How Heritage Brands Are Embracing the Digital Future
It’s a wonderful feeling when something retro, old-school, or heritage gets a new look. A makeover that helps it to feel brand new again. It’s not done as often as you’d think, but lately, we’ve noticed a bunch of heritage brands rebuilding from the ground up.
From the car that you drive to the places you hang out (or used to, before everything got smart and clickable), heritage brands are changing.
Take Rolls-Royce. For over a century, they’ve been all about silent power and hand-stitched everything. But now? The Spectre, their first all-electric model, looks like it rolled straight out of a sci-fi film and onto the red carpet. It’s still unmistakably Rolls, but re-engineered for a quieter, cleaner, experience. And then there’s Ferrari, slowly inching towards electrification – because yes, even the purists can see where things are headed.
This movement isn’t about ditching heritage – it’s about electrifying it.
Venues with a voltage boost
We’ve talked a little bit about cars (obviously!), but it’s not just vehicles getting a battery upgrade. Some of the most iconic physical spaces on the planet are swapping bricks and mortar for fibre optic cables.
London’s Wembley Stadium now offers full 5G coverage and AI-driven crowd control. The Royal Albert Hall streams live concerts globally with almost impossibly crisp visuals, and surround sound better than most home setups. Even the Louvre lets you wander its halls in virtual reality. Believe me, the benefits of not having to queue behind 80 tourists taking selfies with the Mona Lisa cannot be understated.
While some worry that these places are losing their atmosphere, that couldn’t be further from the truth. They’re taking what’s unique about them and distilling it, making it more accessible for everyone. The grandeur and spectacle stay put, but the reach expands.
Entertainment goes electric
Just as car manufacturers are rethinking legacy design for electric platforms, heritage entertainment venues are finding new life online, too. The Hippodrome in London is one such example. Once purely a land-based destination, it’s now also home to the Hippodrome online casino, bringing its rich history and luxury feel seamlessly into the digital space. Online players can even take advantage of live streaming to play remotely at the physical venue’s tables.
What you get online isn’t some stripped-back version – it’s tailored luxury that you can access from anywhere with an internet connection. The same dramatic lighting, the same plush feel, just without the hassle of actually being upright and presentable!
Why this transformation works
It’s only natural to be a little resistant to change, but there’s a reason this shift to electric is working for heritage brands. They’re not trying to be something they’re not. They’re not slapping digital gimmicks on top of dusty foundations, they’re – properly – rebuilding from the ground up – with a clear sense of identity.
Heritage brands already know what makes them special. Bentley’s still obsessed with craftsmanship, it just happens to be stitching leather around electric motors now. The Albert Hall still gives you goosebumps, it just might be through your noise-cancelling headphones instead of from a front-row seat.
When done right, going digital doesn’t dilute the magic. It amplifies it. You’re not leaving the past behind, you’re taking the best bits with you, updated for wherever you happen to be.
