www.vuru.co is a Canadian web site that assess stock investment ideas. Using a simple and easy-to-use page for each stock, Vuru lets self-directed investors start an analysis over a company. Assumptions can be tweaked, and compared to other stocks, giving the investor comparative analysis he doesn’t get from Yahoo or Google Finance.
As other FounderFuel (VC incubator) sites, there’s also a focus on distribution, with the startup announcing distribution deals, from universities, to popular investment sites. The service also received accolades and good press from the investment community, making it apparently a good investment tool for self-directed investors. That’s a market of 44 millions in North America alone.
I tested the web site for many stocks. The information overall is good, even though I do not agree with several recommandations (Stocks over 70/100 are strong buy; and below 50 are not buy recommandations). For instance, Quebecor has a 23/100 rating according to Vuru, but I find it a strong buy, according to my own analysis.
To summarize, Vuru is am interesting investing web sites where you can find good financial information and some analysis more quickly. However, the stock recommandations should not be followed blindly. It represents a good starting point for more analysis.
Louis Rhéaume
Infocom Intelligence
louis@infocomintelligence.com
Twitter: @InfocomAnalysis
A blog on the convergence of info-communications industries: communications, computing, electronics, entertainment, publications and education. Strategic, technological and financial analysis. English and French blog. Cette chronique traite de l’évolution des industries de l’information et des communications et couvre des aspects stratégiques, technologiques et financiers, comme l’économie du savoir et de l’innovation. L’auteur est Associé principal de Infocom Intelligence.
Tuesday, November 29, 2011
Monday, November 28, 2011
New internet entrepreneurs models: work is shifting toward a peer-to-peer model
According to VC Christina Cacioppo of Union Squares Ventures, today represents a very good time for new Internet Entrepreneurs. Access to capital is easier, there is a proliferation of tech incubators and a new trend is also very important: work is shifting toward a peer-to-peer model.
In a recent blog post she mentions:
"The first two decades of the modern internet broke industries built on distribution monopolies (e.g. music, news) and facilitated coordination between the consumer and the provider without the need for a middleman (e.g. hotels, car rentals.) The same will happen for a large fraction of our work, especially in cases where the work is standardized or employers "distribute" their workers to pools of customers.
One reason to create firms is the coordination and signaling problems of situations with imperfect information and transaction costs. As technology increases information flows and decreases transaction costs, individuals can leave their old employers and strike out on their own. Their livelihoods will still depend on providing valuable services in exchange for fees, but they'll do so as freelancers - and on their own, they'll capture more of the value generated by their work.
Just as blogs allowed talented writers to build audiences without being affiliated with large media organizations, and as Twitter and Tumblr allowed news- and tastemakers to succeed outside of established news or media properties, new web services will allow individuals to engage with customers without needing to work for a firm. These free agents, disaggregated and newly empowered, can promote and sustain themselves with new tools: Opez caters to service professionals, like bartenders and hairdressers, and allows them to build followings independent of their employers, while Vayable and SideTour provide marketing and transaction-processing for neighborhood tour guides. Hiptic helps graphic designers promote their work, while Zerply helps creative professionals do the same, and InterviewStreet lets programmers show off their skills.
As technology creates new free agents, it's also changing the notion of "work" to be less time- and location-specific. This is especially true of work that can be done easily at a distance. Workers who can't differentiate themselves using their reputation will be commoditized. This summer, web services were launched that allow you to order up a proofreader (Kibin), blogger (Contently), tutor (LearnBop), language partner (Verbling), car ride (Ridejoy), science researcher (Science Exchange), cooking instructor (Culture Kitchen), mystery shopper (SpotCheck), or transcriptionist (Mobile Works) from your browser. The Mechanical Turkification of work has begun.
Between identified, liberated individuals and the nameless, faceless drones of Mechanical Turk lies identity: does it matter who performs the task at hand? If the worker's background, skills, or experience matter, there's likely to be higher variance in demand for a particular person's services, and free agents will be sought after and chosen by reputation on services built for those purposes. Less-skilled people are likely better suited for tasks for which identity doesn't matter, and other marketplaces that don't include a concept of reputation will provide access to a global pool of workers."
A peer-to-peer model of work means that individuals can replace many SMEs or large firms in the delivery of specific mandates. With specialisation, individuals can offer a better ratio Quality/price than certains firms. With the Internet, mobile Internet and social networks, there are many opportunities for future Internet entrepreneurs.
Louis Rhéaume
Infocom Intelligence
louis@infocomintelligence.com
Twitter: @InfocomAnalysis
For more info read: http://www.usv.com/2011/11/what-comes-next.php
In a recent blog post she mentions:
"The first two decades of the modern internet broke industries built on distribution monopolies (e.g. music, news) and facilitated coordination between the consumer and the provider without the need for a middleman (e.g. hotels, car rentals.) The same will happen for a large fraction of our work, especially in cases where the work is standardized or employers "distribute" their workers to pools of customers.
One reason to create firms is the coordination and signaling problems of situations with imperfect information and transaction costs. As technology increases information flows and decreases transaction costs, individuals can leave their old employers and strike out on their own. Their livelihoods will still depend on providing valuable services in exchange for fees, but they'll do so as freelancers - and on their own, they'll capture more of the value generated by their work.
Just as blogs allowed talented writers to build audiences without being affiliated with large media organizations, and as Twitter and Tumblr allowed news- and tastemakers to succeed outside of established news or media properties, new web services will allow individuals to engage with customers without needing to work for a firm. These free agents, disaggregated and newly empowered, can promote and sustain themselves with new tools: Opez caters to service professionals, like bartenders and hairdressers, and allows them to build followings independent of their employers, while Vayable and SideTour provide marketing and transaction-processing for neighborhood tour guides. Hiptic helps graphic designers promote their work, while Zerply helps creative professionals do the same, and InterviewStreet lets programmers show off their skills.
As technology creates new free agents, it's also changing the notion of "work" to be less time- and location-specific. This is especially true of work that can be done easily at a distance. Workers who can't differentiate themselves using their reputation will be commoditized. This summer, web services were launched that allow you to order up a proofreader (Kibin), blogger (Contently), tutor (LearnBop), language partner (Verbling), car ride (Ridejoy), science researcher (Science Exchange), cooking instructor (Culture Kitchen), mystery shopper (SpotCheck), or transcriptionist (Mobile Works) from your browser. The Mechanical Turkification of work has begun.
Between identified, liberated individuals and the nameless, faceless drones of Mechanical Turk lies identity: does it matter who performs the task at hand? If the worker's background, skills, or experience matter, there's likely to be higher variance in demand for a particular person's services, and free agents will be sought after and chosen by reputation on services built for those purposes. Less-skilled people are likely better suited for tasks for which identity doesn't matter, and other marketplaces that don't include a concept of reputation will provide access to a global pool of workers."
A peer-to-peer model of work means that individuals can replace many SMEs or large firms in the delivery of specific mandates. With specialisation, individuals can offer a better ratio Quality/price than certains firms. With the Internet, mobile Internet and social networks, there are many opportunities for future Internet entrepreneurs.
Louis Rhéaume
Infocom Intelligence
louis@infocomintelligence.com
Twitter: @InfocomAnalysis
For more info read: http://www.usv.com/2011/11/what-comes-next.php
Venture Capital in Canada in Q3-2011: up 51%
The CVCA, Canada’s Venture Capital & Private Equity Association reports that Canadian VCs investment totalled $388 million between July and September, up 51% from the same time in 2010.
