VAR

VAR
This is a term tossed around my industry.  Does VAR mean anything to you?

Maybe it means "Value at Risk"?

Maybe it is a variable in Java script?

How about "Value added Reseller"?

Any clearer?  Not to me either. 

I'm in the software industry and in the software industry a VAR is a Value Added Reseller. 
BLAH BLAH BLAH. 
Still means nothing to the costumer.

So I thought that I would shed some light on the term VAR from a VAR point-of-view.

I would like to trade out the title of VAR and exchange it for something like "My geek broker" or "Our Paradigm Shift Consultants".   I took that from one of Robert Urwiler's Hierarchy of IT Value.

I added "My" and "Our" because we work for you.  So possessive is appropriate. We also specialize in listening to your needs and formulating a solution that meets your specific needs. 

We are an extension of your business.  We consider ourselves a partner in your organization, and we want to help you achieve your goals.  Since we have assisted many other companies there are some best practices that we share but we are there to help you with your biggest business PAIN.  Just call us, and we are glad to listen and suggest solutions.  We have a quiver of products that will help you with a solution.  Most of our recommendations have very quick ROIs (returns on investments) and we will even help train your staff on how to use these "solution" tools.

So VAR and Value Added Reseller are terms labels us from the product side of the industry.  I would like to reverse that perspective and come up with a some terms other than VAR from the customers side.

I'd like to post the top 5 ideas for new terms that would replace "VAR".  Please add your thoughts in the comments below.  I will post them the first week of January.

Oh ya, please check out our website to learn more about "your geek broker".  http://www.mountain-scanners.com/
Jon Zalinski
Mountain Scanners

Business "New Normal", are you prepared?

Businesses today are finding their "New Normal".  The feeling that we have hit the bottom and now it is time to prepare for the future is something that I am hearing of more and more.  Still, some are saying that we have not hit the bottom yet, but for the most part there is a growing concern for business in the future.  Here we are today and how will we or should we prepare for the future.

Payroll has been adjusted.  Fixed costs are trimmed.  So what next?

How does my business prepare for the future and exist in this "New Normal" climate.

Now understand that Mountain Scanners is a reseller of information management systems and a document scanning service bureau.  So I will address the inner office or back office, because this the heart of the organization.  It is also where we spend most of our time.

Many of you have your inner office processes down to a "T".  With any increase in the economy you are prepared to either do more work with the same amount of staff or hire someone in the hopes that we are "seeing things turn around".  This is where I would ask you to stop for a minute.

Step back and ask yourself a few questions.

How am I meeting my new customer's needs?  Is my company positioned to GAIN a competitive advantage to all of the other companies that are doing what our company does?  How can I exceed my new client's expectations, in the hopes that they will refer my business to another potential client?


I think doing the same as what you did in the past will only prolong your "New Normal" struggle.

Find ways to improve your inner workings.  Use technology to help you with your improvements.  There are a lot of uses with your existing technology that will improve your inner office that will "WOW" new customers with improved customer relations.  Position your business as the leader in this "New Normal" climate and grab as much market share as you can.

As you can imagine, there is a sea of products out there and very little time to research them all.  I suggest that you start in one department and then move to the next.  Maybe start with your AP department.  Improved customer/vendor relations could save you thousands of dollars a year.  (ie. Better terms with vendors on products, or answer customer questions on the same phone call) Your business must change to meet these "New Normal" expectations, and if you  exceed these expectations your business is positioned for the future.

If you like what your reading and/or would like more information on how we help business and organizations of all kinds, please visit our website at http://www.mountain-scanners.com/ or call me.  Click our "Contact" tab on our website for our number.

Jon Zalinski
Mountain Scanners
"The information that you need should be at your fingertips."