The Axis Technical Group Blog

Companies large and small are continuing to seek out new ways to maximize their technology investments to drive new business and lower costs. Over the last 18 months companies have executed numerous plans to reduce cost and maximize efficiency, and in many cases this led to an increased focus on technology. However, technology itself is not cheap either.

With an increase in the development (and use) of software to help save costs and increase productivity, the development cycle has been heating up at organizations coast to coast. But the multitude of platforms and environments organizations need to support are leading to new cost concerns. The fact is, testing software applications or products that support multiple active versions and/or multiple operating systems can be very expensive and time consuming activity.

Many of the clients and IT Executives that Axis Technical Group works with have focused on ways to deal with this challenge. One such solution is to use virtual environments for software maintenance and testing. By using this solution, The Axis India team is helping several clients realize substantial benefits from reduction in overall costs, to improved turnaround time and increased reliability of the test environment.

Axis Technical Group has just published a new white paper on the subject, and it is available for download by clicking here. We would also like to hear from you about the money-saving efforts your organizations are using as we all continue to navigate this new global economy.

Download: Virtual Environments for Software Maintenance & Testing

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Many people attribute rising costs in any industry, and especially healthcare, to technology. But in reality, technology in healthcare seems to be driving healthcare costs UP. Is that really the case?

In nearly every sector of the economy, technology drives costs down – just as your digital camera gets cheaper and better every year, so technology drives down the cost of manufacturing, the cost of retailing, the cost of research. But for some reason, in healthcare, technology has the opposite effect; it doesn’t cut costs, it raises them. In fact, medical technologies – from CT scans to stents to biologics – are a significant factor in the 10% annual growth rate of healthcare spending, a rate that’s nearly triple the pace of inflation. (Overall, the US is now estimated to spend a stunning $2.7 trillion on healthcare in 2010.)

When you look closer however, some healthcare companies (including insurance companies) are using technology to improve care and service, while driving costs down.

In the world of insurance and care providers, some folks already understand this, and are way ahead of Washington policy makers in tapping cheap technologies to improve healthcare. In Hawaii, Kaiser Permanente has started a pilot project that churn through its database of patient data to predict which patients might need which tests – and then sends individuals email alerts suggesting they come in for a test or checkup. It’s the same sort of technology that Netflix uses to recommend movies. And the Cleveland Clinic has teamed up with Microsoft to bring self-monitoring tools to patients managing chronic diseases, successfully engaging them in better health behaviors without expensive visits to the hospital.

Axis Technical Group is working closely with its clients in the healthcare sectors designing, developing and implementing solutions that ultimately will push costs down, while more importantly, providing better, quicker and more interaction with primary and secondary care givers. From patient and doctor portals, to systems that predict the kinds of tests and precautionary measures individuals need, healthcare technology is leading the way to true reform in the industry.

Click here to read the entire article about technology and costs in healthcare.

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The following is an excerpt from Axis Technical Group’s free report titled, “Outsourcing – Critical Factors for Success”. The entire report can be downloaded for free by clicking here.

The realities of today’s economy demand that companies large and small “do more with less”. This rallying cry is familiar to everyone in the business world, and in many cases, the recent stability in the marketplace is in large part because organizations have successfully found ways to make every dollar they spend truly count. However, technology executives are continuously faced with new challenges to ensure that their company’s critical systems can keep up with the objectives of the business.

Dramatic shifts in revenue streams over the last couple of years have forced management to cut costs by becoming more efficient and productive. Huge demands have been placed on Information Technology departments and vendors to provide solutions that streamline process and demonstrate extreme cost effectiveness. Whatever the solution is for a particular or industry, the demand to reduce cost through automation is extremely high on the to-do list of most organizational leaders in every industry. Given the financial impact on a business by failing at this, the urgency to accomplish key technology objectives as quickly as possible places additional pressure on what is usually already an understaffed IT department.

These challenges combined with shrinking IT budgets, are leaving technology leaders with very few options. Generally, their choices boil down to just two: use fewer resources, or do more with the current resources they have. One way many IT leaders have found they can get more done within their current budget constraints is to outsource a portion of their work to a near shore or offshore IT partner. Outsourcing vendors provide a wide range of services from custom software development and maintenance of existing enterprise applications to Business Analysis, software Quality Assurance, and Documentation, all the while being sensitive to organizational budgets.

