Have you finished gift shopping yet? If not, don’t panic! Contractnista has scoured the Internet and mulled over morning talk shows in order to bring you practical gift ideas that won’t break the bank.

Violight UV Cell Phone Sanitizer:

Why buy?

The Violight UV cell phone sanitizer eliminates 99% of the germs and bacteria on your cell phone without harming the device itself! After 5 minutes of sanitizing, your phone will be clean and ready to use. It also includes a basket for all your smaller accessories, such as phone headsets and MP3 players. A word of caution: it is not designed for flip phones or slider phones.

Price: $49.95

Purchase at: Violight (www.violight.com)

Flipside 2X Wallet

Why Buy?

The Flipside 2X wallet is the ultimate protection against Radio Frequency Identification (RFID). RFID can be found in many of today’s major credit and debit cards. RFID thieves can steal your identity from as far as 15 feet! Not only does the Flipside 2X wallet protect against RFID theft, but it also comes in many colors and fits comfortably in your pocket.       

Price: $39.95

Purchase at: Flipside Wallet (www.flipsidewallet.com)

Tocky Alarm Clock

Why Buy?

You are sure to wake up on time with this energetic alarm clock. Tocky is the brother of Clocky, the original runaway alarm clock. Tocky will roll off your nightstand, making you chase it in order to turn it off. As it rolls around, Tocky will play your favorite MP3 songs or you can record a personal wake-up message.

Price: $69

Purchase at: Nanda Home (www.nandahome.com)

The Grid Foam Roller

Why Buy?

For the exercise enthusiast in your life, Trigger Point Performance Therapy’s Grid Foam Roller is a revolutionary way to massage sore muscles. Its compact design makes it easy to travel, yet it is constructed to withstand heavy use.

Price: $39.99

Purchase at: Trigger Point Performance Therapy (www.tptherapy.com)

PepperFace Pepper Spray

 Why Buy?

Protect the ones you love this season with the gift of PepperFace pepper spray. PepperFace is ideal for the individual that needs a self-defense mechanism, but doesn’t want to compromise style or functionality. Its lightweight design makes it easy to transport, and the safety mechanism prevents accidental spraying. It also comes in a variety of colors and crystal designs.

Price: starting at $35

Purchase at: PepperFace (www.pepperface.com)

Roku LT Streaming Player

Why Buy?

Enjoy your favorite movies, TV shows, games, and more with Roku! With Roku, you can enjoy free shows, games, and music, or you could even connect to current subscriptions from Netflix or Blockbuster. It’s a great value for your dollar!

Price: $49

Purchase at: Roku, Inc (http://www.roku.com/)

YUBZ Retro Handsets

Why Buy?

So, we all have heard that cell phone use can cause cancer. YUBZ Retro Handsets claim to reduce cell phone radiation by as much as 96 percent! It is functional, resting between your head and arm if you need both hands free. It is easy to use – all you need is a headphone output on your phone (adapters are available if needed). And, of course, it is oh so stylish!

Price: starting at $39.96

Purchase at: YUBZ (www.yubz.com)

 


Don’t Leave Employees Out in the Cold this Contract Management Season

When implementing a new contract management system, there is one challenge that is often cited over and over again by numerous contract management research papers and studies. What is this challenge, you ask? This is the challenge of employee buy-in, which simply means getting your employees on board with the changes. It should come as no surprise that people who are used to the “traditional” ways of doing things typically are, especially at first, resistant to new processes. They have probably been doing things the “normal” way for many years, and convincing them that there is a better, more efficient way might be as easy as having your hair waxed, or rather forcibly removed from your body. However, through effective communication, management can help ease the transition and minds of the employees.

In the world of contract management, the old, inefficient method is what we refer to as a manual process. With manual processes, there is virtually no visibility and increased risk. So, why would someone have to be convinced to move to a contract management solution that works to minimize risk and increase visibility? I mean, do they not realize that it is less work for them?

Of course they realize that it is less work for them, and that might just be the issue. When employees hear that there will be “better, more efficient” changes, they might picture layoffs (especially in this economy). Curb this anxiety by acknowledging this issue and ensuring them that the new system will make their job easier, and that it will not be replacing them.

Not including employees in the implementation project meetings and discussions will probably not go over well with them. This will only incite fear of the unknown. Management should welcome employee input and provide updates at each step of the implementation process (the good, the bad, and the ugly). If a step in the process did not go as planned, it’s OK. Use seemingly “bad” moments as learning experiences. Have a conversation with employees about how that step could have gone better or a brainstorming session to prevent that situation from happening down the line. With an open line of communication, employees will not feel bamboozled or misled.

