http:// 2013-06-11T01:55:00Z 2013-06-11T01:55:00Z infoready-launches-new-marketing-intelligence-practice

Melbourne, Tuesday 11 June 2013: Business Intelligence consultancy, InfoReady, has announced the appointment of digital marketing authority, James Forbes, to spearhead its new push into the emerging marketing intelligence niche. A senior international business leader with over 18 years experience encompassing digital marketing, business strategy, product management, marketing communications and brand strategy, Forbes has a solid reputation for growing brands and digital businesses. He joined InfoReady in February after nine years in senior roles with Telstra and believes the combination of his marketing expertise and InfoReady’s proven capabilities in building enterprise information management systems will result in real-world solutions to drive marketing outcomes for clients. Responding to Demand “Up until now, Big Data solutions have primarily been internally focused, helping companies to inform their operational decisions. More recently, we’ve started seeing CMOs and marketing professionals looking for ways to more effectively harness their data assets to drive revenues and other business outcomes.” Forbes said the recent proliferation of digital channels has transformed marketing practices by changing the way in which organisations interact with their customers and prospects, while generating a wealth of data about purchasing transactions, social media engagement, demographics and more. “With InfoReady’s deep technical expertise across the full spectrum of information management, big data and data intelligence, coupled with my extensive experience across brand and digital marketing, we can play a unique role in helping our clients to leverage their big data to differentiate themselves in the market,” he said. Award-winning Expertise InfoReady’s technical and business performance was highlighted in March when it won the IBM Australia/New Zealand Information Management Partner of the Year for 2012, just weeks after being named IBM Global Information Management Rookie for the same year. The company’s data intelligence capabilities have generated growth of more than 100 per cent per annum over the past four years and Forbes said Marketing Intelligence is the next big growth opportunity. “Our new Marketing Intelligence division will offer clients a range of tools and solutions to capture and track data along the value chain, particularly around customer expectations and experience. This will be used to drive competitive advantage by improving conversion, deepening customer engagement and building loyalty,” he said. Translating Big Data for Marketing Outcomes “Because we understand the challenges and objectives of marketers, we can translate the data expertise and capabilities within the organisation in a way that empowers marketers to maximise both the impact and ROI they can achieve through their initiatives.” Forbes said that as consumers become more empowered and demanding of suppliers, the intelligence that companies can glean from their data assets will be critical in informing both their decisions about product and service development as well as the ways in which they engage with customers. “Whether we’re analysing the ROI of investing in different channels for a company operating an omni-channel retail environment or helping companies to mine their mountain of data for more effective marketing approaches, InfoReady’s Marketing Intelligence division will deliver results that empower business growth,” he concluded.Media Contact:Caroline Shawyer The PR Group Tel: 0401 496 334 E: caroline@prgroup.com.au About InfoReady InfoReady is an award winning Information Management consultancy that helps companies become smarter by transforming their data into intelligence. Founded in 2008 InfoReady specialises in Data Management, Business Intelligence and Marketing Analytics. InfoReady’s highly qualified consultants have experience working with a large range of clients across many different industries: Telecommunications, Utilities, Banking and Finance, Investment Banking, Aviation, Retail, Manufacturing, FMCG, Resources, Local and Federal Government (Housing, Health, Education, Tax), Defence, Pharmaceutical, Insurance, Professional Services (Accounting), Building and Construction. The company employs 80 information management and big data professionals across their three offices in Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane. www.infoready.com.au

2013-06-06T23:06:00Z gartner-says-australian-business-intelligence-cpm-and-analytic-applications-performance-management-software-market-grew-11-2-in-2012

Worldwide business intelligence (BI), corporate performance management (CPM) and analytics applications/performance management software revenue totalled $13.1 billion in 2012, a 6.8 percent increase from 2011 revenue of $12.3 billion, according to Gartner, Inc. Tough macro conditions and confusion related to emerging technology terms led to more muted market growth than in previous years.Australian revenue for the software segment grew 11.2 percent to reach A$436.1 million in 2012, up from $392.1 million in 2011. "After a few historic banner years of spend in the BI software market, which culminated in more than 17 percent growth in 2011, growth was more subdued in 2012, at seven percent," said Dan Sommer, principal research analyst at Gartner. "While this seems like a dramatic drop, it was in line with our forecasts published during 2012." Gartner identified five key market dynamics that affected BI software spend and growth in 2012. The first two of these — challenging macronomics and term confusion around "analytics," "big data" and "BI" — had a negative impact on market growth while the third — BI spending moving outside of IT, causing the semantic layer to go into maintenance mode — had a neutral effect. However, the fourth and fifth dynamics — data discovery becoming a mainstream architecture and software as a service (SaaS), while still emerging, being the preferred option for granular analytics — were drivers of market growth. While all five of the top five BI software vendors worldwide retained their top five status, IBM and SAS exchanged places to move IBM into third position and SAS into fourth (see Table 1). IBM grew 9.9 percent in 2012, with revenue of $1.6 billion. The top five vendors together accounted for 70 percent of the total BI software market revenue. In first place, SAP once again had significantly higher revenue than any other vendor at $2.9 billion with 22.1 percent of the market, although this was up by just 0.6 percent from 2011. Second-place Oracle's revenue grew by 2.0 percent from 2011 to reach $1.9 billion. Fifth-place Microsoft enjoyed the highest growth of the top five vendors in 2012, with revenue rising by 12.2 percent compared with 2011, to reach $1.2 billion. Table 1. Top5 BI, CPM and Analytic Applications/Performance Management Vendors, Worldwide, 2011-2012 (Millions of Dollars) Company 2012 Revenue 2012 Market Share (%) 2011 Revenue 2011-2012 Growth (%) SAP 2,902.5 22.1 2,884.0 0.6 Oracle 1,952.1 14.9 1,913.5 2.0 IBM 1,625.6 12.4 1,478.8 9.9 SAS 1,599.7 12.2 1,542.9 3.7 Microsoft 1,189.3 9.1 1,059.9 12.2 Others 3,861.90 29.3 3,416.00 13.0 Total 13,131.1 100.0 12,295.1 6.8 Note: SAP reports in Euros, and faced currency head wind that hampered growth in USD. Source: Gartner (June 2013) "The business intelligence space managed to grow by a reasonable seven percent in 2012, despite difficult macroconditions, being on the tail end of a spending cycle, and confusion related to emerging technology terms causing a hold on purse strings," said Mr. Sommer. "On the positive side, data discovery became a mainstream architecture in 2012 and the vendors built on this paradigm gained market share, while most semantically layered BI platforms grew in the single digits, at best. Cloud-based buying is also starting to make an imprint on the radar, showing substantial growth, although cloud still accounts for a smaller portion of the BI market compared with other application markets." On a regional level, Europe and Latin America showed subpar growth because of tough macroconditions and currency headwinds, which impacted vendors with a heavy weighting toward those geographies. Eurasia, the Middle East and Africa, and Asia/Pacific, however, continued to display double-digit growth patterns. More detailed analysis is available in the report "Market Share Analysis: Business Intelligence, Analytics and Performance Management, 2012." The report is available on Gartner's website at http://www.gartner.com/resId=2477022. About Gartner Gartner, Inc. (NYSE: IT) is the world’s leading information technology research and advisory company. Gartner delivers the technology-related insight necessary for its clients to make the right decisions, every day. From CIOs and senior IT leaders in corporations and government agencies, to business leaders in high-tech and telecom enterprises and professional services firms, to technology investors, Gartner is a valuable partner in more than 13,000 distinct organisations. Through the resources of Gartner Research, Gartner Executive Programs, Gartner Consulting and Gartner Events, Gartner works with every client to research, analyse and interpret the business of IT within the context of their individual role. Founded in 1979, Gartner is headquartered in Stamford, Connecticut, USA, and has 5,500 associates, including 1,402 research analysts and consultants, and clients in 85 countries. For more information, visit www.gartner.com.

