CustomerThink is conducting a global awards program to recognize business leaders for initiatives that have delivered win-win results for their customers and their organization. Award nominations will be accepted from March 20 through May 31, 2008.
CustomerThink Global Awards 2008 will recognize enterprises of all sizes throughout the world. Categories will range from strategic, such as customer loyalty management and customer experience management, to projects focused on improving customer-centric performance in marketing, sales or customer service. Other categories include social web, online experience and voice of customer.
Award nominees must submit an online case study for review by a distinguished panel of industry thought leaders, drawn from CustomerThink's 2007-2008 Advisory Councils, chaired by CustomerThink founder and CEO Bob Thompson. Leadership, ROI and excellence in customer-centric practices will be key factors in selecting category finalists and winners.
To submit a nomination, first register or log in and then click the link below.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Will my nomination be confidential?
A: Yes, CustomerThink and its judges will keep your case study information confidential. Your detailed case study information will be used by selected judges during the evaluation process. Summary information will be published for finalists and winners with their explicit approval only.
Q: My project is completely confidential. Can I still participate?
A: Unfortunately, no. To recognize the finalists and winners we will need to publish at least a summary of the case study information, so that CustomerThink members can learn from your success. Again, we'll work with you to ensure that your sensitive information is not shared.
Q: Will additional information be required?
A: Possibly. CustomerThink may request additional clarifying information or short phone interviews with the executive sponsors of finalists, in order to select the ultimate winners in each category.
Q: Why do I need a CustomerThink account to enter?
A: We will use an online process to receive your nomination, and keep you informed of our progress. Registration takes just a few minutes and will enable us to keep in touch with you efficiently.
Q: Can I nominate my client?
A: Absolutely! The online process is designed so that vendors, consultants and others can nominate their clients, provided that clients have authorized them to post the case study for awards consideration.
Q: What will be the final award categories?
A: It will depend on the number and type of nominations received. During the online nomination process, you can select multiple categories. We will create award categories where there are sufficient entries to select three finalists. We anticipate 15-20 total category winners worldwide.
Q: What will be the key factors in selecting finalists and winners?
A: Judges will be asked to evaluate case studies based on the business and customer benefits realized, considering the business environment and competitive challenges faced. Other key factors will include excellence in customer-centric practices such as strategy development, goals and measurements, people management, process and experience redesign and use of enabling technology.
Q: Will smaller businesses be considered?
A: Yes, we intend to recognize a full range of customer-centric businesses from small businesses to the largest global enterprises.
Q: Can an organization submit more than one nomination?
A: Yes! Many larger enterprises have multiple customer-centric efforts in progress, to improve various aspects of the business. Multiple nominations are welcome, but need to be submitted individually.
Q: Is a technology investment required to be considered?
A: Absolutely not. You can win with projects that demonstrate an ROI with non-technology efforts, such as training, process design, employee compensation/rewards programs, and so on.
Q: When will the finalists be notified?
A: Award nominations will close May 31. Finalists will be picked and notified by June 30 and winners by July 31.
Q: Are CustomerThink's sponsors and advertisers given special consideration?
A: No. The awards process will be run independently of any sponsor involvement. The judges will only consider the merits of the nominees' case study information in selecting finalists and winners.
Q: What kind of recognition will award winners receive?
A: We intend to conduct regional awards meetings to recognize the finalists and winners of each category, including presenting an awards memento. In addition, finalists will recognized with interviews and case studies on the CustomerThink site, and with a press release.
Q: Can I submit my nomination in a Word document or PDF file, instead of the online forms?
A: No. The online process is critical to enable busy judges to efficiently read and rate nominations. You can use a Word document to organize your submission information and then cut/paste the content into the forms quite easily.
Q: Who are the judges?
A: CustomerThink founder Bob Thompson personally invited judges from the 2007-2008 Advisory Councils, a global panel of industry thought leaders with expertise in all facets of customer-centric business management. Judges are listed in the awards press release.
Q: I still have a question. Who can help?
A: Write to Bob Thompson at bob@customerthink.com if you have any questions whatsoever about this awards program.