May 16, 2013

News facts
The ongoing proliferation of structured and unstructured databases continues to add complexity to the information management landscape, while creating the need to better manage data across heterogeneous environments.  Responding to this need, Dell Software has evolved SharePlex beyond its traditional role as an Oracle-to-Oracle replication solution in order to help customers keep up with the demands of managing increasingly diverse database environments.

* SharePlex 8.0 now lets customers replicate Oracle data using Change Data Capture (CDC) to a variety of other databases, including leading structured databases such as SQL Server, DB2, Sybase, Netezza, and Teradata, as well as emerging unstructured databases such as Hadoop and Greenplum.

* With today’s global 24/7 operations requiring continuously up-to-date data, this new release of SharePlex replaces traditional data extraction with CDC, in which only data that has changed in the data sources is moved to the transfer and load components of the data aggregation process. 
o Besides significantly lower overhead, CDC is a faster process that brings an inherent method for addressing auditing and compliance concerns. It also facilitates better business intelligence and analytics by ensuring that only the most recent, most relevant data is analysed.

* In keeping with its legacy as a leading solution for Oracle high availability, SharePlex also offers new support for Oracle advanced security features including Transparent Data Encryption (TDE), and Hybrid Columnar Compression (HCC), which provides extended Oracle compression on Exadata platforms. TDE lets organisations protect sensitive data by encrypting it, while HCC addresses expensive Exadata storage costs by letting organisations store more data on faster disks to maximise storage space and performance.

Darin Bartik, executive director, product management, Dell Software, Information Management, said, “For 15 years, our customers have depended on SharePlex to manage mission-critical transactional data in Oracle.  Now, our customers can replicate, integrate and analyse that data using the rest and best of their database and data warehousing environment.  The evolution of SharePlex with version 8.0 represents another significant step in Dell Software’s commitment to deliver the flexibility and simplicity required to support an increasingly complex information management landscape.”

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A complete end-to-end information management solution
SharePlex is part of Dell Software’s Information Management portfolio, which makes it possible for organisations to simplify complex data environments and unlock the power of information. Supported by one of the industry’s largest user communities, Dell’s one vendor – one tool chain – all data approach lets organisations more easily manage, integrate and analyse data to inform business decisions, increase innovation and drive new revenue streams.

About Dell
Dell Inc. (NASDAQ: DELL) listens to customers and delivers innovative technology and services that give them the power to do more. For more information, visit www.dell.com.

Dell and SharePlex are trademarks of Dell Inc. Dell disclaims any proprietary interest in the marks and names of others.

The remit of a modern marketer can be overwhelming. Marketing has become a whole new world with social media, email marketing, ecommerce and search engine optimisation. In a constantly evolving environment, marketers must keep up to date with the latest trends or risk their business falling behind the competition.

1. Social media marketing will move beyond Twitter and Facebook. It is important to know who your audience is and where they are in the social world. Maybe they are only on Twitter and Facebook, or maybe also on LinkedIn, YouTube, blogs, or Pinterest. If you only focus on the most popular or obvious social sites you might miss out on valuable niche groups. Smaller sites are also likely to have less competition for the audience’s attention. So provide a valuable opportunity to interact with your customers.
2. QR codes will become more pervasive. The use of QR codes is sure to grow throughout 2013. The good news is that businesses can easily reap the benefits of QR codes, as they are easy to set up through online services. The most compelling thing about QR codes for businesses is the interactivity and ability to be easily measured, allowing return on investment to be measured easily.

3. Customers will be more picky about marketing content. With the enormous amount of information both existing and potential customers’ receive every day, it is vital that businesses only communicate interesting, meaningful and relevant material. Make sure it is not just about getting a sale, by providing value-added tips, tricks, educational information and encouraging user-generated content with contests and incentives. Keep content interesting by using a variety of rich media like videos, photos and webinars. And remember to ask yourself how customers consume your content. Are they using a laptop, a tablet or a mobile device?

4. Social reviews will become key factors in customer decision-making. Word of mouth has always been a key influencer in buying decisions. Now, online consumer review sites are the modern day equivalent. Sites like Yelp, provide potential customers with ratings, reviews, and detailed experiences that impact consumer decision making. Soon, we’ll see more of a combination of consumers’ social networks and ratings sites, letting you see when one of your connections has posted a review. While anonymous reviews are surprisingly influential, reviews from trusted friends and co-workers are ultimately the most persuasive.

