible experience out of what technology can do today and innovations that do not yet exist, but will become a reality in the future. Living Tomorrow's experiential spaces literally give you a taste of what the experts are talking about and predicting. That's how seeds are planted. And that's ‘Vision 2030’."
"I'd like to know how far into that future we can see," one participant whispered to her neighbour. Well, she found out during the six 20-minute inspiration sessions which were built around five megatrends: the metaverse, 'citizen scientists', 'data sharing', 'future of strategy' and 'digital twins'. There’s not enough room here to dig deeper into the content of each session, but here are six strong take-aways:
1. With the almost inexhaustible power of data sharing comes an equally great responsibility to handle data correctly.
2. Thanks to digital twins (virtual copy or twin of reality), you simulate processes and ideas that allow you to conduct riskless experiments or analyses, aimed at doing even better in the real world.
3. You will be amazed at how many of your employees are innovation- and technology-minded, but don't have the opportunity to show their 'hidden' talent. We call them 'citizen scientists'. The key is to track them down and create opportunities within your organisation. The alternative is that you lose them in the long-run.
4. Those who resist innovation or deny the technological future will sooner or later put their company or organisation out of business.
5. We tend to overestimate the effect of a technology in the short-run and underestimate its effect in the long-run (law of Roy Charles Amara, former president of the Institute for the Future).
6. By using strategic models such as 'Scenario Planning', you translate the mountain of available data into concrete, accessible 'stories' that get your employees on board and on the same page.
According to Patrick Kestens, a company's ability to innovate hinges on the engagement and perception of its employees. As Senior Innovation & Intrapreneurship Manager, he is driving the innovation culture within BDO Belgium (also read the article 'Dragons' Den gives BDO wings', To The Point 01/2023). The Dragons’ Den concept is brilliant in its simplicity: BDO creates an environment in which employees can — and want to! — let their creativity run wild and present their innovation ideas without inhibitions. “If you don’t give people that opportunity, chances are they will leave the company – whereas these employees are the ones you want to commit to your organisation because they open perspectives and cultivate an innovation dynamic. Retaining people implies that you, as an employer, also have to invest in people. That way, an innovation culture also becomes a lever in the battle for talent.”
“The future is now!” Peter Van Laer, CEO of BDO Belgium, is more convinced than ever when he sees the almost endless possibilities offered by new technology. “Far too many companies still risk missing the boat. Take the example of ChatGPT. Anyone who takes the time to look closely knows that the use of this AI application can be beneficial in any profession. Humans are not going to be replaced by ChatGPT, but they are going to be replaced by people using the AI robot better. In the words of Steve Jobs: ‘Innovation is the ability to see change as an opportunity – not a threat’.”
Inspiration Day was also an opportunity for Claes Retail Group (known for fashion labels JBC, CKS and Mayerline) and Greenyard (the world's second-largest supplier of fresh, frozen and prepared fruit and vegetables). In his keynote, Bart Claes, co-CEO of CRG, took us behind the scenes of the JBC metaverse success campaign. He illustrated how, step-by-step, and without investing fortunes, you can eventually end up with a groundbreaking result that exceeds even your own expectations. For those who don’t know: JBC was the first Belgian retailer to open a virtual world in the metaverse, where the facilitator is a popular singer who gives a performance wearing the JBC collection. With this initiative, JBC aims to coach parents in the world which is familiar to young people and can no longer be dismissed as a responsible educational medium.
Then there’s also Florens Slob, Group Sustainability & Innovation Director at Greenyard, who in turn managed to make the audience enthusiastic about consuming more fruit and vegetables. "No one is addicted to salad, and yet that’s what we aim to accomplish." Continuous innovation, inspired by the end-user-consumer (less by the customer-supermarket chain), should encourage those same consumers to choose healthy food. "Our health is priceless, but once in the supermarket, we are guided primarily by the price tag. Sustainable innovation (ESG-proof) should turn the stick into the carrot."
The need for more forward-looking thinking is growing rapidly among Belgian companies. This becomes evident from the success of the second edition of ‘Vision 2030’, which BDO organised together with TomorrowLab (also read the article ‘Helping to drive your future’, To The Point 01/2022) at the Living Tomorrow Innovation Campus. "Inspiration is only the beginning of the story," says Walter Vanherle. "As a follow-up, BDO organises workshops in its InnovationLab – where experts from BDO and TomorrowLab work with you and your management team to translate innovative insights into strategic objectives and achievable actions tailored to your organisation."
Would you like a free consultation about organising an innovation workshop for your company or organisation? If so, please contact Walter Vanherle: walter.vanherle@bdo.be
Watch the aftermovie and the photo report of the 2nd edition of ‘Vision 2030’.
Unfortunately, you were unable to attend? No worries, in June 2024 we will organise our 3rd edition.
By the way, you don't have to wait that long to get inspired. Feel free to contact the specialists from our ‘BDO Living Tomorrow’ team.
