Tech ramblings during travel

The problem with breaking a habit is that breaking a habit becomes the habit. No tongue twister here, it is just my observation for not writing a post/blog for a long time. My OneNote has a list of topics that I had noted down that I want to write and share, but somehow I just didn't find the right motivation to write. That for you is a long form of defining laziness ;)

A 2 week business trip to Sydney at the start of the month had given me enough time to think and look around what is happening. I started to look at things with the filter of technology and digital. Here are few of my observations & trends, in no particular order

• Different people, same behaviour: When it comes to technology behaviour, even though it was 2 different continent, it was same everywhere. People spend most times checking their WhatsApp messages, or Facebooking through their phone. A large number of people were keen on getting their selfies taken against popular backdrop. Kids in the public transport with their earphones plugged, were busy playing games on their mobiles… Just like the regular folks back in India

• Democratization of Content:  Now everyone has the ability to create, publish, and distribute content. Internet has democratized content. Accessibility of content (lower mobile data charges, free WiFi, etc) too has made things easier. Today the user is both a creator and consumer of content simultaneously. I kept in touch with local news from India through the net, uploaded photos in my social media profile real time, was chatting and talking with my groups/family & friends through WhatsApp… something that was unthinkable even couple of years back

• Technology abating creativity: One thing that always caught my attention during my travel abroad was, advertisements. Hoardings, TVC, Print ads, posters at point of sales, etc all catches my attention. In the early years, when I used to compare ads from India to the 'foreign' ads esp. in developed markets, I found a vast difference in the creativity, design, images, etc. Somehow, over the past few years that gap has closed, and in many cases completely missing. I guess, technology, along with globalization has got a lot to do. We use the same stock images, platform, have access to the same design machines and software, access to the same 'inspiration' (Google and Instagram, perhaps ;). In fact, I feel that in many instances, creativity is tending towards the mean…rather than extremes.

• Less differentiation between people's work: If you are working in the digital marketing, you'll realize that there is hardly any difference in terms of the approach or the technologies between what you and your colleagues are using in other parts of the globe. The only exception, if your colleague is working behind the GFWC (Great FireWall of China). Be it use of DMP, Analytical tools for performance, DAM, etc.. It is pretty much the same. Maybe the solution provider is not the same, but yes, the solution surely is

• The rise of contractual jobs/lease of work: I got to speak to few friends of mine from India who are currently working in Australia. Some of them are working on contractual positions which are usually a short term arrangement for an year or less. In fact, speaking to few Uber drivers in Sydney, I realize that none of them stayed in a full-time job for more than 2 years. My view is that pretty soon we will have Uberization of regular jobs. Knowledge will lie within the machines, and newer people can carry on the work from where the earlier person left off…without much handover or induction. With many govt. labour laws being pro employee, it will take some time for policies to change… but change it will.

• Building digital credibility: While I'm not a huge fan of 'personal branding', I think more and more people will invest their time into building one, especially in networking sites like LinkedIn or forums/groups of Interest. The case in point being, a friend of mine introduced me (over WhatsApp) to someone local in Sydney who is an entrepreneur. While both of us were on the call, we were in parallel checking each other's LinkedIn profile, twitter handle, and did a quick Google search. This incident made me realize that how much digital plays in terms of building individual perception. Maybe it is a good idea to invest few hours a week for some personal branding. Maybe, a tweet can change your life :)

• The predictability of travel:  One of the best things about travel was the unpredictability and the sudden experiences that you encounter in your travel. However, due to technology and ever accessibility of information, travel has become predictable. The strange places seems familiar even before you arrive. The maps help you navigate without any hitch. Search engines and websites help you uncover the most secret of the places too. The journey is almost like a script. It starts with a search (about the place, flights, etc) and ends with social (images and updates on Facebook/Instagram)

A promise to myself, I should get into the habit of writing and sharing knowledge regularly.

Cheers!

Santosh

Photo Credit: Sydney Bridge Climb