Amdocs Enreach Blog Articles and news on innovative solutions for Communication Service Providers

By Daphna Steinmetz, Vice President

Chief Innovation Officer

Today’s service providers know they must embrace innovation to cope with a constantly-changing industry and a changing cast of competitors. Although service providers understand the critical importance of innovation in today’s marketplace, many struggle to establish innovation as a core principle of their companies. How can service providers find a tested way in to innovation?

As the market leader in customer experience systems innovation, Amdocs is well-positioned to share our proven innovation strategies. The Amdocs Innovation team has created numerous programs in the realm of innovation, including the development of the Amdocs Innovation Thought Leadership workshops. We work with our customers during these Innovation and Ideation sessions to solve pressing business issues through the utilization of new creative methodologies and tools.

Amdocs’ broad base of experience enables us to offer greater value to our customers by providing insights gathered from across services and geographies. Our long-term relationships with our customers have provided us with an in-depth understanding of industry business challenges.

The Amdocs Innovation team has successfully held many customer sessions and run many internal workshops worldwide. These Innovation and Ideation workshops have helped our customers generate creative solutions to their problems and turn these ideas into tangible cost reductions, improved processes and faster time to market, as well as providing them with the skills to resolve future challenges.

Amdocs innovation workshops will:

-          Strengthen your team via collaborative ideation exercises

-          Show you how to establish innovation as a core value at your large organization

-          Help you generate literally hundreds of creative ideas to help solve your specific challenges

We are pleased at the positive and enthusiastic feedback we have received from participants. “Amdocs Innovation Thought-Leadership workshop was a thought-provoking and productive experience for us. Some very interesting ideas were generated today and I can now see the benefits of applying Amdocs’ innovation to our products and services,” said the Vice President of Marketing of a Tier 1 American wireless company.

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By Ariel Efrati, Vice President

Amdocs Open Innovation and Strategic Investments

“Virginia is for lovers,” according to a fondly-remembered advertising campaign some years back. But I recently realized – at a reception for startup tech companies hosted by Amdocs Open Innovation and the State of Virginia — that this beautiful region – just outside Washington, D.C. and, known locally as “The Beltway” — is also an up-and-coming hub for innovation and technology. My team visited Fairfax County in Virginia to introduce the Amdocs Open Innovation program to the local venture capital (VC) community and to promising startups in the region. One of our key goals was to explore how early-stage technology companies can innovate, especially as we move further and further into a hyper-connected world.

At our reception in Tyson’s Corner Tower Club, Va., we welcomed and heard from 107 representatives from more than 90 local companies, including CEOs, presidents and key influencers at some of the Beltway’s most forward-looking and exciting startups. We held a number of engaging and insightful panels, with key players in innovation including Dominion Resources, XO Communications, Razorsight, WorkLight, Pontis and The Telecom Hub.

A key item on our agenda was to get to the bottom of how to make our “connected world” vision a reality. The fact that we are rapidly approaching an ‘always on’ world with ‘anytime, anywhere’ device connectivity is crucial when it comes to positioning a new technology or new company in such a way to make it attractive to service providers who are navigating a path to make the connected world a reality.

One challenge we discussed is the changes that service providers need to make in order to stay ahead in this new world, which will be driven to a large extent by consumer demand and preferences. Now, obviously there are challenges: we’re dealing with complex communications and networking technologies, after all. But startups thrive on confronting challenges and working to come up with creative solutions to them. Another challenge we discussed is how to develop the right pricing and revenue-sharing models that service providers are looking for to make the most of the connected world opportunities. Other challenges for startups looking to make the right connections with service providers include long sales cycles, differentiation, scalability, the ability to see through a successful implementation, minimize risk and provide a roadmap for service development. We didn’t solve all those challenges. But we moved the needle forward by enabling these young companies to benefit by sharing their experiences, triumphs and tribulations.

