@Bolaji: that's right and I would like to insist on one point. It isn't a matter of technology or new huge investments to perform, it is a matter of managers and who is leading the company for going ahead and promoting these courageous decisions, taking in charge responsibilities of bad or good results.
What this tells me is that many companies are sitting on resources they can leverage for additional revenue but may either not realize the potential of the dormant/extra capacities (network bandwidth in the case of Deutsche Telekom) or may think the firewalls between their traditional and core operation and adjacent markets are too thick for them to penetrate.
The telecom companies have been in the vanguard of extending their brands by going into new markets. In the US, telecom service providers have entered the TV program distribution and the security services markets. They already have the fiber links to the homes so why not use it for anything the homeowner/businesses need?
Deutsche Telekom doesn't have to invest that much more to take advantage of this new business opportunity. They don't keep inventory, negotiate pricing or ship products. They just offer a platform that's already built and functioning. Whatever extra money they make here is going straight to the bottom line.
Speaking for myself, I agree with Anna. We are still at early stage and quite long term is needed for evaluating properly pros and cons and business benefit of DT step. Anyway within European arena (at least for telco) it is really innovative. Looking forward...
B2B or M2M ... you need to find the potential customers who actually use the service offered by you. This may be an additional request from the existing customers which is encouraging deutsche to entr into this kind of market space. Lets wait and watch how they can make an impact.
I agree with Barbara. The model seems like a typical B2B model that many companies are already offering and they don't seem to offer much differentiation there.
It's obvious that things are changing in the Supply chain support services and the distribution and enterprise market is certainly entering a new phase. I'm not sure which of the systems will win. We'll have to wait and see.
What? Yes, I agree with you Barbara. It looks to be confused decision. Sometime, CEO/CTO get an eccentric ideas from thier family member or friends. But this looks very strange.
I'm confused. Aren't businesses considered end-users? If I am reading Deutsche Telekom's model correctly, they are not an eBay or Amazon because they don't sell to consumers. But in business, a corporation can be and usually is an end-user. So is this a sort of eBay for businesses only?
BTW, this is the same model e2open started out with--an open trading platform for b2b. It has since changed into something else entirely.
EBN Dialogue enables and encourages you to participate in live chats with notable leaders and luminaries. Not only editors and journalists, but the entire EBN community is able to comment and ask questions. Listed below are upcoming and archived chats.
Archived Dialogues
Thailand Stages a Comeback Join EBN contributor Jennifer Baljko on Thursday August 23, 2012, at 11:00 a.m. EST for a live chat on how electronic manufacturers in Thailand have shored up their supply chain to reduce the impact of future natural disasters.
Euro-Crisis: What It Means for High-Tech Firms Join EBN Editor in Chief Bolaji Ojo and Contributing Editor Jennifer Baljko on Thursday, July 12, at 10:00 a.m. EDT for a Live Chat on high-tech and Europe's economic difficulties.
Microsoft Surface: Potential Winners & Losers What are the implications for the electronics industry supply chain of Microsoft Corp.'s decision to launch its own tablet PC? Join industry veteran and EE Times' systems and OEM expert Rick Merritt on Tuesday, July 3, at 12:00 pm EDT for a Live Chat on this subject.
Join EBN contributor Jennifer Baljko on Thursday August 23, 2012, at 11:00 a.m. EST for a live chat on how electronic manufacturers in Thailand have shored up their supply chain to reduce the impact of future natural disasters.
Peter Drucker famously said "Trying to predict the future is like trying to drive down a country road at night with no lights while looking out the back window." Yet in the razor's-edge world of electronics—with a lean supply chain and just-in-time demands—the need to know the future is vital.
You've heard the saying "the No. 1 supply chain risk is your people." That hasn't always been the case. But today's complex global supply chain requires a new type of multitalented employee. It's one who understands, finance, marketing, economics, is savvy with technology, graceful with relationships and can think analytically.
Where are these people? Are universities properly preparing the next generation supply chain professionals? How do train your existing workforce for these new, demanding positions?
Brian Fuller, editor-in-chief of EBN, will lead a 60-minute Avnet Velocity panel discussion that will ask and answer these and other questions swirling around today's supply-chain talent challenges.
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