For nearly 20 years, Shazam has provided products that consumers across the globe have used on their smartphones or other electronic devices. The most notable of these is the Shazam product itself, which allows users to find the name and artist of a song simply by playing a piece of the track.
It’s been one of the most innovative companies in the world, and recently, co-founder Dhiraj Mukherjee spoke with CalvinAyre.com’s Stephanie Tower about the changing world of gambling at the iGaming Next Malta’19 Conference.
Mukherjee was one of the keynote speakers of the conference, delivering a message that was simple and relevant to all product developers, no matter who their base is or what kind of device they are creating for. He explained, “The essence is the same – creating fantastic products which also treat the customer in the best way possible.”
While companies are developing apps that are making millions, Mukherjee came to the conference looking to explain the challenges of accomplishing that goal. While Shazam is a multi-million dollar corporation now, it took some time for them to get there.
“The story of Shazam is really in two parts. The first part, when no one had heard of it and very few people used it and, then, the second part after the smartphone launched and it became an app, when it became more popular, more widely used and now downloaded by over a billion people worldwide.”
It is the hard work and persistence that eventually built his company into the succesful state it’s currently in. That’s a message he hopes conference attendees will take home with them. “I think when I tell my story it is to try to inspire, motivate people who want to build something for the long haul and not a quick win or try to have an overnight success because I think, for me, that’s what innovation is all about. It’s about putting in the hard work, focusing on quality, doing the right things for the customer in the long run.”
Another key point he wanted attendees to take to heart was the ever-evolving world of entertainment. This is especially true with the younger generations, which has been the focus of the co-founder.
“I do a lot of work with Generation Zed and the young people who are now more excited about having a positive impact. It’s not about, for instance, making a lot of money in their careers or, for instance, just being lost in the world of work. So, what I see is opportunities for the industry to evolve as new topics become more important to the next generation of young people to get good.”
