What makes people enjoy work?

Having spent a number of years working in traditional and pure play retailers, one of the things that has struck me is the talent working in both organisations. People are generally hard working, committed and able.

However, above all this I have noted that those working in eCommerce are generally more enthused by the work that they are doing. They seem to enjoy their work, want to be part of creating something new and often are the ones testing the boundaries of what can be done.

I'm now trying to establish why this is. Is it because they are younger (not from what I've seen), harder working (again, no proof) or brighter (not seen evidence of this either). I'm keen to find out why, because these people are a pleasure to work with. Those that know Ridge Solutions and the person behind it, know that we love going to work, solving problems, creating new solutions, and from this creating better organisations, more profit, or increased revenue.

As we enjoy working so much, we could enjoy it even more if we were working with people who also really enjoyed it. So, time to think on, why are these people enjoying work and how do we help others to feel this way about work as well.

Comments welcome please.

Microsoft Dynamics AX Consultants Day with K3 and Microsoft - Microsoft London - 25 May 2010

Microsoft hosted an event in London with K3 to launch the new Dynamics AX platform for retail.

I've known K3 for a number of years, having implemented Navision (now Microsoft Dynamics NAV) with Alliance Pharmacy (now part of the Alliance Boots group).

So, I was interested to know where the product set had moved on to and what they were up to.

After the initial catchup with my old friend Mark Fulcher (K3 IT Director) about kids, cars and holidays, we stopped the chat and got down to business.

So, for me the question is what is AX and what are they all on about. Isn't this just NAV with a different name. What I learnt was that this wasn't the case. AX isn't an Oracle Retek or an SAP R/3 Retail, but the product set has come on a long way.

First off, the guys at K3 do get retail, and they get the fact that we don't just sell products in stores anymore. Multi channel was a strong theme for the presentation and deservedly so. Those retailers that nail it in the next 5 years will be thinking true multi channel.

The run down of the modules/stack is as follows:

Microsoft Dynamics AX - The Core Product is MS. This covers the core ERP of Financials, HR, SCM, CRM, etc.

Microsoft Dynamics AX for Retail - Again this is MS with the core modules of retail back office, .NET POS and Store Connect.

K3 Modules for AX include - Multi Channel Manager, Webstore, Call Centre Advanced, Store Manager EP, Advanced Merchandising, BI for Retail, Communication Manager and Retail Role Tailored Clients.

All of this is integrated into the core of Microsoft (Windows Server, SQL Server, SharePoint Services, Office, etc) and so Microsoft start to make a compelling argument about how easy to use and integrate the solution will be. Interestingly the look and feel uses the ribbon system that was implemented with MS office 2007, and the solution looks very much like Outlook when you open it up.

So, after an interesting tour of the solution, I was left thinking that there are options coming along from Microsoft. However, there product launches officially on 1st August, so this isn't a product that is out there with 1000's of users.

That said, I can remember when the first version of SQL server came out and everyone thought that there were better products around.

Now, over 10 years on, SQL Server is a much bigger player in the marketplace.

If Microsoft put the same energy into MS Dynamics AX Retail as they did for SQL Server, things could really move on in the next few years. K3 certainly know how to deliver.

I'm looking forward to watching progress. Maybe before I know it I'll be implementing the solution myself!!

eGain EMEA User Conference -Windsor, 18th May 2010

eGain hosted a day for all users to collaborate around the customer. With the conference title "The Customer is Still King" this was certainly in evidence throughout the day.

Ian Rawlings, The eGain marketing director played host to the event which opened with an excellent key note speach from Ed Thompson at Gartner

In 1 hour Thompson completed a whistle stop tour on everything to do with CRM and customer care. Intersting information from the CEO research completed at the start of 2010 which identified that retaining customers is the number one item on the to do list for CEOs and that 4 of the top 10 items on the CIO list were about the "customer".

Hot topics include mobile, self serve, and social networking and Thompson took us through these.

We were then given an excellent presentation on the implementation of eGain at Vodafone Portugal. An important project for Vodafone and one which seemed to be delivering great benefits to customers and Vodafone alike. As Joao Cruz stated, a real win win.

