Some Observers - Emerging Futures + Technologies + Consumers

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May 15, 2010
 

SO Links: Week 19

As a resource, starting this week, we are posting selected links gathered during our research each week. 

Filed under  //   banking   Brazil   complexity   consumers   India   mobile   money   netbooks   resilience  
Posted by Scott Smith 

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March 21, 2010
 

The Last Scooter: Upgrading the Indian Middle Class Dream

(Image: Premii/Flickr)

India's fabled Bajaj will issue the last of its classic scooter from its production line in a few weeks, signalling a shift in Indian consumers' transportation choices and, more importantly the benchmark for middle class aspirations. Like the Volkswagen Beetle and Italy's postwar classic Vespa, designed to be affordable, accessible, simple-to-maintain means of getting to a job, shop or visit another town, the Bajaj scooter put a similar tool of middle class aspiration within reach.

Those aspirations are higher now. The reason Bajaj gives for the shutdown of the scooter lines is shifting consumer demand: India's rising consumers want a little more. They see the noisy, boxy Chetak scooter as a symbol of the country's past, not its future. They see the motorcycle or a small, simple car like the Nano as something better, less focused on utility and more on image. 

This shift is telling. We've seen it with mobile phones, for example, in India and other countries. Basic is fine, but a little style, brand and power to go with the utility is not just welcome but demanded, and consumers want to be the ones to make the choice. Understanding this evolution, and how to strike the balance, will be key to succeeding in this booming economy, and may provide lessons that can be used elsewhere in emerging markets.

Filed under  //   consumers   India   manufacturing   transportation  
Posted by Scott Smith 

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January 12, 2010
 

One-Day Workshop on Innovation in Emerging Economies

To delve more deeply into the topics we discuss on Some Observers, Changeist + Emerging Futures Lab are collaborating on an upcoming event exploring near-future opportunities for innovation in emerging economies. The one-day exploratory interactive workshop will be held January 26th at Aalto Venture Park, Otaniemi, in the greater Helsinki area, and will explore the nature of the BoP consumer, technology behaviors, needs and barriers, and will allow participants to test their own assumptions and uncover new opportunities to serve these growing markets. For more information, contact Scott Smith at ssmith [at] changeist.com.

Filed under  //   announcements   consumers   events   innovation   technology  
Posted by Scott Smith 

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