Central Desktop

“IDC [Interactive Data Corporation] recently reported in a study that...an estimated $3,300 per employee per year was wasted looking for information.” (Ives, 2009)

Decreasing costs and increasing productivity have long been primary goals of businesses. Central Desktop, a California company, provides an easy to use solution. Central Desktop offers a web-based software-as-a-service (SaaS) platform that simplifies and expedites collaboration between employees and customers allowing them to manage work activities “anywhere at any time” (Central, 2009).

One of the biggest benefits to using Central Desktop is an increase in productivity due to less wasted time. The Interactive Data Corporation, a research firm, estimates that the time lost looking for information cost companies $3300 annually per employee. Central Desktop reduces this cost by providing a central location for communication. Knowledge bases, manuals, and folders can be stored online and shared across workspaces, allowing everyone to access and contribute to documentation. Status Update sections that link directly to Twitter and Facebook reduce the amount of time required to update the company’s social sites. The company also recently added Microsoft Outlook Integration to the Central Desktop software, allowing users to automatically synchronize tasks, calendars, and emails between the programs, thus eliminating the need for double entry. The Outlook plug-in allows other users to coordinate and collaborate easily and eliminates constant back-and-forth emails and phone calls, and allows users on different Exchange servers to easily share calendars and task lists.

In addition to the time savings, Central Desktop helps in increase productivity by providing visible motivation for employees. By providing a central location for tasks and project plans, employees can see how important their contributions are to the overall goal, and how completion of their duties impact others involved in the project. This motivation can lead to a better workplace, with higher positivity and productivity since employees are aware of the importance of even the smallest tasks.
Central Desktop claims that its platform “delivers a 30 percent increase in productivity while decreasing the total cost of doing business” (Central, 2009); given the number of tools the software offers, this seems like a valid claim. Customers may see an even greater increase in productivity as Central Desktop implements planned upgrades such as sms text message reminders, improved mobile access, and Web-based Distributed Authoring and Versioning (WebDAV) extensions. As more workplaces utilize mobile and remote offices, the need for online collaboration grows. Central Desktop has perfectly positioned itself for future success.

Sources:

Central Desktop Recognized by Leading Independent Research Firm in Report on
Collaboration Platforms. (2009). Retrieved October 12, 2009 from the Fox Business Web site http://www.foxbusiness.com/story/markets/industries/industrials/central-desktoprecognized-leading-independent-research-firm-report/

Ives, B. (2009). Central Desktop adds MS Outlook Integration to its SaaS Social Technology Platform. Retrieved October 12, 2009 from The App Gap Web site
http://www.theappgap.com/central-desktop-adds-ms-outlook-integration-to-its-saas
social-technology-platform.html

Jantsch, J. (2009). Where Has All the Knowledge Gone? Retrieved October 12, 2009 from the Open Forum Web site https://www.openforum.com/idea-hub/topics/marketing/article/where-has-all-the-knowledge-gone-john-jantsch

Product Development. (2009). Retrieved October 12, 2009 from the Central Desktop Web site http://cdblog.centraldesktop.com/product-development/