SAVE THE DATE!

Don’t miss the chance to find new business opportunities with ready-and-willing Global 2000 buyers from all industries from across the globe

As a member of the Ariba® Network, we want to make it easier for you to discover, connect and collaborate with your trading partners for a competitive edge. That’s why we are pleased to invite you to the Ariba Commerce Summit series, a two-days complimentary event where you will expand your business relationships, drive new business opportunities, and exchange ideas and best practices with other purchasing executives.

To maximize convenience and stretch your travel budget, Ariba Commerce Summit will be held in major cities across North America and Europe, October - December 2010. There is no cost to attend. So, don’t wait! Mark you calendar and register now. To find the full event details, including the agenda and registration, please click here.

Cities and Dates

• Atlanta - Oct 12 and 13
• NYC - Oct 18 and 19
• Chicago - Oct 21 and 22
• San Francisco - Oct 25 and 26
• Dallas - Nov 3 and 4
• Stockholm - Nov 16 and 17
• London - Nov 30 and Dec 1
• Paris - Dec 2 and 3

Why should you attend?

Take advantage of opportunities to:

• Drive new business opportunities with Global 2000 buyers
• Expand your business relationships
• Find new ways to leverage your Ariba eCommerce channel for greater ROI
• Get competitive insights into your customers’ buying priorities and key challenges that executives and practitioners face today

Who is attending?

You will interact with procurement, finance, sales, and marketing executives from Global 2000 companies representing a wide range of industries including financial services, industrial manufacturing, retail, pharmaceuticals, insurance, aerospace and defense, consumer products, transportation, automotive, high-tech and more!

Special Offer

Is your customer retention lower than you'd like? Can your sales team cost-effectively drive maximum value from your customer base? Do you have a successful strategy to find and retain more high-value accounts? According to Forrester¹, as budgets unfreeze in 2010, sales and marketing organizations need to shift their focus from traditional marketing tools to newer, more innovative approaches that foster community interaction and improve customer relationships. And eCommerce has a proven track record in helping sellers accomplish that goal.

EBSCO Information Services, a division of EBSCO Industries, Inc., offers an excellent example of how well eCommerce works. Over the past eight years, EBSCO has achieved a 99 percent customer retention rate, expanded its global account footprint by more than 30 percent, and significantly improved sales and marketing efficiency-all as a result of its investment in eCommerce. "Our eCommerce strategy connects us directly to the needs of our customers," says EBSCO marketing director Chip Graham. "We believe this has been key to our continued growth and leadership position in the industry."

Why eCommerce?

Though spending on digital marketing has increased slightly in recent years, most sellers still rely mainly on conventional-and more expensive-methods such as trade shows, PR, direct mail, and print advertising, Forrester says. Yet the changing digital and social nature of buying and selling among today's businesses demands serious budget restructuring. To fuel pipeline growth and gain wallet share, sellers should:

• Spend more on interactive, digital eCommerce techniques, which deliver highly targeted messages and can measure response more directly than traditional methods
• Focus on campaign ROI via leads and customers generated rather than overall cost, which provides a more accurate yardstick to direct future spending
• Grow relationships with existing customers by creating avenues for inbound communication to engage today's more digitally savvy, socially active, and vocal buyers
• Build relationships with multiple buyers rather than just individuals in accounts by using community marketing processes that focus on prospect needs, personalize responses, and engage customers with relevant communication

EBSCO: Exceptional eCommerce Results

As the world's leading information agent, EBSCO provides consulting services and integrated technology solutions that help libraries and research organizations in over 200 countries to access and manage quality content, including print and e-journals, e-packages, e-books, research databases, and more. The company's decision to pursue eCommerce was driven by customer demand for a new means to procure and manage its products. Clients also wanted EBSCO to support multiple spend management platforms, including Ariba.

As part of its eCommerce initiative, the company launched the EBSCO Information Marketplace. This web-based service lets users procure and manage content from thousands of sources and formats through integration to their eProcurement systems or via EBSCO's desktop solution. EBSCO can now easily alter catalogs based on market, geography, and client requirements to provide a customized solution and integration for each customer. As a result, the company has virtually eliminated turnover and expanded support of customers' business commerce initiatives, growing them by 30 percent in the past four years on the Ariba® Network alone. EBSCO customers have increased spend visibility, reduced administrative workload, and realized economies of scale that help them improve service to their clients.

