Bleeding edge technology is a type of technology released to the public even though it has not been thoroughly tested and may be unreliable. Bleeding edge technology usually comes with a degree of risk and expense for the end-user—in most cases, the consumer.

The tip of a knife is known as the bleeding edge. The tip pierces and breaks through. The cutting edge is the part of the knife that does most of the work. Innovation is not about the cutting edge. innovation is about the bleeding edge. The bleeding edge is that boundary that has not yet been broken.

1. What does bleeding edge mean in business?

Bleeding edge refers to a product or service that is new, experimental, generally untested, and carries a high degree of uncertainty. Bleeding edge is mainly defined as newer, more extreme, and riskier than technologies on the cutting or leading edge.

2. Bleeding Edge Technology Examples

For example, open-source software has code that is easily accessible and can be modified by anyone. Open-source practices can help consumers by providing them with free offerings, but some of the offerings come with great risk.

3. Advantages of Bleeding Edge Technology

Businesses that purchase bleeding edge technologies get a first-mover advantage if the technology later becomes mainstream.

There was a time when Gmail was considered a bleeding technology, and while consumers used it, businesses wouldn’t touch it. Today it is the most-used consumer email solution, and Google Suite is used by over twelve thousand companies including Uber, Netflix, and Airbnb.

The point is, bleeding-edge technology can have a significant impact on your company and its ability to scale. But it’s essential to understand how that technology works within the context of your business.

4. Disadvantages of Bleeding Edge Technology

Businesses run the risk of sinking money into something that might not function properly.

Moreover, there’s a risk that other customers may never buy the same technology, causing the supplier to go out of business. Another potential pitfall is that new and better technology comes along that becomes a far-bigger hit.