What are the most import innovations in your industry and how have they impacted operations?
“I believe current innovations in information technology have promoted horizontal technology reuse, are energizing the flow of investment capital for entrepreneurs and are significantly broadening opportunities in private equity funding.”
— Gerry Cowden, Cowden, Humphrey & Sarlson
“‘Disease state management’ programs to improve treatment of chronic illness is the one innovation that is transforming the health insurance industry. Today, at Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield, chronic conditions like asthma, diabetes, and congestive heart failure are proactively managed through education and preventive programs. The result can be dramatic improvements in health.
“At Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield, our corporate mission is ‘To improve The Health of the People we Serve.’ Every facet of our business, including our physician and hospital networks, our benefits product design, wellness and subscriber education programs such as the Anthem Healthy Woman … are all designed to help people to ‘Get well. Be well. Stay well.’”
— Joseph La Guardia, regional vice president, Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield
What mantra do you run your business by?
“The customer is always right. Companies that focus on customer satisfaction, regardless of the industry they are in, will be more successful than those that don’t.’”
— Randy Wilcox, president and CEO, SARCOM.
What new innovations do you see occurring in your industry in the next 18-24 months?
Voice over DSL — “Voice over DSL can provide one-stop shopping for telecommunications needs. The technology can provide both high-speed Internet access and voice capabilities across phone lines from a single provider.”
Unified messaging — “The key words for unified messaging are convenience and access. Unified messaging makes the computer and telephone interchangeable, allowing easy access to both voice mail and e-mail from the same port, whether it is a phone or a computer.”
— Theresa Wetzel, ICG Communications Inc.
“We don’t know what the next big innovation will be in the next 18-24 months. What it won’t be is more changes and improvement to IP, Linux, Ethernet or Windows 2000. It will be something to do with changes in connectivity using fiber optics and the way data is moved through the fiber channels. But — no one is sure — things change and they change very fast.”
— Cindy Nelson, DeCarlo, Paternite and Associates Inc.
“Multidisciplinary practices under one roof — law, finance, accounting, IT systems design and other important client needs related to firm core competencies. Deeper appreciation of the firm’s knowledge base, its compilation, organization and utilization. Commoditization of tasks thought to be high value, such as complex document drafting.”
— Robert P. Reffner, Brouse McDowell
What does innovation mean to your company?
“As you read this, Valugraphix is implementing business programs that will meet the needs of the clients. We are utilizing the Internet by offering services designed to enhance promotional programs and increase customer awareness. We have combined exceptional personal service and timely delivery as the forefront of our business to ensure a successful presentation for our clients.”
— Kevin Kolman, president, Valugraphix