Our Virginia reception was a great opportunity for me to get a better feel for the investment and innovation landscape and prospects in this region. In terms of investors, Virginia has a strong network of angel investors, though they are a bit more conservative than in regions like Silicon Valley. I also found the pool of promising technology startups to be largely focused on enabling new services — along with many VCs and angel investors who are focused on government activities. But I also came away feeling that not enough people in the tech and financial community are aware of the tremendous amount of startup activity taking place in and around Virginia – we all need to spread the word about the opportunities here!

Overall, this region of Virginia has a wealth of business opportunities, and I see great potential for it to become one of the key hubs of innovation in the U.S., up there with Silicon Valley, New York and Seattle. I think the high level of government involvement and visibility within the business community there could be a major asset as more of this innovative technology finds its way from government-based activities into the private sector.

Special thanks to the Virginia Israel Advisory Board, Office of the Governor, for their direct support to help make this event a success – and thanks also to the Fairfax County Economic Development Authority for their direct support.

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By Ariel Efrati, VP Amdocs Open Innovation and Strategic Investments

As I mentioned a few weeks ago, my travels for the Amdocs Open Innovation program recently brought me to Singapore for the TECHVENTURE 2010 investor conference. The crowd at the conference was made up of investors, private equity funds, venture capital groups, and other organizations looking to invest in innovative technology in the Asia-Pacific region.

It was a fantastic event and I was able to hear a wide range of perspectives on the state of innovation in the APAC region.

Singapore, and the larger Asia-Pacific region, has a large presence of private individuals who are part of a well-developed network of angel investors looking to invest private capital in high-risk endeavors. It’s a region on the rise in terms of its market needs and the extent that companies are looking to advance and innovate to move the needle for their organizations. With so much capital in the region to invest, the global investment community is trying to better understand how to invest there. TECHVENTURE was a perfect opportunity to explore this market.

Below are some of the hot areas of investment and technology trends that I found most compelling from my conversations with the folks at TECHVENTURE 2010:

Many countries in APAC are already leaders in operations, manufacturing and outsourcing. I predict that these will be major areas of innovation in the region over the next several years, this innovation will be expressed in software as well as in consumer related services

Social intelligence is a major area of innovation and technology in APAC. Much of this has to do with the nature of the regional societies and their appetite for social applications

I found the angel investor network in this region to be larger, more developed and higher in investable assets than in many other regions of the world

There is a high portion of equity available for investment in APAC, and the technology is beginning to grow rapidly to meet demand. Compare that to Western countries where there’s an abundance of new technologies and budding startups which can oftentimes face challenges in obtaining funding

Though some of the above statements are general observations about the technology investment landscape in APAC, the region really is a hybrid of different models, and investment communities in countries like India, Singapore and China are influenced by very different drivers. For example, China has somewhat stringent intellectual property regulations, which may significantly impact investments; India is enjoying massive growth within its own borders and therefore is less focused on looking to invest effort to grow of side of India; and Singapore has very strong government incentives and stimulation backing the investment community (and as a result is truly becoming an investment haven and magnet for entrepreneurs)

Lastly, while there are strong and very promising opportunities in Asia-Pacific, I recommend that investors approach this region cautiously at first with small investments and watch how those initial investments mature

 I also just recently travelled to Tyson’s Corner, Virginia, to host an Amdocs Open Innovation reception with the state of Virginia. The reception brought together local startups and investors with industry experts, and through insightful panels and networking we explored what it means to be innovative in the communication space and how to enable innovation more effectively. I plan to share insights from the reception on this blog shortly, so be sure to check back for updates.

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By Ariel Efrati, VP Amdocs Open Innovation and Strategic Investments

One of the great perks of my work with the Amdocs Open Innovation program is that I get to meet with a huge array of technology startups. I get to witness first-hand the latest technologies and trends in the space. Next week my travels will take me to Singapore for TECHVENTURE 2010, a conference that brings together international investors with exciting startups looking for business development opportunities. As the Asian market is proving to be one of the most promising sources of technology innovation, I’m interested in exploring at the conference how trends in this market vary or align with investment and technology trends in Europe, North America and other global regions.

