When you think of customer relationship management programs, you don't necessarily think of social networking. Mercury Grove hopes to change that with its Network Hippo. Network Hippo is a CRM that makes each contact a personal relationship.
According to the release, the program updates users on their relationships, keeping track of the health of relationships with a rating system, and monitors how a person is using the system. Users can also import communication progress with phone and e-mail logs. It allows for more instant and detailed information about each contact such as importing a contact's avatar from LinkedIn or Twitter. You can also assign levels of relationships with each contact regarding strength, importance and opportunity. In addition, you can keep track of your contact status - when was the last time you connected with them and when's the next time you should contact them. You can add to your network of contacts with Network Hippo's integration with social networks. This is intended to allow for easier research on these sites.
One feature that might be most enticing to sales reps is that you can take all your contacts with you if you ever leave a position. Unlike other CRM programs, a profile with Network Hippo is individual to the user rather the company, according to Mercury Grove.
