Collaborative Solutions Enhance Productivity

Innovative new software and hardware solutions enable growing companies to enhance collaboration and improve communications.

Since the introduction of Adobe's Portable Document Format (PDF) fifteen years ago, document exchange has become simple and ubiquitous. Adobe Acrobat 9 Pro takes secure document creation, control, and collaboration to new levels.

Acrobat 9 Pro (from $449 for full version) enables you to create, manage, and deliver consistently professional-looking documents, as well as makes the process of collaborative document development secure and as easy as browsing the Web.

A variety of templates speed the creation process, while online collaborative tools simplify the input and review processes. Multiple files, including Flash animations and H.264 video, can be quickly combined in a searchable PDF Portfolio for secure distribution to clients or colleagues.

In addition to the creation of business letters, reports, and marketing materials, Acrobat 9 Pro enables you to create and distribute interactiv forms. Response data can easily be tracked and exported for analysis. Acrobat 9 users can also take the program online to Acrobat.com, where a versatile collaborative environment facilitates document and screen sharing, and webconferencing.

Unifying Communications

A reliable voice and data communication system is central to running a successful business.

Avaya IP Office for small and medium businesses can help office, remote and mobile workers collaborate better, improve customer service, and increase overall productivity. Employees can transform a home phone into an office phone, receive calls simultaneously on an office or mobile phone, or host a large conference. Remote workers talk with their colleagues using a laptop with Avaya software, headsets, and Internet connection.

Sharing Resources

Network-ready multifunction machines help create high-impact printed material, and the fax function can speed up communication.

The latest network-ready, multifunction machine from Samsung can print, copy, scan and fax in color. Ideal for workgroups or small offices on a tight budget, the Samsung CLX-3175FN color laser unit features a compact footprint (16.3 x 14.7 inches), and fast, economical operation. This sub-$400 unit prints crisp, black text at up to 17 pages per minute (ppm), and high-impact color presentations at 4 ppm, with an effective resolution of up to 2400 x 600 dots per inch. The Samsung S.T.A.R. toner recycling program also makes purchase of this unit an eco-conscious decision.

Remotely Access Assets

From spreadsheets and reports, to presentations and e-mails, important business files require increasingly more storage space. External storage drives offer ample digital space and secure remote access. Western Digital's MioNet DriveAccess software enables users to access content on its My Book Office Edition drive, remotely from Windows PCs. These drives turn on and off with the host computer, and WD's Safe Shutdown prevents the drive from being powered down until all your data has been saved. Comparable terabyte-plus shared storage appliances with different feature sets are available from Seagate/Maxtor, Apple, LaCie, Iomega, NetGear, and Buffalo Tech.

Effective communications and collaboration are critical to business success, and the selection and use of appropriate technologies can make it easier for your employees to work well with teammates and customers, wherever they may be.

Avaya

Answering the Call to Regain Lost Productivity

In a recent survey of more than 250 small business owners in five countries, Avaya, a world leader in Unified Communications, discovered the pain points of SMBs, based on employees' lost productivity. "Although most firms know that business suffers when employees are out due to illness, bad weather, or the need to care for a family member, most don't know or measure the actual cost," said Geoff Baird, vice president and general manager, Small and Medium Business Division, Avaya. "The few who did the math said it cost them almost $20K annually."

In response, Avaya has designed a solution that enables a growing business to reach out to its employees, by helping them stay connected to the office from anywhere, at any time. "Our Unified Communications for Small Business solution helps a company empower its entire team with the communication tools they need to be productive and responsive -- even when away from the office," noted Baird. To learn more about Avaya's UC solution, please call 1-866-GO-AVAYA, or visit http://www.avaya.com/change.