DASPAC -Affordable Accounting Software

Cloud Hosting - Platform, Infrastructure and Software as a Service | CloudTimes

2012-11-03T18:19:00.001-07:00

Cloud Hosting - Platform, Infrastructure and Software as a Service | CloudTimes: "The undeniable benefits associated with cloud hosting continue to attract businesses that are looking to enhance operational efficiency in conjunction with lowering IT related costs.

While the dedicated server environment still maintains substantial market share, it is becoming increasingly difficult for medium size and enterprise level companies to ignore the significant opportunities presented through the cloud. Third party service providers facilitate the accessibility of data, applications and web related activity in a highly interactive and flexible environment. They also provide multiple options that allow for rapid expansion and contraction of data facilities based on current levels of sales activity and economic dynamics."

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Cloud/SaaS Future: Bright and Growing Brighter

2012-11-03T18:10:00.001-07:00

Surprise! Cloud and SaaS technologies will continue to be hot sectors for both investment and M&A over the next 18-24 months. Both established Cloud companies and traditional enterprise software players will continue to be very active in keeping pace with this trend through acquisitions.
In this report we highlight a few of these trends that we are tracking and will cover in more detail in future reports. Continue

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The Future of Cloud and SaaS: Forecasts and Prospects | CloudTimes

2012-11-03T18:03:00.001-07:00

The Future of Cloud and SaaS: Forecasts and Prospects | CloudTimes:

The volume of investments in cloud computing is increasing more rapidly than investment in IT in general. SaaS-system occupies a stable position in enterprise-class particularly in CRM and ERP solutions.

One of the most promising trends in SaaS-applications is the mutual integration of various SaaS-services, including those developed by different vendors. The trend will continue to mature for both investment and M&A over the next 18-24 months.

According to the research report “Cloud/SaaS Future: Bright and Growing Brighter” from Headwaters MB, both cloud and SaaS technologies will continue to keep pace through various acquisitions over the next 18-24 months. The industries saw more than 203 cloud/SaaS deals during first three quarters of this year.

More Acquisition from IaaS Players

Both established cloud infrastructure as a service (IaaS) companies and traditional enterprise software providers begin to make acquisitions to move their businesses up the stack into higher value platform as a service (PaaS) and software as a service (SaaS) businesses.

IaaS services are highly commoditized and are easily expandable as compared to SaaS and PaaS. Rather than purchasing servers, space in data center or network equipment, customers buy all these assets from a third party service provider. As a result, these services will see reduction in price and margin and would give rise to fast growing large IaaS organizations with the cash flow to fund acquisitions. For example, Amazon’s investment in Engine Yard and RackSpace’s acquisition of Cloudkick are two recent moves by IaaS players.

SaaS Continues to Move Beyond CRM

While SaaS has strong presence in customer relationship management (CRM) and human capital management (HCM), the report expects SaaS business models will continue to expand into new verticals including tools, business intelligence (BI), Business Processes and Industry verticals such as enterprise resource planning (ERP) and Billing, Payroll, and Transactional Processing

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Audits on the rise; what you can do to get ready - The Business Review

2012-11-03T09:40:00.001-07:00

Audits on the rise; what you can do to get ready - The Business Review: "In 2011, the Internal Revenue Service audited 62,445 businesses nationwide, a 7.6 percent increase from just a year earlier.
“We’ve seen a huge increase in audits,” said Steve Cardinal, tax partner at Teal Becker & Chiarmonte CPAs P.C. in Albany. “I guess it’s a sign of the times. The government needs money.”
Audits can be nerve-wracking, time-consuming and expensive, even if there are no problems found. Experts say that while it may be impossible to steer clear of them entirely—most, after all, are random—businesspeople should know what could put them on the taxman’s radar.
“The best way to avoid an audit is to know the rules,” said James Daniels, managing director of the tax department at UHY Advisors Inc. in Albany."

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Limitless possibilities for UWI graduates - Sir George - Lead Stories - Jamaica Gleaner - Saturday | November 3, 2012

2012-11-03T09:20:00.001-07:00

Limitless possibilities for UWI graduates - Sir George - Lead Stories - Jamaica Gleaner - Saturday | November 3, 2012:

MORE THAN 2,400 graduates of the University of the West Indies (UWI), Mona, flaunted their coveted gowns as they enjoyed a moment that every student strives to attain.

