Using Technology To Solve Specific Business Problems
Source: smithonvoip.com
The Problem With Some Technology is the Problem is too Broad
It never ceases to amaze me how some of the most innovative technology, especially in the telephony industry, never catches on. While many chalk it up to “being too ahead of the time”, or “not simple enough for the average user”, I believe that many innovative technologies (and especially those in the telephony sector) never catch on because they don’t solve a specific business problem. They try to solve a broad problem, but the solution lacks the depth necessary to fully support any specific problem. The result? Cool innovative technology that never catches on.
This was very apparent at Etel Mashup Competition
While I was, unfortunately not in attendance, there was a ton of coverage of the event from numerous different outlets, that gave those not in attendance a great look into the event. Facing entrant such as Angel.com, Iotum, Grandcentral, and Cisco, Thomas Howe, with his After Hours Doctors Office entry, took the top honors.
Not that Thomas is a slouch (he was the CTO of Comverse), but if you look at those he was competiting against, they represent the companies on the bleeding edge of telephony innovation. Yet they did not win. Why? Because although they solved a problem, it was not a specific business problem that users could empathize with. Thomas indentified a specific business problem (need) and develop a story and solution around it.
That’s how to devise, create, and sell an innovative technology solution. Hopefully more innovative technology companies will follow Thomas’ example.
