Update to our hosted Vidyo Conference Service

We recently completed an update to our hosted Vidyo conferencing services.  The latest version by Vidyo brings HD video conferencing to your mobile device, allows you to stream media during your meetings & includes support for Linux users.  Learn more about some of the exciting new features now available:

Vidyo Mobile

iPad and iPhone

You can now access VidyoMobile for iOS through the Apple apps store. This does not yet allow guest access, so is only for registered users.

Android

We are now participating in the Android beta. You can download VidyoMobile at the Android marketplace. This does not yet allow guest access, so is only for registered users.

Linux Support!

We are now participating in the Linux beta. Ubuntu is the primary platform, but it may work on other Linux clients as well. Simply access your portal or a guest invitation link from a Linux machine and download the client.

Display Names

You can now display names of other participants in your conference.

a.      Click the configuration icon

b.      Select Options

c.       Check Show Participants Names

Configure Playback Device

Also under Options, you can select which of your playback devices rings when you have an incoming call.

Vidyo Media Player

There is now a Vidyo Media Player that allows you to stream media through your video conference.  Click here for the player and the quick reference guide for using it.

Place direct video calls from your system tray

 You can now place calls directly from your systray icon (windows) by right clicking.

a.      Start my meeting takes you directly to your meeting room

b.      Place a call brings up the portal allowing you to call someone else, just as if you had logged in on the web.

Check out the latest reference guide to get up to speed.  Learn more about our video conference services.

Vidyo's Mobile video conferencing coming soon

Vidyo just announced their mobile video conferencing option to be released soon. Vidyo reports this option is ready for release and has been in use by a telecom network (Elisa Corporation) in Finland throughout 2010.

It looks like support will be available for iphone, android devices, along with tablets like the iPad & Samsung Galaxy devices.

Vidyo has been developing award winning, video conference products based on the SVC (Scalable Video Conferencing) concept. Essentially, the technology will adjust the video conference experience for each participant. This process has proved to be successful, when considering participants joining via the desktop, from various locations & networks. With Vidyo's technology it will auto-adjust how much data a user can accept at any given moment, and scale the experience accordingly, however, always delivering the most important parts, such as, the active speakers. Its very impressive, and is different from traditional products that would scale the whole experience down to the lowest common denominator (eg. the participant with lowest capacity/connection).

With their upcoming release for mobile video conferencing, it will be interesting to see if Vidyo's SVC based technology, provides a similar experience from the mobile device, and maintain a high level of quality.  From the demonstrations of VidyoMobile, the concept looks great, and recently they we're also awarded a finalist at the Best of Interop, Collaboration category.  VidyoMobile also won the 2011 mobile video conferencing award at CTIA.

Vidyo Demo on iPad 2

Wave Accounting - A Gregarious Accounting Solution, Personified!

While the role and indispensability of computers in the domain of commerce and accounting is nothing novel to the ear, innovation in terms of the size and user compatibility has been riveting to observe.  A stunning new entry into the world of smart and easy to use web applications which has made accounting, a piece of cake, is Wave Accounting.

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Digging Deep into What Exactly Wave Accounting Is

In simple English, Wave Accounting is an entirely free to use web application intended to serve miniscule businesses and small startup ventures. Apart from being thoroughly competitive in terms of efficiency and reliability, the creators of Wave Accounting have been humble enough to cater the arenas of brokerage and bank transactions, which usually chew up your time when performed manually.  Creation and management of records and performing tax reports other than managing your personal finance status has gone on to add to the success of this miniature application , which has begun to emerge as a triumphant accounting solution .

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Belittling Data Entry, Thanks to Wave Accounting!

One of the greatest perquisites of Wave Accounting is its design and commitment to reduce user strain. The very idea of its user interface proves it all! Integrating your bank accounts into this incredibly smart Wave Accounting web application comes in as a blessing in disguise to your finance management woes. Automatic downloading of your transaction history on a routine basis eases you of the irksome task of having to enter it manually as in some apps. Another spirited feature of this app has been in categorizing the transactions under specified fields, thus showing its mighty skills in organization.

