In the mid 1990’s, I started one of the first web development companies in the UK. At the time, everyone was talking about “the internet” but the tone was very different to how we talk about AI today. People knew it was coming. They knew it was going to be big. But many didn’t believe it would truly affect their business. It felt optional. Interesting. A way to get more exposure or maybe a few more enquiries.
The .com era was largely about growth. Getting online meant expanding reach. It meant new markets, new customers, new revenue streams. It was a marketing and visibility revolution.
Today, everyone knows AI will affect them. The conversation isn’t about whether it matters, it’s about how fast it’s moving and what the affects will be. And unlike the internet boom, AI isn’t primarily about reach. It’s about refinement. It’s about streamlining processes, removing friction, automating repetitive tasks and making smarter decisions faster. In that sense, they’re very different waves of change.
But there’s one powerful similarity I’ve noticed across both revolutions: as technology advances, personal relationships become even more important.
When websites first took off, many thought face-to-face business would disappear. It didn’t. In fact, as the world became more digital, trust and human connection became a bigger differentiator and the same is true today.
As automation increases, authenticity matters more. As processes get faster, trust becomes the real currency. As tools get smarter, relationships become the long-term advantage and that is exactly why I’m so passionate about what we’re building at Local Recommend.
In a world being reshaped by AI, Local Recommend is built on genuine, structured, in-person business relationships. It’s not about algorithms deciding who you should meet of the number of LinkedIn connections you have. It’s about building trust, referral partnerships and long-term human connections that technology simply can’t replicate.
If you’re navigating how AI fits into your business or if you believe relationships are still your greatest asset, I’d love to connect. Send me a message directly or come along and experience a Local Recommend meeting for yourself at https://lnkd.in/gpRjVpc3.
The tools will keep evolving but the advantage will always belong to those who build real lifelong referable relationships.
