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"Why Warren Buffett invested in Apple - and it’s still paying off
Published 3 November 2023
Tom Stevenson
Fidelity International
... Three years ago, in an interview with Yahoo, Buffett said of Apple: “I just think of the utility of those products to an ecosystem that is demographically terrific and finds that instrument useful dozens and dozens of times a day. It’s almost indispensable, not only to individuals, business, I mean, everything.” ..."
https://www.fidelity.co.uk/markets-insights/investing-ideas/investing-ideas/why-warren-buffett-invested-in-apple-and-its-still-paying-off/
"Apple ecosystem"
"From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Apple ecosystem is a term used to describe Apple Inc.'s digital ecosystem of products, including the iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch, HomePod etc.[1] It is often praised for its seamless integration and optimization between various networks of devices, software and services,[2] and is largely emphasized by Apple's focus on privacy,[3][4] but criticized for its closed system and lack of consumer control.[5][6]
Apple products often unlock extra features when paired with other Apple products, as opposed to alternatives.[7] Privacy is also considered a major perk of the ecosystem, as Apple markets its products with high standards of privacy, sometimes using it as a selling point over competitors.[8][9][10][11]
"Walled garden"
See also: Closed platform
Apple's ecosystem is often described as a walled garden.[12][13] While peripherals such as AirPods, HomePods and AirTags integrate complementarily into the ecosystem, with products such as the iPhone, it does not function as well or with as many features with competitive devices such as Android smartphones.[7] Also, it is not easy to switch from the ecosystem once users have immersed themselves into it, as it is designed to keep users from leaving.[5][6]"
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apple_ecosystem
So Warren Buffett was attracted by Apple's digital-technological 'ecosystem' ... and has been rewarded handsomely for his insight.
Which suggests that such 'ecosystems' can be a very good business model for investors to look out for.
(N.B. This type of technology products-services ecosystem is distinct from a technology business-investment ecosystem - the latter being e.g. a network of organisations and individuals involved in funding development-stage tech companies.)
From the HubSpot.com website:-
"Building a Technology Ecosystem: What You Need to Know
Learn More About HubSpot Operations Hub Software
Luna Campos Published: October 31, 2023
Your technology ecosystem is an indispensable part of daily business operations. You already know that no single app or platform can comprehensively address all organizational needs. That’s where the technology ecosystem comes into play. Think of your technology ecosystem as the fundamental infrastructure of your business operations ...
What is a technology ecosystem?
The term “technology ecosystem” can mean multiple things. If you Google it, you’ll probably come across a variety of definitions. The term can describe the tech scene in a physical location, like London or San Francisco. Or, in the context of this article, a technology ecosystem is the collection of tech solutions a company uses to run its business, and how these solutions connect with each other. This is the definition we’ll be working with here.
The reason we call it an ecosystem — as opposed to just “collection of apps” or “app stack,” for example — is because the term “ecosystem” describes not only what tools you’re using, but also how they interact with one another. The term “ecosystem” was first used in the field of ecology to describe a community of living organisms, factors, and elements — such as plants, animals, soil, climate, etc. — and how every one of these elements are linked together.
That same principle can be applied to your technology ecosystem: The key is to figure out how all the elements in it work together. The most successful technology ecosystems are integrated in real time, enabling you to build more functionalities onto your core tools and expand its uses. You’re looking for tools that interact seamlessly — that know how to communicate. Ultimately, that communication translates to effective collaboration between different departments in your organization.
For example, let’s say you run an online pet supplies store. You sell things like pet food, treats, toys, beds, accessories, cat litter, dog harnesses, etc. You likely need an ecommerce tool to run your business, as well as a payment gateway to process customer payments, an accounting tool to keep track of your business finances, an email marketing app to send out newsletters, a CRM tool as a database for your customer data … and the list goes on. These tools are all part of your company’s technology ecosystem. ...
Your business needs are what matter most.
The best apps and integration for you won’t necessarily be the most popular, expensive, or comprehensive ones. Make sure to adjust your tech ecosystem until it fits you just right, and it will help you exceed your goals and boost your performance. With the right apps for you and the right integrations between them, you’ll be in the best position to run your business as smoothly as possible."
"The Future Belongs To Ecosystems
Forbes Technology Council
Jeff Gallino Forbes Councils Member
Forbes Technology Council COUNCIL POST| Membership (Fee-Based)
Jul 23, 2021, 09:10am EDT
CTO and Founder at CallMiner. Responsible for strategic direction across business development, research and artificial intelligence.
In our digitally disrupted world, driving success requires more than developing a strong solution alone. It’s not only what your product can do, but also who you partner or integrate with. After all, having agile, responsive and open technology is crucial to gaining and keeping a strategic advantage.
The walled garden of monolithic, enterprise offerings is simply too siloed in this environment of broad choices. The future of business belongs to ecosystems.
Open solutions, capable of interacting and interoperating with multiple vendors and third parties, allow for the creation of new ecosystems. I consider an ecosystem an interacting network of providers, suppliers, distributors and competitors that understand the value of and are committed to interoperability. When an ecosystem thrives, it’s because its shareholders streamline the flow of data, services, ideas or capital.
This enables organizations to select the product or solution that works best for their unique needs, without worrying whether it will negatively impact other technology investments. When products or solutions work seamlessly together in a technology stack, it enables organizations to be more innovative and successful.
