Challenges in Scalability & Globalization of a Web Application Lessons learnt in creating SlideShare

Who am I? Co-founder & COO, SlideShare Author of Webyantra, Indian Web 2.0 blog Active on the Indian tech startup circuit - BarCamps, Proto.in Techie turned marketer turned entrepreneur

Co-founder & COO, SlideShare

Author of Webyantra, Indian Web 2.0 blog

Active on the Indian tech startup circuit - BarCamps, Proto.in

Techie turned marketer turned entrepreneur

SlideShare Social sharing of presentations & slideshows ‘ YouTube of PowerPoint ’ - TechCrunch Launched Oct 06, growing very fast Run by a 12 member Delhi based team Aim: Global scale social sharing webapp

Social sharing of presentations & slideshows

‘ YouTube of PowerPoint ’ - TechCrunch

Launched Oct 06, growing very fast

Run by a 12 member Delhi based team

Aim: Global scale social sharing webapp

SlideShare…global footprint Global user base Content in >60 languages Used by bloggers, consultants, teachers, students, professionals, jokers & pranksters, gardeners, preachers, investors, artists, photographers, conference organizers, advertisers, speakers et al

Global user base

Content in >60 languages

Used by

bloggers, consultants, teachers, students, professionals, jokers & pranksters, gardeners, preachers, investors, artists, photographers, conference organizers, advertisers, speakers et al

SlideShare Lessons in Scalability & Globalisation Experience sharing, observations, unanswered questions

What kind of challenges ? Creating a Global Product Multicultural, multilingual usage patterns Operational challenges office setup, servers, 365X24X7, hiring Technological challenges enablers, bottlenecks & obsolescence Business challenges revenue, growth, market share, funding

Creating a Global Product

Multicultural, multilingual usage patterns

Operational challenges

office setup, servers, 365X24X7, hiring

Technological challenges

enablers, bottlenecks & obsolescence

Business challenges

revenue, growth, market share, funding

Creating a Global Product

Is your product truly global?

“ Only contestants from USA, Canada, the United Kingdom, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, Israel, Norway, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Australia, New Zealand, China, Taiwan, Hong Kong, and India can enter their presentations (sorry, this is due to contest law issues!)." When I saw this I was very sad. Such discrimination! I am from Nigeria. Why was I born...? Contd from prev slide…. FeedBack email

Global norms for content acceptability

Tagged : swimsuite, porn, soft-porn, sexy, awesome, beautiful “…… .soft-porn? where is porn in this? i dont see any?........” Contd from prev slide….

Defining the target user ?

Languages : English (42%), Spanish (37%), Portuguese (5%), French (3%) “… .demographics & psychographics vary across continents…” Contd from prev slide….

Language barriers separate your users from you

“ Hola me gustaria saber como puedo hacer para entrar ala pagina ya que es en ingles y no entiendo nada, me gustaría que me ayuden. GRACIAS!!” “ Hello Amit. It pardons my way to write, I do not speak English (single Castilian) and use the translator of Google for writer…….” Contd from prev slide…. FeedBack emails

Operational Challenges

Internet traffic does not respect your body clock

Hey, (…@msn.com) has contacted us. Below is the message/bug: The problems continue. I solved the username puzzle but now you refuse to send an acknowledgement email this my FOURTH request. My professor is now deducting points and thinks I am a slacker. …… [email_address] Contd from prev slide…. FeedBack email

Keeping team engaged

Initial product development is always fun! Indian “services” mentality is a bottleneck Products are never completed…they continuously evolve Contd from prev slide….

Initial product development is always fun!

Indian “services” mentality is a bottleneck

Products are never completed…they continuously evolve

Technological Challenges

Risk increases with growth

Incremental features add exponential complexity More time spent testing, less time spent building new functionality System inter-dependencies increase and cause unanticipated problems Contd from prev slide….

Incremental features add exponential complexity

More time spent testing, less time spent building new functionality

System inter-dependencies increase and cause unanticipated problems

Nokia v/s Canon Telecom v/s Skype Disruptive Technologies & Technological Obsolescence

Business Challenges

smaller, faster competitors

David v/s Goliath

Raising money can take time and attention away from product development

Growth V/s Monetization Money opportunities start small Growth opens up bigger opportunities later What adds more value now: money or traffic/mindshare ? You might not have a choice! Contd from prev slide….

Money opportunities start small

Growth opens up bigger opportunities later

What adds more value now: money or traffic/mindshare ?

You might not have a choice!

Questions? Slides available on www.slideshare.net/AmitRanjan www.amitranjan.com