As we continue to incorporate technology into our business, it’s important that many businesses start incorporating their Information Systems Department (ISD) into their business organization. Traditionally, the day to day operations of a business and those of the ISD were completely separate from each other. The ISD’s main functions were to manage systems and infrastructure development, computer operations and training in IS (Information Skills).

Recently those functions have evolved, and they did so because of one important role: the end user. The end user has transformed the main functions of the ISD from a technical to a more consultative function. This transformation has lead to a creation of a partnership between the ISD and the end user which has created a very vital relationship between the both. No longer is the ISD just an IT department, they now use IT as tool to solve many problems that end users face on a daily basis. In return, end users also benefit the ISD by recommending different uses of an organizations information resource to help a business run more efficiently.

As an organization’s computing needs get more complicated, it becomes very difficult for the ISD to fully manage all of the organization’s information resource, and this is where the end user can share more of the ISD’s responsibilities. In complicated organizations, like Hospitals, banks and other large corporations, the ISD can’t simply manage the organizations information resources itself, it has to heavily rely or share the role with the end user. The end user can then help manage the information resources at the department level and the ISD can manage those at a corporate level. This type of structure helps larger or complex organizations become more effective because information resources at a department level are managed by the end users, who are directly using those resources. The ISD can then gear their focus to more complicated information resources that can help the organization as whole become more effective.

There’s no question that the role of the ISD has dramatically changed from a technical to a consultative function, but as managing information resources get more complicated, it’s more important that the end user and the ISD work closely together so they can innovate and create solutions to help the organization run more effectively. Therefore, creating a relationship that is perfectly balanced between the ISD and the end user should be a strategic goal for every business at any size.

According to mobiThinking, In 2009 there were over 5.3 billion mobile subscribers and over half a billion had a smartphone. In 2011, 85% of those mobile subscribers will have web-enabled smartphones. That’s a huge spike in web-enabled mobile users. Although many companies have adopted some of the latest trends of smartphones, there are 3 things that they have not fully capitalized to their full potential. These 3 areas of opportunity can easily help your business adopt to the fast-paced mobile world and improve your customer’s experience:

NFC capabilities: Get enrolled now!

Most of all retailers and small business have a merchant Point of Sale machine that handle debit and credit card transactions, and now is the time for those machines to get upgraded to handle the onslaught of NFC enabled mobile phones that will be soon shipping within the next 2 years. Be ahead of the curve and get signed up or upgrade soon. This will not only give you a competitive advantage over other retailers but it will keep customer satisfaction high, as many consumers will be eager to try this new form of payment.

Get Proactively Involved with E-Coupons and Rewards.

Many consumers are shifting their shopping from actual stores to online retailers like Amazon or eBay, and they do so because they have great confidence that they will get a better deal online then they would at the store. Therefore, when they’re met with a tempting deal at a store, they hesitate and choose to look it up and buy it online. Actively applying discounts and reward points will give that customer an emotional sensation to buy now, rather then later, will help your business win that sale immediately. E-Coupons and rewards can be used in conjunction with NFC enabled phones and apply automatic discounts and reward points when an enabled NFC phone is used as form of payment at the register. Such a feature is being rolled out with Google’s own offering of Google wallet and I recommend you take immediate action to differentiate yourself before it becomes the norm. Remember be proactive, not reactive. Customers always love to be rewarded without having to chase down discounts.

Compatible Websites: Make your website compatible to mobile web browsers.

Many of the huge retailers have already jumped on board with creating specific mobile applications pertaining to their company for the two larges phone ecosystems: Android and the iPhone. However, not everyone has an Android or an iPhone so creating many different types of applications for each specific mobile operating system can be expensive and time consuming, especially for smaller businesses. In addition, with the large pool of applications between Android and iPhone, only 1 of 4 applications downloaded actually get used. Therefore, when creating website for your company, make sure that your site is mobile browser friendly. Make things simple and accessible to customers without having them to zoom in on a page that’s meant for your laptop on a small 4 inch portable screen. In addition, if your website requires the user to fill out a form — for example loan applications — please make it mobile friendly. I can’t tell you how many times I started to fill out a form on my phone but just quit because it was just too much work.

Some of these tips sound like common sense but it will make you wonder why it isn’t a uniform standard across many retailers and companies. The truth is that the most of these initiatives will eventually become standard, but the key to your business is to be ahead of the curve and give your customer that friendly mobile experience and satisfaction they haven’t felt anywhere else.

Source: mobiThinking

We are immersed in a very fast paced industry, where training and education are extremely important to our success. Internal meetings should be effective and educational. Regardless of whether your team has new members or you have been working with the same people for some time now, sharing thoughts and analyzing specific case studies will take your team to the next level without a doubt. Empower your team to talk about about their experiences and even their challenges in their job. Communication, and most of all unity, are key to succeed.

I found an interesting book out there “The Innovation Secrets of Steve Jobs”. Some of the principles mentioned in that book could very well apply to our business:

Increase your performance and success with the “If-Then planning”. It’s a simple plan with great benefits. Researches show that by acting based on the “If-Then planning” you are two or three times more likely to succeed. The basics: If X happens, then I will do Y. The X can be a time and place, or it can be an event. Y is the specific action you will take whenever X occurs. The plan works so well because it speaks the language of your brain: the language of contingencies. Best part is that it becomes an unconscious act, so you can reserve your energy towards more important tasks.

Are you using social media in your advantage? We may feel a certain level of discomfort at first, but as we push through we will be able to get a lot of valuable comments and ideas on how to better ourselves and the product we are offering. People are going to write whatever they want on your “wall”, but, often rewards await those who push through the discomfort of the unknown. Push through the discomfort and use everything in your advantage. Building trust with your customer base doesn’t come easy – each day is a step forward towards a successful product.

New year, new reviews and your team expect a feedback and more money. You definitely want to incentivize the good performers to go further in their career and work harder in 2011. The ones you are promoting inside your organization or in the affiliate team tells a lot about your core culture. Look at different aspects of their performance and relationships within the organization – teamwork, performance, focus on the goals and revenue generated. The way we promote our affiliate managers, or any employee in your organization, will send signals to the entire company.

It’s time to look back over the year at our accomplishments, as well as the things we wished to or still need to fulfill for ourselves and others. Our clients need us as much as we need them – we are all connected as a large network and our success is always dependent on the connections we have created and maintained. We can end the year strong and better ourselves starting today. Give back to all your partners and show them gratitude as each one of them helped you one way or another to get you where you are at. 2011 can bring you the opportunity to accomplish great things!

Never give up on trying to build new business relationships. Keep in mind it sometimes takes many attempts for a new business partnership inquiry to turn one into a “live/working” relationship. Don’t give up on just reaching out to a few people a few times, because sometimes the best new business relationships take some hard work and patience with follow up.

Utilize those around you to build your knowledge about the industry. You could be someone that has been in the industry for many years and probably knows a lot about affiliate marketing, however sometimes picking the brain of those around you is a good way to keep your ideas fresh and in line with what is going on with everyone else. Be a sponge with your peers around you and your new affiliates that might be able to shed some great light on what’s new and innovative!

Remember to follow up with past contacts, even if you are not currently doing business with them. Business needs and developments change, so you never know what opportunities you might be missing with the people you already know.

Do you feel like you crossed the finish line of a half marathon at the end of every week? Maybe not all of you are into running, but you get the idea. Feeling that way means you have gone the extra mile with your job, taking care of your clients and affiliates. We are now into the Q4 – so the final marathon is here. Who is going to make it the 26 miles? Gather your strengths, tie your shoes and have a great run.