Accelerating digital transformation

Publication date: 17 March 2025

There's a good reason we chose to host our upcoming event “Transformation in the Fast Lane” at the Louwman Museum in The Hague. If your organization wants to be future-ready, there’s a lot to learn from the history of the automobile.

In just under 150 years, countless innovations have transformed the car from an experimental invention into a daily necessity. The timeline below is by no means exhaustive, but still clearly shows how car manufacturers have always been looking to switch gears:

1885

German engineer Karl Benz introduces the first car with an internal combustion engine. The Benz Patent-Motorwagen is a motor tricycle with a rear-mounted engine.

1888

Another German engineer, Andreas Flocken, develops the Flocken Elektrowagen, one of the first usable electric production vehicles. This innovative car quickly gains popularity, especially among the nobility.

1913

Ford develops the first automated assembly line, significantly boosting production efficiency.

1959

Swedish engineer Nils Bohlin designs the three-point seatbelt while employed at Volvo. This innovative safety belt, securing both the hips and chest, offers much better protection in accidents.

1978

Mercedes-Benz introduces the first widely used Anti-lock Braking System (ABS), greatly enhancing vehicle safety.

1996

General Motors launches OnStar in the Cadillac DeVille, Seville, and Eldorado—marking the debut of connected car features.

1997

Toyota’s Prius becomes the first commercially successful hybrid car.

2015

Tesla introduces Autopilot, an early version of self-driving technology.

A transformation mindset

Feeling inspired by these examples? The same ‘transformation mindset’ that has propelled the automotive industry forward is exactly what your business needs to succeed in its own digital transformation.

As we noted in an earlier article, we see 2025 as the year when true digitale transformatie takes off. Companies are realizing they need to do more than just “lift and shift”—simply moving existing business processes to the cloud isn't enough. To truly future-proof your organization, you need to rethink your processes and IT architecture.

Those who get it right will become more agile, efficient, and competitive. Just as the auto industry has adapted to demands for greater safety, efficiency, and innovations like the Internet of Things, this new mindset will enable businesses to respond faster to changing customer needs, seize new opportunities, and streamline operations.