SNOWSPORTS INTERACTIVE PRESENTED BY Omar Alvarez Daniel Bae
SNOWSPORTS INTERACTIVE PRESENTED BY: Omar Alvarez Daniel Bae Miran Ramadanovic Shelby Saenz Hossein Saharkhiz Ishan Talukdar
PURPOSE • Overcoming challenges • Limited operating history • Protection of intellectual property • Flaik • Tracking accessory • Whispar • Analytical software
PURPOSE • VRIO • “Latest technology…and a simple user interface” • Peace of mind • Entering an international market
VRIO Framework ● value adding activities for SSI will be stronger for the company’s resources and capabilities ● Rarity ○ SSI’s direct competition for Falik ■ The company should be able to identified its competitive advantage ● Imitability ○ two main streams ■ GPS tracker ■ sports tools
SWOT Analysis Strengths ● ● Talented workforce In-house R&D Unique product Government assistance Opportunities ● Relative ease of access into U. S. ● Increased interest in snow sports among children ● SIA presents networking opportunities Weaknesses ● ● Small company Forecasted losses Demand reliant on weather Sourcing from a large number of companies Threats ● Aging customer base ● Competitors with similar products ● International regulations
What is SSI and History ● Founders Steve Kenny & Shubber Ali envisioned a skier tracker system ● Established in Brisbane, Australia ● SSI technology enables to connect among skiers and assets at any ski resorts ● The company made a contract with i. Lab in Nov. 2005 ○ Part of the Queenland Government’s new Statewide Technology Incubation Strategy -
Product and Service ● Whispar: wireless internet service for companies ● Flaik: features Global Positioning System (GPS) tracker where people can transmit their position ● SSI spent about 2 years for research and development for Flaik ● In 2006, the company ran the beta for the product at Mt. Buller ● After successful test run, the system came into operation in June 2006.
Industry and Customers ● Snow sports industry composed of many aspects ○ Manufacturing, retailing, resort development, and tourism ● Rising of X-sports ○ Snowboarding, skiing, skateboarding, bike stunt riding, motocross, and surfing have become recently famous ● Experience of rapidly growing women’s and children’s equipment and apparel stores
INDUSTRY ANALYSIS Competition Future Trends • NASTAR, Slope Tracker, Suunto, and Navman are all firms that are now competing with SSI because they sell similar products • Competitive Advantage “real time remote monitoring”, safety application, and the ability to locate friends. • “New School” festival, music and action sports all in one. It is extremely popular with kids from the ages of 12 -16 • Telemark Skiing • Gen-Y is very diverse • Practical X Fashion forward apparel
ORGANIZATIONAL ANALYSIS Product: Flaik & Whispar Strategy: Partnerships with ski resorts Structure: Limited Liability company Australian resort & local team Financial Status: “Family, friends, fools” Future Outcomes: Expansion into foreign markets
RECOMMENDATIONS FOR IMPROVEMENTS 1. Australia: 12 resorts U. S. A: 500 resorts 2. Cost leadership strategy 3. Patent intellectual property 4. Partnership with the government 5. Alliances with 8, 500+ winter sport distributors 6. Apply software to other sports
RECOMMENDATIONS FOR IMPROVEMENTS 7. More R&D investment 8. Longer warranty services to be offered 9. A slow start with partnerships with a few resorts (preferably closer to Australian snow sports) 10. Expand in the number of resorts they partner up with at a reasonable pace
QUESTIONS?
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