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Programming technologies will equip the programmers with limited in-built features. Of course additional Frameworks can be deployed on top of them to reduce product time to market and deliver solutions faster. But still it's an old game.

BPMS is no doubt a future programming approach and when installed, will equip the programmers with tons of features to automate/simulate/analyze processes along with Business Activity Monitoring (BAM), Case Management features. An iBPMS is more than a BPMS with Intelligent Business Operations features, in-built predictive/adaptive decision capabilities, advanced analysis tools, advanced integrated tools. Very intuitive designer portals will make a programmer more productive and deliver cost-effective & model-driven solutions. BPMS is an intelligent programming platform with a 'give more to end-users' approach unlike the traditional approach of gathering requirements from clean slate. Yes, a BPMS contains in-built features to enter/update/review work along with electronic document management features. Business Process teams can also report on the work using BAM capabilities to Monitor service levels for the tasks, process quality, productivity of users, work allocation etc. BPMS in one way is attracting the technical community with its non-coding approach enabling the IT teams to deliver solutions quickly by yielding more Return on Investment (ROI). A such, there is no bench mark to call a technology as a BPMS except exploring the features related to process modelling, designing, optimizing, implementing, maintaining, supporting the processes to take the businesses to next level in this competitive world. Few years back there were only few technology vendors in this arena and now every other vendor have BPM/BPMS acronyms widely added to their product features or websites. A simple comparison for traditional programming environments vs an BPMS/iPBMS will be as follows: An IBPMS is more likely a building-blocks game so that the designer/programmers can assemble the pieces together to meet the customer/client needs with loads of in-built features for corss-industry needs.

Process automation happens in three simple steps:

1) Understand and Feed requirements into an iBPMS (these are executable requirements which will generate the code resulting for skeleton applications)

2) Model the processes (single or multi-process) as part of step-1

3) Implement (again using non-coding techniques).

Even the Integrated Development Platforms are gone Web-based making the infrastructure outsourcing (for hardware and software needs) or Cloud Computing an easy task. Development/Testing/Production environments are just few minutes away within the time the payment of your credit card/check card goes through.

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The technology market world-wide is migrating to Cloud Computing where many organizations host and run most of their applications on cloud infrastructure. Cloud computing is a means to utilize the cloud infrastructure or any cloud hosted software by subscription or pay-per-use service.

If you are migrating your applications to a public or private cloud, as always cloud solution providers may promise you - easy and fast deployment, high-end security, lower cost and more. But at this juncture, it is of utmost importance to be aware of the critical factors to be considered while migrating to cloud beyond all the marketing proclamations.

Integration Issues with Cloud Computing

It is imperative for companies to think about the Integration going in, while deciding to embrace a SaaS based application or PaaS model for any of your software requirement. Integration plays a vital role when companies depend on more than one application for their business process, necessitating a smooth flow of data across them. With issues in integration, the very purpose of employing the application is left unmet.

Therefore before deciding on a cloud vendor, make sure you gain an in-depth understanding about the integration process and issues, to handle them effectively even before starting to migrate which will make the whole course smooth.

Hidden Costs Revelation

Cloud computing helps enterprises save money on software purchases or licences. With cost structure in the form of subscription fees, enterprises can evade huge investments on infrastructure and pay per usage. However before migrating your application to cloud it is essential to look at your monthly and yearly package options along with the many aspects like number of subscriptions, services, bandwidth limitations, one-time migration costs, integration costs, offers, and support and exit charges. Also understand the complete pricing model for version upgrades, increase in database, number of users, data storage, back-ups, features, etc.

Keep an eye on your package regularly for its limitations like data storage, bandwidth usage, back-ups, data base size, etc., which in-turn helps you manage your charges well. Finally, look for ways to increase the ROI and success metrics of the application.

Cloud Security: Who's Responsible?

Security is one of the top concerns for companies and end users leveraging from cloud. Cloud vendors must ideally provide reliable services with security at multiple layers - data, application, infrastructure and end user. Cloud security issues are more complex for users who do not hold zero responsibility.

According to a recent survey conducted by Ponemon Institute on the Security of Cloud Computing Providers, both customers and providers seldom take the responsibilities for data security on cloud. In fact, most of the providers believe that it is customer's responsibility to secure their data - which is unfair. While both the parties point out each other for data infringement, in reality, both are equally responsible if data is hacked.

It is important that customers take necessary actions for data security, without feeling that cloud solution will handle security concerns on its own. Hence you can check with the vendors as to what they offer for data protection while in addition protecting your data with secure passwords for data access and constantly updating them.

Will Cloud Computing Lead to Privacy Obliteration?

Cloud computing brings numerous benefits to enterprises. However most of us hardly know what is the case behind the scene when it comes to privacy of your data and personal information which is on cloud. The privacy of your data majorly depends on the type of cloud that you choose.

If for example, the cloud application works on an advertising revenue model, your personal information is bound to be grabbed. Vendors will protect your data when you pay for using the applications like business emailing, news portals, software applications, etc and hence choose your vendor keeping your data security in mind.

Speed of Data Restoration - Disaster Recovery

Cloud network goes down at any point of time; but what really matters is how swiftly they recover from a disaster and how their infrastructure is designed for such a downtime recovery. Very few cloud providers unveil the metrics data of uptime and illustrate reports of their past. You can ask providers about their past experiences on disasters, maintenance schedules and their customer's feedback which will all provide you with a holistic idea of their service. Some of the leading vendors like Saleforce.com publish statistics on a public web page.

In some cases data will be lost when cloud network is down, where it is highly impossible to recover the lost data. Data back-up is the only best way for data recovery which can solve data protection issues on the cloud and also help to restore data quickly when you need it. Organizations need to check the performance data reports of previous issues for reference. You should not only depend on the cloud solution or providers for data restore, but it's better to take data back-up every time it's been updated.