Two of the four graduating ceremonies took place yesterday at the UWI Mona campus in St Andrew, the other two will take place today.

Professor, the Honourable Sir George Alleyne, chancellor of UWI, commended the university's professors on campus for "bringing together some of the best and brightest minds of Caribbean scholars that reflect the future of the region".

He also noted that the possibilities vested in these graduates were limitless as they had passed through such a great institution.

The class valedictorian, Keisean Stevenson, who attained a Bachelor of Science in chemistry with first class honours from the Faculty of Pure and Applied Sciences, also encouraged the graduates.

He noted that "feelings of incompetence may have plagued us because we did not meet our expectations", while also admitting that there were times when they felt overwhelmed as those expectations were also exceeded.

"I have learnt that time is precious and valuable, it quickly slips by but treasure that time because with each passing moment, we will be left with less than what we had before. Learn from your mistakes and help others to learn from these things as being wrong only means you still have much to learn," he added.

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How the Apple iCloud compares to Google's cloud - Computerworld

2012-11-03T09:07:00.001-07:00

How the Apple iCloud compares to Google's cloud - Computerworld: "Computerworld - Apple and Google now dominate the world's smartphone and mobile device markets and both are now pushing quickly into the cloud. While Apple this week finally acknowledged the cloud as the future of computing -- and will finally allow iPads and iPhones to be set up and backed up without being tethered to a computer running iTunes -- many Google fans accurately note that Apple's iCloud doesn't bring a lot of new features to the table.

The truth is that Apple seems a little late in endorsing the cloud as the new center of our digital world. After all, cloud computing has played a growing role in the tech industry for years.

Apple, however, has characteristically taken a common concept, pared it back to the core functionality the company sees as important to its users, and taken pains to deliver those features in as effortless and seamless way as possible. The result is a service that offers a striking contrast to Google's approach to cloud computing and mobile devices."

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What Is Cloud Accounting? | Daspac

2012-11-03T08:56:00.001-07:00

What Is Cloud Accounting? | Chron.com: "Cloud computing refers to transactions performed over the Internet. The practice does not require you to install software in your computer or own a server. A cloud computing company that sells accounting services provides remote servers and the applications. For a fee, they grant you online access to them for managing and maintaining your financial records."

Virtual Accountants

A cloud accounting company eliminates the need for you to hire an accountant or bookkeeper. It also provides the computer program for you to generate your own financial reports. The Internet service acts as your virtual finance manager, categorizing your financial transactions according to generally accepted accounting practices.

Cloud vs. Traditional Accounting

Cloud accounting firms follow the same financial standards as traditional accountants. The tools are different, but the policies they abide by are the same. The standards are created by the Financial Accounting Standards Board, which establishes how private companies prepare their financial reports. The Securities and Exchange Commission governs the accounting practices of public entities, but it has historically based its policies on the accounting model the private sector provides.

Cloud Accounting Advantages

Cloud accounting requires few overhead expenses from the user’s end. A computer and Internet connection are the only can’t-do-without investment. Besides, your virtual accountant is open for you to input new information or generate a report any time of day, while a flesh-and-bones accountant has limited work hours. Depending on how often you access your cloud accounting service, your subscription may cost less than what a professional would charge for the same availability.

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Hulu Struggles To Survive The Influence Of Its Parent Companies | Fast Company

2012-10-23T23:05:00.001-07:00

Hulu Struggles To Survive The Influence Of Its Parent Companies | Fast Company:

Jason Kilar’s vision for Hulu transformed web video. So why is Hulu in trouble and Kilar rumored to be on his way out? Because his vision transformed web video.

Photo by Joe Pugliese

It's an unseasonably warm summer day, and Jason Kilar is "in the zone," as he puts it, buzzing around his Santa Monica, California, headquarters, putting the final touches on a massive redesign of Hulu, the streaming TV and movie service he runs. Despite the heat, and despite a deadline that is only weeks away, the boyish 41-year-old CEO looks calm and collected. (He always looks this way, actually.) He's dressed in his uniform of jeans and a dark blue T-shirt peeking out from under an über-starched button-down, and his thick turf of hair is cut in what looks like a $17 mow from Fantastic Sam's. As he natters on about the new site, walking me through its tray-style layout and a feature that lets you pick up exactly where you last left off watching a show, it's easy to see why people liken him to a grown-up Boy Scout. "This morning we had a 45-minute debate on the amount of gradient on the sticky header!" Kilar boasts, standing in a cluttered warren of darkened offices from which members of the design team periodically emerge, blinking like moles. Kilar's obsession with user experience--one source says it borders on "maniacal"--is a large part of why Hulu has created a service that customers have deemed "brain-spray awesome."

