Siri vs. Google – Now it gets interesting!
November 9, 2011 by Yuval BriskerI’ve been waiting for someone to shine a light on the fact that Siri is actually a hidden alternative to search, and that for the first time in 13 years – Google could actually be seeing some serious competition. Siri is, of course, Apple’s integrated iPhone app that’s deemed a ‘personal assistant’ but is really a form of sophisticated voice search…
Then I saw this article in Fortune…which spelled it out: Siri has the potential to be better than current search technology from Google because…:
“…Siri is more than voice recognition. It’s a form of AI that takes a few more steps closer to an app that could pass the Turing test. People are still uncomfortable with any AI application that could be mistaken for a human, but the Easter-egg answers Apple has snuck into the app defuses any potential discomfort, and in fact gives Siri a conversational interface that feels far more personal that Google’s spartan home page. It’s that conversational interface that poses the threat to Google.”
And there’s more in that article. Recommended.
What’s interesting is the fact that even when we think a company is unbeatable there is indeed always a path to beating the competition – even when that competition is a leader with the scale, breadth and depth of Google.
Now – I am not saying that Google is in any way ‘over’, but there is indeed something very different, friendly and smart about Siri that takes search to another level AND it also comes pre-installed in every iPhone 4S, which gives it instant market reach and captive users that give it the potential to be the first serious contender.
From the 50,000 foot view – Apple continues to amaze – continuously using the mind in a focused and determined way to outrun, outthink, outsmart, out-strategize the competition and never giving up an inch.
TOA’s Annual Cost of Waiting Survey 2011
November 4, 2011 by Yuval BriskerToday TOA released the Annual Cost of Waiting survey.
This is a Zogby survey which determines the cost people perceive that they have to wait at home for a good or service to be delivered to their home. The most interesting aspect of this year’s survey is its focus on the personal toll in dollars, pounds, euros and reals that consumers in four countries perceive the wait for the delivery of an in-home goods or service delivery is costing them from their own pay. In these economically challenging times – this is of particular concern.
Key Insights:
We commissioned the survey in the US, UK, Germany and Brazil, of more than 1000 adults per country – On average, 58% of respondents waited for in-home deliveries or services in the past year:
- 58% = total # of respondents who completed the survey, divided by the total # of completed respondents and # of respondents who opted out of the very first question (they didn’t wait)
The report found a potential $37.7 billion economic impact of the total time spent waiting for in-home services (like utilities, retail delivery, broadband, etc.):
- $37.7 billion = US average cost of waiting (per individual – $250), multiplied by the American Civilian labor force (based on 2010 US Census data)
The annual Cost of Waiting per individual is equivalent to removing the average American from the workforce for more than two full days:
- Cost of waiting per individual is nearly $250 annually in the US – based on respondent-reported values
- The average wait time for in-home services in 2011 was nearly four and a half hours (4.5) – two hours and 30 minutes longer than expected – and took place approximately three appointments per year
The impact of social media on the customer service process and a focus on preventative and real-time solutions will also be key to service differentiation:
- Our survey found that 55% of respondents would complain, either to their friends or social networks, if their service technician was not on time.
This year’s study showed a low consumer threshold for frustration – for every customer lost, it costs businesses $330 annually (based on respondent estimates):
- Improving customer service and investing in advanced technology tools can dramatically change a customer’s perception of a business – Of the respondents surveyed, 70% stated that they would recommend a company solely on the fact that an appointment was on time.
There has been a drastic shift in opinions of good customer service, as customers are taking note of each technician’s skill level as the main determinant of good customer service.
- 81% of respondents noted that the skill of a service technician as being critical to creating a positive service experience, and their initiative to go above and beyond, was among the most important aspects that positively impact their opinion of a company.
Cable TV Holding Web Rivals at Bay, Earnings Show
November 1, 2011 by Yuval BriskerI found this piece in the NY Times revealing.
Clearly, the end is not near as some people predicted for video consumption via cable (even I wrote a piece about this last year). Netflix’s recent unraveling hasn’t helped the cause of cord cutters.
The CEOs of the cable companies quoted in the article are confident. But I don’t think that they are out of the woods yet…
Time Will Tell!
People Who Use Macs At Work Are Richer And More Productive
October 29, 2011 by Yuval BriskerWell we knew this… didn’t we??
TOA adopted the Mac as its corporate platform in 2004.5 . Kudos to my partner and co-founder Irad Carmi for leading the way here. He saw the light back in ’03!
