Headless commerce is an approach to online retail that involves separating the front-end customer experience from the back-end sales and order processing systems. This allows businesses to develop cutting-edge shopping experiences while retaining their existing eCommerce technology and data. As consumer expectations continue to evolve, headless commerce allows companies to remain competitive in increasingly crowded digital marketplaces.
This technical guide will dive into headless commerce’s inner workings and benefits so you can decide whether it’s right for your business.
What is Headless Commerce?
Headless commerce is a type of eCommerce architecture where the customer-facing website (the “head”) is completely decoupled from the back-end systems (the “body”). This means that businesses can select specialized services and applications instead of relying on traditional, monolithic eCommerce platforms to build their customer experience. This separation allows companies to develop highly customized shopping experiences while still having access to all of their existing data.
What Is the Architecture Behind Headless Commerce?
An API-driven architecture powers headless commerce. This architecture consists of two main components: the front end and the back end.
The front end is the customer-facing component, which includes a website or mobile app that customers use to browse and purchase products. The back end is where all the data processing happens—it’s responsible for inventory management, order fulfillment, payment processing, and more.
The two components are connected via an Application Programming Interface (API). APIs are used to share information between different systems, allowing them to communicate with one another. This allows businesses to create a unified shopping experience without investing in costly integration projects.
What Are the Benefits of Headless Commerce?
Headless commerce provides several advantages over traditional, monolithic eCommerce solutions:
It gives businesses more control over their customer experience by allowing them to customize each element separately.
Because headless commerce separates the front-end and back-end, businesses don’t need to carry out costly and time-consuming website migration projects when upgrading their eCommerce technology.
Businesses are no longer tied to a specific platform, so they have more flexibility when selecting best-of-breed technologies and integrations.
What Are the Challenges of Headless Commerce?
While there are many benefits to headless commerce, there are also some potential drawbacks that businesses need to be aware of. For example, taking an API-first approach requires technical knowledge and can be difficult for non-technical users.
Additionally, having multiple services and applications means businesses must manage multiple vendor relationships, which can become complicated and time-consuming. Finally, if not implemented correctly, businesses may end up with data silos that make it difficult for them to understand their customers and purchasing behavior.
What Technologies Are Used in Headless Commerce?
Headless commerce typically involves three main components: an API platform, a content management system (CMS), and a data warehouse. The API platform is the “glue” that connects all other services. It handles requests and responses between the customer-facing website and back-end systems, such as the order processing or inventory management system.
The CMS is responsible for managing all of the content on the website, such as product descriptions, images, videos, etc. Finally, the data warehouse is where all the customer data is stored so businesses can use it to gain insights into customer purchasing behavior.
What Are the Best Practices for Headless Commerce?
When implementing a headless commerce solution, businesses should follow a few best practices to ensure success:
Focus on APIs and microservices instead of monolithic architectures. This will make it easier to scale and maintain as your business grows.
Use data-driven decisions when selecting vendors and technologies so you have the right tools in place for each part of your customer experience.
Invest in quality assurance processes to ensure everything is running smoothly before launch.
Tips for Getting Started with Headless Commerce
Headless commerce can be an excellent way for businesses to create a more personalized, unified customer experience. However, businesses must take the time to thoroughly research and plan before getting started.
Here Are Some Tips for Getting Started:
1. Define clear objectives: Make sure you clearly understand what you want to achieve with headless commerce; otherwise, it will be challenging to know how to get started.
2. Map out your customer journey: Understand how customers interact with your site so you can identify which technologies and services need to be integrated for a successful implementation.
3. Invest in quality assurance processes: Quality assurance is critical when implementing new technology solutions, as even minor issues can significantly impact the customer experience.
4. Utilize data-driven decisions: Make sure you are utilizing data to inform your decisions so that you know what technologies and vendors best suit your needs.
The Bottom Line
Headless commerce allows businesses to create an incredibly personalized, unified customer experience without being tied to a specific platform. While there can be challenges, such as managing multiple vendor relationships, businesses planning and investing in quality assurance processes will be well-positioned for success with headless commerce.
By following the guidelines and tips right here, businesses can get started creating a powerful eCommerce strategy that puts customers at the center of their business.
A Comprehensive Technical Guide to Headless Commerce was last modified: March 15th, 2024 by Mahendra Link
As data storage and utilization become more virtual, whole systems are now being migrated without the use of hard disks. The process is known as virtual migration. Virtual migration can take place either from a physical machine (a process known as P2V migration), or from one virtual platform to another (V2V migration).
This article will describe in detail how these processes take place, what steps to take to make them happen, and what you can do if you need assistance in the process.
What is a Virtual Machine and What is Virtualization?
A virtual machine is the virtualization of a computer system. What virtual machines do is simulate the architecture of computers in order to reproduce the same results without hardware. Virtualization, as the name suggests, is the shifting of data/servers/blocks from physical form to virtual form. The virtualization process could involve the use of both hardware and software. An excellent tool for carrying out the virtualization process is a V2V converter. V2V converters enable the conversion of physical machines into virtual ones, using different hypervisor servers.
Virtual Hardware
The virtualization process runs on guest machines, or guest virtual machines. Guest virtual machines are the software utilized on a virtual machine, the virtual equivalent of software that would be used on a physical machine. The operating systems that guest virtual machines use to function are called guest OSes. The virtual machine, in turn, may or may not involve the use of a hypervisor, or a program to carry out its functions, and a host (which takes the place of the processors/networks that would enable a physical machine to function).
Hosted Virtualization Versus Bare-Metal Virtualization
Even within the realm of virtualization, there are different types of products that people utilize to undertake migration processes. There are two primary categories of virtualization that run on guest machines:
Hosted virtualization – Hosted virtualization is a type of virtualization that runs on host OSes, or endpoint computers and hypervisors. Hosted virtualization is carried out when two or more virtual machines are called for, often involving different OSes. Hosted virtualization is preferable when multiple systems are being used because the hypervisors allow for greater flexibility in the process.
Bare-metal virtualization, on the other hand, eliminates the need for the operating system by utilizing a tool that acts as a hypervisor and carries out processes directly on host hardware. Bare-metal hypervisors are also known as Type 1 hypervisors.
Types of VM migration – Cold and Hot
Cold Migration
The first major type of VM migration is called “cold” migration. Cold migration takes place while a system is off. This type of migration is preferable for situations in which virtual data (or other OS parts) are being either re-registered or copied to a new place. When ESXi hosts (virtual representations of the computing resources of physical computers that utilize ESX, or Elastic Sky X servers) utilize different types of CPU architectures, they cannot undergo live migrations because of the incompatible nature of their architectures.
Another reason that cold migration might be preferable would be in cases in which there is concern about data loss or corruption during the migration process. If, for example, certain mail servers involve frequent updating of data, it would be advisable for the user to undertake a cold migration so that incoming data is not lost in the process. Once new data enters the system, it will appear when the machine is powered on.
If migration is taking place between hosts, it is not critical whether or not they belong to the same cluster as there shouldn’t be any potential compatibility issues at stake.
Hot Migrations
Hot migrations are conducted when systems being migrated are static and not subject to frequent change. It is also known as live migration. Hot migration is preferable, when possible, because the entire process takes only minutes to complete as it does not require any down time. Hot and cold migrations utilize different types of data and network types.
Things to Keep in Mind
As much as virtualizing your data will benefit you, there are a few things that you should be aware of as you manage your virtual sphere. First of all, VMs can be more complicated to manage than physical servers, so extra skills are required. Also, there are additional costs included in the virtualization platform. Clouds aren’t free, of course, and they are coveted spaces these days as everyone wants to go virtual. So this is something to make a note of.
In conclusion, your own virtualization process and V2V migration process will depend on your own personal (or business) requirements, what systems you utilize, the amount and frequency of your data transfer, and how important time and security are to you. You should think carefully about each aspect of the process and what method makes the most sense to you.
In the end, having completed these processes will make your computing life a lot easier, more streamlined, and more efficient. The world is moving quickly towards virtualizing data that is considered important; you shouldn’t let yourself or your business stay behind.
What is Virtual to Virtual (V2V) Migration? was last modified: December 13th, 2022 by Kristen Varlet
Entrepreneurs often choose to form a limited liability company (LLC) for their business, in large part because of the personal liability protection it provides. However, it’s called a limited liability company for a reason – the liability protection has exceptions and limits.
But don’t worry – there are steps you can take to avoid those exceptions and improve the security of your personal assets from the obligations of the LLC.
Exceptions to Personal Liability Protection
First, you need to know the situations in which your personal assets could be at risk.
The most common situation occurs when you apply for a business loan for your LLC. Often, the LLC itself does not have sufficient credit to obtain the loan on its own, so lenders ask for a member or members of the LLC to personally guarantee the loan.
