Discover the Finest Blockchain Platforms for Your Enterprise

Blockchain platforms have emerged as transformative instruments throughout varied industries, enabling safe, clear, and environment friendly operations. In keeping with DemandSage, As of 2024, the worldwide blockchain know-how market is projected to achieve $32.69 billion, with expectations to develop to $162.84 billion by 2027. This exponential development highlights the rising adoption of blockchain options worldwide.

Companies, startups, and enterprises are turning to blockchain platforms to reinforce operational effectivity, drive innovation, and guarantee information integrity. Whether or not it’s enhancing provide chain transparency, facilitating cross-border funds, or constructing decentralized purposes (dApps), blockchain is reshaping industries.

This weblog presents an in depth comparability of prime blockchain platforms, specializing in their options, functionalities, and pricing. By the top, you’ll have the insights wanted to decide on the proper platform for your small business.

What Are Blockchain Platforms?

Blockchain platforms function the muse for decentralized purposes (dApps), enabling the creation, deployment, and administration of blockchain-based options. In contrast to conventional databases, blockchain platforms function on distributed ledger know-how (DLT), providing safe, clear, and tamper-proof environments for information alternate.

These platforms present companies and builders with the instruments to construct purposes that leverage blockchain’s core benefits, resembling immutability, decentralization, and cryptographic safety. By eliminating intermediaries, blockchain platforms streamline processes, cut back prices, and improve belief throughout varied industries.

Why Are Blockchain Platforms Important?

• Enterprise Functions: Blockchain platforms are important for automating workflows, enhancing transparency, and guaranteeing information integrity in industries resembling finance, healthcare, and logistics.
• Startups: For startups, blockchain platforms provide an economical approach to construct revolutionary options like DeFi apps, NFTs, and digital id programs.
• Enterprises: Massive organizations leverage blockchain for improved scalability, interoperability, and compliance in important operations.

By understanding what blockchain platforms are and their worth proposition, companies, startups, and enterprises can higher assess their potential influence.

Key Components to Take into account When Selecting a Blockchain Platform

Deciding on the proper blockchain platform is important to the success of your venture or enterprise.

Beneath are the vital elements to judge:

Scalability

Scalability determines a platform’s capability to deal with rising workloads and person calls for with out compromising efficiency. Platforms like Solana, which processes as much as 65,000 transactions per second (TPS), excel in scalability, making them perfect for companies anticipating vital development or requiring excessive transaction volumes.

Safety

Safety ensures the safety of information towards fraud, unauthorized entry, and malicious assaults. The consensus mechanism and cryptographic protocols of a platform are important concerns. For example, Hyperledger Cloth offers enterprise-grade safety by means of its permissioned blockchain mannequin, guaranteeing information integrity for delicate purposes.

Transaction Pace

Transaction pace impacts operational effectivity and person expertise. Ripple is a wonderful instance, providing settlement occasions as little as 4 seconds, making it a most well-liked selection for companies needing quick cross-border transactions.

Price-Effectivity

Price-efficiency is one other essential issue, as transaction charges and growth prices can considerably have an effect on venture budgets. Platforms like Binance Good Chain (BSC) are recognized for his or her decrease charges in comparison with Ethereum, offering an economical possibility for startups and smaller companies.

Developer Help

The provision of developer sources, together with documentation, libraries, and APIs, performs a significant function in accelerating venture timelines. Ethereum is a frontrunner on this area, with one of many largest developer ecosystems, fostering innovation and guaranteeing complete assist for builders.

Interoperability

Interoperability permits platforms to speak and alternate information with different blockchains or programs. Polkadot stands out for its capability to allow seamless cross-chain interactions, making it appropriate for companies requiring integration throughout a number of networks.

By understanding these elements and aligning them along with your particular venture wants, you can also make an knowledgeable choice. For example, startups would possibly prioritize cost-efficiency and developer assist, whereas enterprises might give attention to scalability, safety, and interoperability for large-scale purposes. This cautious analysis will assist make sure the long-term success of your blockchain initiatives.

Record of Prime Blockchain Platforms

Choosing the proper blockchain platform is important to constructing scalable, safe, and environment friendly options for your small business. With all kinds of platforms out there, every providing distinctive options and pricing constructions, understanding their capabilities is crucial. Beneath, we offer an in depth comparability of the highest blockchain platforms, highlighting their key functionalities and value concerns that can assist you make an knowledgeable choice.