My role at the conference will be to introduce venture capitals  and entrepreneurs in the community to the Amdocs Open Innovation program and discuss how the program works with promising early stage companies to provide venture funding, business development counsel and technology support. But in addition to sharing information around the program, I am eager to hear different perspectives from both the show’s high-profile investment gurus and the region’s early stage companies. When I’m back from the show I will share an update on the state of innovation and the start-up community in Asia, my thoughts on how the technology sector in the region is growing, and trends in investment and new technologies. Make sure to tune back into this blog in a few weeks for an update.

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Amdocs moderated an exceptional panel session on “The Connected World – the Next Big Thing for Telcos” in Israel’s High Tech Industry Association Conference 2010. Amdocs panel discussion hosted industry leaders from France Telecom, Cisco, Pelephone, and Israeli startup companies.

The Amdocs panel discussion focused on opportunities for the Service Provider industry and the challenges in making the connected world vision a reality. The panel included leading industry figures, such as Jean-Yves Léonnec, Head of Strategic Anticipation at France Telecom and Senior VP at Orange, Boaz Maoz, GM of Cisco Israel, Guy Bauman, VP and GM of VAS Division at Israel CSP Pelephone, and Dr. Annie Shum, Amdocs VP of Advanced Technology. Presentations were also delivered by start-up companies related to the connected world domain, including SupportSpace, Waze, and Red Bend. The session was very well received, generating lively discussion among all the panelists.

The Amdocs “Connected World Vision” resonated throughout the conference in various forums and across different topics. “The conference emphasized that this is one of the key issues on which players and companies across the High Tech industry will be focusing their strategies and capital in the very new future,” said Ariel Efrati, VP, Amdocs Open Innovation and Strategic Investments. A recent report by the “In-Stat” analyst group predicts that mobile backhaul capacity demand will triple between 2009 and 2013, as data consumption continues to grow.

In addition to contributing to the advancement of High Tech in Israel, Amdocs’ involvement and leadership with the HTIA demonstrates our commitment to continually innovate and strengthen relationships with the leading technology companies and venture capital communities.

Click here to see us in the High Tech Industry Association Conference photo gallery

 Related links:

High Tech Industry Association Conference 2010 – http://www.iva.co.il/

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Then again, you might not need to… In the not too distant future, this will all be done via your cables, your 3D home TV, and your home media center. Consumer electronics manufacturers are already planning for when streaming high-definition content via cable TV becomes the standard, by preparing for the next run on their customers’ pockets: 3D LED TVs with an IP network and wireless interfaces, all directly connected to the cable infrastructure – elevating the humble TV to a much more complete solution, and a center of all home communication activities. The mission is to get you off your home PC and providing you with direct access to online information and content via your TV, starting with news and weather broadcasts, and ending with video-on-demand services, and in the near future – 3D content. All activities that are now performed from a home PC, such as flight ticket reservation, finding a good restaurant, surfing the internet, and downloading latest songs from iTunes will be all done with minimal effort without getting up from the sofa. Next, add IP telephony solutions, which cable service providers have been offering for some time, and we find ourselves with a new holistic solution for home communication activities.

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Ah Seattle… previously famous for its rainy weather, being the home of grunge music, and for the movie where Tom Hanks didn’t get much sleep without Meg Ryan in his life, has now been thrust into the spotlight for a different reason – for hosting one of the best recent industry events for promoting business innovation. Attended by over 60 carefully selected key industry players, including service providers, relevant innovative companies, analysts, and venture capital firms, the Amdocs Open Innovation event, which consisted of three days of interactive sessions, re-enforced Amdocs’ commitment to its customers (TMOUS, AT&T, Clearwire), demonstrating ways to launch new solutions, monetize them, and ultimately – grow value.

