Win the AI Disintermidation Race

One of the most radical disruptive changes that AI is gonna bring long term is disintermediation. And that is the reduction or streamlining of processes and partners and handoffs in a value chain to get things done. Perfect example from the internet time is newspapers, right? All the steps to bring a printed newspaper to my front step have declined in value greatly because of this disintermediation of the news delivery process. In AI the ability to make those disintermediation steps is much more advanced, so it’s gonna change industries that couldn’t benefit from the internet, but now are at risk. An example I’ve heard is potentially the credit card processing process where there’s a lot of profit baked into that, those handoffs to get that done today with different partners is at risk of being greatly simplified and consolidated.

Why am I bringing this up? Your business is likely or possibly going to be impacted by disintermediation in the next few years. And you have a choice. It’s gonna happen whether you want it to or not if it’s coming for your industry. And your choice is to be part of the change or to be the one that is changed.

Find the Friction:
So what I encourage you to do is start now and first identify where is the friction and inefficiency in your value chain, in your industry, and your role in it. Find out where you sit and what that is.

Imagine the Solution:
Next, this is really important. Imagine what’s possible in an AI enabled framework to reduce that. What could happen? Because if it can happen, it’s likely to happen. It’s just a matter of when. Understand that potential streamlining and how it works. And again, where you sit in that situation.

Lead the Change:
And then start now and act to be the one that is part of that solution rather than the one that is impacted by it. So that means you’re looking for ways to lean into innovation that allows you to be either the company that expands to hold more of those steps, or is favorably allied with the important other players in those steps. The key here is to think, look ahead and think ahead and be proactive and preemptive so that you can be part of the future, the better future for your industry and not cast aside on the sidelines. And let’s say in worst case that you don’t see a path forward, isn’t it better to understand the risks ahead now so that you can take action to land the plane safely?

B2B Clarity:
Disintermediation is real. It’s coming to a lot of our industries. And the best play with disintermediation is to be first.