Welcome to the Leader’s Blog, the official blog of John and Amanda Fildes, where ideas on innovation, exceptional experiences, competitive differentiation, and business management are shared.
Posted: March 18, 2010 | Amanda Fildes
I am always amused at the resistance of some of my older family members in getting online and using the computer. Online banking, purchasing online, and things I can’t live without they wouldn’t consider touching. So when I read that The Office for National Statistics recently reported that “6.4 million people over 65 have never used the internet”, needless to say I wasn’t surprised.
That may be set to change with the help of SimplicITy. SimplicITy is a desktop computer designed for users over 60 who are new to computers. The simple interface has just 6 buttons on startup that lead users to a variety of basic functions like internet, chat and email. It also comes with pre-loaded with 17 video tutorials that guide you through each of the machines functions.
Without a doubt this opens up a whole new set of opportunities for companies to market their products and services to the huge aging population. Adding 6.4 million people as potential customers is certainly significant but I also think this will have a huge social benefit for its users. Family members spread around the globe can more easily connect via chat and email. I’ll be interested to see if these types of devices will become more popular or if websites will follow suit and create stripped down versions for older users. It will also be interesting to find out if use of these devices will eventually lead to users adopting “real” computers. . . SimplicITy has thought of that angle by allowing users to upgrade to a standard Linux desktop free of charge if they outgrow the SimplicITy interface.
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Posted: March 18, 2010 | John Fildes
Dell’s decision to forgo the US mobile market and launch their smart phone product offering in the emerging markets the company holds its strongest brand power is a smart decision. Furthermore it is an illustration of a product launch strategy that focuses on creating competitive differentiation and uses a pre-emptive strike to further complicate competitor’s continued challenge of gaining a leading global market share in what is a crowded, competitive race.
While Android device manufacturers continue to compete in crowded markets with products that continue to fall short of consumer’s expectations, Dell positions itself in under realized markets at a time when any market advantage seized will most likely prove to be a significant one in the drive for a global market share.
As long as dell continues to bolster its brand power with a selection of devices designed to meet the needs of each geography’s proprietary needs and wants and a continued drive to improve on Android’s under currently performing functionality and usability, the company is poised to emerge as the much talked about, yet unproven iPhone alternative. And it all begins with building on the companies existing brand power – oh the power of a brand.
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Posted: March 4, 2010 | Amanda Fildes
When many companies take on the idea of innovation it seems like an insurmountable mountain to climb. Innovation doesn’t always have to come in the form of the “big idea” to be impactful. This blog points out several small steps we can all use to achieve innovation every day. Innovation can be achieved through small, digestible changes that can lead to breakthroughs and large operational efficiencies.
When eagerness for massive overhaul is at all time low, approaches that allow you to fine tune tactics along the way rather than starting from scratch can be especially valuable to keep organizations both innovative and competitive.
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Posted: March 4, 2010 | John Fildes
Although it is true that internationalized domain names will open up the internet to billions of potential users around the globe – what remains to be seen is how enterprise marketing teams will transform to be able to efficiently create and sustain quality localized versions of their holistic global internet marketing strategy.
After all, localized access is only one consideration. Localized content delivery is another. And if a user requires localized URL entry for access to a website, it is a fair assumption to say that audience member also requires localized content delivery to be able to browse and enjoy their online interaction.
However, bottom line is that internationalized domain names are another new technology development that marketing can leverage to extend brands globally. Supported by savvy content management tools, a quality content pipeline, and segmentation of subject matter by geography, localized websites complimented by localized URL access will provide many more users a seamless way to experience an enterprise’s online destination.
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