Making life easier with formulas
Writing a blog gives me the chance to share information with you that a static site simply wouldn’t allow for. This is a case in point. I had a meeting with Sara, who amongst her many talents is known as (and trades as) the Spreadsheet Queen. It is her assertion that 50% of Excel users use less than 20% of Excel’s capabilities. If you’re using a spreadsheet, she can improve it, automate it or create a new one that delivers what you need, meaning you’ll spend less time on the number-crunching and more time on what’s really important. And it is true. Two...
read moreThe Fear of Change
By Michael Jennings I was talking to a potential new client this week and I thought the conversation would be good for a blog around the fear of change. Having spoken to the client for a few minutes about the work that Avenue does and what it could mean for them in terms of increased efficiency and reduced costs, the client said, “I’m not sure if I want to know if we are getting a bad deal with our suppliers” It was a surprising line, so I asked why. In essence his answer was that, all the while he did not know if he was paying over the odds or could get a better service, he could...
read moreIts not all about the money
By Michael Jennings It’s been an interesting week of meetings. At one meeting I was asked if it was all about how much could be saved. It was a good question and one I know many people must think, if not ask. I thought it would be useful for me to share my thoughts with you as indeed I did in my meeting. Overall it is a case of objectives and outcomes. The objective is always to make sure your are buying the right ‘thing’ with the right supplier and support package. Once you know that bit is spot on, you can then concentrate on buying it as cost effectively as...
read moreParallels at home and work
By Michael Jennings The last few days have been busy, but great fun. Looking back I had one of those Déjà Vu moments. Well kind of. Let me explain. WORK: Launching a new service like the Avenue Purchasing Group was never going to be a act of re-labelling something we already do and so we spent a lot of time identifying services/products that Purchasing Group members could take advantage of from day one. As you would expect, we agreed all the details in advance. As always some of the information for the site arrived only just on time and then of course we went through the hard...
read moreDesigning the new Avenue UK site
By Michael Jennings It’s always the same – and it’s not the first time that particular phrase has been used either. This must be the 6 version of the Avenue UK site that Glen and I have worked on in the last 11 years and not for the first time, we have both decided that it’s the best ever. The funny thing is that in a couple of years or sooner we will undoubtedly feel it has once again dated and then seek to change it. Today there was a moment of confusion for me; and for once it wasn’t an age related problem. One of my suppliers came in to see me and said...
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