This was followed by similar presentations from customers about the implementation of eGain at Netrada in Germany and MTN in South Africa. A truely global solution. The Netrada solution required at least 10 different laguages to be supported, if not more.

In the afternoon we were then split in to tracks to find out about new product innovations. One of the key interesting features was the eGain social module that will take in feeds from Twitter, Facebook and even your own community website and help you to evaluate, respond and report on activity happening in the wider social network. A great tool and one that companies should embrace.

Finally, we were given an overview of some of the solutions delivered in the USA and the benefits gained here.

The day was a complete success, opening up new opportunities for many. The breadth and depth of coverage was amazing from functionality to projects to geographic coverage.

Attendees then took a breather before an excellent dinner was served.

Everyone should have left thinking about the next project to help their customers. Remembering that the "Customer is Still King".

I certainly did.

Fieldworks Event - Fraud and Risk Mgt - Central London - 13 May 2010

The Fieldworks Marketing Team created another great night last night when they hosted an event with Peter Kaye from John Lewis talking about risk.

Now I can't say that this topic excites me as much as some and I went to the event as much with intrigue as anticipation.

However, Peter Kaye (not the comedian) was an excellent speaker, and made what could have been an incredibly dry topic, a very interesting one.

Discussing how risk management is part of business as usual in the John Lewis Partnership, his best example was that of the Volcanic Ash. His response to how Waitrose managed their supply chain was that this was something the business deal with every day. A very refreshing answer.

Now, as Peter explained, I have no doubt this business as usual state has come about through his trusted leadership, as he seems to have educated his business from top to bottom on how to deal with these issues. I don't believe this has happened overnight. But the man with a forces background was very thorough.

I loved his key phrase of Observe, Orientate, Decide and Act, or OODA as he liked to call it. We could all do more of that.

Following the excellent talk, there was plenty of opportunity to catch up with colleagues. Good to see people from projects past. All seemed to be enjoying life.

Working the Google Way

As part of the daily emails around industry headlines, I picked up on this magic little video about Google.

It's a short video showing how Google employees in their London office spent the day putting together a picture of the Google logo using 6x4 photos. It compresses a number of hours into a 1 minute video. Whilst I like the fact that the Google team can spend the day doing this due to working style at Google, another thing struck me.

I've looked through the video a couple of times and I can't see any photo being repositioned or taken off at any point. There also desn't seem to be a big pause in proceedings or scratchingof heads. I've therefore concluded that these types of activities can only be positive, allowing for team building, getting to know each other and a good job well done at the end.

Very interesting.

MetaPack User Conference - London - 11 May 2010

Held in the centre of Westminster, London, amongst the chaos of the hung parliament discussions around them, MetaPack today held their user conference.

CEO Patrick Wall opened the event which included an audience of carriers, retailers, consultants and industry experts. He promised a packed day starting with a short review of the last 12 months and the majority of the event being reserved for the future.

Wall didn't dissapoint and with a short review over, we were treated to presentations on everything from the IMRG gold standard (See www.idisgold.org) to 1 hour delivery slots (DPD - www.dpd.com) through to deliveries in a box from ByBox (www.bybox.com).

There were plently of opportunities to ask questions in this well organised event, including time during and at the end of sessions and also during the metwork opportunities during the lunch and coffee breaks.

Following the opening from MetaPack, Royal Mail presented well on the future of Royal Mail. Having reached agreement from the unions, Royal Mail are now able to modernise their business and start to take advantage of the opportunity of the Royal Mail network to offer more services to companies wishing to deliver parcels.

We were then taken through the Packet+ service being offered now by UK Mail. Another new service for them.

Dwain McDonald did a great job of showing us how DPD are allowing 1 hour time slots for delivery. His product is cutting edge and his honesty very refreshing. DPD will certainly be taking market share this year.

We then broke for lunch and MetaPack bravely took the post lunch slot and with a Morecambe and Wise style delivery (their words not mine) they took us through the way the business has grown and how through partnership they have some compelling services to offer now.

Manhattan gave an excellent presentations on the multi channel whirlwind and ByBox took time to explain how their deilvery offer allowed people to gain flexibility and control in the receipt of their delivery.

Wall closed the day with an offer for drinks in the pub next door and everyone left saying it had been a informative and useful day.

Plenty to keep the mind ticking over. A great day.