Archive for October 30th, 2007

Sweet Treat!

Tuesday, October 30th, 2007

I have not checked my blog admin panel the entire weekend and saw this incoming link I still have something for you from Trinity.  She is one of the new blog friends I’ve made through the blogsphere.   Thanks, Trinity for helping me out with all the links we need to boost our PRs and Technorati scores. 

This sweet treat was originated from Hootin’ Anni’s and for some unknown reason, I cannot upload the picture.  Hop over to these two ladies’ blog and take a look at the sweet dessert!

Project management software

Tuesday, October 30th, 2007

I know for sure the finance department in my company uses some sort of project management software.  I talk to a financial analyst once in a while when I walk passed her area and I do notice all this fancy software.  She told me once about some software the department purchase to manage their projects better and the time it saves working on them.  A project management software encompasses several kinds of software.  For example they are quality management, scheduling, communication, cost control, budgeting to list some of them.  

ProActive Software has two project management softwares for businesses: ProWorkflow Management and Prowork Flow Enterprise.   The ProWorkflow management software assist in managing projects online where it would raise workplace efficiency.  It helps with time and task management, timesheets and time tracking, reporting, billing, pricing and project teamwork.  It is easy to implement and use as well.  The Prowork Flow Enterprise purpose is to help bigger companies that require better platforms for further growth in their businesses.   It helps companies to manage their teams and groups, and manage their time management even better. 

Here is the press release for further information:

There is nothing like walking out of a shop, satisfied with your purchase, product in hand knowing that you have a face behind the sale.

The Internet in some ways has taken that assurance away from the customer and with the masses of choice only a mouse click away the thought of purchasing a product or service online can be quite daunting.

However, the software as a service (SaaS) industry in New Zealand is fast moving from futuristic idea to current day reality and companies offering SaaS are looking for ways to maintain the personal service which has been a big part of historical software sales.
ProActive Software has found great and personal service to be a key part in their success on the global stage.

CEO Julian Stone says customers have said they’re surprised to get such personal service when dealing with ProActive.

He says “Don’t make sales, build relationships. This is a necessary part of the SaaS business model. Look after your customers as they are the foundation of the business. It’s important to keep customers happy month after month to retain their business.”

Customers of their core product www.proworkflow.com, have told Stone that their dealings with people at other software companies, often based in the US, have been rude, lacked callbacks, with slow email responses, making many customers wary of using SaaS where they had little ability to have personal contact with their supplier.

However, Stone says when customers come across a company with good service, they tell people.

Stone has attributed ProActive’s excellent response time with sales and support enquiries to their customers satisfaction. When customers build their business on our servers and use our code they must know we will be there if something needs attention.

An average enquiry for ProActive, from point of contact, to response is typically 15-60 minutes, where most of ProActive’s customers had said average response times for other software companies was usually measured in days, not minutes or hours.

“If you want to make a sale, sell a good product. If you want to grow a business, sell good service. We’ve found that most referral sales now come in as a result of ProActive Software’s service,” Stone says.

As Stone says “ProActive have built their SaaS company they have always kept service as a top priority, knowing their focus would continually be tested and be drawn onto product development and administration.

ProActive Software knows it is extremely important to keep the level of service constant and high “Customers don’t care that we have ten times as many customer to look after, they don’t care we are on someone else’s problem, they want the high service level maintained – so as we grow we automate, simplify, and when necessary bring in additional resource a bit before it is really needed. It takes a while to build a reputation of not letting down customers, it does not take anywhere near as long to lose it,” Stone Says

Mid-year review and looking forward to a trip to MD!

Tuesday, October 30th, 2007

It’s the time of the year again for mid year reviews.  Mine was actually two months late but it was alright.  It gives me more time to think what I want to discuss with my boss.  I told my boss how bored and unchallenged my job is right now.  I was not surprised that she noticed that, too.  I told her my job is getting too mundane and I need a thorough understanding of Affirmative Action.  I even told her I snooped around the EEAC and OFCCP websites to learn more about this complex subject, however, those two websites did not help much, and she agreed they are not helpful.  She then told me that she will register me for an affirmative action training with Berkshire Associates out in Maryland.  Yeeeehahhhh!!!!  That would be so awesome, I get to go out East.  So, I checked out the training schedule which turns out to be a two-day training on Thursday and Friday in January, 2008.  My plans are spend the next day or two touring DC and take the train to NYC and return to Minneapolis on Sunday or Monday! (Take a day of vacation.)  That would be just what I wanted. Did it perk me up?  Hell,  yeah!!

Loans for your business

Tuesday, October 30th, 2007

My friend told me when she and her husband decided to start up their restaurant, they were having a tough time getting the funds for their small business.  It is not easy if you do not have sufficient monies to start your dream business.  Some had to borrow the funds from their parents, other family members, or even friends.  To obtain a Business Loan, EZUnsecured.com can help out your funding dilemmas.   They can aid all small businesses to achieve their goal in acquiring unsecured loans, line of credit, and credit cards as well, that do not necessitate any collateral.  Additionally, the application process is fast and easy, and top up with great customer service, your path to a successful venture is underway. 

Halloween kids’ costumes

Tuesday, October 30th, 2007

I saw this article on MSN yesterday which really shocked me when I saw those costumes. 
These costumes are totally making little girls vurnerable to pedophiles lurking out there.   I suppose many mothers are dressing up their girls of 8 and above or younger than 8, and sending them  for contest, modelling and acting.  Dressing them up and loading them with makeup at that age is asking for trouble, in my opinion.  Won’t these girls grow up needing more attention and be more materialistic?

I wonder how much parents will spend on Halloween costumes every year excluding what they need to buy for the kids school clothes.  In the article, it says parents will spend around $2 billion for costumes exceeding the amount in 2003.  I bet you many young girls are looking for the Hannah Montana look for this Halloween. 

I can’t fathom why parents will allow their kids to dress up like those on the article.  They are utterly not suitable for children.  There are too seductive and won’t the kids grow up with this stigma in them that they have to worry about body image, how pretty they look and how might create problems for the parents when they kids are older? 

Well, that’s my thoughts…..