Taking control of costs Dear Subscriber, In the face of economic adversity, doing more with less is the order of the day. Figuring out how to make the right technology investments is crucial to weathering the storm. In this issue of Momentum you'll get plenty of advice on both fronts. In addition, find how to simplify server administration and read about a new program that will make it simple for just about any business to take digital software delivery rather than traditional media. Keep sending us your feedback and ideas for future stories too. Send e-mail to mo-info@microsoft.com. Best Regards, Christoph Wilfert General Manager, US Midmarket Business Microsoft Featured articles Understanding the IT infrastructure budget Most businesses devote more than half their IT outlays to infrastructure expenses. Learn where that money goes and what it buys your organization. How to plan a scalable storage strategy Midsize companies produce so much data these days that finding a place to put it all is a challenge. Here's advice on the technology you need to keep pace. Technology at work Microsoft initiative makes digital downloads a better choice The Digital by Choice program provides the benefits of traditional media-delivered software with the simplicity of online self-service. Simplifying IT server administration for midsize companies Microsoft Windows Essential Business Server provides six integrated enterprise platforms to simplify acquisition, setup, and ongoing management. Take the confusion out of IT budgeting To make the budgeting process easier, base IT budgets on projects and services that business managers understand, rather than on abstract technologies. How to find the right VAR for your company Use these tools and tips to make a perfect match between your company and an experienced Microsoft technology partner. Searching for savings in fuel use You may not have control over rising gasoline prices, but there are ways to manage fuel expenditures. Retailers mine for consumer stimulus checks With skyrocketing fuel prices and a glum economic forecast, experts say merchants should use business intelligence and automation to keep customers coming back for more. Service firms optimistic about weathering the economic cycle Fortitude and technology investments are considered the best tools to ride out uncertainty. Spotlight A breed apart By Vicki Powers Their child's allergy to cow's milk turned Billy and Wendy Lee on to the idea of buying goats—and next thing they knew, they were raising a productive herd of milk goats at Tiannan Woods in Philadelphia, Tennessee. Later, the husband and wife team decided to diversify their business and sell goat meat as well, based on the ethnic population in their area that eats goat, which is not commercially available and must be obtained from small farmers. Today, the Lees raise a productive herd of 18 milk and meat goats on their 25-acre ranch. This small goat-herding business requires some serious record keeping. "We're required to register our breeding animals and at least number every kid that's born," says Wendy Lee, a graphic designer by trade. "You also need to keep track of weights, conditions, and other details. You end up with a lot of information that needs to be stored and sorted." Lee and her husband rely on Microsoft Excel 2008 for Mac to keep records on the goats for breeding purposes. She created several spreadsheets to track the females, or does, and enter when she observes their first heat, and uses Excel to predict their next heat. Another table allows her to enter a breeding date, with fields set up to calculate due dates. "The technology also calculates when to dry up milking does and when to give injections before kidding dates," she says. "It comes in very handy." Lee also designed a custom database that records each goat's name, weight, and lineage, and photos of each animal. "Being a graphic designer, it's important to me that things look balanced and function well," Lee says. "I started with a template and used the layout tools to place the fields just where I wanted them." When you're in the business of sustainable farming, achieving balance is everything. Vicki Powers is a regular contributor to Momentum, the midsize business center newsletter. Subscribe! Insights and practical technology success stories Tips and techniques to get more out of your technology Select from IT Manager or Business Leader versions Discover upcoming events, free webcasts, and more Archives Previous Issues of Momentum: Dynamic work style June, 2008 Virtual benefits May, 2008 Pressing issues April, 2008 How secure can you be? March, 2008 Dig into your toolbox February, 2008 Office in tune January, 2008