6 Industries That Are Most Vulnerable to Digital Disruption (2024)

What other industries have already been disrupted by cloud technology in your city or country?

Digital disruption is well upon us. While a survey conducted by the Global Center for Digital Business Transformation for the large and mid-sized private sector companies agreed, to varying degrees, that digital disruption comes with its own set of benefits, it is also true that Digital Disruption is threatening the survival of many businesses and industries.

Futuristic businesses and start-ups are exploring new avenues of re-inventing their business activities and industries all together to compete with and dislodge incumbents. The last decade alone has witnessed some exponential progress in technological disruption – think Airbnb, Paytm, Netflix and Uber.

And this disruption is gradually influencing every industry, including banking, healthcare, hospitality, construction, manufacturing, packaging, logistics, and insurance amongst others. In this article, we have discussed following digital disruption industries: –

  1. Media and Entertainment
  2. Technology products and services
  3. Financial services
  4. Retail
  5. Telecommunications
  6. Education

The situation also raises the questions – which industries are most likely to be disrupted? Which sectors must brace themselves to face steep competition from agile startups with innovative business models?

Here is our list of 6 industries most vulnerable to digital disruption:

Media and Entertainment

Media is surely the most impacted industry by Digital Disruption according to Embee. The displacement of physical media by digital players has been progressive but revolutionary. The merging of mobility, cloud and video is constantly evolving to cater to busy millennials who consume even entertainment on the go. This trend will continue as long as disruptors keep rolling out more content options across a multitude of delivery platforms.

Technology products and services

Innovation is at the epicenter of the technology industry and it will keep accelerating at an unnerving pace. In the recent past we have seen technologies such as Cloud and Analytics emerge and overhaul businesses who adhere to it, and today we have the Internet of Things, 3D printing, Augmented and Virtual Reality, Blockchain technologies re-shaping businesses. It goes without saying that the technology industry is slated to be highly impacted from the digital disruption and businesses must be agile in execution if they want to drive their own transformation.

Insights Success – Embee Software: Your Strategic IT Partner Leveraging Digital Disruption

Financial services

Digital is becoming mainstream for the financial services industry. Tasks once executed manually via human interaction are now being completed entirely on digital interfaces. Almost every type of financial activity – from wealth management to payments to banking and others – is being re-structured by startups with technology playing the role of a transforming agent. Financial Service companies are looking at Blockchain and Fintech to transform their existing business models, advancements in artificial intelligence and robotics are being adhered to create new opportunities of growth and Machine Learning for advancements in automation.

Retail

The face of Retail has changed. Digital disruption is reshaping the Retail industry in terms of power, consumer behavior and the marketplace as a whole. Unlike previously, the sole power is shifted to the customer who drives key decisions such as what to buy, when to buy, where to buy, how to buy.

Thus to understand consumer preferences better and improve business performance, retailers are adhering to technologies such as Big Data, Artificial Intelligence, the Internet of Things and Augmented or Virtual Reality. Additionally, while eCommerce and mobile shopping have been underway for many years, retailers are struggling to adopt the right tools to integrate systems and provide a seamless customer experience.

A recent report by Hitachi and Microsoft marked this as the foremost challenge. This is probably because implementing such enterprise level technology solutions need businesses to make a paradigm shift not only in their strategy but also change the organization structure and mindset. Futuristic retailers are using analytics, sensors, location services to provide context-aware experiences that meet customers’ specific needs at any given moment.

Check out Amazon’s vision of a future retail store:

Telecommunications

Think Reliance Jio, WhatsApp, Skype and Spotify and you will understand how heavily disrupted the telecommunications industry is. However, according to us, the telecom industry has been facing low growth over the last few years and must (and can) look at Digital Disruption as an opportunity to re-establish their businesses, create new offerings and rebuild their market positions. An average home has a range of 5 to 10 connected devices, meaning telecom is now the orchestrator of digital goods in family homes.

Education

Digital disruption has enabled educational institutes to restructure the learning processes, making it more accessible, affordable and enjoyable to learners. Accenture’s Global Value of Higher Education study has found that 80% university students agreed that digital capabilities are important to decide which university to attend, 70% students want their institution to use more digital tools, both inside and outside the classroom. 81% look for integration of technology into the classroom experience, online access to materials and online availability of classes.

The rapid growth of Massively Open Online Courses (MOOCs) is already making it easier for students from all walks of life to continue with their studies. The use of audiovisual assets along with collaborative and team work solutions help learners to proactively participate in projects and be more future-ready.

All in all, digital disruption is here to revolutionize the industries from umpteen angles. How are you planning to keep up with the changes?

Embee is a recognized leading technology partner in India with 34+ years of experience in delivering digital transformation to its 2000+ customers. We a.re uniquely positioned to empower businesses to be more with Productivity & Collaboration solutions enabling them to be more connected and productive.

For your queries, reach out to us atconnect@embee.co.in

6 Industries That Are Most Vulnerable to Digital Disruption (2024)

FAQs

Which industries are being impacted the most by digital disruption? ›

Here is our list of 6 industries most vulnerable to digital disruption:
  • Media and Entertainment. Media is surely the most impacted industry by Digital Disruption according to Embee. ...
  • Technology products and services. ...
  • Financial services. ...
  • Retail. ...
  • Telecommunications. ...
  • Education.

