Life's New Remote Control as it Evolves...

Well as we have covered in recent posts the mobile apps frenzy is certainly upon us. It seems these days you can’t watch an hour’s worth of television without the iPhone commercials dazzling you with all of the neat functions and download applications you can easily have at your fingertips. However, the iPhone is not the only mobile with such capabilities and interesting applications available for download. Google’s Android has also been leading the charge in terms of releasing many applications for users to start having fun with.

As such, with the rise in app it would only be a matter of time for smart company’s to realize that they too can leverage themselves through the development and release of their own software. Enter into the fray Visa with its new Android based app which enables select customers to receive card transaction updates, be able to keep track of spending, get deals and savings, and a “locator” service to help users redeem the special offers and find ATMs that accept Visa cards. Visa even has a special video promoting this app. This is all U.S. based at present but if things catch on one can expect this type of application to really take off in other parts of the world. I am sure there are a lot of other companies looking to establish and/or refine their company/customer relations. This app based method offers a seamless integration of the company’s values and offers direct to customers.

I would say that this is further proof, of how this mobile device of ours is moving away from the traditional uses of phoning and even emailing and more towards that ‘life remote control’ it has been envisioned as becoming for so long. It is our belief at Mobile CRM Japan that the clever company’s are the one’s positioning themselves for this inevitable transformation of the mobile into that futuristic and high powered device we will not only want but need to function within our daily lives. Exciting times ahead for those prepared.

Canadian Chris

iPhone: Only fun and games?

Today, as I fiddled with my Nokia mobile and gave myself another reason as to why I will never buy another phone made by that company, (I could have a whole post outlining those reasons) I had a thought race across my mind. What about the iPhone as my next mobile? As most people on the planet are aware, the iPhone has been on the darling of the mobile industry. Recently, the applications designed for it surpassed 10,000! That could translate into a lot of useful programs which could potentially simplify things for a busy professional. Now, I have heard a lot of grumblings about the iPhone from front line business professionals in relation to its lack of programs purely designed for their use. These individuals have lambasted the iPhone for being a fun toy but of little use in their working day. This post in effect, will be dedicated to delving somewhat deeper into this matter.

A quick search over at Techcrunch certainly did not lend support to the notion of the iPhone being only fun and games. Here is the list of the top paid apps for the iPhone:

Top Paid Apps (Overall):

Koi Pond
Texas Hold’em
Moto Chaser
Crash Bandicoot: Nitro Kart 3d
Super Monkey Ball
Cro-Mag Rally
Enigmo
Pocket Guitar
Recorder
iBeer

Hmm…I can’t really fathom just how useful iBeer or Pocket Guitar is to the busy executive but I could stand corrected. For a complete listing of other rankings in terms of paid and non paid top application downloads please check out the Techcrunch article.

Upon a second search, I found a site which outlined a number of different business apps for the iPhone which could definitely boost the performance of individual professionals and in essence their respective companies.

I have compiled a basic list of the apps covered in this article:

Oracle Business Indicators, Splash Money, HyperOffice
Readdle Docs, Quickbooks, Netnewswire
Salesforce, NuevaSync, WinAdmin

I assume that if there are over 10,000 apps now there must be more than the aforementioned in relation to pure business minded programs. Some of above are heavy hitters with the power and effectiveness to really make a difference for someone committed to harnessing it within their enterprise.

So, in effect what I have gleaned from my five minute search is that yes the iPhone does have apps out there. Perhaps it’s the proliferation of useful apps like ‘iBeer’ or ‘Super Monkey Ball’ which damage the iPhone’s image as a business tool or maybe more time is needed for the business applications to catch on and gain traction within the professional community. Either of the two or possibly both explanations could explain the overall malaise of business professionals towards the iPhone thus far. It will be interesting to see how this evolves and where Apple desires to position the iPhone in the future.

Canadian Chris

Weathering the Storm

In reference to my last post I l examined the notion of companies adopting mobile CRM technologies to enable better efficiency and a competitive edge. In today, post I would like to continue on with that thought but take it further in terms of how such a stance towards mobile CRM can be a potential boon for companies looking to remain fiscally vibrant in a worsening economic climate.

Sales forces should have instant access to critical information which enables transactions while technicians should be able to check inventories instantly in order to source replacement parts. Mobile CRM software applications enable this and add to increased efficiency, productivity and ultimately customer satisfaction. It is this last notion which counts for so much these days considering the financial woes of many industrialized countries including Japan. Smart companies understand that the costs associated with sourcing new clients far outweigh what it costs to actively keep the existing base happy. Engaging in pure customer retention and after-marketing practices which purely aim to satisfy current customers, is one way companies can surely combat these external economic conditions. This is where CRM systems can really prop up companies and allow them to not only ride out these rough times but actually take steps towards enhancing their overall market positioning.

