The cost of digital signs is lower than it has ever been before, and a lot of the Smartphone’s technology and big-screen TV technology has been utilized to create some really impressive systems. We are living in an age where digital signage software is super easy to install and use, and where you have a choice of local/online operation, not to mention a wide variety of operating systems to choose from.
There has never been a better time to dip your toe into the world of digital signage. But, the more specific question is, what benefits do digital signs offer your business.
Communicate With Your Entire Staff
If you have been in business long enough, you know that even if you get your staff to sign off on the emails you send them, they are still need reading them. If you have newsletters, and even if you have staff read them out, then people are not paying attention to them.
When you post information on digital signs, especially in communal areas like the canteen, then people look at them. They read them, especially if you are made easy to read. They watch the videos you make, they read the announcements you make, and your messages are absorbed.
Maintain Social Distancing
Since the 2020 pandemic, business owners have found plenty of ways to use digital signs to maintain social distancing. From the changing rooms that are no longer administered over by staff members, to signs outside the front doors telling people when they can enter. Even things like stating the contamination rules are good enough to hold off some insurance companies from applying more pressure.
Keep People Informed While They Wait
If your business operates with waiting rooms, then you are missing out if you do not have digital signs. Pop a sign into your waiting room, and you can give them information on your products, you can sell to them, you can tell them how long it is before their appointment, and you can even get them to visit your website/social media or download your app from their phones. You have a captive audience in your waiting room, so make the most of it with a digital sign or two.
The thing is that there are many places where customers, staff members and visitors are trapped by their own presence. Even something as simple as walking down a corridor is a fine place for a quick message (marketing or otherwise) from the company. There are even digital signs in night club toilets where upcoming events are promoted.
Display Your Promotions
This is more commonly seen in retail businesses, but it is spreading out to everything from estate agencies to car mechanics. Having a promotion running on your digital sign is not that different to having posters of your promotions, however, you don’t have to print off your posters and you don’t have to wait weeks between changing your posters. You can run your promotions on your screens and have them flip over to the next promotion ever few minutes if you wish.
Manage Your Staff With Digital Signs
The best examples of this come from call centers. A call center is dotted with digital signs (to replace the LED light signs), and the signs show a range of KPIs that help manage a team’s behavior. For example, if call waiting times are too high, or there are too many people in the queues, then the signs show the staff and they can alter their behavior accordingly. There are also sales call centers where if a certain product is starting to run out, then it is shown on the digital signs (often called the boards), and staff are told which products to start pushing instead.
Benefits of Digital Signage in Your Business was last modified: August 7th, 2022 by Boris Makienko
Cloudpaging is a new technology that allows you to run applications from the cloud. It delivers applications to users faster and with fewer problems. This article will take a deeper dive to see what it is and what the benefits of cloudpaging are.
What Is Cloudpaging?
The purpose of this technology is to enable you to run apps on the cloud. Many companies are conducting cloudpaging and application virtualization as it helps them run any app on the cloud, regardless of its compatibility. It is a great solution for businesses that want to reduce their costs.
Benefits Of Cloudpaging
This process is already helping tons of companies out there in many ways. Taking advantage of it and jumping on a bandwagon can only help you advance your business further. Here are the main benefits of cloudpaging.
Reducing Image Size
One big reason many use cloudpaging is because it enables them to reduce the size of their images. This is especially important for those in the healthcare industry who have to deal with X-Rays and MRIs which can be quite large files. reducing the image size helps to speed up loading times and makes it easier for doctors and nurses to access them when they need to.
For example, you can take a Windows XP image that is resized for a 1024×768 display and use cloudpaging to make it automatically resize for displays that are 1920×1080. This can be a big time-saver, especially when you have users with different types of displays.
Healthy Speed
Thanks to this process, the app will run much faster and smoother, which is always a good thing. No more waiting for an app to load or update! And since cloudpaging doesn’t rely on the local hardware as much, it can also help preserve battery life. So there are two health benefits right there: faster apps and longer battery life. Can’t beat that.
Speed also makes apps more reliable. If it reacts quickly, it feels more responsive and polished, which gives users a better experience overall. And since apps that load quickly are less likely to crash, they’re also more stable.
Cost Reduction
There are a lot of costs already connected to running an app. These are the following:
The cost of the hardware
The cost of the software
The cost of the infrastructure
The cost of support
With cloudpaging, you can reduce all these costs by using a pay-per-use model. You only need to pay for what you use and nothing more. This makes it a very cost-effective solution for running your app. In addition, you don’t need to worry about buying new hardware or upgrading your infrastructure when you want to run a new app. All you need is an internet connection and you’re good to go!
Running The Apps Offline
You don’t even need an internet connection in order to use cloudpaged apps. As long as you have signed in once, the apps will continue to work offline without any issues. This is a great benefit for those who often find themselves in areas with poor or no internet connection. Whether you’re on a plane, in a rural area, or simply trying to conserve data, running your apps offline is not only possible with cloudpaging, but it’s also simple and effective.
For example, let’s say you’re a salesperson who needs to access your CRM software while on the go. With cloudpaging, you can simply sign in to your account, download the app, and use it offline without any problems. And when you’re back in an area with an internet connection, all of your data will automatically sync so that you’re always up-to-date.
Virtualizing Windows Apps
Cloudpaging will help you virtualize your Windows apps and make them available on any device. You can use Cloudpaging to virtualize your apps so they can be used on thin clients, zero clients, desktops, laptops, and even smartphones. With Cloudpaging, you can virtualize your app so it doesn’t need to be installed on each individual device.
Improving User Experience
All the aforementioned benefits culminate when you realize how much it improves the user experience. The fact that you can package an application in such a way that it doesn’t have to be installed, and users don’t even have to be local administrators, is amazing. It’s a game-changer for how enterprises can provide their employees with the applications they need to do their jobs.
For example, let’s say you’re a Graphic Designer who needs Adobe Photoshop CC. With cloudpaging, all you need to do is open up the application and start using it right away.
Cloudpaging is a great leap forward for any business as it can help reduce image sizes making everything run much smoother. The speed of your app will be much faster and you can even run them offline. You can also virtualize all the Windows apps like this making everything easier on you. All these benefits together improve user experience by a lot making the whole thing even better!
Cloudpaging 101 – What Is It and What are Its Benefits? was last modified: August 7th, 2022 by Charlene Brown
It’s not easy handling the workload when it’s rush hour. Some days are simply so busy that you need a miracle to get things done. The aftereffects of working in chaos are felt weeks after, sometimes even months.
Learning how to handle the workload and do your job without worrying that you won’t make it leaves enough room to be happy at work and never miss a deadline. It’s not easy if you’re used to a certain work schedule, but if you change it, everything will improve.
In this article, we’re sharing a few tips on how to do it. We will explain how to keep track of time, never be late for deadlines and meetings, and always have everything under control. Follow up, and learn more.
1. Know Your Capacity and Learn How to Say No
No one can do everything in the company. You have a job and need to stick to your capacity to do it. Many around you will try to give you more than you should be doing, but you need to say no when you see that they are trying to use you because they are not working hard enough.
Instead of accepting just anything from anyone, learn how to say no and stick to what your job really is. If you are paid to write 1000 words per day as a content writer, do exactly that. If you need to handle clients’ graphic design for a project, tell them how much time you need, and stick to the schedule without accepting more work for less compensation.
2.Install a Time-Tracking Software
If you never tracked how much time you spend on various tasks, you’ll be surprised by how much you literally do nothing valuable. You are often scrolling through social media, playing games, talking to colleagues, or working on stuff that is not important at all.
Install a timesheet reporting software and see how much time you spend on tasks that may not be a top priority. Let the software decide what you should do next and how to spend your time.
3. Focus On One Thing at a Time
Focusing on what’s important goes a long way. Multitasking is a skill that many job applicants will put in their CVs, but if you’re a wise manager or CEO, you’ll know that you don’t want an employee who is multitasking.
You want a person fully dedicated to one task at a time. Those who try to multitask will always be late with everything, but focusing on what is most important and delivering tasks one by one will keep everything in order. The bosses and the clients will always be happy with your way of work.
