SensoryMetrics

Most social network platforms are basically Facebook clones. Deploying them into enterprise would make them stick out like cheap Nevada bordellos. So why hasn’t someone developed a platform designed specifically for enterprise?

What’s wrong with them?
They’re designed for a large user base with high variants of interests. Users group themselves organically – either as friends, or members of common interest. The two main feature of SoNet platforms are NOT very important within a company:

1. Emphasis on user profiles (some are living diaries, some are Sybil-like multiple personality profiles)
2. Relationship management / friending (you’re either a company or group member)

So what’s required for a true enterprise platform?

1. Reduce the emphasis on personal profiles
2. Be able to turn off the “friends” linking – this is really annoying in a group environment. For a 500 employee small enterprise, how many “accepts” would you need so that everyone is friends with each other? 500 factorial??
3. Introduce Work Groups – simple easy to create. Assign membership and duration.
4. Build easy Media management (per roles permissions, and groups) – build content management within the soNet – it shouldn’t be as complex as something like SourceSafe… but it should be secure, and have versioning, and publishing functions
5. Really Simple Navigation (RSN). This is a huge issue. There are many actors with different roles and projects. With a “super-cool” mini project management template, admins should be able to create networks that are versatile yet simple.
6. Plug in collaboration tools. This should be as easy as WordPress to drop in a scheduling app for example… drop in chat, Skype, Captivate, whatever. ning does this reasonably well – but the apps are trivial. how about SalesForce integration? Autotask? Google maps? iPhone client?  INSTANT MASHUP ENVIRONMENTS FOR WORKGROUPS!
7. Create a visible user hierarchy – like it or not, enterprises are not flat.
8. Build in some minor workflows – especially for file sharing and publishing.
9. Integrate extranet collaboration with intranet collaboration. Many workgroups have customers as participants.
10. Integrate a conferencing / meeting app Calliflower would be perfect for this!
11. Built in some rating tools (Digg-like) or survey-builders (like Fluid Surveys)
12. Display stuff to encourage discussion (active dashboards from a BI tool, for example…)

Part 2: Would you like to play at the Big Blue House

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