I think Big Data at manufacturing companies is poised to change the retailer and distribution models in these industries. If car or truck manufacturers are able, through Internet of Things, to exactly monitor the status of cars and trucks on the road, what is the added value of a typical car or truck retailer? This will put power back to the manufacturers themselves and away from the retailers.

Similar for the impact of 3D Printing where I am working in. This will allow manufacturers to print individual components for individual clients which will disrupt the traditional retailer model. 3D Printing will move more and more from a 1-material printing environment to a more material-printed environment. See also www.3dfilament.supplies for an idea of what type of materials you can already use in today's 3D printers. Think of wood, carbon, copper, metal etcetera. It is not only plastics anymore.