✨ Community Highlights ✨ - June 2022

Hello Community!

Summer is here! 🌞 and some of us will be going on vacation, but inriver will still running as usual. A lot has been happening in the first semester of the year, and a lot more will happen in the second one. 

But that’s not all! A lot more is happening in inriver and the community!

So, here we go! 🤗

What’s Happening in the community?

We are rethinking the community and we want to bring to you a better space to engage, learn, and network. That’s why it would be magnific if you could share with us what would you love to see in the community ➡ Share your ideas 💡 for the Community!

Every month, Viktor Bergqvist and his team create prototypes in a rapid and iterative way as part of inriver Innovation Labs. If you would like to know more about these experiments don’t forget to follow inriver Innovation Labs .

We want you to meet the amazing people behind inriver, that why we started a new section in the join the fun! group, called “What’s in your mug?” where an inriverian is presented. If you want to know more about how’s a day in inriver you could also follow inriver Instagram here.

Top 10 users

Your participation in this community is crucial to running it, so let's take a moment to recognize the top 10 users this month! You have been doing an amazing job engaging in the community. Thanks for keeping the conversation going and for the great vibes!

• Harsh Thakur
• Martin Hoogendoorn
• Henk-Jan van Pesch
• Mark Stuart-Walker
• Stig Nicklas Hansen
• Emilia Nilsson
• Kristina Bertilsson
• Danny Langlois (ICP)
• Ulrik Viebke
• Ragnhild Jonasdottir

5 Recommended Articles

We have more than 1800 articles here in the community. Here are 5 of our favorites for you to check out:

• 📢 inriver Scheduled Maintenance on July 23rd, 2022 – inriver community
• 🎦 5 in 5 with Ramon Delgado – inriver community
• What's in your mug, Lisbeth Hover? ☕ – inriver community
• 3 key concerns to be aware of on the digital shelf – inriver community
• Comparison table of variants (sub-entities) – inriver community

Academy News: Why training resources are important when selecting a SaaS solution 

SaaS solutions are among the fastest-growing segment in the IT industry. They are becoming increasingly popular for many businesses for a variety of reasons, including flexibility and affordability. 

The question is:  What to look at when selecting a SaaS provider? 

Let’s be honest, when we face this question, the first thing that comes to mind is the software features and functions. And it is logical: we want a software to solve certain problems, preferably, at an attractive price. But what about training resources and learning opportunities? Often, they are not on the top of our evaluation checklist. However, they should never be underestimated, especially when we talk about such complex solutions as PIM systems.  

Just think about it: engaging demo presentations, creative marketing materials, convincing customer success stories... all focused on presenting the software benefits, ease of use, significant efficiency improvements, etc. But what happens next once the contract has been signed? You can get it all once you know where to look.  

Here are a few questions that are worth asking your future SaaS provider: 

1. Is there a well-thought-out user onboarding?

You can invest in the most technically advanced solution on the market, install, configure and customize it, but if employees don’t use it, it is not worth the money neither the time invested in it. 

2. Are there learning materials, and training opportunities to support smooth and friction-free adoption?

Adoption of a new complex software forces employees to change the work process that they are used to. Lack of training can cause prolonged or stagnated adoption and even employees’ resentment toward the change. This can lead to a tough decision on whether to drop the software solution to keep employees happy or keep the software and deal with the advancing employees’ dissatisfaction. 

3. Is there proper communication about any changes in the software solution?

Software is not static; it is constantly evolving. Think of all updates, new feature releases, and minor or major user interface changes--can a software provider deliver adequate communication and educate the end user on how to realize the value of these changes? 

4. Does the software provider have knowledge base articles that store the fundamental knowledge that is important for the end user? Is knowledge accumulated and shared in some other way and shape; e.g., blog posts, community forums, podcasts, etc?

At inriver, our Academy and Community allow us to be in constant dialogue with our users, providing a much-needed space for user onboarding, training, and support. 

What’s coming?

Did you know inriver has a Champions Program? With this program, we celebrate, embrace, and recognize the talent of the world's top product information management professionals. During the coming months, we will present to you the inriver Champions and you will be able to learn more about them and ask them questions.

If you are curious to know more about inriver Champions Program, read more here.