Author's archive

Photo: Antonio Caiazzo

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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Photo:Blake Patterson

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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Photo: Star Trek

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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Source:Bankksy

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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Graphic: Marketingprofs

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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Graphic: Kosala Bandara

It is always worth taking a look at our neighbours. The Swiss e-commerce branch has been having a particularly hard time in the past few months: the rise in the value of the Franc and strong foreign providers are shaking the market. Despite this, Swiss online shops have a positive future outlook, if you believe one recent study by technical university Nordwestschweiz FHNW. The largest online shops in Switzerland, like ricardo.ch and geschenkidee.ch participated.

Alongside the ever present mobile, the study looks at the digital transformation in the area of ticketing as their yearly focus. The study examines the sale of tickets in online shops and their following use in traffic and at events. The magic word is often “mobile” here as well.
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Graphic: John Y. Can

The sociology of gender sees itself as a pioneering when it comes the equality of man and women. But this kind of enlightenment has had relatively little effect on trade so far. Here the motto is still: blue is cheaper than pink. As soon as demographic data is used in dynamic pricing, price setting becomes discriminatory.
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Graphic: Suvcon

With over 650 million internet users, China is one of those countries for which the future holds a lot of potential when it comes to e-commerce. In an attempt to counteract the economic turndown, the Chinese government has introduced a programme which should supply the internet to rural districts and network traditional industries.

The campaign “Internet Plus” is supposed to bring China back on course. Alibaba has already shown that East Asian companies are not to be underestimated. But there chances for foreign companies in China too. For instance, Windeln.de’s largest market is the People’s Republic. At the same time, technology companies have to battle with censorship and IP blocks. Will China still manage to take the next step and become a digital nation?
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Graphic:Travis Juntara

Just a few weeks ago, the shopping centre around the corner from us ran an exhibition on counterfeiting. Recognise the fake Bosch chainsaw immediately? Impossible. and other knock-off products were virtually indistinguishable from the original. Where forgers used to write the name of the company wrong, e.g. “Adodas” instead of “Adidas”, today’s fakes look high quality at first… but they are still knock-offs.

Because it really comes down to trusting a shop in e-commerce, I was surprised that Amazon seems to have a lot of problems with counterfeits. The knock-offs aren’t just offered by other traders via the market place, but by Amazon itself, as they store them in their logistics centres. But whose fault is it? A look at one of Amazon’s biggest competitors gives us an idea.
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Graphic: Matthew G

The digital changeover is not just happening in companies, but encompasses other parts of society as well. Whether in the car industry, politics, or the education system- digitalisation is being implemented everywhere. But what are the consequences for the individual? Is the digital changeover disestablishing the service economy and what will come after it?
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