The Cloudize team has a strong background in the enterprise, consulting, and applications world. As such, we’ve probably worked, interviewed, and launched applications for hundreads of companies and probably thousands of end-users. In that time, we’ve noticed a lot of things that work and more vividly, things that don’t work. While designing Cloudize, we wanted to zero-in on why such a painful problem as locating a file or discovering documents to a particular subject or topic; still exists today.
So here it is, the Top 3 Reasons why it’s so difficult to find what you’re looking for:
1) Silos of Repositories– An organization has many “opportunities” to store information in silos. Examples of this can be personal desktops, Microsoft Outlook, geographic or segragated business unit servers, FTPs, Network Drives, ECM Applications, or other storage-enabled applications. This information is decentralized and difficult to locate.
2) Files are stagnant – After a document is uploaded to a repository, it essentially dies. Unless the location path is shared or the user knows the exact search criteria, assuming search is available; the document is effectively lost or buried.
3) Capital and Operational Expenditure – Managing and allocating all of the software, hardware, implementation, IT resources, and maintenance costs often exceed the ROI of content management or file repository solutions. Additionally, frequent limitations are evident such as geographic availability, new features, and storage limitations.
Do you agree, disagree, or just want to say hi? Let us know by leaving a comment.
We’ve been doing a lot of research recently on just what market Cloudize addresses. Time and time again, we have come across the concept of Enterprise 2.0. Initially, we wanted to refrain from this association, but after careful research, it seems that there is some teeth to this concept. Essentially, Enterprise 2.0 utilizes productive features of Web 2.0 to solve a real Enterprise problem.
More abstractly, Enterprise 2.0 utilizes social features that will enable organizations to flatten or open their traditional organizational communication channels which will effectively catalyze productivity.
So essentially, applying innovation to the enterprise ecosystem. Seems Taboo.
Take a look at a great deck that solidifies the concept and more importantly, conveys where we feel the Enterprise is heading…
We’ve submitted our Cloudize for Salesforce product to the Enterprise 2.0 Conference Launchpad. In case you’re wondering, the term Enterprise 2.0 actually has a finite definition despite the catchy connotations. The Association for Information and Image Management (AIIM) defines Enterprise 2.0 as “a system of web-based technologies that provide rapid and agile collaboration, information sharing, emergence and integration capabilities in the extended enterprise.”
We feel that the Launchpad session would be ideal and most fitting conference to show-off our product. Please take a moment to vote for us here:
We’ve been slammed working through product features, UI, UX, and Salesforce’s VisualForce and APEX to the point of exhaustion and health decay. (Seriously, I went to the doctor today - no worries, I’m okay). After repeated requests by our prospects, partners, and friends, we’ve come very close. We’re preparing to launch in private-beta for our Salesforce.com product in mid-May, so if you’re interested, please go to www.cloudize.net and sign-up for notification.
Until then, we are overwhelmed with temptation and feel the need to show pre-release screenshots:
Embedded Component in Salesforce Records
(Accounts, Contacts, Opportunites, Cases, Custom Objects)
File-Level View - Cloudize for Salesforce Repository
Dashboard View of the Cloudize Repository for Salesforce
What a great and unique event! This is the first conference I’ve been to where the VCs, Entrepreneurs, and the Press are able to mingle quite intimately. Usually, one party is sitting on a high chair and leaves before lunch breaks out. My only reservations were that UTR seemed far better positioned for a later-stage startup as opposed to an early-stage. One recommendation would be for DealMakerMedia (host of UTR) to substantially reduce the cost for cost-conscious start-ups. The cost for a one-day pass was nearly $700.
Nevertheless, the presentations were awesome as our personal favorites came down to CloudKick, Symplified, Usable, and Zuora. Each of these companies had a strong and consistent message around their product and value-add. In a conference of “game-changing and paradigm-shifting” technology companies, we felt this was one of the more important aspects of the pitch presentation.
In a related note, Maha Ibrahim (General Partner, Canaan Partners) was like a shark biting at the value propositions of these startups. She lashed her questions with ferocity and demanded knowledgeable and thought-provoking responses. Based on her facial response and body language - she was not awarded with many. We both respect and fear Maha. Here at Cloudize, we’ve learned who NOT to be enemies with…
Lastly, we wanted to note that we got a great opportunity to solicit feedback from the demi-gods of technology. For instance, we got to pitch UTR moderator and President of Cloud Business, Rackspace, Lew Moorman. The guy is sharp as a razor with a piercing stare that would intimidate Chuck Norris, however Lew seemed to like and understand the value of little ol’ Cloudize. Awesome!
We’ve been hard at work producing the most innovative file collaboration app and now, we have some opportunities to provide a sneak peak.
1) We’ll be at the Under the Radar Conference (April 24, 2009) in Mountain View with some of the most innovative and well-known companies in the technology space. Early-stage companies include Zuora, Zimory, CloudKick, and Nirvanix. Established companies include Salesforce.com, Google, Amazon Web Services, Rackspace, and venture funds include Mayfield, Canaan, Hummer Winbald, and First Round.
We’ll be co-hosting a space with Nirvanix and demo’ing (for the first time) our Cloudize for Salesforce.com app!
2) We’re also a nominee for the TiECON 2009 50. Cloudize is in the running as one of the hottest 50 startups in software! Cross your fingers for us…we’ll update as we get the news.
We thought TechCrunch did an exceptional job at the cloud event. The expert panel had a great conversational approach (as opposed to the standard conference marketing jabber). It was also interesting to watch Marc Benioff’s relentless jabs at Microsoft’s Amitabh Srivastava (Corporate VP of Windows Azure). Srivastava handled the jabs with tact and a professional cool.
At the cocktail reception, there was an extraordinary opportunity and easy access to most of the expert panel with the noticeable exception of Marc Benioff. For example, we were able to speak to Srivastava and Sun Microsystems one-on-one around cloud platforms and attractive features for cloud entrepreneurs. Each of these guys gave us a good chunk of their time and stayed focused to our questions.
Alexa Lee of Ooyala.com, a high quality video technology syndication service, interviewed some of the entrepreneurs around our thoughts, concerns, and predictions for cloud computing. Our interview can be found by scrolling to option 19.
Tomorrow, Cloudize will be at TechCrunch’s “Whose Cloud is Anyway?” Roundtable and Meetup at the Microsoft Silicon Valley Campus. The meetup seeks to answer the following:
1) Will there emerge one victorious cloud platform?
2) Will cloud computing applications become simply mashups of the best cloud apps/platforms/services?
3) We know that the consumer web has headed to the cloud…what enterprise apps will be next?
Here at Cloudize, we’re excited about all the new tasks involved in building a great business. Our first and most important item is to open a dialogue and level of transparency of the happenings here at Cloudize.
We hope that this blog will be that ‘window’ between the Cloudize Camp and you.
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