Owning a business is not easy, it takes a lot of time and energy to get things right so it makes sense why some small businesses seem to fail in the long run. The main thing a lot of business owners seem to miss is proper organization! So here are some expert inventory management tips for small businesses!
Make a plan
First things first – you need to establish what kind of business you are running and find the best solution that suits your needs. Is your business handling digital assets, offering services, or is it a real-life thing like a cafe or a store? All of them have one thing in common and that’s inventory and assets – but they all come in different shapes and forms! So your first step is to make a plan that is going perfectly with the nature of your business, this is the only way you can actually make things run smoothly! Doing additional research, finding valuable helping tools and resources is always welcomed so make sure your plan is not lacking anyhow!
Categorize your inventory
Depending on what kind of business you are dealing with, you need to categorize your assets. This can be done by sorting your assets by usage and function, so you know where to look for them in any given situation. You want to focus on making things functional and practical, and it all starts with making a good plan and organizing your space – regardless if it’s physical or digital. A business can crumble with a lack of management, and this also means focusing on your inventory and behind the scenes as well!
Prioritize
Another important factor in organizing and managing your assets is learning how to prioritize! Some things are more important than others, and you should sort things out by the level of importance or usage – depending on what it is. This way you’ll know exactly what goes where and it won’t cause you any trouble. And overall it’s just way better to sort out things this way, for instance, if you are selling items, particularly things with an expiration date – prioritizing them is key! You want to sell everything, and to avoid any losses, regardless of if it’s money, time, or assets!
Using the right tools is key
If you truly want to transform your business and help boost productivity, getting the right tools is the best thing you can do! Instead of doing everything by hand, there are so many software and apps you can use to do the job for you. Why work hard when you can work smart, right? Software apps like Grey Trunk focus on tracking your assets and helping you stay on track with the organization. There is nothing more annoying than not knowing where something is and having to seek it yourself. That’s where handy IT comes in to save the day and do the work for you! Nowadays technology is so evolved, there is no reason why you shouldn’t use it to your advantage, especially when it comes to maintaining and building your small business!
Regular checkups
Having a plan of action is extremely important when running your business, you don’t want things to go off the rails! Keeping things organized will also help with being able to track your assets and regularly check how your inventory is doing! This way you won’t come across any problems and create an even bigger problem down the line! Counting, taking a double-take, and making sure that everything is right where it’s supposed to be will help your business a lot in the long run! If there are any losses or potential clogs in the inventory, you’ll notice it right away and sort things out – so make sure you are doing it regularly!
Always strive for better
Technology is evolving, and things can change overnight, as shown during the global pandemic and similar occurrences. So being able to adapt and evolve during hard times is key. Regardless of whether your small business revolves around offering services or dealing with products – management is extremely important. Being able to constantly learn new ways and being up to date with the technology is a must, so make sure you are doing your research as a business owner!
At the end of the day, if you truly want to build a successful business you need to be on top of your game and covering all that is to cover inside the business. So many things make the business, never leave things behind! Make sure you put organization and functionality on the top of your list and see how much it will help grow your business out!
Expert Inventory Management Tips for Small Businesses was last modified: June 29th, 2021 by Allen Brown
In this article, we selected five online tools for you, which will help you focus on tasks, correctly distribute your time, and plan your workload.
1. Clockify
Clockify tells you when it’s time to rest and when to get to work, allowing you to maintain an efficient pace, fight procrastination and avoid overcommitment. Also, if you give the sprints task names, you know exactly how much time you spent on this or that task. It’s useful for every writing service, which provides an essay writer for you to get more work done.
To be productive, you need the proper division of time. Clockify is a convenient time tracker, which works by the Pomodoro method – 25-springs drawn at intervals of 5 minutes. Every four sprints, you have to make a big break for half a minute. However, you can adjust the duration of the sprints and intervals to yourself.
Clockify works on different operating systems: macOS, Windows, Linux, iOS, and Android. There is also an extension for Google Chrome and Firefox.
2. Forest
With Forest, you can concentrate on your work, studies, reading, and rest without being “bogged down” on your smartphone or soft pleasure sites. It works this way: you grow “productivity forest,” where trees are short tasks (10-20 twins), and the trees – three-long (from 25 twins). So Forest also works according to the principle of Pomodoro technology.
To grow a tree or a couch, you must not log out of the add-on on a mobile device or enter the forbidden sites (which you have banned, for example – social networks or YouTube) from the desktop. Soon you will lose focus and will be lost – the plant will die. You’ll get points for completing the task, and for 2500 points, you can plant a real tree – the Forest developers sponsor the planting of trees by the Trees for the Future organization. So, you can not just become productive but also help nature right from the workplace.
3. Notion
The need to immediately switch to a new work program reduces our concentration. To maintain focus, you can try to do everything in one place – write texts, set tasks, plan the day, and make a budget. Such a versatile workspace is Notion. The program combines the functions of writing text (like Google Docs or Evernote), planning projects and tasks (like in Trello or Asana), creating tables and databases.
The service works in browsers, and there are also applications for iOS and Android. Many Notion users note that there is so much functionality that it is hard to decide how to use it first. A handy minimalistic design and tutorials help to orient yourself.
However, for those who are looking for a simpler and more straightforward note-taking application, exploring Notion alternatives might be worth considering.
4. Todoist
Todoist is a handy tool for creating task lists. With the device’s help, you can organize daily work – arrange plans, and divide the job into a team. In Todoist, you can set up a daily repetition of tasks, and you can use it not only for work but also for planning household chores or leisure activities.
Todoist works in Chrome, Firefox, and Safari browsers are available for MacOS, Windows, mobile versions for iOS, Android, and even smartphones. On the Todoist website, you can find many list templates for different types of tasks, and on the official YouTube channel – tips for starting to work with the service.
5. Evernote
Evernote is an online notepad with extended functions. If you like to write everything down but have already become bogged down in folders and tablets, the service will help you record more efficiently. In Evernote, you can create your tags for sorting and searching for information, make notes, create checklists, add notes or media files.
Evernote works in browsers and is available for Windows, macOS, iOS, and Android. Evernote’s advantage is its minimalistic interface.
Productivity is not limited to digital tools because only additional tools (though very handy and helpful). Look for productivity techniques that work for you, test and customize your services, plan your time correctly, and don’t forget to relax.
5 Online Apps for Increasing Productivity was last modified: May 3rd, 2023 by Steve O'Neil
In the modern age, the ways in which people store their data are heavily based on cloud computing. In fact, finding a company that doesn’t use clouds in one way or another is incredibly hard. Of course, all this is for plenty of good reasons, as cloud computing offers possibilities that were unimaginable even a bit more than a decade ago. The amount of data that can be stored by using a cloud easily beats any hard disk out there, both by performance and by price. Additionally, having your data off-site allows you to protect it more efficiently from any on-site issues. Now, cloud computing, like everything else, doesn’t come without its disadvantages.
The main thing that people are worried about when using clouds is security. Of course, cloud providers do everything in their capabilities to enforce safety. But, having your data exposed in a server that can technically be tracked down can be a reason for some to opt-out of using clouds. Now, there is good news if you are personally conflicted on whether you should or shouldn’t use clouds because of security skepticism. There are a lot of things that you can do to boost how secure your data is on the cloud, and if you know what to do, your worries can be reduced exponentially. If you want to learn more, in this article, you will find all that you need to know about the top ways in which you can ensure that your data on the cloud is secured.
Focus on the encryption that your cloud service uses
When it comes to data safety, no factor is more important than encryption. If you’re not familiar with the term, encryption is the process in which the information is encoded in a way that makes it hard to decrypt it. This basically means that the stronger the encryption that your cloud service uses, the better the protection of your data on the cloud. So, always make sure that you do your research on the type of encryption of your cloud service. Additionally, it would be best that you avoid those services that offer no encryption of your data.
Third-party encryption
If you want to ensure that your data is protected to the extent that your cloud service doesn’t offer – there is a way to do so. Basically, you can utilize a third-party cloud security platform that will make sure that your data is as protected as possible. There are platforms that can offer you encryption of your data, separately from the services that your cloud service offers. This way, you ensure that your data is encrypted to the extent that barely any cloud services offer.
Always opt for two-factor authentication
Two-factor authentication might seem like an unnecessary hassle to some – but it truly boosts your online security exponentially. When it comes to passwords, they, of course, play an important role in how secure your files are. The thing is, passwords can be decrypted, given that the person trying to do so is persistent and skillful. Of course, this isn’t easy to do, to begin with – but it can be done. On the other hand, if you use two-factor authentication, you are lowering the chance of someone accessing your data. This is especially true if the two-factor authentication includes sending an SMS to your phone.
Don’t take password strength lightly
The fact that passwords can be decrypted has been mentioned previously, but let’s see how you can lower the chance of that happening. Many people aren’t aware of the importance of password strength. That is why they opt to use simple passwords that they can remember easily. The thing is the simpler your password, the higher the possibility of it being used against them. The same goes for those that use the same password on many different websites. So, next time you create a password – make sure to make it as undecipherable as you possibly can.
