IBM Forum Center © 2011 IBM Corporation IBM Client Centers : IBM Forum Centers as a powerful business tool in Europe Andrew Stephens 25th May 2011
Dec 25, 2015
IBM Forum Center © 2011 IBM Corporation
IBM Client Centers : IBM Forum Centers as a powerful business tool in Europe
Andrew Stephens
25th May 2011
2Presentation Title Date IBM Forum Center © 2011 IBM Corporation
Andrew Stephens.
• Marketing and Communications Manager, IBM Forum Centers in Europe
• Responsibility for all marketing and communications activities in IBM Client Centers in Europe.
• 12 years experience in IBM in Market Insights, Marketing Operations, Marketing Communications
• Extensive B to C experience in : – Publishing– Subscription Marketing– Mail Order– Financial Services– Travel.
• BSc (Hons.) Applied Statistics from Sheffield University, UK.
• British citizen living in France – married with 1 son.
3Presentation Title Date IBM Forum Center © 2011 IBM Corporation
What is Client Experience?
The designed interaction between a client and your organization
People make decisions on emotion – then rationalize with intellect
Emotions
Physical Senses
Emotional Innovation
It is the blend of the physical, the senses, and the
emotions evoked
Adapted from Beyond Philosophy
Positive client experiences connect with emotions of your clients and will engage them
•A Good Client Experience exceeds expectations•Creates loyal Clients who become advocates•Is a powerful differentiator – and is difficult to copy
It is designed and ingrained in the organization’s DNA•Every employee is part of the client experience•It is not just one of the things you do – it is the way you do business
4Presentation Title Date IBM Forum Center © 2011 IBM Corporation
28 IBM Forum Centers in 15 European countries with a dedicated & professional team. A local-business driving platform with direct links to IBM Research and IBM industry solutions.
Services dedicated to IBM Sales & Marketing, Clients and Business Partners
Extensive range of solution areas, business demonstrations and technology
The IBM Forum Centers host more than 250.000 client and partner visitors per year
Industry solution expertise to meet business needs Industry Solution Center @ IBM Forum La Gaude Automotive Industry Solution Center@IBM Forum Ehningen Banking Industry Solution Center@IBM Forum Barcelona Industry Solution Lab @ IBM Forum Zurich Research.
IBM Forum Centers Europe A sales and marketing platform to promote IBM’s business offerings in local markets in an IBM-branded experiential environment
IBM Forum Centersinstant access to a world of knowledge through physical attendance or virtually via
videoconferencing and others
5Presentation Title Date IBM Forum Center © 2011 IBM Corporation
Madrid
Paris
Lisboa La GaudeBarcelona
Tel Aviv
Milan
Zurich (2)
Ehningen
Wien
Brussels
Amsterdam
London
Stockholm
IBM Forum Centers across Europe
Helsinki
Copenhagen
WarwickSatellites : Berlin – Düsseldorf - Frankfurt – Hamburg - Köln - München
Most IBM Forum Centers integrates:- IBM Innovation Center for BP &- Technical Exploration Center
6Presentation Title Date IBM Forum Center © 2011 IBM Corporation
Solution Support Designated solution and demonstration areas Installation and maintenance of solutions Guided tour demonstrations Access to a network of skills Integration into the EMEA network of solutions offerings
Marketing & Communication Display and promotion of marketing initiatives relevant for the local market within the center
Overview value proposition of Forum Delivery of marketing materials (brochures, flyers, promotional CDs, etc.) direct to clients
Logistical Event logistics Enrollment, name tags, document distribution to participants, reception and security
professional Client hosting Supplies : pens, block notes
Event Management Agenda consulting and session support Business themes / speaker support Event quality evaluation Evaluation sheet dispatching Possibility for early morning and late evening sessions
Technical Access to technical infrastructure Technical management of solutions Use of audio visual material (beamer, flip chart, video, sound system, microphone, etc.)
Technical hosting of sessions Video conference system Internet point inside the Center
Standard Center Services as part of overall offering.
7Presentation Title Date IBM Forum Center © 2011 IBM Corporation
Value of IBM Forum Center Guidelines – useage in 2010guide and coach local teams to ensure that the IBM brand values resonate amongst the 250k annual client and partner visitors in IBM Forum Centers
• Drives consistency in messaging and leading growth of Client Experience across center network.
• Brings together all the roles and responsibilities, strategic considerations, design and communication elements into one document.
• By striving towards an unified look and feel across client centers ensure that centers enhance IBM Brand Values and present IBM offerings in a familiar but branded experiential environment.
– Integration of the smarter planet agenda into IBM Forum Centers binds together the IBM Forum Centers identity with the IBM brand as part of the overall Total Client Experience.
8Presentation Title Date IBM Forum Center © 2011 IBM Corporation
IBM Forum La GaudeA multi-functional and multi-hosting center under the IBM Forum umbrella.
9Presentation Title Date IBM Forum Center © 2011 IBM Corporation
Factors contributing to make IBM Forum La Gaude unique
• An IBM client center with international focus. A client immersive approach by industry Close collaboration with Business Solutions Center Lead Architects
- Subject Matter Experts. Tailored agendas to meet client expectations 60% of C Level visits High Definition remote solutions capabilities through Direct Presence Player in the local community ecosystem (local authorities, universities)
10Presentation Title Date IBM Forum Center © 2011 IBM Corporation
Industry Solution Center @ IBM Forum La Gaude
An Innovative Marketing and pre-Sales platform which aligns industry knowledge
and technical expertise in an integrated center to support business, grow
revenue, market share and acquire new clients.
• The Industry Solution Center@IBM Forum La Gaude creates a tailored environment focused on the client experience.
