« How cheap is social security? | Main | Unlimited power, water and AC? »
May 26, 2005
Imagine if the yellow pages came to you...
At Alibaba you can submit a request for quote to the worlds largest database of suppliers. Post a description of what you want, and let the hordes come to you. Or, check off a few suppliers of your choosing to specifically request a quote. You could nearly virtualize your whole corporation.
The MoustDriver Chronicles, which I read a few months ago, detailed how you can use services like these, combined with fulfillment & product distribution servicesto outsource manufacturing, packaging and distribution of your product. Then you can focus on high valued functions like marketing and R&D. Combine this with the incredible growth of do-it-yourself technology, and you have the potential to unleash a torrent of well designed products. Why? As pointed out in Harnessing Complexity, to harness the benefits of experimentation, we need short delays for feedback. That allows users to at least find local maxima. Rapid, economical, manufacturing of goods in small batches unleashes experimentation and allows unprecedented short delays in feedback.
For a few years now I have looked forward to buying an all in one cell phone, palm pilot, MP3 player, video player that requires no manual, never crashes and the battery lasts all week. An now, a garage tinkerer could make one up in his basement and order a thousand from some company in Hong Kong he found on the internet. He could hire a guerilla marketing planer, and have UPS handle the shipping. Who says we don't live in an age of miracles?
Posted by OneEyedMan at May 26, 2005 9:21 AM
Comments
Post a comment
Thanks for signing in, . Now you can comment. (sign out)
(If you haven't left a comment here before, you may need to be approved by the site owner before your comment will appear. Until then, it won't appear on the entry. Thanks for waiting.)