Latest news with #techCompany
Fast Company
08-07-2025
- Business
- Fast Company
5 reasons why innovation fails—and what to do about it
Senior leaders at every company know that being able to innovate successfully is critical to their future. But too few of those leaders truly understand how to foster innovation across all segments of their organizations. Innovation is not just the purview of a few supersmart individuals walled off in an ivory tower isolated from the rest of the company. Every employee from the stockroom clerk to the senior design engineer can contribute to innovation if they believe it's valuable to do so. And not every innovative idea needs to be as disruptive as the iPhone or generative AI. Even incremental innovations can add meaningful value. Companies shouldn't limit their view of innovation only to projects targeting the next big breakthrough. Open it up to a broader swath of ideas from large to small. Here are five reasons why innovation initiatives fail (and what to do about it). 1. Lack of Commitment from Senior Leadership It takes more to inspire innovation than senior leaders who give speeches to employees or highlight it in annual reports. Employees need time, resources, and support to explore ideas outside their day-to-day responsibilities. During my tenure as general manager for a tech company's communication hardware, I targeted 5% of the overall organization's time for blue-sky innovation—the phase where ideas were being initially explored. I didn't expect this to be time employees could use in secret, but rather a plan agreed upon between employees and their manager to pursue an idea. I also knew that not every idea would be successful. Rather than penalizing employees when an idea didn't work out, I used it as a learning experience to improve our ability to innovate in the future. I knew that nothing would discourage innovation more rapidly than for employees to believe their careers would be damaged if their innovative idea was not successful. 2. Employees Don't Understand Your Objectives Innovation thrives when employees understand their company's business—its mission, priorities, and core values—and believe they can make a difference. Without this context, any useful innovative ideas they come up with will be due to little more than blind luck. Some senior leaders hesitate to share this vision. They worry that if an employee leaves to join a competitor, they'll share what they have learned with their new employer. But you don't need to share trade secrets. Think of what might be shared in a public company's annual report: information that helps employees connect their work to the broader mission. This is especially important for those who are not involved in strategic planning. Manufacturing staff or clerical personnel can have valuable innovative ideas, but they will often only share them with their managers if they think they will be supported. For example, an assembly line worker might have ideas for how to improve the manufacturing process in ways the engineers supporting that same line don't have. A manager whose response is 'you just worry about building the product and let us worry about innovation' is killing innovation, just as surely as the senior executive who never supports it in the first place. 3. Innovation is Not Built into the Company's Plan Although this can be a problem at any company, it is especially prevalent in large, multinational corporations—the result of something I call the curse of the corporate business model. Investors expect the company to deliver continual, predictable growth and profits. Investing in new, untried ideas that take many months or years to produce results does not align with the need to deliver predictable results. Many managers in the corporate world are reluctant to take on this risk, especially since corporate culture often penalizes failure more than it rewards innovation. This doesn't mean large companies can't be innovative; it just means innovation has to be built into the plan. Even if specific innovation projects are not yet defined at the time of the company's annual budgeting process, a commitment to innovation must still be built into the plan. How much? It depends on the industry. For a company in a well-established mainstream market, adding 10% to the business's R&D budget for innovation projects should not draw undue attention from investors. For companies in newly emerging or high-growth markets, investors may even expect the number to be much higher. 4. Innovators Don't Understand Actual Market Needs Some people say that innovation should be done in isolation, away from the influence of customers. They point to Henry Ford's alleged quote, 'If I had asked customers what they wanted, they would have said a faster horse.' But that misses the point. Innovation will only be successful if it fills a true customer need. Customers can tell you their problem, but don't expect them to tell you the solution. A 'faster horse' does not describe the customer's problem; it's only one idea for a solution. Instead of taking suggestions at face value, the innovator's job is to get past that to understand the true problem. If Ford had probed more deeply, he may have heard that the speed of the horse was fine when it was moving, but it had to stop to rest every few miles. And a horse needed food and water every day, even when the customer wasn't going anywhere. With this insight he would have understood the customer's true problem and been in a better position to be truly innovative. Ford's lack of attention to customer needs wasn't a problem when he introduced the Model T because there were few alternatives, but continuing to ignore the customer is what caused Ford to lose market leadership to General Motors in the 1920s (and never recover). 5. Innovation Projects are Managed Incorrectly Innovation projects can't be managed the same way as a revenue-producing business unit. Truly disruptive innovations may take many months or years to deliver financial returns. A better approach is to structure the innovation project as an 'in-house startup.' The project is measured not by monthly financial results, but by its ability to deliver to the metrics the team has committed to on the schedule they have promised. In the early stages, the focus should be on answering fundamental technical and market questions, so the metrics may only cover the next month or next quarter. As confidence grows and the probability of success improves, a longer-term plan can be established.
