Born-digital company study

What can any company learn from born-digital approaches?

Born-digital companies—those fountains of innovation capitalizing on exploding technological and analytical capabilities—have transformed industry after industry. They often seem more destined for ongoing success than their born-traditional counterparts (companies arising from the Industrial Age’s pre-Internet economy). But as our born-digital study shows, many are evolving in self-destructive ways.

We set out to diagnose the problem, identify solutions, and consider what both types of companies can learn from each other—which is a lot. And we used our findings to develop diagnostic tools that help each type swiftly spot their weaknesses and craft strategies for avoiding costly missteps and catching up quickly.

Insights from this study will help any company—whether born-digital or born-traditional—position itself for stronger and more sustainable growth. Continue on to view all insights from the company study, or download the AlixPartners Born-Digital Compendium for the full collection of study insights.

The research

The triumphs and truths of companies born-digital

Research executive summary Born-digital companies are fountains of innovation that have taken advantage of an unprecedented explosion of...

The triumphs and truths of companies born-digital

Secrets from born-digital boardrooms

Many of the companies born in the digital age are private, which makes it hard to gain insights into how their boards of directors...

Secrets from born-digital boardrooms

The missing ingredient in born-digital businesses: experience with operating at scale

Born-digital companies focused on growing revenues fast sometimes neglect to set up operations required to serve customers effectively at...

The missing ingredient in born-digital businesses: experience with operating at scale

Fast finisher or built to last: How born-digital companies can excel at digital ethics

Born-digital businesses that relegate digital ethics and data privacy to the back seat in favor of driving fast growth could end up...

Fast finisher or built to last: How born-digital companies can excel at digital ethics

Five ways born-digital companies can accelerate their post-COVID recovery

Born-digital companies face additional challenges, owing to their unique operating models and lesser maturity. At the same time, many...

Five ways born-digital companies can accelerate their post-COVID recovery

Avoiding the talent trap threatening born-digital companies

Founders of born-digital firms are typically brilliant, but too many of them make a common mistake: hiring people early on who are...

Avoiding the talent trap threatening born-digital companies

Growing up digital: Leveraging human resources and talent management

Too many fast-growing born-digital businesses take shortcuts with HR and talent management. They can get away with that only for so long,...

Growing up digital: Leveraging human resources and talent management

Born-digital businesses' unique ancestry helps them grow fast. But it can also imperil their health.

The successful ingredients of born-digital companies are defined by their ancestry: lineage, DNA and kinship. The story that emerges...

Born-digital businesses' unique ancestry helps them grow fast. But it can also imperil their health.

Born-digital: how innovators re-innovate

Born-digital companies can be overtaken by newcomers edging into their markets—if they let their technology get stale. And they can get...

Born-digital: how innovators re-innovate

Upping your digital game

What born-traditional companies can learn from their born-digital counterparts To compete against digitally savvy businesses,...

Upping your digital game

The triumphs and truths of companies born-digital

Research executive summary Born-digital companies are fountains of innovation that have taken advantage of an unprecedented explosion of...

The triumphs and truths of companies born-digital

Secrets from born-digital boardrooms

Many of the companies born in the digital age are private, which makes it hard to gain insights into how their boards of directors...

Secrets from born-digital boardrooms

The missing ingredient in born-digital businesses: experience with operating at scale

Born-digital companies focused on growing revenues fast sometimes neglect to set up operations required to serve customers effectively at...

The missing ingredient in born-digital businesses: experience with operating at scale

Fast finisher or built to last: How born-digital companies can excel at digital ethics

Born-digital businesses that relegate digital ethics and data privacy to the back seat in favor of driving fast growth could end up...

Fast finisher or built to last: How born-digital companies can excel at digital ethics

Five ways born-digital companies can accelerate their post-COVID recovery

Born-digital companies face additional challenges, owing to their unique operating models and lesser maturity. At the same time, many...

Five ways born-digital companies can accelerate their post-COVID recovery

Avoiding the talent trap threatening born-digital companies

Founders of born-digital firms are typically brilliant, but too many of them make a common mistake: hiring people early on who are...

Avoiding the talent trap threatening born-digital companies

Growing up digital: Leveraging human resources and talent management

Too many fast-growing born-digital businesses take shortcuts with HR and talent management. They can get away with that only for so long,...

Growing up digital: Leveraging human resources and talent management

Born-digital businesses' unique ancestry helps them grow fast. But it can also imperil their health.

The successful ingredients of born-digital companies are defined by their ancestry: lineage, DNA and kinship. The story that emerges...

Born-digital businesses' unique ancestry helps them grow fast. But it can also imperil their health.

Born-digital: how innovators re-innovate

Born-digital companies can be overtaken by newcomers edging into their markets—if they let their technology get stale. And they can get...

Born-digital: how innovators re-innovate

Upping your digital game

What born-traditional companies can learn from their born-digital counterparts To compete against digitally savvy businesses,...

Upping your digital game

The Power of AI: Lessons from Stanley Black & Decker

In this series on “The Power of AI,” AlixPartners Managing Directors Angela Zutavern and Abhinav Agrawal sit down with Stanley Black & Decker Chief AI officer, Mukesh Dalal, and discuss the many ways AI is impacting business and the lessons that can be learned from the 2021 Fortune Brainstorm AI Conference.

Cobotics on the factory floor

Next gen collaboration: people + machines

The AI-powered supply chain

How to get a billion dollars of value from AI

How Stanley Black & Decker organizes for AI

Meet the experts

Is your born-digital company ready for the next phase of growth?

Most companies—born-digital or born-traditional—are stuck in their lane, according to our research. There are patterns of behavior driven by your business’s ancestry and operating model that can be predicted—and managed. Our consultant-led Diagnostic applies our research insights to your business to quickly assess your capabilities and identify opportunities for improvement. The Born-digital DiagnosticTM enables you to set a course for success amid the coming storm of economic disruption.