What industries are affected by digital technology? ›

From manufacturing to agriculture and healthcare to finance every sector is affected by the transformative impact of digital technology. This article focuses on the dramatic impact of digital technology in traditional sectors and highlights the potential and threats it brings.

What companies are leading through digital disruption? ›

Many of the popularized stories of digital disruption come from startups, like Uber, Skype, iZettle, and Spotify. However, there are also plenty of examples of incumbents pursuing digitally disruptive strategies, like GE, Disney, Nike, and BBVA.

Which industry is most affected by technology? ›

  • Robotic Process Automation.
  • Tech Advisory.
  • Hardware Recommendation.
  • Healthcare IT Services.
  • Immigration IT Services.
  • Indigenous Community IT Services.
  • Power Automate.
  • Pentest Consulting.
Nov 13, 2023

Which of the following industries has been impacted by digital disruption? ›

To this end, acknowledging the risks and possibilities that digital innovations can bring in the different industries is crucial. Some of the most vulnerable to digital disruption fields include critical infrastructure and manufacturing, healthcare, law enforcement and security, cybersecurity, and fintech.

What industries are low in digitalization? ›

And Health, hospitality, construction, agriculture are the sectors with the least technology adoption.

What are the most digitalized industries? ›

Top 10 Digitised Industries and Business Ideas You Can Get Out of It
  1. Information and Communications Technology (ICT) ...
  2. Media and Communications. ...
  3. Professional Services. ...
  4. Finance and Insurance. ...
  5. Wholesale Trade. ...
  6. Advanced Manufacturing. ...
  7. Oil and Gas. ...
  8. Utilities.
Dec 19, 2023

Which industry is considered the most digitally mature? ›

The research found that the IT technology sector leads all industries, following by media, finance and insurance, and professional services. These four sectors have developed a culture of digital enablement that drives end-user adoption and usage, widened their offerings, enabled self-service, and more.

What is the effect of digitalization in industry? ›

Industrial digital transformation is a strategic decision that can yield benefits like improved operational efficiency, higher revenue, and lower expenses. It's not just a trend. Organizations can gain a competitive advantage through quick adaptation, setting them up for success in the increasingly digital world.

What industries are ripe for disruption in 2024? ›

Key areas ripe for innovation include telemedicine, AI diagnostics, and personalized treatment plans. Telemedicine has already seen accelerated adoption, breaking geographical barriers and offering remote consultations.

What industry needs disruption? ›

It serves to illustrate just a few industries that are prone to disruption.
  • Travel Websites. Travel websites such as Expedia (EXPE), Kayak, and Travelocity have eliminated the need for human travel agents.
  • Tax Software. ...
  • Print Media. ...
  • Translation. ...
  • Office Assistants. ...
  • Booksellers. ...
  • Financial Advisors. ...
  • Recruiters.

What are the 5 root causes of companies struggling to respond to digital disruption? ›

Bonnet said companies struggle for five key reasons:
  • Unrealistic expectations. Some organizations were likely overly optimistic in the early days of digital transformation, dazzled by technology but less equipped to adapt to it. ...
  • Underdeveloped talent. ...
  • Poor communication. ...
  • Lack of digital culture. ...
  • Constant competition.
Aug 16, 2018

What industries is AI disrupting? ›

Here are five of the business sectors that will be most affected by the incorporation of AI tech into systems and processes:
  • Education.
  • Cybersecurity.
  • Financial services.
  • Retail.
  • Marketing.
Apr 2, 2024

Which industry will be most affected by the Internet of everything? ›

One of the industries IoT technology affected most is healthcare. IoT sensors and systems became professional health assistant that measures biometric data and send it to the doctor. Human organs can be transported between two hospitals by drones in case of emergency surgery.

What industries are struggling right now? ›

Fastest Declining Industries in the US by Revenue Growth (%) in 2024
  • Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) Manufacturing in the US. ...
  • Chicken Egg Production in the US. ...
  • Wedding Planners in the US. ...
  • Oil Drilling & Gas Extraction in the US. ...
  • Offshore Oil Rig & Platform Construction in the US. ...
  • Computer Peripheral Manufacturing in the US.

What industries did the Internet disrupt? ›

Industries That May Be Disrupted
  • Travel Websites. Travel websites such as Expedia (EXPE), Kayak, and Travelocity have eliminated the need for human travel agents. ...
  • Print Media. ...
  • Translation. ...
  • Office Assistants. ...
  • Booksellers. ...
  • Recruiters. ...
  • Hotels. ...
  • Drivers.

What industries will be most affected by automation? ›

According to these findings, “office and administrative support” will likely be the most affected by AI-driven automation at 46%. This transformation could largely impact common tasks such as data entry, scheduling meetings, and document management. The second highest industry, “legal”, trails close behind at 44%.

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Corie Satterfield

Last Updated:

Views: 6377

Rating: 4.1 / 5 (62 voted)

Reviews: 93% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Corie Satterfield

Birthday: 1992-08-19

Address: 850 Benjamin Bridge, Dickinsonchester, CO 68572-0542

Phone: +26813599986666

Job: Sales Manager

Hobby: Table tennis, Soapmaking, Flower arranging, amateur radio, Rock climbing, scrapbook, Horseback riding

Introduction: My name is Corie Satterfield, I am a fancy, perfect, spotless, quaint, fantastic, funny, lucky person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.