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What is Screen Sharing?

Screen sharing is generally understood as the technologically-empowered ability to transmit the contents of your computer screen to one or more remotely connected Internet users.

In other words screen sharing allows you to show PowerPoint presentations, Word documents, images and any other software running on your computer while remotely connected users see in real-time what you see on your screen.
Traditionally screen sharing has been long referred to as application sharing, to define more specifically the ability not just to show specific applications to other connected participants but the combined ability of screen sharing with remote control.
So while the terms “application sharing” and “screen sharing” mean two different things they are increasingly used in interchangeable ways as many of the new tools and online services integrated them both, and companies prefer to use terminologies that make more immediate sense to the end user.
Screen-sharing generally requires abundant amounts of bandwidth and therefore it is best used when all participants are on a rather speedy internet connection.

Key advantages in using screen sharing tools to present materials to others are generally the ease of use and immediacy that this approach provides. On the other hand, screen sharing key limitations are the need for a good Internet connection to achieve effective results.
Screen sharing also does not fare well against Web-touring/Co-browsing andPowerPoint dedicated delivery tools. These generally provides better display and performance while using less bandwidth.
The typical features of Screen Sharing

Screen sharing is characterized by the ability to real-time share the contents of your computer screen with one or more remotely Internet-connected users.
Key features that characterize popular screen sharing services and tools include:

1. Share only specific applications
This is the ability to select only a specific application or document to be shared with others, preventing attendees from seeing other materials or info they should not see.
2. Share specific region of screen
A few rare tools allow for selecting specific region of the screen to be the only content to be shared with other session atendees.
3. Change presenter (allow any of the attendees to show her screen)
Changing the presenter allows the host to elect any of the session attendees to be becoming presenters instantly and therefore become instantly able to share their own screens with others.
4. Max Number of simultaneous participants
The number of maximum concurrent participants that can attend a screen sharing session.
5. Remote control - Give/share keyboard and mouse control
Remote control is the ability to hand out/share your keyboard and mouse controls with one or more other users.
6. Host can be on any platform (Pc, Mac, Linux)
The presenter can initiate a screen sharing from any computer type independently of the operating system he/she uses.
7. Integrates text chat
Text chat facility integration.
8. Integrates live annotation
Integration of live markup and visual annotation tools.
9. Integrated support for VoIP
Provides the ability for voice communication during the screen sharing session.
10. Integrated support for teleconferencing
Provides the ability for telephone-based voice communication during the screen sharing session.
11. Recording
A visual recording facility is integrated.
12. No download or installation
No software or plugins are required to access the screen sharing functionality.
13. Live cursor
The presenter cursor is transmitted live to the other attendees allowing it to act as an effective real-time visual pointer.
14. Public URL to join
Allows for the sharing of a public URL that other attendees can easily use to join your meeting.

For more information visit www.showscreen.com.

Last week, the Wall Street Journal published an article that highlighted how E-Readers are changing our reading habits. In sum, people with an e-reader, such as the Kindle or Nook, buy more books and read more on average than people without such a device.

From a technology and entrepreneur standpoint, this presents an amazing opportunity for new authors to build and expand their audience, as well as provide new revenue streams to support their love for writing. This article focuses on three distribution methods that can help authors and other artists distribute their works.

3 Distribution Channels

Publishing a book on these devices can happen in a variety of different ways.

1. You can develop a proprietarycustom software application for a specific device
2. You can submit a book into any existing e-book application for a specific device
3. You can post your manuscript online (for free or behind a pay wall) in a format that is compatible with these devices

As a custom software developer, our perspective is based off interaction with clients as well as our experience in mobile app development, including iPhone® app development, iPad®, and Android® development platforms. As such, this article looks technology options for helping the self-published author.

Keep in mind that although self publishing often refers to books, most of the options below can also be used to publish music, videos, DVD and CD type media, and other visual and auditory formats.

