When logistics professionals hear the words social media, panic often sets in. Has a customer tweeted a complaint about a late delivery? Was a picture of a damaged delivery posted on Facebook?
My Logistics Magazine recently reported on how social media has become the preferred choice for customer complaints, a method that the online world can see, so it’s no surprise that we associate it with anxiety, or sometimes even fear.
But now there’s a new wave of social media that will (hopefully) make you feel empowered; the niche online business network.
Sound complicated? Think LinkedIn for a specific industry.
There’s already Spiceworks for IT administrators, GitHub for software engineers and Academia.au for (you guessed it) academics. And now for us in the procurement, logistics and supply chain profession there’s the recently launched Procurious, which I’ve played a key role in developing.
As with LinkedIn these platforms offer you the opportunity to build your professional network online and promote your personal brand through an online profile, yet they also offer something more…
Catering to the industry
In developing Procurious, our research revealed that logistics, supply chain and procurement professionals value networking, thought leadership and technical advice – so we created an online hub that does all three. Similarly, other niche online business networks aim to cater to their industry’s needs.
GitHub enables members to commit code. Academia.adu allows members to share research papers. And Procurious offers bite-sized training videos from some of the world’s best trainers and the latest industry news and events accessible on-the-go, all on top of its networking capabilities. With lessons such as “profiling the supply market” and “spend analysis fundamentals”; plus trainers versed specifically in logistics, it’s a one stop shop for those in the logistics and materials handling sector looking to get ahead.
Creating community
Despite the global nature of the profession, our research also showed that logistics and procurement professionals felt disconnected and like outsiders on LinkedIn. I only assume others in less known or mainstream professions feel the same way. Online platforms create a sense of community for these niche professions – members can network across the globe and share knowledge with likeminded peers via discussion forums.
In fact, if there’s any profession that aligns best with the purpose of online networking platforms – global, real time communications in a network environment – it’s the logistics profession. Interoperability, global initiatives and jointly sponsored innovation has long been sought by logistics professionals tasked with meeting environmental goals, optimising global infrastructure, and ensuring supply chain security. What better place for this than your own online community.
But are these communities gaining traction?
Undeniably. Although still in testing phase, procurement and supply chain professionals are keen to participate in a global community, with members from over 48 countries already signed up to Procurious. Spiceworks boasts over five million users, GitHub a staggering six million and Academia.edu, 10 million users. Clearly, these networks are striking a chord.
The funding raised for these start-ups has been incredible. Spiceworks closed $57 million in February, GitHub raised $100 million back in 2012 and Doximity just recently announced a $54 million dollar round of funding. I’m no venture capitalist, but these figures will help these companies implement tremendous growth strategies, from research and development to an accelerated hiring plan.
Online business networks are on a fast paced growth trajectory, underpinned by strong demand. They won’t replace social media juggernauts like Facebook or LinkedIn, they’ll complement them. In fact, Procurious offers capabilities to easily sync your contacts from LinkedIn. By offering tailored services that address the needs of the user, niche online business networks will help logistics professionals take that next leap.
The Procurious motto is get involved, get ahead – so what are you waiting for, have you signed up yet?
Tania Seary
About Tania Seary
Tania Seary is the founder of three procurement related businesses: The Faculty, a procurement management consultancy; its sister recruitment firm The Source; and Procurious, an online network for logistics, supply chain and procurement professionals. With more than fifteen years in the procurement industry up her sleeve, Tania previously worked for the likes of Alcoa, Rowland and the Walt Disney Company across the USA, UK and Australia.