While doing so can help you get the financing you need, it makes you personally liable for that debt. If the LLC cannot pay the loan, you will be personally responsible for paying it. If you can’t or don’t pay it, the lender can come after your personal assets in legal proceedings.
The other exceptions to personal liability protection come from some kind of wrongdoing on the part of the members. These include:
Personally injuring someone in the course of business
Failing to pay taxes such as payroll taxes or sales taxes
Fraud committed by a member
Commingling business and personal funds, which blurs the separation between you and the LLC
Those situations, for the most part, can clearly be avoided unless you do something inadvertently.
What You Can Do to Keep Your Assets Safe
There are a host of actions that you can take to keep your personal liability protection intact.
Establish Business Credit
If you can establish business credit for your LLC, at some point the LLC should be able to qualify for a business loan on its own so that you can avoid personal guarantees. You can do so by starting with a business credit card and paying it off monthly. You’ll also need to make sure that you pay all your vendors on time.
If you don’t already have an employer identification number (EIN), you should obtain one. It’s like a social security number for your business and is used to track your business credit.
Don’t Mix Personal and Business Funds
The personal liability protection of an LLC comes from the fact that you and the LLC are separate entities. In a sole proprietorship, on the other hand, the owner and the business are one and the same, and therefore the owner does not have personal liability protection.
If you mix business and personal funds, it, again, blurs the line between you and the business. This could be used in court to argue that your LLC and you are one and the same and void your personal liability protection.
Be sure to have a business bank account and keep your business and personal accounting records completely separate.
Sign Contracts on Behalf of Your LLC
When you sign contracts with vendors, clients, or other parties, you should never sign personally. You’ll always sign on behalf of your LLC. For example, you might sign as follows:
Business Name, LLC
By: – Signature here
Your name and title such as “Managing member of Business Name, LLC”
Doing so not only protects you from personal liability but can also help to build your business credit.
Have an Operating Agreement in Place
An operating agreement is a critical document to have in place, particularly if your LLC has more than one member. An operating agreement will define ownership interests and profit distributions, but more importantly, it should specify how member disputes are resolved.
Business founder disputes are all too common, but a clear and detailed operating agreement can keep those disputes from ending up in court, which could threaten the business and you personally.
It’s highly recommended that you have an attorney draw up your operating agreement to make sure that it contains all the proper provisions and language.
Get Business Insurance
You should speak with your insurance agent about the types of business insurance that can help. General liability insurance can protect both the company and the members from liability for injuries that occur during the course of business.
Professional liability insurance is another type to consider. This can protect you if someone says they were financially injured by an error or omission in your work.
Again, speak with your insurance agent about all your options.
Limit What Your LLC Owns
You can protect your LLCs assets by limiting them. Don’t keep a large amount in your business bank account by making regular distributions to members. You should also generally own your car personally rather than buying a company car in the LLCs name.
You should speak with your tax advisor before buying anything under the LLC so that they can help you weigh the pros and cons. It’s also good to get the advice of your attorney as well so that you keep the lines between your LLC and you clear when you make purchases.
Consider a Trust
You and other members might consider putting your personal assets, including your homes, in a trust. This can protect your assets from creditors and lawsuits in case your personal liability protection is threatened in some way.
Speak with your attorney about a trust as an option for you. They can advise you about the type of trust that’s right for you and establish the trust on your behalf.
Follow the Rules
Of course, the best way to protect your LLC and your assets is to do everything the right way. Pay your LLC’s obligations and follow all laws and regulations. Of course, things can still occur that are out of your control, but if you do your homework and seek the guidance of professionals, you can avoid inadvertently doing something that can put your LLC and your personal assets at risk.
In Closing
An LLC offers many benefits, particularly personal liability protection, but it’s important to remember that that protection has limits. If you follow all the steps outlined above, you can increase the security of your LLC and your assets. Again, your tax advisor and attorney are valuable resources that you should utilize to protect your interests and the future of your business.
Mark Zuckerberg held the first public conference in the Horizon Worlds metaverse of Meta on October 11, 2022, during Meta’s Connect event. At this conference, there were many main announcements, including the new $1,499 Quest Pro headset, Meta’s partnership with Microsoft to bring Office apps into the metaverse, and many more. However, the most-talked announcement is about legs coming to virtual avatars.
Till now, Horizon Worlds users had legless avatars that float in the metaverse without any legs. During the Connect conference, Mark Zuckerberg and his Meta exec Aigerim Shorman’s avatars showed a demo of kicking and jumping off their avatars with legs. This was meant to narrate that Horizon Worlds is soon providing users with legs to have a more lifelike experience in the digital space. However, things don’t look as simple as they seem. So, let’s discuss in detail the metaverse legs announcement and see how things are shaping up currently.
Why Legs are so Important for Meta?
It is almost a year since Mark Zuckerberg changed the company name to Meta and revealed his grand metaverse ambition. Zuckerberg believes that VR/AR is the future of the internet and is spending billions to take on a lead in it. Due to this ambition, Meta is under severe criticism that the plans are quite unrealistic or seriously lack lifelike experience currently.
In fact, Zuckerberg was mocked heavily when he shared his avatar on Facebook for the announcement of the launch of Horizon Worlds in Spain and France.
Right after criticism, Zuckerberg ensured that more enhanced graphic updates are coming to its metaverse avatars. So, the recent announcement of legs coming to the metaverse is one important step to improve the graphics of the avatars and make users feel a more lifelike experience.
“I know you’ve been waiting for this. Everyone has been waiting for this,” said Zuckerberg’s avatar in the Meta’s Connect Event. “But seriously, legs are hard, which is why other virtual reality systems don’t have them either.”
The emphasis Meta is putting on legs shows that visual problems are the biggest concern currently for the company because users don’t want to see floating avatars in outdated graphics. Therefore, the company is trying its best to show that it touches reality, as it will excite the people about the metaverse, which is much needed to stop the declining tech giant’s stock and gain investors’ trust in the future of the company.
How is Meta Going to Detect Legs?
Meta was not able to introduce legs earlier because VR/AR headsets can only detect the movements of upper body parts, such as hands, head, face, etc. When the view of your legs is blocked from the headset due to your arms or if your legs are inside the desk, then the headset is not able to detect their position. So, there is no simple way to detect the movement of legs from the existing headsets. In fact, the new $1,499 Quest Pro headset is also not coming with legs.
Microsoft has also faced complications with introducing legs in its metaverse. Moreover, some other VR experiences that are showing virtual legs are not capable to track the movements of legs in real time.
Despite all challenges with detecting legs, Meta has announced to bring legs first to its metaverse, Horizon Worlds, and then to its other products. As per Zuckerberg, they will set up different predictive AI models that will guess the orientation and movement of legs based on the movement of upper-body parts. In short, they are trying to build a smart AI model that can accurately predict the complete body position.
How Real are Zuckerberg’s Avatar Legs in the Demonstration
The demonstration of Zuckerberg and his Meta exec Aigerim Shorman’s avatars during the Meta’s Connect event seemed to be the actual legs of their avatars that are accurately reflecting their legs’ movements. However, that was just the animation made for the demonstration.
Meta told UploadVR’s Ian Hamilton that they used animation for the legs. “To enable this preview of what’s to come, the segment featured animations created from motion capture,” the Meta told the publication.
This clearly narrates legs are not coming to Horizon Worlds right away. If it was so, then why would Meta do the demo with animations? Most likely, we will see the legs in Horizon Worlds somewhere in 2023, but they are surely going to come into the metaverse environment very soon.
Other Avatar Updates
Meta is not just focusing on adding legs to avatars, but a lot of other visual refinements are underway. For example, the new Quest Pro headset now comes with inward-facing head sensors that can accurately track facial expressions and eye movements. Similarly, Meta is also updating the appearance of avatars with more realistic looks and is also diversifying skin tones, clothing styles, facial features, etc. Meta is also going to launch a Meta Avatar Store next year that will allow users to make their avatars look fancier and buy other digital goods.
Wrapping Up – Are Legs going to make any difference in the Public’s Perception of Metaverse?
Zuckerberg believes that VR is the future, and it’s true somehow considering the exponential growth in the development and use of VR technology. That’s why Meta is risking a lot with $10 billion annual spending on the metaverse. However, what Meta and other tech giants are struggling with is convincing the general public to show excitement and use the metaverse.
Currently, VR headsets are costly, while the metaverse is used more for gaming and virtual experiences, so even legs alone cannot contribute much to the public perception of the metaverse. Once the graphics become better, more business/corporate-related features of the metaverse come into action, and headsets become cheaper, more people will get attracted to the metaverse. To sum up, Meta will definitely get some appreciation once legs get integrated with Horizon Worlds, but there is a long journey to bring the metaverse to the level that people actually start loving it.