2013-06-06T06:46:03Z new-motor-insurance-brand-youi-achieves-most-recommended-status

Brisbane consulting firm Engaged Marketing today released findings from their annual Consumer Recommendation and Loyalty Study for the motor insurance sector announcing the motor insurers most likely to impress their customers. With a Net Promoter Score of 14 per cent, Youi motor insurance customers are far more likely to recommend them to friends and colleagues. This is a great achievement for a relatively new player in the competitive motor insurance industry. Further illustrating the competitive nature of the industry, their closest competitor, with a score of 12 per cent, was the previous loyalty leader Apia. Engaged Marketing CEO Christopher Roberts said that Net Promoter Score is widely recognised by the world's leading organisations because it is one of the most accurate measures of customer advocacy. It's more robust than mere satisfaction, and importantly is a proven predictor of business growth. "This year's research shows 19 per cent of motor insurance sales are primarily sourced via recommendations from peers, making word of mouth a critical marketing channel in this category"  "Organisations need to ensure they offer an end-to-end positive experience, as every single negative comment made about a motor insurer requires around four to five other positive comments to negate the damage it causes," Mr Roberts said. In the motor insurance category the Australian category average only reached a score of a -8 per cent which pales in comparison to the +41 per cent achieved by the US, +8 per cent by UK, +4 per cent by France, and -4 per cent by Germany. A company's Net Promoter Score, or NPS, is based on customers' likelihood to recommend the company's product or service.   "In these times if you want to drive growth via loyalty and recommendation it is not enough to aim for mere customer satisfaction, you need to develop experiences and propositions that are worthy of recommendation," Mr Roberts said. And just in case you thought the importance of word of mouth had lost its edge, according to the Engaged Marketing study, recommendations from friends or family still has the greatest influence on purchase decisions by a mile with a staggering 51.9% of consumers choosing word of mouth as the greatest influence on their purchase decision in comparison to other marketing mediums.  "There has never been a more critical time to go back to basics and focus on the customer as opposed to the more common and much less effective strategy of cost-cutting. The continued strong utilisation of social media injects an additional element of urgency," he said. In the study 2,640 motor insurance customers were invited to rate their experiences. Results identified consumer likelihood to recommend a brand to others. Ten of the biggest motor vehicle insurers in Australia were assessed in the innovative study, including the loyalty leader Youi as well as AAMI, Allianz, Apia, Budget Direct, GIO, NRMA, RACQ, RACV and Suncorp.  Engaged Marketing is a business consultancy focused on helping businesses grow by developing fresh customer, marketing, and organisational strategies. Engaged Marketing is an approved Net Promoter® Loyalty Partner. The complete 2013 Motor Insurance Consumer Recommendation and Loyalty Study is available from Engaged Marketing. Net Promoter, NPS and Net Promoter Score are registered trademarks of Satmetrix Systems Inc., Bain & Company and Fred Reichheld.

2013-06-05T23:20:38Z apia-wins-most-recommended-property-insurance-brand-for-the-fourth-time-in-a-row

Brisbane consulting firm Engaged Marketing today released findings from their annual Consumer Recommendation and Loyalty Study for the property insurance sector announcing the property insurers most likely to impress their customers. Apia maintained its winning streak within the property insurance sector once again with a Net Promoter Score of 13 per cent, crowning them the Australian property insurance loyalty leader four years running. Second place went to Suncorp with a score of 3 per cent. Engaged Marketing CEO Christopher Roberts said that Net Promoter Score is widely recognised by the world's leading organisations because it is one of the most accurate measures of customer advocacy. It's a higher measure than mere satisfaction, and importantly is a proven predictor of business growth. "This year's research shows 22 per cent of home insurance sales are primarily sourced via recommendations from peers, making word of mouth a critical marketing channel in this category"  It seems that Australian property insurers in general may have a lot to learn from their US counterparts in terms of providing great customer experiences. The Australian NPS category average was a disappointing -13 per cent compared to the impressive category average of +41 per cent achieved by the US. A company's Net Promoter Score, or NPS, is based on customers' likelihood to recommend the company's product or service."In these times if you want to drive growth via loyalty and recommendation it is not enough to aim for mere customer satisfaction, you need to develop experiences and propositions that are worthy of recommendation,"  Mr Roberts said. And just in case you thought the importance of word of mouth had lost its edge, according to the Engaged Marketing study, recommendations from friends or family still has the greatest influence on purchase decisions by a mile with a staggering 51.9% of consumers choosing word of mouth as the greatest influence on their purchase decision in comparison to other marketing mediums.  "There has never been a more critical time to go back to basics and focus on the customer as opposed to the more common and much less effective strategy of cost-cutting. The continued strong utilisation of social media injects an additional element of urgency," he said. In the study 2,422 property insurance policy owners were invited to rate their experiences. Results identified consumer likelihood to recommend a brand to others. Ten of the biggest property insurers in Australia were assessed in the innovative survey, including the loyalty leader Apia as well as AAMI, Allianz, Budget Direct, CGU, GIO, NRMA, RACQ, RACV and Suncorp.  Engaged Marketing is an insight driven business consultancy focused on helping businesses grow by developing fresh customer, marketing, and organisational strategies. Engaged Marketing is an official Net Promoter® Loyalty Partner. The complete 2013 Property Insurance Consumer Recommendation & Loyalty Study is available from Engaged Marketing. Net Promoter, NPS and Net Promoter Score are registered trademarks of Satmetrix Systems Inc., Bain & Company and Fred Reichheld.