1) Develop a Proprietary Application

Custom Smartphone apps are small programs that can be installed onto your phone. Blackberry, Windows, Android and Apple’s iOS devices (iPod®, iPhone and the iPad) all have unique markets and are not cross-compatible with one another.

Creating a unique application for these devices to showcase your works (such as book, music, art, or other works) can be the perfect platform for you, although it also comes with some unique challenges.

Advantages to creating a unique application

· Full editorial control, although some stores have content restrictions
· Take advantage of the device features (such as animating elements of a graphic novel or children’s book so they move and you tilt the phone)
· Integrate music, video, voice, or many other interactive elements
· Higher royalties, no third-party commissions, and a broad range or pricing controls
· Analytics (monitor sales and downloads) and quick user feedback
· Ability to update the application

Be sure to read our previous blog post about what to look for in a Smartphone Application Developer.

Disadvantages

· Higher startup costs (the highest of the three options)
· Unique to each operating system (An iPhone app does not work on Android phones, for example, but it would work on the iPad or on an iPod Touch)
· Still need to self market, or pay for marketing. However promotion is a bit easier since people are familiar with the app market concept
· Longer development time

2) Submit to an Existing E-book Application

One option for self-publishing is to create a custom e-book application that can be distributed on an e-reader device. There are three main brands of e-readers on the market, and a fourth if you include the iBookstore for the iPad. These include the Kindle Reader by Amazon, the Nook by Barnes & Noble, and the Sony E-Reader (multiple varieties).

The benefit to this approach is that each of these devices also has an application that allows the e-books to be purchased and read on a variety of different devices including smartphones, other tablets, and on desktop/laptop computers.

While these all have their own nuances and benefits, here is a quick breakdown of some of the good and bad to this option. In general, this is a great “low commitment” option that has almost no start-up costs, and is perfect for the hobby writer. For authors interested in this option, we highly recommend you visit the specific providers directly (links above).

There are also other online self-publishing options that do not exactly fit into this category, such as Lulu.com or Smashwords.com which may also be worthwhile as they provide many of these same types of services.

Advantages to using an existing marketplace application

· Generally quick and easy to format a manuscript and get it into the store
· Quick compatibility across multiple devices
· “Organic” visibility as people browse the store
· Generally free to submit a manuscript, so no upfront costs
· Freedom to choose your own pricing, with some exceptions
· Excluding Apple’s iBookstore, other e-bookstores work on almost all platforms, including most types of smartphones, e-readers, tablets, and desktop/laptop computers

Disadvantages

· Higher commission – You make less from each sale
· Still need to self market, or pay for marketing, however it is a bit easier because the market owners (Amazon, Sony, Barnes & Noble, and Apple) are all very well trusted retailers
· Some content restrictions, fewer customization options
· In most cases, no copy protections or DRM control options
· Some distribution restrictions limiting your freedom to sell on other platforms or in other formats
· Not as easy to publish graphic-heavy books, such as comics and graphic novels

3) Host Your Works Online

A third option is to host your content online in a format that is optimized for mobile app devices such as e-readers, smartphones, and tablets. This option can include free or paid distributions methods, meaning that a person would need to purchase the document before being able to access it. Once purchased, the file could be downloaded and accessed by the user, similar to other e-commerce and digital distribution systems.

Custom or semi-custom website development options are available from a large variety of developers, as well as template sites that have limited configuration options, which can fit most hosting needs and budgets.

Advantages

· Easier to provide preview or demo content
· Full editorial control with no content restrictions (except for illegal content, of course)
· Generally cheaper than creating an application
· Easier to promote all your works in one place, as well as promote yourself
· Advanced analytics and sales tracking
· Easy to add new content and works
· Can be deployed in conjunction with the above options
· Full price control, no commissions (unless you specifically choose to)

Disadvantages

· More difficult to market and promote to an external audience
· More expensive than piggy-backing on other e-book stores
· Higher ongoing hosting costs, and pay management
· Some device compatibility restrictions on format
· Ongoing IT or tech support may be necessary
· Less control and prevention against redistribution

Summary:

There are lots of options for self-publishing, and each may appeal to a different level of writer and artist. In general, piggy-backing into existing apps may be an ideal place to start for hobby writers, since no upfront investment is needed, although the payback is less.

