Forget Penetrating the IT Market; You Need to Disrupt It

Did you know that there are 2.2 million apps in the Apple app store and 2.8 million apps on the Google Play Store as of March 2017? This data presented by , indicates that the technology market is overflowing with applications and systems. Not to mention apps from other app stores like the Windows Store, Blackberry World and Amazon Appstore!

Are you thinking of developing an application? Well, the odds are, it already exists in the market.

See, in this prevailing tech environment, it is no longer enough just to develop “a cool product” and launch it into the market. Any John or Jane Doe with a basic grasp on problem analysis and a desire to make money can hack that. The millions of apps existing in the market are sound proof of it.

In the same environment, there are IT products that still stand out; they rise above the rest in their industry to make a name (and billions of dollars) for themselves. They do more than penetrate the market. They disrupt it.

Disruption in relation to innovation and the tech market, means developing a product that adds so much value to the market, it eventually replaces and displaces the strong existing players. Disruptive technology does not conform to status quo; it challenges and changes it. It is more than just making improvements to existing products. So how exactly do you successfully ensure your application or system disrupts the market?

1. It is the small things that count.
   
   The word disruption in itself gives an illusion of something big and massive. However, technological disruption is quite the opposite, as it works on the ripple effect principle; small, incremental changes to produce big revolutionary results. So work on those issues that seem insignificant. Concentrate on the small aspects that make your product unique.
   
   

2. Take enough time to study your market.
   
   Understand the current structure of your market. Who are the users you want to serve? Who are your competitors and what products do they have actively in the market? What are the users complaining about the existing products & what do they like about them?
   You need to do more market research. Delve deeper into the specifics. Examine all angles and possibilities. Conduct an elaborate gap analysis. These gaps are disruption opportunities for you to grab.
   
   

3. Have an actively innovative team
   
   Technology is fluid. What’s hot and selling today could be obsolete in a couple of months. Hence, innovation is the key to staying relevant, and that is why there are companies that have discovered this, have entire departments dedicated to innovation. You need to keep thinking outside the box and be creative. It is the ultimate path to disruption.
   

4. Step out of your comfort zone and take risks
   
   “I simply stuck to what I knew, stayed within my comfortable lines. And I made it!” - said no one ever.
   If you want to cause a disruption, take the leap. As long as you have done your research and have a possible solution, spread your wings and fly. The worst that could happen is failure, which if well-handled, you will learn from.
   On the other hand, the best that could happen, would be your product achieving massive disruption, which is what you would be aiming for.

So stop waiting for the situation to get better before you can act. That not-so-conducive situation, could be your ticket to disruption. Go beyond thinking big. Think sharp. Innovate even sharper! The ultimate result? A disruption the whole world will be talking about.

By Laura Arina,

Assistant Business Systems Analyst,

Cytonn Technologies.