Someone Moved my Table!

March 7, 2018 | Blog

Courtesy WSJ

The title is a play on words mimicking the complaint “someone moved my cheeze!”

As most of you know, I am prone to use the comment from Jim Rogers, past CEO of Duke Power a lot:  “If you are not at the table, you are on the menu!”  This is obvious to anyone living in competitive environments … but a bit of a new concept to energy utilities because most of them do not live in that world … or at least they are not aware they live in that world.  The pain of this phrase for them gnaws at them during their quiet times: market share of electric water heating, heat pumps, etc.  Yeah … if you are not at the table, you are on the menu.

The table years ago was the architect/engineer/consultant/designer table, or the equipment manufacturer.  Do a good job with those recommenders and you shifted the landscape.  Get to the realtors if they don’t think heat pumps work well.  All of these marketplace agents and influencers were the key.  Want to get a kitchen designed the way you want it, get to the chef to show the market how to cook in that kitchen.  The list goes on.

Over the past decade, search engines replaced these relationships along with the five star ratings to warn you what other customers thought.  Of course, most of us are not aware that these ratings are often manipulated just to tilt the playing field toward their ideas.  It is pretty cheap to get people to fake ratings.

Well, folks the table is about to move again and this one is really scary.  If, as the pundits predict, 50% of the internet searches will be invoked by voice within the next five years, we are entering an earthquake of disruption in brand awareness.  Take a look at this WSJ video and judge for yourself.

The table is moving to voice … are you at that table yet?  If not, give us a call …  678-684-6801 or email info@apogee.net we have a great way to get you started.

About The Author

Joel Gilbert, P.E. Chief Software Architect and Co-Founder of Apogee Interactive, Inc.

As Chief Software Architect and Co-Founder of APOGEE Interactive, Inc. Mr. Gilbert personally directs the design and development of energy analysis applications utilizing the highest standards in building science, engineering, operational patterns, weather data and pricing to ensure analytical integrity. directs the design and development of energy analysis applications utilizing the highest standards in building science, engineering, operational patterns, weather data and pricing to ensure analytical integrity.