By Todd Larsen – CEO,  Limitless Technology ~ Cost Reduction Specialists

So, it’s the end of the year…

Not  a bad one. Business has improved, interest rates have remained low, the market has done extremely well, and the economy is slowly recovering. Goods things all in all and you can feel a certain change coming. 

And then you look at your P&L. Does it reflect this years tide? Does the bottom line look as good as it could have or should have? Was there any more that could have been done? Could more have been sold, expenses reduced, delivery made more efficient or products manufactured for less cost? Questions that have been most likely bouncing around in your mind since beginning budget planning for 2014.

Ok…so questions arise to help ensure profits next year soar. Right? Planned for everything, up turn, downturn, right purchased, right trend, right color, right size, right service model, right price….everything. No doubts, no concerns, no worries. Right?

Hmmm…most likely the perfect scenario but, not the most probable one. If you are like the majority of owners and executive leaders, you worry if all the plans are correct and will be executed in a way that ensures the most profitable growth. 

So is there is one thing you can do to ensure higher profits? The answer is yes, lower costs! I am not advocating lowering service quality, or purchasing inferior goods; I am a proponent of lowering the costs of what you already are buying. Sounds simple. Just pick up the phone, call your vendors, and tell them you want the lowest price for the  best product and service. Done. You call, they jump, bring you better products, lower prices and instantaneously you improve profits.  

Unfortunately most likely not, but it’s not for lack or trying. However, do you know how to negotiate the best offering for a particular product or service? Are there questions in your mind like…

– Where do you start? 

– What’s reasonable? 

– What’s good? 

– What price is right?

– What terms are best? 

– Am I protected against business trends? 

– Are my contracts flexible?

Quite honestly there an endless stream of questions and doubts. Ok…so how can I get all the questions answered, and moreover, improve my vendor positioning while improving my price points, flexibility and profitability? The answer is easy, but it’s not. Sorry to be ambiguous but that is the truth. In order to have the best positioning and pricing you will most likely need to look for a resource outside your company which has the skills, knowledge and experience to help you gain this positioning. Ok…now the tough question. Who do you trust? I believe when you can answer that question, you are on your way to having your problem resolved. First lets look at some points you should inspect when selecting a “trusted advisor”.

– Does the firm have inside industry experience?

– Do they have several written testimonials from other companies in your industry?

– Will they quickly provide a list of references?

– Can they show you a proven process to ensure success?

– Do they offer a money back guarantee? 

When you find that trusted resource, which can provide the above answers and position you best with your vendor, the questions will go away and peace of mind will take their place. You will allow them the opportunity to help lower your costs and provide the bottom line results your were looking for at the end of this year, last year and the year before. And this way when you look at next years P&L, you’ll know you could not have done anything more in those areas to be more profitable. 

Now… it’s an end of the year.

www.limitlesstechnology.com

The use of the word “Expert” in our day and age has saturated the business market. Every business you go into, there is someone that says they are an expert in insurance, taxes, and every other industry you can imagine.

What is An Expert?

The literal definition of an expert is someone that has dedicated 10,000 hours of education to their skill or trade, and has achieved a master level status at their trade by their peers or customers. For example, if a violinist has practiced for 10,000 hours, they still may not be very good. The violinist can only be considered an expert if they are deemed one by their peers after 10,000 hours of practice.

Why Do Businesses Need Experts if They Have Employees for Those Functions?

Okay good, now you know the definition of an expert, but why would a business need one? Well let’s go back to the violinist metaphor. Your business has a need for a business solution like an audience has a need to hear beautiful music from an orchestra. Now maybe someone in the audience knows how to play the violin, and maybe the audience member can even play very well. However, anyone who has ever gone to hear an amateur violin concert, and then the symphony, knows there is a big difference between a good amateur and an expert violinist.

That is exactly why businesses hire experts. They have a need that their company may be filling now with a non-expert inside resource; however their needs now exceed that resource’s level of knowledge.  Experts do the business functions that the businesses’ inside resource performs, but does it faster, more effectively, and efficiently. This overall increase in capability usually ends up saving companies money in the long run, because the increase in efficiency usually surpasses the increase in pay you must give to an expert.

How to Find An Expert?

“I can just go on the internet and type in expert in _________ right?” Unfortunately, the internet has many websites that say they are experts with no proof. You will have to do a little research and look at the companies they have worked for as well as if those companies have given the company positive referrals and contact information that allows you to get in touch with those companies to get their confirmation of their referral. This may take an extra hour or two of research but it will benefit your business in the long run.

Posted by: Todd Larsen, CEO of Limitless Technology~Cost Reduction Specialists

 ~ Cloud adoption has risen based on a variety of factors such as; increased improvements in hosted VoIP solutions, along with the need to reduce capital outlay.

The ROI, TCO and MRR price points when looked at in total (soft and hard costs combined) with the right provider also returns significant cost value.  Another cause of higher adoption can only naturally be based on the OPEX Vs CAPEX proposition in a tumultuous economic time.

