(Bellwether Software) – Bellwether Software was honored as one of Louisville’s top fast-growth companies by Louisville Metro Government and Greater Louisville Inc.’s (GLI) ENTERPRISECORP on March 18th at a ceremony in Louisville, KY, USA
Referred to as “The High Impact Program,” which was initiated by Mayor Jerry Abramson in 2003, the honor is reserved for companies who meet “specific criteria” relative to their innovation and accomplishments, especially during economically challenging times.
Over the past few weeks, I have received a steadily increasing number of notifications, press releases event announcements etc. for which of course I am truly grateful as it does help to keep me abreast of industry happenings. I would like to thank everyone for sharing this information with me.
However, and because I give every piece of information received (or at least I try to) a thorough read (including of course adjunct research or verification), I limit what actually reaches the electronic pages of the Procurement Insights Blog to those items that represent the most value to my readership. I of course do give priority consideration to our Sponsors.
Utilizing this empirical filter, what you ultimately read is based largely on the topics or issues that correspond with your areas of primary interest.
What makes the Bellwether announcement most interesting is that it comes at a time when awareness for Software as a Service (SaaS) or on-demand models is escalating. And while a number of upcoming PI Window on Business Blog Talk Radio Episodes (http://www.blogtalkradio.com/Jon-Hansen) will delve into this rapidly developing trend, the fact that a company such as Bellwether, that has been in existence for 23 years, is beginning to receive recognition as an innovator is telling.
In my October 2008 review of the company titled “Building the Bandwagon: How Bellwether Software’s 23 Year Journey May Very Well Change The Way Organization’s Purchase” (here is the link to the article; https://procureinsights.wordpress.com/?s=Building+the+Bandwagon), I indicated that using terms such as emerging “may be deceptive in that it can also imply new or inexperienced.”
In reality there is nothing new nor is there anything inexperienced about a company who has consistently delivered proven results for 23 years. The fact that up until recently, Bellwether has successfully “toiled” in the shadows of traditional licensing model vendors such as Oracle and SAP, means that this has to be one of the longest inauguration periods in history. A time frame that is made even more perplexing by the fact that the ERP-centric “license” offerings have a collective failure rate of 85 percent.
For this reason alone, and despite the fact that it often seems that industry accolades are given at a rate that causes one to think of those individuals who are so hungry for the limelight that they would even attend the opening of a can of paint, I felt that the Louisville honor warranted mentioning. My reasoning is quite simply this, it is a clear sign of things to come for certainly Bellwether, but also those vendors who represent the “technologically seasoned” capabilities of an original on-demand innovator.
By the way, here are the links to both the press announcement, as well as a corresponding article: http://www.prlog.org/10201999-bellwether-software-honored-as-one-of-louisvilles-top-fastgrowth-companies-by-metro-government.html, http://www.slideshare.net/piblogger/business-first-article-bellwether.
(e-LYNNX Corporation) – As motivated as I was to publish the Bellwether announcement regarding that organization’s Louisville honors, I was alternatively hesitant to post the information pertaining to the press release regarding William Gindlesperger being named “Innovator of the Year” by the Greater Chambersburg Chamber of Commerce.
While the recognition as an Innovator is warranted, as it is given to the person who has “successfully introduced, through innovation and risk-taking, a new product or service or grown an existing product line through a unique approach,” I doubt that the majority of business people will take the degree of notice that is commensurate with the actual importance of the technology for which Gindlesperger is being honored.
This is one of the main reasons that while the hometown accolades are nice, especially given the old saying that a prophet is rarely accepted in his own town, I have never really been a big believer in their sustaining value.
Regarding the ephemeral nature of this kind of “fame” (and fame in general), I speak from personal experience. I can recall for example the accolades I received for my own business acumen when I sold my company for $12 million in 2001. I can also remember how that acknowledgment turned to tabloid-type interest when the public company that acquired us went into receivership as we were only one of the two companies of the many they had purchased during the dot com craze that actually made money.
I can also remember the back-to-back honors of being an Ottawa finalist for the Ernst and Young Entrepreneur of the Year when my new company generated more than $3 million in its first year, with a healthy EBITDA.
Finally, I can reflect on the aftershocks of the dot com meltdown when several key clients, including the country’s largest PC integrator with revenues of $600 million per year tanked along with a healthy percentage of the company’s revenue base. By that point in time, and with the sizable job loss associated with the big boys’ failures, my company’s exploits took a back seat in terms of news.
Through these experiences the one thing that remained constant, was both the passion I had for the business and the foundations upon which my research was based. In short, let someone else end up on the front page of a business magazine. I would much prefer to work at delivering value to those whom I serve (today this my readership and clients).
In this light I truly do believe that e-LYNXX has created something special. A breakthrough process (which is ultimately manifested in a technological platform), that has dramatically improved specification-defined procurement.
So while I almost always eschew personal announcements of achievement in favor of those that focus on a business itself and the value it delivers to its clients, to not post this piece of news would be a disservice.
To learn more about e-LYNNX and the process for which William Gindlesperger has been recognized, here is the link to a recent white paper I have written titled, “Preserving Supply Base Integrity During an Economic Downturn” (http://www.slideshare.net/piblogger/preserving-supply-base-integrity).
(Zycus) – Like the Energizer Rabbit (Bunny as my 4 year-old daughter would say), or the Timex “keeps on ticking” tag line Zycus, whose suite of spend management solutions is internationally recognized for uniquely balancing ease of use with real-time insight into an organization’s complex spending practices, continues to gain momentum and far reaching market acceptance.
So when the company contacted me with the latest issue of their quarterly electronic newsletter “spend essentials” (and yes it is in lowercase), I thought it worthwhile to share with you.
Using the “catch phrase” Leadership Insights for Procurement Professionals, the newsletter is more than a simple “look at us” promotional piece. It instead seeks to intelligently provide information on how the Zycus “save with ease” platform warrants further investigation (as well as serious consideration) by its targeted market.
Based on the steady stream of contract wins with global enterprises such as Sigma-Aldrich (a leading life science and high technology company), and Belgian multinational manufacturer Bekaert (the world leader in advanced metal transformation, materials and coatings), it is not difficult to see why the company experienced a 122 percent growth during the first half of its fiscal year.
With those kinds of numbers, I for one am very interested in the “insights” that can be gained through reading spend essentials. Here is the link to the most recent issue: http://www.zycus.com/newsroom/spend_essential_newsletter.html.
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Procurement Insights 
Posted on April 6, 2009
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