IT enabled marketing ideas – RFID and Facebook Page

Here are some innovative ideas that bridge the gap between Brick & Mortar and Click & Mortar.

Automaker Renault used the innovative “Facebook Pillars”.

Simple, Innovative and Fun

AutoRAI Motorshow is an automotive event in the Amsterdam, Netherlands, and featured brands such as BMW, Audi, Mercedes, Porsche, Ferrari, etc.  How to get competitive advantage? Renault cars were accompanied by especially designed Facebook pillars.  The 2,50,000 visitors to the show were invited to collect their free Renault RFID micro-chip embedded cards from the Renault stand, which they could then link to their Facebook profile. Once the card had been linked, simply swiping it in front a car’s pillar would count as a Facebook “Like”, posting a link to that car on the card bearer’s profile, as shown in the video above.

Here is an idea # 2

Innovative ways the offline world is making the most of the online world

C&A a Brazilian fashion retailer, has an IT enabled idea to bring customers’ Facebook approval into full view in its real-world stores.  It has posted photos of a number of the clothing items it sells on a dedicated Facebook Page, where it invites customers to “Like” the ones that appeal to them.  Special hangers on the racks in its bricks-&-mortar store display those votes in real-time, giving shoppers a clear indication of each item’s online popularity.

For more information regarding comprehensive overview of an entire market, click here to view Brand Analyses, Facebook Page Like, and Facebook Talking About figures………in the real-time!

Do you think innovations, such as above examples, will become more and more common?  Can you afford to be left behind?  We will appreciate your comments, shares and of course Likes.

Replacing ERP Software?

Are you planning to change your ERP vendor?

ERP Implementation tips

Replacing system management software is like visiting a medical clinic for injection, painful but necessary.  First, try to get upgraded version if any, from your existing ERP vendor.  Probably this means more investment, but worth considering.  Once you rule out this option, and decide to look for new ERP software, consider the following points:

1. Once again define the new requirements, this time make a function wise list.  For instance, accounts, material, sales, and so on.  It is important to do the ABC analysis, A essential list, and C is wish list.  Remember if everything is A, you will have to pay for the customization, so let go of some point as wish list.  Share the list with the new ERP vendors, and try to match.  Here the trusting the new ERP partner is important that you want the truth.
2.   Do some business process improvements.  Do not (do not, no this is not a spelling mistake, just to emphasise) automate without improving your existing methods.  Chances are you will automate the mistakes; this means ERP will do mistakes faster.  This exercise is called BPR (business process re-engineering).  All the problems with the existing system are in fact opportunities for improvement.  Ensure that you are aware of the issues, and that the new ERP software system will help resolve them.  Learn more about BPR here  http://www.dnserp.com/b__p__r_.htm.
   

   Do some BPR before ERP

3. Stay focused in defining the scope.  Module wise write down master, transactions, and reports.  Again, do ABC analysis of the same.  See sample scope given here http://www.dnserp.com/dns_scope.htm.  FAQ: Can I change the scope?  Ans: Yes, but after discussing with the ERP supplier and before starting to implement.
4. Select your task force.  Motivate them, yes allocate a budget.  Offer incentive.  Involve key people at the start.  Write important milestones.
5. Size of the ERP company is not that important, small or big, what is important is how important it is for them to make your ERP a success.
6. Arrange for a demo with your own inputs and try to match the report – at this stage without customization.  About eighty percent of your requirements should be met.  So prepare your own data to input for the demo run.
7. Brainstorm with your senior management to identify potential reasons of failure, and take steps to guard the same to reduce risk.
8. Assign one (or better two) main ERP coordinator/s, dedicated resource/s.  Consult domain expert and other consultants such as tax, ISO, 6-sigma, etc.  Ensure their valuable time is available.  Study http://www.dnserp.com/implement_erp.htm.
9. While evaluating make sure the implementer/s are also interviewed and their time is committed.
10. ERP implementer and ERP coordinator team should have project management skill.  Ask ERP vendor to show their track record of other similar size ERP success story, I mean show the document that was used to track ERP project management in the past.

Hope you will find this ERP tips useful and will share with others, by using the social icons given below.  Let us know your comments, add point that we might have missed out, your feed back will be appreciated. 

I lost one hour. Seriously, whole of America did.

At 2 a.m. this morning, clocks moved forward an hour with the shift from standard time to Daylight Savings Time (DST).   This is logical change and not adaptive change. This is logical because everyone is changing their timetable.  For instance, getting up one hour early due to ‘Daylight savings Time’ is logical.  No huge adjustment of life priorities is triggered.  Our body clock can change without much difficulty.  But if you decide to get up one hour early to do meditation or go for swimming is difficult, because it is adaptive change.  In both examples same thing ‘get up one hour early’ is involved.

Using new technology such as Blog is adaptive change.  No matter how hard you try some people are not comfortable using facebook or LinkedIn.  You must have seen the clip that shows expert secretary changing from typewriter to a PC, and throwing monitor, because she is used to do the carriage return.  Or changing from manual system to automatic ERP system is a painful transformation.  Changing from legacy way of marketing and using the digital platforms is not an easy because it requires adaptive change.

Daily we make logical changes.  We use our training to solve routine problems, such as dealing with customer’s negative feedback, or altering action plan when sales target is not achieved.  We do customer survey and make a road map to address the issues.   But note that these examples are pertaining to external changes.

On the other hand adaptive changes are transformative, which compels us to change from inside, in the mind.  We want to reign in our temper because it is affecting our relationships with customers and colleagues, but not matter how hard we try we cannot ‘control’ it.  Our frustration spills over, and now we have to fix the damage.

Anupreksha or the cognitive behavioral therapy is a psychotherapeutic approach, which aims to solve problems concerning dysfunctional emotions, behaviors and cognitions through a goal-oriented, systematic meditation procedure.  There is empirical evidence that this is effective for the treatment of a variety of problems, including mood, anxiety, personality, eating, substance abuse, and psychotic disorders.   We can treat ourselves by a meditation technique; there are treatments for specific psychological disorders.

Only by fixing our inner feelings of frustration can we make an adaptive change.  We could decide to use cognitive behavioral therapy or Anupreksha, or some other method for the internal change.  To make such changes you need to recognize when you are facing an adaptive change, that requires subconscious level of thought and effort.

The real leadership, the kind that surfaces conflict, challenges long-held beliefs, and demands new ways of doing things-causes pain.  When people feel threatened, they take aim at the person pushing for change. As a result, leaders often get hurt both personally and professionally.

(Reference: Leadership on the Line, renowned leadership authorities Ronald A. Heifetz and Marty Linsky, Wikipedia, and Preksha meditation system).