Wednesday, September 30, 2015

Subscription Economy to individual service


No enterprise transformation without cloud computing


Customers no longer want to buy only products, but services subscribe. This trend has ushered in the era of "Subscription Economy" a few years ago. The dynamic that develops from it for markets and suppliers, is no longer to stop. This provides the increased business models to the test.

The Internet has changed not only the communication, but also the consumer behavior of people drastically. Thus, the price pressure due to the transparency of the web is growing. The transformation to a customer-oriented company, with flexible business models, provides the majority of companies are still major challenges. In many cases the existing IT infrastructure is overtaxed. Although it supports classical processes, but is too cumbersome and leaves no room for the timely realization of visions. Here's a quick rethink and a future-oriented transformation is asking my market research, because only so providers can respond to the changing behavior of customers and secure their market position.

According to a study, the IDG created on behalf of the Californian software vendor Zuora, the era of "Subscription Economy" has already begun. That Subscriptions model increasingly prevail, also show the achievements of pioneers in this market, such as Salesforce, Amazon or Netflix. Meanwhile, as well as companies from other industries have jumped on the train. The reason is obvious: the world there is, according to the SaaS specialists Zuora 6.8 billion potential subscribers who are open to new models of consumption.

Popular distributors, incentives and IT trend forecasts

How many distributors in this country order based ITC reseller?

What are the most important, as are the providers evaluated which incentives are sought after and which technology trends, there is the view of the dealer? One study provides insight.

The lovers of the distributors to each reseller is no cakewalk. Because the dealers not to order at a huge mass of providers. Rather limited more than half of respondents from the market researchers of Contextual Reseller in 2014 to three or fewer distributors for the purchase of their goods. Even only a single distributor they trust had at least 13 % of the 180 respondents. Less than 30 % bought last year at more than four wholesalers.
Broad liner at the top

When asked about the most important for them distributors, landed two Broad liner on the first two tiers, each with 18 % of mentions, followed by Wortmann. Fourth place, yet also with a double-digit number, the one was the broad-based provider secure. They are placed in the stands five to ten distributors have been named as the most important suppliers of eight % to three % of respondents.

The majority is very satisfied with its main distributor to which it depends on criteria such as delivery speed or technical support, are, however, differences in the valuation. From merchant perspective pent-up demand, there is, inter alia, particularly in training services, technical support, credit terms and the website of the distributors.

5 Tips for digitization

The digital transformation requires a new corporate culture. Unify recommends companies to deal intensively with the new way people work. Increasingly, employees are mobile and go about their tasks from different locations after.


Unify communications specialist sees digitization as one of the elementary stages of development for companies. How strong this change embossing the organization in the company, shows a degree of digital association Bitkom see according to which around three quarters of the companies surveyed, an acceleration in communicating with customers (79 %), or its own employees (75 %). According to the investigation flexibility (63 %) and efficiency (55 %) are also rising.

However, most decision-makers are also aware that the digital transformation requires a new corporate culture. Traditional working models would increasingly call into question. Employees want to be more flexible in order to bring private and professional life better balance can. Teams, groups or entire departments can be internationally composed and distributed over several continents. If companies want to keep their promise of digitization for all employees and the economic benefit for themselves, they should, according to Unify note the following points.

Tuesday, September 29, 2015

IT service providers need to talk with the customer


A study of Maxfocus, platform for system integrators and managed service providers and a product of Logicnow, occupied large discrepancies between the offers of IT service providers and the needs of customers.


In the study, "Global IT Service Provider Harmony" Maxfocus conducts an annual "health check" of the international IT services market. Maxfocus interviewed this time more than 1,300 IT departments and nearly 700 IT service providers in North America, Germany, Great Britain, Italy, Brazil, and the Benelux countries, France, Australia and New Zealand, to face the needs of the company and offers the IT service provider. The results show that different supply and demand in many ways different. This relates not only to the services, for example the positioning of the deals and the type of billing.

Important Results at a Glance

Offers IT services providers not agree with the priorities of IT departments: The study found that IT departments often first turn to IT service providers, if they need help in solving current, business-critical emergencies. Instead of immediately complying with their specific needs in the first instance, many service providers extensive, designed to counseling services immediately offer. This deters many potential customers who would be more willing to general consultations only after the solution of an urgent problem.

Go to the Cloud


According to the cloud Monitor 2015 put about 44 percent of companies in many countries already a Cloud Computing. Around 24 percent are planning or discussing the move. Exactly to this target group, the "Roadmap to the Cloud" directed Paessler AG.


The focus of the "Roadmap to the Cloud" by Paessler the administrator is in the SME sector: Why the cloud, which risks need to be considered and how can he convince decision makers of the introduction, when he chose not to?

According Paessler for many admins, the question in the room "Cloud or Not?" Compared with startups, which often make use of the cloud due to lower financial resources, and corporations, which the cloud allows an internationally usable IT infrastructure, were sitting SMEs between two stools , The data cloud can be an opportunity, but the introduction fails often to the platitude: "We have always done so," as a synonym for well-established processes. Their conversion would cost power. They also state that the IT department would usually consist of one or a few leaders who attend often under time pressure all sorts of projects and daily work. So few resources for changes are free.

10 factors that spur the workers


Job satisfaction? For Generation Y, a key element in choosing an employer. A study now reveals which factors for workers count the most.


The good relationship with colleagues and the boss is the top motivator of the people in the job. 65 % of workers goes with more fun to work when they get along well with other employees and superiors. Opportunities for free time management spurs only at every other employee, in 2014 there were still two-thirds. These are the results the representative study "work motivation 2015" the Manpower Group. More than 1,000 citizens were questioned for over 18 years in the spring of 2015th.

