When you were a kid, did you dream of cold calling? Looking up all the information you can find on the internet and trying to build rapport with a stranger? Of course not. This week on the blog, Alison Trumble, Automation Alley’s newest Business Development Representative, shares her tips for making the big bucks in a role she never thought she would be in – sales.

In Michigan, we have companies that excel in physical technologies such as manufacturing, logistics and agriculture. This entire ecosystem, which is the economic backbone of Michigan, is facing Industry 4.0 head on. This week on the blog, Pavan Muzumdar, Automation Alley’s chief operating officer, explains the seven things your boss wants you to know about Industry 4.0.

Curious about the how Automation Alley handles the trade mission experience? Automation Alley Senior Director Cynthia Hutchison was. Fresh from our most recent trade mission to India, read why Cynthia’s takeaway from the trip - from start to finish - is “Mission Accomplished.”

Meet long-time member company IPS Technology Services and see how they help small to medium sized businesses make important technology decisions to improve their business results.

Automation Alley added 19 new members in September. Click the link below to meet them.

Live events, predominantly trade shows, are second only to email for lead generation. Long established as a marketing staple for industry verticals, trade shows will continue to be vital for B2B manufacturers, distributors, and service providers for many years to come. This week on the blog, Kevin Krason, founder and Chief Visionary Officer of Biznet Digital Agency, explains how marketing automation can help you maximize your trade show experience, to increase your sales, and make the most of every lead.

The days are getting shorter, the vacation was great, schools are back in session. Maybe now is the time to get working on growing your business. Our region remains dominated by the vehicle industry, but when talking with the best small and medium manufacturing companies, most talk about balancing their business between automotive, defense, aerospace and other. Automotive is great for high volume, but cost reduction pressure drives the sector, and a downturn can leave your business at risk. The “other” category is often low volume and risky, in that the customers come with their own set of challenges.

Businesses that adopt Industry 4.0 can stay ahead of the curve while increasing efficiency, streamlining processes and bolstering the bottom line, says Simon Weallans, Brightly’s vice president of sales and marketing.

Using social media as a mechanism for more comprehensive evaluation and assessment of employees and applicants is a fairly new phenomenon and is a complex and still-emerging area of law, presenting some tricky ethical issues and legal considerations. With that in mind, employers need to proceed with caution when it comes to social media vetting practices, and should make sure that they take the time to educate themselves about current best practices.

Meet new Automation Alley members ICONMA and discover how this IT staffing firm gets the most out of its Automation Alley membership.