New York Times
01-07-2025
- Business
- New York Times
Cloudflare Introduces Default Blocking of A.I. Data Scrapers
Cloudflare, a tech company that helps websites secure and manage their internet traffic, said on Tuesday that it had rolled out a new permission-based setting that allows customers to automatically block artificial intelligence companies from collecting their digital data, a move that has implications for publishers and the race to build A.I. With Cloudflare's new setting, websites can block — by default — online bots that scrape their data, requiring the website owner to grant access for a bot to collect the content, the company said. In the past, those whom Cloudflare did not flag as a hacker or malicious actor could get through to a website to gather its information. 'We're changing the rules of the internet across all of Cloudflare,' said Matthew Prince, the chief executive of the company, which provides tools that protect websites from cyberattacks and helps them load content more efficiently. 'If you're a robot, now you have to go on the toll road in order to get the content of all of these publishers.' Cloudflare is making the change to protect original content on the internet, Mr. Prince said. If A.I. companies freely use data from various websites without permission or payment, people will be discouraged from creating new digital content, he said. The company, which says its network of servers handles about 20 percent of internet traffic, has seen a sharp increase in A.I. data crawlers on the web. Data for A.I. systems has become an increasingly contentious issue. OpenAI, Anthropic, Google and other companies building A.I. systems have amassed reams of information from across the internet to train their A.I. models. High-quality data is particularly prized because it helps A.I. models become more proficient in generating accurate answers, videos and images. But website publishers, authors, news organizations and other content creators have accused A.I. companies of using their material without permission and payment. Last month, Reddit sued Anthropic, saying the start-up had unlawfully used the data of its more than 100 million daily users to train its A.I. systems. In 2023, The New York Times sued OpenAI and its partner, Microsoft, accusing them of copyright infringement of news content related to A.I. systems. OpenAI and Microsoft have denied those claims. Want all of The Times? Subscribe.
Associated Press
23-06-2025
- Business
- Associated Press
Llyodstern Establishes New Standards in Digital Business Solutions
LONDON, June 23, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- a tech company based in London, is changing how businesses work online. The company has built a simple platform that helps people make better business decisions without all the usual headaches. Making Business Easier Llyodstern created the platform that lets businesses access different markets around the world. It doesn't matter if you're running a small shop or a big company - their tools are designed to be easy to use for everyone. Their system almost never stops working. It's up and running 99.99% of the time, so you can really rely on it when you're busy. You won't have to stress about the website going down when you're trying to do something important. 'We just wanted to build something that actually helps people,' says someone from the company. 'Most platforms are either too confusing or too basic. We tried to make something right in the middle.' Wide Range of Business Opportunities Through their platform, users can explore over 3,000 different business opportunities. This includes regular company stocks, things like gold and oil, different currencies, and even newer digital stuff like Bitcoin and Ethereum. They have more than 60 different digital options to choose from. You can also keep track of big market indicators like the S&P 500 and NASDAQ. Even smaller businesses can get involved in markets that used to be only for big companies. Multiple Ways to Access the Platform People like to work in different ways, so Llyodstern gives you options. They have a phone app so you can check things while you're out and about. Perfect for busy people who can't always be at their computer. If you want more detailed charts and analysis, they give you all the advanced tools. But if you just want something simple, their WebTrader works right in your web browser - no need to download anything. Help with Retirement Planning Llyodstern teamed up with a company called EBROKING to help people manage their retirement money. This partnership makes it easier for people to handle their own retirement funds and gives them access to special bank accounts that work together smoothly. It's especially helpful because it takes care of a lot of the boring paperwork stuff automatically. Safe and Secure The company follows strict rules and is watched over by financial authorities in Switzerland and works with Interactive Brokers. This means your money and information are protected by the same rules that banks have to follow. They also have security systems running 24/7 to watch for any problems and help you avoid them before they happen. Global Reach, Local Support Llyodstern gets that businesses today are global. That's why they've made sure their customer support speaks many languages and that their platform works for different regions. They cover big markets in Europe, America, and Asia, so you can really think big, even if you're operating right where you are. Their support team is always ready to help, whether you're new or have some tough questions. They just want to make sure you're getting the best out of the platform. Smart Ways to Handle Risks One thing Llyodstern really shines at is managing risk. Their platform has these great tools that help you spot potential problems and make smarter choices. Instead of leaving you to figure things out on your own, the system actually guides you and gives you early warnings when the market starts shifting. This approach means businesses can stay ahead of problems, rather than just reacting once things go wrong. Steady Growth, Dependable Service While a lot of tech companies try to grow super fast, Llyodstern has taken a different route. They're all about steady, sustainable growth so they never have to cut corners on the service their current clients get. Plus, they test new features really carefully before putting them out there, making sure everything works perfectly from day one. This careful way of doing things has built a lot of trust with their clients. Many have been with the company for years and often tell others about them. About Llyodstern is a digital company from London that makes tools to help businesses manage their operations in today's world. They work with all sorts of clients, from people just starting their own business to very large companies, giving them easy and reliable ways to find business chances all over the globe. Llyodstern cares about security, staying compliant, and supporting their customers. That's why they've become a trusted partner for businesses looking to grow and make smarter decisions in today's connected world. Contact Info: Want to know more? Just visit their website or send them a message. Disclaimer: This press release is provided by Llyodstern. The statements, views, and opinions expressed are solely those of the provider and do not necessarily reflect those of this media platform or its publisher. Any names or brands mentioned are used for identification purposes only and remain the property of their respective owners. No endorsement or guarantee is made regarding the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of the information presented. This material is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial, legal, or professional advice. Readers are encouraged to conduct independent research and consult qualified professionals. The publisher is not liable for any losses, damages, or legal issues arising from the use or publication of this content.
