With the advent of the internet, the way we spend has changed dramatically, especially in the last decade in which Facebook grew to unparalleled acceptance. As the rules of branding and selling adapted to social media marketing practices, businesses too shifted from their traditional paradigms. Brick-and-mortar shops made way to ecommerce and payments were accepted online. In fact, online real estate has become as competitive as its offline counterpart. To further illustrate, we have listed five industries that have successfully shifted online, thereby reducing dependence on traditional paradigms.

Travel

With all the information available at a click, internet has delivered the power of pricing to the hands of the customer. It is now possible to travel internationally on a limited budget without standing in queue for visa, accommodation or tickets. Reviews by like-minded travellers have taken the place of recommendations by travel agents. Travel agencies now offer products that are personal and unique in experience, instead of just tour packages.

Newspaper/Media

An online newspaper is not just an additional advertising revenue source for the publication, but also a convenient option for the reader on-the-go. Media organisations are now training journalists in ways of digital writing and video streaming. The rise of vernacular media and citizen journalism owe a lot of internet and seamless connectivity over smartphones. The most prominent example being the Arab Spring of 2011 when Facebook and Twitter were used by citizen journalists to send information during curfews and censorship.

Leisure and Casino

Casino enthusiasts now do not even need to leave the comforts of their room to test their luck. Unlike a brick-and-mortar casino, online casinos are not bound by geographical limits and even offer higher payback percentages. Many online gaming companies offer slots can be accessed anytime. These online slots can be accessed on both tablets and smartphones without needing any download of additional software. For example, Merkur games at Lapalingo.com are among the most popular casino games on the Internet.

Retail

The movement of retail industry from brick-and-mortar to online in the last decade came as a blessing for both marketers and customers. While companies benefitted from the ease of accessing customers anywhere and realizing payments instantly without straining coffers on commercial rentals, consumers loved the comfort of home delivery and ability to compare rates from alternate vendors. Higher levels of education and increase in personal income has increased demand for online shopping options significantly.

Banking and Finance

The internet allows banks and other financial institutions to operate on moderate operational costs, with easier integration of services and minimal overhead costs among other benefits. There are many “virtual banks” that operate only on the internet. Every major bank now permits its customers to operate from anywhere and perform many banking transactions using their computer or mobile. In fact, the next big internet phenomenon that is poised to disrupt the banking and financial industry is the IoT (Internet of Things – connectivity using everyday objects that are embedded with internet-enabling devices.)

Western management styles tend to digest knowledge and solve problems in the boardroom. In Japan, managers tend to do things a little differently. In Japan, managers go to the gemba.

Not to be confused with the sports media and marketing company owned by Australian football player James Hird. Gemba, is a Japanese word that translates to ‘the real place’.

As this article explains, the concept of gemba, allows management to get out into the workplace and observe the workers in action. By performing a ‘gemba walk’ management strengthen the channels of communication between themselves and employees, and can witness the day to day operations first hand.

The idea was popularized by Taiichi Ono, Japanese businessman and father of the Toyota Production System. Ono believed regularly visiting the factory floor would help managers to find innovative ways to improve the company’s products and processes.

Three simple instructions; Go see, ask why, and give respect, were the mantra for Toyota managers. This saying was coined by former chairman, Fuji Cho, and by adopting this strategy they built one of the most successful companies in the automotive industry, with consistently high customer satisfaction ratings to this day.

Since then, all manner of successful companies from small local businesses, to multimillion dollar corporations like Dr. Pepper, have adopted gemba as a core concept of their management style.

Adopting the idea of gemba is all about shifting your management style from a mindset, to action, and proponents of lean management are vocal advocates for the benefits that this more hands-on approach can bring. A gemba walk around the office, factory floor or shopfront provides the opportunity to connect directly with customers and employees, rather than reading everything in a report, as well as monitor for any waste in areas like processing, production, defects and non-utilized talent. By breaking down the barriers between management and the people they manage, it gives employees more confidence to speak out about problems or issues they see, and suggest potential solutions. It also has the bonus of increasing your visibility amongst the workforce, which can provide a boost to both morale and discipline.

When you do finally get out there, it’s important to remember that the gemba walk is a time to learn about how the work is done, so try to avoid latching on to minor problems and proposing on the fly solutions which might impede staff’s ability to do their job. Instead, reflect on your observations and then allocate some time to talk with the team about them.

Most experts advice setting aside a small amount of time each week to actually get out and interact at the place where value is created for your customers. No matter the size of your business, a management principle that gets you engaged with your workforce and your target market, is going to be to your benefit. There is no better way to increase that value than by making sure everyone is involved in improving.

The modern viewing experience in a home theatre system must blend elements of comfort, automation, and high technology. The ultimate experience is automated, hands-free, and Wi-Fi enabled. Tech savvy individuals are in for the most indulging home theatre systems with these five must-have technologies for the ultimate home viewing experience.

1.     Light Dimmers.

The internet has disrupted the way we live and the way we control our living experiences.71%, expecting to see at least one smart-home device in every home by 2025. The first step to this transformation is lighting.Wink and Philips Hue designed a home lighting system that not only dims lights with iOS but changes hues. The dimmer is a whole house system that can be as tame or eccentric as needed depending on the mood using Thorlight as a controller.

2.     Mini Projector.

Ultimate viewing pleasure comes from the image. Projectors are getting smaller, compact while delivering a crisp display. The PH450U from LG will transform any space into a cinema. It is battery powered for the nights you want to move into the backyard to host the neighbourhood’s outdoor movie night. Its versatility is the most attractive feature; it can project a large screen or a small TV sized projection. This little projector packs a big punch and is comparable to larger more expensive competitors.

3.     Projector Screen.

The best companion to a portable projector is a portable projector screen.Duronic FPS100/43 – Floor Projector Screen – 100″ (Screen: 203cm(w) X 152cm(h)) Portable Freestanding 4:3 Widescreen – With carry case. The screen is large enough to create home viewing as if in a cinema. It is durable, long lasting and quite compatible with the PH450U. The carry case is good for storing and transport. Easy to use with limited setup skills needed.

4.     Smart Sound Bar.

For impeccable sound quality,The Smart Cast 45” sound bar puts out radical sound waves.  Vizio makes technology that is affordable yet disruptive. The sound bar has revolutionized speaker systems by giving a subwoofer audio quality streamlined into a linear speaker. For an individual viewing experience pair the headphones for TV. Headphones have a long range, and some are portable throughout the whole home.

5.     Theatre Style Popcorn Maker.

The experience is best topped off with a delicious treat. Try a vintage style popcorn maker with a cart to enhance the home theatre space.The Great Northern Popcorn Popper with Cart is unique in style and mobile. The cart has sturdy wheels and a completely classic look. The cart has space to store gourmet toppings, so the treats are never bland or boring.

With these five must-have technologies, transform the ultimate home viewing experience into the maximum cinematic experience. Disrupt the movie watching experience with just five new technologies. I personally don’t recommend any product in particular, and I’d recommend comparing reviews on a site like Best Advisor before making any final decision.