Reflecting on 2013 technological events

OPINION

By KELVIN DAVIS

(Kelvin Davis is the director or Greymouse, a cloud service-provider that supplies high quality, time-bound and cost-efficient services through its own facility in Fiji.)

2013 looms large in the rear view mirror, so what has changed in our business technology world? Let’s pause for a moment to reflect on the last 12 months of business world changes.
Prediction involves looking at what is happening around you, collecting the facts and then projecting them into the future.
Doing this helps prepare you and your business for what is about to happen.
Being informed and knowledgeable gives you a business head start over the competition.
Looking back, a number of articles and predictions that we have supplied, stood out as industry game changes.
Signposts pointed out during the year have come to pass on our 2013 business drive. Here are a few game changers.

Founders make room
For years, the internet was founded on the Cisco routing engine. The explosion of new products and technologies impacts the internet founding fathers.
My Cisco prediction published on the September 2:

• Slash and Burn at World’s Biggest Network Equipment Maker” –

a. http://tinyurl.com/greymousecloud-slash-network
b. http://www.fijisun.com.fj/2013/09/02/slash-and-burn-at-big-network-equipment-maker-cisco/
The latest Cisco update was announced on the November 15 confirming the result:

• CRN News confirms “Cisco forecasts bleak Q2,shares plummet” –

http://tinyurl.com/crn-cisco-bleak-plummet-aspx

http://tinyurl.com/greymousecloud-new-search

Job losses in Australia
Driven by corporate downsizing and the slashing of public sector jobs at state and federal levels, unemployment continues to rise across Australia.
Viewing the warning signs, an article was published in the Fiji sun in May 2013:

• A blog “Changing Aussie Dollar Pressures Businesses to Close Shop” – http://greymousecloud.com/changing-aussie-dollar-pressures-businesses-to-close-shop

(http://www.fijisun.com.fj/2013/06/03/changing-aussie-dollar-pressures-businesses-to-close-shop )

• Published during November with “Significant Job Losses in Australia”

• http://www.fijisun.com.fj/2013/10/28/job-losses-in-australia-what-are-alternatives/

http://tinyurl.com/greymousecloud-significant-job

This report continues to gain momentum as large and small companies continue to restructure.

Blackberry’s future
After teaching the world to type on tiny buttons, BlackBerry is now on its way to leaving the business of making phones.
Apple and Samsung has captured the imagination and the market.
Reporting on the industry changes over the last year, we predicted significant changes. Blackberry is reportedly now on its knees.

• Our article confirming this prediction was published on the July 8 with  “Bye Bye Blackberry”

http://greymousecloud.com/bye-bye-blackberry#  (http://www.greymousecloud.com/files/Cloud-Fiji-Sun-08-07-2013.pdf)
(http://www.fijisun.com.fj/2013/07/08/smartphone-brand-dominance-changes-hands/)

• On November 5, reports confirm Blackberry share price collapsing –  http://tinyurl.com/invezz-6545-price-as-off-sale

Traditional retail vs online
Multiple articles have been reporting on the traditional Retail verses Online (internet) stores.
The ongoing global trend is moving to on line shopping. Traditional retailers are struggling to keep up with the range of product and price savings.
At long last, internet shopping on Ebay and Alibaba, Trade me (NZ) plus many more stores, all becomes easy for all consumers within Fiji.

• http://greymousecloud.com/online-shopping-big-bold-and-booming

• On line retailer supplying just to Fiji. “Fiji lets Shop”

http://www.greymousecloud.com/files/Cloud-Fiji-Sun-17-11-2013.pdf

(http://www.fijisun.com.fj/2013/11/18/let%E2%80%99s-go-shopping-online/ )

• Reported on November  18 with “Let’s Go Shopping Online” – http://tinyurl.com/greymousecloud-shopping-online

Outsourcing opportunities
Many large companies turn to outsourcing as the simplest method to cut costs.
Small to medium business plus startups are actively adopting and using these services. The result is redefining the ‘way’ business is done.
Philippines continues to outstrip all other countries in the Outsourcing or call center work.
Supported by the Philippines Government, the BPO (Business Process Outsourcing) industry now generates over US$16 billion per year.
Greymouse is an outsourcing company with our own Philippine team, complementing the experienced Fiji team.
The biggest difference I have found is in the culture. Philippine people are like “sponges” taking in as much knowledge as they possibly can, whilst continuing to have fun at work.
Greymouse had also made an earlier report of the outsourcing benefits with:

• May – “Missed Opportunity” – http://greymousecloud.com/missed-opportunity
• July – “Outsourcing Profits”

(http://greymousecloud.com/outsourcing-profits# (http://www.greymousecloud.com/files/Cloud-Fiji-Sun-08-07-2013.pdf)
(http://www.fijisun.com.fj/2013/07/01/outsourcing-profits/)

Protecting data
The idea that governments have the ability to hack into your corporate data sent shock waves through the industry.
It sent shock waves across every tech sector as Microsoft became the latest company to instigate safety precautions on its own data from its own (US) government. (http://bits.blogs.nytimes.com/2013/12/05/microsofts-general-counsel-n-s-a-hacks-were-an-earthquake-for-tech/?ref=technology&_r=1).
This weakness was reported on this on October 14, 2013,

• “Move It or Loose It” – http://greymousecloud.com/move-it-or-loose-it (http://www.greymousecloud.com/files/Cloud-Fiji-Sun-14-10-2013.pdf)

(http://www.fijisun.com.fj/2013/10/14/cloud-data-move-or-lose)

Thank you
In addition to this business reflection, there are many more summarised on the Greymousecloud.com blog. Enjoy your trip down past year’s articles and stories.
I take a moment to thank the Fiji Sun for sharing the business news, updates and technology reports with you.
Also to you, the readers – “ Thank You” for your valuable support in taking time to read and actually stopping me on the streets  to share “ your ideas and experiences” from your business too.
2014 is shaping to up be an exciting year and I trust your business is prepared for the technological, cloud and online changes.
Merry Christmas and safe festive season. Will see more news and articles in the new year.