Upon entering the Center clients are made to feel comfortable in surroundings which are similar to their industry. It is home to a showcase of solutions which enable each of the industries to bring to life their solutions and demonstrations.
The Industry Solution Center focuses on solutions of
the following industries : Retail, Consumer Products, Travel and Transportation Government, Healthcare Telecommunications Financial Markets, Insurance, Banking Energy & Utilities
11Presentation Title Date IBM Forum Center © 2011 IBM Corporation
Cloud Center for Industries
2008
IBM Innovation Center (IIC)Industry Frameworks
Cross Industry
GovernmentTravel & Transportation
TelePresenceCross Industry
2008
Energy & UtilitiesIndustrial PLM
UC2 CenterCross Industry
Retail, Consumer ProductsSupply Chain, Insurance
Smarter Cities
TelcoMedia & Entertainment
Industry Solution Center hosted by IBM Forum La Gaude – a client Immersive environment by Industry, enriching the CLIENT experiences, with full remote access via HD video system.
Smarter Planet CornerCross Industry
HealthCare
12Presentation Title Date IBM Forum Center © 2011 IBM Corporation
IBM Forum Zurich Research ISL
13Presentation Title Date IBM Forum Center © 2011 IBM Corporation
14Presentation Title Date IBM Forum Center © 2011 IBM Corporation
15Presentation Title Date IBM Forum Center © 2011 IBM Corporation
IBM Industry Solutions Labs – The Research-focused part of the IBM Forum Center Network
Almaden Austin
WatsonISL
ZurichISL
HaifaDelhiISL
BeijingISL
Tokyo
IBM Research Worldwide
Exploring innovative solutions for tomorrow and beyond• Foster collaborative discussions with forward-thinking client business leaders,
technical management, senior executives, and our Researchers• Leverage IBM Research to demonstrate IBM’s innovation and thought-leadership
capabilities• Deliver customized executive-level programs
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A Brief Virtual Tour of the IBM Forum Zurich Research ISL
17Presentation Title Date IBM Forum Center © 2011 IBM Corporation
Selling with Research
- a program launched by IBM Forum Centers to drive selling with IBM Research in local markets.
18Presentation Title Date IBM Forum Center © 2011 IBM Corporation
IBM Forum Centers EuropeFirst of a Kind: development of a traveling exhibit for the EDISON IBM Research project
• Topic: Sustainable large-scale adoption of e-vehicles
• Deliverables: plug & play interactive exhibit and banner
• Launch: launched in July in the UK and in Spain
TED Event London
IBM Forum London
IBM Forum Copenhagen
IBM Forum Madrid
19Presentation Title Date IBM Forum Center © 2011 IBM Corporation
Following the successful launch of the IBM Forum Virtual Client Center in 4Q
2010, 2 new projects have been launched in April 2011.
• Selling with Research call hosted in the auditorium of the IBM Forum Virtual Client center on 14th April (14h CET) via a live webcast.
– Target audience consisted of client reps, consultants and IBM Forum Center teams throughout Europe and beyond.
• ‚IBM Forum Center Network‘ location opened in April 2011.
– Visitors will get an appreciation of the IBM Forum Center network business expertise and its relevance for local markets.
– By clicking on a center location on a map will result in the visitor discovering more about the center (videos, electronic brochures and eventually a visit to the center web site).
• Next step will be the creation of an IBM Forum Solution Area.
20Presentation Title Date IBM Forum Center © 2011 IBM Corporation
Sales enablement: “Selling with IBM Research” Webcast April 14, 2011
Motivation• IBM Research makes a difference – in IBM and in
the world. The latest proof point in a long list of Research breakthroughs is the development of the Watson Deep Q&A system.
• There are various ways how our clients can benefit from IBM Research and various ways how Research can support Sales and Marketing.
• To illustrate how our Sales and Marketing colleagues can best leverage Research and its
services in their daily activities, the IBM Forum Center network in Europe offers the “Selling with
Research” Sales enablement program.
• In this series this year’s first call was hosted in form of a live webcast in the IBM Forum Virtual
Client Center. A replay is still available.
21Presentation Title Date IBM Forum Center © 2011 IBM Corporation
Sales enablement: “Selling with IBM Research” Webcast April 14, 2011
Program
• Carlo Bonalume, Manager IBM Forum Centers Europe
Taking "Selling with Research" to the next level
• Pascale Lenz, Manager of the Zurich Industry Solutions Lab
Your future is our concern - how to apply the findings of IBM's
trend research to our clients' business
• Alexander Dalheimer, Director of General Business (GB)
Switzerland
How GB clients can benefit from Research and the Zurich
Industry Solutions Lab
• Dr. Paul Seidler, Senior researcher and project leader for the
Zurich Nanotechnology Center
A first look behind the scenes of IBM's cutting-edge
Nanotechnology Center at IBM Research - Zurich
22Presentation Title Date IBM Forum Center © 2011 IBM Corporation
IBM Forum Milano- Fashion solution store
23Presentation Title Date IBM Forum Center © 2011 IBM Corporation
Web and social media
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A dynamic Facebook with frequently changing content attracts visitors and improves
IBM Forum Center awareness
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IBM Forum Centers You Tube channel (linked direct from the Facebook page)
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IBM Forum Centers calendar function on Facebook allows the promotion of
business initiatives and events in centers to be advertised in a social media context.
27Presentation Title Date IBM Forum Center © 2011 IBM Corporation
Conclusions.
• Driving a client experience across multiple cultures and multiple markets involves :
– Ensure consistency in messaging
– Unifying look and feel across client centers to enhance the IBM brand values
– Allowing sufficient flexibility to cater for different markets’ cultural aspirations and business focus.
www.ibm.com/ibmforum
IBM Forum Centers on Facebook, Twitter, You Tube and LinkedIn