3. Faster deployment. A faster deployment of software is always a strong positive factor into how well it will be adopted and used by your organization. Hosted solutions typically offer faster deployments, with fewer internal pressures and distractions from day-to-day operations and activities. In short, focus of deployment is on end-user training and acceptance, since you won't have to install or maintain servers, networking equipment, security products, or other hardware or software.

2. Easier innovation. Another key advantage of hosted model is that it facilitates on-going process innovation as new functionality can be introduced incrementally over its lifecycle. The traditional model of purchased and locally implemented software binds companies into "big-bang" versioning where updates are introduced in batches - typically every 12 to 18 months. That model inhibits real-time improvements of software and processes as they become available. In a hosted environment, major new product releases and improvements can literally be made overnight.

1. Lower cost and smoother cash-flows. Hosted solutions like Invendia have a decided cost advantage over traditional packaged software offerings like SAP and Oracle: low hardware and software costs (you need only outfit your users with PCs, which they likely already have), no depreciation costs, no software or hardware maintenance costs, and lower implementation costs.

With hosted solutions, first year total cost of ownership can be five to ten times less expensive than enterprise software with majority of savings resulting from elimination of upfront integration and customization projects. Thus, payback period is considerably shortened.

And hosted solutions offer much smoother cash-flows, with no large up-front cash outlays that need be subsumed by your organization.

In conclusion, hosted model of enterprise software lowers risk, simplifies licensing, eases deployment, encourages innovation, and decreases costs, all of which result in faster return on investment, lower total cost of ownership, reduced risk, and flexibility that you need to successfully compete in today's fast-moving business climate.

The goal of making it simple and easy for your customers and clients to do business with you begins with focused, rehearsed, and perfected behind-the-scenes work to achieve consistency.

Give your customers consistency, and you'll solidify loyalty. If you embellish with a few magic words and a prop or two, that's great - but if you aren't consistent, your audience (customers) won't be loyal enough to keep paying entry fee to see your show, or buy your products and services.

Many of us focus on props - promotions, signage, advertising - yes, these things are extremely important to attract people to your services and products. But if you are not delivering consistency to your customers and clients who are attracted to your props, they will not come back for more.

Roughly 80% of your sales will come from 20% of your customers. That's right, long-term success is in repeat business, not in pulling in new customers with gags and gimmicks only to have them leave after first show.

Build consistency into your business by remembering magician. An audience may be dazzled by words, hats, and capes, but if tiger doesn't disappear every single time, that audience won't likely come back to see a second show.