But as Kilar frets about the opacity of a tiny black line and the exact placement of a button, Hulu's corporate parents--News Corp., Disney, and Comcast/NBCUniversal--are fretting about Hulu. The day before Kilar's redesign was finally unveiled, Varietypublished excerpts from an internal memo that had been circulating among those owners. One of the bullet points: "Outline transition plan for new CEO. Discuss potential candidates and process." Kilar, who just three years ago was the wunderkind of digital media, now appears to be on the verge of being dispatched by his bosses--after which they may dismantle much of what he's created at Hulu.

The prevailing wisdom in business is that it's best to disrupt yourself before someone else comes along to do it for you.

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All About Apple's 7.9-inch iPad Mini: Starts At $329 | Fast Company

2012-10-23T22:53:00.001-07:00

All About Apple's 7.9-inch iPad Mini: Starts At $329 | Fast Company: "Apple introduced a smaller version of its popular iPad today, the iPad Mini. What can you do with an iPad Mini that you can't already do with an iPad? Apple's senior vice president of Worldwide Marketing Phil Schiller asked that on stage, and many of you have the same question. His answer: Hold it in one hand. "Fantastic for kicking back and reading a magazine," says Schiller. (Power user tip: Kick back and read Fast Company for your iPad.)
With a starting price of $329, Apple is not going to immediately undermine competing tablets from Amazon, Google, and now Microsoft. Yet it does represent a shift: "The iPad Mini is a harbinger of a different Apple--one that doesn’t just take big, risky swings to change the world but snags low-hanging fruit to appease board members, too," says Mark Wilson in an article on our sister-site Co.Design.

And with a slew of other product announcements today, Apple is offering consumers a multiplicity of new toys for the holiday season."

Just how small is the iPad Mini? The screen is 7.9-inches diagonally and about as thin as a pencil, or 7.2mm. And it's only .68 lbs.--that's 53% lighter than the fourth generation iPad. As light as a pad of paper. And easy to hold in one hand, just like the Kindle.

The internals of the iPad Mini are largely the same as the iPad 2.

Should you buy an iPad Mini? Think back to when the first iPad came out... a lot of people didn't think a tablet computer would have a place next to their iPhone and MacBook. A lighter, thinner iPad might seem extravagant, but turn out to be quite (one) handy--even though the Kindle Fire and Nexus 7 are less expensive devices with similar features.

But the real question is, should you buy one of the 10 million iPad Minis currently being produced by low-wage Chinese labor? I had a dream that Fred Armisen liveblogged this event in his SNL "Tech Talk" character of a Chinese factory worker (see the video below).

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Cloud computing offers more than just cool name - Pacific Business News

2012-10-23T22:23:00.001-07:00

Cloud computing offers more than just cool name - Pacific Business News: "Inside the walls of IT companies we are excited about cloud computing — not only because of what it already has become, but also the many ways it’s going to change offices and businesses in the coming years.
For the rest of the nontechnical world, however, the excitement hasn’t been quite as strong.
Why is it that business owners and executives aren’t more anxious to try out cloud computing and see what it can do for their businesses?"

The short answer, we think, is that many think that cloud computing is something with a cool name but little practical value. In other words, they think it might be interesting, but that it doesn’t carry any practical benefits for their organizations.

We strongly disagree, and the facts are on our side. Here are three reasons why cloud computing makes more sense for companies of all sizes than many business owners think it does:

1) Cloud computing is inexpensive.

Unlike a lot of technological changes and developments, the costs of implementing cloud computing are surprisingly low. Instead of having to pay for a new set of servers, for example, or upgrade your company with specialized technology, all you usually have to do is sign up for an ongoing plan at a low monthly rate.

And, speaking of monthly fees, that’s where cloud computing really shines. Rather than setting aside lots of money for backups, software upgrades, new equipment and other ongoing expenses, these costs are picked up by your managed services provider. All in all, cloud computing almost always makes perfect sense for the bottom line.

