Processes Quote by Kevin Kelly
““Get the ongoing process right and it will keep generating ongoing benefits. In our new era, processes trump products. This shift toward processes also means ceaseless change is the fate for everything we make. We are moving away from the world of fixed nouns and toward a world of fluid verbs. In the next 30 years we will continue to take solid things—an automobile, a shoe—and turn them into intangible verbs. Products will become services and processes. Embedded with high doses of technology, an automobile becomes a transportation service, a continuously updated sequence of materials rapidly adapting to customer usage, feedback, competition, innovation, and wear. Whether it is a driverless car or one you drive, this transportation service is packed with flexibility, customization, upgrades, connections, and new benefits.””
About This Quote
Source Speech: TED Talk “The Future of Processes”, 2023
The passage argues that in a rapidly evolving world, focusing on adaptable processes rather than static products yields continuous innovation and value, turning physical goods into flexible services.
In simple terms: Prioritize flexible processes over fixed products for ongoing benefits.
Key Takeaway
Design adaptable processes, not just products.
Themes
innovation
processes
technology
future
fluidity
service
customization
Mood
optimistic
forward‑looking
analytical
Type
strategic
inspirational
technological
When to use this quote
- startup development
- software engineering
- automotive design
- consumer goods
- urban planning
Key Concepts
systems thinking
digital transformation
economics
product lifecycle
Questions to Reflect On
- What process can you make more fluid?
- How do you balance stability with continuous change?
A Different Perspective
Processes can become overly complex, risking inefficiency.