Ethereum

Ethereum is without doubt one of the most generally used blockchain platforms, famend for its pioneering good contract capabilities. It offers a decentralized atmosphere for builders to create and deploy dApps, making it a cornerstone of the blockchain ecosystem.

Overview: Ethereum presents a sturdy infrastructure for decentralized finance (DeFi), non-fungible tokens (NFTs), and enterprise blockchain options. The platform transitioned to a proof-of-stake (PoS) consensus mechanism in 2022, considerably lowering its power consumption. With its intensive developer group and ecosystem, Ethereum continues to drive innovation throughout industries.

Pricing: Ethereum prices transaction charges often called “fuel charges,” which fluctuate relying on community demand. As of 2024, the typical fuel price ranges between $0.50 and $5, making it a dearer possibility for frequent transactions.

Avalanche

Avalanche is a high-performance blockchain platform designed to ship quick, scalable, and eco-friendly options. Recognized for its low transaction latency and revolutionary consensus mechanism, Avalanche has gained vital traction within the blockchain area.

Overview: Avalanche helps decentralized purposes (dApps) and enterprise blockchain deployments by means of its distinctive three-layer structure. It’s optimized for scalability, permitting the creation of customized blockchains, or “subnets,” tailor-made to particular use circumstances. Avalanche’s Avalanche Consensus Protocol ensures fast finality, with transactions settling in underneath a second, making it one of many quickest blockchain platforms out there.

Pricing: Avalanche’s transaction charges are comparatively low in comparison with Ethereum, with common prices starting from $0.01 to $0.10 per transaction, relying on community exercise and utilization.

EOSIO

EOSIO is a blockchain platform constructed for high-speed transactions and enterprise-grade scalability. It focuses on offering a developer-friendly atmosphere for constructing decentralized purposes (dApps).

Overview: EOSIO employs a delegated proof-of-stake (DPoS) consensus mechanism, permitting it to attain quick transaction speeds and decrease power consumption. It’s significantly appropriate for companies seeking to deploy advanced dApps or high-volume purposes. With its versatile structure and easy-to-use developer instruments, EOSIO is usually thought of a go-to platform for blockchain-based enterprise options.

Pricing: EOSIO options free transactions for end-users, with prices borne by blockchain builders who stake sources. This construction makes it cost-efficient for purposes needing frequent transactions.

Tezos

Tezos is a self-amending blockchain platform designed for safety, scalability, and governance. It emphasizes protocol upgrades with out requiring disruptive laborious forks, guaranteeing steady enchancment.

Overview: Tezos makes use of a liquid proof-of-stake (LPoS) consensus mechanism, providing energy-efficient operations. The platform is especially recognized for its give attention to formal verification of good contracts, which boosts safety and reliability. Tezos is extensively utilized in tokenization, decentralized finance (DeFi), and digital artwork marketplaces, resembling NFTs.

Pricing: Transaction charges on Tezos are minimal, usually costing lower than $0.01, making it an economical possibility for builders and companies alike.

Ripple

Ripple is a blockchain-based digital fee protocol specializing in real-time cross-border transactions. It’s extensively adopted by monetary establishments for its pace and cost-efficiency.

Overview: Ripple’s native cryptocurrency, XRP, facilitates on the spot foreign money conversions, lowering settlement occasions to seconds. The RippleNet fee community offers a seamless resolution for monetary establishments to switch cash throughout borders with minimal charges. Its enterprise-grade options make Ripple a best choice for banks and fee suppliers.

Pricing: Ripple presents extremely aggressive pricing, with transaction charges averaging round $0.0002 per transaction, making it one of the vital reasonably priced platforms for frequent, high-volume funds.

Polkadot

Polkadot is a multi-chain blockchain platform designed to allow interoperability between totally different blockchains. It’s recognized for its scalability and talent to assist a various vary of initiatives concurrently.

Overview: Polkadot’s distinctive structure consists of a central relay chain and a number of parachains, which function independently whereas benefiting from shared safety. This enables builders to create customized blockchains tailor-made to particular use circumstances. Polkadot is right for initiatives requiring cross-chain information sharing and seamless interoperability.

Pricing: Transaction charges on Polkadot fluctuate relying on community exercise however usually vary from $0.01 to $0.10, providing an economical resolution for blockchain builders.

