How Lumia and Microsoft can help you disrupt your industry
Radically improve the way your industry operates by equipping yourself with the right tools, such as your Windows Phone and Microsoft’s portfolio of products.
At Microsoft’s Worldwide Partner Conference last month, Steve Guggenheimer—Corporate Vice President of Developer Platform & Evangelism and Chief Evangelist for Microsoft—delivered a keynote speech about disruption and the transformative opportunities self-disruption can provide.
“Disruption” in business means making a radical change for the better, especially when it involves introducing a new product or service that creates a new market. Think about how Uber disrupted the transportation industry or how AirBNB disrupted the travel industry.
Finding these opportunities for disruption is more achievable now than ever due to advances in technology. The tools you need may be as close as the Lumia in your pocket.
Stay connected
With a Windows Phone and the cloud, you always have access to the data that’s important to you.
For instance, Steve shared a story about how Israel produces the most milk per cow in the world.
The Israeli dairy industry built technology that collects, analyzes, and shares data on milk quality, quantity, and other important factors through sensors attached to a cow’s neck. One dairy industry partner built a service that enables farmers to stay connected and in control of their herds from anywhere.
Biometric data gets transformed into actionable information a farmer can use, which is sent directly to his or her smartphone and PC. The result? Higher productivity and more milk.
Unified devices
Using your Lumia smartphone in concert with Microsoft’s ecosystem of devices and services is a successful strategy that can help you disrupt an industry.
Collaboration in the workplace becomes efficient and effortless when everyone is using a cohesive platform, such as Windows-powered devices like Lumia, Surface, and PCs that all speak the same “language.”
Create an Excel report on one device and seamlessly edit it on another. Access the same OneDrive files anytime, anywhere—no matter whether you’re at your desk or on the train.
This enhanced interconnectivity gives you an edge over the competition, allowing for nimble collaboration in a business environment that moves at a lightning-fast pace.
For an example of how businesses can collaborate better using Microsoft’s ecosystem of devices, read about the experiences of Detroit startups 1701 Bespoke and Paramita Sound here.
Become a partner
Both big and growing companies can benefit from partnering with Microsoft to improve their opportunities for disruption.
“Helping partners reinvent themselves to thrive against future challenges is one of the aspects of my job that makes it so rewarding,” said Steve.
There are numerous resources Microsoft provides that are relevant for a company at any phase of its business lifecycle. Here are a few of them:
Microsoft Partner Network: Become a Microsoft Partner and gain access to a broad suite of Microsoft resources.
Microsoft’s Developer Network: Offers unparalleled access to tools and resources that a developer needs to build great software on the Microsoft platform.
Microsoft’s Most Valuable Professionals: MVPs are technical leaders in their communities, bringing subject matter expertise on Microsoft technology to the local level.
Microsoft Ventures and Accelerators: This is Microsoft’s connection to the venture capital community, directly benefitting Microsoft’s startup partners. Accelerators provide mentorship and access to expertise, focusing on helping founders grow their businesses.
BizSpark: The easiest way for startups to get access to a robust collection of Microsoft software and services, without cost.
For more on how to “disrupt or be disrupted,” read Steve Guggenheimer’s blogpost on the subject here.
What do you think is the best example of a company disrupting an industry? Tell us in the comments below.