David Daniels is one of the bloggers that I respect very highly. Well, he is not actually a blogger but the Managing Director of a consulting company. He is interested about Asia and he helps western companies to do better in Asian markets particularly in India and China. David is among the few businessmen to understand the value of blogging. In fact, his company does not have any website but has a blog. This matter made me more interested about David.
David has encouraged me a lot when I started pro blogging by giving links to newbi and commenting about my writing. So, it is my pleasure to introduce you David Daniels. Here is the interview:
SouthAsiaBiz: Tell us something about yourself.
David Daniels: First Razib, thank you for the opportunity to speak about my work. Second, congratulations on South Asia Biz becoming a Top 30 Blog on India. It is well deserved. I’ve been engaged in the business end of the technology industry since 1983. I have been an entrepreneur and Corporate Executive. For the last 11 years I have been involved with commercializing the Internet. For 5 years of that time I was an executive at Microsoft. Since 2002 (when I left Microsoft) I’ve been the Managing Director of a consulting company which I founded to deliver business and technology reinvention (a euphemism for consulting.)
SouthAsiaBiz: How is your company involved with Asia?
David Daniels: One of the core focuses of my company is innovation. We have found that Asia is a very hot geography when it comes to innovation. There is more innovation going on in India and China than in all other areas combined. So therefore we have to go where the exciting projects are. We provide market and product development services to companies in Asia and as well engage with North American companies and help them gain scale in Asian markets.
SouthAsiaBiz: Why did you come up with the idea of a blog instead of a website?
David Daniels: My company doesn’t have a website…only a Blog at http://RND2Reinvent.blogspot.com My experience is that traditional websites to be too static and one way. I am a real believer in the benefits of www.cluetrain.com and in particular having the ability to have dialogues with customers on a daily, hourly and by the minute basis. In the knowledge business you have to connect in order to compete and reach the client.
SouthAsiaBiz: What are the differences can you see between North America and Asia in terms of market development?
David Daniels: Apart from the cultural and language, I don’t see a difference in the professionalism and skills of business people involved with Market Development whether they are in Mumbai, Xiamen or Toronto. There is a difference in the evolution of certain industries. Clearly China and India are embarking on the path that Canada for example followed 50 years ago. 1956 Canada for example has a lot in common with 2006 China and India. For example market demographics, home and auto ownership. Again as in the case of innovation, there is a lot of market development underway in Asia.
SouthAsiaBiz: These days, India and China becoming very important in the global economy. How do you see the opportunities in these two markets?
David Daniels: Both India and China are now key players on a global scale. Increasing the wealth of both these nations can only be good for the overall prosperity of all countries. That being said China and India are separate and distinct…it’s difficult to compare them at a micro level. At a macro level, both countries are evolving high growth local B2C and B2B markets. I would say however that India may have an advantage when it comes to language. The real opportunity is outward – connecting Asian companies to Western ones.
SouthAsiaBIz: What are challenges that your clients face while dealing with Asian markets and how do you help them?
David Daniels: We have found that the key challenge is connecting our clients with good quality local partners. Local partners that have the depth and breadth of knowledge to localize a product or service. Fundamentally it comes down to facilitating the human element to enabling great interpersonal communications and relationships.
Actually, I have a theory. Here in the Philippines, Chinese products can be seen anywhere and are best sellers since they are cheap. I've also heard of several Chinese investors moving into the country. At this pace (their fast development), by 2012 most Filipinos will look and think like Chinese. "Ni hao ma!" :)
Posted by: nepspeed82 | August 15, 2006 2:18 PM | Permalink to Comment