Metaverse Announces Legs AR for Company Meetings for Avatars – Is This What We Have Been Waiting For? was last modified: January 26th, 2023 by Hamza Razzaq
A business app can help your company in a lot of ways. For starters, it can make communication faster and easier. With an app, you can send messages to people instantly, whether they’re in the office or out on a job site. You can also access files and documents much more quickly, which can save you a lot of time and hassle. An app can also help you keep track of your sales and expenses. You can record transactions as they happen, which will give you a real-time snapshot of how your business is doing. And if you ever need to do a tax audit, having all that data at your fingertips will make things much simpler. Let’s take look at the benefits of having an app for your business.
Your Business Will Look More Professional
Having an app for your business will make it look more professional in the eyes of customers, clients, and other stakeholders. Your app will provide a direct channel to reach out to your customer base whenever you need it. Moreover, apps help to enhance customer experience by providing personalized services and easy access to products and services. By being able to communicate directly with your customers, you can get feedback on your services and products with ease. Reputable app developers in Dubai note that businesses that have an app show a great level of commitment and dedication to their customers. This helps to build trust between you and your customers, which is invaluable in any business.
Your Business Will Reach a Wider Audience
Having an app can help you reach more people than ever before, particularly when it comes to mobile users. Today, most people access the internet via their smartphones, and having an app on the App Store or Google Play can make it easier for them to find your business. With an app, you can reach a wider audience than ever before without any additional advertising costs. In addition, having an app increases the visibility of your business, as it will appear in searches related to its category.
You Can Take Advantage of Push Notifications
Push notifications are a great way to keep customers updated on new offers and promotions. With an app, you can send push notifications directly to their mobile devices, enabling them to take advantage of special deals or discounts that may appeal to them. This can help you increase customer engagement and loyalty, as well as drive more sales. When done correctly, push notifications can be an effective tool for marketing your business and helping customers stay up to date on the latest products and services.
You Can Access Valuable Data
Having an app will give you access to valuable data about your customers, including their demographics and preferences. This data can be used to understand customer behavior better, as well as to develop better products and services. Additionally, you can use the data to optimize your marketing campaigns and get more out of every dollar spent. It’s important to recognize that data is the key to success in this digital age. It can be used to gain insights, make informed decisions, and become more efficient.
You Can Increase Brand Awareness
Having an app means that more customers are exposed to your brand on a regular basis. Not only will this help people become familiar with – and fond of – your brand, but it can also lead to more customers and increased loyalty. By displaying your logo, brand colors, and product images prominently in the app design, you can ensure that customers will recognize your business every time they open the app.
You Can Increase Customer Engagement
A mobile app helps you create more engagement with your customers by enabling them to interact with your business in a way that is convenient for them. By providing an easy way for customers to access information about your products and services, you can keep them informed of the latest developments and help build loyalty. Additionally, apps give customers opportunities to become more involved in your company by allowing them to leave feedback or participate in special offers.
In conclusion, having an app is a great way to promote your business and increase customer engagement. It can help you reach more people, access valuable data, boost brand awareness, and take advantage of push notifications. By taking the time to invest in developing a high-quality app, you can ensure that your business stands out from the competition and continues to grow for years to come. With the help of a professional developer, you can ensure that your business has a high-quality app that is tailored to meet the needs of your customers. A well-designed app will provide a great experience and make it simpler for customers to find what they need quickly and easily.
Why An App Is A Great Option For Your Growing Business was last modified: August 9th, 2023 by Charlene Brown
Software development lifecycle management is a comprehensive process aimed at simplifying all processes as much as possible. For this purpose, specialized tools are used to make all stages of development cost-effective, fast, and of high quality.
Software Development Life Cycle Management
Depending on the communication strategy, you should choose a methodology for the most productive development process.
Some popular methodologies that your software development company should use are Agile, Lean, Iterative, Spiral, and V SDLC.
The software development life cycle (SDLC) in outsourcing or in-house consists of the following stages:
Requirements gathering. This stage defines the goals and objectives that you need to achieve;
Planning and design. At this stage, you should identify the priorities of functions and conduct research to validate the approaches and technologies;
Software creation and assembly. The most time-consuming and labor-intensive stage;
Testing. At this stage, you perform final debugging and documentation of the finished software;
Deployment. The final stage, where you carry out the deployment and transfer of software to the client.
Testing and Tracking live. At this stage, you must use a website visitor tracker to observe every move users make while using it.
To cultivate a more robust and secure environment, incorporating a secure SDLC in software development is increasingly crucial. It involves integrating security measures in each stage of the Software Development Life Cycle (SDLC). Notably, it’s not only pivotal during the initial design phase but extends throughout deployment and maintenance.
Also Read: The gaming companies listed in Indian Stock Market are few compared to the up-and-coming startups and companies which are working on the next generation of gaming that goes beyond conventional screens and systems.
Top 12 Tools and Templates
The list of lifecycle management software includes tools for tracking work tasks and bugs, open-source version control, and more efficient management.
1. Trello
Trello is a visual tool for the comprehensive management of projects and different types of workflows. It is a modified kanban board that allows you to assign tasks to employees and control their implementation. There are 3 types of features for this:
Boards. This is a classic kanban with 2 types of functions: lists and maps. This visualization of tasks allows you to keep track of all the work processes on the project, from the planning stage to the execution;
Task cards. They contain all the information an employee needs for work. After the task is completed, it is easy to drag it to the “Completed” list;
Columns. These are stages of work on the task, e.g. “To Do”, “In Process”, and “Done”.
You can add participants, due dates, and attachments to the cards. You can also create lists of tasks and divide large tasks into smaller ones. Among the advantages of Trello are completely free access to most features, a simple interface, and many support languages.
2. Jira
Jira is an effective integrated decision-making tool for Agile teams that is suitable for different processes. These are requirements and test scenarios management, software development, and others. The program has many ready-made templates to get you started.
Jira features for Agile teams:
Quick trouble-shooting;
Keeping a work log;
Customizable processes;
Scrum and kanban boards;
Progress reports;
Access rights at the project level;
Email notifications available;
Road mapping;
Project backlogs.
For additional convenience, it’s helpful to set up differentiated access rights, especially when your team is managing tasks with Jira story points.
3. WatchThemLive
WatchThemLive is a website behavioral analytics tool that helps its users to take a close look at what their website visitors are doing and how they can improve their business based on UX.
To do so, this platform employs some tools and provides users with visual and quantitative data. Here are WatchThemLive features:
Session replays and active filters: Using session replays, users can record visitors’ sessions and find possible bugs and errors. WatchThemLive’s dashboard also include active filters to help users categorize sessions into multiple groups based on session duration, screen resolution, location, etc.
Heatmaps: With the help of heatmaps, users can see which parts of their website get the most attention and clicks from visitors. Therefore, as a result, they would be able to improve or replace buttons and features.
Visitors and real-time: On WatchThemLive, users can also gain data about their website audience and even about those real-time or online visitors simultaneously. These data include their browsers, devices, languages, etc., and help them to satisfy their target audience much easier.
Goals and teams: Another useful feature on this CRO tool is the ‘Goals’ option. Using this feature, users can set up goals and keep track of them solely and see the improvements over time. Plus, they can create teams for all company members and share whatever goes on on their website with the whole team.
Moreover, WatchThemLive users can take advantage of adding unlimited number of websites and having unlimited limits in most packages. WatchThemLive is a CRO platform in a nutshell that helps us check our influencer marketing strategies and convert users to paid users better and faster.
4. Asana
Asana is a single platform for managing various processes and tracking teamwork in real time. Its capabilities include employee communication, project work, task tracking, and document sharing.
Asana features:
Workspace branding feature;
General work chat;
Comments can be added to tasks;
Smart search feature;
Notification system;
Email verification can be set up.
The platform can integrate with other popular project management services, such as Microsoft Teams, Jira, Gmail, Evernote GitHub,online connectors like ApiX-Drive, or Zapier and others. The service provides free access for teams of up to 15 people. After that, there is a subscription starting at $10 per month.
5. Git
Git is an advanced open-source version control system with active support. This software provides high team performance as well as the flexibility of a distributed system.
It is essentially a set of programs that are specifically designed to participate in scripts. The Git system offers the following:
Streamlined commit procedure;
The ability to easily port to any platform;
Many proprietary GUIs such as GitKraken, TortoiseGit, SmartGit, and others.
The standard Git comes with Subversion or CVS import and export tools.
6. Atlassian Stash
Stash is a local version of GitHub that is used to stash changes that have been made to the working version. It stores both committed and uncommitted changes as needed.
