How Amazon’s floating warehouse blimps are about to change product delivery forever

Michael McQueen - SmartCompany - 10 May 2018

In their efforts to identify disruption, many business leaders reach for a metaphorical telescope. They seek out research, forecasts and experts who can illuminate what lies beyond the distant horizon.

While this long-range perspective can be of value, my strong recommendation when working with clients is to set aside the telescope and instead reach for the wide-angle lens when identifying disruptive threats. After all, it is the outliers, the unconventional competitors and the unexpected new industry players that have proven most disruptive time and time again.

Klaus Schwab of the World Economic Forum agrees. In his book The Fourth Industrial Revolution, Schwab warns business leaders to “consider their biggest threat to be competitors that are not yet regarded as such”. In other words, Schwab challenges leaders to regularly ask themselves: who are the new entrants or the players in parallel industries who may not be on your radar yet as competition but could become so in the blink of an eye? Read More