4. Take More Short Breaks and Be Physically Active
To keep your mind active and ready to handle the huge workload you may have, you need to take care of it constantly. Take often short breaks and step away from the keyboard. This way, you’ll make small cycles that will keep your brain relaxed and always focused on what you’re doing.
Have a short walk to the balcony or another office where a colleague has an answer to your questions of some kind. Whatever you do, ensure that you have five minutes off-screen. This will relax your mind and make it ready for another round of action.
5. Work in a Team and Distribute Some of Your Workload
To get everything done, working as a team with your colleagues is best. Set up a meeting and delegate tasks to handle the workload easier. Even if the boss is not there to do it, the employees within the office can talk about the problem and find the best solution.
The best solution is often the simplest. You’ll take what you’re best in, and someone else will do the things you’re not as good at. Even if you’re supposed to handle an entire project, working faster and smarter within the team may help everyone get tasks done.
Conclusion
These five tips explain the benefits of working smart. If you find a way to use these tips, you’ll surely handle the workload much easier. Focus on tasks, use technology, and work as a team. Doing this will guarantee you’ll never miss a deadline.
5 Tips to Better Manage Your Workload was last modified: July 16th, 2024 by Benjamin Morsell
Thanks to modern technology, the recruitment process has never been easier. Businesses don’t need to send out hundreds of letters inviting prospective employees to interviews, nor do they have to vet each person individually by mail or phone. Businesses are able to efficiently background check people and invite them for interviews. Interviews themselves can also be held online, which makes them a lot easier for interviewees and interviewers.
Technology gives companies the opportunity to post more concise and informative job listings. Additionally, with the aid of technology, companies can advertise their job listings to large audiences. More concise and informative job listings significantly improve the candidate experience, which can, in turn, result in happier and more content employees. When you are posting job listings for your company, it is very important to publish accurate information. As well as accurate information, make sure that you include the wage on offer, as well as the benefits of working with your company. A lot of companies fail to do this, which significantly reduces the number of applicants that they get for positions that they are advertising. More concise listings will increase the number of applications that you get.
Online Applications
Job listings aren’t the only things that technology allows companies to publish online. The internet also gives companies the opportunity to have applicants complete online applications, before sending their resumes in. These applications give businesses the ability to filter out applicants that don’t meet the job’s criteria. Companies can put question boxes on the application’s page, and then immediately deny applicants that answer the questions in a way that’s undesirable for that company. Online applications also give applicants an opportunity to talk about themselves, explaining what their strengths are. This makes the lives of hiring managers much easier because they are able to see who’s more qualified for the position that’s listed without checking out resumes first.
Digital Interviews
Interviews don’t need to be held in person anymore. Trying to find the time to interview multiple people in person can be extremely difficult, especially if it is just the first interview. Some jobs have several interview stages. If your company is going to be holding several interviews per applicant, then digital interviews are a great way to filter out underqualified and undesirable applicants, without wasting their time (and yours). Additionally, digital interviews are COVID-safe. The pandemic’s still ongoing despite wide vaccine rollouts, so ensuring COVID safety is strongly recommended by governments from around the world.
Reference Checks
Reference checks are a very important part of the recruitment process. They are conducted so that companies can be sure the people that they are hiring are qualified, experienced, and most importantly of all, of good character. The most common type of reference check performed is a police background check. Before technology, companies had to apply for these in writing (or required individuals to provide their own). Now, it’s possible to perform these checks online. It’s also easier for companies to background check people with the help of social media and Google searches. Background checks have been simplified tremendously by technology.
Efficient Onboarding
When applicants are offered jobs, onboarding is the next step. However, before technology, employees would have to attend their new job’s main office in person and supply HR staff with their passport, bank statements, and proof of address. Onboarding has never been easier, with the help of technology. Now employees can be onboarded via email and with the use of various video messaging platforms, like Zoom and Skype. The ability to onboard online makes it a lot easier for people to get on with their new jobs, without interrupting their schedules, especially if their jobs are remote.
Remote Working
On the subject of remote work, technology has given companies the ability to offer employees the opportunity to work from home. Working from home is an extremely effective way of saving your staff time and money. Commuting to work can be very draining, not to mention extremely expensive. Technology makes working from home possible. You will be able to have an entire workforce working from home, as long as you supply them with phones and laptops. Remote working also ensures that your staff are safe and don’t have to worry about picking up any viruses or illnesses at work when interacting with large groups of people.
Technology has completely transformed the way that companies hire new staff. Not only is recruitment a lot easier now, but it is also a lot more cost-efficient. Job applicants and companies alike have never had it easier, thanks to technology.
How Can Technology Improve the Effectiveness of the Recruitment Process was last modified: October 4th, 2023 by Charlene Brown
Your Construction Insurance may not be giving you the protection you need. If you only have Workers Compensation and General Liability, you could be vulnerable to many risks on your project.
Builder’s Risk insurance is property coverage and is a valuable addition to your insurance portfolio. Let us look at the coverage provided by the various forms of insurance, and how Builder’s Risk will help your business.
3 Types of Construction Insurance
The purpose of insurance is to transfer the risk you face to another party. On a construction project events can occur resulting in costs that you cannot afford to pay out of your own pocket. These events do not happen on every project, but when they do having insurance to pay the costs makes an enormous difference to your business.
The three main forms of Construction Insurance are the following:
General Liability:
This insurance is very important, and it is also mandatory. If in the course of your business you damage another person’s property or you cause bodily harm to someone, they can sue you for negligence. General Liability covers this, and will also pay for your defense. The standard policy covers up to $1 000 000 per incident and a total of $2 000 000 for the whole life of the policy.
Workers Compensation
If you have employees, by law you need to have this insurance. It covers medical costs as well as loss of income in the event of your worker receives injury in the course of his or her work. If you do not have a policy you will have to pay these expenses yourself and also face a penalty fine.
Builder’s Risk
Builder’s Risk is not mandatory but it gives you valuable coverage on a construction project. This specialized coverage is customized to your project. You can include coverage for the theft of tools and materials, damage to expensive equipment, property replacement in the event of an accident, or even damage due to adverse weather events. Soft costs like architects and lawyers can also be added by endorsement.
What to include in your Builder’s Risk policy?
Your business and the projects you do are unique to you. In the same way your policy should be tailored for the risks that you face. It is advisable to speak to an expert that knows both the construction and insurance industry well. Our agents at Contractors Liability will assist so that you get what your project needs.
Avoid financial risks with Contractors Liability Insurance company
Without Builder’s Risk insurance you are left exposed to many risks. By buying a Builder’s Risk policy you gain peace of mind that you are insured if something happens on your site. Some clients may insist that you have Builder’s Risk but it is not mandatory.
When you have it, however, you demonstrate that you are a professional and able to take proper care of a project. You will have protection in the event of a loss event on site.
Speak to Contractor’s Liability to get your customized Builder’s Risk policy. With more than 20 years in the industry they can get you the right coverage and set you up for success. Call Contractors Liability on 773-985-2528.
Why Your Construction Insurance Is Not Good Enough was last modified: November 12th, 2024 by Crissa Bulao
Giving a presentation can be a daunting task, but it doesn’t have to be! By following a few simple tips, you can make sure your presentation is informative and engaging for your audience.
Screen sharing can be a great way to help keep your audience engaged. Using creative methods for presenting your information, you can ensure that your presentation will be remembered long after it’s over!
Why is Giving Presentations Important?
Giving presentations is vital for a variety of reasons.
First, it helps build confidence. When you stand up in front of a group of people and deliver a well-organized presentation, it can boost your self-esteem and sense of accomplishment.
Second, presentations are a great way to learn. Preparing for a presentation requires research and critical thinking, skills that can be transferred to other areas of your life.
Third, presentations provide an opportunity to share your ideas with others. If you have an innovative idea or a new perspective on a topic, presenting it to others can help generate interest and discussion.
Finally, presentations can help build relationships. When you give a presentation, you have the chance to connect with your audience and create a rapport with them. Whether you seek clients, customers, or employers, establishing personal connections is key to success.
For all these reasons, giving presentations is an important skill to develop.
What is Screen Sharing, and Why is it Important for Presentations?
Presentations are a vital part of many businesses and organizations. They provide an opportunity to share information and ideas with colleagues, clients, and customers. Many presentations these days use screen sharing, a process of sharing digital content from one computer screen with another.
