The days of using an inbox for dealing with customers on a B2B relationship is dying a fast death. The reality is that with the average administrative person receiving 20 emails in their inbox a day it is becoming difficult to track communication between supplier and customer. I speak mainly on behalf of industries affected by the supply chain as I have experience in this field but social software can be used effectively in project management or any other field which requires team work.

WebGrowth has already implemented a successful emarketing campaign for a South African steel supplier. We have now added to that a software program that keeps the supply chain communication open. A software system that creates discussion groups, so supplier and customer can discuss deadlines, projects etc. In the steel industry it is about chasing material and ensuring it arrives on time. Sharing files is also possible and it’s all on a secure server, so forwarding quotes has become very safe and easy.

The benefits of such a file sharing program over the traditional inbox is that all communication is saved under one customer folder so a complete history of communication can be tracked. Discussion groups can be created with as many people needed, many not being active but they are able to track communications 24/7.

Companies who take advantage of the simplicity of powerful social media software and use it for business purposes will see the advantages immediately. Inboxes should be a means for receiving new contacts/leads from referrals but as soon as the relationship between the two businesses come to ‘fruitation’ and contracts are in place then social media discussion groups to track communications are the way forward.

Social media saves time and money, which are both key to any supply chain and/or project management team.

WebGrowth’s software of choice offers their clients the following:

Single, Consolidated Space

It keeps all project related content in a single, consolidated workspace. All client’s needs to access is in one place to do any project-related activity without the need of going back and forth between multiple tools and channels.

Any Content

We know that projects involve countless files, versions, tasks, notes, document related discussions, and general discussions with one or more team members. Our chosen software allows you integrate and share any project-related content (Even images, music and video files) into your workspace using the latest encryption protocols.

Instant Notifications

With all the information being communicated across our client’s teams, it’s hard to keep track of new content or urgent matters that need to be addressed instantly. Our chosen software allows you to send instant messages to team members and alerts you when updates have been made.

Team Work

Each project involves a different team. Each team works differently. Our chosen software allows you to invite unlimited team members, communicate with them in real-time or asynchronously, assign them distinct permissions and know their presence status any time. Since every team has their “way of working”, our chosen software allows you to create a work structure that truly reflects each team’s distinct needs.

Anywhere - Anytime

We realize that a network connection is not always readily available, therefore, there we offer a peer-to-peer solution that allows you to work on your computer both online and offline. Work wherever, whenever you want without network dependence. Once you get online, your workspaces synchronize transparently with your team members.

This entry was posted on Wednesday, April 16th, 2008 at 3:20 am and is filed under Social Marketing. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.