Small tech companies differentiate by offering more service than icon brands
Implications - Following in the footsteps of Uber, small tech companies are competing with larger brands by focusing more on the experience than the transaction. Brick and mortar stores, though relevant, are secondary to extra, interaction-based services with tech startups. This re-prioritization speaks directly to the increased consumer desire to be spoken to like a person, as opposed to a customer.
Workshop Question - If you're a small company, how can you act big? If you're a big company, how can you act small?
Trend Themes
1. Experience Over Transaction - Small tech companies are focusing more on the experience than the transaction, which reflects the increased customer desire to be spoken to like a person.
2. Personalized Tech Support - Startups like Xprt are offering personalized tech support through live chats with experts, replacing the struggle of looking through instruction manuals and online forums.
3. On-demand Tech Delivery - Convenience of on-demand services continues to disrupt various industries, as DoorDash partners with b8ta for on-demand tech gadget delivery.
Industry Implications
1. Consumer Electronics - Innovations in personalized tech support and on-demand tech delivery can disrupt the consumer electronics industry.
2. Real Estate - IoT-integrated apartments and fully automated home systems can disrupt the real estate industry.
3. Retail - Experience-focused companies and personalized tech support can disrupt the retail industry.
