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How Technology is Breaking Down Industry Barriers and Boosting Startups

By Dick Weisinger

Technology is changing the way businesses operate and compete in the global market. Thanks to the advances in data and digital technology, industry boundaries are becoming more blurred and flexible, allowing companies to enter new areas and offer new products and services. This also creates more opportunities for startups to bootstrap themselves with few capital expenditures and resources.

One of the key drivers of this trend is the standardization and ubiquity of application programming interfaces (APIs), which enable different software applications to communicate and exchange data. APIs allow companies to access and leverage the capabilities and data of other platforms, such as cloud services, social media, e-commerce, and fintech. For example, a company can use APIs to integrate payment, delivery, or customer service functions into its app or website, without having to build them from scratch.

Another factor that facilitates industry hybridization is the availability and affordability of cloud computing, which provides scalable and elastic infrastructure and services for data storage, processing, and analytics. Cloud computing reduces the cost and complexity of managing IT systems, and allows companies to focus on their core competencies and innovation. Cloud computing also enables more advanced forms of data analysis and artificial intelligence (AI), which can generate deeper insights and predictions from large amounts of data.

These technologies have enabled many companies to expand their horizons and enter new domains, such as e-commerce, fintech, healthcare, education, entertainment, and travel. For example, Rakuten Ichiba, Japan’s largest online retail marketplace, also offers financial products and services, such as credit cards, mortgages, securities brokerage, and e-money. Rappi, a South American e-commerce platform, also provides insurance, banking, travel, and delivery services.

These technologies have also lowered the barriers to entry for startups and entrepreneurs who want to launch their businesses or disrupt existing industries. Startups can leverage APIs, cloud computing, and AI to create innovative solutions and products with minimal investment and resources. For example, Stripe, a fintech startup that provides online payment processing for Internet businesses, uses APIs to simplify the integration of payment methods into websites and apps. Airbnb, an online marketplace for lodging and tourism activities, uses cloud computing and AI to manage its platform and optimize its pricing and recommendations.

Technology is breaking down industry barriers and boosting startups by enabling more cross-pollination and innovation across different sectors. This creates more value for customers, who can enjoy more choices, convenience, and quality. It also creates more challenges for incumbents, who have to adapt to the changing landscape and compete with new entrants. Technology is not only a technological achievement but also a strategic advantage.

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