Challenges in Scaling & Globalization of a Web Application - The Slideshare Experience

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

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

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

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

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….

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

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!

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

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Challenges in Scaling & Globalization of a Web Application - The Slideshare Experience

by Amit Ranjan on Apr 08, 2007

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