Technology Persistence and the Future of Work

A fascinating milestone in tech evolution: The Deutsche Bundesbank (Germany's Central Bank) is retiring fax services in 2025, marking the end of a 60-year technological era. I remember sending my first fax in 1990 - watching that curly thermal paper slowly emerge with a grainy message felt like pure magic. Now, as a global technology advisor, seeing this transition feels like watching the final chapter of an era.

The surprising insight isn't that fax is finally dying - it's that it took six decades. This longevity reveals what I call the "90/10 Rule" of enterprise technology: the first 90% of transition happens quickly, but the final 10% can take decades. Why?

• Regulatory frameworks were built around fax as a "secure" transmission

• Critical processes globally were architected around fax workflows

• "Everyone uses it because everyone uses it" = network effect + institutional inertia

• Organizations across different markets needed to align their digital transformation timelines

The revolutionary part? Modern technological transitions are compressing dramatically and accelerating the #futureofwork. What took 60 years for fax might take just 5-10 years for current innovations. For instance, we're seeing this acceleration with:

• Physical credit cards → Digital wallets

• Traditional signatures → Digital authentication

• Paper currency → Digital currencies

The contrast is striking:

• Fax (1960s-2025): 60+ years to phase out

• Internet (1990s-2020s): ~30 years for global adoption

• Mobile (2000s-2020s): ~20 years for ubiquitous use

• Cloud Computing (2010s): ~10 years for enterprise adoption

• Generative AI (2022+): Potentially 3-4 years for mainstream integration

This acceleration isn't just about better technology - it's about our improved ability to manage technological transition. The fax era taught us valuable lessons about user adoption, regulatory adaptation, and system integration. Now, as we stand at the dawn of the #AI age, we can apply these insights to drive responsible innovation at unprecedented speed.

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A Message From Ram:

My mission is to illuminate the path toward humanity's exponential future. If you're a leader, innovator, or changemaker passionate about leveraging breakthrough technologies to create unprecedented positive impact, you're in the right place. If you know others who share this vision, please share these insights. Together, we can accelerate the trajectory of human progress.

Disclaimer:

Ram Srinivasan currently serves as an Innovation Strategist and Transformation Leader, authoring groundbreaking works including "The Conscious Machine" and the upcoming "The Exponential Human."

All views expressed on "Explained Weekly," the "ConvergeX Podcast," and across all digital channels and social media platforms are strictly personal opinions and do not represent the official positions of any organizations or entities I am affiliated with, past or present. The content shared is for informational and inspirational purposes only. These perspectives are my own and should not be construed as professional, legal, financial, technical, or strategic advice. Any decisions made based on this information are solely the responsibility of the reader.

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