e-Commerce -->> m-Commerce --> ???

Yesterday I was reading "Simply Fly" (autobiography of Capt. Gopinath). In 2003, while trying to establish Air Deccan, he made it a point to bypass the "travel agent ticketing channel" & sell tickets thru Internet. His objective was to provide air tickets at affordable prices by cutting costs in all possible ways. I know this may be a very common-place idea today, but way back in 2003, it must be quite a noble idea (given the fact that not many of airlines in India were selling tickets thru Internet). And after that, this became a common phenomena. We saw Cleartrip, MakeMyTrip, Yatra & so many portals selling tickets online. This is E-Commerce at it's best.

Now watch this video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PkcAL9wB160

What I am trying to convey here - we are moving to the new era of M-Commerce. I am sure, very soon we will order/pay our dinner, grocery, medicines thru mobile devices. We will see companies trying to focus a lot on Mobile Based Solutions. There will be flurry of mobile based portals available soon. Today's world works on laptop/desktop, tomorrow's world will probably be working on i-Pad, i-Phone & other mobile devices. Let's watch out!!!

Salute to the Real Heros - IX812 Crash

On last Saturday, I woke up to the horrifying news that IX-812, Air India Express plane, had crash landed in Mangalore. Almost the whole day I was glued to television in hope to see more survivors. It was gruesome to see the evacuation & charred bodies all around. It's even difficult to imagine the in-flight situation at that point of time. I also read news about people twitting within the air-plane about their arrival. Even the survivors talk about a near perfect landing & suddenly things became worse within no time. What I felt - life is so uncertain & it can change its course in no time. 

I dedicate this blog to those who lost their lives in the crash & the local villagers who worked relentlessly to save some precious lives. I must say the local villagers worked in a very unselfish way & their unquestionable courage was highly commendable. I wish, at the end of it, we see some of them getting rewarded for the bravery they showed on that very unfortunate morning.

Work Culture

After working 8 years in IT Industry, I have my own doubts about this widely misused (according to me) phrase - "Work Culture". Go around, ask your friends(particularly who are in Services Companies) - many of them would say that "Product Companies have the best work culture". I am not sure if we all are on same accord when it comes to describing work culture. Many of us believe, having less work, having no deadline, having no customer to face, means a GREAT work culture. Well, I have spent most of my career in Product Companies. And I personally feel, the model is not really a sustainable one. I have seen individuals/ teams sustaining over a period of 2-3 years without having much to work on. I don't know if this is an usual problem of large organization, but i strongly feel, it's a problem of plenty - it's like when you earn in crores, you don't bother if the laundry guy takes you for a ride for many months. How does it matter to you anyway!!! You get to realize the problem only when you are about to get bankrupt!!!

Blistering Heat & Gurgaon

Winter is like Heaven in Gurgaon. I know it's a wishful thinking on my part, still I am hopeful to see snowfall sometime in future. Summer is exactly opposite. The Blistering heat along with the hot air makes life hell. To spice it up, you have heavy power cut. Unless you are in a posh apartment with 100% backup, you will have to have sleepless nights. There are days when we are the victim of late night power cuts. Just imagine, you are in a top floor, the power goes off around midnight. And all that you are left with, is a fan!!! That throws hot air on you. Lovely!!! What the hell, it looks like as if I am in the middle of a desert. This time around, I am almost running out of patience. I hope I get out of this desert zone at the earliest!!!