Rosana Ubanell | Managing Director | Intuic Miami 01/16/2012
MASH MY WEEK! Summary of outstanding news about the Internet, technology, and social media from January 9–14
Welcome to another edition of Mashmyweek!
First, we present a study by Motorola Solutions analyzing how new technologies influence consumer satisfaction.
Next, reporting from last week’s Consumer Electronics Show (CES), we present the top five technologies expected to rule in 2012.
Last, we look at Google’s new “Search Plus Your World” where Google incorporates into its browser a combination of functions that will maximize the power of social searches.
New in-store technologies increase consumer satisfaction
Motorola Solutions published its latest research on how mobile technologies contribute to a better shopping experience. Two-thirds (67%) of consumers surveyed agreed that new in-store technologies improved their purchasing experience and general satisfaction.
The growing availability of options for purchase assistance through multiple channels has raised expectations about customer service, for consumers as well as for merchants, in traditional stores. Among these technologies are applications to check prices and Wi-Fi access to search for product information, conduct price comparisons, announce purchases, pay with mobile devices, download coupons, etc.
In retail sales, 83.3% of providers think it has become easier for consumers to locate competitive deals, making customer care one of the most important factors when it comes to closing a sale.
Although consumer activity and expenditures are still higher in traditional stores than online, retail salesmen must continue to satisfy the demands of the omni-channel consumer. Online purchases increased more than 18% compared to 2010, and 63% of consumers with smartphones have already downloaded at least one shopping application.
Obviously, the new in-store technologies allow vendors to enhance their service and consumers to benefit from a better in-store shopping experience.
Consumer Electronics Show trends
Las Vegas was the venue for last week’s annual CES, the world’s largest consumer technology tradeshow.
An advertising platform where developers present their new products, it is the place for gung-ho hardware fans to revel in the array of new gadgets.
Here are the trends for 2012:
1. Tablets: Strong contenders are coming from Google’s Android 4.0, Samsung‘s Galaxy Note, Microsoft’s Windows 8, and Amazon’s Kindle Fire—all of them ready to compete for market share with the invincible iPad.
2. Ultrabooks: A new generation of computers was inaugurated at CES with thinner ultrabooks and lighter laptops with flash memory.
3. TV 3D with Internet: Smarter TV sets are coming, with integrated web content and greater receptivity to 3D videos.
4. Connected cars: Following high technology trends, automakers will be adding on-stream music and radio. Your car will soon become a new software platform.
5. Applications: 2012 will be all about networking. The coming months will see Internet and social network applications not just for telephones and tablets but even for refrigerators and cars.
Your own world on every search
A recent Google blog post announced an optional social integration enhancement to its web searches.
Google’s goal is to find results relevant for the user, and this information can be more easily identified when it is suggested by a friend or contact.
The company said: “We are transforming Google into a search engine that understands content, people, and relationships.”
This transformation that began with “Social Search” now incorporates three new functions:
1. Personal results: You will be able to find personalized information like photos and Google+ publications, both your own and the ones shared by your contacts.
2. Profile search: You will be able to find the social profiles of those related to you and recommendations for others you may want to follow.
3. People and Pages: You will be able to find people or pages related to specific themes or topics of interest, along with the opportunity to follow them with a couple of clicks.
All the these characteristics create “Search Plus Your World” based on the belief that behind each search request entered on Google, there is a community of interests that can enrich the results.
Hope you enjoy this Mashmyweek!
Until our next edition...