Sample Scenario:Chad Marks, an information management consultant, has a prospering business and has just hired several employees.At one point he considered opening up an office in town, but decided instead to save on overhead costs and try running his business from a mobile office. One of the key elements in his mobile office is Microsoft Exchange.
Getting Started:As an information technology professional, Chad was able to take inventory of his hardware and software needs, purchase the necessary hardware (in his case three handheld mobile devices), purchase the software and required licenses for multiple use (in this case MS Outlook), install and configure the software on the various network devices, and contract with a reputable hosted Microsoft Exchange provider.
A Typical Day:Chad has just pulled into the parking lot of his son’s school to attend a parent-teacher conference when his smartphone rings.One of his most important client’s computers has broken down and needs to be repaired by noon.He quickly checks his calendar on his smartphoneandsees that he is booked from 8:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.He then checks his technicians’ calendars and sees that Aaron has an opening at 9:00 a.m.He goes to Aaron’s task list and assigns the job to him along with a quick e-mail, which he sends from his smartphone.
Aaron, who is taking his daughter to school, hears his smartphone go off and checks his e-mail.He sees he has been assigned a job and checks the list of contacts on the MS Exchange server for the address and phone number of the client.He then calls the client to let him know he is on his way and goes directly from his daughter’s school to the job site. While he is analyzing his client’s problem, he remembers a similar problem for which his associate had uploaded notes on the server for future reference.He downloads those files andaftera quick read-through is able to quickly diagnose and fix the problem.Then, from his client’s computer, he sends an e-mail to his boss to let him know the job is successfully completed and also attaches a couple of project proposals that the client had asked him to forward.
Chad, who is now in a meeting with his board of directors, reads the e-mail and shares the good news regarding the possibility of additional business.
If you can relate to this scenario and see potential for Microsoft Exchange in your business or personal life, click on the Survey link below to determine if this is a viable solution for your needs.
