Businessmodel of Lithium Technologies

Customer Segments

Lithium Technologies offers a range of software solutions to commercial and institutional clients across a range of business sectors. The Company principally serves clients active within the following industries:

• Communications, including telecommunications companies, internet service providers, mobile network operators, mail carriers, and cable network operators;
• Technology, including technology companies, electronic device manufacturers, software and application developers, and other high-tech companies;
• Financial Services, including banking institutions, lending companies, credit card companies, and other financial services providers; and
• Retail, including digital and physical retail businesses, major retail chains, and large consumer brands. Lithium Technologies names a number of its clients on its website. This includes high-profile names such as AT&T, Sony, Sephora, British Gas, Skype, Verizon, Virgin Mobile, Barclaycard, Moneygram, and Time Warner Cable.

Lithium’s key market is the US, which accounts for a significant portion of the Company’s business. The Company also serves clients across Europe and Asia Pacific.

Value Propositions

Lithium Technologies provides value to its clients in the following ways:

• Its industry standing and reputation, with the Company established as a leading provider of social and community-focused software solutions, particularly in the US, as evidenced by the Company’s ability to secure regular business from high-profile companies such as AT&T, British Gas, and Sony;
• Its efficiency and functionality, with the Company’s solutions offering extensive functionality, including assisting clients in planning, publishing, and analysing social media campaigns, as well as ensuring that they receive ongoing feedback;
• Its international reach, with the Company serving an extensive range of clients I its domestic market of the US, as well as numerous customers across markets in Asia Pacific and Europe, in particular the UK and Germany;
• Its network of partners, with the Company working closely with a broad network of partner companies that support and extend the in-house capabilities of its various operating units; and
• Its industry expertise, with the Company employing specialist technical personnel to ensure that the Company’s solutions are developed and maintained effectively, as well as a team of experienced industry executives. ### Channels

Lithium Technologies operates a website at www.lithium.com, through which it provides information on its products, services, solutions, partners, and target industries.

The Company does not operate a dedicated online sales portal, nor does it have an online customer portal, but it does allow customers to request free software trials directly through its website. Lithium Technologies additionally offers functionality through mobile apps that are available on iOS and Android devices.

Lithium Technologies makes the bulk of its sales through its in-house direct sales force, which is organised across the Company’s operating regions. The Company’s sales personnel operate out of the Company’s international network of sales and administrative offices that spans North America, Asia Pacific, and Europe, including locations in the UK, Germany, Singapore, India, Australia, and the US.

Lithium Technologies additionally reaches customers through a network of channel and distribution partners. This includes authorised resellers, independent software vendors, and distributors. The Company also collaborates with original equipment manufacturers to develop integrated solutions.

Customer Relationships

Lithium Technologies does not make sales of its products and solutions on a self-service basis. It does, however, allow customers to request free software trials through its website, and provides mobile apps that can be downloaded independently from the relevant application marketplace.

Once purchased the Company’s solutions allow customers to access tools and functionality without interacting with members of the Company’s sales and service personnel.

Lithium Technologies makes sales primarily through its direct sales force, the members of which consult closely with clients in order to fully establish their individual circumstances and requirements. The Company seeks to establish lasting customer relationships, and continues to provide support to clients after sales have been made.

Lithium Technologies offers a range of ongoing support services, with customers able to contact dedicated support personnel over the phone or via email in order to access personalised technical assistance. The Company additionally offers a broad selection of online resources, including developer documents, FAQs, and white papers, that can be accessed independently.

Lithium Technologies additionally operates a user community portal, where customers can share ideas, collaborate on problems, and engage in discussions. The Company also operates profiles with several social networks – including Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook, Google+, YouTube, and Instagram – through which it can interact directly with customers and publish company updates.

Key Activities

Lithium Technologies is a social and community software developer. It is engaged in the development and deployment of software solutions that assist customers in connecting with, engaging with, and understanding their communities.

The Company’s offerings include online community, social media management, social media analytics, earned media, and technology products, as well social marketing, social customer support, and crowdsourcing tools.

Lithium Technologies additionally offers ancillary support, training, and certification services to its clients. The Company is based in the US but serves an international client base across Asia Pacific and Europe, targeting commercial and institutional customers in the retail, financial services, technology, and communications sectors.

Key Partners

Lithium Technologies works closely with a variety of partners spanning multiple sectors, that support and supplement the Company’s in-house operations. These partners can be organised broadly into the following categories:

• Supplier and Service Partners, including suppliers of services, equipment, tools, and technologies that are utilised across the Company’s operating units in support of its core development, delivery, and support operations;
• Channel and Distribution Partners, comprising the Company’s network of authorised resellers, distributors, and independent software vendors that assist in supporting and extending the capabilities of the Company’s in-house sales and marketing teams;
• Original Equipment Manufacturer Partners, including a range of software developers, application developers, and technology companies that work with the Company in developing and deploying integrated solutions; and
• Technology Partners, including technology companies, IT service providers, and software companies that assist in developing and maintaining the Company’s solutions and IT infrastructure. Lithium Technologies names a number of its partners on its website. This includes channel partners such as Netconomy, Avanade, and Optingo; original equipment manufacturer partners such as Aspect and Ipsos; and technology partners such as Microsoft Dynamics, Actiance, and Ooyala.

Key Resources

Lithium Technologies’s key resources are its proprietary technologies and intellectual properties, its products and platforms, its IT and communications infrastructure, its sales and distribution channels, its partnerships, and its personnel.

Lithium Technologies utilises a range of proprietary technologies in the development and deployment of its software solutions, which it protects in a number of ways.

Searches of records published by the US Patent and Trademark Office identified a range of patent applications filed in the name of lithium Technologies, including applications entitled ‘System and method for providing a social customer care system’, ‘Systems and methods for application plugin deployment for websites’ and ‘Gamification for online social communities’.

Lithium Technologies additionally owns and or leases a number of physical properties that comprise its network of sales and administrative offices across North America, Asia Pacific, and Europe.

Cost Structure

Lithium Technologies incurs costs in relation to the development of its technologies and solutions, the development and maintenance of its IT and communications infrastructure, the operation of its sales and distribution channels, the management of its partnerships, the procurement of services, the implementation of marketing and advertising campaigns, and the retention of its personnel.

Revenue Streams

Lithium Technologies generates revenue through the development and sale of software solutions to commercial and institutional clients across the financial services, retail, technology, and communications sectors, as well as through the provision of ancillary support and training services. The Company derives revenue under sales and service contracts that are agreed on a case-by-case basis.