Andrew's Blog http://www.mywaypoint.com/andrews-blog.aspx 120 mojoPortal Blog Module V 1.0 June Updates http://www.mywaypoint.com/june-updates.aspx Thu, 24 Jun 2010 17:24:00 GMT http://www.mywaypoint.com/june-updates.aspx http://www.mywaypoint.com/june-updates.aspx 1- My last blog was the top predictions for 2010. Many folks send comments to me. Most think either the Cards will go further, or not as far in the playoffs. Please send your top 10 predictions to abourne@mywaypoint.com.

2- WayPoint launched a new website on January 1 rededicating the focus to PredictiveIT which lowers costs of IT, reduces risk, and provided a solid foundation for profitable growth. Please send me your comments.

3- I am the Chairman of the first annual “Run Around the Runway” 10K/5K here in the Scottsdale Airpark. This event will be unique to Arizona. You will literally run around the Scottsdale Airpark Runway. Start and finish at the “Take off/Landing” line at the Airport terminal. The event is designed to promote Scottsdale’s Ring Road and benefit several charities and the community.

Wondering how you can get involved? There are three ways to participate in the event:

Sign up to run! As a team (we will have a corporate/team challenge) or individually. Even if you do not want to run, there is a 5K fun run walk (strollers allowed) and you will get a great first annual race tee shirt and a goodie bag

Sponsor! See attached. There are many great ways you can sponsor this premier event and promote your company. Sponsor early and your company information will be on all marketing materials including emails, flyers, and the web site with a link to your site.

Volunteer! Come out on race day and help our coordinators with race logistics. Volunteers will receive a special race tee shirt.

Visit our web site at www.runaroundtherunway.com to sign up for any of these activities.

Those with the foresight and confidence in their business model will leverage technology to cut costs, reduce risk and prepare a platform for growth. This is at the heart of WayPoint’s PredicitveIT.



WayPoint Admin  ...]]> Five Questions You Need to Answer http://www.mywaypoint.com/five-questions-you-need-to-answer.aspx Thu, 20 May 2010 20:46:36 GMT http://www.mywaypoint.com/five-questions-you-need-to-answer.aspx http://www.mywaypoint.com/five-questions-you-need-to-answer.aspx Asking the right questions..

There seems to be a consensus that the US has seen the worst of this recession and that we are now experiencing the “back half” - coming out of the recession.  History shows us that the smarter companies position themselves to take advantage of this time.  What makes these companies smarter?  I believe it comes from asking the right questions – and then finding the answers to these questions.

These questions are not intended to make us individually smarter, but smarter about the way we conduct, measure and manage business.  There are five basic and universal questions that need to asked and answered, irrespective of the industry you are in. 

Let’s talk about the first question:  What is your Customer Retention? 
Are your customers repeat customers?  Let’s be honest, revenue is great, but recurring revenue is better.  Does your company calculate Customer Retention?  How does your company define customer retention?  Do you know your retention number now?  Do you know how it has been trending over the past several months and quarters?  (hint: the trend is more important than a snapshot number)
Why is this important?  Because it costs four times as much to gain a new customer than it does to retain one.  Also, one study found that increasing your customer retention by 10% can double your bottom line.

Answering this question will require data (translation: information) that you may or may not have at hand.    How comfortable are you that you can access this data on a timely basis?  And if you are able to determine your Customer Retention, what strategy and tactics work to improve retention?

Asking the right questions, accessing the information that will provide answers, and then making smart decisions is critical as you consider deploying your resources to take advantage of the “back half” of the recession. 



abourne  ...]]> Technology Planning in 2010 http://www.mywaypoint.com/technology-planning-in-2010.aspx Fri, 20 Nov 2009 18:09:07 GMT http://www.mywaypoint.com/technology-planning-in-2010.aspx http://www.mywaypoint.com/technology-planning-in-2010.aspx Most who know me know I am a die-hard Denver Broncos fan.  This year, however, has been a big surprise.  With off-season turmoil of hiring a new coach, losing a pro-bowl quarterback and a handful of disgruntled players, it looked to be a lost year.  I predicted that they would not win more than five games.

As they stand today, the Broncos are first in the AFC West at 6-1.  Much of the success has to do with the coaches and the game preparation.  Careful planning to exploit opponents weaknesses and play to the Broncos strengths have meant the difference.  Even with what many would consider to be a pedestrian quarterback (at best), they have won all but one game.

We can learn something from this as we take on businesses planning for the year ahead.  This is not a sexy topic, but one that deserves your attention whether you are a corporate CIO, CEO, or you run your own firm.  2009 has been a trying year for most of us.  While some of our clients are expanding at a nice pace, most of us are re-tooling and reorganizing to stay in business and be ready for the upturn.  Just like the Broncos coach, careful planning along with determined execution will mean the difference between winning and losing (your business) next year.

The same concepts that keep the Broncos on the winning side of the ball also apply to how you plan your technology spend for next year.  Those with the foresight and confidence in their business model will leverage technology to cut costs, reduce risk and prepare a platform for growth.  This is at the heart of WayPoint’s PredicitveIT.

Information Technology plays an important part in your planning.  Through technology you can automate processes, just like a lever allows you to lift heavy objects.   Those with the foresight and confidence in their business model will increase spending on programs that make their business more efficient and better able to take advantage of opportunities.  That opportunity may be a competitor that goes out of business because they did not focus on a sound business model and business practices.

You can’t go it alone.

Your planning process should start with a survey the landscape to provide the necessary groundwork for next years plan.  What steps make sense?   Start with talking to current customers.  Where do they think the opportunities and weaknesses are in their business?  Next, gather information about your competitors where you can.  You should also continually review trade journals and business periodicals.  Talking to your upstream and downstream partners will also help you integrate your planning into the opportunities partners will bring.  Put all of that information in front of your management team and develop mindshare on your immediate vision.  Now the planning can begin.

Before you put pen to paper, bring one more valuable resource to the table: your trusted IT provider.  Just like your accountant or lawyer, you should have a trusted IT consultant that stays on the edge of technology and understands your business.  Just like the coach of the Broncos, WayPoints provides a planning process to our clients that is part of our overall PredictiveITTM services.  WayPoint is constantly reviewing and testing technologies and solutions.  As an integrated partner in our clients planning process, we can help you shape your budgets and planning to take advantage of the upturn to come.

Want to know more about PredictiveITTM and how your business can take advantage of the leverage of technology?  Contact me at 602-635-1041 or abourne@mywaypoint.com



abourne  ...]]> broncos http://www.mywaypoint.com/Blog/ViewPost.aspx?pageid=23&ItemID=9&mid=51 Mon, 12 Oct 2009 17:09:00 GMT http://www.mywaypoint.com/Blog/ViewPost.aspx?pageid=23&ItemID=9&mid=51 http://www.mywaypoint.com/Blog/ViewPost.aspx?pageid=23&ItemID=9&mid=51 Most who know me know I am a die-hard Denver Broncos fan.  This year, however, has been a big surprise.  With off-season turmoil of hiring a new coach, losing a pro-bowl quarterback and a handful of disgruntled players, it looked to be a lost year.  I predicted that they would not win more than five games.

As they stand today, the Broncos are first in the AFC West at 6-1.  Much of the success has to do with the coaches and the game preparation.  Careful planning to exploit opponents weaknesses and play to the Broncos strengths have meant the difference.  Even with what many would consider to be a pedestrian quarterback (at best), they have won all but one game.

 



abourne  ...]]>