When Wonderware's InTouch was first introduced in 1989 and there were some initial sales, a competitor was quoted as saying: "InTouch really doesn't do much - but customers love it." 750,000 licenses around the world by 2012, customers are still lovin' it.
If only the search, social network and consumer entertainment companies could come up with such a product? Wow! They might learn some ideas from the early marketeers of Wonderware who implemented the founding vision, like Colleen Kelly and Vickie Stowe. Don Allen led early press tours. Vince Allen became known as the Wizard for his virtuoso demonstrations of Wonderware at trade shows.
Havard Business School may have a 'real world' case study to add to its curriculum. In fact, the Founder of Wonderware, Dennis Morin once spoke to a group of HBS students.
"Colleen Kelly was significantly involved in the promotional success of Wonderware, creating a "bigger than life" image for the company. Even in the early years customers, competitors and the press had the impression that we were a much larger company due to a great extent to the efforts of Colleen and the promotional team." Peter Pitsker, Wonderware CEO
Today's entrpreneur's takeaway from the Wonderware (continuing) legacy? Go big on the idea, not the product! If you know why you are building it, more customers will ask what you are selling.
History of a Safer World
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