Building blocks of a visionary tech whitepaper

"A white paper is an authoritative report or guide that informs readers concisely about a complex issue and presents the issuing body's philosophy on the matter."  (Wikipedia)

Writing white papers is easy. You need these three building blocks to structure your content:

Let's start with an eye-catching image and title f.e. "What comes next in <tech topic>? or "3 trends in <tech topic> to watch in 2018".
List trends here.

Second use terms like machine learning, big data, artificial intelligence, robotic and don't be too explicit. It should be regarded as magic which can not be explained. This block must written to be quickly consumed by the audience.

The third building block is a conclusion:
Our organization has this previously described <buzzword> solution. For further questions please contact.

Engage a ghostwriter to write those pages because you as specialist has not the time for it. If a reader really is interested you can send him later detailed documents and slides to show your competence and knowing they will never have the time to read them all.

Job done.

99% of white papers are structured like this, so it can't be wrong.

For my feeling we haven't discussed the current situation, the context, the assumptions, nor the challenge. In fact the customers field of interest is not deeply reflected. That's why authors try to catch the reader with a firework of terms, hoping one will get his attention. Such a white paper is like a machine gun. You will never know whom you hit.

Did we really provide something worth to read?

Third customers will find a way to contact you. Don't waste the conclusion chapter for contact information only. It is your chance to leave the reader fully satisfied. Many readers are only reading this part. Summarize your approach and proposal for solution and why it is valuable.

Last but not least don't write white papers like the mainstream. Be different, inform and guide the reader.