Rupert Connelly, founder of Dialabrain, explains why the business should win the home business category of the Guardian Small Business Showcase competition.
Working from homes in Somerset and London, we have been using our own product to build a ‘TripAdvisor for consultancy’. Instead of travelling our business is done via video. We use multiple computers and virtual machines controlled using [software platform] Synergy, enabling us to use a single keyboard to manage several machines and improve productivity. My wife converted part of her ancestral home in Sri Lanka to allow us to outsource the development. Most of our sales and purchases of advice are also done from home as this is a useful way to demonstrate our product.
Our cloud-based service Dialabrain enables consultants to use any digital asset from a website to a LinkedIn profile. This method is used to schedule meetings, make payments, attend one-to-one or private group meetings and webinars, receive automated invoices and amass that vital feedback. Clients can use the system whether they are at home, office or travelling. The consultancy delivered by video market is well established, but this is the first time that the entire back office has been integrated into a single solution. We have built a system to maximise client contact time whilst minimising overheads. It is a solution that can build a social following and win business more effectively from a digital footprint.
To date 1,800 people have registered on site, most of whom wish to provide services. Dialabrain was also recently selected to present at Enterprise 100, London Business School’s angel network.
All entries which meet the competition criteria are published and our judging panel select a shortlist of the top three for each category. Winners are announced at an awards ceremony in summer 2016.