Reduction in upfront and overall total costs will always be a growth driver.

However, transparency is the biggest challenge in moving to cloud computing, not security or price. Yet, IT departments not only have to ensure cloud deployments comply with external and internal regulations, but they need to be able to prove that compliance to auditors and regulators. Security may be second to transparency, but it is still a key consideration for companies moving to cloud in pursuit of greater IT agility and flexibility for rapid response to business challenges.

For most organizations, the move to cloud provides the opportunity of increased security as cloud providers typically invest more in security and have greater staff and intelligence resources. While most companies are adopting a step-by-step approach to cloud starting with non-critical elements, some that have already moved all applications and infrastructure to the cloud. Cloud does not necessarily meet all requirements necessary for sound business choices, so organizations need to look at what areas of the business cloud can improve operations, functionality, efficiency, as well as, consider the cost benefits that could be gained.

Most cloud providers are serious about what they are doing and encourage high standards in the industry. Still wise choices must be made so that “dating” the solution’s possibilities, doesn’t end up in a marriage that “hogs” resources, time or cash.

Limitless Technology~CRS

Delivering expert results on: telecom auditing, telecom contract management, telecom expense management, and telecom billing optimization services. Bottom line…We improve Bottom Lines.

www.limitlesstechnology.com

No one can predict or guarantee your future, but Limitless Technology CRS can guarantee one thing.

If you have a business with a telecom spend of $10,000 a month or more, and you give us the opportunity to audit and improve your billings, than we can save you money on your telecom costs.

Posted by Marianne Kolbasuk McGee 05/16/2012 InformationWeek/ Healthcare

Smartwatches may be cool, but wearable health monitoring devices could save your life. These gadgets now run the gamut in goals, from managing chronic disease to optimizing fitness programs.

Some devices allow medical providers to monitor a patient’s disorder, in the hopes that doctors can intervene earlier and patients can avoid complications. Other devices can detect whether an elderly patient has taken a fall, or remind patients it’s time to take their medications. Still other wearables allow consumers to keep tabs on their own health and fitness, helping them lose weight or sleep better. ABI Research last year estimated that the market for wearable health-related devices–ranging from heart monitors to biosensors that read body temperature and motion–will reach more than 100 million device sales annually by 2016. The market for wearable sports and fitness-related monitoring devices is growing, too, projected to reach 80 million device sales by 2016. Wearable devices provide output and connect to the Web in various ways. Some enable wearers to monitor their own readings using a mobile phone and a special website. Others allow data to be downloaded and viewed by third parties such as healthcare managers, or clinicians who are watching for disturbing trends that merit medical intervention. Some devices simply encourage wearers to share their fitness progress with work-out buddies and friends via social media sites. Thanks in part to trends such as wearable devices, the overall mobile health market is growing substantially. Research and analysis firm GlobalData expects the market to grow in value from an estimated $0.5 billion in 2010 to over $8 billion by 2018, significantly revolutionizing healthcare delivery and management. Take a look at the range of devices in use now, from hospital settings to homes.

IntelliVue MX40

Hospital patients often are tethered to various monitors, pumps, and medical gear. The IntelliVue MX40 from Philips Electronics tries to simplify some of that by putting Philips telemetry into a compact wearable patient monitor that can be used to monitor ambulatory patients and patients during transport.

The MX40 allows patients to walk around care settings and has a touchscreen display that lets clinicians see ECG, oxygen saturation (SpO2), and other vital signs in real time with just a push of a button. The device is also watertight to withstand patient showering, accidental immersion into water, and disinfectant cleaning. The device helps saves nurses’ time because it lets them check on patients’ ECG rhythms without making a call to technicians at central station monitors.

BlueLibris

Telehealth vendor Numera recently acquired BlueLibris, a maker of health monitoring devices. Its soon-to be-released wearable mobile device provides two-way, hands-free voice communication through a cellular network; GPS location tracking; and automated fall detection algorithms for Personal Emergency Response Services (PERS). Pictured here is the flagship BlueLibris device in a charging cradle.

Numera says BlueLibris devices also will be equipped with Numera’s telehealth gateway technology, allowing patients to upload biometric measurements from a variety of health devices through the mobile personal health gateway and receive personalized reminders to take medications, upload measurements, and receive coaching specific to health conditions. Numera plans to market the BlueLibris product through distribution and business partners by the fourth quarter of 2012.

BioHarness BT

Zephyr Technology’s BioHarness BT sensor technology is used by third-party makers of products to add biometric monitoring capabilities to wearable fitness gear. An example of that includes Under Armour’s E39 electronic compression garment, which tracks the wearer’s measures, including breathing and heart rate data, which can be transmitted to computers or mobile devices. Other measures BioHarness BT can monitor are blood oxygen, ECG, and blood pressure. The device also can connect to smart phones for transmission of the data to the Zephyr portal. From here, the data can be pushed to an individual’s personal electronic health records and dispatch and service center Web applications.

