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Filed under: business partner optimisation

Open Source microblogging with Status.Net

Statusnet

Status.Net, the open source microblogging software (which powers the Twitter alternative, identi.ca), released version 1.0 in the last few days. Status.Net already had a good engine under the hood, but there is quite a selection of new out-of-the-box features in this release that really benefit end users.

Apart from the flag ship identi.ca network, who is actually using Status.Net? In this recent interview with Status.Net, it was reported Deutsche Bank, Motorola Mobility (case study from 2009) and SAP are using the software. I had also heard that the UK government was using Status.Net on their internal secure network, however I don't know if that is current.

So, why bother with Status.Net when there is a good selection of commercial competitors in the marketplace?

Firstly, Status.Net do offer a hosted version, with free and premium options. If cost is a concern then it certainly looks like one of the cheaper options, with the premium version starting at only US$3 per user per month. Status.Net already supports a range of desktop and mobile apps, so users won't be missing out on critical features taking this option.

But as you would expect there are some differences and gaps - you certainly aren't going to get the system integration or extra collaboration features that tibbr supports or that Chatter offers with Salesforce. And while you can federate Status.Net servers, its not quite the same as Yammer Communities. This can be a good thing, because on the other hand Status.Net was never designed just for the enterprise market and you can use it in ways that enterprise-orientated products wouldn't be a good fit for.

Perhaps the most interesting option with Status.Net, since it is open source, is to host your own - this might be an option if you:

  • Want complete control over the application, data and/or look and feel - this could include hosting a Status.Net site for internal use, but it might be that you want a custom customer or business partner facing site.
  • You want to utilise a microblogging tool for a use case that the commercial options don't want to support or aren't designed to support.
  • You want to use the underlying Status.Net activity stream engine for doing something unique.

Status.Net might also be a good option for a pilot, where firewall or corporate policy completely blocks the use of externally hosted tools.

I should point out that at version 1.0 for other than the basics, the administration and configuration of the site does still require the direct editing of configuration files and style sheets. However, if I look at the Elgg experience - where the back-end admin has improved immensely with the 1.8 release  - then I'm sure this will improve with time, but its quite as easy as installing and maintaining something like Wordpress.

Personally, I do also find the Extended Profile plugin a little frustrating in its current implementation - for an enterprise use-case, I think the extra profile needs to be better integrated with the main interface as its easy to miss these details when browsing a user or updating your own profile - but this could be addressed as part of your own customisations.

Overall, I think Status.Net is worth watching and including in your list of options particularly if you either want something that just does core enterprise microblogging or you have some other non-standard use case in mind.

Intranet, Internet, Extranet merger imminent?

It’s clear that the once clear distinctions between intranets, internet sites and extranets are blurring somewhat as the technology evolves and business needs develop. Traditional distinctions between internal and external communication teams (and outputs) will also likely diminish, mirroring this application of technology. This merger though will bring some clear advantages.

  • A single design with a single user experience for all places, giving a clarity of corporate identity with smaller overall design bills
  • Publicly listed companies are obliged to publicly reveal some materials to the markets before telling employees (see our intranetizen post on laws and intranets). A single merged space could limits the chances of a mis-timed publishing.
  • Employees read the corporate site too! Merging ensures that there is no chance of mixed messaging especially if the former intranet and internet materials were managed by different teams. Consistency of content is critical when information consumers can compare and contrast.
  • Reduced licensing and support costs as to you move to using a single technology foundation.
via intranetizen.com

We are definitely heading down this path - I'm seeing this issue come all the time during the planning stages for social intranets.

However, in practice right now it doesn't necessarily deliver all these benefits - e.g. licensing models for external and inward facing versions of the same platform can throw a spanner in the works. In some companies, the public internet site is also a more reliable source of information than the intranet - so some users might not see this as an improvement.

But there is not doubt that in the medium term, the intranet is definitely going to be a victim of extranet-isation; meanwhile organisations are also building external facing spaces where staff and customers will mingle. Just a question of if and when these will merge.

Two Australian examples of Socialtext helping to transform organisations

Pastedgraphic
Here in the southern hemisphere, you have to keep you eyes open for good case studies of local organisations taking advantage of the technologies that can enable them to become socially designed businesses.
My friends at Socialtext recently pointed out a couple of interesting local examples:
Hayes Knight
Hayes Knight is a good example of using social software to support a core business process, which is accounting knowledge creation and sharing:
“Signals allows us to respond faster... The speed with which we’re answering questions has been cut in half, and is a full 7−8 minutes faster on average. The wonderful thing is, as we capture these great answers inside of Socialtext workspaces, we also cut back on repetition where questions cover the same issue and build best of breed responses and knowledge on key issues of importance. It allows us to serve our customers faster and more consistently.”
Dennis Howlett even sang the praises of Hayes Knight, highlighting that their system:
trumps most knowledge management systems that are inherently document based. Documents are far harder to corral and keep up to date than digital assets.
I expect you are thinking this is just another wiki case study, right? But in fact part of the business process includes using Socialtext Connect to integrate with their hosted CRM system, Salesforce. This pulls information through Signals into Workspaces.

SA Government
The SA government example is also interesting. We've been saying for a while now that the Gov 2.0 crowd may be missing an important point: To be social on the outside, you need to be social on the inside. However, in this example we can see this process of organisational learning playing out through the use of social software (in this case, microblogging):
Several managers advocated in favor of holding and keeping the conversations in smaller groups, while others pushed for more enterprise wide discussions. A member of the risk management group raised concerns about security. A project manager gave a counter-example, talking about value she sees in asking questions and getting answers from the larger group.

Eventually, the manager weighed in. He said that the goal they were striving for in their use of social software was increased transparency. Part of the goal was to move the culture toward greater openness and transparency. Sure, there is the possibility that someone might make a mistake. But people use email every day and make decisions about what information to share with whom. It’s better to share the goals and trust people’s judgement.
If you haven't looked a Socialtext before or had written it off as just an enterprise wiki, I really recommend taking another look. The Hayes Knight case study in particular demonstrates to me that Socialtext have a good vision that puts their platform up there as one of the leaders in this space.
Also posted here.