Launching Futurum: New Kind of Research & Analysis Firm
Futurum Research, a new technology analysis and research firm focusing on Digital Transformation, Business Disruption, Innovation, and the Experience Economy, announced their official launch today. The firm was founded by partners Daniel Newman, Shelly Kramer, and Eric Vidal in an effort to address a growing need in the analysis and research space for a focus on the emerging forces of technology, business, and culture. The company has also confirmed that Patrick Moorhead, Principal Analyst at Moor Insights & Strategy, and one of the world's most cited Tech Analysts according to Apollo Research & AR Insights, will be an advisor to the new company.
“We are very excited to announce the official launch of Futurum Research,” said Founder and Principal Analyst Daniel Newman. “Over the past several years, our team has worked closely with leading technology vendors and the media to discuss the forces that are changing how we do business in the age of technology, and in those discussions, it became abundantly clear that there is a place in the market for a firm like Futurum.”
What makes Futurum special, other than its team of seasoned analysts, is that its the first analyst firm to focus all research and insights exclusively around Digital Transformation. The company’s goal is to put humanity back into technology by delivering strategic research and actionable insights that businesses can apply to adapt, grow, scale and thrive in the digital economy.
The Futurum Team
The team is comprised of industry veterans who have long been applying their tech knowledge and expertise on both the vendor side and the client side. They are all recognized for helping clients successfully embrace and implement technology and digital transformation into their business operations.
Daniel Newman is the Principal Analyst and Founding Partner of Futurum Research and the CEO of Broadsuite Media Group. Daniel works with the world’s largest technology brands exploring Digital Transformation and how it is influencing the enterprise. A five-time best-selling author, including his most recent “Building Dragons: Digital Transformation in the Experience Economy,” Daniel is also a contributor for Forbes, Entrepreneur, and Huffington Post. Newman’s speaking engagements take him around the world each year as he shares his vision of the role technology will play in our future. In fact, he recently gave his speech on "Creating More Meaningful Relationships in the Age of Technology" at a TEDx event:
Eric Vidal is an Advisor and Founding partner of Futurum, the Vice-President of Broadsuite Media Group, and acts as the Editor of The Marketing Scope, a BMG property. While at Cisco and later InterCall, he worked with key stakeholders leading the rollout and adoption of collaboration and video technologies, as well as providing guidance to achieve measurable business results for organizations like IBM, Canon USA, Capgemini, Adidas, Subaru, and more. He also has a book in development on B2B lead generation strategies.
Shelly Kramer is a Principal Analyst and Founding Partner of Futurum Research, the President of Broadsuite Media Group, and the CEO of V3 Broadsuite. Her knowledge of Big Data, the Internet of Things (IoT), Mobility, Cloud, and Collaboration, combined with her work with CMOs, CIOs, CXOs, and more, mean her insights on innovation, disruption, customer experience, and transformation aren’t based on hypothesis—they’re based on real world experience and real world success.
“Our analysis will go beyond just what the current technology trends are,” Shelly Kramer explains, “In a world where technology is completely blended with our lives, we want to help companies understand the impact of new technology and how they will need to adapt and change in order to thrive as tech transformation continues to move at a more rapid pace.”
Patrick Moorhead is the Founder, President, and Principal Analyst at Moor Insights & Strategy, a leading 
boutique technology industry analyst firm. He has over 25 years of experience, including 15 years of executive experience at high-tech companies leading strategy, product management, product marketing, and corporate marketing, including three industry board appointments.
“As founder and Principal Analyst at Moor Insights & Strategy, a leading boutique analysis and research company, I have shared my insights and analysis with technology companies around the world on all of the emerging technologies that are changing business,” said Futurum advisor Patrick Moorhead. “The Futurum team has designed an approach to analysis and research and research areas that are complementary with what we do at Moor Insights & Strategy while filling a great need in the marketplace.”
Digital Transformation Consultants
The drive behind launching Futurum Research is that Digital transformation is a fast-growing reality in business. As the CMS-Connected Show’s Hosts Tyler Pyburn and Scott Liewehr discussed with the special guest Leah Kinthaert in the 50th episode, digital transformation cuts across every aspect of how companies must engage externally and operate internally. The process involves not only technology but also different thinking, innovation, a modification in leadership & new business models and incorporating digital strategy into all aspects of the business to improve the experience of your organization’s employees, customers, suppliers, partners, and stakeholders.
Most organizations worldwide are in the process of a digital transformation, yet many don’t realize the extent to which their own business is digitally transforming. According to a new study from Dell, 89% of all survey respondents recognize digital transformation is happening in their industry, while only 50% believe it’s happening in their organization and a mere 27% actually describe their company as “in the middle of a digital transformation.” However, 72% express active projects in mobile, 68% are involved in cloud projects, and 37% in IoT – the usual suspects in formal digital transformation projects.
What’s more, 97% of respondents indicated they are investing in digital technologies, including mobile, cloud applications, cloud infrastructures, and IoT; 96% say securing digital technologies poses challenges including lack of resources, risk of a security breach, finding the right balance between security and employee productivity, and loss of control.
Since digital transformation became one of the hottest topics for technology vendors and businesses, there has been a battle among the big consultancies as they have heavily invested in expanding their skill-set in the space. In fact, according to Gartner, the consulting market has grown to over $125 billion in global spend. However, for those businesses that don’t regularly engage in consulting services, it can be really challenging to know where to go, what to ask, and more importantly who to engage with in case of digital disruption. The answers are extremely critical as they can lead businesses to great success or a dismal failure. On this note, Jon Bains, a 21-year net-vet and Founding Partner of What&Why Consultancy, formulated 10 questions to ask before hiring a digital transformation consultant:
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What Is A Typical Engagement?
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What Is The Shape Of The Billing Curve?
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Who Are We Likely To Be Working With?
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Has Your Team Worked Together Before?
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How Well Do You Know The Sector?
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Do You Expect To Do Any Related Production Work?
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Who Is In Your Extended Network - What Are You Likely To Cross-Sell?
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Which Lines Of The Org Chart Are You Most Comfortable Working With?
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Have You Done This Before (Successfully)?
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Why Do These Programmes Fail?
Consultant fatigue has been a common issue lately for CEOs, CIOs, and CFOs. Depending on the size of the organization, companies should wisely decide which situations and projects could be handled in-house and which ones should involve a digital consultancy. By the way, although these solutions are the most conventional, they are certainly not the only options that businesses have. More radical methods such as targeted company acquisitions or more innovative approaches such as setting up start-up incubators are there for those who are ready to step up their game.
Venus Tamturk
Venus is the Media Reporter for CMS-Connected, with one of her tasks to write thorough articles by creating the most up-to-date and engaging content using B2B digital marketing. She enjoys increasing brand equity and conversion through the strategic use of social media channels and integrated media marketing plans.