2013-06-04T06:46:44Z big-buying-power-saves-apartment-owners-in-electricity-costs

New South Wales – 4 June 2013 With electricity prices more than doubling over the last five years, according to the NSW Independent Pricing and Regulatory Tribunal (IPART), many people are desperate to find ways to reduce their energy costs so they can pay their bills. A number are facing having their electricity cut off as numbers of disconnections soared last year by 25 percent over the year before.But some apartment owners are getting great deals and saving on their energy costs thanks to their sheer numbers and savvy strata managers.PICA Group CEO Greg Haywood said that in the first initiative of its kind, BCS Strata Management and Carbon and Energy Reductions (CER) had teamed up to provide apartment owners with some initiatives that would save thousands off their electricity bills by reducing their energy consumption.First up CER is able to provide BCS’s strata schemes with electricity supplies at lower than retail rates.“Soon we will be able to provide a discount, unconditional offer on electricity for common areas. There are no locked in contracts and this is a deal that is not available on the open market,” Mr Haywood explained.“It is because of our numbers that we have the buying power to purchase electricity in bulk as if each of our strata schemes was the retailer buying from the wholesaler – they are then not paying marked up prices for their electricity consumption in common areas for lighting, lifts, pool pumps, electric garage doors and so on.”In New South Wales, CER is registered for the Government’s Light Replacement Project and is about to embark on a program of replacing energy consuming down lights and halogen tubes with more efficient ones and all for free.“The new 7 watt LED down lights being offered are re-engineered to CER’s standards and have a 50,000 hour life span and a 5 year warranty. The down lights give up to a 90% reduction in energy consumption producing the same amount of light as the metal halides they replace. The LED tubes last 3 times as long as fluorescent tubes and give the same light output while reducing energy consumption by up to 60%,” Mr Haywood said“CER is also auditing some apartment buildings we manage to map their energy consumption. Of the first 20 buildings they completed reports for, nearly $250,000.00 worth of energy and maintenance savings will be realised in the first year if they proceed with the scheme we are putting in place.”The most exciting offer though, involves solar power and does not require strata schemes to lift a finger or spend a cent, which will be magic to the ears of many executive committees.“The biggest problem with solar power for commercial properties is it’s a huge investment that takes many years to generate a return,” Mr Haywood said.“As an alternative, CER has created its Solar Power Purchase Agreements program. This program allows them to sell solar generated electricity to strata schemes. This means having solar panels on the roof of the building but CER owns, installs, insures and maintains them.“They then sell the energy to strata scheme for their common area needs at up to 20 percent off their current rate and annual increases will be no more than CPI or 2.1%.”With electricity prices increasing at around 16 percent each year for the past 6 to 7 years this equates to an impressive saving. The savings over the contract period involve absolutely no capital outlay for the strata scheme.Once the contract is over the solar generation units, which have at least another 5 to 10 years of life, are transferred to the strata scheme to give free electricity for the years that remain.

2013-05-29T01:24:40Z master-photographer-warns-don-t-let-an-inferior-photographer-ruin-your-wedding

Perth, WA, May 29, 2013 - Recently, Travelers Insurance Company released a document analysing wedding insurance claims during 2012. According to Travelers' data, 24% of all claims are against vendors, such as caterers, DJ's, and wedding planners. A shocking 58% of all vendor claims were against either photographers or videographers.These numbers don't even take into account issues over quality, which aren't an insurance issue. All quality issues have to be taken to court.Peter Edwards, owner of Peter Edwards Photography, and an expert wedding photographer in Perth, is an experienced photographer who specialises in weddings. He is accredited by the Australian Institute of Professional Photography (AIPP), and has attained a Double Master Photography, and is also a Certified Professional Photographer (CPP).Edwards is a very “in-demand” wedding photographer who has over 20 years experience as a specialist wedding photographer. Edwards says that he is not surprised at the numbers from the Travelers Insurance release.According to Edwards, “The sad reality is that there are too many inferior hobbyists offering their services as wedding photographers. Photography is one of those fields where anyone can put together a website representing themselves as a photographer, when in fact they may be a glorified amateur with virtually no professional experience. More and more we are seeing hobbyists who’ve spent a couple of thousand dollars on a digital camera and a couple of accessories and taken “a few great shots”, thinking he or she is a professional photographer.”Edwards has formulated a basic set of rules to ensure that a wedding is photographed by a quality photographer:Hire an AIPP Accredited PhotographerThis is not the only requirement by any means, but if someone doesn't care enough to fulfil the requirements to become an Accredited Photographer with the  AIPP, they probably won't care enough to do a professional job photographing your wedding.Hire a Wedding SpecialistMany “wedding photographers” are photographing weddings as a part-time gig. They may or may not be in the business during the week. There is a specific skill set required to be a professional wedding photographer; people skills, empathy, anticipation, creativity, styling and posing people to look their best. If your friend usually photographs landscapes or models, you might want to look again. Even photographing kids is vastly different to photographing a wedding.As well as knowing what lighting to use and what camera angles will work best, wedding specialists can anticipate and be ready to capture what might be coming next. They have a wealth of experience in creating as well as capturing images. They can put people at ease and ensure the couple’s wishes are fulfilled. They also keep in mind that it is your special day, and that the photographs they are taking will preserve your most cherished memories for a lifetime.Do Your Due Diligence: Look at their Portfolio SamplesPeople can exaggerate or embellish their qualifications and experience. Ask to see a number of real weddings - from start to finish, not just a selection of their 20 best pics. Ask for recommendations, how many weddings they’ve photographed and how do they see the day running. These are questions they should be able to answer off the top of their head. If they have trouble answering, they probably aren't ready to do a really professional job yet. Don’t be disappointed - move on to a professional specialist wedding photographer. Demand a ProfessionalUltimately, you cannot leave the preservation of your most cherished memories to chance. You simply must demand a professional. Your special day deserves nothing less.Peter Edwards, owner and operator of Peter Edwards Photography, is a double master photographer who specialises in weddings. For more information on how to have one of Perth's best preserve the memories of your special day, call (08) 9316 2465. To see some stunning images from weddings they’ve photographed, please visit their website: http://www.peteredwardsphoto.com.au/

