New Technology for CI - What's Your Favorite?

[Kieran Michael Brown]

What other types of new technology, especially "web 2.0" tools, do you find valuable? I'm thinking of tools like technorati, del.icoi.us and Linkedin and custom RSS feeds. I suppose you could include the whole pantheon of Google apps in there as well. You might also include high end tools like what Anderson Analytics offers.

I'm interested in hearing how other people have adapted some of these great gadgets for CI purposes.

[Avner Barnea]

I have written recently an article in Status - Israel management Magazine( unfortunately in Hebrew) about the various uses of LinkedIn for CI purposes. Usually, I'm advising my clients to use dedicated systems for CI mostly those that have developed in Israel.
Avner Barnea

[Arthur Weiss]

Web 2.0 tools - LinkedIn, Xing, and Omgili.

I also like Digg - although not as useful as Omgili for CI. As for Google Apps - well I'm presenting a case study on using this and LinkedIn for CI at the International Online Conference in December. I'm not sure how we'd have done the research required as quickly if we hadn't had these tools - so our customer got results in a much short time period.

I don't have a favorite however. They are all tools - and you choose the right tool for the job. (Asking for favorites is a bit like asking a carpenter which tool he prefers - a saw, a screwdriver, a hammer or a drill. Try screwing in a screw with a saw or a hammer. You can't!)

[Arik Johnson]

I'd never heard of Omgili Arthur - thanks for the tip!

[V. Shuman]

Hello Arthur - I hadn't either and it's very useful - thanks for the lead!

[Avner Barnea]

Omgili is interesting. But again, it is another tool of gathering information. The challenge is tools for analysis. I will speak on this subject on the European Summit 08.
Avner Barnea

[Ken Sawka]

Very interesting thread here. Can anyone share a success story related to using any of these technology tools - a key source interview, an insight gained that would have otherwise been missed without these tools, etc. It would be great to be able to not only say that CI practitioners and consultants are using these tools, but that they are benefiting from them with some real success stories. Thanks!

[Avner Barnea]

At least 20 Israeli companies are using these tools (developed by 2 different Israeli software houses) on regular basis. It has become almost ordinary tools for CI professionals here. They are saying that they cannot see their activity without these tools. Unfortunately, none of them appearing in the newly released report by Fuld - 2008-2009 Intelligence Software Report®. Hope that my presentation of one of the concepts that has been implemented, in the coming European Summit 08 will be useful.
Avner Barnea

[Arik Johnson]

Which one are you using Avner?

[Avner Barnea]

As a CI consultant I find myself very often occupied with IT solutions for CI needs . I know the solutions in Israel and abroad while I'm very familiar especially with the two local solutions and can help companies to decide what answer their CI needs. I'm pushing forwards this direction. There are two new solutions in advanced development.

[Arthur Weiss]

Come to the International Online Conference taking place in London in December. I'll be presenting a case study at the conference on using these tools for CI. There are several projects I've worked on which have depended on some of the tools I mentioned and more. Not the analysis tools - but the web-collaboration tools, the social networking sites, etc. Without them, the projects would have taken longer, cost more or not even been possible in at least one case.

[Eric Garland]

We are having grand success with a platform called ClearSpace from Jive Software. It's not especially sophisticated - just an attractive, web-based internal wiki. We use it to keep running track of market trends and competitors, to share the data of multiple analysts so we know what we know and don't forget.

The especially useful features are searchability and the ability to post blogs as a meta analysis of the hard data we're capturing.

Like I said, it doesn't add lots of value in and of itself - it doesn't track trends or people using advanced digital satellite OdorVision or anything - it's just become a best practice for us as we learn to share information and analysis among multiple people in a friendly and secure way.

Love to hear about all the new software from you cats! Very helpful.

-EG

[art]

I use google alerts which is great.