Thoughts - DigitalGlobe, Why Won't You Answer? I Know You Are Busy, But Really, A Month is Too Long.
Eiao Island - DigitalGlobe Imagery - 3D View S to N
A month ago, I contacted a key individual working at DigitalGlobe. I have worked with him in the past and he has always been gracious in our dealings and quick to respond to my questions. However, DG's product development people are another story.
It has been a month since I floated an idea by my contact. He recognized that my product idea needed to be handled by DG's product development team. That same day he received my proposal, he forwarded it to these product folks. That was on or about December 10, 2007. It has been a month and a week, yet nothing. Not a peep. That's a funny way to run a company. Not one that I would recommend.
I've worked at my share of DigitalGlobe clones - information providers. I spent six years with National Decision Systems (which has been bought and sold many times over). We sold spatially derived census information - nifty radius reports that allowed the end user to determine if the surrounding population contained enough people that were his or her potential customers. We did business with all of the big players, Burger King, Home Depot, Walmart, McDonalds. You get the idea. And we always, always, always listened to a product idea, no matter how outlandish it might initially sound. After listening, considering and arriving at a decision, we would let the party know if the idea was of interest or not.
It was the same with Vista Environmental. We sold spatially plotted environmental information used by most major companies doing business in the United States. Our reports sold for $50 to $150 a site. We sold thousands of these a month. Business was good and we kept trying to make it better. The way we would try to make our products better was to constantly evaluate the needs of our existing market and those markets we wished to enter. We did this by looking at our current product mix and the needs of the market. We constantly looked to improve our products and service. Oh, yes, we also listened to any and everyone when they would float a product or service idea by us. The idea would be considered and be accepted or rejected. Either way, we would always let the floater of the idea know our decision.
Now don't get me wrong. DG is a class act! Their products are second to none! They do lots of business throughout the world. Like any company, I am certain they are always striving to do better at what they do. So here is some advice for their product development team. When someone floats an idea your way, consider it in a timely fashion, accept or reject it and then let that person know your decision. That's good business. And good business pays the bills.
P.S. - If you are wondering what my product idea involved, drop me a line and I'll give you the particulars.
Labels: DigitalGlobe, new products