Workers are more heavily loaded

Compared to last year decreases the approval of almost all the major motivating factors. "This fits in with our study on job satisfaction. This shows that workers on the job are generally less satisfied than in 2014, "says Herwarth Brune, CEO of Manpower Group. For working professionals, this is a sign of recovery of the economy: "The employees are currently busy strongly. In these stressful times their genuine and well-placed praise from the boss and the team cohesion are particularly motivating. "

The ten most important factors in the motivation of employees:


1. Good working relationship with colleagues and superiors:

The human factor counts: 65 % of respondents are more motivated in your job if you get along well with colleagues and bosses. 2014 were still 77 %.

Monday, September 28, 2015

The experts are a change of residence to be disclosed


56 % of skilled workers are in principle willing to change their place of residence for a new job. This is especially true for executives and young professionals. This emerges from a StepStone survey of more than 50,000 professionals and executives.


In Dusseldorf, the willingness to change jobs is less pronounced. 10 % would give up their center of life without ifs and buts. Also one of ten respondents would accept a new job beyond his current residence and commute home on weekends. One third (36%) of them making a work-related relocation depend on location. These are the findings of StepStone professionals Atlas, for many countries’ leading online job portal StepStone surveyed 50,000 professionals and managers.

Through an above-average mobility mainly workers distinguished in higher hierarchical levels and new entrants - both groups are more than 70 % open to a place far from home. Respondents in the upper management level would, however, for a new position relates a second home and commute on weekends. Except for the top management level, the degree of mobility decreases with increasing professional experience. Professionals who have more than ten years in the profession, show underperformed mobile (51%).

Digital tools that simplify the job


Companies often encounter it with skepticism - it is the real key to success: the digitization. With the right tools you can easily secure a competitive advantage.


To the digitization of business processes will come in time the industry around 4.0 hardly a company. Cringe that many entrepreneurs at the thought of such a change in their own business, seems evident at first glance - is on closer inspection, however unfounded. For web-based work is faster, more efficient and facilitates the everyday work. Whether it comes to Human Resources, Finance & Controlling and Marketing - appropriate tools are available for nearly all business processes.

Human Resource Management Online


The world is full of skilled labor and this can be found online more easily. Therefore, platforms offer as CareerBuilder or 4Scotty company not only the opportunity to distribute their job offers on the net, but also an insight into the CVs of registered users. Especially handy: With the help of the search functions are encountered specifically on potentially suitable candidates and if this contact. For the HR department provide digital solutions much practical benefit: files, for example, with IQDoQ be online "filed" and sorted. Packed with smart features Employee Information can even be quickly and safely structured evaluated. For complete project management software Blue Ant of the suitable proventis: In addition to planning and time recording, resources can be planned to create accounts and manage to-do lists.
Working in the cloud


Anywhere access to files works with cloud solutions as they are in the B2B marketplace of cloud world finds. Applications such as TeamDrive and Evernote not only allow access to data, but is designed specifically for teamwork. They allow the release of documents to colleagues and avoid sending a constantly updated version via email.

In Managed Services, advice is appreciated


By 2018, the cloud market is with its service offering to grow to a turnover of 19.8 billion euros in many countries. A business so that worthwhile for manufacturers, distributors and resellers. But not only has the complexity of the matter held pitfalls.


Today, companies are faced with the challenge of improving the quality of service to their customers and to make processes more efficient. Show Recent IDC research (IT Service Management in 2014) that while cost savings are on the agenda of IT executives high up. As a rule, account for 80 % of the resources on the operative business of IT. This leaves little room for forward-looking innovations. Accordingly, the pressure on IT departments to standardize workflows and automate grows. A to correct the situation or Managed Cloud Services here. Because can react more flexibly to changing business requirements and the bound capital be reduced by outsourcing IT infrastructure and software.

Here, the range of services is varied. They range from remote management, backup or monitoring for the complete outsourcing of the infrastructure (IaaS), Software (SaaS) or whole platforms (PaaS). Also great is the variety of companies and public institutions and hence their requirements which take such services to complete. If the IT environment, in addition to the on premise IT increasingly also includes cloud services and outsourced IT components, it is hybrid and hence complex. This in turn provides IT service revenue potential when service providers (MSP) act as consultants and integrators between business customers and the so-called managed.

IT outsourcing without layoffs

That an IT outsourcing must bring in the SME sector not personnel cutbacks with it, shows an example of laser welding technology specialists. The outsourcing was carried out hereม even in close cooperation with the employees. The result: a completely newly formed IT, which has grown also the future demands of the industry 4.0.


The occasion for the IT outsourcing at Ferro Forming was anything but pleasant: the end of 2013 the IT, which specializes in laser welding technology company had failed. The site could be several days not to call, e-mail traffic was paralyzed. The reason: Because of serious safety deficiencies, the systems had succumbed to a virus attack. The head of the company decided to completely re-establish the IT with the help of an external consultant. Targeted outsourcing security should be ensured, achieved cost savings and IT be better tailored to the company.

Counteract Anxiety

For the IT staff that decision was the cause for disquiet. They feared for their jobs and fell into a fearless attitude. Exactly this effect, however, was designed to avoid. Because the company's own experts have been and continue to be used. As an external consultant for IT topics Axxcon had to convey that instead of dismissing waiting for new challenges. In addition, the external consultant wanted to do as an interim manager in a few months again superfluous.

Sunday, September 27, 2015

The IT distribution needs new customers

New customers are important to business. Also for the distributors. But what if the number of classic addressable customers back, never to return? Then it's like to look for new customers. In the case of distributors this can only end customer no. A thesis post by Damian Sicking.


