Dr. Volker Lang is an experienced digitalization expert with profound expertise and great enthusiasm for quantum computing, blockchain technology, artificial intelligence, and their applications for digital transformation. As a senior project manager and former management and strategy consultant working with Volkswagen Group, he has been leading various large-scale business transformations with focus on electrification, digitalization, and other future trends.

Volker is a trained quantum physicist, holds a doctorate from Oxford University and diploma in physics and nanotechnology from Ludwig-Maximilians-University of Munich. He has attended the Oxford Blockchain Strategy Program at Saïd Business School and Disruptive Strategy at Harvard Business School, as well as the well-known machine learning program at Stanford University among other interdisciplinary training for business executives. His achievements were recognized by prestigious scholarships and international prizes, such as by Trinity College Oxford, the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council, the German Physical Society, and Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung.

You can reach Volker on LinkedIn (dr-volker-lang) and at his digital innovation consulting services (DInnovators).

Preface

1 Digitalization & Digital Transformation

1.1 Historical Business Transformations

1.2 Innovation & Disruption Theory

1.3 The Digital Ecosystem

1.3.1 Major Driving Forces

1.3.2 Digital Transformation Strategy

1.3.4 Innovation Models of Google, Amazon & Co.

1.4 Classical Data Processing

1.4.1 The Digital Code

1.4.2 Principles of Operation

1.4.3 Computers & Other Digital Devices

References

2.1 Setting the Quantum Computing Scene

2.2 The Strange World of Quantum Computing

2.2.1 Spooky Quantum Reality

2.2.2 How Quantum Computers Operate

2.2.3 The Fussy Search after the Perfect Qubit

2.3 Quantum Computers Today

2.3.2 Commercially Available Systems

2.3.3 Next Challenges

2.4 Summary & Implementation Framework

References

3 Blockchain Technology

3.1 Setting the Blockchain Scene

3.1.1 The Role of Transactions & Money in History

3.1.2 Basic Functions of Money in Society

3.2 Blockchain Fundamentals

3.2.1 Decentralization and the Arrival of Trust

3.2.2 The Immutable Data Structure

3.2.3 Digital Value Transfer

3.2.4 The Authorization of Transactions by Digital Signatures

3.2.6 Smart Business Contracts

3.3 Blockchain Technology Today

3.3.1 Implementation Challenges for Enterprises

3.3.2 Current Business Applications

3.3.3 Further Use Cases

3.4 Summary & Implementation Framework

References

4 Artificial Intelligence

4.1 Setting the Artificial Intelligence Scene

4.1.1 The Symbiosis of Neurobiology & Information Theory

4.1.2 The Conference that Started it All

4.1.3 IBM's Legendary Projects DeepBlue & Watson

4.2 Central Ideas behind Artificial Intelligence

4.2.1 The Cost Function

4.2.2 Minimization of the Cost Function

4.3 The Five Categories of Learning

4.3.1 Supervised Learning

4.3.2 Unsupervised Learning

4.3.3 Deep Learning

4.3.4 Ensemble Methods

4.4 Top Use Cases and Business Applications

4.4.1 Computer Vision

4.4.2 Healthcare

4.4.3 Natural Language Processing

4.4.4 Energy Efficiency

4.4.5 Drug Discovery

4.4.6 Financial Services & Insurance

4.5 Summary & Implementation Framework

References

5 Your Digital Action Plan

5.1 Envision a Digital Business & Operating Model

5.2 Select the Right Technology Stack

5.3 Digitize the Core

5.4 Identify Pilot Projects

5.5 Empower Employees

5.6 Shape the Organization & Structure

5.7 Establish an Open Innovation Culture

5.8 Leverage the Ecosystem

References

Glossary