Chip's Tips for eCommerce Success

Below are some insights Chip has gleaned from spearheading EBSCO's eCommerce experience.

1. Adopt eCommerce to improve customer access and retention. "I can't think of one tactic that's been more successful in the corporate market than eCommerce," Chip says. "It has let us get closer to our customers at every level. We're no longer a vendor, but a strategic partner in helping them achieve their objectives. This allows us to identify their needs-sometimes before they recognize them-and meet or exceed their expectations." The company has also used eCommerce to unify clients' organizational implementation and align goals in ways that build long-term relationships and maximize retention.
2. Leverage eCommerce to increase customer stickiness. The user-friendliness of eCommerce offered another huge value, making it simple for EBSCO customers to say yes. "Everything they need is online, right there, which streamlines operations and purchasing," Chip says. "Plus it's easy for our customers to adopt, and usually not a big deployment or installation project that gobbles up their resources." Seamless integration of the EBSCO Information Marketplace into customers' workflow increases that stickiness even more, strengthening customers' familiarity and comfort with the solution and driving up revenues.
3. Use eCommerce to find e-savvy prospects and expand into new markets. "Building an eCommerce presence lets us easily find likeminded prospects who are leveraging electronic networks to do business," Chip explains. "Since they've already adopted this type of distribution channel, they're like prequalified prospects." EBSCO also takes advantage of built-in sales and marketing opportunities offered by companies like Ariba, which streamlines access to high-value customers and decision makers. The company is an Ariba Ready™ Silver member and regularly attends marketing events such as Ariba LIVE™. "The Ariba Network makes it easy to expand our global reach into new geographies and across new channels, allowing us to target more effectively and generally improve revenue," Chip says.
4. Employ eCommerce tools to show value and lower sales and marketing costs. EBSCO has dramatically cut sales and marketing costs through eCommerce automation. And by enabling EBSCO to deliver a highly customized service to customers, eCommerce helps the company demonstrate value. "We become a central part of how our customers do business as opposed to a one-off commodity," Chip notes. "Our sales team no longer has to call on accounts and fill out forms merely for a basic reorder. Instead they can talk about new products, features, or locations, which results in better calls and more revenue." EBSCO also gains efficiencies from automated ordering, processing, and billing. "Our customers get better service, and it's easier to order and pay with an electronic system," Chip says. "This is a win-win all the way around."
5. Take advantage of eCommerce for your green initiatives. By using eCommerce to "go green," EBSCO has been able to reduce paper consumption, eliminating paper catalogs and invoices and minimizing its use of paper order forms. The company also partners with carbonfund.org to measure its carbon footprint.

Put eCommerce to Work for Your Business

You can learn more about why eCommerce should be a core part of your business strategy-and gain deeper insight into EBSCO's strategies for eCommerce success-by watching "The Secrets to Customer Retention and Growing Revenue from Your Customer Base." And whether you're just starting out with eCommerce or well on your way, Ariba offers multiple resources to help you generate better results faster-including Ariba Supplier Consulting, Ariba Network matching services, the Ariba Ready program, and a broad array of other resources and events offered through Ariba Sales Acceleration solutions. To learn more about how you can take advantage of these opportunities to achieve results like EBSCO's, contact Dave Heflin, senior manager of Ariba Supplier Accounts, at dheflin@ariba.com, or send an email to supplierprograms@ariba.com.

This article is part of the current issue of Ariba Supply Lines. Ariba Supply Lines is a quarterly newsletter that provides valuable tips, best practices, and the latest thinking to take your online business relationships with your buying customers to the next level.

To subscribe to this permission only newsletter, please click here

¹ Forrester, "B2B Marketers' 2009 Budget Trends," Laura Ramos, April 2009

Electronically integrating your order and invoice capabilities over the Ariba® Network is a great way to cut costs and processing time while positioning yourself as an e-savvy seller. And with 93 percent of Ariba sellers still relying on email and fax, offering electronic services gives you a distinct competitive advantage as well.