137 companies received funding, up 27% from the same period last year. It represents significant growth compared to the previous two quarters, which saw moderate growth, especially in comparison to activity in the US. In total through Q3 2011 a total of $1.1 billion has been invested, up 30% from the $882 million invested in the first nine months of 2010.
“It is encouraging to see healthier levels of venture capital investment in Canada at this point”, said Gregory Smith, president of the CVCA and managing partner at investment bank Brookfield Financial. “And it is gratifying that the year-over-year growth in dollars invested has been spread across entrepreneurial firms in key innovative sectors – communications and information technology, life sciences, and clean technology.... As positive as these developments are, venture capital investment in Canada still has quite a distance to go to approximate market conditions south of the border”, he said. “Even with the growth in disbursements in the most recent quarter, Canadian innovative firms receive only 40 per cent of the dollars going to their competitors in the US.”
Across the provinces, Quebec took top spot, with $145 million invested, 81% more than the year before. Although more money has flowed into companies, few did an IPO: only 2 venture-backed IPOs so far in 2011. The number of completed exits in the first nine months of 2011 was 18.
Louis Rhéaume
Infocom Intelligence
louis@infocomintellignece.com
Twitter: @InfocomAnalysis
Read more: http://nextmontreal.com/canadian-venture-investment-grows-51/#ixzz1f2BOc1PU
137 companies received funding, up 27% from the same period last year. It represents significant growth compared to the previous two quarters, which saw moderate growth, especially in comparison to activity in the US. In total through Q3 2011 a total of $1.1 billion has been invested, up 30% from the $882 million invested in the first nine months of 2010.
“It is encouraging to see healthier levels of venture capital investment in Canada at this point”, said Gregory Smith, president of the CVCA and managing partner at investment bank Brookfield Financial. “And it is gratifying that the year-over-year growth in dollars invested has been spread across entrepreneurial firms in key innovative sectors – communications and information technology, life sciences, and clean technology.... As positive as these developments are, venture capital investment in Canada still has quite a distance to go to approximate market conditions south of the border”, he said. “Even with the growth in disbursements in the most recent quarter, Canadian innovative firms receive only 40 per cent of the dollars going to their competitors in the US.”
Across the provinces, Quebec took top spot, with $145 million invested, 81% more than the year before. Although more money has flowed into companies, few did an IPO: only 2 venture-backed IPOs so far in 2011. The number of completed exits in the first nine months of 2011 was 18.
Louis Rhéaume
Infocom Intelligence
louis@infocomintellignece.com
Twitter: @InfocomAnalysis
Read more: http://nextmontreal.com/canadian-venture-investment-grows-51/#ixzz1f2BOc1PU
Friday, November 25, 2011
New article on Seeking Alpha: 5 trends in mobile advertising
My new article "5 trends in mobile advertising" is now available on Seeking Alpha.
http://seekingalpha.com/article/310211-5-trends-in-mobile-advertising
Louis Rhéaume
Infocom Intelligence
louis@infocomintelligence.com
Twitter: @InfocomAnalysis
http://seekingalpha.com/article/310211-5-trends-in-mobile-advertising
Louis Rhéaume
Infocom Intelligence
louis@infocomintelligence.com
Twitter: @InfocomAnalysis
Wednesday, November 23, 2011
New article on Seeking Alpha: The battle of smartphones manufacturers
My new article "The battle of smartphones manufacturers" is now available on Seeking Alpha.
http://seekingalpha.com/article/309935-the-battle-of-smart-phones-manufacturers
Louis Rhéaume
Infocom Intelligence
louis@infocomintelligence.com
Twitter: @InfocomAnalysis
http://seekingalpha.com/article/309935-the-battle-of-smart-phones-manufacturers
Louis Rhéaume
Infocom Intelligence
louis@infocomintelligence.com
Twitter: @InfocomAnalysis
Tuesday, November 22, 2011
top 10 Apple iOS video games
What makes a great mobile game? Eye popping visuals? Solid gameplay and controls? Ease of entry, pick up and play features? Are casual games the best suited for Apple’s disruptive gaming device? What about core gaming, is it yet possible on these magical devices? What about social games, shooters, platformers?
According to VentureBeat, the answer: Yes. All of these make great games, and the iPhone, iPod touch and iPad will play them.
1-Dead Space for iPad
Released: Jan 24, 2011
Platforms: iPad & iPhone
Seller: Electronic Arts
2-Jetpack Joyride
Released: Sept 1, 2011
Platform: Universal App
Seller: Halfbrick Studios
3-Tiny Wings
Released: Feb 18, 2011
Platform: iPhone
Seller: Andreas Illiger
4-Superbrothers: Sword & Sworcery EP
Released: March 23, 2011
Platform: Universal
Seller: Capybara Games
5-World of Goo HD
Released: April 13, 2011
Platform: Universal
Seller: 2D BOY
6-Gem Keeper
Released: October 13, 2011
Platform: Universal
Seller: NCsoft
7-Sonic & SEGA All-Stars Racing
Released: June 22, 2011
Platform: Universal
Seller: SEGA
8-Star Legends
Released: August 25, 2011
Platform: Universal
Seller: Spacetime Studios
9-Real Racing 2 HD
Released: March 11, 2011
Platform: iPad
Seller: Firemint
10-Casey’s Contraptions HD
Released: May 18, 2011
Platform: Universal
Seller: Snappy Touch
Louis Rhéaume
Infocom Intelligence
louis@infocomintelligence.com
Twitter: @InfocomAnalysis
Source: http://venturebeat.com/2011/11/22/top-10-ios-games-2011/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+Venturebeat+%28VentureBeat%29&utm_content=Google+Reader
According to VentureBeat, the answer: Yes. All of these make great games, and the iPhone, iPod touch and iPad will play them.
1-Dead Space for iPad
Released: Jan 24, 2011
Platforms: iPad & iPhone
Seller: Electronic Arts
2-Jetpack Joyride
Released: Sept 1, 2011
Platform: Universal App
Seller: Halfbrick Studios
3-Tiny Wings
Released: Feb 18, 2011
Platform: iPhone
Seller: Andreas Illiger
4-Superbrothers: Sword & Sworcery EP
Released: March 23, 2011
Platform: Universal
Seller: Capybara Games
5-World of Goo HD
Released: April 13, 2011
Platform: Universal
Seller: 2D BOY
6-Gem Keeper
Released: October 13, 2011
Platform: Universal
Seller: NCsoft
7-Sonic & SEGA All-Stars Racing
Released: June 22, 2011
Platform: Universal
Seller: SEGA
8-Star Legends
Released: August 25, 2011
Platform: Universal
Seller: Spacetime Studios
9-Real Racing 2 HD
Released: March 11, 2011
Platform: iPad
Seller: Firemint
10-Casey’s Contraptions HD
Released: May 18, 2011
Platform: Universal
Seller: Snappy Touch
Louis Rhéaume
Infocom Intelligence
louis@infocomintelligence.com
Twitter: @InfocomAnalysis
Source: http://venturebeat.com/2011/11/22/top-10-ios-games-2011/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+Venturebeat+%28VentureBeat%29&utm_content=Google+Reader
Apple has 90% of the mobile revenues in applications
Google's mobile operating system, Android, has become the top platform in some countries, even eclipsing Apple's iOS. And this makes sense—after all, their are many, many more Android devices to choose from, including more budget options. But when it comes down to developers' earnings, there's no competition.