Stash features:
Individual users and groups can be added;
Repository creation and management;
It is possible to place it on your own server;
Synchronization with Jira.
Slash also supports a variety of extension options. It supports HTTP/HTTPS and SSH protocols with authentication possible by key or password.
7. SourceTree
SourceTree is a visual client for working efficiently with Git. Used for Mac or Windows, it simplifies the work with repositories. The program has the following features:
Visualization of the development process without access to the command line;
Easy code visualization;
Smooth management of repositories and the ability to interact between them.
SourceTree supports integration with Bitbucket to universalize your code version control system.
8. Confluence
Confluence is a corporate wiki that is great for distributed teams. It makes it easy to create collaboration workspaces for knowledge exchange.
Its features:
Confluence for easy alignment of the page hierarchy;
Many tools for teamwork, including publishing updates with version history and notes;
Active Directory synchronization and two-factor authentication (2FA) are used to protect confidentiality.
Integration with Jira Software, Jira Service Management, Trello, and other tools is possible to enhance the program’s capabilities.
9. upBOARD
It is a flexible platform for managing the software development lifecycle. In essence, it is a “live whiteboard” to extract real-time metrics from logs of completed work and bugs.
The upBOARD program has the following tools:
An error log for tracking development problems;
Software technology assessment;
Jira dashboard, which displays information about the current state of development as well as different types of information about the product.
The program supports integration with Google Drive for data transfer.
10. LaunchDarkly
LaunchDarkly is a platform for managing various features and deploying code at any time. The program allows it even when the feature is not yet ready to be released to all users.
LaunchDarkly features:
Feature flags for open source code;
Changes are made in a maximum of 200 ms;
Quick “shutdown” of dangerous functions.
All functions are securely “bound” to the control panel. This allows the administrator to turn them on and off.
11. CircleCI
It’s a platform for working with repositories with a simple authorization done through GitHub. Circle CI is a system for building and deploying a project, which is available as a self-hosted application or in the cloud.
The program features:
You can work on multiple tests simultaneously;
It can connect to a large number of frameworks for fast application deployment;
This platform offers users 6,000 free seconds for building per month and up to 30 jobs at a time.
12. Ainfluencer
Now that you are familiar with all these tools to rule your software development life cycle, you need to promote them; and what better way than influencer marketing, as more than 93% of marketers use this strategy? Ainfluencer is a marketplace that helps brands and influencers connect and collaborate.
You can easily run and manage influencer marketing campaigns and track the results- all for free. You can also use one of Ainfluencer’s pricing plans and let the experts do all the processes for you.
13. Refrens
Refrens is the best invoice generator since it allows you to make an infinite number of invoices for clients without having to pay a single dime.
With only one click, you may produce a delivery challan, payment receipt, debit note, and credit note.
The invoice can be changed at any time, and you can send it by email, WhatsApp, or by immediately saving it as a PDF and sending that instead.
Refrens Features That Stand Out:
Free Unlimited Invoice
Permission control
Quick Easy Invoice
Customization of Columns
Email & Track Invoices
Recurring Invoices
Custom Formula
Invoice Templates
Insightful Reports
Client Management
Ready Data
14. ScreenRec
With ScreenRec you can do almost anything related to screen recording. You can record your screen, microphone, audio, and webcam with this one simple tool. You can also take screenshots and annotate them.
You can use ScreenRec to record instant video messages and send them instantly via the private sharing link you get. The auto-save function lets you share your recording as soon as you press the “Stop” button. Offline recordings are uploaded to the cloud as soon as you’re online again. And since it’s all stored in the cloud, you’ll always have access to your recording history.
Pros
Cons
Free download for Windows and Linux
No video editing features
No watermark or time limits
If you don’t create a free account, there’s a 5-minute recording limit.
Lightweight recorder, no lag on your recording
Records your screen, audio, mic and webcam
Cloud Recording technology for instant sharing
Conclusions
Software development lifecycle management tools are specialized programs that make a team’s job easier. Their list includes project management platforms, visualization tools, and others. However, if you are looking for some ready-made business tools so that you can skip the development process, then go forward with Shopify, YoRent, Growcer and ShareTribe.
Top 12 Tools to Rule Your Software Development Life Cycle was last modified: October 11th, 2024 by Colby Bickner
Data and technology have changed the way we do business. Companies have more tools than ever to handle different tasks and available data to fuel their decision-making. That is why making business decisions based on intuition is a thing of the past.
Modern businesses make well-informed decisions and use their resources for maximum efficiency. That is why data analysis has become a mandatory process in any industry. It’s essential, like accounting or product development.
Let’s see how data analysis reflects on customer service and how you can use it to your advantage.
Explaining Data Analysis in Business
Data analysis refers to many methodologies and technologies for solving various business problems within business analytics. Data analysis has four different methods, each focusing on specific tasks:
Predictive analysis: includes statistics and modeling techniques on datasets to create likely future outcomes and predictions.
Statistical analysis: includes learning about trends, relationships, and patterns within quantitative data. This method allows researchers to uncover information that wasn’t evident at first.
Competitive analysis: includes learning about competitors and assessing different aspects of their customers, services, products, marketing, sales, etc.
Consumer data analysis: entails gathering customer information and analyzing it to learn more about consumers.
Why Is Data Analysis So Critical in Business?
Data analysis is a critical process that lets you gather more quality data while allowing your business to put proper analysis in place to get the most out of your data.
Organizations that use proper data analytics processes to fuel accurate and relevant data can easily:
Change, adapt, and improve the company mission, values, or vision to keep up with customer needs, market trends, and employees.
Create, polish, and manage new sales and marketing strategies.
Create better business plans or make upgrades to their current ones.
Find the best solutions for current challenges and recognize technological shortcomings.
Recognize their best and worst processes, departments, and workflows.
In other words, you can gather all the data you want, but if you don’t analyze it properly, it won’t give you the benefits you need. For example, many companies force customer service reps to juggle multiple platforms and perform manual data entry.
However, they can streamline data entry and make data analysis much easier with a simple CTI system, as they have consistent input.
How Data Analysis Reflects on Customer Service
Customer service and data analytics complement each other. That is especially true with consumer data analysis. Overall, data analytics can give more context, depth, and information necessary to provide better customer service.
Recognizing the Weakest Points
Customer service allows you to gather valuable feedback and metrics you can analyze to learn what you’re doing wrong and improve different aspects of your process.
However, customers don’t always talk about what they dislike or like, and it’s often tricky to discover what they think. That is where data analytics comes into play, as it can uncover unseen trends and patterns.
Improved Personalized Experiences
More data means better insights, and better insights help create a personalized experience. Modern consumers want to feel unique and trust companies that try to give them what they need. Data lets companies learn what customers like the most about their ads, products, services, website, etc.
This information lets customer service reps approach every customer individually and establish meaningful communication.
More Knowledge About Services and Products
With data analysis, companies can also learn how their customers use their services or products, the best features they like about them, why they bought them, any issues they might have, etc.
This information piles up over time and becomes the fuel customer service reps need to deal with queries more effectively.
How to Analyze Business Data to Improve Customer Service
Here are the essential steps to take to get all of the benefits above and then some.
Spot Critical Trends on Time
With data analysis, you can find recurring trends and patterns that can be both positive and negative. Having the whole process at your fingertips with a clear overview can make it easier to implement these trends using CRM software.
Determine Your Crucial KPIs
There are so many KPIs in customer service, and you need to prioritize. Think about the core of the problem. For example, if your average response time is too long, you can analyze this process to see what’s wrong and not hire new reps immediately since the problem can be in many different areas.
Create a Better Customer Journey
Creating a visualization of customer journeys can help companies understand what motivates consumers. With this journey, you can also understand how your service fits into the whole process and improve any issues. You can solve these problems and create a customer journey map with data analytics.
Bottom Line
With proper methods and technologies, data analytics can fuel your customer service process. You might need some time to develop an efficient data workflow, but in the end, you will see excellent returns on your investment.
Ways You Can Utilize Data Analysis to Reinvent Customer Service Processes was last modified: January 15th, 2023 by Scott Fluent
Are you in the process of choosing manufacturing software for your business? If so, you may be feeling overwhelmed by all of the different options out there. To help you narrow down your choices, here is a guide on different types of manufacturing software to help you decide which software is suitable for your business needs.
Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) Software
ERP software helps a business manage all the resources, information, and finances they need to succeed. It allows businesses to easily integrate their operations with their financial systems to save time and money. It also allows them to keep track of data across multiple locations and departments.
Implementing ERP software into their processes allows businesses to keep up with customer demands, increase productivity and efficiency, produce higher quality products or services, and improve time-to-market for new ideas and initiatives. Most importantly, using ERP software enables a business to stay competitive in an ever-changing economic environment by allowing them to optimize cost structures while maintaining solid customer relationships.
