Southwest Airlines Selects Spigit to Drive Innovation

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."