Collaborative communication is the road to success

These days, collaboration is key. The problems faced by users of radio communication products has allowed the industry to develop, with many new technologies currently being employed.

It is also important to note that the technology exchange between industries has allowed radio communication products to come of age.

From the manufacturer’s perspective, consumer needs have played a big part in the changing business model that many organisations have adopted.

Globally, research and development departments are becoming more commonplace and have grown considerably in recent years.

These departments have given dealers and consumers a forum to express their needs and ideas, allowing manufacturing companies to develop new technologies such as spectrum efficient digital networks, wide area networks and GPS technology.

With R&D departments becoming more cemented into business models, manufacturers clearly understand that there will always be problems that need solutions.

As many radio communication manufacturers operate on a global front, the limitations that products have in different countries, due to legislation and other environmental factors, are also needs to consider.

Although manufacturers play a big role in the radio communications industry, it is also important to understand the role of dealers in the communications dynamic.

Theoretically, dealers act as a ‘middle man’ between manufacturers and consumers, but in our industry, they are much more important. Many have years of invaluable field experience, allowing them to identify many solutions that may not become apparent if only a manufacturer-consumer relationship existed.

This problem-solving role by dealers has made manufacturers aware of many more opportunities in the industry and has even led them to look at technology in other communication industries, such as IT, to engineer the perfect solution for many consumers.

Consumers must also be looked at more favourably than just the bill payers in the industry. By keeping manufacturers and dealers ‘on their toes’, they play a big part in the development of new technologies which will become solutions to their needs.

One can argue that the growth of businesses and development of technology within the industry is directly related to the needs of the consumers.

In the current industry model manufacturers need to be extremely techno-savvy to create the equipment and dealers must take an innovative approach to custom-fit this new technology into the solution they present.

The input that all three parties have on the industry is what makes it great. If the technology isn’t available to suit a problem, manufacturers need to develop it. If the technology is available, dealers need to be innovative to custom-fit a solution.

Consumers can then feel comfortable in asking for seemingly outrageous solutions, knowing that they are also helping the development of the industry.

With the symbiotic relationship that all three parties are currently creating, the industry has a sound future ahead of it!

Steven Cooke is a relative newcomer to the radio communications industry. He has tertiary qualifications in commerce and has been with Icom Australia for the past three years. He offers a unique and exciting perspective of our industry's current state and is looking forward to the future challenges that it will present.