Sheldon Anthony IO

The future is distributed. Forget the old way of thinking—a "distributed enterprise" isn't some complex new buzzword. It's simply a business that's finally smart enough to use incredible digital tools to work from anywhere, making things better for everyone: your customers, your employees, everybody. Now, let's be honest. This isn't a brand-new idea. A retailer with a main office and a bunch of stores? That’s always been distributed. But the pandemic, as disruptive as it was, showed us the true value of this model. It proved it wasn't just a quirky option; it was sustainable. But here's the kicker, the part that keeps me up at night: We’re still using yesterday's tools to build tomorrow's company. The old technologies—the ones we relied on—are simply not good enough for this new, incredibly expansive, distributed world. They are relics. And worse, look at what's happening: companies are desperately trying to bolt on new solutions, but those tools are themselves designed for a model that's already obsolete. They're solving the wrong problem. We have to change the game. You can't put a new engine on a Model T and call it the future. You need to reinvent the entire machine for the distributed world. That’s the challenge. That's the opportunity.

We need to be crystal clear. That term, the "future distributed enterprise," it's not just a fancy new phrase. It's a necessary distinction. You see, people hear "distributed enterprise" and they think of the old model—a classic company with a few separate locations, maybe a branch office here, a store there. They think they get it. They don't. The old model lacked the crucial ingredient: digital power. It was geographically separated, but it wasn't truly liberated. The future distributed enterprise is completely different. It lives on technology. It leverages amazing digital tools and operations to be proximate—to be right there—with every employee and every customer, regardless of location. It operates from anywhere. That's the difference between a static map and a dynamic, living network. And let's address the cynics. This is not some fleeting fad cooked up to sell you more boxes and software you don't need. It's the new reality. If your IT organization dismisses this, if they don't see it coming, they aren't just missing an opportunity—they are actively devaluing the assets they already have. They are standing still while the world accelerates. You need to recognize this now. This isn't about incremental upgrades; it’s about a fundamental shift in how we define a business.

A major European consumer goods distributor needed to upgrade its outdated analog surveillance system to an IP surveillance system for better video quality and monitoring capabilities. The existing infrastructure posed significant challenges due to the long distances between the analog cameras and the nearest data closet. Anixter and Telefónica recommended NVT Phybridge Ethernet over Coax (EoC) solutions. These solutions allowed the customer to use their existing coax infrastructure to deploy IP cameras without the need for extensive re-cabling, saving time and reducing complexity. The customer saved over €20,000 in infrastructure costs and was able to deploy all required cameras simultaneously. The NVT Phybridge EoC solutions provided a robust and secure IP backbone, enhancing the overall security and efficiency of the surveillance system5.^[2]

You're holding onto the past. You're gripping those legacy technologies and those outdated business models like a comfort blanket. And while you're holding on, you are letting the future—the massive opportunities in your industry—simply walk out the door. Here’s the cold, hard truth: If you don't seize this moment, your competitors aren't just going to catch up—they are going to overtake you. They will steal your market share while you're fiddling with a system that should have been retired a decade ago. The future distributed enterprise is not just an upgrade; it is a digital weapon. It absolutely demolishes any legacy system in terms of productivity and, most importantly, customer satisfaction. Think of it this way—it’s the difference between a rusty old taxi company and Uber. Both are technically "distributed." They both have vehicles all over a city. But one is stuck in the past, and the other is a true anywhere operation powered by digital genius. Uber isn't just giving rides; it’s collecting valuable data, constantly optimizing, and making itself smarter every single second. It can see the changes coming, adapt instantly, and crush business risks before you even recognize them. That is the power of being truly distributed and truly digital. In the near future, and certainly in the long one, the companies that embrace this anywhere operation—the companies that finally use the digital tools we’ve created—will not just succeed. They will utterly outperform those who didn't.

Look, if we’re going to build this future distributed enterprise, we have to get back to basics. It’s not about some complex strategy—it’s about the fundamentals. Without sustainable, reliable power and mobile, cost-effective communication, this whole thing collapses. You can’t build the future on a faulty foundation. These are non-negotiable core elements. Fail here, and you’re signing up for an endless parade of problems. The challenge we face every single day is abandoning the past. We have to tear down the walls between those old, standalone systems and merge everything into one fluid, digital framework. And this is the mistake people keep making: They look at the "future distributed enterprise" and think it’s just their legacy system with a new coat of paint. It's not. It's a complete rethink. Because if your competitor rolls out a beautifully simple, user-friendly digital tool, your customers are gone. They will flock to the better experience. That’s the dynamic digital economy we live in. To stay alive, you must shed the weight. You have to ditch the outdated technology and the obsolete business models to truly capture the opportunities ahead. Our world has changed profoundly. We are at a crossroads. Do we cling to what was comfortable, or do we adapt to what is? We can’t control the pace of change, and we certainly can’t control what our competitors do. But we can control our own decision. We have to re-evaluate what a distributed enterprise means for us—what it can be. Stop letting fear paralyze you. It’s time to move. It’s time to choose progress.