Screen sharing can be used for various purposes, including demonstration, collaboration, and co-viewing. It is an essential tool for many presenters, as it allows them to share PowerPoint slides, websites, videos, and other types of digital content with their audience.
Screen sharing is typically done through a program or app installed on both the presenter’s and the audience’s computers. The presenter then shares their screen with the audience, who can see the same content that the presenter sees on their own screen. This allows everyone in the audience to follow along and see the presentation.
How to Choose the Right Software for Screen Sharing?
Not all screen sharing software is created equal. There are many different options available, and each has its advantages and disadvantages. It is vital to choose the right software for the job, as different types of software are better suited for different purposes.
For example, some screen sharing software is designed specifically for presentations, while other software is more general purpose and can be used for a variety of tasks. When choosing a professional all-in-one free screen sharing software, it is vital to consider the following factors:
The type of presentation you will be giving. If you are sharing a demonstration or collaborating with others, you will need different software than if you are co-viewing content.
The number of people who will be viewing the presentation. If you give a presentation to a large audience, you will need software that can handle many users.
The computers that will be used for the presentation. Make sure the software you choose is compatible with the presenter’s computer and the audience’s computers.
The level of interactivity you want in your presentation. If you want your audience to be able to ask questions and participate in the presentation, you will need interactive software.
How to Create an Engaging and Interactive Presentation with Screen Sharing?
Now that you know why giving presentations is essential; let’s make sure your presentation is engaging and interactive.
Screen sharing is a great way to keep your audience engaged. By sharing your screen, you can ensure that everyone in the room can see your slides or other materials. Sharing your screen also allows you to control the pacing of your presentation and ensure that everyone is following along.
Voice and Body Language
When using screen sharing, it’s essential to be aware of your body language and voice. Maintaining eye contact with your audience, speaking clearly, and using hand gestures can help keep your audience engaged.
Visuals
It’s also important to use visuals when giving a presentation. Studies have shown that people are more likely to remember information if presented in a visual format. Using charts, graphs, and images can help make your presentation more memorable for your audience.
Practice
Finally, don’t forget to practice! Rehearsing your presentation will help you feel more confident and ensure that you deliver your material in the most engaging way possible.
Tips for Delivering a Great Presentation
Now that you know how to create an engaging and interactive presentation with screen sharing, here are a few additional tips to help you deliver an excellent presentation:
Start with a bang. Grab your audience’s attention with an exciting story or statistic from the start.
Keep it simple. Use short sentences and avoid jargon.
Be prepared. Know your material inside and out to answer any questions that come up.
Practice, practice, practice. The more you rehearse, the more confident you’ll feel when delivering your presentation.
The Benefits of Using Visuals in Your Presentation
As we mentioned earlier, using visuals in your presentation can help make your material more memorable for your audience. In addition, visuals can also help to:
Make complex information easier to understand: Using charts or graphs makes complex information more accessible to your audience.
Clarify your points: Visuals can supplement your spoken words and help clarify your issues for your audience.
Add interest: If you’re presenting on a dry topic, adding some visuals can help to add some interest and excitement to your presentation.
Break up long blocks of text: No one wants to read a long, dense paragraph of text. Adding visuals can help break up long blocks of text and make your presentation more visually appealing.
When used effectively, visuals can be a powerful tool for delivering an engaging and interactive presentation. So, if you’re looking to take your presentation to the next level, consider using screen sharing in conjunction with some well-chosen visuals.
Conclusion
You can create an engaging and interactive presentation that will be remembered long after it’s over by following a few simple tips. Screen sharing is a great way to keep your audience engaged. Using creative methods for presenting your information, you can ensure that your presentation will be informative and exciting.
So, next time you’re preparing for a presentation, consider using screen sharing to take your material to the next level!
Create an Engaging and Interactive Presentation With Screen Sharing was last modified: July 7th, 2022 by Mike Khorev
Ever since the Russia-Ukraine conflict has taken global attention, there are aggressive debates on concerns around energy supply and prices. But there is another major impact to talk about, i.e., outsourced IT services.
Ukraine stands as one of the world’s leading suppliers of outsourced IT services, experienced programmers, and other types of IT professionals. Ukraine’s outsourced services are offered to thousands of companies all over the world, especially in American and European markets. With the upraising Russia-Ukraine conflict, there is a fear that it will undermine IT services and related projects all over the world. Therefore, this article emphasizes the ongoing conflict and its impact on outsourced IT services.
Ukraine IT Market
Ukraine holds a strong IT market that has a key impact on the country’s export figures. Just in the year 2021, the Ukraine IT market generated 36% more sales revenue compared to 2020. As per IT Ukraine Association, the market managed to generate $6.8 billion in export compared to $5 billion in 2020 and $4.2 billion in 2019. The association also highlighted that the IT specialists count also rose to 285,000 in 2021 compared to 244,000 in 2020.
There are many software companies and developers that have emerged from Ukraine, such as MacPaw, Grammarly, etc. Owing to being one of the global hubs of IT services, Ukraine also serves as the headquarters of at least 13 of the world’s top 100 outsourcing service providers, as per the International Association of Outsourcing Professionals (IAOP). Overall, there is no doubt in acknowledging the fact that almost all the big IT companies in the USA and Western Europe are somehow linked with IT outsourcing services or IT developers from Ukraine.
Russia-Ukraine Conflict and Its Impact
With Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the whole IT services of the country are experiencing disruption, as the professionals don’t have the proper environment to work and the internet is also causing a lot of trouble. Those companies that have headquarters in Ukraine are also facing a serious service disruption crisis.
Impact of Non-Availability of IT Professionals
As per Forbes, the impact number is massive because the ongoing war in Ukraine and the sanctions imposed on Russia are/will cause severe disruption of services. For example:
There are over 50,000 individuals working with outsourced service providers in Ukraine, Belarus, and Russia with clients in the healthcare, automobile, banking, and retail industries.
There are over 30,000 individuals working in Global Business Service (GBS) centers in Ukraine, Belarus, and Russia.
Now imagine the disruption of services caused by these 80,000+ professionals who are/will unable to deliver their services at the right time. The 80,000 number figure might seem a small number compared to the total count of IT professionals in the world. But you should know that most of Ukraine’s IT professionals are senior talent, so they have a major influence on the global IT market.
Impact of Talent Shortage and Service Pricing
The Russia-Ukraine conflict is triggered at a time when the world is already experiencing a talent shortage. The global talent shortage as of 2021 counted to 40 million skilled workers across the world. If this trend keeps going further, then it is anticipated that companies across the world could lose $8.4 trillion in revenue by 2030 just due to the talent shortage.
Now combine this talent shortage with the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict and project where the service pricing will go. With minimal access to skilled developers, the service charges are already growing aggressively. Moreover, the inflation pressure combined with war influence is also triggering the rise in service pricing even further.
Impact on Future Contracts and Hiring Shift
Undoubtedly, most of the American and European companies that are linked with Ukraine’s outsourced IT services are facing some sort of disruption in services presently. Moreover, since the war situation is still uncertain, there is a fear that such companies will shift to other outsourcing alternatives. Countries like India, Mexico, Brazil, Malaysia, and similar others are also known for offering the outsourced services companies need. So, it is also expected that IT services providers in such countries will likely get more hiring chances. This will impact the sales of Ukrainian IT companies, further worsening the situation for them.
How Long Will This Disruption Last?
The Russia-Ukraine conflict is a major event, which is casting its impact across the globe. But just like every conflicting situation has a solution, there are strong hopes that the situation will get better gradually. However, the ceasefire will not be enough to bring the market back to its war-prior state. It will take some time for the market to absorb the whole disruption just like the world’s economies, which are absorbing the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic till today. In short, considering the market trend and current position, it is anticipated that the market will need at least 3-6 months to recover after the ceasefire.
Diversification – The Key to Overcome Such Black Swan Events
A black swan event is an unpredictable event that occurs every 3-5 years in different shapes, such as flood, war, disease, etc. The Russia-Ukraine conflict is also one such black swan event that the world is facing currently. But companies could have easily absorbed its impacts if they had adopted the simple principle of service diversification.