2013-05-28T04:01:00Z small-business-mogo-gps-helps-clients-drive-profitability

As an established supplier of GPS Trackers, Brisbane based small business; MOGO, works with SMB clients and is familiar with the financials of the small business space. Businesses with multiple vehicles held as company assets also have the added task of carrying these expenses. MOGO has seen how implementing GPS Tracking technology can decrease expenses associated with commercial vehicle fleets.  Industry experts say the volatility of business revenue is significantly higher for small business than larger businesses. Historically, between 2005 and 2010 annual revenue changes by at least 25% for almost half of small businesses each year whilst it was this change was seen but only 30% in medium businesses. Whilst some might say this data suggests bigger is better, the converse strategy would be reducing unnecessary outgoings. Australian business critics are unsurprised by the fact that only 60 per cent of small companies were profitable in recent years. With the added considerations of changes in expense caps, tax deductions, fuel rebates and fuel prices,it seems that small business is at the peril of many elements, many of which are out of their control. As commercial fleets continue to expand so do the associated maintenance, communication and general running costs. When considering the number of light commercial vehicles has now surpassed 2.6 million and light rigid trucks are in excess of 124,000 the cost of keeping all these wheels in motion is certainly mounting. By analysing their own vehicle fleet with GPS Tracker technology businesses have a starting point to benchmark fleet operations and expenses. Working with businesses that use GPS trackers and online GPS Tracking software is something that MOGO does every day.  MOGO has seen clients reduce their fuel bill by significant amounts simply by ensuring vehicles are using ‘logical’ routes instead of those they might personally prefer. Call expenses are also cut down considerably as the ‘where are you’ phone call doesn’t exist any longer, the associated safety aspect of this change is also considered priceless by many employers. The cost savings however do go on for businesses with a vehicle fleet and www.MOGOgps.com.au features an online calculator to show just how much businesses can save over just 90 days.

2013-05-27T05:50:09Z oracle-digital-welcomes-next-penguin-update

Perth, WA, May 27, 2013 - Recently, Google's head of search spam, Matt Cutts, released a video announcement that came as no surprise to many SEO firms and webmasters. The video, released on his company blog, announced a fourth Penguin update, which is known at Google as “Penguin 2.0.”Google has been changing its algorithm on a regular basis, trying to ensure quality search results for their customers. Ever since their first Panda update in February of 2011, Google has been on a mission, with mixed success, to keep low-quality, “thin” sites and pages off of the front page.The first Penguin update was put into effect on April 24th 2012, and announced as “Penguin 1.0” on April 26th. Penguin 1.1 was released on May 25th, and 1.2 would be released on October 5th of the same year. Though Penguin supposedly affected only 3.5% of search engine results, anecdotal “evidence” suggests that a lot of websites were affected, including some legitimate ones that were seen as collateral damage.All of the updates have been designed to penalise any website that appeared to be manipulating Google's search engine to produce artificially high results. According to Matt Cutts, Penguin 2.0 is designed with roughly the same goal, but with better technology.On his video, Cutts said that webmasters whose goal was to make high quality websites with a lot of information that encourages visitors to bookmark the sites and share them on social media would be “in alignment” with Google and the new Penguin update goals.Cutts would mention “advertorials” and link spammers as two main categories of websites that would be penalised. Indeed, Cutts mentioned “black hat spammers” more than once in his video; this would indicate that Google has found a more accurate way to target webmasters who are using black hat techniques.As positives that would be rewarded by the updates, he mentioned that those who were unfairly damaged by the Panda updates may find some relief. Cutts also mentioned that Google has developed a method for finding true authority sites within certain market segments, and that newly-found authority sites would receive a “boost” in the search engine rankings.James Corby, Business Development Director for Perth SEO firm Oracle Digital, is optimistic about the latest Penguin update: “We see this as great news for honest businesses who don't take shortcuts. We have provided solid, honest SEO with no shortcuts, no black hat techniques, and no manipulation of Google since before the Panda updates; these changes have actually benefited our customers. Panda and Penguin have made a lot of spammy sites disappear from the first few pages of Google.”Corby continued, “Google is forcing people to be honest. They have stopped rewarding people for gaming their system. Now, the only way for a website to appear on page one of Google is to provide their customers with what they are searching for in the first place: solid information. This has upset a lot of people who were thriving by taking shortcuts, but it is going to make people who want to do things right very, very happy.”Corby concluded, “Ultimately, the good guys win and the bad guys lose. We can live with that, and so can our clients.”Oracle Digital is an SEO firm in Perth. They provide digital marketing and SEO services in Perth and across Australia. To learn more about how to thrive in a world of Panda and Penguin updates, call 1300 899 851 or check out their website:http://www.oracledigital.com.au/

2013-05-24T04:04:00Z gartner-announces-global-rankings-of-its-2013-supply-chain-top-25