For more serious and ambitious self-publishing writers, creating a proprietary app for each of your works, or selling your works independently online may be a more ideal choice. In either case, self-publishing can be challenging and very rewarding.

Resources:

The Wall Street Journal story mentioned at the beginning of this article can be found here: http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703846604575448093175758872.html

We also invite you to visit our website for more information about Amadeus Consulting’s mobile application development options, and our custom website development services.

The use of computer to computer calling has come a long way in recent years. You no longer are tied to your computer in order to receive or make telephone calls. The new VOIP services make it possible for your regular phones to call landlines or even mobile telephones via your internet connection. Sound strange? Well, with any new technology is at first. So, if you want to take the time to learn about this new advancement.

VOIP stands for Voice over Internet Protocol. It allows your company to make phone calls over a data network, such as the internet. The VOIP then converts the voice signal from your telephone into a digital signal that travels over the internet then converts it back at the other end so that you can speak to anyone with a regular phone.

In recent years the requests for VOIP services has been increasing in demand. It is no longer a question of “if” but “when” every business will switch from a traditional telephone services to a VOIP service provider. With most of the featured services, you can check your voicemail from any web browser in the world. You can also have your messages automatically sent directly into your email account. Think about it, you can check your voicemail and internet at the same time if your company has VOIP services.

The goal of VOIP services is to make everyone’s lives easier. The Internet was just the first step in the technology arena and we now making even more advancements that will make operating a business or working in a business much easier and faster.

There are many different vendors that provide services to the public and private sector. What once started out as a service geared toward companies is now going main stream with many consumers wanting this same service in their own homes or small businesses!

You are on the forefront of this new technology. You use it daily in your office and you like the speed and versatility of it and you want it in your own home. So, now you have to decide which service provider to purchase your VOIP serves from.

A good way to start is to see what company your office uses and to check with them to see if they have a market for individual consumers. If not, they should be able to tell you who might be able to provide you with this service. Or, better yet, read the Consumer Report on VOIP services-they are the one unbiased source of information on just about any topic.

Whether or not you decided to get VOIP services for your home, you should know something about them. They are the latest and greatest technology on the market today for telephone services. Who knows, eventually, technology may advance enough that everyone will have VOIP services for their telephones.

Do not laugh-it was not that long ago that people thought that the Internet and cable television was a passing fad.

Opportunities in the nursing field for persons with specialized skills in information technology abound in the 21st century. Healthcare professionals understand that technology is now a key part of every medical field, and no more so than in the field of nursing. While traditional nursing duties were mainly centered around patient care, in the modern healthcare environment nurses are expected to participate in record-keeping, data entry, and communications technology. Any nurse will tell you that they are the integral hub between doctors, administrators and patients, and need access to all the files and information required to keep each party up-to-date with the latest medical information in order to keep the hospital or healthcare office running smoothly.

While most medical offices use standardized software such as Microsoft Office, more and more applications are being developed specifically for medical office use requiring healthcare professionals, particularly nurses to obtain special training in order to function effectively in their jobs. Nursing schools have begun training prospective nurses in these applications, knowing full well that it increases the number of job options for their graduates. Though it is not only nurses affected - there are a multiplicity of jobs in hospital administration that requires software ability and knowledge. Business schools as well are keen to assure that graduates with degrees in hospital administration are up-to-date in the latest technological advancements so they will be able to do their jobs effectively.

