CRM Buyer
http://www.crmbuyer.com
CRM Buyer -- "The Essential Guide for CRM System Purchasers"en-usCopyright 20072008-08-20T09:13:43-07:00ECT News NetworkECT News NetworkCRM Buyer -- "The Essential Guide for CRM System Purchasers"hourly12008-08-20T09:13:43-07:00CRM Buyerhttp://www.crmbuyer.com/images/rss/cad_100x36.jpg
http://www.crmbuyer.com
CRM, Energy, Disruptions and Opportunities
http://www.crmbuyer.com/rsstory/64213.html
I am sitting on a train heading to New York from Boston for a CRM conference. Not driving, not flying -- I prefer the train for this trip for a bunch of reasons. Rail brought us traveling troubadours like Woody Guthrie, circuses and baseball, and it helped define a job type: the traveling salesperson.Denis Pombriant2008-08-20T04:00:00-07:00Analysis
I am sitting on a train heading to New York from Boston for a CRM conference. Not driving, not flying -- I prefer the train for this trip for a bunch of reasons. Rail brought us traveling troubadours like Woody Guthrie, circuses and baseball, and it helped define a job type: the traveling salesperson. I am riding today with the knowledge that this mode of travel is going to again become the standard for business travel in the years ahead. How is it? Well, not bad on balance, but some infrastructure improvements are needed.
]]>2008-08-20T04:00:00-07:002008-08-19T15:50:35-07:00An E-Tailer's Guide to Surviving the Down Economy
http://www.crmbuyer.com/rsstory/64219.html
Small business is under fire -- and increasingly, it is the small business' Web site strategy that is being relied upon to create an effective defense. What are the conditions facing Web site experts and multi-tasking entrepreneurs alike -- and what are the critical changes in the online e-commerce and marketing world that will help small businesses meet this challenge?Daniel Meyerov2008-08-20T04:00:00-07:00E-Marketing
Small business is under fire -- and increasingly, it is the small business' Web site strategy that is being relied upon to create an effective defense. What are the conditions facing Web site experts and multi-tasking entrepreneurs alike -- and what are the critical changes in the online e-commerce and marketing world that will help small businesses meet this challenge? For answers, we need to look at some of the trends impacting the world of e-commerce and small business.
]]>2008-08-20T04:00:00-07:002008-08-19T16:14:30-07:00The Customer Loyalty Myth
http://www.crmbuyer.com/rsstory/64206.html
Do loyal customers translate into steady sales or profits? Intuitively, the answer should be yes -- and indeed, customer loyalty is a significant metric by which companies rate their performance. However, there a few problems with the concept of customer loyalty and a corporate strategy to develop it, according to Esteban Kolsky, practice leader with eVergence.Erika Morphy2008-08-19T04:00:00-07:00Customer Loyalty
Do loyal customers translate into steady sales or profits? Intuitively, the answer should be yes -- and indeed, customer loyalty is a significant metric by which companies rate their performance. However, there a few problems with the concept of customer loyalty and a corporate strategy to develop it, according to Esteban Kolsky, practice leader with eVergence. For one thing, customer loyalty is difficult to measure. Two, even if it were easy, it doesn't necessarily add to a company's bottom line.
]]>2008-08-19T04:00:00-07:002008-08-18T15:24:42-07:00Search Sites Edge Out Portals in Customer Satisfaction
http://www.crmbuyer.com/rsstory/64208.html
It's rare to see Google command anything less than a large presence in just about any given e-business study these days, and the latest annual American Customer Satisfaction Index from the University of Michigan is no exception: ACSI scores for e-business rose 5.5 percent to 79.3 on ACSI's 100-point scale. That jump can largely be attributed to Google's own 10 percent climb to a score of 86.Erika Morphy2008-08-19T06:00:00-07:00Customer Loyalty
It's rare to see Google command anything less than a large presence in just about any given e-business study these days, and the latest annual American Customer Satisfaction Index from the University of Michigan is no exception: ACSI scores for e-business rose 5.5 percent to 79.3 on ACSI's 100-point scale. That jump can largely be attributed to Google's own 10 percent climb to a score of 86. "Google continues to separate itself from the crowd not only in terms of market share but also in satisfaction," Larry Freed, president and CEO of ForeSee Results, told CRM Buyer.
