In the run-run to its 2018 Cool and Hot Vendor Forum on October 18 in Orlando, Florida, the Gartner Observatory is developing case studies to spotlight the most impactful, innovating and intriguing firms we have spoken to, out of hundreds of Cool Vendor designation holders who have taken part in our research. In this case study, our communications director Suwen Chen outline the process for winning the designation, and what the outcomes were.

1. Smowl offers a service which identifies and monitors
student while learning online through a combination
of facial recognition and human's recognition. This
allows students a 24/7 access to learning material and
moreover to take examinations and acquire
certificates online. To improve the technology they
are further working on voice recognition.
Winning the Cool Vendor
Cool Vendor in Education, 2014
Using the Cool Vendor
Analyst Relationship
Impact
Gartner's improvement opportunities
After winning the CV Smowl has been proposed to make a case
study, commercial activities and others by Gartner. They
weren't able to accept that offer, because of their financial
situation. Even though the business was at that time 2 years old,
they just started working with their first client when winning
the CV. "Our situation was not good to take that package."
Only used for commercial activities:
name the CV in
their presentation
mention the CV
in their reports
In the future, Smowl wants to get the services offered by Gartner and
analysts. Still, they are not actively in contact with industry analysts but
have been named in some reports by them.
Potential clients
might see the
award as a good
representation of
the firm.
Internal impact:
increased
motivation
Support the CV winners in communicating with clients and institutions. Smowl still has
difficulties to reach out to the United States market. Additionally, it would be helpful if
Gartner would reduce the time and the money you need to invest.
It's hard to
compare the
situation before
winning the
award to the
situation
afterwards.
Department benefiting the most:
customer acquisition and commercial department.
They got funding from the European Commission in 2018.
Only 54 companies in Europe were funded out of over 1.100 and they got the
Seal Of Excellence - Being a CV made them standing out from the crowd.
MORE DETAILS ON COOL VENDOR FORUM 2018:
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GARTNER OBSERVATORY, A UEBS RESEARCH PROJECT