However, new data released by Piper Jaffray revealed that the Android platform has generated just 7% of the revenue that Apple's iOS has—a meagre $330 million compared to a staggering $4.9 billion. While an impressive 14% of iOS apps downloaded are paid, only 1% of downloaded Android apps are. I guess that's what happens when a platform's core demographic are those with tighter budgets. Apple boasts as much as 90% of the mobile marketshare in terms of app revenue.
Source: http://www.techvibes.com/blog/apple-owns-90-of-mobile-revenue-marketshare-ios-developers-make-14x-as-much-as-android-developers-2011-11-21
Louis Rhéaume
infocom Intelligence
louis@infocomintelligence.com
Twitter: @InfocomAnalysis
However, new data released by Piper Jaffray revealed that the Android platform has generated just 7% of the revenue that Apple's iOS has—a meagre $330 million compared to a staggering $4.9 billion. While an impressive 14% of iOS apps downloaded are paid, only 1% of downloaded Android apps are. I guess that's what happens when a platform's core demographic are those with tighter budgets. Apple boasts as much as 90% of the mobile marketshare in terms of app revenue.
Source: http://www.techvibes.com/blog/apple-owns-90-of-mobile-revenue-marketshare-ios-developers-make-14x-as-much-as-android-developers-2011-11-21
Louis Rhéaume
infocom Intelligence
louis@infocomintelligence.com
Twitter: @InfocomAnalysis
Monday, November 21, 2011
Le Québec et les TIC dominent le capital de risque au Canada au 3e trimestre
Selon Direction informatique, le Québec a attiré des investissements en capital de risque totalisant 145 millions de dollars durant le troisième trimestre, loin devant l'Ontario, qui doit se contenter de 105 millions de dollars. La performance du Québec au troisième trimestre lui vaut le neuvième rang à l'échelle nord-américaine. C'est la Californie qui domine le classement avec des investissements obtenus de 3,33 milliards de dollars, suivie de l'État de New York à 741 millions de dollars, du Texas à 583 millions de dollars et du Massachussetts à 543 millions de dollars.
Montréal au premier rang
Les données du MDEIE, obtenues en partenariat avec l'agence de presse Thomson Reuters, soulignent que la grande région de Montréal se classe au premier rang des régions métropolitaines à l'échelle canadienne, ayant obtenu 30 % des investissements réalisés au pays, soit 117 millions de dollars. Sa plus proche concurrente est la région de Vancouver, qui a récolté 19 % des investissements canadiens. Globalement, les investissements en capital de risque ont progressé de 51 % sur un an au Canada pour atteindre 388 millions de dollars, comparativement à 257 millions de dollars au troisième trimestre de 2010.
Les TIC dominent
Pour le troisième trimestre de 2011, le secteur des technologies de l'information et des communications (TIC) a dominé au Québec, récoltant 40 % des investissements en capital de risque, soit 57 millions de dollars. Il s'agit d'une croissance de 43 % par rapport à la même période l'an dernier.
Les investissements ont surtout été faits dans le segment de marché des technologies Web (26 millions de dollars) et des services de communication et de télécommunication (11 millions de dollars). Des investissements d'importance au cours du trimestre ont été faits dans les entreprises montréalaises Acquisio Canada, pour une valeur de 12,1 millions de dollars, ainsi que Woozworld, pour 5,1 millions de dollars.
Le secteur « autres technologies » (technologies énergétiques, électriques, chimiques, environnementales et matériaux avancés) arrive au deuxième rang, avec 25 % des investissements réalisés au Québec, ce qui représente un montant de 36 millions de dollars.
Les sociétés en expansion ont la cote
Durant le trimestre, 78 % des investissements réalisés au Québec l'étaient dans des entreprises à des stades avancés (113 millions de dollars), essentiellement celles au stade de l'expansion, qui totalisent à elles seules 108 millions de dollars. Les entreprises de stades préliminaires ont récolté 32 millions de dollars, soit 22 % du total. Au Québec, l'investissement moyen s'est élevé à 1,8 million de dollars durant le trimestre, comparativement à 1,5 millions de dollars l'an dernier. Le MDEIE explique cette croissance par une hausse des investissements dans le secteur des TIC par rapport au secteur traditionnel où la taille moyenne des investissements est généralement inférieure.
Source: http://www.directioninformatique.com/DI/client/fr/DirectionInformatique/Nouvelles.asp?id=65008&cid=79
Louis Rhéaume
Infocom Intelligence
louis@infocomintelligence.com
Twitter: @InfocomAnalysis
Montréal au premier rang
Les données du MDEIE, obtenues en partenariat avec l'agence de presse Thomson Reuters, soulignent que la grande région de Montréal se classe au premier rang des régions métropolitaines à l'échelle canadienne, ayant obtenu 30 % des investissements réalisés au pays, soit 117 millions de dollars. Sa plus proche concurrente est la région de Vancouver, qui a récolté 19 % des investissements canadiens. Globalement, les investissements en capital de risque ont progressé de 51 % sur un an au Canada pour atteindre 388 millions de dollars, comparativement à 257 millions de dollars au troisième trimestre de 2010.
Les TIC dominent
Pour le troisième trimestre de 2011, le secteur des technologies de l'information et des communications (TIC) a dominé au Québec, récoltant 40 % des investissements en capital de risque, soit 57 millions de dollars. Il s'agit d'une croissance de 43 % par rapport à la même période l'an dernier.
Les investissements ont surtout été faits dans le segment de marché des technologies Web (26 millions de dollars) et des services de communication et de télécommunication (11 millions de dollars). Des investissements d'importance au cours du trimestre ont été faits dans les entreprises montréalaises Acquisio Canada, pour une valeur de 12,1 millions de dollars, ainsi que Woozworld, pour 5,1 millions de dollars.
Le secteur « autres technologies » (technologies énergétiques, électriques, chimiques, environnementales et matériaux avancés) arrive au deuxième rang, avec 25 % des investissements réalisés au Québec, ce qui représente un montant de 36 millions de dollars.
Les sociétés en expansion ont la cote
Durant le trimestre, 78 % des investissements réalisés au Québec l'étaient dans des entreprises à des stades avancés (113 millions de dollars), essentiellement celles au stade de l'expansion, qui totalisent à elles seules 108 millions de dollars. Les entreprises de stades préliminaires ont récolté 32 millions de dollars, soit 22 % du total. Au Québec, l'investissement moyen s'est élevé à 1,8 million de dollars durant le trimestre, comparativement à 1,5 millions de dollars l'an dernier. Le MDEIE explique cette croissance par une hausse des investissements dans le secteur des TIC par rapport au secteur traditionnel où la taille moyenne des investissements est généralement inférieure.
Source: http://www.directioninformatique.com/DI/client/fr/DirectionInformatique/Nouvelles.asp?id=65008&cid=79
Louis Rhéaume
Infocom Intelligence
louis@infocomintelligence.com
Twitter: @InfocomAnalysis
How a firm can build a sustainable competitive advantage
According to Fred Wilson, a famous venture capitalist at Union Square Ventures, a company needs some requirements to build a competitive advantage, and it is not necessarily what is taught in business school.
"But as I look at many of the challenges facing businesses today, it seems to me that the focus on performance and efficiency often comes at the cost of sustainability. And interview with Clay Christensen really drives that point home. The recent history of the steel industry in the US is a case study in managers doing everything they were taught in business school and in the end they bankrupt the business.
Going back to business school, they teach you the value of a business is equal to the present value of future cash flows. If the company is likely to stay in business forever, then the value is most likely way higher than a business that is going to be out of business in a decade. The present value of a hundred years of cash flow is likely to be larger than the present value of ten years of cash flow.
