Del.icio.us
Digg
Facebook
Furl
Google
Reddit
Stumbleupon
Y! MyWebB2B Summit panelists offer technology tips at summit
Integrating technology and business imperatives helps companies reach their goals.
- Related: Photos from the DaytonB2B Summit
Wednesday, October 08, 2008
KETTERING — Don't let technology pressures distract you from business imperatives.
Instead, harness them to your business imperatives. That was one piece of advice from panelists at the DaytonB2B Summit 2008 on Wednesday, Oct. 8, at the National Composite Center.
Bill Pardue, chairman and chief executive of data miner and analytic firm Qbase, advised executives and entrepreneurs to have IT vendors and staff translate technology issues into brief, understandable language.
"Be able to write it down on a napkin," said Pardue, whose Beavercreek firm has 160 employees only three years into its existence. "De-mystify it."
Others agreed.
Jon Dankworth, president of Troy IT services provider Agil IT, said his job often involves getting educated about a client's business and in turn educating a client about which technology direction to take based on the business.
"Forty percent of you have never backed up your data," Dankworth said. "That's an industry statistic."
Advice from Pardue and others included: Insist on knowing how technology will help your business reach its goals. Consider outsourcing IT services, but if you must take on staff, hire and train only "the best."
"What am I going to accomplish in my business because I'm working with you," Pardue suggested entrepreneurs ask IT vendors. "Go for the very specific metrics and milestones. Get it in English."
Other panelists were Dave Heimbach, vice president, product development, Cincinnati Bell, and Jeffrey Cox, partner, Faruki Ireland & Cox.
While Heimbach noted that those taking advantages of IT services sometimes initially experience "sticker shock," investments in client data and security can't be avoided, he and others argued.
"It all comes back to your pocketbook, folks," Cox said.
Pardue sang the Dayton region's praises, telling his audience that his 160 employees includes interns. Local business relocations and outsourcing are "freeing up great talent," he said.
And Pardue credited U.S. Rep. Dave Hobson, R-Springfield, for warning him that if he moved Qbase to Northern Virginia — which was an early possibility — his company would not stand out.
"We are unusually tech-oriented for a city our size or twice our size," Pardue said.
Advice
"It's not just technology. It's understanding how you stay in compliance with government regulations."
Jeffrey Cox, partner, Faruki Ireland & Cox
"If you're not thinking about Facebook now, think about it when you get back to your office."
Bill Pardue, chairman and chief executive, Qbase
"We're letting our clients know what they should hear rather than what they want to hear."
Jon Dankworth, president, Agil IT
Contact this reporter at (937) 225-2390 or tgnau@DaytonDailyNews.com.