Global research firm Gartner, Inc. has released the findings from its ninth annual Supply Chain Top 25. The goal of the Supply Chain Top 25 research initiative is to raise awareness of the supply chain discipline and how it impacts business results. Analysts announced the global leaders from this year's research at the Gartner Supply Chain Executive Conference in Phoenix, Arizona today. The Asia Pacific leaders will be announced at the conference when it moves to Melbourne, Australia in August. "At the heart of the Supply Chain Top 25 is the notion of demand-driven leadership," said Debra Hofman, managing vice president at Gartner. "We've been researching and writing about demand-driven practices since 2003, highlighting the journey companies are taking: from the old 'push' model of supply chain to one that integrates demand, supply and product into a value network that orchestrates a profitable response to ever-shifting changes in demand." Alongside some perennial leaders with new lessons to share, Gartner's 2013 Supply Chain Top 25 offers three new companies, a growing group of industrials from which to learn, and two newcomers to the Top 5. The Top 5 includes three from last year — Apple, McDonald's and Amazon — and two that are new to the Top 5 but have been rising steadily — Intel and Unilever — while the three new companies joining the top 25 this year are Ford, Lenovo and Qualcomm. Apple tops Gartner's ranking for a record-breaking sixth year in a row, continuing to outpace everyone else by a wide margin on all five measures used (see Table 1). Apple was ranked No. 1 again by the peer voters, capturing 75 percent of the highest possible points a company can get across the voting pool. Nos. 2 and 3 switched places this year, with McDonald's capturing the No. 2 slot and Amazon coming in at No. 3. This, however, was not reflected in the peer voters' opinion. Amazon ranked a very close second behind Apple in the peer vote, almost completely closing the opinion gap from previous years and fast gaining on Apple's voting position. Table 1: The Gartner Supply Chain Top 25 for 2013 Rank Company Peer Opinion (1) (172 voters) (25%) Gartner Opinion (1) (33 voters) (25%) 3-year weighted ROA (2) (25%) Inventory Turns (3) (15%) 3-year weighted Revenue Growth (4) (10%) Composite Score (5) 1 Apple 3203 470 22.3% 82.7 52.5% 9.51 2 McDonald's 1197 353 15.8% 147.5 5.9% 5.87 3 Amazon.com 3115 475 1.9% 9.3 33.6% 5.86 4 Unilever 1469 522 10.5% 6.5 9.0% 5.04 5 Intel 756 515 15.6% 4.2 11.4% 4.97 6 P&G 1901 493 8.6% 5.8 3.6% 4.91 7 Cisco Systems 1167 517 8.5% 11.2 7.8% 4.67 8 Samsung Electronics 1264 298 11.6% 18.5 15.7% 4.35 9 Coca Cola Company 1779 278 11.7% 5.5 14.0% 4.33 10 Colgate-Palmolive 794 324 18.9% 5.2 3.6% 4.27 11 Dell 1409 342 6.2% 30.7 -0.6% 4.05 12 Inditex 745 221 18.0% 4.2 13.4% 3.85 13 Wal-Mart Stores 1629 282 8.8% 8.1 4.9% 3.79 14 Nike 955 236 14.1% 4.2 10.6% 3.62 15 Starbucks 808 159 16.5% 4.8 11.5% 3.41 16 PepsiCo 810 314 8.6% 7.8 10.5% 3.41 17 H&M 399 41 28.2% 3.7 6.7% 3.22 18 Caterpillar 714 247 5.8% 2.8 23.4% 2.91 19 3M 999 105 13.3% 4.2 6.9% 2.87 20 Lenovo Group 397 211 2.5% 22.2 29.8% 2.75 21 Nestlé 679 112 13.3% 5.1 -0.6% 2.51 22 Ford Motor 552 231 5.7% 15.1 3.1% 2.51 23 Cummins 74 139 13.3% 5.3 13.5% 2.48 24 Qualcomm 122 45 12.7% 8.5 25.9% 2.37 25 Johnson & Johnson 730 144 9.6% 2.9 3.3% 2.35 Notes 1 Gartner Opinion and Peer Opinion based on each panel's forced-rank ordering against the definition of "DDVN Orchestrator" 2 ROA: ((2012 net income/2012 total assets)*50%) + ((2011 net income/2011 total assets)*30%) + ((2010 net income /2010 total assets)*20%) 3 Inventory Turns: 2012 cost of goods sold /2012 quarterly average inventory 4 Revenue Growth: ((change in revenue 2012-2011) *50%) + ((change in revenue 2011-2010) *30%) + ((change in revenue 2010-2009) *20%) 5 Composite Score: (Peer Opinion*25%) + (Gartner Research Opinion*25%) + (ROA*25%) + (Inventory Turns*15%) + (Revenue Growth*10%) 2012 data used where available. Where unavailable, latest available full-year data used. All raw data normalized to a 10-point scale prior to composite calculation. "Ranks" for tied composite scores are determined using next decimal point comparison. Source Gartner (May 2013) Gartner analysts highlighted three standout trends for supply chain leaders this year: A New Frontier of Performance Many companies are working on building out the foundational components of an end-to-end supply chain across disparate businesses, focusing on improving core supply chain functions, and creating more common processes and systems across them. More-advanced companies describe a wide range of initiatives that build on the foundation, including end-to-end supply chain segmentation, simplification, cost-to-serve analytics, multitier visibility and supply network optimization. "What differentiates the top companies is where they are in the life cycle of these innovations," said Stan Aronow, research director at Gartner. "The leaders have gone beyond the theory and are now deploying the capabilities that others are just starting to consider. In doing so, they are finding new and creative ways to use these capabilities, exploring synergies and opportunities they hadn't necessarily anticipated in advance. Leaders are discovering that the combination of capabilities they are now implementing brings them to a new frontier of performance, and affords them an entirely new toolbox with which they can orchestrate the optimization of their business and leap ahead of the competition." A New Imperative for Smarter Growth Against a backdrop of slow growth, many companies might have been expected to retrench and slip back to focusing their supply chains solely and exclusively on delivering cost reductions and efficiency gains to corporate bottom lines. Instead, in 2013, leaders are embracing a new imperative for growth, realizing they have to get smarter about how they do it. "At leading companies in diverse industries, the supply chain organization is no longer narrowly focused on driving efficiencies and cost cutting; it sees itself, and is seen by its CEO, as a growth enabler," said Ms. Hofman. "Part of 'getting smarter' about growth is partnership across the business. Leading high-tech and consumer product companies, for instance, are approaching new markets with cross-functional teams that include sales, marketing, operations and IT to holistically design a synchronized entry strategy: starting with the customer and designing the right product, pricing, margin targets, service levels, and supply chain network design and tradeoffs that will all work together to achieve the goal." Getting to the Heart of Talent Acquiring, developing and retaining supply chain talent continues to be a major focus area for companies, and Gartner continues to publish extensive research in this area. Companies are investing time and resources in expanded university relationships, rotational programs, enhanced career progression planning specific to supply chain, multichannel learning options, supply chain certification programs, supply chain leadership development, and others. "Leading supply chain organizations are going beyond specific talent initiatives to look at the fundamentals of motivation in their supply chain teams," said Mr. Aronow. "For them it's about engaging hearts, not just minds; it's about igniting passion and excitement for the work, not just compliance. These organizations use terms such as wanting to be a 'destination company,' or an 'employer of choice' in supply chain. They're finding ways to connect individual activity not only to their corporate goals, but to a larger aspirational goal." More detailed analysis is available in the report "The Gartner Supply Chain Top 25 for 2013." A complimentary copy of the report is available at http://www.gartner.com/technology/supply-chain/top25.jsp. This site includes various reports related to the Supply Chain Top 25, as well as the overall supply chain industry. About the Gartner Supply Chain Top 25 The Supply Chain Top 25 rankings comprise two main components: financial and opinion. Public financial data gives a view into how companies have performed in the past, while the opinion component provides an eye to future potential and reflects future expected leadership, a crucial characteristic. These two components are combined into a total composite score. Gartner analysts derive a master list of companies from the Fortune Global 500 and the Forbes Global 2000, with a revenue cutoff of $10 billion. Gartner then pares the combined list down to the manufacturing, retail and distribution sectors, thus eliminating certain industries, such as financial services and insurance. About Gartner Supply Chain Executive Conference Analysts are discussing the future direction of the supply chain industry at the Gartner Supply Chain Executive Conference. The Gartner Supply Chain Executive Conference 2013 will also be held August 12-13 at the Grand Hyatt Melbourne. For additional information about this conference, please visit http://www.gartner.com/technology/summits/apac/supply-chain/. Members of the media can register to attend this event by contacting susan.moore@gartner.com. The Gartner Supply Chain Executive Conference 2012 will also be held September 23-24 at the Lancaster London. For additional information about this conference, please visit http://www.gartner.com/technology/summits/emea/supply-chain/. Members of the media can register to attend this event by contacting laurence.goasduff@gartner.com. Additional information from the events will be shared on Twitter at http://twitter.com/Gartner_inc and using #Gartnerscc About Gartner Gartner, Inc. (NYSE: IT) is the world’s leading information technology research and advisory company. Gartner delivers the technology-related insight necessary for its clients to make the right decisions, every day. From CIOs and senior IT leaders in corporations and government agencies, to business leaders in high-tech and telecom enterprises and professional services firms, to technology investors, Gartner is a valuable partner in more than 13,000 distinct organizations. Through the resources of Gartner Research, Gartner Executive Programs, Gartner Consulting and Gartner Events, Gartner works with every client to research, analyze and interpret the business of IT within the context of their individual role. Founded in 1979, Gartner is headquartered in Stamford, Connecticut, USA, and has 5,500 associates, including 1,402 research analysts and consultants, and clients in 85 countries. For more information, visit www.gartner.com. # # #