Often companies concentrate to get services from one location, instead of diversifying their service locations. So, any unusual event in that location will cast a severe impact on service delivery. This is exactly what companies involved with Ukraine, Russia, and Belarus are facing today. And now, such companies are either shifting their workers to safer locations or looking for alternative services.
Therefore, the key to avoiding major disruption in services at present time is to practice service diversification. For example, if you are outsourcing your IT needs, then you should divide those needs and then look for outsourcing services in different locations. This way, even if you face disruption in one location, you can stay assured that the rest of your services are active and running.
Russia-Ukraine Conflict and Its Impact on Outsourced IT Services was last modified: April 11th, 2022 by Hamza Razzaq
For those of you who haven’t heard of the term ERP before, below we will provide you with some essential information. So what does it represent, or What is Enterprise Resource Planning? ERP or Enterprise Resource Planning is the process of collecting and handling business data from numerous sectors by utilizing particular software.
Namely, this software provides institutions with an integrated, real-time perception of their main business processes, easily accessible through a single centralized system. All in all, ERPs can be defined as tools employed by numerous organizations to simplify their business operations, such as accounting, supply chain, human resources, customer relationship management, e-commerce, and risk management.
These are just the basic information regarding the ERP software. If you’re interested to learn more about it, including its advantages, then just keep reading and you’ll gather all the crucial information.
Huge Benefits Of ERP Software
Enhanced Productivity
According to many ERP software connoisseurs, one of its key benefits is automation, ranging from marketing automation to invoice generation. This allows workers to be a lot more effective and productive and focus on different areas, and at the same time, makes sure no process is being neglected.
Additionally, by having a central repository attainable by all sectors, an ERP eliminates the need for tiring and overwhelming manual processes, for example, repetitive data entry across several systems. You’ll quickly notice that the precision of your data will enhance as well!
Decreases Expenses
Of course, this highly depends on the solution. Generally speaking, ERP software can cost somewhere between a few hundred dollars, up to $100,000. What matters is the fact that this software is truly worth every penny.
Now, on the market, you can stumble upon a variety of different ERP software, one is the NetSuite ERP software. But what is so great about it? Namely, it enables companies to focus on their business without worrying about how they will operate their ERP.
Besides that, NetSuite helps consumers enhance their flexibility and efficiency and encourages entrepreneurs to work on their functionality and prioritize real-time business insight with this software. Bear in mind, that the faster you get the desired insight, the better.
Why did we mention NetSuite in particular? Well, because not only it’s currently one of the best software on the market, but it is also very affordable which is something that every business owner appreciates. This type of software will save you money in the long run.
Now, let us return to the subject. Generally speaking, with practically every ERP software, you’ll be able to reduce your costs, due to the fact that this program lets you input it only once and then carry it over to other sectors in real-time.
Furthermore, you can also simplify tiresome tasks, for instance, invoice allocation, report drafting, employ payroll, which can definitely save you lots of time and allow you to focus on more important obligations.
It’s worth mentioning that if you spend more on different systems, than you normally would on centralized ERP, you might even be able to save on IT expenses overall. Keep in mind that utilizing one system also decreases training requirements for end-users since they’re supposed to be learning only one system.
Enhanced Planning & Resource Management
This software really does effectively enable planning across your company so you know exactly how to predict your expenses, sales, and the resources you need, whether that includes people, materials, equipment, or anything else.
Moreover, it offers a thorough insight that allows you to efficiently plan production schedules and simultaneously, foresee resource needs, which is extremely important, because when you’re able to predict numerous crucial things, such as equipment maintenance, then you can decrease production delays or unplanned downtime.
What Are Other Major Advantages Of ERP System?
Enhanced Collaboration
Another very important trait that can certainly positively impact every company is the fact that this software effectively connects teams, and enhances communication and overall employee engagement.
Furthermore, with this software, every approved worker has on-demand access to all operational data, which enables them to comprehend all of the business’s moving parts and the role they have.
Real-time project updates, along with decreased silos further enhance the efficacy which leads to cost savings, as well as better workflows. Remember that the collaboration capabilities expand outside the wall of a particular company in order to connect with some of the most crucial partners.
Regulatory Compliance
In every single industry, especially the one that revolves around food & beverage, there are various legislations and requirements that are continuously changing. If a certain firm fails to comply with them, it can seriously jeopardize many aspects of it.
On top of IFRS and GAAP compliance, enhanced solutions, such as Sage Intacct and Acumatica, can also help with training, reporting, paperwork, accuracy, security, and process control, which all play a major role when it comes to meeting regulations.
Furthermore, with the help of the ERP systems, you can tackle various types of regulatory compliance, such as:
Government Regulations
Trade Regulations
Business and Finance
Labor Regulations
Information Technology
Industry Compliance
Improved Accuracy And Availability Of Information
This is an advantage that must definitely be mentioned since it is one of the most important ones because it affects various aspects of enterprise resource planning. Namely, high-quality ERP software allows efficient and centralized collection, storage, and processing of information regarding sales, production, consumers, sales, and many other things.
That’s precisely why a single data system is utilized and maintained instead of using a variety of separate databases that require regular checks and synchronization to eliminate duplicate or outdated records.
Moreover, the enhanced quality of all types of internal data, mixed with its availability to the employees in all crucial sectors, is a precious feat that leads to performance optimization in all areas of the company. Especially inventory management and supply chain is the activity that experiences the most benefits from the ERP software.
Enhanced Data Security
Another great benefit that the ERP system offers is data security. Namely, this system has control over who can view and alter sensitive data. Merging info into a single repository shore up security in comparison with scattered sources on different systems.
Unfortunately, these days, a lot of companies are experiencing issues with security breaches that can cause some serious expenses, which is why it’s of huge importance to implement ERP software if you want to make sure your data is being secured.
Most importantly, enhanced data security is going to help your firm with regulatory compliance and built-in reporting functions that can help you decrease auditing expenses.
Complete Visibility
This advantage of ERP is for sure one of the most crucial selling points for this software. Namely, it enables total access to every single essential process within your company by developing data from every sector easily accessible to both your senior management and you.
For instance, with the help of ERP software, you can easily supervise inventory levels on a daily basis, including future deliveries that you’ll be receiving in the near future. By knowing exactly where you stand when it comes to inventory levels, you can efficiently control the working capital on a more accurate level.
Furthermore, the availability of all important information about your business in a centralized location leads to enhanced collaboration and simplifies the completion of all duties and tasks. Additionally, this visibility offers more coherent workflows.
All of this helps you make much smarter decisions, as you won’t have any doubts that you are seeing a crystal clear picture at any moment.
Improved Customer Relationships
Employing an ERP system on Salesforce enables integration with the Salesforce Customer Relationship Management platform, significantly extending the visibility you have over every single operation that occurs within your company.
What’s great about it is the fact that every consumer information from personal data, to purchase history is stored in a single place and goes straight to the ERP system with the goal to improve the customer experience.
If you decide to use both CRM and ERP, you’ll be able to automate consumer services, such as payment notifications for current customers. Besides that, you can also supply the marketing and sales team with much more useful information to help them close a sale. Below, we’ll enumerate the major benefits of the ERP system when it comes to this:
Simplifies invoicing and accounts receivable
Close the books quicker at the end of every month
Decreases invoicing errors and billing with the goal to accomplish a better consumer experience
Puts consumers in the driver’s seat with customized portals and dashboards
Connects sales, product, and finance teams for alignment on product offering and accessible income streams
Provides easily digestible data to every member of your team by using real-time dashboards
Business owners who decide to start implementing this software will quickly realize that it gives them relevance among other businesses. When you enhance productivity, use automation, acquire real-time information on finances and eliminate bottlenecks from the workflows, you will get more money, and at the same time, gain more recognition from your employees, colleagues, clients, partners, and stakeholders.
And all of this leads to making more informed business decisions and also having a company that truly runs like a properly-oiled machine.
Implementing An ERP Software In Your Company
How To Properly Implement The ERP System?
