Web 2.0 Productivity Tools
Entrepreneur.com (07/07) ; Bell, Frank

Several Web 2.0 tools are now available that foster productivity in the workplace. These include project management applications that require only an Internet browser and a monthly subscription, like eProject and Basecamp. Small firms also can benefit from sales force automation and customer relationship management systems without having an IT department, thanks to Software-as-a-Service solutions. Companies interested in boosting productivity by making it easy for workers and others to share information and work on the same document should consider wikis, while blogs provide a space to detail events that occurred during a particular shift, display product information, and share knowledge and advice. Other productivity-enhancing communication tools include instant messaging and Web-based meeting solutions.
http://www.entrepreneur.com/technology/managingtechnology/web20co
lumnistfrankbell/article182292.html

Guidelines for Implementing Software-as-a-Service
Small Business Computing (07/27/07) ; Gittlen, Sandra

Small businesses increasingly are embracing the Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) model because it is less expensive than maintaining applications in-house. There are no upfront costs or ongoing maintenance expenditures because the application is hosted by a third-party online. However, firms need to make several considerations before selecting a service provider, and Nemertes Research analyst Irwin Lazar underscores the need to "manage the quality of that application." Lazar says SaaS is not suitable for research and development software but can be useful for customer relationship management, human resources, payroll, and Web conferencing. Watchfire Corp. security research director Danny Allan urges companies to request the provider's written policy governing data privacy and security, organizational structure, audits, upgrade and patch schedules, and handling of security breaches. Portability is another important consideration, according to Microsoft platform strategy director Tim O'Brien, who notes that companies might want to switch to an in-house application as the business evolves. Finally, KnowledgeSum director Rachel Lyubovitzky says companies also should inquire about the need for customization and integration with existing applications to ensure productivity gains.
http://www.smallbusinesscomputing.com/biztools/article.php/369127
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SMBs Unprepared for IM Revolution
SearchSMB.com (07/25/07) ; McGillicuddy, Shamus

Instant messaging (IM) will be used by 95 percent of workers in global firms by 2013, taking advantage of the technology's ability to communicate via text, video, and voice, predicts Gartner Inc. As more small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) embrace IM as a result, experts underscore the importance of IM security and management policies. Though SMBs need only broaden policies governing email to include IM, Gartner research director Peter Firstbrook says most are using firewalls to block IM. However, consumer IM applications used by most workers are able to sidestep firewalls. Alternatives to blocking IM include implementing an enterprise IM solution or appliances, such as Akonix Systems Inc.'s A100 IM Essentials, that control the IM clients used by workers. Firstbrook recommends solutions that merge IM and email management. According to Firstbrook, SMBs that do not take control of IM use are vulnerable to malware and risk the loss of sensitive information. New rules for the legal discovery of electronic documents also make IM management a necessity.
http://searchsmb.techtarget.com/originalContent/0,289142,sid44_gc
i1265551,00.html?track=sy182

The Well-Connected Business Traveler
Small Business Computing (07/26/07) ; Bsales, Jamie

Small business owners would be wise to invest in several tools to ensure they can keep the business running without being tethered to the office. Phone services that forward office calls to the business owner's cell phone are useful, as are mobile broadband data services from AT&T, Verizon, and Sprint that eliminate the need to search for Wi-Fi hot spots. They also have access to mobile broadband routers from WAAV that establish wired or wireless networks in vehicles and other locations, as well as phones with push-to-talk functionality that eliminates the need to key in phone numbers to quickly speak to colleagues. Other helpful mobile technologies include cell phone signal boosters, smart phones with full-size keyboards and large screens, and services that deliver office email to mobile devices. Small business owners also might want to check out Foldera, a Web-based service with file-sharing, email sorting, and project collaboration capabilities.
http://www.smallbusinesscomputing.com/biztools/article.php/369100
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Ready? Here Comes XBRL
Financial Week (07/23/07) Vol. 2 , No. 27 , P. 5 ; Rummell, Nicholas

Extensible business reporting language (XBRL) has been embraced by approximately 50 companies in the United States, despite the electronic platform being hailed as a means of simply and inexpensively filing financial statements and tax forms. Reporting infrastructure in Europe and Asia is being overhauled to pave the way for XBRL, and companies there are more open to its use. In the United States, several events have occurred that lead some observers to believe more companies will adopt XBRL--possibly because they have to. The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) might make XBRL mandatory for accelerated filers, and companies that must adhere to Basel II requirements might be forced to use XBRL just like those in Europe. Also helping to fuel adoption of XBRL are the melding of international financial reporting standards and U.S. accounting standards and the use of XBRL systems by the SEC and the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. While companies worry about the costs and time commitments associated with XBRL adoption, they might save tens of thousands of dollars by using the platform to file 10-K forms, says American Institute of Certified Public Accountants XBRL services director Amy Pawlicki.
http://www.financialweek.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070723/
REG/70720027/1013/TOC

Let's Get Digital
Entrepreneur (07/01/07) ; Kooser, Amanda C.

More companies are expanding their marketing strategies to include videos, hoping to generate interest in their products and services as well as boost web site traffic. When selecting a digital camcorder, companies should consider such issues as body design, recording format and optical zoom. With regard to optical zoom, for example, higher is better to ensure a quality production. The $300 Mustek DV700TZ is a palm-sized camcorder that features a digital voice recorder, an MP3 player, an internal 64MB hard drive and 3x optical zoom. For 10x optical zoom, a 30GB hard drive and an optical image stabilizer, one consideration is the $800 SDR-H200 from Panasonic. Other available options range from Canon's $279 ZR800 miniDV camcorder to the $900 JVC Everio GZ-MG555 hard disk recorder.
http://www.entrepreneur.com/magazine/entrepreneur/2007/july/18006
6.html

Debunking Mobile CRM Myths
Sales & Marketing Management (07/07) Vol. 159 , No. 6 , P. 30 ; Galea, Christine

Mobile customer relationship management (mCRM) systems are becoming increasingly a necessity for sales forces on the go, but many businesses still make costly mistakes when trying to implement such systems. Some companies look for mCRM systems exclusively from their back-end customer relationship management service provider, although other companies may be better equipped to provide this service. Some companies try to translate their entire systems to mobile devices, creating the need for time-consuming scrolling and clicking; it is more efficient to design a system specifically intended for use on mobile devices. Other companies make the mistake of not involving their sales force enough in system design discussions, leaving this task largely to the information-technology department. Companies should be wary of assumptions that previous failed attempts to implement mCRM means that the technology will be equally unsuccessful now. A pilot program, involving just one or two business units, can help the company determine how the new system will work best and how it should be customized for the company's own needs.
http://www.managesmarter.com/msg/content_display/publications/e3i
07b4dbb2a064255c6b92861d76a31d0f