2. We need to offer solutions versus products or services. Because success invites imitation, over time many products are perceived as commodities. Or, as industries mature, products become so complex and feature rich that “differentiation blur” sets in. As described earlier, with limited defensible differentiation, companies have responded by positioning themselves as solutions providers. In many cases, this simply equates to bundling products with associated services—accompanied with the declaration, “We now provide a total solution for the customer.”