Author's archive

Six or seven years ago, it was above all the older generations who were astonished by people staring at small electronic devices in subways, streets, and cafés. What are they doing? And why aren’t they reading newspapers or books? Just moving their thumbs over a screen almost to a rhythm.

The smartphone is probably one of the most important inventions of the 21st century for consumers… and unsurprisingly, Google is one of the drivers of this pocket-sized revolution. So, in the fifth article in the 20 years of Google series, we’ll explore the question of how a search engine company could develop software called Android, which millions of people use every day.

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Instagram, Facebook and Twitter are probably the best-known social networks in the Western Hemisphere. Despite a data scandal, Facebook still has 2.34 billion active users. Social media is, therefore, a phenomenon that affects the current state of affairs on the Internet.

That’s what also Google thought way back in the year 2010: With Google+ and Google Wave, the company tried to gain momentum in the social media area. In hindsight… These were failures. The fourth article in the Handelskraft series »20 years of Google« is taking a look at a dark time in their history. The attempt to build their own social network.

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1492: A troop of sailors under Christopher Columbus reaches an island in the Bahamas and unknowingly discover a new continent. Unintentionally, because they really wanted to find a sea route to India – they had simply lost their way. An error that eventually leads to the colonisation of America and introduces an epochal change.

But also a mistake that is difficult to repeat today. Because »digital maps« have become powerful tools. The third article in the series »20 Years of Google« therefore raises the question of how we move through the world at the beginning of the 21st century thanks to Google Maps.

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At the beginning of the 2000s, tens of billions of websites were already indexed by the Google search engine. What sounds good to curious users at first glance was like finding a needle in a haystack when looking for a particular site. Larry Page and Sergey Brin were therefore not the first search engine operators who came up with the idea that they’d have to »rate« websites according to their content. With innumerable evaluation factors – some secret, some public – Google managed to take on an undisputed pioneering role.

This article in the “20 Years of Google” series is therefore concerned with the way we find the right website today, the consequences of writing on websites, and the SEO optimisation of today will still exist in the future.
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It’s been almost 20 years since one of the largest and most successful companies in the world was founded: Google. Although the domain “www.google.com” was already registered in 1997, it was only on 4 September 1998 that the company “Google” was officially founded. Reason enough to take a closer look at Google’s past, present, and future: What makes the company so successful? What consequences do Google’s products have on the economy, society, and politics? And where is the journey of Alphabet Inc., founded in 2015, going in a world dependent on data?

Until 4 September, Handelskraft will be publishing articles on exactly these topics. The beginning is a look into the past: At a time when the Internet was still some sort of wild west, and no one could’ve predicted “GAFA”, Larry Page and Sergey Brin founded a company that was essential to satisfy an ancient human need: Access to any information as uncomplicated as possible.

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Every company has and maintains: Processes, routines, or rituals that are not only ineffective, but that can also paralyse the workflow of entire departments. Especially with the introduction of new systems or processes, these “sacred cows” immediately stand out … but they are only touched in the most extreme emergency. Understandably, sacred cows in companies are there to create a comfort zone through routine and habit.

But how can you break such habits when introducing a new CRM system, for example, without upsetting end users and your own colleagues?

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Artificial intelligence, voice control, and the Internet of Things – These are, in general, trends of the past and probably also of the coming years. It seems justifiable, as developments in these areas don’t just bring professional changes – Keyword: Industry 4.0 -, but also private ones. No wonder, then, that smart speakers and strangely human-like robots receive the most attention.
 
But Google is currently working on a technology that could change the way we access the internet forever. With “Progressive Web Apps” (PWA), expect a revolution in the browser, which is equivalent to jumping from animated pixel websites of the 90s to flat-style WordPress blogs. But what exactly are PWAs and why does Google push this idea forward, an idea that could, ultimately, usher in the end of existing app stores?

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Everyone knows someone who has an iPhone. Everyone knows someone who has a device running Windows. Everyone knows someone who uses SAP products at work. So far so good. When it comes to digitising, you can’t really teach SAP, Apple, and Microsoft that much. Nevertheless, all three companies have, in recent years, slept on something.

And in different areas. While Apple has driven their in-house car project against the wall, Microsoft is still trying to become top of the class in the gaming industry, and SAP dreams of a relaxed life in the cloud. 2018 could be the year of major strategic decisions for these three big players. Which acquisitions, decisions, or ideas can we expect in 2018?
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With new privacy guidelines, it’s like the holiday season, which is certainly a bit for everyone to get caught up in: It keeps being brought up, that people want to escape the stress of shopping by buying presents earlier and earlier. And the result? Right: You’re running with shoes on through a mall that’s way too full, because it’s the day before Christmas Eve, hands full with wrapped gifts and thinking: Next year I’m buying my gifts way earlier!!!

In the General Data Protection Regulation’s view, which has been around since the 24th of May 2016, many companies appear to have fallen into the same vicious circle. For over 18 months, you could have at least just thought about implementing the standards of the GDPR. But even in this case, everything’s rushed and overwhelming, just like shopping in the mall on the day before Christmas Eve: Despite the stress and a “last minute” preparation you spend the holidays in peace and quiet.

So that our Handelskraft readers can spend the 25th of May 2018 in peace while their customers’ data is protected, we have to answer questions like “What is the GDPR?” and “How do I implement all this?” – as concisely as possible in relation to the EU’s new privacy policy.

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Who shares what, when, and where? Once you’ve tailored your online shop for your target group, you should take a closer look at the world of social media: lots of factors – from the use of particular networks to the frequency with which things are shared – play an important role in identifying the target group on Facebook, Twitter etc.

If your online marketing concept designed to address the “rich kids”, you should focus on Instagram. According to a new study, this is where the richer kids happily post selfies and pictures of healthy lunches. What are my fans and followers on social networks like? An infographic answers this question and introduces 6 difference target groups who use social media for different reasons.
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