If management does not believe in the solution, the employees are not going to buy it either. Perfect rollouts are impossible, but management should remain upbeat and positive about the implementation process. Remember that management can turn “bad” or negative situations into positive learning experiences. Positive attitudes catch like wildfire, and employees that have positive experiences with the new process are likely to give positive reviews to other employees.

How did your company work with employees during implementation? Share your experiences! To those who are undergoing this process right now, have a happy implementation!


Contract Management Systems Can Help Build Stronger Business-Supplier Relationships

While flipping through the IACCM’s Contracting Excellence e-zine, I came across an article titled “The Core Value of Contracting.” There were several great points in the article, but one point stood out that has yet to be addressed on Contractnista.

What was this fabulous point? The article mentioned that contracting can be used to build stronger relationships between businesses and suppliers. What a novel idea!

Businesses and suppliers need each other, and poor contract management will strain an already delicate relationship. One common issue is that companies often develop contract management systems based solely around their own interests and protection. That is to say that many companies create contracts solely to “protect” themselves from the other party. More often than not, this approach makes for complicated business-supplier relationships. Of course a function of contracts is to protect; however, protection should not be viewed as an end in itself. Furthermore, contracts containing complicated language and seemingly unfair terms can also pit businesses and suppliers against each other.

Instead of working against each other, it would be wise to develop a contracting system that will work to foster and nurture the business-supplier relationship. Contracts that encourage collaboration and communication will create value for both parties. Include fair terms that are easily understood by all parties as well as a clear plan of action when misunderstandings do occur. Contract managing systems are not perfect, but developing a system that works to bring together businesses and suppliers instead of dividing them will ease tension and help to strengthen relationships.


Thank You Contractnista Readers!

Ah…the Thanksgiving holiday is finally here! Time to rest and enjoy our families as we surround ourselves with delicious comfort food. And of course, it is time to give thanks to all the wonderful people in our lives! I am thankful to have an outlet to discuss how contract management can create value for you, the reader. That’s what Contractnista is all about! I strive to deliver content to help improve your business processes. At the end of the day, this is not just my forum but it’s yours as well. On that note, what are you thankful for (business related or otherwise)?


NCMA to Host it’s 30th Annual Government Contract Management Conference

See and be seen next week at the NCMA Government Contract Management Conference (GCMC). This year’s conference will be held November 14-15 at the Bethesda North Marriott resort in Bethesda, MD.

Although this is a government contracting event, all contracting, business and procurement professionals and students are invited to attend! Attendees can expect to network while also learning from industry leaders via numerous seminars and breakout sessions. There will also be a contract management career fair and an exhibition showcasing over 50 companies.

Are you planning to attend? Check out http://www.ncmahq.org/Events/gcmc11detail.cfm?ItemNumber=9831&&navItemNumber=10824 for more information!


Contractnista Guest Blogs for Prodagio Software

Contractnista gets back to the basics in a Q&A session with a seasoned document management expert by asking, what exactly is contract management?

Managing contracts can seem quite daunting, especially for companies managing hundreds or thousands of contracts. Although contracts can be managed manually, doing so can have serious consequences for a company if it cannot maintain visibility and control over its contracts.

Lacking visibility and control can create a snowball effect in which companies may also end up losing money because of missed financial obligations or opportunities.

To help combat such disasters, companies, such as Prodagio Software, developed solutions to help today’s businesses simplify and create value within the contract management process.

George Sofka, Prodagio Software‘s vice president of product development, has been in the document management industry for 20 years. As one of the founders of Prodagio Software –which was then Imagitek – he is able to provide valuable insight into the contract management process.

Contract Management 101

Contract management is the act of managing legal documents and can be described as a three part process that includes:

  • Creation
  • Approval
  • Management

During the creation process, negotiations occur. The negotiation process can be lengthy, depending on the company and its circumstances, but a contract management solution can help speed up the process.

An effective contract management solution includes features to help standardize language and reduce risk, thus creating a quick and simple process. In order to do this, Prodagio Software offers automated templates and clause libraries as a part of their wizard-based contract management solution.

After the contract has been created, it moves on to the approval process. In a manual, paper-based process, this would probably mean taking the contract from desk-to-desk. An efficient solution can automate this process. With Prodagio’s solution, administrators have complete control over the approval process and can configure the workflow and rules according to company needs.