Manufacturing Execution System (MES) Software
Quality control is integral to any successful manufacturing business. Without it, you risk producing unreliable goods or not meeting customer standards. That’s why many manufacturers are looking for manufacturing execution software for their quality control needs. This software is designed to track and manage information from every production stage, from supplier selection, raw materials acquisition, and machine operation down to packaging and shipping.
By creating a digital collection of data points and tracking progress against this database in real-time, MES software helps to ensure that all possible flaws in the product can be identified and corrected before it reaches the customer. It also allows them to keep track of historical data across multiple locations and departments when combined with a manufacturing data system.
This comprehensive tracking system also helps save on labor expenses by alerting personnel when process units have been completed and quickly transferring information between departments.
With simple installation and multi-level access that allows authorized personnel to monitor or intervene at any point throughout the manufacturing process, MES software makes quality control fast and easy while ensuring consistent results throughout your entire production chain.
Materials Requirements Planning (MRP) Software
MRP (Material Requirements Planning) software is a crucial tool for modern businesses, streamlining and optimizing the complex process of managing materials and resources. This software enables organizations to effectively plan and control their production processes by automating tasks such as inventory management, order scheduling, and procurement. MRP software takes into account various factors, including production schedules, lead times, and demand forecasts, to ensure efficient use of resources and timely production.
By providing real-time insights and data-driven decision-making capabilities, MRP software enhances overall operational efficiency, reduces waste, and helps businesses meet customer demands with precision. This technology plays a pivotal role in enhancing supply chain management, ensuring businesses can meet production goals and maintain a competitive edge in today’s dynamic market landscape.
Customer Relationship Management (CRM) Software
Businesses strive to optimize customer satisfaction at every sales cycle stage, from initial leads to post-sale follow-ups. However, their efforts can only succeed if their customer interactions are tracked and properly managed. This is where CRM software comes in. It gives businesses access to valuable data on potential buyers and previous customers and stores all customer interactions in a centralized hub, allowing everyone on a business’s team to get up to speed quickly and easily.
By using customer relationship management software (CRM), businesses can ensure that no lead or customer query ever falls through the cracks. With customizable alerts and automated follow-up emails, they can stay on top of all stages of their sales process while simultaneously providing excellent customer service.
Supply Chain Management (SCM) Software
In today’s world, businesses have to move faster to keep up with the competition. As a result, supply chain and logistics management can get incredibly complex, making it too easy for companies to struggle with inventory control, shipping delays, and other supply chain issues. However, SCM software allows companies to streamline their supply chain processes, helping them stay efficient and agile while staying on top of all the details of supply chain management.
With features such as real-time inventory tracking, automated data gathering, route optimization, and more, SCM software makes it easier for businesses to stay on top of their supply chains without getting bogged down in paperwork or details. Businesses can save time and money by simplifying and streamlining the process of managing their supply chains. SCM software also helps ensure the safety of goods during transit by providing visibility into each stage of the shipment process – from origin to destination – so that customers know exactly when to expect their items.
These programs are designed to keep customers satisfied while saving time and money. By using these tools, business owners can ensure that their teams stay organized and efficient, resulting in better profits for the business.
The Different Types of Manufacturing Software: Explained was last modified: February 20th, 2024 by Allen Brown
If you’re one of the many people who love to watch movies and TV shows at home, then you may be interested in learning about the best way to set up your home cinema. Let’s explore four tech tips for setting up your perfect home cinema and some great resources that you can use to learn more about setting up your home cinema!
1. Smart Solutions
Smart technologies are an essential part of any home cinema setup. It doesn’t matter if you’re building a small theater in your living room or putting up a dedicated movie theater in your basement, the right smart solutions will make it easy to find and stream content, adjust settings for optimal viewing, and control lighting levels for added ambiance. You can contact the Custom Controls London team if you’re not sure where to start. Look for HDMI-enabled TVs with 4K resolution and HDR support, as well as streaming media players like Google Chromecast, Apple TV, and Amazon Fire TV that can help you access all kinds of streaming services.
2. Audio Setup
The audio setup for your home cinema is just as important as the visual components. You’ll need a powerful surround sound system or at least a few speakers to ensure an immersive experience during movies and TV shows. Look for Dolby Atmos-compatible speakers, receivers, and subwoofers if you want to take advantage of the latest audio technologies. Alternatively, you could install in-ceiling speakers throughout your home theater to create even more acoustic effects.
3. Theater Seating
You can’t have a true home cinema without comfortable seating! Take some time to measure out the space and make sure that you get enough seats for everyone who will be joining you for movie night. If you’re looking for something special, there are plenty of theater seating options on the market, including reclining chairs that come with clever storage compartments and cupholders. For example, bean bag chairs and loveseats can provide a more comfortable experience for your guests. Also, make sure to pick up some extra pillows and blankets for those chilly nights when you just want to curl up on the couch and watch a movie. Finally, don’t forget about the little details such as side tables and snack trays that will help complete your home theater setup.
4. Home Automation
Finally, you could also consider integrating your home cinema setup with other smart home technologies to make it easier to control lights and sound levels without having to get up from your seat. This can be a great way to improve efficiency and convenience when watching movies or TV shows at home. You might want to look into creating custom scenes for each type of activity that you do in your home theater, such as watching movies, playing video games, or listening to music.
Setting up your perfect home cinema doesn’t have to be a daunting task. With the right smart technology, audio setup, theater seating, and home automation solutions, you’ll be able to create an amazing movie-watching experience in your living room. Don’t forget to check out our blog for more helpful tips and advice on setting up the perfect home cinema!
4 Tech Tips for the Perfect Home Cinema Setup was last modified: December 7th, 2022 by Allen Brown
It can be overwhelming to find a managed service provider (MSP), let alone the right one for your business. After all, there are so many out there. So, how do you know which one best suits your company?
Getting the ideal information technology (IT) service provider can be beneficial in various ways. One of the most notable ones is that your in-house IT team can afford to focus on your core business operations. Thus, improving their productivity and efficiency. You can also visit https://tenecom.com/benefits-of-remote-it-support/ or similar sites to see other benefits to your business. Essentially, extensive research is one crucial way to get the right MSP.
Such research can include gathering information about the different providers and their reputations and making comparisons. As such, you can eliminate them one by one till you find the few most suitable service provider. Once you narrow down your list of potential MSPs, it’s essential to research each in more depth. You can use the below points as your checklist.
1. Consider Their Industry Experience
IT requirements and regulations will differ from one industry to another. As such, the compliance needs will also vary. Therefore, selecting an MSP with operational experience in your sector of operation would be best. Such an MSP understands the regulations governing your business and the necessary timelines. As a result, you can avoid potential penalties and fines for late or non-compliance.
2. Consider The Providers’ Values And Competencies
When looking for a provider, you must consider their values and competencies. Find out if they have the same values as your company.
It’s crucial to find a provider who shares your company’s values. Otherwise, you might struggle to achieve your desired IT system efficiency. The provider must also have the necessary competencies to meet your needs. For instance, say you’re looking for a provider to help you with extensive cloud-based solutions. In this case, looking for an MSP with significant cloud solutions experience is vital.
To get enterprise-level IT help from a dependable, trustworthy, and quick-responding outside staff, check out managed IT services Sydney.
3. Get Feedback And References From Clients
To determine if an MSP is right for your business, ask for references and feedback from previous and current clients. Ask to speak with both happy and unhappy clients. Doing so helps you to get a well-rounded view of what it’s like working with the MSP.
If an MSP is hesitant or unwilling to provide references, that may not be a good sign. It could mean they have something to hide and aren’t confident enough in the quality of their work. Besides, seeking references is a typical procedure for obtaining new clients. As such, an MSP should be able to give you a list of their clients whom you can contact for more information.
4. Check The Solutions The Provider Offer Versus Your Needs
You can dig deeper into the solutions they offer from the narrowed-down list of your top MSPs. Find out if their portfolio is robust enough. Additionally, determine if they have the right IT solutions to meet your company’s needs. You want to ensure the provider has all the services you require. Thus, you can avoid procuring the same from another MSP which can easily create duplicity. Besides, this can also inflate your IT costs.
For instance, you’re looking for a data backup and recovery solution. Check if the MSP offers these specific services in their portfolio. Furthermore, look for a provider who meets your needs today and can scale up with your business as it grows. If you’re looking at cloud-based solutions, ensure the MSP can support your cloud migration of existing data and applications. Moreover, if you’re dealing with significantly sensitive data, confirm that they can offer security features like data encryption and access monitoring.
