Brooktrout Fax Board Rebate Is Back

Many of our fax server customers still utilize and rely on the Brooktrout line of fax boards as a key component to enable the fax server to communicate with the PSTN. These boards have been very stable and reliable over the years and have served our customers well.

As server manufacturers migrate to utilizing a PCI Express (PCIe) buss, many of our customers are faced with the decision of either purchasing new fax boards that will work in the new server slots, or migrating away from fax boards and moving to Fax over IP.

Dialogic (Brooktrout) and Diem Technologies have teamed up to help our customers with either of the options above by offering a rebate for the trade in of existing fax boards for new boards or the SR140 Fax over IP software. This rebate is available between October 1, 2011 and December 31, 2011.

Products that can be purchased to qualify for the rebate are:

• Dialogic®Brooktrout®TR1034 Fax Boards ($100.00 per port) — (1) Trade in boards that have the legacy ISA or PCI buss architecture that no longer fit in new servers for the new PCIe standard that offers both TDM- and IP-based fax capabilities. (2) Trade in analog boards for digital so you can consolidate multiple analog lines into a single T1 or ISDN PRI circuit and leverage DID routing for inbound faxes

• Dialogic®Technology Expansion Capability ($100.00 per port) — Upgrade the channel capacity on existing TR1034 digital boards and receive a $100 rebate on upgraded channels

• Dialogic® Brooktrout® SR140 Fax Software ($50.00 per por) — Software that provides Fax over IP (FoIP) capabilities for integrating fax servers and fax management solutions with VoIP networks.

Contact Diem Technologies at 972-421-4300 or sales@diem.com for more information on how you can take advantage of this rebate offer.

The Future of Fax Is?

Fax has a long and rich history that commenced with Alexander Bain, Scottish inventor in 1846.Moving from 1846 through to mid 1970's fax experienced three significant and distinct technology advances.

1. The first was Wire transmission

2. Second Wireless transmission

3. Third Telephone transmission It was this advance, still with us today courtesy of the PSTN, coupled with innovation that delivered the fax machine.

These highly ubiquitous devices were readily adopted by business both large and small.

4. The fourth advance in fax technology was the invention in 1985 of PC-to-fax communications by GammaLink Inc a company now acquired by Dialogic.

Not long after this RightFax was born and went on to be the dominant network fax solution for the corporate and government market.

So back to the question, what is the future of fax?

From a technology standpoint we're currently experiencing...

5. Fax over IP (FoIP), the fifth technology advance.

Around 2009 Dialogic brought to market a software fax card, which coincidentally aligned with other significant technology trends such as virtualization of server hardware. Within the corporate market physical fax servers are being replaced with virtual servers utilizing the Dialogic software fax card.

Clearly capital and capability are needed to make significant changes in a technologies future direction. Those who invest in R&D will drive the future because they will innovate. Through innovation they will create customer value resulting in the next significant advancement of fax technology. Investment will be supported by organizational strategy, people and leadership. Across all attributes of the business model success will come from these elements.

OpenText has the strength of capital, capability, strategy and innovation. They are the leader now and I predict they will remain so in their market segment. The OpenText Platinum Partner channel understands that the exchange of documents by fax is crucial to many organizations in all types of industries. For Diem Technologies and OpenText customers I think the future of fax is exciting, innovative and assured.

Biggest Users of EDMS

Electronic Document Management Systems (EDMS) are a pivotal tool for businesses. The benefits of using a systematic solution are far reaching. Benefits include savings on labor and space costs associated with manual filing and processing; improving security and document compliance, consistently destroying documents in accordance with financial/regulatory requirements and helping the environment just to name a few.

And while the benefits of EDMS are clear, who are the real users of EDMS?

Honestly, any business function that is heavily paper-oriented is a candidate. Some of the departments that benefit most from an EDMS solution include:

· Account Payable. According to an accounts payable study sponsored by the American Institute of CPAs, the average billion-dollar company processes 12,500 invoices per accounts payable employee annually, at a cost of $3.55 per invoice; the world's best finance and accounting departments, however, process invoices at a cost of only $0.35 each. Reducing processing costs from $3.55 to $0.35 for 12,500 invoices saves $40,000 per accounts payable employee, which is higher than their average annual salary.