In April, 3M New Ventures, the venture organization of 3M, announced that it had invested in Zephyr Technology and was collaborating with the company for new physiological and biomechanical sensor and monitoring applications.

Body Motion Patch

BodyMedia and Avery Dennison Medical Solutions, a business unit of Avery Dennison Corporation, have developed a disposable body motion monitoring patch they say offers a comfortable, economical way to gather physiological data for health and wellness initiatives.

The patch combines Avery Dennison Medical Solutions’ proprietary MetriaTM Wearable Sensor Technology in a skin-friendly patch with BodyMedia’s proprietary algorithms and body monitoring expertise, which are used in BodyMedia’s previously announced armband monitoring product. The new wearable patch initially will be used as an evaluation tool for weight management and monitoring calorie burn, steps taken, activity levels, and sleep patterns through multiple sensors that collect more than 5,000 data points per minute, said BodyMedia. The patch allows that data to be uploaded to a computer or mobile device for use as a guideline to determine the need for weight loss and other wellness efforts. The patch, which is worn on the back of the left tricep, can remain in place for up to seven days, including while showering. Future applications are expected to include corporate wellness programs, remote elder care and safety, and monitoring of vital signs for a variety of health conditions. Expected to launch by the end of this year, the patch will use sensor technology similar to that developed for BodyMedia armband-based body monitoring systems that have been used for weight-loss support since 2001. The companies hope the patch’s smaller size, shorter- term use, and significantly lower price will help consumers to see the value of continuous body monitoring for weight management.

Zoll LifeVest

The Zoll LifeVest wearable defibrillator monitors heart patients at risk for sudden cardiac arrest. If a life-threatening heart rhythm is detected, the device delivers a shock to restore normal heart rhythm.

The LifeVest can be used for a wide range of patient conditions or situations, including following a heart attack, and before or after bypass surgery or stent placement. It’s also suitable for patients with cardiomyopathy or congestive heart failure. The vest also can be used as a temporary safeguard while a patient’s physician evaluates the individual’s long-term arrhythmic risk and treatment plans. Zoll says the LifeVest is lightweight and easy to wear, allowing patients to return to their activities of daily living at home, while having the peace of mind that they are protected from sudden cardiac arrest.

Basis B1

The consumer-oriented Basis B1 wrist band–expected to become available in 2012– incorporates five sensors to provide a precise view of a person’s health immediately and over extended periods of time. The device includes: an optical blood flow sensor that detects heart rate, through pulse or blood flow; a 3D accelerometer, a highly sensitive sensor that detects the smallest movements, regardless of whether users are alert and active or sleeping; a body temperature sensor to measure exertion during activity; an ambient temperature sensor to detect the outside temperature and compare it to body temperature to boost the accuracy of caloric burn calculations; and a galvanic skin response sensor to measure the intensity of sweat output.

Basis says the B1 multi-sensor band helps provide an “insightful picture of your health.” The band can link to the wearer’s personal Web dashboard so he can easily view performance, share data, and engage with other Basis B1 users.

FuelBand

Nike FuelBand, a fitness monitoring wristband, captures and displays four different metrics: time, calories, steps, and “NikeFuel,” a metric coined by Nike that measures the user’s physical activity. NikeFuel is a proprietary technology that measures activity through the movement of the user’s wrist and uses algorithms based on oxygen kinetics. Unlike calorie counts, which vary based on gender and body type, NikeFuel is “a normalized score that awards all participants equal scoring for the same activity regardless of their physical makeup,” said the company. Nike FuelBand users also can choose to also receive a calorie count to understand how many calories are burned versus how much NikeFuel is earned.

The wrist band can sync with Nike’s website through a built-in USB port, or wirelessly through Bluetooth to a free iPhone app to record the user’s activity each day and track progress. Fitbit Ultra

The tiny Fitbit Ultra tracks a user’s steps, distance, and sleep, as well as counting calories burned. Wireless uploads are automatically sent to user’s personal dashboard on Fitbit’s site, where free online tools show how the user’s physical activities add up. An iPhone app also lets users log workouts, diet, and food goals.

Fitbit Ultra not only holds an accelerometer but an altimeter that tracks the number of stairs or hills climbed each day. To keep you going, the tracker also displays motivational messages when you start moving.

BodyMedia Link Armband

BodyMedia’s Link Armband, a body-monitoring armband equipped with Bluetooth wireless technology, communicates directly with a smartphone app. The device provides real-time, up-to-the minute streams of information such as caloric burn data, physical activity level, and steps taken. The armband collects physiological data using four sensors that capture more than 5,000 data readings every minute. The raw data includes measurements of heat flux, skin temperature, motion, and galvanic skin response. BodyMedia says proprietary algorithms convert these readings to capture key parameters that directly affect people’s health and wellness: calorie burn, physical activity duration, steps taken, and sleep duration and efficiency.

BodyMedia also offers a subscription-based service called Activity Manager that lets users enter their own body parameters and goals for a running progress report. Goals can include steps taken, time spent in moderate and vigorous activity, nutritional analysis, and sleep efficiency.