Tag Archives: business
Cloud Computing Shifts the TCO Discussion
The cloud computing model can help companies conserve cash and focus limited resources on the business, instead of reacting to IT infrastructure-related fire drills. In the cloud computing model, vendors provide Web-based access to applications as a service, through a subscription pricing model. This eliminates the need for customers to buy, deploy and manage IT infrastructure and solutions. Vendors take responsibility for everything: the servers, storage, operating system, database, business software, updates, migration, power and cooling, data center space, and support services. As a result, cloud computing shifts the IT burden from the customer to the cloud computing application vendor.
Cloud computing vendors can provide these benefits because they’ve built their solutions as Web-based services from the ground up. Instead of building their solutions to run in-house, as a separate, individual instances for each customer, they architect their solutions for a one-to-many, or multi-tenant model. This means that they can run thousands of customers on a single instance of the database and application software. By optimising their business solutions for this shared environment, they can achieve efficiencies throughout the solution lifecycle that would be difficult for on-premise vendors to achieve.
Lean and mean IT
Headquartered in Slovakia, the U.S. division of this security software firm has grown from 1 to 135 employees over the past 10 years. The division had began by using multiple brands of packaged software for accounting, contact management and reporting functions. But as it grew, the organisation wanted tighter integration across functions, better reporting, and an easier way to provide access to an increasing number of remote employees. It also wanted to keep upfront capital and ongoing support costs low. “The fact that there was little or no infrastructure or internal support required drove us to a software-as-service solution,” according the firm’s Business Systems Director. Since deploying NetSuite in 2006, the company has kept IT “lean and mean”, and “the single system, real-time view of customers helps our sales and support teams to offer better service to customers”.
Why does TCO matter?
In the IT industry, Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) is used to calculate the total cost of purchasing (or in the case of cloud computing, subscribing to), and of operating a technology solution over its useful life. TCO provides a realistic and holistic measure of the long-term costs required to acquire and operate technology solutions. Return on investment (ROI) is another method to evaluate and prioritise technology investments in a company. This measure is typically used to compare investments that uncover new top line revenue and growth opportunities. However, ROI tends to be more subjective in nature than TCO, because ROI looks at business benefits, which often cannot be measured as objectively as costs.
Hurwitz & Associates views TCO as a preferred method to compare technology investments when two solutions provide roughly equivalent benefits over the solution lifecycle, but have different types of costs associated with acquisition, maintenance and operation. For these reasons, a TCO comparison offers a more tangible assessment of the total costs involved in deploying cloud-based SaaS and on-premise business solutions.
Choice Of Domain Names and Why It is Important
The procedure for website building and management is rather complex for starters. The entire thing requires a very good strategy. It really has to include specific issues like the SEO website design. One of the most important things necessary in website creation is the choice of domain name. Often, a domain link tells the customers more about your business. Since its simply in short form, domain names must at least hint the client about the product or services you sell.
The selection of good domain names is not very complicated. All you have to do is simply register the name on specific sites and click search. If another company already took the name you have in mind, you have to continue searching. The keywords that describe your business motives could guide you. Your target customers are likely to type specific words or phrases in various search engines when searching for a particular product. If you sell this particular product, its important for you to select closely related keywords.
Your competitors domain names could give you an idea of a name that could also work in your case. Of course, your trademark, key product or service could really count when you want to choose a domain link. If you surely cannot do it personally, how about you visiting the domain name auction. You will be happy with the type of Internet services they offer to needy online entrepreneurs. The first requirement is for you to bid for a name you feel would match your business better.
As you are likely to find out, most of the reserved generic names are in the .net, the .com and the .edu and so on. Bidding means, you are willing to pay handsomely for these competitive domain names. You could also seek the Internet services offered by some SEO companies. This is when you want a website created without getting involved. Selecting a unique domain identity also gives you an opportunity to make money in future. Someone with almost a similar name as you may want to purchase your domain. It is even better if it has a functional and an attractive SEO website design.
One of the cheapest ways of finding a good name is doing it personally. All you have to do is to pick a pen and piece of paper and think creatively. Write every possible name that you think would represent your company product or service better. You can check the names availability online. As well, assess the number of closely related domain names. Remember that eventually you should settle for a unique identity for your business. If you have people who share the same business interest with you, simply involve them. You will realize how easy it is for a team to come up with something creative. The team does not have to be your business partners; even your friends and family could help. Nevertheless, you can succeed even if you decide to do it all alone. Let your business purpose and objectives guide in the selection process.
Choice Of Domain Names and Why It is Important
The procedure for website building and management is rather complex for starters. The entire thing requires a very good strategy. It really has to include specific issues like the SEO website design. One of the most important things necessary in website creation is the choice of domain name. Often, a domain link tells the customers more about your business. Since its simply in short form, domain names must at least hint the client about the product or services you sell.
The selection of good domain names is not very complicated. All you have to do is simply register the name on specific sites and click search. If another company already took the name you have in mind, you have to continue searching. The keywords that describe your business motives could guide you. Your target customers are likely to type specific words or phrases in various search engines when searching for a particular product. If you sell this particular product, its important for you to select closely related keywords.
Your competitors domain names could give you an idea of a name that could also work in your case. Of course, your trademark, key product or service could really count when you want to choose a domain link. If you surely cannot do it personally, how about you visiting the domain name auction. You will be happy with the type of Internet services they offer to needy online entrepreneurs. The first requirement is for you to bid for a name you feel would match your business better.
As you are likely to find out, most of the reserved generic names are in the .net, the .com and the .edu and so on. Bidding means, you are willing to pay handsomely for these competitive domain names. You could also seek the Internet services offered by some SEO companies. This is when you want a website created without getting involved. Selecting a unique domain identity also gives you an opportunity to make money in future. Someone with almost a similar name as you may want to purchase your domain. It is even better if it has a functional and an attractive SEO website design.
One of the cheapest ways of finding a good name is doing it personally. All you have to do is to pick a pen and piece of paper and think creatively. Write every possible name that you think would represent your company product or service better. You can check the names availability online. As well, assess the number of closely related domain names. Remember that eventually you should settle for a unique identity for your business. If you have people who share the same business interest with you, simply involve them. You will realize how easy it is for a team to come up with something creative. The team does not have to be your business partners; even your friends and family could help. Nevertheless, you can succeed even if you decide to do it all alone. Let your business purpose and objectives guide in the selection process.