Now that you’ve realized how essential an ERP system is, it’s also crucial to understand different ways you can implement it in your company. Remember that just like with many other things, there are right and wrong ways you can do it. Below, we will talk about some steps that must be taken into account to be sure you are doing everything perfectly:
Map out various divisions of your business – This can be defined as the most important step when it comes to implementing the ERP software in your company. First, you must figure out which department of your business is going to employ it. Bear in mind that every firm works differently and that ERP that you can find on the market can vary, depending on the type of company you have. Therefore, it’s of huge importance to map out numerous sectors of your organization, so you can figure out which ERP system is most suitable for you.
Opt for the ERP program that comes with the best features- During this step you must be extremely careful. As it was mentioned above, this program can vary depending on the organization it’s intended for, hence, there’s no such a thing as the best ERP software for every single company. Instead, you should opt for one that perfectly matches the demands and needs of your firm. In order to make the smartest decision, acquire software that is loaded with high-quality features that can hugely benefit your organization.
Seeking professional help is always recommendable – Even if you think that this is something that you can do all on your own, it’s always advisable to talk to someone who has way more experience when it comes to this. Just keep in mind that if you talk to a professional you will streamline everything regarding setting up and training your employees to employ the ERP program. Namely, these experts have a plethora of experience in this field and know exactly what you’re supposed to do if you want to properly implement this system for your company. In these types of situations, having a professional by your side is always welcome because you can never predict whether you’ll be experiencing any problems or obstacles on this journey. As was mentioned multiple times above, ERP systems cannot be defined as “one size fits” tools, which is why you must consult someone who is familiar with every single feature that it offers so you can take advantage of it the right way.
There’s no denying that ERP software is more than beneficial for every company out there, but just like with any other software, you must first get yourself familiar with everything it offers in order to use it correctly.
What is ERP Software And How It’s Useful was last modified: November 12th, 2024 by Allen Brown
In the modern world, where many people do not know their next-door neighbors, it can be difficult to find out information about a stranger. The Internet has made verifying someone’s identity much easier. In fact, there are various ways to check someone’s online digital footprint and ensure that they have a history of being who you think they should be. So here is how to do just that.
1. Background Check Sites
There are many background check sites that provide information on someone’s past. These sites can help you verify a person’s identity as well as provide information such as marital status, possible aliases, and the last known addresses. You can even use these sites to unearth criminal records or determine if someone has held multiple jobs. Once you have the results of your online search, it is up to you whether to initiate contact with the individual in question. There are also some top sites where you can get the details of any individual.
If you want to verify someone’s identity or simply want a peek into their personal lives, social media is a great place to start checking their background by utilizing People Search tool. If the person in question has a Facebook profile, for example, you can see what they’ve been up to recently and who is important in their life. Google Plus, Twitter, and LinkedIn are other big social media sites that can provide insight into someone’s life. You might not get the full picture right away since people tend to curate their profiles, but you will start to see patterns of behavior which you can use to determine if they are someone worth knowing.
2. Automated Phone Calls
With an automated phone call, you can take information that is available online and use it to verify someone’s identity. It is the easiest way to do so, since you simply need to gather all the information that you have found on them and input it into your phone call. Then, you can just sit back and relax as your phone call does the work for you. The automated phone calls cost less than $1 each, so it is a really inexpensive way to get all of this information. This is an especially great way for people who are interested in online dating to see if the person that they are talking with is telling the truth about their identity. It is beneficial because it can save you a lot of time and stress later on. And it is easy to use, so anyone who wants to know the truth about someone’s identity will love it. Lately, there has been a lot of prank calling everywhere in the world, so using this type of technology to do a background check can help you prevent getting pranked by someone.
3. Public Records Search Sites
Sites that provide public records, such as familysearch.org and ancestry.com, can also help you verify someone’s identity if you input the right information into your search engine. If you are unsure about whom the person is that you are talking with, simply search their name on one of these free people finder sites. You will have access to records such as birth certificates, marriage licenses, and death certificates if they are available. These sites generally have more information than other background check sites, so it can be much easier to find someone’s true identity with them. And because not every site has all records, this makes it even easier to verify someone’s identity since you have access to more information online. Once again, once you have found out the truth about this person that you want to know a bit more about, it is up to you whether you want to continue getting in touch with them online through chat rooms or social media platforms.
4. Credit Reports
A credit report is another way to see someone’s identity if you are trying to verify it. These reports are an easy way to tell if the person in question is trustworthy or not. If you are thinking of doing business with someone, for example, a credit report can be a great way to find out more about them and what they have been up to financially in the past. It will let you know their debts and how much money they have access to at any given time so that you can determine whether it is a good idea for this person to invest money into your project. You will be able to see if they have been paying bills on time and if there are any outstanding court cases against them, which could indicate that they might not be as trustworthy as they claim. Since these reports cost around $10, it won’t break the bank to take a look at someone’s credit report before you invest your money into their business. It is also beneficial for people who are just simply curious about what they can find out through a credit report since it isn’t expensive, and it offers great insight into the person that they are trying to determine if they are involved in some legal troubles.
5. Search Engines
When all else fails, you can always search for information about this person on Google or Bing. Since everyone has access to these types of searches, it will be easy for you to see if the information that you have gathered checks out by looking at their previous results online. If there is no evidence of what you have found on them, then it might be best to continue your search and look for the truth elsewhere. But if everything lines up, then you will know that person’s identity is true and that they are who they say that they are. It will also save you time in figuring out what other ways there are to find this information out, since it is such a simple way to gather evidence about someone’s background check. The internet has become such an easy tool to use when trying to discover the truth about someone’s identity, so why not give it a shot! You never know what kind of information could pop up online while you try searching for it.
6. References
Next, you can always go with a method that is more straightforward by asking the person for a list of references. While this might not be as easy as running a check on someone’s identity, it will also give you an insight into who they are and what their life has been like up until now. This simple step could lead to some great information about whether this person is telling the truth about themselves, since you will have people from their past that can verify if they really attended college or where they worked for that many years. Employers do this all the time as part of the interview process, and it is such a great way to see if what they are saying about themselves is true. If you have a lot of trouble getting in touch with their references, then you might have some doubts about this person’s identity. But if everyone that they claim to know ends up giving a glowing review about them, then there is a good chance that you can believe what they say about their background checks. If this is just a regular person, however, you can ask for information from their friends.
7. Classified Ads
Classified ads are a great way to find out about someone’s identity since you will be able to get information about them that you wouldn’t be able to find anywhere else. You can put an ad in the local newspaper or on Craigslist and get some responses from people who know this person. This is sort of like doing a reference check, but not always having to ask for verification themselves by someone they know. It is an easy way to get access to valuable information about their past since it will come right from one of their friends instead of asking them directly. If you are trying to figure out if they have any convictions, then you should search the local paper for evidence of this, since they might not answer questions themselves. It is a great way to narrow down your focus and to get the answers that you need fast, so you don’t have to spend too much time searching for this information.
8. Private Investigators
Lastly, if none of these methods work, then you can always go with a private investigator to find out what you need to know about this person. You can hire someone who will be able to provide you with the information that you are looking for easily without having to go through all of these methods yourself. They will have access to everything that you need in order to see if someone’s identity is true or not, so it is definitely worth hiring one when looking online. There are some risks involved since they could turn out to be unreliable, but the risk might be worth taking when trying to figure out if somebody is lying about their background checks. If they get caught lying, then there could be legal problems and other repercussions, so make sure that this person really knows what they are doing before paying them any money for it.
So, verifying someone’s identity can be done using several methods, so why not give one of these ideas a shot to see how easy it is? With all the information online today, it makes verification so much easier than before, so why not see how it works! You never know what kind of evidence that you will find!
Top Online Methods to Try When You Want to Verify Someone’s Identity was last modified: September 7th, 2024 by Allen Brown
As a team includes people with increasingly specialized skills, collaboration becomes crucial as it allows the whole team to take advantage and make the best use of everyone’s strengths and specialized skills. We all collaborate in one way or the other, most times without knowing it, although everyone understands that working together is a key component to a team’s success. It is, therefore, worth taking the time to explore why collaboration is so important.
It Helps Keep Projects On Track
A key component of getting tech projects completed on time is ensuring they are on track all the way through. When using the right collaboration tools, project managers and team leaders can ensure everyone understands what should be done, when it should be done, and who is responsible for various aspects of the project.
