The Knowledge to Decide

Imagine running a farm – without any soil or use of a tractor. Hard to believe? A Boston-based startup, Freight Farms offers consumers’ high-tech hydroponic farms connected to the Cloud – built within a shipping container. Its vertical hydroponic growing towers have 90% less water consumption capability in comparison to a conventional soil-based farm. Moreover, one shipping container can yield produce equivalent on an acre of land. How does it work? An insulated container shell enables optimal environment for growth of produce. Sensors monitor and control the whole system. In addition, farmers can use their smart phones to check up on lighting, soil temperatures, moisture content, carbon-dioxide levels and other environmental variables to help grow herbs, lettuce and other green vegetables in water filled with nutrients. Can hydroponic farms replace conventional farming techniques? https://www.spireresearch.com/newsroom/spirethoughts/fancy-a-farm-in-a-box/

Mobile business in India has never been better. According to studies, Micromax, Lava and Intex – prominent Indian smartphone brands – expect a whopping 100% year-on-year revenue growth from 2015 to March 2016 due to surge in smartphone sales and rising average sale prices. Moreover, the rise of Made-in-India brands such as Micromax, Karbonn, Lava and Zen are taking the smartphone market in India by storm as they emerge as the top five smartphone brands across the nation. For instance, Micromax expects a 50% growth in sales from INR10,949 crore in 2014. Catering to the whims of consumers who now demand cost-effective models with high-end features, market players are making a beeline for India’s market. Will Indian handset manufacturers be able to compete against global, established players? https://www.spireresearch.com/newsroom/spirethoughts/made-in-india-handset-market-continues-to-grow/

Has China’s smartphone market reached its saturation point? As more consumers switch to touchscreen smartphones, growth in the market is becoming upgrade-oriented. Shipment volumes to China fell by 4% during the first quarter of 2015 with a total of 98.8 million devices shipped – the lowest in six years. This drop reflects the changing nature of the country’s smartphone market – most consumers already own a smartphone and will switch only if there is an upgrade. Industry players now rely on tech-savvy consumers who hit the stores right after an upgrade is launched. They must now focus on innovative ways of locking in their consumer pool to maintain sales figures. Will China’s smartphone market bounce back? https://www.spireresearch.com/newsroom/spirethoughts/chinas-smartphone-market-reaches-saturation-mode/

Indonesia’s mobile phone market is poised for growth. With the advent of smartphones and 4G Technology, how will service operators continue to lure customers? Aditya Teja, Senior Manager, Client Service (Telecommunication) of Spire Research and Consulting, shared his insights on MNC Business Channel – Economic Buzz. Indonesia’s mobile phone market holds immense potential with approximately 310 million subscribers recorded in 2013. There are a total of 10 service operators in Indonesia at present; with Telkomsel leading the way, followed by Indosat and XL Axiata. At present, the market is segmented by varying consumer concerns on benefits and bonuses, rather than price wars. With the advent of 4G Technology, service operators foresee faster and improved quality connections to come; with voice, SMS and data remaining as the main sources of revenue. On the other hand, the telecommunication industry also lends support to other industries such as banking, multimedia and health