Switching Vendors on the Cloud

If you have hosted your application with one vendor and decide to migrate to another, it is not usually easy and with cloud it's often appalling. Organizations should know how easy or hard it is to get the data out from their existing cloud and move it to another cloud. In some cases this goes hand in hand with integration and you need to be aware of data migration across the cloud solutions. You also need to check the strengths, weaknesses, costs, security features and performance capabilities of the other vendor. Test the performance of the new cloud soon after everything is set and migration is in full swing.

Enabling Green Cloud Computing

As we see a massive growth in industrialization, there is a growing need for resources to run systems / machines. Data centers enabling cloud computing are power-hungry consuming several megawatts of power to run server farms and air-conditioners. And according to a survey conducted by Greenpeace report, nearly $450 billion dollars are spent on new data center facilities. This automatically leads to a huge impact on our environment.

However, a research by Microsoft suggests, big energy reductions from cloud helps businesses by moving on-premise business applications to cloud which can reduce their power consumption & carbon emission by 30%. Even large data centers like Apple, Google, Microsoft, etc. can use piped Columbia River water to cool down the servers. So make sure that your cloud vendor holds Greenpeace scorecard if you are an environment friendly organization.

Along with the above mentioned critical factors, feel free to comprehend all your queries and requirements whatsoever with the cloud vendors before making your final decision.

Mary is an experienced writer and covers topics related to Mobile Solutions and Cloud Computing. She is specialized in writing articles on Mobile Device Management, Mobile CRM, Mobile BI, Cloud Solutions.

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Remote support software will save your business money. You might even see the benefits of this investment after a few weeks if your company has a busy IT department. That's because remote support software has many benefits that translate to saved money.

1. First you need to purchase business class software. This is a relatively cheap investment, but it does cost more than personal use Remote Access Software. Individuals using this for their own use can even find the software programs for free from some developers. However, if you are looking for a product that can operate within a business setting, you do need to be prepared for a small investment.

2. After you have the software and it is installed on all of your machines, you can start reaping the benefits of this type of software almost immediately. This is because your IT department will have much less work to do in order to solve a computer problem. Rather than having to come to a different office location, or try and deduce what the problem is through incomplete explanations over the phone, the IT employees can access the problematic computer from their own desktop with just a few clicks of their mouse. This is obviously going to save a lot of trouble. The IT employee in charge of fixing computers no longer has to waste their time trying to figure out what is wrong via an explanation, they can see what is going on first hand, without leaving their seat.

3. Time saved is money saved in the business world. How much money you will end up saving is dependent upon the type of business you run. For example, if you have multiple locations spread out throughout the nation, you can cut down on the number of employees you have in the IT department. Before, it might have been necessary to have a few IT workers in each office setting, but now, you can have a single hub for this department of your company. This will save you money by decreasing the amount you need to pay in salary each year. Fewer employees with the same productivity levels are going to keep your earnings the same, but increase the amount that you can actually keep. Also, it will make repairs a lot quicker. When a computer is down, that means someone is not working. When their problem can be solved quicker, this means that they can get back to being a productive employee. Increased productivity leads to better results for the company's bottom line.

If you have never considered Remote Access Software, this is something that you should give serious thought to. Many companies have been using this type of technology for several years now, and it has proven to be a big success. The quickness and efficiency that you can add to your business with this type of technology is going to be a big boost to the amount of money you can earn. Obviously this is a very good thing.

This article was written by Phillip Presley he is interested in computer science and new technologies. He recommends that all companies consider integrating new Remote Access Software technologies into their business.

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In order to keep track of problems as they arise and also keep track of how employees are addressing these problems, it is common for software development companies to use a cloud based issue tracking system. This program is a set of lists that managers can use to delegate tasks related to bug resolution and that employees can use to log the steps that were taken to fix the problem. Cloud based issue tracking systems differ from other issue tracking systems because they are programs that are hosted online by a third-party developer. These programs are not only easily accessible from any location, but they also provide cost savings to a company since they do not have to maintain storage servers on-site or even hire a support team. The developer that provides cloud based issue tracking services will take care of all of these components themselves.

The reason that companies need cloud based issue tracking services is because before an application is released online, companies must test the application to identify and fix the errors. Through a process called web application testing, companies simulate virtual users to complete tests for browser and operating system capability, user accessibility, and responsiveness to varying traffic levels. By testing the application before it goes live, the company creates a list of observed problems that can be tracked using issue tracking software. Below is a step-by-step guide to completing web application testing:

Set Objectives: Not only should testing objectives be identified, but they should also be prioritized.
Outline the Process: If everyone is not on the same page, then web application testing will be ineffective. This step is the best time to determine who will add issues to the cloud based issue tracking software and who will be responsible for addressing them.
Create a Proper Test Environment: This environment should be separate from the web, database, and application server that the developer uses to carry out business functions.
Start with Usability Testing: In this type of web application testing, the company will look at aspects that affect the program's usability. For instance, the company might focus on how easy it is for the users to navigate through the application, or whether the choices available to them are obvious.
Unit Testing: After usability testing, this type of web application testing should be completed. In this step, the company will focus on small functionality issues like whether data is saved when it is submitted through a form.
Load Testing: This type of testing will determine whether or not the application can load pages in a timely manner during times of peak traffic.
Security Testing: Finally the organization should make sure that the application is secure from both internal and external security threats like hackers.

Many companies find that it is easier to outsource the task of web application testing to a software-as-a-service (SaaS) company. Some of these companies will also offer cloud based issue tracking services so that all issues are automatically listed in the issue tracking software. The developer can then quickly start the task of resolving identified problems.

After completing web applications testing, identified problems can be listed in a cloud based issue tracking program so these problems can be quickly eliminated.