To make things easier and to keep everyone in the look, teams can use a diagram maker to create action plans, bring changes and alterations together in one place, ensure everyone understands the project, its scopes and tasks, and take action depending on the various action items added during the diagramming process. By doing all the above and when used to its full potential, a diagram maker becomes an important tool that helps combine the diagramming process and collaboration to keep complex projects moving forward as expected.
It Helps With Problem-Solving
Everyone gets stuck on one thing or the other from time to time. It often happens that you face a problem, try everything you know and every solution you have, and the problem still remains unsolved. You then run out of ideas and are left with a looming deadline that you do not think you will meet.
While taking some time away from the situation and trying another approach later, the best course of action, in this case, would be to ask for help. You might call up a colleague and set up a brainstorming session for a few minutes to talk through the problem you are trying to solve.
The ability to collaborate with people in this way in the middle of complex tech projects, utilizing your combined skills, knowledge, and expertise is the key to successful teams. Team leaders and project managers should not let collaboration be the last resort, as they should ingrain it into their teams. The more people a team member can reach out to at any time, the easier it becomes to spot potential issues and to find solutions to issues easily and as early as possible.
Collaboration Brings People Together
When working on a complex project, the worst thing a team can do is operate in isolated silos that hinder collaboration. Instead of operating in this way, project managers can form teams of people with different skills. These can include developers, user experience designers, writers, and graphics designers to tackle a complex project together.
Forming teams composed of people with mixed skills works out best for complex projects because these usually require people with diverse skills, varied perspectives, and different areas of expertise.
When different people are set up to collaborate in this way, they have a shared purpose between them, and these connections and shared purpose will help with other complex projects in the future. The point is that collaboration achieved through putting together a mixed-skills team is not only good for the project, it is also great for breaking down walls and barriers in the workplace and forming connections that will be crucial in the future.
Collaboration Helps Reduce Project Complexity
While it may seem that a project is quite complex because it has only a few people working on it, allowing more people to come in and collaborate on the same project can reduce its complexity. With more people working on the project, the project can be divided into mini-projects and tasks where each is tackled by the person with the most skills and expertise in that area.
By dividing up a project like this, other members of the team do not have to deal with the complexities of the other parts of the project. This reduces the mental load of thinking the project is a complex one, it simplifies it and allows everyone to use their strengths to ensure the success of the project.
It Allows For The Transfer of Skills
Savvy business owners, project managers, and team leaders are always looking ahead. They want to know that complex projects in the future can be handled by people with the right skills. A team cannot complete a complex tech project without some knowledge being shared across the different team members.
When people with different skills, experience, and expertise are brought together to achieve a common goal, opportunities for coaching, learning new skills, and the improvement of the whole team and organization appear. Every good team has at least one person who is good at one specific thing and they can share their knowledge so they can contribute to the future success of the team and business.
Collaboration in complex tech projects is not only about ensuring the project is completed in time and according to set specifications; it is also about looking into the future. Allowing collaboration today can have positive ramifications for a team and the overall business in the future.
Why Collaboration Is Key in Complex Tech Projects was last modified: December 1st, 2021 by Boris Dzhingarov
While the pandemic impacted call center operations, their services are vital to keeping businesses going. The technological advances in machine learning, artificial intelligence, and robotic processes automation help continue customer care. In addition, call center automation is increasing at a more rapid pace. Thus, companies must ensure that they implement best practices for a smooth-flowing operation.
Shifting from a traditional to an automated business process is challenging. There should be a balance between your customer service automation approach and humans. Tools are meant to facilitate workflows and help humans improve their productivity and efficiency. However, you cannot remove the human factor in call center operations because customer service (CX) deals with humans.
Implementing Intelligent Automation
The most important best practice in call center automation is to balance the core service goals and the key performance indicators (KPIs) with automation. The primary goals are to improve operational efficiency and the experiences of customers continually. In addition, the company must know when to deploy AI-powered virtual assistants and employ human interaction with your live agents to achieve these goals.
Smart Dialing System
Today, a very effective tool for contact centers is a cloud predictive dialer, an automated, cloud-based automated dialer that determines when an agent will soon be available. According to the performance of the agents, a predictive dialer detects when an agent is about to end a call and puts the next call through. Thus, the system places many phone calls, drops unanswered calls, and immediately routes the call to the agent ready to take the call. The result is improved efficiency and performance for the center’s agents.
Automated Interactions
The term refers to any CX tool that lets a customer talk to a program instead of a human. This is a better option than a customer being put on hold and forced to listen to annoying music, which frustrates customers. You can reduce their frustration and potentially gain more customers by using automated software with advanced voice recognition technology to enhance customer experience.
Workflow Automation
A myriad of mundane and simple yet repetitive tasks take time to complete. You can maximize the time agents spend on their actual functions with automation software that can quickly organize customers’ accounts and other paperwork and make it easy to do follow-up tasks such as call logging, emails, and invoicing. Often a workflow automation program is AI-powered, which helps reduce errors.
Guidance for Agents
This call center automation tool allows agents to get a customer’s information as soon as they call in. During the call, the program’s multifunctional user interface lets the agent look up the details of the customer’s account, history of payments, purchases, and other relevant information that can assist the agent in helping the customer. In addition, there is automation software that can create call scripts to help respond to customers’ requests, which can lead to positive reviews.
Post-Call Analytics
Today, most businesses use analytics to improve their services, understand customer behaviors, and provide vital information for the company. For example, use automated call center software that will store transcripts and record other essential individual call information.
Summary
Automation is part of today’s modern businesses. Automation is vital, but it will be more effective if you can balance automation and better performance from your employees with empowering tools and best practices.
Trends and Tools for Call Center Automation was last modified: August 11th, 2022 by Mildred Austria
The software development industry relies on several advanced methodologies, tactics, and strategies to enhance business productivity. In fact, each methodology is a structure that plans and controls the information encoded in software. Development methodologies can improve project management, optimize computer functions, and create highly scalable technology. As an aspiring software engineer, you should learn the different methodologies that can improve technical function.
There are many software development methodologies that improve functionality. In this article, we’ll discuss the software development methodologies that improve functionality.
DevOps Pipeline
One software development methodology that improves functionality is the DevOps pipeline. Use the DevOps process to ship updates faster. Then, optimize the DevOps processes with the pipeline tool from JFrog. This way, you can continuously streamline and secure your development team’s tools. Moreover, you can use this methodology for continuous integration and continuous delivery. With this function, you can automate everything from code to production for high-powered technology. Furthermore, the JFrog pipeline optimizes the process for building, testing, and deploying software solutions. Additionally, the pipeline methodology can improve functionality on both cloud and on-prem subscriptions. Certainly, consider the DevOps pipeline methodology to improve your software functionality.
Agile Development Methodology
Agile development methodology is one of the most popular ways to improve software functionality. Agile development methodology enables your company to focus on user satisfaction. Your team would complete tasks over short time periods of just one to four weeks. During this time, the iterative model provides you with multiple tests as development continues.
Next, you would use Agile development methodology to obtain feedback from customers. You can then make the necessary changes to your software. Additionally, your team can take full advantage of this methodology’s functionality since it has few defects. This way, you can streamline productivity and improve performance across your software team. Surely, consider agile development methodology to improve software functionality.
Waterfall
Of course, the waterfall software development model is another great choice to structure your project. Employ waterfall to manage projects with clear, stable objectives. Waterfall’s sequential method will handle your team’s tasks one at-a-time. Moreover, waterfall will improve functionality by ensuring each step is complete before moving on.
The rigid, linear style of waterfall is easy to understand and manage your SDLC. Thus, you can explain the waterfall methodology to your team quickly since it is fairly simple. You will benefit from using waterfall if your team changes personnel frequently. Throughout the development process, waterfall maintains itself, so many functions are performed automatically. Definitely, look into using waterfall to improve software development functionality.
Feature Driven Development
Feature-driven development is another software development methodology that improves functionality. Use FDD to develop an overall model. Then, plan each feature by building a feature list with the platform. Next, use FDD to design your software. This way, you can visualize your development project. After this, FDD can build each feature for you. Throughout this process, FDD will provide you with status reports, results, and possible errors. Additionally, FDD gives you quick, efficient responses to platform changes. Moreover, these quick responses allow your team to process information faster. This way, you can accomplish more in the given workday. Long-term, this will allow you to maximize profitability, expanding your earning potential, and get more projects done. Surely, consider using feature-driven development to improve software functionality.
