Monthly Archive for July, 2008

Update: New Features for all LimeExchange Users

Published
by
Product Team
on July 31, 2008
in Business, Freelancing, Innovation, Knowledge Networking, LimeExchange, Person to Person Outsourcing, Product Update, SMB, Service Providers, Small and Medium Business, Technology and outsourcing
. 1 Comment

We have promised to provide our users with new and enhanced user-friendly features to continually improve & support the smooth functioning of a business deal.

LimeExchange now presents to all its users an enhanced platform to experience the innovative & interactive features to initiate, track & manage business relationships and projects.

Launch• You can now conduct a POC or Pilot Project activity to evaluate the service providers skills in the relevant field.
• Our Q&A feature brings an open forum to express your questions, share answers and give expert advice.
• Now further execute a project seamlessly using Issue tracker and Project Kickoff Checklist, which facilitate the buyer and the service provider to maintain better business relationships simultaneous to progress of the project.

Wait no longer to experience the specially designed features, as we are working towards making this marketplace the simplest and the easiest way to outsource.

We expect our readers to come forward and give us their views on our new feature. Write to us, Post your comments on our Blog, send feedback, suggestions to feedback@LimeExchange.com or support@LimeExchange.com

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Introduction to (POC) Proof of Concept

Published
by
Product Team
on July 31, 2008
in Business, Freelance, Freelancing, Innovation, LimeExchange, Person to Person Outsourcing, Product Update, SMB, Service Providers, Small and Medium Business and outsourcing
. 2 Comments

After going through a tough selection process, you have shortlisted some providers but some questions still keep bothering you …..Which one to choose? Who can provide the best quality? How to judge the skills? Would the provider meet your expectations?

project management, POC

We, at LimeExchange get a constant feedback from buyers that selecting a service provider based only on a resume like profile is difficult and without much incentive it’s hard to encourage a service provider to develop and submit some sample work during the bidding phase of a project.

SolutionAs a solution to all these questions, LimeExchange has introduced Proof of Concept/Pilot projects feature. A proof of concept or a pilot project is a sample work which a buyer provides to a set of multiple service providers to gauge and compare the quality and execution standards, thus minimizing the risks of initial dealings, and finally awarding the project only after complete evaluation.

As mentioned in our blog Online Services Marketplace - Further Considerations #1, which discussed about the risk involved in outsourcing. A buyer needs to evaluate a service provider’s work before awarding him a project. Similarly, the Service Provider also needs a platform to showcase his knowledge and skills. In a competitive scenario, actions would speak louder than words. Service providers can submit a sample of work to show their quality service to a buyer and get nominally paid for the effort.

How does POC- Proof of Concept work?

  1. A buyer can ask for POC or pilot project only before executing the deal.
  2. Buyers pay a small amount to the short listed providers working on a POC project. This helps in protecting the interests of the providers and to excites them to invest their best efforts.
  3. The final provider gets selected by the buyer, after going through a selection process.
  4. On the basis of quality of service shown, skills, knowledge and expertise the chosen one would get the best chance to execute the project.

This works as a key tool for Buyers and Service providers to minimize their pre-sales risks, evaluate and understand each other completely and conduct business fairly.

So take a quick tour of our help section to understand how ‘POC’ works: POC Help.

We expect our readers to come forward and give us their feedback on our new feature. Come and register on the site for free to try the proof of concept feature to avoid risks and ensure the best deal. As LimeExchange being the best outsourcing marketplace striving hard to make outsourcing a piece of cake for all its patrons…

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Introduction to ‘Questions & Answers’ Feature as a Knowledge Network

Published
by
Product Team
on July 31, 2008
in Business, Freelance, Freelancing, Innovation, Knowledge Networking, LimeExchange, Person to Person Outsourcing, Product Update, SMB, Service Providers, Small and Medium Business, Technology and outsourcing
. 0 Comments

Imagine asking questions like, “How should I begin freelancing as a Graphic Designer?”, “How would you measure the Usability of web applications?” or “What is so special about 3G iphone? Is it a case of more hype than substance?”

QnA, Q&A, Questions, Answers

Even though an answer might be quite evident to you, there is great value in exploring the problem and possible solutions from people in different geographies, mindsets and situation…… Colleagues and trusted networks are the best ones to reach out in case of doubts, but readily accessible expert opinion and advice always helps save time and money.

SolutionWe, at LimeExchange have been working hard to create a knowledge-networking platform and now provide a Questions and Answers forum for all our users to ask questions and discuss openly in a forum. Here enthusiasts can ASK questions and get tips from Entrepreneurs and SMB’s on how they have achieved their success. The paid “Questions & Answers” feature at LimeExchange provides experts yet another opportunity to monetize their skills.

As discussed in our blog Online Services Marketplace - Further Considerations #2, at the time of starting or executing a business; a professional trying to keep abreast with rapid technology comes across many questions. Being an Online Services Marketplace open communication channels and knowledge networking tools are of utmost importance to ensure business success of our users. We have tried to simulate the same here, where all our users can now pose questions to a community of global technology experts, subject matter specialists and utilize the ‘Wisdom of a Crowd’.

So take a quick tour of our help section to understand how ‘Questions & Answers’ works: Q&A Help and check out some early questions perhaps waiting for your expert response.

Our strength lies in our users, and user feedback is valuable to us. Choose any forum to respond, Leave a comment on this Post, Contact Us or send an email to support.

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Our Effort to enhance management of online services

Published
by
Product Team
on July 31, 2008
in Business, Freelance, Freelancing, Innovation, LimeExchange, Person to Person Outsourcing, Product Update, SMB, Service Providers, Small and Medium Business, Technology and outsourcing
. 0 Comments

What all it takes in managing a deal? …Frankly, It takes quite a lot!

LimeExchange here is trying to provide all of you …with some of our enhanced project management tools to support the buyer and the provider to conduct and deliver better. These new incorporated features will facilitate the buyers and providers in maintaining smoother business dealings.

project checklist, PKCFor a healthy project execution, it is important that the buyer communicates the expectations early, check points, deadlines and all the requirements clearly to the provider. This gives fair idea to both the parties on the area of work and assessment. At LimeExchange, you can use Project Kickoff Checklists through which a buyer can ensure that service provider has all the necessary information to meet the project objectives. At the same time the provider can understand expectations and respond early and better for smooth execution of the project.

Issue TrackerSimilarly, the new Issue Tracking system at LimeExchange now helps a Service Provider and a Buyer understand “who owns what” with an automated task, issue management system with reminders. It comprises supervising the tasks, controlling the issues and defects towards the project closure. You can now mitigate your risks, issues online. 

These new features coupled with the existing ‘Milestone based payments‘, as a performance assessment process, through which a buyer can set milestones for a given task and pay the provider based on its completion, and efficient communication and collaboration channels between buyer and a provider like ‘Private Message Board (PMB)‘ and ‘Instant message (IM)‘, now managing an outsourcing assignment with a provider who might be sitting thousands of miles away from you increasingly minimize the risks associated.

Why not take a quick tour of our help section to understand how ‘Project KickOff Checklist’ & ‘Issue Tracker’ works: PKC Help, IT Help

At LimeExchange, we are striving hard to provide you with more advanced management, communication and collaboration tools … so come and give us your suggestions and advice on these new enhanced features…for making outsourcing a simpler job to manage for all of us…

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