And sustainability is all about figuring out how to be in business forever. It is about business models that are win/win and lead to happy long term customer and supplier relationships. It is about avoiding the temptation to overeach. It is about avoiding the temptation to mazimize near term profits at the expense of long term health. It is about adapting the business to changing market dynamics. It is about building a team and a culture that can survive the loss of the leader and keep going. And it is about many more things like this."
Source:http://www.avc.com/a_vc/2011/11/sustainability.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+AVc+%28A+VC%29
It is the same investment philosophy for Warren Buffet. He dislike managers who don't have long term plans. For Warren Buffet, the best stocks represent investing in companies with sustainable competitive advantages and forget the price of the stock for 5 years.
Louis Rhéaume
Infocom Intelligence
louis@infocomintelligence.com
Twitter: @InfocomAnalysis
"But as I look at many of the challenges facing businesses today, it seems to me that the focus on performance and efficiency often comes at the cost of sustainability. And interview with Clay Christensen really drives that point home. The recent history of the steel industry in the US is a case study in managers doing everything they were taught in business school and in the end they bankrupt the business.
Going back to business school, they teach you the value of a business is equal to the present value of future cash flows. If the company is likely to stay in business forever, then the value is most likely way higher than a business that is going to be out of business in a decade. The present value of a hundred years of cash flow is likely to be larger than the present value of ten years of cash flow.
And sustainability is all about figuring out how to be in business forever. It is about business models that are win/win and lead to happy long term customer and supplier relationships. It is about avoiding the temptation to overeach. It is about avoiding the temptation to mazimize near term profits at the expense of long term health. It is about adapting the business to changing market dynamics. It is about building a team and a culture that can survive the loss of the leader and keep going. And it is about many more things like this."
Source:http://www.avc.com/a_vc/2011/11/sustainability.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+AVc+%28A+VC%29
It is the same investment philosophy for Warren Buffet. He dislike managers who don't have long term plans. For Warren Buffet, the best stocks represent investing in companies with sustainable competitive advantages and forget the price of the stock for 5 years.
Louis Rhéaume
Infocom Intelligence
louis@infocomintelligence.com
Twitter: @InfocomAnalysis
Sunday, November 20, 2011
ABI Research estimates that 44 billion mobile applications will be downloaded by 2016.
ABI Research estimates that 44 billion mobile applications will be downloaded within the next five years.
Also a new PwC reports shows that more than half of the 3,282 smartphone owners surveyed use their smartphones for three activities each day: basic communication, accessing news, weather or sports and social network usage. And over the next two years, more than 40 percent of those surveyed expect their activities to increase across 14 different areas, such as travel and healthcare management thanks to apps.
For programmers, it validates the mobile app economy, even as the industry debates the value of platform-specific software as compared to increasing functionality through HTML 5 and the mobile browser.
Source: http://gigaom.com/mobile/why-the-mobile-app-economy-will-keep-growing-quickly/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+OmMalik+%28GigaOM%3A+Tech%29
Louis Rhéaume
Infocom Intelligence
louis@infocomintelligence.com
Twitter: @ InfocomAnalysis
Also a new PwC reports shows that more than half of the 3,282 smartphone owners surveyed use their smartphones for three activities each day: basic communication, accessing news, weather or sports and social network usage. And over the next two years, more than 40 percent of those surveyed expect their activities to increase across 14 different areas, such as travel and healthcare management thanks to apps.
For programmers, it validates the mobile app economy, even as the industry debates the value of platform-specific software as compared to increasing functionality through HTML 5 and the mobile browser.
Source: http://gigaom.com/mobile/why-the-mobile-app-economy-will-keep-growing-quickly/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+OmMalik+%28GigaOM%3A+Tech%29
Louis Rhéaume
Infocom Intelligence
louis@infocomintelligence.com
Twitter: @ InfocomAnalysis
Yipit a promising daily deal search engine
To read a little analysis of the start-up Yipit, which is a promising daily deal search engine (it is call also daily deal aggregator) you can check the article on the NY times.
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/11/20/nyregion/on-the-move-in-new-yorks-thriving-tech-sector.html?pagewanted=1&_r=1
I already mentioned in a Seeking Alpha article, that personnalisation of search engines combined with new technologies represent the future growth of the daily deal sector.
"Search engines for daily deals can act as brokers and find infomediation opportunities (see my previous article). Thus, by exchanging information on its profile and personal preferences on consuming habits, consumers could find better daily deals tailored to their real needs. Daily mobile alerts-- which can be personalized to customers-- would bring value added to both consumers who can make targeted very interesting deals, and retailers who can reach more "offers-friendly" customers. Geolocalisation combined with SoLoMo, (the intersection between Social networks, Local commerce and Mobile) can be very lucrative in the future for Groupon."
Yipit is starting to do that.
http://seekingalpha.com/article/307899-groupon-vs-amazon-similarities-and-differences-in-creating-value
Louis Rhéaume
Infocom Intelligence
louis@infocomintelligence.com
Twitter: @InfocomAnalysis
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/11/20/nyregion/on-the-move-in-new-yorks-thriving-tech-sector.html?pagewanted=1&_r=1
I already mentioned in a Seeking Alpha article, that personnalisation of search engines combined with new technologies represent the future growth of the daily deal sector.
"Search engines for daily deals can act as brokers and find infomediation opportunities (see my previous article). Thus, by exchanging information on its profile and personal preferences on consuming habits, consumers could find better daily deals tailored to their real needs. Daily mobile alerts-- which can be personalized to customers-- would bring value added to both consumers who can make targeted very interesting deals, and retailers who can reach more "offers-friendly" customers. Geolocalisation combined with SoLoMo, (the intersection between Social networks, Local commerce and Mobile) can be very lucrative in the future for Groupon."
Yipit is starting to do that.
http://seekingalpha.com/article/307899-groupon-vs-amazon-similarities-and-differences-in-creating-value
Louis Rhéaume
Infocom Intelligence
louis@infocomintelligence.com
Twitter: @InfocomAnalysis
New article on Seeking Alpha: Mediagrif's E-Commerce Potential
My new article on Seeking Alpha is available: Mediagrif's E-Commerce Potential.
http://seekingalpha.com/article/309077-mediagrif-s-e-commerce-potential
Louis Rhéaume
Infocom Intelligence
louis@infocomintelligence.com
Twitter: @InfocomAnalysis
http://seekingalpha.com/article/309077-mediagrif-s-e-commerce-potential
Louis Rhéaume
Infocom Intelligence
louis@infocomintelligence.com
Twitter: @InfocomAnalysis
Saturday, November 19, 2011
Canada's R&D support funding: second in the world.
Canada's R&D support funding is second in the world.
Louis Rhéaume
Infocom intelligence
louis@infocomintlligence.com
Twitter: @InfcomAnalysis
Louis Rhéaume
Infocom intelligence
louis@infocomintlligence.com
Twitter: @InfcomAnalysis
Friday, November 18, 2011
Apple's iPad has 88% of global tablet web traffic
There should be no doubt in anyone’s mind that Apple’s iPad is the biggest seller in the tablet space, but we have seen many iPad competitors come out over recent months, including Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1, Blackberry PlayBook, Amazon Kindle Fire, and many more.
However, despite all these Android tablets, according to comScore in October 2011, 95.5% of all tablet web traffic in the U.S. comes from iPad. That is a stunning number. So, is anyone really buying all these shipping Android tablets, and what do people do with them after they buy them? Because they don’t seem to be surfing the Web.
