April 6, 2009 20 Comments

Dell Goes Niche with Ideastorm for Healthcare

healthcare ideastorm In the “you’ve gotta take a look at this department,” check out Ideastorm for Healthcare from DELL. Their original Ideastorm project was about giving voice to a community to better improve Dell products and services. Ideastorm for Healthcare gives a specific community a place to come and talk about things from their perspective.

Take note of this idea. They’ve given voice to a segment of their community that matters to them. It’s obviously the sign of things to come, and not a bad way to show that you’re listening. It’s also great for your product marketing teams as well as better customer service.

It’s a win, provided your community rushes in to respond and do their part. Remember, it’s not exactly sexy for customers to talk about you and your product unless they come away with the feeling that they’re being equipped for further success. Meaning, people love when you listen by giving them exactly the product they want/need/crave.

Tricky, eh?

Watch this space. I look forward to seeing what Dell reports about this, and glad that the gang are still delivering innovations in the space of social tools for human interaction. Now, the interesting question is, “what comes next?”

Related posts:

  1. Dell Launches Digital Nomads
  2. Think Niche

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  • http://www.theviralgarden.com Mack Collier

    “It’s a win, provided your community rushes in to respond and do their part. Remember, it’s not exactly sexy for customers to talk about you and your product unless they come away with the feeling that they’re being equipped for further success. Meaning, people love when you listen by giving them exactly the product they want/need/crave. ”

    Agree and I think that Dell has build up enough equity with their customers from how they act on suggestions from Ideastorm, to get the community’s attention. I think the issue will be, will they attract enough people around an area that’s a bit outside of Dell’s perceived business comfort zone?

    Either way, it shows Dell is continuing to experiment with the idea of crowd/customer sourcing to improve their business. That’s a good thing.

  • http://www.theviralgarden.com Mack Collier

    “It’s a win, provided your community rushes in to respond and do their part. Remember, it’s not exactly sexy for customers to talk about you and your product unless they come away with the feeling that they’re being equipped for further success. Meaning, people love when you listen by giving them exactly the product they want/need/crave. ”

    Agree and I think that Dell has build up enough equity with their customers from how they act on suggestions from Ideastorm, to get the community’s attention. I think the issue will be, will they attract enough people around an area that’s a bit outside of Dell’s perceived business comfort zone?

    Either way, it shows Dell is continuing to experiment with the idea of crowd/customer sourcing to improve their business. That’s a good thing.

  • http://healthcare.ideastorm.com Vida Killian

    Thanks Chris and Mack! As the IdeaStorm(s) Manager at Dell, I am excited to take this “idea” into new businesses and communities. It shows the dedication of the different businesses within Dell to listening and collaborating with customers.

    As for “what comes next”?? Stay tuned!
    :-)

  • http://healthcare.ideastorm.com Vida Killian

    Thanks Chris and Mack! As the IdeaStorm(s) Manager at Dell, I am excited to take this “idea” into new businesses and communities. It shows the dedication of the different businesses within Dell to listening and collaborating with customers.

    As for “what comes next”?? Stay tuned!
    :-)

  • http://www.ratracetrap.com/ Stephen – Rat Race Trap

    Very interesting. I too am curious as to where this will end up.

  • http://www.ratracetrap.com/ Stephen – Rat Race Trap

    Very interesting. I too am curious as to where this will end up.

  • http://www.wurkit.com/ Daniel Ritzenthaler

    I’ve been getting creepy feelings of history repeating the last few months…

    These questions/requests/ideas sorted and promoted based on popularity type of applications seem insanely close to when forums were the big thing 5-10 years ago.

    They’re someone from the “outside” of the organization posting an idea that people can discuss, only there’s a “vote” of coolness as the measurement instead of number of comments.

    Which was just like the board systems or whatever they were called before forums… That’s getting before my time. :)

    Does that creep anyone else out?

  • http://www.wurkit.com/ Daniel Ritzenthaler

    I’ve been getting creepy feelings of history repeating the last few months…

    These questions/requests/ideas sorted and promoted based on popularity type of applications seem insanely close to when forums were the big thing 5-10 years ago.

    They’re someone from the “outside” of the organization posting an idea that people can discuss, only there’s a “vote” of coolness as the measurement instead of number of comments.

    Which was just like the board systems or whatever they were called before forums… That’s getting before my time. :)

    Does that creep anyone else out?

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  • http://www.barrywheeler.ca Barry Wheeler

    I’m wondering if this will improve the IT offering to healthcare organizations or if it will lower it. The quality of what Dell offers now in its computer / electronics offering definitely shows signs that it is not what it was some time ago. Can we afford this in Healthcare?

  • http://www.barrywheeler.ca Barry Wheeler

    I’m wondering if this will improve the IT offering to healthcare organizations or if it will lower it. The quality of what Dell offers now in its computer / electronics offering definitely shows signs that it is not what it was some time ago. Can we afford this in Healthcare?

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  • Christina Viering

    We need working IT products in healthcare.

  • Christina Viering

    We need working IT products in healthcare.

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  • http://www.mapals.com/ VJ – Martial Artist

    Niche always works long term

  • http://www.mapals.com/ VJ – Martial Artist

    Niche always works long term

  • http://www.mapals.com/ VJ – Martial Artist

    Niche always works long term

  • http://www.mapals.com/ VJ – Martial Artist

    Niche always works long term

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