Only use trustworthy WiFi networks
When uploading your data onto the cloud, as well as accessing it – make sure that you never do so through a public WiFi network. Public WiFi networks are oftentimes way easier to hack into due to low encryption and high accessibility. This is exactly why a large number of hackers find their victims on those exact networks. All this is why it is incredibly important that you never use a public network when working with data that is on the cloud.
Always read the user agreement fully
Reading user agreements is something that many of us skip as we deem this process unimportant. While this might be true for the majority of instances, it is not always the case. In fact, whenever you’re handling something that has security at stake – reading the user agreement is imperative.
When signing up for cloud services, you want to make sure that you understand the vital parameters of how it protects your data. In some instances, by reading the agreement, you can run into the part that says that you’re giving them permission to sell and/or use your data. Of course, if you want to boost security, you want to avoid this. All in all – never sign up to cloud services if you don’t fully understand every clause in the user agreement. The same goes for reading and understanding any updates in your cloud services’ privacy policies.
Think twice before uploading sensitive information
Lastly, let’s finish this article by tackling how you should approach sensitive information and clouds. In general, you want to avoid uploading anything that can be used against you on the cloud. So, your personal data, and anything that can, if exploited, compromise your safety. Surely, you decide what you want to upload, but just be aware that some data should be kept safe the old traditional way.
Finally, it is important to understand that while our options for pretty much anything are lined up for us – we still must do our part. Optimizing security in the era where everything is online should be everyones’ top priority. As you’ve been able to see, there are a lot of ways in which you can do your part, most of them not even being that complicated. So, instead of opting out of different new and modern ways in which we can optimize whatever it is that we’re doing, informing ourselves should be the first step. Embrace the positives and tackle the negatives head-on – and you will get the best of both worlds!
Top Ways to Secure Your Data on the Cloud was last modified: June 28th, 2021 by Francis Brown
Memory is vital for the computer because it is the component used to store data temporarily in order to allow really fast access. RAM is the most common memory type used in computers these days. It means random access memory and is formed out of chips that are mounted on long strips. The strips are dual inline memory modules, which is what we refer to when saying the acronym DIMM.
RAM is attached to the computer’s motherboard. It is very easy to remove and swap so upgrades can be done quite fast whenever needed. The problem though is that most people do not even know that they can install more RAM. And in some situations, this is one of the best tech tips you could receive since more RAM could drastically improve performance.
In order to help you make a very good choice, let’s think about situations in which you want to seriously consider adding more RAM.
Programs Load Very Slowly
Modern computers respond almost instantly as you click the icon that launches software. As a result, when you notice delays of over 2 seconds, there is a pretty good possibility that upgrading RAM can help. This is especially the case when you have an SSD installed, which is designed to help open programs fast. When software does not load fast and you have SSD, the culprit is most likely having too little RAM.
The Computer Uses Most Of The RAM
When you receive memory error messages or you see that the computer consistently uses over 80% of your RAM memory, it is time to add more.
You can easily check how much RAM is used on your computer at any point in time. In Windows, you use Task Manager. On a MAC, you use Activity Monitor. When your computer uses Linux, you have to go to the terminal and type “vmstat”.
When you run more programs at the exact same time, more memory is utilized. That is why you need to perform this test as you load the operating system. This gives you base usage levels. When base usage levels are naturally high, you also might want to install more RAM.
You Cannot Run Many Programs At Once
The situation in which this does not matter is when you use software that is very resource-heavy. Examples of this can be given in graphical suits and animation programs. If this is not the case and you cannot run several software programs at once, without performance losses, it is time to add more RAM.
As an example, let’s say you run Microsoft Word, your web browser, and an MP3 player program at the same time. If you cannot do this without lag or performance issues, the computer runs out of the memory it needs.
Final Thoughts
Remember that adding more RAM is very easy. However, you can only go as high as a specific limit. This is why you have to know as much as possible about the hardware part of your computer. Whenever there is something you do not know, like if it is normal for your PC to react in a specific way with your configuration, look for the information online. You will find it.
Signs You Need To Buy More Computer Memory was last modified: June 27th, 2021 by Boris Dzhingarov
According to the latest statistics, 59.17% of mobile users in the USA choose iOS devices while 40.54% prefer Android. Business owners who want to launch mobile apps should decide how to meet the needs of both groups. Should they go for native development and build two separate apps but spend a lot of time and money on it? Or should they start with cheaper and less time-consuming cross-platform application development to build one app that will run on both platforms?
While both approaches are popular among business owners and developers, we want to shed light on cross-platform application development and its peculiarities in this post. But for a better understanding of available opportunities, let’s start with a comparison of native and cross-platform development approaches.
What is cross-platform development and how does it differ from the native one?
Native app development implies building a new app for every platform. It means that if you want to build an application that will run on both iOS and Android, you’ll have to build two different apps. Consequently, you’ll need to look for two different development teams. One of them should have expertise in Objective-C for iOS development and another should have deep technical skills in Java to create an Android app.
Business owners might opt for building native apps when their goal is to provide users with superior performance. Aimed at a specific platform, native apps work flawlessly and boast a unique design. They could be a perfect option for any business that builds mobile apps but there are two drawbacks: long development time and high cost. That’s why more and more businesses, especially startups, opt for cross-platform development.
Cross-platform development allows for building one app that will run on both platforms, in one go. Let’s have a detailed look at the benefits and limitations of cross-platform app development in the following sections.
Benefits of cross-platform development
App developers, for years, have been trying to employ ways to cut don development costs. Integrating APIs in mobile app development is the best way to cut down costs and substantially reduce the development time. Cross-platform application development has a number of advantages that make it a preferable option for numerous businesses. Let’s cover them one by one.
Ability to reach more users
By building a cross-platform app, you can kill two birds with one stone, especially if your target audience equally uses Android and iOS. Even if your potential customers prefer one platform over another, creating an app that can perform on both platforms is a sensible decision that will yield great results in the future.
Cheaper development and easier maintenance
Although the word “cheap” isn’t really applicable to software development, building a cross-platform app doesn’t cost as much as building a native app. The cost is lower because an application is built with identical technology and developers reuse the source code. As a result, deployment, maintenance, and updates are also easier to perform on apps with a common code.
Faster development
We have already mentioned that cross-platform application development implies less work than native app development. A common source code helps to cut down up to 80% of development efforts. As a result, business owners can significantly reduce time to market.
Uniform design
App design that reflects identically on any platform adds to user experience. Whatever operating system app users want to use – iOS or Android – they won’t be confused by discrepancies in two versions.
The above mentioned points can become key factors when business owners need to choose between native and cross-platform app development. But to make an informed decision, you should also be aware of the drawbacks of cross-platform software. We’ll have a look at them in the next section.
Limitations of cross-platform applications
One of the most critical limitations that is often mentioned in relation to cross-platform apps is their performance. While native applications boast flawless performance, cross-platform ones can be somewhat slower and inconsistent. It happens because some cross-platform components don’t comply with native ones.
Imperfect performance can become a reason for poor user experience and result in lower customer satisfaction. But to notice inconsistencies in app performance, users should be either developers themselves or use apps with very complicated functionality. In case with simple or mid-complexity applications, user experience doesn’t suffer much.
One more issue that can arise during cross-platform development is a complicated design process. To make an app adequately reflect on both iOS and Android platforms, designers and developers need to think through every detail, from functionality to buttons, to make sure an app will work consistently no matter the platform. However, by taking more effort to create a high-quality design on the development stage, you’ll save time on its maintenance in the future. Thus, such investment in design is quite reasonable. It’s critical to choose an Angular development company with a solid reputation in the market.
Taking into account all the benefits and limitations of cross-platform app development, one can conclude that it’s a great option if:
you’re a startup owner and have a limited budget
you want to check the viability of your idea
you need to launch your app as soon as possible to outrun your competitors
Later on, when you launch your cross-platform app, gather feedback from customers, and manage to attract investors, you can develop native applications to improve quality.
Top frameworks for cross-platform development
If you decide to build a cross-platform app, you’ll have a choice of frameworks for your application. While your development team will advise on the framework that will best meet your business needs and requirements, we offer you to quickly get acquainted with popular frameworks used to build cross-platform apps.
React Native
React Native is the most popular framework for cross-platform application development for several years already. Launched in 2015, it’s still used all around the world to build hybrid apps.
The framework allows for reducing development time dramatically thanks to the ability to reuse up to 80% of a source code.
It’s possible to preview the results of the development process immediately. With the Hot Reloading feature, developers can see the newest changes in a matter of seconds.
React Native provides almost native UI so that users don’t see the difference between native and hybrid applications.
React Native is based on JavaScript. It means that even a team of web developers can build a decent cross-platform app.
Limitations of React Native
It’s not a fully cross-platform framework. Developers still need to write genuine code for some of iOS or Android functionality such as accessing a camera.
Debugging and releasing updates can be somewhat slow and inconsistent.
Examples of apps built on React Native: Pinterest, Instagram, Skype, Bloomberg.
Flutter
The next popular cross-platform framework is Flutter. It was developed and launched by Google in 2018, and since that time, it’s one of the serious React Native competitors. Besides the almost native look of apps and the hot reload functionality, Flutter boasts a number of other cool features.
Benefits of Flutter
Built on Dart, a programming language created by Google, Flutter allows to develop UI-oriented applications of high quality in a short time.
