The future of group buying sites!

Much of my time has been taken up by the phenomena that has captivated the internet and the world : group buying sites. While the Googles and Facebooks were busy fighting it out to win the "heart/emotion" of the everyday internet user, the likes of Groupon, Living Social, Scoupon, Troupon (and the billion other coupon sites) were busy winning the wallet share of the everyday internet user.

Yes, it is surprising how large corporations that spend billions on marketing and research miss out on such a simple models. So, what is the future of group buying sites? That's the million dollar question, probably worth billions.

My take is that in the near future, we will see two models evolve. The first model being the one that will be adopted by large corporations who will play the market follower strategy. Much like www.rakbankdeals.ae!

The second model is bound to be an one to one marketing model which manages to capture and address the true needs of an user instantaneously!  It's only a matter of time when we see group buying sites evolve and challenge the likes of FB and Google!

Before I give too much away! Its time I go back to my drawing board and finish my model!

Customisation: Design your own furniture!

Having recently visited the furniture stores around Dubai I realized its almost impossible to find the right fit for your home. Like always all the competitor stores were lined up along one row in the mall and none of them had a clear advantage in terms of differentiation.  

"What if" furnitures could be designed by us? That is what we really need; a website or community webpage where users can design their own furniture and then let the furniture stores build them. A similar idea has already been implemented by a T-shirt design company; a community web-page called www.threadless.com. Yes, this task may seem complex for the average being whose design skills aren't that great but what such a community does do is bring together a pool of interior designers to express and share ideas from around the globe; giving the consumers the best possible deals.

So, the community website user builds the furniture and posts their design on their profile where other users (the commoners) can choose and pick what we like. The stores can even put up a dummy display at their store upon the consumers request to come and view the furniture. This liberates consumers from the being limited to a stock size that is put on display at the mall. We no longer have to buy the same sofa set like the Smiths next door. This is truly differentiation on the next level.   

Efficient service delivery for auto rickshaws!

Walking through the busy streets of India, one of the largest economies of the world, you feel helpless when you don't find a auto rickshaw. Here are some new designs I found on the net for the future auto rickshaws of the world:

Yamaha's electric rickshaw

An auto rickshaw is often the only source to commute out of small localities where our amazing public transport system can't yet access. Often these three wheeler taxi services are all pooled up in specific locations and at the end of the day we have to find them. 

TVS auto rickshaw

"What if" there was an app created which would allow auto drivers to find us when we need them. As Indian auto drivers experience the benefits of the growing economy, they are bound to buy smart phones as prices come dwindling down in the near future. An application can be developed on the phone which will allow the user to send out a call service to the nearest auto driver! The call service should also give details of the final destination to the auto driver giving him the power to choose too. Makes me think why hasn't this sort of an application been developed for taxi services as off yet.

Gadget integration and Receptor!

Exams and holidays are over! My holiday at Maldives was great. The cool Indian ocean breeze, the blue beach and the setting sun inspired me to dream on. Feels great to have a MBA..only time will tell how I will use this degree to change the world around me...

The internet revolution is pushing websites to become a one stop solution for the masses. Now the internet is facing a shake-out period where only the titans will survive. Yahoo, Google are all trying to integrate solutions.

I foresee a world where "integration" is the key differentiator for the large corporations. Integration not just in the software realm but also in the physical. Imagine a world where our cellphones, laptops, Ipads, TVs, Fridges, pens, cars, are all talking to each other. For example, your Ipad recognizing the fact that your fridge doesn't have enough milk in it or your laptop converting your notes taken with your pen.

In light of the age of integration it is most probable that there will be space for a new device; I call this device "Receptor".  In life all we have are memories and Receptor is a device that would record each instance of your life. Using the rich database of the owners daily behaviour, the device would be a mirror of human life as it is in the digital realm. Recording and understanding human behaviour to predict and suggest solutions for the owner. This device would integrate your whole life with all the gadgets that you have and make digital human integration seamless.

If integration really is the future, then we need something or someone to manage it.