Mark Perera's Posts

@Basti it's throwing up an error at moment. Please see attached, might something I have done.

2010-10-16T02:22:00.001-07:00

How Do You Measure Procurement's Value? Income?

2010-09-26T04:29:00.001-07:00

Over the last couple of months a number of the PIU's members have asked my team to provide them with some inspiration as to how procurement can get more involved in revenue generation. So when I met with David Brown, CEO and Founder of Oxygen Finance, earlier in the month, I was keen to report back on his thoughts as to how procurement could move from the back office, focused on cost savings, to an income-earning front office function.

via procurement-iu.com

Posted via email from Mark Perera's Posterous

Cameron Herold: Let's raise kids to be entrepreneurs

2010-06-26T06:53:00.001-07:00

Check out this video on YouTube:

Sent from my iPhone

Here it is iPhone 4. Build quality seems a lot better than 3g let's hope it holds together better :)

2010-06-23T23:36:00.001-07:00

Highly recommend @scottbelsky book Making Ideas Happen, even after only reading first chapter.

2010-06-03T12:59:00.001-07:00

via tweetie

Looking forward to Jon Kirby's session on 'The expanding role of a CPO'

2010-05-26T00:42:00.001-07:00

Jon Kirby
CPO
AstraZeneca
View bio

The role of a CPO has moved beyond simply delivering cost reductions and supplier rationalisation to being an integral part of how an organisation delivers value to its customers and shareholders. CPOs must ensure that procurement engages strongly with business units to allow a comprehensive understanding of business needs and encourage the development of targets, which are aligned and focused on revenue, cost, cash flow and profitability.

Procurement must be a trusted commercial advisor and be able to provide strategic solutions and input to areas such as outsourcing, emerging market infrastructure and deployment, responsible procurement, effective commercial-sales models, external collaborations and innovation. CPOs must also work in partnership with CFOs to take the lead in providing fiscal understanding across the organisation and ensure that procurement’s contribution to company performance is evident, not only to the board but to analysts and shareholders.

via procurementleaders.com

The premium listing price for supplier to be listed Ariba Discovery is $399 USD

2010-05-25T07:25:00.001-07:00

The Ariba® Commerce Cloud - Video 4 mins

2010-05-25T07:05:00.001-07:00

via ariba.com

Reading Jason Busch's take on Ariba's Cloud Strategy #procurement

2010-05-25T05:17:00.001-07:00

What's my quick take on The Ariba Cloud strategy? Simply put, the Cloud is a very easy place from which to hang Ariba's existing solutions and justify a larger market opportunity. Ariba Discovery, one of the centerpieces of the cloud, is completely unoriginal (it's a modification of the original suppliermarket.com and more recent MFG.com business model), yet making it work requires just the type of liquidity that Ariba has the potential to offer if they can convince the majority of their buying organizations to put down Thomas, Global Spec and others when they're searching for new suppliers (I've never met a large company that uses Alibaba in the West so I don't consider them Discovery competition).

Reading: A Good Sign: Ariba’s Earnings Suggest That Deals are Getting Done (Part 4)

2010-05-20T00:03:00.001-07:00

In wrapping Spend Matters observations on Ariba's latest quarter, there are a few points from the earnings report and conference call still worth exploring in more detail. The first is centered on Ariba's "land and expand" revenue growth strategy, especially in the downstream (i.e., P2P) area. On the call, Bob Calderoni remarked that "we continue to add downstream customers at a healthy clip, and this is key because downstream deals are the solutions that ultimately drive future network volume [emphasis added]. This is another reason we're very excited about the Network Business, and our long-term expectation[s for it]." Reading between the lines of this statement is not difficult. Ariba is likely to be aggressive in P2P pricing in order to win customer business and profit from the high margin network fees -- and potentially other revenue streams -- associated with transaction and dollar volumes down the road. Sound like a Gillette razor blade or Nespresso strategy (i.e., under price the initial solution to make industry leading margins on the back-end)? You bet.

Hoping this bright orange carrot juice will banish my summer cold

2010-05-19T02:26:00.001-07:00

via tweetie

Reading - Ariba Expands Offerings for Small and Medium Enterprises - MarketWatch

2010-05-18T09:35:00.001-07:00

SUNNYVALE, Calif., May 18, 2010 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- Ariba, Inc. /quotes/comstock/15*!arba/quotes/nls/arba (ARBA 14.20, +0.51, +3.73%) , the leading spend management solutions provider, today expanded its offerings to help small and medium enterprises drive better commerce with the launch of Ariba(R) StartContracts(TM). A unique on-demand solution, Ariba StartContracts combines industry-leading technology and best-practice processes to help organizations quickly and cost-effectively manage buy and sell-side agreements, mitigate risk, drive compliance and boost revenue.

"Effective contract management is a critical lever that companies can pull to quickly find contract information, optimize profits and identify risks and opportunities," said Steve Markle, Senior Director, Solutions Management, Ariba. "Traditionally, only the largest of organizations have been able to afford a contract management solution to effectively record and manage their agreements. But that has changed."

Enterprise-Class Software Delivered On-Demand Ariba StartContracts makes contract management automation an option for all organizations. With a flexible, user-based pricing model, the solution provides small and medium organizations with the technology and processes needed to improve their contract management and administration functions without investing substantial time or resources.

Key Features Delivered in a completely web-based environment, the SaaS solution allows contracting, sales, and procurement professionals to enter and manage contracts online in a matter of minutes. And optional electronic signature capabilities make contract execution cheaper, faster, and more secure. With Ariba StartContracts, companies have all the tools needed to:

-- Create a central, online contract repository

-- Specify important fields and terms within agreements to be monitored

-- Manage contracts across the organization using robust free-text search and reporting capabilities

-- Establish task-driven reminders based on important dates and milestones to drive use and compliance

-- Go completely paperless and sign agreements electronically

Ariba StartContracts complements Ariba StartSourcing(TM), an intuitive, web-based RFX management solutions that empowers sourcing professionals within smaller enterprises to create, execute and manage sourcing events from their desktops.

Availability Ariba StartContracts is available and in use today. To learn more about the offering and the value it can deliver for your organization, visit: www.ariba.com/startcontracts

via marketwatch.com

Reading - UK bank to dump BlackBerrys for iPhones

2010-05-18T08:21:00.001-07:00

UK bank Standard Chartered is to offer its workers a switch to the iPhone in a move that could strengthen the corporate appeal of the Apple device and see thousands of bankers ditching their BlackBerrys.
The bank has agreed to pay monthly billing for business-related phone and data services for its employees using iPhones, according to a Reuters report.