Flutter includes numerous ready-made widgets for iOS and Android devices. These widgets are enough to build a whole app. However, developers can build their own widgets if there’s a need.
Being an open-source solution, Flutter is constantly updated and improved.
Limitations of Flutter
Apps built with Flutter usually have a bigger size than other apps. Because of a great number of widgets, Flutter apps weigh more than average apps and can take up much space on users’ devices.
Being a relatively new framework, Flutter doesn’t have many libraries. It means that if Flutter developers lack some functionality in the existing libraries, they will have to create new libraries on their own, which will extend the development time.
Examples of apps built on Flutter: Alibaba, Google Ads, Tencent.
Ionic
Ionic is an HTML framework aimed to build cross-platform apps with a native feel and design. In addition to creating mobile apps, Ionic is a great tool for developing Progressive Web Apps (PWAs).
Benefits of Ionic
To build an app using Ionic, it’s enough to hire one or two developers who have knowledge of HTML5, CSS, JavaScript, and Angular.
The Ionic framework can be integrated with numerous tools and plugins to extend the app’s functionality.
Limitations of Ionic
To build applications that go beyond AngularJS functionality, it’s necessary to hire more developers with wider tech stack.
Debugging can be challenging.
Examples of apps built on Ionic: IBM, SAP, NASA.
Xamarin
Xamarin is an open-source framework that was launched in 2011. In 2016, it was acquired by Microsoft that made the framework more recognizable. Xamarin uses programming language C# that is considered to be more modern and flexible than Objective-C or Java.
Benefits of Xamarin
Except for creating applications that run on iOS and Android, Xamarin is used to build apps for wearables such as Apple and Android Watch.
Although Xamarin is a cross-platform framework, apps built with it can boast exceptional performance, almost like native applications.
Limitations of Xamarin
Using Xamarin is free for individuals and startups but for enterprises, it offers to buy a license to be able to use its services.
Apps built with Xamarin lack quality when it comes to graphics. For apps rich in UX and UI, it’s better to use a native development approach.
Examples of apps built on Xamarin: Alaska Airlines, American Cancer Society, BBC Good Food.
Final thoughts
Although some people might doubt the quality of cross-platform development, real-life examples show that in particular situations it is no worse than native one. Such popular apps as Instagram, Skype, and many others show that cross-platform apps are decent market players loved and used by millions of people.
Thanks to the advantages of cross-platform development such as shorter time to market and reduced development costs, businesses, especially startups, opt for this approach more often than for classic native app development. Of course, cross-platform development does have its limitations but it can be a great choice to build the first version of a mobile app.
What is Cross-Platform Mobile App Development? was last modified: April 26th, 2024 by James Nagel
Bloggers and content makers need creative options to attract the audience with stunning solutions. If you are searching for an interesting way to enrich your content, try slow motion videos. They help to highlight a specific video fragment and match slow music flawlessly. This editing feature can evoke different emotions depending on what you want to achieve: surprise, amazement, calm, sadness, etc. With slow motion, you have unlimited possibilities, but how to bring them to life? There is no need for professional equipment, and your smartphone can help you with the task of creating a slow motion video. In this article, you will learn how to make a video slow motion on an iPhone. Let’s discover more useful information for stunning results!
Slow Motion Work Principles
Let’s consider this notion from a technical viewpoint. We know that a video consists of a sequence of photos, and their fast representation provides an image of movement. It may seem weird, but to create a slow motion video, you need to have a high-speed camera. The reason behind this contradiction is that most video cameras record about 30 frames per second. However, this speed is considered to be slow for a slow motion video, and many details will be omitted. The slow motion video provides unusual images, and viewers do not expect to see a detailed presentation of a usual video. Sometimes it may seem that the video is freezing, smoothly changing one frame to another.
With a high-speed camera, you can benefit from over 2,000 frames per second. These numbers are impressive, and you should try them on your own. It will be possible to take a closer look at details that are usually invisible at a normal video speed. The slow motion effect will surprise the audience and give them an unforgettable viewing experience!
How Does Slow Motion Work on Your iPhone?
iPhone users benefit from a plethora of great features, but there are cases when its storage capacity is full, or you don’t know how to get rid of annoying advertising. The slo-mo feature on your iPhone allows you to shoot different scenes and make them more fascinating. When you shoot a slow motion video on your iPhone, you are playing back the video at a slower frame rate. It creates the illusion of a slow video. This feature is standard and is accessible in the Camera app. It is located in the menu above the shutter button. There is also a possibility to change a slo-mo video to a normal speed. Open the Edit icon and choose a slider at the bottom of your screen that will make the video speed regular. You can change the speed of a part of your video, making it more versatile and astonishing.
Let’s consider the iPhone X’s camera for diving into this issue. This model is one of the most popular on the market, therefore, it will be useful to explore its camera characteristics. In the article, you can read a detailed description of technical characteristics. But we want to mention that the iPhone 8 has a single 12-megapixel camera and an f/1.8 lens; the iPhone 8 Plus has two 12 megapixel cameras and an f/1.8 lens; the iPhone X has two 12 megapixel cameras and f/1.8 and f/2.4 lenses.
Thus, you can create stunning slow motion videos with your iPhone and shoot nature, sports, actions, and more. iPhone users can benefit from a great option of taking live photos, so read the article for more details.
How to Create an Eye-Catching Slo-Mo?
You have already found out that it’s not difficult to master the basics of slow motion video shooting, and a bit of practice will help you stand out. It is essential to be creative and do your best to capture people’s attention and even surprise them. Here’s some advice to facilitate the creative process and help the results look fantastic:
Camera Angle
You need to change the angle of your camera to get better results. You must highlight the action, so it should be placed in the frame middle. Whatever you shoot, it should look natural and impress the viewer. A dog must run towards the viewer, and a biker should be captured from the ground so that the audience experiences unseen emotions.
The Video Sound
Adjust the sound speed to the video speed, so that a slow motion video will not look weird when accompanied by fast music. There are cases when slowed sound is so unusual that it seems robotic, thus, pay attention to these factors.
Bright Light
It is crucial to ensure sufficient light because a higher video frame rate requires these preparations. If you neglect it, dim lighting in a slow motion video will look even darker.
Slow Motion Video Editing
You can find an abundance of video editing software on the Internet, but how can you choose the right one and not waste time on checking dozens of them? We prepared a short guide to help you edit video flawlessly. There are many options such as changing the video speed, cropping, trimming. You can also add effects, filters, and transitions to make it more impressive.
The video editing software will provide you with numerous features and tools. Let’s consider the most essential and learn how to use them. You can edit a video by speeding it up or slowing down, depending on the effect you want to achieve. Take into account the following must-haves, such as exposure, contrast, saturation, and color. They are all available on your smartphone, and there is no need to use any video editing software. Tap the Edit icon and see a variety of icons that will help you to change the video. Do not forget to tap Done to save edits.
If there is a need to change the video length, you can benefit from a full range of tools to trim, straighten, and crop your video. The Edit page will enable you to move arrows to achieve the needed timeline. Trim the beginning and the end of your video, crop and cut the unnecessary parts to get a fabulous result. You can add effects to any video, and it will gain a completely different look.
Conclusion
Now you know a lot of useful things on iPhone slow motion videos. You can easily create an eye-catching output and edit video properly so that it looks professional. Do not hesitate to experiment and be imaginative to achieve success.
Tips for Creating and Video Editing Slow Motion Content for iPhone was last modified: June 25th, 2021 by Olga Zubareva
For aging adults, learning the technological ropes can be challenging as innovative digital advances continue to change the game. The fundamentals of basic technology are constantly shifting, with smartphones and computers reaching beyond caller ID and multiple internet browsers. While new and improved features and gadgets have benefited modern life by propelling industries forward and re-inventing human connection, many seniors feel left behind by difficult-to-use tech.
However, thanks to improved accessibility functions and senior-friendly tech like The Wow Computer, aging adults can capitalize on the digital age by diving into simplified gadgets.
If your senior loved one has expressed interest in purchasing a PC, read on for five ways to improve accessibility and ensure they can easily navigate their computer.
Ultimately, elderly folks benefit from modern technology by connecting with loved ones, engaging in mental stimulation, and soliciting services online. That said, helping seniors in your life set up a quality PC is the first step in successfully integrating them into the digital world.
Magnify text
Some seniors shy away from computer usage because of small, unreadable text limiting their ability to read and comprehend the system set up. However, many older folks don’t realize that most up-to-date computers come equipped with font and text size customizations that allow seniors to tailor content to their preference.
Simply locate the computer’s ease of access center (usually found within the control panel) and begin experimenting with sizing, changing everything from text to title bars. Additionally, you can purchase a model with magnifying features, allowing users to zoom in and out on individual sections of the screen.
High-resolution screens
Although it may be tempting to purchase an inexpensive, run-of-the-mill computer monitor for your senior loved one, consider investing in a high-resolution screen to limit eye strain and clarify items on the display. While they don’t need a complex, expensive computer system, they may benefit from a newer monitor model. Paired with text magnification, increasing the resolution of your monitor can significantly improve user experience, especially for those struggling with visual barriers.
