All posts by Richard

Customer Relationship Management, Emergence Capital Partners, Insightly, Venture Funding

Insightly Gets $3 Million to Take SMB CRM Apps to More Platforms

Insightly, a provider of customer relationship management (CRM) software for small businesses, today announced it has completed a $3 million financing round led by Emergence Capital Partners. Insightly, which is ranked as the number one customer management application in the Google Apps marketplace, is using this financing to expand its service outside of the Google Apps platform and make it available to all small businesses starting today.

“Small businesses around the world want CRM software that is easy to use, doesn’t require hours of training, and fits their budget. Insightly’s simple user interface and freemium pricing model meets their needs perfectly,” said Anthony Smith, CEO of Insightly. “We’ve seen massive growth in the past two years by meeting this demand, and Emergence’s investment will allow us to further accelerate this growth and continue to enhance our users’ experience.”

Insightly’s intuitive cloud-based CRM software meets the needs of small businesses and allows users to easily keep track of customer interactions and manage leads, proposals, opportunities, projects and files from any device, at any time. Insightly can be accessed via a web browser from any PC, laptop, smartphone or tablet to keep business moving forward, both in office and on-the-go


LoadSpring, Location Awareness, Project management, Project team, Time Tracking, Tools

New SpringBoard 6.0 Offers Greater Project Management Software Access and Control

LoadSpring Solutions has released SpringBoard Version 6.0, a newly-enhanced hosting portal.

SpringBoard allows secure access to—and control of—Project Management software and data, from any computer worldwide.

SpringBoard 6.0 preserves the same intuitive interface used globally by more than 2,000 enterprise organizations, but now offers new features and tools geared to add functionality, speed and efficiency.

SpringBoard 6.0 goes live October 6th and is designed for greater enterprise access and data control while saving effort, time and capital.

In Version 6.0, SpringBoard allows users to tap the power of the cloud, with such enhancements as:

  • Unified Access with Location Awareness. This feature assures
    fast global access and data integrity.
  • BIM hosting. BIM software is now available in a hosted model
    without performance issues. Users now truly have a single secure
    portal for all their Project Management applications.
  • Instant access to LoadSpring Academy 2.0, now with student
    tracking and quiz reporting, leading to added software compliance,
    acceptance and usage.
  • SmartSupport—LoadSpring’s automated issue resolution system is
    designed to find answers even before the user finishes asking the
    question. Quick self-fixes are available any time, or users can call
    LoadSpring directly for 1-on-1 contact.
  • Set Application roles during provisioning. Now administrators
    can assign P6r8 application roles at the same time they set-up new
    users all from 1 interface.
  • Auto Performance Indicators. SpringBoard now lets users see
    real-time connection speeds and SpringBoard performance at a glance
    allowing them to see if an issue exists.
  • Self-registration option aids administrators by letting each
    user self-register to SpringBoard.


CallMiner, LiveVox, Partnerships, Speech analytics, Speech Technology, Webinar/Webcast/Presentation

LiveVox, CallMiner Webinar: Mitigating Compliance Risk with Speech Analytics, Centralized Call Recording

LiveVox, a  cloud contact center software provider today announced a joint webinar with CallMiner, a provider of cloud-based speech analytics. As contact centers prepare for a tightening regulatory environment, the market is responding with new technology, among the most promising of which is speech analytics. LiveVox and CallMiner have partnered to provide a simple, cost effective and short deployment path for speech analytics. Join executives from both organizations as they discuss technology approaches for an uncertain but assuredly tightening regulatory world.

Speech analytics, like all business analytics strategies, is rooted in data and dependent on its accessibility. In order to aggregate data and make it accessible for analysis, site-based networks have been required to purchase equipment that necessitates large capital expenditures, ongoing maintenance and, most handicapping, integrations into existing topology. For multi-site operations, the cost and complexity are compounded with each site. Cloud changes that. Data is centralized, secure and available for analysis. Speech analytics for multisite contact centers is a great example of a cloud solution to a heretofore complex problem.

“It would not surprise me if call recording data is held to the same standard as financial data in the accounts receivable management industry. Clients and regulators expect a complete record of all financial transactions and agent documentation on accounts. The agent/consumer audio is critical data that is often glaringly absent. LiveVox makes it very straightforward for multisite contact centers to centralize data in a secure environment. Speech analytics turns that data into risk management and operational improvement gold,” said John McNamara, Chief Marketing Officer of LiveVox.

