IBM Unites Unified Communications and Social Media
IBM Unites Unified Communications and Social Media by UCStrategies Staff
Networking giant IBM has announced that before the middle of 2013 it will launch several new communications and collaboration products including an upgrade for its social networking tool, Connections enterprise social networking platform, and a brand new suite designed to improve human resources tasks. The company intends to display the new features at the IBM Connect 2013 conference in Orlando.
The Connections upgrade will include newly developed analytics tools that will enable administrators to monitor usage, such as engagement with customers via social media and collaboration trends within a group of employees. The improved Connections (rel. 4.5) will be released in March 2013 and will also include new content and document management features and an innovative “ideation” tool to assist with brainstorming sessions. Connections 4.5 will also feature a stronger integration with Microsoft Outlook, giving users the freedom to access IBM Connections via their Outlook interface.
“This 4.5 version is a momentous announcement," said Rob Koplowitz, a Forrester Research analyst. “IBM continues to grow, add functionality to and improve Connections.”
IBM’s new Employee Experience Suite will incorporate existing IBM enterprise social and communication software as well as human resources management applications from IBM’s newly acquired Kenexa. The suite will be available in the first half of 2013 and will empower marketing departments and human resources with video conferencing, micro blogging, IM, document sharing, discussion forums, employee profiles, and wikis.
In addition, the current Customer Experience Suite, created for marketing departments, will also get a facelift. The new release will enable marketers to push content such as promotions and advertisements to social networks simply and efficiently.
IBM has also scheduled a March upgrade of its Notes-Domino email and collaboration software; the new version will be entitled IBM Notes and Domino Social Edition 9.
"We have an enterprise social business platform that is for social networking, content management, analytics, and can be leveraged across all business departments," said Jeff Schick, vice president of social software at IBM.
At the outset of the 2013 Connect conference, Jeff Bowman, global e-business manager at Caterpillar, the maker of heavy machinery equipment and industrial engines, announced that Caterpillar is already deploying IBM enterprise social products to help expand its physical communications with clients to the online arena. “We're funding e-business at an unprecedented rate at Caterpillar,” he said.
Ross Grossman, vice president of human resources at Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, announced that his company has been using Kenexa software and services since 2007, enabling the company to improve the way they recruit, hire and train staff and increasing employee participation and retention. “In HR, we want to have a meaningful impact on business," said Grossman. (CU) Link