Click here to download the entire free report or email us and we will reply with a copy.

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As the State of California continues to face choking financial pressure with a huge budget deficit, new ideas are constantly being floated around Sacramento. The latest however would not only affect California’s blue-collar resources, but would hit home hard in the service industry, from Lawyers to CPA’s to IT Professionals.

According to this article in the Ventura County Star, politicians in the Capital are,

“advocating tax withholding on payments to independent contractors (1099) as a way to boost state revenues by $1.7 billion.”

What do you think about about Sacramento’s proposal and will it really help close the state’s budget crisis? Share your thoughts here, or by email.

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If you are looking for a new job, or have in the last few years, then you surely have been to countless job sites. A couple of the biggest, Monster.com and Yahoo! Hot Jobs are now one in the same, according to this article from TechCrunch.com.

Yahoo has been trying to unload HotJobs for a while, and it finally came to a deal with Monster, which will take the site off of Yahoo’s hands for $225 million in cash. As part of the deal, Monster will continue to power Yahoo’s job listings for three years.

What does this mean for job seekers? The answer to that question will likely take some time to be fully realized. As an IT consulting firm, Axis Technical Group regularly provides advice to job seekers, including not to put all of their job-seeking-eggs in one basket. Other than Dice.com, the other job boards have become overrun by various staffing firms, headhunters and the like acting on behalf of companies seeking employees, with the same position often posted by several different firms with a variety of language. This does a disservice to not only the end-employer, but to the job seeker as well. Furthermore, the mentality of the job boards leads to a cattle-round-up mentality, with hundreds of resumes being submitted for each job, and with most of those from people who are unqualified for a particular position.

This commentary is not to say all job sites are bad or worthless. Quite the contrary… some sites like Indeed.com and TheLadders are making strong inroads in this space which will help job seekers. But this is a reminder to all job seekers to diversify your search. Use the job boards, but don’t rely on them. Instead, use your network, whether it be LinkedIn, FaceBook, Twitter or others to have your friends, family and colleagues get the word out that someone great, you, are seeking a job.

What have your experiences with the various job boards resulted in? Axis would love to hear your feedback. Post a comment below, or Email us here to tell your story.

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Passing along this article from the OC Register about signs of economic turnaround in Orange County.

Four Orange County executives representing banking, fast food, high tech and housing said today that they had retrenched during the recession but have positioned themselves for a turnaround which they expect this year. Click here to read full article.

But what do you think? Leave a comment below or email us here.

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The United States remains in the grip of a challenging economy. Depending on who you talk to however, some people believe recovery is upon us, while others disagree. What can’t be argued are the record unemployment numbers that our nation faces. As of December 2009, the unemployment rate in the US is 9.7%, a number that has remained relatively flat in the last couple of months. However in California, that number is 12.2% as of November 2009 with LA County also at 12.2%, while Orange County remains more in line with the US average at 9.4%. (Click Here to View all US Unemployment Data).

Not all the news is bad. In fact, the Information Technology industry seems to have bolted out of the New Year starting gate fast and feverish. Non-technical management opportunities from mid-level to C-level remain very weak, but those professionals with strong technical skills remain in high demand.

Axis Technical Group alone has more open requirements than we have seen in a year, and are looking for hard-working, passionate and reliable individuals to join our team at key clients. Some of the positions we are currently trying to fill include (click on job title for details):

• Senior C#/WinForms Developer
• Senior BizTalk Developer
• Senior .Net Web Developer (C#, ASP.net)
• Project Manager
• and more….

If you are seeking a new opportunity, or know someone who is, please visit Axis Technical Group and submit your resume for consideration.

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Axis Technical Group recently announced that Microsoft has renewed Axis’ Gold Level Partner Certification for 2010. The certifications are for key competencies in Custom Software Development, Data Management, Service Oriented Architecture (SOA) and Business Process, as well as for Advanced Infrastructure Solutions.

Axis Expertise. Certified.

The Gold Level Partner status ensures the close working relationship between Axis and Microsoft, and stands as a testament to the outstanding work and expertise of the Axis in Motion strategic consulting team. The certifications represent the expertise and high level of competence in Axis’ service offerings, and, it doesn’t hurt our sales efforts in talking with clients either.