2013-05-23T06:26:20Z master-perth-photographer-provides-blueprint-for-success

Perth, WA, May 23, 2013 - Geoff Fisher is the owner of Fisher Photography and is a Master photographer in Perth. He has been a professional photographer for over 35 years. He has been awarded the status of Master Photographer by the Australian Institute of Professional Photography. He has personally trained many other professional photographers, including everyone currently on his team.Fisher finds himself in a position where he is an authority and a role model to many aspiring photographers. He is often asked how to become a professional photographer. Earlier this month, Fisher posted a virtual roadmap to success on his blog. The post displays a depth of knowledge and understanding that is far beyond what the casual observer would expect for photography.The hobby photographer usually thinks that taking great photographs is simple: buy a good camera, aim it, and push the button. While this is a good way to get good amateur pictures, there is much more to professional photography.Fisher identifies six skills that any professional photographer must have to be successful. The first essential skill is the “eye” of an artist. A professional photographer must have an innate understanding of what makes a great picture. Literally one second too fast or too slow can make the difference between a mediocre photo and a lasting memory.The second skill involves managing people. This skill can also be seen as “rapport.” If the subjects aren't comfortable in the presence of the photographer, they will never “loosen up” enough to allow their natural personalities and beauty to shine through and be captured on camera. Fisher notes that it is rare when someone has both the artistic and managerial characteristics, and that most people only have one or the other trait, thus making it difficult to be a professional photographer.The next necessary skill is the ability to take full advantage of technology. This includes exposure speed, lighting, camera angles, timing, and lenses, among many other particulars that must be right. A photographer must also be teachable; they must have the ability to learn many divergent skills. They must also be willing or motivated to learn.The last skill or trait is patience. As the saying goes, “Rome wasn't built in a day” - neither are professional photographers. Becoming a professional photographer is difficult, and becoming a Master Photographer and an authority takes even longer.According to Fisher, there is no substitute for professional experience: “Ultimately, to be a successful professional photographer, you must take a lot of pictures in a professional setting. Despite what many of the camera companies say in their advertising, there is no camera that will take perfect pictures every time, simply by pointing and shooting.”“As for becoming an authority, it almost seems to happen by accident, if you work hard enough. As I became more experienced, I noticed that people naturally gravitated to me and asked questions about photography. When I attained Master Photographer status, though, it seemed to kick everything into high gear.”Fisher concluded, “To me, it is a pretty simple formula; I learned as much as I could, and I took as many pictures as I could, until I knew what I was doing. Then, I started teaching others. But I will never stop learning.”Geoff Fisher is an AIPP Master Photographer, and is the owner of Fisher Photography in Perth. He offers family photography, baby photography, corporate photography, and more. For more information, call 08 9381 2233. To view some of his work, please visit his website: http://fisherphotography.com.au/.

2013-05-17T05:45:34Z most-common-regret-of-brides-is-not-spending-enough-on-wedding-photography

