Reducing Lifecycles of products in Internet Economy

I am at a toy shop which is kind of moderately full with Angry Birds branded toys, games and other similar items of children. But, this presence of angry birds has reduced considerably as over last few months, when the angry birds game was a runaway success. This reduced popularity reminds me of the product obsolescence or in other words the reducing product,lifecycles in internet economy. This game Angry birds was trending big time on play store but now a days nobody seems interested in playing it forget downloading. Similar is the case, with other applications and games which seem less relevant these days,viz. Temple run, Candy Crush, Flipboard, Pulse and count goes on.

I think there is much more, to this changing behavior of users, apart from the reduction in epistemic value soon after the initial download from the app stores. The probable answer could be the fast changing internet landscape driven by
•reducing attention span of users towards any product
•inability of products to evolve themselves to keep the user engaged, the surprise factor is missing
•availability of superior me too products
•and the switching cost of these products for the users, which is presently Zero.

Thus, for any internet product company it is very important to stay relevant to the user group or built in a fan following or in other words develop a sustainable competitive advantage. There are products which have been able to extend their lifecycle, a perfect example could be Whatsapp...which kind of displaced the existing Khalifas of its domain such as BBM and other IMs. Despite multiple attempts by competition such as Wechat, line etc to displace this product, there was no,success . I don't have the correct reason for that but one reason could be the first product of its kind which is generically applicable to all operating systems, and their(Whatsapps') ability to define their competition as Traditional SMS, and not the other IMs.

These changes are accelerating every moment, and apply equally not only to the software companies but to device companies as well. It is even more difficult for the handset manufacturing OEMs where the inventory and SKU management is an uphill task. Smaller manufacturers like Micromax, Lava , Karbonn are having a tough time in bringing out the replicas of technically advanced Samsung ,Apple, Sony,HTC,Nokia devices. At the same time, these established brands have severe headache by constantly innovating themselves and command the premium and retain if not increase the market share.

With technologies like AR,ANW, driverless cars, internet balloons, the future is certainly bright and amazing for end users, but is very challenging for the OEMs who have the onus of developing the hardware to take these innovations at the door step,of the end user.

the festival called Guru Poornima!

Guru Poornima, a unique festival which is celebrated in Bharat(also India) to mark the reverence to the Holy Master/Guru/Teacher in One's life who has guided a person in difficult times, & has always stood by him as a beaming light showing the right path in life.

Today, I came across the etymology of word GURU, in Sanskrit, which is as follows:

                               गु शब्दस्तु अंधकारः स्यात् रु शब्दस्तन्निरोधकः ।
                               अंधकारनिरोधत्वात् गुरु इति अभिधीयते ॥

 

This verse says, that the word GU refers to the Darkness, whereas the latter means the barrier to the darkness. Thus Guru is one which obstructs the path of Darkness, and paves the way of disciple towards light and glory.

 

Some people say, why does one need a Guru in first place, when the entire knowledge is available in textbooks, scriptures and elsewhere. This situation is analogous to a situation, where the fruits are hanging from the tree, but are far off, and look like Oranges. Guru is the one, who bridges the gap and brings far flung fruits closer, making the disciple understand the difference between an orange and an apple at the same time. Had the Guru been absent from the entire picture, one would have never known the ways to reach to the hanging apples on the tree.

 

There are many Gurus in one's life starting from Childhood, where the kid learns the environment around him from his mother, father teaches him the ways to interact with the world. The teacher in the school makes the child educated, & socially presentable. This journey from childhood to adulthood, makes the child understand the nuances of the society, and when this citizen of society feels the need to understand and grown on spiritual level, the Adhyatmik Guru guides him to the path of perfection, and connects with the Almighty. In my view, knowingly/Unknowingly one is always guided by the Gurus in life.

 

Human life is like a big water body in night, which shines when the light of the Gyan/knowledge of Guru grace falls on water. Life is a reflection, of what one gets to understand under the able aura of revered teacher. As the moon wanes, which is nothing but digression of oneself from the teachings of the Holy master, the reflection stops, the glow, radiance in life goes away. Thus, being in line with the revered master, it is Disciple who gets the full benefit, while Guru sees to it that the shishya gains the knowledge & learning imparted to him.

 

Today, while attending a function of Guru Poornima, one of the six festivals celebrated of Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, the broad point highlighted was the fact that the Guru, readies the disciple for the higher goal in life, & prepares him for the increasingly challenging life that lies ahead in the journey of attaining the Superior Goal. Not Only Destination(Sadhya) is of importance, but the Sadhan(efforts and journey) to achieve that  goal is equally important. Superior Objective demands superior efforts.

 

Thus, we must pay our obeisance both in spirit and action at the feet of Holy Master  who shoulders the responsibility of taking His disciple to the perfection, through a well lit path under His able guidance.

 

HAIL THE MASTER!!!

Guru Gobind douu khade, kake laguun paaay...

Balihari Guru aapne, Gobind diyo milaay...