Read more about Axis’ certifications here.

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Not too long ago, MSNBC.com posted the article “Bailed–out companies mute holiday parties.” In essence, the article reflects not only a reminder of this year’s unprecedented financial bail-outs, but also the economic consequences and the impact it’s having on 2009 year-end holiday parties.

As companies of all sizes assess what is likely to be a non-existent budget for holiday parties this year, many are left with limited options as to whether there should be a scaled down holiday party or whether all gatherings should be squelched in favor of solemn recognition of the challenging economic times. Regardless of where one sits on either side of the debate, Axis poses this question: Is eliminating the camaraderie of a holiday party, or even that of a minuscule holiday gathering, really in any company’s best interest?

The end of the year has always been a time in which companies take time to appreciate the hard work of employees, the loyalty of customers, and the overall celebration of making it through another year. Regardless of the caliber of party or gathering it is important to maintain that appreciation. It may take a bit of creative thinking and crunching of numbers, but it is important for all companies to remember it’s not the event that is important, it is the people gathering for it who are.

Post contributed by Samantha Marriott, Director of Personnel at Axis Technical Group . Have comments? Post them below or Email Samantha here

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Now that you have your resume complete, you’re ready to begin your job search in earnest, right?

The answer to that question depends on several things. Ultimately, are you ready to start searching for a job? And just because you’re out of work don’t think the automatic answer is “yes.”

The search for a new position is very much a job in itself and you have to treat it as such, whether you are currently working or not, for the best chances of success. That doesn’t necessarily mean you should let Company A pay you while you look for a new job, but your mind and attitude need to be in tune with your objective. The various job websites would have you believe it is as simple as posting your resume, but much like the picture of a juicy hamburger on a restaurant menu that somehow doesn’t arrive at your table with the cheese and fixings neatly hanging off the side, the job boards’ claims are a misrepresentation of reality.

In order to really be ready for the job search, you need to know a lot about yourself and what your objectives are, not to mention your limits. In a difficult economy and job market, those employers who are hiring, are more selective than usual and have a bigger pool of candidates to choose from. You have to remember that not every job is going to be right for you. Easy for me to say as I have a job I love. And for anyone currently unemployed, the prospect of a paycheck makes almost any job look good. But pull up the covers and take a really good look at yourself.

There are countless factors you have to consider in self-preparation:

• What am I good at?
• What do I want to do? What don’t I want to do?
• What will I do? What won’t I do?
• How far am I willing to commute?
• Will I relocate? Will I travel?
• How stable is the company?
• Is the compensation in line with my needs?

The list goes on and on. Granted, many of these questions will have to be answered (partially or in full) during an interview process, but you need to decide, before you begin searching for jobs, what the acceptable answers are to yourself. If not, you will spend a tremendous amount of time applying to jobs that ultimately are not right for you and will only further exasperate the situation you are in.

Let’s take a closer look at the hot topic issue right now – compensation. What you are paid is clearly one the biggest questions for candidates and employers alike. But each and every one of us is in a different financial situation and therefore your answer to yourself will be completely different and unique from anyone else. Many of your colleagues are openly dismissing many of the questions I pose above and even negotiating to take less pay than in the past, just to get back to work. Is that the right strategy for you? What if the offered salary of a position is the same as you are making now, but the commute is twice as far? What range of salary is acceptable to you?

Maybe the biggest question regarding compensation you need to ask yourself is if your expected pay is realistic right now? You may very well be worth $100/hour, but if equally qualified candidates will gladly take $75/hour right now, how flexible are you?

I can’t answer that question or any of these questions for you – and I will not even attempt to do so because these are deeply personal issues that you need to decide on. But decide you must and as you seek out a new job, know what your flexibility limits are when it comes to pay and every other possible variable. Once you have given ample thought to these questions, and you have a clear vision of what will and will not work for you, the real work of searching for a job begins.

Look for future posts in this series. We’ll chew up and spit out everything from what websites to use (and not use) to recruiters to the interview and the follow-up interview, to networking to the final follow-up interview, and so on as we help you navigate the crowded roads on the search to your next job.

Related Posts

• Looking for a job? Welcome to the Club (1st in the “Looking for a Job” Series)

• Your Name In Lights (2nd in the “Looking for a Job” Series)

• Identity Theft – Resume Style

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