Predicting the Future

“The future is there... looking back at us. Trying to make sense of the fiction we will have become.” 
― William Gibson, Pattern Recognition

We all wonder what's next. At KBPC we try to get a feel for the shape of things to come. Our customers give us the clues, technology is always pushing us around, but the real roadblocks to progress are the ones that we have built into our brains. Trying to let go of what we know to embrace what we don't can be a harrowing experience.

This is a great article form io9.com that highlights some of the more obscure things that are shaping the near future.

Self Driving Trucks

Mercedes Benz is pushing to have driver less trucks on the road by 2025 according to Wired Magazine.

Would this eliminate the driver?

I doubt it. At KBPC our drivers do far more than drive. They are the tip of the customer service spear and work hard to ensure that our customers get the product they need the way they need it.

Assisting with unloads, evaluating dunnage, organizing delivery times and reporting back suggestions for making the customer experience even better. A driver is an essential point of contact between KBPC and our customers. Its about a lot more than holding the steering wheel.

Money the Old Fashioned Way - Making and Selling Stuff

At KBPC we are proud of the fact that we manufacture the packaging we sell.

It is not easy to Build the Plants, Find the Equipment, Manage the Sales People, Design the Packaging, Develop a Great Customer Service Team, Hire the Production Team, Cut, Fold, Glue, Print, Label, and Assemble the Materials, Buy the Trucks, Hire the Drivers, Deliver the Packaging on Time at a Good Price.

It is not easy but we love it. Its in our blood. It makes sense to us.

Then we hear that Snapchat is valued at $10 Billion. Seriously? They are pictures that fade away. But not really.

Now we realize that these companies are valued very differently than a solid, profitable, well run but sort of dull business like ours, but we often wonder how they get all that money.

Now, thanks to Fast Company, we know.

This is a great Info Graphic on how to make money on the internet. Maybe.

In the meantime we will stick with the packaging. If any of you read this and start shipping a lot of "whatevers", give us a call, we will package it perfectly for you.