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For those in the field service industry especially, field services, the value of time and communication is not lost. With the development of technology, software is now available to make the job much easier in the areas of organizing, designating and getting work done. If you are looking to choose a field service software, here is what you need to keep in mind.

You need to understand the requirements of your business thoroughly - only then will you be able to assess whether the vendor has a software that suits your needs perfectly. It is an important first step as you should also be able to justify your investment in the product. The improvement in your business is something that you will need to get out of it. The best way to assess your business is to document all your business processes where you feel improvement is necessary. Look into how you plan to measure your assessment of the process. When you approach a prospective vendor, ask them if they will be able give you a calculation on your return of investment.

When you look through the different field service software available you will find that it can be overwhelming. To help you make a decision you need to look into more than just the services that the software will provide you. You will need to look into how the system works and ensure that it is in line with the way your business runs on a regular basis.

When making a decision it is important to get the end users of the product excited about it. Call in a team of field operators and have them assess the software. If there is the chance of testing it in real time do that as well and only then determine whether it is a good investment. Keep yourself updated on the latest in field software technology trends and this will also help you in making your decision. Some of the aspects you can consider as how the service software is offered - on the Cloud, supported by SaaS, only internet based and the kind of hardware you will need.

Look into all the services it will allow the technician to provide on location - for recording of trouble to warranties, inventories etc. It should also be such that it handles any kind of rugged work conditions. Being able to access it from anywhere with a simple Internet connection is vital.

Click here for more info about how field service management can be used by business and also take a look at innovative UK cloud field service software supplier http://www.oneserve.co.uk/

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Reason codes in Dynamics AX 2012 for Retail are very powerful and at the same time flexible way of collecting additional information during sales process at POS terminal. It can be used for any sort of BI-related analysis requested, for example, by Marketing department.

To create a reason code, go to Retail->Setup->Reason codes.

Each code will need to be assigned input type. There are several input types available:

I would encourage you to read online help on this form as it gives very good explanations for each type.

I think the most powerful one is Subcode buttons type. For example, when one item is added to a transaction a popup message would show up asking a store associate if shipping charge item needs to be added. If the answer is Yes, then shipping item is automatically added to the sales transaction. If the answer is No, then no actions are performed. This can greatly simplify sales entering process for non-stocked products and eliminate human error when shipping was accidentally forgotten.

Now let's talk about different trigger actions for codes to pop up. Reason codes can be assigned to:

• Items
• Customers
• Payment methods
• Functionality profiles

Let's consider several examples.

When you attach a code to an item, it will be displayed on POS screen when this item is added to a sales transaction. This could be useful for items that require buyer's age verification.

To attach a code to an item, go to Product information management->Common forms->Released products, Retail tab and click on reason codes button. From here you will be able to select from one of the existing codes and if required modify default input parameters.

When you attach a code to a customer, it will be displayed on POS screen when this customer is added to a sales transaction. For example, it can remind store associate to verify shipping address or whether or not sales receipt should be emailed or just printed.

To attach a code to an item, go to AR->Common forms->All customers, double click on the customer you need to modify, select Retail tab and click Reason codes button.

When you attach reason code to payment method, it will be displayed on POS screen when this payment method is used to complete sales transaction. For example, the retail store may accept checks and they will be authorized using third part processing system that will return an authorization code at the end of successful authorization. You may want to capture this code when check payment is accepted, making the reconciliation process easier for head office employee.

That is why you may want to create a code with input type Text and attach it to store payment method. To do this, go to Retail->Common forms->Retail channels->Retail stores, Set up tab, Payment methods button and then click on Reason codes button.

And finally, the place that is used to attach reason codes to a large list of predefined trigger actions can be found on Functionality profile form. Functionality profiles are assigned to retail stores and among other things used for code assignments for the following trigger actions.

To open functionality profile form, go to Retail->Setup->POS->Profiles->Functionality profiles.

As you can see you can attach reason codes to return transactions, price overrides and even at the beginning and end of each transaction among others.

There are several key parameters that define the behavior of any given reason code:
• print either prompt, input or input name on sales receipts
• specify the frequency with which code will pop up as well as weather input is required
• max/min values allowed as inputs

Keep in mind that only prompt and not description of a reason code will show on POS screen.

Once the code shows on POS and input is typed in, the reason code transaction is recorded in POS database. Then P-1001 is executed which transfers all POS transaction (including reason code ones) to AX database. That is when you can review them by going to Retail->Inquiries->Transactions, click on Transactions button and select Reason code transactions. Remember that only transaction with type Sales and Customer order can have them attached.

The table that holds these records in AX database is called RetailTransactionInfocodeTrans.

That is all for today. In my next post I plan to share my experience with setting up replenishment in AX. This will include creating replenishment rules and replenishment hierarchies as well as processing transfer orders created with buyer's push and cross-docking functions.

http://www.nextoneconsulting.com/
Nextone Consulting: Dynamics AX - Retail - Training - Consulting. We are the new breed of professional consultants. We offer popular online training that cover Retail HQ setup, POS terminal configuration,Microsoft Online services and POS deployment. Consulting services are also offered.
http://ca.linkedin.com/in/oleksiykhoroshylov

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The mobile workforce has vastly changed in recent years. There was a time when a 9 to 5 job meant just that - you drive in to work, start at 9, take your scheduled lunch and coffee breaks, and punch out exactly at 5PM. After that you think of work again only when you drive to work the next day. With technology making the world a much smaller place, it is now simple enough to communicate with clients across time zones, edit and make proposals, conduct meetings and more from the comfort of your home and with your devices like a laptop, phone and tablet.

There are an increasing number of companies that actually facilitate the development and growth of the mobile work force. Though most companies provide their key employees with android or smart phones and laptops, a vast number of them already own these devices and they are pressed into working with them. Being able to access mail on your mobile has now made you accessible at all times and this has contributed to the growth of the mobile workforce. A larger number of people now have completed converted to accessing their mails on their phones rather than on computers.