If you need external IT assistance to move forward-and want help finding vendors with the expertise you need-the Ariba Supplier Solution Provider Sales & Marketing Program is the perfect solution. Launched in mid-May, this valuable new program is designed to facilitate productive intercompany collaboration, a core goal of the Ariba Commerce Cloud. By using it, you can quickly connect with the organizations best suited to handle your business commerce integration projects.

What Benefits Does the Program Provide?

The Ariba Supplier Solution Provider Sales & Marketing Program saves you time and effort by giving you immediate access to qualified vendors with proven capabilities. Rather than spending endless hours up front vetting potential providers from a large pool, you can focus your resources on getting the project done.

Outsourcing projects to Ariba Supplier Solution Providers gives you a cost-effective, scalable option for your integration initiatives, since you don't have to meet a minimum spending amount to use them. And since Ariba Supplier Solution Providers are eager to win and keep your business, they'll devote extensive resources to complete your project-so you enjoy a shorter time to benefit. If geographic proximity is important to your initiative, the program offers value there as well, since Ariba Supplier Solution Providers are based in multiple countries worldwide.

In turn, companies that receive the Ariba Supplier Solution Provider designation benefit by gaining greater exposure to sellers interested in their services. The result is a win-win connection that helps you as well as the program participants.

How Does the Program Work?

Companies that wish to be validated as Ariba Supplier Solution Providers must first apply to the program. Ariba then assesses their ability to provide one or more of the following services:

How Do I Choose Between This Program and Ariba Supplier Consulting?

Ariba Supplier Consulting resources are channeled primarily towards sellers who have earned Ariba Ready™ status or are launching more complex, large-scale integration projects. As a result, non-Ariba Ready sellers or those with small to midsized initiatives-e.g., ones that require only one or two connections-may have to wait to receive service. The Ariba Supplier Solution Provider Sales & Marketing Program is designed to fill that gap, expanding the options available to every seller and enabling you to get your solutions to market quickly and easily.

If you're uncertain which type of support is best for your project, the supplier account management team can help you determine the right path to take.

A Strong Beginning

The Ariba Supplier Solution Provider Sales & Marketing Program has attracted strong interest from a variety of companies, with five organizations already validated and many others undergoing review. A dozen initial charter members are expected to be validated by mid-August, with continued growth expected. Current members include:

New members are excited about the value the Ariba Supplier Solution Provider Sales & Marketing Program will provide. PunchOut Catalogs, which earned validation in all six service areas, has already started to realize benefits. "We began using the program logo at Ariba LIVE™, and we definitely met a lot of strong leads there that we're pursuing," says Jack Mulloy, CEO of PunchOut Catalogs. "We're confident that suppliers in the Ariba community will get the right level of visibility from the program and be a strong channel for us from a growth perspective."

Charter member marketingunity, a web-based collaborative software specialist based in the United Kingdom, also expressed optimism about the pluses of becoming an Ariba Supplier Solution Provider. "We're really excited about this new relationship, as it represents a genuine win for all parties involved," says James Evason, chief technology officer. "Suppliers entering the Ariba Network will be able to integrate their systems quickly and cost-effectively; both they and their customers will benefit from faster and more efficient completion of business transactions; and Ariba will benefit as their network will become an even more attractive way for their buyers and suppliers to do business."

How to Get Started

To learn more about the program, connect with existing members, or find out about becoming an Ariba Supplier Solution Provider yourself, simply send an email inquiry to supplierprograms@ariba.com.

This article is part of the current issue of Ariba Supply Lines. Ariba Supply Lines is a quarterly newsletter that provides valuable tips, best practices, and the latest thinking to take your online business relationships with your buying customers to the next level.

To subscribe to this permission only newsletter, please click here

The launch of Ariba's new Commerce Cloud-a web-based platform designed to power more collaborative and efficient buying, selling, and financial management between businesses-marks a decisive strategy shift that will benefit you as a seller in multiple ways.

