Can You Future-Proof for the Digital Future?
We are all trying to accelerate our digital transformation. Yet, when you have one foot in the traditional world and one in the digital world, you find you are about to be split in two. 
Traditional, brick and mortar financial institutions are struggling at various levels to define the digital user experience. Unfortunately, 100% digital institutions are “all-in” on digital and can easily develop digital products at a much faster pace.
A report by International Data Corporation (IDC) in the Financial Brand indicated that there are “islands of innovation,” but most are falling behind. Only 36% of financial institutions say they have “digital offerings executed on a project-by-project basis.” Also, 34% believe that digital transformation goals are “focused on near-term goals and products.” But few are working on long-term goals and development of a digital core.
The IDC says that those who are “leading the race to digital transformation have 3 characteristics:
- A strong executive commitment, which leads to a collaborative culture
- A focus on the “digital core,” including analytics and open, agile technologies
- A willingness to partner with external providers
Developing a digital core—a digital strategy that leads the organization forward—is a strong recommendation for us all. Until digital becomes the core strategy, it will continue to be an ad hoc part of any strategic plan or implementation. So how do you future-proof your organization? Make a digital core.
Mark Mathis
Mark wrote his first direct-mail fundraising letter in 1981 for the University of Iowa Center for Advancement. The effort raised a few million dollars in undiscovered wills and legacy gifts. From that day forward Mark discovered a love of the big idea that moves the needle.
After 12 years at KWWL, Mark became a business owner as a co-founder of ME&V — rebranded as AMPERAGE in 2015. After 25 years of leading creative teams in video production, graphic design, PR, writing and web development, Mark transitioned out of ownership in 2021. Today he serves in an employee role as special projects consultant.
He is creatively ambidextrous — son of an artist and engineer — and famous for distilling complex ideas down to a few words and a few visuals. Mark is a writer. When he found that many nonprofits struggled with complex branding puzzles, he wrote the book, “NonProfit-NonMarketing .” He also wrote a novel called “Reenactment.”
Mark is an active blogger OneMinuteMarketer® with nearly 1,000 readers each week on LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter. One of his most popular YouTube videos is on “How to Look Good on Zoom.”
One of Mark’s fondest business memories was being named to INC 500 two times and attending the INC 500 conference with other winners. Mark is considered by some a Civil War expert (and that explains his novel). Mark also served as an adjunct professor in the business and in the communications departments at Wartburg College.
Mark is a graduate of the University of Iowa and is currently vice president of the University of Iowa Journalism and Mass Communications Advisory Board.
Mark is married to state Sen. Liz Mathis, and the two love to travel, even when it means being trapped by a volcano in the Czech Republic for three weeks.