Join CallMiner, LiveVox and Accounts Receivable Management, Inc. operations and technology executives as they share a path to bypass integration hurdles and implement speech analytics to improve operations and compliance across the enterprise. The event will be held at 2PM, EST, Wednesday, Oct. 17th. Reserve your spot today.

“Leveraging speech analytics to automatically analyze calls can significantly reduce the risks associated with non-compliance for collectors in accounts receivable management. Instead of spot checking recordings, 100% of captured audio can be analyzed to ensure agents are saying things they should, such as the mini-Miranda, and not saying things they shouldn’t. The end result is better customer experience and higher success in collections efforts,” said Scott Kendrick, Vice President of Marketing and Product Management at CallMiner.

WEBINAR TOPICS:

  • Utilizing Centralized Call Recording to address integration challenges
  • Leveraging 100% call recording to maximize speech analytics initiatives
  • Transforming voice data into usable analytics across all operations
  • Practical uses of speech analytics to improve compliance and operations
  • Maximizing the LiveVox and CallMiner partnership for rapid deployment

To register, click here.


DNA, DNA profiling, FBI, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Forensic science, Government, Legal, Science in Society, Testing Services

Sorenson Forensics Launches New Cloud-based Database for CSI Management, DNA Profile Archiving

Sorenson Forensics today announced the launch of its new LEAD (Local Entry Accessible DNA) Database, a secure, cloud-based service designed for local law enforcement agencies to simplify the archival, search and reference of DNA profiles from crime scene samples. The LEAD Database™ was unveiled during the 2012 International Association of Chiefs of Police Conference in San Diego, Calif.

The Sorenson Forensics LEAD Database™ gives law enforcement agents at a local level the control they need to archive DNA profiles collected within their jurisdiction to be easily searched and referenced by an authorized user. By centralizing collected profiles, users can access the database to compare DNA profiles against current crime scene evidence. Using a sophisticated algorithm, the LEAD Database™ searches existing profiles and will automatically notify users when a matching profile is identified, enabling crimes to be solved more quickly.

“The national DNA database is controlled by the FBI, and while federal, state and local public crime labs have access to its information, it is not comprehensive nor does it provide a local database of information that is needed,” said Timothy D. Kupferschmid, executive director of Sorenson Forensics. “With the Sorenson Forensics LEAD Database™, we are giving local control of DNA profiles to law enforcement agencies. This solution enables each agency the ability to handle casework in a way that best suits their individual needs, and expedites the time it takes to get the information needed to resolve cases.”

DNA profiles from evidence samples can be manually uploaded to the LEAD Database™ via a secure Internet connection by a local state crime lab, or samples can be submitted to Sorenson Forensics’ laboratory to be analyzed and added to the database. Sorenson Forensics’ advanced DNA laboratory holds the prestigious ASCLD/LAB-International accreditation.

The LEAD Database™ is the latest in a line of innovative services introduced by Sorenson Forensics to better assist local law enforcement agencies to solve difficult cases. In 2011, the company launched Investigative LEADTM, the industry’s most advanced ancestry DNA test for law enforcement. Since its founding in 2006, Sorenson Forensics has developed an international reputation for providing advanced forensic DNA services, including DNA testing and analysis, expert witness testimony, DNA case reviews, laboratory validation services and evidence screening.

For pricing and purchasing information on the Sorenson Forensics LEAD Database™, contact: salesinfo@sorensonforensics.com.


IceWEB, Storage

IceWEB Launches Unified Storage Appliance Aimed at SMB Market

Image representing IceWEB as depicted in Crunc...

IceWEB Inc. today launched the IceWEB 1000, a Unified Storage Appliance targeted primarily at the Small to Medium Business market. The IceWEB 1000 meets the ever-escalating storage needs of small-sized businesses whose data storage requires professional level solutions with complete protection and reliability.

The IceWEB 1000 comes with IceWEB’s unique automated setup application – the FindIceWeb plug and play utility, which enables a small business person to set up their IceWEB 1000 on their network in just a few minutes. With the benefit of the IceSTORM™ operating system providing all the management and application software capabilities needed to support cloud and virtual computing needs, any business that keeps electronic records is covered.