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A Singapore-based spokeswoman for Standard Chartered told the news agency that the move is a "group-wide initiative involving wholesale and consumer banks globally".
The spokeswoman confirmed that the process of migrating corporate email services to the iPhone began last month, but gave no indication of when the switchover will be complete.
BlackBerrys are currently the standard device issued to workers at financial institutions, and any potential wider industry switch to the iPhone could take time owing to security concerns, especially surrounding data encryption, the report said.

via v3.co.uk

Teaching the kids to write on the walls thanks to @ideapaint

2010-05-12T07:33:00.001-07:00

Reading: Gartner's Lack of Attention to Detail Reflects on the Firm's Research Rigor

2010-05-12T01:16:00.001-07:00

Last week, I had the chance to catch the final 15 minutes of a presentation by Gartner's Debbie Wilson at an event in Chicago. Even though I missed the front half of her presentation, the half-dozen or so slides I did see had numerous inconsistencies and mistakes that are important to call out here not to nitpick, but for more important reasons I'll get to in a minute (hold that thought before you call me petty). These deck "challenges" included: inconsistencies on period usage (used for some bullets, not others in the same column), misspellings, missing commas, em-dash and hyphen confusion (and substitution next to each other), bullets not aligned in places, capitalization not consistent and the use of passive voice in much of the material I observed. This final comment, though (unlike the other points) is purely subjective, but generally shows an analysts' subliminal distancing from their own research, for one reason or another.

Please vote for Procurement Leaders as the best trade magazine cover in The Maggies Awards 2010!

2010-05-11T02:38:00.001-07:00

Please support the Procurement Leaders team and vote for the Pringles cover at the best trade magazine front cover at the The Maggies Awards!

Here the link to vote : http://www.themaggies.co.uk/vote/#

Reading - Oracle Ups Their Procurement Game via @spendmatters

2010-04-30T22:59:00.001-07:00

Earlier this week, I had the chance to meet with a number of Oracle team members at all levels of their solution organization, within procurement and Spend Management. Some of these personalities I've known for a decade, including David Hope-Ross, who used to sit in my position when I was briefing him as a Gartner analyst during my time at FreeMarkets. Of course, while it would be fun get back at David for his critical quadrants and write-ups of my organization at the time, the actual truth is that for the first time since starting Spend Matters, I'm actually quite impressed with the overall direction of Oracle in the Spend Management world. In fact, I believe they're approaching or surpassing SAP in certain areas, such as their new approach to supplier management and a do-it-yourself classification engine, which eliminates the largely black-box approach of many others in the market. It reminds me of Spend Radar in this regard.

Getting into a lava – why procurement intelligence looks set to erupt - Procurement Intelligence Unit

2010-04-27T06:27:00.001-07:00

A sage analyst once told me that nothing creates more nervousness in the procurement community that uncertainty – which doesn't bode well for the blood pressure of most CPOs at the current time.
Whether its the ongoing economic crisis in the eurozone, fuelled by Greece's precarious financial position, the continued weakness of many of the world's major currencies and the subsequent knock-on effect on the price of oil, or the seemingly endless fall-out from the eruption of the Eyjafjallajokull volcano in Iceland - wherever you look, uncertainty looms large.
For procurement, the problems posed by the various situations unfolding globally are manifest – increased risk, greater exposure to commodity price and currency fluctuations, and potential supply shortages and/or disruption, to name but three.

via procurement-iu.com

Posted via web from Procurement Intelligence Unit

The Ultimate Gadget Decision Flowchart | The Scordit Blog

2010-04-18T01:28:00.001-07:00

via scordit.com

The Dogs of War: Apple vs. Google vs. Microsoft - Apple - Gizmodo

2010-04-18T01:26:00.001-07:00

via gizmodo.com

Procurement at Merck - Howard Richman, Executive Director, Marketing and Commercial Services, Procurement

2010-04-17T12:48:00.001-07:00

Oxwich bay is looking great #gower

2010-04-17T09:41:00.001-07:00

via tweetie

Oxwich bay is looking great #gower

2010-04-17T08:25:00.001-07:00

via tweetie

Purchasing ceases publication today - 2010-04-16 17:10:47 | Purchasing

2010-04-17T01:58:00.001-07:00

Magazine and website will close as part of major divestiture of parent company.

Paul Teague -- Purchasing, 4/16/2010 1:10:47 PM

Reed Elsevier, parent company of Purchasing, announced today that it is closing Purchasing and the magazine's website, purchasing.com, as well as most of its other U.S. publications, effective immediately.
The closing is part of a broad divestiture that itself is part of a restructuring of the London-based Reed Elsevier.
The magazine has published for almost 95 years and has been the leading magazine in the supply chain sector of the economy.
"The readers of Purchasing have one of the most important jobs in industry and will be key players as the economy moves into the recovery phase," said Paul E. Teague, editor-in-chief. "And, the editorial staff is the best I've worked with in more than 30 years in journalism, as evidenced by their nomination as a finalist in this year's Jesse Neal Editorial Awards national competition, the most prestigious competition in business-to-business journalism. They each have done a superb and professional job covering this vital field from their respective beats."
"I am very proud of the entire Purchasing, teams for their professionalism and dedication," said Kathy Doyle, publisher. "I want to thank them and our advertisers for their support. The magazine has brought buyers and sellers together for almost a century."

via purchasing.com

To Shut Down - A Sad Day in Publishing and Procurement

2010-04-16T23:31:00.001-07:00

Earlier this morning, Reed Business Information announced it would shut down all of its 23 remaining trade publications within its portfolio. It had recently attempted to sell its trade titles and was able to find buyers for some publications (21 in total), but a number remained, despite material interest in some of them, which I heard about from various sources. Among the procurement and supply chain titles that are folding, I've learned that Purchasing, Supply Chain Management Review, Modern Material Handling, and Logistics Management will shut down by the close of business today (Friday, April 16). According to an online source I located, the complete list of affected titles includes: "Building Design+Construction, Chain Leader, Construction Bulletin, Construction Equipment, Consulting-Specifying Engineer, Control Engineering, Converting, Foodservice Equipment & Supplies, Graphic Arts Blue Book, Graphics Arts Monthly, HOTELS, Logistics Management, Material Handling Product News, Modern Materials Handling, Plant Engineering, Professional Builder, Professional Remodeler, Purchasing, Restaurants & Institutions, Semiconductor International, Spec Check, Supply Chain Management Review and Tradeshow Week."

