So Long Enterprise Traditional Sales
April 25, 2013
Things are changing for everything with the broach of technology and that goes the same for old selling methods. Read Write has some disappointing news for old time sales associates in, “Why The Traditional Sales Methods Can’t Sell Enterprise Software.” The old sales methods rely on the manufacturing process that has made the US a booming economic giant. The classical sales method relies on territories, quotas, and commissions, but enterprise software does not fit into this tidy little model. Why?
Buyers are informed and they want solutions more than a sales pitch and then enterprise software is specifically tailored to fit the client’s needs. No one is buying a generic product anymore, expecting a universal solution. The buying teams cross different company departments and all have to figure out a solution instead of one sole person. Another big factor is that with the Internet, buyers are spread all over the world. Sellers do not know where their next customer will come from. Good-bye, traveling salesman.
“In the new normal, enterprise software buyers increasingly seek solution white-boarding sessions – not sales pitches. Traditional sales models simply can’t cope with the changes, but effective replacements have yet to appear. Until a solution is developed, enterprise software vendors – and buyers – will find themselves under increasing pressure.”
Does this spell more trouble for enterprise search and content processing vendors? Maybe, but since enterprise software is the basis for most companies, adaptation may be hard for the sales team but it will happen.
Whitney Grace, April 25, 2013
Sponsored by ArnoldIT.com, developer of Beyond Search
Another Blow to Search and Retrieval
April 25, 2013
New releases hit the market everyday and Kana Software’s next generation enterprise customer service application for agent-based desktop and self-service has arrived. Ecommerce Times takes an in depth focus on the new release in the article, “Kana Adds Context, Subtracts Search.” Kana had worked on Kana Enterprise for over a year and they added a new contextual layer for users. What is most prevalent about the new software is the consistency between applications and the user interface. Other enterprise systems lack the same consistency, even though they use the same source code.
The enterprise system is supposed to make the entire user experience fluid:
“The process is similar for customers who access self-service via a Web page. ‘We will proactively push them the right knowledge so they don’t have to search,’ said [James Norwood CMO.] ‘They get what they need and are less likely to abandon that process or call the contact center’.”
The new user experience takes out the search and retrieval function. Even with a simple user interface and ease between applications, users still need to search for specific items if they are lost in the mad software jumble. Is this yet another indication of the diminution of search and retrieval?
Whitney Grace, April 25, 2013
Sponsored by ArnoldIT.com, developer of Beyond Search
Samsung Lies to Users
April 25, 2013
In a move that confirms what many people already know about user reviews, the Tech Spot reports, “Samsung Admits To Posting Fake User Reviews On The Web.” Samsung owns up to paying people in Taiwan to post positive feedback on its Web site, while doing the opposite for a rival company. The Taiwanese authorities are investigating claims made by the Fair Trade Commission. Documents were posted detailing how Samsung hired a marketing firm to catalog posts made on gadget forums.
“PC Advisor points out that Samsung has not yet received anything from Taiwan’s FTC but admit that the “unfortunate incident” did happen. In a statement released on the matter, Samsung said they have ceased all marketing activities that involve the posting of anonymous comments. Furthermore, the company said they adhere to transparent and honest communications with consumers and will work to prevent it from happening again in the future.”
Samsung may also be using the same tactics against its other rivals. Why not just Samsung? Other companies could be doing the exact same thing. Can modern systems also detect this type of content shaping? Maybe a future opportunity is in it.
Whitney Grace, April 25, 2013
Sponsored by ArnoldIT.com, developer of Beyond Search
Wavii: Technology or People
April 24, 2013
I just read “Google Buys Wavii for North of $30 Million.” According to the write up:
Both Apple and Google were competing for the Seattle-based startup, and Google eventually won. Apple wanted the company, which developed its own aggregation technology and natural summarization algorithms, for its Siri division. The 25-person-strong team, including founder Adrian Aoun, will be moving down from Seattle to join Google’s Knowledge Graph division.
Interesting move. Is it for technology or people or both. My hunch is that it is people first, then technology. If the $2 million in funding is accurate, the money behind some older search and content processing outfits is going to be demanding sales sooner than later. For outfits six or more years old, generating a hefty return is likely to be a tough job.
Stephen E Arnold, April 24, 2013
Sponsored by Augmentext
LucidWorks Receives High Honor
April 24, 2013
LucidWorks, a company focused on providing open source enterprise search solutions for the enterprise, is used to receiving accolades. To add to their growing collection, LucidWorks has now received a placement on the CRN 2013 Big Data 100 list. Read all the details in the press release, “LucidWorks Named to Inaugural CRN Big Data 100.”
The statement begins:
“LucidWorks, the company transforming the way people access information, announced it was recently honored by being named to UBM Tech Channel’s CRN 2013 Big Data 100 list. The inaugural list recognizes innovative technology vendors that offer products and services to help businesses manage ‘Big Data’ – the rapidly increasing volume, speed and variety of information being generated today. The list covers three categories: business analytics, data management, infrastructure and services.”
LucidWorks Big Data is changing the way that enterprises deal with their Big Data needs. However, LucidWorks Search is also an option for organizations that have a lighter data load. No matter the size of your enterprise or the type of information needs present, LucidWorks makes a fully-supported solution to meet those needs.
Emily Rae Aldridge, April 24, 2013
Sponsored by ArnoldIT.com, developer of Beyond Search
Seek Inspiration from a Leading Web Content Expert
April 24, 2013
Web content and data analytics are surefire methods to improve the quality of a Web site as well as making more money for an organization. Connotate is a company that specializes in transforming Web content into powerful information assets. Connotate recently released “101 Reasons To Use Connotate,” highlighting the best the company has to offer. The list is broken down into “50 Ways Customers Use Connotate” and “51 Great Product Features.”
