CloudFest USA Chats: Data Ownership, Vendor Lock-in, and the Future of Agencies
Insights For The Era Of Disruption
Preparing for Digital Disruption
Fresh from the stage at CloudFest USA 2025 in Miami, Crowd Favorite CEO Karim Marucchi sat down to discuss the shifting landscape of the digital ecosystem.
In this wide-ranging conversation, Karim explored why the current agency models are hitting a dead end, how AI mirrors the dawn of the internet, and why composability is the future of digital strategy.
Key Themes & Takeaways
1. The “Early Internet” Moment for AI
- AI has created a time of massive technological uncertainty. For the first time in 30 years, we are seeing a technological shift comparable to the arrival of the commercial internet. Now is the time to be agile rather than rigid. Businesses that try to build rigid structures around today’s AI tools may find themselves obsolete in six months.
When the Internet first came out, there was a week-by-week, month-by-month uncertainty of what’s next and how it’s going to change major business. This reminds me of that.
2. Disrupting the Agency & SaaS “Cul-de-Sac”
For the last 15 years, the tech industry has operated on a fairly standard SaaS and agency model. Karim points out that these models are evolving into “cul-de-sacs”. He identified three pillars of problems that the next generation of digital architects must solve:
- Data Ownership
- Anti-Churn Policies
- Rigid Economics
As Karim says: “If you look at those three things, the possibilities are endless.”
3. The Power of Composability
One of the most practical examples of this new “nimble” era is the move toward composable solutions. By decoupling the CMS architecture, you allow marketing teams to be agile while IT teams maintain security and control.
Is Your Digital Strategy Ready for Disruption?
For decision-makers, this interview provides insight into concerns you may be facing with the shifting enterprise landscape:
- Is your current infrastructure built to pivot when the technology shifts?
- Are you investing in open architectures that ensure you truly own your data?
- Does your team have the freedom to use the best tools for the job?
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