ISM and CIPS Cement Reciprocal Agreement | PressReleasePoint

2010-04-13T01:44:00.001-07:00

The world's two largest and leading purchasing and supply management organizations are joining forces to offer professional credentials in North America and the United Kingdom. A new agreement between Institute for Supply Management™ (ISM) and The Chartered Institute of Purchasing & Supply (CIPS) sets forth reciprocity between the two organizations allowing professionals to apply for the respective professional credentials.

via pressreleasepoint.com

Will @Ariba announce a link up to @Salesforce ChatterExchange at next months Ariba Live

2010-04-12T11:53:00.001-07:00

Having just read a press release from Docusign announcing an extension of their integration into Salesforce through the Salesforce ChatterExchange, I'm predicting that Ariba will follow in their steps within 6 months. Maybe even by the Ariba Live at the end of May.

It would make a lot of sense being able to link procurement chatter into your Salesforce Chatter stream, providing sales teams updates on communications, RFI's etc from their customers. My head and gut tells me the integration would between Ariba's Supplier Network and Salesforce.

Here is the approach that Docusign has taken, let me know your thoughts on a potential linkup between Ariba and the Salesforce Chatter Stream.

Posted via email from Mark Perera's Posterous

BBC Sport - Rugby Union - Ospreys agree London Welsh link

2010-04-11T03:41:00.001-07:00

The Ospreys are set to launch a joint initiative with London Welsh, who play in English rugby's second tier.
The teams have signed a heads of agreement aimed at sharing as-yet unspecified "expertise and resources".
The deal has led to speculation the Ospreys will loan players to London Welsh as they target a place in the Guinness Premiership.
An Ospreys statement read: "It is clear that an ongoing partnership will prove mutually beneficial."
London Welsh have been hit by financial worries this season, but remain hopeful of gaining promotion to English rugby's top flight in the future.

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The professional sport in Wales can't support itself without WRU money

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The statement read: "The Ospreys have signed a heads of agreement that could see the two organisations sharing expertise and resources in the future.
"London Welsh have enjoyed a successful season in the Championship, and harbour realistic ambitions of achieving Guinness Premiership status in the coming seasons."

Play #100: Use V2MOM to Focus Your Goals and Align Your Organization

2010-04-07T13:47:00.001-07:00

How to Create Alignment—the Key to Organizational Success

Play #100: Use V2MOM to Focus Your Goals and Align Your Organization

The biggest secret of Salesforce.com was a method to ensure constant communication and complete alignment. Developed V2MOM: Vision, Values, Methods, Obstacles, and Measures.

Vision: helped defined what we wanted to do.

Values: sets the principles and beliefs that are most important about the vision (in priority)

Methods: indicates how to get it done by outlining actions and steps to take

Obstacles: indentified challenges, problems, and issues to overcome to achieve vision.

Measures: specified the actual result we aimed to achieve, the numerical outcome.

Salesforce.com’s First V2MOM, 4/12/1999

Vision: Rapidly create a world-class Internet company/site for Sales Force Automation

Values:

1-      World-class organization

2-      Time to market

3-      Functional

4-      Usability (Amazon quality)

5-      Value-added partnerships

Methods:

1-      Hire the Team

2-      Finalize product and infrastructure

3-      Rapidly develop to beta and production

4-      Build partnerships with big e-commerce, content, and hosting companies

5-      Build a launch plan

6-      Develop exit strategy: IPO/acquisition

Obstacles

1-      Developers

2-      Product manager/bus dev person

Measures

1-      Prototype is state-of-the-art

2-      High-quality functional system

3-      Partnerships are online and integrated

4-      Salesforce.com is regarded as leader and visionary

5-      We are all rich

via insidesales.com

Got a wall, got a couple of pots of @ideapaint , now just need to find the time to paint the wall :)

2010-04-06T03:36:00.001-07:00

via tweetie

BBC News - Departments pledge to cut costs by billions

2010-04-05T01:38:00.001-07:00

The Department of Health says it is to make cuts of £4.35bn over three years in an "efficiency savings" drive.
It is the biggest contribution to £11bn of government savings announced in last year's pre-Budget report.
The Ministry of Defence will cut costs by £700m, education by £1.1bn and work and pensions by £500m.
They say they can do so by moving civil servants out of London, reducing staff sickness and use of consultants but the Tories say it is a "bogus argument".
Some departments, such as health and children, schools and families, will reinvest the savings into "front line" services.

Posted via web from @procurement

Apple iPad (16GB) Tablet Review - CNET Review Apr 2010

2010-04-03T07:34:00.001-07:00

Rethinking Powerpoint: Dan Roam interview

2010-04-02T12:34:00.001-07:00

via digitalroam.typepad.com

Rethinking Powerpoint: Dan Roam interview

2010-04-02T11:49:00.001-07:00

via digitalroam.typepad.com

XCHANGING SIGNS A GBP 50 MILLION 3-YEAR PROCUREMENT OUTSOURCING CONTRACT WITH SELEX GALILEO

2010-03-31T12:42:00.001-07:00

LONDON, UK, Mar 31, 2010 (MARKETWIRE via COMTEX) -- Xchanging's procurement processing platform to drive efficiencies and reduce costs in non-core procurement for SELEX Galileo

LONDON, 31 March 2010 - SELEX Galileo, a leader in the defence electronics market has signed a three year contract with Xchanging plc /quotes/comstock/23s!e:xch (UK:XCH 194.57, -1.00, -0.51%) , one of the largest and fastest growing global business processors. The contract will see Xchanging manage an annual spend of circa GBP 17 million on behalf of SELEX Galileo's UK business.

In providing an enhanced procurement service to SELEX Galileo operations in the UK, Xchanging will consolidate spend management and help reduce overall non-core procurement costs. As part of the contract Xchanging will be responsible for sourcing a number of spend categories including resourcing, learning and development, travel, protective clothing, office supplies, furniture, couriers and freight.

via marketwatch.com

Carl Guarino, CEO, ICG Commerce (Video)

2010-03-30T07:43:00.001-07:00

via vimeo.com

Advanced sourcing with Greg Holt and Dean Arnold from CombineNet (Video 3:58)

2010-03-29T07:29:00.001-07:00

via vimeo.com

More U.S. Companies Feel Unwelcome in China - WSJ.com

2010-03-29T03:57:00.001-07:00

By ANDREW BROWNE And LORETTA CHAO
BEIJING—A growing number of U.S. companies feel unwelcome in China, according to a new survey by the American Chamber of Commerce in China, as measures aimed at squeezing foreign technology companies out of the vast government-procurement market start to bite.

The survey of Amcham's members adds to evidence of a darkening mood among multinational companies in one of their most important global markets.

