Almost everyone I know can describe the future of their industry. In this future, brands know their customers. They personalize their experience. They reward their loyalty. Brands create smarter products that use connectivity and sensors to mold themselves to our lives and inspire us to be at our best. They are powerful tribal leaders of the digital and physical communities that rally behind them. They have managed to create seamless fluid experiences that meet every expectation and desire, no matter how minor or personal. Read more

I had one of the most pleasant digital encounters with a brand last week. It was with Bergdorf Goodman. Read more

Our clients often request advice about how to structure their organization for digital and social success. We often ask ourselves the same question, so we did a quick audit for how 30 of our clients structure their teams. Read more

The increase in the number of cars on the road over the past few decades has created headaches for everyone, from drivers to transportation planners and law enforcement. Advances in digital technology over the past several years, however, have made driving in some places less of a pain. For instance, digital signage on busy roads can alert drivers of alternate routes if there is an accident up ahead. Automakers have been working on Adaptive Cruise Control technology to help regulate your car’s speed in relation to the ones around you. GPS systems now plan your routes based on real time traffic data pulled from sensors, news stations, and other drivers over time.

But a well connected network is only part of the solution to chronic traffic issues. For the past few years, drivers have been using tools that largely focus on making each individual user’s life easier, when we really need to be moving toward innovation designed to make the system as a whole more efficient. And for this to fully work, people must then learn to use new technologies in less self-interested (and more responsible) ways. Read more