Is this the limit?

Disruption and especially digital

We hear and read more and more about it. But do you know what this means exactly? Is it just me or does the word disruption have a negative connotation? Companies like Nokia or Free Record Shop will agree with me. Or do you still know the Polare bookstore chain?

Of course the opposite is true. New techniques and initiatives replace the old ones and that, with the necessary reservations, is often good news for consumers and end users. Thanks to Spotify we have unlimited access to music, Uber brings you cheap and simple from A to B and Airbnb makes traveling cheap and easy.

Disruption breaks boundaries

It is certainly not the case that all companies that have become "victims" of disruption have done things wrong. Not so long ago almost everyone had a Nokia phone. Those things lasted a long time and were indestructible. Even if you dropped it in the toilet 😉. In other cases, the changes were obvious for a longer time already and there simply came a response to a new need. After all, everyone knew that people would want to watch more and more TV when it suits them. After Netflix, the video streaming services have popped up like mushrooms. Soon we can also expect the service from Apple in the Netherlands.

Now you may think, these examples are very obvious. Or, what is the news value of this post? What matters to me is that a border has been broken in all cases of disruption. This is often due to a change in mindset, the use of new technology or simply a genius inspiration for a new business model. Looking back on the aforementioned examples, who would have thought 15 years ago that they would rent out his house to strangers for a few nights? Where would Uber be without smartphone and GPS technology? And, listening to unlimited music for ten euros a month?!?!

Breaking borders and boundaries

When I project this knowledge onto the book trade, my feeling is double. The changes are less rapid but are certainly present. New or better said, other sales channels for the general book, online learning platforms, eBooks and of course audio books. Enough initiatives, but it's going steadily. That is why I would like to speak less about disruption but more about breaking boundaries. And that again and again.