How do you respond when the 800 pound gorilla enters your market?
This recently happened to MapData Sciences when Google Maps rocked their world( but legitimised the market), so what did they do and did they thrive?
MapData seems to have done two key things:
- Get Specialised
- Get Vertical
In the specialised application of mapping they have driven into areas such as customer service. Applications include a better dealer locator in this Toro example, and then a health application for cancer customers.
In the Vertical space they have moved into Transport with truck route optimisation, with a neat Government angle too where compliance is a side benefit. Both are good examples of where a ’small company’ can go to add value and defend a niche.
A similar question may be asked of what Amazon will do with Kindle now the Apple iPad Gorilla descended.