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Small Businesses Should Use the Cloud and Software as a Service | Inc.com

2012-10-16T04:04:00.001-07:00

Small Businesses Should Use the Cloud and Software as a Service | Inc.com:

Cut Your Own Checks? You Don't Have To

As a small business, focus on what you do best. Leave most everything else up to high-speed connections, software-as-a-service vendors, and the "cloud."

istockphoto.com/alexsl

When I built companies back in the 90s, one of the requirements was the creation of an expensive, difficult-to-maintain data center with raised floors, air conditioning, rack space, staffing, and bandwidth. This was the only way to give employees access to the company's systems.

Today's technology gets rid of most of those headaches. My company only has a small closet with a couple of machines that support our research functions. We create and use a tremendous amount of data by storing research findings and over 3,000 hours of video annually. We outsource as much and as often as we can.

Here's why I recommend you do too:

Save time

The tools you need to run your business effectively can be found online. You don't have to go to the store. And gone are the days when you had to purchase software packages or licenses for each computer as well as upgrades, sometimes on an annual basis.

Take everything with you

Having everything stored online, or in the "cloud," as it's called, means that information can be accessed from any computer, anywhere, any time of day. I recently used the Dropbox app while I walked through the Muir Woods to send a file needed at the office to complete a customer bid.

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Cloud Services For Dummies - StumbleUpon

2012-10-15T18:47:00.001-07:00

Cloud Services For Dummies - StumbleUpon:

Many companies implement cloud first for the efficiency and cost savings. Another crucial feature is the self service aspect of cloud computing, which is similar to having ATMs at banks in addition to tellers. Overall self service is a good thing: With the speed provided by automation, and with fewer people in the process, businesses can be more agile. Coordination between systems that might have taken three teams, five meetings, and 15 people can be accomplished in an afternoon.

It's no longer just about efficiency, but about agility: The ability to get results with fewer players and in less time. It's hard to measure, of course. How do you quantify agility? How much is actually saved when employees don't have to fill out forms and wait weeks for the Information Technology (IT) that they need?

That's the good news. The bad news? Most technologies solve two problems and create one. Cloud computing has the potential to be a governance problem, for strategy alignment, for regulatory compliance, and particularly for security. Looking back 20 years ago, there were lots of security concerns about connecting to the Internet. Security experts said that companies would get hacked, embarrassed, lose critical data, and even be put out of business, and they were absolutely right. However, since most systems need to be hooked up to the Internet, it's a risk that we have to accept to compete in business, and mitigate as much as possible.

With cloud computing, there are new attacks possible, but fundamentally the equation is the same. The benefits outweigh the risks. Most IT departments will have to adopt a cloud model suitable to their business needs, or the organization will work around the IT department. Or worse, the entire organization will fall behind the competition.

Read more: http://www.theatlantic.com/sponsored/ibm-cloud-transformation/archive/2012/10/cloud-the-rewards-outweigh-the-risks/263576/#ixzz29Qj2fAkg
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2011 census shows marginal increase in population - News - JamaicaObserver.com

2012-10-15T05:00:00.001-07:00

2011 census shows marginal increase in population - News - JamaicaObserver.com: "JAMAICA'S population has increased by less than one per cent per annum since 1991, while life expectancy has increased -- with women negligibly more than men -- the 2011 Population and Housing Census has shown.
The survey also found that there has been a decline in the 0-14 age group, while the working age population increased in comparative since 2001.

The major findings of the census will be presented by the Statistical Institute of Jamaica (STATIN) at a press conference in Kingston on Wednesday this week.
STATIN also said that information relating to housing stock also shows an increase.
All countries are required by the United Nations to undertake a census at least once every 10 years. The just completed exercise was Jamaica's 14th."

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Manufacturers push home-grown products - News - JamaicaObserver.com

2012-10-15T04:57:00.001-07:00

Manufacturers push home-grown products - News - JamaicaObserver.com: "LOCAL manufacturers who showcased their products at the recently concluded Jamaica Product Exchange (JAPEX) in St Ann are brimming with excitement at the prospect of inking deals with hoteliers seeking to source more home-grown products.
The second staging of the Jamaica Promotions Corporation-led Business Linkages Programme connected local producers of a range of goods and services to buyers and purchasing managers in the hotel sector. This year's programme -- a feature of JAPEX -- saw some 36 local suppliers displaying their goods and negotiating deals with more than 100 buyers from hotels, villas, gift shops, and attraction restaurants."

