http://infotech.indiatimes.com/articleshow/msid-2901611,flstry-1.cms

Interesting article from The Times of India - Small’s big biz: Microsoft’s new goal 9 Feb 2008, 1041 hrs IST,TNN

A couple of extracts below, it could be argued, demonstrate that Bill G + Microsoft still do not see as their priority or focus the majority of UK SMEs (and the world’s SMEs??) who employ 10 employees or less. Thank goodness there are CRM products, including Woosabi.com, that offer SMEs affordable CRM and Business Management Systems that specifically aim at helping the vast majority of SMEs.

Extracts:

“Bill Gates stepped on the stage to flag off the IT giant’s biggest ever mid-market drive aimed at prizing open the new and yet unexplored markets of small and medium businesses for Microsoft’s new products.”

“Mr Gates, Microsoft’s chairman and chief software architect, took the floor…….his CEO, Steve Ballmer, minced no words when he told the ‘Business Summit’ that the company was “looking at huge revenue growth from the mid-market customers.” All those who employed 50 to 1,000 employees and spent anything from $20,000 to $1m a year on IT were the company’s targets.

Nice detail from an article in www.startups.co.uk

Selling is easy summary in a few Key Words: Empathy, Enthusiasm, Belief, Communication

Anybody can sell, it’s just a matter of finding a way that suits you. You just need enthusiasm for what your business is offering, and the ability to communicate that belief in your product to potential customers. Working out what your customers need and being able to provide it for them is the foundation of any small business.

Blogs are buzzing after the Google launch of Apps Engine Platform was overshadowed by an accusation of ‘copy cat’ by 37Signals.

All the excitment is focused on ’HuddleChat’, an application released as an example of what is possible with Google App Engine, and is ’accused’ of being a dead ringer for the 37Signals chat offering, Campfire.

Let PR Tennis begin… 

Worried that it would be seen as a Big Bully, Google decided to pull the application, leaving only this message.

37Signals CEO Jason Fried used HuddleChat as a PR opportunity, telling Read Write Web:

“We’re flattered Google thinks Campfire is a great product, we’re just disappointed that they stooped so low to basically copy it feature for feature, layout for layout…We thought that would be beneath Google, but maybe its time to reevaluate what they stand for.”

As far as i can see, all 37Signals have achieved here is a clean ’shot in the foot’. 37signals is a company that adheres to the spirit of sharing and thanking folks who inspire them… but not if you’re a Goliath like Google, obviously! (Hmm, you’re face doesn’t fit so you’re not getting in.)

They may look like a victory over the ‘big boys’, but I cant help but feel they’ve tarnished their own brand values and associated it to a bad precedent of web censorship. At the end of the day web based chat clients have been available for years and they all look about the same.

Google should have kept HuddleChat and left users to make their own judgment, thanking 37Signals for their inspired thinking and positive outlook. In turn 37Signlas should stop listening to their own hype, get back to work, and add unique features to make sure Campfire is always a step ahead.

When all is said and done this episode should serve as a reminder for the web 2.0 startup community at large, that Google is in this to make money just like 37Signals and everyone else.

sources:

The Times, London 14th April 2008, http://business.timesonline.co.uk/tol/business/industry_sectors/banking_and_finance/article

Importance of SMEs to the UK:

4.3m SMEs, 97% employ less than 20 people, 12m people work in SME sector - 500, 000 SME New Start Ups Every Year!

Vulnerability of SMEs to cash flow problems caused by customer late Invoice payments:

Over 10% of SMEs collapse due to late or non-payment of invoices

Mutual Opportunities

A great opportunity for Woosabi to enter this SME Market but equally a great opportunity for SMEs to use Woosabi to help maintain and grow their businesses while controlling cash flow through Woosabi’s built-in Invoice Management system

woosabi.com is officially “clean”….www.woosabi.com currently appears on SCA-Tork Hygiene site

http://www.tork.co.uk/september8

The very welcome and confidence boosting quote from University of Ireland-Galway below regarding woosabi.com’s sister company, InPractice and its Relationship Management software, should be a real fillip for all concerned with the development of woosabi.com Customer Relationship Management Software programme. The successful “Engine” running the InPractice Healthcare & Educational placements throughout the UK and Ireland (soon Sydney + Vancouver??!!??) is the the basis of the the woosabi.com business model for its Customer Relationship Management (CRM) “Engine” software……………………..