It seems as though every area of medicine is advancing in a technologically forward manner. Surgeons use telepresence to operate on patients halfway around the world, ambulance drivers rely heavily on GPS navigation, doctors receive the latest updates on disease and treatment studies over the Internet and even patients now have unprecedented access to information about not only their condition, but treatment options, and detailed information about the various healthcare providers they’re welcome to choose from.

Of course technological innovation is nothing new to the medical field. Medicine has always been at the forefront of new technology development. The modern age would hardly be possible without the discovery of nuclear radiation by two doctors, but it’s medicine’s accessibility and enthusiasm for exploring new developments in almost any science field in the search of new diagnostic and treatment tools that allows medicine and technology to blend so well, and to such great benefit.

The latest technology from Apple Computer, the iPad, is the latest of such technological developments and has been tested at hospitals around the United States with an eye towards making the tablet computer and indispensable piece of medical hardware at an affordable price. Numerous medical and healthcare applications have been developed for the device and the initial response from medical personnel who have used it in the field is overwhelmingly positive. The ability to carry so much information in a small package that is easily and instantly updatable through wireless networks is bound to revolutionize the way health jobs are done in the future.

Whether it’s the MRI scanner, the iPad computer, GPS navigation or surgery by telepresence it seems inevitable that as technology advances medicine will advance along with it. We can only speculate what changes medicine will see in the next hundred years as technology rapidly advances while the cost of such innovation rapidly declines. What is sure however is that there will always be a place for the healthcare worker, the doctor and the medical administrator to bridge the gap between patients and the ever-expanding field of highly complex medical technology. These jobs, as we’ve seen in the latest economic downturn, will remain valuable and desirable throughout any social or economic climate.

Businesses incur thousands upon thousands of dollars in expenses each and every year. From marketing costs to operations, it never seems like there is any more room in the budget for cuts. That’s where Voice over Internet Protocol comes in handy. VoIP, as it is commongly known, is the process of sending voice communication signals over the Internet to avoid common phone relay exchanges. While it is still in its infancy, it stands to change the way that businesses conduct themselves in the next few years by resorting to each of the following:

Eliminating the hardware. Any time a business calls the local phone company out to set up new phones, they are adding to the clutter of their work environment by installing bulky phones in addition to the other mandatory technologies filling out the work facility. With VoIP, everything you need to make a phone call is right there at your computer.

Enabling better multitasking. Since you can make calls with your computer, there is no need to be distracted between the information in front of you and the conversation going on inside your headset. Imagine the possibilities of being able to look at all of a client’s information and personal history while you are on the phone discussing an issue.

Allowing video conferencing. Sales presentations, cooperative communications, and other forms of face to face networking no longer have to be done in person with the magic of video conferencing. This technological advancement in calling allows you to not only speak to a subject, but it also allows you to study the person’s nonverbal cues as well.

Reducing phone center costs. Running a traditional phone center, which is essential if you are wanting to stay attached to your customers, used to cost a small fortune, but that was before it became as simple as choosing the right plan and empowering your employees with the necessary technology to manage inbound and outbound calls all on their own with nothing but the aid of their computers to guide them.

Bridging the gap that exists internationally. The Internet is a global information highway, and as such, it only stands to reason that you should be using everything you’ve got to harness that connectivity for the advancement of your business. With easier forms of communication, you are poised to do just that. No longer is it too expensive to tap a richly diverse, and financially rewarding, market.

Syncing with smartphones. Many VoIP providers are already making moves toward compatibility with smartphone technology. Simply purchase the application for the provider of your choice and farm all calls through it. That assures you will always have enough minutes to hold a conversation from beginning to end with no worries in between.

