Mistake #23: Ignorance of Technology
With the big guys building and offering once exclusively online apps to run offline, it makes me wonder about the future of the online store.
I don’t project that online shopping will be put by the wayside, but rather that a growing number of online users will begin to crave the ability to quick-search across online store platforms, all the while being disconnected from the Internet. With the future of broadband being challenged to move more quickly on demands for higher speed (the ability to stream live television effectively is not that far out), I suspect power-users will still want even more speed.
Google Reader already works offline (though it’s not as robust) and FireFox 3 is planned to support true offline viewing. So it all just makes me wonder…
Not that I’ve heard demands myself - I think several moves made in technology stem from simple ideas and, once introduced to the masses, become cheered for. I can’t say that I think true offline browsing/shopping would be the first step - we’d probably look to allow for searchable catalogs sans images. Or, perhaps, a shopping comparison app that runs offline, but requires low-bandwidth regular update streams only if you’re concerned about having the most current pricing.
Who knows? I just might have the million-dollar idea myself. Nothing would really surprise me.
I don’t necessarily embrace the concept of moving somewhat backwards. It used to be we wanted to do everything online - but the online gurus gave us such powerful tools, now we want to carry them wherever we go. That said, I do think certain B2B stores could gain a lot by providing offline (but updatable via streams) catalog info to PDA users. As odd as it sounds, I’d be quite open to ordering mailing supplies while I’m weathering a four-hour layover at JFK or the likes. I tend to remember things the business needs when I’m out and about.
I guess somewhere in here I need to point out a mistake - after all, that’s the goal of this whole column. The mistake that will kill is if you opt to avoid keeping up on the latest news of technology, with the attitude that none of it will truly affect you. Don’t believe me? I can name scores of technology that’s affected the way we do online business, and many small owners are still in the dark. For example, I can’t believe how many online stores still don’t accept PayPal. When I ask I’m often told that they thought it was just an alternate method of convenience, not a necessity for many online shoppers who are trying to bypass their concerns about online security. And let’s not forget that companies like Google have definitely set the pace on some standards online surfers have come to expect, even right down to the shopping experience.
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