For many years there have been in the IT industry is an all in all well-functioning process, the product comes to the end customer. The manufacturers sent their products to distributors, from here they were distributed to retailers and system houses that eventually the end customer expressed in the hands or installed at your site. This supply chain worked - despite occasional disturbances - on the whole good, and when it comes to the producers and distributors, this could also be many more years remain so.

The situation is different if one looks at the distributors. You cannot go on as before, and not just because of the declining equipment sales and still not really answered question of which meaningful role can play the distribution of cloud computing topic, but especially at a different, far more threatening development.

The distribution is now arrived at a point where it is forced to change their business model, or shall we say better: to expand. The main reason for this is that they an important component of their previous business model breaks away: their customers! The number of classical distribution customers - IT distributors and system vendors - has been declining for years, and there is no reason to assume that this trend will reverse in the coming years. For distributors, this is a threatening scenario. To date, some distributors have this loss of customers still can compensate for the fact that you entice away resellers and system vendors from the competition and piloted in their own barn. Classic displacement so. But in the long run this may be for a growth-oriented company no solution to the dilemma and no strategy.

Promotional rock - also in B2B!

Customer relationships deepen and sustainably strengthen the brand? Sure, of course! Haptic advertising also works in B2B business. And with these freebies you score points with your customers guaranteed!


The use of promotional products in many countries is rising continuously. For the 2014 financial year, the subject was allowed advertising recorded a new sales record. With 3.48 billion euros the promotional products are right behind the advertising billionaire TV in second place in the media compared.

The popularity of products with logo print can be in the face of this result not deny: Promotional products are one of the most popular marketing tools.
Promotional items work well in B2B. According to a survey from allbranded the brand or company name of the advertising company remains at 78 % of promotional products in the mind of (potential) customers! (Source: allbranded)

However, they are often underestimated, limited in their use at exhibitions or used only in the B2C segment. A downgrade, which comes to the promotional products unfairly. Finally, you will also meet as a B2B marketer to people that need to convince it. And even if business components are faced with personal needs, the principle remains the same: you have to be apart from the competition, attract attention and be particularly special.

The mobile payment solutions for commerce and service

A business cannot make too, because the customer does not have enough cash with you, is an annoying situation for each merchant or service. Similarly frustrating as the long wait for incoming payments after invoicing. One possible alternative is offered by modern mobile payment solutions.


Mobile Payment - i.e. paying the involvement of a mobile terminal - opened entrepreneurs new ways to meet customer service-oriented different payment options to offer and thus to obtain money quickly and safely. Solutions with mobile card readers on the dealer's own smartphone or tablet while offering an interesting alternative to solutions for Near Field Communication (NFC). These allow wireless paying smartphone to smartphone, but could not prevail so far in the market.

The motto "only is Bares truth" is in times of popular plastic money only limited validity, since most people wear less and less cash. According to a recent study by the Scientific Institute of trade (EHI study) is the cash share of the retail trade dropped to 55.6 %, while credit cards continue to grow - 2012 a total of 159 billion euros.

Following this development, even small merchants and service providers must be able to handle card payments quickly and easily. Stationary card terminals - as they can be found for example in department stores, or restaurants - but have the disadvantage of small businesses that they attract both high temporal and financial costs of acquisition, as well as monthly fees to be.

Saturday, September 26, 2015

Those who recognize the feelings of employees properly deserves more

The Manager, who behave like a bull in are soon left behind and content standard. However, recognize the emotions of their employees, typically earn more than the coarse chunks. The scientists from the WHU - Otto Beisheim found School of Management.

The emotion recognition ability of people has a proven impact on their income. This is the result of a highly regarded study that Professor Jochen Menges of the WHU - Otto Beisheim School of Management has carried out together with researchers from the University of Bonn and Illinois State University.

Study aroused enormous media

"The better employees recognize feelings of others in organizations, the higher the annual salary of these employees. Emotion recognition skills are not only of interpersonal meaning, but also have an economic value, "explains Professor Jochen Menges, Professor of Leadership and Human Resource Management at WHU.

The study has since its release will get the best of all media coverage ever published in the Journal of Organizational Behavior article. "Emotion recognition is an economic success, but is often underestimated in its importance. Thus, our study does away now. Therefore, I am particularly pleased that our research results are such a large media attention, "says Menges. The findings not only provides Menges ago in an article, but also in a video on the website of the Journal of Organizational Behavior.

Six Rules for more sales success


Increasingly demanding and better informed customers are B2B company under pressure. For this it is increasingly difficult to satisfy the customers and to convince them of its own products and services. Every second company is struggling with rising distribution costs. At the same time the distribution is often not yet adapted to the new challenges.


So much money is wasted because the correct procedure EBITDA increased by up to 25 percent is possible. This emerges from the current study "Mastering the New Reality of Sales" of the international management consulting firm Bain & Company. In order to meet and efficiency at work is the high demands a reorganization of distribution is necessary.

Loyalty is more and more from


Companies are in B2B sales facing major challenges. The reasons for this are increasingly transparent markets with customers who are increasingly better informed because of the digital channels at the same time and be more demanding. As a result, customer loyalty decreases in companies. 68 percent of executives in industrial companies in the study indicate that the loyalty of their customers decreased massively.

The company is currently trying to reclaim this loyalty by investing in sales and reduce product complexity. 50 percent have their marketing spending increases - but so far often with limited success. Many companies have their sales structurally not yet adjusted to the new reality, in other words: the changing needs and behavior patterns of their customers. 60 percent of the salespeople do not know how their company differentiates itself from the competition. That makes it all the more difficult to convince critical and well-informed customers.

Customer relationships as Aunt Emma

Tips for customer loyalty for retailers

Sysob IT Distribution has found in the market analysis "Retail WLAN" for resellers that stationary retailer of online competitors can face with optimized advice and customer loyalty.