5. Mobile apps will help customers buy from you. Mobile marketing is growing, and mobile devices are central to consumers’ lives. We’re increasingly using smartphones to find and engage with businesses. The most important thing a mobile app can do is simplify your message to a direct call-to-action. Generally, if someone is searching for your app on the phone, they probably already know your business and want to streamline the process of getting in touch by going directly to an app rather than your company’s website.

How to make sure your business is ready.

1. Multi-channel marketing. Multi-channel marketing campaigns will need to be taken to a new level. Increasingly, customers are using multiple channels to find the information they need and less on their relationships with sales representatives. Consumers now find the information they need to make business decisions on their own through mobile and the web. This is why businesses need to tap into every avenue necessary to reach existing and potential customers.

2. Location, location, location. Learn how to make sure your business shows up in local searches. While not always a mobile activity, local search via smartphone is growing, and it’s important to show up in mapping results.

3. Start leveraging QR codes. By printing a QR code on postcards, posters, or labels, you give people an opportunity to connect with your business on the go.

4. Optimise web presence for mobile search. Web searches on smartphones have become much more common, quadrupling in number in 2012*. Mobile search is now critical to reach customers who are nearby and ready to buy.

About Pitney Bowes
Pitney Bowes provides technology solutions for small, mid-size and large firms that help them connect with customers to build loyalty and grow revenue. Many of the company’s solutions are delivered on open platforms to best organize, analyze and apply both public and proprietary data to two-way customer communications. Pitney Bowes includes direct mail, transactional mail and call center communications in its solution mix along with digital channel messaging for the Web, email and mobile applications. Pitney Bowes has approximately USD$5 billion in annual revenues and 27,000 employees worldwide. Pitney Bowes: Every connection is a new opportunity™. www.pitneybowes.com.au

* http://www.outsystems.com/offer/mobile/mobile-trends-and-numbers-infographic/

Since 2003 Tonkin Consulting had been a strategic partner of Pitney Bowes, providing GIS software, support and spatial consulting services to customers in these territories. Under a new arrangement brokered between both companies, Pitney Bowes will be directly responsible for sales, technical support and training service provision, whilst Tonkin Consulting will continue to provide specialised spatial and data consulting services to their customers.

“We are enthused by the decision to work directly with customers in South Australia and the Northern Territory. Some of the most progressive deployments of Location Intelligence come from these regions and we are keen to help get the word out to the broader MapInfo community on the good work being done here.” says Simon Bird, General Manager, Australia and New Zealand, Pitney Bowes Software. “I’d also like to personally thank the Tonkin Consulting team for providing great support to the MapInfo communities whilst being Strategic Partners of Pitney Bowes.”

The business in this region will be managed by David McDonald out of Adelaide from the 6th May 2013. David has been directly involved in the provision of Location Intelligence solutions in Australia for close to 20 years.

This announcement reinforces Pitney Bowes’ commitment to the Australian spatial industry, as it follows news in March where the company became a National Bronze Sustaining Partner of the Surveying and Spatial Sciences Institute (SSSI).
Mr Bird reiterates, “We continue to affirm our commitment to the spatial industry – an area we have proudly played in for more than 25 years. Our partnership with SSSI and expansion across the country are examples of the investments we are making to support the spatial profession and our MapInfo customers.”

About Pitney Bowes
Pitney Bowes provides technology solutions for small, mid-size and large firms that help them connect with customers to build loyalty and grow revenue. Many of the company’s solutions are delivered on open platforms to best organize, analyse and apply both public and proprietary data to two-way customer communications. Pitney Bowes includes direct mail, transactional mail and call centre communications in its solution mix along with digital channel messaging for the Web, email and mobile applications. Pitney Bowes has approximately USD$5 billion in annual revenues and 27,000 employees worldwide. Pitney Bowes: Every connection is a new opportunity™. www.pitneybowes.com.au/

ExactTarget’s 2013 Global Executive Summary shows how consumers’ online habits vary across the globe and reveals that motivations to ‘follow’ on Twitter vary from country to country.