SIP Trunking is in point of fact linked to the modern business phone system and because of its flexibility to support both IP telephony and conventional telephone communication; it is the technology that can bring business benefits to many people who are using its services. SIP Trunking is here to stay and its going to be more and more in the VoIP spotlight, because it offers wide variety of business advantages that improves efficiency and saves huge monthly expenses in several ways. SIP Trunking, sometimes also referred to as VoIP Trunking or IP Trunking, uses the company’s internet pipe to carry voice rather that a connection over traditional Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN) connections. As more and more businesses, both large and small look towards lower telephony costs, including lower long distance calling plans, low cost International call rates and lower inbound toll free solutions, they will come to discover that SIP Trunking has these benefits. There are many advantages of using SIP Trunking over a conventional telephone communication services, few of them have been listed below: A. Other than bandwidth, infinite number of voice sessions can be carried over a SIP trunk. B. SIP has the ability to deliver many of the combined communications functions such as chat services, presence, conferencing capabilities and the ability to share applications. C. Connectivity is done within the IP telephony service provider’s network, which means no need to invest in premise-based hardware and software. D. Convergence of multiple lines. E. More uptime than conventional telephone communication. To roll-out SIP Trunking services, a business will only require three things, such as: 1. An IP PBX system with a SIP-ready Trunk. 2. A device that sits at the edge of the network that communicates with the SIP. 3. A service provider that offers a SIP Trunking service. While SIP Trunking services are parallel to (PSTN) connectivity in terms of gateway requirements, in most cases SIP is relatively a lot cheaper. SIP is also a more feasible service in that it can be a gateway to many more services, other than just voice, providing a much faster return on investment that with a conventional telephone communication services. To sum it up in nutshell, any business who utilizes VoIP or has a squash under way, needs to take a serious look at using SIP Trunking to maximize the benefits of their VoIP investment.

Technology is one of the cornerstones of commerce in any form in the current scenario. Every transaction has some sort of technological advancement enabling it, from the simplest process of buying orange juice from Wal-Mart to running a completely virtual online business. Wholesale trading is no exception. Logistics these days are completely dependent on technology, and the smallest business will find that access to technology is essential.

The Internet is also a big part of the revolution. In fact, many would say it’s a revolution in itself. Access to Internet technology has enhanced our lives in many ways – things that would take ages before are done with the click of a button. The Internet has enabled many small businesses to start up and compete in a global market place, something that was inconceivable earlier. Many of these businesses, particularly online ones, look to the Internet to provide them with the ability to engage in wholesale trading. The trend of drop shipping, especially via eBay, has created a niche for small traders to operate and make profits.

What the Internet technology has done is create a point of contact for the buyer and the seller – the online business and its customer, allowing the business to start up and operate without high costs. This has resulted in a number of entrepreneurs looking around them for products to sell that can be cheaply procured, sold at a higher price and shipped directly from the wholesale trader to the buyer. This has in turn increased the market size for the wholesaler, as well. Further, orders can be tracked and information exchanged through Internet or VoIP, so that it does not even matter where the seller, buyer or wholesaler is located in many cases. Communication is instant, easy and not bound by time difference.

Before the advent of Internet technology, most of these entrepreneurs could not have dreamed of starting up with the huge cost of carrying inventory. Even if these online business owners had the storage space, they may not have retail space and advertising dollars. Today, an online business can choose to warehouse products in the garage or basement, post images or audio and video clips of the merchandise in stock on their website and market it cheaply.

Additionally, technology in other forms has transformed the wholesale trading landscape. The ability to track merchandise that is en route or even to use VoIP technology to save operating costs has been a much talked-about development in the field of wholesale trading. As a wholesale trader, you can offer that all-important essential – great customer service via the Internet. Email and VoIP technology enables the small business owner to keep in touch with past, present and potential customers. Online marketing tools for your wholesale trading business are cheaper and more effective than traditional means. So even in the marketing arena, it’s technology to the rescue. This allows for greater marketing reach, customer acquisition, conversion and retention for a small business.

Finally, technology plays a vital role in attracting customers from all over the world to your wholesale trading business. If your product has a wide appeal, it will get access to a larger market online.

