M-PESA and the service innovation framework (review)
A former student of mine just mailed me this article “Extracting Key Lessons in Service Innovation” (pdf) by S.Wooder and S. Baker, recently published in the Journal of Product Innovation Management, January 2012 edition. Here is the abstract of the article: This paper describes how Sagentia—working with Vodafone, Safaricom, and other organizations—played a significant role […]
Self centered design vs user centered design: Its good, but in what context?
I started this train of thought last night on Twitter with the title of this post, that arrogance did not make for good human centered designers if they thought they knew better than their end users and were not listening to them. Dirk Knemeyer encouraged me to write it all out in more than 140 […]
Mobile services for ICICI Bank
New Delhi Aug 30th 2011 This post was written by niti bhan and rss originates from www.nitibhan.com
Deconstructing the solar lighting market hype
Nairobi solar lantern shop, July 12th 2012 The Economist’s Q3 2012 Technology Quarterly has a paean on the promise of solar lanterns replacing nasty, stinky kerosene once and for all. Of note is the careful mention of MKopa, a Nairobi based startup founded by Nick Hughes of MPesa fame, until now conducting pilot tests in […]
Hub and spoke model for new product introductions
Nairobi’s Central Business District – Luthuli Avenue is the heart of the electronics and consumer appliance trade for Kenya. Chinese businessmen can be seen mingling with Somali traders and wholesalers come from all over the country to see “what’s new”. I saw recently introduced solar powered refrigerators (just 60W) on display, direct from China but […]
The ubiquitious rural computer
Bargaining for bananas in rural Rwandan market could not have been completed without the use of the mobile phone’s calculator function. While a combination of broken Swahili, Kinyarwanda and English was used by the customer and the shopkeeper, the transaction’s clarity was increased by piling goods on the table and then using the clear numerals […]
Implications of the democratization of technology in rural Kenya
Kathanzweni, Makueni District, Kenya As many of you are aware, I spent the first three months of this year immersed in rural Kenya taking a closer look at household consumer behaviour. Among other thing, my observations led me to write the following: Thus, it can be said that as mobile phones rapidly overtook radio and […]
Airtel’s advertising in Africa
Spotted this Airtel poster in Kilifi, on the Coast of Kenya. Knowing that all of their advertising is done in Mumbai, India’s Madison Avenue, I’m curious about the amount of photoshopping this image must have required for the East African market. This post was written by niti bhan and rss originates from www.nitibhan.com
Putting some real numbers to the world changing on the mobile
VentureBeat writes last week on How tech companies are waking up to global responsibilities, opportunities and shares this oft quoted example of world changing, As investment in social enterprise becomes more common, major brands and venture capitalists alike are learning how to make a difference without sacrificing their profit-driven missions.Nokia is a prime example. With […]
The hidden digital divide: Energy consumption and infrastructure
Photocredit: Niti Bhan, Maua, Kenya Feb 2012 This is an ironbox. It is heated by placing glowing embers of charcoal inside and securing the lid. When hot, it is used to iron clothes. Variations of this design can be seen in use across India’s urban centers where the isteriwallah plies his trade, ironing clothes for […]
