Technology has always played a key role in the success of businesses, whether it be Henry Ford utilizing mass production technologies or Percival Elliott Fansler adapting airplane technology to run the world’s first-ever commercial flight in 1913.
Nowadays though, the technological advances utilized by modern businesses are more nuanced and subtle than in the past and they usually come in the form of software innovations.
In this article, we will take a deep dive into 4 companies that have used cutting-edge software to modernize their business practices and improve their commercial outcomes.
Table of Contents
888 Poker – Poker 8 Software
It’s easy to look at the widespread popularity of online gambling and assume that it is an industry as old as time. However, in terms of global industries, it is relatively young, not having come into use until as recently as 20 years ago.
888 Holdings were one of the frontrunners in the online gambling industry at the turn of the millennium and their flagship enterprise – 888 Poker – is still going strong to this day.
One thing that has contributed to 888’s longevity is its dedication to researching and implementing the latest technological advances. The latest example of that dedication was the implementation of ‘Poker 8 Software’, an operating system that revamped the gambling provider’s online poker facilities.
The clean, attractive and user-friendly software has helped 888 to stand out from their competitors and make them a company synonymous with great, online poker fun.
888 have always been one of the biggest names in online gambling, largely due to their commitment to software improvements.
Epic Games – Anti-Cheat
In 2017 free to play Battle Royale game Fortnite was released onto the market, sending shockwaves through the gaming industry. The popularity of the game took the industry by storm and upset the existing apple cart.
At the time of Fortnite’s release, many were keen to write the game off a passing fad and critique it for not having the same software standards as traditional, AAA gaming titles.
However, Epic Games, the minds behind the game had thought of everything in their pursuit for gaming greatness and one of those considerations has now come into sharp focus, 4 years on from the game’s initial release.
At the time of writing, there is a growing furor amongst the gaming landscape about the number of hackers playing Call of Duty: Warzone. Influential streamer Vikkstar123 recently took to his YouTube channel to say that he could no longer play the game due to the number of hackers running around Verdansk.
This has led many to go back to games like Fortnite, who had the foresight to partner up with companies like Easy Anti-Cheat, to integrate anti-cheat software into their games in the development stage.
HackerOne – Hacking Technologies
Over the past five years, we have grown accustomed to reading headlines about hackers targeting multi-billion dollar companies and leaking their data. However, one thing that you may not have read about is the company using hackers to protect businesses.
In July 2019 Capital One discovered a data breach that exposed the sensitive personal data of more than 100 million customers. Rather than discovering this by reading the news, the company was actually alerted to it by HackerOne.
Using the same software, technology, and practices as traditional hackers, HackerOne targets the networks of its customers to find vulnerabilities and weaknesses. It then alerts its clients to these weaknesses and advises them on how to strengthen their defenses against hackers.
This novel approach has helped a number of large businesses around the globe to operate more safely and it has helped to take HackerOne’s revenues from $0 to $20 million in just three short years.
Computer hackers who were once seen as societal outcasts are now being enlisted to help multi-billion dollar companies protect their data.
KaiOS Technologies – Phone Integration Software
In 2007 when Steve Jobs unveiled the first iPhone, the mobile communications market was changed forever. Within a couple of years the old giants of the industry such as Nokia were falling by the wayside and making room for Apple and Android devices.
So much so that if you were to pull out a mobile phone without a touch screen in North America or Europe you would be ridiculed by your things.
However, if you were to do the same in India no one would bat an eyelid as you would just be using the second most popular mobile OS in the country.
KaiOS (pronounced ky-O-S) is an operating system that allows cheap mobile phones that can be bought from as little as $15 to run modern apps like YouTube, Google Maps, Facebook, and WhatsApp.
KaiOS’s unique smartphone software technology has allowed them to bring the features of Apple and Android to millions of users who would not normally be prohibited from owning a smartphone because of the price.
Conclusion
100 years ago great work was being done by scientists, researchers, and developers to improve our day-to-day lives. Periodic seismic breakthroughs had huge impacts on individuals and on businesses who were willing to use technological advancements for their gain.
In the modern-day the emphasis has been shifted from companies waiting on innovations to take advantage of to driving innovations themselves.
The companies listed above have all taken an active role in improving their own software or learning from other software developers to take their commercial success to the next level.
As time progresses, companies with this ability to adapt and improvise independently will continue to flourish as those that wait on innovations to happen fall by the wayside.