The top reason for following a brand or organisation on Twitter in Australia was ‘to keep up to date with a company’s products’ (45 per cent) shortly followed by ‘to receive alerts related to developments within the organisation’ (36 per cent).

Only the French are more likely to follow a brand to keep up to date with its products (47 per cent).

The top reasons from the other countries surveyed were:
· Brazil: ‘to receive discounts’ (49 per cent)
· UK: ‘for more information related to my personal interests, hobbies, etc.’ (42 per cent)
· Germany: ‘to receive alerts related to developments within the company’ (27 per cent)

Lee Hawksley, managing director of ExactTarget Australia said: “While only six per cent of the online Australian consumers follow brands on Twitter, Twitter followers are networkers, leaders and influencers that Australian businesses can’t afford to ignore.”

Twitter users are less motivated by discounts and freebies than fans on Facebook or email subscribers. Twitter is viewed as an important place for gathering information—including product and service updates, advanced notice of new products, alerts related to developments within the company, exclusive content and information related to hobbies and interests.

Lee Hawksley added: “When using Twitter, remember to consider your audience. Consumers want to be heard—especially the influential users on Twitter who follow your brand. Provide them with an intimate view of your brand, so they can share their “insider information” with the rest of the world. Also keep in mind that many online consumers are monitoring Twitter, even if they are not actively participating.”

Australians are also among the top consumers for engaging with brands on Facebook, creating a tremendous opportunity to connect with Fans on an individual level and drive engagement that builds loyalty and brand advocates. More than 50 per cent of Australian consumers Like a brand on Facebook, compared to 77 per cent in Brazil and 45 per cent in the U.K.

Based on surveys from online consumers in Australia, Brazil, France, Germany and the U.K. gathered over the past year, ExactTarget’s 2013 Global Executive Summary is the latest report in the SUBSCRIBERS, FANS & FOLLOWERS series.

- ENDS -

About ExactTarget
ExactTarget is a leading global provider of cross-channel digital marketing software-as-a-service solutions that empower organizations of all sizes to communicate with their customers through email, mobile, social media, Web and marketing automation. ExactTarget’s suite of integrated applications enable marketers to plan, automate, deliver and optimize data-driven digital marketing and real-time communications to drive customer engagement, increase sales and improve return on marketing investment. Headquartered in Indianapolis, Indiana with offices in North America, Europe, South America and Australia, ExactTarget trades on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol “ET.” For more information, visit www.ExactTarget.com.

When Burger King and Jeep had their Twitter accounts hacked recently, it was big news. Brands everywhere panicked, wondering if their social accounts would be targeted next. Then MTV joined the party, prank-hacking themselves – and no one was impressed.

With that in mind here are some simple tips on how to protect your social media accounts and how to respond immediately to an attack (from a communications perspective).

1. Don’t have an easy password. If your password is easy to remember, there’s a good chance it’s going to be easy for others to figure out too.
2. Put a plan in place. If hackers got hold of your passwords and account information to post mocking messages, do you have an immediate plan/communications strategy in place to alert your customers? Quick action may save you endless trouble.
3. Don’t share your social media passwords with every employee. Not everyone in your organisation needs or should have access to your social media passwords. Choose two or three people who will access the account regularly and trust them with the password and the responsibility of posting on behalf of your organisation.
4. Develop a policy. If you haven’t already, develop a social media policy and review with your employees what is and is not appropriate to post online to ensure that you safeguard confidential information.
5. Consider risky scenarios. Have a clear idea of how you want to use social media and identify what kind of business information should be shared. Think about where the exposures may sit.
6. Don’t automatically click on links. Use caution when clicking a link to another page. If an offer in a social post sounds too good to be true, it usually is.
7. Sometimes mistakes are unavoidable. Think how quickly news travels online – especially when it comes to social media. No matter how careful or cautious you are, there are always mistakes. It is important to be careful and considered when you post.

If your social media account is hacked, ask your IT department to regain control of the breached account. In the meantime, post a notification to your brand’s blog, website and other social platforms. The notification should state that:
1. your social media account has been compromised;
2. you are working to fix the situation as fast as possible;
3. your followers should not click on any posted links until otherwise notified.