Stellar

Stellar is a blockchain platform designed for quick and reasonably priced cross-border funds, specializing in monetary inclusion and simplifying the switch of digital belongings.

Overview: Stellar’s open-source community connects monetary establishments, enabling safe and low-cost transactions. It’s significantly efficient for remittances and microtransactions, making it a preferred selection for creating economies. Stellar’s consensus protocol ensures fast settlement, with transactions confirmed in a matter of seconds.

Pricing: Stellar boasts exceptionally low charges, with transaction prices averaging 0.00001 XLM (a fraction of a cent), making it one of the vital reasonably priced platforms for monetary purposes.

Solana

Solana is a high-performance blockchain platform constructed for pace and scalability. It’s well-suited for decentralized purposes, NFTs, and DeFi initiatives requiring lightning-fast transactions.

Overview: Solana leverages a singular Proof of Historical past (PoH) mechanism mixed with Proof of Stake (PoS) to attain excessive throughput, able to processing as much as 65,000 transactions per second. Its low-latency structure and sturdy developer instruments make it a best choice for purposes requiring high-speed efficiency.

Pricing: Solana is extremely cost-efficient, with transaction charges averaging round $0.00025, making it a beautiful possibility for initiatives that prioritize scalability and affordability.

Tron DAO

Tron DAO is a blockchain platform optimized for high-speed transactions and decentralized content material sharing. It goals to decentralize the web by offering a sturdy infrastructure for digital content material distribution.

Overview: Tron employs a delegated proof-of-stake (DPoS) consensus mechanism, enabling fast transactions and minimal charges. It’s significantly recognized for its purposes in decentralized leisure, gaming, and digital media. Tron’s scalability and user-friendly structure make it fashionable for dApps and blockchain-based file sharing.

Pricing: Tron presents extraordinarily low transaction charges, averaging $0.0001 per transaction, making it an economical possibility for high-frequency use circumstances.

XDC Community

XDC Community is a hybrid blockchain platform designed for enterprise use circumstances, combining the advantages of private and non-private blockchains. It focuses on enabling safe and environment friendly international commerce and monetary purposes.

Overview: XDC Community makes use of a delegated proof-of-stake (DPoS) consensus mechanism, providing energy-efficient and high-speed transactions. The platform helps interoperability with legacy programs, making it a super selection for enterprises. Its built-in good contracts and tokenization capabilities improve its enchantment for commerce finance and provide chain options.

Pricing: Transaction charges on the XDC Community are minimal, usually costing lower than $0.0001, making it extremely reasonably priced for enterprise-grade purposes.

Klaytn

Klaytn is a service-centric blockchain platform designed for enterprises looking for to combine blockchain into their enterprise operations seamlessly. Developed by Floor X, a subsidiary of Kakao, it presents a user-friendly expertise for builders and end-users.

Overview: Klaytn’s modular community structure helps private and non-private blockchain options, enabling companies to construct dApps tailor-made to their particular wants. Its give attention to scalability and accessibility makes it a robust contender for corporations exploring blockchain integration.

Pricing: Klaytn options low transaction charges, usually averaging round $0.001, guaranteeing value effectivity for companies deploying large-scale purposes.

NEO

NEO, also known as the “Ethereum of China,” is a blockchain platform centered on creating a sensible financial system by integrating digital belongings, digital id, and good contracts.

Overview: NEO makes use of a delegated Byzantine Fault Tolerance (dBFT) consensus mechanism, guaranteeing quick and safe transactions. It helps a number of programming languages like Python, Java, and C#, making it developer-friendly. NEO is right for initiatives requiring superior digital id verification and decentralized finance (DeFi) options.

Pricing: NEO transactions are free for end-users, with prices lined by means of community sources, making it a extremely cost-efficient platform for builders and companies.

R3 Corda

R3 Corda is a blockchain platform designed particularly for enterprise options, specializing in privateness, scalability, and effectivity in monetary and enterprise operations.

Overview: In contrast to conventional blockchains, Corda operates on a permissioned community, guaranteeing safe and personal transactions between events. It’s extensively utilized in industries like banking, insurance coverage, and provide chain administration. Corda’s structure prioritizes interoperability with present enterprise programs, making it a preferred selection for companies.

