Navigating the Future

Introducing: DVFBC’s Radar Series

Radar, a crucial tool in strategic planning, is a discipline that allows a company and its external advisors and board members to look ahead 12 to 36 months. It involves anticipating pending events, technologies, trends, economic forecasts, customer feedback, and experience to identify opportunities and threats. A strategic plan without Radar is at risk of failure, as our world is not static. This is evident from my experience as CEO and now Chair at Modern Group Ltd.

Three real examples of tending to Radar.

1. Industrial equipment is moving from traditional diesel combustion engines to alternative fuel or electricity in a business built on service technicians; what skills will they need to have? How soon and how much will the training and tooling investment be? Addressing this will ensure that we remain able to serve our customers.
2. When the ash boar decimated ash trees, we proactively identified an opportunity to cater to the arborist industry’s demand.  We acted proactively, securing the necessary products and talent, and built a new business group within our firm. This initiative was sparked by one of our salespeople who spotted the opportunity.
3. We moved into the standby generator business as we saw the challenges presented by the existing grid, the growing dependence on power given the growth of remote work, and the commercial generator opportunity with existing warehouse and data center customers. It also leverages our current investment in branch offices and customer base. That business now represents some 20% or more of our business.

All three examples began with a collaborative discussion involving management, advisors, board members, employees, and customers. Each initiative required investment and some level of risk. We also explored, tested, and implemented other Radar responses. Our strategic plan is continuously adapted to changing conditions and opportunities, ensuring its strategic validity.

At DVFBC, we believe that Radar is essential for all 5 MOUNTAINS®. We will formally start our “Radar Series” in 2025 with web posts, webinars, and customer testimonials. A good example of Radar is our Oct 17 session with Chris Carr, The Future of AI is Now, informing you of the basics of AI, potential business cases, and next steps.

So, what is coming at you? What is an opportunity? What is a threat? How will you react? How will you adapt your strategic plan? What talent will you need? What investment? Does it fit with your company’s mission, vision, and values?  Are you willing to spend time reading, learning, and listening to new voices?

You start by being curious, and you improve the odds by being a student of Radar. The odds also increase dramatically when you work with experienced advisors and outside board members, who have the experience and scar tissue gained by years of radar discussions.

Let DVFBC – with our team of experienced advisors – help you with the Radar Series and prepare your enterprising family for generations of success.