Small Biz Tech Talk ™

According to industry experts, the technology marketing budgets of IT vendors will increase globally by seven percent in 2008, which will mark the greatest annual increase in marketing spending in the past five years.  These figures also mean that the average technology marketing budget increase exceeds the revenue increase, so each dollar is becoming more expensive to get.

Because technology marketing is so complex, IT consultants are going to have to start making their strategies more complex and probably will end up spending more money on successful marketing campaigns in the next few years.

Across business sizes, technology marketing is typically an under-funded activity, but especially in the small business space.  According to expert research, companies that are currently getting more revenue and profits out of their marketing strategies are those spending more money than the average IT consultant.

For more information on this story and a full report on the new technology marketing trends, visit the attached link.

Added By:  Computer Consulting Kit

Cisco Systems recently announced that as part of its UK division, it would be appointing the managed services marketing firm Information Arts to manage some of its its data planning.

Managed services marketing firm Information Arts will work alongside Harte Hanks, a company already working with Cisco at dealing with prospect data management and its call center.  This will be the first time these two companies have worked in conjunction to provide managed services marketing to an organization.   

CIO of Information Arts stated that he is happy to be providing its trademark data-driven solutions to Cisco and translating them into business solutions.  A data strategy manager will work at Cisco’s offices to help with daily operations and what Harte Hanks Managed Services is already doing.  

To learn more about this managed services marketing story, visit the attached link.

Submitted By:  Computer Consulting Kit

Atlanta, Georgia-based firm Goldleaf Financial Solutions, Inc., offering technology services for financial institutions recently stated it was starting an enhanced marketing service that would give clients more efficient support and marketing ideas for their businesses.  Goldleaf has grown its new technology marketing products to serve global clients.

This new technology marketing program will help Goldleaf increase its service offerings and create marketing strategies that match each institution’s needs.  Goldleaf will also help create consistency across solutions by adding marketing that compliments the other IT services offered.  The new technology marketing program was designed to meet many different marketing initiatives executed by financial institutions.

The new technology marketing program will be called “Goldleaf’s Marketing Manager” and will be offered also as a Web-based portal with access to online marketing collateral and templates.

For more on this technology marketing program, visit the attached link.

Added By:  Joshua Feinberg

In May, 2008 managed services marketing news, Nottingham-based UK firm Quantix enjoyed a new record – sales revenue of over £1.5 million after winning many new projects.  This managed services marketing success for the company shows its continued dramatic growth since its formation in 2002.

Each year, Quantix has enjoyed year-on-year increases in revenue and profits, earning them a spot as #87th in Lloyds Development Capital’s Hot 100 growth report.  The managed services firm focuses on Oracle Support, SQL Server Support and Security Managed Services.  The value of its contract base has expanded to nearly £5 million, and its client retention rates have been great, which the experts attribute to its focus on innovation and investment in a consistent service delivery model.  

Quantix enjoys partnerships with Oracle, Microsoft and Juniper and offer remote, virtual IT support services based on low cost and high value.  

For more information about this burgeoning managed services marketing story, visit the attached link.

Added By:  Joshua Feinberg

Recently, the Greenville, South Carolina-based managed services marketing firm ITG announced it had chosen PittStop Marketing to help run its marketing program.  

Adam Pittman, managing partner with PittStop Marketing expressed he is excited about the opportunity to work with the managed services marketing firm and hope to help with sales and marketing strategies as well as media and public relations efforts to help raise community awareness of the company.

Brian Irey, owner of ITG Networking stated that PittStop Marketing was chosen because of its logical approach and processes and track record for offering marketing consulting at a great value.

For more information about this managed services marketing story, visit the attached link.

Added By:  Computer Consulting Kit

Massachusetts-based provider of market intelligence, advisory services and other resources for the IT world IDC announced recently it would be releasing new 2008 guidelines for managing technology marketing and sales costs.  “IDC’s Worldwide Sales, Marketing and Market Intelligence Taxonomy 2008:  Guidelines for Cost Control and Resource Allocations” is available as a report to all IDC clients free of charge. 

