blog - iwatch: "switzerland is in trouble"
DESCRIPTION
Part of a series on Smartwatches' possible impact, notably the AppleWatch, on the swiss watch industry.TRANSCRIPT
11/11/2014 iWatch: “Switzerland is in trouble!” | Transformation Hydraulics
http://schobinger.wordpress.com/2014/09/08/iwatch-switzerland-is-in-trouble/ 1/6
Transformation Hydraulics
THOUGHTS ON BUSINESS STRATEGY, AND HOW TO MAKE ITWORK. BY NICOLAS SCHOBINGER.
As Apple gets to its September 9 media event, the headlines are likelyto be stolen by its iWatch smartwatch announcement, which, as mytitle suggests, stands to disrupt a certain country’s wellknown watchindustry.
My title is a direct quote from Apple’s Head of Design, Sir Jonathan“Jony” Ive, from last week’s article on wearable devices in the NewYork Times.
This statement from a usually understated Brit with firsthandknowledge of the iWatch, should ring some alarm bells in the Swisswatchmaking industry, indeed the whole country. And it did to somedegrees as you can see here, here, here, or here.
Swiss watch makers appear to view the iWatch as an opportunity, notas a threat. Take LVMH’s JeanClaude Biver, the CEO of Swatch, whothinks that
iWatch: “Switzerland is in trouble!” 1
the arrival of new products is a fantastic opportunity to reach
Sep
08
11/11/2014 iWatch: “Switzerland is in trouble!” | Transformation Hydraulics
http://schobinger.wordpress.com/2014/09/08/iwatch-switzerland-is-in-trouble/ 2/6
Can Swiss watchmakers ever be big players in smartwatches? Not
really. They have tried before (eg Swatch & Microsoft) and they have
all the technologies (eg Rado/Swatch for thin cases, Tissot for touch
technologies and sensors, and Rolex/Swatch for manufacturing
automation, etc). But to be successful, you need more: platforms,
ecosystem and infrastructure. And actually HUGE ones only few
companies can build – Google, Facebook, Amazon, and Apple.
Can they simply sit at the sideline waiting for a bandwagon effect or
for these millions of projected smartwatch wearers to move up to more
classic watches? Not really. I think this is too passive.
How about the iWatch being built in Switzerland?
In an earlier post I laid out what a Swissmade iWatch would mean for
Switzerland as a country. I projected it would double the Swiss watch
exports within 12 months, lead to material GDPgrowth, create more
jobs, and enable technology transfer. I even predicted Apple could
possibly become the biggest Swiss watch brand by volume and value
in just its first year on the market.
So, is Switzerland in trouble? We will see.
Worst: The iWatch will be produced outside of Switzerland. They get
the full competition, but no benefits nor windfall profits.
Best: The iWatch is Swissmade, and the Swiss watchmaking industry
collaborates heavily in the creation, manufacturing, and maybe even
marketing of the iWatch.
Copyright 2014 Nicolas Schobinger. All Rights Reserved.
Share this:
millions of people who do not wear a watch and convince them
to do so.“
About these ads
Occasionally, some of your visitors may see an advertisement here.
Tell me more | Dismiss this message
�6�
15% ; v
Reblog Like
One blogger likes this.
� 9
11/11/2014 iWatch: “Switzerland is in trouble!” | Transformation Hydraulics
http://schobinger.wordpress.com/2014/09/08/iwatch-switzerland-is-in-trouble/ 3/6
ONE THOUGHT ON “IWATCH: “SWITZERLAND IS IN TROUBLE!””
Leave a Comment
Posted in Smart Watches, Transformation
Tagged Apple Watch, swiss made
Edit
Related
iWatch &Switzerland: Thisall happenedbefore
Could a 'Swissmade' iWatch aloneadd 1%point ofGDP toSwitzerland?
Eternal vs.Ephemeral[updated]
In "SmartWatches" In "Smart
Watches"
In "SmartWatches"
STEVEN— SEPTEMBER 28, 2014 AT 05:50 Edit
I thinkt this is going to be great for the Swiss watch industry. Theirproblem to this point has been generations of people not wearingwatches at all. I personally have not worn a watch in 12, 13 years.However, the smartwatch hype has the potential to actually drawpeople beyond the trend and into the world of highend timepieces. Forexample, until the furor over “iWatch,” I was completely unaware ofthe world of “horology.” I knew expensive watches existed, but thatwas about the extent of it. Now I’m familiar with names like PatekPhilippe and Audemars Piguet and the tremendous history and culturesurrounding these and other luxury watch brands.So no, I don’t believe that the Swiss are in any more trouble than theywere previously, but alot depends upon how they react to thesituation. I think that Apple Watch customers will present atremendous target market for the Swiss to lure into the world ofupscale watches.
Reply
11/11/2014 iWatch: “Switzerland is in trouble!” | Transformation Hydraulics
http://schobinger.wordpress.com/2014/09/08/iwatch-switzerland-is-in-trouble/ 4/6
← Could a ‘Swiss made’ iWatchalone add 1%point of GDPto Switzerland?
iWatch & Switzerland: This allhappened before →
Enter your comment here...
YOU ARE FOLLOWING THIS BLOG
You are following this blog, along with 83 other amazing people (manage).
11/11/2014 iWatch: “Switzerland is in trouble!” | Transformation Hydraulics
http://schobinger.wordpress.com/2014/09/08/iwatch-switzerland-is-in-trouble/ 5/6
DigitaliKa - how to simplify complex
SAP implementations. Part 1 - the
pitch. wp.me/p4FLdt-8S
pic.twitter.com/IF4nb8SxkN
Nicolas Schobinger @nschobinger
Great presentaton by @andmasci of
@SAP on future trends in the IT
Industry Cloud, Mobility & Big Data at
the @CompTIA Dublin Partner
Seminar
Retweeted by Nicolas Schobinger
eCollege.ie
@eCollegeIRL
Expand
Forget Mozart, companies now prefer
a steady Salieri as CEO:
on.ft.com/1A3UroG #FT
Nicolas Schobinger @nschobinger
This USED to be a successful
transformation model.
schobinger.wordpress.com/2014/11/01/dif
pic.twitter.com/E2OB8dX522
Nicolas Schobinger @nschobinger
Expand
8 Nov
4 Nov
4 Nov
3 Nov
Tweets Follow
Tweet to @nschobinger
SEARCH BLOG
11/11/2014 iWatch: “Switzerland is in trouble!” | Transformation Hydraulics
http://schobinger.wordpress.com/2014/09/08/iwatch-switzerland-is-in-trouble/ 6/6
Create a free website or blog at WordPress.com. | The Reddle Theme.
Search Search
CATEGORIES
Services in Tech (7)Smart Watches (5)Transformation (11)uncategorized (1)
RECENT POSTS
digitaliKa – a radical simplification of Tech Services‘Differential Growth’ – This USED to be a successful transformation model“TransformationLag”: Mastering the time between thoughts and impactThe SAP Service Economy will create 135’000 jobs till 2017Going ‘Social': Beyond the marketing departmentSAP Service Economy: What is it?‘Social’ & German Top Executives: a nonevent?Strategy Conversations: 10,000+ employees, 8 weeks, duringthe summer?Eternal vs. Ephemeral [updated]iWatch & Switzerland: This all happened before
POST ARCHIVE
November 2014October 2014September 2014July 2014June 2014
TOP POSTS
digitaliKa a radical simplification of Tech ServicesSAP Service Economy: What is it?Eternal vs. Ephemeral [updated]