One on One with Ken Hayward, CEO, vcopious « vcopious Virtual Business Environments

One on One with Ken Hayward, CEO, vcopious

One on One with Ken Hayward, CEO, vcopious

Wainhouse

NEWS AND VIEWS
ON REAL-TIME UNIFIED COMMUNICATIONS
Vol. 11 #19 September 23, 2010

WAINHOUSE RESEARCH BULLETIN: OK, in 60 seconds or less, who is vcopious?

KEN HAYWARD: vcopious is virtual environment software that enables companies to connect with communities globally via a proprietary, fully customizable software solution.
The vcopious platform leverages real time social networking, lead generation and information aggregation through tracking and analytic metrics. This enables companies to connect seamlessly with employees, customers, clients and constituents.

WRB: Where did the name come from?

KH: We wanted a name that really captured the flexibility of our virtual software. After a few brainstorming sessions, vcopious was born.
The software literally creates copious amounts of virtual opportunities for marketing managers and CIOs to highlight their product, service or brand. The name also speaks to the copious amount of benefits companies receive from the software.

WRB: You’ve been out of our industry for a while; many of the readers may not know who
you are; so who are you?

KH: I joined vcopious as CEO in May 2010, but I’ve been a serial entrepreneur in the technology and conferencing industries for past 20+ years. Previously, I was CEO of Redlasso, a digital media syndication platform, and founder of V-SPAN Inc., which was acquired in 2004 and later became part of BT Conferencing. Prior to that, I also co-founded Advanced Voice Systems – which was later acquired by MCI – among other technology and conferencing related ventures.

WRB: How has the industry changed since you left?

KH: Interestingly, not much has changed. Many of the conversations we had 7-10 years ago about the need for collaboration and effective business process automation are still just as relevant today as they were back then.

As an example, the software we wrote for VSPAN (now BT Conferencing) in 2003 is still recognized as the industry leading software management platform by many customers. My feeling has always been that conferencing in collaboration is most effective when incorporated with business process automation and integrated workflow.

Once you integrate collaborative thinking with business process automation, you are able to streamline workflow and create efficiencies in your business. What is changing now is that the tools for collaboration and integration are coming to life.

Today vcopious can create sticky environments that automate and integrate all aspects of a company, including social media networks, conferencing, media, video, etc. all in one environment. This integration streamlines business processes in way that simply wasn’t possible before.

WRB: How do you see vcopious addressing the needs of the conferencing industry?

KH: Like many other industries today, the conferencing industry is under increased pressure to streamline their business processes, lower costs and increase ROI.

The vcopious software enables companies to do this by providing seamless integration of multiple marketing channels into one virtual environment, making it easier to track leads and gain market insights, ultimately reducing costs. For the first time, companies can create sticky environments that attract new customers from the moment the software is launched.

WRB: What are the basic functions that you are providing and the applications that you are addressing for your customers?

KH: The vcopious software enables companies to connect virtually with their global communities in a rich, 3-D virtual environment. There are literally thousands of ways to utilize the software to enhance the virtual customer service experience.

For example, a company could use vcopious for virtual product launches, employee focus groups and training, shareholder briefing rooms, or virtual trade shows with unlimited participants.

A bank can setup an environment where customers can check on the status of their mortgage application online, or an accounting firm can set up an event where clients from across the country can “meet” and interact with each other as well as the firm executives. The possibilities are endless.

WRB: How is it different from Second Life?

KH: Second Life is a corollary to what we’re doing, but Second Life is for consumers, not businesses. vcopious does for businesses what Second Life does for consumers.
As an enterprise software platform, we leverage the benefits of virtual connectivity with real metrics and analytics companies can use to understand how their messages are resonating within their respective communities.

WRB: So, your business model is to sell software to enterprises. For a virtual environment like you are developing, this would seem to go against the grain. Aren’t most customers looking for cloud-based services for this kind of thing?

KH: The beauty of the vcopious platform is that it can be both On-Premise and SaaS-based – it is a flexible platform which allows companies to deploy each instance in a manner that meets their evolving needs.

WRB: How much work does a customer have to do once he/she has your software?

KH: There is almost no legwork to be done from an IT perspective, as the software is designed to integrate seamlessly into the existing enterprise infrastructure.

Companies can integrate with their e-commerce platform, CRM, telesales and CMSs with vcopious’s built-in API construct.

Social networks like LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter or other corporate social networks are also accessible directly from the software, so customers or clients can interact using platforms they’re already comfortable with. From a marketing perspective, CMOs and CIOs have a limitless canvass from which to build their brand identity quickly and easily by using one of vcopious’s customizable business environments.

WRB: Can you give the readers some idea on the cost of your software. I’m sure your
pricing model is complicated.

KH: It’s pretty simple really – we offer a variety of license options designed to fit each client’s needs.

Our perpetual license offers potential cost savings of about $1 million for active users, and sells for a similar amount. The enterprise agreement allows deployment with unlimited instances for purchases in 2010. However, companies that want an a la arte option can utilize our single occurrence SaaS licensing option.

WRB: What exactly makes you think vcopious will succeed?

KH: The reality is that the virtual environment marketplace is on a very strong upswing because it adds value and expands reach while reducing costs. It’s more than just about saving money on expensive in-person events and meetings, which is obviously important.

By using vcopious, companies can access real time information 24 hours a day, seven days a week, while allowing customers or employees to interact with content on a continuous basis.

What truly sets us apart from other virtual environment services is the company’s seamless integration with existing IT infrastructure, and the fact that it is the first virtual environment software solution that can be installed behind a company’s firewall.

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