Some of the market share numbers for iPad we could find include:
-83% of U.S. tablet sales.
-68.3% of worldwide media tablet shipments.
-73% of worldwide sales of media tablets to end users.
-61% of global tablet shipments.
-80% of tablet shipments in North America.
In October Google mobile chief Andy Rubin said that there are “a little more than six million Android tablets out there running Google’s services,” meaning they run Google’s apps and the Android Market. Compare that with the total number of iPads sold, as reported by Apple, close to 40 million, and iPad has a market share of 85%.
While the iPad dominates the tablet market, its total impact on online web traffic is still small so far with 1.2% of total web OS traffic (desktop+tablets).
Source:http://royal.pingdom.com/2011/11/17/apples-ipad-owns-88-of-global-tablet-web-traffic/
Louis Rhéaume
Infocom Intelligence
louis@infocomintelligence.com
Twitter: @InfocomAnalysis
However, despite all these Android tablets, according to comScore in October 2011, 95.5% of all tablet web traffic in the U.S. comes from iPad. That is a stunning number. So, is anyone really buying all these shipping Android tablets, and what do people do with them after they buy them? Because they don’t seem to be surfing the Web.
Some of the market share numbers for iPad we could find include:
-83% of U.S. tablet sales.
-68.3% of worldwide media tablet shipments.
-73% of worldwide sales of media tablets to end users.
-61% of global tablet shipments.
-80% of tablet shipments in North America.
In October Google mobile chief Andy Rubin said that there are “a little more than six million Android tablets out there running Google’s services,” meaning they run Google’s apps and the Android Market. Compare that with the total number of iPads sold, as reported by Apple, close to 40 million, and iPad has a market share of 85%.
While the iPad dominates the tablet market, its total impact on online web traffic is still small so far with 1.2% of total web OS traffic (desktop+tablets).
Source:http://royal.pingdom.com/2011/11/17/apples-ipad-owns-88-of-global-tablet-web-traffic/
Louis Rhéaume
Infocom Intelligence
louis@infocomintelligence.com
Twitter: @InfocomAnalysis
Thursday, November 17, 2011
10 innovation myths
Here are 10 innovation myths according to Innosight.
Myth versus Reality
1-Innovation is random = Innovation is a discipline — it can be measured and managed. Consider how Procter & Gamble's structured approach to innovation allowed it to triple its innovation success rate and double the size of a typical initiative.
2-Only creative geniuses can innovate = Innovation is distinct from creativity. While creativity can help, people who aren't intrinsically creative can create high-impact innovation if they follow the right process.
3- You're either an innovator or you're not = Research recounted in The Innovator's DNA described how innovation is about 30 percent nature and 70 percent nurture.
4-Innovation happens in the R&D lab = Innovation — something different that has impact — can happen anywhere in an organization. Everyone should be looking for new ways to solve old problems.
5-We will win with superior technology = Most market disruptions rest on innovative business models — new ways to create, capture, or deliver value
6-Innovation is all about improved performance = Sometimes innovation is about improving performance along traditional dimensions, but some of the most powerful disruptive innovations sacrifice raw performance in the name of accessibility or affordability.*
7-Our customers will be a critical source of innovation insight = Your customers might tell you how to make your current offering better, but they won't point the way to disruptive growth; you have to explore new markets in new ways to identify new growth businesses.
8-Game changing innovation is done only by entrepreneurs = Many of the most exciting disruptions in recent years — such as GE's low cost imaging solution and Cisco's TelePresence solution — have come from big companies
9- We will win by targeting the biggest markets = Markets that don't exist are difficult to precisely measure or analyze; the most powerful innovations create new markets.
10- Innovation requires big bets = As our friend Peter Sims writes in Little Bets, if you want to win big, you should start small.
Source:
http://blogs.hbr.org/anthony/2011/10/ten_innovation_myths.html?cm_sp=blog_flyout-_-anthony-_-ten_innovation_myths
louis Rhéaume
Infocom Intellignece
louis@infocomintelligence.com
Twitter: @InfocomAnalysis
Myth versus Reality
1-Innovation is random = Innovation is a discipline — it can be measured and managed. Consider how Procter & Gamble's structured approach to innovation allowed it to triple its innovation success rate and double the size of a typical initiative.
2-Only creative geniuses can innovate = Innovation is distinct from creativity. While creativity can help, people who aren't intrinsically creative can create high-impact innovation if they follow the right process.
3- You're either an innovator or you're not = Research recounted in The Innovator's DNA described how innovation is about 30 percent nature and 70 percent nurture.
4-Innovation happens in the R&D lab = Innovation — something different that has impact — can happen anywhere in an organization. Everyone should be looking for new ways to solve old problems.
5-We will win with superior technology = Most market disruptions rest on innovative business models — new ways to create, capture, or deliver value
6-Innovation is all about improved performance = Sometimes innovation is about improving performance along traditional dimensions, but some of the most powerful disruptive innovations sacrifice raw performance in the name of accessibility or affordability.*
7-Our customers will be a critical source of innovation insight = Your customers might tell you how to make your current offering better, but they won't point the way to disruptive growth; you have to explore new markets in new ways to identify new growth businesses.
8-Game changing innovation is done only by entrepreneurs = Many of the most exciting disruptions in recent years — such as GE's low cost imaging solution and Cisco's TelePresence solution — have come from big companies
9- We will win by targeting the biggest markets = Markets that don't exist are difficult to precisely measure or analyze; the most powerful innovations create new markets.
10- Innovation requires big bets = As our friend Peter Sims writes in Little Bets, if you want to win big, you should start small.
Source:
http://blogs.hbr.org/anthony/2011/10/ten_innovation_myths.html?cm_sp=blog_flyout-_-anthony-_-ten_innovation_myths
louis Rhéaume
Infocom Intellignece
louis@infocomintelligence.com
Twitter: @InfocomAnalysis
Tuesday, November 15, 2011
The top 100 global innovators according to Thomson Reuters
Here are the top 100 global innovators according to Thomson Reuters.
http://top100innovators.com/top100
“New ideas lie at the heart of innovation, but
ideas alone are not enough. Innovation requires
translating ideas into value-adding products
and services. . . . Bridging the gap between an
idea and its beneficial result is the crucial step in
innovation. . . . Success will demand a greater
ability to quickly close the gap.”
-Soumitra Dutta, author of Innovating at the Top
Louis Rhéaume
Infocom Intelligence
louis@infocomintelligence.com
Twitter: @InfocomAnalysis
http://top100innovators.com/top100
“New ideas lie at the heart of innovation, but
ideas alone are not enough. Innovation requires
translating ideas into value-adding products
and services. . . . Bridging the gap between an
idea and its beneficial result is the crucial step in
innovation. . . . Success will demand a greater
ability to quickly close the gap.”
-Soumitra Dutta, author of Innovating at the Top
Louis Rhéaume
Infocom Intelligence
louis@infocomintelligence.com
Twitter: @InfocomAnalysis
New study by McKinsey: The impact of the Internet on economic growth and prosperity
According to a new study by McKinsey, the Internet Sector is bigger than agriculture or utilities sector in the USA.
"The Internet has already served notice that it will be a disruptive force resolutely shaping the economy and society of the 21th century. But it can be a positive disruptor, supplying engines of growth to regions of the world that have been disadvantaged in the past, creating whole new industries from electrons and software code, and offering hope and opportunity to millions with its ability to spread knowledge, empower consumers, and organize social interactions.