• “Amdocs can make innovation happen!”
• “It was a really impressive event – you covered a lot of ground fast, and the speakers and panelists were excellent.”
• “We didn’t realize Amdocs had such a strong presence in Seattle – you should do more events like this…

So, why such a positive and strong reaction?

Following the introductory presentations from Amdocs, OpenMarket, and Amdocs Open Innovation, the audience was enthralled by two lively panels, comprising Amdocs customers, partners, and Amdocs experts discussing the SaaS promise and the way to bridge SPs and innovation. The Amdocs Open Innovation event offered service providers, start-up executives, and potential partners, a unique opportunity to discover how Amdocs can help service providers and young innovative companies to form successful partnerships.

On the event sidelines, partnerships were established via meetings with Seattle-area venture capital firms that hold significant communications and Internet start-up portfolios, as well as Seattle-based startup companies. The purpose of these meetings was to establish working relationships with the VCs, review their portfolio companies, and evaluate potential co-op opportunities. These meetings were preceded by extensive preparations by both sides to ensure their success.

Why Seattle?

Seattle is as a major hub of the telecommunications and software industries, home to major service providers, hundreds of innovative startup companies, and a vibrant investor community. The Amdocs Open Innovation event followed a similar event that took place in Silicon Valley in October 2009  that resulted in important leads and connections that benefitted both the startups, Amdocs, and the VC communities in that region.

Further to the great connections made with leading VCs (Ignition, Trilogy, T-Venture, GPT Partners, Founder’s Co-op and Madrona ), pioneering startups, and leading industry organizations (TiE Seattle and Seattle 2.0), this is a beginning of transforming innovation into business action.

We invite you, VCs, startups, and industry players to take part in our future industry events…

Click here to see us in Amdocs Open Innovation event in Seattle.

There’s a lot going on in the Amdocs Open Innovation group. Find out what we’ve been up to!

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It’s quite obvious that, in the 21st century, everyone is globally connected via the Internet. This has become an accepted part of our life, but it’s only the beginning. We are witnessing a transformation in which the basic human trait of communication is turning into an almost obsessive need to be online – anywhere and anytime. This seems to reflect a hunger for a connected lifestyle where everyone is always available.

In response to this need, companies are developing new technologies and networking infrastructures. Individuals now have handheld communications devices with them wherever they are. Today it is email, phone calls, and pictures, but what if you could do everything online? What if your refrigerator could communicate with the supermarket and order all missing grocery items?

Would people stop going to the supermarket? Will stores stand empty and eventually disappear from the streets? Will everyone perform all their activities from home?

How many of you look for friends online, using the Communicator, and assume they are away from the office if they appear as offline? Have you already accepted the new concept, without giving it a second thought, that “If you’re not connected – you don’t exist?!”

It is human nature to be part of a social group. When we were young, we would play outside just for the enjoyment of being with our friends. Today, many of our children are communicating primarily via computer screens. This is why social media platforms are flourishing.

But this is only the tip of the iceberg of what is yet to come. Imagine the possibilities when the world includes trillions of devices and applications, all connected together on a massive global network – always connected, anywhere, and anytime – providing consumers with a dizzying array of applications, services, connections, and experiences.

This connected world means going beyond communications and entertainment. It means new types of services; for example, health care – where doctors will be able to diagnose in real time without meeting their patient face to face, and where second, third, and fourth opinions will be available with a simple click. This will all be synchronized across the relevant devices.

This new world of communications models is looking for new complex processes, new operational capabilities, new technologies, and new types of services. This also means that there is a great opportunity for service providers to empower and enable these seamless, automated, and personalized connected lifestyles.

Will you be part of it?

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As one of the founding members of the High-Tech Industry Association (HTIA) and a member of its BoD, the Amdocs Open Innovation group has been at the forefront of creating an infrastructure and market environment that strives to build world-class technology companies in Israel that are focused on innovation and value creation.

