 Lee Kirkby on
Technology
Renting software as a means to
add sophisticated capabilities
As I am writing this article, I am working on the
development of a new online catalogue for our
company. Through this vehicle we will be able to
assist our clients to better access over 40,000 IT
related products. The idea of such a venture is a
bit intimidating since it includes all of the
classic product issues; pricing, promotion, choice
of featured entries and delivery processes. You
might ask what does this have to do with office
technologies.
It is the manner in which we are able to create
this new vehicle which relates significantly to
technology in the office. The costs and
administration to launch this project alone would be
prohibitive and would stop us from providing
competitive pricing and service to our clients
through the resulting site. But through a three way
partnership with one of our suppliers and a third
party contractor that specializes in this type of
technology, we are able to go live in a very short
time and with significant cost savings. Training on
the operation was done by web and telephone. Sign up
for the service and the design of our site was done
with a few e-mails and two phone calls. Internally
we have been able to develop the backup systems we
require to launch our trial of the service in less
than two weeks. This includes pricing verification,
margin structures and shipping details.
The reason this venture can be
created at all is the use of the Internet and
sophisticated data based inventory and order
processing structures which can be leveraged across
more than one company. We are tapping into the tools
made available by our partners and the costs are
born by several similar businesses which will launch
similar sites across Canada. The project becomes
viable due to the number of organizations who can
take advantage of the basic infrastructure which is
behind the system. This collaborative, service-based
model of accessing sophisticated software tools is a
cost effective way for small and mid-sized
organizations to improve their services without
becoming overburdened with costs.
As businesses move forward with
new computer operating systems and even more
advanced communications structures, more and more
opportunities for collaborative partnerships will
become available. Part of the design of new software
tools being developed today is premised upon these
kinds of leveraged relationships. Instead of a one
business to one install relationship, many packages
are being developed to support a many business to
one install, capability. These hosted or shared
types of tools can permit all sizes of organizations
to access very sophisticated business processes
without the need for large upfront capital
investment. Essentially you rent the use of the
software capabilities while sharing the basic
infrastructure with others who do the same. For many
organizations this is the solution to obtaining the
process tools they require, while maintaining a
suitable cost base.
(L. Lee Kirkby is Vice President
of Leppert Business Systems Inc., a Burlington based
company specializing in assisting companies with
better managing their important business documents.)
BitNet announces new ‘BitNet
Connects’ Service
BURLINGTON — BitNet has announced BitNet
Connects: a new value-added-service for the
organization’s membership. BitNet Connects is an
extension of the BitNet Website, www.bitnet.ca ,
allowing BitNet members to advertise their business
to the growing group of registered site users. This
new service allows members to describe the services
they provide, highlighting the strengths of their
business, their unique capabilities and experience.
BitNet Connects also allows members to include all
necessary contact information and to link their own
corporate websites into www.bitnet.ca,
providing additional exposure for them.
The inspiration for building
BitNet Connects was borne out of a study that BitNet
undertook on behalf of the Federal Government. The
“Adding Value Through Community Information”
study of Human Resource Planning issues in the
Information and Communications Technology (ICT)
Community of Halton and Hamilton, conducted by the
Business Information Technology Network (BitNet),
was funded by Human Resources and Skills Development
Canada, the City of Burlington and Halton Region.
A key finding in this study
revealed that external services are an important
component of the temporary or permanent staffing
decisions made by ICT Community organizations, with
the use of consultants playing a stronger role. One
essential factor when companies consider using
consultants is awareness. Services companies need to
have opportunities to effectively market their
skills, experience and availability.
Results of the study highlighted
that a technology-based directory could have wide
acceptance and would complement existing channels
for identifying local consultants and their
capabilities. This finding provided the framework
and was the driver for the development of BitNet
Connects.
Membership @ BitNet
The membership of BitNet
encompasses a varied and diverse target audience
from information technology providers and users, to
governments and educators throughout the Golden
Horseshoe region. In addition to BitNet Connects,
becoming a member of BitNet also offers individuals
the following benefits:
Networking — An opportunity to
network with business leaders, technology providers,
technology users, government and educators — all
of whom share a common interest in technology and
its application to today’s business environment.
Education — Educational
opportunities on timely and relevant topics.
Information Access — Access to
technology influencers, job seekers, information and
technical resources.
Advocacy — an opportunity to
provide input on issues and concerns important to
the IT industry in this region.
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