Powerful Email - UsahawanTerbilang.com installs Zimbra for customer
Posted on January 13, 2008
Our dedicated engineers at UsahawanTerbilang.com has successfully deployed Zimbra for one of our customers. Now, the customer is able to do powerful collaboration with enterprise email, shared calendars, book resources like meeting rooms, projectors and laptops, and what they love most, accessing their email on their mobile devices!
Not to mention corporate instant messaging, todo-list, and document sharing. All the tools they need to work together more efficiently.
Their old emails were migrated seamlessly to their new Zimbra server. Which means they are still able to access their old emails, even on the new Zimbra platform.
So what is Zimbra you ask? This video will help you understand better. There’s more….
Zimbra has a FREE version, which our customer is using.
» Filed Under Improving Your Business, Useful Technology | 3 Comments
Top 6 Technology Must Haves For Your Business - #2
Posted on January 12, 2008
We talked about the #1 must have technologies previously. Let’s take a look at #2 - Using the right systems and tools.
Many people don’t realise how much faster and how much more efficient they can work if they use the right systems, and the right tools.
Lets take a florist as an example so you can understand this easier.
A florist has a shop selling flowers to their customers. Maybe they have walk-in customers who’s looking flowers for Mother’s day or Valentine’s day. Maybe they have regular customers who buys every other day.
A traditional florist would just sell the flowers, say goodbye, and that’s it. One customer comes in, one customers goes out. If the flowers are fresh, and if the price is good, the customers would probably come back.
Now, lets take a look at a florist who has the right strategy, and use the right tools. What if the florist gives the customer a feedback card to fill in while they are wrapping the flowers. So while the customer is waiting, he or she can write;
their name, email, birthday and anniversary date, and their feedback on the shop.
When the florist is free, or when the shop closes, they can enter all the details of their customer from the feedback card. Let’s say a few weeks has gone by, and the florist managed to get 50 customer list. With that information, the florist can easily email the customers a thank you note, or give an online discount voucher, or wish them a birthday or announce fresh new flowers. Out of that 50 customers, at least some would be impressed because they don’t receive that kind of special attention from other florists. And all this can be done on auto-pilot - automatically!
Now the florist has repeat customers.
You should think what kind of tools and systems that would fit your own business, and apply the same concept.
You would be surprised how easy and how cheap you can get these kind of solutions for. The ROI is worth it. More happy customers, repeat sales and a sustainable business.
» Filed Under Improving Your Business, Starting Up, Useful Technology | 1 Comment
Top 6 Technology Must Haves For Your Business - #1
Posted on October 31, 2007
On the previous post, I talked about how important technology is for your business. The importance of technology is not just merely so you can operate your business, but its critical enough that you need it to take your business to the next level. You need it to grow your business.
Here’s the first technology you need - Desktops, Networking and Printers.
Now some of you maybe laughing right now and saying to yourself “Everybody has a desktop!”.
Think again. Even if you have a desktop, its no use if you don’t use the right tools. Even worse for those who don’t have a desktop. Why don’t you try walking around, and go inside…. for example some clinics. Count how many clinics has a desktop at their reception, and how many does not.
From my experience wandering around Petaling Jaya, almost half of the clinics there don’t have one. They keep their customer records in a huge filing cabinet. They take minutes to look for their customers file - and likely so, their customers have to wait those few minutes. They typically have a long queues of patients - most of them ill and in pain. You know what those patients are probably thinking? They’re probably thinking “Next time, i’ll find a clinic with less people”. And the clinic will loose their customers.
Now lets discuss this issue further, and talk about efficiency. Lets say the clinic takes extra 5 minutes to find a file for a patient from the cabinet, the doctor takes extra 5 minutes to flip through the files for their medical history, and god knows whatever extra minutes they need to do to update something else. They are loosing precious time - lets say 15 minutes per customer.
If they had 4 customers, they would have wasted 1 hour of business! They could potentially gain 4 extra customers if they could save that extra one hour - which is double their current income!
Now, try wandering around another shop, maybe a shop selling eye glasses. See what you can find. I’m sure you’ll be able to see a similar case.
You see, most people underestimate the use of a desktop. Its not just a tool to type MS Word documents or play Solitaire. If you use the right systems, and the right tools, you can grow your business faster.