]]>2008-08-19T06:00:00-07:002008-08-18T16:08:03-07:00Apple Gives MobileMe Users 60 More Days, Pleads for Patience
http://www.crmbuyer.com/rsstory/64210.html
Apple took another step to acknowledge the issues surrounding MobileMe reliability by extending current subscriber memberships an additional 60 days. The company previously extended memberships 30 days, which means qualifying subscriber renewal dates have been extended 90 days.Jeff Gamet2008-08-19T09:07:10-07:00Mobile Apps
Apple took another step to acknowledge the issues surrounding MobileMe reliability by extending current subscriber memberships an additional 60 days. The company previously extended memberships 30 days, which means qualifying subscriber renewal dates have been extended 90 days. The MobileMe team sent current subscribers an e-mail on Monday that stated, in part: "We are working very hard to make MobileMe a great service we can all be proud of. We know that MobileMe's launch has not been our finest hour, and we truly appreciate your patience as we turn this around."
]]>2008-08-19T09:07:10-07:002008-08-19T09:07:50-07:00Customer Data and Wireless Payments: Does Convenience Trump Security?
http://www.crmbuyer.com/rsstory/64187.html
Warning: Your personal data may be at risk. As RFID devices work their way into consumers' everyday lives, the potential for data breaches grows rapidly. RFID technology used to be used primarily to track warehouse operations and perform inventory control through. Now, this same technology is finding its way into smart keys -- keys that merely need to come close to a lock in order to unlock it.Jack M. Germain2008-08-18T04:00:00-07:00Customer Data
Warning: Your personal data may be at risk. As RFID devices work their way into consumers' everyday lives, the potential for data breaches grows rapidly. RFID technology used to be used primarily to track warehouse operations and perform inventory control through. Now, this same technology is finding its way into smart keys -- keys that merely need to come close to a lock in order to unlock it. RFID transponders now speed travelers through toll booths and gas stations without requiring users to whip out credit cards or old-fashioned cash.
]]>2008-08-18T04:00:00-07:002008-08-19T09:35:13-07:00Ringing Registers: Music to Epicor's Ears
http://www.crmbuyer.com/rsstory/64181.html
Epicor Software likes the sound of a ringing cash register just as much as its big retail customers. The Irvine, Calif., company, which makes enterprise resource planning software that helps midsize companies manage accounting, customer contacts, inventory, sales and other tasks, is seeing growing sales to specialty retailers and department stores.Sarah Tolkoff2008-08-17T04:00:00-07:00Vendors
Epicor Software likes the sound of a ringing cash register just as much as its big retail customers. The Irvine, Calif., company, which makes enterprise resource planning software that helps midsize companies manage accounting, customer contacts, inventory, sales and other tasks, is seeing growing sales to specialty retailers and department stores. Last year, retail software sales accounted for more than a third of its $430 million in revenue.
]]>2008-08-17T04:00:00-07:002008-08-15T15:43:39-07:00Got a Customer Service Nightmare? You're Not Alone
http://www.crmbuyer.com/rsstory/64186.html
Have you been bumped from a flight? Belittled by a hotel clerk? Or stewed in a doctor's waiting room? Then Rupert Barkoff wants to hear all about it. By day, Barkoff is a lawyer at Kilpatrick Stockton in Atlanta and a national expert on business franchising. But his hobby -- his golf, as he puts it -- is dissecting customer service horror stories, starting with his own.Bill Torpy2008-08-16T04:00:00-07:00Customer Service
Have you been bumped from a flight? Belittled by a hotel clerk? Or stewed in a doctor's waiting room? Then Rupert Barkoff wants to hear all about it. By day, Barkoff is a lawyer at Kilpatrick Stockton in Atlanta and a national expert on business franchising. But his hobby -- his golf, as he puts it -- is dissecting customer service horror stories, starting with his own. The 60-year-old "self-appointed expert on customer service" is on a mission to collect 1,000 customer service stories. Barkoff created a Web site to collect the tales, and he aims to write a book about the findings.
