Life in the Digital Vortex is challenging-especially for retailers. In an environment where averaged across industries four of the top 10 incumbents will be displaced by digital disruption in the next five years, retail ranks as the third most vulnerable out of 12. Retailers are also being squeezed between online-only retailers and traditional competitors that are further along with their digital transformations.

But with the threat also comes opportunity. Cisco's most recent Digital Value at Stake research highlights specific digital use cases that industries can implement now to drive new sources of value.

According to the research, six industries-manufacturing, financial services, retail, service provider, healthcare, and oil and gas-will account for 71 percent of the total private sector Digital Value at Stake over the next decade. Yet, retailers captured only 15 percent of their potential digital value last year.

For more digital transformation stories in retail, click here.

It is clear that retailers need to begin their digital transformation journeys, and do so immediately. If you're like many retailers, however, you may not know where to begin. What's needed is a clear path to creating business value from digitization.

If you are thinking about digital transformation, just getting started, or well on your way, I invite you to join me at my Big Idea presentation at NRF on Monday, Jan. 18. Specifically, I will be detailing a roadmap to digital value for retailers, including how to:

• Assess your current digital assets and capabilities
• Understand and select specific digital use cases based on our economic analysis
• Close the gap in digital capabilities to achieve your business goals

By attending my session and learning about a digital transformation roadmap for your business, you will avoid being part of the 40 percent of retailers that could be displaced by digital disruption. Instead, you will be on your way to capturing your share of digital value that's there for the taking.

See you at the Big Show!