Open Sources | Rodrigues & Urlocker » Jon Udell's New RSaaS

March 03, 2008 | Comments: (0)

Jon Udell's New RSaaS

TAGS: Off Topic

Avid runner and all 'round insightful dude Jon Udell wrote about a new idea around what I'll call RSaaS --Running Shoes as a Service.

"If you’re a runner, spending $100 every six (or even three) months is infinitely preferable to injury. You’d think that shoe sellers would make it easy to do that, but they don’t. I’d happily authorize regular replacements, but nobody’s ever offered me that option."

"Partly I guess this is a failure of service-oriented thinking. My local seller thinks service means taking good care of me when I walk in, and he does. But I think service should also mean helping me manage a lifelong shoe-replacement regimen, and that notion seems not to have sunk in."

It's an interesting perspective. If you're in a business of selling products how do you extend your notion of service beyond the point of sale? And how can we use technology to make the service compelling? Clearly this has already happened to music with subscription services like Rhapsody and to videos with Netflix. Where else is it applicable?

Maybe I'll see if I can get in another run with Jon at OSCON this year and we'll brainstorm some more ideas on this topic.

Posted by Zack Urlocker on March 3, 2008 07:44 AM

RATE THIS ARTICLE: