Innovation Alphabet
Blockchain
In a nutshell
A shared and immutable ledger within which nothing can be lost. The blockchain, often known in correlation with bitcoin and cryptocurrencies, today represents a giant decentralized catalog of interlinked data and information. It facilitates the recording of transactions and tracking of assets in a commercial network, reducing risks and costs for everyone involved.
private vs public
A major difference
As you can guess, the main difference lies in the level of access given to users. But, as a company, you have to identify and understand how these differ in order to select the rigth platform. So, let’s try to unchain the solution.
What is a public blockchain?
A public blockchain is an open network where anyone can access the chain and add blocks whenever they want. Bitcoin and Ethereum are both examples of public blockchains. They are decentralized and there is not a single entity which controls the network. But let’s see some other features:
- • Security: transactions are immutable because they cannot be altered or removed, only added. Also, their validity is recognised when the majority agree that the transaction is valid.
- • Anonymous nature: every one is anonymous. You don’t have to use your real name. Everything would stay hidden, and no one can track you based on that.
- • Transparency: the platforms allow you to see the ledger anytime you want. There is no scope for corruption or discrepancies.
What is a private blockchain?
A private blockchain has a centralised network that quickens the transaction process. The network is managed by an administrator and participants need consent to join it. Ripple and Hyperledger are both examples of private blockchain. Probably, the best feature is about speed – a smaller set of users means less time to reach a consensus to validate a transaction. But it’s not just that:
- • Better scalability: the opportunity to add nodes and services on demand can provide a great advantage.
- • High efficiency: private blockchains only allow a handful of people in the network. Public blockchain, on the other hand, introduce everyone to the network. Thus, it slows down rapidly.
- • Full privacy: private blockchain solutions tend to focus on privacy concerns. Hence, If you are looking for a technology that can offer the highest level of privacy, here you go.
Blockchain-as-a-service
A relatively new development in the growing field of blockchain technology is Blockchain-as-a-service (BaaS). The term referes to a managed blockchain platform allowing buyers to leverage cloud-based solutions in order for them to build, host, and operate their own blockchain apps and related functions on the blockchain. Meanwhile, the cloud-based service provider keeps the infrastructure agile and operational.
You can easily understand why BaaS can boost blockchain adoption across businesses. In particular, Hyperledger is an open source project born to support the development of blockchain-based distributed ledgers. It was created by the Linux Foundation in 2016. Hyperledger-based technology works using five layers.
1) A consensus layer, which makes an agreement on order and confirms the validity of the transactions in a block.
2) A smart contract layer, which processes and authorizes transaction requests.
3) A communication layer, which manages peer-to-peer message transport.
4) An Application Program Interface, which allows other applications to communicate with the blockchain.
5) Identity management services, in order to validate the identities of users and systems.
Application Fields
• Payments and money transfers: You surely know blockchains in correlation with bitcoin and cryptocurrencies. In fact, it is the universe that has prompted their evolution and experimentation. Bitcoin consists of a decentralized, uncensored, secure, and programmable value recording and exchange system. It makes it possible to create direct payment flows between originators and beneficiaries, without intermediaries, at ultra-cheap rates and near-instantaneous speed.
• Car sharing: These services are based on the possibility of renting cars for a short period of time. Usually, you can find the available cars scattered around the city in reserved parking lots. One of the big problems faced by car sharing companies is the lack of reliability on the part of the user. By using blockchain, however, you can address the risk of fraud. The technology offers a quick and secure way to create a binding financial agreement through “smart contracts”. Blockchain thus guarantees payment and enables transparent use of cars.
• Stock trading: Blockchain technology applied to the buying and selling of equities can automate the process of buying, selling, and trading in a way that ensures greater efficiency within the stock market.
Industries
• Blockchain in the pharmaceutical industry
UCLA Health is an academic medical center in the Los Angeles area that boasts an extensive primary care network in the U.S. In addition to healthcare, the center also decided to put the security of their patients’ data first by leveraging the blockchain system. The implementation of this technology, combined with artificial intelligence, allows data sharing while protecting privacy.
• Blockchain in the energy industry
New York-based start-up Transactive Grid offers a grid energy storage service based on the open source Ethereum platform. Transactive Grid deals primarily with energy produced from renewable sources. Renewable energy producers are linked together to create a kind of micro-grid where people can buy and sell electricity. A movement aimed at forming a small community in which producers and consumers work together. They buy and sell renewable energy according to each other’s needs. Energy production and related transactions are tracked using “smart contracts” promoted by Ethereum’s blockchain technology. In this way, every unit of energy produced and transmitted in the microgrid will remain for eternity.
