“Digital Disruption” in the general sense refers to a fundamental change in a certain functional structure rooted in the development and dissemination of digital technologies, caused by exogenous factors, which in its scope is equivalent to a replacement of the existing functional structure by a new one. “Digital Disruption” is therefore the disruption caused by the development and dissemination of digital technologies.

Especially in the economic context, the term “digital disruption” has found widespread use. In technical jargon, the term “digital disruption” refers in particular to the reconfiguration of the functional structure of a market triggered by a digital innovation. Innovation can be of a technical, social, economic, structural, organisational nature, with the attribute “digital” emphasising that it is rooted in the development and dissemination of digital technologies. Usually a technical innovation is the basis, which has disruptive potential in so far as it makes it possible to serve as a basis for new forms of interaction, transaction, communication, application or benefit generation. Out of these a new structure of value creation is formed. New value creation networks are emerging.