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Salesforce.com integrates to get ahead
Register - Nov 27, 2006
com is today expected to take its latest step towards improving integration with third-parties' software, including business rival Oracle. The hosted CRM pioneer will announce an extension to its recently launched Apex platform and language called ConnectOut, which enables other applications to be notified of business events in Salesforce. ConnectOut – part of Salesforce. com’s new ApexConnect family of services - is scheduled for release with the Winter 07 edition of Salesforce... com claimed dozens of customers are in production on ConnectSAP. com also provides integration with Microsoft Office, Outlook and Lotus Notes. According to Salesforce. com, it is helping reduce the cost of integration associated with installing applications. "Prior to ConnectSAP and ConnectOracle a lot of that connection was developed with Salesforce.
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2006/11/27/salesforce_oracle_integration/
ERP integration is lure for IT chiefs
ComputerWeekly.com - Nov 24, 2006
The idea of using Office as an interface onto back-end enterprise systems, such as SAP and Oracle, is already beginning to find favour among IT chiefs. One IT director of a global company said, "People are familiar with the Office interface and they find it difficult to adapt to interfaces for enterprise resource planning applications. So integrating ERP or CRM with Office should make it easier for users and save on training. " ADVERTISEMENT... "I see no benefit having enterprise integration defined by Microsoft - its track record is not one to be proud of in this area," said one IT manager. Many users are looking at integrating the Sharepoint 2007 groupware platform into Office 2007 to allow staff to share information from within Office applications. Kevin Kincaid, IS development manager at property services firm Telereal, said that of all the Vista releases "upgrading to Office 2007 is probably the easiest case to make". "Office 2007 also removes certain limitations found in the current version of, for example, Excel.
http://www.computerweekly.com/Articles/2006/11/24/220170/ERP+integration+is+lure+for+IT+chiefs.htm
Sage Leads The Pack In London
Forbes - Nov 29, 2006
-based supplier of accounting, customer relationship management (CRM) and business management software to small and midsized businesses, is the only technology company listed on the FTSE 100 share index, a roll call of the 100 most highly capitalized companies listed on the London Stock Exchange. It was the sole member of another select group today, being the top blue chip riser on the market. The Newcastle-based company added 17.
http://www.forbes.com/enterprisetech/2006/11/29/sage-group-crm-markets-equity-cx_cn_1129markets07.html?partner=rss
Small firms thinking big
VNUNet.com - Nov 23, 2006
Relationship-building is a constant challenge – particularly because JGB hasa smaller margin of error than many of its competitors. If a business that JGBinvests in experiences problems that are not identified early, that investmentcould potentially be in jeopardy. To help address the issue, JGB recently invested in a hosted CRM applicationfrom. Since installing the software, JGB estimates that it has saved more than£20,000 through better security, greater reliability, improved visibility andspeed of response, and through faster communication. This experience of CRM is pretty typical of medium-sized companies, saysThompson – Gartner’s research shows that smaller companies often see moredramatic benefits from CRM technology than larger organisations.
http://www.vnunet.com/articles/print/2169263
NewsFactor Network | Xbox 360 Live Overwhelmed by Demand
NewsFactor Network - Nov 24, 2006
On Wednesday, Microsoft launched a new Xbox service that lets users of Xbox 360 Live download TV shows and films, many in high definition. The service boasts content from Warner Brothers, Ultimate Fighting Championship, Turner Broadcasting, Paramount, MTV, and CBS, with more content to be released weekly. But the new service tanked when users reported widespread problems with the downloads, complaining of wait times in excess of four hours or downloads that stopped cold in the middle of transmission. What's more, their accounts were charged as if the downloads went off without a hitch. On his blog at www.
http://www.newsfactor.com/story.xhtml?story_id=12000DMAC33C
NewsFactor Network | Firefox 2 Browser Struck by Password Flaw
NewsFactor Network - Nov 24, 2006
us The Mozilla Foundation, which maintains code for the Firefox browser, has acknowledged that there is a problem with the Firefox Password Manager and has named it bug #360493. Microsoft has also admitted that the newly discovered password bug can affect Internet Explorer as well, but most reports indicate that Firefox is the more likely target because of the way it stores usernames and passwords. --> Related Topics.