Perusing through the list it is obvious that Connotate can do many beneficial things, including saving time and money, streamlining processes, anticipate market trends, regulation compliance, web data monitoring, and creating new and innovative information products. Connotate fully endorses it products and services repeatedly:
“Connotate’s patented technology scales faster and easier than scripts or toolkits, saving you time and money. It is much more resilient to Web site changes, reducing maintenance costs. A built-in management layer provides workflow support to boost operational productivity.”
Connotate’s list is quite remarkable in promoting it services. Data monitoring is a growing industry and plays into the big data trend, but Connotate actually tells to you what can be done with data. Other companies are going to turn to this list to improve their own offerings and services.
Whitney Grace, April 24, 2013
Sponsored by ArnoldIT.com, developer of Beyond Search
Hadoop in Demand Yet Lacks Trained Professionals
April 24, 2013
Hadoop has been in the headlines lately for its major changes and how it is being integrated into more organizations. PR NewsWire takes a look at the open source database platform and what it predicts will happen for the company in the future in, “Global Hadoop Market 2012-2016-Lack Of Trained Professionals To Be A Major Challenge.” The article examines a recent TechNavio report that analyzes the Global Hadoop Market 2012-2016. TechNavio predicts Hadoop will grow at a CAGR 55.63%, mainly due to rise in big data analytics and the company offering Hadoop-as-a-service. While technology and service wise Hadoop is doing well, it faces a deficit in trained professionals who can do the work.
TechNavio said:
“’The demand for cost-effective Hadoop-based big data solutions is driving this market. Organizations understand the importance of big data solutions, but installing and hiring new professionals to deploy them is a costly affair. As a result, organizations and decision makers are adopting Hadoop-as-a-service (HDaaS) solutions that provide cost-effective big data management and analytics. HDaaS solutions offer the necessary hardware, software, and services required to support big data management at low subscription fees.’”
What seemed to be a straight shoot, Hadoop is facing a problem that might limit its growth and development. HaaS does take care of part of the problem, but someone still has to work with the software. Will Hadoop innovation shift to where the proficient professionals are? We think it is a strong possibility.
Whitney Grace, April 24, 2013
Sponsored by ArnoldIT.com, developer of Beyond Search
Autonomy Lands Rich Media Deal
April 24, 2013
Autonomy just scored a plum placement, we learn from, “ENCO Systems Selects HP Autonomy for Audio and Video Processing,” hosted at Market Watch. ENCO, who makes the radio and TV audio-automation software DAD and DADtv, just selected Autonomy’s IDOL server for inclusion in the next version of enCaption, their automated captioning-generation system. We learn from the press release:
“ENCO Systems provides live automated captioning solutions to the broadcast industry, leveraging technology to deliver closed captioning by taking live audio data and turning it into text. ENCO Systems is capitalizing on IDOL’s unique ability to understand meaning, concepts and patterns within massive volumes of spoken and visual content to deliver more accurate speech analytics as part of enCaption3. . . .
“enCaption3 is the only fully automated speech recognition-based closed captioning system for live television that does not require speaker training. It gives broadcasters the ability to caption their programming, including breaking news and weather, any time, day or night, since it is always on and always available. enCaption3 provides captioning in near real time–with only a 3 to 6 second delay–in nearly 30 languages.”
Despite the soured relationship between HP and Autonomy, whom the tech giant snapped up in 2011, HP continues to leverage this increasingly valuable resource. Founded in 1996, Autonomy grew from research originally performed at Cambridge University.
Two engineers from MIT launched ENCO back in 1983, with a focus on computer-based process control applications in the industrial realm. The company branched into digital audio delivery and radio automation in 1991; since then, broadcasters large and small around the world have come to rely on their technologies.
Cynthia Murrell, April 24, 2013
Sponsored by ArnoldIT.com, developer of Augmentext
A Contrarian View of Google: Expunge It
April 23, 2013
Navigate to “Expunging Google.” The main idea is that not using certain Google services may be a good idea. Examples include Gmail and Chrome. What I find interesting is that the tone from some pundits is shifting from “rah rah” to “hey there.” I noticed similar “hey theres” with regard to Google’s Motorola play, the various WiFi accidental harvests, and Google Plus pushes. I find the increasingly sharp sticks jabbing Google interesting and, in my opinion, somewhat futile pokes late in the game. At the somewhat off center Promise mini conference, grousing about Google surfaced as well. As I said, horse gone from barn. Barn has burned. WalMat now open on the site of said barn. Farmer now entering store to shop for discount corn.
Stephen E Arnold, April 23, 2013
Sponsored by Augmentext
Liferay Reports Double Digit Growth
April 23, 2013
Liferay is known for their enterprise class open source portal technology. Today they are making headlines for strong reported growth. Read all of the details in the Silicon India News in their article, “Liferay Reports Another Year Of Double-Digit Growth.”
The report begins:
“Liferay, Inc., provider of enterprise-class open source portal, announced an impressive year of growth that included a greater than 50 percent increase in revenue as well as continued expansion in its community and business ecosystems. The company attributes its 2012 success to significant gains made through opportunities in the financial services, health care and government sectors around the world.”
Their revenue is derived mainly from Liferay Portal Enterprise Edition, which is seen as its flagship product. Liferay does good work, but the surge is also indicative of a general growth of open source enterprise search products. LucidWorks is another open source based enterprise search developer seeing growth. Their solutions are based on Apache Lucene/Solr and benefit from the large open source community supporting those components. Investigate a smart open source solution for your enterprise search needs.
Emily Rae Aldridge, April 23, 2013
Sponsored by ArnoldIT.com, developer of Beyond Search
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