In class we have talked about innovations and entrepreneurship. One type of innovation, called the disruptive innovation, came to mind when I was reading the news about Wal-Mart’s new drone delivery system. Wal-Mart has explored a so-called delivery drone facility which is able to provide home delivery, curbside pickup, and checking warehouse inventories. In terms of the delivery industry that includes land transportation, air transportation, and water transportation. The delivery drones services could be categorized as a technical disruption.  

Although the new delivery drones are commonly agreed to have commercial potential and have been tested by several large companies such as Wal-Mart and Amazon, there is no legal permission for the commercial use of delivery drones. Thus, I do not look forward to this new delivery invention, regardless the potential growth of delivery efficiency that it might facilitate.

In addition, there are also some practical problems of delivery drones when firms use them to deliver goods to customers. The factors that companies want to consider include the natural weather problem, safety problem and packing problem (ex. what if a fragile good such as a glass bottle is to be delivered).  As a matter of fact, I would rather wait for a couple more days and receive the good that I bought in-hand than pick it up in front yard when I go back home at night and take the risk that it might be stolen.

All in all, while there are surely some disruptive innovations showed to be successful such as iTunes, not every disruptive innovation in business would end up being actually disruptive.

Reference:

http://www.cbc.ca/news/technology/wal-mart-drones-1.3290313

http://www.nytimes.com/2015/10/27/business/walmart-seeks-permit-to-do-tests-with-drones.html?_r=0

(Source)

http://www.digitaltrends.com/cool-tech/walmart-joins-race-to-use-drones-for-home-delivery/