Scrum Development Methodology
Scrum development methodology can also help improve software functionality. Apply this methodology to manage your development project. Specifically, use scrum development for emerging technologies and rapid changes. Then, you can implement scrum to plan, meet, and review important software features quickly. This technique allows your business to accelerate the development of software by processing many iterations at once. With scrum development, even your slowest-moving development projects can be fast-tracked. Certainly, use scrum development methodology to improve software functionality.
Summary
There are many software development methodologies that improve functionality. Taking advantage of the latest models, you can future-proof your development pipeline, learn new skills, and follow the latest trends. Plus, these tactics enable you to optimize your workforce and experiment with productivity-improving measures. The DevOps pipeline will fully automate your software and integrate it continuously. Then, waterfall will provide you with a rigid, step-by-step system for project management. Feature-driven development implements many notification features to help you stay on top of your software development project. Scrum development methodology can rapidly quicken the pace of your software development process. Finally, agile development methodology prioritizes user satisfaction over process-oriented structures. Consider these options when improving your software development functionality.
5 Software Development Methodologies That Improve Functionality was last modified: April 25th, 2024 by Scott Fluent
The UK average employee turnover rate stands at around 15%, although that figure fluctuates depending on what study you look at. That does not sound like a terrible figure – does it? Well, if you consider the average number of employees for a small business is 10, that is 1.5 employees lost a month, so we will round it up to 2. The cost of replacing one employee in the UK is £50,000 – which accounts for their entire first year of employment.
So, effectively, small businesses are spending up to £100,000 because of their ‘employee churn’, a term used to describe the number of employees leaving at a given point in time.
Since employee churn equals costly financial implications, what are they demanding in return for undisputable loyalty? Let us explore.
A Recognition Rich Culture
A study in 2017 found that 81% of people were looking for another job. Interestingly, money is not what it is all about. 74% of employees would take a pay cut if it meant working in their dream job, and 23% do not need a pay rise to take on a new role. What do they need? They need to work in a recognition-rich culture that focuses on employee engagement, which has been proven to boost a business’s profitability by 21%.
There is no better way to improve employee engagement than to look at employee engagement strategies offered by an employee engagement agency. Incentive Smart offers a comprehensive high-reward-based employee loyalty programme that helps to improve communication, provides an area for feedback, and creates a place for positive reinforcement. You can find more on their website www.incentivesmart.com. Working with an incentives scheme agency helps employees to feel energised, motivated, and willing to work.
Investing in Employee Happiness
You can invest in employee engagement, but without taking the time to invest in the happiness of your employees, it will be hard to unlock the true potential of an employee reward scheme. A study carried out by Workplace Insight found that only 46% of employees are happy most of the time at work, and 26% are rarely ever happy.
Happiness and positive vibes are infectious and can infiltrate an entire company. Just look at Google the reviews of what it is like to work there, and you will realise the potential of a happy workforce. How has Google consistently ranked as one of the best companies to work for? Innovation.
Google was one of the first companies to introduce nap rooms to their offices. If you have ever felt that afternoon office slump where even matchsticks would struggle to keep your eyes open, you will know how happy the option of a quick nap would make you. They have ideas and mood boards on the walls, indoor slides, bikes to get around, relaxed clothing requirements, the freedom to come and go as long as work is completed, and the list could go on.
They have broken free from the structured corporate mould and redefined what it means to be a 21st-century brand. And, employees want just that. A space to be creative, open, without pressure, and with flexibility.
Do Not Micromanage
It does not get much more pre-21st-century employee management than micromanaging. Micromanagement is a style of management where an employee is closely observed or controlled, to the point it can feel overwhelming, yet it is still a regular occurrence. Micromanaging happens when there is no trust between the manager of their employees, and it leaves employees feeling stressed and devalued.
The trouble is, 71% of employees say micromanaging interferes with job performance, and 69% of employees would actively look for another role. Find a balance between management and allowing employees to use their own initiative.
Remove the performance pressure unless there is a reason for it, say if an employee is significantly underperforming. If they are, consider a buddy support system with another high-performing employee. It is a less invasive management method and can be highly motivated and educational for an underperforming employee.
Finding the sweet spot that keeps every employee happy and loyal is a tricky skill to master. Fostering a happy and inclusive working environment helps, as well as incentives, company days out, and a general openness to discuss problems. The more time you invest in your employees, the more they will give back.
Here Is What Studies Show Employees Want in Return for Loyalty was last modified: February 9th, 2023 by Mildred Austria
As your business success begins to flourish, you may find your success comes at a price. As your enterprise inevitably grows, so do your responsibilities, yet the amount of time you have to complete these tasks is only diminishing. It’s at this point that most entrepreneurs and small business owners should consider utilizing a variety of software applications and online tools to help streamline their daily operations, enhance their productivity and keep their business success on track.
Business people in a video call meeting
In this post, we’ll explore some essential software that your growing business should be using. Read on to find out more.
VAT Software
The pressures of accounting and financial management can quickly become overwhelming for small business owners, especially as your enterprise begins to grow. Whether you have minimal experience in handling company accounts or you’re still scrambling together receipts, expenses and financial reports, VAT software is an essential tool, you shouldn’t be working without. Using VAT software is easy to implement and makes navigating your tax obligations easier, allowing you to submit VAT returns to HMRC effortlessly.
No matter how complicated your VAT return may appear, small businesses can streamline their VAT responsibilities with just a few simple clicks. VAT software will also help you create a digital paper trail, one that allows you to register all your VAT-related actions and activities in one easy-to-manage location, highlighting how much you owe with monthly snapshots and giving you the knowledge to make better business decisions. With the right VAT software application, you can protect your business from penalties incurred through late submissions or inaccuracies in your reports.
Time Tracking Software
As your business flourishes, you may find that the hours available to tackle your responsibilities proficiently begin to diminish, and effective time management becomes an essential part of your working day. This is where time tracking software can help. By highlighting how long it takes you and your employees to complete specific tasks, you’ll be able to use this data to your advantage. By developing accurate time frames that streamline your daily operations, you can encourage employees to make the most of their working day and to meet the expectations of your clients, effortlessly.
Understanding how you and your employees spend your working hours keeps everyone accountable while still providing full control over the working day and maximizing efficiency across your business. If you’re working on an hourly basis, then time tracking software also helps to keep payroll/invoices as accurate as possible.
Customer Relationship Management Software (CRM)
Developing meaningful and beneficial relationships with your clients can drive your business success forward. By carefully managing those relationships and interactions using CRM software, you can also improve those relationships and use them to your advantage. This software provides a central location for all client (and prospective client) data to be collected, stored and updated, as well as building a library of individual customer interactions which can be used to curate unique and specific future interactions that can lead to a sale.
A CRM tool gives your customer service the edge, and can completely transform the way your clients view your business. And as this software is cloud-based, this information can be accessed securely from anywhere – so no matter where your working day takes you, your growing business can maintain strong customer relationships effortlessly.
Communication Software and Tools
As a growing business, you’ll already recognize the importance of strong communication. But as your enterprise continues to push forward, the importance of communication now applies to both external and internal situations. Maintaining strong levels of contact between you and your clients was something you undoubtedly managed via email chains and multiple messages across various platforms, but now your communications approach directly impacts the customer experience and employee collaboration.
Therefore, it makes sense for growing businesses to utilize communication software to improve communication workflows and to keep their employees organized. Tools such as Slack and Skype are perfect for businesses with remote teams, whilst video conferencing/calling applications such as Zoom, Microsoft Teams and even WhatsApp can keep you and your clients in touch and improve the client experience.
Social Media Management Software
A strong online presence is one of the key factors of business success, and while your business is experiencing growth, you must take the management of your social media platforms seriously. SM management software can help you manage multiple accounts, using one login and an easy-to-use interface that helps you move from one platform to another. SM management software means you’ll never miss a notification or an opportunity to engage with your followers. You can also schedule posts ahead of time, freeing up more time for you to focus on other areas of your growing business.