Perth, WA, May 17, 2013 - Two different polls, two different years, one result: 21% of the recently-married brides who were polled regretted not spending more money on their wedding photos. The first poll was conducted by photography website Shutterfly from 10th to 13th January, 2011, and had 500 participants. The second poll was conducted by New York Magazine for their current issue, and had 100 participants. While the sample size may appear small, the convergent results cannot be attributed solely to coincidence. In the more contemporary of the two surveys, which provides more detailed data, flowers were the next item of regret at 16%, the wedding cake came in at 9%, the wedding gown came in at 9%, and everything else combined came in at 45%. A second part of the recent poll asked the bride’s what they regretted splurging on the most. Flowers were number one at 17%, while photos came in second at 12%. Hair and makeup or third at 9%, the wedding gown was fourth at 8%, and the wedding cake was fifth at 6%, leaving everything else at 48%. Peter Edwards is a wedding photographer with a wealth of experience in the Perth area, and is the owner of Peter Edwards Photography. He is a Certified Professional Photographer (CPP), and has also achieved a Double Master of Photography. His specialisation in wedding photography and the sheer number of weddings he has photographed make him uniquely qualified to interpret the data from the two surveys. Edwards begins by pointing out a pattern that is obvious to him: “Everything mentioned in the poll is visual, because the visual element of a wedding is extremely important to the bride. That is why it is so important to hire the best photographer for your wedding instead of price shopping. It is no accident that photos were mentioned first, and no accident that the other visual elements of the wedding were mentioned as the next three most important items.” Edwards continued: “When the wedding is being put together, it is often a reflex action to try and reduce costs. Sometimes, it is possible to find good work and an inexpensive price. Unfortunately, price shopping is usually hit and miss at best, and the bride ends up being disappointed at the quality of service she receives. Worse yet, when photography is one of the items at which the bride tries to save money, the results are almost always disappointing. This is false economy as if the purchase doesn’t meet expectations, no matter how small the amount paid there is no value. On the other hand an item purchased that is truly valued as time passes is priceless and the cost is soon forgotten and may even appear “cheap” on reflection.” Edwards added: “Ultimately, when the wedding is over, your photographs are going to provide the most enduring memory of your happiest day. If there is one thing, and one thing only, to make sure you do right, it is to hire a professional and experienced wedding photographer. Professional wedding photographers know how to use light effectively, how to use their equipment to the best advantage, how to pose people, capture that moment and put people at ease. ”Edwards commented further: “If a few of the visual elements in your wedding are a bit off, a great photographer can find a way to make them look good. However, a mediocre photographer only produces photos that look mediocre.” Edwards concluded: “Don’t trust your most cherished memories to chance: hire a professional and preserve your memories for a lifetime.” Peter Edwards Photography is a professional wedding photography firm from Perth. Not only do they specialise in weddings, weddings are all they do. For more information, or to inquire about their services, call 08 9316 2465 or visit their website: http://www.peteredwardsphoto.com.au/

2013-05-17T02:10:55Z hasty-decisions-costing-first-home-buyers-up-to-89-000

Rockingham, WA, May 17, 2013 - In the past year, Baldivis has become known as a haven for first home buyers. The combination of pent-up demand, a recovering WA economy, low interest rates, and reasonably-priced housing in Baldivis has combined to produce a market that is conducive to young buyers seeking their first homes.However, many first home buyers are paying as much as $89,000 extra over the life of their home loans, because they are not doing their due diligence. Buyers who struggle to save for a down payment find themselves putting down minimum deposits as low as 3% on their homes. According to industry estimates, as many as 33% of first home buyers are making minimum deposits on their homes.When a buyer makes a deposit below 20%, lenders not only add a host of upfront fees, but also charge more interest for their loans. Using average industry numbers, if two buyers purchase homes for $320,000, and one deposits $80,000 while the other deposits only $40,000, the borrower who made the smaller of the two deposits ends up paying a total of $89,935.75 more over the lifetime of their loan than the buyer who made the larger deposit.According to a recent blog post, The Mortgage Gallery Rockingham says that buyers should be wary of these costs, and recommends four strategies for first home buyers to lessen their debt burden by eliminating a portion of the upfront costs.Their first recommendation is to do due diligence on their respective state's grants for first home buyers. In WA, each first home buyer gets a one time grant totalling $7,000. These grants vary from state to state, with the N. T. offering a $25,000 grant for all homes except established homes in urban areas.For many first home buyers, it makes sense to find a guarantor. This is usually a relative who has enough equity in their house to put it up as collateral. This can eliminate a lot of the upfront costs that lenders add in to accounts with less than sterling credit and insufficient deposits.It is also important for first home buyers to make sure that their credit reports are clean and their credit ratings are as high as possible. When a loan doesn't fit a lender's ideal recommendations, they add a lot of upfront costs. For example, when buying a $400,000 house in NSW, with a deposit of $40,000, an extra $25,337 would be tacked on to the cost of the loan.According to Justin Smith, Principal of The Mortgage Gallery Rockingham, it is extremely important for anyone seeking a first home loan to do their due diligence. According to Smith, “In today's climate, especially for a first home buyer, it is important to shop around and find the best terms for your loan.”Smith continued, “The easiest way to shop around is to hire an experienced mortgage broker and let them shop around for you. Experienced mortgage brokers know which lenders are more friendly to which situations, and have access to many lenders from their desktops. Instead of driving around to a bunch of banks and loan companies, all you have to do is have your broker find the best deal for you.”Smith concluded, “Always hire a professional mortgage broker. You will save time, effort, and money.”The Mortgage Gallery Rockingham brokers home loans in Baldivis, Rockingham, Kwinana, and surrounding areas. For more information, call (08) 9527 1800 or visit their website: http://www.themortgagegalleryrockingham.com.au/

2013-05-14T10:26:58Z second-annual-world-risk-day-launches-with-virtual-summit-featuring-risk-management-presentations-from-around-the-globe

World Risk Day, the second annual awareness day focused the importance of effective risk management, kicked off its Virtual Summit today with webinar sessions featuring 10 expert speakers and a range of on-demand content – all focused on sharing global risk and project management best practices. World Risk Day’s free to attend sessions began at 9:00AM in Mainland Europe (5:00AM EDT) and the last session is scheduled to end at 10:00PM in the UK / 5:00PM EDT / 2:00 PM PDT, enabling participants from around the world to be involved. This year’s theme, “Shattering the Project Myth,” demystifies the idea that project success can be delivered by focusing on cost and schedule alone, without bringing risk into the equation. Presentations will explore various aspects of this theme including: §            New concepts in understanding and managing risk in projects §            Strategies for successful collaborative risk management with contractors and the supply chain §            High risk projects – a global perspective §            What lessons can be learned from the world’s Top 100 infrastructure projects §            What makes a great risk manager? §            Shattering the project myth – managing cost and schedule alone doesn’t equal project success Speakers include representatives from EADS, Bechtel, Crossrail, Active Risk, the Department of Homeland Security, and Booz Allen Hamilton. Content from the World Risk Day Virtual Summit will be made available on-demand to all registrants after May 14th. “Today thousands of projects are driving organizational performance in all sectors. World Risk Day 2013 aims to debunk the myth that project success is simply based on the management of time and budget,” said Loren Padelford, Executive Vice President and General Manager, Active Risk, a Founding Supporter of World Risk Day. “By bringing together leading experts from a range of projects around the globe, World Risk Day will focus the conversation on the crucial role of risk management in delivering project success.” Launched in June of 2012, the first annual World Risk Day hosted 2,300 delegates from a variety of industries, including energy, mining, major global infrastructure projects, and government organizations.  World Risk Day was created to provide a global forum for business leaders to discuss risk management best practices. This year World Risk Day is supported by a diverse range of risk and project organizations including the Institute for Risk Management (IRM), CG/LA Infrastructure, G31000 the global institute for risk management standards, the Major Projects Association, the Project Management Institute (PMI) – Arabian Gulf Chapter, risk management software providerActive Risk, and other risk associations from around the world.  For a full list of supporters, please visit http://worldriskday.com/supporters/.  To learn more about World Risk Day, please visit www.worldriskday.com or email info@worldriskday.com.    About World Risk Day Founded in 2012, World Risk Day is an independent awareness day focused on the opportunities that come from taking smarter risks. This year’s event, with the theme “Shattering the Project Myth,” will feature a free Virtual Summit, an online resource center, and social media discussion, creating a global forum for business leaders to share best practices on how taking smarter risks drives project outcomes, and ultimately, profitability within organizations. ---- ENDS ---- EMEA/APAC Contact: Mary Phillips/Andreina West, PR Artistry Limited +44 (0)1491 639500 mary@pra-ltd.co.uk