Upon approval, contracts need to be continuously managed. Could you imagine manually reviewing and updating hundreds or thousands of contracts? Probably not. A good automated solution should include tracking and reporting features that alert administrators when a contract needs to be reviewed or updated.

The Evolution

Contract management has come a long way – from manual, paper-based processes to automated software solutions. The graphic below illustrates the evolution of the contract management process:

 

Contract Management Trends

The current trends in managing contracts include the move to the cloud and electronic approval features.

With a cloud solution, the software provider hosts the system infrastructure in a secured online environment, which means there isn’t any expensive hardware to set up or maintain on-site.  Companies are turning to such hosted solutions because it is quicker and more cost effective to deploy than on-site solutions. The cloud trend is particularly valuable for clients because it is easy to implement with virtually no learning curve, yet it still maintains the functionality of internal systems.

An efficient contract management program should streamline the electronic approval process, making it easier to get contracts approved in a timely manner. Companies are also beginning to integrate e-signature features into contract management solutions, which allow contracts to be signed instantly and securely.

The Art of Content Management

Content management generally refers to the management of electronic files. In contract management, content management systems are used to manage contractual content. Some common content management platforms include UNIX and Windows.

For providers, the biggest challenge of content management is simplifying the user interface without losing functionality.

For clients, the challenge is balancing the different industries and industry-specific requirements.

About Prodagio Software’s Contract Solution

Prodagio Contract strives to create value for businesses by streamlining the contract management process with solutions tailored to the specific needs of each client. Prodagio Contract is an efficient solution for enterprise, buy-side, and sell-side contract management.

 


Gartner Releases 2011 SaaS Survey

Recently, Gartner conducted a survey to determine software-as-a-service (SaaS) current practices and future trends among more than 500 companies worldwide. Of those surveyed, 95% reported that they will continue or increase SaaS usage in the future.

The survey found that simple and fast deployment options as well as lower costs were among the top reasons for implementing SaaS solutions. The survey also found that new industries that did not previously use SaaS solutions are now interested in doing so.

Current industries that rank highest in SaaS deployment includes:

  • Communications
  • Utilities
  • Banking and Securities

 

Top ranking industries that plan to implement SaaS solutions in 2012 or beyond include:

  • Federal Government
  • Manufacturing and Natural Resources
  • Wholesale Trade
  • Retail

As with most technology, SaaS does have its challenges, which the survey also highlights. However, despite the challenges, the results seem to recognize a couple of important trends. First, SaaS usage will most likely increase in the future. Second, opportunities for new companies to adopt SaaS systems are increasing as new industries embrace SaaS solutions.

The full survey and report can be found at: http://www.gartner.com/DisplayDocument?ref=clientFriendlyUrl&id=1801814


Check Out Prodagio Software at Oracle OpenWorld 2011

Haven’t you heard? One of the leading providers of contract management solutions, Prodagio Software, will be making an appearance at Oracle OpenWorld 2011, which will be held Oct. 2-6 at the Moscone Center in San Francisco.

Prodagio Software applications easily integrate with Oracle products, but you shouldn’t take my word for it!  Check it out for yourself when you visit Prodagio at booth #643, where you can experience demos of their popular software solutions, including Prodagio Contract.

Oracle OpenWorld is a huge event for the technology community. There will be hundreds of exhibits and demos to experience, as well as best practices and tips from key industry speakers. But this event is not simply all work as there will be plenty of time to play. Be sure to catch a performance by Sting along with Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers. There will also be plenty of gaming and refreshment stations.

To register or find out more information about Oracle OpenWorld 2011, visit http://www.oracle.com/openworld/index.html

For more information about Prodagio Contract, visit www.prodagio.com


EVENT: IACCM Global Forum

IACCM is hosting its first Global Forum for Contracting and Commercial Excellence October 26-28 at The Buttes Resort in Arizona. Expect to learn about best practices, the latest technologies, answers to key industry questions, and more! For registration information, visit http://www.iaccm.com/globalforum/


Speak Up: The IACCM’s “Future of Contracting” Survey

The International Association for Contract and Commercial Management (IACCM) is giving contract management professionals the opportunity to voice their opinions for their “Future of Contracting 2020” study. As the title suggests, the study seeks to predict what the future holds for the contract industry and contract management professionals. Interested participants can expect to answer questions about how the contract industry might change and the potential impact that such changes could have on the contract management profession. The results will be presented at the IACCM Global Forum in October.

To find out more about the study and how you can voice your opinion,visit http://www.iaccm.com/news/?id=1595


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