The unquestionable success of social networking is something business people have been looking to tap into for some time. Now Virtual Works has developed a solution sponsored by Databuild, which is set to change the way the building industry communicates.
Jonathan Hall, Chief Executive Officer of Virtual Works, says: "DesignMind is an on-line building industry networking site that uses Web 2.0 technology and social networking concepts in a business application. The system makes use of powerful interactive networking technology to connect industry professionals, resources and facilitate conversation, communication, information and opinion gathering and sharing. This means support is available from other industry leaders in the most efficient and effective way."
In 2007, Virtual Works saw the possibilities that existed for a site like DesignMind and the portal was launched in January 2008. Having been closely involved with many of the leading building industry brands, Virtual Works understands strategic industry issues well.
"The industry value chain is complex and fragmented, making it hard to reach and serve many industry players," says Hall. "This scenario, though, also lends itself to the use of simple technology to simplify industry engagement. We saw the opportunity to enable non-competing brands to interact with industry stakeholders, giving them a competitive advantage."
As one of South Africa's leading suppliers of construction information and contacts, Databuild is a perfect fit as a sponsor for the site. Intimately familiar with putting prospective dealmakers together through packages like Webleads and Webleads Mobile, the company quickly saw the potential of DesignMind.
Morag Evans, managing director of Databuild, says: "The site offers industry players an opportunity to converse and interact directly with their market. Databuild also provides tenders to the site which users can browse and apply for."
Hall says offering the industry direct communication with all sectors via each participant's "site within a site" gives them tools to target the right market at low cost. "Search functions in DesignMind make it easy to find resources; communication and messaging tools enable the precise distribution of information; while forums and polls provide current insights."
DesignMind also offers grouping tools that enable users to create highly focused niche communities to interact around very specific interests, such as "green architecture".
To become a DesignMind member, a visit to www.designmind.co.za allows industry players to sign-up and create a profile. Members pay a monthly fee to host a profile on DesignMind and to use the interaction and communication tools. "The extent of the profile determines the cost, enabling small manufacturers and service providers to participate inexpensively," says Hall. "However, thanks to sponsorship by Databuild and other leading brands, DesignMind is free to professional specifiers and designers."
In just a year, DesignMind has attracted around 4 000 members and the site is currently growing at a rate of around 30-40 new members a day. The site is now open to anyone supplying products or services to the industry, whether contractor, retailer or developer, and membership is expected to grow rapidly.
Member access to DesignMind is controlled through a user generated ID and password. Login gives each member of the community a dashboard from which to track community activity, view member profiles and news.
"The system gives members the tools to create and edit profile tags and content," says Hall, "as well as the facility to message and interact with members, link to other members, create commercial groups, target message groups, blog, share information and opinions, and post pictures, video’s and podcasts.
"They can also research community opinion through polls, participate in industry forums, create and manage industry events and search a directory of organisations, products and services. It's a full-service platform," he says.
About Databuild
For over thirty years Databuild has supplied vital information to the construction and related industries. Databuild offers the most thorough, comprehensive, precise and up-to-date database of projects available in South Africa, attracting clients looking to maximize their sales opportunities in construction and its associated fields.
Issued on behalf of Databuild by Ngage Public Relations
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