Some have described blockchain technology as the “internet of money.” Yet many believe that only startup companies with ICOs (Initial Coin Offerings) can use blockchain technology in their businesses. The thought process is that older, well-established companies have no need for it.
However, Fortune 500 companies including Walmart, IBM, and Microsoft have all launched blockchain initiatives, hoping to integrate it within existing operations. The reality is that blockchain technology can be used by almost any company in any industry, but as with all things, there is a right way and a wrong way to integrate blockchain technology.
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One notable example of the “wrong way” is the company formerly known as “Long Island Iced Tea” (ticker LTEA), now called Long Blockchain Corporation (LBCC). Long Blockchain made headlines in December 2017 when it reoriented its strategy from beverage creation and distribution to blockchain technology.
Shares soared in pre-market trading following the announcement, even though the company has no previous experience in the tech sector. Its company description reads something like this: “The company offers ready-to-drink iced tea under the Long Island Iced Tea brand… In addition, the company focuses on developing and investing in blockchain technology solutions.”
Despite Long Blockchain’s poor example, there are proper ways to integrate blockchain technology into existing businesses. The following includes some pointers on how companies can jump into the growing blockchain space.
Step One – Education
The first step, education, is the most important. Before a company’s leadership can integrate blockchain technology with their business, they first need to understand it. Note – this goes beyond knowing what bitcoin is and how to mine it; blockchain technology is much more than cryptocurrency trading and ICOs.
Before a company can implement blockchain technology, they need to know what it is. Blockchain technology is much more than cryptocurrency trading and ICOs. Click To Tweet
Only when a team understands blockchain technology can they use it to its full potential. There are myriad options for team education, including technical consultants and online courses that can help educate a team and determine if blockchain technology would enhance a company.
Above all else, teams must understand what a blockchain is and how it works. There are dozens of guides on the internet – one of the more popular ones is written by Blockgeeks – that give a general overview of blockchain technology and how it is used. In addition, teams must acquire a working knowledge of cryptocurrencies, which is the most common application of blockchain technology.
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In the current blockchain environment, companies must know the ins and outs of ICO creation and investing. CoinSchedule provides a calendar that lists past and active ICOs. Teams should read this list continually and research other ICOs – not to steal materials or ideas, obviously, but to research how other teams launched their platforms and crowd sales.
Existing businesses can utilize resources from Fortune 500 companies like IBM, a pioneer in blockchain research for traditional companies with centralized platforms. For several years, IBM has been working on decentralized blockchain solutions in conjunction with their cloud-based product offerings. Their guides are particularly helpful for established companies who want to expand their technological capabilities.
Finally, it is crucial for teams to keep up to date with blockchain and cryptocurrency news. The industry is still very young, and things can change rapidly. Coin Telegraph, Bitcoin.com, and Cointelligence are all good sources for news updates. What’s more, the cryptocurrency boom has led major news outlets like the Wall Street Journal, Bloomberg, and CNBC to feature bitcoin related segments and articles.
Step Two – Formulating a Plan
Second, a team must create an action plan. This means they must identify areas where blockchain technology can streamline operational processes and / or provide customers with unique solutions.
Teams should know their industry and customer base extremely well, for only then will they be able to identify problems that blockchain technology can solve. Once they’ve established big picture objectives, they need an actionable checklist and timeline of how to implement blockchain solutions.
This checklist should answer questions like:
- What problem will the platform or product solve?
- How does blockchain technology provide the best solution?
- Are there any platforms that accomplish the same (or a similar) goal? How does this platform differentiate itself?
- What are the technological / programmable aspects of the platform?
- What staff should be hired to create / implement the platform?
- What legal steps need to be taken to create the project? (E.g. filing patents, due diligence research, disclosures)
- What is the timeline of the project?
- How many testing versions will be released, and when?
- How will the project be funded, and what are the funding deadlines?
- How will the project gain traction with the crypto community?
This list isn’t exhaustive, but teams can use it as a starting point. In the end, the goal is to create a roadmap of the project and a general timeline for when the steps will be completed.
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Step Three – Raising Capital and Awareness
Once the plan is in place, the team needs to raise capital and awareness to make the plan happen. This means turning to capital markets, whether in the form of an ICO, bond offering, or other types of fundraising. Unless a company has spare cash to spend – which very well may be the case in light of last year’s corporate tax reform – they will need outside help. Companies should also consider hiring a marketing firm or content creation firm to help promote their new initiatives.
Companies should consult with legal and finance professionals to determine which type of fundraising is best for their needs. Typically, companies will use an ICO to fund blockchain-related projects, but traditional investment banks may get involved if a company wants to go down a more traditional capital raising route. Either way, it’s important to understand the risks as well as the benefits of ICO.
Those that decide to go down the ICO route can check out these helpful guides by CoinSchedule and The Merkle. Browsing through ICO lists (such as the one referenced above) will also give teams an idea of what it takes to plan, launch, and develop an ICO. Once the fund raising campaign has been established, teams would be wise to hire a marketing or content management firm to boost their visibility, increasing the likelihood of a successful fundraiser.
Step Four – Implementing the Plan
With these other steps complete, all a company needs to do is implement their plan with the capital they’ve sourced. This includes hiring programmers – or using newly trained internal staff – to integrate blockchain technology with existing programs and procedures.
Teams should consider utilizing other blockchain platforms to help them launch their ICO (if applicable) and improve their product(s). The Waves Platform provides the tools necessary to launch an ICO, while other platforms like Fund Request help companies use the crypto community for bug fixes and feature builds.
It also involves testing the platform and making changes until the full-service version is complete. Oftentimes, blockchain companies will have an independent board of advisors with experience (both in terms of blockchain experience and industry experience, e.g. healthcare, finance, manufacturing, etc.) that can give input on the platform and its quality.
Hiring and then consulting with a strong board helps companies greatly improve their platform before releasing it. After several rounds of the consultative process, the company is ready to show the public how blockchain technology has revolutionized their business.
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Conclusion
Blockchain is clearly shaping up to be the next major tech craze, as the robust new technology continues to make inroads into digital business models. With a little advance planning, companies can position themselves to be ahead of the wave for implementation.