Negative sentiment among Amcham's members, which traditionally have been a strong lobby in Washington arguing for more engagement with China, adds to wider risks in U.S.-China relations.

So far, there's little evidence that American companies are alarmed enough to pull out. But people with close links to the U.S. business community in China say a number of multinationals are starting to rethink their strategy.

Amcham's survey polled 203 members about planned government-procurement regulations, and also repeated a question asked in annual surveys about the general business climate.

The percentage of companies that feel they are unwelcome to participate and compete in the Chinese market jumped to 38%from 26% in the 2009 annual survey released in December, from and 23% in 2008.

In October, three Chinese ministries posted a notice requiring technology vendors to gain accreditation for products before they could be included in a government-procurement catalog of products containing "indigenous innovation."

Among technology companies questioned about the new policy, 57% said they believed it would negatively affect China operations in the future; 37% said it was already having an impact.

Chinese officials deny the policy discriminates against foreign companies.
Printed in The Wall Street Journal, page A16

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Government's plan to fix football: give clubs back to fans | Football | The Guardian

2010-03-28T15:26:00.001-07:00

The plans include:
• Requiring clubs to hand a stake of up to 25% to fans in recognition of their links with their local community.
• Implementing a change-of-control clause that would allow fans a window to put together a takeover of their club if it was up for sale or went into administration.
• Giving the football authorities a deadline to reform the FA and remove "vested interests" from the board, and streamline decision making.
• Introducing a unified system of governance that co-ordinates issues such as club ownership and youth development.
• Allowing professional leagues and the FA additional oversight of club takeovers.

via guardian.co.uk

Osaka Express turned out to be a good choice :)

2010-03-27T12:56:00.001-07:00

via tweetie

Kevin Brooks of IQNavigator discusses services procurement (Video)

2010-03-26T07:01:00.001-07:00

Rajesh Voddiraju of CVM Solutions talks Supplier Information Management

2010-03-25T03:08:00.001-07:00

Microsoft CPO Tim McBride talks about expanding role procurement at the Procurement Leaders Forum.

2010-03-24T09:27:00.001-07:00

via tweetie

Listening to the CEO of Beroe present on Supply Risk at Procurement Leaders Forum

2010-03-24T06:32:00.001-07:00

via tweetie

Procurement Leaders Forum - Chicago

2010-03-24T05:54:00.001-07:00

Karl and the team have come up with a great new ad - match.com TV advert - duet ad

2010-03-17T02:44:00.001-07:00

Seth Godin: Sliced bread and other marketing delights (video 18mins)

2010-03-13T02:23:00.001-08:00

Tories pat small biz heads in open source IT procurement pledge • Channel Register

2010-03-12T01:30:00.001-08:00

Tories pat small biz heads in open source IT procurement pledge

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Claims Conservative government would cap tech +£100m contracts

By Kelly Fiveash • Get more from this author

Posted in IT Channel, 11th March 2010 13:15 GMT

Shadow chancellor of the exchequer George Osborne claimed today that the Conservative party, if elected to form the next government, would meet its "ambition" of ensuring that the next generation of "Googles, Microsofts and Facebooks" were British companies.

The Tories pledged in their technology manifesto that they would be the "first country in Europe to extend superfast 100 mbps broadband across most of the population".

 

If David Cameron's party is invited by HRH the Queen to form a government following a general election that many expect to happen on 6 May, the Tories claim they will publish a litany of expenses online.

The Conservatives would cough up central government and quango spending on anything over £25,000, all UK.gov tender documents for contracts worth over £10,000. Every item of local government spending over £500 will also be published, according to the manifesto.

via channelregister.co.uk

Posted via web from @procurement

An iPhone app to put the fear of God into London Underground

2010-03-11T06:22:00.001-08:00

[UK] Anything that makes the form-filling associated with claiming a refund less tedious is a win for consumers. But it’s also a potential nightmare for governments and companies that provide the services we rely on. Les paper work, more claims.

Enter Tube Refund, an iPhone app that aims to significantly reduce the time and effort it takes to file for a refund for a delayed train journey on London’s Underground (metro).

The app utilizes the iPhone’s form filling functionality to complete the refund form and then submit it to London Underground’s website with “almost no work from the user”, after the initial set-up at least. A user’s main details are stored in the app so that to make a claim requires only a few extra details thereafter, such as the station and time of scheduled travel and when the actual train arrived. A delay of over 15 minutes on London Underground qualifies for a refund.

via eu.techcrunch.com

Ariba Inc. (ARBA) Chairman and CEO Robert Calderoni sells 18,553 Shares -- GuruFocus.com

2010-03-11T02:23:00.001-08:00

Chairman and CEO of Ariba Inc. (ARBA) Robert Calderoni sells 18,553 shares of ARBA on 03/09/2010 at an average price of $13.05 a share.
Ariba Inc. has a market cap of $1.17 billion; its shares were traded at around $13.15 with a P/E ratio of 47 and P/S ratio of 3.4. Ariba Inc. had an annual average earning growth of 31.1% over the past 5 years.
ARBA is in the portfolios of Steven Cohen of SAC Capital Advisors.

via gurufocus.com

Just got home from business meeting and now consuming a meatball sundae thanks to @sethgodin

2010-03-09T15:19:00.001-08:00

via tweetie

Practical Approaches For Tackling Services Procurement from @emptoris (video)

2010-03-08T23:01:00.001-08:00

BBC Sport - Rugby Union - Tommy Bowe gunning for Shane (video)

2010-03-08T14:35:00.001-08:00

Now You’re The New Dork (Video) - Genius

2010-03-08T12:30:00.001-08:00

via techcrunch.com

iPad TV Commercial - 2010 Oscars

2010-03-07T22:50:00.001-08:00

Sourcing Innovation: Playscripts? PLAYSCRIPTS? Are we going back to Kindergarten?!?

