At the Vero Excellence in Business Support Awards, we were expecting a good night out, to support a fellow industry member and award contender (HP's Warwick Grey), and looking to be inspired.

But as Grey pointed out to the audience, business support can take many forms and that was reflected in the diversity of products and services the award winners provide. There's MYOB and Xero's software, New Zealand Trade and Enterprise's industry networks, business incubator Upstart's angel funding, AUT Business School's training, the list went on.

Aside from products, services, training, funding, and advice there's networking, relationship building and simply giving time.

But the awards, and indeed any measure that recognises small business support, aren't just a bonus for the organisations receiving them, they boost the industry as a whole by inspiring others to do more and do better.

Such organisations and initiatives need to be encouraged because of the contribution of New Zealand small businesses (as of course the vast majority of our firms are) to the economy at home and abroad.

As organisers of the awards and the accompanying small business expo acknowledge, it's tough enough to run a small business, let alone take time out for events like this.

But it's such measures that form closer ties between the businesses themselves and help them tap into the increasing range of resources available to help them.

This in turn helps small businesses get bigger and help New Zealand achieve on the world stage.

Posted by Amanda Sachtleben April 18, 2008 1:17 PM | Comments (0)

An odd thing happened at the office the other day -our sister-publication Computerworld’s internet servers were brought to the brink of crashing when a story on its website suddenly racked up an enormous number of hits.

The story was about an open source 3D printer that could replicate itself.

But while this clearly raises fears of machines taking over the world in some kind of scary Attack of the Printer Clones scenario, I struggled to understand just why this article would attract such a high number of hits.

That was until I read the entire story (us journos often just skim read!) and discovered this gem of a quote from Vik Olliver, local software developer and artist who is part of a team developing the printer, dubbed the RepRap (for Replicating Rapid-prototyper of course!), at the bottom of the piece: ”We know that people are going to use the printer to try to make weapons [and] sex toys and drug paraphernalia.„

That explained it - any story with the words ”sex toys„ is bound to attract many an internet searcher. In addition, the story includes other web traffic gems - open source, Google and iPod.

To prove my theory I searched the phrase ”open source sex toys„ on Google and voilà the Computerworld story led the results (see image below).

Now Computerworld editor Rob O’Neill will tell you the story was a hit because it was picked up Slashdot, but I’m not entirely convinced…

Therefore, in a bid to boost our online ratings, expect to see plenty of stories in future about channel opportunities presented by open source sex toys.

Posted by Louis Van Wyk April 9, 2008 12:44 PM | Comments (0)

Two more iconic Kiwi tech brands have ceased to exist this week.

On Tuesday, April 1 both the Ihug and Infinity Solutions brands were ”integrated„ into their new multinational parent companies - Vodafone and Fujitsu respectively.

As recently as last week Infinity still had its own website on which it was labelled ”A Fujitsu company„.

However, as from March 31 it has been struck off as a registered company with the Companies Office, while www.infinitysolutions.co.nz now directs to Fujitsu’s local site.

Ihug is still registered though, while Vodafone has kindly provided a special page to those entering the site through the now defunct www.ihug.co.nz where visitors are greeted with: ”Ihug customers, welcome to our place„.

A message then tells visitors that from April 1 the Ihug brand has been integrated with Vodafone, while there are links to the former ISP’s phone and broadband packages.

Vodafone also has a Post-it note inspired banner on its homepage and other pages on its site telling people looking for Ihug where to find the info they need. This is a nice touch, as inevitably there will be a few lost souls out there panicking that their ISP has disappeared.

However, Fujitsu does not show the same concern. After pointing the web browser at the old Infinity solutions webpage, you are directed automatically to the main Fujitsu site. But here there are no cutesy yellow ‘Looking for Infinity’ banners or an announcement about the change in branding.

If Fujitsu did announce the changes to customers, it did not CC the tech media, because only Computerworld’s super sleuth Randal Jackson had the story.

It is interesting how much multi-nationals pay to snap up established local brands such as Ihug and Infinity just to do away with them a few months later.

Is there no value in keeping a well-known name high regarded by local customers?

Meanwhile, the Ihug signage has come off its former HQ on Auckland’s Newton Road - a symbol of another homegrown brand that has disappeared from our skyline forever…

Posted by Louis Van Wyk April 4, 2008 1:02 PM | Comments (0)

The results of our latest quick poll on reseller.co.nz so far send a clear message to vendors who don’t have a local office.

It seems respondents aren’t too keen on having an Australian channel manager popping across to visit every three months.

But judging by the releases I get for the Reseller News appointments column companies keep hiring channel managers to cover Australia and New Zealand who are invariably based across the ditch.

I get the feeling that some international IT companies view New Zealand as an add on which is identical to the Australian market. Unfortunately that’s not the case as any good reseller will tell you - different markets require different strategies and having someone on the ground here helps build closer relationships.

And it works both ways. For example, Chillisoft has taken the step of opening an office in Melbourne so its Australian resellers can be better serviced.

Of course opening an office isn’t always practical or cost effective which is where the local distributor comes in.

So I have a small request. If you are making NZ based appointments please let me know here and we’ll be more than happy to run it in a future issue.

Posted by Hamish Barwick April 2, 2008 4:25 PM | Comments (0)