Many experts feel that the slowing economy is going to cause IT professionals to have to curb technology marketing and sales costs.  IDC stresses that the best idea is for these companies to figure out how to more efficiently allocate resources. 

The new guide helps with resource planning, budgeting and cost control and can act as a resource for sales, technology marketing and finance executives that want to improve their fiscal management strategies.  The 2008 version of this regular publication is completely revised and expanded and has new definitions and tools based on market research over the past six years by IDC in collaboration with other IT industry leaders.

For more information on this technology marketing story, visit the attached link. 

Added By:  Joshua Feinberg

During its recent TechSelect Partner Conference in Las Vegas, Tech Data Corporation announced some new managed services marketing initiatives.  Tech Data expanded its partnership with Advanced Technology Services (ATS) in order to provide more managed services to its VARs with access to the iTWatch™ Managed Services.  Now resellers can partner with ATS to use technicians that will perform installation of solutions, maintenance and repair services.  

In regards to managed services marketing, Tech Data stated it will offer VARs:

1.    Monitoring Services;

2.    Maintenance Services;

3.    Security Services;

4.    Support Services;

5.    Reporting Capabilities;

6.    Other Advanced Services.

Tech Data has been doing managed services marketing for several years, and has been in business since 1974.  The company currently works with over 100,000 customers globally in 100 different countries.  For more information on this story, visit the attached link.

Added By:  Computer Consulting 101 Professional Kit

Computer business Apple has come out with a lot of innovative products in the past few years, most notably its Time Machine application.  But the company now seems to be thinking about going virtual.

Computer business experts got word of this potential move when the US Patent & Trademark Office published the fact that Apple recently filed a patent called “Enhancing Online Shopping Atmosphere.  The outline suggested a 3-D retail space that would provide many of Apple’s many offerings, including books, music and electronics.  

While some feel this is a sign that computer business Apple WILL go virtual, others are stating that this would not make sense given the company’s success with its retail stores offline and online.  Many experts feel that a move to the virtual would have happened years ago when other companies such as IBM and Reuters went virtual.  

The computer business’ patent outline also revealed an image depicting some segments of the virtual shop that showed all departments in separate areas, which does not seem consistent with Apple’s past reputation.

This is not computer business Apple’s first attempt to go virtual.  eWorld provided Mac users with a way to perform many tasks, such as reading news and managing e-mail.  However, the idea didn’t stick.

Added By:  Computer Consulting Kit

Leading company Enterprise Solution Providers, Inc. (ESP) recently announced a new partnership.  The leading solution providers in the financial services industry will team with Business Control Solutions Group plc , a consultancy services and operational control software firm.   

This partnership will mean that ESP will offer the Business Control Solutions financial control software “BCS Integrity” to financial services organizations in the United States.

According to the solution providers, BCS Integrity helps with financial control and cost reduction because it manages and standardizes account processes.  It has enhanced security features that will help keep accounts secure and can help with audits and month-end reporting.  ESP is taking advantage of this opportunity to bring this much needed solution for the first time to the U.S.

Spokespeople for ESP Solution Providers state that this new partnership will help them gain a greater client base and provide more solutions to new clients.  Because financial operations continue to get more complicated, this very secure solution is in high demand.  

BCS Integrity was released in February of this year and is in the process of being sent to many different financial institutions.

For more information on this story about solution providers, see the attached link.

Submitted By:  Joshua Feinberg

Recently Microsoft announced it would be providing more assistance for small business solution providers in the form of new local business development managers.  As the company has re-envisioned its partner programs, it seems to be responding to some past complaints from the small business sector about its support and the structure of its programs not always being small-business friendly.    

IT consultants and other solution providers in the small business sector have expressed concern about Microsoft’s partner programs and about the fitness of Microsoft solutions to their unique business model, particularly in light of the new focus of the large company on its “Software as a Service” offerings.  Microsoft says it will put 10 new local business development managers across the United States to help solution providers enhance their services to small businesses.  The managers will assist with marketing support and demand generation and will also provide organized events for small business solution providers.  