Overall, looking for MSPs who can go beyond the basics and provide enterprise-level services tailored to your exact IT environment is crucial. That way, you’ll get reliable services, enabling your business’s growth.
5. Enquire About Their Service Level Agreement
When dealing with an MSP, it’s crucial to have a solid Service Level Agreement (SLA) in place. The SLA helps specify the terms of your agreement and the level of service you’ll get.
It should include the list of services the MSP will provide, as well as set out your expectations regarding response times and their issue resolution period. It should also lay out any penalties for failure to meet these expectations and any other fine print relating to the agreement.
Being thorough with your SLA is vital to avoid misunderstandings down the line. Having a lawyer look over it would also be helpful. The lawyer can help interpret any legal jargon in the SLA. Besides, it ensures your protection, and you can get the level of service you desire from the MSP.
Conclusion
The bottom line when choosing a managed IT service provider is that you need to consider your specific needs, budget, and the provider’s industry experience and reputation. You can also check the provider’s location. Even though knowing where to start can be tricky, these essential tips should help narrow down your options, thus making it easier to select the right MSP for your business.
How To Choose The Right Managed IT Service Providers For Your Business was last modified: October 17th, 2023 by Nora Sbalckiero
Communication is crucial for your business to thrive. It’s even better when there’s effective communication among your team members. It ensures the team is in sync and working toward a common objective.
Furthermore, your team members can feel part of a family, thus boosting their morale. However, you may need help with how you can best achieve this. That’s where current technologies come in handy. They provide various platforms and tools to enhance your internal communication. Most of them are free of charge. But you may need to pay for others.
Your information technology (IT) service provider may host several communication tools on a subscription-based model. As such, you can check its managed IT services pricing guide and choose the ones ideal for your business. Depending on your business model and workplace, the communications tools below, among others, can be significantly beneficial:
1. Collaboration Tools
Collaboration software provides your team members with an effective platform to connect. In so doing, your staff can share knowledge and ideas even when working remotely. Besides, collaboration tools are also helpful in linking various departments. Thus, you can have multiple departments working cohesively together.
In addition, collaboration tools help track task progress. As a result, you can achieve better project management. Notably, collaboration tools help reduce unnecessary emails and encourage interactive sessions, increasing productivity, motivation, and efficiency.
Having Orion Networks or other trusted IT service providers as your collaborative partner can ensure a seamless integration of these tools into your business operations. Whether you are a small business or a large enterprise, they can cater to your specific needs and provide customized solutions for effective internal communication.
2. Instant Messaging Tools
Say you have a vital message you want to pass across to your team members. In the past, you may have called everyone for a quick office meeting to do so. However, the current tech world allows you to create chat groups where you can instantly send links, texts, videos, and photos. As such, you don’t have to find an ideal time to pass your message across.
Besides, most instant messaging (IM) tools are mobile responsive. Therefore, your team can access them anytime, anywhere. These tools also improve two-way communication. Thus, you can get feedback more quickly.
Furthermore, you can also create water cooler forums on IM tools to enhance personal bonding among your staff. Thus, it can help bring the team together and improve morale and teamwork.
3. Videos
Various tools provide video recording for multiple purposes. For instance, you can record videos for training or internal marketing. In addition, the human resources department can have video recordings for onboarding new members.
These video tools allow you to share through other communication channels like emails and instant messaging. Furthermore, your team members can leave comments and reactions on various parts of your video recording. Such functionalities help show the team’s feedback, and you can use them to make necessary improvements.
4. Organization Newsletters
You can have digital company newsletters that allow you to share the organization’s information and other vital data. For instance, the newsletter can highlight weekly achievements, new hires, monthly celebrations, and other benefits. You can also share past and upcoming company events, allowing your team to stay in touch with the company’s current affairs.
Most newsletter tools allow you to share, track, and manage your newsletter on different operating systems. Thus, your team can also view it on their mobile devices.
5. Survey Tools
Staff feedback can be vital to improving workflow and project management. Additionally, it can help assess the goals and objectives of each team member, providing a platform to set individual and group key performance indicators (KPIs).
Digital or SMS survey tools play an essential role in such an exercise. Moreover, you can also provide an anonymous option for the surveys. Hence, you may get more open-minded feedback from your team.
Techniques To Help Improve Internal Communication
Using internal communication tools can be helpful. However, it’s essential to follow a few techniques for them to be more effective. You can use these tips as a guideline.
Streamline Your Communication Channels – Having internal communication tools is excellent. However, they can be cumbersome if you have too many of them. Therefore, have tools vital to your business objectives and team productivity. In addition, ensure the tools don’t create duplicity. Streamlining the tools reduces the time wasted by your team toggling from one tool to another.
Always Be Clear, Concise, and Consistent – When relaying a message, be precise and avoid excessive jargon. Additionally, be engaging in your communication to create room for feedback. You should also consistently provide regular updates, check-ins, and announcements through the relevant tools. This can help the team stay updated and know they have sessions for interaction and feedback.
Create Open Interaction – You may have the best communication tools. However, they may be less valuable if the team can’t fully utilize them. Therefore, lead the way by creating an environment where interaction is healthy among the team members. For instance, you can have a forum that encourages the exchange of ideas. This can help even the silent team members to share more, expanding everyone’s reach.
Mix Your Communication Strategy – Find different ways of conveying your message. You can use a video tool with visuals if an email may seem long. Thus, you can capture your audience’s attention and be more effective.
Final Thoughts
Effective internal communication can significantly boost your business’ growth. However, you may need to encourage formal, informal, horizontal, and vertical communications as above to achieve it. Fortunately, you have several communication tools you can use as well. With a good strategy, these tools can help bring your team together and improve collaboration, productivity, and morale.
5 Tools And 4 Techniques To Improve Internal Communications was last modified: December 26th, 2023 by Nora Sbalckiero
You’ll need a comprehensive data management plan if you have a project requiring scientific data collection. Furthermore, the National Science Foundation (NSF) makes it mandatory for researchers to attach a data management plan (DMP) for most projects that require gathering or producing data except those that are collected during public engagements.
The purpose of having a comprehensive data management plan is to explain how you intend to handle all the data collected during the project. The plan should also provide details on the preservation of the data for future re-use in similar or different studies.
It’s crucial for your data management plan to be detailed. It’s because this will be evaluated by peer reviewers along with the project proposal, thus contributing to whether your project will be approved. With that said, here are five elements of a comprehensive data management plan:
1. Access, Sharing, And Privacy Of Data
The access, sharing, and privacy of the data collected during research are crucial in the DMP because you have to describe which data would be shared and with whom. You’ll also have to describe the resources utilized, such as equipment, systems, and professionals hired.
For instance, if you’re hiring an IT support service, you’ll have to provide details about them and the system they use to manage the data. In addition, you can also outline the benefits of having IT support services for the project.
You can also indicate the process of accessing the data and when the data can be made available to the public. At this point, you’ll have to consider any specific data handling regulations and how to best adhere to them.
2. Intellectual Property Rights
Another element that has to be included in the DMP is the intellectual property rights (IP) clause. In this section, you’ll provide details on who owns the data and who can license its use in other projects. You can also state how the owner of the IP intends to protect their rights over the data. However, you should ensure that the IP claims on the data collected align with your country’s IP laws and regulations and can be enforced.
3. Roles And Responsibilities
Provide a detailed list of all the staff members involved in the project and the role they play in data management. The roles and responsibilities of the staff should be assigned depending on their expertise to ensure proper data handling. You can use HR analytics in your organization to determine the best people to work with.
You can also consider the process of changing data management personnel if the person responsible leaves the organization or is unavailable. In addition, you can indicate how often evaluations would be made to ensure that all personnel adhere to the DMP and are executing their roles and responsibilities as required. This would ensure your group sticks to the plan and stay calm.
4. Ethics And Legal Requirements
When collecting data from individuals, you must consider ethics and legal requirements. Private data is critical; if mishandled, it can damage the individual user as a subject in the research. Thus, the first step should be acquiring consent from the participants in the research.
Another essential aspect is ensuring that the person whose data is being used understands the study. Thus, you have to explain the project to them and the data you’ll be collecting. The person can then agree to which data they’re comfortable sharing. Therefore, you must obtain their informed consent to protect you and the participants.
In the DMP, you should have details on the ethics that will be adhered to in data handling, including protecting the privacy of the sample subjects. You can also indicate how the project adheres to all data protection and legal privacy requirements. This is essential in protecting the confidentiality of the sample data collected.
5. Costs
Once you’ve established the cost of data management during the project, you can discuss with the sponsors where it should be indicated. For instance, the funding agency might want the costs of data management indicated in the DMP. In contrast, others might want the costs consolidated with the project budget included in the proposal.