Utilize shortcuts
One of the most common complaints from seniors attempting to navigate computer setups is the inability to control and direct the mouse quickly and precisely due to limited hand coordination. As people age, extremity dexterity decreases, leaving many with aching, shaky hands that struggle to move according to plan.
Thankfully, many computers allow for keyboard shortcuts that can cut down on mouse maneuvering by bringing screens forward, pulling up applications, and sending the mouse to specific places. Additionally, simple shortcuts are easy to remember or write by the side of your loved one’s computer as a helpful reminder.
Color contrast
Another useful tip to improve screen visibility is adjusting the color contrast depending on your senior loved one’s preferences. Simply locate the accessibility center— found in the same place as magnified text options —and drag sliders until the monitor pictures are visible and easier on the eyes. In addition to system contrast changes, most browsers allow you to shift colors and shading to reduce eye strain and improve clarity.
Customize keyboards
An optional but often helpful way to increase PC accessibility for your senior loved one is swapping out their traditional keyboard for a high-contrast version with big, bold lettering. Most keyboards feature small text that can be difficult for visually impaired people to locate. Consider purchasing a board with large, white font on top of a black background or purchasing a lettering adhesive to customize the version they already have.
Parting shot
Keeping track of ever-changing technology can be challenging for seniors stuck in the past. However, by implementing helpful accessibility hacks and changing easily customizable settings on their PC, your elderly loved one can dive into the digital world without fear of confusion and frustration. Aid them by setting up their system, hacker-proofing their laptop, selecting their preferred settings, and teaching them how to customize their computer with accessible features for future use.
Digital Accessibility 101: 5 Tips for Making a PC Accessible for Elderly Operators was last modified: September 27th, 2024 by Amanda Greenberg
Ever asked yourself why are you so stressed with work? Work efficiency is one of the most crucial components in both small businesses as well as large corporations. As small business owners, you must learn to incorporate different strategies to improve work productivity at work. By managing your employees and their workflow well, you can focus on expanding your business that can boost your overall ROI. Business owners are constantly looking to save time and money, running your own business means being eager to make ends meet through efficiency and ensure healthy morale at work.
In this article, you will learn about 8 productivity hacks that you can implement in your small business which will make working smarter and better.
Priorities
Before you begin your day, it is important to have a list of tasks that you want to achieve for the day. These tasks can be related to meetings, clients, payments, etc which should be prioritized according to their importance or urgency. So as you are about to begin, arrange or sort your lists into must-do’s, want to do, and will do when convenient. This will help you plan out your day well in advance and look forward to a productive day.
Virtual Receptionist
Answering calls and talking to clients adds a personal touch for small businesses but it can take up a huge portion of your time. With the limited resources at hand, employees may not be able to offer their valuable skills entirely and not waste time doubling as receptionists. Adding a virtual receptionist will improve workflow and employee productivity for small businesses. Another great reason is that it is affordable compared to hiring an in-house receptionist.
Ensure a Healthy Workplace Environment
You may already know this but it can be very effective to improve productivity. A stressful environment at your workplace will yield bad results, disengagement, miscommunication, and less productivity. Creating a healthy working environment will encourage and motivate employees to work harder and smarter. For instance, rewarding your high-performing staff with a raise or provide incentives to those who excel beyond their targets. By doing so, they are likely to work harder which will increase productivity for your day-to-day goals. Maintaining a healthy workplace is staying connected with your employees in celebration times and in grievous times. During this time, drafting an obituary letter may seem challenging. Use this free template for the obituary letter so that you can professionally communicate the right message.
Delegate Work
It doesn’t matter whether you are a small business owner or part of a larger corporation, you must learn to delegate your work. Especially in small businesses, they are limited to a fewer number of employees. It is your job to recognize which tasks or jobs they are better at and let them handle those jobs for you. By doing so, you free up time for yourself to focus on other aspects of your business, knowing that the tasks assigned will be completed efficiently.
Mute your Smart Devices
Your gadgets can be a great time waster if they continuously ringing, buzzing, or chiming throughout the day. These notifications can be a distraction that can break your concentration during your work. A simple text can lead you astray for 25-30 mins where you could have finished a task for the day. Social media is another distraction that can leave you aimlessly browsing through your smart device. If you are handling the social platforms of your business, ensure that you are logged out from your personal account during this time to improve productivity.
Don’t Multitask
While most of us have heard that multitasking and juggling through different tasks at once is necessary for your workplace. But if you think about it, multitasking can do you more harm than good as it can cause people to make more mistakes and be more stressed out. Improving productivity does not mean just getting work done anyhow within the time given. But focusing on each task solely will make them more effective and less stressed while completing their tasks for the day.
Communication is Key
The best way to ensure that there is no confusion is to have a clear line of communication. By doing so, every task is completed to its optimum, and encourage your employees to communicate better within the company. It also helps set a clear direction for your employees and what they should expect from you. Clear goals and focus will help you avoid simple mistakes and increase workplace productivity. With the pandemic in effect, it is important to pay close attention to scheduling tasks for your employees. Taking into consideration the mental and physical stress on them during this time and as the owner, you can provide time flexibility for those working from home.
Automate Tasks
There are different free and paid apps available online that are designed to enhance workplace productivity. Businesses are usually fast-paced and keeping up may seem daunting. With the right tools and apps, you can improve workflow and ensure that your daily tasks are accomplished by the end of the day. Time-management apps, organizer apps, social media schedules, self-care apps, and so on are just some of the ways you can increase productivity amongst your employees.
These are just some of the hacks you can use to increase productivity at your workplace.
8 Easy Productivity Hacks for Small Businesses was last modified: June 23rd, 2021 by Abrielle Chan
Finding a Kubernetes management solution shouldn’t leave you out of sorts or winded from warding off time-wasters on the attack. When you’re trying to deliver applications on time, you need tools to boost company efficiency, not hurt it. To ensure that your Kubernetes system is operating as planned, you should keep your eyes peeled for the following key features in a management tool.
What is Kubernetes?
Kubernetes is a container-based system designed to help the development and scaling of applications. Initially, Google developed Kubernetes. Later on, the Cloud Native Computing Foundation swooped in and assumed responsibility for management. Today, both big and small companies use this infrastructure because of how readily the entire system scales.
This system works by creating containers, which are vessels for applications and their libraries. Virtual machines riding inside these containers deploy across nodes, which is a network of associated computers. Once they arrive, the container renders the virtual machines needed to carry out the application.
Kubernetes suits the purpose of creating databases and accessing application data. By dispersing the containers across many nodes, the computing power for the whole system gets distributed out, keeping any singular node from overworking.
Key facets for a Kubernetes management solution
While many Kubernetes management solutions have all sorts of features, there are some key things to consider when choosing a management solution:
Production usability
A management tool needs to suit your production needs if it’s going to be useful. Security, accessibility, and native managerial tools are essential factors in making a management solution worth your time. You should also ensure that your management solution can scale well and keep up with your Kubernetes infrastructure.
Future-Proofing
With the trend of multiple cloud solutions at full velocity, many businesses have rejected all-eggs-in-one-basket mentalities and started relying on several cloud vendors to meet their data and storage needs. For those business owners still searching for a management tool that can keep up with day-to-day business operations, this security trend will be crucial as your data needs evolve.
Ease of use
Managing a cluster of nodes is a challenge in itself. If your management solution introduces another layer of complexity, your team will have a more challenging time keeping the system running well.
In many cases, data analysis throws administrators for a loop. Luckily, several management solutions offer ways to analyze data natively, letting your admins work more on maintaining the infrastructure.
Ongoing support and training
Make sure that your Kubernetes management solution comes from a vendor with solid support and training programs. Getting off on the right foot with training will help you launch your solution successfully, while support will ensure solutions as quickly as possible.
In summary
A Kubernetes management solution should be ready for use at your business, allow you to grow with it, be easy to use, and have ongoing support from the vendor. Extra features sprinkled on top of those spotlighted above are simply frosting and won’t be the most crucial over the long term.
So, the next time you shop for a management solution, keep these key things in mind to ensure you have the tool you need for the job.
What to Look for in a Kubernetes Management Solution was last modified: June 21st, 2021 by Amanda Greenberg
In an ever-changing, fast-paced world, it is important to look at AI and to look at how it is affecting and impacting the world. AI can be positive for both individual users and business users alike. Artificial intelligence can be used in lots of settings and scenarios, and the positive effect it can have on businesses of any size is still only just starting to be seen. Adopting and integrating AI may sound like a little bit of an alien concept, but it has been something that has been slowly but surely introduced into several areas over the last few years. So, what can AI bring to your life, how can it positively impact businesses and what effect can it have on the future, and how society function?
Face Recognition for Ease
Fraudsters are operating all the time all over the world, and unfortunately, they are running more sophisticated services and operations all of the time. However, if you try to keep ahead of them and what they are up to, then you should never find yourself on the back foot. Looking at an AI development service could be beneficial to both your business and your customers. If you can create and produce software that for example works on facial recognition, then you might find customer retention just that little bit easier. Giving your customers the best and most up-to-date technology can help you stand out from the crowd and can help you establish a strong foothold in your market.
