Diorio’s company recruits technical professionals for companies from around the nation and operates several skill-based job boards, including delphisearch.com, javasearch.com, SAPsearch.com, DBAsearch.com and QAsearch.com. This month, Diorio launched Browseman – a new Web browser designed specifically for business users. The application operates as a plug-in within Microsoft Internet Explorer, and includes a kit that allows developers to create specialized versions of the browser for specific businesses or industries.
Diorio, started Specialized Search in 1999 after he left his gig with Management Recruiters International’s Fresno office to move with his new wife to Wisconsin. Diorio leveraged his previous experience as a software developer to create time saving computer applications for his staff.
Rather than sign onto numerous recruiting Web sites individually, Diorio figured out a way to open and log into numerous sites at once with a single click. Through creative programming, staff members were soon able to pull other tricks – such as download tables in HTML directly into database applications – and more. Another application was created to harvest names and contact information on individuals from relevant Web sites. By 2001, Diorio’s firm had grown to eight employees, a number that withered to two in the fallout from the tech stock bubble collapse.
But now, hiring is rebounding, according to Diorio, and the company’s launch of Browseman via Web-sales should keep the company even busier than during the go-go ’90s. The official project launch was Oct. 18 and was delayed as Diorio awaited a bug fix from a third-party provider of some of the browser’s code.
The browser offers a variety of features of interest to business users. A version developed specifically for the recruiting industry is already available, and other vertical offerings are expected.
Mike Budiak, founder and CEO of Inphinet Interactive Communications, said that at first pale, Browseman seems to offer some interesting utilities. Inphinet operates Web sites designed to market accounting software and connect companies with accountants.
"There are some deficiencies in existing browsers that would be useful to have fixed," Budiak said. "It looks like he has something there."
The ability to download tables into a spreadsheet program looked particularly promising to Budiak.
"I thought that would be kind of useful," Budiak said. "It looks like you are pulling from a table. You can do that now but it gets all hosed up in the transition."
Another of Diorio’s software products, Broadlook, is designed to cull names, contact information and other data necessary to qualify sales leads. The connection-intensive program runs at night and is designed for the business-to-business salesperson.
"Maybe this product comes to my initial shyness of not wanting to get on the phone and call someone," Diorio said.
Budiak was intrigued by the idea of using a product like Broadlook.
"I could see some good use for that – for us and others too," Budiak said. "We have built a little prospecting tool ourselves as well."
"I like that it is a plug-in for Explorer," Northwoods Software President Bob Weisenberg said. "If it is a replacement for Explorer, I would have an opinion right away."
Oct. 25, 2002 Small Business Times, Milwaukee