As the aftermath of the global financial crisis challanges our government and business leaders to innovate as ever before, we should not lose sight of the enormous value of the Internet economy has already brought to rich and poor nations alike and its potential to boost growth across the globe".
Small and medium-sized firms using Web tecdhnologies extensively are growing more quickly and exporting more widely. It is true particularly in commerce and services industries.
Louis Rhéaume
Infocom Intelligence
louis@infocomintelligence.com
Twitter: @InfocomAnalysis
"The Internet has already served notice that it will be a disruptive force resolutely shaping the economy and society of the 21th century. But it can be a positive disruptor, supplying engines of growth to regions of the world that have been disadvantaged in the past, creating whole new industries from electrons and software code, and offering hope and opportunity to millions with its ability to spread knowledge, empower consumers, and organize social interactions.
As the aftermath of the global financial crisis challanges our government and business leaders to innovate as ever before, we should not lose sight of the enormous value of the Internet economy has already brought to rich and poor nations alike and its potential to boost growth across the globe".
Small and medium-sized firms using Web tecdhnologies extensively are growing more quickly and exporting more widely. It is true particularly in commerce and services industries.
Louis Rhéaume
Infocom Intelligence
louis@infocomintelligence.com
Twitter: @InfocomAnalysis
New article on Seeking Alpha: Groupon versus Amazon: Similarities and Differences in Creating Value
My new article "Groupon versus Amazon: Similarities and Differences in Creating Value" is available on Seeking Alpha. It is in the Editor's pick of the day.
http://seekingalpha.com/article/307899-groupon-vs-amazon-similarities-and-differences-in-creating-value
Louis Rhéaume
Infocom Intelligence
louis@infocomintelligence.com
Twitter: @InfocomAnalysis
http://seekingalpha.com/article/307899-groupon-vs-amazon-similarities-and-differences-in-creating-value
Louis Rhéaume
Infocom Intelligence
louis@infocomintelligence.com
Twitter: @InfocomAnalysis
Monday, November 14, 2011
A good interview of Amazon's CEO
This is a good interview of Wired with Amazon's CEO Jeff Bezos about the company new products and its future.
http://www.wired.com/magazine/2011/11/ff_bezos/all/1
Louis Rhéaume
Infocom Intelligence
louis@infocomintelligence.com
Twitter: @InfcomAnalysis
http://www.wired.com/magazine/2011/11/ff_bezos/all/1
Louis Rhéaume
Infocom Intelligence
louis@infocomintelligence.com
Twitter: @InfcomAnalysis
Saturday, November 12, 2011
The most popular music apps in the USA
here are the most popular music apps for android and iphone.
Source: http://gigaom.com/2011/11/11/tunein-radio-rises-to-the-top-among-streaming-music-apps/
Louis Rhéaume
Infocom Intelligence
louis@infocomintelligence.com
Twitter:@InfocomAnalysis
Source: http://gigaom.com/2011/11/11/tunein-radio-rises-to-the-top-among-streaming-music-apps/
Louis Rhéaume
Infocom Intelligence
louis@infocomintelligence.com
Twitter:@InfocomAnalysis
Friday, November 11, 2011
New article on Seeking Alpha: Valuing Miranda Technologies
Here is our new article about Miranda Technologies: "Valuing Miranda Tech: Attractive But Speculative".
http://seekingalpha.com/article/307354-valuing-miranda-tech-attractive-but-speculative
Louis Rhéaume
Infocom Intelligence
louis@infocomintelligence.com
Twitter: @InfocomAnalysis
http://seekingalpha.com/article/307354-valuing-miranda-tech-attractive-but-speculative
Louis Rhéaume
Infocom Intelligence
louis@infocomintelligence.com
Twitter: @InfocomAnalysis
A summary of the 2011 Canadian video game industry
A quick summary of Canadian video game industry
Louis Rhéaume
Infocom Intelligence
louis@infocomintelligence.com
Twitter: @InfocomAnalysis
Louis Rhéaume
Infocom Intelligence
louis@infocomintelligence.com
Twitter: @InfocomAnalysis
The 20 most innovative Canadian infocom firms according to Canadian Innovation Exchange
here are the 20 most innovative infocom firms according to Canadian Innovation Exchange.
Here’s the list:
Digital Media:
Massive Damage, Toronto ON
Arcestra, Toronto ON
Wattpad, Toronto ON
Recoset, Montreal QC
Achievers, Toronto ON
Vanilla Forums, Montreal QC
Woozworld Inc, Montreal QC
Infersystems, Toronto ON
ClearRisk, St. John’s NL
bitHeads Inc., Ottawa ON
ICT:
Shoplogix, Mississauga ON
TribeHR, Waterloo ON
Wave Accounting, Toronto ON
Evoco Inc., Calgary AB
QuickMobile, Vancouver BC
Nexalogy Environics, Montreal QC
ResponseTek Networks, Vancouver BC
NexJ Systems, Toronto ON
True Voice Technologies, Burlington ON
Polar Mobile, Toronto ON
http://www.techvibes.com/blog/cix-reveals-canadas-top-20-most-innovative-tech-companies-at-the-tsx-2011-11-10
Louis Rhéaume
Infocom Intelligence
louis@infocomintelligence.com
Twitter: @InfocomAnalysis
Here’s the list:
Digital Media:
Massive Damage, Toronto ON
Arcestra, Toronto ON
Wattpad, Toronto ON
Recoset, Montreal QC
Achievers, Toronto ON
Vanilla Forums, Montreal QC
Woozworld Inc, Montreal QC
Infersystems, Toronto ON
ClearRisk, St. John’s NL
bitHeads Inc., Ottawa ON
ICT:
Shoplogix, Mississauga ON
TribeHR, Waterloo ON
Wave Accounting, Toronto ON
Evoco Inc., Calgary AB
QuickMobile, Vancouver BC
Nexalogy Environics, Montreal QC
ResponseTek Networks, Vancouver BC
NexJ Systems, Toronto ON
True Voice Technologies, Burlington ON
Polar Mobile, Toronto ON
http://www.techvibes.com/blog/cix-reveals-canadas-top-20-most-innovative-tech-companies-at-the-tsx-2011-11-10
Louis Rhéaume
Infocom Intelligence
louis@infocomintelligence.com
Twitter: @InfocomAnalysis
The 20 most innovative US tech start-ups according to Business insider
The 20 most innovative US tech start-ups according to Business insider
http://www.businessinsider.com/20-innovative-startups-2011-11
Louis Rhéaume
Infocom Intelligence
louis@infocomintelligence.com
Twitter: @InfocomAnalysis
http://www.businessinsider.com/20-innovative-startups-2011-11
Louis Rhéaume
Infocom Intelligence
louis@infocomintelligence.com
Twitter: @InfocomAnalysis
Thursday, November 10, 2011
Innovation of the month: Wavo.me save music and videos from social networks
Our innovation of the month is the new web apps Wavo.me.
With Wavo.me you can connect to your Facebook or Twitter account and save music or videos from friends. You can complete one to four steps:
1- Make a new Playlist
2- Drag and Drop an item into your Playlists
3-Share a Video or Song
4-Invite Some of Your Friends
It is useful if you want to save interesting videos or music recommendation from friends and listen or view it later in a playlist on your PC, laptop, tablet or smartphone.
This start-up is from Montréal.
