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The Gaping Hole Where Auto Software Standards Should Be March 18, 2010 
Toyota's recent fiascoes with runaway acceleration illuminate the sorry lack of software standards to establish minimum quality levels for technologies crucial to the operation of transportation systems. Toyota has rejected accusations that its software systems are the culprit.
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Mobile App Devs and the Quest for Cash March 17, 2010 
Everyone seems to be getting into the mobile app game -- but is anyone actually making any money doing it? While it may happen, it's rare that lone programmers sitting at home design apps that sell by the millions through Apple's iPhone App Store or the like -- but there is more than one way to make money.
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Small Business CRM, Part 5: How to Save a Troubled Implementation March 16, 2010 
A successful CRM implementation starts with good preparation. It is a good idea to document the goals and objectives of the small business first and test the system with the users, Sheryl Kingstone, director of the enterprise research group at Yankee Group, told CRM Buyer. "Be proactive," she advised.
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Online Bill Payments, Part 1: Fertile Soil for IT Vendors March 15, 2010 
Millions of consumers have switched their bill-paying practices from tedious sessions with a stack of statements and checkbooks to streamlined, paperless payments through a variety of online channels. However, the movement to electronic payments still has a long way to go, and a huge majority of consumers have not yet been weaned away from their checkbook chores and welcomed to the world of paperless payments.
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CRM for the Small Business, Part 4: Getting the New System Up and Running March 09, 2010 
When it comes to implementing a new CRM system, small companies have several options. If they have enough resources and experience to devote to the task, they can implement the system themselves. If they choose not to go that route, a third party can be brought in to help them implement it, Craig Klein, president and CEO of SalesNexus, told CRM Buyer.
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CRM for the Small Business, Part 3: What to Expect During Contract Negotiations March 02, 2010 
Once a small business finds the perfect CRM solution for its needs, the owner or manager must then negotiate the appropriate legal agreements with the vendor. This can be a daunting task for anyone who is not familiar with the many types of contracts that may come into play with an IT purchase.
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CRM for the Small Business, Part 2: Choosing the Right CRM Tool February 23, 2010 
Once a small business decides to invest in a CRM solution to replace the patchwork assortment of tools it has been using to manage its information, the selection process can be daunting. A plethora of CRM vendors offering an assortment of features have appeared on the scene in recent years, said Brent Leary, cofounder and partner of management consulting and advisory firm CRM Essentials.
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Has Google Cut a Backroom Deal With Big Pharma? February 19, 2010 
I had planned on using Hayden Hamilton, founder of the Portland, Oregon-based ProgressiveRx.com, as my source for updates on how things were going in Washington with healthcare reform -- especially regarding any technology-driven solutions to spiraling healthcare costs.
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CRM for the Small Business, Part 1: When Is It Time to Invest? February 16, 2010 
Ken Jones, cofounder and executive director of Maximo Nivel, an executive language center, knew his company needed a CRM tool as early as 2006. His company was growing fast and using a variety of tools to meet CRM needs, including Outlook. Unfortunately, like many small business owners, Jones was unaware of any CRM options available.
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Airlines Set Flight Path for Better Customer Experience February 08, 2010 
The commercial airline business -- ever sensitive to booms ands busts -- is struggling to maintain traffic in the short run while also trying to build a customer base for the future. Rather than compete on price and schedule alone, airlines are moving away from a mass marketing and commodity approach to sales promotion. Instead, a greater focus on customer relations is emerging.
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CRM and the Hospitality Sector: It's All About Value January 25, 2010 
Major hotel chains have been wooing travelers for years with CRM tools focused mainly on "loyalty" or rewards programs. The CRM programs help hotels and resorts determine which customers patronize the same hospitality brand on a regular basis. However, there is a growing awareness that such programs may not be as valuable to either to the hotel, or to the customer, as once thought.
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Creepy Ways Your Social Media Data Can Be Used January 21, 2010 
People who use social networking sites such as Facebook and MySpace are not known for their reticence -- many put just about any personal information imaginable out there. The risks to such openness are clear -- from inviting tailored phishing attacks to appalling potential employers with one's late-night party habits -- but many users who are tech-savvy appear willing to brave them.
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Keeping It Real for Cross-Border Online Shoppers January 14, 2010 
Everybody loves an online deal. When it comes to cross-border shopping, though, not every online transaction turns out to work to your advantage. Shipping fees, customs delays and a fluctuating dollar can sometimes turn a great deal into a so-so one -- or even a losing proposition.
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The 4 Cornerstones for CRM Retail Investment in 2010 January 11, 2010 
Retailers in the U.S. are convinced that CRM is one of the most important aspects of their business. However, the sector in general has failed to utilize the full potential of these programs, and the industry will be striving to elevate its CRM game in the future. That's good news not only for customers, but also for the providers of CRM technologies and services.
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Signing On to the Digital Handwriting Revolution January 07, 2010 
Everything's going digital. Why not handwriting? A new generation of digital pens and smartpens is bridging the divide between handwriting on paper and writing on the computer. With digital pens, you have the best of both worlds: You can sit in a meeting and take notes by hand, and then you can upload those notes onto a computer and save, share and edit them.
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The Decade of Cool - Brought to You by Technology January 04, 2010 
What are we calling the 10 years that just flew past? "The Naughts?" "The Naughties?" "The 'Aughts?" "The Digital Decade?" I nominate the "Coolness Decade," but it's going to require a little less irony and cynicism than what is normally exhibited in our culture to fully embrace that title. That will be tough, considering the physical, psychic and fiscal scars left behind by the years 2000-2009.
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