From ASP to SAAS

When we first developed our software business application in OBCI (http://www.omegabci.com.ph), we initially thought of an Application Service Provider (ASP) business model wherein we offer it as a leased software vice the traditional license model. I recalled it was 2003 when we partnered we a prestigious data center Ayala Port located at Pasong Tamo Ext, we did some press releases and initially signed-up with few clients.

Ayala Port's management had been changing from then on until it was sold to Globe Innove and later on we switched to the traditional model because we thought the progress was slow and the partnership was put into back burner.

The license model was enough to support our operations and up to now it is our bread and butter but growth wasn't that good. In addition, project-based software implementation requires hard work, patience and good customer service.

Part of what I do most is business development. I am still hands-on with the daily operations but I always find time to think of new approaches, new ideas and new business models with satisfactory profits with less time and effort. Just a few months ago when I was contemplating again with the ASP model and I found out that the new term for it is software-as-a-service (SAAS) whereby a provider licenses an application to customers for use as a service on demand.

What if I put a light version of the application on the web and offer it as a SAAS model, provide online documentation and user guide and do nothing but maintain the servers? Promote it via web, and offer value-added services. Less effort, high volume and quick implementation...

So far so good, recently I partnered with a consultancy firm (http://www.bravura.com.ph) who will provide the hosting that is hosted in the US thru Virtual Private Server (VPS), no cost for me. We also agreed to have them shoulder the marketing cost, again no cost for me and in effect we can focus on R&D and product improvements.

Just recently when we had our first client sign up with a US-based call center and who knows, if they are satisfied another market opportunity and this time outside the Philippines. At the moment, I am thinking of how to reach our target market which basically are the SMEs via internet marketing that will enable them to sign up with our SAAS with minimal interaction. Proper branding and promotion will do the trick. Hope to make profits automatic as well.

shot taken in hong kong july 2009

My New Baby

My new baby just turned one month, DS Windows and Walls (Manila Branch). Unlike our showroom kiosk in the province, we tried to utilize internet marketing and so far the feedback has been great.

I didn't expect this volume of calls and emails in its first month. After establishing the website http://www.dswindowsandwalls.com, I tried to post ads on a daily basis, from eyp.ph, sulit.com.ph, 88db and so on. I also have implemented search engine optimization(seo) techniques i have learned for the past two years such as site-maps, meta-tags and external links. Good thing i am an IT programmer by nature.

SEO internet marketing technique is another business service opportunity later on but anyway our first two clients were our neighbors and then client calls have been gradually growing on a daily basis. I then have had some comparisons over my software firm.

It was exciting, this business only takes 15-30 min just to measure the panels and in about a day or two, a decision from the prospect will be made. In my software firm, presentations take around 2-4 hours depending on the audience's questions and there's always a second or third presentation. The average sales cycle is about 3 months for the software business and on the interior supply, just 3 days. Small volume-big project vs. high volume-small project.

Another difference is how you present yourself during meetings. In the software business, you have to look smart and formal. You have to project yourself as if you know well your product and of course your technical expertise otherwise you'll lose the business. In this one, your look is important but not a deal-breaker probably because they know already what window blinds, wallpapers and carpets are.

At the moment, I am trying to fine tune the standard price. We are trying to come up with tiered discounts depending on the volume. There are lots more to share but i opt to keep some trade secrets since there may be competitors reading this. =)

In any business, model and methodology are the most important which evolve over time. From back-end support, promotion, pre-qualification, proposals, installation, up to after-sales support, standard operating procedures should be defined. And this is what i am focusing on, trying to build a ticking clock that will last.

I am anxious to blog about our progress on my next business blogs....

