Vumero Blog http://www.vumero.com/blog Where the World Goes for Numbers Tue, 05 Feb 2013 19:42:18 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.1.2 The New Vumero is Coming http://www.vumero.com/blog/2013/02/the-new-vumero-is-coming/ http://www.vumero.com/blog/2013/02/the-new-vumero-is-coming/#comments Sun, 03 Feb 2013 02:41:27 +0000 Johann Odou http://www.vumero.com/blog/?p=3190 We’ve had a really busy few months here at Vumero.com.
 
Relaunching Vumero 2013
We’ll soon be re-launching the Vumero.com brand as part of our global expansion in 2013. We’ve secured long-term major international professional services partnership/s that will help turbocharge the Vumero Community and value-proposition. We’re transforming the way Vumero is delivered and experienced by our Accounting, Private Equity, Finance and Corporate Clients. Expertise in Finance and Financial Modelling will always be important parts of the Vumero vision – we’re just taking it to the next level with a faster, deeper, more trusted professional offering. Each partnership and enhancement will be announced over the coming months. Existing Vumero professionals will have a smooth transition to our improved online marketplace technology platform.
 
If you have any further ideas or suggestions – we’d love to hear them at info@vumero.com

]]> http://www.vumero.com/blog/2013/02/the-new-vumero-is-coming/feed/ 0 Simon Benninga to Judge ModelOff Finals in New York http://www.vumero.com/blog/2012/09/simon-benninga-to-judge-modeloff-finals-in-new-york/ http://www.vumero.com/blog/2012/09/simon-benninga-to-judge-modeloff-finals-in-new-york/#comments Mon, 10 Sep 2012 02:08:52 +0000 Vumero http://www.vumero.com/blog/?p=3152 ModeOff 2012 is delighted to welcome Professor Simon Benninga as judge for the Finals of the inaugural 2012 Financial Modeling World Championships to be held in New York on 1st December 2012.
 
Professor Benninga is among the world’s best known and most influential figures in International Finance and Financial Modeling. He is Professor of Finance at Tel Aviv University and Visiting Professor of Finance at the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania. His Financial Modeling textbooks have become the standard modeling text for finance students and professionals worldwide – covering corporate finance, portfolio modeling, options, bonds, advanced Excel techniques and VBA. For over 30 years Professor Benninga has taught at many of the world’s most prestigious international business schools and has advised many leading private and public Finance institutions including the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange, PWC and New York Institute of Finance.
 
Professor Benninga has dedicated his life to teaching and solving real-world business problems with financial models and spreadsheets. It’s only fitting that he judge the inaugural 2012 Financial Modeling World Championship as he continues to inspire the next generation of finance leaders. ModelOff, Vumero and all the event partners are excited to have him on board.
 

 
 
For more information on ModelOff visit www.modeloff.com or contact info@modeloff.com

]]> http://www.vumero.com/blog/2012/09/simon-benninga-to-judge-modeloff-finals-in-new-york/feed/ 0 The case for Financial Contractors on transactions http://www.vumero.com/blog/2012/08/the-case-for-financial-contractors-on-transactions/ http://www.vumero.com/blog/2012/08/the-case-for-financial-contractors-on-transactions/#comments Sun, 19 Aug 2012 03:27:37 +0000 John Persico http://www.vumero.com/blog/?p=3082 “We expect that at least one-third of the global workforce could be hired online by 2020 — we’re witnessing an incredible change take hold: In the future, we will all be managers” [1]
 
Gary Stewart (CEO Odesk) begins to paint a dynamic – and somewhat frightening – picture of the potential rapid changes to the future global workforces over the next decade.  With over 63% of the world’s GDP delivered by services[2] – the impact will no doubt be profound and far-reaching.
 