Yahoo
21-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
1 Stock That Turned $1,000 Into More Than $1 Million
This dominant tech company has evolved dramatically over the past couple of decades. Its earnings per share have soared in recent years as management works on making its massive operation more efficient. It wouldn't be realistic to expect its long-term returns going forward to be similar to what it achieved in the past, but the stock remains a worthy investment. 10 stocks we like better than Amazon › Investors understand that when you extend your time horizon into decades with high-quality businesses, the power of compound growth can work wonders. This is why it's so beneficial to be a long-term owner of companies, allowing their improving fundamentals to positively impact your portfolio. This strategy is far more consistently reliable than constantly trying to time the market. With this perspective in mind, there are definitely some businesses that have generated tremendous wealth for their long-term shareholders. In fact, here's one stock that over the course of the past 28 years would have turned a $1,000 initial investment into a holding worth more than $1 million. Since this company's initial public offering in May 1997, its shares have produced an unbelievable return of 217,000%. Had you been able to allocate $1,000 to this stock when it went public, you'd be staring at a balance of nearly $2.2 million today. The company in question is none other than Amazon (NASDAQ: AMZN). Its journey -- characterized by constant innovation and pushing the envelope -- has been nothing short of spectacular. Amazon started out in the mid-1990s selling books online. While this was a narrow focus, it was a revolutionary idea at the time. The company wanted to stick to a product category that was easy and low-risk to ship, and one that had a massive selection of items for shoppers to choose from. Over time, Amazon evolved to start selling virtually anything under the sun, and it continues to expand its footprint. In December, for example, the business launched a partnership that allows consumers to buy new Hyundai vehicles on its e-commerce site. The entire car-buying process, from arranging financing to scheduling the delivery from a nearby dealer, can be handled on Amazon. The company enticed shoppers to spend more money on its site by pioneering fast, free shipping, and offering it as a perk of its Prime membership program in 2005. Today, it is estimated that there are more than 200 million Prime members across the globe. In 2006, the company began offering Amazon Web Services (AWS) to external customers. Management realized that other businesses might need solutions to scaling IT infrastructure based on changing needs -- the same issue Amazon faced with its e-commerce operation. In 2024, AWS generated $108 billion of revenue and $40 billion of operating income. It is the world's largest cloud-computing infrastructure provider and a major artificial intelligence (AI) platform. Thanks to the tremendous amount of traffic gets these days, as well as the success of the Prime Video streaming platform, Amazon has become an advertising juggernaut. During the first quarter of 2025, it collected $13.9 billion in digital ad revenue. With a market capitalization of $2.3 trillion and trailing-12-month revenue of $650 billion, Amazon has grown into a colossal entity and delivered incredible gains to its long-term shareholders. But it would be unreasonable to expect it to do anything similar in the future -- it's already one of the five largest companies in the world. Growth can't continue at a rapid pace indefinitely, and given Amazon's current scale, there are limited opportunities for it to do things that could move the financial needle. That doesn't necessarily mean Amazon isn't a worthy investment candidate, though. According to Wall Street consensus analyst estimates, its revenue is projected to increase at a compound annual rate of 9.5% between 2024 and 2027. That's certainly an encouraging sign. Even better, its bottom line is soaring thanks to cost cuts and operational efficiencies. Diluted earnings per share (on a split-adjusted basis) went from $3.21 in 2021 -- and a $0.27 loss in 2022 -- to $5.53 in 2024. Those impressive gains make the current valuation reasonable, in my view. As of June 19, the stock trades at a forward price-to-earnings ratio of 34.3. Amazon won't turn a $1,000 investment into $2.2 million over the next 28 years. However, this business should be on every long-term investor's radar. Before you buy stock in Amazon, consider this: The Motley Fool Stock Advisor analyst team just identified what they believe are the for investors to buy now… and Amazon wasn't one of them. The 10 stocks that made the cut could produce monster returns in the coming years. Consider when Netflix made this list on December 17, 2004... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you'd have $664,089!* Or when Nvidia made this list on April 15, 2005... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you'd have $881,731!* Now, it's worth noting Stock Advisor's total average return is 994% — a market-crushing outperformance compared to 172% for the S&P 500. Don't miss out on the latest top 10 list, available when you join . See the 10 stocks » *Stock Advisor returns as of June 9, 2025 John Mackey, former CEO of Whole Foods Market, an Amazon subsidiary, is a member of The Motley Fool's board of directors. Neil Patel has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Amazon. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. 1 Stock That Turned $1,000 Into More Than $1 Million was originally published by The Motley Fool Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
CTV News
29-05-2025
- Sport
- CTV News
Classic Sports Moments - The last offsite regular season NHL game played in Saskatoon in 1994
An error has occurred Sorry, we're having trouble with this video. Please try again later. [5006/404] Sign in