More than 60 percent of 16- to 74-year-olds in shopped online in the past year. This has resulted in a recent survey by Eurostat and the Swiss Federal Statistical Office. Strong competitors for stationary retailers - they can but counter with optimized advice and customer loyalty.

As wireless networks help build more intimate customer relationships as Tante Emma explains the Sysob IT distribution in their market analysis "Retail WLAN" for resellers.

From a customer perspective According Sysob points online stores mainly through constant availability, a wide range and often international availability. When it comes to consulting however, wish that so many "mom and pop" principle back: The shopkeeper knows the customers personally, with their likes and dislikes familiar and therefore can express appropriate recommendations. Here, the stationary retail can look at some order to compete with better advice, service and customer friendliness of anonymous e-commerce sites.

Monday, September 7, 2015

The IaaS provider scent morning air

Digital transformation of business and production processes is the goal of the economy. The drivers of this are competition from the large number of start-ups, as well as industry pressure and admonishing media reports. But earlier, all should be clear that the way to digitize only the clean use of cloud computing is.


Suppose you were a medium-sized manufacturing companies and now want to systematically digitize even if were ready enough investment resources, the solution would probably not optimal. The reason for this is that the desired systems with the required performance characteristics are simply not yet available as a true cloud solution.

Software companies and system providers have long not yet made their programs cloud-enabled. There are several reasons. First, the software needs to be fully adjusted with the aim of multi-tenant architecture. Secondly, was and is the systems business is a very good business because this business model also brings with it forced loyal customers. And thirdly, there is a great fear of a sales dip. Therefore, it is only possible in the present situation, systematically digitize. As a result, give logical, strategic process models, such as those described by Crisp Research will be presented.

Current technology trends you should know

Which topics and trends employ marketers in 2015? Which technology trends alter the digital marketing?


The Digital Trends Report 2015 examines selected technical trends and their impact in marketing and shows how technology trends Marketers should take this year. Here you will find the most important developments at a glance.

Content and dissemination strategy

Content is King: With the growing awareness of content marketing also increase the efforts of the marketing departments to produce as many content to numerous possible topics. Whether corporate blogs, newsletters, social media, digital magazines or videos: The user is flooded with more or less relevant information and often overwhelmed. From a marketing point of view, it is therefore all the more important to focus on the quality of content to select strong and to provide users with high-quality and highly relevant content. Only in this way the user has the ability to perceive the important for him post or mail.

But even the best content can reach the user only on the appropriate communications channels. According to Digital Trend Report provides the right distribution strategy in 2015 a key success factor in marketing and product communication. A successful strategy means that the user can individually decide where and how they absorb the content. Because every user works differently: While a preferred content appropriate in writing, while others tend to use an audio or video post. The 'distribution' of the content is therefore just as important as its quality to reach the user in the most pleasant for him form. Which can be achieved over as wide a range of communication channels. The user will receive the greater control over back, who, when and how to communicate with them.

Concepts for the company's use of mobile devices


In more and more companies move mobile devices in the first place when it comes to further increase employee productivity. Finally, the processing power of smartphones is sufficient today to perform more complex enterprise applications. Most, however, it comes at the right app strategy.


Regardless of whether apps are provided for field service personnel or for academic staff, this development opens boosting productivity to place a lot of potential, even the most demanding applications and data to mobile devices of the user. Moreover, the idea of employees who are always online, extremely attractive for companies.
With all the positive aspects, however, need to be protected applications and content before an illegitimate use and dissemination. Two approaches have been established there to meet this challenge: the Mobile Device Management (MDM) with the control of the terminals used for corporate purposes and the Mobile Application Management (MAM) with policies for the use of applications. In both cases, these approaches focus ensuring the safety, the regulated access and distribution as well as the reliable closure of enterprise applications.

Sunday, September 6, 2015

Datacenter: Great break, promising future?


The Hybrid Cloud is a reality in many companies. But why more and more CIOs opt for a hybrid environment? An article by Erich Vogel, Cloud Leader, Computacenter.


This survey has drawn in recent months large sections of our industry: "The Hybrid Cloud 2014" by IDC. The result is an illuminating and for the other at the same time for the unexpected: a further 27 % plan used or implemented in the past two years public cloud services More than half of the 2014 surveyed by IDC organizations their introduction. IDC also observed that the "early adopters" with a pure private cloud approach much more pull now Hosted private clouds or public cloud services into consideration.

Analysts summarize: The Hybrid Cloud is already a reality in many companies. The Reasons? In times of "d’ conomy!" - As this year's CeBIT, the upheavals of society addressed by IT - must be adapted to individual than ever a company's processes. The CIOs kept their data and applications to date preferably in its own data center, especially large enterprises build their infrastructure consistently. They consolidate, virtualize, rely on automated operation and invest in convergent structures.

Big Data: "Shit in, shit out"

When I look at the results of my personal event Three struggle EuroCIS, Bitkom Big Data and CeBIT, then draw many colleagues with great momentum on a loose rope.


Many points of my recent articles on theme SmartHome find an ominous projection in the world of industry and 4.0 Big Data. Here I see a huge gap between strategy and operational implementation, which could be due, among other things, that strategy consultants consider the infinite data flow as a given constant.

So what's behind the Buzzword Bingo and where lurk the problems? Topics Big Data, IoT, industry 4.0 were represented on all fairs and also attracted a lot of people on. Like me, many are interested in the state of affairs.

I will start with Big Data, which also provides the basis for the article title. Undeniably, well that by IoT and industry 4.0 have the amount of data with which we operate, again will rise exponentially. An important contribution of must be made here of big data is, to distinguish the important from unimportant data and filter. Even with Hana and Co. The sensor and actuator data would flood our systems.