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IMF urges quick, effective moves to buoy growth - Yahoo! News

2012-10-13T07:50:00.001-07:00

IMF urges quick, effective moves to buoy growth - Yahoo! News: "Global financial ministers called Saturday for quick and effective action to safeguard faltering economic growth and rebuild shaken confidence as they ended an annual meeting of the International Monetary Fund.
"Global growth has decelerated and substantial uncertainties and downside risks remain," an IMF advisory committee said in a communique. It exhorted advanced economies to carry through with needed structural reforms and "credible fiscal plans."
Decisive action is needed to "break negative feedback loops and restore the global economy to a path of strong, sustainable and balanced growth," it said."

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DASPAC Accounting Software for Small and Medium Size Business

2012-10-13T06:43:00.001-07:00

DasPac has an impressive array of accounting modules, from accounts payable and billing to time tracking, point of sale and inventory.

If you want to give DasPac a spin before you install the app on your computer, but sure to try out the DasPac online demo (Login:admin,Password:pass) , which lets you fiddle with everything using sample data.

What is Software as a Service (SaaS) ? - Definition from WhatIs.com

2012-09-22T10:12:00.001-07:00

What is Software as a Service (SaaS) ? - Definition from WhatIs.com: "Software as a Service (SaaS) is a software distribution model in which applications are hosted by a vendor or service provider and made available to customers over a network, typically the Internet.

SaaS is becoming an increasingly prevalent delivery model as underlying technologies that support Web services and service-oriented architecture (SOA) mature and new developmental approaches, such as Ajax, become popular. Meanwhile, broadband service has become increasingly available to support user access from more areas around the world.

SaaS is closely related to the ASP (application service provider) and on demand computing software delivery models. IDC identifies two slightly different delivery models for SaaS. The hosted application management (hosted AM) model is similar to ASP: a provider hosts commercially available software for customers and delivers it over the Web. In the software on demand model, the provider gives customers network-based access to a single copy of an application created specifically for SaaS distribution."

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DASPAC | Why Go Online?

2012-09-22T09:53:00.001-07:00

DASPAC | Why Go Online?:

Cloud Computing Approach

Traditional on-premise software involves considerable upfront investment – the capital cost of licensing, installing and deploying core business applications and the servers they run on. This is together with the ongoing expense of operating and maintaining the system, upgrading software, patching operating systems, managing licenses and users, monitoring data security and providing for disaster recovery.

These are a considerable drain on cashflows and management focus. To make matters worse, none of this is strategic – running your own business applications just distracts from your core business objectives.

Daspac On-Line is delivered as a fully hosted and managed Software-as-a-Service (SaaS)solution over the Internet – what is now termed Cloud Computing. This has significant advantages over traditional accounting software:

No software licences to buy
No backups to carry out or disaster recovery plans required
No multiple versions of software
No in-house IT support required or servers to maintain
No need for file copies on laptops or memory sticks or sent around on CDs
Installed and implemented to new entities in hours rather than weeks
A scalable solution that will grow with your business – and you only pay as you grow

Collaborative “Anytime, anywhere” access

Unlike on-premise systems sitting on a server in one location, Daspac On-Line allows anytime, anywhere collaboration on accounts. It gives you secure 24-hour, online access to accounting information and business documents.

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DASPAC-Affordable Accounting Software

2012-09-22T09:18:00.001-07:00

Daspac On-Line is a fully hosted and managed service which is priced on a “Software as a Service” (SaaS) basis. That means no capital costs – no upfront licence fees, upgrade costs or servers to maintain. The use of the software, maintenance, enhancement, hosting, daily backups and ongoing support are combined into a single monthly rental fee.

Daspac enables companies to manage all key business operations in a single, integrated system, which includes customer relationship management; order management and fulfillment; inventory management; finance; ecommerce and Web site management; and employee productivity.

Hello cloud, goodbye desk. With DasPac, your business is accessible everywhere, from your iPhone to your desktop, and your data is secure and backed up in the cloud. Try Daspac toady ..Starting from US$9.99 per Month per month! Less than US$120 per Year....For info at: daspaconline.com or Try our Demo