struggling dreams

I have a story to tell about today presentation… yes, I present the NET's web services and few about today's web concept to Nestle's marketing communication and customer relations team. Do I violate non disclosure agreement about the meeting or else? definitely not! I did not sign anything about the meeting therefore whatever happened be fact and I am free to share it to everyone here.

Days before the meeting, I learned that their corporate website (sahabatnestle.co.id) currently under Customer Relationship Manager and most likely will remain until few years to come. Added to my information that they need a new system for their CRM. Then i felt challenged…

under web 2.0 memes influenced I should be able to redefine the website which leads to community building but still a CRM front end for customer. Based on those condition I tried to googling around and I found few that seems to be solution but sounds hard to execute. I spent the night before the meeting to study the possibility of combining traditional CRM for consumer brands with web 2.0 model. I met the team… two ladies from Marketing Communication team and one from CRM team who responsible for sahabatnestle.co.id operation. We started the meeting with awkward introduction because they did not start introduce themselves like a proper host, instead they gave us a point to start by saying "please start". Not nice indeed as a customer relations person (I am definitely their customer)… They didn't seem to care about our introduction… but when we jump into coca-cola case study, they pay high attention and did much irritating interruptions by throwing jump-around questions.

Our services didn't attract them much either… They were not open about their requirement… My presentation about current project and web 2.0 were quiet arose the enthusiasm… especially when I illustrated the potential value of having loyal users aboard from time to time using our web services, I took calendar API sharing with refrigerators and TV as example: people can manage to re-order milk delivered to their refrigerator or set personal dvd recording from only a web calendar interface.

However, the meme did not move them to explore more nor initiate further possibilities of implementing web 2.0 paradigm in sahabat nestle… instead they fear chaotic might happen if they open interactivity channels.

Additional note… they ask if we familiar with microsoft engine because it is mandatory for them to use MCMS (microsoft Content Management System) and other microsoft products.. I said we do… how odd? in this era of openness… of efficiency… of scalability… cost-benefit value of internet? Few to me… So how it goes to work in Multinational Corporation like nestle… you will look like a person who carried world peace burden that build much stress… so much stress, that everything else but the task never be significant enough, even it was a vendor-wannabe which also a customer who writes the internet…

Will take sometimes until they understand the 2.0, with or without further enlightenment from us… I smell either conspiracy or corruption around the mcms and microsoft done by someone in Worldwide headquarter…

Still we will try to offer our services… humbly meet them and greet them first… then deliver… in a good faith, through wisdom… whatever…