Tag Archives: environmental scan

by | Thursday, November 30, 2023 · 7:00 am

Uber ~ It’s Not Just for People Anymore

In case you haven’t noticed, Uber isn’t just for people ride-sharing anymore. It has expanded its service to include delivering and returning packages for shipment. Uber’s new “Return a Package” feature adds on to “Uber Connect” by picking up online returns and delivering them to predetermined shipping points (e.g., UPS, USPS, FedEx) for a fixed fee.

It can be a pain to return something. And we bet you have something in your house that you bought online and want to return, but just haven’t gotten around to it. (No shame.) After the box is packed, we have to get in the car (perhaps calling an Uber for a ride?) or on a bus and travel to a return spot such as the U.S. Post Office, FedEx, or UPS. (And doesn’t it always seem as if the line gets longer just before you enter…)

Returning packages bought online is a growing practice in the U.S. According to the National Retail Federation, online customers last year returned 16.5%, more than $212 billion worth of purchases! Many of those purchases will be rejected by consumers and need to be returned for a credit.

So, Uber is now making it easier to return those online purchases. Using the Uber app, you can schedule a pick-up and delivery for a flat $5.00 fee. A courier will pick up your prepaid, packaged item and drop it off at a predetermined destination. The service is available in more than 4,950 cities in the U.S.

Uber isn’t the only company trying to cash in on a growing practice. DoorDash began a similar service in January, and Walmart offers at-home return pickups for subscribers in its Walmart+ membership program.

What are you going to return?

 Group Activities and Discussion Questions:

  1. Poll students: Who has used Uber’s ride services?
  2. Poll students: What are the issues involved when they need to return a purchase via shipping? Does anyone have something that they haven’t gotten around to returning yet?
  3. Show a video about the new service: https://youtu.be/sp_2GR2j7i4?si=Ou_6TVKONN9SCdQ6
  4. Show the news release from Uber: https://www.uber.com/newsroom/uber-package-returns/
  5. Poll students: Who would use this service? Why or why not?
  6. Divide students into team. Have each team work on a possible SWOT analysis that led Uber to its decision to launch the new service.
    1. Strengths: what is company good at?
    1. Weaknesses: what needs work?
    1. Opportunities: what is going on in marketplace?
    1. Threats: what should company be wary of?
  7. Based on the analysis, what are the issues and risks that might occur?

Source: Durbin, Dee-Ann. (10 October, 2023). Uber adding package return to services in 5,000 cities. Associated Press.; Lukpat, A. (4 October 2023). Uber introduces package return service. Wall Street Journal.

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by | Thursday, August 3, 2023 · 7:07 am

We are finally getting flying cars!

The future has finally arrived and science fiction has come true. After years and decades, we’ve been teased about the possibility of flying cars. Is it finally time? Has the car in “Back to the Future” finally been built?  

Kinda. Under experimental status, Alef Aeronautics’ flying car (Model A) now has permission from the Federal Aviation Administration to test its car/plane in the sky/on the road. But, the vehicle also needs to meet National Highway and Traffic Safety Administration standards.  

Model A has been designed to drive on streets and take off vertically to fly above traffic. While not yet available, Interested customers can pre-order their flying cars and be placed in a priority queue for the low fee of $1,500 (the final estimated price is $300,000).  

Model A can be driven on regular roads; it fits into normal driving lanes and even fits into a regular parking space or garage. On the ground, the car has a 200-mile range. When ready to fly, the car takes off vertically, allowing drivers to fly above obstacles yet still remain stable due to a unique gimbaled design. It has no exposed propellers, 110-mile range in the sky, and works similar to a drone (no wings!).  

Alef is not the only company exploring flying cars. Another company, ASKA, also has been cleared by the FAA and has started flight testing. ASKA’s A5 is hybrid with batteries and can use premium gasoline. This vehicle does have wings, six independent rotors, and a parachute. It also have vertical takeoff and landing, and can enter an airfield by driving through the gate. It already has reached $50 million in pre-orders.   Let’s fly away…      

Group Activities and Discussion Questions:

  1. Poll students: What are their thoughts about flying cars? Any interest in owning one?
  2. View Alef Aeronautics site: https://alef.aero/
  3. Play Model A video: https://youtu.be/E5YRh8vLjLU
  4. View ASKA’s site: https://www.askafly.com/
  5. Play ASKA A5 video: https://youtu.be/d7lA3Ibv1MA 
  6. Discuss the components of a situation analysis: company, general industry, trends, key competitors, technology, legal, etc.
  7. Ask students what data they would want in order to make marketing decisions for Model A and ASKA A5.
  8. Divide students into teams. Have each team use laptops to do general research to answer the questions above. (ex: overview of industry, size, growth, new technologies, environmental impact, etc.)
  9. Debrief the exercise by compiling information on the white board. Does this give a good picture of the situation?

Source: The first flying car, ‘Model A,’ approved by the FAA and it’s 100% electric. (3 July 2023) CNN; FAA clears ASKA’s flying car. IEN Staff (June 30,2023).  

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by | Wednesday, July 5, 2023 · 5:05 pm

Apple Launches Vision Pro Headset for VR/AR

It’s finally here (well, nearly here). Apple recently launched a new AR/VR headset, the Apple Vision Pro to be available in 2024 for $3,499. The new product enters the growing AR/VR entertainment market, but also takes it a step beyond the capability of other devices.

Users navigate the device using their voice, eyes, and hands for a seamless view of digital content. Apple calls it a spatial operating system with familiar icons. The headset also allows viewers to see others in the room through its glass, and a turn of the button lets others see the wearer’s eyes too. This feature helps lessens the isolation caused by wearing the headset for long periods of time.

It also contains a 3-D camera for recording videos and photos, or to immerse yourself in a video. The headset can transform any room into a personal theater for viewing movies, shows, and games.

The physical headset has a glass front and aluminum frame on a soft headband. It has a cable that attaches to a small battery pack that can be slipped into a pocket. The company wants the headset to be used for both work and entertainment and it automatically connects to a Mac so that wearers can take over their desktop when wearing it.

It has already received great reviews, but that $3,500 price puts it out of reach for many people.

Are you interested?

 Group Activities and Discussion Questions:

  1. Poll students: What has been their experience with VR/AR headsets to date?
  2. View a product demonstration: https://www.apple.com/apple-vision-pro/
  3. A longer introduction video is available on the same site. Have students spend some time online viewing details about the product.
  4. Divide students into teams and have each team develop a profile of a target market for the product. Include demographics, psychographics, behaviors, values, attitudes, etc.
  5. Based on the target market profile, what makes this product unique for these customers?
  6. Divide students into teams. Have teams research how this headset compares to other VR headsets from Meta, Magic Leap, and Sony.

Source: Chen, B. (6 June 2023). A first try of Apple’s $3,500 Vision Pro Headset. New York Times.; Gershgorn, D. (5 June 2023). Everything Apply announced at WWDC2023: Vision Pro VR headset, new Macs, and More. New York Times.; Panzarion, M. (5 June 2023). First impressions: Yes, Apple Vision Pro works and yet, it’s good. TechCrunch.

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