2010-03-07T12:34:00.001-08:00

I was a little annoyed with the chosen focus of a recent article by Mr. Michael G. Jacobides and very annoyed with the terminology chosen in Strategy Tools for a Shifting Landscape (subscription required), a recent article in the Harvard Business Review. While I agree that some companies need to reinvent the way they develop strategy, I'm not sure that strategy should be "defined" by narrative plots, subplots, and characters and definitely convinced that the last thing we want defining corporate strategy is a "playscript".
Business is, well, business. Not playtime. And while it shouldn't be duller than necessary, it shouldn't be all fun and games either. Businesses exist to benefit shareholders. And unless you're a production house generating content for web, TV, and Movie studios, writing scripts is not going to benefit your shareholders in any way. And while I agree that plots, subplots, and characters might be the best way to describe your strategy to all of the members of your organization, who might otherwise speak different languages (mechanical, programmatic, sales, etc.), a strategy should still be backed up by some research, which is typically expressed in the "maps, graphs, and numbers" the author is telling us to avoid.
And while I also agree that the typical frameworks used by industry analysts (five forces and maps) and blue ocean thinking (value maps and value curves) are better at managing the strategy process than enabling the creative and critical thinking required for success, the last thing we want to do is replace one insufficient framework with another, less sufficient framework. While a story might make a great vision, you can't execute a story. You can only execute a plan, and that requires more than plots and subplots -- it requires processes, steps, and success metrics, captured in traditional maps, graphs, and number formats. So while anything that encourages creativity is great, if all we do is focus on the production of play scripts (instead of including them as another tool in our creativity toolbox to get people brainstorming), our strategies will never progress beyond the imaginative vision of a kindergartener.

via blog.sourcinginnovation.com

Just note that the Doctor also picked up this article, he is not so positive.

Jason Busch talks about his new research offering

2010-03-07T00:36:00.001-08:00

via vimeo.com

Posted via web from Marks Videos

Welcome to Square

2010-03-03T23:21:00.001-08:00

67 Million-Year-Old Snake Fossil Found Eating Baby Dinosaurs | Wired Science

2010-03-02T00:12:00.001-08:00

via wired.com

Reading SpendMatters: Coupa and Ariba -- Analyzing Comparative Claims (Part 1)

2010-02-25T00:54:00.001-08:00

Last week, Coupa launched an attack campaign against Ariba. Today, I'll start a series in which I'll analyze Coupa's claims and compare them to reality. My goal is to clear the air for those who read the campaign's claims and want an unbiased, outside opinion. In this first post today, I'll tackle a few of Coupa's initial claims and see whether they hold weight -- or not. Later this week, I'll analyze the rest of Coupa's claims against Ariba, and in a final post, I'll put out a few claims I'd make if I were Ariba going up against Coupa (I'll also provide Coupa the opportunity to respond to these in a later column, but to be fair, only after the post goes up; after all, Ariba did not have any advance notice of Coupa's campaign against it). Let's begin.

Defining Supply Chain Finance (SCF) - Procurement Intelligence Unit

2010-02-23T05:34:00.001-08:00

David Brown

Mon 22 Feb 2010 14:47

A simple definition of the term "Supply Chain Finance" can be descibed as payment, In what form this takes, is a decision for both the buyer and supplier i.e. Post Approval, Pre Approval etc. A prime model used in our every day life that represents a Supply Chain Finance transaction is the use of credit cards. The Buyer purchases his goods and Services on Day 1, the supplier seeks authorisation to accept the P.O. and secures finance to underwrite the transaction [cost in the region of between 1.5% - 4%], generallly settled within 72 hours, after the purchase. The buyer pays in full for the purchase some 58 days after the transaction and therefore preserving cash flow. The prime question here?? Is this early payment or Supply Chain Finance, or both?

via procurement-iu.com

Checking out Coupa Sam Schools SpendGuy video - #procurement #coupa #ariba (video)

2010-02-21T07:07:00.001-08:00

via coupa.com

Is this what the Iphone 4g will look like?

2010-02-20T13:21:00.001-08:00

via mobilemag.com

Reading: In a world of risk, is scenario planning the answer?

2010-02-12T08:34:00.001-08:00

Online analysis: In a world of risk, is scenario planning the answer?

Who could have predicted the scale of economic upheaval of the last two years? It's not a rhetorical question - because most likely it's very few. But those that were able to prepare, to some degree, for such an eventuality have the opportunity to not just survive, but to be in a stronger position when the dust settles.

via procurementleaders.com

Checking out @wooders new bike. Not sure of the colour.

2010-02-12T00:11:00.001-08:00

via tweetie

Learning about the cheapest way to import bikini's, thanks to the @Supplierforce (Video 4mins)

2010-02-11T07:33:00.001-08:00

Gatland explains Wales team picks - Wales recall Halfpenny and Thomas for Scotland clash

2010-02-09T14:03:00.001-08:00

Checking out Google Buzz

2010-02-09T13:18:00.001-08:00

Dan Ariely: Bonuses boost activity, not quality

2010-02-06T01:20:00.001-08:00

via wired.co.uk

Reading: Lessons learned from Toyota's vehicle recall

2010-02-05T11:06:00.001-08:00

In this latest guest post, Kris Colby, director of spend management services at Ariba, discusses how Toyota's recent vehicle-recall debacle offers lessons for us all. The biggest? Solid risk management processes can save companies in the long run.

Toyota is well-known for its manufacturing prowess and strong supplier ties. That's exactly why this week's news about the accelerator problems for over 2 million vehicles came as a shock to so many of us. The impact of this episode will be long-term, far-reaching, and very expensive.

Supply risk specialists speak often about the three distinct kinds of supply risk (brand, commodity, and disruption). While this episode at Toyota may not have hit a trifecta, they are certainly dealing with an awful daily double. The only thing that might be more expensive than the disruptions in their supply chain could be the hit to their brand.

via blog.procurementleaders.com

Martin Johnson and Warren Gatland talk about 2010 Six Nations - Part 2 (video)

2010-02-05T11:05:00.003-08:00

via vimeo.com

Martin Johnson and Warren Gatland talk about 2010 Six Nations - Part 1 (video)

2010-02-05T11:05:00.001-08:00

via vimeo.com

Wondering how procurement influences demand within your business? http://bit.ly/dspMkC

2010-02-02T06:38:00.001-08:00

Breaking news - Capgemini and IBX join forces. Leif Bohlin explains all.

2010-02-02T00:56:00.001-08:00

Capgemini and IBX join forces

Leif Bohlin
CEO, IBX Group AB

Dear customer and business partner,

As this letter reaches you, news will soon be made public that Capgemini has acquired 100% of the shares of IBX. See press release below.

This acquisition was truly a joint decision.
In the summer of 2009, Capgemini and IBX entered a partnership agreement where our on-demand e-procurement solutions were integrated with Capgemini’s business process outsourcing (BPO) platform.

It quickly became obvious that Capgemini had the most forward looking vision, the global scale and the ambition that we felt created the best opportunity for our existing clients and the staff and management within IBX. Not least, we saw a level of entrepreneurial spirit and customer focus that was greater than any of the other competitors in the market.

