How two seemingly dissimilar words may actually mean the same thing
In a recent InfoZone Newsletter from ERP software vendor SysPro, Louise Thompson, Chief Services Officer at SysPro Corporate says:
“The world is in a state of disruption, and that word is often heard in many different contexts. Along with change, or disruption, comes innovation – which are often seen as the same thing. In the last 50 years there has been a huge increase in the pace of innovation in science and technology, including disruptive technologies that create new markets and challenge existing companies.
SYSPRO’s responsibility is to provide both expected and unexpected innovations as a result of a healthy mix of our ideation process. We are confident that our innovations are pragmatic, serve our customer’s interests and deliver new value to them.”
I like these statements because they show the vendor’s commitment to offer its customers the best innovations achievable within its product line, both expected and unexpected by them and by industry experts and analysts.
Recently, the use of the word disruption has become quite popular when it comes to describing new technologies, introducing remarkable new products and services, or improvement to existing products or to how we use them.
The use of the word disruption, however, may imply disruption of existing business, perhaps unfair competition, but in fact it is simply introducing change, rethinking solutions to existing problems, improving customers’ product and service experience and increasing efficiencies. In a world of fair (and sometimes unfair) competition, some products will displace others, especially if the new, “disrupting” products or technologies have real benefits to their users.
Competition, as long as it is fair and not unlawful, is very healthy. It encourages all participants to continually innovate, stay in touch with their customers and constantly develop new markets and applications for their products and services.
With competition, everyone wins, although some innovators will not be given a fair chance, due to lack of financing, experience, management’s attitude and other factors. Those whose products and services have been displaced by new technologies and innovations will either have to re-invent themselves, find new markets for their existing products or, as often is the case, fade away.
Since innovation, especially in technology products, affects everyone, even leading technology companies become customers and users of innovation delivered by other companies, usually in different fields than their own, and thus everyone benefits from these innovations.
If we focus on the end users of our products and services and continue to fairly compete with other providers of technology products, overall quality and utility of these products will continually increase and at an accelerated pace.
The last 40 to 50 years prove how rapidly technology innovations have changed the world. Whether you call it disruption or change, it is sure to benefit all of its participants.
