The businesses that succeed today won’t necessarily be the ones with the most advanced tools—they’ll be the ones with the clearest vision of how to use them to create lasting value.
The way businesses create value today has fundamentally shifted, with digital tools redefining how we think about operations, customer engagement, and growth.
For someone like me, who has spent years building ventures across energy, technology, and finance, this evolution isn’t abstract.
It’s something I’ve experienced in the trenches of startups and scaled businesses alike. The change is undeniable—digital technologies aren’t just tools; they’ve become the backbone of strategy, execution, and value delivery.
Take the energy sector, for example. At Gasify, a company I’ve had the privilege of shaping, we saw an industry riddled with inefficiencies.
Traditional models relied on fragmented supply chains and outdated distribution systems that failed to meet the needs of a fast-growing population.
By introducing technology into the equation, from real-time data analytics to streamlined logistics platforms, we built something that not only solved inefficiencies but also unlocked new opportunities for growth.
This wasn’t just about selling gas more effectively—it was about enabling businesses to make smarter decisions while improving access and reliability for customers.
The ripple effect of applying digital tools in this way is far-reaching; it changes how industries think about scalability, customer experience, and resilience.
But digital advancement doesn’t operate in silos. It’s interconnected, affecting everything from how teams collaborate to how businesses engage with their ecosystems. In running The Hive Incubator, I’ve worked with early-stage startups that exemplify this principle.
These aren’t companies trying to apply technology for technology’s sake—they’re building solutions that seamlessly integrate into broader value chains.
One example is a logistics startup we supported, which used machine learning to predict delivery times and optimize routes in real time.
This wasn’t just a productivity boost; it reshaped the company’s relationship with its clients by creating transparency and trust.
Digital tools, when applied thoughtfully, have this unique ability to shift perceptions, turning everyday interactions into value-added experiences.
That said, adopting digital solutions isn’t without its challenges. It’s easy to get swept up in the promise of new technologies and lose sight of the foundational work required to make them effective. Businesses often mistake deploying tools for achieving results.
Without aligning digital initiatives to broader goals, these efforts can quickly become expensive distractions. I’ve seen companies invest heavily in tech platforms only to discover they didn’t have the operational frameworks to support them.
Digital systems amplify both strengths and weaknesses, so it’s essential to approach their integration with a clear understanding of where the gaps are and how they can be addressed.
One of the most important lessons I’ve learned from building businesses is that growth and efficiency aren’t mutually exclusive when digital solutions are applied correctly. In fact, they often go hand in hand.
At Gasify, for instance, digitizing the supply chain allowed us to scale faster than we could have imagined while reducing costs in key areas.
We didn’t just grow for the sake of growth; we grew in a way that made us more efficient, competitive, and resilient. That’s the kind of impact digital tools should aim to achieve.
This principle extends to how businesses think about their customers. Digital channels have transformed how companies engage with their audiences, offering new ways to understand preferences, deliver personalized experiences, and build long-term loyalty. However, these capabilities come with a responsibility to use them wisely.
Data privacy and ethical considerations have become critical factors in how businesses deploy digital strategies.
Customers are more informed than ever, and the ability to balance innovation with transparency is what separates companies that thrive from those that falter.
Businesses must ask themselves whether their digital strategies are truly aligned with the needs and expectations of the people they serve.
Another aspect that often gets overlooked in conversations about digital innovation is the role of talent. You can have the best tools in the world, but without the right people to wield them, they’re meaningless.
Building the right team has always been a cornerstone of my approach, whether at Gasify, The Hive Incubator, or in Cosmo and Uni services.
Digital tools are only as effective as the people using them. This means investing in training, creating cultures that embrace change, and ensuring teams are empowered to think critically about how technology fits into broader goals. It’s not enough to hire people who know how to use tools; you need people who understand why those tools matter and how they can be used to create value.
One of the most exciting things about the digital age is the way it democratizes opportunity. Businesses that traditionally struggled to compete due to a lack of resources now have access to tools that level the playing field.
Cloud computing, for example, has drastically reduced the cost of entry for startups, allowing them to compete with larger, more established players. At
The Hive, we’ve seen how tools like this enable entrepreneurs to scale their businesses faster and more efficiently than ever before. But with this newfound access comes an even greater need for strategic thinking. Just because you can use technology doesn’t mean you’re using it effectively.
The most successful businesses are those that view digital tools as enablers rather than solutions in themselves.
It’s also worth considering how digital advances reshape the competitive landscape. In the past, companies might have relied on proprietary assets or geographic advantages to gain a foothold in the market.
Today, the competitive edge often comes from the ability to iterate quickly and adapt to changing conditions. This agility is made possible by digital systems that provide real-time insights, automate processes, and create feedback loops that drive continuous improvement.
But speed isn’t everything. Being quick to market means nothing if you’re delivering something that doesn’t meet a real need. The balance between speed and intentionality is what makes or breaks digital initiatives.
Reflecting on these dynamics, it’s clear that businesses can’t afford to treat digital tools as optional add-ons.
They’re integral to how we build, grow, and sustain value in a world that is increasingly interconnected. Yet, with this integration comes the need for balance.
There’s a temptation to over-rely on technology at the expense of the human elements that make businesses thrive—relationships, trust, and the ability to adapt when things don’t go as planned.
The most successful companies I’ve worked with are those that understand this balance and strive to get it right.
Looking ahead, it’s hard not to feel optimistic about the possibilities digital tools continue to unlock.
From AI-powered analytics to blockchain-enabled transparency, the innovations on the horizon have the potential to reshape industries in ways we can’t fully predict. But no matter how advanced these tools become, their value will always depend on how well they’re integrated into thoughtful strategies.
The businesses that succeed in the digital age won’t necessarily be the ones with the most advanced tools—they’ll be the ones with the clearest vision of how to use them to create lasting value.
For me, the journey through energy, finance, and technology has reinforced one key takeaway: digital tools are not just about improving what’s already there.
They’re about challenging assumptions, rethinking models, and finding better ways to meet the needs of customers, partners, and communities. That’s the real promise of digital progress—not just to do things differently, but to do them better.
The Author – Folajomi Adegbulugbe
Folajomi Adegbulugbe is an accomplished entrepreneur and business leader with a proven track record of building and scaling ventures across various industries. He co-founded Pristin Capital and launched successful startups like Jo’s Indulge, furnisheet and Gasify. Currently leading The Hive Incubator in Akure, he supports startups by providing mentorship and resources.
With dual Master’s degrees in International Business and Finance and currently pursuing an MBA at Imperial College London, Folajomi brings strategic insight and innovative thinking to business, investment, and mentorship. Passionate about teaching and collaboration, he is dedicated to helping others unlock their potential and drive meaningful impact.
