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Letter from the CEO
As the economy begins to recover, it's
time to start looking at how to position your business for the
recovery. I'd like to focus on one often overlooked aspect of
growing a company: business development.
Business development is the process of cultivating ongoing
relationships - not only with current clients, but with vendors,
service providers, social networks, community groups, or even
your competitors in some cases.. Building these relationships
helps increase your credibility as an industry expert, - as
well as opening up a new channel of leads and ideas.
Switchfast's growth was fueled by eight years of
referrals, and we've recently launched an online resource to help
other small businesses find new business. Justin Clifford,
Switchfast's Strategic Partnerships Manager, has put together a
networking group for small companies in Chicago to meet, pass
leads, discuss issues, and share advice. If you're interested in
participating, just contact Justin at JClifford@switchfast.com
or 773-241-3009.
Regards,
Jim
Contact Us
4043 N Ravenswood
Suite 203
Chicago, IL 60613
Tel: 773.241.3007
Fax: 773.241.8972
www.switchfast.com
Upcoming Events
Webinar: How to Drive Revenue with a Comprehensive
Online Strategy
April 23, 2010
1:00pm - 1:30pm CDT
Find out how Switchfast can help implement a web strategy for
your organization or company- driving growth and communicating
effeciently with your target market.
Register
Here
Webinar: Use Managed Services to Improve
Effeciency
April 26, 2010
2:00pm - 3:00pm CDT
If you manage IT internally, using a managed service like MaxPro
will:
- Increase control over your network
- Proactively monitor for problems
- Provide instant feedback and response as issues arise
- Control power usage over your network
Register Here
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Power Down: The ROI of Reducing Utility Costs
It's common sense to turn the lights off before leaving the
office at night, but a recent study indicates that too few
employees do the same with their computers.
According to a study
covered in USA Today, about half of US office computers are left on
overnight- drawing power and running up utility costs. Fortunately,
businesses can estimate the amount wasted and act to reduce utility
costs.
The waste translates to major fiscal and environmental impact.
The study estimates the total loss at $2.8 billion annually in the
form of inflated energy bills, draining the bottom line of
businesses large and small. The wasted energy contributes 20
million tons of harmful carbon dioxide into the atmosphere-
equaling the environmental impact and pollution of 4 million
cars.
Concerned about the utility waste within your business? The
Department of Energy and the Environmental Protection Agency have
teamed up to create an incredibly useful "Carbon Calculator". It predicts the
savings your business would see from powering down computers at
night or replacing aging systems with Energy Star
equivalents. Even for an office of 5 computers, annual savings can
reach hundreds of dollars- with impact on offices of 50 or 500
computers reaching thousands of dollars per year.
READ
MORE >>>
National Broadband Plan: How Will It Affect Small
Business?
The United States government plans to give Americans what they
need - faster internet access.
Okay, "need" may be a strong word, but with the vast evolution
and adaptation of internet technologies, it's safe to say a speedy
internet connection would help both the consumer and enterprise
industry.
Not only will it be fast, but the plan is for the government to provide the
world's fastest internet access.
In a summary presented by the FCC found over at wired.com, the group is "calling for more
competition among broadband providers, more spectrums for wireless
data services, subsidies for rural and poor citizens, and education
for the digitally challenged." The plan touches on multiple
aspects, including "proposing to create a nationwide wireless
network dedicated to public safety and emergency workers."
Although some reactions have been positive, there are others who
oppose the possibility of a "big-government, regulated, censored"
internet.
Other questions loom - who will pay for this enormous
undertaking? What does it mean for small businesses?
READ MORE >>>
New Office Communications Server for Microsoft Around the
Corner
Microsoft is sticking to its predictions of 'converging
communications.' They will continue to take a shot at the business
telephony market by introducing Office Communications Server "14,"
or so it's code-named, by the end of the year. This is just another
piece of the Office 2010 array of products.
The first demonstration of the product was performed at VoiceCon
in Orlando, Florida, where Gurdeep Singh Pall, VP of Microsoft's
Unified Communications Group, showed off some of the new
features.
According to PCworld.com, the new version of the software
will include Enhanced 911, further integrating Sharepoint and
Exchange, and enhancing voice recognition capabilities.
Another new feature will be call parking, or the "ability to put
a call on hold and then resume the call from any other phone on the
system." Also, the software will allow voice mails to be
transcribed and read on screen.
Pall cited a report that predicted the software market for
unified communications would grow to $14.5 billion in the U.S. by
2015. However, according to a CNET.com news article, many companies use OCS
more for IM and presence rather than a primary phone delivery
service
READ MORE >>>
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