The move from business partnership to full integration and ownership is therefore a fantastic opportunity not only for IBX but also for all our customers and business partners.
Evidently, our customers will notice little difference on day one. The IBX company will remain as before, although as a part of Capgemini.

In the longer term, however, market leading solutions within Capgemini Procurement Services constitute a perfect complement to IBX’s offering. Our customers and partners will have a true global provider (Capgemini is present in more than 30 countries on five continents). Furthermore, investments in the IBX product offering will increase and this guarantees continued pioneering technological development.

Our feeling at IBX today is a feeling of great excitement and pride. Together with Capgemini, we will be creating the industry’s first end-to-end on-demand procurement solution.
“Procurement as a Service”

We hope that you will continue to share the benefits of dedicated procurement expertise with us.

My very best regards,
Leif Bohlin, CEO IBX Group and newly appointed Head of the new combined procurement BPO service entity

Please contact us if you have any questions.
See index (to the left) for the official press release in different languages.

Capgemini Launches Innovative On-Demand,
Procurement-as-a-Service Solution through Acquisition of IBX

Capgemini acquires purchasing solutions provider IBX to deliver industry’s first end-to-end solution for managing global sourcing strategies

PARIS and STOCKHOLM, February 2, 2010 – Capgemini Group today announced its acquisition of on-demand purchasing solutions provider IBX and with it, the availability of the industry’s first global end-to-end, Procurement-as-a-Service offering. Having collaborated together since summer 2009, Capgemini and IBX decided to join forces in order to drive development of a new global procurement service offering and further expand the addressable market for IBX’s best-in-class technology. The deal adds IBX’s strength in software-as-a-service purchasing technology to Capgemini’s global sourcing, business process outsourcing (BPO) and transformation expertise.

According to AMR Research 1), outsourcing of supply management processes has grown in recent years: “The market grew 30 percent in one year, driven by procurement and strategic sourcing services being offshored to India in record numbers.” With a solid track record on the BPO procurement area, Capgemini is ready to tackle this new growth opportunity and will make use of its Rightshore® delivery network including strong offshore operations in India, China, Brazil and Poland.

IBX, a recognised pioneer in the field of e-purchasing, is headquartered in Stockholm, with 240 employees located across Europe and in the US. The company is a strong cash-generating company with 30 million Euros of revenues and an EBITDA 2) margin of 16 percent. IBX operates 2 million purchase orders per year - a purchasing volume of 12 billion Euros - for more than 200,000 end users. Its clients include some of the largest and most recognized corporations in the world including Ericsson, Kraft Foods, IKEA, Deutsche Post DHL, LEGO System, Skanska and Deutsche Lufthansa.

“Joining forces with Capgemini strengthens our global capabilities, paving the way for the next generation of a Procurement-as-a-Service provider. Collaboration with Capgemini started in late summer and has been very positive. Capgemini’s competence within outsourcing and procurement and global reach is very impressive. When combined with IBX’s software-as-a-service purchasing technology platform, global supplier network and sourcing and procurement expertise, we will be able to provide even better solutions for our customers”, said Leif Bohlin, CEO of IBX Group and newly appointed head of the new, combined procurement BPO service entity.

“Procurement platforms can provide immediate gains for companies looking to outsource processes. In addition, we enable clients to manage their sourcing strategy on a global basis, helping them manage their business better,” said Hubert Giraud, global leader of Capgemini BPO. “Now that our unique offering provides the end-to-end capabilities from transformation consulting to global sourcing, organizations need only seek a single partner for procurement outsourcing. Not only does the fully integrated approach achieve significant savings faster, the required investment to recognize and achieve the saving is also less.”

The new end-to-end BPO procurement solution will include a full suite of products & services, including business process outsourcing, the software-as-a-service procurement platform, and an established global supplier network with more than 20,000 suppliers.

The transaction should be finalized by the end of February, subject to the approval of the relevant anti-trust authorities.

1 AMR Research (acquired by Gartner, Inc.): “The 2009 Supply Management BPO Landscape: Short-Term Body-Shopping Trumps Business Transformation,” Phil Fersht & Mickey North Rizza, June 2009
2 EBITDA: Earnings before Interest, Taxes, Depreciation, and Amortization

Posted via email from Mark Perera's Posterous

SpendMatters: Friday Rant: The Straight Dope on Procurement and Supply Chain Conferences (Part 1)

2010-02-01T01:24:00.001-08:00

I'm often asked my opinion on events and conferences. While I've tackled this subject on Spend Matters a number of times, it seems that I’m getting more and more questions lately from providers about what events they should sponsor this year, and from practitioners about what events they should invest their time, money, and precious travel budgets to attend. In today’s rant, I’ll share a few thoughts on what I consider worthwhile events to attend in 2010, as well as some of the not-so-well-kept secrets behind some that will help you gauge the objectivity of the presentations. Let’s begin.

Reading @danschawbel Me 2.0 and grabbing coffee whilst the ladies in my life shop :)

2010-01-31T07:06:00.001-08:00

Reading @danschawbel Me 2.0 and grabbing coffee whilst the ladies in my life shop :)

via SimplyTweet

“The most successful people are those who are good at Plan B.”

2010-01-30T23:41:00.001-08:00

“The most successful people are those who are good at Plan B.”

- James Yorke (1941- )

Have you ever felt that the bulk of your life amounted to doing your best to make your ‘Plan B’ work, despite recurrent longings to somehow get back to working from a Plan A? Well if this describes you, take solace from these words of James Yorke. It may be that there was good reason that Plan B took precedent, even though we commonly are at a loss to discover what that good reason might have been.

So first of all, it is not a bad idea to have a ‘Plan B’. Having one can give you a safety net so that you can move your ‘Plan A’ forward with considerably less stress and fear.

Second, make the best of ‘Plan B’. Get even better at implementing it with passion, intelligence and grace. As Mr. Yorke says, doing so will also lead to success.

Perhaps, once ‘Plan B’ is for the most part accomplished, you may now have the time and resources to formulate a new ‘Plan A’ that is more aligned with your deeper inner aspirations.

via famousquoteshomepage.com

Vodafone launch their UK iPhone campaign - outstanding phone. outstanding network. I'm sold. Sorry @O2

2010-01-27T04:10:00.001-08:00

via tweetie

Test on zi8

2010-01-22T14:29:00.001-08:00

via vimeo.com

Posted via web from Marks Videos

Reading about Emptoris's expansion into China #procurement

2010-01-22T01:02:00.001-08:00

Beijing, China and Burlington, MA -
(January 21, 2009) - Emptoris, Inc., a world leader in strategic supply management software and enterprise contract management software, today announced the company's expansion with the opening of operations in China. Emptoris China launches with full service offices in Shanghai, including sales, product development, professional services and customer support staff – as well as a dedicated suite of Supply and Contract Management Solutions designed for Chinese companies.

