Spigit, the leader in innovation management software for the enterprise, announced today that it is powering Southwest Airlines Idea Runway, an internal site designed to streamline innovation and collaboration among its more than 34, 000 employees. With the goal to identify and implement ideas that will generate revenue, reduce operating costs and enhance the customer experience, Southwest Airlines has selected Spigit so it can quickly capitalize on the innovation of its workforce.
Spigit's advanced algorithm approach helps Southwest Airlines define, measure and analyze ideas that are submitted by employees, and determine how to best implement these ideas to quickly see a return on investment. Employee participation is encouraged through monthly and quarterly incentives for top participants and top-rated ideas. Once an idea is submitted, Spigit's algorithms assign value based on the idea generator's reputation, role within an organization, number of votes, and by the 360 degree feedback given by the community. Since Southwest Airlines' implementation of Idea Runway in September 2009, 98 percent of the ideas submitted have received responses and comments from other members of the community.
"We are continually looking for new ways to deliver the best products and service possible to our customers; tapping into our employees' creativity, passion and energy is a critical element of this process. Spigit's software platform allows us to harness the collective intelligence of our organization," said Angela Vargo, manager of product development at Southwest Airlines. " Spigit's unique algorithm-based approach stood out to us as a unique way to discover the best ideas and solutions to potential issues, while encouraging cross-functional collaboration."
Southwest Airlines has implemented InnovationSpigit, an enterprise platform that integrates social collaboration with traditional workflow and analytics. InnovationSpigit is driven by employees for topline and bottomline growth.
"To stand out from the competition and maintain a leadership position, companies must innovate fast and capitalize on the right ideas emerging from all levels of the organization," said Paul Pluschkell, CEO and Co-Founder of Spigit. "We couldn't be more pleased than to be selected as the idea management company for Southwest Airlines, who has fundamentally altered the economics of the airline industry through continuous innovation."
About Southwest Airlines After 38 years of service, Southwest Airlines (NYSE: LUV) continues to differentiate itself from other low fare carriers -- offering a reliable product with exemplary Customer Service. Southwest Airlines is the most productive airline in the sky and offers Customers a comfortable traveling experience. Southwest Airlines is the nation's largest carrier in terms of originating domestic passengers boarded, currently serving 68 cities in 35 states. Based in Dallas, Southwest currently operates more than 3,100 flights a day and has nearly 35,000 Employees systemwide.
About Spigit Spigit is the leading provider of purpose-built innovation software for the enterprise connecting employees, customers and business partners for idea management and innovation discovery. Using enterprise-grade social technology and behavioral science techniques, Spigit's software taps into the collective intelligence within an organization and transforms it into actionable, predictive information. By incorporating incentives, idea graduation, idea trading and real-time analytics, Spigit allows companies to get the most out of their key assets. Our technologies are used by the largest and most innovative companies in the world including: Pfizer, AT&T, Southwest Airlines, Allstate, AAA, and Lloyds TSB. Spigit currently powers innovation projects at numerous Fortune 2000 companies and has been named Best of Software Interop 2008 and is listed on the AlwaysOn Global 250 list, the power list of the top 250 private global technology companies. For more information, visit www.spigit.com.
MEDIA CONTACTS: Melissa Chanslor Text 100 415.593.8465 melissac@text100.com Richard L. Tso Spigit 925.452.6529 rtso@spigit.com
