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Microsoft Launches Office365 Cloud Offering beta April 30, 2011

Posted by Kelly Brady in : Technology Solutions , comments closed

Microsoft Office 265 Logo

Microsoft recently made their new “Office 365″ cloud bundle available to public beta testers. At first glance, this looks like an attractive, web-based bundle of core applications including their latest version of the Exchange email server. Exchange 2010 is much improved, both from a performance and feature standpoint.

Office 365 will be subscription based, with the price beginning at $6 per user/month depending on services selected. The offering is designed around Office 2010 Professional Plus, and depending on the plan selected may include locally-installed version rights to Office 2010 Professional Plus, or only web-based access via a browser. All of the server functionality is on the Internet in Microsoft’s data centers – there is no hardware required (other than the PC’s needed to access the services).

The full edition of Office 365 includes the following:

(more…)

Should your small business get a CRM system? December 9, 2009

Posted by Kelly Brady in : Small Business Technology, Technology Solutions , comments closed

Customer Relationship Management (CRM) systems are now within the reach of medium and small businesses. Just a few years ago, these were 6 and 7 figure investments. But now, there are many choices that enable even a very small business to benefit from CRM.

I think CRM systems are great tools, perhaps essential to maximize profitability and success. But, I also believe that many businesses overlook the business process changes that a CRM system requires in order to justify the cost and produce a real return on investment.

Fundamentally, a comprehensive CRM system gathers everything you know about your customers and stores it in one place. Typically a central contact record links sales activities, services, responses to marketing campaigns, and all communication activities together. You can run reports to see what worked in the past, who fits a new marketing campaign, or who may need a followup contact.

Key Considerations for a CRM Implementation

1. Look at your business strategy first; do you already know exactly how you want to manage your relationships with your customers? If not, figure that out first before taking the plunge into a customer relationship management system.

2. Look at your staff; do they have the discipline to recognize the value of the system and be willing to use it? For instance, will they log nearly all customer contacts (phone & email) into the system?

3. Look at your business processes for marketing, sales, service requests and problem handling. Can you articulate them? The CRM system should help you standardize and create consistency in following your own business processes. If you can’t articulate what they should be, CRM won’t help you fulfill them.

4. Will you actually use the analytical capabilities of a CRM system to understand past customer activities, sales patterns, marketing campaign results to develop new strategies and tactics? This may provide the real value of CRM for most companies, but will managers use this tool or keep doing what they’ve always done before?

I have seen small and large businesses embrace the CRM concept, purchase and implement a system, but then fail to get everyone on board and use the system effectively. Simply buying a system will not improve your customer relationships or result in more sales or happier customers. It will only provide a framework upon which to manage the processes surrounding effective customer relationship management. If you know how you want to relate to your prospects and customers, and can commit to making the necessary process changes, a CRM system might be the best investment you ever made.

Clever Microsoft Server Bundles for Small Businesses November 10, 2009

Posted by Kelly Brady in : Small Business Technology, Technology Solutions , comments closed

Microsoft has some lesser-known editions of their core Windows server offerings, packaged and priced for small businesses that range from 1 to 300 users. These products are less expensive than buying traditional full server editions, and come with additional administrative features that reduce the cost of ownership. These special offerings are either preinstalled or relatively easy to install, and are tightly integrated “out of the box”.

Windows Home Server is targeted to home users with multiple PCs in their home. However, many SOHO businesses with 10 or less PC’s find it a cost-effective way to have basic server technologies, with the bonus of a very effective backup solution for their PC’s.

Windows Server Foundation is an entry-level server for small businesses with up to 15 users. Foundation is inexpensive, easy-to-deploy and will allow small businesses to run most common business applications, as well as share information securely and access their data while traveling.

Windows Small Business Server 2008 (SBS) is an all-in-one server solution that provides many of the features typically available only in larger companies. These features include Microsoft Exchange email, internal websites, remote access, support for mobile devices, file & printer sharing and backup for up to 75 users. The Windows Small Business Server 2008 Premium edition contains everything in the standard edition, plus the right to install a 2nd server running the Microsoft SQL database.

Windows Essential Business Server 2008 (EBS) is an integrated three-server solutions designed for mid-sized businesses of up to 300 users. Powered by Windows Server 2008 technology, Windows Essential Business Server 2008 combines software for management, messaging, and security into one integrated server solution that is designed to dramatically reduce IT complexity and improve efficiency across the business.  The Windows Essential Business Server 2008 Premium edition contains everything in the standard edition, plus the right to install an additional server running the Microsoft SQL database.

Comparison of Microsoft Servers for Small Businesses

Max. users # of Servers Email Database Remote Access Server Backup
Home 10 1 Y
Foundation 15 1 Y Y
SBS Standard 75 1 Y Y Y
SBS Premium 75 2 Y Y Y Y
EBS Standard 300 3 Y Y Y
EBS Premium 300 4 Y Y Y Y
Note: This table has been simplified in order to provide a quick and easy comparison. There are additional differences between the editions so check out the product pages linked above.

Disaster-Proof Hard Drives (almost saved the day) October 31, 2009

Posted by Kelly Brady in : Technology Solutions , comments closed

A client needed to quickly, easily and inexpensively back up some new servers being installed. They were not ready to invest in an enterprise backup solution, and were in the process of switching internet-based backup providers.

Given the lack of redundancy and fault-tolerance in this situation, I recommended the client purchase “Disaster Proof” external hard drives by Iosafe. These unique external USB drives come with the following features:

Iosafe Solo External Hard Drives

The client liked this idea, as these drives are only a little more expensive than non-disaster proof drives. We ordered two of the 1.5TB models which would be used to hold alternating full daily backups.

I love it when I make a specialized purchase recommendation, and then something happens afterwards that emphasizes how good a recommendation it was.

A few weeks after the drives were installed, some high voltage equipment was being replaced. The equipment had been incorrectly installed, and was literally hanging from its AC wiring…which was fraying from the load and had become a serious fire hazard.

There was no reason to believe this new, state-of-the-art facility would have any fire risks. Yet, aside from theft or vandalism, fire (or water from sprinklers or firefighting), is probably the most likely disaster this particular facility could face.

* The data recovery service provides overnight shipment of a “destroyed” hard drive to Iosafe, who will recover the data and load it on a free replacement unit.