Though Ariba has always provided value to sellers, its focus on spend management has traditionally centered more on buying organizations. The new Commerce Cloud paradigm changes this equation by putting the needs of sellers and buyers on a par-making seller goals and requirements core to Ariba's mission and vision. As part of this shift, Ariba is investing extensive resources in a growing array of solutions and services that will help you as a seller find more business opportunities, better manage cash, and increase sales.

Making Business Commerce Easy

As a consumer, you're well acquainted with the ease of buying, selling, and managing cash online. When shopping, you can research a product, get feedback on vendors, see images of potential purchases, get answers to questions, configure and place your order, and pay securely-all in the space of an hour. You can sell items on eBay or manage your finances and investments via online banking or sites like ingdirect. The entire experience is fast, efficient, and even fun.

In the business world, however, the majority of commerce still slogs along using cumbersome paper-based processes that hamper access to partners and limit intercompany collaboration…that is, until now. The Ariba Commerce Cloud is transforming this picture, providing a single, easy-to-use resource where users can buy, sell, and manage cash with the same speed and efficiency that have become the norm in the consumer marketplace.

Benefits to Your Company

The Ariba Commerce Cloud will make it easier for you to take advantage of existing Ariba seller solutions by seamlessly integrating them into the Ariba® Network-providing faster, simpler access to the tools and services you use. Various solutions and programs will be enhanced or expanded, and new resources will be added to enhance your benefits even more, allowing you to:

• Increase access and sales to new customers through Ariba Discovery™, a powerful on-demand service that automatically connects you with buying organizations actively sourcing the products and services you sell. New features will help you get more leads, connect faster with key decision makers, shorten the sales cycle, streamline negotiations with potential new customers, and improve close rates.

• Manage cash more effectively through Ariba® Working Capital Management™ solutions-including Ariba Discount Management and Ariba Receivables Financing-which improve your access to cash and credit at reasonable rates and enable you to get paid as much as 20 percent faster, significantly reducing days sales outstanding (DSO).

• Increase productivity, differentiate your business, and grow revenue through Ariba Network catalog, order, and invoice solutions and Ariba Sales Acceleration solutions, which can help you:
  • Proactively take advantage of business commerce and the Ariba channel
  • Identify and resolve sales and marketing challenges
  • Boost customer satisfaction and retention
  • Gain greater visibility into customer processes
  • Increase sales with new and existing customers
  • Lower sales costs through 80 percent order accuracy improvement, 60 percent productivity increase, and 50 percent faster order-to-cash cycle

• Network more extensively through the Ariba Exchange, a new collaborative online forum where you can quickly and conveniently exchange ideas and discuss issues with buyers and business partners as well as other sellers.

• Connect to a growing network of qualified solution providers through the new Ariba Supplier Solution Provider Sales & Marketing Program which vets and validates companies in key technical areas to ensure their competence in helping you attain your goals.

• Drive more value from Ariba solutions by tapping into expanded educational resources on a wide variety of topics, such as how to better utilize Ariba Working Capital Management solutions, ways to ensure that you're most effectively finding new customers, tips on retaining customers and growing your customer base, and suggestions that help you maximize revenues through Ariba

• Enhance your credibility as a business commerce-savvy seller by joining the Ariba Ready™ program, which prepackages three different levels of networking, marketing, and consulting expertise to help you optimize your online programs and grow your business through the Ariba Network

• Gain exposure and preferred status with new eProcurement buyers through Ariba® Express Content, a program that lets you provide access to free, ready-to-use catalog content so your customers can sidestep lengthy catalog creation processes and order from you faster.

• Utilize critical market intelligence and benchmark trend reports gleaned from aggregate data on Ariba Network usage patterns across millions of transactions, thousands of companies, and hundreds of countries to help you better discover, win, and support customers.

• Shorten the sales contract cycle by 50 percent or more with the Ariba Contract Management™ solution, significantly enhancing contract visibility for you and your customers while driving higher sales and renewals.

• Increase your RFP wins through Ariba Global Consulting Services' new RFP Response Improvement solution, which provides analysis, design planning, and implementation support to help you transform your RFP response process into a best-in-class, high-ROI component of your overall sales strategy.

• Quickly and cost-effectively integrate with ERP and other backend systems of customers and partners using the Ariba Commerce Cloud through comprehensive integration support provided by Ariba ecosystem partner Hubspan.

