Document Processing Automation

Document process automation either requires a visionary or considerable internal pain to get started … the moment documents arrive in your organization, the costs start to mount invisibly.  I suspect everybody already knows that, but most companies have not yet automated this part of their business.  Automation like document processing usually gets off the ground when companies have a specific document they want to automate because of a pending event, business problem, cost exposure due to service level agreements with their clients. In our experience, forward thinking company’s often have a person empowered to review company processes (a visionary).  With a fix all process type mandate, rarely do quick fixes get implemented quickly, as the review process alone can be time consuming.  Often the best solutions are implemented with a specific goal or project in mind.  I define best solution as one that fits the need with lots of room to expand at the right price from a team that understands the client requirement.

More to come soon …

 

Windows Phone 7 … Best I’ve Owned

I was eager to pick up my Samsung Focus Windows 7 Phone last December.  Lots of fees from Rogers, but that’s not surprising.  I’ve often been an early adopter; years ago I bought an AudioVox Windows Mobile phone with a slide out keyboard – it was cool for a while, but was too under powered for decent web browsing, but I admit it was very handy. Everyone else I knew at that time was hooked by BlackBerry’s and so eventually after I stashed my Windows Mobile phone in my ever crowded used technology drawer … I took the plunge and got a Blackberry Bold 9000.  That was ok for a while too, with BBM being the best feature for me, but my aging eyes and need for decent web browsing and the limited storage left me unhappy with this handheld.  So back to December … do I get the latest Blackberry Torch, keeping the BBM and improving on the screen etc or do I take a minor leap of faith with a Microsoft phone.  Everyone I know that’s got one loves it – I do too.  Now I should say that I don’t know too many people that actually do, but really this is the best phone I’ve ever owned, it’s extremely fast, the lightest phone I’ve carried and the thinnest as well.  While it’s true there’s no copy & paste today (and that’s said to be coming in an upgrade in the next 14 days or so) … this phone screen is huge, crystal clear, bright and the fonting is terrific for those aging eyes of mine.  All the hub tiles (apps) are right on the home screen.  There are several thousand app’s available for this device now and more coming. When you’re time comes up to look at a new phone, try to resist automatically caving to being like everyone else and getting an Apple or an Android (not much difference there) or the ubiquitous Blackberry and take the Windows Phone 7 for a test drive … you’ll probably be pleasantly surprised.  I have to jump off … I have to reply to a text msg.

Windows 7 Phone

 

Get into the Cloud – Microsoft Office 365

I just came back from Microsoft Canada’s head office this afternoon after learning about their new paradigm shift. This technology isn’t a technology at all, it’s a service – which is just the way small to mid-sized companies are expected to want to use it.  The offering is compelling considering what you get and how little it costs to get licensed user access to some of their most popular client and server apps. What is currently known as BPOS (Business Productivity Online Suite) is being rebranded Office 365.  And let me tell you, in my opinion it’s inexpensive; especially when you consider the functionality, and support. But the best news is what you don’t need, for instance you either won’t need IT staff at all (in a perfect world) or more likely you’ll need fewer of the bit heads in your company, you won’t need as many servers, that means no more interruptions to service due to upgrades being implemented, no more system crashes due to some kind of incompatibility that someone forgot to plan for.  With Office 365, you’ll be able to concentrate on how can you make the best use of the information and get your job done from anywhere you have access to an internet connection. If you thought travelling with your documents and information was easy before – wait till you discover how you’ll be able to collaborate with your peers (and clients) with points of presence (more on that later).   So hows this for reasonable pricing, $53.00 CDN / person / month for just about all you can eat of some of the most powerful and popular software Microsoft has to offer.  I personally spend almost twice that on my cell phone every month. If you’re a business owner or the company’s visionary, you’ve got to check this stuff out.  Take a look at the site http://www.office365.com and you can take it for a test drive.

Posted from WordPress for Windows Phone

 

Extended Service

I think its about time a more affordable type of after hours service should be available as an alternative to the costly limited services offered by vendors. In a couple of days we’re putting together a competitive offering … Stay tuned.

Posted from WordPress for Windows Phone

 

In the beginning …

Well now I’m talking to myself … this writing to the cloud is going to be a challenge for me.  I’ve never been the dear diary type, but I’ll try to keep it fresh and interesting.  I plan to include useful info about the document processing biz, some interesting industry tidbits and an editorial or two (actually, I suppose it’s all editorial).  If there’s advice or an answer regarding what we do … this may be just the forum for us both.  Let me know and I’ll see if I’ve got something to contribute to the subject.

For my first post, I want to acknowledge how easy this was to get started,  I’m sitting in a coffee-house on Bloor Street in Toronto with my daughter while she and I are sipping a hot cup and I signed up with WordPress on my Windows Phone and I was up in a couple of minutes.  Mostly I fumbled around, but it was actually a breeze.

Happy Holidays to all those that celebrate and thanks for reading …. Alan Nusbaum, Connectis Group.

Posted from WordPress for Windows Phone