Swept Away (Cover)

Swept Away

A lot has been learned this week but anyway i wish to continue my singing lessons on the next music writing. For today, i have recorded Swept Away (cover) originally by Christopher Cross and was also covered by our own Paolo Santos.

this is dedicated to our people who were swept away by the recent flood so my t-shirt says please save our forest hahaha =))

shot taken at home today

I never had anything happen so fast

I took one look and I shattered like glass

I guess I let it show 'cause your smile told me you knew

That you're everything I ever wanted at once

There's no holding this heart when it knows what it wants

And I never wanted anything more than to know you

I was swept away

No one in the world but you and I

Gotta find a way to make you feel the way that I do

I was swept away

Without a warning

Like night when the morning begins the day

I was swept away

And so it begins

This journey of love

The summer wind carries us to places all our own

The words of a look

The language of touch

The way that you want me means so much

And I never wanted anything more than to love you

Seeing my tomorrows in your eyes

I was swept away

I hope I wake up soon

I'm a victim of that crazy moon

The very first time you said my name

I knew it would never sound the same

Something about me is changed forever

I Could Not Ask For More

Singing lessons 101 self-study for me today where i learned about some vocal exercises for singing power, vocal range, vibrato and sustain. A long way to go for me but as a practical test, i have recorded a cover song by Edwin McCain "I Could Not Ask For More" and was requested by my friend Rey to be recorded in full this weekend.

I Could Not Ask For More

shot taken in lucena city nov 2006

Breathing and Warmup

Tonight I learned about proper breathing and vocal warm up. Proper breathing includes inhaling with relaxed chest and shoulders and correct way of using the diaphragm. Also, some vocal warmups like the bubble lips, hmm sound and doh re mi in B major scale.

To find out the result i re-recorded two of my previous covers Stolen by Dashboard Confessional and Always Be My Baby revived by David Cook.

Stolen

Always Be My Baby

shot taken in somewhere in pasig last aug 2006

Train To Sing

I have never been confident in singing ever since. I write songs, i arrange them i even sing them but its just because i have no choice but do it because like i said, i was never confident. I know i am not that bad but professionally i am not just born to do it. But anyway, just today i have decided to formally study and learn the basics, the training, the drills and this week i will try to cover and record songs to see how it will improve. =)

shot taken in malate, manila oct 2006

Some More Self-Portraits

Didn't have the chance to continue my photo shoot this week for self-portrait thus i am posting my old ones here...

kuppakufi taken in davao May 2009

laps taken in quezon Mar 2009

pulag taken in benguet june 2009

rhythym taken at home Mar 2009

Self-Portrait - Living Room

A saturday morning...i decided to go freewheeling today, meaning no plans, no worries, just go with the flow. This morning I saw my living room as a place for another self-portrait...

This took three shots and i let fiona trigger the shot, merged it in for semi-HDR effect.

160 f/1.8

Self-Portrait - Speech/Work

A new self-portrait this time with added exposure to the body. I chose to capture myself speaking since this is what i do on my regular work days, presenting my company and software product profile.

On my next self-portrait, will try to attempt capturing myself during leisure and arts activities.

a bit of fun editing, simulating steve jobs and his annual macworld hehehe...

Self-Portrait - Body

Tonight I experimented on dark background with a little foreground light for this self-portrait. The technique is to make the background as far as possible with the light close to the subject. So this is ideal outside or a large room.

It took me 70 shots before choosing the ones posted here.

1 sec. f5.6 stop using my nikon 50mm/f1.8

Self-Portrait - Close

photography week

my first try on self-portrait and tonight i tried close ups using only a work light and a small reflector. Will try half/whole body tomorrow.

For You - Emo Jam =)

Another great Sunday for me as I just got back from a kiddie party this afternoon. While driving home, i was listening to this song with the msg that came up to my mind that with love, everything you do makes sense.

For you i give a life of stability
Anything you want of me
Nothing is impossible

For you there are no words
Or ways to show my love
Or all the thoughts i'm thinkin' of

Chorus 1:
Cause this life is no good alone
Since we've become one
I've made a change
Everthing i do now makes sense
All roads end
All i do is for you

Only We Know (Draft)

recording with the band who was supposed to sing this was postponed today but i still tried to draft the new song "Only We Know"

I didn't change the instrumental, a bit mixing on the controls and that's it. Lyrics can be found in my earlier post down below...

Click Here To Listen

shot taken at home, May 2009

Only We Know (Intro)

just finished arranging only we know (intro)...i made it mellow, low grunge background, floating embers, orchestral strings and dreamy shimmer guitar effects.

