BBVA Branding on PES 2015 Videogame

Konami's exciting new PES 2015 Pro Soccer videogame for PS4 & XBox will be releaaed in Nov.'14 with BBVA-branded in-stadium billboards on LigaBBVA matches. Check out the official gameplay trailer. I'm thrilled that with this initiative we're able to reach a whole generation of gamers that are not traditional targets of financial institutions. Game on!

Simplicity - the killer app for any business disruption

I'm convinced that simplicity is the most significant ingredient in any business disruption.

Sound pretentious, maybe?  But think about it.  In Apple's highly anticipated media event this week, Apple Pay was presented as a revolution in payment systems based on a one click mobile solution to the hassle of opening your wallet, selecting a card, swiping... you know the drill.  What makes Apple Pay, special:  simplicity.

Four years ago, Zipcar totally disrupted the car rental category by launching the peer-to-peer car sharing movement.  Why?  Because the business model was based on simplifying the pain and paperwork of renting a car the traditional way.

Easy Taxi and so many other similar apps around the World are redefining the taxi experience because of how simple it is to call, track and pay for a cab.  Another example of a one-click app that is very useful during rush hour or on a rainy day in any urban jungle.

So the next time you complain about how difficult, awkward, cumbersome, complicated, frustrating, annoying, aggravating, painful it is do anything in your day-to-day life.... stop... and think that if you come up with a cool mobile way of simplifying the process, you're at the verge of developing a killer app with the potential of disrupting an entire business category.

Let's make things...

An Electric Car experience through Bluemove

Yesterday, my wife and decided to take our daughters to a water park in the outskirts of Madrid. Since the corporate car we ordered has not arrived, we needed to rent a vehicle.  So, my wife enrolled in one of Madrid's new car sharing services called Bluemove.

Through their app, we found out the car we had reserved was located a block away and, to our surprise, when we got there it was a Peugeot iOn 100% Electric.  My first experience driving an electric car (the golf cart doesn't count).  The park was an hour away so when we got there, I was a little concerned since the vehicle has an 130 km autonomy and I had to calculate the drive back home. The waterpark manager helped to find a place we could charge inside their maintenance facility.  He ended up telling us he would discuss the possibility of installing a charging station for the next year's season, since he recognized this is a growing trend.

Good service, cool electric cars, true digital model, no paperwork... I quickly became a Bluemove fan and will spread the news.  As a marketing guy, I love to see good business models thrive.

This is a Bluemove concept video I found on Youtube...

Travel light, stay fit... at Westin.. with the help of New Balance

Flying back to Madrid after three fantastic days in Lima.  I stayed at the Hotel Westin Lima, a chain that offers a service that is based on a great insight that business travellers want to travel light but also want to work out while on the road. Westin has an agreement with New Balance, which provides travellers to borrow athletic shoes and fitness apparel.  Brilliant.

A great example of a hotel that understands the needs of frequent fliers.  This is a benefit that will certainly keep me loyal to this hotel chain.