Why is there no "Switch to Test" link in my account?

There are two reasons why you may have no "Switch to Test" link within your Ariba Network account:

• If you don't have customer relationships established, your account does not have the ability to switch to test. After your company establishes a customer relationship, you will gain access to your test account.
• Only administrative accounts have access to the "Switch to Test" link, so user accounts don't see the option to access the test account. However, your account administrator can grant you a separate test user account that allows you to log in.

Can my Ariba Network account have more than one administrator?

No, only one user can be named the administrator of an Ariba Network account.

What are my options for submitting invoices? How do I configure invoice submittal?

As a supplier, you have three options to submit invoices through the Ariba Network:

• Online: Use the invoice creation tools through the Ariba Network website.
• cXML: Link your external system using commerce extensible markup language (cXML).
• EDI: Link your external system using electronic data interchange (EDI).

To configure invoice submittal, click the "Manage Profile" link in the upper-right corner of the screen. From the Profile Configuration page, click the "Configure" button beneath "Electronic Order Routing." From the Profile page, you can choose and enter information for submittal via one of the above-listed methods. After you finish, click "Save."

Must I list my bank account information when providing a remittance address?

A growing number of today's buying organizations are using electronic sourcing tools to find and obtain quotes from qualified suppliers. As these events become more popular, knowing how to capitalize on the opportunities they offer can make a big difference to your business–and your bottom line. The following tactics can help you get started on the road to eSourcing success.

1. Emphasize every asset you bring to the table. Buying decisions are rarely made on the basis of price alone. You need to provide full information in any request for information (RFI) and insure that you accurately convey all your capabilities. Buyers generally make the best total cost decision, and factors like quality, delivery, terms, logistics, and overall market reputation come into play. If you have more to offer than just a low price, make sure the buyer knows what makes you unique.


2. Develop a position-based strategy. Following a well-thought-out approach based on your position with the buyer can play a key role in determining your success. If you're the incumbent, these steps can help you defend your current business:


• Understand the market players; anticipate who will be competing against you and position yourself accordingly.
• Capitalize on your relationship by gathering insight into what the customer values (e.g., service levels, costs, quality, delivery, reputation, technology).
• Feature your strengths in a unique way that discourages the customer from awarding the business to another supplier.
• Rely on your history of demonstrated service.
• Highlight the total cost of doing business (e.g., switching costs, critical timelines, and other requirements you already meet for your customer).
If you're the challenger, these steps can demonstrate that you offer the best solution: 


• Know the customer; understand what drives the company to employ this particular approach.
• Research which supplier(s) currently service the business.
• Illustrate how your unique strengths and capabilities fulfill or surpass the valued characteristics of the current relationship.
• With your proven experience, identify process and/or product improvements that will position you as the lower-cost, higher-quality supplier.
3. Support your team with a good environment. Before the auction, gather your team and make sure all stakeholders are aware of the strategy and are on standby in case additional input is needed. Next, reserve your "war room"–a dedicated space where your team can gather and monitor the activities together, with limited distractions. Finally, be sure to refer back to your plan and act on it as the auction occurs.


4. Stay on top of technical details. Seemingly minor glitches can sometimes make the difference between winning and losing an eSourcing event. Follow these recommendations from auction support experts:


• Know all key information, including the exact start date and time; how to contact the buyer, support desk, and key decision makers; and steps needed to access the auction.
• Stay at your computer until you know bidding has ended, or rotate your position with another colleague if you need to leave the auction.
• If you experience a technical error or lose your connection to the auction, contact the help desk or buyer immediately.
• Make sure the buyer has your correct contact information for bid day in case of any urgent messages.
• Pay attention to the auction web page to look for error notices on your screen, which will instantly tell you if the bids you submit have any problems.
5. Press for follow-up information on both wins and losses. If you didn't get the business, ask the buyer why and what you can do differently next time to improve your chances. If you did win the contract, find out what considerations drove the buyer's decision. This gives you access to valuable benchmark information that can help you streamline your operation and become more competitive in the long run.

