Digital security has been a major pressure point for social networks during the last few months, sparked by the revelations in the United States regarding the National Security Agency, and exactly what types of data the US government can access.
The trend is no surprise Twitter announced this weekend it had introduced a new mode of security on its network known as “forward secrecy” – it’s a method already used by other networks including Facebook and Google. Twitter is introducing the method to avoid potential setbacks in the future.
In a technical blog post the company outlines exactly why forward secrecy is so useful. But it made a key point – “security is an ever-changing world”.
While most businesses won’t have to deal with the types of security issues faced by some of the world’s largest networks, proper and secure access to data is something all businesses will face. Plenty of Australian retailers and businesses have been attacked – and have even lost business as a result. Taking steps to prevent cyber-attacks in the future is something all digitally-savvy businesses should be doing.
Staying useful, not “cool”
The tech world has been buzzing with discussion over the reported $US3 billion offer to Snapchat earlier this month. Much of the talk has been over whether the app may eventually replace some more developed apps, such as Twitter or Facebook.
Part of this argument is bolstered by the factor younger teenagers are leaving Facebook and are presumably heading to new apps such as Snapchat.
However, in a new interview Facebook Chief Operating Officer Sheryl Sandberg has underlined one of the company’s key strategies – it doesn’t want to be the “coolest”, but rather, the most useful.
“I think if you look at the way teenagers continue to use Facebook, we are useful to them.”
The comment is a reminder in the digital age, what becomes popular is not necessarily the most feature-backed apps but rather the most useful. Popular products, then, fill a desire or need among the consumer. Apps built without thought as to what will benefit the end user will always fail.
Solving the retail delivery problem
Online retailers consistently talk about the problems with delivery. Although products can make their way to a customer’s house, they’re rarely home and thus have to pick up their items from a post office on the weekend. Or at work, which can cause a fuss.
The development of retail lockers from groups such as Australia Post or TZ Limited is designed to stop this problem. Amazon has done the same, and is now moving overseas – and is reportedly searching for ways to make London Underground stations drop-off points for parcels.
As customers grow more accustomed to being able to pick up their products at locations other than their homes, these types of lockers will become expected. But there is still a gap in this opportunity. As customers move towards larger, bulky items bought online – items too big for lockers – there is still a disconnect in that these items can’t be delivered to many during office hours.
So while parcel lockers are fulfilling a need for many online shoppers, for others they don’t quite go far enough. Businesses in the retail space may find success in experimenting with new delivery options.
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