The New Ab*normal — Why Slowing Down this summer might be your fastest move

Welcome to the new (ab)normal — a world where habits, systems and expectations don’t evolve slowly, but shift in sudden, unpredictable bursts.

There was a time when taking a bike from the station meant it had to be yours.
When “digitizing” meant scanning a document and saving it as scan_def_nieuw_v3.pdf.
When working from home prompted people to ask if you were sick.
And when collaboration meant taking turns in the same Excel file — until someone broke the formula in column H.

Today, what used to take years now happens in weeks:
📈 Netflix: 100 million users in 10 years
🤖 ChatGPT: in 2 months
📱 Threads: in 5 days

⚡ At this pace, business models are being rewritten just as fast.

Shein became a global fashion powerhouse in just 3 years — with no stores, no stock, just real-time data and ultra-fast production.
Tesla’s biggest margins no longer come from steel and batteries, but from software upgrades, AI features, and data usage.

And the numbers don’t lie:

• Companies investing in cloud, data, and AI see up to 60% more revenue growth and 40% higher profits.
  (Accenture, 2024)

• Generative AI already influences 44% of all work hours globally.
  (Accenture Technology Vision, 2024)

• 88% of business leaders expect the pace of change to accelerate even further.
  (Accenture Pulse of Change Index, 2024)

🔍 Time to reflect?

In today’s fast-moving world, standing still isn’t the same as doing nothing — it’s a strategic moment.
Now is the perfect time to rethink how your business creates value. Not to tear everything down, but to ask: where are we slowing down, where can we speed up, and what needs realignment?

Because every shift — no matter how small — affects your margins, your systems, your team, and your customer experience.

🔁 5 smart steps to rethink your business model

1. Look honestly at how your business runs today

No frameworks or post-its required. Just ask yourself:

• What are you really selling? Peace of mind? Certainty? Speed?

• Why do customers pay you — and not someone else?

• How predictable is your revenue?

• What does it cost to deliver your value?

• If you were to start today, what would you do differently?

📝 Write it down in your own words. One page is enough to spot friction — or acceleration.

2. Identify the weak links

Where is your business dragging its feet?

• Too many manual processes

• No real-time view of cash flow or margins

• Frustrated customers or team members

• Bottlenecks that slow down delivery

Your gut feeling matters — but back it up with data.
What you think is happening isn’t always what’s really going on.

3. Simulate a new scenario

Try it out on paper:

• What if you switched to subscription pricing?

• What if your customer journey was fully digital and automated?

• What if your client refuses to wait at all?

📊 Play it through financially and operationally:
What changes? What investments are needed? Where could you gain efficiency?

4. Connect it to your front- and back-office

A good idea only works when your infrastructure supports it:

• Can your ERP or CRM handle the change?

• Do your processes need to be rewritten or automated?

• Is your team aligned with the new direction?

Without support, innovation stays stuck on a sticky note.

5. Choose one strategic sprint

No need for a full revolution. Just pick one smart acceleration:

• A real-time financial dashboard

• Test a new pricing model

• Automate your order-to-cash process

💡 Strategy is not just about choosing direction — it’s about taking the first step.

⏳ In closing

Summer is the perfect time to zoom out. Not to change everything, but to make sure you don’t fall behind tomorrow.
Because in a world that never stands still, sometimes pausing is the smartest way to move forward.

Need help rethinking your financial or operational strategy? Let’s talk.