The underappreciated stakeholder

I was in a recent discussion about fears of global deflation, and I thought – everyone is worried about the impact on investors, but most customers are loving the cheap gas prices and the devalued and cheaper Chinese imports. Why are we not cheering for the customer? 

My wife, in psychiatric healthcare, was fascinated by the NYT article on Amazon – especially the likely work-related stress issues. I told her Amazon is no different than most driven tech companies. Except that Amazon is benchmarked against retailers and publishers which have traditionally been used to a gentler pace of change.  Besides, why are we not cheering for the customer that Amazon has done amazing things for over the last two decades?

People worry all the time about the impact of robots and machines on jobs. I typically respond that a whole generation of new jobs is coming in biotech, cleantech, nanotech, healthtech and even infotech. What machines are taking over will actually make products and services better. Again, something for the customer to cheer.

Folks often ask me – why two books on SAP Nation? I tell them, it’s not Vinnie, it’s the voice of the SAP customer.  The books are my way of cheering and jeering for those customers.

I find most people side with investors or labor in most debates. Few stand up for the customer.

I have never had that problem, and glad I dedicated SAP Nation this way.