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Disruptive technologies are helping leading manufacturers to boost productivity, attract and engage new consumers, inspire new market strategies and drive substantial business growth. Here's our pick of disruptive technologies to watch:

Drones: Deutsche Post, the world's biggest courier company, is using a drone to deliver medication to a remote German island. It’s been such a success the company is considering using the “parcelcopter” to make more regular deliveries.

‘Mobile-geddon’: mobile devices are making waves in the business world: think service delivery, worker productivity and customer experience.

Distributed manufacturing: is where the final product is manufactured near the final customer, so the raw materials, assembly and product fabrication are decentralised, potentially increasing customisation.

Advanced robotics: including human-machine collaboration.

Emergent Artificial Intelligence: is where machines can learn automatically by taking on large volumes of information; it has huge implications for productivity.

Self-driving vehicles: that could potentially move or distribute goods.

Internet of Things: has massive potential for business process optimisation, reduced downtime and waste, and increased quality overall.

Find out more about these disruptive technologies by reading the full story here.

Food & Drink Business

After 23 years leading Cooper’s Brewery – Australia’s largest independent family-owned brewery – Dr Tim Cooper says it’s time to retire as managing director. He will remain the chief brewer and a director, providing input on brewing and technical matters.

Melbourne’s Hawkers Beer and Sydney’s White Bay Brewery have come together as the founding brands of the freshly minted hospitality outfit, Social Drinks Group. The group starts officially trading on 1 February.

Australian sparkling wine house, Jansz Tasmania, part of Hill-Smith Family Estates, has appointed Teresa Heuzenroeder as its new Senior Sparkling Winemaker.