Technical Toolboxes Blog - Collaboration Products

Google May Be Up to Something Bigger Than We Can Imagine

Mon, 27 Jul 2009 19:30:00 -0600

Google May Be Up to Something Bigger Than We Can Imagine
This is an odd blog for me as it is just the sharing of a nagging idea that I have. Google is one of the all time smartest companies in history, so why are they taking on Microsoft in the Operating System (OS) market? I think the answer is somewhere around the idea that Google is trying (successfully I might add) to get Microsoft’s attention while Google quietly works on something that is so big, yet so simple, that they want to keep the eyes of Microsoft focused on their OS R&D and away from their other project(s).

One of my personal theories is that Google is working on a simple business intelligence platform that will be distributed freely and interface directly with their Google search algorithm. This platform is exactly what marketing gurus have been looking for, sort of like the Holy Grail. [More]

CRM Suggestions for Automakers, Part One

Tue, 17 Feb 2009 21:49:00 -0600

CRM Suggestions for Automakers, Part One
For most of us, the second largest purchase after our homes is our automobiles. As a person who provides CRM (Customer Relationship Management) and Business Intelligence consulting, products, and services I often wonder why the automakers haven’t latched on to this powerful tool. I know for sure the automakers have all their customers in a nice tidy database and they use that database to send us brochures, offers, letters, and other communications. What I have in mind is a bit more elaborate and will be a series of blog entries as I am sure there will be comments and discussions that will evoke more ideas on this subject. [More]

New AlwaysOn Network, ERP CRM SFA BPM

Mon, 07 May 2007 16:46:00 -0600

New AlwaysOn Network, ERP CRM SFA BPM
I just wanted to announce that we started a new network for AlwaysOn Network Members to Blog about Business Process Management (BPM), Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP), Customer Relationship Management (CRM), Sales Force Automation (SFA) and all things pertaining to automating our business processes. A few topics that come to mind are: [More]

ERP Should Make You Free

Fri, 27 Apr 2007 17:00:00 -0600

ERP Should Make You Free
The very essence of a well designed ERP system is to free you from the dependencies of making all the mundane decisions over and over again and have the confidence that your system is helping you to run your business in the most efficient and profit producing manner known to man. I just finished reading an excellent article by Briony Smith of www.itbusiness.ca and it was a revelation, particularly for me as a person in the ERP business and providing ERP systems, consulting, and implementation services. The article is compelling right from the start with the following quote;

“A recently released survey of Technology Evaluation Centre newsletter subscribers sponsored by Sliedrecht, Netherlands-based ERP company Agresso found that, out of the 900 respondents, 70 per cent feel their ERP systems put them at a disadvantage.” [More]

Blogs I Read Every Day and Why

Thu, 12 Apr 2007 18:45:00 -0600

Blogs I Read Every Day and Why
Blogs are becoming one of my major news sources. With my interest in ERP, SFA, CRM, Business Process automation , enterprise computing, marketing, business intelligence, business analysis, finance, engine technology, Calgary, Silicon Valley, startups, Web 2.0, data warehousing, business intelligence, military, and etc. I have a few Blogs that I go for the straight goods. Here are the ones that have my attention these days (in no particular order): [More]

ERP and CRM Provides Better Communications with Colleagues and Clients

Sat, 07 Apr 2007 14:40:00 -0600

ERP and CRM Provides Better Communications with Colleagues and Clients
I think it is time to talk about Sealweld. Not so much Sealweld as such, as they are extremely successful multi-national small business. Sealweld is just a great example of a company that has figured out how to do business anywhere in the world whether it be the Far East or Dubai, they have seen it all. I would like to think that we have at least helped in the success of this company. We installed our Toolbox at Sealweld and this enabled them to tie their CRM together with the ERP and Project Management features of the system. They now share documents and project details with each other as if they were in the same building working side by side when in fact they are usually in Calgary while the rest of their operations are taking place elsewhere. CRM helps us to sell more and it also makes it easier to communicate with everybody in your work sphere. [More]

I Want My Data When I Want It, Chapter One

Thu, 05 Apr 2007 17:43:00 -0600

I Want My Data When I Want It, Chapter One
It was great to see some of my old colleagues from the Energy Pipeline Industry last night. Ever since my work with DATAP Systems, Valmet Automation, PRCI, PIG, TechCorr, El Paso, Scientific Surveys Ltd, and many other pipeline operators, service companies, organizations, and consultants, I have heard the same thing over and over again, “I just want my data, when I want it, and I want to be able to find it quickly……”, there are more “ands” to add here, but this is chapter one of this line of thought.

The pipeline business is data intensive with data flowing from SCADA, shipping and transport, custody transfer, integrity management and pigging, security (videos, satellite photos, etc.), and knowledge based information. [More]

Portable ERP is a Beautiful Thing!

Tue, 03 Apr 2007 21:41:00 -0600

Portable ERP is a Beautiful Thing!
“I just want to cut down on the morning smoking, coffee drinking, and generally wasting precious time every day”, that quote was one of the main factors in the ERP decision of a successful construction service businessman. He just wanted to be the best in our city and beyond and he knew without a shadow of a doubt that he needed to change the way they were doing business. So he built a custom ERP system that worked for his industry, and then built a portable version of the ERP system and never looked back. [More]

Engineering Your Company?s Social Network

Fri, 30 Mar 2007 20:03:00 -0600

Engineering Your Company’s Social Network
You don’t want it “too social” so it will take away from the purpose, you don’t want it too restricting, intimidating, or unfriendly to take away from the usefulness. I was inspired to write these thoughts because of the business I currently pursue and my recent readings of Mack Hanan and Paul Greenberg. My thinking as a provider of ERP, SFA, CRM, and Business Process automation is shifting towards the social aspects of these systems. The fact is, if you have a system that people will use, you will be a successful system provider, pretty much as long as people have faith in the system.

