It’s true what they say about things coming in threes. In the tech industry, there is a lot of talk these days about the “third platform.” Many see computer users as being at a critical juncture in terms of how we interact with technology. The original, first platform was based on mainframes and terminals – think …
Hidden treasures are more common in fairy tales than the business world, but there is one potential “pot of gold” that is often overlooked by small and medium size businesses (SMB’s). The gem in question is the federal research and development (R&D) tax credit. If your company has spent time and other resources developing new …
Not all tablets are created equal. And as The Wall Street Journal highlights this week, many American companies are making big mistakes in taking a “one size fits all” approach to deploying tablets in the workplace.
In “Here Come Tablets. Here Come Problems,” reporter Shara Tibken takes a look at the spread of tablet computers in the enterprise, especially popular consumer-grade devices like the Apple iPad. She highlights some of the challenges companies are facing after rushing massive deployments to their workforce and failing to take into account some important factors, such as a comprehensive deployment and mobile device management strategy, device functionality and information security concerns. Crucially, many companies also are discovering the devices in which they’ve invested aren’t made to hold up to the real-world conditions their employees face.
In order to make this process more efficient, many manufacturers have implemented services and programs to help their customers more easily, and safely, recycle their used electronic devices. For Panasonic, an eco-friendly company striving to protect the environment worldwide, this type of e-cycling is engrained in their operations. Panasonic Toughbook mobile computers generally outlast their warranties, providing their owners with significant ROI and lower total cost of ownership (TCO) than with many other computers, so it only makes sense that the company would provide services to help organizations recycle, reuse, or donate their computers as they work to upgrade their systems.
It’s no secret that enterprises have gone mobile. From retail to field service, more and more industries are utilizing mobile technology to strategically grow business, service clients better and efficiently allocate their workforces’ time. Often these decisions are coming from the C-level instead of the IT department. Mobile vendors are finding they need to get buy in from CEOs and CFOs who have very different motivations than their end users in the field.
While the CEO is looking at mobile implementation as a way to expand the business model, the CFO is tasked with determining if investing in new technology will reduce costs or produce revenue. There are three areas that should be addressed to solidify CEO and CFO buy in: Return on Investment (ROI), Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) and management expectations.
