In the previous posts, I commented on the current utilizations of Twitter. This simple but efficient communication tool will lead to a multitude of new business models and applications in the near future, with great potential for both single users and groups, and especially for companies. The tool can be easily combined with other applications so as to create powerful mashups. Twitter can be combined under others with maps, pictures, video, voice-to-text apps and Excel (RSS feeds are supported in Excel, Excel being a gateway to ERPs). And of course Twitter might become an advertising platform, some people in the twittersphere are currently heavily discussing on the subject, including top bloggers Michael Arrington, Robert Scobleizer and Darren Rose. What I think could be interesting and easy to do apps for companies:
<sales> merchandizing (Twitter+Maps+geolocalization): real time shop overview on a map
<sales> order taking (Twitter+Voice-to-Text+Excel+ERP): real time order taking overview, consolidated and per salesrep
<sales> merchandize stock overview (Twitter+Excel+ERP): real time stock availability to drive the sales on shop level
<projects> project management (Twitter+ToDoList+Calendar+Planner): real time management with deadlines tracking and alerts
I feel Twitter is a good tool to manage businesses where speed and flexible communication are required. I personally find it interesting to interact with the salesteams so as to track the competition movements and the stock + business variations in the market (e.g. TV business). I wanted to implement it in my previous company but unfortunately there was strong resistance to change as it is often the case in large organizations.
(will be continued /your comments welcome)