According to the Small Business Administration there were 27 million home-based businesses as of the end of 2011 and it is expected that 50%-60% employment going forward will be derived from this sector.

“The IceWEB 1000 is the first true unified storage product for small businesses, giving them a simple and painless way to garner professional level solutions for cloud and virtual storage needs. They need this level of storage for a whole host of reasons, but they have been intimidated by high prices and great complexity. We’ve solved both of those for them. For a free live demo, they can call us at 866-239-0470!” stated Rob Howe.

“This launch concurrently addresses the Company’s mission to grow our business by targeting untapped markets while we continue to forge ahead with our marketing strategies for our other product suites in the government, education, medical and commercial markets,” Howe concluded.


AutoDesk, Computer-aided manufacturing, M&A Activity, Manufacturing, SolidWorks

Autodesk Acquires HSMWorks Technology

Autodesk Inc. has acquired certain assets of HSMWorks Aps, a developer of computer aided manufacturing (CAM) software. Through the acquisition of the HSMWorks technology, Autodesk will add software to control machine tools and related machinery to its portfolio of software for manufacturing. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

“The acquisition of the HSMWorks technology brings machining expertise and next-generation CAM technology to the world’s most comprehensive portfolio of manufacturing software,” said Buzz Kross, Autodesk senior vice president, design, simulation and lifecycle products. “Autodesk has a long history of making design and engineering technology more accessible, and we look forward to bringing HSMWorks’ CAM technology to a broader group of users.”

Autodesk intends to integrate the HSMWorks technology with its industry leading software and cloud services for manufacturing, and will make current HSMWorks products available for purchase and HSMXpress available as a free download. Existing SolidWorks customers using HSMWorks will continue to receive support and product updates. HSMWorks Aps is based in Copenhagen, Denmark.


Amazon AWS, IaaS, Larry Ellison, Oracle, Oracle Corporation, Private Cloud

Oracle Going Up Against Amazon with New Cloud Offerings

Oracle’s Larry Ellison once called cloud computing “Complete gibberish” but now Oracle is fully in the Cloud game with new announcements, which BusinessInsider covered in a story over the weekend.

There are two versions of Oracle’s new IaaS cloud. One is a “public cloud” similar to the kind of clouds offered by Amazon, Rackspace, HP, and others, where the hardware is located in Oracle’s data centers. It includes compute services and storage services, Ellison said.

The second is the so-called Oracle Private cloud, where a replica of Oracle’s public cloud is put in the customer’s own data center. Oracle would still own the hardware and be responsible for running it, securing it and updating it

Read the article.


Amazon, Candia, Midokura, Networking, Nicira, Start Up, Virtualization, VMware, Wired

NoSQL Pioneer Pino de Candia Taking Aim at Virtual Networking

Wired has a good article today on some of the geniuses and startups in the Virtual Networking space, and how they might “remake the internet.”

Together with Dan Dumitriu — another Amazon vet steeped in the science of massive computing systems — de Candia is one of the key engineers behind a company called Midokura. Much like the oft-discussed Silicon Valley startup Nicira, Midokura deals in virtual networks — computer networks that exist only as software.

Over the past decade, VMware, Microsoft, and others have helped move the world’s computing applications onto virtual servers — machines that exist only as software — and now, a new of wave of companies is fashioning software for building complex virtual networks that tie all those virtual servers together. That’s a hard concept to grasp, but basically, these companies are moving the brains of the network out of hardware and into software.

Read the article.


Big Data, Memcached, NoSQL, Redis, Research

Redis/Memcached: Even Modest Datasets Can Enjoy the Speediest Performance

A pretty technical blog post over at Garantia Data’s blog relates the results of a recent benchmark test of the effects of cloud intrastructure on Memcached and Redis datasets:

Redis and Memcached were designed from the ground-up to achieve the highest throughput and the lowest latency for applications, and they are in fact the fastest data store systems available today. They serve data from RAM,  and execute all the simple operations (such as SET and GET) with O(1) complexity.

However, when run over cloud infrastructure such as AWS, Redis or Memcached may experience significant performance variations across different instances and platforms, which can dramatically affect the performance of your application.

Read the full post.