Over the last decade, the term mashup has been coined to describe a software product generated from integrating a number of disparate open source products to make a new product or service. The most familiar probably is the combination of Craig’s List with Google Maps. Years ago one could simultaneously find an apartment on Craig’s list, locate the address on a street map and explore Google Earth to check out the street view – all without stepping outside to (gasp) purchase a newspaper.
Today the same mashup development is transcending from digital to hardware products. Chris Anderson, recently wrote about this at length in his article, The New Industrial Revolution. The DIY culture is supported by low cost, technically advance prototyping tools and flexible offshore manufacturing capabilities. Combine these with access to a global customer base by way of PayPal, makes these times interesting times for anyone with the burning desire and resolve to bring a new product to market.
So what is on your wish list?
The goal is to breakdown the walled garden between marketing and sales. Historically, revenue attribution has caused silos to form within an organization which end up competing against each other, at the expense of the overall performance of the company. Simply put, the VP of Marketing and the VP of Sales are now moving their offices closer together and technology is the enabler of that closer relationship.