Furthermore, the costs should include data management during and after the project because the data has to be preserved. If there are prospects of licensing the data to other users, you can also include the anticipated income.
Conclusion
When drafting a data management plan, you must be detailed and provide all the necessary information. This is because the DMP plays a crucial role in the approval of your project by sponsors and peer reviewers. There are many elements of a DMP, but this article has outlined the essential ones. Furthermore, ascertain the type of data you’ll collect before creating a DMP to determine the important elements that must be present.
5 Elements Of A Comprehensive Data Management Plan was last modified: December 7th, 2022 by Nora Sbalckiero
Offices nowadays are packed with critical data that requires the highest level of security. As cybersecurity threats continue to rise in recent years, prioritizing the security of IT equipment in the workplace is a must. Collaboration among all employees can greatly reduce the possibility of security risks occurring.
Remember that if you want to make the most of the security measures, it may be best if team effort is present. Security and safety in the office are crucial, so taking the necessary measures to include the workforce in creating a secure work environment is important. If you want to enhance the security in your organization, consider information on reliable managed IT services from sites such as https://powerconsulting.com/managed-it-services-manhattan/.
If you want to ensure office IT equipment stays secure, it may require a combination of physical measures and digital practices. Here are several crucial steps to keep in mind when ensuring the security of your office IT equipment.
1. Physically Secure The Network Hardware
Implementing physical measures to secure the network hardware should be a priority. The hardware shouldn’t be accessible to the public and should be kept in a secure area. It may be best to store hardware in a controlled space or an office with locks, with an employee assigned to keep watch. Additionally, an additional safety precaution is to monitor the hardware by installing a security camera.
2. Maintain Timely Updates
If you want to ensure the security of your workplace, it’s crucial to stay up-to-date with the software updates for your operating system. Make it a priority to install the latest security updates for all devices. Additionally, switch on the automatic update feature for your operating system.
3. Invest In The Latest Cybersecurity Measures
As everything shifts to digital, cybersecurity should be your priority to ensure the highest level of protection for your company’s data. Doing so will come in handy in preventing hackers and malware from accessing sensitive data, which can negatively harm your organization.
While you’re at it, consider investing in dedicated IT support. It may be a good decision as it’ll help secure your workplace. Enforce the company protocols so that your workforce will always do their part in keeping company data safe.
4. Invest In Superior-Quality Routers
Most businesses usually have a basic router with a mediocre-level firewall. If security is your priority, consider switching to a business-grade router with a stronger firewall. Some are even equipped with intrusion detection or protection features that make them good investments. Generally, superior-quality routers tend to have better network performance due to their capability to accommodate more devices.
5. Observe Good Password Management
The passwords you’ll use should be difficult to guess to lower the risk of hackers accessing your credentials. Consider using a password management program to help you maintain concrete passwords. Some even come with reminders to update your passwords regularly.
6. Backup All Data
One of the crucial considerations to ensure office equipment security is to back up all data. Having a reliable backup system is the key to keeping your company’s assets protected at all times. Consider backup as a precautionary measure if unforeseen events lead to data loss, such as natural calamities, power outages, or cyber threats. When your data is safe, your company will not end up on the sidelines and will continue to operate as usual.
The 3-2-1 rule is the key when backing up your data. In simple terms, ensure you have three copies of your data on at least two devices and one in an off-site location. The rule is a good starting point, but always look for ways to boost protection.
It may be time to invest in external hard drives as storage for documents or shift to cloud technology as a storage solution. Most of the latest backup options enable updating files automatically to keep them up-to-date at all times.
7. Provide Regular Employee Training
If you want to ensure superior security in your workplace, the involvement of everyone is crucial. Make it a priority to provide your workforce with training on the latest security protocols and procedures. In most cases, it can be related to the operation of equipment or machinery or knowing what to do in emergencies.
As part of the training, it’s best to include security measures such as protecting passwords, being familiar with the latest cybersecurity threats such as phishing or ransomware, and securing documents.
8. Deactivate The Ports On The Router
In most cases, Ethernet or USB ports on the router aren’t in use. Make the right choice by deactivating these ports to limit intruders’ chances to plug a device into your network. Remember that these ports serve as entry points when it comes to LAN security. Turn them off to decrease the chances of infiltration.
Final Thoughts
Make the security of office IT equipment and the data it holds a priority. As both cases of cybersecurity and physical threats continue to rise, consider investing in measures to keep your organization safe. These insightful steps will be useful in keeping IT equipment and data safe for years to come.
8 Steps To Secure Office IT Equipment was last modified: December 7th, 2022 by Nora Sbalckiero
The stock market, which supports democratized access to capital trade and exchange, is arguably the most important component of the free market economy. To become a successful stock trader, you need to acquire knowledge, perform research, and have discipline and patience.
Stock trading is a strategy for the stock market that focuses on holding assets over an extended period to develop wealth steadily. Traders retain stocks for a short time—an hour, a day, seven days, or several months.
Stock trading can be divided into two basic categories:
Active trading is a tremendously technical strategy that aims to profit from momentary price changes. It can be further divided into two groups depending on how long traders hold their securities: Day trading and Swing trading.
Passive trading concentrates more on long-term trends in equities instead of short-term swings or market news. The timing of a passive trader’s purchase and sale depends on the market’s direction, which can take months.
Why are you interested in investing? You must answer this before selecting what kind of trade you will perform. Establish how you want to use your investment (e.g., save for retirement, pay for a home, or your children’s college education), and create a plan to reach your objectives. Trade finance is is something to consider when looking to invest.
Read About Investment Techniques
The key to running a profitable trading firm is investing in the right things at the appropriate times.
Remember to read the investment policy before making any investments, and also and also read a few trading books to have a deeper grasp of investment methods.
You can choose either short-term or long-term investing. Deciding between the two is entirely up to you. Short-term investing is retaining security for less than three months. Alternately, long-term investing is less risky than short-term trading, producing higher returns because securities recover from temporary losses over time.
Understand Your Tolerance for Risk
With market risk, there will be ups and downs in the stock trading business. Younger investors typically have higher tolerance levels and wait longer for the returns on riskier trades. On the other hand, older investors have lower risk tolerance levels and avoid buying riskier stocks.
Once you’ve got the hang of the stock trading gig, the next big step is setting up your business and your business website.
To score maximum legal protection and tax benefits, you might want to consider forming an LLC. Wondering where to start? Don’t fret! Just check out this handy guide on how to form an LLC, it could be the game changer in your journey to launching a successful stock trading business.
Investing in stocks can be a risky endeavor, but don’t let that hold you back. Empower your sales team by understanding your tolerance for risk and taking steps to protect your business, such as forming an LLC. With the right approach and resources, you can succeed in the world of stock trading
Conduct Your Research
Before you trade, you must research the stocks. Foreign currencies (ETFs) are the greatest asset class to begin investing in. When deciding which company to invest in, buying a share package using ETFs can be helpful. It will be very difficult for you to carry out your research without an internet connection you can trust. This will also be crucial for you in setting up your business. Look into internet Hot Springs, AR if you are in the area for a connection that you can rely on.
Create a Legal Corporate Body and File for Taxation
You can pick sole proprietorship, partnership, limited liability company, or corporation as your business structure type. By establishing a legal entity, you can avoid being held personally accountable.
You can decide to do this on your own or by using LLC setup services to help guide you through the process.
Additionally, you must register for numerous state and federal taxes by requesting an EIN. It’s a good idea to research alternatives such as Inc Authority or Incfile, reviewed in this SmallBusiness HQ post, to establish the best fit for you.
Create A Bank Account, Obtain A Credit Card, and Maintain Accounts
Open a business bank account to keep your company’s funds distinct from your personal holdings.
Also, you can obtain a business credit card that is separate from your personal expenses. By establishing your company’s credit history, you can attract investment in the future.
To make tax filing simple, keep track of various expenses and incomes by keeping accurate accounts and records.
Consider Automated Investing
Automated investing in stocks is where money is automatically invested at predetermined periods. Regular, recurring withdrawals from your bank account or salary can be used to contribute. You learn more about automated investing with SoFi.
Get a License and Insurance
You need a license for the seven series to start a stock trading business. Essentially, this license enables you to conduct business with the general public or raise capital from investors.
Your business’s safety and legitimacy depend on insurance, including licenses and permits. Insurance safeguards the organization against insured losses, and numerous insurance plans are created for various business types with different risks.
Get Securities and Perform a Trade
After finishing your investigation, start investing in securities. Consider how many you are likely to buy and how much each security costs. You can start modestly and increase your investments over time.
Once you’ve selected your strategy, it’s time to execute the trade. Pick a broker who has the skills to carry out the best plan. Alternatively, you can also look for the best stock trading apps that are reliable, have great reviews, and provide transparency at every stage of the investment.