· Accounts Receivable. Similar to AP, the AR department is heavily bogged down in manual processing tracking invoices, dunning notices, payment arrangements, lines of credit etc. EDMS systems allow you to organize information more effectively which can prevent disconnecting someone inadvertently or allowing a credit risk to remain in service for an extended period of time.

· Human Resources. If you have started a new job in the last 10 years, you can relate. The forms required for new hires are voluminous to say the least. From resumes, to background checks, to insurance information to emergency contacts, all these papers accumulate in a paper file. An EDMS solution not only allows you to capture information more efficiently but also secure confidential personnel data more effectively.

· Claims/Work Orders. Organizations that are service-oriented, handle disputes, process award coupons, manage requests for financial reimbursements (such as insurance or medical claims) are prime candidates for automation. Streamlining enhances the ability to respond timely to customers and resolve issues with confidence.

· Legal/Regulatory. Contracts and legal documents require secure handling as well as the ability to access key data at a moment’s notice. An EDMS solution improves collaboration and fosters sharing of information in a controlled manner.

If your department handles a significant volume of paper an EMDS solution may be right for you.

3 Symptoms that your Process Improvement efforts are failing

The pressure is still on for most businesses to reduce operating expenses, improve customer satisfaction and increase profits. With the recession end nowhere in sight, business process improvement efforts are often initiated for long term success and more importantly survival.

Far too often, however, process improvements efforts fall flat. According to a leading expert in process management, there are 3 key symptoms that may indicate you have a failing process improvement journey.

Symptom #1: Lack of Executive interest and commitment
Lack of executive support or interest may serve as a warning sign that your efforts are not viewed as delivering real value to the business.

Often senior managers demonstrate superficial commitment. For example, they may delegate ownership of process improvement efforts to subordinates; they may not be a part of project-selection or find time for reviews etc. Support from your leadership team is crucial to on-going success.

Symptom #2: Focused on the wrong things
Time and time again, project managers spend hours reporting grandiose benefits for system initiatives, but the positive impact is not felt by the customers or business teams. Cynicism can quickly set in as a result. It is important to focus on results, not reports.

Additionally there is an old saying “if you build it, they will come”. Far too often IT leaders invest in software solutions in an effort to help the business without engaging the right resources upfront. By failing to define “how” the new functionality will enhance day to day functions, users become overly focused on the tool vs. the business approach.

With an Electronic Document Management System (EDMS) for example, finding and selecting a software package tool is fairly easy. Defining how the business functions will be mapped and completed in your office is where some of the real hard work begins.

Symptom #3: People are asking: “What happens after...?”
Alarm bells should be ringing if people ask "What happens next? To counter this, make sure that you have a clearly defined roadmap in place so that people can see the bigger picture. Creating a phased approach is a good way to avoid swallowing the elephant whole and articulating an approach that is achievable and realistic for your organization at large.

Diem Technologies has the experience and expertise to help you with your document management imperatives. We help to define the ROI, work with you to map business processes and create work plans for long-term project success.

OpenText Establishes No. 1 Status in Enterprise Fax Server Market

The enterprise fax server market has evolved over the years from simple desktop faxing and integration with email systems to large geographically dispersed organizations leveraging Fax over IP and integrating with a host of enterprise software applications.

There have been many players in this market over the years but very few who have stood the test of time. We as a top fax server integrator since 1993 have sold a number of different solutions because each one had a particular strength or market focus and there was a need to carry a handful of other solutions. However, over the years a few of the visionary providers broadened and enhanced their solutions to the point where it no longer made sense for resellers to carry multiple products.

RightFax by Open Text is one of those solutions that benefited from this foresight and has become the number one enterprise fax server solution in the market with close to 25% market share according to Davidson Consulting in a recent press release (see below).


New Independent Report by Davidson Consulting Confirms OpenText Fax Market Leadership

Waterloo, ON. - 2011-08-23 - Following on the heels of the release of OpenText RightFax 10 comes news from Davidson Consulting, a fax industry analyst firm, stating that OpenText Corporation (NASDAQ: OTEX, TSX: OTC) continues to extend its positioning as the world's leading provider of enterprise fax server software based on 2010 sales.

As detailed in the "Computer-Based Fax Markets, 2010-2015" report (available at www.davidsonconsulting.biz), OpenText secured a more than 25 percent share of the overall market and notably took over the leadership position in the fast-growing Fax over Internet Protocol (FoIP) segment.

