BORN-DIGITAL

With speed, innovation, and agility,
come challenges of scale

"The good news is that you can put up a web page today and tomorrow you can have a billion customers.
The bad news is that you can put up a web page today and tomorrow have a billion customers."
—Managing partner, private equity firm

What can any company learn from born-digital approaches?

Born-digital companies—those fountains of innovation capitalizing on exploding technological and analytical capabilities—have transformed industry after industry. They often seem more destined for ongoing success than their born-traditional counterparts (companies arising from the Industrial Age’s pre-Internet economy). But as our born-digital study shows, many are evolving in self-destructive ways.

We set out to diagnose the problem, identify solutions, and consider what both types of companies can learn from each other—which is a lot. And we used our findings to develop diagnostic tools that help each type swiftly spot their weaknesses and craft strategies for avoiding costly mis-steps and catching up quickly.

Insights from this study will help any company—whether born-digital or born-traditional—position itself for stronger and more sustainable growth. Read the articles below, and sign up for our born-digital newsletter to see all new articles as they are released.

5 ways born-digital companies can accelerate their post-COVID recovery

It’s been hard enough for long-established, born-traditional businesses to weather the COVID-19 storm. Born-digital companies face additional challenges, owing to their unique operating models and lesser maturity. READ MORE

Secrets from born-digital boardrooms

The more that born-digital management teams and company boards understand the pitfalls, the better they can work together to avoid them—and the better both parties can serve stakeholders. READ MORE

The Triumphs & Truths of companies born-digital

Despite seemingly successful veneers, many born-digital companies exemplify: "What you don't know can hurt you." READ MORE

The Ancestry of born-digital companies

Born-digital companies can overcome the pitfalls of super-fast growth by actively managing three dimensions of their ancestry. READ MORE

FAST FINISHER OR BUILT TO LAST: HOW BORN-DIGITAL COMPANIES CAN EXCEL AT DIGITAL ETHICS

Born-digital businesses that relegate digital ethics and data privacy to the back seat in favor of driving fast growth could end up crashing and burning instead of enduring. READ MORE

The missing ingredient in born-digital businesses: Experience with operating at scale

Born-digital companies focused on growing revenues fast sometimes neglect to set up operations required to serve customers effectively at scale. READ MORE

IN THE AGE OF COVID-19, KNOWING WHAT MAKES BORN-DIGITAL BUSINESSES UNIQUE MATTERS MORE THAN EVER

For any company—regardless of origin—weaknesses inherent in its operating model can render it vulnerable during turbulent times. Born-digital companies will need to address three challenges illuminated by our research findings to accelerate their recovery. READ MORE

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Growing up digital: Leveraging human resources and talent management

Born-digital companies that infuse discipline and rigor into their talent management strategies—early on—will stand the best chance of sustaining their earlier successes. READ MORE

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Avoiding the talent trap threatening born-digital companies

Many born-digital companies lack the diverse talent needed to respond creatively and swiftly to tough challenges. READ MORE

Is your born-digital company ready for the next phase of growth?

Most companies—born-digital or born-traditional—are stuck in their lane, according to our research. There are patterns of behavior driven by your business’s ancestry and operating model that can be predicted—and managed. Our consultant-led Diagnostic applies our research insights to your business to quickly assess your capabilities and identify opportunities for improvement. The Born-digital Diagnostic^TM enables you to set a course for success amid the coming storm of economic disruption.