]]>2008-08-16T04:00:00-07:002008-08-15T15:35:58-07:00Mobile Devices for Enterprise Apps, Part 1
http://www.crmbuyer.com/rsstory/64169.html
The emergence of smaller, more powerful handheld devices and the spread of high-speed mobile networks have enterprise software developers scrambling to meet demand for portable versions of their flagship applications. Research in Motion got a jump on the market with the BlackBerry's secure and reliable e-mail delivery capabilities.Andrew K. Burger2008-08-15T04:00:00-07:00Trends
The emergence of smaller, more powerful handheld devices and the spread of high-speed mobile networks have enterprise software developers scrambling to meet demand for portable versions of their flagship applications. Research In Motion got a jump on the market with the BlackBerry's secure and reliable e-mail delivery capabilities. Competitors, including Motorola, Nokia and Sony Ericsson, are all vying for a share of the market. Given recent enhancements made to the iPhone, Apple has to be added to the list of contenders.
]]>2008-08-15T04:00:00-07:002008-08-19T09:07:50-07:00Fundraising 2.0: A New Shine on Old CRM Principles
http://www.crmbuyer.com/rsstory/64155.html
CRM is not just about tracking and recording names, addresses and standard constituent information. Today, organizations' online presences and peer-to-peer technologies are making it possible for politicians, businesses and non-profit organizations to get personal with their voters, customers and donors.Sarah Hoddinott2008-08-14T04:00:00-07:00Strategy
CRM is not just about tracking and recording names, addresses and standard constituent information. Today, organizations' online presences and peer-to-peer technologies are making it possible for politicians, businesses and non-profit organizations to get personal with their voters, customers and donors. The "R" in CRM may stand for relationship, but in order to best connect with target audiences, "R" should also equal relevance. Fundraising 2.0 is about just this -- building the right customer relationships at the right time and in the right way.
]]>2008-08-14T04:00:00-07:002008-08-13T15:58:14-07:00The Lifecycle Approach to Shaping Up Flabby Mission-Critical Apps
http://www.crmbuyer.com/rsstory/64148.html
"The 2008 Aberdeen Report: The State of the Market" reveals that investments in new enterprise applications are the top IT initiative for 2008. Aberdeen's research also shows that, on average, organizations are using six business-critical applications and are planning to roll out four new applications over the next two years.Bojan Simic and Tom Karol2008-08-14T04:00:00-07:00IT Maintenance
"The 2008 Aberdeen Report: The State of the Market" reveals that investments in new enterprise applications are the top IT initiative for 2008. Aberdeen's research also shows that, on average, organizations are using six business-critical applications and are planning to roll out four new applications over the next two years. The research also shows that 58 percent of organizations surveyed are unsatisfied with the performance of their current applications.
]]>2008-08-14T04:00:00-07:002008-08-13T15:57:44-07:00
I am sitting on a train heading to New York from Boston for a CRM conference. Not driving, not flying -- I prefer the train for this trip for a bunch of reasons. Rail brought us traveling troubadours like Woody Guthrie, circuses and baseball, and it helped define a job type: the traveling salesperson. I am riding today with the knowledge that this mode of travel is going to again become the standard for business travel in the years ahead. How is it? Well, not bad on balance, but some infrastructure improvements are needed.
]]>
Small business is under fire -- and increasingly, it is the small business' Web site strategy that is being relied upon to create an effective defense. What are the conditions facing Web site experts and multi-tasking entrepreneurs alike -- and what are the critical changes in the online e-commerce and marketing world that will help small businesses meet this challenge? For answers, we need to look at some of the trends impacting the world of e-commerce and small business.