Recent surveys show that there will be a massive spurt in the purchase of tablets in the coming years and this will bring the mobile workforce to the forefront. Social media too has been working a great deal to promote ease of functioning for the mobile workforce. They have come up with a series of applications in several sectors making it all the more easier to work remotely. Some of the popular applications are social media apps that are work related, information management apps, web conferencing, note taking and also Office suites.

There are several advantages to the mobile workforce and one of them is the fact that it provides increased productivity. Since you have a workforce that is constantly interacting with clients and getting work done, you can monitor and handle their progress remotely. This allows for better effectiveness. Another advantage to those people working remotely is that they do not have wait to get access to data in order to be able to complete their assigned tasks. Access is provided securely to each employee and this allows for a better work flow. The chances of security breaches are much lower as smart devices used by employees is now integrated into the company software management system and they have complete control over its security.

For more information about how field service management software is used for business take a look at UK cloud field service software supplier http://www.oneserve.co.uk/

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Subhash was a smart, innovative and self-starter, 23 yrs old guy who started a small business with his limited budget. He always wanted to curtail the business expenses smartly and wanted to opt for smarter investment techniques. In the initial phase of his business he noticed he faced some really expensive and severe challenges. He enlisted the top challenges and one of them was buying hardware for each employee along with the software and their licenses which he discovered were extremely taxing. Moreover he detected other problems like storage capacity, keeping updates for newest software and ongoing trends in the market. He felt with every new hire more software were needed, such problems worsened the situation and distracted him from the goals of his business. He researched and finally chose Cloud computing- A smart and user friendly choice which is easy on pocket too.

Flashback

In the earliest of days when Homo sapiens grew, they beautifully transformed themselves as humans from apes. Grew a little: understood basic needs- Food, clothing, shelter. Grew more- found mediums to fulfill those basic necessities. Then they started 'Developing', now they had farms for food, wells for water, mills for clothes, bricks for homes. Necessities give birth to utilities. Same scenario applies for business computing. One of the newest successful utility is Cloud Computing. Traditionally companies built their own in-house IT infrastructure catering to all the technical needs. But that involved expensive equipment and servers and installed everything locally - too much of hard work involved to make the ends meet! Things have changed. With the dawn of cloud computing a company can have a reliable and a safer business computing delivered like a utility service. We buy basic utilities for smooth functioning of our day to day lives, similarly we 'BUY' IT infrastructure as a service! Just spend for what we need and focus on the business not the technology.

Technically- What is cloud computing?

Cloud computing is the provision that allows the user to log into a web based service which hosts all the programs obligatory for completing the job. The cloud computing service provider runs everything ranging from emailing to word processing to different complex data analysis programs. The term 'cloud' actually refers to the network of computers which handle all the assigned respective tasks. Cloud computing service providers charge for the Maintenance and management of data inputs by clients. Cloud computing has emerged as the next big thing in the dome of application software, storage, hardware and platform flexibility that provides easy solutions to the most complex of things! The system favors all sizes of business but proves really fruitful for middle and small sized ones.

All one needs to avail the service is a basic computer system, web browser and the internet. It has become the lifeline of organizations who seek a simple solution to the compound problem of choosing and organizing software as per each employee's area of work. Have you ever noticed every internet user prominently benefits from cloud computing? The finest examples of cloud computing are Gmail, Amazon web services, Google applications where a browser helps the user to access the application whenever she/he feels like.

How it works?

Knowing how cloud computing works is interesting. The structural design can be categorized into two main sections: Front end and back end. Front end is controlled by the end user or client or say the web browser who uses the cloud services. Back end is the network of servers with any computer program and data storage system that runs, handles and maintains the cloud (Succinctly- The service provider).

Cloud has a centralized server administration system. The centralized server administers the system, balances and adjusts client supply and demands, monitors traffic and avoids congestion. This server follows a set of rules (protocol) known as middleware. Middleware as the name suggests, is the intermediary that allows networked computers to communicate with each other. Observing the other side of the process one can rename cloud computing as green computing because it helps in successful conservation of power energy.

Can Cloud computing be pocket friendly?

Cloud computing is cost effective too. Unlike traditional computing, the service condenses "Hard Costs" like cost of hardware, infrastructure, software licenses, and "Soft costs" such as IT staffing, troubleshooting, energy costs to run the servers, desktops and cooling the entire server room. As far as data maintenance costs are involved they too are quite reduced as they are maintained by the service provider (They perform the complete set of tasks; from running the cloud to storing data). The need to high storage hard drives can be snubbed away as all the data is stored on a remote computer.

Breakdown of the system can cause the owner a serious nervous breakdown because of high data recovery and system repair costs, not to ignore the data loss. In such situations, of course the show goes on because the data can be operated from the remote computer from any place!

Market is in the favor of buyer. Since past three years number of service providers has swelled. In this computing arena we have crucial players like Microsoft, Google, Amazon, Intel, and many others who are competing hard to build effective and impressive clouds for their clients..

Brownie points for Cloud computing users!

Cloud computing's pros do not end here. Databases in cloud computing are very dynamic and scalable which means that local computers no longer have to deal with hefty applications that almost kills the speed of the local computer, and most importantly hardware and software demands on the user's side decreases. But who plays the protagonist in the whole story of cloud computing? Answer is Data. The cloud not only builds, runs and maintains the data but it also secures it.

The data security is the top most priority in all the data operations of the cloud. Undoubtedly, the data is backed up at multiple locations. This is called redundancy of data- the most important attribute of cloud computing service. Another benefit of cloud computing is that the data accessibility is not limited to any particular hardware or storage device. The data can be accessed anytime and anywhere one needs to.

Is the right cloud chosen?