Mark Crall, president of the Charlotte Tech Care Team, a Microsoft Small Business Specialist located in North Carolina is excited about having some of his fears quelled.  He thinks that this new initiative for solution providers shows that Microsoft is genuinely interested in the small business sector.

Added By:  Computer Consulting 101 Professional Kit

ING Australia recently announced that it would be improving its virtual IT support and also appointing new senior positions to its customer systems business unit.  This entity will bring together virtual IT, operations, e-business and customer service into one location.  

This step marks the first in a two-year transformation program that will help it build a more stable and secure virtual IT department and e-business capacity.  The new unit will be run by COO Fred Bertram, who will start his post on March 26.  Previously, he was managing director of ANZ’s operations, technology and shared services divisions in India.

Virtual IT expert and CIO Greg Booker will lead the customer systems technology group and will be responsible for ING Australia’s IT delivery and transformation initiatives.  Currently, Booker is the CIO at St. George Bank and has more than 20 years’ experience working with IT and in the virtual IT industry.  He will begin on April 21.  

Also appointed is Robert Liong, who will be the head of the e-business program.  Formerly, he was head of strategy and business architecture as well as corporate channels at the company Westpac.  His 16 years’ experience in strategy, transformation and various virtual IT-related business work will help him with this new challenge.

ING Australia was formed in 1994 and has headquarters in Sheffield as well as offices in London and Sydney.  For more information on further appointments to this new virtual IT plan, please visit the attached link.

Blogged By:  Joshua Feinberg

Recent studies related to small business computer consulting stated that worldwide, the CRM industry is going to double in the next six years.  Also, the adoption of this model will continue to rise.

The phenomenon of “CRM Market Fertility” measures the percent of companies that are using or planning to use CRM and has currently risen from 18 – 25% to 38%.  On-demand CRM in particular is tied in with small businesses and those involved in small business computer consulting as new developments are making it possible now for small businesses to afford and implement new, sophisticated solutions.

Small business computer consulting professionals have noted that CRM needs for their clients have become much more sophisticated over the years.  87% or SMBs are deciding to choose on-demand CRM solutions as opposed to alternatives.  

Those that work with enterprises primarily have been offering small businesses a very pared-down version of a CRM enterprise solution, which does not work to really solve the problems of these companies.  Small business computer consulting professionals have noted that SMBs have been typically overlooked by larger CRM providers, and as a result many consultants and small businesses have had to create a customized in-house CRM solution to meet needs or else go back to spreadsheets and applications to manage their relationships.

For more information on how CRM is developing to work with small businesses and how small business computer consulting firms are helping to deliver a new solution, please visit the attached link.

Added By:  Computer Consulting Kit

According to Gregg Larson, CEO of Clareity Security, the computer business should brace itself for a lot of new purchases in the coming year.  Many consulting clients are planning hardware replacements, most of them interested in the new Microsoft products.

Larson recently detailed some perks about computer business products and how computer consulting clients can plan technology purchases in the coming year.  He particularly focuses on Vista.

According to Larson, Vista has a lot of great security features such as better Firewall Defender and a Malicious Software Removal feature.  He also says that computer business Microsoft has designed the product so companies can better control software installations and prevent many from downloading pirated software.  For those that have some technology expertise, the new computer business Vista has downloadable security templates that make computers more secure (though he advises against businesses installing this feature without the help of a responsible tech professional).  

However, according to Larson, despite Vista’s new security options, these options don’t come straight out of the box.  Computer business Microsoft does provide a great guide that can be downloaded from the Microsoft site (for details, see the attached article).   

Larson also speaks about Windows Server 2008, a new operating system that can be installed for specific tasks and customized depending upon the needs of a particular company.  This feature makes the product more efficient and also secure by getting rid of unwanted and unnecessary options right off the bat.    

For more information on this computer business story and advice from Larson about important security issues facing many computer consulting clients and also computer consultants, visit the attached link to the full article.