Many of the largest professional services firm – like KPMG[3] – saw the same potential for an improved delivery models (including Knowledge Process Outsource) over the past 5 years[4]. New consulting and advisory models have recently emerged into mainstream brands – including Eden McCallum (UK), Business Talent Group (US) and Evisors (US) – which re-configure the value proposition of consulting and professional services.  Deloitte’s Centre for the Edge continues to push the exciting boundaries of professional services – especially crowdsourcing, talent management and enhancing performance [5].

Just-In-Time. About Time.

Few doubt that Professional Services will at some point witness a movement towards a “Just-In-Time” supply chain as a way creating and delivering exceptional value to clients. The philosophy of JIT is simple: inventory is waste. Just in Time (JIT) is often defined as:

“a  production strategy that strives to improve a business return on investment by reducing in-process inventory and associated carrying costs.”
 
Just-In-Time is a powerful concept that we will hear more about in the next decade. We’ve talking “JIT” since the early 1980’s – but somehow professional services has remained immune from flexible and scalable delivery methods which the products world has known for at least 30 years. Demand for professional services is characteristically cyclical (“lumpy”), unpredictable and highly configurable.  This is especially the case in “project” based consulting and advisory services, such as:

  • Mergers & Acquisitions
  • Private Equity
  • Law
  • Complex Taxation
  • Accounting
  • Management Consulting

 
Such professions need new supporting business models to help them source and manage networks of highly skilled and experienced workers (i.e. Build the ATeam for each transaction). Most consulting and advisory firms are traditionally built on deep relationships, great capabilities and trust – JIT could provide a systematised process to lower the cost and maintain high quality of service execution.  Many lessons and principles can be learnt from well-established JIT literature – like Vendor Managed Inventory. It sounds radical and transformatory – yet we’ve been doing it for a generation in product based businesses (e.g. vehicles).  A great deal of waste and inefficiency could be sustainably eliminated.
 

We’re certainly not suggesting that JIT works for all advisers (certainly Large IB and large Mid-market advisers predominantly need dedicated teams). However JIT presents a real opportunity for SME and boutique advisers to hire specialists and junior resources.
From the Perspective of the Director/Founder – a highly simplified costing analysis to perform the two transactions could be as follows:

 

  • Option 1: Hire Full-Time Staff Approach: US$550k
    • Full-time M&A Manager ($240k) – 12 months
    • Full-time Financial Analyst ($120k) – 12 months
    • Recruitment Cost ($30k)
    • Training, On Costs and Other Costs ($50k)
    • Fixed-Cost Overheads ($60k)
    • Business Development ($50k)

 

  • Option 2:  Flexibility Approach US$400k
    • Key M&A Manager ($150,000 total) – 8 months
    • Key Financial Analyst – Perform Business Development “in-house” ($80,000 total) – 8 months
    • Flexibility of tasks (purchase twice from trusted partner – like Vumero):
    • CoTrans/CoCos Analysis ($10k total)
    • Potential Purchasers List ($10k)
    • Information Memoranda ($40k – for two)
    • 2 Financial Models (c.8 weeks) – $30k (Specialist task)
    • Acquisition Analysis ($10k)
    • Management Presentation ($20k) (Specialist tasks)
    • Dataroom Management ($30k)
    • Other Costs ($20k)

 

The Cost Benefit structure alone in Option 2 is not the reason why it’s more suitable for an SME/Boutique adviser (which is why we didn’t belabour the point!).  It’s the flexibility to be able to perform discrete smaller tasks as needed in a trusted manner under the JIT method.  Even if a transaction is “unsuccessful” (as is often the case) – they can cut their losses quickly rather than paying for ongoing staffing.  It doesn’t work for everyone (just as JIT doesn’t work for all manufacturing companies in the car industry) – but it can afford a powerful tool to others.