This lets your followers know you are aware of the situation and taking steps to remedy it.

It’s imperative that everyone on your team who manages or evaluates your brand’s social media accounts knows what to do if your account is hijacked. The plan should be in writing and reviewed with the staff frequently.

Bottom line: take precautions, be prepared and put a plan in place for how you’ll respond. What’s your communication plan? Who in the organisation will be the spokesperson? Answer these questions now and you can save your brand a whole lot of trouble down the line.

If you would like to learn more about Recognition’s social media training or issues management, contact us at info@recognition.com.au or on 02 9252 2266.

2nd May, 2013 - The adoption of smartphones in Australia (59 per cent of Australians own one, according to ExactTarget’s Digital Down Under research) means that today’s always-on, hyper-connected consumer is placing demands on marketers that can often seem overwhelming.

Lee Hawksley, managing director of ExactTarget said, “There’s no doubt that today’s consumers are mobile. They’re always on-the-go, sending and receiving messages of all types. They expect information to be (literally) in-hand at all times. Consumers are no longer at their computers searching for information. Instead, they expect information to be available wherever they are. At the same time, they expect that information to be relevant to their lives.”

“What was once seen as the ‘multi-channel opportunity’ is now a ‘cross-channel imperative’ as our audiences continue to adopt technology that opens up an increasing array of brand engagement mechanisms.”

ExactTarget offers these mobile marketing tips to help marketers stay at the forefront of consumer behaviour trends.

1. Incorporate push notifications. When a consumer downloads your branded application, it opens up new possibilities for engagement. Push notifications are useful because they require the user to take immediate action by opening the application. The risk is that poorly-executed push messages can lead consumers to delete the message, turn off push notifications, or even remove your app altogether.

2. Use keywords. A keyword is a word or name used to distinguish a targeted message within a Short Code Service. Your keywords should be between 4 to 25 characters in length. (Example – Text ALERT to 239662)

3. Mobile devices are personal. Smartphones are kept in special cases, display personal photos, wake people in the morning, and keep them connected to friends and family. Remember that marketing messages, if not relevant and useful, will feel intrusive on the phone.

4. Stay True to Permission. Communicate freely via outbound SMS messages, but stay true to permission granted based upon messaging frequency and content.

5. Use text to trigger emails. Promote a “keyword + email address” call-to-action in stores, online and at any other location where consumers interact with your brand. For example, “Text INFO and youremail@email.com to 12345 to receive additional product information.”

6. Reduce customer service costs. Providing superior service for customers should be your number one priority. Keeping them satisfied can be challenging and requires ongoing work. That’s why SMS is an invaluable weapon in your marketing arsenal. By launching an SMS response program, you free up your customer service representatives to assist with critical customer interactions. It also provides a more convenient experience for those who choose to accept assistance via SMS. It’s a win-win for you and the customer.

7. Optimise email for mobile. Regardless of whether you decide to implement SMS into your cross-channel marketing mix, mobile adoption affects other elements of your campaigns—especially email. Ensure your email renders on mobile devices – both smart phones and tablets.

8. Get creative with SMS. Aside from the telephone itself, text messaging is among the most used mobile communications channel. Due to carrier controls, messaging must follow rigid opt-in and opt-out rules. This should force more creativity from marketers, not limit it.

9. Deliver unobtrusive alert messaging. The SMS channel is particularly adept at delivering unobtrusive alert messaging. In fact, this is the one type of messaging that indexed high enough to be considered “appropriate” by a majority of consumers.

10. Embrace text alerts. Brands using alert communications may also see an interesting phenomenon develop—consumers who request alerts through multiple channels. Why the duplication? Consumers may not know which channel will have their attention at the moment an alert comes in.

About ExactTarget
ExactTarget is a leading global provider of cross-channel digital marketing software-as-a-service solutions that empower organizations of all sizes to communicate with their customers through email, mobile, social media, Web and marketing automation. ExactTarget’s suite of integrated applications enable marketers to plan, automate, deliver and optimize data-driven digital marketing and real-time communications to drive customer engagement, increase sales and improve return on marketing investment. Headquartered in Indianapolis, Indiana with offices in North America, Europe, South America and Australia, ExactTarget trades on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol “ET.” For more information, visit www.ExactTarget.com.

