Selected posts
Damian Halpe
Damian Halpe Posts
IT Operations and Security
Power BI or Excel: When Reporting Needs to Grow Up
How to tell when Excel can no longer keep up with your reporting, what Power BI costs per user, and the steps you can take between the two.
IT Operations and Security
What to Look for in a Managed IT or Help Desk Provider
Response times, who is on the other end of the line, what is and is not included, and the questions worth asking before you sign a managed IT contract.
Start-ups and Software
What a First App Costs in the UAE (and How to Keep Version One Small)
What pushes the price of a first app up or down in the UAE, what to expect after launch, and how a small first version keeps the budget under control.
Websites and E-Commerce
Behind the Scenes of the Wick & Dune Sample Store
How we built Wick & Dune, our sample online store: what the Basic E-Commerce package includes, what we left out on purpose, and what a store like it costs.
Websites and E-Commerce
What a Business Website Really Costs in the UAE (and What Often Gets Left Out of the Quote)
A plain look at what a small business website costs in the UAE in year one and year two, including domain, hosting, email, VAT and the extras that catch people out.
Websites and E-Commerce
WooCommerce or Shopify: Which Suits a Small UAE Online Store?
WooCommerce or Shopify for a small UAE online store? A fair look at costs, payment fees, control and day-to-day work, and when each one is the better pick.
Websites and E-Commerce
Who Should Own Your Hosting and Domain?
Agency-hosted or in your own name? What each hosting option means for cost, access and your freedom to leave, and the questions to ask before you sign.
IT Operations and Security
Is Dynamics 365 Overkill for Your Business?
A quick way to judge whether your business needs Dynamics 365, or something much smaller. What it costs per user, when it fits and what to try first.
Websites and E-Commerce
What You Need Before Launching an Online Store in the UAE
A practical checklist for launching an online store in the UAE: licence, VAT, payment gateway, delivery and policies, and who sorts out each one.
IT Operations and Security
A Basic IT Security Checklist for a 20-Person Company
Ten practical checks that close the most common security gaps in a small UAE company, most of which cost time and settings rather than a big budget.
Websites and E-Commerce
Do You Need a Bilingual English and Arabic Website?
Should your UAE business website be in English and Arabic? When a bilingual site pays off, what the build involves and what it adds to the budget.
Practical Guides
Moving from Manual Processes to Digital Ones Without Disruption
How to move your business from paper and spreadsheets to digital processes in small steps, while the business keeps running and your team keeps up.