IIA launches cloud computing survey

The Irish Internet Association has launched a cloud computing survey, following the publication of a white paper on the subject of web-based services last year. The study, run in association with Sysco and ReadyDynamics.com, aims to gather information about cloud computing adoption in Ireland and to increase understanding of this technology. Last year's survey showed that 43 percent of respondents did not have a clear understanding of cloud computing. Respondents to this year's survey will be sent a copy of the new white paper when the results are published. For more visit IIA.ie.

Time is right to reconsider cloud email services

In more cloud computing news, a new report from Forrester Research says that cloud-based email providers are "rapidly approaching parity" in terms of the services they offer and the prices they charge. Forrester principal analyst Ted Schadler studied the big four providers of cloud-based email - Google, Microsoft, IBM and Cisco - and found that the first two are likely to remain the most popular providers for some time. He advised companies to begin considering who provides their email, and whether they are getting the right service. If not, he urged them to move to another provider. "Over the next five years, most of you will be re-evaluating your email strategy and partner," said Schadler. "Already there is a battle raging to win your business. You will win as vendors compete on price, features, innovation, bundles and service." For more visit V3.co.uk.

Social media a challenge for international marketing

Although social media is enjoying rapid growth, marketers still do not see it as the most effective means to reach international audiences. A survey by Harris Interactive for social marketing platform Buddy Media found that more than 90 percent considered it at least somewhat challenging to reach audiences in local international markets with a unified brand message. The most popular tactics used to market to local audiences were websites with local content (69 percent), print ads (62 percent) and event promotion (59 percent). Less than half of respondents used social media fan pages for this purpose, and less than one-third used paid social media advertising. Websites with local content were considered the most effective tactic, named by 30 percent of brand marketers, compared with just 10 percent who thought fan pages were best. For more on this story visit eMarketer.com. (See our feature article elsewhere in this issue for more on localising website content.)

Digital media have positive impact on store footfall: retailers

Retailers are more likely to see digital media as providing value in driving store footfall rather than in improving the in-store experience. That's according to a new study from retail research firm RSR Research, which found that 25 percent of retailers view having a presence on social networks as providing a lot of value in bringing customers to the store, while 57 percent see it as providing some value. Only 18 percent said a presence on social networks provided little or no store footfall value. However, retailers are far less likely to see digital media as offering value once the customer is in the store, with just 10 percent saying a presence on social networks provided a lot of in-store value. Nonetheless, retailers are slightly more positive about the use of smartphones and PDAs once a customer enters the store, with 12 percent saying such devices add a lot of value to the in-store experience. For more see RetailerDaily.com.

Here are some of the issues our forum members have been discussing in the last fortnight:

• Captcha advice
• Setting up a duplicate .ie website for Irish market
• Best practice for using multi-word domain names

To join the eBusiness Discussion click here.

To view recent threads click here.

Localisation (part two): handling foreign currency transactions

Online payment options for web traders

Case study: Sheilas Flowers

Infrastructure as a service (IaaS)

Instead of buying physical servers (for computing, data storage and disaster recovery), companies can buy infrastructure as a service (IaaS), typically using shared hardware resources based in a data centre. Because IaaS lets companies pay only for what they need, IaaS vendors say this delivers better return for IT investment, as companies avoid upfront capex, maintenance and upgrade costs for hardware. IaaS vendors use tools like virtualisation, real-time data replication, robust high-speed internet connectivity and high-end data centres to deliver reliability in IaaS. Nonetheless, IaaS and other cloud computing services are still regarded with skepticism by some businesses who fear a loss of control over their IT resources.

Crowne Plaza Hotel, Northwood Park, Dublin, September 22 and 23
This event, hosted by independent ERP consultant firm BSM, presents an opportunity to see six leading ERP products pitted against each other over two days. Each product will be demonstrated using a single script (Adobe PDF, 16KB), allowing for a true like-for-like comparison. The event is aimed at organisations that are planning to upgrade or replace their ERP systems.

Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown County Enterprise Board (DLRCEB) is offering grants to part-fund the cost of professionally translating business websites into five languages (Spanish, French, Polish, Chinese and Russian). Both publicly funded service organisations and private sector businesses based in Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown County can apply for a grant. Each approved grant will cover 75 percent of the cost of translating a maximum of 1,500 words of English text. Successful applicants will be approved to incur web translation services worth a fixed value of EUR1,300. The work must be undertaken by a supplier appointed by DLRCEB. Each grant will cover EUR975 of the translation fee.