Biographical Information

Articles for Douglas McWhirter

Middleware: Keeping Business Applications Connected

A close look at middleware -- what it is, how you get it, and most importantly, why today's companies need it.

Demanding The Best

You arrive for five days of skiing in the Canadian Rockies, at a lodge managed by Intrawest Corp., one of the largest vacation resort operators in North America. It's peak season, and with the slopes as busy as anthills, you anticipate long lines for ski rentals, lift tickets and other resort services, but hey, the snow is deep and the sky is blue. Waiting in line is the price you pay this time of year.

Middleware: Directing Enterprise Traffic

In the increasingly busy intersection where business data collides, middleware is the traffic cop that will direct your enterprise data to ROI Avenue.

All Eyes Turn to PeopleSoft 8 CRM

Just two years ago PeopleSoft was dismissed as "struggling" or "lost." But it has charged back with PeopleSoft 8 CRM, a Web-architected enterprise solution featuring a new CRM component. And the competition is getting more than a little nervous. How nervous? Let's just say that the war rooms across Silicon Valley are open 24/7.

What's In A Name?

The latest phrase to dance on industry lips is Demand Chain Management, a term which is, depending on your needs, either the next round of meaningless marketing jargon or a futuristic, well-thought-out approach to business.

Sorry, Wrong Number

E-merchants hoping to use CRM technologies to improve that vitally important customer touch point, the contact center, beware: In their current state, many contact center functions may serve only to drive online customers away. And who among us cannot sympathize with these disgruntled customers.

Working Together

CRM stands poised to take B2B e-marketplace transactions to new levels of collaboration and efficiency. But will marketplaces embrace a new way of doing business?

Business Practices Gone Bad

Kurt Eichenwald's new book looks at what happened when a high-profile company declared war on its own customers

ASP Seeks ASP to Build a Better Workflow

ASP United Messaging finds help through another ASP, Done.com, to implement a collaborative workflow solution with strong accountability.

The ASP Solution: Stop! Thief!

Are you comfortable turning over your customer information to strangers?

A Very Good Year

During the year 2000, profits and potential soar as the CRM industry races to define itself and its future.

The New e-Farm

A look at how B2B farming-oriented Web sites are trying to change the way the very traditional agricultural industry does business.

The Online Land Grab

Vertical industries ignore traditional rivalries and rush to establish online markets.

Detroit Shifts Its Supply Chain Into i-Gear

A look at how the automobile industry has embraced the Internet--and radically changed the way it does business.

Betting the Farm

Will the latest crop of B2B farming-oriented Web sites change the way the agricultural industry does business, or will these initiatives die on the vine?

Is a CRM Shakeout Looming?

Looking back over the past year of alliances, record-breaking revenues and continuing red ink, there is little doubt that significant changes are still in store for the CRM marketplace.

Heating Up at the Low End

The ability to provide millions of small businesses with sales and marketing automation solutions via the Web at rock-bottom prices has sparked new interest in the low end of the CRM market. Several companies are now aggressively staking out this market with Web-hosted, basic function offerings designed specifically for the needs of small companies with small budgets.

How useful are PDAs with wireless e-mail and Web access to our salespeople? The little screens and the stylus don't seem practical.

Will your CRM vendor be around in five years? Ask those who invest in CRM companies for a living: venture capitalists.

All Together Now!

Attune imposes order on marketing campaign chaos.

Bank to the Future

To compete against Bank of America, Bayshore National Bank trains its employees to sell-and gives them the CRM tools they need to close the deal.

Read All About It!

Looking for a summer escape...or competitive advantage? Our panel of CRM experts reviews the latest and greatest business technology books.