The Briefing on Disruptive Technology

The latest news, trends and data in disruption

In Data:

Disruptive News in Numbers

9,043

The number of US patents assigned to IBM in 2017, making it the company with the most US patents assigned in the past year. The record demonstrates that IBM, which pipped Samsung Electronics to the post by around 3,000 patents, is still focused on continuing to innovate in technology, a vital approach if the company is to avoid being hit by disruption.

$3.7 trillion

The amount that the IT industry is set to be worth in 2018, according to research firm Garner. The growth will be driven by enterprise investment, with increased business spending expected across software, devices, IT services and communications services. The increased spending looks set to be driven by a need to innovate across sectors.

50%

The amount bitcoin value has dropped since its peak of almost $20,000 a coin in December. The cryptocurrency has been the poster child for the disruptive power of blockchain-based technologies, and has enjoyed dramatic rises in the past year. However, regulatory uncertainty, particularly in South Korea, Japan and China has prompted uncertainty and panic from investors.

70 million

The number of subscribers of music streaming service Spotify, as of January. The company, which has filed confidentially with US regulators for an initial public offering, has played an integral role in disrupting the music industry, with many users now opting not to purchase any music in favour of streaming. Spotify was valued at $19bn in 2017.

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£1m

The amount raised by UK-based fintech startup Urban Jungle in a seed round closed at the start of January. The company, first established in 2016, is seeking to disrupt the home insurance market by using machine learning to improve risk scoring, rather than relying on traditional methods of risk analysis.

$60bn

The amount of revenue disruptive giant Salesforce wants to reach by 2034, according to CTO and co-founder Parker Harris. The company has seen significant growth since its founding in 1999, and currently enjoys revenues of $10bn, however its focus on innovation has allowed it to continue to expand beyond predictions.

The Key Moments in Disruption This Month

GM’s Driverless Target

In an apparent bid to one-up its rivals, General Motors has announced that it plans to mass-produce self-diving cars without steering wheels by 2019. If it succeeds, it will become the first company to do so, establishing it as a key player in this transforming market. Driverless cars are likely to see proliferation in the early 2020s, transforming a host of industries in the process.

Source: The Verge

Google Goes Under the Sea

Google has announced that it is extending its cloud computing infrastructure with the establishment of five new regional data centres in 2018, and the installation of three subsea cables in 2019. One of the cables, Curie, will be the first to be privately owned by Google. The company is making the expansion to meet the ever-growing demand for cloud computing.

Source: CNET

Tesla Raises the Roof on Solar

Tesla has announced that it has begun manufacturing its solar roof tiles in the US, and will begin installations in the next few months. The technology, which is indistinguishable from a conventional tile, offers a cheaper alternative to the combined cost of a new roof and solar panels, and is likely to drive disruption in the power market as it will encourage increased levels of decentralised power generation.

Source: Reuters

Samsung Seeks Home Control

Samsung is positioning itself as the dominant force in the smart home market by combining AI, security and devices to create an unrivalled personal ecosystem. The company made a number of announcements in the smart home space at CES this January, and has also established an open IoT platform to allow users to connect different manufacturer’s devices.

Source: Business Insider

Embracing Emerging Technology

The companies bringing innovative technology into their operations

Kodak Embraces Blockchain in Innovation Bid

Camera company Kodak has announced a group of products based on the digital ledger technology blockchain aimed at innovating the ailing company’s presence in the technology space. At the forefront is KodakONE, a platform developed in partnership with photography agency WENN Digital, which is designed to automatically track photographers’ work and ensure they are paid for its use. The company has also launched its own cryptocurrency, KodakCoins, which are designed to be used on the platform.

Source: Bloomberg

Jaguar Land Rover Invests in Autonomy

Jaguar Land Rover has announced that it is focusing its innovation efforts on automation technology with the establishment of a new software engineering centre focusing on research and development in Shannon, Ireland. The centre will also focus on electrification technologies, in recognition of the wider automotive industry’s transition to electric vehicles. Jaguar Land Rover has already announced its commitment to this area, with its first fully electric model set to be released this year.

Source: Reuters

Fintech Investment Unit Created by Standard Chartered

International bank Standard Chartered has announced that is has established a unit to invest in financial technology, with a view to promoting innovation within the company. The unit, SC Ventures, will split its attention across both internal solutions and external ventures, by sponsoring and overseeing new disruptive technology ventures. The move builds on the company’s existing fintech investments, including the backing of blockchain-based Ripple and data startup Paxata.

Source: Reuters

Arsenal Selects Companies for Innovation Lab

Arsenal football club has selected six companies to take part in the Arsenal Innovation Lab, in a bid to develop innovative technologies for the organisation to use. The lab, which is being run in conjunction with L Marks, has selected companies focusing on several applications, including data analytics to improve business growth, chatbots to improve communication with fans and a payment system to allow in-stadium fans to order food to their seats.

Source: Real Business