Submitted By:  Joshua Feinberg

Technology companies 3M and Himax Technologies, Inc. announced they would be joining together to provide LCOS mobile projectors.  3M is a leading company in optics technology and Himax is a leading solution provider for flat panel displays.

The technology companies will be offering a mobile projector with improved efficiency and image quality that also is affordable and works with many different types of mobile devices.  3M developed the LED projection engine that uses a single-panel color filter and Himax provided the LCOS display along with electronic components that help completely the package.

Vice President of 3M Display and Graphics stated that getting involved with projectors and mobile devices will help the company keep up with the wave of technology.  The company is excited about working with other technology companies, most particularly Himax.    

President and CEO of Himax, Jordan Wu stated that the relationship will help them with marketing to customers and providing better technologies.  He expects the new projectors to be used in mobile phones, digital cameras and portable multimedia players.

The technology companies will showcase the new product in the Advanced Display Technologies Zone at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas from January 7 – 10, 2008.

For more information on these companies and the new product, visit the attached link.

Blogged By:  Joshua Feinberg

Dallas-based Dell, Inc. stated Friday that it will buy the UK-based IT consulting firm The Networked Storage Co.  Network Storaged was created in 2002 and has 26 employees.  While a spokesperson for Dell would not discuss the deal with the IT consulting firm or the company’s revenues, the company advises many of Europe’s top financial institutions and customers that need help with infrastructure maintenance and management.  

At the same time as it decided to buy the IT consulting firm, Dell decided to work with retailer Tesco in order to sell XPS and Inspiron notebook and desktop systems in 500 stores based in the UK, Ireland, Poland, the Czech Republic and Slovakia.  

Dell has joined forces with many IT consulting firms and also retail stores in recent months as it breaks away from its direct-to-business and direct-to-consumers via phone and the Internet.  Dell’s agreements currently include selling computers in more than 10,000 stores throughout the world.

Added By:  Computer Consulting Kit

VARs recently received news that credit information provider ICC is set to present two new services and enhance its previous offerings in 2008.  

The initial new service will be labeled “Consult ICC” and will offer VARs with credit risk scores that will allow those working with businesses to get vital information to assess relationships, etc.  The second new service will be called “Integrate ICC” and is for clients that want to improve how they manage information and their own systems.

An ICC representative reported to CRN that their new services are specifically designed to help VARs determine credit ratings of customers regularly to help assess their expectations and relationships.  Because all VARs have different concepts of risk and their own markets, these scores help them decide how to offer the best solutions to clients and also better gauge performance over time.   

ICC opened its doors over a year ago and has continued to add new services in the past year.  The new offerings for VARs will slowly replace ICC’s Juniper and Juniper XD Services in 2008.

ICC will also offer three new themed services:  “My ICC” for credit management; “My ICC” for analysis; “My ICC” anywhere that will help with PDAs and other mobile technologies and tracking of VARs and their clients.       

For more information on these new services for VARs, visit the attached link.

Added By:  Computer Consulting 101 Professional Kit

When computer business stated it would start a new channel program, many were not fazed.  But the recently released requirements of the computer business’ Managed Services certifications are making some small VARs concerned about being left out of the new program.  

Last week the computer business based in Round Rock, Texas finally started to lay out its plans for the new partner program.  PartnerDirect offers a deal registration plan, a new compensation plan for internal sales people and many of the similar offerings of other channel partner programs:  partner tiers; access to marketing collateral; post sales support; financing options; certifications.  

Many VARs were disappointed by Dell’s announcement because it seemed to be a plan not very far off from every other program, after months of anticipation about what exactly would be offered.  What was more shocking about the computer business’ plan than the details was how long it took to reveal itself.

However, some e-mails sent from Dell to a series of VARs provided some additional information about the Managed Services certification. The first surprising requirement is that one person within a partner organization needs to be a certified ITIL Practitioner or ITIL Manager.  The plan initially for the computer business was to offer ISO 20000, but Dell has stated this was a mistake.

Partners that offer managed services must also buy an MSP Quick Start with Audit package for $4,999, and those that are new to managed services must purchase the MSP Quick Start with Business Builder package for $8,999.