Even though I now have the data, then you are not saved. About the Data Handling was very little talking at the fairs. Another important point is next to the quantity precisely the quality of the data (see title). And exactly at this point is still the great weakness of Big Data.

More success in the B2B sector


Top 5 Online Marketing Tools

Top 5 Online Marketing Tools


The systematic use proper online marketing tool is also in the business-to-business (B2B) an increasing success factor. But the flood of information and the confusing software environment on the Web difficult Internet marketers selecting the right tools. Lion Stark Online Marketing presents the five most important tools.


Competitors keep an eye on Web traffic monitor advertising campaigns plan, implement and evaluate: To be successful in the digital B2B marketing must be a bit like the agent James Bond, says Lion Stark online marketing. For this, include not only specific know-how, professional online marketing tools essential. The catch: The software market has become very confusing; there cavort countless solutions that depict various aspects of digital marketing. Each tool has its priorities, strengths and weaknesses - an ideal all-round solution does not exist. On top of that are similar many approaches great. But digital experts see this as an advantage and recommend to work with multiple, selected tools at the same time - because the most reliable sources, the more accurate the final result. To allow a view through the tool-jungle has lions Strong online marketing together five tools that structure the work of every B2B Internet Marketers on the web and make it easier.

Tool 1: Google Analytics for web analytics

Good visibility in the network is for decision-makers in the B2B sector are of great importance. For potential customers, suppliers and service providers are generally used in the relevant searches on Google on the corporate side. In order to achieve a good positioning in the results, recommends lion Stark, to resort to the tools of Google itself. Even the free version of Google Analytics convinces many practical features and customization. It detects, among other visitors streams, Keywords and Conversion and content analysis. The data ran to the aid of graphs and tables represent clearly. "Especially handy integrated into the real-time analysis tool," explains Marian Wurm, Managing Director and co-founder of Lion Strong online marketing. "This allows an immediate insight into the activities on your site or app . User streams get to the goal conversions"

Makes integrated management systems for the future

LAN and WLAN can be implemented in companies often separated and managed. This has serious operational and safety-related disadvantages. Both areas should therefore be monitored and managed uniformly.


Let me sketch a fictitious scenario: When prototypical middle-engineering plant Schräuble & Co. with 2,000 employees, the users are dissatisfied with the services of IT. The networks do not function as they should. An important reason: It lacks a unified network management for LAN and WLAN.
Employees are mobile only limited features available, for example, they cannot partly access important business data, no faxing and printing. You also can not smoothly roam in the company, because the Wi-Fi radio shows again and again gaps. When switching between wired and wireless they need to re-authenticate each.

The company's management refers to security risks. A unified security and authorization architecture because there are not, which is why it is also prohibited to discontent of the workforce to use private mobile devices for business purposes. Guests get manually WLAN voucher issued on the IT cumbersome leads lists.

When the company buys a competitor who uses different network technology in wireless and specialized WLAN manufacturers to which the company has set the Wi-Fi in the material storage, is insolvent, the situation escalates: The support for the camp implemented products is no longer guaranteed, The IT administration, only a handful of employees, stated that their resources are exploited to the limit. A fundamentally different solution must ago, otherwise one could not guarantee anything.

Saturday, September 5, 2015

Verdict: Resellers must not distribute software demo version

The Higher Regional Court Frankfurt am Main had to decide on how the copyright is such protection of a computer program on the required level of creativity through the scope. Also, a "spy function" was discussed.


In the proceedings before the Frankfurt Higher Regional Court case were fighting a software maker and a seller on numerous issues of distribution of an application for managing corporate data. It was for example about whether the level of creativity and thus the copyright protection of the program are ever given if decompilation is allowed and whether the reseller could publish the product in the present way further - against the background, which rights he had.

Rights: yes or no?

Specifically, the reseller had offered a demo version of the software on the Internet to the test, even though he had no right to use the product from the perspective of OLGs. The seller had not comprehensible argued for the judge that a company was formed, which he had admitted this. The judge, however, found that the cooperation on the part of the manufacturer terminated or the transfer of rights for the disputed period was not made.

Release: yes or no?


Therefore, the reseller should not have to publish the software or make it available. The defendant seller felt a publicly available product does not because "the software in sealed-off environment" was operated. "Making available", as the Court of Appeal, "but is only expected, will be opened in the appropriate, protected work, the third of the access". The demo version that offered the seller on its website and its YouTube presence would, potential customers to test the possibility of using already allows, namely working with the user interface.

Friday, September 4, 2015

Does my enterprise resource planning have a Turbo?


The 10-point health check for ERP systems


Depending on pain tolerance and ambitions on the market, the idea is close to a modernization of the Enterprise Resource Planning system (ERP) more or less. However, before a decision for a new solution falls, the question should be analyzed what exactly the company slowly, and where speed would provide the greatest benefit.

The own slowness to become aware of is not so easy. IT decision-makers do not use do not always even the ERP in their daily business and to shortcomings so little discretion. Active ERP users are either accustomed or do not find the right ear. And annoyed customers often seek tacitly faster vendors.

In a global survey of Epicor ERP in the past year showed: Only 9 percent of surveyed 1,500 ERP users consider their current ERP system as simple and user-friendly is. For 35 percent, it takes too much time to their ERP system provides the information available. Nearly half wanted an ERP, which provides the necessary information easily and quickly if needed. Improved responsiveness is therefore - unsurprisingly - the most important argument for future ERP investments.

Many countries do not run any super hype behind

Megatrends such as cloud computing, Internet of Things and industry 4.0 are on everyone's lips and change processes, not only in business, but also at distributors and system houses. For most solutions and services found on retailer their way into the company. But, how trends have on the channel? Have many countries Industry 4.0 already overslept? And what role does the topic Hybrid Cloud? Roland König, Head of Business Area Virtualization at Bechtle, writes his opinion.