But there are some important concerns that one should not avoid before relying on the service. One of them is choosing the right form of cloud computing from:

ï?· SAAS (Software As A Service): Where users rent application software and databases. It is commonly known as on demand software. For example: ADP (long time provider of payroll services), Google apps.

ï?· IAAS (Infrastructure As A Service): Here the cloud providers provide their client with servers (as many as client needs) in exchange for the rent on each server. For example: "Amazon web services" is one of the most successful IAAS provider till date.

ï?· PAAS (Platform As A Service): In this form of Cloud computing, users rent the complete package of servers plus the required software to use in them. For example: Salesforce.com is one of the much known PAAS provider.

As per the business needs, the user should tactfully choose the most appropriate form of cloud computing. Secondly, vital decision in selecting the right service provider proves fruitful in long run. One must make sure that the provider is reliable, is well-reputed for their customer service and satisfaction, and should have a proven track record in handling the respective business ventures. They should be prudently equipped with proper techniques where data is segregated in a clear and discrete manner. Data of different clients should be dealt with utmost care and confidentiality. Most importantly, cloud computing providers must be equipped with proper disaster recovery policies to deal with any unfortunate event in future. Cloud computing can be the apt choice which solves umpteen purposes in one go. It is the medium for getting the best performing system with the best value for money. The technology is worth embracing that tunes the business towards the set objectives. After all, in the arena when life is pacing at the speed of light, twenty four hours seem too precise to do the job. Business actually needs the undivided attention of the owner, technology can be taken care of by cloud computing service providers, then why risk energy, time and mental peace? When one just needs to spend money.

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It Support Companies understand the trend and gathered interest in the cloud computing. My customers of an IT Consulting solutions company hear their clients and their needs for cloud computing without completely understanding the benefit and pitfalls that come with that level of storage management. Everyone involved with web 2.0 sees a different definition of cloud computing.

As a metaphor for the Internet, "the cloud" is viewed with the familiar cliché - as an out of touch, extraterrestrial item. When combined cloud with computing, the meaning of the cloud is much bigger and out of touch. Certain IT Consulting solutions and Technical Staffing analysts define cloud computing narrowly as an updated version of the utility hardware and server computer management. Basically, those IT Support Companies over simplify cloud computing as virtual servers available over the Internet. Although the definition is very broad, certain IT Support management firms would argue that anything you consume outside the firewall is "in the cloud" including conventional outsourcing. There is a certain level of logic displayed by these IT Support Management companies who follow with this argument because of level of knowledge and control when you place an software, file, or action item into a virtual space. When you add a file into a virtual space, it can become accessible by any person who it is granted access to.

The actual goal for cloud computing for Business IT Support is a way to increase capacity or add capabilities on the fly without investing in a new infrastructure, training new Technical Staffing, or licensing new software. Cloud computer encompasses any subscription or pay-per-use service that in real time over the Internet, extend IT Support Management existing capabilities. With the expanded capabilities there needs to be IT Consulting Solutions that should be served as a guide to the management of cloud based solutions.

With the progressions that IT virtualization, server, and hardware technology have given the chance for, IT Solution provider has given large and small businesses a slew of options on the management of their hardware and software both on site and remotely. Cloud solutions give a chance for immediate response and instant gratification for the most impatient of the customer or client. Cloud-based services, when managed by IT Support Companies, come will a series of full-blown applications to storage services to spam filtering. Today, for the most part, IT Support Management companies must plug into cloud-based services individually, but cloud computing aggregators and integrators are already emerging quickly, giving new opportunities and services for IT Consulting Solutions.

Cloud Computing has gone beyond the delivery of single applications through the browser to thousands of customers using multitenant architecture. From the customer's point of view, there upfront investment in servers and software licensing will be structured different depending on how the company is organized. From the provider's side, with just one app for the business IT Support to maintain, the costs are low compared to conventional hosting by an IT Solutions Provider.

Thomas Vachell has been associated with a Technical Staffing and He is the right position to tell a lot of thing on Managed IT Services and Technical Staffing team. To read more information about IT Support Management visit, http://www.relianttech.com/

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Human Resource management looks forward to synchronize and incorporate the actions of the diverse operational parts of an enterprise in line to accomplish long-term managerial goals. An unbiased report from a Human Resource Management Software is repeatedly used to assess the overall performance of the business and its progress towards objective. Premeditated planning during management process offers general path to the endeavor and is directly associated to the area of Organizational research. Scheduling and supervision are a set of reliable managerial tools. They consist of a frame of mind, an advance to viewing at the alterations in the interior and exterior part of the enterprise that deal with the manager. Via scheduling and administration tools advantageously, then, engages fundamentally a way of judgment, a rational outline or framework, as well as a set of diagnostic paraphernalia. For strategic administration to be efficiently used the executive must build up a strategic frame of mind.

Enterprises are functioning towards an outward-focused vision of the way services should be provided - an elementary alters from the conventional focal point on internal apprehension. At the same time, chief prospects for enhancement may crop up from advancements such as new information and the accessibility of additional monetary capital. In many cases the comeback to the problem or opportunity will necessitate the unremitting concentration of senior administration of the association and also be consistent with other issues and developments.

The office setting is varying because of the advancements in technology. Telecommuting and remote reporting relationships are fetching the standard rather than a glitch. Bendable job agendas and preparations are traditions to advance efficiency for some human resources; however, these types of technology-based changes are essential for all workforces. Workforce managers must guarantee there is a joint agreement between the employer and employee for options that include telecommuting. Some employees lack these traits and would not be productive workers if allowed to work from the comfort of home. The upshot to technological advances for human resources managers is the type of human resources information systems available to employers for a variety of purposes. Human resources departments are able to track applicants and manage the recruitment process more effectively. In addition, producing data and reports can be accomplished easily because of technology.

