First time I heard about UBP (also known as USP – unique selling proposition) was reading on how a small business can differentiate from the rest, in a way that competition is not a problem to consider — that’s where the term Unique comes to a first plane.
Note, that’s not about differentiate from the competition, it’s about stays ahead or aside of the rest, just offering value on something different, something unique.
What is Unique about our offer ?
the product edgeBOX is an Office-in-a-Box Server Appliance, a Unified Communications Solution that Provides All the Phone and Internet Communication / Data Services, a Small and Medium Size Business needs – your IT infrastructure in OneBox.
the service and support comes with the Box remotely managed, it’s like “an over-your-shoulder” inside IT professional – the IT person comes within the BOX.
the pricing is affordable and using a leasing model for two years under the warranty terms – your IT on a budget.
From all these combined came our marketing message: forget IT, we’ll do IT for you
During last FIFA Cup (football aka soccer World Cup) I had a chance to enjoy all the advantages of working from Home, while using the edgeBOX solution running in the Office.
I was able to
sit in front of our management computer to do some transactions
receive calls on my office extension
print on the office machine
sit besides my associate and review a new order on his computer
make some calls from my office extension
have access to files on the office server
even receive calls to my office extension on my cell
and all these, on a secured way
So, in the future I have to remind myself when talking with the decision maker from any SMB, to tell them they can do it too.
I found an article on Channel Insider UK from Frank Ohlhorst, presenting edgeBOX from the MSP (Managed Service Provider?) view. As long as this is exactly our approach for this solution, I wanted to quoted here… completely, while citing the original source for a right reference. It’s a lesson for me as a presentation, hopefully helps me to carry my message:
-o0|0o-
Critical Links’ EdgeBox Creates Ample Opportunities for Solution Providers
Date: 17-02-2009, By: Frank Ohlhorst
By combining the best bits of open-source software into a VOIP appliance, Critical Links brings convergence to a new milestone and creates what may be the must-have appliance for most any SMB.
Solution providers are turning to recession-resistant technologies to weather the current economic storm. Technologies such as voice over IP, security and remote access are becoming the solutions of choice to create revenue in challenging times. But there are still significant challenges ahead for those solution providers, ranging from training to product selection to identifying target markets. In other words, it’s going to take a lot more than selling a better mouse trap to succeed today and tomorrow.
For solution providers pursuing the small and midsize business market, the challenges are Read more…
I really liked that phrase “Fortune 5 Million businesses” – what a good idea. This is from Enflux Technologies a VAR in Illinois who is deploying solutions using edgeBOX by Critical Links.
I contacted Mike Hanson from Enflux just to share his video presentation and experience with my readers, about the edgeBOX; It’s about 5 minutes and just talking, but it shows clearly the advantages of this integrated solution, going from the common scenario of multiple devices to an all inclusive server / network appliance. Enjoy the presentation.
This is a real scenario I went through while writing a proposal for a OneBox IT implementation.
I won’t mention any names just for discretion regarding my clients and respect to other suppliers, but figures are real.
I won’t say the edgeBox is the only or not even the best solution to save while improving, but it’s fair to say that in this [very common] case, the improvement cost of implementing an edgeBox solution were offset by far with the savings created.
Just have a look at this simple table and consider that a complete edgeBox deployment including … everything, was about 398 CAD a month under a leasing model.
Even though the value added on terms of IT improvements are by far above the cost of implementation, in this case they are getting all the benefit for free and holding some extra saving — that’s a sweat deal, isn’t it?
We have been doing several business proposals for the deployment of an edgeBox solution on SMB offices, most of them with remote offices or branches.
This proposal’s executive summary has been simplified to just one paragraph as follow:
“Plain and simple, you will get all the network and communication services a Small-Medium Business would need in a secured and remote managed appliance at your premise, and your monthly payment will be at least partially offset by the savings you will get while doing that.”
I just wanted to publish and update here what has become a template draft for many more of this to come — any comment or feedback are welcomed
Click on Fullscreen link to read the full proposal easily …
Leasing is an important part of our message and to provide that option we have partnered with National Leasing a recognized leader in equipment financing across Canada.
Leasing is a good choice for SMB to spread their expenses over the lifespan of a equipment and associated services, specially under the warranty terms. Leasing have many advantages like conserving your cash using 100% financing, several income tax benefits, having a service contract included, easy to budget and plan for the future.
Just playing with some figures to have an idea, for up to 10 users an edgeBox deployment would look like:
for $298 under $300 monthly payment you’d have an IT tech looking over your IT infrastructure, including your main IT servicing appliance – an edgeBox server.
adding another $50 a month would included your state-of-the-art IP phones ready to ring
and for just $395 under $400 a month would be the whole package, all above, even better IP phones and also a PoE Switch, UPS and some bonus
The whole solution – equipment, software and services – will perform like a high-end SUV, but just cost as an entry-level sub-Compact.
The whole idea behind OneBox project is driven by two main concepts “Simplifying through Integration” and “Avoiding the Problems”
I just wanted to provide a simple recipe for the path to achieve this goal — a three steps
Overview and Premises
SMB spends more on user’s PCs because usually cannot afford a Server
But the Sum of expending on those PCs is usually bigger than a fully featured Server
Why keep real value on the desktop if we can move it to the Server?
Why keep OS and applications on the desktop if we can move them to the Intranet – the Local Cloud?
1st Step: Move from Many to One
OneBox will include all currently spread information in One – secured and protected – Box
While keeping easy access and sharing for authorized users from anywhere
Desktop would be just Hardware, OS and Applications
2nd Step: Back to Many
Getting back the old Terminal concept, all users would share Server resources, data and applications
Dilute your user desktops into your local Server using disk-less PCs connected to a Terminal Server
Desktop would be just Hardware and network access, while OS and Applications move to the Server
3rd Step: Then to None
Upgrade the disk-less PCs to just a Web Browser Appliance and make your applications Web based (RA3D)
That’s the further step to the Local Cloud, moving your office to the Intranet
your IT infrastructure in OneBox
administration, configuration, updates, backup: forget IT, instead of making IT easier for you, we'll do IT for you.
it4lease is a project supported by theXS dedicated to promote, deploy and support integrated IT solutions under a leasing model.
In other words, we are leasing IT remote managed services, all in One Box at your premises.
First time I heard about UBP (also known as USP – unique selling proposition) was reading on how a small business can differentiate from the rest, in a way that competition is not a problem to consider — that’s where the term Unique comes to a first plane.
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