Global Internet Firms Disrupt Business Beyond the Web

Apple, Amazon, Google and Facebook – referred to in technology circles as the `gang of four` - are having a dramatic impact on the established business models of a range of industries and markets. A new form of competitive advantage is now emerging which is grounded primarily in access to huge amounts of useful data. `Gang of four` members, which collectively boast a market capitalisation of nearly 1 trillion dollars, possess enormous amounts of information. Since information is the lifeblood of most organisations, particularly modern service companies, this has resulted in huge market power for these four internet-based companies.