Invited by Vivek and the directors at Aditya Birla Group, one of India's largest conglomerates with over 140,000 employees and revenues of over $45 Billion.
Matthew GriffinFounder, President and Futurist, 311 Institute
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Vivek and the directors at Aditya Birla, one of India's largest conglomerates, with over 140,000 employees and revenues of over $45 Billion, asked Matthew to show them the future of a wide range of topics, all with re-invention and sustainability at their core. The group makes everything from aluminium, concrete and precious metals to consumer goods, fabrics, fertilisers and financial services.
The discussion ran from new, environmentally friendly ways to package and produce cement to Zero Liquid Discharge (ZLD) waste water technologies. Again and again, Matthew showed how even the most mundane parts of a company's operations are being re-invented, by new technologies and by good old fashioned human grit and ingenuity.
"Even the most mundane aspects of a company's operations are being re-invented right in front of our eyes, using new emerging technologies but also good old fashioned human grit and ingenuity."Matthew Griffin, India, June 2022
He then moved beyond those areas to carbon negative building materials and techniques, new energy and energy storage, and carbon capture. For leadership teams from 36 countries, he set out new revenue streams outside the core businesses, and showed how many of them could reinforce the group's leadership in key markets while lowering operating costs and helping it embrace the circular economy and sustainable business practices.
His closing theme was that the only thing changing is everything: producing green aluminium, mining lithium from sea water while cutting the cost of desalinated water by over two thirds, and storing electricity in bricks and compressed gas. He framed the session as the start of a longer journey with the group.
311 Intelligence
What this means for your leadership team
Routine operations are now in play.
The session argued that no part of a business is too dull to be rebuilt. For a group that makes everything from aluminium and cement to fabrics and financial services, that widens the list of places to look for savings and growth.
New revenue can sit outside the core.
Matthew set out income streams beyond the existing businesses. Many could strengthen leadership in key markets, lower operating costs and move a group towards a circular economy, so one project can serve several goals.
Energy and carbon are business choices.
Storing electricity in bricks and compressed gas, capturing carbon and using carbon negative materials are no longer only questions for energy firms. Leaders should test where each fits their own operations and timelines.
Three questions for your next leadership meeting
Which of our routine operations has nobody questioned for a decade?
Which new revenue streams could also cut our operating costs?
Where could energy storage or carbon capture change our cost base?
The trends and technologies behind this session
From the 311 Starburst, the 311 Strategic Intelligence Unit’s map of the technologies and trends shaping the next 50 years.
It means re-invention is a whole-business task, not a side project. Leaders can look for lower costs, new revenue and sustainable practice in the same places, starting with the operations they see as ordinary.
How does the circular economy relate to this session?
Matthew linked new revenue streams to helping the group embrace the circular economy. Our data rates the trend as one to Explore, with wide use by 2032, and notes that global circularity is slipping despite redesign efforts.
How does grid scale energy storage relate to this session?
Storing electricity, in bricks and compressed gas among other forms, was part of Matthew's closing theme. Our data rates grid scale energy storage as one to Prepare for, with wide use by 2028 and a technology readiness level of 9.
How can 311 brief our leadership team on this?
Through a private executive briefing or leadership workshop, tailored to your sector, in person first.
Bring this to your leadership teamA private executive briefing or leadership workshop, tailored to your sector. In person first, anywhere in the world.
Analysis by the 311 Strategic Intelligence Unit, from Matthew Griffin’s session and 311 data.
If Matthew gave this session today
Innovation re-invented for the exponential era.
How to Build Exponential Enterprises sets out what it takes to build an organisation that grows at the speed of change. For a conglomerate re-inventing its core operations and seeking new revenue streams, that is the next question.
