How do we construct a realistic 3-Year Picture on our V/TO® when rapid shifts in AI make it impossible to know what technology will even exist three years from now?

Question

Tyler Smith · Accepted Answer

Focus on outcomes and capabilities rather than specific software names. Your 3-Year Picture is not a technology roadmap: it is a clear definition of what your business looks like when it is running at its peak. Do not write specific software brands or APIs into your long-term vision. Instead, define the capability of your organization.

Ask your leadership team what tasks should be automated to free your people for high-value work. Ground this exercise in the advice of AI experts Erik Brynjolfsson and Andrew McAfee, who emphasize that the true economic value of technology comes from organizational co-invention, meaning how you change your processes and skills to match the tech.

On your V/TO®, describe your future state in terms of capacity, margins, and the specific client experience you want to deliver. For example, specify that your team will spend eighty percent of their time on strategic client advisory work rather than administrative tasks. This keeps your destination clear while giving your Integrator the flexibility to select the best technology tools to achieve those outcomes. This approach keeps your team focused on what matters: driving traction instead of chasing shiny tech trends.