A series of other costs are involved in the partner program offered by the computer business and must be paid out of pocket, leading to the question … how can small VARs afford it and actually participate?  There are restrictions also on the number of systems VARs must deal with, which is 100 or more, once again leaving many small VARs – particularly those just starting out – out in the cold.

For more information about this computer business story, including responses from Dell and VARs, visit the attached link.

Blogged By:  Computer Consulting 101 Professional Kit

SANZ, a solution provider specializing in storage solutions recently filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy.  However, some sources close to former employees of the Englewood, Colorado-based solution provider stated that these employees are looking for ways to bring back part of the company.

The company officially filed a form 8-K on November 27th with the Securities and Exchange Commission.  A majority of the SANZ employees were officially let go by way of a single e-mail from the solution provider’s CEO, Todd Oseth.  

A former employee source stated that there have been rumors circulating about re-incorporating SANZ as a storage solution provider.  However, there is another solution provider talking to several former SANZ employees about potential job opportunities, and that person stated there are many employees that would prefer to work for another company that has no storage function.

The former employee source feels that something should be done for SANZ’s customers and former employees.  Many want to take customers with them.  While there is no stipulation for passing customers onto another solution provider, both the customers and the employees will inevitably be affected negatively by the bankruptcy.  

According to sources, SANZ has been in financial trouble for quite some time and was allowed to decline after Oseth joined as CEO in early 2007.  Many employees of the solution provider were very displeased by Oseth’s strategy of alienating employees.  Sources also felt that SANZ’s attempt to be a solution provider and a vendor at the same time contributed to its demise.

While employees were let go, some top executives of the voluntarily resigned.

For more information about this story about solution provider SANZ and its next steps, visit the attached link.  

Submitted By:  Joshua Feinberg

Small businesses often face problems with their networks, computers and e-mail, and many rely on professionals in small business computer consulting to solve the problem.  Owen Scott, founder of the Open Source Academy of California is relying on this demand in order to offer courses to teach skills to those involved specifically in helping small businesses.  

Scott says he’s worked in small business computer consulting for the past 17 years and has seen the challenges technology presents.  According to Scott, small and mid-sized companies spend hundreds of millions of dollars annually outsourcing solutions for their IT problems that they could solve in-house with small amounts of training.  His new academy offers training for those involved in small businesses and was founded in 2006 by experienced IT engineers.  The academy has already become known for its comprehensive IT training program designed for technology professionals and those looking to change their careers to those in Information Technology and small business computer consulting.   

Some examples of classes include the following.

1.    Computer and Network Administration

2.    Internet Connectivity and Troubleshooting

3.     E-mail Issues, such as Spam, Failed Message Notifications, and Filtering

4.    Printing and Scanning Problems

5.    Security, Profiles, Permissions and Spyware

6.    Application Issues

7.    Computer Use and Productivity

Scott hopes that he will be able to bring great knowledge to a new batch of small business computer consulting professionals with his program.

For more information on this story, visit the attached link.

Submitted By:  Joshua Feinberg

IT solutions firm Allot Communications, Ltd. announced it would be offering a new channel program for solution providers.  This new global initiative will help systems integrators and VARs get business within the deep packet inspection (DPI) industry. 

The solution providers partner initiative from Allot will target those with experience selling network solutions specifically to service providers.  Those most targeted will include the following solution providers:  Web hosting companies; ISPs, cable providers; wireless carriers and enterprises in government and financial services and education.  Allot is offering three different levels of partnership:  Elite; Premium and Authorized.  The program will be set up with a two-tiered system where each partner will get a personalized Allot channel manager and be provided with sales and technical training, joint marketing opportunities, tech support and sales/lead-generation activities.

Vin Costello, vice president and general manager of the American branch of Allot states that carriers, solution providers and enterprises all want to improve their efficiency and the performance of their networks and applications.  This partner program will provide a nice range of products and support items that will help improve businesses and relationships with customers and clients that are the key to success and longevity.

Blogged By:  Joshua Feinberg