Lesley Meall
Lesley Meall is a freelance journalist and editor. She has been writing about accountancy, business and technology for more years than she cares to remember, and before this, at some point in the dim and distant past, she used to be a software engineer.
Cloud ready-reckoner: how to count the cost
Business strategy
Cloud ready-reckoner: how to count the cost
Moving to cloud can entail a calculation on the return on investment - what are the factors to consider?
2 May 2014
CRM: don't just think of it as for the big players
customer relationship management (CRM)
CRM: don't just think of it as for the big players
CRM has been a major part of corporate software for some years now but it can offer much to small businesses too
25 Apr 2014
Data ownership in the cloud could prove to be a thorny legal issue
cloud security
Data ownership in the cloud could prove to be a thorny legal issue
Cloud resource use needs to be managed if employees and employers are to avoid data ownership and legal liability issues
25 May 2013
Cloud computing costs: The meter is running
Cloud
Cloud computing costs: The meter is running
Getting detailed information on the cost of cloud resource consumption isn’t easy, but it is getting easier
10 Apr 2013
Mergers and acquisitions: how cloud helps the process
software as a service (SaaS)
Mergers and acquisitions: how cloud helps the process
Mergers are tricky things to get right - and a big headache for IT departments, but cloud could help soothe the process
10 Jan 2013
Cloud computing skills - learn to be an angel
Careers & training
Cloud computing skills - learn to be an angel
Cloud architects are not from Venus, despite the current received wisdom but techies do need a broader skillset
10 Oct 2012
Easy money: how cloud computing lets the cash flow
Business strategy
Easy money: how cloud computing lets the cash flow
The cash flow benefits of adopting cloud-based software extend beyond the pay-as-you-go approach
11 Sep 2012
Join the crowd: Alternatives to traditional cloud financing
Business strategy
Join the crowd: Alternatives to traditional cloud financing
Crowdfunding offers alternatives to traditional business finance, but there are legal and taxation complications, as Lesley Meall discovers
31 Jul 2012
How to keep an eye on cloud costs throughout your organisation
software as a service (SaaS)
How to keep an eye on cloud costs throughout your organisation
How can businesses keep track of their tech costs when assets are no longer being bought solely by the IT department?
28 Jun 2012
Cash in the clouds - the pros and cons of SaaS-based payroll
software as a service (SaaS)
Cash in the clouds - the pros and cons of SaaS-based payroll
Payroll is a prime candidate when it comes to moving apps from on-premise but what are the issues of moving to SaaS delivery?
9 Jan 2012
Adopting SaaS - some practical considerations
software as a service (SaaS)
Adopting SaaS - some practical considerations
Opting for software as a service means that you have to make various changes within your company infrastructure
11 Nov 2011
A guide to paying for cloud services
software as a service (SaaS)
A guide to paying for cloud services
Once you've made your choice to go with cloud, how do you go about financing it? There are plenty of choices.
25 May 2011
CapEx v OpEx: does it matter who is holding the purse strings?
finance
CapEx v OpEx: does it matter who is holding the purse strings?
Accounting for cloud computing is often presented as a a simple case of CapEx=bad, OpEx=good but it's a bit more complicated than that
4 May 2011