Social Media and an Enterprise Strategy
December 9, 2011
Social media is an essential ingredient to the success of any organization hoping to excel in today’s market. However, if not approached intentionally and with a plan, social media efforts can seem daunting and unorganized. Not as linear as traditional IT needs, social media has to be tackled with a different strategy. Jonathan Gourlay gives his insight in, “Effective social media strategy: A must for success in a social world.”
Enterprises large and small are embracing social media as a way for employees, partners and customers to collaborate and communicate, but many are doing so without being fully prepared. It’s an issue that many are finding costly in a number of ways.”
Social media must also be tied in to an organization’s overall enterprise strategy. While the two don’t initially seem to play well together, if combined with a smart enterprise solution, both efforts can be done with more ease.
Gourlay continues:
“The fourth level is described as the stage of enablement. ‘You must get here to scale,’ Owyang said. Enterprises continually measure their use of social media at this stage and are empowering workers rather than constraining them. The more advanced organizations at this level implement their social strategy across corporate functions, ignoring business unit silos.”
Take a solution like Fabasoft Mindbreeze and its Folio Cloud. ‘Fabasoft Folio Cloud enables quick, secure and mobile collaboration both internally and between international companies,’ explained Michael Hadrian. ‘Business processes with customers and partners cannot be realized any quicker or more cost effectively.’
Combining internal and external communications is key to social media, ensuring that dreaded social media crises don’t occur. Such a solution allows an overall view of social media communications, inviting participation from a variety of employees, but ensuring all efforts are moving in the same direction. When tackling an overall social media initiative, planning is key, and solutions such as those offered by Fabasoft Mindbreeze can help.
Emily Rae Aldridge, December 9, 2011
Sponsored by: Pandia.com
Spotlight: Mindbreeze Receives Positive Rating
December 8, 2011
Business Wire brings news of the latest Enterprise Search MarketScope Report in, “Fabasoft/Mindbreeze Receives “Positive” Rating in Leading Analyst’s Enterprise Search MarketScope Report.” Gartner, who conducted the report, provides a neutral analysis of products on the enterprise search market.
“Mindbreeze, a subsidiary of Fabasoft and leading provider of software for enterprise search and digital cognition, today announced that Fabasoft Mindbreeze Enterprise received a ‘positive’ rating in Gartner’s report entitled MarketScope for Enterprise Search1. The MarketScope for Enterprise Search mainly serves as a source of information and basis for decision making for IT directors . . . The analysis covers, among other aspects, product strategy, innovation, customer experience, market understanding, overall viability of the company and business model . . . Potential customers should consider this vendor a viable choice for strategic or tactical investments, while planning for known limitations.”
Fabasoft Mindbreeze and its solution of enterprise search offerings has been on our radar for awhile now. The Gartner report solidifies what we have found, which is that Fabasoft is a solid company and Mindbreeze a smart solution. Combining the latest in technology, from mobile to cloud to enterprise storage and search, Fabasoft Mindbreeze has a solution.
According to their site:
“Fabasoft Mindbreeze Enterprise understands you, or to be more precise, understands what the most important information is for you at any precise moment in time. It is the center of excellence for your knowledge and simultaneously your personal assistant for all questions. The information pairing technology brings enterprise and Cloud data together.”
It seems like the industry is beginning to take notice of the Austrian company. Keep your eye on Fabasoft Mindbreeze, and what it may be able to do for your company. We will keep you posted.
Emily Rae Aldridge, December 8, 2011
Sponsored by: Pandia.com
Protected: CRM Idol Offers ISV Insights
December 8, 2011
Alternative to Cloud for Engineering Industry
December 8, 2011
Engineering designers and manufacturers need access to the most recent version of a design from relatively anywhere they might be located be it a processing facility, their living room or a beach in the Caribbean. Unfortunately, there are still several factors hindering engineering companies from being so open and mobile. Some of those issues are described in the blog post, Cloud computing for CADCAM – can it work? on Sescoi, Inc.’s blog.
With the recent advances in cloud software in the last few years it makes perfect sense to believe it would suit engineering companies beautifully. As the blog post explains, though, the technology just isn’t there yet.
“To make Cloud computing work, software providers will have to think about how they license their software and the mechanics of working across an Internet link. So at the moment it may be a step too far for CADCAM applications, but at some point in the future it will probably become a reality….”
An alternative to cloud for engineering companies needing to share CADCAM files across multiple users and multiple outlets is Inforbix’s PDM. Inforbix, a company specializing in data management for the engineering industry, has offers many products for its clients. It’s Project Data Management programs offer clients the ability to “access and track related CAD documents from multiple PDM systems within the company…(and)…find and aggregate CAD documents fragmented across departments and data silos.”
Catherine Lamsfuss, December 8, 2011
Spotlight: Better Connections in SharePoint
December 7, 2011
With an enterprise solution as vast as SharePoint, updates are necessary and can be multi-faceted. The Microsoft SharePoint Team Blog gives us the rundown on the latest update in, “What’s New in SharePoint Online: November 2011 Update.”
Among smaller things like the addition of a recycle bin, fixes, and external sharing, a great deal of attention was paid to connectivity in the latest update.