The partner business is always a result of technology trends. As early as the turn of the millennium has been a big change, then conquered the virtualization the IT market. From one moment to the other much less hardware was sold and virtual services and solutions could be offered. Such great innovation radically changes the market - as well as the digital infrastructures. Meanwhile, these infrastructures are highly automated and standardized. In a time in which many countries companies are increasingly operating globally, which is a very important development.

Many countries sleeps through no trends - but creating them

Generally go many countries companies with new trends and innovations to more cautious. Before this country is something new or have been implemented, it has been mostly already been tested by others. This has less to do with oversleeping, but rather "play it safe" with. Companies want to be successful in the future and not only maintain their competitive advantage, but also to expand.

IBM license management - insight into a microcosm

Anyone who needs to delve further into software license management in the course of his professional life, can quickly get the impression that delve into a microcosm own.


Whether Microsoft, Oracle or IBM, each provider has developed other methods for licensing its software. The license terms from IBM are among certainly the most complex. Besides nested software products (the so-called software bundling) is available from IBM around 100 different metrics, based on which the software may be licensed - and rising.

In addition to the legal protection can the effort, periodically to review the existing license conditions, worthwhile for companies financially well, especially since the various licensing options are continually adapted and changed by the manufacturer.

Potential for cost savings

A variation that has a high potential for cost savings, is the licensing on the basis of so-called PVU metric (Processor Value Unit). Here the cost of the software are determined not on the number of users or installations, but on the performance of the processors. After a points table each processor model is depending on the performance and configuration associated with a certain number of points, which forms its PVU value. This value is then multiplied by the number of available cores. From these figures the required number of PVU licenses that will be charged as a basis for calculating the price to be licensed Software.

Thursday, September 3, 2015

TCO Calculator for Office 365

On Premise or rather a practical cloud solution for Office? The TCO Calculator mod of IT services to help IT decision-makers to find the right solution. These 20 questions must be answered, which are then tool-supported and evaluated manually.


Whether IT decision makers should resort to a locally installed or a cloud alternative of Microsoft Office is not always so easy to clarify. Many parameters must be considered when making that decision, to find the most cost effective solution for a company. With an online TCO calculator for Office 365 would like to help in this decision mod IT Service IT managers. The free cloud computer of the overall IT service provider in the SME sector compares according to the supplier the total cost of ownership of OnPremises solution and the cloud alternative of Office products from Microsoft for each individual company.


20 Questions


In order to perform an accurate TCO analysis, requires mod IT Service some information about the company. According to the IT service provider with locations in Einbeck and Hannover has an IT manager online answering 20 questions first, this process takes about 15 minutes. For example, ask the TCO Calculator Information size of the company and the status of the current license agreements.

8 golden rules for a perfect speech

Although it is claimed, a picture says more than 1000 words. But also leaves a perfect speech at the audience with a lasting impression. Use the following tips to succeed in an eye-catching appearance.


Bound listeners to time laughing from time faces and applause: Such are the desired reactions when people speak before an audience. But not everyone is a born orator and can perform content inspiring and eye-catching. Rigid lectures tiring the listener and prevent messages arrive. Therefore, make speeches, not least is a basic factor for success in professional life. Eight simple tips to help your own speech arts on the jumps.

1. Structure is all the rent

A good structure of the speech introduction, body, and conclusion helps recipient to notice a common thread and easier to follow the contents. At the beginning of the speech best intersperse a surprising or moving statement about the nuclear issue. Thus, the speaker assures at the very beginning the undivided attention. In the main part numbering or pros and cons considerations facilitate the comprehensibility of the content. In no case should thank speakers at the end of her presentation for the attention. Thus, it has awarded the chance to stay with a memorable closing words in the minds of viewers.

Cloud providers: Desperately Seeking IT!


Imagine, you have developed a software solution and are now looking for a cloud partner. What an odyssey!


It is based on an independent market segment to provide the platform for software companies. There are thousands of developers companies that have developed clever and successful software solutions. But very few have their programs on cloud architecture - so a multi-tenant solution - changed. Many but already have a browser-based user interface. In sum, these vendors provide considerable potential for infrastructure providers.


Speculating on the future

Software solution providers are not willing to high investments, especially as the IaaS provider in the seemingly destructive competition undercut. The knowledge can be found in the fact that keeps the effort for a well-organized IaaS provider in limits. His offer is divided into standard models with different server platforms and virtualized properly. The client software company can scale its performance in the self-service process itself and pays in addition to a basic fee its transactional revenues. In sum, these are after a random survey at CeBIT 2015, smaller suppliers about five thousand euros per year.

Here is an old, American investors wisdom comes into play: "Invest in seven start-ups. Six will fail. But this one will be so successful that it not only compensated the losses of the other six, but will generate large revenues. "Behave similarly IaaS provider. Many assume any ISV (Independent Software Vendor) as customers in the hope that exactly his solution will be successful. Here, the sales and onboarding effort are always the same. Because one does not know precisely in advance if the customer solution will be successful or not.

All cheap, everything good?


That there is more than one reasonable price, many software manufacturers have also figured and flirt with the provider selection with the possible disruptive success of their program. As a result, this brings the IaaS provider forcibly in the situation, to calculate offers not only cheap, but also with additional benefits, as outlined in the following examples to market, - technically interchangeable.

Example 1: Special Technical Services: This technical reliability by supporting documents, such as the ISO 27001 certification is documented by ISO 9001 (at best, based on BSI-Baseline Protection) or service capability. Thus, the customer ISV can be sure that its programs are pretty reliable on the net available.

