Industries are changing at the speed of light, and what is currently the new ‘in thing’ will most likely become obsolete in just a few years. This is predominantly due to the rate at which technology is improving. Disruptive is a bit of a negative word, however this article will actually be discussing brands that have created innovative solutions that have caused former products or services to become obsolete. Let’s take a look at three of the most innovative.
Facebook Messaging
Go back 10 years and most people used their mobile devices when they wanted to send a quick message to a friend or family member. Most cell phone providers charged people to send these quick messages, and there was also a character limit in place. However, once Facebook introduced its Messenger service, this all changed. Anyone with an internet connection or data plan could send messages to friends for free. Better yet, they could send group messages and there were no character limits.
Nowadays, the simple text message is pretty much obsolete. Businesses may send out text alerts to let customers know when a parcel will be delivered, but most people who want to converse in a personal way will use Facebook Messenger, or a similar service.
SimpliSafe Home Security
Again, if you went back 10 years, you’d find that most people who had a home security solution in place were paying out of the nose for the solution. Every home security company in the United States required customers to sign up for lengthy contracts, and pay high fees. Many of these traditional companies used scare tactics to encourage homeowners to take out policies, and it was often a frustrating process for all involved.
However, in 2006, SimpliSafe introduced a home security product that could be installed by anyone with a little bit of DIY knowledge. The solution did not require homeowners to agree to a long term contract, so anyone who chose to use the product could cancel it whenever they wished. Since then, over 300,000 households have installed this security solution, and others on the market have had to change the way they operate.
Netflix
10 years ago, if you wanted a large selection of TV shows to watch, you had to sign up to a cable or satellite provider. These options weren’t cheap, and if you wanted extras such as sport or movie channels, the fees were astronomical. Some people opted to sign up to DVD delivery services, but it wasn’t an instant way of being able to watch content.
However, then came Netflix. Netflix started out as a DVD postal provider, however it then changed and became a streaming service. Anyone who wanted access to a large catalog of TV shows and films could pay an extremely small monthly fee and gain access. Since then, dozens of other streaming services have launched, completely disrupting not only the DVD rental market but also the cable and satellite markets. Most people now would rather sign up to a low priced streaming company than pay the high price of cable TV.
There we have three of the most innovative services that have completely disrupted other businesses and changed the way we live. One of the things all of these services have in common is the fact that they have made things cheaper for the customer. They have also all made things much more convenient. Companies nowadays have to be constantly looking to the future and new technology when designing their own products and services. Failing to do so means risking being left behind.
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