Briefs

Lauren Bell, DM News, Mar 31, 2008.

Networked Insights, a data mining and analytics company, has added new functionalities to its platform.

The Networked Insights program can now mine third-party social networks, such as MySpace and company branded portals, for consumer data. Users can see information on customer behavior, sentiments and engagement in real time.

Facebook is currently off-limits to Networked Insights, but Neely hopes that an arrangement can be made with the social networking giant before long.

"We thought it would be cool to get customers interacting with each other and learn from that," said Daniel Neely, founder and CEO of Networked Insights. "To combine that with transactional data would be the holy grail, so the next evolution is rich insights based on engagement, giving an indicator of where you should focus your efforts as a company."

The company has redesigned its platform to make the interface -- which breaks down data into five areas of focus -- simpler to read. The focus areas are customer needs, content, competition, brand and product/service. Networked Insights has also started giving community members "influence metrics" based on engagement.

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