When most people think of technology ecosystems today, companies like Google and Amazon come to mind. They’re establishing what I call a DIY ecosystem — they supply the components and frameworks, and others (like Solution Integrators) put it together for enterprises or enterprises do it themselves.
But ecosystems are more than DIY. We’re also seeing emerging technology ecosystems that encompass complementary and even competing solutions, all working together to make it easier for organizations to use and benefit from a diverse tech stack.
Technology ecosystems make the following scenarios possible:
• Creates Stickier Solutions: It all comes down to choice, and people want it their way. By interoperating with a range of competing and non-competing technologies, you create new opportunities for wider target buyers who are interested in purchasing just a slice of the workflow at the enterprise level. Open solutions allow this a-la-carte approach, so customers of all sizes can benefit from a particular product without leaving their current ecosystem.
• Lowers The Barrier For Entry: The power of open source levels the playing field for companies both big and small. It offers a neutral environment that fuels and allows companies to innovate and evolve. ..."
https://www.forbes.com/sites/forbestechcouncil/2021/07/23/the-future-belongs-to-ecosystems/?sh=63492cbc5b2a
"The Future Belongs To Ecosystems
... • Coopetition Opens The Door To New Markets: Open solutions enable companies to partner in areas where they would otherwise never be able to play. This allows solutions to expand to new customer bases and new markets, fitting your offering for a new purpose.
Today’s consumers are looking for the solutions that can help them grow, improve and meet business goals and evolving industry dynamics. For example, M&A activity isn’t slowing down, and companies that are open and can easily integrate with other solutions are going to gain a competitive advantage. That’s because end-user organizations don’t want to completely reinvent their systems when one solution they’re using gets acquired. Successful solution providers are willing to integrate and co-mingle their offerings with others to deliver this value.
My company recently introduced the Open Voice Transcription Standard (OVTS), which allows organizations to use their preferred or existing speech recognition vendor within our platform. For example, South Africa has 11 official languages. Organizations in that region — or those expanding there — can easily ingest any language that is relevant to their customers by leveraging local, language-specific vendors. It doesn’t matter to us where that data comes from, just that it’s in the right format. This interoperability isn’t just for our benefit — it’s about helping organizations embrace the power of open enterprise applications.
Another example is the Session Recording Protocol (SIPREC), which is an open SIP-based protocol for call recording. The standard allows copies of phone calls from connected SBCs to be routed to organizations for recording or analytics. Similarly, HTML 5 is a standard that is embraced by browser makers so that third parties can extend the functionality of browsers within a standard so that all browsers can be supported for an application.
These type of standards and protocols are the backbone of today’s emerging and expanding ecosystems.
Successful business ecosystems benefit everyone involved. By expanding products, services and capabilities through cooperation and collaboration, enterprises create solutions based on true customer needs, rather than system availability. Additionally, ecosystems allow organizations to broaden their reach into different markets.
I believe that the future of enterprise technology is rooted in ecosystems. Long gone are the days when vendors could operate in silos. My hope is that more companies will lean into openness — it doesn’t just deliver better solutions for customers; it also opens up previously untapped opportunities for them."
https://www.forbes.com/sites/forbestechcouncil/2021/07/23/the-future-belongs-to-ecosystems/?sh=63492cbc5b2a
"Building a Technology Ecosystem: What You Need to Know
... You’re looking for tools that interact seamlessly — that know how to communicate. ..."
"Apple ecosystem
... Privacy is also considered a major perk of the ecosystem, as Apple markets its products with high standards of privacy, sometimes using it as a selling point over competitors. ..."
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apple_ecosystem
So two key desideratum of a tech ecosystem are seamlessness & data privacy-security.
And these two traits are at the core of Newmark's products-services ethos, as set out right at the top of the company's home page:-
"Safe, Seamless, Secure.
Helping organisations protect human capital in safe work spaces, with secure cloud control of access, timekeeping, and identity data."
https://newmarksecurity.com/
And from Newmark's 2023 final results presentation, Sept. 2023:-
"Safe spaces, Seamless operations, Secure data."
So if the future belongs to ecosystems, then Newmark's prospects must be married to a very powerful momentum:-
From the inside front cover of Newmark's 2023 annual report & accounts, September 2023:-
"Our mission is to protect human capital in safe spaces by creating trusted ecosystems in the workplace using best-in-class security products enabled by SaaS based cloud control and enterprise-class services.
With our 2025 strategy firmly in focus, we continue to take bold steps to achieving our goals, demonstrating resilience to global impacts, a long-term sustainable business model and a strong will to win.
Marie-Claire Dwek, CEO"
https://newmarksecurity.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Newmark-Annual-Report-30-April-2023.pdf
https://newmarksecurity.com/investor-relations/reports-and-presentations/
And from Newmark's September 2023 final results statement:-
26th Sep 2023 7:00 am RNS Final Results
" ... Last year's innovation efforts, in particular the development and adaptation of products and services aimed at generating increasing and new recurring revenues, has produced extremely positive results.
Specifically, the launch of GT Connect has enabled us to begin to realise our vision to create larger trusted ecosystems in the workplace that more broadly connect security device hardware with our secure cloud services, including Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) tablets and third-party products that greatly extend the reach of our solutions.
This key software enhancement enables us to push forward with our strategy, executing with a collective focus to attach services to all our products and this is yielding a dramatic increase in the recurring proportion of our revenues, creating a critical foundation and with much further growth to come. ..."
https://www.lse.co.uk/rns/NWT/final-results-s32ymd0rnewx4w0.html