• Blockchain in the service industry
Dnata (Dubai National Air Transport Association) is a multinational company operating in the air transport services industry involved in handling, catering, cargo, and travel agency. The company used the blockchain solution to eliminate redundant data and improve visibility and transparency of cargo services. They achieved the output precisely because of the technology adopted. Through the digitalization of the supply chain, it uses a peer-to-peer network to monitor and manage the route of each container.
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Business Functions
• Blockchain in support of marketing
Even the fashion world meets blockchain technology. Babyghost is a fashion brand that during Shanghai Fashion Week 2016 collaborated with the VeChain platform to defend product authenticity and protect patents and intellectual property. A collaboration that, first and foremost, demonstrates how the scope of blockchain does not stop at financial services. The result was a multi-sensory celebration. As each Babyghost garment was embedded with a VeChain chip, attendees had the unique opportunity to scan the chip to receive an interactive designer memento.
• Blockchain in support of HR
Recruit, a Japan-based Human Resources company, is using blockchain technology to check the veracity of previous work experience found inside the resumes of new applicants. This is possible through the development of cryptographic certificates that attest to the authenticity of qualifications and resumes, based on the way blockchain works. This enables the construction of a more transparent and easily verifiable recruiting system.
• Blockchain in support of management
Provenance, a global leader in sustainable marketing technology, has developed a traceability system that serves supply management to make supply chains more transparent. The aim is to create more trust between companies and customers. As blockchain technology enables clearer and more secure control of transactions, operations between different players in a supply chain – from production to sale – can be documented in a decentralized ledger. This would reduce transcription costs, delays, and possible human mistakes.
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Check out more of the Innovation Alphabet:
Gamification
Gamification
Gamification is actually adding a game-like element to make more fun and engaging something that’s not necessarily a game. It’s all about turning a task that might be boring or difficult into a more enjoyable and motivating activity. You can also earn points, badges, and rewards for completing certain actions or challenges. Are you ready to play?
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Business Intelligence
Business Intelligence
A smart business means efficiency: Business Intelligence represents the ability to collect up-to-date data, present it in easy-to-understand formats, and deliver it in a timely manner to employees. Making data-driven decision-making and management processes leads to competitive advantage, reduces inefficiencies, and improves productivity and service at all levels.
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Artificial Scarcity
Artificial Scarcity
We often tend to desire what we cannot have. Or what we are in danger of losing: Artificial Scarcity is a strategy that flaunts a limited number of items that do not correspond to actual availability. The goal is to stimulate the perception in consumers that the stock of items is about to run out and thus create a need based on the “fear of being cut off” or the intention to buy the item in order to resell it at a higher price.
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Subscription Model
Subscription Model
A subscription model is a business tool that generates revenue by charging customers a fee at regular intervals. The company provides products or services to subscribers on a subscription basis, usually monthly or annually. In this way, loyalty has become more important than acquiring new users.
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Holacracy & Flat Organization
Holacracy & Flat Organization
A “flat organization” breaks down the traditional hierarchy and removes its negative connotation, while “holacracy” is the business tool that facilitates its formation. Flat organizations place more emphasis on communication and collaboration, aspiring to a distributed decision-making process that gives each employee a voice. But this is a model that is difficult to implement.
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Mass Customization
Mass Customization
Mass customization is an initiative adopted by companies to embrace the increasingly diversified needs of customers. By offering customizable products and services, consumers feel engaged and can bring their creativity into play. Brands gain from this a boost in perceived value and the opportunity to fuel a positive word-of-mouth marketing.
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Coopetition
Coopetition
If you can’t beat them, join them. Coopetition is a business strategy that defines cooperative and competitive relationships between competing companies in the same young or high-growth market. The goal is to travel a stretch of road together to lower initial research and development costs. Once the desired results are achieved, the companies will return to being enemies as before.
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MVP
MVP
To the disappointment of all sports fans, this is not an article about Michael Jordan. In the language of business, MVP stands for Minimum Viable Product and indicates the version of a new product that has enough features to attract customers. In this way, a team can gather the most feedback with the least effort, improve the prototype, and validate its sale.
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Agile
Agile
Agile is an approach to software development designed to respond to change. Teams quickly analyze the context in which they operate, identify uncertainties faced, and figure out how to adapt to always move forward. Interaction between individuals comes before processes and tools; collaboration with the customer is more important than negotiating contracts.
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Bounded Rationality
Bounded Rationality
The best solutions always come to mind when it is too late. This is because human beings tend to make decisions on the basis of satisfaction rather than optimization. Bounded Rationality means that we are unable to think clearly and linearly, we proceed by trial and error and forget all the possible variables that affect the process. But we are also flawed.
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