A Quantum-Enabled Business Application: The Brownfield Disruption

Recap

In my first post of this series of articles, I imagined performing a thought experiment exploring how Enterprise Software might disrupt the quantum industry by demonstrating quantum business value within its installed base in 2025. Since we can't conduct such a real experiment in the business world, we rely on the power of imagination—thinking through the possibilities.

The Proof-of-Concept

At the end of 2023, the Quantum Team of a leading Enterprise Software Company published an article right here on LinkedIn describing their work on integrating an IBM Quantum Computer into one of their Supply Chain Applications:?Read the full article here.

The Idea

Now, let’s take this further in a thought experiment for this Proof-of-Concept of a quantum-enabled business application:

Imagine this:?By 2026, industry customers begin to realize the promises of quantum computing in their daily operations. No flashy, experimental greenfield solutions; instead, they leverage quantum advancements directly within their existing systems—leading to better operations, higher profitability, and transformative outcomes that are out-of-the-box and seamlessly integrated.

What distinguishes this vision of quantum business applications? Let’s dive deeper into the key dimensions:

Integration

Unlike loosely coupled applications, such as simulations in material science or one-off optimization problems, we’re talking about quantum capabilities embedded directly into day-to-day enterprise business processes.

• How would this tight integration enhance decision-making?in areas like supply chain management, financial forecasting, or inventory optimization?
• Could quantum algorithms, seamlessly working alongside classical systems, eliminate inefficiencies that have persisted for decades?
• What kinds of infrastructure adaptations?would be required to support this integration across an installed base?
• Would the success of such applications?depend on incremental quantum advancements or breakthrough innovations?

Value Creation

Quantum computing could redefine what "business as usual" means by unlocking unprecedented value for enterprises.

• How would quantum-driven efficiencies translate?to tangible outcomes such as cost reduction or faster go-to-market timelines?
• Could industries like manufacturing, retail, or logistics?achieve competitive differentiation purely by upgrading their existing systems with quantum capabilities?
• What metrics or KPIs?would businesses use to measure the value derived from these applications? Would it go beyond profitability to include resilience, sustainability, or agility?
• How might such applications reshape?the role of technology leaders in organizations, from CIOs to CTOs?

Adoption at Scale

If these applications bypass the barriers of greenfield deployments (remember the long-tail problem of Software Applications), the possibilities for widespread adoption become exciting—and challenging.

• What incentives would businesses need?to adopt quantum upgrades at scale? Would early adopters enjoy an outsized advantage?
• How would industry-wide adoption?influence regulatory frameworks or compliance requirements?
• Would standardization emerge, or would quantum adoption lead to highly fragmented solutions tailored to specific enterprises?
• Could scalability extend beyond large enterprises?to empower mid-sized businesses, creating a more democratized impact?

A Seismic Shift: The Brownfield Advantage

Today, most hardware industry roadmaps operate on the assumption that greenfield quantum applications won’t arrive until 2030 at the earliest.?But what if brownfield quantum applications were possible by 2025?

• What would this mean for hardware providers'?R&D priorities?
• How would?investment strategies?shift in response to this accelerated timeline?
• Could this realignment?accelerate quantum computing’s impact—or force companies to rethink their approach altogether?
• Which hardware companies?won’t make it, and which will win the race?

What’s Next?

These are the questions we’ll explore next. Stay tuned as I continue this journey to uncover how quantum advancements could transform enterprise systems, redefine industries, and create disruptive opportunities where least expected.

#QuantumComputing #BrownfieldDisruption #TechDisruption #EnterpriseTransformation #QuantumValue #FutureOfBusiness #EmergingTechnologies #DigitalTransformation #InnovationLeadership #QuantumAdoption

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