IBM Case Studies Merck KGaA: Cloud-based social business solution used to inspire collaboration and innovation

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	Merck KGaA: Cloud-based social business solution used to inspire collaboration and innovation IBM

Merck KGaA: Cloud-based social business solution used to inspire collaboration and innovation

IBM

Technology Category	Platform as a Service (PaaS) - Connectivity Platforms
Applicable Industries	Chemicals Pharmaceuticals
Applicable Functions	Product Research & Development
Use Cases	Collaborative Robotics Predictive Maintenance
Services	Cloud Planning, Design & Implementation Services
Challenge	Merck KGaA, a global pharmaceutical and chemical company based in Germany, needed to foster innovation to remain competitive. The company needed to capitalize on the collective intelligence of its workforce by uniting the widely distributed and functionally distinct competencies of its employees. The company sought a practical way to energize its personnel to use social business technologies to share observations, knowledge, and expertise. Read More
About Customer	Founded in 1668 in Darmstadt, Germany, Merck KGaA is the world’s oldest pharmaceutical and chemical company, operating under the Merck brand worldwide except in the United States, where it is known as Emanuel Merck Darmstadt (EMD). The company employs more than 40,000 people in 66 countries and earned revenues of EUR 11.5 billion in 2014. The company is a global leader in the pharmaceutical and chemical industry, with a strong focus on innovation and collaboration. Read More
Solution	Merck employed a social business solution that enabled it to present a four-day virtual brainstorming event that engaged more than 400 employees enterprise-wide. Invitees joined discussions in four moderated groups that encouraged some of the company’s most forward-thinking employees to engage in dynamic teamwork to become drivers for creating a dynamic source of domain-specific knowledge. The solution supported lively collaboration among 400 participants during more than 80 hours of online discussion and ideation, with a 59 percent participation rate. Read More Log in to view content
Contents

Technology Category

Platform as a Service (PaaS) - Connectivity Platforms

Applicable Industries

Chemicals

Pharmaceuticals

Applicable Functions

Product Research & Development

Use Cases

Collaborative Robotics

Predictive Maintenance

Services

Cloud Planning, Design & Implementation Services

Challenge

Merck KGaA, a global pharmaceutical and chemical company based in Germany, needed to foster innovation to remain competitive. The company needed to capitalize on the collective intelligence of its workforce by uniting the widely distributed and functionally distinct competencies of its employees. The company sought a practical way to energize its personnel to use social business technologies to share observations, knowledge, and expertise.

About Customer

Founded in 1668 in Darmstadt, Germany, Merck KGaA is the world’s oldest pharmaceutical and chemical company, operating under the Merck brand worldwide except in the United States, where it is known as Emanuel Merck Darmstadt (EMD). The company employs more than 40,000 people in 66 countries and earned revenues of EUR 11.5 billion in 2014. The company is a global leader in the pharmaceutical and chemical industry, with a strong focus on innovation and collaboration.

Solution

Merck employed a social business solution that enabled it to present a four-day virtual brainstorming event that engaged more than 400 employees enterprise-wide. Invitees joined discussions in four moderated groups that encouraged some of the company’s most forward-thinking employees to engage in dynamic teamwork to become drivers for creating a dynamic source of domain-specific knowledge. The solution supported lively collaboration among 400 participants during more than 80 hours of online discussion and ideation, with a 59 percent participation rate.

Impact #1	Intensive interactions among employees identified hidden experts previously unrecognized within the organization, leading to the implementation of innovative new projects.
Impact #2	The open dialogue supported by the solution helped reveal previously undetected internal process deficiencies, enabling the company to implement business-critical transformations in practices and procedures.

Impact #1

Intensive interactions among employees identified hidden experts previously unrecognized within the organization, leading to the implementation of innovative new projects.

Impact #2

The open dialogue supported by the solution helped reveal previously undetected internal process deficiencies, enabling the company to implement business-critical transformations in practices and procedures.

Benefit #1	59 percent participation rate during the four-day virtual brainstorming event
Benefit #2	More than 80 hours of online discussion and ideation

Benefit #1

59 percent participation rate during the four-day virtual brainstorming event

Benefit #2

More than 80 hours of online discussion and ideation

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Overview

Merck KGaA: Cloud-based social business solution used to inspire collaboration and innovation

Operational Impact

Quantitative Benefit