One week after the launch of Apple's new iPad and the response from consumers is very very positive.  My test to see if the iPad is a business-Pad started on Monday April 5th when I brought my wifi only 16g basic iPad to the Ariba office in Sunnyvale, CA.  Below is my conclusion, after just a week.  I thought I'd share with the Ariba Exchange community what I learned.  Mobility for business is emerging and the iPad is positioning itself well to play a role.  I don't think Apple has done well bundling Business packaging and features for us given they are not B2B focused, but B2C, but I do see some Enterprise messaging coming from them and an attempt to support the basics.  Great thing is we now have a iPad/bPad platform to build real business applications because the iPad is fast and has a great UI experience match with excellent usability.  Sky's the limit on what we can think up next for business on the iPad.  If you look at the meaning behind this mobility of the iPad I think you will agree with me that this is an excellent new tool to add to your business productivity toolbox.....  And if you are an executive, I think you will light up the management committee meetings and boardrooms when you walk in with nothing but your iPad. 

If you didn't read part 1, see link here

part 1 here - http://exchange.ariba.com/people/jfox/blog/2010/04/05/ipad-as-the-bpad-lets-seeafter-one-day-in-the-office

General Business Use:

     - Email - works perfectly, connect to one exchange email, and easy to hook up personal mail, I did gmail.  Nice to have the iPad in meetings to watch email coming in to capture important items, but turn off the email "bing" on receipt as it will drive people crazy. Nice UI when turned landscape, but a little weird when in page view

     - Note Taking - Some great software out there, consider iWorks for iPad, they are great, and only $9.99 each

               - Dragon Dictation will type what you say, but say it right.  My 7 year olds new favorite game cause he never knows what it will type when he speaks silly to it.

               - Sound Paper - records conversation while you take notes so you don't miss anything and you can rewind to get notes right.  Let's you concentrate on what is being said.  When you go back and clean up your notes you can replay.  Then email just the notes to yourself and delete the recording.

               - PadNotes - may be the best for old style note taking, but I need my stylus to be sure.  Great for typing notes

     - Calendar - Amazing, Amazing, Amazing just as it comes from Apple on your iPad.  You must experience it.  Takes you to the day when you get an invite so you can see if you can accept.

     - Browser - Safari is fast, not problems except HTML5 vs. Flash which should take care of itself.

     - Travel - goes without saying that besides needing to pull out one other technology to put in the tray, iPad will change the experience of flying.  8-10 hours of battery life is what I'm getting.  Video, music, email that is synched to the iPad so you can work offline, (with GoGo it will be online in the plane), Pandora in the Hotel room, Calendar.  All without the seat in front of you hitting your laptop, or having your keyboard on your chest as you try to navigate.  And most importantly, iBooks and Amazon Kindle app will ensure you have something to read.  No more heavy magazines.  I predict you will see iPads everywhere on flights over the next few months and a reduction in those "Business Class" Kindles  ;-).......

Ariba Application Usage:

     - Supplier.Ariba.Com (receive PO, submit Invoice, update Profile, etc.)

          - VERY fast, and really cool using the application while walking the hall our outside.  iPad offers the same finger zoom in as iPhone which is cool for viewing attached images of original invoice.  I'm not suggesting that the iPad become the powerful AR invoice entry tool, but works great and for the small to medium size business, works very well.  I do suggest this is a great tool for PO-Flip(TM) as small to medium size suppliers could flip PO's while out of the office to reduce DSO.  Every day, Every hour counts when it comes to getting your money.  Easy to Auction a Receivable up to The Receivables Exchange, very easy to get a PO and update your profile.

     - Buyer.Ariba.Com (upload Suppliers, Manage Discounts, Manage Payment, etc.)

          - We don't all go to the Buyer Portal, but I found this to be fast, get in and get out for working with Discount Management, Invite a Supplier or manage a payment.  Other areas are fine at desktop.  Really about mobility here.

     - Invoice Professional (enter Invoice, respond to Workflow items, reconcile Invoices, viewing Analytics)

          - Also fast and mostly awesome because of the bright screen on the iPad.  Easy to view and finger based zoom great with analytics.  You can use this to watch and check on key reports while in meetings rather than printing.