“In addition to earlier versions of Internet Explorer and Firefox, SharePoint Online now officially supports Internet Explorer 9 and Chrome. No matter which browser you prefer, you’ll get a better experience. Just launch your favorite browser. Then, hit your favorite SharePoint Online team site or intranet company site, work with Office Web Apps, and more. Connections to other services are also better. For instance, Microsoft Dynamics CRM customers can now take advantage of the rich SharePoint Online document management functionality directly within the Microsoft Dynamics CRM application.”
We understand that SharePoint is a popular enterprise solution, but it seems at times that they are playing catch up to common sense features that other solutions already offer. We like Fabasoft Mindbreeze and its anticipation of users needs. Their broad range of Connectors offerings has bridged all the gaps that SharePoint users have been left wanting.
“As the optimum search and information access solution, Fabasoft Mindbreeze Enterprise facilitates the comprehensive incorporation of all electronic data repositories. Data sources and storage systems are connected to Fabasoft Mindbreeze Enterprise via Fabasoft Mindbreeze Connectors. The standard product scope includes Connectors for the most common data sources.”
Fabasoft Mindbreeze is smart, lean, and intuitive. SharePoint will continue to be a common and popular enterprise solution, but for organizations that desire a better user experience and less time spent running updates, an alternative like Mindbreeze might make sense. We think it is worth a second look.
Emily Rae Aldridge, December 7, 2011
Protected: SharePoint Provides the Product, but ISVs Make the Money
December 7, 2011
Beyond Functionality with Project Management Software Solutons
December 7, 2011
Project management is always important, but it is absolutely crucial in engineering. Each project is tied to lucrative business goals and the efficiency and effectiveness of the tiniest detail could dramatically alter the outcome. That is why engineering firms have turned to software systems, like Bentley Systems’ ProjectWise and Inforbix‘s product data applications, to monitor each project every step of the way.
ProjectWise Integration Server is an “enterprise-level engineering content management solution” that has “CAD standards management for improved data quality” as well as other prominent features. This is a traditional system that focuses on managing work actions which is quite functional, but omits the ability to search from a single interface and have the components and engineering data in a single view.
The advantage to using an Inforbix solution is that it does not have tunnel vision. The software allows you to connect project data with product data. For example, it sharply reduces the likelihood that a drawing will be recreated because the original could not be located with the most recent version change data. Inforbix has truly simplified the approach to project management and that “effect” will have a serious “affect” on your companies bottom line.
Jennifer Wensink, December 7, 2011
Spotlight: Streamlining Enterprise 2.0
December 6, 2011
As enterprise runs rampant and adoption continues at break-neck speed, the risk is that solutions are becoming more complicated without becoming more functional. In other words, do we need to return to simplicity in order to regain a positive user experience? Molly Bernhart Walker tackles that question in, “The case for stripped-down Enterprise 2.0 tools.”
“Content management systems live and die by requirements, but sometimes even the longest checklist in an RFP won’t deliver tools that yield real results. There’s a lot to be said for simple Enterprise 2.0 tools, said Tim Young, founder of Socialcast and vice president for social software at VMware. ‘Simple tools are incredibly powerful,’ said Young Nov. 15, during a keynote at the Enterprise 2.0 Conference in Santa Clara, Calif. It’s very difficult to solve a complex problem with a complex tool, he added.”
SharePoint 2010 is notably the most widely adopted enterprise solution, but its many quirks require complimentary solutions to increase functionality. Fabasoft Mindbreeze offers an alternative to SharePoint, but also through its Connectors, offers a companion to SharePoint. We like Mindbreeze because of its commitment to simplicity and gracefulness.
“The Fabasoft Mindbreeze Enterprise user interface is based on Web 2.0 technology and combines simplicity with elegance. The operation is self-explanatory. Work just as you are used to. Access your data from anywhere. Also on smartphones and tablets. Elegant design, easy operation. With you wherever you are. Find and access your enterprise and cloud information straight away.”
Choosing an appropriate enterprise solution is not an easy decision. Remember to keep user experience in mind. Locating a solution like Fabasoft Mindbreeze, that maintains a dedication to simplicity and usability, will pay off long-term dividends in terms of saved time and frustration. The most complicated solutions are often the most convoluted as well.
Emily Rae Aldridge, December 6, 2011
Protected: Pick Your Programmer People to be the Perfect SharePoint Piece
December 6, 2011
Time and Money Go Hand-In-Hand for Engineers
December 6, 2011
Globally, engineering firms are crunching numbers especially in these tough economic times. Every nickle literally counts no matter how big or how small the project is. Unfortunately, university engineering programs are still focused on methods which are inherently inefficient and more expensive to use in work flows, but there seems to be a light at the end of the antiquated tunnel. Professional associations like the Association for the Advancement of Cost Engineers International (AACE) and companies like Inforbix are leading the way to a more economical engineering future.
The AACE “serves cost management professionals in the disciplines of project management, estimating, risk management and claims.” The 1st Edition of the AACE’s International Certified Cost Technician Primer was published in January 2011 and provides a detailed look at the elements of cost, the elements of analysis and how to build your management skills with that knowledge. These types of publications will lead to more efficient and cost-effective engineering.
But even more important are the innovative and forward-thinking companies like Inforbix that are leading engineering management software into a new direction. Their slogan at the top of their web site is – ITS TIME TO RETHINK PRODUCT DATA MANAGEMENT – and they have done just that. Their integrated applications illuminate a new path for cost control in management software. Time is money and Inforbix wants you to have more time to make more money.
Jennifer Wensink December 6, 2011
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