Pricing: R3 Corda has a subscription-based pricing mannequin for enterprises, with prices relying on the dimensions and scope of the deployment. Actual pricing particulars can be found by means of session with R3.

IBM Blockchain

IBM Blockchain is an enterprise-grade platform that leverages Hyperledger Cloth to ship safe and scalable blockchain options tailor-made to enterprise wants.

Overview: IBM Blockchain focuses on offering customizable options for industries like provide chain, healthcare, and finance. It presents instruments for creating permissioned networks, guaranteeing information privateness and regulatory compliance. IBM’s experience in enterprise know-how provides credibility and assist for large-scale implementations.

Pricing: IBM Blockchain makes use of a subscription-based pricing mannequin, with plans beginning at roughly $500 monthly, relying on the particular use case and deployment necessities.

Microsoft Azure Blockchain

Microsoft Azure Blockchain is a managed service that permits enterprises to construct, deploy, and function blockchain networks with ease. It integrates seamlessly with different Microsoft instruments, making it a go-to resolution for companies already leveraging the Azure ecosystem.

Overview: Azure Blockchain is designed for enterprise purposes, providing options like simplified community deployment, superior analytics, and integration with instruments like Microsoft Energy BI and Logic Apps. It helps a number of blockchain frameworks, together with Ethereum and Hyperledger Cloth, enabling flexibility for varied use circumstances.

Pricing: Microsoft Azure Blockchain follows a pay-as-you-go pricing mannequin, with prices various based mostly on useful resource utilization and community measurement. Pricing usually begins at round $0.05 per transaction, with further prices for storage and compute sources.

Oracle Blockchain Cloud Service

Oracle Blockchain Cloud Service is a sturdy platform designed for enterprise-grade blockchain purposes, providing prebuilt integrations with Oracle’s suite of enterprise instruments.

Overview: This platform focuses on offering safe, scalable, and easy-to-deploy blockchain networks. Oracle Blockchain helps a permissioned structure, making it perfect for industries with strict compliance necessities, resembling finance and healthcare. Its integration capabilities with Oracle ERP, SCM, and different enterprise instruments improve operational effectivity.

Pricing: Oracle Blockchain Cloud Service makes use of a subscription-based pricing mannequin, with prices beginning at roughly $500 monthly for traditional enterprise deployments.

Hyperledger Cloth

Hyperledger Cloth is an open-source blockchain framework developed by the Linux Basis, tailor-made for enterprise use. It offers a modular structure, permitting companies to customise blockchain networks based mostly on their wants.

Overview: Hyperledger Cloth allows permissioned blockchain networks, guaranteeing privateness and
safety for delicate enterprise information. It’s extensively adopted to be used circumstances like provide chain administration, commerce finance, and healthcare. The framework helps a number of programming languages and plug-and-play consensus protocols, making it extremely versatile.

Pricing: Hyperledger Cloth itself is free to make use of as open-source software program. Nevertheless, deployment and upkeep prices depend upon the chosen infrastructure supplier, resembling AWS or Azure, with pricing various accordingly.

Hyperledger Sawtooth

Hyperledger Sawtooth, one other open-source blockchain framework from the Linux Basis, is designed to supply modularity and scalability for enterprise use circumstances.

Overview: Hyperledger Sawtooth introduces a singular consensus mechanism referred to as Proof of Elapsed Time (PoET), which ensures power effectivity whereas sustaining excessive transaction throughput. The platform is flexible and helps dynamic updates to good contracts with out requiring system restarts, making it perfect for provide chain administration and IoT purposes.

Pricing: Like Hyperledger Cloth, Sawtooth is free to make use of as open-source software program. Nevertheless, deployment and upkeep prices depend upon the chosen internet hosting resolution, with infrastructure prices various throughout suppliers.

ConsenSys Quorum

ConsenSys Quorum is an enterprise-focused blockchain platform constructed on Ethereum, providing personal and permissioned networks with Ethereum’s highly effective options.

Overview: Quorum enhances Ethereum’s capabilities with options like personal transactions, customizable consensus mechanisms, and enterprise-grade scalability. It’s extensively adopted for monetary companies, provide chain monitoring, and governance purposes, offering sturdy safety and interoperability with public Ethereum networks.