 
Other “hidden” benefits of the JIT approach in Option 2 may include:

  1. Scale up and scale down as needed (i.e. managing the “bench”)
  2. Fill sudden gaps in transactional team (skills, seniority, workload)
  3. Synchronise specialist skills and knowledge as needed (e.g. complex accounting, specialist valuations, etc).
  4. Reduced setup time – Cutting setup time allowing an advisory to reduce or eliminate time an employees would normally spend “on the bench”
  5. More rapid flow from deal origination to deal execution. Decomposing transactions into “smaller tasks” (e.g. Information Memorandum, Data Room management) forces managers to reduces delays and simplify processes
  6. Increased emphasis on client relationships. A company without excess “people inventory” in the offices does not want a supply system problem that jeopardises its ability to executive on a project or transaction.
  7. Leverage 24/7 workclock (and they can work weekends!)

 
There are many exciting opportunities for JIT in Professional Services – it remains embryonic and we’re just skimming the surface. Let’s keep adapting and innovative to make sure we can all keep up.

]]> http://www.vumero.com/blog/2012/08/the-case-for-financial-contractors-on-transactions/feed/ 0 Financial Modeling 101 http://www.vumero.com/blog/2012/08/financial-modeling-101/ http://www.vumero.com/blog/2012/08/financial-modeling-101/#comments Sun, 12 Aug 2012 06:54:21 +0000 Johann Odou http://www.vumero.com/blog/?p=3101 Over the past week, two events have helped me realise how poorly Finical Modeling is understood.
 
A final year commerce student that I mentor described financial modeling to me as “anything to do with Excel”. What is more concerning is that at a finance networking event a few days later, there was an equally surprising ignorance as to the power and insight that good financial modeling can provide.
 
Therefore, in the interests of improving general understanding, I want to share this excellent article by Eric Augusta about the importance of Financial Modeling and its critical elements.
 


 

(Click HERE or on the image above to view the article)

 
 

]]> http://www.vumero.com/blog/2012/08/financial-modeling-101/feed/ 0 Inaugural 2012 ModelOff Financial Modeling World Championships – Launch http://www.vumero.com/blog/2012/07/inaugural-2012-modeloff-financial-modeling-world-championships-launch/ http://www.vumero.com/blog/2012/07/inaugural-2012-modeloff-financial-modeling-world-championships-launch/#comments Mon, 16 Jul 2012 05:51:04 +0000 Vumero http://www.vumero.com/blog/?p=3052 Vumero, together with its event partners, are delighted to announce the launch of ModelOff – the 2012 Financial Modeling World Championships. (www.modeloff.com)

ModelOff is a fun, innovative and professional competition that celebrates the highest standard of finance and financial modeling excellence among students and young professionals worldwide. After months of planning, the ultimate financial modeling championship is here:

  • Two online rounds (29th September; 27th October 2012)
  • Live Finals Championship event held in New York, USA (1st December 2012)


ModelOff has been designed as a fun, energetic and highly competitive global Championship. Target participants are high performing students and young professionals worldwide – Big4, Investment Banks, Private Equity, Hedge Funds, Corporate Finance, Engineers and everyone in between. Challenge your friends, colleagues and classmates and see where you rank against each other and the world’s best!

To create ModelOff 2012, Vumero has partnered with some of the biggest international names in finance, financial modeling and professional services:

 
We are super excited and hope you are too. We’ll announce a few more surprises and prizes soon.

Pre-register your interest at www.modeloff.com

 
 
 

]]> http://www.vumero.com/blog/2012/07/inaugural-2012-modeloff-financial-modeling-world-championships-launch/feed/ 0 New Vumero Features http://www.vumero.com/blog/2012/06/new-vumero-features/ http://www.vumero.com/blog/2012/06/new-vumero-features/#comments Wed, 20 Jun 2012 12:17:17 +0000 Vumero http://www.vumero.com/blog/?p=3002 We’ve been busy improving the Vumero experience over the past few months. We thank our clients and Finance experts across a variety of timezones and countries for their valuable feedback and suggestions (and many late night calls and coffees to help!). We’ve rolled out new changes to make it even easier to hire and manage global Finance experts for important projects and transactions. In a nutshell:
 
Trusted Quality
We continue to focus heavily on trust – among the most important tasks of any online marketplace. We’ve introduced more comprehensive profile pages, experienced Finance expert verifications and made it simpler to manage projects through the Vumero platform.

