Dear {!firstname},

Welcome to the first issue of the OPT Solutions, Inc.
e-newsletter! In each issue you'll find articles and other information useful to those who impact IT management and business operations.

Sincerely,

Laura Pettit Rusick
OPT Solutions, Inc.
www.optsolutionsinc.com

• Cut cell phone and related email costs. Not everyone needs a cell phone in your organization. Decide who does, then eliminate the rest. Same with email service on phones. Consider having staff expense calls from personal phones when there is an occasional need.
• Defray your copier costs.  Review your copier contracts. We've seen examples where it is cheaper to not use a machine still on lease and lease a new machine because of the per page rate reduction.  Consider adding a network printer to defray your copier costs if you are using copiers for a lot of printing.
• Replace off-site meetings with video conferencing. Save time, money, and increase communication by using video conferencing tools such as WebEx and Skype for some of your meetings. While nothing can replace face-to-face communication, video conferencing is a solid cost-reducing action you can take now.
• Reduce the number of phone lines in use.  Review your phone bills and cancel phone numbers no longer in use. Identify fax numbers that can be moved to your phone system. For corporate lines such as a "T1", "PRI", "ISDN" or "Ethernet" connection, shop around for the lowest prices.  Keep in mind that resellers may offer better pricing than going direct.
• Cancel little used software subscriptions. Inventory your current web site subscriptions, including those on expense reports, and cancel those not regularly used.  If more than one person is using the same service, ask the vendor for a discount. Even vendors who do not show multi-user discounts on their web site often offer them if you ask.

An additional three things you can do this quarter to cut your costs further:

• Take advantage of special vendor financing. Vendors are getting creative to improve their sales. Look for those who are offering deferred payments and special financing. If your equipment or software needs to be replaced, take into consideration the vendor incentives in addition to evaluating the solution against your requirements.
• Lease your software (Software-as-a-Service). If you need new software but can't afford it right now, one cost-effective way to minimize up-front purchase costs is to contract with a vendor who offers their software for a monthly fee. Salesforce.com and Google applications are two well known examples. A word of caution - if you need the software to integrate (move data back and forth) with other software you use, make sure you understand the costs involved early on.
• Virtualize servers and PCs. Server virtualization allows more applications to run on a particular server. Use it to reduce your software costs, maintenance efforts, and to increase your ability to keep applications up and running. In some situations, outsourcing servers to a provider with virtualized servers may be more cost effective. Desktop virtualization can reduce hardware requirements and make desktop management much simpler. Upgrade your PCs and servers later, when your cash flow increases.

Our current economy demands that you find a way to get more out of your IT dollar. From eliminating telecommunications overage to implementing new ways to hold meetings, these tips will save you money and help your organization get through today's tough economic conditions.

Copyright © 2008 by Laura Pettit Rusick.