…………..Great news for InPractice = Great news for woosabi.com

Following the development and implementation of the application, Lorraine Kent from the National University of Ireland, Galway, said: “The new InPractice online application is fantastic! It was great to see the placement database up and running so quickly . It’s already saving time and confusion. It only took a little while to become proficient with the software and its versatility and ease of use is a joy! Best of all we are able to provide new levels of professionalism for our placement providers and students”

www.woosabi.com was given a boost yesterday (in my humble opinion) when an article appeared by sion.barry@mediawales.co.uk in the Western Mail (South Wales, UK edition) highlighting the potential for the “Right” Business Management products for SMEs; it also told of  the success of a software firm www.onsho.co.uk (based in South Wales). Onsho provide bespoke-software management solutions to SMEs and their target growth market is SMEs in Wales; the company has been going a couple of years and has just hit £1million turn over (blinking well done you lot!!.[ writer attempts to hide his envy at this point!!]). However, where is the Public Interest Story here? Well done for hitting a million in 2 years but what is the real intention of this “story”? It could be argued, and it is only my “devil’s advocate” approach here (so don’t get all upset anyone in buisness), that the aim of the article is to get the company’s name higher up in the public profile league…………damn!!…it’s no good (here hit comes…an out-pouring of jealousy + envy…can’t hold it back…!!!)….well done Onsho in getting this profile….and the product seems right for the besp[oke market…..but next time it would be great to learn more about features and benefits of the product/service and less about the Millions….I can’t stand the envy-stress!! ..But well done anyway (no I really mean it…I do…honestly….)

An exercise in CRM?

In the last few days I have been managing the leads, supplied by www.businessinfocus.co.uk Cardiff office, for our woosabi.com beta test programme; although an “almost ideal candidate” for the woosab.com product per se, www.cisscoassociates.com are not the ideal beta testers for woosabi!! (bit of a boo hoo here from me…I am easily upset you know!)

Why CisscoAssoc not right?… you may ask….the simple reason? Cissco Associates have their own web, e mail and IP support/supplier (possibly not giving the required CRM as they are looking for a provider of a CRM package); however, for the woosabi.com beta programme, it is essential that beta testers can set up their systems/businesses using the complete woosabi.com CRM programme. For sound commercial reasons (all Cissco Assoc Mktng/PR implemented + on a roll) Cissco Assoc not able to link fully with the beta programme.

I had the potentially unpleasant duty of informing Andrew of Cissco Associates of this fact….his response? Very professional and pleased that Woosabi.com communicated the detail to him. Furthermore, Andrew wants woosabi.com to keep in touch with its development programme as it could well be that Cissco Associates might well become a potential user of the www.woosabi.com CRM Management software system.

It could be argued: woosabi.com + cisscoassociates.com = an exercise in effective CRM

In my capacity as a Business Consultant, I was asked by a major Paper Manufacturer, SCA Ltd, to represent the organisation in speaking at three important seminars at the Annual Infection Control Event @ The Barbican, London. The 300+ audience was a combination of Healthcare Practitioners, NHS Trust Directors, Microbiologist Educators and Government Health depts. I shared a platform with, among others the Chief Exec of the UK Healthcare Commission and  world leader in Microbiology Professor. The other speakers brief was, clear, if not simple, to inform of developments in microbiology that will help combat over 5,000 deaths and +£1bn costs per year in the NHS UK directly attributable to Hospital acquired Infection. My brief? To discuss the Public & Private sectors Working Together to Improve Patient Care…..and as the last speaker…..after other speeches on death, disease and bankruptcy….I had to make my presentation - informative, educational and amusing!!!!…so I thought “when in doubt, fall back on my training”….techniques such as

“tell ‘em what you’re going to tell ‘em,

tell ‘em,

tell ‘em what you just told ‘em” …..plus …..”AIDA”……

Did it work? Well I survived and I had reasonable applause (polite or not I was grateful!!)…so….make your mind up…I’ve attached the presentation…might be a little cold…(my excuse is “you had to be there!”)….see if you can spot “tell ‘em  etc + AIDA”

The Random House Unabridged Dictionary defines public relations as the art, technique, or profession of promoting goodwill between an organization or an individual and the public, employees, customers, etc. (Wikipedia)

Well the ever so friendly Apple like to remind us… “I’m a Mac” in their big budget PR advertising, but how true is this whiter than white image?

Take a look at this and make your own judgment:

Link Here