Flexibility
We’ve introduced Enterprise Partner services to help businesses which hire Finance experts frequently.

Speed
We’ve greatly improved the speed of matching clients to Finance Experts worldwide. We’ve invested in a new automated matching technology and created an Urgent Projects services to help clients get the job done rapidly.
More information on our recent improvements:
 
1. Better Profiles
We’ve redesigned the profile pages allowing richer content and validation checks to build trust. Here is an example.


 
Unlike most freelancer and consulting sites – Vumero is proud to promote the high quality of our Finance community (e.g. website links, Linkedin profiles, Twitter, videos, presentations, location and more). Put simply, Professional Services demands the highest standards of openness and transparency – and you don’t deserve to hire a Financial Analyst, Financial Modeler, Investment Bankers, Financial Engineer and other professionals without it. Login and update your profile in minutes. Update Your Profile Now
 
2. Automated Matching
Vumero wants to deliver Clients a faster way to find the right Finance experts. We invested in a proprietary matching algorithm technology that helps balance the priority weighting of Clients with the work preferences of Vumero’s network of Finance experts. Sounds fancy – but now our highly configurable algorithm ensures the highest quality matching across many defined attributes – including project timing, availability, location, expertise, rating and budget. Vumero delivers faster, higher quality matching on all projects.
 
3. Enterprise Partners
We found that many clients – including medium-to-large Accountants, Private Equity funds and Financial Advisors – had ongoing needs for Finance talent throughout the year. Under agency-like partnership arrangements, we’re working with selected Enterprise Partners to build and manage customised workforces. For instance, we’ve helped create “virtual” Mergers & Acquisitions” teams for a cross border transaction. We’ve also helped Enterprise Partners source short-term Finance experts for highly specialist projects in infrastructure, mining and power sectors. Enterprise Partner enjoy the flexibility of pre-vetted, highly skilled workforces of Finance teams on-demand. Enterprise Partners leverage Vumero’s network to lower costs and improve productivity. See more info on our Enterprise Partnerships
 

4. Urgent Projects
Many high intensity companies have started turning to Vumero because they required urgent recommendations (within 24 hours). We now offer an Urgent Recommendation service – where we can help invite, short-list and prioritise the consultants depending on client’s exact Finance need. It’s faster, with better matching and reduces search costs by as much at 80%. Just call us +1 (347) 688 6376 to get started on urgent projects.
 
5. Vumero Verified
Vumero is an independently committed to promoting highest quality Finance experts worldwide. Feedback from clients is that they wanted “Vumero Verified” members – a symbol of trust that helps facilities results on short-term projects and important transactions. Upon application, we will soon be introducing Vumero Verifications based on:

  • 5 years+ industry experience in Finance; and/or
  • Certified post graduate qualification (e.g. CPA, CFA, MBA, Masters)

     
    6. Project Management
    Clients now have greater customer support to manage and pay experts through the Vumero platform, including:

  • Project Planning
  • Customer Service Support
  • Free Consultant Replacement (if required)
  • Dispute Resolution
  • Secure Escrow payment facility

     
    We’re excited to keep improving your Vumero experience. We look forward to continuing the journey and receiving your feedback on how we can improve further. Email us at info@vumero.com with your thoughts and suggestions.

    Keep winning,

    Team Vumero
    Finance experts for projects
     
     
     
     

    ]]> http://www.vumero.com/blog/2012/06/new-vumero-features/feed/ 0 Vumero now a BizSpark featured Startup http://www.vumero.com/blog/2012/05/vumero-now-a-bizspark-featured-startup/ http://www.vumero.com/blog/2012/05/vumero-now-a-bizspark-featured-startup/#comments Wed, 02 May 2012 00:38:21 +0000 Vumero http://www.vumero.com/blog/?p=2836 Vumero has recently been announced as a featured startup in the Microsoft BizSpark Program.