http://www.newsfactor.com/story.xhtml?story_id=12000CANNOOO
Meeting the challenge - vnunet.com
VNUNet.com - Nov 23, 2006
Sixty per cent of the time that I am called in to help small businesses is todiscuss how to improve sales. What we learn from large firms, such as customerrelationship management (CRM) systems, can be adapted to SMEs to provide focusand direction. CRM systems can add real volume – on average, sales growth of between 30 and50 per cent is not uncommon. And another area is innovation through teamwork. How can you use technologyto share wisdom, to share problems, particularly when people are spreadgeographically?Collaboration products such as... CRM systems can add real volume – on average, sales growth of between 30 and50 per cent is not uncommon. And another area is innovation through teamwork. How can you use technologyto share wisdom, to share problems, particularly when people are spreadgeographically?Collaboration products such as. You can link up your entrepreneurs and they can come forward withinnovations. But for me, the key is to ask the question: what do I really needto do to move this organisation forward, and then turn to the IT guys and say,how can you help me to do that?Watch the web seminar online.
http://www.vnunet.com/computing/analysis/2169293/meeting-challenge
Technology News: Security: Firefox, IE Vulnerable to Password Theft
TechNewsWorld - Nov 24, 2006
Both Mozilla and Microsoft have acknowledged the problem and are working on fixes. Compliments of ATG,.
http://www.technewsworld.com/story/54413.html
What does the future hold for Cisco? - vnunet.com
VNUNet.com - Nov 27, 2006
Those watching the companywill have noticed a succession of product launches starting with the release ofthe Digital Media System at the end of September, followed by the release of theUnified Communications (UC) for SMEs and the Telepresence ‘Meeting Solution’ inOctober. As recently as 1 November, Cisco also launched its CRM Connector, whichplugs into Microsoft Dynamics software. What people might not have noticed though is that Cisco has changed its logo,even though it is noticeably different. They may also have missed last month’sreport that the company has announced its intent to acquire Orative, a smallCalifornian-based mobile telephony software specialist. However, Wall Streetcertainly noticed because the company’s stock, which for some time has beengoing nowhere in particular, started to rise sharply again. This is not just because the markets like the way that Cisco’s new logolooks.
http://www.vnunet.com/crn/analysis/2169494/does-future-hold-cisco
Our Challenge Is Change, Not Globalization
Forbes - Nov 27, 2006
Consider that Google's revenue per employee is around $1. 3 million, on a forward basis. Shockingly, that's more than twice as high as the revenue-per-employee figures at Microsoft (nasdaq:.
http://www.forbes.com/execpicks/columnists/global/2006/1127/016.html
RealMoney.com: Software Gurus Like the Other Software Giant
thestreet.com - Nov 24, 2006
This is used by corporations to integrate back-office functions such as distribution, accounting, human resources and manufacturing. The software is popular because it helps companies become more productive and efficient, which reduces costs. SAP's position with corporations has enabled it to grow by moving into other business-related software fields, including supply chain and customer relationship management, usually referred by its initials, CRM. SAP continues to grow at a nice pace. Its most recent financials, as of Sept. 30, showed that for the first nine months of this year, its revenue was up 13%, while earnings per share rose 16%.
http://www.thestreet.com/p/_yahoo/rmoney/software/10323873.html
Mistakes Made On The Road To Innovation
BusinessWeek - Nov 27, 2006
They must reinvent the company. Even at healthy companies, business model innovations are essential to retaining their competitive positions. Microsoft (MSFT)Chief Executive Steve Ballmer says he no longer thinks of his competition as individual companies. Instead, "it's alternative business models that we'll have to compete with or embrace," he says. His two biggest threats are the open-source phenomenon and advertising-supported software. There's no better example than Kodak of the importance of coming up with new ways of doing business -- and the difficulties of succeeding. At its peak, Kodak was an icon of American technology innovation... A watershed moment came when Siebel competed against upstart Salesforce. com for the business of tech giant Cisco Systems (CSCO). Even though Cisco was tilting toward Salesforce. com, (CRM) Seibel's sales people pushed traditional product software because they'd get richer commissions that way. Siebel lost the deal, and its business was forced to sell out to Oracle (ORCL). "There were groups of disbelievers in the organization, which is a recipe for disaster," says Bruce Cleveland, who ran the software-as-a-service initiative. GIVE YOUR NEW INITIATIVES ROOM TO BREATHEA company's core business and its new initiatives are typically at odds with one another.
http://www.businessweek.com/magazine/content/06_48/b4011421.htm?chan=rss_topEmailedStories_ssi_5
Good luck!
