Sunday, 2 December 2012

If you can't beat 'em, then join them !

                                            A new website known as BuffferBox.com which was created by the University of Waterloo students have now been taken over by Google. BufferBox provides users with temporary storage facilities in central locations which can accept packages delivered from online retailers such as Amazon, E bay  etc. To begin the process, users are expected to sign up for a Bufferbox address at bufferbox.com. The users can then use the Bufferbox address as their shipping address while ordering goods online. When a parcel arrives at one of the Bufferbox's self-serve kiosks, the users receives an email and can pick up their package using a one-time-use code at their convenience.
A person using the Bufferbox Service to receive their package
As quoted by the BufferBox chief executive Mr. McCauley, "So us being able to work very closely with someone like Google allows us to leverage their resources and share vision and combine thoughts and talent together to really make something a lot bigger than we ever would have imagined." This quote basically summarizes everything I basically had to say about the article. By joining a world renowned and influential corporation such as Google Inc., Bufferbox will gain the necessary exposure that they would need to reach out to more online users and expand their services. This new ownership of Bufferbox Inc. will also benefit Google because it will help them to compete with the Amazon locker packaging service.

 This article ties in with the course because it talks about the different types of ownership such as Corporations like Google Inc and Bufferbox Inc. and also how sometimes bigger companies take over or buy out smaller companies to either provide more services, get a competitive advantage or to even eliminate competition  In this scenario  Google bought Bufferbox to get a competitive advantage over Amazon's packaging service. Another example of such takeovers would be by McCarthy's. McCarthy's has bought out all the other small uniform companies and have taken complete monopoly over the uniform business. They take over the smaller companies to eliminate competition.

 Another interesting thing about this incident is that, just like Instagram, this company had only about 10 employees. It's surprising to see how small scale business such as these are being taken over by huge corporations such as Google due to the interests of the people. Maybe I can start up some business like that and not worry about working for the rest of my life :)

 More information about this take-over can be found at http://www.thestar.com/business/article/1296016--google-buys-waterloo-startup

 What are your thoughts on this? Is this a good move by Google? Would you use BufferBox to get your parcels? :) 
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3 comments:

  1. Mr.Lamanna4 December 2012 at 18:29

    YES! That would be a great idea Deepac! Think of a great company, create a successful start-up and sell it off to a major corp. like Google or Microsoft. Then just relax on the beach until you get bored and you can start up another venture. Just remember who your business teacher was and be sure to hook him up with a small token of your gratitude. (and by small, I mean very large)

    This article goes to show how an entrepreneurial spirit, a great idea and hard work can really pay off in just a few years! It is truly very possible to hit success.

    Good luck,

    - Mr. L

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  2. Anonymous7 December 2012 at 10:54

    I think what BufferBox is doing is a really smart move. Like look at Instagram, they started off a small company but with Googles help they were able to grow into the huge successful company they are today. Also, as to what you said about eliminating competition, I completely agree with you there; Especially with McCarthey's eliminating their competition that way. Like look as Google as well, they bought over so many of their indirect and direct competitors like Youtube and Instagram and now hopefully BufferBox as well. This could mean some serious competition with Amazon. From where I see it, Amazon is about to take a huge hit if they don't come up with some miraculous way to compete again such a huge company like Google.
    Watch out!

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  3. Unknown19 December 2012 at 12:20

    I think that BufferBox is doing a good thing by joining with Google. By doing this, BufferBox is able to expand their services. This is also beneficial for Google because it helps them in their competition with Amazon. This is a benefit for both Google and BufferBox. It's a win - win situation.

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