Within Healthcare
When visiting a hospital or even having a checkup, do you know that AI is potentially pioneering the treatments and procedures you have? As AI can mimic behaviors and functions, it is already involved in treating patients, and in performing complex surgeries. In addition to the physical use of AI software and programs, it can also be used on another level, and this level is to compile and present medical facts, data, and research in a concise and easy-to-understand manner.
In Manufacturing Processes
Manufacturing is an ever-changing and ever still competitive industry, and one way that manufacturers are looking to gain that competitive edge is to incorporate AI into their processes and operations. Whether software is used to enhance, speed up or streamline manufacturing processes, or it is used to physically create and produce products, the effects can be seen and felt from near and far. From a reduction in the number of jobs created within the manufacturing industry to job cuts, manufacturing is changing and embracing everything that AI has to offer. When manufacturers and producers integrate AI into their daily business operations, they can increase bottom-line figures in the most cost-efficient and timely manner possible.
For Customer Service
Customers want the best, and they deserve the best, and when it comes to customer service AI is leading the way. Whether in the form of talking to customers via a telephone or the internet, or serving customers in various customer-facing roles. AI can work efficiently within customer service as it can read human emotions by reacting or displaying emotion.
Whether it is number crunching or aiding customers, AI is firmly integrated and is here to stay. For example, with Spell Model, workflows, frameworks, infrastructure, and datastores are all simply integrated. In the future, it can continue to push forwards and be integrated into even more face-to-face customer service roles, which could be potentially detrimental for the jobs market and job security.
The Future of Jobs
The jobs market and industry as a whole are changing, evolving, and introducing new practices. To stay up to date with AI facts relating to jobs, it is important to monitor the market whenever you get a chance. Seeing first-hand the impact AI will have on businesses and jobs alike means that there are exciting times that lie ahead. There is no doubt that workers and employees will have to upskill to stay relevant and salable in the job market.
AI is most definitely here to stay. While other fads and trends have come and gone, AI has held its place and over time has strengthened its place and foothold within the market. Introducing AI into your business or plans when you get the correct experts on board. Having a professional team behind you, guiding you, and steering you through changing water is positive and is something that you should be looking at if you have not done so already. As AI is versatile in regards to what it can do and in what sector, you must enhance your knowledge and awareness about what benefits it can bring you.
How AI Development is Taking the World by Storm: Facts and Hacks was last modified: January 20th, 2022 by Charlene Brown
Mobdro not working is the shocking tech news roaming on the internet. A disappointing fact for Mobdro users. Streaming apps might stop working due to technical hitches, restart issues or complete shutdown from authorities. It’s a common scenario for thousands of streaming apps on the internet where the piracy war never ends.
However, some apps manage to come back in the same version or different, and others don’t make it. For Mobdro APK fans, fate will decide whether it will revive again. The tech world has various Mobdro alternatives, which will provide the same best quality as Mobdro APK and keep you entertained.
Custom mobile development is a crucial aspect of enhancing the user experience when it comes to software app development like Mobdro APK on Firestick and Android devices. While Mobdro offers a wealth of streaming content, tailoring the app to your needs can take your entertainment experience to the next level. Custom mobile development allows you to optimize the app’s performance, user interface, and overall functionality to suit your preferences better.
Whether you’re looking to add new features, improve the app’s compatibility with your device, or create a unique personalized experience, custom mobile development is the key to unlocking the full potential of Mobdro on your Firestick or Android device. For custom mobile development, you can refer to the ecdevstudio.com software provider. In this blog post, we’ll explore the benefits of customizing Mobdro by installing custom APKs and provide step-by-step guidance on how to do it effectively.
What is Mobdro?
Mobdro is the top best, high quality and popular free live TV streaming app. The app offers a variety of live channels keeping users glued to their screens. Mobdro contains online contents such as:
Sports
Live TV shows
News
Documentaries
Music
Movies
The app is compatible with most streaming devices such as Firestick, PC, Android and IOS devices. The Mobdro app is constantly updated and provide current online content for free. Mobdro users can stream content from UK, US, Canada, Germany, Italy, France and more at no cost.
Mobdro is an Android application which works well on Firestick device and Android gadgets. This doesn’t limit the IOS users, as one can maneuver through third-party apps. Firestick is a streaming device with different pre-installed channels such as Netflix, Hulu, Hot Star and more. Apps like Mobdro are commonly side-loaded by people who are seeking solutions for streaming content that is available free on the internet.
Is Mobdro Legal and Safe to Use?
Apps like Mobdro are legal to own and install. Be sure you get the App from the official Mobdro website to ensure that it is free from hacks and viruses. The Mobdro app may give you the ability to view copyright content. You are personally responsible to ensure that you have the rights in your own city, state and country to view the content that you download. In the US, you are generally allowed this right if you have purchased the content and you are viewing it for your personal use (not to publish or share with anyone else). Apps like Mobdro would not exist if there was not a need for the capabilities that the App provides.
Mobdro App VPN and ISP Guide
Free streaming is quite limited if the user takes no caution. It invites legal trouble, especially when copyright policies are tampered with. ISP, government and third-party authorities keep monitoring any online activity taking place. They have the power to enact hefty fines, shutdown or provide warning to users meddling with piracy policy or copyrighted content.
VPN software provides a shield preventing the ISP and government from accessing your internet activities. You can hide identity, location and IP address using a good VPN. There are free and premium VPN services to invest in and avoid legal problems.
Installing Mobdro app on Firestick and Android devices.
Mobdro installation is simple for Android devices compared to IOS gadgets. It requires three steps procedure as follows:
1. Enable unknown sources
Open your Firestick device and, using the remote, scroll to the settings section and click “MY Fire TV.”
Proceed to the “developer tab” click “apps from unknown sources.”
The Firestick device will request you to confirm the action.
Press the “turn on” button to continue.
2. Next, download the Mobdro app.
Download the Mobdro app on the Firestick or Android device. First, get a downloader app from your web browser or app store.
Now install the downloader app and launch it on your device.
Using the Firestick remote, go to the downloader app and click the home button.
Key in the Mobdro URL, download the app and click the install button.
Next select done, ensure to delete the file though you can launch Mobdro app.
Go to the downloader file and click Mobdro app >select menu tab> click delete.
This helps create space on the streaming device.
The process is complete, and you can enjoy the streaming services on the Mobdro app.
To ensure safety while streaming from any app, invest in good VPN services. Browse ad-free with a VPS server. This hides your data from hackers, ISP and the government, giving unlimited streaming fun.
How to Install Mobdro APK on Firestick and Android Devices was last modified: November 15th, 2024 by Emmy David
Whether you are a fan of videos or if your work depends on it. Having a video editing application whose interface is simple and intuitive makes everything easier.
Videos have been replacing photographs and keep booming at a rapid pace, it is an excellent way to share ideas, projects, memories. So far most video editing programs are very complex and difficult to run, and especially it takes a long time to learn how to use them. Instead with AceMovi, the task becomes simple and fun to carry forward.
What is TunesKit AceMovi?
TunesKit AceMovi Video Editor is a software with which you can easily create high quality videos on Mac and Windows giving you all the freedom you need to unleash your imagination and creativity. It is an easy to use video editing software for YouTubers.
This all-in-one video editor will allow you to add dubbing audio to a video file, add text, images and more to improve the quality of your video. With the help of this robust tool, storytelling will be easy.
Here are some of the features:
All-in-one tool to improve your videos.
Tons of music, sound effects, texts, transitions and filters.
The interface is easy to use.
You can copy videos with this tool by following a few simple steps.
TunesKit AceMovi Video Editor offers rich basic and advanced editing features to help users make amazing videos. Creators can easily perform some basic edits, such as cutting, cropping, trimming, splitting, adjusting clip speed, or applying some cool effects like filters, transitions, animations, behaviors, split screen, picture in picture, background music, titles and more.
In addition, it also offers a lot of free multimedia resources or templates for users. You can easily use them by simply dragging and dropping in the timeline. In addition, TunesKit AceMovi allows users to choose any output format, device or social platform when they finish editing. You can customize the output parameters accordingly, including quality, resolution, codec, bit rate, sample rate, etc.
How to Edit Videos with AceMovi?
Step 1: Download AceMovi from the official website and install it. Start TunesKit AceMovi Video Editor and start recording your video.
Step 2: Add the media from the timeline and drag some effects by dragging and dropping them to edit.
Step 3: Preview and export to your computer once you are finished.
Discover the incredible resources of the built-in media library
TunesKit AceMovi Video Editor has a massive file library for any project, including videos, images, music tracks and templates, etc. You can choose any asset to create fascinating videos. Currently, it already has thousands of assets and will continue to grow.
Unleash your imagination with keyframing
With this latest introduced feature—keyframing, you’ll have the maximum flexibility to control over your video. By adding keyframes to your video at different time points, you can do animations such as rotate, change scale and position. You can also change the opacity using keyframing to switch the background and mood of your video. To inspire more of your creative mind, you can add an unlimited amount of keyframes to a video clip.
Export and share your video to any platform
After everything is well-adapted, you can now save your video on the local computer or share your story online like YouTube, Vimeo, Facebook, etc. It supports various video formats and popular devices including MP4, M4V, MOV, MKV, MPG, 3GP, 3GP-2, OGV, iPhone, iPad, Apple TV, Galaxy series, Huawei, Xbox, PSP, LG TV, etc.