As part of our deep involvement in the association, Amdocs Open Innovation will be taking a leading role in next week’s “Connected World” annual conference, which will focus on the theme ‘Technology Innovation Transformed into Business Innovation’. Our participation will center on facilitating a discussion that includes a panel of industry experts, including Senior VP of Motorola International Elisha Yanai,  Cisco GM Boaz Maoz, as well as the VP and GM of the VAS Division at Pelephone, Guy Bauman. The discussion will focus on the topic ‘Opportunities for the Service Provider industry, other industries that interface with it, and challenges to bring this connected world to reality’.

In addition to contributing to the advancement of high tech in Israel, Amdocs’ involvement in the association demonstrates our stature as a company that is continually looking for new ways to innovate, and consolidates our relationships with leading industry professionals, as well as those in the venture capital community.

The High Tech Industry Association annual conference will take place in Jerusalem from 7-9 June, 2010. The purpose of the event is to unite all facets of the Israeli Hi Tech ecosystem under a single roof – startup companies, investors, venture capital firms, entrepreneurs, international technological companies and other industry affiliates.

 For more information on HTIA (formally IVA) and the Connected World annual conference, visit the association website, http://www.iva.co.il

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Amdocs Open Innovation has hosted, for the third time, a large forum of industry leaders from the Israeli Entrepreneurs club, reemphasizing Amdocs’ role as a market leader in fostering innovation.

The event theme was marketing success tools – The advantages of using the social media as a new channel to promote marketing content and the way it offers to reach out to the users in a personal manner. Media professionals advised on what you should and should not do in the social media world, along with an entertaining demonstration of what can be the outcome.

Eilat Cohen Basat, Head of Amdocs Engage! has opened the evening with a short overview on Amdocs Open Innovation program and its goals as well as the use we make in the social media to create awareness, generate discussions around interesting themes in innovation and scout relevant technologies.

Mr. Roni Einav, one of the senior serial entrepreneurs in Israel, has highlighted the serial entrepreneur’s tools and insights while presenting his book “Nordau & Wall Street”. Roni was the founder of the 4th new Dimension Software that was acquired 10 years ago by BMC for approximately $700M.

Mr. Gilad Adin, chairman of “Gilad Adin ltd.” and the former CEO of the Channel 10 news, has discussed “When content and technology meet” and presented internet media marketing tools.

Dr. Taly Weiss, TrendsSpotting’s CEO and founder, and Lior Zoref – Microsoft Israel marketing manager, discussed the social media trends from ROI to augmented reality and the hottest trends in the social media for 2010.

Ruth Zoarets, co-Founder & VP marketing at “Twitter Analyzer”, presented how she got to 500,000 followers per day via Twitter and offered ways to measure effectiveness using Twitter analyzer .

Many thanks to Talya Tuv Lapid, Founder & CEO at Entrepreneurs Club For a very fruitful cooperation.

You are welcome to review the event’s pictures.

For more information please contact Keren Remets or visit our website.

About Amdocs Open Innovation

Amdocs Open Innovation makes it easy for Service Providers to offer leading and exciting services to their subscribers with confidence. The comprehensive portfolio includes solutions that support the increasingly connected lifestyle of the end-users and enables the Service Provider to monetize the multi-interaction channels.

Amdocs Open Innovation is headed by Ariel Efrati and consists of three programs:

• Amdocs Engage! – A customer facing and business development program to promote business opportunities between Amdocs, Service Providers and startup companies. Engage! is led by Eilat Cohen Basat.

• Amdocs Ascend! – A joint solutions program focused on creating new solutions by combining external innovation with Amdocs products and services aligned with Amdocs CES (customer experience systems) strategy and portfolio.

• Amdocs Venture! – A strategic investment program for carefully selected startups that are aligned with Amdocs’ strategic direction.

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