Pricing: Pricing for ConsenSys Quorum varies based mostly on deployment necessities and assist companies. Sometimes, companies incur prices associated to infrastructure and enterprise-level assist, which will be custom-made by means of session with ConsenSys.

Multichain

Multichain is a blockchain platform particularly designed for enterprise deployments, enabling organizations to create and management permissioned networks with ease.

Overview: Multichain emphasizes simplicity and scalability, providing instruments to launch personal blockchains shortly. It helps excessive transaction throughput and a number of asset varieties, making it appropriate for monetary transactions and information sharing throughout industries. Multichain’s give attention to enterprise compatibility ensures easy integration with present programs.

Pricing: Multichain is free to make use of underneath an open-source license, however organizations usually incur prices for deployment, infrastructure, and enterprise-grade assist, which fluctuate relying on the internet hosting supplier.

Openchain

Openchain is a blockchain platform tailor-made for enterprises on the lookout for safe and environment friendly methods to handle digital belongings. It focuses on offering simplicity and scalability for enterprise-grade options.

Overview: Openchain operates on a permissioned mannequin, the place solely a single authority is answerable for validating transactions. This ensures enhanced safety and management, making it appropriate to be used circumstances like digital id and asset administration. Its give attention to scalability permits companies to course of massive volumes of transactions with out compromising efficiency.

Pricing: Openchain is open-source and free to make use of. Deployment and upkeep prices depend upon the group’s infrastructure setup and internet hosting supplier.

Quorum

Quorum, initially developed by J.P. Morgan, is an enterprise blockchain platform constructed on Ethereum, providing a permissioned community with enhanced safety and efficiency.

Overview: Quorum leverages Ethereum’s core functionalities whereas including options like personal transactions and customizable consensus mechanisms. It’s extensively utilized in industries requiring confidentiality, resembling banking and healthcare. Quorum’s compatibility with Ethereum ensures seamless interoperability and a sturdy ecosystem for builders.

Pricing: Quorum is free to make use of as open-source software program, however deployment prices fluctuate relying on infrastructure wants and enterprise assist packages supplied by ConsenSys.

Blockchain Platforms Comparability Desk: Key Options & Pricing

Beneath is a summarized pricing comparability for the blockchain platforms lined on this weblog. This desk offers a fast reference to judge the fee concerns of every platform.

Easy methods to Select the Proper Blockchain Platform for Your Enterprise

Choosing the proper blockchain platform is essential for guaranteeing the success of your venture or enterprise. Listed here are actionable steps that can assist you consider and choose the platform that aligns with your small business wants:

Determine Your Enterprise Necessities

Begin by outlining your particular objectives and necessities. Take into account whether or not your focus is on scalability for prime transaction volumes, enhanced safety for delicate information, or interoperability to combine with present programs. For instance, if cross-border funds are a precedence, Ripple might be an appropriate selection, whereas Hyperledger Cloth is perhaps higher for provide chain purposes.

Assess Platform Capabilities

Consider the technical options of every platform to see how they align along with your wants. Platforms like Solana and Avalanche excel in scalability and pace, whereas Ethereum and ConsenSys Quorum provide sturdy good contract capabilities. Analyze elements resembling transaction pace, supported programming languages, and consensus mechanisms.

Consider Prices and Funds

Take into account the monetary implications, together with transaction charges, deployment prices, and long-term upkeep bills. Platforms like Stellar and Tron DAO provide minimal transaction charges, making them cost-effective for frequent utilization. Enterprises would possibly have to consider subscription prices for platforms like Oracle Blockchain or IBM Blockchain.

Verify Developer Help

The provision of developer sources, together with documentation, instruments, and an energetic group, can considerably influence your growth course of. Ethereum, as an illustration, has one of many largest developer ecosystems, which ensures entry to complete assist and innovation.

Prioritize Safety

For industries dealing with delicate or monetary information, safety ought to be a prime precedence. Platforms like Hyperledger Cloth and R3 Corda are recognized for his or her sturdy privateness options and enterprise-grade safety, making them perfect for permissioned networks.

Take a look at Scalability

If your small business anticipates fast development or excessive transaction volumes, select a platform that scales effectively. Solana and Polkadot are examples of platforms designed to deal with heavy workloads with out compromising efficiency.

Take into account Trade-Particular Wants

Some platforms are tailor-made for particular industries. For instance:

Ripple for monetary companies and cross-border funds.
Stellar for remittances and digital asset transfers.
Hyperledger Cloth for provide chain and healthcare purposes.

