In a previous blog I wrote about how email is the place where knowledge goes to die. Others are taking this one step further, arguing that email itself will die within a decade.
Progressive businesses like Atos SA seem to agree as they’ve been working toward scrapping internal emails at work entirely. They’ve found that only 15% of internal emails were useful. Instead, they’re turning to instant messaging and a Facebook-style interface to communicate.
As social media tools evolve and continue to provide businesses with real-time data, insights and feedback, it’s no surprise that many have already adopted these tools to engage their employees. Companies are also recognizing opportunities to incorporate social media into the backbone of their business – in managing their supply chain.
In fact, a Logistics Viewpoint survey revealed that 83% of supply chain executives believe that either social media “will make supply chain processes more efficient, responsive and cost effective” or “will transform supply chain processes (for the better) in ways we can’t imagine today.” According to Adrian Gonzolez, Director of Logistics Viewpoints,
“There is a clear opportunity for social media integration into supply chain software to facilitate communication and collaboration between employees and different functional groups and with suppliers, customers, and other external partners in a private, secure environment.”
Manhattan SCOPE® Social is an engagement framework that does just that – it integrates actionable operational data with public and/or enterprise social networking tools such as Facebook, Twitter, Yammer, Moxie, Rypple and others to engage the workforce (supply chain members) in achieving superior operational results.
The following video explains what Manhattan SCOPE Social is all about:
Eddie Capel, Executive Vice President and Chief Operations Officer at Manhattan Associates, explains,
“Operational excellence requires that supply chain executives engage their workforce to leverage all knowledge and expertise to gain competitive advantage. Putting tools in place to ensure the timely, efficient and compelling sharing information from those closest to the process flow to those making critical operational decisions has become a requirement for leading companies.”
Lessons for others:
Currently, around 40% of players in the supply chain industry use social media to connect with their vendors who then leverage social media to expand their reach to customers.
So why aren’t more adapting? Although many executives feel social media will transform supply chain processes, they’re saying they just don’t know how, why and where to start. Adrian Gonzalez suggests these execs need to:
- Think beyond Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn – companies can deploy non-public social networking solutions internally to facilitate communication and collaboration.
- Avoid viewing social media as more work to do or more information they need to sift through in addition to email and voicemail – in many cases these tools replace existing tools and practices, like back and forth emails and conference calls which go undocumented.
While email may not completely die, I do believe its role will change and will become less important over time. When it comes to engagement and collaboration, for instance, email’s role has already changed and it’s no longer the tool of choice. Using email here is like driving a car with flat tires – it doesn’t work well and it feels broken. Social media, on the other hand, is like driving a new Porsche off the lot – it’s quick, efficient and effective.
Web references:
- Supply Chain Software, Social Media, and the Death of Email
- Supply Chain Executives Define Social Media Too Narrowly
- Manhattan Associates Announces Manhattan SCOPE® Social
- Supply Chain and Social Media
Submitted by: Terrah Warner – SMBP Student University of Waterloo
To contact the author of this entry please email terrah.warner@gmail.com.
If you have concerns as to the accuracy of anything posted on this site please send your concerns to Peter Carr, Program Director, Social Media for Business Performance.