Originally designed with SOHO´s and independent consultants in mind, EvestOnline (Evestonline.com) has created a suite of business applications that has surpassed these markets and is accessible and affordable for both small and larger organizations. EvestOnline wais designed to provide a full package of Internet based business promotion, communication, account administration and community development tools for Professionals. EvestOnline has the admirable intention of becoming THE place to go for business professionals.
As technology advances, both small and larger companies can take advantage of decreasing technology costs but increasing application capabilities. Five years ago, Internet capabilities similar to EvestOnline´s were only accessible to large organizations. Today, access to EvestOnline´s basic services is extremely affordable and they have no plans on increasing the price of these basic services. Instead, the company is planning on increasing the number of value-added services within the basic service category as well as building on improved additional and optional services.
The suite is built on a Microsoft platform and your browser must be set to Internet Explorer to use the application. The basic services suite consists of:
This function enables administrators to easily build and develop their own website. This site can serve as a communications center where members can go to view updated company content, news, etc. Free services provided with EvestOnline include:
§ The ability to post news, articles, or original material by simply cutting and pasting or manually typing in information
§ A message board for clients to post questions and discuss problems
§ Document manager to send, receive, and manage frequently used documents
Administrators can easily edit and add graphic files to the corporate website by simply selecting files that come preloaded, or users can select files from their hard drives to upload.
This second function acts as a mini personal organizer and address book. Consistent with the rest of the application is a surprisingly simple ease of use. Integrated with email, My Contacts can send new contact members an instant email notification as they are being added to the database. The vertical alphabetical listing indicates the number of contacts under each letter. All personal contact information can be viewed by double-clicking an application icon. Contacts can be searched using a variety of 6 search fields. In addition, users have the capability of attaching virtual Post-Its.
Under this section, members have document exchange capabilities. The function works like a virtual collaborative library where members can "check out/in" files without having the ability to change them. Members can also up/down load a variety of files in virtually any format such as Photoshop, Word, Excel, etc. Designed similarly to the ubiquitous Windows Explorer, members should have no problem figuring out how to use it. Other basic services capabilities include a commentary function that enables administrators to schedule news and updates on particular predefined days. This is a handy tool that automates this content piece such that news or original content can be scheduled to automatically appear for several continuous days or months in the future.
This feature provides HR professionals with a tool to exchange information either in a group setting or on an individual employee basis. It is useful for providing a venue for delivering employee policy updates or helpful employee information.
Although content was not included to "pull" clients to the site, Harvard Business School Publishing is one of EvestOnline´s partners and provides text and audio access to their Ideas[at]Work content piece. Members have access to solid management advice based on Harvard research and can instantly email articles to other clients, employees, or management. There are currently dozens of Ideas [at] Work categories from Accounting to Workplace Violence.
This feature contains hundreds of knowledge based business articles designed to empower the business professional. HR professionals can use this powerful tool to address broad employee issues, or as a vehicle to address sensitive issues like employee behavior.
This feature is similar to a message/discussion board and enables members to talk with both peers and consumers about industry specific topics, etc. In developing industry communities such as Human Resources or Real Estate, members can contact other community members as a referral service to ask for expert advice.
The company has discovered that the application has broad application functionality that extends communication channels. Although it does not have specific HR functionality such as online HR administration, the application can work in conjunction with existing HR systems to support an internal communications network and act like a corporate intranet. Corporate forms and documents can be accessed through the document sharing capability. In addition, the product is fully scalable and can incorporate the need of both small and large companies.
Access to EvestOnline is only $24.95 per month per administrator. This includes all of the basic services. Additional optional services are extra.
The most amazing aspect of the application is its ease of use. If you ever thought that creating and maintaining your own corporate website was difficult, you´ll be pleasantly surprised about how easy EvestOnline´s application is to navigate and edit. In addition, Harvard´s Ideas[at]Work provides timely but brief management tips in a unique interactive and flexible format.
The current template is relatively basic; however, the actual capabilities are well designed and easy to use. For example, with the insertion of a graphic file, only one graphic can be uploaded in a specific place, but uploading the graphic itself is a snap. What is impressive is how many features are packed into such as low price.
The navigation of the system takes one complete run-through before becoming second nature, as menus are neatly tucked away in inconspicuous screen borders. Some of Microsoft´s top programmers were enlisted to develop this robust and easy to use application.
The product itself is not an online HR administration application but can easily be adapted to facilitate administrative business functions. There really is no ideal company size for users to benefit from accessing the application, as it is fully scalable and functionally quite flexible. If you already have a corporate intranet or internal communications and message board system, purchasing this application may be somewhat redundant. However, the scalability and affordability of the application makes EvestOnline an excellent choice for small businesses, smaller teams within larger organizations, and larger organizations.
"EvestOnline.com connects consumers with professionals in all areas of business. Our service is designed to give consumers the ability to choose from qualified professionals in their locality who can provide expert advice and service.
EvestOnline''s member professionals pay a fee to be part of the EvestOnline Network of Business Professionals and for the tools and services that are part of the membership side of our service. There is no charge to consumers to access the EvestOnline Network of Business Professionals. If you do business or contract the services of one or more of our member professionals you will deal directly with your chosen professionals. EvestOnline will not receive commissions or rebates from those professionals in return for your engagement."