Lessons From Three Tech Failures to Advise Your Strategy
Behind the Glamourous Success of Tech Giants
You might have heard about this.
“Bumper Apple harvest: iPhone FY23 exports jump 4x to top $5 billion”
But, have you heard this?
It’s easy to list big tech success stories, right? We’ve seen iPhone, Facebook, Windows, Netflix and others like that but what about the huge failures?
Yes, there are such failures around us, they are also worth mentioning. If you’re thinking about working in CS or any other IT field — make yourself familiar with what kind of industries have gone right down the drain in history.
Why?
This will help you prevent the same from happening to you.
Think about it: would you rather go ahead with the same misconceptions of other individuals who have failed or would you prefer avoiding them through a show of insight?
It is not simply having an understanding of what should be avoided that one can learn from the biggest technological failures; setting up one’s own way to succeed is also essential. Therefore, sit down and let us delve into stories about technology that guide us on how to act correctly based on their wrong actions.
Microsoft Windows Vista
“Windows Vista: The Smell of Death”
— Charles Arthur
Windows Vista was so unpopular primarily because it had far more problems than a storm-battered roof; which, in turn, was no better than having a root canal in one’s mouth when it came to suffering- one owning such a system, with its absurdly high specifications, had no choice but to dig deeper into his or her pocket bone/savings.
Simply put, this operation requires a supercomputer as your hardware.
However, on the contrary, using a brand new very powerful machine could not help as its performance is almost like a slow-moving snail taking a rest on a cup of coffee.
Then, there is the User Account Control (UAC) which expresses more often than your exhausting neighbor while asking, “Do you really want to do that?”
Yes, Windows, I am sure that I want this file opened for the one hundredth time!
Compatibility issues were very problematic. One might assume that an operating system would do its job well. It was different from what users expected. Vista didn’t run most software and hardware properly as it didn’t get along with anything, so those who tried to use it were struck by incompatibility.
And we should not ignore the complete cost of the software, which was more like a robbery than a software purchase. People were anticipated to pay a lot for an OS that appeared to be a step down from its preceding version, Windows XP.
The Takeaway
From Windows Vista, we can learn “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.”
It mischievously interfered with the way things functioned in XP where they were functioning perfectly fine.
This shows that less is more, ensure your upgrades are what they say on the tin, and hear out your consumers because they are the ones to face the consequences of your technology calamities.
Google Glass
“Google will stop selling Glass as it looks to cut costs”
— CNN
In 2012, Google launched a new type of portable technology called Google Glass that many people found very interesting and expected a lot from. This device was said to change everything we know about technology. Both tech-savvy people as well as popular entertainers and fashion designers got attracted by this amazing eyewear that had a video recorder and screen.
The hype about Google Glass was real and Time Magazine called it one of “The Best Inventions of the Year”. The fashion designer Diane von Furstenberg managed to incorporate it in her runway show during the New York Fashion Week hence underlining its potential as a stylish item too.
Celebrities like Oprah Winfrey, Beyoncé, and Jennifer Lawrence were seen using Google Glass mainly for its novelty and futuristic appeal. Their use of the device generated significant media attention, sparking curiosity and interest among the public. This celebrity endorsement helped to enhance the gadget’s popularity, positioning it as a desirable and cutting-edge technology at the time.
Even though there was a lot of positive talk about it at first, Google Glass came across several problems. The primary concern here was privacy, whereby those criticizing it pointed to its potential for secret video recording. Inciting fears of possible surveillance and privacy violations has also led to people advocating for laws that would govern and limit where it can be worn in public.
Additionally, people had so much buzz and could not get it that made it like the media was going mad because only a few could buy it and such a high cost of $1500 would make it a product limited to only a few exclusive persons.
This however led to its rareness in most parts hence not many people went for it as well since there were other things they needed also their money was not enough to purchase finally the barrier it created for the majority who would have wanted one prevented people from following suit as they opted for other alternatives due to its limited functions dissuading them away so those which cannot be looked at like this are not considered during analysis.
In 2015, Google announced that it would stop producing Google Glass in its current form, marking the end of its ambitious but ultimately unsuccessful foray into wearable technology. The story of Google Glass serves as a cautionary tale for tech companies, highlighting the importance of addressing privacy concerns, clearly defining a product’s value proposition, and ensuring that it meets the needs and expectations of consumers.
The Takeaway
Business people can learn important lessons from the failure of Google Glass by concentrating on these areas.
It is important to understand consumer needs after researching the market before you can develop a product for launch.
Apart from this, its friendliness to usage, reliability, and affordability are among the factors that can determine if a given product succeeds or not.
Timing is also essential since coming in too soon or too late into the market affects how well it will be received by users. The tale of Google Glass is an admonition.
BlackBerry
In the mid-2000s, Blackberry devices were popular, and many professional business individuals used to regard them as a symbol of class.
Consequently, the mobile phones were later nicknamed ‘CrackBerry’ (‘Old Technology’) due to their users’ addiction to them.
BlackBerry, previously recognized as Research in Motion (RIM), was at the beginning a strong player in the smartphone arena who had a reputation for its secured messaging platform and manner of input with physical QWERTY buttons.
Failure of innovation and failure to adapt to change is what led to BlackBerry’s downfall.
In 2007, the introduction of the iPhone by Apple revolutionized the smartphone industry with a touch screen that was very large plus an interface that users could operate with ease.
However, at first glance, it was only seen as a device meant for consumers since they had already established loyal clients as their main target group in the management sector.
As Apple’s iPhone became more popular, BlackBerry began to lose market share. In 2008, the Canadian company released its first touchscreen device called BlackBerry Storm but it suffered from numerous technical problems as well as received bad feedback from users. This stood in the way of successful competition between BlackBerry and Apple on the one hand and Android devices on the other hand that were already gaining ground.
The gravity of BlackBerry’s collapse was dire. This led to huge monetary deficits because its stock prices fell sharply. BlackBerry had no option but to lay off some employees and go through some restructuring as they were trying to survive in the market scene.
By the year 2016, BlackBerry had decided that it would not continue producing its smartphones signaling the end of its dominance period.
The Takeaway
The era of Blackberry smartphones represents a stern warning for tech companies, underlining the significance of novelty as well as adaptiveness that is ever present in them. Research finds that its fall was prompted by different approaches that businesses ought to take to retain their best position in the market, which is each company’s goal.
It also highlights the dangers of stagnancy and just how bad failing to anticipate and react to market changes appropriately can be. The rise and fall of BlackBerry highlight the importance of agility and foresight in navigating the fast-paced and ever-changing landscape of the technology industry.
Before ending IT
An examination of major business history failures gives deep insights into critical errors that should be avoided. These cautionary tales will help guide other entrepreneurs by pointing out the possible outcomes of making wrong moves as well as underestimations.
Market research is important along with comprehending what consumers want. Many products were not properly assessed as to what the market needed which led to their collapse. Most failed firms failed since they could not present anything interesting to the market or meet market demands fully.
Moreover, they indicate how important it is to invent something new that meets current market requirements. They remind us that in business we must always keep moving forward in order not only to remain relevant in our industries but also ahead of those who do not feel like adjusting when necessary.
