I am looking to replace my existing car. I have narrowed it down to a Ford. So off I go on Saturday to engage with the local Ford dealers. During my travels I visit a leading Ford dealer in Edinburgh, they show me the car, it looks like it will do the job. So now [...]

We have just completed a concept / software requirements specification for a client. The design automates a process that currently is extremely laborious. All over the specification I have put confidentiality notices. I have now passed the final version of the specification to my client for feedback and approval. After a couple of days I [...]

I have for many years been quite shy about singing my own praises. I am gradually getting better at it, but still feel uncomfortable. Why is it that people who can “DO IT” tend to be shy about telling others, where as people who “CANNOT” are very apt at telling everyone the good news story? [...]

Many companies are paying too much for their hosting packages! We have been working with one company who has had a hosting package in place for about 6 years now. Back in 2006, the world was a very different place. At the time they were paying a very competitive £2500 a month; using virtualisation we [...]

Few company owners have got to where they are by being stupid! However many companies start with modest beginnings and invariably the skills that are employed are the skills of the founding directors. As the company grows however, the number and breadth of skills required can quickly swamp the founding directors. This is not necessarily a [...]

This client is a bricks and mortar retailer with an eCommerce website. They are very active in both producing high quality product photography, but also location photography showing the products in use. The photography team have been taking a huge amount of time when they get back to the office after a shoot, matching the [...]

Something I have noticed recently, both myself and with clients. A number of the bigger companies are starting to hike their prices. If you look online, their headline pricing may be competitive. However if you pay monthly, a number of the companies are hiking the monthly fees. Two good examples: Intuit – Quick books. A [...]

In principle I love the cloud. I use it all the time. When I am away from the office I use it all the time to access documents that I have prepared. However I was away a week ago and thought I would get ahead of myself and started preparing a training course that I [...]

How often do you get time to think? I mean think properly. As company directors we are supposed to be strategists. However we often find ourselves as firefighters. I work with a number of companies as a freelance technical director. This has two major benefits: It allows my clients to have the benefit of a [...]

eCommerce and ePos system New client based in the North East, their Web Developer has been working for 9 months on a new shopping cart / eCommerce website and an ePos system for the shop that links to the website. Their total current online and shop sales total £1.2m. Their existing website is dire and the [...]