The world has changed a lot in the last few decades, and businesses had two choices—adapt or disappear. Some brands embraced the digital era, using technology to stay ahead, while others got stuck in their old ways and faded into history.
In this post, we’ll take a look at some businesses that successfully transitioned into the digital age—and those that just didn’t make it.
One of the businesses that successfully survived this transition is Domino’s Pizza. This brand has been around since the 1960s, long before the internet and smartphones. But instead of getting stuck in the past, they embraced and improved with technology. Today,all you need to do is just to order and you will get your hot pizza right at your doorstep.
In fact, here in Nigeria, they are literally the biggest and most recognized pizza brand. They have got outlets in major cities, and their ability to use digital marketing and delivery apps has helped them stay ahead of the competition. Instead of just relying only on walk-in customers, they make sure people can find them online, place orders, and even get discounts through their app. This is how a business survives in the digital age—by evolving with the times.
Another brand that successfully made the transition is KFC (Kentucky Fried Chicken). KFC has been around since the 1950s, yet they are still one of the most popular fast food chains in the world today. They didn’t just sit back and hope people would keep walking into their stores—they went fully digital.
Today, you can order KFC online, have it delivered, and even see ads on social media that make you crave their crispy chicken. They use social media, online ads, mobile apps, and even food delivery services to keep up with modern customers. In Nigeria, KFC is everywhere, and their ability to adapt to the digital world has played a huge role in their success. I was even surprised to see that they already have a branch in my hometown, Sagamu, which shows how much they have advanced.
On the other hand, there are several businesses that didn’t make it through this transition. A perfect example is NITEL (Nigerian Telecommunications Limited). If you grew up in Nigeria before the 2000s, you probably heard about NITEL. Back then, if you needed to make a phone call, you had to go to an operator or use one of their landline phones. They were the biggest telecommonication company in Nigeria—until mobile phones came along.
When MTN, Airtel, and Glo entered the scene with cheap SIM cards and mobile phones, NITEL didn’t keep up. Instead of adapting to the new mobile telecom industry, they struggled with bad management, slow innovation, and poor services. Eventually, they collapsed , and no one even talks about them anymore.
I actually remember hearing about NITEL when I was younger, but by the time I was old enough to use a phone, they were already gone. That’s how fast things can change when a business fails to innovate.
Another industry that struggled to keep up with the digital era was the CD-selling business. Back in the day, CDs were everywhere—music CDs, movie CDs, even software CDs. If you wanted to listen to your favorite album or watch a new movie, you had to buy a CD from a store or a street vendor.
But then, digital streaming came along and completely changed the game. Platforms like Netflix, Spotify, and Apple Music made it possible to watch movies and listen to music without ever needing a physical disc. People no longer had to buy CDs—they could just stream, download, or store everything on their phones.
The CD stores that didn’t adapt started closing down one by one. The same street vendors who once made a living selling CDs started struggling because nobody was buying anymore. Even major companies that relied on CD sales saw a decline. Some tried to switch to selling digital content, but for most small businesses that depended solely on CDs, it was the end of the road.
I remember growing up and seeing people selling CDs at bus stops and even retail shops, blasting the latest hit songs to attract buyers. Now? It’s rare to see anyone buying CDs at all.
The truth is, technology keeps changing, and businesses that don’t change with it won’t last. Domino’s and KFC are still here today because they embraced technology, social media, and digital marketing. Meanwhile, NITEL and some other businesses disappeared because they refused to evolve.
This just proves that in business, you either keep up with the times or get left behind.
Thanks for reading.
The image is Ai generated.