2013-05-14T01:03:00Z nearly-half-of-australia-s-finance-professionals-hunting-for-new-job-survey

Media Release Nearly half of Australia’s finance industry hunting for a new employer - survey Australia, 14/05/2013 - Almost most half (46%) of Australia’s finance professionals intend to move to a new employer in 2013 according to a recent survey conducted by eFinancialCareers the leading global career site network for professionals working in the investment banking, asset management and securities industries. The eFinancialCareers Employment Survey* found the intended movement of Australian finance professionals resulted from a continued lack of career progression in their current firm (54%), perceived higher pay at other employers (38%) and frustration with a lack of recognition for their accomplishments (33%). These factors motivating employees to leave their current firm were also cited as the main reasons in the 2012 eFinancialCareers Employment Survey. The desire to change employers amongst Australian finance workers (46%) compared favourably to finance centres Singapore (64%) and Hong Kong (74%) respectively for 2013. “The slowdown in hiring activity has led to less people movement between financial services companies. For finance professionals this means there has been less opportunity to take advantage of internal openings created by staff turnover, and the large scale layoffs experienced at the end of last year are also likely to have stalled the potential for some individuals to progress within their organisations. While many companies are mindful of the risk associated with losing top talent, outward pressures can’t always be overcome. In this situation we tend to see more candidates looking externally for a chance to advance their careers despite the challenging hiring environment,” said George McFerran, Managing Director APAC at eFinancialCareers. Not just about the moneyWhen asked what factors, apart from compensation, would be critical in their decision to move to a new employer, a supportive culture and good working environment came top, followed by a defined career progression. The survey also found that two thirds of Australia-based finance professionals (65%) were keen to keep their flexible working arrangements if they were to move to a new employer. Ends * The eFinancialCareers 2013 Employment Survey was conducted in April 2013. The survey polled a total of 512 employed bankers and finance professionals in Hong Kong, 572 in Australia, and 1,262 in Singapore. The survey explored current issues and trends in employee retention in key finance hubs, in the region’s finance sector. About eFinancialCareers: eFinancialCareers, a Dice Holdings, Inc. service, is the leading global career site network for professionals working in the investment banking, asset management and securities industries. The website provides financial services professionals with job opportunities, job market news and analysis, salary surveys and career advice. Recruiters and employers can post jobs targeting specific sectors within the financial services industry, both buy-side and sell-side, and can search the resume database for highly qualified and specialized professionals. eFinancialCareers has a network of co-branded career sites with industry-leading trade publications and offers local websites in 19 markets and five languages primarily across North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and financial centers of the Middle East. Please visit www.eFinancialCareers.com.au for more information. For media enquiries and more information, contact Cape Public Relations Pty Ltd:Ph +61 2 8218 2190 Emeere Roberts: emeere@capepublicrelations.com M: 0432 746 564

2013-05-13T00:50:50Z yourcarlog-com-launched-in-australia

YourCarLog, the simplest and  most  effective way to keep a car log for FBT or reimbursement purposes, has today been launched in Australia online at www.yourcarlog.com by Sydney-based start-up Positive (Gamma) Technologies. YourCarLog Founder and Positive (Gamma) Technologies CEO Ben Caplan said the technology behind the service is a world first. “YourCarLog brings together several aspects of commonly used technologies and marries them to produce an automated logbook solution that is extremely simple and cost effective,” Mr Caplan said. Caplan said the need for a simple car logging solution has been a requirement of corporates and SME’s for years as businesses wanted to find an easier way to maintain the data, reduce FBT liability and to free up valuable employee time. “Many of us have laboured and begrudgingly filled in a manual log book for our car expenses or tax requirements, and even large fleet operators believe they only get between 60 to 70 percent compliance. A painful compliance requirement can be simplified by using every day systems,” Mr Caplan said. “And even when the log books are completed properly, it still requires manual data entry from the book to an accounting or finance system. This creates significant double handling by adding an extra layer of expense, which in today’s business world is simply ineffecient.” YourCarLog produces Car Usage reports that can be used for Australian tax purposes and expense reimbursement. A user only requires an electronic diary, such as Microsoft Outlook, gCal or iCal to log the destination of each meeting. YourCarLog calculates the kilometres travelled to produce the required reporting and will assist in identifying the difference between personal versus business related trips at the click of a mouse. “YourCarLog can save large companies with fleets and small business owners, hours of unnecessary paperwork, improved accuracy and transparency, whilst  increasing productivity. YourCarLog is the missing link in this once complex compliance requirement. The system works on the users existing platforms – no hardware to buy or software to install,” Mr Caplan said. Subscriptions start from as little as $18 per month and reports are securely stored for five years. Enterprise solutions can be customised to meet business requirements. _________________________________________________________________________ For all media enquiries please contact:   Ben Caplan CEO, Positive (Gamma) Technologies M: 0419 277 747 E: ben_caplan@positivegamma.com.au   Julian Khursigara COO, Positive (Gamma) Technologies M: 0418 679 283E: julian_khursigara@positivegamma.com.au