Hosted PBX with cutting edge technology helps start-up companies to project themselves as big businesses. Advanced hosted technology helps you to communicate effectively with your customers and associates, regardless of your location. The improved technology of hosted systems is far above the traditional PBX system, and it provides full control to the user. The business can benefit from a cutting-edge technology service without capital expenditure.

A virtual PBX system can route calls to any number in any location. It can easily connect your remote offices and mobile employees. With cutting-edge technology, the hosted PBX allows to set customized professional greeting messages and multiple extensions for departments and employees. Sophisticated features include automated call answering options, call transferring, call waiting, call forwarding, voice mail and online fax functionality. Automatic call forwarding will route callers to all phone extensions including home, office or mobile. With efficient voice mail notification service, you will never miss an important voice mail. Voice mail alerts can be sent to one’s email or cell phone.

With a hosted PBX, there are no hassles or costs of maintaining PBX hardware. All the services are provided through advanced VoIP technology. No additional phone line is required to get the hosted phone features. The virtual system can also connect faxes and voice mail to the main business number. Customers can contact you without paying long distance call charges.

A hosted PBX system can be set up and activated within a short time. Users can easily customize communication features through the Internet. There are many service providers offering advanced hosted PBX services in a cost-effective manner. Hosted PBX service providers can integrate advanced calling features to your local phone number or toll-free phone number. Some providers offer free trial service plans. Another advantage is that, you have to pay only for the services you need. You can opt for the right hosted PBX service that suits your business communication requirements.

Introduction

Partner Relationship Management (PRM) is a system of methodologies, strategies, software, and web-based capabilities that help a manufacturer to organise and manage relationships with business partners. PRM acknowledges the existence of the “partner eco-system” – an often complex network of inter-dependent entities collaborating upstream of the end-customer. The general purpose of PRM is to enable companies to better manage their suppliers, alliances, distribution partners and customers through the introduction of reliable systems, processes and procedures for interacting with them.

History

The notion of employing a dedicated horizontal software platform across your business for the specific purpose of managing and integrating processes and systems used to operate your partner relationship’s came in the mid to late 1990’s but was, to some extent ahead of its time. Industries with dedicated franchised distribution networks such as automotive recognized the need for such systems many years earlier. The information and communication technology industry, with its rapidly evolving indirect channel model and ready acceptance of software as a business process automation enabler has followed in the last decade but ironically, many companies within more established industry sectors; possessive of more mature partner networks have chosen to ignore PRM preferring to leverage existing legacy / enterprise applications regardless of their suitability for purpose. Customer Relationship Management (CRM) systems have often been inappropriately used for this purpose producing typically poor results. But the business processes and indeed the very purpose of PRM is fundamentally different to those associated with CRM. Because of the limited mass-market adoption of PRM, few companies exist today who have both a detailed knowledge of and track record in the market, who possess a technology designed specifically for the job and who understand how to deploy the technology to bring the greatest value to both the manufacturer and their partner. But as the global economic crisis presents all businesses with enormous challenges, those companies who have come to depend upon partner networks are now seeking to improve partner performance throughout the supply and value chains whilst reducing operational costs and PRM could offer the solution.

Strategy Not Only Software

The term “partner relationship management” itself is meant to describe the whole business strategy oriented towards partner needs and through them, the needs of your mutual customers. The main misconception of PRM is that it is only software. It is not. Indeed PRM is a whole business strategy and of course, in today’s increasingly challenging and competitive business environment, a successful PRM strategy cannot be implemented by simply installing and integrating a software package. A holistic approach to PRM is vital for an effective and efficient PRM strategy to succeed. This approach includes a modification of business processes based on the needs of partners, their suppliers and their customers. It includes the training of your own employees to enable them to understand and embrace the principles of PRM and inevitably, it includes the adoption of relevant IT systems to enable the organisation or company to execute its PRM strategy. To be effective, the PRM strategy and associated processes and systems need to be integrated end-to-end throughout the supply-chain and the value-chain; across marketing, sales and service.