Example 2: The Bi-directional value-system:
In this case, the ISV customer in IaaS, because it is hosting its programs in the computer center of IaaS. At the same time he is also the supplier because of IaaS promises him his solution - that is, the solution to its customers - with at its own end-users to sell. One example is the "ISV Reselling and Enterprise Market Place" of T-Systems. The problem here is that such promises are to be redeemed almost entirely through a digital marketplace currently. But actually need the seller of IaaS in offering the ISV are trained to have it in the personal catalog solution with you. Add to this the problem that there are several suppliers on any topic. At the end of smaller suppliers is only the presence on a web marketplace.

Example 3: Increase value of the SaaS offering and successful marketing support: Even if I as the author of this article am not at ease, I have to say, this works quite well: The hosting provider has partnered with an association or an institution that have an effective marketing and also guarantee high quality. In the industry, we know for example, to the "Blue Angel". In IT, this is the German cloud certificate for example. The IaaS provider certifies its datacenters on the German cloud audit. By prolonging the part, then applies logically also for its customers ISV. This then needs only a part (data security, legal and service) at the cloud to have it checked and is in the sequence itself to German-cloud-certified providers.

Contracts, agreements, contracts ...


A small software company is hardly the idea of his service with very large system houses, which are also IaaS asking for hosting. First, because it is believed to experience a mini customer e.g. an IBM and T-Systems does not care, and secondly, because the fear of rigid and extensive contracts could represent the entrepreneurial freedom in question. But what the customer wants software house? He wants a technically reliable solution and a contact person who to his ambition successfully supported. It must not be a partner, which sends the client's data to the NSA ISV and hawked his keys to the US Department of Homeland Security. Yes, most like the customer wants to know exactly where their data are and will be processed. And he has the right to do so.
To truly compare the offers of hosting providers, addressing the seller contracts is inevitable. You have to understand that an IaaS provider cannot enter into an individual agreement with each customer. But service promise (SLA) should be verifiable and changes in power - be possible only with the consent of the ISV - for example when moving the data. A "Blue Angel" for the cloud builds trust with the customer and speed up the marketing.

Attention is needed


Against the backdrop of the effort to compare IaaS providers it is not surprising that software companies have selected a "good about" IaaS provider. But it is worthwhile to think again. One can not only his electricity supplier, but also the hosting providers change.


Wednesday, September 2, 2015

With these 10 tips it'll work well with the generation Y

It’s totally complicated or easy to reach? The generation Y is preparing so many HR headaches. Stop it! With these 10 tips the claims of Generation Y from the corral to the great opportunity for all.


Those born in the years 1980 to 2000 is part of the generation Y. For the people of this generation smartphone to the self-evident, so natural communication and information media has become. They have grown up in a world in which everything right now and tailored to their needs is available - always just a click away. You are ready to bring benefits, but expect only a good salary that working is also fun and can be combined work, leisure and family perfectly.


This generation of young people has been pressing for several years in the company and bounced there in a corporate culture that is almost everywhere dominated hierarchy and dominated by patriarchal leaders. And they are opinion makers, who know how to make their voices heard on the Internet. Companies that do not keep their promises are quickly put in the digital pillory. Companies where the working atmosphere is wrong, find it difficult to attract Generation Y at all for them. The young people have been looking at the application phase after evaluation of the potential employer on the Internet and think twice if you are applying for a company that is poorly rated.

Optimization of working capital

Looking for a competitive edge companies and exploring alternative financing options for their working capital needs. The spectrum ranges from the supply chain financing through the securitization of receivables to factoring. This occupies a Demica study in collaboration with the Treasury Management International, were interviewed for the 78 Corporate Treasurer and Financial Manager.


As the main priorities for the coming year, respondents mentioned more effective or more effective cash management forecasts (63% of respondents), release of working capital (60%) and improving the risk management of working capital management (58%). 60% looked for the next five years a lot of potential for the release of bonded working capital in their respective industries.

In the economic environment after the financial crisis, it has become even more important to liberate bound liquidity, because the conditions for conventional bank loans are becoming sharper. Therefore, so said 80% of respondents are looking for the companies now increasingly looking for alternative financing methods.

Because I Said So

CeBIT and WIN provide Women's Congress on the legs


Say "Yes". That was one of the key messages of the Congress "Women in Digital Business", which premiered at CeBIT this year. Both organizers and WIN CeBIT rejoiced over 100 women who had registered for participation and used the platform for a lively exchange of ideas.


"It was a very good decision to sign me here",
this enthusiastic statement of a participant reflected the mood throughout the congress resist. And a good mood, there was good reason. In the event program offered a lot of variety. On the one hand there were three keynotes, the different aspects of digital life and illuminated leadership. In different groups, however, the participants were invited to discuss it. Why be active only a few women as founders? For example, was the issue of a so-called World Café. How to manage a team in the digital age?, another.

A special side effect of the discussion in the form of World Café was getting to know the participants among themselves. Could deepen this in the breaks. Thanks to a matchmaking app, the participants were able to each other "arrange". Who was interested in, for example, for the area of responsibility of a participant, or for their companies who met with her in the break. The aim of the Congress to create a women's network, you got away with it a big step closer, because this introductory version was used intensively.

The engineers have to be communicative

Industry 4.0 is much more than just a question of technology, but also in personal political terms a real challenge. But German companies are as far in this regard? We spoke to Nicolas Vermersch, managing director of the recruitment company Page Group.


Mr. Vermersch, soon again Hannover Messe, considered the world's leading exhibition for the industry 4.0. Therefore, I quote Fair Board Dr. Jochen Köckler who said, many top managers would now ask: Is my company fit for the fourth industrial revolution? Fit for industry 4.0 - the companies are even when it comes to personnel policy?