In my next post, I’ll be talking about the #2 top technology must haves for your business, which is using the right systems and tools. Bookmark this website now to keep tuned in.
» Filed Under Improving Your Business, Useful Technology | 2 Comments
The Top 6 Technology Must-Haves for your Small Business - Introduction
Posted on October 27, 2007
Technology enables businesses and their workforce to work more efficiently. Desktops, printers and faxes are the common technology used especially in Malaysia. Many business owners assume that these are enough to run a business. Indeed it is. What they don’t realise is how much lost opportunities have gone by without using other important technology.
In my next post, I will be talking about the top 6 technology must-haves for your business, so you not only can run a business, but allows you to run it efficiently and productively.
Now what I’m talking about is technology, systems and applications that you need, not only to allow you to merely operate your business, but would allow you to multiply your revenues and really bring your business forward.
It’s technology not for you to sustain, but for you to lead the market, and have massive growth.
Stay tuned.
» Filed Under Improving Your Business, Starting Up, Useful Technology | 3 Comments
Kursus Pengurusan Kewangan (Financial Management Course)
Posted on October 25, 2007
Managing your finances is one of the key components to a successful business. ABM Consult is running a Financial Management course for entrepreneurs or future entrepreneurs. The course fees is at a low rate of RM900 for 3 days, but you can get sponsorship for it.
Some details of the course:
When: 12, 13 14hb November, 2007
Where: Excel College, Bangsar, kuala Lumpur
Kuala Lumpur 12, 13 & 14 November
Penang 10, 11 & 12 December
For more details and questions on sponsorship, contact Dr. Arriffin Mansor at 012-2786282
» Filed Under Improving Your Business, Starting Up | 3 Comments
Magic Whiteboard
Posted on October 19, 2007
This whiteboard is way too cool, probably way too expensive too. Doesn’t really fit in as ‘affordable technology’ as this blog advocates, dosn’t it?Nevertheless, it’s an impressive innovation by MIT. What would be interesting to know is what else can it do besides simulating rolling balls.
» Filed Under Useful Technology | 2 Comments
Contoh Rancangan Perniagaan (Business Plan Sample) - Download
Posted on October 19, 2007
Skorcareer.com.my has published a post about a sample business plan you can download if you plan to apply for bank loans for your business. The business plan sample is tailored according the standard of an approved business plan by the SME Bank.
You can view the post, and download the sample business proposal here.
» Filed Under Improving Your Business, Starting Up | 891 Comments
Should you manage your own servers?
Posted on October 17, 2007
There are many industries SMEs are involved in. Lately in Malaysia, the agricultural market is mushrooming. Having international customers forces some SMEs to have their own email and websites.
Many SMEs are often mislead that they need their own web servers and email servers hosted at their premises. If they do, then they will also require technical staff to support those services.
However, it would be much more cost effective to simply use web hosting (normally with email) services. In most cases, having your own application like ERP or CRM can also be hosted elsewhere, without going through the headache of managing your own.
Costs are cheaper, technical support is available (most of the time 24×7), and most importantly, SMEs can focus on their core business.
By defining your technnology requirements, you could save much more by using the right technology, and the best technology providers.
UsahawanTerbilang.com provides an affordable web and email hosting services from RM50/year.
» Filed Under General | Leave a Comment
It’s about the People
Posted on October 15, 2007
Nice video which explains to focus on the most important asset in your business - the people.Bearing in mind that if having technology to improve your staff’s efficiency is in alignment with everyone’s needs, then it should be the way to go.
» Filed Under Improving Your Business | Leave a Comment
Starting with basics
Posted on October 10, 2007
It is undeniable that any company in this new era should think about embracing technology to operate efficiently. It could be as simple as having MS Word to type your invoices, or as complicated as having a Customer Relationship Management (CRM) system to keep track of leads, marketing and sales.
One of the biggest mistakes a company can make is swallowing it all up too soon. Sure its wonderful to have all those big automated systems which is “supposed” to help smoothen operations, but most of the time things get too big, too complicated. At the end, the technology becomes a white elephant. Money is wasted.
Start with basics:
1. An internet connection
2. PCs
3. Basic office software like word processors and spreadsheets
4. Email and a website
5. Telephones
As the business grows, it will be easy to identify where gaps are, and what can be improved. Bottom line, you should focus on your core competency - Your business.
» Filed Under General, Starting Up | 4 Comments