In these above scenarios, Human Resource Management Systems helps managers and top management to forecast and take proactive decisions accordingly. In today's participative culture A Human Resource Management Software helps to keep track of all the workforce.

WorkGoal is a comprehensive system that addresses areas of Workforce Management Software, Employee Attendance, Help Desk and Employee appraisal of an organization. It helps in planning, tracking, assessment of productivity and also to voice Employee requests to the Online Workforce Management System.

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'The cloud' is a way of delivering business solutions to the retail sector. However, despite its many proclaimed benefits, like the UK weather 'the cloud' can be unpredictable and can raise important questions for retail businesses. One of the key issues to be addressed is:

What happens to my business when there's a 'cloudburst'?!

What is needed is 'a cloud with a silver lining' - a solution which delivers the benefits of cloud computing yet also keeps your business trading - a solution like Accord Momentum (Web Based Epos Software). It combines the efficiencies and cost advantages of cloud/thin client solutions with the robust, resilient nature of traditional till solutions to deliver:

• Zero downtime /true non-stop retailing

• Data integrity

• Fast, flexible, cost effective deployment

Keeping up with technology

In today's fast moving, competitive retail environment the ability to take early advantage of new technologies and implement new retail processes quickly can determine whether a business lives or dies.

Today's retailer cannot afford to have down time through IT infrastructure issues as customers will be lost. Accord-Momentum web based EPoS software solution - now makes true NonStop™ Retail a reality while at the same time providing the agility and flexibility to implement changes to business and retail processes more swiftly and cost effectively than ever before. It provides the cost benefits of thin client technology with real-time control whilst maintaining the efficiency and resilience of traditional till technologies to deliver lower cost of ownership, greater efficiency and better margins, as well as helping retailers to reduce their carbon footprint and negative impact on the environment.

"Non-stop" operation allows trading to continue uninterrupted in the event of network or communications failure with absolutely no change to the appearance, functionality or speed of operation and no requirement for fall-back software to cover these eventualities.

Agile and flexible, Accord-Momentum PoS is available as a web based EPoS solution but will also operate effectively on-premise and on mobile devices. It can be interfaced to any back office, head office, CRM or ERP system and deployed over a LAN, WAN, VPN or Broadband Internet. The EPoS software's component driven Object Orientated Architecture (OOA) facilitates easy development and integration of application extensions.

Accord-Momentum PoS Benefits:

Real time central controlCompany-wide visibility of trading dataEasy deployment from the centre - implementation, upgrades, maintenanceFlexible Web Based EPOS implementation and configuration optionsFully resilient NonStop-Retailing - uninterrupted trading should network or communications fail; no fallback software neededSame appearance, speed, functionality in 'resilient' mode at the point of saleLower cost of ownership - minimises hardware, deployment, support and maintenance costsEnvironmentally friendly - reduces carbon footprint

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Installing an expensive workflow software program, ensuring that your staff is adequately trained in its use, making a smooth transition from an earlier program or from a manual system and also maintaining a smooth flow of work and retaining customer satisfaction can be difficult even for the largest and most sophisticated of organizations. Getting the maximum value for money and the greatest benefits from your workflow software program (WSP) can also be challenging for first-time users and small organizations which are not entirely familiar with the automated process.

Choosing the right WSP is essential. Assess your organization's needs, budget and staffing patterns. Initially, you can try out some of the free demos offered by some WSP providers and assess whether they match your requirements. Identify the areas that require automation urgently, like payroll, sales reporting, inventory, workforce scheduling management, projections, etc. Assess whether a particular WSP fulfills these needs.

Take advantage of cloud-based hosting. Many programs can be hosted remotely so that your own hardware and software need not be upgraded. This also ensures that your IT staff can implement the system smoothly.

To ensure the best results, bring in an outside consultant or specialist. Since they are experts in assessment, implementation and hand-holding support, you don't have to waste your time or effort in training your own workers. Consultants can provide a 360-degree view of issues and choose the correct WSP, the appropriate platforms and integrate them seamlessly into your existing model. One obstacle you may face with employing a consultant is that your older employees could be stumbling-blocks. Many of them could feel threatened and alienated by automated programs or could resent the presence of a consultant. They may not also like to change their traditional ways of working.

With WSPs, there are several options. If you're buying off the shelf, then you need to train your staff and transition into the new model. Otherwise, many providers offer customized solutions tailored to your unique needs. Some providers offer to modify existing programs. You can choose the best option for your requirements. Ready-built programs are definitely cheaper and if your business process and workflow are of the standard type, they're a good option. Modified is ideal if you have specific areas that need tweaking. Bespoke is the most expensive and requires the most effort, as it needs to be implemented from the bottom up.

The real benefits of a WSP will be felt right through the workflow process as better working practices are adopted, monitoring and efficiency are tracked, areas where time and resources are being wasted can be identified, billing is swift and accurate, appointments are correctly scheduled and customer feedback is recorded and acted on - and all these go into ensuring better customer satisfaction, higher performance and revenues.

Learn more about how workflow software in field service management by taking a look at UK supplier Oneserve Ltd. Visit http://www.oneserve.co.uk/

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Issues, defects, and bugs are present in all programs developed by software companies. In fact, most customers have come to expect the presence of errors when using software. This means that for developers, building error-free software is no longer the only priority. Companies must also make sure that they react quickly when errors are discovered so that they can provide effective customer service. Many organizations empower their customer support teams with issue tracking software to more effectively address their problems.

These programs are made up of a collection of lists that the company uses to keep track of problems and information related to those problems. Issue tracking software developers might license the software to the company to install on computers connected to an internal network or will host the issue tracking software online for easy accessibility. Ideally software is easy to use, reliable, and inexpensive. The rest of this article will focus on the benefits of using simple issue tracking software.

