Devoted to Managers and those that seek to improve their management skills

In our current state of business, we have come to the place where we must embrace our customers as partners. This isn't something we must start thinking about in the future sometime; it is already upon us big time.

Think of the video gaming industry, social-networking sites and even a place like Starbucks which seems to have an endless array of offerings for any palate out there.

How does one work with numerous partners? How can you build a business model based upon that?

In the area of technology, it's not really as hard as it looks. As CRMguru says, "The gaming industry provides gamers with the source code and the tools to modify the games. In this way, the gamers, themselves, can personalize the experience. This "mod" community—for "modification"—is made up of people who have always treated the games as theirs, playing them and adapting them in such a way that they ultimately transform the original game into something entirely different."

Social-networking sites are similar. The customers are offered tools to make personal sites that reflect who they are, and are able to do a number of things that are customizable. This is one of the huge draws of these types of sites. Again we see the companies creating tools that offer the customers the ability to customize their experience.

Is this related to only technology related businesses, or can it be applied in the brick-and-mortar world also?

Take the case of Starbucks. They listen to their customers wishes and respond by making an extraordinary amount of unique concoctions, to their customers' delight. The equivalent of technology in this case is the base supply of ingredients that allows so many variety of flavors to be made.

The key in any business is the tools, in whatever form they take, being available for customers to be able to customize their unique tastes and desires. The ways to do this are endless. Those who find the way, will be rewarded tremendously now and in the years ahead.

The first step is to recognize and acknowledge that this world is upon us now.