    Read more here

    ]]>     http://www.vumero.com/blog/2012/05/vumero-now-a-bizspark-featured-startup/feed/ 0     Background to Deloitte and Vumero http://www.vumero.com/blog/2012/03/background-to-deloitte-and-vumero/ http://www.vumero.com/blog/2012/03/background-to-deloitte-and-vumero/#comments Fri, 23 Mar 2012 03:30:47 +0000 Vumero http://www.vumero.com/blog/?p=2633 It starts with an Idea

    I first met Johann Odou and John Persico in June 2011 when they approached me for coffee at Deloitte. They told me they had recently quit their jobs and had a vision that global Professional Services could be more valuable if crowdsourced. They saw opportunities to make professional services more accessible, transparent and affordable to Small Businesses and Entrepreneurs. They saw a major gap in the market between predominantly price-driven online marketplaces such as Freelancer and Odesk and the big professional services firms such as Deloitte.
     
    I was impressed with the vision of these two aspiring entrepreneurs and distinctively remember them making the comment – “Deloitte Digital was the only place who would “get” what we are trying to achieve in online Professional Services”. To me it’s a great compliment when the outside Community recognised the vision and culture we have created here at Deloitte Digital.

    Helping Ideas Develop

    I invited the boys to the Deloitte/Deakin Open Innovation Workshop a few weeks later. Among others, it was a really valuable way to connect and learn from leaders in the Melbourne start-up, crowdsourcing and “online marketplaces” communities – including Leni Mayo (99designs, Flippa, Sitepoint, Learnable), Nicholas Gruen (Chairman, Kaggle) and Anthony Goldbloom (CEO, Kaggle). They told me the biggest takeout for both Johann and John was the power of open collaboration and the importance of designing “porous” networks and products (e.g. World-of-Warcraft). I think they also were startled by the power and reach of Deloitte Digital social media network – and how a single tweet can reach during the Workshop reached 80,000 people within seconds!
     
    Soon after the Vumero boys spent a fortnight on an invitation trip to Silicon Valley in September 2011. They told me it was “eyeopening” experience – particularly to witness the dedication, passion and expertise within the start-up ecosystem. Relationships were also incredibly important. The trip also helped with preparations for Modeloff – the 2012 Financial Modeling World Championships (which Deloitte and Vumero will be putting on tougher with a number of other world class partners).

    A Supportive Community

    Upon return, Johann and John became one of the initial tenants within the York Butter Factory – Melbourne’s newest online digital co-working space. Having met with the guys recently, it is quickly apparent the positive impact an environment like this has in helping develop the qualities and thinking necessary to run an successful online start-up.
     
    I was keynote speaker at the Creative Innovation Conference in November 2011 and again bumped into Vumero whom were scholarship winners and presenting.
     
    Vumero launched in Beta in mid-December 2011. Here is a description of Vumero from the website: “Vumero is the easiest way to instantly connect and hire quality Finance, Business and Analytical experts worldwide. You can also crowdsource your spreadsheets and financial models. Vumero is professional services made simple”. Everything from financial modeling, business plans, industry research and VBA programming can be done on the Vumero marketplace.

    Melbourne – Australia’s home of crowdsourcing and online marketplaces

    Within the past decade, I’ve seen the Melbourne online ecosystem seed and support many of the most outstanding online companies in Australia. It is interesting to note that ASX-listed online billion-dollar marketplaces – like Seek.com, Carsales.com, Realestate.com – are headquartered here while leading crowdsourcing marketplaces – like 99designs (crowdsourced design) and Kaggle (crowdsourced data problems) – were founded in Melbourne. I think the vision and support behind Vumero is another example of the online ecosystem in Melbourne maturing.
     