Speed up the Process of Addressing Issues

When customers are experiencing a problem, time is of the essence. The best simple issue tracking programs will be able to speed up the process of addressing problems. Managers are able to get a better idea of which issues the company is trying to resolve at any one point, which means that they are able to reallocate resources if necessary. Also, since individuals make note of their progress when addressing a specific problem, the company is able to hand off the task to another employee without experiencing downtime. Without a tracking system in place, the process of addressing issues slows down when an employee calls in sick or leaves the company during the middle of a project.

Improve Time Management Capabilities

One reason that many organizations are so inefficient at addressing problems is because of poor time management practices. The use of issue tracking software allows managers to check on the status of a project at any time. In addition to allocating resources as mentioned above, managers can also choose to prioritize some projects over others and set deadlines so that employees know when it is okay to juggle multiple issues at once. Managers can also look back at how long it took for past issues to be resolved, which gives them a better understanding of how much time to allocate to similar problems in the future.

Create a Database of Techniques that were Used to Resolve Issues

Companies that use simple issue tracking systems also become more efficient. This is because as issues are resolved, they are able to build a database of techniques that successfully eliminated a problem. Instead of assigning a programmer to address a problem encountered by a customer, customer service representatives are able to walk the customer through the solution simply by using notes from the handling of the same problem from someone else.

Issue tracking software not only provides organizational benefits like better time management skills and greater efficiency but also improves customer satisfaction. To access these benefits, developers should speak to a supplier of simple tracking programs.

When issue tracking software is used to complete simple issue tracking, companies see a number of benefits.

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Even if you are using Microsoft Office 2010 or Office 2007, it's likely you have a lot of files created in Microsoft Office 2003 or earlier. When you open any of these Word, Excel, or PowerPoint files from Office 2010 or Office 2007, Compatibility Mode is turned on, and you see [Compatibility Mode] in the title bar of the document window. Compatibility Mode ensures your files can still be fully edited by others who are using previous versions of Microsoft Office although you may no longer need this backwards capability. What are your choices for working with these "older" but important files in a newer version of Microsoft Office?

Options for Working with Office 2003 Files

No Changes. When you are editing a file originally created in an Office 2003 program, you can continue to work in Compatibility Mode and save the file as usual without changing the file format. That is, keep working with it and saving as before; the file will not be automatically changed to a new version. These Office 2003 files can still be opened from Office 2010 or any earlier version.
Save As to Newest Version. You can save any Office 2003 or earlier file as a Microsoft Office 2010 (or Office 2007) version. The Save As option is found under the Backstage View/File tab (Office 2010) or the Office Button (Office 2007). The downside is that unless you specify a different location or delete the older file, both files will remain in the same location but with different file extensions.
Convert to Newest Version. To take advantage of all of the latest features in your current version of Microsoft Office, you can convert a file to the appropriate Office 2010/2007 file format. For example, the Convert command in Microsoft Word converts and replaces a document with the.doc format, and upgrades the file to the.docx format. The Convert option is recommended over Save As.

How to Convert a File to an Office 2010 or Office 2007 File Format

Converting your file gives you access to the new and enhanced features in Office 2010 or Office 2007 such as tables, expanded worksheets, and PivotTables in Excel, SmartArt and Picture Styles in Word, and new graphics and transition features in PowerPoint. However, people who are using previous versions of Office may have difficulty viewing or editing certain portions of the file created with these new or enhanced features.

To Convert a File:

From one of your Microsoft Office 2010 or Office 2007 programs (Word, Excel, or PowerPoint), open any file created in an earlier version of Microsoft Office.
In Office 2010: Select the Backstage View (File tab) and choose the Convert button from the Info tab. In Office 2007: Click the Office Button in the upper-left corner and choose Convert from the menu.
Next, you will see a program-specific prompt about the convert action. Navigate through your choices.
If the program doesn't close and reopen automatically, close the file and reopen it to continue using it with all of the available features in your Office 2010 program. The converted file will open with the appropriate file extension. For example, when you save an Excel 2003 file containing macros, it will normally be converted as an Excel 2010 macro-enabled workbook (.xlsm extension).

Converted files are replaced with the updated file and file format. The Convert command is not available when a file is already saved with an Office 2010/2007 file format. Note: Before proceeding with the convert process, consider if you want to first backup your files.

© Dawn Bjork Buzbee, MCT, The Software Pro®

Dawn Bjork Buzbee is The Software Pro® and a Microsoft Certified Trainer (MCT) as well as a certified Microsoft Office Specialist (MOS) Master Instructor, certified Microsoft Applications Specialist (MCAS) Instructor, and a certified Microsoft Office expert. Dawn shares smart and easy ways to effectively use software through her work as a software speaker, trainer, consultant, and author of 6 books. Discover more software tips, tricks, tactics, and techniques at http://www.softwarepro.com/.

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The IT Support Company utilizes data center management tools developers of custom software development and application develop service with various features. The features listing by IT Solutions provider would include significant advances in automation, granular management, system provisioning, life cycle management and monitoring. It has become more of a priority for the IT consulting solutions to use the data center as a space that should be operated more efficiently and with fewer needs of Technical Staffing or IT Staffing Solutions. The IT staffing solutions that should be provided with the IT consulting solutions should be provisional and individuals with a depth of knowledge for the Managed IT Services and Business IT Support. The manual labor should be deem unnecessary with the agile data center and cloud computing being part of the normal IT Support management.

One of the dilemmas that may occur with using mobile and offsite tools by IT Support Companies is the limited and few onsite visits. When IT Solution Provider builds a daily data center operation, the technical staffing personnel can work from remote locations. Those tools enables the convenience for IT Solution Provider to the agile tools used make better use of the IT Staffing Solution's time on site and drive down labor costs. For far less of the costs of the unknowledgeable employee, the IT consulting company can enable tools to let the custom software development team handle the heavy lifting and technical server challenges which is performed by multiple technical staffing employees.

