opencage data and sustainable business models for open data
DESCRIPTION
A talk presented by Ed Freyfogle 25th Sept 2014 at the APIconUK conference in London. The talk introduces the OpenCage geocoder and describes our considerations in developing a sustainable and scalable business model around open data.TRANSCRIPT
A meta-geocoding API
Ed Freyfogle - @freyfogleAPIconUK - 25 Sept. 2014
http://opencagedata.com@opencagedata
Problem
Where are we?
(c) OpenStreetMap contributors
51.5007703,-0.1164174
London!
London!
Lambeth!
London!
Lambeth!
Waterloo!
London!
Lambeth!
Waterloo! England
York Road
Zone 1SE1 7UT
United Kingdom
Westminster Bridge Rd
placename long/lat
placename long/lat
forward
placename long/lat
forward
reverse
Yes!
Yes! but …T&Csexpensive at volume
OpenStreetMap
Yes!
Yes! but …not for high volume usevariable coverage
Yes!
Yes! and …one API, many geocodersfree as in freedomannotations
You Geonames
and more
Open datause with any map you like cache as long as you likefix itget creative
Annotationstimezones OS gridrefs geohashwhat3wordsmore coming, suggestions welcome
Start geocoding:opencagedata.com
Free as in freedom
What does it cost?
Bigger question
Can we build a sustainable, scalable product business around an open data API?
not scalable
What is the differentiator?
The Moat
Competition
Competition is any way that consumers address the problem.
Direct and indirect competition
Direct - other API providers (closed and open)
Indirect - build it themselves
Indirect - do nothing
But how exactly?
Direct
ProductPricePlacementPromotion
Indirect
EducationAwarenessReduce trial barrier
Product
- add to the open data- curating the open data
Annotationstimezones OS gridrefs geohashwhat3wordsmore coming, suggestions welcome
"timezone" : { "name" : "Europe/London", "now_in_dst" : 1, "offset_sec" : 3600, "offset_string" : 100, "short_name" : "BST" }
Very common use case
Go niche
"OSGB" : { "easting" : 530711.341, "gridref" : "TQ 307 797", "northing" : 179728.745 },
Viewed globally, the UK is niche
Not niche to them
Keep it simple
Can we get their help?
Our goal:1 + 1 > 2
Value through curation / editing
You Geonames
and more
Too much of a good thing
spendnetwork.com
Where?
Berlin
NOT “Berlin, Berlin”
Our goal:1 - 1 > 0
Partners/Allies?
Enemy of my enemy is my friend
The enemy is business as usual
what3words
epic.limit.diary
Pricing?
Consider many models
traditional model
usage
cost
The enemy is business as usual
“The fee is based on the formula (number of users * $0.001), so the earlier you join, the less you pay.”
pinboard.in
Final points:
Start geocoding:opencagedata.com
See you at #geomob4 Nov. geomobldn.org
theodi.org
http://opencagedata.com@opencagedata
Thanks! Questions?
Ed Freyfogle - @freyfogleAPIconUK - 25 Sept. 2014