Evaluate Interoperability

Interoperability permits integration with present programs or different blockchains. Polkadot’s relay chain structure allows seamless cross-chain communication, making it a wonderful selection for companies requiring interoperability.

Discover Actual-World Functions

Analysis how companies in your trade are leveraging blockchain platforms. For example, IBM Blockchain is extensively utilized in provide chain and logistics, whereas Tezos is fashionable in tokenization and digital artwork marketplaces.

Seek the advice of Specialists

When unsure, seek the advice of blockchain specialists or service suppliers who can information you in choosing and deploying the platform that fits your small business necessities. Many platforms, like Microsoft Azure Blockchain, provide tailor-made options with knowledgeable assist.

By systematically evaluating your small business objectives, funds, and technical necessities, you possibly can determine the blockchain platform that aligns along with your long-term technique. A well-chosen platform ensures not solely environment friendly operations but additionally scalability and innovation for years to return.

Conclusion

Blockchain platforms are on the forefront of technological innovation, driving effectivity, transparency, and safety throughout industries. With their numerous options, these platforms allow companies, startups, and enterprises to construct transformative options tailor-made to their distinctive wants.

This weblog has supplied a complete comparability of prime blockchain platforms, highlighting their key options, pricing, and suitability for varied use circumstances. By contemplating elements like scalability, safety, cost-efficiency, and developer assist, you can also make an knowledgeable choice when selecting a platform.

For companies looking for end-to-end blockchain options, partnering with the proper blockchain growth corporations can streamline the method of platform choice, growth, and deployment. These corporations deliver the experience wanted to remodel your concepts into scalable and safe blockchain purposes.

As blockchain know-how continues to evolve, choosing the proper platform and collaborating with skilled blockchain growth corporations shall be pivotal to unlocking its full potential in your group. Whether or not you’re seeking to improve operational effectivity, develop decentralized purposes, or leverage good contracts, the insights shared right here will information you towards a platform that aligns with your small business objectives.

Should you’re able to take the subsequent step in your blockchain journey or want knowledgeable steering in choosing and deploying a blockchain resolution, join with our group at TopDevelopers.co. We’re right here that can assist you harness the ability of blockchain know-how.

FAQs relating to Blockchain Platforms

What are blockchain platforms used for?

Blockchain platforms are used to create and handle decentralized purposes (dApps), facilitate safe and clear transactions, and retailer information on distributed ledgers. They allow companies to construct options for varied functions, together with provide chain administration, cross-border funds, digital id, and tokenization.

Which blockchain platform is essentially the most cost-effective?

Price-effectiveness is determined by the use case. Platforms like Stellar and Tron DAO are recognized for his or her minimal transaction charges, typically costing a fraction of a cent per transaction, making them extremely reasonably priced for frequent and high-volume transactions.

How do I consider blockchain platforms for my enterprise?

To judge a blockchain platform, contemplate elements resembling scalability, safety, transaction pace, value, developer assist, and interoperability. Determine your small business wants and match them with the platform’s options. For instance, Ripple is right for monetary establishments, whereas Hyperledger Cloth fits provide chain and enterprise purposes.

Which blockchain platform launched good contracts?

Ethereum launched good contracts, revolutionizing the blockchain trade by enabling the creation of decentralized purposes (dApps) and automating processes with out intermediaries.

What are the advantages of blockchain platforms?

Blockchain platforms provide quite a few advantages, together with:

• Transparency: All transactions are recorded on a distributed ledger, offering clear visibility.
• Safety: Information is encrypted and tamper-proof, lowering the chance of fraud.
• Effectivity: They eradicate intermediaries, lowering prices and rushing up processes.
• Scalability: Fashionable platforms like Polkadot and Solana deal with excessive transaction volumes successfully.
• Decentralization: They take away reliance on centralized entities, guaranteeing trustless operations.

Derek Cohen
  |  Nov 22, 2024

Analyzing enterprise actions and information to formulate one of the best enterprise growth concepts is the place I earn appreciations and remunerations. I’m an ardent reader, enterprise adviser, gadget aficionado and an newbie but an avid author. My urge for revolutionary writing evokes each time I come throughout new devices, neo know-how and novel technical occasions.