          - This is also great for a quick check on where something is in the Workflow approval.  Email workflow approval is great when you are being asked to approve, but being able to get into the applications on iPad quickly to see where your PO's and Invoices are in the workflow, who is next to approve and if you need to add a watch can be great for meeting and conversations in the office.  No more need to go back to your desk to see the status of something in workflow or to look at a specific Invoice for discussion.

     - Conclusion on Ariba applications, you will love it!  No matter which way you spin your iPad.  I think you will find new ways to use our aps on the iPad.

Problems I encountered:

     - No multi-tasking, but if you watch Apple's video online about iPhone OS4 you will quickly see that this problem is going away this summer, and it looks like these great features including multi-tasking will be on the iPad at the same time (roughly) as the iPhone.  if you like Apple you should watch this video.

           Great watching the whole video - http://events.apple.com.edgesuite.net/1004fk8d5gt/event/

     - No Folders - I have lots of applications now...but with OS4 Apple launches folders.

     - Office VPN and wifi security.  Just get ready to ask someone smart at your office to help ensure you have wifi instantly at the office.

     - Many iPhone apps run on iPad but are small (can do x2 size, pixel doubling), but things like skype are cramped until they take advantage of all the new space on iPad.

     - Need a pen, but I've ordered one for $13 to write.  Finger doesn't work well.  But I think this will be great.  Would be good if Apple had these with the iPad.

     - be careful synching back to your iTunes if you have downloaded a bunch of applications directly to your iPad.

     - My own fault, but i have wifi only, would like 3g, but I think I'll get a sprint 3g based micro wifi network so I can share with others and not have to use the Apple 3g plan.  Saves me $130 on the iPad, which I can use to get a Sprint wifi unit that runs off network. I think Verizon has a phone that does wifi broadcast so that would be another great option and your friends will love it.

     - Depending on your size and arm strength you might feel it's a just a little too heavy so watch how you hold it, probably a trade-off for battery life?

     - Finally, sticky fingers from the 7 year old, but iPad cleans easy, very easy.

Things I LOVE about the iPad:

     - NEVER crashed

     - NEVER needed to re-boot

     - Easy to carry around, I did buy the standard Apple case with the folding front which helps with carrying around

     - FAST, FAST, FAST for all applications, especially applications in the Cloud like the Ariba Suite of Solutions

     - Sound is GREAT, they use the aluminum case as a resonance chamber, which makes rich sound, for it's size

     - Stream Netflix to your TV by connecting to your TV or home video equipment

     - I think I can travel with just the iPad on many trips, much less to carry and less weight

     - You can skype call from it.  Get iPhone headphones with microphone and you are IP Phone ready.  Only wish there was a Web Cam built in.

     - Get things done faster, the things that distract from spending time with people, my favorite thing to do.

     - Put it down and turn it off, pick it up and it's on in split second, quick check on calendar, quick check on email, skype and back to your day.

Suggestions for use with business:

     - get a keyboard, the one in the iPad is great for two hand and one handed, but for real work you need a keyboard.  Bluetooth for $69 is great deal

     - get a stand with the keyboard

     - get a video cable to display presentations on the video projectors in the conference rooms

     - Take time to decide how the iPad fits into your tools

  Part 2: Conclusion is I love it for bPad, but the best is yet to come as we see more business applications for the and to take advantage of the concept of Mobility.  Once 4g speed is everywhere I think most will carry something like the iPad.  As business moves away from our desks, becomes personal again I think iPad let's you easily have the Cloud with you when you need it.  Browser based applications in the Cloud work great so for this reason I believe the iPad is a bPad today.  For now, power work will need to be done at a desktop, but maybe just for a while.

Finally a treat for those of you who read to the bottom of this email.  You will love thee 10 Essential Tips for the iPad from Fast Company.  My favorites include adding two other apps to your bottom tray (6 in total) and taking Giant Screen Shots to show others what you find cool on your iPad.

     http://www.fastcompany.com/1606645/10-essential-ipad-tips-amp-tricks

Some other links:

Apple's Perspective - http://www.apple.com/ipad/business/

VentureBeat - http://venturebeat.com/2010/01/27/ipad-for-business-yes-oh-yes/