The company also announced that William Li, an executive with more than 14 years experience in enterprise software and supply chain management, including senior positions with Ariba, PeopleSoft and Oracle, has joined the company as General Manager & Group Vice President of China for Emptoris.

via emptoris.com

WANT - garry's subposterous

2010-01-22T00:33:00.001-08:00

via garrysub.posterous.com

Sign up to the this free webinar "Using demand management to drive procurement excellence" http://bit.ly/8DbLbt featuring PIU

2010-01-21T13:33:00.001-08:00

Using demand management to drive procurement excellence
54% of CPOs are using demand management to a greater extent to help cope with the economic downturn, while 77% expect a further increase in use in 2010.

The term ‘demand management’ is used in a number of different ways. In a supply-chain context it can mean either controlling the procurement of goods and services by an organization’s employees or optimizing each part of the supply chain to better serve customer demands. A new executive research report from the Procurement Intelligence Unit (PIU), focusing on the former aspect as it applies to both indirect (non-production) and direct (production) spend, discovered that among a range of perceived benefits, pitfalls and successes, 54% of CPOs are using it to a greater extent since the economic downturn hit, while 77% expect a further increase in its use in 2010.

Three main ‘demand levers’ can be manipulated to achieve demand management's objectives: specifications, usage policy, and volume; this requires alignment and behavioural changes within the enterprise which must be overseen and encouraged by procurement, hence taking the procurement function beyond its traditional role of negotiating unit prices with suppliers.

Join us for this interactive webinar hosted by David Rae, editor, Procurement Leaders, Gerry Garcia, Managing Director, EMEA Spend Management Services, Ariba and Neil Deverill, former CPO, Anglo American, Philips and strategic advisor to the PIU who will outline this game-changing concept including:

* What is demand management and what is procurement’s role in maximizing the opportunity?

* Adoption levels across leading organizations and key enablers for your organisation?

* The opportunities and challenges it brings.

Bringing together Procurement (the act of buying) and Intelligence (The capacity to acquire and apply knowledge) in perfect harmony ;)

2010-01-21T13:08:00.001-08:00

GoPro makes the world's smallest and coolest wearable 1080p video camera.

2010-01-21T12:47:00.001-08:00

via vimeo.com

Testing out posting update via new post.ly service

2010-01-21T12:37:00.001-08:00

looks like it might be really helpful

codegent : Codegent launches new Web Apps Business

2010-01-21T12:36:00.001-08:00

via codegent.com

Reading - MetLife creates CPO position - John Vazquez - bet he doesn't have the energy of Roy ;)

2010-01-19T07:37:00.001-08:00

MetLife has named John M. Vazquez vice president of vendor sourcing and corporate services as well as chief procurement officer (CPO). In this new role, Vazquez will lead the IT vendor management and sourcing and global procurement teams at MetLife in addition to his current duties as head of corporate real estate and services.
"John has demonstrated solid leadership in managing MetLife's real estate operations as head of corporate real estate and services and has 25 years of experience in building supplier relationships," says Margaret (Peggy) Fechtmann, executive vice president, global capability sourcing. "His management and industry experience will enable him to strengthen our valuable relationships with suppliers and maximize the efficiency of our organization."
As head of corporate real estate and services since joining MetLife in 2004, Vazquez has managed more than 15 million sq ft of real estate and was responsible for leasing, facilities management, construction and workplace design. He also oversees records retention and records information management, fulfillment, mail and workplace amenities and services.
Vazquez also plays a lead role in MetLife's sustainability efforts. He oversees the company's owned and operated real estate portfolio, which includes 11 Energy Star-rated and two Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design (LEED) certified properties.
Before joining MetLife, Vazquez was senior vice president, global facilities management at JP Morgan Chase. He received his bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering from Manhattan College in 1984 and an MBA degree from Sacred Heart University in 1994.

via purchasing.com

Reading - Buddying up to procurement - Accountancy Age

2010-01-17T11:57:00.001-08:00

Procurement professionals are becoming more influential in the selection of accountancy firms, and that involvement looks to rise. So how do you become of a buddy of procurement and win the client? Is procurement there to drive fees to the lowest denominator or can you engage them in other ways?
‘Strategic sourcing’ initiatives may indeed vary in their implementation but are definitely on the rise, both in the public and private sectors.

Advertisement

Accountancy firms have experienced many different approaches. On the one hand, they have faced aggressive short-term focus and price-driven tenders, on the other, they’ve encountered complex discussions with procurement focused on assessing the long-term value their organisation will gain.
So, not all procurement involvement focuses on reducing fees. Your challenge is to work out what their key motive is and satisfy it in a way that’s profitable for you.

via accountancyage.com

Google's Sexy Nexus One Pushes Android to New Limits - @Wired Product Reviews

2010-01-15T21:23:00.001-08:00

via wired.com

Reading - Ariba Says Court Of Appeals Affirms Patent Infringement Rulings Against Emptoris

2010-01-15T00:53:00.001-08:00

Ariba Inc. (ARBA: News ) announced that the Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit affirmed the judgment entered by the Texas District Court in January 2009 that the electronic sourcing product of Emptoris Inc. infringes two Ariba patents.
Ariba added that the Federal Circuit's decision left undisturbed the injunction entered by the trial court that permanently prohibits Emptoris from selling versions of its sourcing products that infringe the two patents. The injunction only applies to specific sourcing code, which Emptoris says it removed from its products over a year ago.

via rttnews.com

Watching - Introducing Coupa Supplier Network (Video)

2010-01-14T00:58:00.001-08:00

via vimeo.com

Reading - Would You Track Your Kid by GPS? | GeekDad | Wired.com

2010-01-11T14:09:00.001-08:00

Question: if you had the ability to track your child’s every movement during the day, would you do so? Or is this an example of helicopter parenting taken to extremes? How about tucking a portable GPS unit in her backpack?
Partaking in my Saturday morning ritual of coffee accompanied by a laptop to scan through the daily newspapers, I came across a Toronto Star article by reporter Robert Cribb, who has been testing the Entourage PS, a portable device offered by a Canadian company called Blackline GPS. (Wired reviewed an earlier version of this technology by the same company in 2008.)

