News and Analysis
How FlashParking Is Turning Isolated Lots Into Connected Hubs
The parking technology company FlashParking wants to reimagine the way parking lots are managed. But rather than pushing “smart” technology on individual operators, the company is taking a decidedly different approach to decreasing traffic congestion in cities.
Operating under the belief that most technology solutions to urban challenges are unnecessarily complicated, the team at FlashParking is working toward solutions that redirect energy away from smart-city technology. Instead, FlashParking is pushing a system that embraces so-called “dumb cities” — cities planned and built with durable approaches to infrastructure.
German Tech Provider Bosch Developing 3D Displays for Cars
In the long run, this technology could pave the way toward an even more connected car. That means local advertising that could collect more data on user habits and lead drivers toward local businesses when they are on the go. As autonomous vehicles grow more common and sophisticated, the 3D displays could also be used for entertainment or other yet unseen purposes to enhance the auto experience of the future.
FedEx Stops Ground Deliveries for Amazon, Signaling Delivery War to Come
For FedEx as for the many other companies and industries Amazon has decimated over the past 20 years, the problem in confronting Amazon may turn out to be one of margins. While FedEx needs a profitable delivery business to survive, Amazon can afford to lose money on delivery and make it up with relatively free-flowing profits from Amazon Web Services and its booming ad business.
In fact, Amazon can afford, thanks to the faith and generosity of investors, to make no profits at all. No easy task, competing with that.
Commentary
Why It’s Too Early to Go All In on Virtual Assistants
As the so-called customer journey takes new twists and turns, tech companies and agencies should help local businesses and brands differentiate themselves via user experience. Catering to virtual assistants might seem to be the path towards that goal. But it’s probably too early to make huge bets on these technologies.
Google’s Pragmatic Approach to the Truth, and Its Pitfalls
If enough people believe something, should Google consider it to be true? In a world where questionable news is very popular, it’s not so surprising that Google’s logical assumptions might sometimes produce unexpected results. After all, trustworthiness at root is a matter of how many people are willing to trust you.
Latest Posts
8 Branding Strategies for Hyperlocal Vendors
A strong brand strategy is the foundation of a winning launch, even though developing the strategy can increase the time it takes to get a new product to market. Here are eight brand development strategies for hyperlocal vendors, from founders and executives who’ve been in the trenches themselves.
Street Fight Daily: Facebook and Ticketmaster Partner, On-Demand’s Limitations
A roundup of today’s big stories in hyperlocal publishing, marketing, commerce, and technology… Ticketmaster Will Sell Tickets Directly on Facebook in Coming Weeks (BuzzFeed)… The Looming Limits of On-Demand Delivery (Retail Dive)… Billy Penn Owner Narrows Search for Second City (Politico)…
Weather Company’s Webster Touts the Power of Forecast Data in Local Marketing
“We’re starting to have conversations about how we can take data and predict consumer behavior based on weather conditions,” says the Weather Company’s EMEA chief Ross Webster. “We’re not just looking at the weather as absolute … It’s much more about the different layers of weather data.”
Case Study: Timberland Empowers Local Retailers with Branded Content
“We know that our local retailers are the best way to engage and influence consumers,” says Frank Hwang, Timberland’s senior manager for digital and paid media. The company works with local retailers to provide product storytelling and brand lifestyle content for their digital and social media channels.
Street Fight Daily: Google’s New Tool for SMBs, Facebook Opens Up to Branded Content
A roundup of today’s big stories in hyperlocal publishing, marketing, commerce, and technology… One Year After ‘Mobilegeddon,’ Google Plans to Release a New Tool for Small Businesses (Business Insider)… Facebook Opens the Door to Branded Content from Top Publishers (Digiday)… Daily Mail Parent in Talks with Private Equity for Yahoo Bid (Reuters)…
Street Fight Daily: Verizon and Google’s Yahoo Bids, Foursquare President on Data Accuracy
A roundup of today’s big stories in hyperlocal publishing, marketing, commerce, and technology… Verizon to Proceed With Yahoo Bid, Google Weighs Offer (Bloomberg)… The Right Questions to Ask About Location Data Accuracy (eMarketer)… Facebook Is Testing Weather Alerts on Mobile (The Next Web)…
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