Assessing the LODE: Report on the Local On Demand Economy

If you’ve followed this blog you know we’re in love with on-demand services. Not only do we write about various advancements in our own product (available for download here: iOS and Android), but cool “on-demand” companies sprouting in our back yard and around the country. 

So when an authority like BIA/Kelsey announces a forthcoming report on the industry – and Urgent.ly is mentioned – we take special notice. 

Mike Boland of BIA wrote this on their site yesterday:

We’ve been calling it On Demand Local Services (ODLS), but with a new white paper to further plant our stake in the ground, we’re extending its boundaries with the term “Local On Demand Economy” (LODE).

Regardless of what it’s called, it will be a key area to watch in the coming months. This goes for anyone working in local media or selling services to SMBs. Like many disruptive areas, LODE is both opportunity and threat.

(Side note: Boland recently spoke to our CEO Chris Spanos about this whole “Uberification” thing over here.)

We certainly see LODE as an opportunity, and have since before we even  launched Urgent.ly. We also think its acceptance is critical to the future of so many services. We’re bought in.

But if you’re not so sure, or on the fence, take a look at the report’s executive summary over here – maybe it’ll get you ready to lode up.

Image: BIA/Kelsey