Virtual is the new Reality!
Jul/100
Virtualization is one of the fastest growing areas in the current I.T. market. Deemed as “Green IT”, it is providing opportunities to improve computer performance and end user productivity as well as cutting costs.
Virtualization at the server level is more established, however, desktop virtualisation is gaining ground. Virtualization’s value comes from its simplicity – the ideal that there will be one desktop operating system, one copy of each application and one instance of each server workload. The most obvious benefit is that the operational costs in the area of technical support will be reduced for companies. However, continuous innovation in desktop virtualization will also start to provide firms with a more flexible and adaptable desktop environment, allowing users access to the workplace from out-of-office locations at any time.
Virtualization and the companies involved in it are getting recognition at industry level for their advances into this type of technology. VMware collected awards for “Green IT Initiative of the Year” as well as “Technology Industry Company of the Year” at this year’s ICT Excellence Awards. At the same time, the Microsoft Ireland Virtualization Campaign won the “Technology Marketing Campaign of the Year”
So how is this affecting job opportunities in the current market? Well first of all, there is a definite increase in the numbers of roles in IT Infrastructure and Support that require Virtualization skills, with familiar job titles such as ‘Technical Support Engineer’ being replaced with ‘Virtualization Engineer’. Secondly individuals have wisely invested time and effort into achieving Virtualization certifications in order to meet the changing needs of current and potential employers. And thirdly, recruiters need to ensure that they understand the virtualization technologies that their clients are expecting in order to identify the most appropriate candidates.
Virtualization is here to stay and keeping up to date is the key to unlocking the potential in this area of IT.
Source : ComputerScope June 2010
Social Media: Return On Investment
May/100
Social Media ROI (Return on Investment)
- Social Media = Positive ROI
- Over 300,000 businesses have a presence on facebook.
Gary Vaynerchuk grew his family business from $4 million to $50 million using social media.
Vaynerchuk found:
- $15,000 in Direct Mail = 200 new customers.
- $7,500 in Billboards = 300 new customers.
- $0 on Twitter = 1,800 new customers.
Wetpaint/Altimeter found companies widely engaged in social media surpass their peers in both revenues and profits.
- Company sales with highest levels of social media = +18%
- Company sales with least social activity = -6%
Lenovo = 20% reduction in call centre activity as customers go to community website.
BK Whopper Sacrifice facebook application:
- Estimated Investment < $50,000.
- Estimated Return: > $400,000 in press/media value.
- 32 million free media impressions.
- That’s like reaching the combined population of 19 US States.
Blendtec quintupled sales with “Will It Blend?” YouTube Videos.
Dell sold $3 million worth of computers on Twitter.
- Only 18% of traditional TV campaigns generate a positive POI.
25% of Ford’s marketing spend is on Digital/Social Media.
- “You can’t just say it. You have to get the people to say it to each other.” – James Farley, CMO Ford
- 37% of Generation Y was aware of the Ford Fiesta via social media before its launch in the US.
- They are the only US auto company that didn’t take a government loan.
Naked Pizza set a one day sales record using social media.
- 68% of sales from Twitter.
- 85% of new customers from Twitter.
VW goes 100% Mobile for launch of GTI
Social media is only for B2C = false.
- Tweets for a Cause sent out a tweet from Atlanta to encourage support of Susan G. Komen for the Cure.
- Retweets from @marshable, @G_Man, @zaibatsu and others caused Atlanta Chapter site to receive 11,000 visitors in 24 hours.
InTUIT introduced “Live Community” into their TurboTax products 2 years ago.
- Unit sales up by over 30% each year.
Software company Genius.com reports 24% of social media leads convert to sales opportunities.
President Barack Obama
- 5 million fans on social media.
- 5.4 million clicked on an “I voted for Obama Facebook button”.
- 3 million online donors = $500 million.
- 92% of donations were in increments of less than $100.
The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Centre
- 9.5% increase in registrations using social media.