We note that the issue of industry is 4.0 arrived in the personnel departments of enterprises. When demand analysis personnel departments often find that they have very good engineers who take care of the issue already. These people exchange information with the IT department and other departments of on the subject. There are more interdisciplinary project teams about 4.0. And for the management of these teams of people are now especially looking for: leaders who can steer interdisciplinary projects, the thinking in processes and in communication.

Industry 4.0 - the better CIM (Computer Integrated Manufacturing), recently wrote a colleague. With CIM, the computer was on the clock, the software replaced the executive - in theory. Works does not. Is the industry at 4.0 now different or better?

CIM is a concept that is now part of Industry 4.0. It is important to limit not only to the 4.0 industrial productions. Industry 4.0 includes many different departments and has direct effects on the relations between the partners in the supply chain. Therefore, it is now particularly important to reduce internal silos and for companies looking for employees who have a good overview of the processes - and the expertise of the engineers. These candidates will be sought strengthened.

According to a study by the Fraunhofer IAO in Stuttgart is one of the main obstacles to the implementation of IT innovations in manufacturing, the lack of ability to change within the organization. See the similar?

Increase marketing success measurable

Traditional ways to attract new customers to work less and less - at the same time, pressure is growing, increasingly well informed prospects to convert into customers. How companies can do that, is the Lead Management Summit 2015!


Business success is defined more and more by fine-tuned marketing and sales processes - and through the successful development of new customer potential through lead management.


As companies increase marketing success measurable and which here are the latest trends and techniques, shows the Lead Management Summit 2015th
Keynote by Professor Harald Eichsteller

Launched by marconomy event will take place for the third time this year. Focuses this year the topics inbound marketing, lead generation, lead qualification, sales performance, data management and CRM, and marketing automation.

Tuesday, September 1, 2015

Labor market study: The Head Hunter of IT


Fears of CIOs and CTOs to lose their best IT staff to competitors take to. The term "skills shortage" may be debatable, but the fear of losing good employees is, in fact risen year on year according to a survey.


Regardless of the question whether there is a shortage of skilled workers in the IT industry, more and more chefs fear of losing their best employees. This is the conclusion a recent labor market study commissioned by the staffing agency Robert Half Technology, at the 200 CIOs (Chief Information Officer) and CTO (Chief Technology Officer) took part in many countries. 79 % of CIOs and CTOs are in custody, losing in 2015 their most talented employees of competing firms.


Compared to last year this figure has increased dramatically in 2014 feared barely two-thirds (65 %) of IT managers - and thus 14 % less than it is today - the departure of their IT professionals.

Expensive for both sides: false invoices issued

Formal or editorial errors in invoices according to the BVBC not uncommon. Typical faults and how they can be avoided knows BVBC.


Quick sneak up on bills errors, which have far-reaching implications for billers and bill recipients. Although the possibility remains for invoice correction, but thereby threaten substantial additional expenses and additional costs.


The preparation of invoices requires extreme care to avoid avalanche effects, warns the Federation of accountants and controllers eV (BVBC). The mandatory information in accordance with § 14 and § 14a of the VAT Act (UStG) should be strictly respected. "Particularly error-prone is the duplication of invoices via copy function," says Uta-Martina Jüssen, member of the Presidium of the BVBC. "So it is easy to missing or incorrect positions, such as service period or invoice amount." Typos and inaccuracies about the company names are forgivable if the mandatory fields are clearly identifiable.

Protection against insolvency contestation

Entrepreneurs may know the problem: The receipt of money has long been recognized, but then post comes from the insolvency of a customer. He wants the money back, because it belonged to the bankruptcy estate. What to do? Coface customers can now find advice and protection for their credit insurers.


For Coface provides in addition to credit insurance to an insurance dispute. They are not only for new customers, even many years policyholder can supplement their agreement with it.

The problem, the Coface encountered with the new solution is complex: The disputing a claim for creditor’s discrimination is possible up to ten years if the creditor may have known when paying his debtor that by other creditors at a disadvantage. In such a case the supplier has to pay back the amount you have paid money at the request of the liquidator. A high risk of suppliers: For the liquidator does not prove that the supplier was aware of the difficulties of his customers.
When contesting insurance picks

Actually, the company concerned with a credit insurance also because on the safe side. Firstly, because it may be based on the credit assessment of the insurer. To the existing limit of policyholders against the insolvency administrator can argue that it was confirmed by the limit of the credit insurer in the positive credit rating of its customer. Secondly, the credit insurance covers the resurgent demand. "However, it may lead to cases where the agreed sum insured is insufficient at the time of challenge," explains Dr. Thomas Götting, Regional Commercial Director of Coface. "In these cases, attacks contesting insurance." It offers not only protection in the worst case by the damage performance. It also covers the cost of legal defense against temptation.

Digital Transformation: IT in transition

As companies master change with new business models


Once again the IT prepares to revolutionize the industry. So far, companies put their IT systems in classical production and management a - the availability of fast and agile solutions now enables the creation of entirely new business models like Whatsapp or Uber.


The increasing digitalization provides companies but also in front of organizational challenges, such as the panel discussion on "Digital Transformation: How companies with new business models to master change" in Munich became clear.

Sensors measure the microclimate in vineyards

Here Dr. Carlo Velten led by analyst firm Crisp Research the example of a winery in the field. Some winemakers accessorise their vineyards with sensors that measure the microclimate. Based on the data collected, you can water and fertilizer control precisely and so maximize returns.

However Velten looks more the private sector as the driving force of the digital revolution. Fitness bands smart watches or intelligent garments are currently experiencing a boom. Therefore, the analyst in the lifestyle sector looks despite privacy concerns, the greatest willingness to share information.

Surprising developments, for example, in the automotive sector, sees Dr. John Liebig on the industry forward. The CEO of the SOA, Innovation Lab said, a few years ago no one saw Google in the automotive sector. Now the company is investing in autonomous driving.