]]>
Do loyal customers translate into steady sales or profits? Intuitively, the answer should be yes -- and indeed, customer loyalty is a significant metric by which companies rate their performance. However, there a few problems with the concept of customer loyalty and a corporate strategy to develop it, according to Esteban Kolsky, practice leader with eVergence. For one thing, customer loyalty is difficult to measure. Two, even if it were easy, it doesn't necessarily add to a company's bottom line.
]]>
It's rare to see Google command anything less than a large presence in just about any given e-business study these days, and the latest annual American Customer Satisfaction Index from the University of Michigan is no exception: ACSI scores for e-business rose 5.5 percent to 79.3 on ACSI's 100-point scale. That jump can largely be attributed to Google's own 10 percent climb to a score of 86. "Google continues to separate itself from the crowd not only in terms of market share but also in satisfaction," Larry Freed, president and CEO of ForeSee Results, told CRM Buyer.
]]>
Apple took another step to acknowledge the issues surrounding MobileMe reliability by extending current subscriber memberships an additional 60 days. The company previously extended memberships 30 days, which means qualifying subscriber renewal dates have been extended 90 days. The MobileMe team sent current subscribers an e-mail on Monday that stated, in part: "We are working very hard to make MobileMe a great service we can all be proud of. We know that MobileMe's launch has not been our finest hour, and we truly appreciate your patience as we turn this around."
]]>
Warning: Your personal data may be at risk. As RFID devices work their way into consumers' everyday lives, the potential for data breaches grows rapidly. RFID technology used to be used primarily to track warehouse operations and perform inventory control through. Now, this same technology is finding its way into smart keys -- keys that merely need to come close to a lock in order to unlock it. RFID transponders now speed travelers through toll booths and gas stations without requiring users to whip out credit cards or old-fashioned cash.
]]>
Epicor Software likes the sound of a ringing cash register just as much as its big retail customers. The Irvine, Calif., company, which makes enterprise resource planning software that helps midsize companies manage accounting, customer contacts, inventory, sales and other tasks, is seeing growing sales to specialty retailers and department stores. Last year, retail software sales accounted for more than a third of its $430 million in revenue.
]]>
Have you been bumped from a flight? Belittled by a hotel clerk? Or stewed in a doctor's waiting room? Then Rupert Barkoff wants to hear all about it. By day, Barkoff is a lawyer at Kilpatrick Stockton in Atlanta and a national expert on business franchising. But his hobby -- his golf, as he puts it -- is dissecting customer service horror stories, starting with his own. The 60-year-old "self-appointed expert on customer service" is on a mission to collect 1,000 customer service stories. Barkoff created a Web site to collect the tales, and he aims to write a book about the findings.
]]>
The emergence of smaller, more powerful handheld devices and the spread of high-speed mobile networks have enterprise software developers scrambling to meet demand for portable versions of their flagship applications. Research In Motion got a jump on the market with the BlackBerry's secure and reliable e-mail delivery capabilities. Competitors, including Motorola, Nokia and Sony Ericsson, are all vying for a share of the market. Given recent enhancements made to the iPhone, Apple has to be added to the list of contenders.
]]>
CRM is not just about tracking and recording names, addresses and standard constituent information. Today, organizations' online presences and peer-to-peer technologies are making it possible for politicians, businesses and non-profit organizations to get personal with their voters, customers and donors. The "R" in CRM may stand for relationship, but in order to best connect with target audiences, "R" should also equal relevance. Fundraising 2.0 is about just this -- building the right customer relationships at the right time and in the right way.
]]>
"The 2008 Aberdeen Report: The State of the Market" reveals that investments in new enterprise applications are the top IT initiative for 2008. Aberdeen's research also shows that, on average, organizations are using six business-critical applications and are planning to roll out four new applications over the next two years. The research also shows that 58 percent of organizations surveyed are unsatisfied with the performance of their current applications.
]]>