Generate Knowledge by Visualizing Social Relationships
ZURICH, Switzerland--The consultancy company shiftTHINK has developed a software solution – the first of its kind in the world – to analyze and visualize social networks in a business environment. shiftTHINK is now looking for sales partners to market this successfully tested tool for knowledge workers.
Against the backdrop of increasingly complex corporate structures and worldwide client bases, both efficient management of client data and multidimensional evaluation of client-orientated information are crucial. Up to now, no appropriate tools were available to visualize social networks and convert the information contained there into usable data. The CONNECT software was developed specifically to enable Customer Relationship Management (CRM) and Social Relationship Intelligence (SRI) to be combined into a single neat tool and businesses to reap the rewards of actively managing their social networks.
Identifying business opportunities in social networks
CONNECT's eight-month test phase (Public Beta) was an opportunity for household names in the corporate world to gain initial experience of Social Networking Analysis (SNA). For instance, shiftTHINK CONNECT is currently being used by banks (in private-banking operations), by large companies (project and personnel management), as a marketing-strategy management tool, in public relations and in the fight against terrorism. "Whenever we have discussions with clients, we discover new fields of application we had not even thought of," explains shiftTHINK managing partner Dr Michael Böni.
The initial version of CONNECT packs a punch with its intuitive user interface and optimized network visualization. The software was designed for use in large organizations, can be run by multiple users and efficiently processes substantial quantities of data. Its functionality enables users to list individuals or organizations, show how they are linked and display precise details about the nature and level of the network connections. Data that are already available can be imported from e-mail programs such as Outlook and Mozilla Thunderbird and via CSV interface, or linked to existing work processes in CRM systems. CONNECT provides a platform via which to apply major network-analysis methods, including hubness ranking, betweenness centrality and barycenter ranking.
Availability and price – sales partners wanted
CONNECT is programmed in Java and has a multilevel structure, comprising an application server, a database, and a client for the Windows, Mac and Linux operating systems. The Enterprise Edition Bundle, at a basic price of USD 102'000 excl. VAT, includes a CONNECT server and 50 clients. An English language version of CONNECT is now available.
In a bid to launch CONNECT on a wider scale, shiftTHINK is keen to cooperate with management and corporate consultancy companies, computer retailers and business software resellers. More details about shiftTHINK CONNECT and the partner program are available at http://connect.shift-think.com.
About shiftTHINK
shiftTHINK is a company offering consultancy services in the domain of IT strategy, IT architecture and IT project management. CONNECT is the result of shiftTHINK's knowledge in technology and complexity management, an effective solution that enables users for the first time to manage, visualize and analyze social relations and structures within business networks. shiftTHINK was founded in 2002 and is based in Zurich's Technopark. Its managing partners are Michael Böni and Carole Hofmann.