The twist on this one is that Robert used the GPS to track his 5-year-old daughter during her walk to school, slipping the GPS into her backpack, then monitoring it remotely (on his computer screen or Blackberry). The father in me definitely sees the appeal of this capability — it’s very similar to the initial wave of comfort I felt with the concept of being able to log on and watch the goings on at the daycare on webcam. And like the webcam, the initial “that’s an awesome idea!” phase wore off a bit the more I thought about it, replaced with the feeling that maybe these things are going just a little too far.

via wired.com

Reading - How will suppliers handle Wal-Mart now?

2010-01-08T23:20:00.001-08:00

The news this week that Wal-Mart would be breaking with its procurement companies to buy direct from suppliers, with the aim of achieving up to $12bn savings over the next five years, could hardly escape Procurement Leaders' notice. The company has incredible purchasing power and has consistently led the way on initiatives to improve its purchasing strategy and drive down costs. Yet this isn't simply removing the middle-man: the whole relationship of grower and retailer will have changed.

via blog.procurementleaders.com

A look at Google Nexus One "superphone"

2010-01-08T23:15:00.001-08:00

Ariba downgraded earlier to Average at Caris & Company (ARBA)

2010-01-07T00:38:00.001-08:00

Ariba downgraded earlier to Average at Caris & Company; tgt raised to $14 Earlier, Caris & Company downgraded ARBA to Average from Above Average and raised their tgt to $14 from $13. The firm notes that they view the On Demand sector as one of the more attractive areas within software given the secular back drop and improving fundamentals. Although valuations within the group have improved, they remain far from peak or even historical midpoints. However, even if the firm extends the implied multiple of ARBA's On Demand segment inline with historical peer group averages, the firm derives only moderate upside from current levels. This assumption appears generous given the decelerating trends in this segment. The firm believes that this combined with slowing margin expansion and the looming potential for an M&A leaves little room for the ongoing enthusiasm for the stock.
Briefing.com is the leading Internet provider of live market analysis for U.S. Stock, U.S. Bond, and world FX market participants.

via news.moneycentral.msn.com

Know the Code - Ralph Lauren uses QR Codes on marketing campaign #qrcodes

2010-01-06T15:55:00.001-08:00

An example of a two-dimensional, QR code which is capable of storing and transmitting information directly to your phone.
Polo Ralph Lauren included a QR code on a US Open advertising campaign in August, 2008. If scanned by a cell phone, the code would link a user directly to a new mobile site.
A sample of Polo Ralph Laurens mobile site as it appears on a phone after having scanned a QR code
A QR code displayed on a camera-equipped mobile phone in Tokyo, where the codes are in wide use.
A user snaps a picture of a coded billboard advertising the DVD release of horror film 28 Weeks Later.

Tourists walking around San Francisco last spring found a new way to locate the best food in the city: small images that looked like bar codes, adorning more than five hundred restaurants and businesses. When the codes are scanned with a digital camera–enabled smartphone, they provide instant access to Citysearch reviews and other Web-based content. But this is only the beginning of what these codes can do, according to Jonathan Bulkeley, chief executive officer of Scanbuy, the developer of the ScanLife bar codes that were plastered all over the City by the Bay.
“You’ll be able to walk past fruit at the supermarket, scan an apple, and see when it was picked and where it came from,” says Bulkeley. “While buying hair dye, you’ll be able to scan the code on the signage and see instructions. You can create your own code, put it on a T-shirt, and then let people scan your shirt and link directly to your MySpace page.”
Asian consumers are already doing all of the above and more with two-dimensional bar codes that come in many varieties. QR (or Quick Response) codes, which are the standard in Japan, embed several hundred times more information than a traditional bar code, and people can scan posters, print ads, and business cards to get additional information about movies, products, concerts, music, and even one another. Rishad Tobaccowala, chief executive of Denuo, a unit of advertising agency Publicis Groupe, points out, “People have their phones with them all the time. They like using them, and handsets like the Apple iPhone are getting people used to getting more with their cell phones. They want instant access and a way to look up information while they are out and about.”
The codes are appearing in newspapers and magazines and on billboards. In the States, Polo Ralph Lauren is pioneering the use of this technology in the fashion field. When people scan items that appear in ads—the US Open tennis tournament will kick off an initiative that includes billboards, banners and print ads marked with codes—they are connected to an e-commerce site where they can shop directly from their phones, view the collections and even read this very article within RL Magazine.
The codes extend into personal advertising, too. Semacode is collaborating with Facebook to allow users to send people they meet a link to their online profile by having them scan a Semacoded “social card.”
There are plenty more options on the way, especially as both Apple and Google, with its bar-coded Consumer Response Tag (CRT), come on board. Google is developing an open-source code reader called ZXing (still in testing), and third-party developer NeoMedia has already released a NeoReader for Apple’s iPhone 3G.
Interested in using the codes but count yourself among the 250-million-plus American cell phone users who don’t own an iPhone? According to Tobaccowala, you won’t have to wait long, because the “wow” factor will help spread demand for codes very quickly. “People are communicating in voice and SMS,” or short message service, he says. “They want a way to walk by a poster, take a photo of a code, and instantly get a movie trailer, or be able to pass a concert poster and scan a code and go to the Ticketmaster site. The industry is poised to get there, and it’s going to start happening within the next six to twelve months.” Or, in the case of Polo, today.

via entertainment.ralphlauren.com

Estate agent QR code marketing

2010-01-06T15:41:00.001-08:00

via qrme.co.uk

Barclays Bank UK QR Code #qrcode

2010-01-06T13:01:00.001-08:00

2d-code reader “Cherky” sent in this picture of a large QR Code sticker in the window of the Canary Wharf branch of Barclays. It looks like it will be difficult to read with its reversed light and dark, and very little space around the code. It actually decodes to “Happy Christmas from all of us at Barclays” but I would be interested to know which QR Code readers can and can’t interpret the code. Please leave a comment below if it works for you (or not!).

Tweet this post

via 2d-code.co.uk

Reading 'War of the dossiers' heats up as Tories turn attention to defence spending | Politics | The Guardian

2010-01-06T02:03:00.001-08:00

The Tories are to intensify the pressure on Labour in the "war of the dossiers" by publishing a document outlining how billions of pounds have been wasted in defence procurement.
As the two parties both declared victory after the launch of the pre-election battle on Monday, which saw both parties release lengthy documents trashing their rival's economic policies, the Conservatives are to turn their attention to defence with the help of a former Labour adviser.
Bernard Gray, the chairman of TSL Education who recently conducted a critical review of defence procurement for the Ministry of Defence, is to advise the Tory high command for a new dossier on wasted public spending. One senior Tory said: "There are public reports that the defence procurement budget is billions of pounds over budget."

via guardian.co.uk