During Korbitec’s annual Leadership breakfast, World Wide Worx founder Arthur Goldstuck emphasised the importance of organisations adapting to changes in consumers’ internet usage patterns.
Goldstuck predicts a mobile smart phone revolution this year. “A revolution will start this year and it will focus heavily on connectivity, smartphones and social media. We already have decent connectivity, but at a price.”
He also postulated that video would overtake peer-to-peer services, highlighting a shift towards online video which started in 2010 and is set to continue into 2015. “Companies will have to use video in a way that meets the user. Businesses will have to reinvent themselves, as big changes are coming — almost a tornado of change,” he said.
Using the example of Apple, Goldstuck said the device maker was highly in tune with its customers, resulting in mass market success. According to Goldstuck, Apple successfully marketed their vision for their iPad tablet, while other providers struggled keep up with demand. “A business needs to manage expectation and after-market support is often more important than the actual device. We are entering a phase of a tornado and it will sweep away any business which can not keep up with demand — be it video, mobile or connectivity.”
According to Goldstuck, the demand for connectivity will explode in the coming years. Data providers he says will struggle to keep up. “In South Africa there are about 8.5-million internet users and this growth has been accelerated thanks to the smartphone.”
Smartphones are set to overtake feature phones by 2013 Goldstuck predicts. “This year alone 33% of people browse the internet off their phones, while 24% use MXit and 22% access Facebook. People have the internet in their hands and they can do anything with it.”
Goldstuck concluded by saying that the world was changing rapidly in terms of internet connectivity and who is accessing the net. “The consumer is re-invented — companies must now follow”.
Charlie Fripp – Online editor