Business Benefits

The benefits of PRM for the manufacturer are very clear. A PRM strategy implemented with robust systems, processes and procedures enables them to manage upstream and downstream partner relationships throughout the partner lifecycle.

But what are the benefits to a partner in working with a manufacturer who has a well implemented partner relationship strategy? The first concerns comprehensive and accurate data. Putting information at the heart of any partner relationship management strategy is critical. Placing accurate partner data within a single master data repository will provide the manufacturer with the means to formulate a cohesive partner program that will fully leverage the capabilities of their partners and help them to deliver on their business goals. Comprehensive partner “intelligence” or partner “intimacy” can facilitate dramatic improvements in the quality, suitability, relevance and timeliness of partner communications and ensures that manufacturer messages are properly targeted at the most relevant partner personnel.

Manufacturer execution in downstream partner selection and segmentation has long been driven by supply volumes (upstream) and raw sales performance (downstream) and little else. This perpetuates an environment in which partners supplying large volumes of materials or generating large revenues receive the greatest investment of time, effort, resources and funding whilst some smaller partners who may in fact offer greater strategic value can often be overlooked and starved of the support they need to grow. PRM enables manufacturers to analyse a partner’s true value based upon qualitative as well as quantitative measures. Applying automated analytical and score-carding processes, a manufacturer can assess which partners merit strategic partner status and the degree of investment and support appropriate to realise their potential. These same principles can be applied as effectively to suppliers as to distributors and dealers and can be useful in ongoing partner performance management and optimisation.

Armed with this analysis, manufacturers can firstly ensure that they devote energy to incubating or nurturing high-potential partners amongst their existing base before engaging in much more effective targeted recruitment activities aimed at complementing their supplier or resale bases with new high quality partners.

Partner development, training and knowledge transfer has been revolutionised by PRM. Systems with integrated e-learning tools manage training curriculums and tailor them to the personal profile of individual sales, marketing and technical staff in the partner community. They deliver training in an interesting, often entertaining way using multimedia technology online, often provided via the partner portal or supplier extranet and facilitate online testing to automate the certification process. Such eLearning tools can ensure accurate matching of test results to the qualification for training certificates and go on to map these personal qualifications against company accreditation for umbrella partner programs. Automation through PRM ensures that the most suitable training programs are promoted, managed and delivered to the most appropriate individuals within the partner community replacing costly and time consuming classroom training and managing the complex business processes and interdependencies between testing, certification and accreditation.

Most manufacturer loyalty programs comprise the same predictable collection of umbrella-branded program deliverables, poorly administered and little valued by partners. Not so with an effective partner relationship management strategy. This will ensure that manufacturers align their partner-facing programs with the needs of their partner community implementing only those deliverables that bring tangible value to the partners and their customers. Loyalty programs should aim firstly to provide partners with the infrastructure, tools and resources to support their selling, marketing and customer-supporting activities and then, once the foundations for loyalty have been built, to reward that loyalty.

Similarly, many manufacturer sales incentives tend to be hastily crafted, poorly coordinated, tactical programs aimed at driving short term sales in exchange for rewards. Timescales often fail to take into consideration the duration of sales cycles, rewards are commonly poorly targeted and manufacturers typically end up paying out for sales they would have made anyway. Manually administered programs are resource-hungry, time consuming and error-prone. PRM automation ensures that incentives can be better planned and managed. Messaging, communication and reward delivery can be better tailored to the participant to improve ‘buy in’ and motivation remains high. Meanwhile retrospective sales trend analysis makes sure that they are awarded against incremental sales only. PRM then ensures that tactical incentives and promotions can be aligned and managed as a series of connected campaigns as part of a larger strategic loyalty program in conjunction with other added-valued initiatives.