The ultimate goal is to provide a network that is lively, rewarding, interesting, inviting, captivating, and a hundred other positive words to describe the experience. Here are some thoughts on creating an ideal social network for your company. First of all, unless there is a better way we need to bring all the acronyms (ERP, SFA, CRM, and BPM) together in a way that doesn’t turn everybody off. You want to create a network that people embrace, and use, and constantly tell you what new features they want. According to a recent Blog by Kevin Roberts, “we are moving from what you need to what you want”. Here are a few thoughts on making that system:

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15 Traits of a Good Client Relationship

Mon, 26 Mar 2007 19:55:00 -0600

15 Traits of a Good Client Relationship
First of all, I want to say that customers are excellent in my books and I am grateful for every single one of them through the years. When we are selling price to people we are vending. The win-win relationship for both parties is to have a client relationship as opposed to a customer relationship. Customers are price driven and look at your services and products as commodities that can be bought for the lowest bid. Having a client is far more beneficial, but it takes time and trust to be able to call a person one of your clients. The ultimate goal is to become a Partner.

I was reading some notes the other day based on Mack Hanan’s book, Consultative Selling, 7th edition: The Hanan Formula for High-Margin Sales at High Levels. Consultative selling is a way of thinking that Mack Hanan started writing about and articulated in several books and within many companies in the Silicon Valley. [More]

Socializing CRM

Fri, 23 Mar 2007 16:37:00 -0600

Socializing CRM
One of the catchy words in computing is “Socializing”. I first heard the word from my colleague and collaboration marketing expert, Frank Teklitz. We were working on making some upgrades to our current version of the MyCompany Toolbox CRM system. The light really turns on for CRM when you think about bringing the people in the CRM together to achieve goals and objectives. I was reminded of “Socializing” when I recently read a quote the following article, http://www.itbusinessedge.com/item/?ci=24043 here is the quote:

“Though SAP and Salesforce.com use Blogs, Podcasts, and communities to communicate with their customers and their employees, they have yet to integrate these social networking tools into their technology platforms. This is an oversight, opines this author, who makes the case for the value of social networks in CRM . Procter & Gamble has formed a social network called Vocalpoint, composed of 600,000 moms — each of whom has minimum of 25 other moms associated with her. The "lead" moms distribute products samples and gather feedback for P&G. Thus P&G gains invaluable data and marketing buzz simply by enlisting customers, who in turn enjoy the feeling of empowerment the network provides.”
- Paul Greenberg - February 7, 2007
[More]

Remote Control Business Procedures

Thu, 08 Mar 2007 20:29:00 -0600

Remote Control Business Procedures
Back in the late 80’s we were hooking up remote control business process for the US Air Force and the JSTARS program. The Engineers and Scientists in our Command Center in Boston demanded the same data we were producing in the test facility in Melbourne, Florida, so we figured out how to get it up to Boston as quickly as possible. So since those heady days, we’ve discovered how to make the internet work for the civilian world, and better yet how to automate our businesses using the Web. All of this technology has made it possible for the CEO to run the business by remote control. With increasingly demanding global businesses, the CEO can no longer be in the same building with all staff, in fact can rarely be in the same time zone or even country. So in order to keep any semblance of order and balance in the life of a CEO something has to be setup to run the company by “remote control”. There are three primary tools to create this process and they are, Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP), Customer Relationship Management (CRM), and Business Process Management (BPM).

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Southern Alberta Intellectual Property Network Conference, March 1, 2007

Sat, 03 Mar 2007 16:02:00 -0600

Southern Alberta Intellectual Property Network Conference, March 1, 2007
I attended the Southern Alberta Intellectual Property Network Conference, in the University of Calgary Dinning Centre. I attended the conference representing our company so I could learn more about the way people are collaborating with each other to achieve extraordinary research and development. I enjoyed most of the conference and learned a few things as well. After several years of building up our business and going through the harsh realities of business cycles both up and down, I found much more kindred spirits at Don Tapscott’s presentation in the Palliser Hotel, but that is fodder for another Blog. Following is a blow by blow of the conference from my point of view. [More]

Simple Formula: ERP = Instant Growth

Mon, 19 Feb 2007 19:39:00 -0600

Simple Formula: ERP = Instant Growth
This simple formula is a given for me as I build ERP systems for a living….but as I said this to a potential client the other day it kicked off a very interesting conversation and intense scrutiny of that claim and I will outline some of those discussions in this Blog. The reason why ERP is a “secret advantage” for big business is because they can afford it. Now with new software development tools, the internet, and a growing rank and file of users, the secret is out of the bag and it is ERP. I will now step off my soap box (no software pun intended) and get to the area of my concern. How can I best explain the advantages of ERP to the SMB owner who wants to grow to the next step and has exhausted all other avenues? [More]

Building Bridges to Your Islands of Data

Fri, 16 Feb 2007 12:22:00 -0600

Building Bridges to Your Islands of Data
It wasn’t too long ago that data and information were completely isolated to office buildings and peer to peer connections. Some in the industry call it a “data silo”. Over the last few years many data mining and business intelligence systems have been completely liberated by becoming web enabled. I was recently speaking with some government officials about creating a “super database” or as my colleagues in the business intelligence world call it, a Data Warehouse. The super database will likely be a very large and complex database, but the very idea of making this data available to people who need it to keep track of high risk energy pipelines is compelling. What better way to make sure that we don’t have an accident that could harm our population, harm our environment, and interrupt our flow of energy.

[More]