Changing Paradigms Reinventing innovation in iCt from Smart Devices to Meaningful apps – Anuraj Gambhir

Digitalization is rapidly taking on the world across a number of domains. We live in a new world that is re-inventing itself every day; our industry landscape is changing with the entrance of new stakeholders and dominance changing hands across the value web.

It is said Content (rather Context) is King! those enabling it are Queens but the Customer and eventually end-user/consumer is the real ‘King Kong’ — the ultimate stakeholder (at the centre of the value web). We are witnessing entry into a new era of control and power by the end-user like never before in a truly connected world.

An interesting trend observed is our ‘personal/social life is on Facebook’, our ‘professional life (CV) on linkedin’, our ‘views on twitter’ & via blogging – with that itself there is a mass transformation that our society is undergoing.

The mobile industry landscape has changed dramatically over the last decade from a value chain driven to a complex value web. there is a strong need to incorporate ‘Simplexity’ which is the need for Simplicity in an increasingly complex world (ref:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Simplexity).

The mobile device itself has transformed from a mere communication device (the handset) to an integrated lifestyle phenomena with convergence (and also divergence to some extent) coming out of the box. One may forget their wallet, keys or watch but existence without the mobile phone is impossible! it is rightly dubbed as the ultimate intimate object! as a true extension of the network in the end-users hands. The smartphone of today has been strongly influenced from adjacent and converging industries. Overall, it has changed the way communication is perceived and used the result of which is evident with spend or share of customer wallet coming from vastly wider sources. As a tool for mass empowerment the mobile device with the right services (as a holistic solution) has greatly enriched lives and transformed the ‘digital divide to digital dividend/ opportunities’.

The 3C convergence phenomena whereby Communications, Computing and Consumer Electronics capabilities are integrating and fuzzying the boundaries of what we call a computer or a mobile phone – the smartphone/converged devices are bringing a paradigm shift in our industry. Multimedia Convergence with new forms such as video can break across language barriers, bring a high emotional connect value and reduce the carbon footprint directly impacting the environment. We are witnessing not just teenagers who have become heavy ‘screenagers’ but many new demographic segments are taking on the multi-screen convergence by storm. Tablets as a new category are a seen as a breakthrough consumption device.

Half of the world-wide broadband connections currently at 1.8 billion and half of the 1 billion smartphones sold in this year will come from emerging markets. Thanks to affordability along with accessibility bringing an attractive tCo (total Cost of ownership) for the masses.

We also note a new focus from Market Segmentation to Micro Segmentation to the Segment of one is where we are headed as services can be tailored to individual level with hyper local and hyper context as prime themes bringing meaningful solutions to the user. Mobile apps have been amongst the most powerful innovations our industry has seen in recent times. Although there is a clutter of apps across multiple oSs and app-stores we see several positive moves to provide meaningful and productive apps. The ‘appcessories’ trend (new-age apps enabled (/bundled) with accessories) is also catching on like wildfire.

We are seeing that iCt enabling domains such as MEducation, M-Health, M-inclusion, M-governance is truly transforming economies. Major traction here is visible at BoP/MoP (Base and Middle of the Pyramid).From empowering farmers, WSHgs, under-privileged communities, students in remote areas the ‘aamaadmi’ (common man) will truly be transformed into a ‘e/m-nagrik’ (digitally connected citizen).

There is a serious opportunity for emerging markets to leapfrog by applying highly innovative technologies for mass use ranging from 3D/aR/VR to multitouch surface collaborative smart devices. We need to rapidly draw value from the digital clutter which seen by some as a threat is but a major opportunity. Ultimately, all that matters is not the technology but the benefits, impact (for example, livelihood) and how delightful is the end-user experience.

Anuraj Gambhir is Strategic advisor, innovation & technology at Steadworks Pvt ltd. He can be reached at anuraj@usa.net