Conclusion
TunesKit AceMovi is a powerful video editing software that can quickly create and enhance any stylish video like social media clips, product training videos and more with a lot of video effects, filters, patterns, etc. It also provides more advanced features such as keyframing and animations. Even if you’re a beginner, you can easily learn how to edit your video in TunesKit AceMovi without going through a long learning curve.
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System Support: Mac and Windows
Format support: MP4, M4V, MOV, MKV, MPG, 3GP, 3GP-2, OGV, iPhone, iPad, Apple TV, Galaxy series, Huawei, Xbox, PSP, LG TV, etc.
Basic Operations: Basic editing functions such as trimming, splitting, rotating, adjusting speed, etc. Record your screen, import your media, drop text, music, transitions, and other effects.
Recording and Advanced Operations: Record video calls, PPT, software, websites, etc. on your computer. Advanced effects to create eye-catching videos like filters, animations, transitions, behaviors, text and audio.
File library: Built-in file library for each project, including videos, images, music tracks, templates, etc.
Real-time preview: Simply preview the video in real time while editing it.
Quick social sharing: Export and share your video on your local computer or online like YouTube, Vimeo, Facebook, etc.
Custom resolutions: Save the screen with custom resolutions.
Easy to learn: Professional editing skills are not required.
TunesKit AceMovi – An Easy Video Editor to Unleash Your Imagination was last modified: November 19th, 2021 by Gustavo
In the early stages of their inception, mobile phones were seen as expensive devices reserved for business executives. To have one, you need to be a company hotshot to have a ‘work phone’ issued to you. It means your inputs are needed anywhere and anytime.
These days, however, mobile devices have become extremely important to everyone, whether part of the workforce or not. With a few clicks of a button, one can get the information they need, communicate with the rest of the world, and purchase several items.
There are over four billion mobile phone users in the world today, with some owning other portable devices, such as tablets and netbooks. It is no longer surprising why business organizations rely on mobile technology for several business processes. This has changed the way enterprises approach mobile phone use in workplace settings.
14 Ways to Optimize the Power Of Mobile Devices for Your Business
An affordably priced Android phone can do more than just send short messages or calls. With so many applications and software made for mobile use, there’s no shortage of things that you can do outside of your office desk. For this reason, a mobile device has become a viable workspaces extension, allowing employees and businesses to do the following activities that promote growth and productivity:
1. Launch an Online Store
Thanks to mobile technology and cloud-based applications, a business idea can easily become a reality with the use of a mobile phone. Drop shipping, for instance, can become an additional income source for entrepreneurs who want to start a retail business but cannot afford to spend for a stock inventory and a physical store.
Because there are so many things that businesses can do online—from launching an e-commerce store, to contacting suppliers and shippers, as well as accepting payments—there’s no need to have physical stocks and store, or purchase costly machines.
Business analytics and investment database CB Insights discovered that as of 2011, it only took startups to spend GBP£3,200 (USD$4,500) to open a small business. This is only about 1% of the amount needed to launch an enterprise 11 years earlier, which was pegged at GBP£3.3 million (USD$4.6 million).
Industry estimates further reveal that technology has drastically reduced the time it takes for businesses to go international. From more than three years up until 2008, the figure almost halved to only 22 months for ventures established in 2009 and later.
2. Use Mobile Devices to Facilitate Flawless Communication and Collaboration
There’s no shortage of useful mobile phone apps that you can use to reach out to your staff, whether in times of emergency, regular and scheduled meetings, or if some of your employees are on the field.
Using mobile devices with a teleconferencing-enabled application, your team can stay in touch to discuss important updates, emergencies, urgent issues, and how to move past these problems (or successes). When it comes to regular meetings, perhaps, the only valid reason for absence is a non-existent Internet connection.
Not all your staff may be in a good location to receive broadband from their provider. A signal booster may be needed to improve your mobile signal.
Timely communication isn’t the only added-value for these apps. Some types of business software allow the management to track a team member’s productivity and work progress, ensuring that the program goes as planned. If facing snags, a member can flag the issue(s) to the supervisor, who’s expected to provide useful insights or address the issue moving forward.
3. Improve Sales and Marketing Strategies
With various integrated platforms that work across all mobile devices, it is now easier to improve marketing and sales strategies both online and offline.
Promote Search Rankings
Whether a newly-established business or an enterprise that wants to build a stronger brand, every business should tap the power of search engines to increase brand awareness and strengthen its reputation.
Industry estimates suggest that more than 80% of the buyers turn to search engines to ask about a specific pain point and look for products that could address their issues. Simply put, the majority of the purchasing process starts with an online search—which, most often, is done via the use of mobile devices. Hence, in order to increase your brand’s online visibility, make sure your mobile site loads quickly and that you employ search engine optimization (SEO) techniques to attract web traffic and increase sales.
Online Marketing
E-commerce and social media platforms all come in mobile-friendly versions. Thus, wherever you may be, you can check your website for performance and assess what makes other websites tick.
Study your competitors’ methods and compare them with your own to see whether your campaign is on the right track or if you need to tweak some methods. Study whether you need to employ paid online advertising, such as pay-per-click (PPC). Assess whether your site is user-friendly by using your own mobile device to navigate through it.
Cold Calling Isn’t Dead
If you’ve been a victim of unwanted calls, you know how irritating they can be. With apps such as Drop Cowboy, however, you won’t have to wait for your potential clients to pick up the phone before being able to reach out to them. All you have to do is to record a voicemail message or SMS marketing messages and send them to your client list for a streamlined service.
Reach Out To Your Market And Partners Better
Save on printing costs and the environment by reducing hard copies of your brochures, flyers, and product catalogs. When a customer has specific questions about your services and rates, you can reply through a chatbot or send an image of your sales and product information materials via email.
Mobile employees and remote workers who need to get in touch with clients, the different office units, suppliers, and other partners should go and have an app like Progressive Dialer installed on a mobile device. This app is compatible with all mobile devices and, thus, can be used while on the go.
Using Your Tablet for Client Presentations
Time is money when it comes to business. This means you need to seize every opportunity to drive sales. For instance, if you need to conduct an impromptu sales presentation, you can just plug in your tablet to a power supply and show them to your clients as you discuss the benefits of your products and services. A bigger audience may require you to link your tablet to the projector.
4. Enhance Customer Service
Customer service is an important business component. While attracting new customers is essential to increase sales, so is retaining current ones. Client acquisition costs five times more than customer retention. Additionally, hiking the latter by 5% also increases business profits by as much as 95%, per research done by global management consulting firm Bain & Company.
Either way, customer service should be a priority for all types of business, and your mobile devices can help you achieve this goal through the following practices:
Streamlining Repair Processes
Mobile phone cameras can be used to take photos of problematic issues and cut through all the bureaucracy involved in repairing specific home appliances and fixtures. Service contractors only need to snap a photo of the spare parts in need of replacement. This photo can then be sent to the team in charge of inventory or purchasing to either find out if it is available in the office or needs to be bought locally. This means the problem will be addressed as soon as possible, leading to happy customers.
When selling products, a high-resolution camera phone can take nice photos of the items. This helps attract more potential buyers.
Tracking Packages
Courier companies offer tracking services on their website. All you have to do is prepare the package number or code and input it when you’re asked to.
This comes in handy when your customer asks for assistance in finding out the package’s expected delivery date. Because you can do this with your mobile device, you don’t need to keep the customer waiting before providing a shipping update.
Using QR Codes To Provide Product Information
As part of the barcode family, a QR code is a machine-readable label that contains useful information about a specific product. Apart from a QR scanner, mobile devices can be used to get the information you or your customers need, or to generate a dynamic QR code.
Businesses can also use QR codes to print marketing documents and other informative materials or redirect your audience to your website.
5. Access Business Documents Anytime, Anywhere
These days, document management apps can be downloaded on mobile devices with ease. Once you have any of these apps, you’ll have access to business documents wherever you may be.
Apart from viewing files, some apps have additional features, such as search, edit, print, share, and send functionalities. In some cases, you can even use your mobile device to directly print the document. Still, others have embedded data protection features. This feature allows your mobile employees and in-office staff to share and collaborate to make necessary amendments to documents, such as proposals, quotations, and contracts, as soon as possible. Your staff can also access the inventory files to check whether stocks are available before asking a colleague to file a purchase request.
With this feature available on all mobile devices, some documents no longer need to be printed, signed, and sent back, causing unnecessary delays in business processes.
6. Make Remote Work Easier
The new normal has required businesses to make remote work arrangements more prevalent. However, this shift to a virtual office is nothing new. In fact, this non-traditional work situation has been around for several years. Prior to the pandemic, offsite workplaces were thought to have increased by as much as 91% over the last decade, according to a survey by Global Workplace Analytics and FlexJobs.
A remote workforce brings a host of benefits for a business. Rental costs, electricity bills, among other business expenses, are expected to drop while increasing overall business productivity.
For seamless virtual operations, mobile devices and a strong Internet connection are must-haves, so are work-related apps, such as a few that were mentioned earlier: document management, time-keeping, and project management.