Click Here To Listen

shot taken at puerto galera, may 2008

Only We Know (Lyrics)

Only We Know

verse 1

do you know how i feel

in our world with so much thrill

does our faith matter in the end

or its just the usual trend

do you know how i care

even the pain i can't bear

is your heart broken again

im here as your usual friend

chorus

whisper things only we know

give me your arms, kiss me goodnight

keep secrets only we know

let's make a try, please don't cry

verse 2

you've told me you want to fly

just hold me close and let's try

i've told you how sick i was

you keep the faith and act so fast

did you ever wonder why

what this exclusive world implies

did you ever ask your heart

if i'm there just like my heart

shot taken in quezon, graceland dec 2007

Only We Know (Title)

At last, I came up with a new song title while i was driving home tonight from work. I was thinking about it since yesterday and I finally came up with "Only We Know".

The concept is actually about two friends who have built a world exclusive for themselves and no one else. The reason being is probably because their friendship is against all odds, or maybe its just a coincidence that they have built their friendship exclusively and they haven't had the chance to share it with others.

Their friendship is genuine, they care for each other, they know each other's secret, they share exclusive experience and moments but they don't know it. In the end....is still a mystery.

Anyway, will try to compose the lyrics tomorrow and see how it will go...i intend to make it a slow alternative type of song inspired by second hand serenade and cold play.

shot taken in manila bay feb 2008

Superb Weekend

This is my 60th post since i started create things daily last July. From time to time, i would like to share my superb weekend and i just had one. i didn't bring my DSLR camera with me, shots were taken using iphone...

nice song from green day "21 guns" while waiting for the kids to pack...

yana playing around while we were on the road to tagaytay, an hour drive from home, we decided to spend the weekend there to avoid the super typhoon "pepeng".

there's a new hotel in tagaytay named hotel ridge but i still prefer taal vista...

i kinda enjoy TV because its been a while since i last held a remote control and watch tv.

it was nice that these guys sang a song for us while having dinner but it was funny because they sang jai ho...

6am breakfast with joy (parang jolibee lang ah hehehe), we had omelet, fruits, cinnamon and the best part prunes...

i've been to the place countless number of times but this was the best, did a few swim laps, hot tub then went home.

we went home after lunch today and afterwards i played "ghost of girlfriends' past" dvd i bought in davao and it was nice....

i usually end my weekend with an hour of thai massage in makati...will be there later but i wish to check out my photo exhibit at the fort later.

Friends Farewell

People and friends come and go. Just last night when one of our friends had despedida party once again and made me reflect on friends who left the country and migrated to a new one.

The following are the despedida moments with them...hope to see you soon guys...

kenji boy the pointing guy with wife anna at his back (shot taken in san juan batangas May 2008) migrated in sydney last year...

archie the bass player (shot taken at nevil's grill aug 2006) flew in SG to work for IBM...

cool rey in stripes who left for SG (shot taken in binan last 2007), he's now in manila but will be back there soon...

richie dude in yellow on the right (shot taken in muntinlupa jan 2007) he's now in london but will be home to visit soon...

ria girl my bestie girl (shot taken in makati recently) she's now in kuala lumpur but flies all the time in some parts of the world

jheng, patrick's girl in brown top in the middle (shot taken in sucat last night) will fly to canada next week...

dennis mark, guy in them middle in blue stripes with wife in yellow (shot taken in fort bonifacio sept 2008) flew to the US after this party.

johann the bald guy on the right in white shirt (shot taken in lucena nov 2007) he's now in yemen with michelle and jeff..

mitch and romy both in canada (no pics)

arman dont know where are you dude (no pics)

Just today when another moment came to my mind, the thought of migrating to the US myself...the reason behind is not money...its just the thought of experiencing living in some, if not all parts of the world...that's just one of my dreams.

DeWalt

Just visited handy man hardware store to buy a brand new drill, screw drivers and wire extensions in preparation for our first ever installation tomorrow in taguig city.

Hoping to build the momentum on the next days and weeks...

shot taken today at waltermart, makati