    Compared to Sydney, I have a theory that Melbourne’s love of crowdsourcing and online marketplaces is deeply linked to our much simpler geographic and social network. Whilst we don’t have the breathtaking views of Sydney, Melbourne can be traversed easily as a grid and people are naturally more resourceful. From a social perspective, Melbournites are warm and a well-connected community – everyone seems to have someone or something in common. How does that link to crowdsourcing? Crowdsourcing is a physical representation of aggregating minds and collective efforts. Taking a tram down Collins Street to get the opinion of 5 friends on your latest company logo design – how different is that to crowdsourcing (albeit online)?
     
    I’m a big believer that success breeds more success. Vumero can and will continue to learn from seasoned local online businesses in Melbourne. And yes – a crowdsourcing marketplace does make sense in Professional Services. They will face challenges because the industry they are targeting is highly conservative and power is concentrated in “brands” – but they afford a convenient, transparent and affordable solution to clients in an inherently complex and relationship-driven industry. Perhaps this is exactly the kind of exciting disruptive innovation the professional services industry needs?
     
     
    Originally published by Deloitte Deiginal (posted by Peter Williams @rexter)
    http://deloittedigital.blogspot.com.au/2012/03/background-to-deloitte-and-vumero.html

    ]]>     http://www.vumero.com/blog/2012/03/background-to-deloitte-and-vumero/feed/ 0     89 Web Tools for Everyday Business (p.s. most are free!) http://www.vumero.com/blog/2012/03/89-web-tools-for-everyday-business-p-s-most-are-free/ http://www.vumero.com/blog/2012/03/89-web-tools-for-everyday-business-p-s-most-are-free/#comments Tue, 20 Mar 2012 04:09:29 +0000 Johann Odou http://www.vumero.com/blog/?p=2642 Bluewire Media recently published an article written by Vumero CEO, John Persico.

    Read the full article here:
    http://www.bluewiremedia.com.au/blog/2012/03/89-web-tools-for-business/

    ]]>     http://www.vumero.com/blog/2012/03/89-web-tools-for-everyday-business-p-s-most-are-free/feed/ 0     The decade when Small Business became King http://www.vumero.com/blog/2012/03/the-decade-when-small-business-became-king/ http://www.vumero.com/blog/2012/03/the-decade-when-small-business-became-king/#comments Mon, 05 Mar 2012 06:35:22 +0000 John Persico http://www.vumero.com/blog/?p=2599 We might remember 2012 as the beginning of a golden decade – the era that small business value creation became easier and more abundant in driving Global GDP. There has been no better time to own, start and run a small business than right now. Particularly online businesses. The economics of the internet has profoundly closed the resources gap between the haves and have nots. With cheaper and more accessible technology combining with an emerging global middle-class of several billions (e.g. China, India, Indonesia, Brazil) – it should be unsurprising that small businesses will play a more active and vocal role in the global business policy agenda in the decade ahead.

    A major problem facing big business is that they cannot continue to rely on what once made them great. For over 200+ years post the Industrial Revolution, the feverish success of big business can largely be attributed to having access to strategic resources that small business did not – including enormous marketing budgets, expensive staff training, large-scale IT systems, global networks, leading search engines and sophisticated financial forecasts. Strategy and operations were driven by achieving economics of scale and scope across their large fixed cost base. Pride was taken in having the best and brightest people exclusively working for them on in-house projects.
     
    But what happens in 2012 when most strategic resources of big business are made available to everyone else?
     
