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Research into the technology trends of direct selling and multilevel marketing companies. See companies such as https://www.retiredbrains.com/direct-selling.html and https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_multi-level_marketing_companies. I'm curious about the technologies these companies are using to manage their business. Are there software platforms selling into Direct Selling/MLM companies such as CRM for Direct Sellers, Analytics to understand direct seller productivity, and so on.
The short version is that the major technological trends in direct selling or MLM industry include the use of software solutions such as e-commerce, artificial intelligence, voice recognition, augmented reality, intelligent communication, mobile apps, social media, online payments and online interactive training and presentation. Moreover, all the MLM platforms buy and use software solutions for sales and orders management, marketing management, customer relationship management and analytics. Below you will find a deep dive of my findings.
FINDINGS
Below, we will introduce our findings in three sections: the first one is for the technological trends in the direct selling or multilevel marketing industry, the second one is for the software platforms used by some companies in the list provided in the request and the last section is for the top software providers in the MLM industry.
MAJOR TECHNOLOGICAL TRENDS IN MLM INDUSTRY
Some common technological trends identified in the direct selling or MLM industry can be summarized as follows:
The MLM companies use the artificial intelligence solutions to identify behavior patterns of their distributors, customers and vendors. With these technologies, they can improve customer experiences, maximize their revenue and retention, lower the churn rate, forecast their revenue and the impact of promotions and increase the outcome of loyalty programs.
The MLM companies monitor consumer trends through using the technology solutions to track the consumer demands and the changes within the industry.
4- Use of e-commerce platforms which allow MLM companies to provide their distributors with tools to efficiently expand their business. E-commerce solutions facilitated training, order placement, managing inventory and permanent access to the MLM network.
5- Online commission payments using technological evolution in order to pay due commissions easily and in a real-time transaction.
6- Use of the social networking sites to sustain emails with the more socially-interactive platforms.
9- Use of the Voice Recognition solutions as more customers use their phones to place orders with voice over the phone.
10- Use of the mobile phones and PDAs in direct sales to bring revolution and efficiency in communication techniques.
11- Use of the emails to maintain strong relationships with clients and to update them about new products, promotions, discounts or any other new events.
13- Use of the podcasts to provide customers with information in the form of digital audio and other forms of communication visuals such as photos and presentations.
SOFTWARE PLATFORMS USED BY SOME MLM COMPANIES
We have chosen some MLM companies and tried to provide the software platforms used by them. Throughout our next analysis, we will provide information for four MLM companies from the first list provided by the request and three ones from the other list as shown below:
We have found that Avon uses 17 software solutions as follows:
1.1 DoubleClick (digital advertising solution)
1.2 Isobar (digital marketing solution)
1.3 Burson Marsteller (public relation solution)
1.4 Omniconvert (SEO software)
1.5 Intelligrated (material automation solution)
1.6 DocuWare (document management software)
1.7 e2Open (supply chain solution)
1.8 Call-Em-All (automated group messaging service)
1.9 Marketizator (demand & brand advocacy solution)
1.10 Workday (accounting & finance Software)
1.11 Hubble (business performance management)
1.12 DocuSign (contract management software)
1.13 Affinnova (predictive analytics software)
1.14 HelpSystems (business intelligence solution)
1.15 BeyondTrust (access management software)
1.16 Attunity (big data solution)
1.17 MicroStrategy (business intelligence software)
We have found that Mary Kay uses 10 software solutions as follows:
2.1 Proofpoint (backup & archival solution)
2.2 Gigya (identity access management system)
2.3 Sysomos Expion (content marketing system)
2.4 etouches (event management software)
2.5 Moovweb (mobile solution)
2.6 Maintenance Connection (facilities management)
2.7 SpendMap (procurement software)
2.8 FranklinCovey (Customer Loyalty Software)
2.9 The Marketing Zen Group (PR solution)
2.10 Orckestra Inc. (e-commerce platform)
We have found that Pampered Chef uses 1 software solution as follows:
3.1 Hybris (e-commerce software)
We have found that Amway uses 21 software solutions as follows:
4.1 SuccessFactors (performance appraisal software)
4.2 Flexagon (release automation software)
4.3 CAYIN Technology (digital signage software)
4.4 Rubric (translation service)
4.5 Acclaro (translation service)
4.6 Adobe Experience Manager (content software)
4.7 Quest (database management)
4.8 GreenJobInterview (video interview tool)
4.9 Magnitude Software (data warehouse software)
4.10 Amber Road (supply chain & Logistics)
4.11 Microsoft Dynamics (CRM)
4.12 LiveOps (call center solution)
4.13 Microsoft (document creation software)
4.14 etouches (event management software)
4.15 Okta (identity management solution)
4.16 AgilePoint (business process management)
4.17 AssurX (security software)
4.18 VMware Inc. (virtualization solution)
4.19 Teradici (cloud computing solution)
4.20 Kyriba (accounting & finance software)
4.21 HelpSystems (IT management)
We have found that Medifast uses 3 software solutions as follows:
5.1 JDA Software (Supply Chain & Logistics)
5.2 5W Public Relations (PR solution)
5.3 Microsoft Dynamics (CRM)
We have found that QNET uses 1 software solution as follows:
6.1 Sitecore (web content management system)
We have found that AdvoCare uses 1 software solution as follows:
7.1 [x]cube LABS (web & mobile solutions)
SOME TOP SOFTWARE PLATFORM PROVIDORS IN THE MLM INDUSTRY
Before we list the top MLM software platforms, we will provide the basic features for a typical MLM solution. All the features and software solutions are classified under one of the following categories:
MLM platform handles sales and orders management from lead generation, invoicing, billing and accounting through tracking, shipping, logistics, inventory and performance management.
Direct sales depend on marketing to attract and retain customers, to build a distributor network and to build a brand image. Marketing features of MLM tools include social media, website management, SEO management, email marketing and marketing automation.
MLM software through customer relationship management (CRM) tools can help keep track of sales transactions, distributor data, customer data, and vendor data in one database.
Analytics tools can support monitor and appraise performance of distributors, vendors and customers.
Moreover, every software or solution should provide the requirements and features below:
20. Others
Finally, the following lists include the top MLM solutions as per Capterra.com, Smallbizcrm.com and Technologyadvice.com.
1.1 MarketPowerPRO
1.2 Pro MLM
1.3 NETSOFT MLM
1.4 Journey
1.5 Epixel MLM Software
1.6 ARM MLM
1.7 Infinite MLM Software
1.8 IDSTC
1.9 MLM Software
1.10 Binary MLM Software
1.11 CS400 Enterprise MLM Software
1.12 MLM Soft
1.13 SocialBug MLM
1.14 Techbase Solution MLM Software
2.1 Fiitfu
2.2 Epixel MLM
2.3 HomeOffice Pro
2.4 Infinite MLM
2.5 InfoTrax® Systems
2.6 MLM Soft
2.7 MLM-Tracker
2.8 MLM Trax
2.9 Pro MLM
2.10 Simple Prospect Manager
3.1 MarketPowerPro
3.2 Journey by Krato
3.4 ARM MLM
3.5 Infinite MLM by IOSS
3.6 Pro MLM
3.7 ByDesign
3.8 Plexum
3.9 MLM Software One
CONCLUSION
To wrap it up, we have found that the major technological trends in direct selling or MLM industry include use of solutions such as e-commerce, artificial intelligence, voice recognition, augmented reality, intelligent communication, mobile apps, social media, online payments and online interactive training and presentation. Moreover, all the MLM platforms buy and use software solutions for sales and orders management, marketing management, customer relationship management and analytics.