Avon use cloud computing to create a social network of salespeople.
I keep an eye on cloud computing (that’s where all your business systems run on the internet, not your company servers) cos it’s, y’know, interesting. But I love it when Enterprise based social networks – or shall we call them staff communities ? – come into play:
Ding! Dong! Avon Calling!
A big step at Avon
Avon is embarking on a massive, multiyear overhaul of the way it manages its nearly 6 million sales representatives around the world. In the past, “sales leaders”, who help manage reps but are not employees of the company, mainly checked in with the salespeople through face-to-face meetings and phone conversations. But next month, Avon will begin to equip 150,000 sales leaders with a cloud-based computing system accessible via smartphones and PCs.
The technology will keep them much more up-to-date on the sales of each rep, and it will alert them when reps haven’t placed orders recently or when they have payments overdue to the company. The idea is to increase the sales and efficiency of Avon’s distribution system.
Avon’s strategy shows how the relationship between individuals and their computers is undergoing a radical change. Up till now, people have used a variety of computing devices in their professional lives, including desktops, laptops, handhelds, and smartphones. Each device was essentially an island of capabilities—applications, communications, and content.
Cloud computing means that information is not stranded on individual machines; it is combined into one digital “cloud” available at the touch of a finger from many different devices.
“We’re shifting to more of a people–and information-centric world,” said Paul Maritz, CEO of software maker VMware VMW.
Particularly noteworthy is that they use a form of virtual workforce that is particularly suited to the ‘net…
But… Ewww… don’t take it too far though
Serena Software has switched almost entirely to cloud services, even using Facebook as its main source of internal communications.
Given that Facebook has the suckiest inbox (try putting stuff into folders to find later) and group software, this is hilarious. For example managing active forums is a nightmare. Luckily most are inactive.
I got caned for saying this at the Social Network and Online Collaboration conference in December: test social media/network tools internally first, if you can’t make it work with people who have a stake in making it work, then it won’t work with uncaring customers.
After IBM tests new consumer-like cloud computing capabilities internally, it launches them as services for customers.
… see? At least IBM agrees with me!
Quotes from Steve Hamm’s article in Businessweek How Cloud Computing Will Change Business. Odd that Businessweek don’t make the most of standard social media strategies including making their videos embeddable (with logos slapped all over ’em). That’s leaving marketing dollars on the table…
I avoid TechMeme as much as possible but this stuff swam in front of my eyes: 3. 2. 1. Contact. The API has landed — Have you ever been on a web-site that asked you for your Google username and password so that it can import your Gmail contact list? Did you think twice before…
Melbournites, listen up! Michael Specht is running a conference on H.R and Recruitment and social media. Time Session Speaker 8:30 AM Arrival & Registration with Tea and Coffee 9:00 AM Welcome and Introduction Michael Specht 9:10 AM Keynote – Thoughts from TED 2009 Stephen Collins 10:10 AM Implementation of Enterprise 2.0 and its Value in…
My crap attempt at microbogging Jack Matthews: Content is King for FairfaxKevin Anderson: should The Guardian have seesmic in their blogs? Kevin Swanepoel: Viral videos are cool Morning Tea: chatted with Kevin Anderson who has contacts with Saudi women bloggers BBC: we the consumer are learning and evolving. BBC takes television and convergence and creates…
Linkau have launched an Australian social network. I don’t know how clearly you can see from the picture above (from the Sydney portal) but it’s very MySpace-y. No attempt to pull out information into an aggregated page. No real attempt to add any value to the Australian MySpace proposition as far as I can see,…
I did have high hopes for NowWeAreTalking (see my bloglet and subsequent comments) Telstra’s attempt to build an online community around it’s services. But. The Age (Helen Westerman and Rebecca Urban) has an article, Telstra makes a discourtesy call. TELSTRA’S online mouthpiece nowwearetalking.com.au likes to do some plain speaking.But a recent posting taking a swing…
I’ve had a quick look around for the best of the best of consumer ads. Here’s my pick:The Tiger Woods/Nike ad by Joseph Jaffe.I created it on my laptop and apologies for not being able to insert the swoosh at the end, although I think it works just as well just the same.Nike eventually used…
Interesting piece by @silkcharm re: Cloud Comptuing, Social Networks, and Enterprise http://bit.ly/Q2kSn
RT @ MichaelBromley Interesting piece by @silkcharm re: Cloud Comptuing, Social Networks, and Enterprise http://bit.ly/Q2kSn
RT @MichaelBromley Interesting piece by @silkcharm re: Cloud Comptuing, Social Networks, and Enterprise http://bit.ly/Q2kSn
Always like to see information on Cloud Computing! Looks like Australians are starting to wake up to it too with Telstra announcing a $500m spend this week on cloud computing services.
Avon Calling: Cloud Computing Social Networks | Laurel Papworth- Social Network Strategy http://bit.ly/IlOsj RT @SilkCharm
Avon Calling: Cloud Computing Social Networks | Laurel Papworth … http://bit.ly/XrAL9
Avon Calling: Cloud Computing Social Networks | Laurel Papworth … http://bit.ly/ALTxZ
Avon Calling: Cloud Computing Social Networks | Laurel Papworth … http://bit.ly/TSuCo
Avon Calling: Cloud Computing Social Networks | Laurel Papworth …: Avon use cloud computing to create a social.. http://bit.ly/GCeOL
RT @SilkCharm Avon Calling: Cloud Computing Social Networks | Laurel Papworth- Social Network Strategy http://bit.ly/IlOsj (via @tweetmeme)
http://laurelpapworth.com/avon-calling-cloud-computing-social-networks/
Interesting piece by @silkcharm re: Cloud Comptuing, Social Networks, and Enterprise http://bit.ly/Q2kSn
RT @ MichaelBromley Interesting piece by @silkcharm re: Cloud Comptuing, Social Networks, and Enterprise http://bit.ly/Q2kSn
RT @MichaelBromley Interesting piece by @silkcharm re: Cloud Comptuing, Social Networks, and Enterprise http://bit.ly/Q2kSn
Always like to see information on Cloud Computing! Looks like Australians are starting to wake up to it too with Telstra announcing a $500m spend this week on cloud computing services.
Avon Calling: Cloud Computing Social Networks | Laurel Papworth- Social Network Strategy http://bit.ly/IlOsj RT @SilkCharm