7. Provide Work Flexibility To Employees
Employees these days prefer the flexibility of working from home or working anytime and anywhere. Various researches show that there are various contributors to employee satisfaction. Opportunities for career growth and promotion, job security, adequate pay, and close relations with colleagues and bosses, as well as work flexibility, are elements often mentioned.
If you’re a business looking to retain your top talents, consider providing the benefits earlier mentioned. Work-life balance has become more essential these days as workplace stress levels among employees reached 83% in 2019.
8. Access Data and Business Analytics
Business analytics software can be installed on your phone to check the overall health of your enterprise. Business analytics can either be descriptive, diagnostic, predictive, or prescriptive in nature.
Depending on the features of the app you downloaded or subscribed to, as a business executive, you’d be able to see which department is the most and least productive and which business units can be streamlined.
In addition, businesses can have an overall view of mobile device use among their employees to determine if the current mobile software or apps are adequate or need to be replaced with a better mobile app. Auditing mobile device and platform use can also help enterprises determine potential security threats and opportunities for cost-saving practices.
How About Mobile Data Security?
Cyber hacking is a prevalent issue globally, and there’s not a day that passes by without at least a few thousand attempts happening. In fact, Web Arx Security has revealed that at least 300,000 websites are hacked daily.
Big companies have often been targeted as they can spend thousands, if not millions of dollars, in costly settlements. For instance, a ride-sharing mobile app fell victim to a data breach in 2016, forcing the company to spend USD$148 million in investigation and settlements.
For these reasons and more, business data protection and security should equally be given priority as soon as the use of mobile devices for work is allowed.
The following measures should strictly be implemented to protect and secure business information on your mobile device:
Using a virtual private network (VPN)
Avoiding public Wi-Fi use
Mobile app or software updates
Two or multi-factor authorization for each device
Use of strong passwords
Device encryption
Antivirus application
Businesses should also have a well-thought-out file access system for an added layer of security.
Closing Thoughts
Mobile devices have become essential business tools, especially with the evolving and more flexible work arrangements. Businesses and individual employees should all be aware of how to optimize mobile device functionalities to keep them going, as well as drive sales and promote business growth, all while keeping data safe and reducing costs.
How To Turn Mobile Devices Into A Business Asset was last modified: July 17th, 2024 by Nora Sbalckiero
Digital transformation is critical to any business, as it helps them remain competitive in the marketplace and keep up with growing customer demand. Digital transformation allows small businesses to apply the right technology within a limited budget, resulting in a better customer experience and a more efficient enterprise.
If you don’t know how to simplify the digital transformation process for your business, having this article on hand as a guide will help you figure it out.
Digital Transformation: What Does it Mean?
The events of 2020-2021 have clearly revealed how important digital transformation is to business success in our rapidly changing society. The outbreak of the pandemic made it clear what features businesses should have to stay on their feet. According to Johnson & Johnson CIO Jim Swanson, “Digital is a loaded word that means many things to many people”. That’s why it’s hard to define digital transformation in today’s world. And yet digital transformation can be described as the integration of digital technologies that can cause changes in the customers’ mindset and provide them with more value.
As consumer expectations increased, the market competition increased as well. For small businesses, staying competitive means embracing digital transformation. Deloitte’s study states that 45% of companies reported a positive impact of digital transformation on business, and they also reported higher net revenue growth. As you can see, financial performance depends on the level of digital transformation tools used by SMBs in their operations. Hence, to thrive in a rapidly changing environment, SMBs should apply digital tools and concepts.
Why Digital Transformation Matters for SMBs in the Post-Covid-19 Times
One of the reasons why SMBs need to go digital is that they need to survive. Today, because of the Covid-19 outbreak, a lot of small businesses are experiencing supply chain disruptions that lead to unforeseen outcomes.
PwC states that 52% of companies plan to cut investments because of COVID-19, while only 9% of companies will make such cuts in the area of digital transformation. That’s why SMBs need to adapt to the ever-changing environment and incorporate the concepts of digital transformation across their businesses. Improving the customer experience is one of the main reasons to digitize your business. The pandemic contributed to the shift in consumer behavior towards online consumption. Under the pandemic, adopting evolving technologies can positively influence customer interactions and help keep SMBs productive.
Digital Transformation in Action: 5 Key Steps to Make it Simple
Develop a money-saving strategy when going digital
When switching to digital technologies, it is important to simplify the process and make it cheaper and easier. As SMBs cannot invest in digital transformation the way large companies do, a simple analytics tool can help integrate existing technology and therefore save money.
Also, customer relationship management (CRM) is one of the stages of digital transformation resulting in a high-performance business. With CRM, small businesses have a better chance to grow their forces. CRM providers usually offer cloud-based solutions for SMBs, resulting in affordable prices.
Identify weaknesses in your business and areas needed to be digitized
To go digital, SMBs must first identify business weaknesses. Identifying the areas that need to be digitized will help facilitate seamless collaboration between different business units. Each internal business unit is a small machine that has potential for improvement, while knowing the areas that need improvement will make your digitization more precise.
As a result, the system will bring all vital business programs into a single engine, allowing small businesses to get one step closer to delivering more value to their customers. Minimizing errors, automation and gradual digitalization will improve company efficiency and be the key to a successful transformation.
Allocate roles and responsibilities among employees
Many employees are not ready to accept the changes related to the digital future of business and oppose the idea of digital transformation. For this reason, the leader of a small or mid-sized business must deal with employees’ fears and doubts. But it’s often the case that business leaders lack the energy to talk to their employees, drive change, and inspire people to innovate. In this case, they can hire a third-party digital transformation specialist or assign digital transformation responsibilities to existing employees.
And while large enterprises can go this way and find consulting firms to manage digital transformation, small businesses don’t have the budget for such innovation. Instead, they can use simple analytics solutions that allow them to make the transition to digital transformation incrementally.
Empower employees with data and advanced technology
Focusing on cutting-edge technology and tools is one of the most important challenges facing SMB executives:
Providing your employees with accurate information and data can help grow your business;
Careful research and proper processing of information can positively impact your interactions with customers, employees and partners because it can lead to the satisfaction of all stakeholders;
Accurate data combined with advanced technology can help create in-demand products.
At the same time, data is becoming increasingly complex, making it difficult for small businesses to use it effectively. Simple digital tools are the way to go. They can help you gather useful analytics that you can share with your stakeholders, making decision-making easier. Meanwhile, investing in machine learning and artificial intelligence technologies will allow you to leverage a wide range of data in the future, helping to increase the digitalization of your business.
Cooperate with tech partner to be one step ahead of competitors
Small businesses often lack the budget to hire a large digital transformation team. That’s why outsourcing some technical tasks will be an effective option. Executives should look for qualified consultants who have experience with SMB digitalization, as small businesses have their specific challenges and issues that need to be addressed on a case-by-case basis. Highly specialized experts can help identify areas that will show the best return on investment (ROI), they will present technologies that are right for your business and show how effective they can be for you. In addition, digital consultants can help employees by training them to use innovative technology solutions to digitize your business.
Final Thoughts
Today, in a pandemic environment, many world-class consultants recommend digital transformation as the most important step for every business to stay afloat and succeed in the future. In addition, advanced analytics and simple IT solutions can fit into every small business’ budget. Outsourcing some IT tasks will also help the digital transformation of your business be effective and profitable.
All of this, along with simplifying the digitization process for SMBs, will provide ample opportunity to meet new goals and overcome technological challenges.
Alexey Kutsenko is the Head of Digital Marketing of DDI Development company. He is experienced in the development of the marketing strategy for companies in different industries. He knows how to do the right marketing and watches all current marketing and industry trends.
Simplifying Digital Transformation at your Small Business was last modified: March 10th, 2022 by Alexey Kutsenko
Outlook and Thunderbird are popular email clients used by individuals, professionals, and businesses for email communication.Thunderbird is an open-source email client that stores the mailbox data in MBOX files at a default location. In comparison, Outlook uses the OST and PST file formats to store the mailbox items.
Organizations utilizing Azure migration services can complement their email migration processes by streamlining data storage, ensuring secure transfers, and enhancing accessibility for cloud-based email platforms like Outlook.
On the other hand, there are a few manual ways to migrate emails from Thunderbird to Outlook. However, they aren’t recommended when you need to migrate the entire mailbox from Thunderbird to Outlook due to their limitations.
Methods to Migrate Emails from Thunderbird to Outlook
We’ve discussed belowthe top three methods to migrate emails from Thunderbird to Outlook.
1. Use MBOX to PST Converter Software
An MBOX to PST converter software, such as Stellar Converter for MBOX, is the most reliable way to migrate emails from Thunderbird to Outlook with 100% consistency and without any risk of data loss.
It not only helps you migrate emails from Thunderbird to Outlook but also other bulk mail items, such as contacts, attachments, calendar, journals, notes, contacts, etc.
The steps are as follows:
• Download and install Stellar Converter for MBOX on your system where Thunderbird is installed. You may also install the software on ‘other’ system, but you will need to transfer the MBOX files from the default location to the system.
• After installation, launch the software and select Thunderbird from the options.
