Technology has become more than just a tool, it's the enabler that helps businesses achieve their ‘Just Cause’ and thrive in an ever-evolving market. Digital transformation isn't just about adopting new technologies and the latest trends; it's about aligning those innovations with the core purpose of your business to drive long-term success.
This was the central message delivered by Francois Kriel, Client Success Principal at Cyberlogic, during his keynote talk at a recent business networking event held at the Eagle Canyon Golf Estate in Johannesburg. He explored how companies can leverage technological change as part of an evergreen ‘Just Cause’ to survive and thrive in an ever-changing market environment.
In his role providing IT advisory services to clients at Cyberlogic and throughout his career as an IMC-certified management consultant, Francois has observed key trends, particularly the transformative impact of 3D Change. Harvard Business Review defined the term as the perpetual, pervasive, and exponential shifts businesses face today. Drawing from his extensive experience working with Cyberlogic clients, Francois emphasised that today’s businesses must not only react to these shifts but actively lead through them, fostering organisational cultures that embrace technology as a tool to tap into new revenue streams. Central to this approach is aligning a company’s technology strategy with its broader business objectives, unlocking new growth opportunities and optimising operational efficiency, something Francois has seen firsthand in his work with businesses across various industries.
To support this philosophy, ensuring businesses are equipped to tackle cyber security risks is also essential to modern business operations. As part of the Eagle Canyon Business Club event sponsorship, Cyberlogic offered a complementary automated cyber security vulnerability scan, awarded to one lucky business. This scan, which will allow the winner to assess and strengthen their security posture, was won by SHD Office, a leading office furniture solutions provider known for custom designs and tailored workspace solutions.
Using the "Money In, Money Out" paradigm, Francois explains how technology can help businesses achieve their ‘Just Cause’ — the core purpose driving their operations — while simultaneously identifying opportunities to optimise operational expenditure (OPEX). Aligning your business’s technology strategy with customer-centric values, according to Francois, better positions your business for long-term success. Furthermore, technology in and of itself is not the disrupter; instead, failure to change is.
Citing Simon Sinek’s work on ‘finding your why’, Francois highlights the ‘Just Cause’ of several genuinely evergreen brands that have stood the test of time. Something all these brands have in common (other than their long-standing history) is being technology trend-neutral and sustainable for a world filled with 3D Change. For example, Microsoft’s purpose statement changed from “A computer on every desk in every home” to “Empower every person and organisation on the planet to achieve more.” This change arguably resulted in Microsoft becoming the leader in cloud services and AI technology it is today. Its ‘Just Cause’ is not linked to a specific technology, temporary change, or a trend. On the other side of the coin, brands like Kodak and Blockbuster focused their purpose too heavily on the ‘what and how’, as opposed to the why. And we all know what happened to those business models.
The central message is clear: Embracing change leadership, a passion for what one does, and leveraging the right technology are pivotal to unlocking profitability and sustainability in today's ever-changing business environment.
Cyberlogic remains committed to its ‘Just Cause’ of enabling digital transformation by delivering unquestionable value in IT leadership, cyber security, cloud, and data solutions. For more information about us and how we can help your business thrive through technology, visit www.cyberlogic.co.za, email hello@cyberlogic.co.za, or connect with Francois on LinkedIn.