The most attractive features of using the tools of Business IT support is the opportunity to save on costs. The many tools such as virtualization, cloud computing, off-site servers and agile technologies, give a opportunity for It Outsourcing companies to save on their own costs while driving down the costs for their customers making it more attractive to manage the work for multiple and various clients and customers off-site. For example, an agile data center is more profitable than a non-agile one because of the ability to build the custom software development quicker, the managed the low need for expenditure on overhead and giving forth the opportunity for IT Consulting solutions but the foundation of a dependable relationship. When a business is looking towards Business IT Support, they are looking for the best available technologies, power-efficient hardware, long-life technology (e.g., virtualization) and better design (e.g., adequate air flow, efficient cooling and minimal wasted space). If cost savings is included in the driving force behind the utilization of IT Solution Provide, the opportunity for businesses to hire becomes more attractive.

Businesses are customers' needs change frequently over time. It is important for the business to change along with them. Customers are looking for complete availability and versatility. The tools of the IT Support Management allow for the instant communication at all hours of the day and night. The one constant of IT Solution Provider is that customers will always be looking for lower prices and more services. With the variety of solutions by IT Consulting Company there is a vast number challenges they will be able to tackle under one roof.

Thomas Vachell has been associated with a IT Support Companies and He is the right position to tell a lot of thing on IT Services New Jersey and Technical Staffing team. To read more information about IT Support Companies visit, http://www.relianttech.com/

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For those companies that need to manage field service a key instrument to ensuring that they get the job done in a systematic manner is in investing in a field service software. Since this is going to form the crux of your functioning, it is essential that you review each and every aspect of the software before you actually invest in it. This is required so that you get the best out of it in the long run.

The first thing you need to do is understand the functioning of your business. You will need to make a case study of your business and see how it functions, where you think it is lacking, what kind of a difference you think investing in a software will do and what you expect out of it for your business in the long run. You will need to understand from vendors whether the software you pick is the right choice and why. Your business objectives will have to be clear cut.

To help in the decision making, you could first work on documenting all your business processes where you feel an improvement is necessary. You will need to create benchmarks against which you will measure successes. You will also need to speak to your vendors and see if they can help you in estimating your return on investment.

When you are in the market for a field service software you will find that there are so many for you to look out for that the decision can be tough. Since they all look similar and seem to have the same set of features, a choice will have to be based on how the system is going to work for you. You need to see how each of the features is going to figure in your functioning and how it is going to make a difference. This is where you need to take all the time you need for evaluation or you could get stuck with a software that can do a lot of fancy things, just not what you want from it.

It would be a good idea to get a small test team from your field representatives and have them check out the software in real time. Since they are the ones that are going to make the most use of the software, it would be best they test it in real working conditions. They will also help in understanding whether the software will work for you or not. And finally make sure that the vendor you are buying from has a credible enough background.

Click here to discover more about how field service management can be used by business and also take a look at innovative UK-based cloud field service software supplier http://www.oneserve.co.uk/

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It's the start of term for universities, and with the start of term comes a lot of paper work to be processed, sorted and filed. Many departments, including Human Resources (HR), Income Team and Accounts Payable (AP), will be overloaded with thousands of paper documents to process manually; which is a very time consuming and expensive task. For some education establishments however, this will not be the case, as we are seeing more schools, colleges and universities investing in document management systems, such as an Invoice Management Solution (IMS), to help streamline their paper process as well as saving time and money.

Accounts Payable is considered one of the most paper rich departments within an organisation, but in the run up, and at the beginning of term, the AP team will be inundated with documents to process. Documents such as supplier invoices and purchase orders will need to be individually processed and put onto the finance system for future reference. Processing these documents manually is very time consuming and expensive, but an automated system will help to speed up the process immensely and reduce the number of errors associated with manually keying in data.

AP staff will also be able to handle queries from suppliers and students more effectively, as any invoice and all accompanying documents and details can be instantly retrieved from the finance system. This saves time and removes the cost of calling them back. According to the Aberdeen Group, companies that have standardised their processes report invoice cycle-times up to 46% faster than those of others (6.1 days versus 11.3 days). This statistic shows that investing in an automated invoice processing system will improve the AP process and productivity as a whole in the department.

Before the start of term the HR department may be busy recruiting new staff, which could include new lecturers; this will require the processing of documents such as application forms and references. HR also looks after payroll, holidays and absences, and sometimes travel and expenses too. The business processes and document management with the HR department can be very complex, mainly due to the sheer number of documents that can exist for each employee. Documents often exist in several formats and locations, with different processes being carried out for each document type. Implementing a Human Resource Management solution can help to streamline the process, as all documents relating to every employee can be retrieved from one place; reducing the time spent searching for documents. Another benefit of a HR solution is the ability to guarantee only the right people have access to important and confidential documents, which is virtually impossible with paper documents.

The income department will be very busy at the beginning of term as they will have to process thousands of documents for student course fees. Manually processing such documents will be a very time consuming and costly job. An automated solution can help to process such documents which will help to improve efficiency as well as time and money. Some document management companies can provide an outgoing document management solution to help deal with the creation of correspondences such as statements and student reminders. The income team will also have the ability to reproduce and redistribute outgoing correspondence held within the solution, which will provide significant savings on processing times and costs.

Although the start of term can be considered a busy time for most education establishments, the solutions mentioned above are suitable all year round. In a recent AIIM survey, 52% of respondents reported that administrative staff in their organisation would be a third or more productive if their processes were work-flowed using scanned forms and documents, with automated data capture. This statistic and the benefits mentioned above, shows that a document management solution will allow staff to become more productive whilst also improving the overall business process.

To find out more about Documation's Document Management Solutions and to read how Southampton Solent University successfully implemented our Invoice Management Solution please visit our website http://www.documation.co.uk/ or email info@documation.co.uk

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