About a week ago six fellow RTCRM employees and I began walking our way around the world. Well, not literally, as we don’t have enough vacation time for that, but rather virtually. Let me explain. For the next 118 odd days (we started on May 22) we’re wearing pedometers to track how many steps we take. We then entered our steps at Global Corporate Challenge (GCC) site and as a team track how far we’ve moved from one point on the globe to another. FYI: the route is kept secret, so we don’t know where we’re going until we get there. Our kick-off location was Valparaiso, Chile and after 8 days of counting, we’ve collectively walked 128 miles to Agua Viva, Venezuela. We’re averaging 10,000+ steps a day–GO TEAM!!!

The winners are the first team to walk our team around the world. We’re competing for honor within a variety of categories: The World, United States, WPP, and of course against the four other RTCRM teams. Teams and companies from all over the world are participating with the Aussies dominating the leader board –cheaters . My team the “RTCRM Hot Steppers” is currently ranked 516 out of 7000+ teams. Not too shabby. We’re in 5th place within WPP companies and we’re the leaders in the RTCRM race.

More updates in the coming weeks. Keep up the amazing pace Hot Steppers!

Author’s Note

I had originally intended today’s posting on consumer privacy issues to be the second of a three part series. But after last week’s discourse , response from the public was immediate and massive. “We can’t possibly wait two entire weeks to hear about HIPAA or the Final Word on RTCRM’s baseline approach to managing PHI!” they shrieked, frantically wagging their thin claw-like fingers at me. “Post both remaining chapters next week — or else,” they threatened.

“Or else what?” I asked, wishing quietly for the millionth time that I’d gone to librarian school.

“Just finish the post, pretty boy. Don’t make us hurt you,” they said.

“Okay, okay,” I acquiesced. “I’ll finish it up next week. Jeez, Mom.”

Thanks for reading.

ZR

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Data is the lifeblood of relationship marketing and we live and breathe it. Industry studies and sales numbers are starting points, but a more profound understanding of consumer behavior requires insight at a more granular level. So we assimilate, study and mine data provided to us by our clients to inform how we segment, target and position marketing communications. And when existing data about our clients’ customers is not enough, we go directly to the customers themselves through the administration of surveys and the integration of transactional data. We build upon and enhance our data – constantly seeking better means of nurturing the delicate relationship between a brand and its customers.

Use and possession of this type of data brings with it a solemn responsibility to protect individuals’ privacy, and nowhere are these issues more important than in the pharmaceutical industry. Customer data related to health is not only inherently more private, it is also protected by a host of industry ethical guidelines and legal statutes. (more…)