April 30, 2013

“Cisco Location Services allows organisations to use wireless for more than just traditional connectivity so they can track devices and personnel via tags and their mobile devices on a wireless network. But, for this service to be successful, customers need to meet certain critical wireless infrastructure requirements,” said Chris Spain, vice president of product marketing for the wireless networking group at Cisco. “AirMagnet Survey PRO’s new integration of Cisco Location Services profiles allows customers to quickly gauge readiness based on real-world data, which brings a new level of accuracy to the process.”

AirMagnet Survey PRO is the industry’s most accurate solution for planning and designing 802.11 a/b/g/n wireless LANs (WLAN) for optimal performance, security and compliance. For Cisco Location Services to work optimally, there are strict wireless network guidelines including access point placement, access point separation distance, minimum signal level thresholds, preparedness for voice and data coexistence, and more. Therefore, it is important to maximise the accuracy and minimise variance between simulated and real-world data when determining readiness for the service.

“When deploying key wireless services, it’s vital to survey the network and gather real-world information that is representative of actual network performance. Cisco Location Services offer customers an innovative capability that can be strategically deployed to track personnel and ensure security, but verifying that the network can support this service is critical,” said Chia-Chee Kuan, vice president of the Fluke Networks WLAN business unit. “Working with Cisco to optimise AirMagnet Survey PRO will help customers streamline the process and more successfully deploy Cisco Location Services based on real-world wireless data.”

-ENDS-

About Cisco
Cisco (NASDAQ: CSCO) is the worldwide leader in IT that helps companies seize the opportunities of tomorrow by proving that amazing things can happen when you connect the previously unconnected. For ongoing news, please go to http://thenetwork.cisco.com.

About Fluke Networks
Fluke Networks is the world-leading provider of network test and monitoring solutions to speed the deployment and improve the performance of networks and applications. Leading enterprises and service providers trust Fluke Networks’ products and expertise to help solve today’s toughest issues and emerging challenges in WLAN security, mobility, unified communications and data centres. Based in Everett, Wash., the company distributes products in more than 50 countries. For more information, visit www.FlukeNetworks.com.

For additional information, promotions and updates, follow Fluke Networks’ AirMagnet on Twitter @FlukeNetWIFI, Facebook, or on the LinkedIn Company or Group page.

May 3, 2013 – Digium®, Inc., the Asterisk® Company, has announced the general availability of two new Switchvox appliances designed to meet the IP phone system needs of mid-size businesses while delivering expanded performance capabilities. The Switchvox 400 Series includes all enterprise-class unified communications features at one affordable price, making it the best value in business phone systems. Supporting up to 600 users in a single system, the 400 series provides more powerful processing for more demanding applications.

The Switchvox 450 and Switchvox 470 are Digium’s newest additions to the product line and address larger applications and customer needs. These appliances offer server-class architectures, significantly more memory, state of the art processors, enhanced RAID options and solid state drives (SSD).  These enhancements let Switchvox more than double the number of concurrent calls supported on the prior models. In addition to improved capacity and performance, the size of the appliances has been reduced by 46 per cent, the weight by 37 per cent, and the power consumption by 22 per cent, producing environmentally-friendly solutions.

“Digium is broadening our line of phone systems to address the needs of larger and more complex UC requirements,” states Mark Amick, Digium’s Director of Product Management.  “Incorporating all of the award-winning features of Switchvox into two new appliances provides the solutions that our customers and channel partners have requested to address larger applications at the best value for SMB business phone systems.”

The Switchvox 400 products are complete business phone systems and include the following features:
* VoIP and Traditional Calling
* Mobile Applications
* Fixed Mobile Convergence
* Interactive Switchboard
* Advanced IVR Capabilities
* Integrated Conferencing
* Video Calling Support
* Voicemail with email integration
* Built-in Call Queues
* Detailed Reporting
* One-Touch and Scheduled Recordings
* CRM Integration & Extend API
* Faxing
* Music on Hold
* Digium IP Phone Phone integration.

The Switchvox 450 is a complete UC business phone system and is ideal for mid-sized or larger businesses seeking a high performance, highly redundant, full-featured IP PBX that supports up to 500 users in a single platform. The Switchvox 450 is available now.

