SMAC - Social, Mobile, Analysis (Big Data), Cloud

Source: Oatmeal Shop

I am a pioneer of  various initiatives in my organization that ranges across new technology, new business offerings, new geography expansion and have done stuff that probably are firsts in the Indian IT industry. I was the probably first to install a PegaSYSTEM platform in India in early 2001. I was probably the first to use open source test management & defect management tools and package them as part of a new services called CRM Testing & BPM Testing - independent validation services for the implementations done of CRM & BPM systems. I was a pioneer for our Switzerland expansion too. And most of you probably know about my pioneering work on social computing for business leverage. I have graduated from a Tinkerer to a Thinker to a Connector  - of ideas & people.

Social CRM in Outsourcing

Source: Waiting for the night shift

I was asked by our PR agency to provide "just a couple of lines on the importance of social CRM in outsourcing nowadays" to help a journalist ... here is what I gave them:

"Outsourcing is a risky business and finding a trust worthy vendor usually needs help from others who have worked with those vendors. It also helps if the vendors have built credibility at an industry level. Social Media is a valuable new way to find these credible vendors.

Are you the next Zoho? #CRMIdol, now open for APAC too

CRM Idol 2012

Yes, you read that right.

After a resounding success (in the contestants own words) CRM Idol, the contest that aims at bringing the spot light on small startups building CRM software (by extension means social too), now includes new geographies as it opens itself for registration for the 2012 season.

You can get more details from the contest's website: http://www.crmidol.com.

And if you were not aware, in addition to the visibility that it got the startups and small vendors, the contest's judges mentor the contestants too. And the judges (who don't get paid) are all industry veterans, and they have meaty dollops to offer (as a gratitude and a way of giving back to the industry that sustained them so long). And its not just the visibility or prizes to be won either, three of the last year's finalist got bought and their CRM Idol ranking mattered a lot in that decision making process!

India, and everybody else in APAC, here is your chance to shine and make your presence felt. We are searching for the next Zoho. Prove the pundits wrong and let them know that we don't just code, that we build great products too. Go forth and register yourself.

Here is a request for those who are not a startup / small company (less than 7 year old) and yet reading this. Please pass on this message to any such company if you know them. APAC is replete with vernacular and I would not be able to reach everybody with my English based channels. I would request for any and all the help you could extend to help these startups.