Killer App

Jan 10, 2011 No Comments by

A killer application (commonly shortened to killer app), in the jargon of technologists, has been used to refer to any computer program that is so necessary or desirable that it proves the core value of some larger technology, such as computer hardware, gaming console, software, or an operating system. A killer app can substantially increase sales of the platform on which it runs.

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Does anyone remember what VisiCalc is or what it does?  Those of you, like me, who use Microsoft’s Excel, owe a great debt to Dan Bricklin and Bob Frankston.  Dan conceived it and Bob refined it, but according to a PBS documentary, Triumph of the Nerds: The Rise of Accidental Empires (1996), they did not register the program with the US Patent office.  It soon became the basis of Lotus 1-2-3, which was then supplanted by Excel.  VisiCalc is known as the first killer app; however, this concept is not new to business.  We can look back to a great many inventions that for their time were the killer apps of their day.  The Real McCoy refers to an automatic lubricator for oiling the steam engine of locomotives and boats invented by Elijah McCoy.  Because there were so many poor copies of his invention, engineers wanted the real thing.  Coming out of World War II, the United States saw a great many changes that changed the status quo in America, the Interstate highway system, affordable cars and television.  One of the other recent things that falls into my killer app category would have to be the smart phone (BlackBerry) were you can receive your emails without being at your desk in your office.

Killer apps can also be the way something is done.  Improvement of a current process can also be something that changes the status quo.  Mr. Ford changed the way automobiles were built by perfecting the production line. Or Mr. Kroc who took Mr. Ford’s production line to the restaurant business and reinvented how franchises were used in America and throughout the world.

I say all of this as a preamble to ask you about your business.  What is your killer app?  Your business has an advantage over your competition.  Is it your customer service? Is it your process?  Is it your pricing?  Is it your location?  Or is it all of the above or some combination of the above?  Either way, how are you making sure that you are keeping that killer app sharp for your customer/clients?

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Steven B. Paige

About the author

Steven offers over 20 years of operational and management experience to financial service companies, banks, mortgage firms, and start-ups. He collaborates with clients on improving operational efficiencies including the creation and management of financial models, complex amortizations, and organization of reporting structures for companies with multiple business units. While working on a new department with Toyota Steve reorganized business reporting and transparency in department spending revealing $300,000 in erroneous vendor payments.
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