PRM supports improved manufacturer and partner collaboration too. One of the most important, yet least well-orchestrated collaborative approaches to partner management is through the provision of sales leads. Lead management programs can help to ensure that properly qualified leads are delivered directly to those partner sales people who are best able and best placed to close them. They ensure that such leads are supplied rapidly, as soon as they are qualified and that manufacturer and partner can work collaboratively to progress them through the sales cycle. Automation through PRM ensures that the right leads get to the right people in a timely fashion and facilitate proactive two way communication between manufacturer and partner to ensure that leads are followed up and closed. What is more, PRM goes on to facilitate deal registration programs allowing partners to register their own opportunities with manufacturers – minimising channel conflict, ensuring sales, marketing and financial support and bringing a variety of benefits and rewards for the registering partner.

Collaborative marketing programs and associated processes can be greatly enhanced through PRM automation. From the sharing of campaign strategies, schedules, media plans, collateral and assets to online content creation tools for brochures, so called “out of the box programs”, proposals and web assets. PRM provides manufacturers and partners with the means to develop and execute joint integrated marketing campaigns right to the point of sale.

PRM should provide partners with the very highest quality and consistency of support tailored to their personal needs. It should be available 24×7 and provide manufacturers with a dual approach to the reality of partner relationship management; a best practice strategy supported by a sophisticated automated solution for optimising the performance of their complex partner eco-systems.

As the global economy experiences its worst recession for 60 years and manufacturers struggle with the dichotomy of maintaining or growing their business whilst lowering their costs, partner performance optimisation will inevitably become a business priority. Manufacturers will try, albeit with limited budgets to secure upstream supplier efficiencies and cost savings together with downstream partner loyalty and increased mindshare with new programmes. As before, channel partners will view these moves cynically. The manufacturers who will emerge from these difficult times with a stronger partner network will, in our view, be those who reengineer their processes, systems and procedures and indeed their culture based upon a carefully thought out and well-executed holistic partner relationship management strategy.

Find more articles and whitepapers on connected topics at www.relayware.com.

VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) has worked hard to improve the way individuals communicate with one another. Providing people with an alternative, cheaper way to connect with friends and family, its rise has challenged the services offered by traditional telecommunications companies. The result is impressive and statistics report that there are currently over 100 million subscribers to the technology.

Basically harnessing the power of the internet, VoIP allows its users to make free or cheap phone calls to others without the need for a landline. In fact, because the internet is capable of transmitting more information at much higher speeds than a normal telephone, as well as being able to utilise such things as video technology, the cost of speaking to others has been significantly reduced. Services, on the other hand, have been enhanced.

One of the biggest advantages of using VoIP as opposed to a traditional phone line is that call rates don’t change dependent on the time of day the call is made. In this way, on- and off- peak calling times have all but been made redundant. Not only that, but it is also possible to call any landline or mobile phone in the world, at any time, in a cost efficient manner.

For example, if a friend or family member is travelling around Italy for the summer and you want to keep in regular contact with them without spending a fortune, then VoIP provides the ideal solution. Indeed, it can cost as little as £0.014 per minute to call an Italian landline and £0.201 to a mobile. Not only that, but it is also possible to send text messages or set up voicemail.

In order to utilise VoIP technology, you need to download and install the relevant software onto your computer. Generally speaking, there are then two ways to go about making cheap calls: pay-as-you-go or monthly subscriptions. With pay-as-you-go, you can simply add credit to your account, which will then last for up to 180 days after each call is made. Monthly subscriptions, on the other hand, usually don’t require any long-term contracts and can be used from anywhere in the world.

This is great, in comparison to phone cards, for instance, where you can only use them in the country where they were bought and the credit runs out after a relatively short time, such as 30 days. Additionally, the call rates on phone cards can vary significantly and they don’t come with the added features seen with VoIP packages, like text messaging.

The advent of VoIP has brought with it many changes, not least that of low cost calls. As such, the way people speak to one another has been revolutionised and with the possibility of being able to make cheap calls to Italy, or anywhere else in the world, the power of connecting with friends and family is increasingly in the hands of the people.