"OpenText is on a roll. The company now offers RightFax 10 and is not only the leader in overall fax, but has taken the lead in IP fax as well. OpenText now has Cisco-compatible offerings that challenge Sagemcom in its area of traditional strength," Peter J. Davidson, president of Davidson Consulting, writes in the recently released report.

The release of RightFax 10 in June represented a significant milestone in the product's history. In addition to enhanced support for cloud-based office systems, the new release features a number of enhancements that make it easier, faster and more secure for customers to integrate faxing into their business processes and workflows. These new features include barcode routing, searchable PDF delivery and enhanced Microsoft Outlook 2010 and Lotus Notes 8.5 integration. It also added optional accessibility support that meets mandates under the Americans with Disabilities Act.

Read the complete press release.

Tips for selecting an EDM vendor

Electronic Document Management (EDM) is one of the fastest growing software applications. More and more organizations are realizing the benefits of electronic storage, delivery and management of business documents. However not ALL document management and imaging solutions offer the same benefits or value to the end user.

According to Tony Bray, author of Version One, there are several things to consider when selecting the right EDM software vendor.

1. Standalone or Integrated Solution? These days, businesses are not looking for independent solutions. Organizations want EDM technologies that are tightly integrated into their core business systems, including accounting, ERP, CRM, HR etc. It is important to find a solution provider that offers existing interfaces to the solutions that are pertinent and critical to you r business. This will help reduce customized code expenses and improve the overall implementation timeline.

2. Full range of EDM Solutions? It is important to think long range when you are investing in any software solution. Selecting an application that solves just one problem might be good in the short term, but consider what other features or functionality you may need down the road. Even if you don’t plan to implement key functionality until much later, knowing your solution provider “can do it” will eliminate having to gut your existing system and start over down the road.

3. Experience level? There are many document management software vendors in the marketplace but how many have the quality of products and level of experience to fulfill your needs? When selecting a solution provider, research the company, its products and customers thoroughly.

4. Support Availability? The software vendor selected needs to offer a comprehensive training and support program, including a technical support team to assist with implementation and on-going issues that may arise during day to day operations.

Software purchase decisions are important to your business. It takes research and thought to select the right vendor and the right tool for true automation. By choosing carefully, the benefits are substantial including an increased competitive edge, a greatly enhanced value proposition and a much-improved bottom line.

Diem Technologies has a proven track record of delivering the right solution at the right time for our customers. With over 20 years of business experience, we offer you fully integrated alternatives, a wide array of feature/functionality to grow with your business, a top notch support team and the experience to guide you through the transition process. Let us help you optimize performance and start automating your business today!

Virtual Employees Help the Bottom Line

In the past, heading to the office was easily depicted as a long commute with lots of traffic, horn honking and stress. Realistically, the average professional began their work day around 9:00 a.m. after a quick stop by the coffee station. The day ended much like above with everyone scrambling to get out of the office before 5:00 p.m. in order to beat the traffic and make it home for dinner at a reasonable time.

Flash forward to the Millennium and the work at home movement… or the Virtual Employee!

Suddenly professionals were no longer trucking it across town. Businesses were reducing office space. And to top it off, employees were ready at work by 7 or 8 a.m. offering longer days and more work productivity overall.

For many business leaders the idea of going “Virtual” was not an option. The technology was not ready and without proper communication and measurement processes, a business owner might not be able to maintain the desired or required level of service.

But with the advent of VOIP or Voice of IP, remote communication options were not only affordable but reliable as well.

Beyond reducing office space, are Virtual Employees good for my bottom line?

The answer is yes, according to the October 2010 Cisco World Report.

In fact, Respondents of the survey reported that they desire work flexibility and specifically the opportunity to work remotely. In fact 66% of those surveyed reported that they would be willing to accept lower paying jobs to achieve more work flexibility.

Additionally employees from the Cisco study specifically stated that they felt strongly about having the flexibility to work anywhere and that it would dictate their company loyalty (13 percent), choice of jobs (12 percent), and morale (9 percent).

Going virtual requires that your employees have access to all the necessary information and files that are readily available at the office from a remote location. However, manual processes, with paper copies stuffed in file drawers for example, make this kind of work environment unattainable.

Automating work flow is a necessary step to enabling virtual employees. Not sure where to begin? Diem Technologies are the leaders in document automation. Let us help you automate your business and improve employee morale in the process!



Note: The Cisco sponsored study involved surveys from 2,600 workers and IT professionals in 13 countries.