{"id":35897,"date":"2018-11-13T19:39:57","date_gmt":"2018-11-14T00:39:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/digital.hbs.edu\/platform-rctom\/submission\/quick-on-the-uptake-digital-transformation-for-industrial-companies\/"},"modified":"2018-11-13T19:39:57","modified_gmt":"2018-11-14T00:39:57","slug":"quick-on-the-uptake-digital-transformation-for-industrial-companies","status":"publish","type":"hck-submission","link":"https:\/\/d3.harvard.edu\/platform-rctom\/submission\/quick-on-the-uptake-digital-transformation-for-industrial-companies\/","title":{"rendered":"Quick on the Uptake: Digital transformation for industrial companies"},"content":{"rendered":"

Machine learning is being heralded as one way to help a growing company streamline data, improve processes, and eliminate inefficiencies in nearly every aspect of the organization, but developing in house solutions seems to be a challenge for smaller companies. With demand growing for these adaptive solutions, so too is the supply of companies eager to assist. Already identified as a leader in the field, Uptake Technologies Inc. (Uptake) is positioning itself as a master platform for machine learning that can transform a company across various industries. \u201cBy harnessing the power of information to help companies make better predictions, Uptake turns every industrial company into a digital\u00a0organization.\u201d[1]<\/a> Keeping this edge is driving Uptake.<\/p>\n

A common concern for employing machine learning is predictive analysis versus causality.[2]<\/a> Companies within the machine learning space understand this concern and are working to take large amounts of digital information, turn it into useful data, and then develop algorithms necessary to find the otherwise indiscernible way forward.[3]<\/a> So far, investors show confidence in Uptake\u2019s ability to deliver on predictive analysis. In November 2017, Uptake closed a Series D round with $117 million earmarked for growth opportunities.[4]<\/a> They also moved into the defense sector with their winning bid for the Defense Innovation Unit, Experimental (DIUX) in June 2018.[5]<\/a> Currently the Internet of Things (IoT) industry, which encompasses machine learning, is expected to be worth $70 billion in 2020.[6]<\/a> The military industry alone is valued to grow from $6.26 billion in 2017 to $18.82 billion in 2025.[7]<\/a><\/p>\n

Uptake is diversified across ten industries, so one can imagine they have had the opportunity to create rather large databases and test multiple variations of their algorithms.[8]<\/a> However, it is important to recognize that these are industrial applications. Uptake is not venturing in to the realm of healthcare or retail operations at this time. In the short term, I think it is prudent to remain true to the kind of company Uptake is: a leader in industrial machine learning. They have experience in this relatively new space and are a leading firm. This affords them certain benefits of being the <\/em>firm for your machine learning needs (as long as it is an industrial problem). Securing this benefit for the long term is another issue.<\/p>\n

Past performance is not a guarantee for success moving forward. While it would not be advisable to make a move into retail or healthcare at this time, I think it would be a misstep to not entertain this as a possibility. Securing dominance in Uptake\u2019s current field preserves the funds necessary for innovation and development of forward looking capabilities. They must maintain their edge as the leader, which is no easy feat given the pressure from Google and Amazon, while developing applications to industries they have not yet entered. Moving to government contracts gives some stability to this fast-paced market.<\/p>\n

The future for Uptake is promising, but there are lots of opportunities – or potential pitfalls. What kind of competition do they really face within the industrial applications? Will the next step be moving into retail? Will Uptake remain a business to business (B2B) firm? Can they acquire a company already operating in this space? There is always risk in growth, but in this world, stagnation means catastrophic failure. Whatever Uptake has up their sleeves, the machine learning field is waiting. (706)<\/p>\n

[1]<\/a> Uptake Technologies Inc., \u201cAbout Uptake,\u201d https:\/\/www.uptake.com\/about, accessed November 2018.<\/p>\n

[2]<\/a> M. Yeomans. What every manager should know about machine learning. 性视界 Business Review Digital Articles (July 7, 2015).<\/p>\n

[3]<\/a> E. Brynjolfsson and A. McAfee. What\u2019s driving the machine learning explosion? 性视界 Business Review Digital Articles (July 18, 2017).<\/p>\n

[4]<\/a> Ingrid Lunden, \u201cUptake nabs $117M at $2.3B valuation for industrial predictive analytics,\u201d Tech Crunch, November 30, 2017, \u00a0[https:\/\/techcrunch.com\/2017\/11\/30\/uptake-nabs-117m-at-2-3b-valuation-for-industrial-predictive-analytics\/], accessed November 2018.<\/p>\n

[5]<\/a> Sydney J. Freedberg, Jr., \u201cAI Logistics Let Combat Units Move Faster: Uptake\u2019s DIUX Contract,\u201d Breaking Defense, June 27, 2018, [https:\/\/breakingdefense.com\/2018\/06\/ai-logistics-can-speed-up-army-tanks-uptakes-diux-contract\/], accessed November 2018.<\/p>\n

[6]<\/a> Nicholas Shields and Peter Newman, \u201cAmazon introduces host of new IoT services \u2013 Uptake eyes industrial predictive analytics \u2013 Google Home adds multi-command feature,\u201d Business Insider Intelligence, December 5, 2017. [https:\/\/intelligence.businessinsider.com\/post\/uptake-eyes-industrial-predictive-analytics-2017-12], accessed November 2018.<\/p>\n

[7]<\/a>\u201cArtificial Intelligence (AI) in Military: Global Industry Analysis & Forecast 2018-2025,\u201d Business Wire, June 6, 2018, [https:\/\/www.businesswire.com\/news\/home\/20180606006201\/en\/Artificial-Intelligence-AI-Military-Global-Industry-Analysis], accessed November 2018.<\/p>\n

[8]<\/a> Uptake Technologies Inc., \u201cIndustry Solutions,\u201d https:\/\/www.uptake.com\/industry-solutions, accessed November 2018.<\/p>\n

[9]<\/a> Sample Image from Uptake Technologies Inc., \u201cPlatform,\u201d https:\/\/www.uptake.com\/platform, accessed November 2018.<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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