Own a Porsche Like You Rent It?

(2018/03/28) Now you can own a Porsche like you rent it. It's just not cheap. But a smart idea, right? Once you experience that power and speed, you will have a crave.

https://www.cnbc.com/2018/03/28/subscription-service-helps-porsche-attract-younger-drivers.html

This is how it works (Porsche Passport):

"Porsche Passport, which provides subscribers with access to Porsche vehicles via a mobile app, is currently only available in Atlanta, home to Porsche's North American operation, as well as Clutch Technologies, the company hosting the app.

The month-to-month subscription gives customers two price options: A flat fee of $2,000 or $3,000. The subscription includes a $500 activation fee and credit check, and covers vehicle tax and registration, insurance, unlimited mileage and maintenance. Smartphone users can download the app and begin using the same day or schedule future rides. "

Selfie for Mobile Payment Confirmation?

(3/15/2016) Do you like to take selfie photos? If so, do you like to send it to your credit card company? MasterCard will launch a new technology for mobile payment confirmation. If you pay plastic surgery with your cell phone, the credit card company maybe able to tell you whether your $$$ is well spent.

Smile!

Technology Literacy and Generation Gap

(11/10/2010) This is an amazing news report on the generation gap and technology literacy that impact our society.  A car dealer hires high school students to explain potential car buyers on how to operate the technological dashboard now embedded in new vehicles.  Can you think of an even more creative way to give teenagers an opportunity to earn extra money and learn business?

Should UPS worry about Amazon's Drones?

(7/29/2015) I think worrying Amazon's Drone flyers will replace UPS in the US exaggerates its potential impact. How many houses will be able to be delivered by Amazon Drone fryers? How heavy could a flyer carry? What's the dimension it can carry without worrying balancing issues? How geographic density can Amazon build operating offices to handle drones?
      UPS drivers delivery and pick up packages in Milk Runs, which mean UPS can drop off can pick up maybe 100 times along all its way for an 8-10 hour shift. Can Amazon Drone do that? Or it always needs to return back to the center to do the 2nd, then back again for the 3rd delivery? All drones' back flights are empty loads. How many trips can Amazon fly in one battery charge? City might be good for Amazon? But the air space in the city is congested and difficult to navigate and the rent and facility cost will be expensive. After thinking of these issues, I think UPS has not much to worry about YET.

Redbox Instant Video Streaming To Shut Down

(10/5/2014) There is Netflix. There is Amazon Prime. There is Hulu. There is no room for others..... That is the rule of the Internet. The joint venture between Redbox and Verizon -- Redbox Instant Video -- will be shut down soon.  I tried their service once and the list of its content is just bad. No wonder it will be closed.

URI Partners with Zip Car for Campus Transportation

(9/30/2014) Do you sometimes just need a vehicle for a short period and does not want to rent a car for whole day? For business owners, sometimes they need cars to pick up clients for a short period, traditional rental car is expensive and difficult. Zip car is an alternative.

Now the University of Rhode Island partners with ZipCar to offer car sharing to students and faculty. In that page, there is information telling students and faculty how to utilize Zipcar to solve their transportation around several campuses.

Five Four Club for No Fashion Sense Gentlemen

(5/20/2014) Guys, do you feel like shopping for your own clothes is a challenge and chore? If you are one of them, now there is a company do the chore for you. With $60 monthly prescription (news report), Five Four Club (Company website) will take care this part for you. You don't have to challenge your deficient fashion sense and still look good. The website not only sends you clothes, pants and accessaries, it also give you some suggestions how to dress them in a "proper combination."I have to say it is pretty smart business. How do you think?

Uber's Rough Road Ahead

(1/27/2014) Although I agree that Uber (uber.com) provides a good alternative for cab services for cities that Taxis are difficult to get, I personally am not optimistic about Uber's future. The registered drivers have access to Uber customer's personal information (home address, phone, names, travel schedule, ...), it will be hard to filter the quality drivers and monitor potential crime history of them. Besides, driver accidents like the one in the article will bring endless lawsuits to the company (maybe even to the customers). This NPR report has a more detailed analysis about Uber's driver issue.

Amazon's Delivery Drone

(12/1/2013) Amazon wants to delivery its product through Drones? No kidding? Watch this 60-Minute report. Jeff Bezos has proved several times that he is right, will he be right again?

We had a discussion about Amazon's service innovations today (12/2/2013) in the MBA class. Students showed their concerns about jobs (retailers before, maybe logistics later) being eliminated from many service innovations now. The jobless issue will be a more severe problem in terms of social justice and stability. Jeff Bezos responded (in 60 Minute's interviwe)  "It's the Internet that changes these." When new technologies are available to improve and better serve the customers, are those changes also driven by consumer's demand? Do you enjoy Amazon's good service and prompt delivery? What are your comments on this employment (or unemployment) issue resulting from technology changes?

This analyst says Amazon's flying drone is just an marketing gimmick (12/3/2013) for free advertisement. How do you think?

Will Briggo Coffee Kiosks Replace Starbucks Shops?

(10/18/2013) Can robot coffee machine make better coffee than Starbucks baristas? One company, Briggo, is ambitiously aiming to switch our taste for good coffee with their sophisticated coffee machine. "It needs just 50 square feet (4.6 sq m) of floor space, and it can be dropped anywhere—an airport, a hospital, a company campus, a cafe with tables and chairs and WiFi just like Starbucks. It’s manufactured in Austin."

One suggestion? Have multiple order and pickup station, which can also take orders from the mobile devices. I am not waiting for some indecisive customers occupying the machine in front of me.

A 50 sqft. of coffee kiosk to serve whatever taste of coffee you want

Inspiring Speech - From Online Dating to CRM?

(10/6/2013) This woman reminds me of Nate Silver. Interestingly, both them are jewish. Not only her speech is very inspiring, I am thinking some of the techniques might be useful for customer relationship management (CRM). What are the algorithms used by those online or mobile marketers? Maybe they should watch this speech.

Customer Service to The Next Level

(10/2/2013) Wow, this is real customer service. In 15 seconds after pushing the mayday button, you will talk to customer representative for Kindle problems and they guide you on the screen step by step to answer your question. Amazing.