The Switchvox 470 is a complete UC business phone system and is ideal for mid-sized or larger businesses seeking a high performance, highly redundant, full-featured IP PBX. The Switchvox 470 provides the fastest processing power in the Switchvox product line for the most demanding applications, and supports up to 600 users in a single platform.  The Switchvox 470 is available now.

-ENDS-

About Digium
Digium®, Inc. provides Asterisk® software, telephony hardware and Switchvox business phone systems that deliver enterprise-class unified communications (UC) at an affordable price. Digium is the creator, primary developer and sponsor of the Asterisk project, the world’s most widely used open source communications software. Asterisk turns an ordinary computer into a feature-rich communications server. A community of more than 80,000 developers and users worldwide uses Asterisk to create VoIP communication solutions in more than 170 countries. Since 1999, Digium has empowered developers to create innovative communications solutions based on open standards and open source software, providing an alternative to proprietary phone systems. Digium’s business communications products are sold through a worldwide network of reseller partners. More information is available at www.digium.com and www.asterisk.org.

The Digium logo, Digium, Asterisk, Asterisk SCF, Switchvox, Asterisk Business Edition, AsteriskNOW, Asterisk Appliance and the Asterisk logo are trademarks of Digium, Inc. All other trademarks are property of their respective owners.

April 30, 2013

Andrew Graham, national head of business solutions, RSM Bird Cameron, said, “It is important for businesses to be aware of distress signs before it is too late. By closely monitoring your business it is often possible to catch a change in performance early enough to turn things around.”

Signs to look for and how to address them

Financial
Signs of financial distress include:
* inadequate reserves to cover periodic contingencies
* ineffective control systems, cash flow and working capital requirements
* delays in the dispatch of customer statements
* frequent or large value bad debts
* too many debtors in the overdue or disputed category.

A business with poor cash flow management or inadequate reserves will find it difficult to survive the loss of a major product or contract.

Graham said, “These businesses are unable to finance inflationary increases in debtors and stocks. They may find themselves having a high incidence of last minute requests for urgent temporary bank accommodation, or may even be at the limit of their current borrowing capacity.

“It is therefore vital to have a proactive plan in place should they lose major customers.”

Businesses should be wary of persistent delays in producing financial results, the delayed recognition of losses or financial results presented in a format that doesn’t clearly explain if the company is making or losing money.

Graham said, “If a business cannot track where money is going the risk of resources seeping out of the organisation rises significantly. Accurate, timely reporting is essential to minimising the impact of financial distress.”

Production
Signs of distress in production include:
* a change in the availability of raw material
* declining productivity
* poor housekeeping.

Graham said, “Fluctuating commodity prices and uncertainty about a supplier’s ability to deliver can raise concerns. These issues are not always within their control.”

Businesses need to watch for escalating costs of production, excessive downtime caused by breakdowns or delayed supplier deliveries and preventative maintenance programs that aren’t working. They should be constantly monitoring output to ensure they are achieving the most from available resources and reducing waste and inefficiency.

Organisation
Organisational distress signs include:

* a lack of a well-defined and balanced organisation structure
* no clear tactical plans or strategies
* a failing business model.

Graham said, “Businesses need to have a clear idea of where they have come from and where they are going. This includes having effective processes in place for succession planning, formal business planning and performance management.”

Management needs to be able to delegate effectively to ensure they can focus on business planning and improvement and not get bogged down by day-to-day activities.

Marketing
Marketing signs of distress include:
* an unbalanced product range
* gross margins in decline
* vulnerability to competition
* unrealistic pricing policies
* high customer or industry dependence.

Graham said, “It is important to closely watch for declining or fluctuating sales trends. If sales have declined comparative to the previous year in two of the past three years this can be a key warning sign that the business may be trouble.”

-ENDS-

About RSM Bird Cameron
RSM Bird Cameron is the largest mid-tier accounting firm in Australia with national ownership and profit sharing and offers a full range of specialist advisory services, including business consulting and advisory, assurance and advisory, taxation consulting, corporate consulting and turnaround and insolvency. RSM Bird Cameron is a core member firm of RSM International, the seventh largest network of independent accounting and consulting firms in the world.