Web host provider Moon Fruit:
- $15K social media investment
- Website Traffic up over 300%
- Sales up 20%
eBay found participants in online communities spend 54% more money.
Customer support cost = $12 via the contact centre vs. 25 cents via self service.
“Why are we trying to measure social media like a traditional channel anyway?
- Social media touches every facet of business and is more an extension of good business ethics – Erik Qualman”
- “You can’t buy attention anymore. Having a huge budget doesn’t mean anything in social media …
- The old media paradigm was PAY to PLAY.
- Now you get back what you authentically put in. You’ve got to be willing to PLAY to PLAY.” – Alex Bogusky, C–Chairman, CP&B.
- Think of Twitter as the canary in the coal mine – Morgan Johnston (JetBlue Airways)
71% plan to increase investments in social media by an average of 40%, because:
- Low Cost Marketing
- Getting Traction
- We HAVE to do it.
MacDonalds:
- “Our head of social media is the customer”.
What is the cost of doing nothing?
Find Out More: http://www.enoov.com/ytplinternet.html
D&B Jobs in Dublin!
Apr/100
D&B, formerly known as Dun and Bradstreet, officially launched in Ireland on 9th February 2010. They are the worlds leading supplier of business information and will be setting up their hub for Irish operations in Sandyford, Dublin.
D&B is the world’s leading and longest-established business information company. For 166 years they have been providing business, credit, receivables and marketing information to more than 140 million clients spanning over 200 countries. D&B provides solution sets that meet a diverse set of customer needs globally to mitigate credit and supplier risk, increase cash flow and drive increased profitability.
Their Dublin-based operation will serve customers through a range of technology and operations functions. It will be responsible for the collection and processing of data on subject companies. As part of this operation they will be looking for highly skilled java developers at all levels for permanent positions. They will be recruiting for over 200 positions within the next 18 months for the Sandyford office and so have partnered up with Premier Recruitment.
Premier Group: Appointed Recruitment Partner for D&B
Feb/100
We are delighted to announce that Premier Group has been appointed Recruitment Partner for US Firm, D&B.
Business information firm D&B is to set up operations in Dublin, creating up to 100 jobs over 18 months.
The US-based company, formerly known as Dun and Bradstreet, provides commercial information and insight on businesses. Its global commercial database contains more than 140 million business records in over 200 countries.
Recruitment will begin in the coming months and we are very excited to be a part of this new operation.
To read more go to http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/breaking/2010/0209/breaking38.htm
Verkom Initiative Website now Live
Oct/090
We are delighted to announce that the Verkom Initiative website is now live - www.verkominitiative.com
The Verkom Initiative is Premier Groups contribution to ensuring some of Ireland’s brightest technology entrepreneurs have access to a group of commercial business mentors, from the world of finance, legal, HR and technology.
This access is facilitated by Ireland’s leading IT Recruitment Company by;
- Network events
- Access to Mentor Panel
- Seminars
- Face to face business reviews to identify where and why the companies need assistance
If you are interested in finding out more about the initiative check out our website or call us on 021 2300 333 /01 4321501
Verkom Sponsors IT@Cork Leaders Awards Ceremony 2009
Aug/090
Verkom sponsor and attend IT@Cork Leadership Awards 2008
Verkom sponsor and attend IT@Cork Leadership Awards 2008
Verkom are delighted once again to be a main sponsor of the IT@Cork Leaders Awards Ceremony – Recognising Leaders in Technology Innovation 2009.
Organised by IT@Cork, this prestigious event will take place on 22nd October at the Vertigo Lounge. The Leadership Awards recognises some of the leading companies and individuals in the IT community that are driving progress.
The event will recognise and award Leaders in Technology and Business Innovation in 7 categories:
- High Potential Start Up
- High Growth Company
- R&D Project
- IT Department
- Sustained Excellence
- Green Technology
- Excellent in Education
If you are interested in finding out more, or to nominate, please visit www.itcork.ie