If you want to launch a Forex trading company, you can start by researching the most relevant topics. If you apply yourself to establishing a forex trading firm, you’ll eventually learn what best serves you and your goals.
How to Start a Stock Trading Business: Here’s What You Need to Know was last modified: August 28th, 2024 by Carla Jose
The human being has a perfect means of communication called speech. Still, in addition to that, there are also many non-verbal ways to convey one’s thoughts and emotional state. Often, facial expressions, hand movements or posture will tell the interlocutor much more than spoken words. Cats also make full use of expressions, body language, and nonverbal cues to convey information and express their feelings and reactions.
The common known feline gestures such as the arched back with rearing hair, the flattened ears, the curved fluffy tail and the bared teeth (a threat and warning for a dangerous enemy) or the light, laid-back gait near the owner’s legs with a tail raised like a “pipe” (friendliness, good mood) are familiar to almost everyone, but not everyone knows that cat sign language includes dozens of ways to express one’s emotions. Observant and loving owners are able to determine the mood and desires of their pet by the expression of the muzzle, the adopted posture, the nature of the movements of the tail and other signs.
Cat Body Language: Poses and Movements
The easiest way to recognize the desires and emotional state of a pet is by body position, gait, and other well-recognized signs. In communication with the owner, the cat most often shows feelings as follows:
Complete trust, friendliness – the cat lies on its back, the abdomen is not protected and is ready for scratching.
Attachment – “trampling” the owner with the front paws, accompanied by a purring, while the cat slightly releases its claws.
An attempt to attract attention, a request – the cat winds between the owner’s legs, rubs against them, the tail is straight and raised high up.
Caution – tense, trembling tail, flattened ears. Often, the cat shows such emotions when they see an object that irritates them (vacuum cleaner, hair dryer).
Feigned or calm – the cat sits in a relaxed position, the tail is motionless, the pet is carefully licking the fur.
Greeting – rubs against the legs, raises the front paws.
Curiosity, an extreme degree of attention – the cat sits motionlessly and does not take its eyes off the point of interest, the pupils are dilated.
Gratitude – soft pushing of the owner with the forehead or stroking with the paws.
Request – sits straight, not taking its eyes off the owner, waiting for attention. Often, this is how the cat asks the owner to open the door, sitting next to it.
Absolute trust – while sitting or standing, the cat turns its back to the owner.
Indecision – increased licking, the more intense the movements of the tongue, the more serious the dilemma is for the pet.
The meaning of cat gestures often depends on the individual characteristics of the animal and its particular breed (find out more about your cat by taking a cat breed test). Like people, cats can be more restrained or, conversely, open and relaxed.
The Tail as a Mood Indicator
Cat gestures become even more expressive with the help of their mobile, flexible tail. A cat’s tail is the real indicator of their mood. Observant owners can surely highlight the following basic meanings of cat tail gestures:
Lowered tail – fatigue, discontent or disappointment.
Tucked tail – fear, resentment.
The tail in the form of a “pipe” indicates that the cat is in a good mood, full and happy with everything.
Tail twitching expresses displeasure, annoyance, or warning.
An increase in the amplitude of movements along the entire length, or tail strikes on the sides – increasing tension. In this case, the owners should leave the pet alone for a while.
Wiggling of the tip of the tail – interest.
A fluffy, highly raised or curved tail signals aggression.
Tail moving on the floor – anger or hunting passion.
Cat gestures with the tail are not only for the owners. They are also one of the main ways to communicate with other members of their species.
Ears, Eyes and Whiskers
The muzzle of a cat can only seem inexpressive to a person who is absolutely not familiar with these animals. In fact, the cat’s facial muscles are very mobile, their ears are able to turn 180 °, and the large eyes display the full range of feelings and moods. There are cat breeds with especially large eyes, like the Persian.
Ears
Cat ears are mobile, their position can tell you a lot about the actual intentions or mood of the pet:
Vertical position, auricle directed forward – ready for play and communication.
Pressed to the head – readiness for defense or aggression.
Ear twitching – irritation, discontent.
Ears to the sides – bewilderment, surprise.
Eyes
Half-closed eyes indicate complete peace and trust, a slight squint means discontent and challenge, dilated pupils – fear, constricted pupils – readiness for aggression or play.
Whiskers
The position of the whiskers in a cat clearly indicates the following types of mood:
Relaxed state – calmly loosened on the sides of the head.
Interest, curiosity – the whiskers are directed forward.
Pressed to the sides of the head – anxiety, fear, puzzlement.
Pressed down – a bad mood or well-being.
Having deciphered your cat’s sign language, the owners can achieve almost complete understanding with a pet and reduce the likelihood of conflict or simply unpleasant situations for both parties to a minimum.
That is why, it is important to closely observe your pet and record very new behavior you notice (in your memory of course, or even better – on camera). In order to make sure you never lose all the funny and cute data you’ve gathered over years, you can use this service. It allows you to affordably transfer data onto different devices and gadgets
Cat Body Language: How to Understand Your Feline Friend? was last modified: March 14th, 2023 by Alex Sarovsky
The first step to implementing a cybersecurity program is educating your employees about cybersecurity’s importance. Most companies have policies requiring employees to adhere to specific guidelines, but those policies often need to be revised.
The best way to ensure that your employees are educated about cybersecurity is by providing training. This will allow them to understand how their actions affect the company as a whole and how they can help prevent future attacks from taking place. It’s also crucial for companies to make sure that their employees know what they can do if they encounter an issue while on the job.
Here are five ways you can train your employees about workplace cybersecurity:
1. Establish A Cybersecurity Awareness Campaign
A cybersecurity awareness campaign is the first step to preventing an attack and can be done by all departments in the organization. This campaign aims to raise awareness of cyber threats, encourage employees to take appropriate steps to protect themselves, and help them understand why taking advantage of these measures is essential.
When developing a cybersecurity awareness campaign, you may ask the assistance of experts from Netsurit’s cyber security services in New York or similar companies. They’ll help you ensure that the information provided is accessible for employees to understand and remember so they can learn it quickly.
Employees should be able to relate to the issues you are explaining through real-life examples. For instance, if you’re talking about how hackers can steal information from your company, have an example of this happening in a recent news story or on social media.
2. Teach Them About Password Management Practices
Following password management best practices are a good way for employees to keep their passwords secure. They should use different passwords for each website they visit, use different passwords for each account, and never reuse passwords across multiple accounts. This will help prevent hackers from gaining access to your personal information if one website gets hacked.
Employees should also practice good password hygiene by using different characters and numbers when creating their passwords. For instance, they can use uppercase letters instead of lowercase letters and numbers instead of symbols. This will make it more difficult for hackers to guess the password.
3. Educate Them On Common Cyber Threats
Another essential thing in keeping your company safe is educating employees about cyber threats. This way, they can understand the risks and how to handle them.
This means educating them about how to stay safe online, how to recognize phishing attacks, and how not to fall for financial fraud. You can do this in different ways, such as conducting a training session on common cyber threats and how they can reduce their vulnerability to them.
It is important to fully train your employees about workplace cybersecurity so they are aware of the different types of cyber attacks and how to prevent them from happening.
4. Create An Employee Handbook
A good strategy is to write an employee handbook or policy outlining who should be responsible for cybersecurity and what training they need. The document should also include information about the types of protection available, such as two-factor authentication and credit card security. Have a list of resources employees can access if they need help with their security.
When creating an employee handbook, it’s essential to consider the needs of both workers and managers. The document should outline what is expected from employees and how they can report suspicious activity. The handbook should also include information about the types of protection available, such as two-factor authentication and credit card security. If possible, have a list of resources that employees can access if they need help with their security.
5. Provide Them With The Right Tools To Stay Safe Online
You can also provide them with the right tools to stay safe online such as antivirus software. This will allow them to remain protected from attacks even if they’re not at work.
When choosing tools, consider a combination of anti-malware and anti-phishing software. This will provide extra protection against dangerous attacks and can help your employees stay protected while they’re on the clock.
Consider setting up a secure email account for your employees. This can be done by providing them with a free webmail account that is kept secure by encryption. Encryption keeps data safe from prying eyes and helps ensure that no one else can read it without the sender’s permission.
Key Takeaway
As businesses become more reliant on digital devices, they also become more at risk of cybersecurity risks. To safeguard your company’s most sensitive data, you must teach employees how to protect their data and your business against breaches and other threats. Take the time to follow these tips to help your workforce avoid cyber attacks. This way, they’ll be able to better protect your company from criminal hackers and sustain your brand image.
How To Train Your Employees About Workplace Cybersecurity was last modified: September 5th, 2024 by Nora Sbalckiero