Large and small companies ought to be engaged in this constant game of finding ways to increase efficiency. The problem at times however, and what hinders mobile CRM uptake appears to be that some of the costs and inefficiencies do not directly show up on company income statements in terms of fixed expenses. Without some fairly deep introspection it is difficult to pinpoint where and how costs can be reduced by the successful implementation of software applications. I can assure you though, there are costs for not aligning with the times and they show up in terms of lowered productivity of workers or inefficient use of resources, meaning lost revenue which ultimately hinders profits.

Through the application of high-tech-analytics capabilities, collaborative platforms and automated processes, mobile CRM applications are well armed to attack company or departmental inefficiencies. By gathering information from multiple data sources and storing it in a centralized location, a hosted CRM solution provides a holistic view of a customer in real time. From this insight, a company’s management, sales and service people can better generate leads, target top customers, manage marketing campaigns, drive sales and in due course boost customer satisfaction.

As many companies are faced with the reality of having to batter down the hatches for the foreseeable future, it is my humble opinion that companies here in Japan and worldwide ought to really look into mobile CRM as one of their main defenses to this storm of uncertainty.

Canadian Chris

A Continued Cultural Kick!

Well upon re-reading couple of my last posts I see that I have been on a bit of a cultural kick as of late. Illustrating ideas relating to Japanese culture more so than the strictly mobile CRM related issues. I had a momentary thought which said balance, balance, balance. I should get back to the nuts and bolts of this blog which is mobile CRM related content. However, I took a moment, looked over this ‘illustrious’ blog explanation and re-thought this logic. Aside from being a take on mobile CRM issues, these posts are also about examining the cultural business issues here in Japan. That aspect unto itself deserves an extended examination. If one cannot understand the social or ethnic factors at play here, one most certainly cannot put quality CRM business management systems or decisions for that matter into play. With that, I will turn towards this week’s topic of looking at what some feel it takes to make it here in the Japanese market.

Lately, I have been reading up on a number of books specifically relating to the examination of Japanese culture and more specifically business practices. I am sure this is where a lot of these thoughts and feelings have been deriving from as of late. One particular book entitled Cracking the Japanese Market by James C. Morgan and J. Jeffery Morgan examines these issues and more. There has been one particular section which has stood out for me thus far. It centers on understanding the rules at play. The authors argue that you must develop a philosophical foundation upon which to base your strategy. These components include:

-Presence
-People
-Pioneering
-Piggybacking
-Partnering
-Persistence

Now for the sake of simplicity and ease I will not elaborate upon each point into any great detail for the sake of keeping your attention, however I do wish to add a few points which I feel are pertinent to this blog and this post in particular.

Presence: It is incredibly important for your organization to have a physical presence in the Japanese market. I might add that this is specifically important when relating to the mobile CRM market. This is where you stand the best chance to gain invaluable information about first understanding distinctly Japanese customer needs as well as their ever changing desires.

People: This simply relates to localized hiring and it is important for two reasons. One it shows commitment to the market and two it opens doors with other Japanese companies in terms of building and nurturing both supplier and customer relationships.

Pioneering: Japan is renown for companies which will jump on popular ideas and re-create the service or product with its own twist. Therefore, it should be expected that your product or service will never be alone long. These companies include both large and small with the big companies coming first and the second wave of small to mid-size companies following. Obvious counter strategies include patent protection as well as constant innovation.

Piggybacking: Due to Japan’s long history of complex relationships it has been difficult for foreigners to enter and or build network distribution systems. However, one way to by-pass this obstacle is to engage in ‘piggybacking’ companies with similar products or services with already established distribution networks. The key according to Morgan and Morgan is to leverage people rich companies and existing structures, many of which hungrily need new product and ideas.

Partnering: The notion of partnering with an established Japanese company is an obvious method to gain access to customers, suppliers and buyers. Trust and relationship building which are ever so important to the Japanese way of business can then be forged. Of course one must be sharp in the structuring of the partnership so that theorized advantages stand the chance of becoming a reality.

Persistence: This concept is particularly important in that it shows commitment. Japanese business ethics highly value trust and commitment. Results are often examined with the long view in mind rather than the short. One way to show this is the ‘sticking it out’ mentality within the market. This mettle goes along way in terms of showing the Japanese your particular company or personal traits. It goes even further if your product has any type of CRM twist to it!

Now, if you are still here with me I hope these points do strike a cord for some of you whether you are already in the market or are curious about it. These ideas are of course simply jumping off points to further research however I hope that they have been of some genuine assistance.

Canadian Chris