Here is another terrific innovation from Wesabe.  It provides up to date bank and credit card balances in a Vista gadget.  Incidentally, I had no idea this was coming when I did the competitive alignment/ innovation/ Microsoft post yesterday. Wesabe | Windows Vista Gadget The Wesabe Windows Vista Gadget is a small application you can run in your Windows Vista Sidebar to give you instant access to your account balances and recent transactions. Technorati Tags: wesabe Continue reading Wesabe introduces a bank balance Vista gadget

Umair always asks the big questions, and this is no exception.  What struck me about Chrome is how it disrupts Microsoft’s entire business model by promoting a browser designed for the application web – MS weak point.  But that’s not half the story. How to Chrome Your Industry Imagine what would happen if GM and Ford collaborated to invest in the components and architecture of a better public transport network — and then licensed it for free to cities, states, and countries. Imagine what would happen if pharma players directly invested in better hospitals and clinics — instead of in … Continue reading Mr Banker – Where is the Chrome in your strategy?

Off banking topic; thinking about disruption, and systemic economic change its worth reflecting and remembering how GE was held up as the MBA case study for many years in the 90’s for their management approach, yet the environment has still shifted away from their manufacturing roots, and caught them off guard. FT.com / Companies / Energy Utilities Mining – GE launches radical shake-up GE’s shares have underperformed the S&P 500 Index in the past five years and are down 23 per cent in 2008, emboldening some investors to press Mr Immelt for more dramatic changes, including a possible break-up of … Continue reading “GE launches radical shake-up” | ft.com

New report from McKinsey [free] on open innovation, or co-creation of products and services. The usual examples are offerred, from Linux, LEGO, Missha, and ATLAS (Scientific). next step in open innovation – The McKinsey Quarterly – next step in open innovation – Information Technology – Networking # Cocreating products and services with customers, however, is uncertain territory fraught with challenges and questions—for instance, who owns the resulting intellectual property? Nonetheless, smart companies are now beginning to encourage their customers to help them develop the products and services consumers really want. There is discussion of governance, and some skepticism that the … Continue reading Next step in open innovation | McKinsey

This just goes to show Banks have learned nothing. In typical form, and just when innovation is most needed, this one Bank (UK) falls back on the traditional ‘back to basics’ mentality, and eliminates the “luxury” of innovation. BankerVision: Innovation is a luxury The other day, I heard on the grapevine that a significant UK bank is cutting back its innovation function. You’ll forgive me, I’m sure, if I don’t name the bank, but reports of the contraction of innovation there were triangulated by several sources. Apparently, given the difficult times at present, innovation was seen to be an expensive … Continue reading Innovation not required at this time | UK Bank

I learned today of a new offerring scheduled to launch June 9th in the US. I am quite intrigued by the concept that has aspects of moneyexperts.co.uk with the added mix of auctions. More to come. moneyaisle.com The company’s fully automated, proprietary technology creates unique online auctions where banks compete in real-time to meet each consumer’s specific banking needs until one bank remains. The unique MoneyAisle platform has already become an attractive offering for small and mid-sized banks. Without the high costs of customer acquisition, banks are able to access a large market of potential customers from across the United … Continue reading moneyaisle | coming June 9th