Louis Rhéaume
Infocom Intelligence
louis@infocomintelligence.com
Twitter: @InfocomAnalysis
With Wavo.me you can connect to your Facebook or Twitter account and save music or videos from friends. You can complete one to four steps:
1- Make a new Playlist
2- Drag and Drop an item into your Playlists
3-Share a Video or Song
4-Invite Some of Your Friends
It is useful if you want to save interesting videos or music recommendation from friends and listen or view it later in a playlist on your PC, laptop, tablet or smartphone.
This start-up is from Montréal.
Louis Rhéaume
Infocom Intelligence
louis@infocomintelligence.com
Twitter: @InfocomAnalysis
Monday, November 07, 2011
Booz & Co Global innovation 1000, 2011
According to Bloomberg and Booz & Co, the 10 most innovative firms are:
1-Apple
2-Google
3-3M
4-GE
5-Microsoft
6-IBM
7-Samsung
8-P&G
9-Toyota
10-Facebook
In their 2011 Global innovation 1000 survey, Booz&Co report that it is not necessarily the big spenders in Research and development in percentage of sales that are the best innovators. Instead, having a strong culture that supports innovation and strategic alignment between the innovation strategy and the global corporate strategy is more important than total spending in R&D. For instance, Apple’s rank in R&D/sales (2.7%) is just 70, but the firm is the most innovative firm according to a survey to 600 senior managers.
According to the survey there are 3 generic innovation strategies:
1- Need Seekers actively and directly engage both current and potential customers to help shape new products and services based on superior end-user understanding. These companies often address unarticulated needs and then work to be first to market with the resulting new products and services.
2- Market Readers closely monitor both their customers and competitors, but they maintain a more cautious approach. They focus largely on creating value through incremental innovations to their products and being “fast followers” in the marketplace.
3- Technology Drivers follow the direction suggested by their technological capabilities leveraging their sustained investments in R&D to drive both breakthrough innovation and incremental change. They often seek to solve the unarticulated needs of their customers through leading-edge new technology.
Need Seekers are Apple and IBM and Technology drivers are Google, Microsoft and Samsung. These top performers generally consistently underspend their peers on R&D investments while outperforming them on a broad range of measures of corporate success, such as revenue growth, profit growth, margins, and total shareholder return. On the other hand, industries such as pharmaceuticals, continue to spend massively in R&D/sales but create low corporate value. Success in innovation isn’t about how much you spend, but rather how you spend it.
It appears that critical factors for R&D managers are the ways decision makers think about their new products and services — and how they feel about intangibles such as risk, creativity, openness, and collaboration. Need Seekers are more likely to financially outperform their rivals than companies following one of the other two strategies. In Booz’s survey more than 41 percent of Need Seekers said theirs strongly supported their innovation strategy, compared with just 7 percent of Market Readers and 14 percent of Tech Drivers. Need Seekers ranked as their highest innovation goal the creation of “advantaged products and services,” and their number one cultural attribute as “openness to ideas from external sources.” These characteristics clearly lead to create truly differentiated products by leveraging all potential sources of good ideas. Need Seekers even outperformed in terms of the management of the innovation process: They rated their portfolio management processes highest for both consistency and rigor. The most successful innovators ensure that their culture not only supports innovation, but actually accelerates its execution. Booz & Co’s analysis shows that a well-executed Need Seeker model, although it may be the hardest model to create, is also the most likely to deliver superior differentiation, profitability, and growth in enterprise value. That’s because it is the model most able to get to market first with products that address unarticulated customer needs through superior customer understanding, and the most likely to have the cultural attributes and cross-organizational alignment that can sustain its success.
The most successful Tech Drivers, like Google, Microsoft and Samsung have developed both the capabilities shared by all outperforming innovators, such as the ability to translate consumer and customer needs into product development and engagement with customers, and the capabilities specific to their own strategy: a deep understanding of emerging technologies and trends, and the capacity to manage the life cycle of their products and projects.
For the survey see:
http://www.booz.com/global/home/what_we_think/featured_content/innovation_1000_2011
Louis Rhéaume
Infocom Intelligence
louis@infocomintelligence.com
Twitter: @InfcomAnalysis
1-Apple
2-Google
3-3M
4-GE
5-Microsoft
6-IBM
7-Samsung
8-P&G
9-Toyota
10-Facebook
In their 2011 Global innovation 1000 survey, Booz&Co report that it is not necessarily the big spenders in Research and development in percentage of sales that are the best innovators. Instead, having a strong culture that supports innovation and strategic alignment between the innovation strategy and the global corporate strategy is more important than total spending in R&D. For instance, Apple’s rank in R&D/sales (2.7%) is just 70, but the firm is the most innovative firm according to a survey to 600 senior managers.
According to the survey there are 3 generic innovation strategies:
1- Need Seekers actively and directly engage both current and potential customers to help shape new products and services based on superior end-user understanding. These companies often address unarticulated needs and then work to be first to market with the resulting new products and services.
2- Market Readers closely monitor both their customers and competitors, but they maintain a more cautious approach. They focus largely on creating value through incremental innovations to their products and being “fast followers” in the marketplace.
3- Technology Drivers follow the direction suggested by their technological capabilities leveraging their sustained investments in R&D to drive both breakthrough innovation and incremental change. They often seek to solve the unarticulated needs of their customers through leading-edge new technology.
Need Seekers are Apple and IBM and Technology drivers are Google, Microsoft and Samsung. These top performers generally consistently underspend their peers on R&D investments while outperforming them on a broad range of measures of corporate success, such as revenue growth, profit growth, margins, and total shareholder return. On the other hand, industries such as pharmaceuticals, continue to spend massively in R&D/sales but create low corporate value. Success in innovation isn’t about how much you spend, but rather how you spend it.
It appears that critical factors for R&D managers are the ways decision makers think about their new products and services — and how they feel about intangibles such as risk, creativity, openness, and collaboration. Need Seekers are more likely to financially outperform their rivals than companies following one of the other two strategies. In Booz’s survey more than 41 percent of Need Seekers said theirs strongly supported their innovation strategy, compared with just 7 percent of Market Readers and 14 percent of Tech Drivers. Need Seekers ranked as their highest innovation goal the creation of “advantaged products and services,” and their number one cultural attribute as “openness to ideas from external sources.” These characteristics clearly lead to create truly differentiated products by leveraging all potential sources of good ideas. Need Seekers even outperformed in terms of the management of the innovation process: They rated their portfolio management processes highest for both consistency and rigor. The most successful innovators ensure that their culture not only supports innovation, but actually accelerates its execution. Booz & Co’s analysis shows that a well-executed Need Seeker model, although it may be the hardest model to create, is also the most likely to deliver superior differentiation, profitability, and growth in enterprise value. That’s because it is the model most able to get to market first with products that address unarticulated customer needs through superior customer understanding, and the most likely to have the cultural attributes and cross-organizational alignment that can sustain its success.
The most successful Tech Drivers, like Google, Microsoft and Samsung have developed both the capabilities shared by all outperforming innovators, such as the ability to translate consumer and customer needs into product development and engagement with customers, and the capabilities specific to their own strategy: a deep understanding of emerging technologies and trends, and the capacity to manage the life cycle of their products and projects.