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Scrutinizing the Settings

Except for one or two fresh and creative privileges, the settings menu by far is quite similar to its counterparts. Even though the analysis of the settings is not a compulsion it is always handy to note the options that are in store for you, before you begin to experience the real pleasure of working with this app. Adding logos and establishing collaborations with guests is one ecstatic benefit which is not to be found in many of the accounting web tools. However the conformability and lack of mailing features seem to be a strong deprivation in Web Accounting’s functionality.

Is Billing with Wave Accounting, Outgoing?

Wave Accounting promises all the usual conventions which other rival web apps offer, when it comes to the accustomed billing techniques. However, Wave Accounting makes a giant leap ahead with its unique Quick Entry facility. This fluent feature has a role to play when there is an urge to record payments without invoices and also to make a hasty note of an expense that has been incurred.

The Final Word

I can never attest the fact that Wave Accounting is THE most happening and scintillating tool in the world of web accounting. On the other hand, I would lie if I had anything ill to state about its eccentric home page which gives it an edge over its counterparts. However, the fact that Wave Accounting is bungling when compared to a few of its rivals when it comes to reports, is a point to ponder upon. In a nut shell, Wave Accounting is an energetic and a vibrant entry into the world of accounting applications which could taste glory with a few add-ons and improvements.

VidyoOne™ brings telepresence to small business

Our hosted Vidyo services now include, VidyoOne™, which provides your company with a dedicated portal to manage your video conferencing requirements.  The VidyoOne™ telepresence service empowers your company with high availability hd video conferencing.  Using the central VidyoPortal, you can quickly initiate impromptu meetings or video conference with multiple participants.

What is VidyoOne™?

VidyoOne™ is a packaged solution by Vidyo Inc, which bundles their VidyoRouter appliance, lifetime licences & the VidyoPortal, all available at a low entry level price.  Not only do you have the ability to multi-party video conference, your also enabling staff to collaborate virtually in high definition meeting rooms, directly from your desktop!

Administration Functions: VidyoOne Portal

• Secure login
• Create & manage user accounts
• Create & manage public & private meeting rooms
• Manage permission groups
• View system & client status
• Moderate in-progress meetings
• Exportable call detail records

 User Management Functions: Vidyo Meeting Interface

• Secure login
• Initiate a meeting
• Join a meeting
• Initiate a direct call
• Search intelligent directory
• Browse meetings & users
• Mute or remove participant from own meeting
• Invite participants with guest link (for subscribed & non-subscribed users)
• Manage personal speed dial list
• Manage personal account settings & preferences

Optional Add-on's: 

• VidyoRoom - allows you to install a dedicated VidyoRoom appliance in your boardroom, which can also plug and play with any LCD screen
• VidyoGateway™ (H323 & SIP Connectivity) - allows you to connect video conferencing legacy systems
• Microsoft Office Communicator - integration available

VidyoOne™ Service Packages

Along with your purchase of VidyoOne, we provide high availability hosting.  Your company will receive access to their own dedicated VidyoOne portal, full configuration, on-going "live" support, & updates. The simple user interface will make it easy for employees to login, view who's online, and initiate meetings, directly from your desktop.  Contact us for an estimate on hosting VidyoOne for your company.

 VidyoOne™ 5

• Seats (Users): 25
• Router Ports (Concurrent Conferencing Ports): 5 
• Dedicated VidyoPortal for your business
• High availability hosting & monthly bandwidth
• Live Support, patches, upgrades & maintenance
• Online Training (on-site training & set-up available)

Perpetual one-time license - $7,000*

Monthly hosting costs - contact us for quote

VidyoOne™ 10

• Seats (Users): 50
• Router Ports (Concurrent Conferencing Ports): 10 
• Dedicated VidyoPortal for your business
• High availability hosting & monthly bandwidth
• Live Support, patches, upgrades & maintenance
• Online Training (on-site training & set-up available)

Perpetual one-time license - $14,000*

Monthly hosting costs - contact us for a quote

* Price in USD & subject to change, does not include applicable taxes.  

Note:

Direct point to point video conferencing does not consume the router ports (as mentioned above).  For example with the VidyoOne 5, you could have one multi-point video conference with 5 participants, plus multiple point to point calls happening simultaneously.  Up to the number of seats available.