Final Thoughts…
A variety of software and tools can help your growing business continue to flourish. Consider these options above to continue with your success.
Essential Software Your Growing Business Should be Using was last modified: October 21st, 2021 by Julia Evans
There are different ways of creating a productive atmosphere at work. Computer games may come as a surprise due to old prejudices about their destructive nature. Adults with this hobby are usually stigmatized as lazy, depressive, and childish people. But all these stereotypes don’t seem to be the truth in reality. Apparently, it’s not about wasting time anymore, but increasing productivity. In fact, allowing employees to get distracted from time to time shows incredible efficiency.
A monotonous routine kills the ability to come with creative ideas. Be it an office or a school class, repeating the same task suppresses talents. And simply bores. To freshen up, try computer games. It’s true, entertainment is their primary goal. But this goes along with a bunch of skills to perfect. Such as decision-making, non-conventional thinking, competitiveness, etc.
The gaming environment adjusts the right mindset. It includes self-confidence, leadership skills, and the ability to focus. According to statistics, 79% of gamers are sure that virtual reality stimulates their mental activities. With this in mind, short distractions will provide employers with a flow of good solutions.
A mind-reloading and challenging task in Kill the Buddy is a nice example. Aimed to train your logical thinking, it offers you a puzzle to solve. Overcome obstacles and use a catapult to kill the main character. With a piano. Sounds crazy? That’s the whole point!
2. Create a Strong Community at Work
As a rule, employees don’t have time to form strong bonds in the office. Everyone has their own duties and no desire to deal with someone else’s issues. After all, they’re complete strangers to each other.
However, multiplayer matches may unite people and foster teamwork. Give a group of people an enemy and they turn into a team. It develops a habit to watch each other’s back and synchronize in doing tasks. As a result, workers engage in proactive discussions more often and share challenges. A department vs department is a nice idea to get such a result. It’s a chance to build these vital connections and develop supportive behavior.
Shell Shockers can help with bonding. Although you shoot each other and cause death, it doesn’t seem violent. It’s a multiplayer FPS where everyone takes on the role of an egg. Make it private by creating your own gaming room. Choose the Team vs Team mode and invite colleagues to join. It’s a tool to get to know each other better. Thus launching a brainstorm of ideas of how to solve them together.
On the other hand, creating competition between employees may influence a challenge at work. If your task is to make them grow over each other. And show the best results. Just pick the game right.
Such activities make social interactions at the workplace stronger. Gaming benefits organizations as a whole. HR managers should really consider that.
3. Increase Job Satisfaction
Another 8 hours of hard and not particularly exciting tasks. Do you know the feeling? It can cause depression and influence your health. But what if you could prevent it? When adults play, it usually happens at home where it’s safe and comfortable. While work is associated with constant pressure and stress.
Build a bridge between the atmosphere of home and not-so-pleasant office. Allow mixing routine tasks with fun. It increases job satisfaction, results in fewer sick leaves, and a better mood.
What exactly makes people happier? It’s down to our nature and anatomy. When we play, our body releases spirits-lifting hormones, such as endorphins or serotonin. They fight depression and form positive emotions.
A couple of rounds in Rush Race are sure to shake you up. It’s about speed, maneuvering, and earning in-game coins for upgrades. Epic car crashes and traffic violations won’t get you bored. They guarantee satisfaction from the process. Which will influence your work mood in general.
4. Mitigate Stress
We spend most of our time doing our job. No wonder that it gets on our nerves eventually and causes depression. Stats show that 46% of employees blame workload. If previously it was taken as something normal, today managers are looking for ways out.
Gaming makes people feel at ease. It lowers the heart rate and blood pressure and serves as an effective stress response. And what seemed too much to deal with turns into a manageable task. Games shake off any symptoms of exhaustion or burnout and improve productivity. 78% of players are sure that virtual adventures cause relaxation and reduce stress.
Pop It Master is a meditating digital alternative to the popular toy. Clicking on the cells and listening to the sound, you relax. And let the stress go away. Several levels and different types of PopIt molds will be a rescue in stressful situations.
5. Develop Attention Span
Have you ever experienced a dramatic decrease in productivity after hours of work? This ability to stay focused longer is like a muscle. It can be trained through gaming.
Just pick any adventure that requires your attention. For example, one of the most played legends is Classic Snake. Eat dots on a pixelated field. Beat your previous results. Find a way to occupy the whole space to end the session. It’s hard because as you grow longer, you risk bumping into your own body. Play it at least once a day to feel the significant shift of concentration skills. It’ll help you at work, school and everyday life.
6. Reset Your Mind
A particularly difficult task can make us focus on it for hours. With no results. Our mind becomes stifled. It does not produce new ideas and has no inspiration to circulating around. One of the best ways out is to break this cycle of non-productive work. Just get distracted.
The Pomodoro Technique suggests dividing the day into working and resting periods. And we’re not talking just about lunchtime. It’s about frequent breaks to switch off from the current tasks. A video game is one of such distractions that can serve you well. Coming back to tasks, you’ll see new perspectives to tackle problems and be more productive. Read about the real-life experience of how workers started to perform better with this approach.
To practice the technique, you need a virtual adventure with short rounds and interesting content. Check out Filled 3 Glass Portals. It’s a puzzle and a great exercise for your mind. Fill a glass with small colorful balls using a system of portals. Avoid overfulfilling it or losing balls. Based on precision and logic, the title offers 30 levels with growing difficulty.
Gaming and productivity are interconnected. Don’t give up gaming if you like it. And if you can do it at the office is a good sign. You work in a good team. The one that has a progressive approach to workspace organization and overall staff wellness.
And if you are a top manager or HR, you should really give it a try and see the results. Games help relax, open new doors for creativity and benefit the company. It’s a useful tool in any organization or educational institution.
6 Benefits of Gaming for Your Productivity was last modified: September 15th, 2024 by Anna Yurovskikh
Most leaders in the construction space know that efficiency is everything. Because your projects can last a number of months to complete if they are of a large enough scale, you’ll have seen costs ballooning when you’re not hitting your deadlines and targets, and when workers are disrupted or materials are stuck in supply chains. As such, you’re more than aware that anything you can do to make your processes more efficient could save you hundreds of thousands of dollars. Here are three ways that you can get there, operating a watertight, optimized construction business.
Meticulous Planning
All businesses are only as strong as the thought leadership underpinning them. And all projects require careful management in order for all the individual components to come together as quickly and smoothly as possible. Your job is to facilitate this seamless operational side of your business. And you can get ahead by:
Using high-end management technology to keep you abreast of developments on site
Structuring a chain of command that helps you remain aware of all elements of the project
Making contingency plans in the case of delays that may be out of your hands
Hiring outsourced staff where appropriate to help you get the job done
These tips all fall under the auspices of “organizational skills” – absolutely vital if you’re to make a success of your construction business.
Tech Engagement
On site, your workers will be using all kinds of tools, vehicles and machines to get the job done. They’ll be expensive and valuable, but they may also be approaching several years of age. Some may break, some may be faulty, and others might simply not be up for the job on a modern construction site. So the advice here is to engage with new technology and to make upgrades where you can to your tools and hardware.
Where to start? Well, you should always be keeping an eye out for automation technology. Look to automatic welders for plastic, for instance, to give your workers a head-start when they’re fixing the paneling on roofs and under floors. Or invest in far better material-moving equipment – like cranes – so that the logistics of getting things around your site take far less time.
Great Staff
It’s easy to lose sight of the workers when you’re in the planning office of a project site. You’re trying to see the big picture constantly, envisaging potential delays that could come from anywhere on your risk map. With this perspective in mind, you can often forget that it’s the people who are following your commands that are ultimately going to decide the success of your project. Training is key for a cohesive business. Whether it’s the administrators, the crew, someone looking to become a welder or learning to run heavy machinery, ensuring everyone is on the same page is essential.
On site, you want there to be team unity and motivation to get the job done. You want great managers underneath you to head out there, making sure everyone’s pulling in the same direction. And you want to hire the best talent where possible so that you can rely on your workers to get the job done on time.
Run a more efficient construction firm, on more efficient sites, with the three key tips outlined above.
Driving Efficiency on Your Construction Projects: A Guide was last modified: March 14th, 2024 by Carol Trehearn