    Over the next decade, small businesses have the potential to become value creators and visionaries through their superior organisational and network design. Small businesses are no longer constrained by investments in large and clunky technology, people and physical resources. Small businesses are best positioned to benefit from the global trend towards more agile, affordable and modular products and services. Small businesses now have access to millions of free or inexpensive technology toolkits of services, systems and skills which had until recently been the exclusive domain of big corporates (see example below). Everything from CRM systems, web analytics to website design is downright simple and easy. They configure modular teams around value networks to achieve global scale quickly and inexpensively. Many costs that were once fixed have now become variable costs which greatly favours the organisational design of small business (e.g. cloud computing, outsourcing projects). Small businesses do not need to waste resources on bureaucracy and process-obsession – instead focusing on listening and adapting to customer needs. Crowdsourcing also allows small business to tap into innovate juices of the world’s best minds. Best of all, small businesses can build their strategy and network structures from the ground-up to take into account the rapidly changing social and technological landscape.
     
    To practically illustrate how the cards have been stacked in favour of small business, I’ve listed below 33 examples of services and softwares available to everyone to start, manage and support their small business. Most are free or inexpensive (under $200 per year) for basic versions. Almost all were once-upon-a-time resources that only big business could derive strategic benefit.
     
    Tools for starting a Company
    1. “Coming Soon” landing page (LaunchRock, KickOffLabs)
    2. Website templates (ThemeForest)
    3. Prototyping, mockups and wireframes (Gomockingbird, Balsamiq, FlairBuilder, jMockups)
    4. Website A/B testing (Optimizely, VisualWebSiteOptimizer, 37 Signals)
    5. Website usability testing and heatmaps (Usertesting, Userfy, Clicktale, Clickheat)
    6. Test website/browser (SauceLabs, Testling, 99Tests, Browserstack)
    7. Start a Blog (Tumblr, Posterous, WordPress)
    8. Design a company logo (99designs, Designcrowd)
    9. Prepare a pitch deck (Slideshare)
    10. Prepare a financial model and budget forecast plan (Vumero)
    11. Prepare an infographic of your industry (Visual.ly)
     
    Tools for managing a Company
    12. Project manage, planning and collaborate (Trello, Google Docs, Wunderkit, Basecamp)
    13. Heavy duty file sharing and backups (Dropbox, Box.net)
    14. Time Tracking (Focusboosterapp, Toggl)
    15. Video conferencing (Sype, Join.me, GoToMeeting, Google+ hangouts, FreeConference)
    16. SEO monitoring (BlueGlass, Tynt, SEOmoz SEO)
    17. Customer referral programs (Referral Candy, CureBit, ShopLogic, Spinnakr)
    18. Online store (Shopify, EStoreApp, Volusion)
    19. Online billing and collections platforms (Aria, HealPay, Chargify)
    20. Subscription management (Zuora, Spreedly, Cloudware City, Recurly)
    21. Fraud management (Vindicia)
    22. Mobile Testing and building (Twilio, MobiReady, GoMez, Rigor)
    23. Social collaboration network (Yammer)
     
    Tools for supporting a Company
    24. Surveys and online forms (Survey Monkey, Wufoo)
    25. Customer service (Assistly, Zendesk, GetSatisfaction, Geckoboard)
    26. Phone calls and phone performance (Twillio, RingRevenue, GrassHopper)
    27. Email delivery (Mailchimp, Campaign Monitor, Sendgrid)
    28. Expense billing and receipts tracking (Expensify)
    29. Accounting (Quickbooks Online, Xero, Sassu)
    30. Note taking (Evernote)
    31. Copy writing (ProofReadingPal, Copyblogger)
    32. Cloud and virtual phone systems (Grasshopper, Ringio, RingCentral)
    33. Analytics (Get Clicky, Mixpanel, Visual Website Optimizer, Google Analytics
     
    The advantages of small business will be profound and far-reaching in the decade ahead. Small businesses will need to continue to commit to outstanding strategic planning and bullet-proof execution roadmap as key success differentiators. Building strong networks, deep relationships, channels to market and brand have always been the cornerstones of sustainable competitive advantage – I don’t think these will as easily given away by big business?

    ]]>     http://www.vumero.com/blog/2012/03/the-decade-when-small-business-became-king/feed/ 0