Companies shouldn’t wait until quantum computing technologies have reached maturity to invest in them. As an enabling technology, quantum requires hands-on experimentation, feedback loops that support incremental learning, and co-invention cycles between producers and users — over time — to identify practical use cases. Investments in quantum today may see near-term payoffs, but the focus should be on active learning and the potential for breakthrough innovations over the longer term.
Companies shouldn’t wait until quantum computing technologies have reached maturity to invest in them. As an enabling technology, quantum requires hands-on experimentation, feedback loops that support incremental learning, and co-invention cycles between producers and users — over time — to identify practical use cases. Investments in quantum today may see near-term payoffs, but the focus should be on active learning and the potential for breakthrough innovations over the longer term.
Quantum computing is anticipated to revolutionise industries by providing breakthrough computational capabilities. However, even though the business community acknowledges this potential, uncertainty surrounding the technology still restricts investments. This article explores the uncertainties associated with potential future use cases of quantum computing and how companies navigate these uncertainties through adaptive and experimental learning processes. Based on interviews with managers representing various business sectors, our findings reveal how companies navigate exogenous and endogenous uncertainties in quantum computing adoption and show how they explore these uncertainties through adaptive and experimental approaches.
Quantum Computing is gradually gaining importance as a transformative technology with the potential to revolutionize business applications by solving complicated problems beyond the capabilities of classical computers. Using basic principles such as superposition and entanglement, quantum systems can concurrently handle a wide range of combinations of possibilities. It offers several benefits in optimization, financial modeling, supply chain management, risk analysis, and machine learning. Despite the limitations of existing hardware in the NISQ era, rapid developments are enhancing scalability and reliability. This study analyses the practical implications, opportunities, and challenges of integrating quantum computing into business environments, spotlighting its capacity to drive innovation, competitive advantage, and long-term strategic growth throughout industries. By situating quantum computing within a transdisciplinary engineering and business ecosystem, this review demonstrates that quantum technologies are not merely enablers of computational speed but catalysts for systemic innovation.
Quantum computing is the first digital support technology we explore in this book in more detail. It is sometimes portrayed as brilliant scientists exploring the most obscure natural phenomena in exotic laboratories and aiming to build very powerful science fiction supercomputers that are practically capable of doing anything. But this public perception has been changing lately since various tech companies around the world have invested in this technology to apply it to real-life business problems and explore potential use cases. Among them are Google, Microsoft, IBM, and Honeywell, for instance, just to mention a few pioneers in this ongoing field of industrial research. They frequently report on their latest achievements, highlight current business applications, and emphasize the great prospects of this digital technology. Even The New York Times picked up this trend lately and described quantum computing as one of the most “jazziest and most mysterious concepts of modern science” [1].
Quantum computing has evolved from a largely theoretical discipline into a field of growing interest for commercial and industrial applications. Recent advances in quantum hardware, algorithms, and cloud-based access have enabled early experimentation outside academic environments, raising questions about its potential impact on real-world decision-making and operational problems. This paper provides an overview of the current state of quantum computing with a focus on its emerging relevance in commercial contexts. It examines the categories of problems that have attracted attention from industry, particularly those involving high combinatorial complexity such as optimization, scheduling, logistics, and resource allocation. The analysis also reviews the global landscape of companies and initiatives engaged in quantum computing, highlighting different technological approaches, maturity levels, and regional characteristics. In parallel, the paper discusses the principal challenges and limitations that constrain widespread adoption, including hardware immaturity, algorithmic readiness, cost factors, and organizational requirements. By considering both opportunities and risks, this study aims to present a balanced and realistic perspective on the role quantum computing may play in business environments. The objective is to clarify the current position of quantum computing within the broader technological landscape and to support informed interpretation of its potential, limitations, and future trajectory in commercial applications.
The world of information technology is buzzing around the possibilities that quantum computers might open up for organizations. But what are quantum computers and what could be their business potential, eventually? Part of why quantum computers are steeped in mystery is because they rely on some very strange properties of the microcosm. From quantum interference to quantum entanglement, not to mention some of the underlying philosophical quantum implications like the possibilities for multiple universes and the foundations of quantum physics that revolve around peculiar mathematical formulations, quantum computers have been under development for decades, with IBM, D-Wave, and Google being amongst a handful of companies investing in this space.
Quantum computing is not merely an incremental advancement in computing technology; it represents a fundamentally new paradigm, distinct from classical computing. Rooted in quantum mechanics, it introduces an entirely novel information theory. As a result, translating existing models, solution designs, and approaches to quantum computing is a complex, non-trivial task. This comprehensive book demystifies quantum concepts through accessible explanations, practical case studies, and real-world examples from industries such as aerospace, agriculture, automotive, chemicals, energy, finance, government, healthcare, manufacturing, supply chain, and telecommunications. Blending a business perspective with a scientific rigor, this book is divided into two parts. The first part covers foundational technical concepts, including quantum mechanics principles that enable quantum technologies, key quantum algorithms, mathematical frameworks, quantum computing technologies, post-quantum cryptography, the types of problems quantum computers solve, and the technology’s outlook. The second part focuses on practical applicability, presenting industry use cases, guidance on approaching quantum computing problems, mapping use cases to quantum computing, responsible quantum computing practices, and a roadmap for businesses preparing for quantum adoption. This structured approach equips readers with the knowledge and tools to effectively integrate quantum computing into their strategic planning. Quantum Computing Strategy: Foundations and Applicability serves as an essential reference for technology enthusiasts, business leaders, policymakers, and educators seeking to understand the benefits quantum computing offers enterprises. Designed as a self-contained learning resource, it empowers readers to navigate the emerging quantum landscape confidently.