What makes Vidyo unique?

If Vidyo is new to you, the first area to understand is their patented technology, Scalable Video Coding (SVC).  Vidyo's award winning telepresence systems, have been designed from the ground up to scale accordingly to each unique connection.  This has enabled the product to support users joining from the desktop or laptop PC, and still take part in a high quality telepresence experience.  

Demo of Vidyo hd video conferencing system:

In this recorded demo, Marty Hollander, SVP of Marketing at Vidyo, walks you through the value of Vidyo, & demonstrates how multi party video conferencing works intelligently during your online meetings.

How to learn more?

To learn more about the VidyoOne services, contact us to schedule an online demo.  Join a meeting first hand to see the level of quality possible from your desktop!

Migrate your data from Salesforce to Zoho CRM - 5 Best Practices

Zoho CRM has been challenging Salesforce as a viable CRM alternative for managing customer relationships.  More importantly, they have been raising eyebrows over at Salesforce, when you consider the price, breadth of features, ability to customize application & ease of use.  So before committing to another year or multi-year contract with Salesforce, you should be asking the question..."are there other options"?

If your ready to migrate data from Salesforce to Zoho CRM, the following are some best practices to keep in mind.  If your still considering making the transition, contact us at Batipi, to discuss a migration strategy & learn more about using Zoho CRM in your business.

1. Request data export & schedule a time for migration

Your first step, will be to request your companies data from Salesforce, considering the time it will take to receive your exported Zip file.  On average we have seen this take anywhere from 2 – 5 business days.

When you receive your data export, you should check one of the CSV files included, to see how recent the data is.  In most cases this should be the current or previous day.  Your now ready to migrate your data.  At this point you should have your users switch over to using Zoho CRM. 

Tip: You can prepare user accounts prior to migrating over to Zoho CRM.  This will allow users to go through account validation, and ensure they are ready to access the application.

2. Prepare custom fields in Zoho CRM

While your waiting for your data, you can use this opportunity to establish your custom fields in Zoho.  With the custom fields in place, for each module, you will be able to map the Salesforce data to the appropriate Zoho CRM field.

Review the fields you are actively using in Salesforce, if these fields do not exist in Zoho, then you will need to create new custom fields, under "set-up" in Zoho CRM.  More information here on creating custom fields.

3. Follow specific order for importing CSV files

When you click on “migrate data from other crm”, under set-up in Zoho CRM you need to select the module that your importing.   It is required to follow the order presented in the list, starting from “users”, “campaigns”, “leads”, “accounts”, ect.

Note:  If you have already created user accounts, you still need to start with importing the "user.csv" file.  This process assigns specific user id's and ensures the data will be mapped properly

4. Use a custom date display in CSV file

Zoho CRM needs to read all dates as yyyy-MM-dd hh:mm:ss, for the field to be mapped properly.  For example prior to importing leads, update all columns to display the above mentioned format.  You can update the custom format through "format cells" in Excel,  select “custom” from the category list.  

From here, copy and paste the Zoho CRM desired format, in the “type” field.  For the rest of the columns in your CSV file, you should now be able to select the custom date format from the list.

Tip:  After updating the custom dates, click save, and leave the document open.  Now toggle back to Zoho, and import the file.  If you close the file, the custom date format may be lost. 

5. Using the Rollback option

After you have mapped all fields from your Salesforce CSV file, to Zoho CRM fields, you want to check that your data has migrated correctly.  Navigate to one of the new leads and look at the “created by” & “modified by” fields.  These should be specific dates, not today’s date (unless the record was created on same day as data migration).  Also, you should notice that the “lead owner” field is mapped appropriately to the correct user. 

If these fields do not map correctly, then you can use the “rollback” option, which is found under “set-up”, “data administration tools”, “import history”.  Click on the import file name, and click "rollback".

Note: The rollback option will delete data only associated to the recent migration attempt.  Your users can still be creating new records in Zoho CRM, without any disruption.

Let us know in the comments, if you have other best practices or tips to consider, migrating from Salesforce to Zoho CRM.  If you have any questions about this process, contact us here.