• Click on ‘Select Identity’ to choose the folder containing Thunderbird MBOX files. The default path is C:/Users/YourProfileName/%AppData%\Thunderbird\
Or you can select individual MBOX files using the ‘Select File’ button.
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• After selecting the MBOX file or Identity folder, click ‘Convert.’
• After scan and conversion, the software displays a three-pane preview window. You can click on any email to see its preview and verify it before migrating it to Outlook. This also helps you filter out emails that aren’t required.
• Select the required emails you want to migrate from Thunderbird to Outlook and click the ‘Save Converted File’ button under the ‘Home’ menu.
• From the Save As options, choose New PST and click ‘Next.’
• Click ‘Browse’ to select a location where you want to save the converted Thunderbird MBOX emails in PST format and then click ‘Save.’
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The software will save the Thunderbird emails in PST format. Now you can import the PST fileinto your Outlook profile via Outlook Import/Export Wizardin Windows or Mac and complete the email migration from Thunderbird to Outlook.
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2. Drag and Drop Emails from Thunderbird to Outlook
Although this is one of the easiest methods to migrate emails from Thunderbird to Outlook, it requires more time and is only recommended when you need to transfer a few emails. The steps are as follows:
1.Open Thunderbird and create a ‘New Folder’ on the Desktop or any other location.
2.Select the emails you want to migrate from Thunderbird to MS Outlook. Use the Shift or CTRL key to select multiple emails at a time.
3.Then drag and drop the emails to the ‘New Folder.’
4.This saves the emails in EML format, which you can open in Outlook or drag and drop them to Outlook email folder.
Limitations:
•The migrated emails open in a new window in Outlook when you double-click.
•If you try to transfer multiple emails at once with this drag and drop method, it can cause Outlook to crash, leading to Outlook data file corruption.
•You need to manually create new folders in the Outlook profile to ensure folder hierarchy.
•Emails or attachments transferred or migrated may fail to open.
•Requires significant efforts and time when you need to transfer hundreds or thousands of emails from Thunderbird to Outlook.
3. Migrate Thunderbird Emails to Outlook via Gmail (IMAP) Account
This method is recommended when you need to migrate multiple emails from Thunderbird to MS Outlook. However, you need to enable the IMAP settings in your Gmail account. The steps are as follows:
• Add a new Gmail account in Thunderbird and add the same Gmail account in MS Outlook.
• In Thunderbird, select the emails or email folders you want to migrate to Outlook and then drop them to the Gmail Inbox folder or create a new one and then drop the emails.
• Copy all the emails you want to migrate to Outlook using the above step and then wait for Gmail to sync the emails. This can take a while, based on your internet speed.
• Now on your Outlook, refresh the Outlook window. You will see the Gmail folder containing the Thunderbird emails.
• You can now drag and drop those emails or the complete email folder from Gmail to your Outlook profile.
This will migrate emails from Thunderbird profile to Outlook profile.
Limitations:
•Not all attachments are migrated as Gmail limits attachments.
•It is time-consuming as the emails synchronize from Thunderbird to the Gmail server and then again to your Outlook profile.
•Migrated emails may not open and you may not find all emails.
•Folder hierarchy is lost.
•Gmail offers limited storage and, thus, not suitable when your mailbox is large.
To Wrap Up
Although manual methods can help you migrate emails from Thunderbird to Outlook, you should use them only when migrating a few emails. However, you can overcome the limitations of manual methods byusingStellar Converter for MBOX software.It keeps the original folder hierarchy and tree structure intact and helps migrate unlimitedThunderbird emails to Outlook, along with all attachments, with complete precision. So, if you are looking to migrate emails from Thunderbird to Outlook, use MBOX to PST converter toolas explained in the first method. The software’sTechnician versionalso allows you to directly migrate emails from Thunderbird to Office 365 (Outlook 365).
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Top 3 Methods to Migrate Emails from Thunderbird to Outlook was last modified: January 15th, 2025 by Kelly Singh
OST is an Outlook data file created by Outlook when you set up or configure Exchange server account and enable the Offline mode (Cached Exchange Mode). The OST file stores mailbox items, such as emails, contacts, attachments, notes, journals, etc. It allows user to access their Outlook emails and do certain changes, even when the system is offline.
The changes are later synchronized with the mailbox on the server as soon as the system connects to the internet. This provides a seamless and lag-free user experience. Also, the OST file is encrypted with MAPIEntry GUID key and hence, requires authorization from the MAPI profile to access the emails and other data.
Thus, an OST file and its content cannot be opened, accessed, or imported into any other Outlook profile. Furthermore, if your MAPI profile is deleted or disabled from the Exchange server, you cannot access your emails stored in the OST file as authorization fails. Such OST files are referred to as orphaned OSTs.
Other issues, such as synchronization failure or errors caused by Exchange database dismount or server failure, could lead to a permanently inaccessible OST file as Outlook fails to reconnect to the Exchange server.
In such cases, a third-party OST to PST converter software, such as Stellar Converter for OST, comes in handy. The software converts encrypted, inaccessible, and orphaned OST files of any size to PST with 100% integrity and precision.
It can also export the mailbox items, such as emails, attachments, contacts, notes, tasks, journals, etc., from an OST file directly to a live Exchange Server mailbox or Office 365. So let us have a quick look at the software, its features, and how you can use it to recover your emails from OST files.
Stellar Converter for OST- An Overview
Stellar Converter for OST is a powerful OST to PST converter software to convert, backup, and migrate mailbox items from large, inaccessible, encrypted, or orphaned Outlook OST files to another Outlook profile on Windows or Mac.
The software extracts and converts all mailbox items, such as emails, attachments, contacts, messages, journals, notes, etc., from OST file to Outlook importable PST format. The folder hierarchy and structure remain intact after conversion. It also recovers lost or accidentally deleted emails from the OST file during conversion.
In addition to PST, you can also convert and export the mail items from OST files to EML, MSG, PDF, RTF, and HTML formats. It supports MS Outlook 2019, 2016, 2013, 2010, 2007, and Office 365. It can convert OST files created by any Outlook version.
The software is available in two editions:
1.Stellar Converter for OST – Corporate Edition
The Corporate version allows you to convert and save or export up to 5 mailboxes to PST. It previews unlimited mailbox items and provides other saving options, such as PST, MSG, EML, RTF, HTML, and PDF.
2.Stellar Converter for OST – Technician Edition
In addition to all the features available in the Corporate edition, the Technician edition offers some advanced OST conversion options, such as:
•Batch conversion to convert multiple OST files to corresponding PSTs simultaneously
•Compacts and splits large PSTs based on date, size, or email address to safeguard resultant PST from corruption caused by oversize
•Exports OST directly to Office 365 and live Exchange
•Exports OST mailbox data to an existing Outlook profile
•Exports all contacts in CSV file format
Both editions are available as Demo versions that you can download to evaluate the software performance. The demo version allows you to scan and preview OST mailbox items for free. You can also convert and export up to 20 items per folder to PST format. To save all OST mailbox items, you must activate the software using a valid activation key.
How to Use Stellar Converter for OST?
Stellar Converter for OST is an easy-to-use software with intuitive GUI. Any user can convert the OST to PST file format in a few clicks. However, it does require MS Outlook installed on the system that meets the following minimum system requirements:
•Processor: Intel-compatible x86 or x64 Processor
•Operating System: Windows 10, 8.1, 8, or 7 OS
•Memory: 4 GB RAM (8 GB Recommended)
•Storage: 250 MB storage space on HDD or SSD
The steps to convert OST by using the software are as follows:
1.Install and launch Stellar Converter for OST and click ‘Browse’ to choose the OST file. You may also use the ‘Find’ button to locate the OST file if the location is unknown.
2.Click ‘Convert’ to start the scan and extract the mail items from the OST file.
3.The software displays an enhanced preview in a three-pane window, including deleted mail items in ‘Red.’
4.Select the mail items and email folders from the left pane you want to convert and then click on ‘Save Converted File.’
5.From the ‘Save as’ dialog box, choose the desired format, such as PST. Then click ‘Browse’ and select a save location.
In Technician Edition, you have more saving options, such as MBOX, DBX, Export to Live Exchange Server, Office 365, or existing Outlook profiles. Further, you can choose to save PST normally or compact or split/filter and save the PST file.
6.Click ‘OK’ to save the OST mailbox items to PST. Similarly, you can choose MSG, EML, RTF, HTML, PDF, DBX, or MBOX format and select a destination to save individual or multiple emails.
To export OST to Office 365 or live Exchange, you need to enter the user credentials, such as user ID and password.
To save OST mail items to an existing profile, select ‘Export to Existing Outlook Profile’ and choose an existing profile from the option.
Verdict
Compared to various OST to PST converter software available in the market, Stellar Converter for OST stands out due to its intuitive user interface, ease-of-use, and performance.
To learn more about the performance of Stellar Converter for OST, check out this OST benchmark study report. The study was done in collaboration with Lisa Hendrickson – a solutions consultant and industry expert for Microsoft Outlook, Office 365, and Exchange.
It provides a more insightful view of various OST to PST converter software performance on parameters, such as speed, consistency, precision, and completeness.
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Step by Step Guide to use Stellar Converter for OST was last modified: June 9th, 2021 by Kelly Singh