For the survey see:
http://www.booz.com/global/home/what_we_think/featured_content/innovation_1000_2011
Louis Rhéaume
Infocom Intelligence
louis@infocomintelligence.com
Twitter: @InfcomAnalysis
New article on Seeking Alpha: Valuations of the 4 most innovative technology firms
My new article is available on Seeking Alpha: Valuations of the 4 most innovative technology firms.
http://seekingalpha.com/account/authorboard_overview
Louis Rhéaume
Infocom Intelligence
louis@infocomintelligence.com
Twitter: @InfocomAnalysis
http://seekingalpha.com/account/authorboard_overview
Louis Rhéaume
Infocom Intelligence
louis@infocomintelligence.com
Twitter: @InfocomAnalysis
Friday, November 04, 2011
New article on Seeking Alpha: 8 fast growing infomediation players
My new article on Seeking Alpha "8 fast growing infomediation players" is available at:
http://seekingalpha.com/article/305377-8-fast-growing-infomediation-players
Louis Rhéaume
Infocom Intelligence
louis@infocomintelligence.com
Twitter: @InfocomAnalysis
http://seekingalpha.com/article/305377-8-fast-growing-infomediation-players
Louis Rhéaume
Infocom Intelligence
louis@infocomintelligence.com
Twitter: @InfocomAnalysis
Thursday, November 03, 2011
New article on Seeking Alpha: 5 infocom potential takeovers targets
My new article is available on Seeking Alpha:
M&A In Information, Communications And Tech Industries: 5 Potential Opportunities
http://seekingalpha.com/article/304824-m-a-in-information-communications-and-tech-industries-5-potential-opportunities
Louis Rhéaume
Infocom Intelligence
louis@infocomintelligence.com
M&A In Information, Communications And Tech Industries: 5 Potential Opportunities
http://seekingalpha.com/article/304824-m-a-in-information-communications-and-tech-industries-5-potential-opportunities
Louis Rhéaume
Infocom Intelligence
louis@infocomintelligence.com
Tuesday, November 01, 2011
Court profil de l'industrie québécoise des Technologies de l'information et des communications (TIC)
Le magazine Direction Informatique rapporte que chaque employé québécois de l'industrie des technologies de l'information et de la communication (TIC) génère en moyenne des revenus annuels de 125 000 dollars, révèle un sondage de l'Association québécoise des technologies (AQT). L'étude a été effectuée en début d'année auprès de 495 petites et moyennes entreprises (PME) de l'industrie des TIC, c'est-à-dire des sociétés comptant entre 4 et 500 employés.
Les PME de l'industrie des TIC comptent en moyenne 38 employés, 15 ans d'existence et des revenus annuels de 4,8 millions de dollars. L'analyse révèle que 20 % des entreprises sondées offrent uniquement des solutions technologiques, alors que 14 % n'offrent que des services. Les autres offrent les deux types : 40 % surtout des solutions technologiques et 26 % surtout des services. 53 % des revenus proviennent de la vente de services, alors que 45 % proviennent de la vente de solutions technologiques.
Seulement 27 % des entreprises québécoises des TIC vendent uniquement au Québec, alors que 41 % d'entre elles font des ventes aux États-Unis et 29 % en Europe. Globalement, les ventes hors Québec représentent en moyenne 38 % des revenus des sociétés. Les modes de distribution privilégiés par les dirigeants sont d'abord la force de vente directe (38 %), suivie des alliances et partenariats (27 %), d'Internet (17 %), des distributeurs (10 %) et des revendeurs (8 %).
Innovation
Le Baromètre AQT révèle aussi que les entreprises des TIC placent l'innovation au cœur de leurs priorités. Pas moins de 95% des entreprises de 50 à 500 employés qui ont un plan stratégique, documenté ou informel, prévoient développer de nouveaux produits et services afin de demeurer concurrentielles.
De plus, 42 % des répondants disent protéger leur propriété intellectuelle par des clauses contractuelles, 32 % en innovant constamment et 15 % avec des brevets. Toutefois, 9 % des répondants avouent ne pas protéger leur propriété intellectuelle, alors que 2 % ne peuvent pas préciser. Au cours de la prochaine année, les entreprises disent vouloir investir dans l'amélioration de leurs produits et services (67 %), dans leur commercialisation (66 %), dans l'amélioration des processus internes (41 %), dans l'exportation vers de nouveaux marchés (39 %) et dans le perfectionnement et la formation des ressources humaines (36 %).
Obstacles
Du côté des obstacles à la croissance, les deux éléments au sommet de la liste sont les conditions du marché (52 %) et la pénurie de main-d'œuvre qualifiée (50 %). 10% des entreprises des TIC considèrent que l'évolution trop rapide des technologies peut constituer un frein à leur croissance.
L'étude révèle également qu'en moyenne, 33 % du personnel des entreprises des TIC de 4 à 500 employés est affecté à la recherche et au développement (R-D), comparativement à 18 % à la commercialisation et 14 % à l'administration. Enfin, 57 % des entreprises disent être prêtes à patienter entre 1 et 3 ans avant qu'une innovation mise en marché devienne rentable.
Louis Rhéaume
Infocom Intelligence
louis@infocomintelligence.com
Twitter: @InfocomAnalysis
Les PME de l'industrie des TIC comptent en moyenne 38 employés, 15 ans d'existence et des revenus annuels de 4,8 millions de dollars. L'analyse révèle que 20 % des entreprises sondées offrent uniquement des solutions technologiques, alors que 14 % n'offrent que des services. Les autres offrent les deux types : 40 % surtout des solutions technologiques et 26 % surtout des services. 53 % des revenus proviennent de la vente de services, alors que 45 % proviennent de la vente de solutions technologiques.
Seulement 27 % des entreprises québécoises des TIC vendent uniquement au Québec, alors que 41 % d'entre elles font des ventes aux États-Unis et 29 % en Europe. Globalement, les ventes hors Québec représentent en moyenne 38 % des revenus des sociétés. Les modes de distribution privilégiés par les dirigeants sont d'abord la force de vente directe (38 %), suivie des alliances et partenariats (27 %), d'Internet (17 %), des distributeurs (10 %) et des revendeurs (8 %).
Innovation
Le Baromètre AQT révèle aussi que les entreprises des TIC placent l'innovation au cœur de leurs priorités. Pas moins de 95% des entreprises de 50 à 500 employés qui ont un plan stratégique, documenté ou informel, prévoient développer de nouveaux produits et services afin de demeurer concurrentielles.
De plus, 42 % des répondants disent protéger leur propriété intellectuelle par des clauses contractuelles, 32 % en innovant constamment et 15 % avec des brevets. Toutefois, 9 % des répondants avouent ne pas protéger leur propriété intellectuelle, alors que 2 % ne peuvent pas préciser. Au cours de la prochaine année, les entreprises disent vouloir investir dans l'amélioration de leurs produits et services (67 %), dans leur commercialisation (66 %), dans l'amélioration des processus internes (41 %), dans l'exportation vers de nouveaux marchés (39 %) et dans le perfectionnement et la formation des ressources humaines (36 %).
Obstacles
Du côté des obstacles à la croissance, les deux éléments au sommet de la liste sont les conditions du marché (52 %) et la pénurie de main-d'œuvre qualifiée (50 %). 10% des entreprises des TIC considèrent que l'évolution trop rapide des technologies peut constituer un frein à leur croissance.
L'étude révèle également qu'en moyenne, 33 % du personnel des entreprises des TIC de 4 à 500 employés est affecté à la recherche et au développement (R-D), comparativement à 18 % à la commercialisation et 14 % à l'administration. Enfin, 57 % des entreprises disent être prêtes à patienter entre 1 et 3 ans avant qu'une innovation mise en marché devienne rentable.
Louis Rhéaume
Infocom Intelligence
louis@infocomintelligence.com
Twitter: @InfocomAnalysis
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