Are you looking forward to up your chess experience? Becoming a chess champion is the dream of every player. You want to beat every opponent you encounter both physically and online. However, this is impossible without the right gears and devices.
A DGT board is one of the essential devices in the chess game. These smart boards feature unique designs and tech that enhance how you play chess and outsmart your opponents. The board enables you to record and store your moves. Any chess coach will recommend you to get one.
But one thing is clear. The DGT boards are not affordable. Only a few players can afford to own one due to their expensive price. But why are they so expensive? Here are some possible reasons why you will need a thick pocket to buy one:
DGT is a monopoly
If you understand economics, you know about monopolies. But for better understanding, a monopoly is a firm without a worthy competitor. This means that it is the only supplier of the product in the market.
This aspect applies to DGT. It is the only company capable of making and selling electronic chess sets. No other company can match their board and chess pieces. With this freedom, they have the power to charge customers what they feel is the right price for the device. So, DGT determines the board prices depending on their profit targets and other organizational goals.
Powerful features and functionalities
Although they are a monopoly, DGT is not out there to only make money. They design products that are worthy of the high prices. The DGT boards have great features and functionalities that will transform your chess-playing experience. The board helps you to record, store, and retrieve your moves for real-time analysis.
You can use it to play virtually with computer software. Also, it allows you to play against an online opponent. If you have fans or friends, the board comes with a live broadcasting feature. This aspect helps you to relay the games via the internet or audio-visual devices. Other features include tutor mode, high accuracy, and powerful sensor power.
With such features and functionalities, you will need to pay more to enjoy their benefits.
Unique operational and connectivity technology
The DGT boards are not just parts for playing chess but they are transformational devices. The manufacturer fits them with power and unique technology that changes the way you play chess. First, it comes with Bluetooth and USB connectivity. You can decide on the best connection option depending on your luxury needs.
Also, the board has powerful sensors with a speed of 6 scans per second. This aspect ensures that no moves will go unnoticed. Again, each chess piece features a unique chip for easy electronic recognition.
In addition, the board has a LED indicator that shows your opponent’s moves. You can connect it with DGT Pi for playing on the go. All these luxurious and smart features will require you to dig deep in your pocket to get these devices.
High-quality and sturdy construction
Features and tech are not the only DGT boards selling points. Its construction also contributes to the high price. These boards are products of high-quality materials and skilled workmanship. Most of the boards feature luxury-oriented wooden material such as rosewood. The manufacturer has a strict material selection to ensure what they offer is durable and sturdy.
Wrapping Up
As you can see, the DGT boards are not like any other piece. They employ both crafting and technological innovation to enhance the chess experience. Though the price appears to be high, the features and their quality are worth it.
Why You Need a Fat Pocket to Own DGT Boards was last modified: July 27th, 2021 by George Harrolds
The modern business sector is increasingly adopting cryptocurrencies in recent years though they have been around for a while. Industry giants including Dell and Microsoft have accepted it, why not your small business? There is so much to gain from bitcoin, and it will keep your business ahead of your competitors. Here’s what you need to know about the benefits of using digital currency for your small business operations.
Establishes new revenue streams
Cryptocurrencies provide a great way to supplement your cash flow over the long term. There are numerous ways you can integrate cryptos into your business and benefit from what it has to offer. Growing your business with a crypto business account will boost innovation, expand its scope and give your business a new direction.
Improves brand awareness and visibility
Most business sectors are is overly saturated. To stand out from the rest you need to improve visibility and brand awareness. Consumers have a thing for businesses that take their marketing to a whole new level. Being able to advertise that you support cryptocurrency transactions can attract new attention to your business. It gives you a cutting edge over your competitors. By adopting bitcoin, you will improve your business innovation which will attract more traffic to your business resulting in more profits. Adapting to new solutions is one of the best ways to be innovative for your business.
Cheaper and faster transactions
Merchant transaction fees account for 2 or 3% of your cash flow income which is draining your small business cash. This new form of payment has zero fees and thus you will benefit from more revenue. There are no verifications for each transaction which might take days, and this tends to hold income, thus cryptos are way much faster than you could ever imagine. Blockchain is the technology that checks every regulation, and it ensures quick processing of transactions which might take a matter of few seconds.
Facilitate your customers’ safety. Customer safety is a service that the majority of customers highly seek since it has their best interest. When you ensure anonymity for your customers in a world where they are highly scrutinized you are sure that they will be loyal to your business. Digital consumers are tired of governments and companies tracking their moves and this explains why they are increasingly using buy cryptocurrencies to conduct their transactions.
No borders
Cryptos attracts a booming customer demographic of investors, innovators, miners, and traders who are rooting for cryptos to be adopted by businesses. They are a global currency that is not restricted by a company or government, and they ignore border restrictions. Businesses that adopt cryptos experience an increase in profits due to customer retention and acquisition. By accepting cryptos in your payment processes you will be able to materialize on a new demographic and build a long-term stream of revenue.
An investment opportunity
Similar to other currencies digital currencies fluctuate in value though they are less stable than gold or cash. This fluctuation can be a large upside by looking at digital currency as an investment. When your business accepts digital currency, you can wait and cash them in which is investing in their value increase. Digital currency possesses so much potential and it is a matter of time for the world to experience its growth.
Final thoughts
The future of modern businesses is in blockchain technology and digital currencies, and early investors will benefit from their competitors. What are you waiting for? Buy Bitcoin with Credit Card to join the future and enjoy the numerous benefits that online businesses have to offer.
5 Benefits of Using Bitcoin for Your Small Business Operations was last modified: December 6th, 2021 by Maria Francesca
Whilst many industries seemed to have soared ahead as a result of the tech boom we have seen over the last 20 years, not all required the boost that software developments delivered. With regards to floristry, for example, this still has something of a traditional feel about it. Flower deliveries after all have taken place for decades, and the only thing which really changed has been the emergence of online ordering. With this being said, however, and much like many small businesses, the software can be used to make things better for those running a floristry business.
Large scale businesses in this field such as Pearsons Florist, rely on powerful software to manage their operations. Smaller businesses can learn a lot from these kinds of businesses, and use the same software to deliver increased productivity and better service to their customers. Here are some examples of software that florists can use.
Details Flower Software
This is one of the finest software suites for any florist, whether you are a Fort Lauderdale florist or a Texas florist, and it is a purpose-built platform that provides a wealth of solutions to large and small operations. Flower shop owners can use this software to do simple stuff such as tracking sales and managing costs; they can also perform high-level tasks like managing inventory, working out margins and dealing with international sales. The team at Details has worked with some of the big hitters in the florist industry in order to design software that worked perfectly for those in the sector.
FloristWare
FloristWare is a great option for small florists around the country. This is a low-cost piece of software that actually packs quite a punch for both online and offline sales. At the heart of this software is a Point-of-Sale function that enables the digitalization of everything that goes through the business. Additionally, however, users can count on a pretty impressive Customer Relationship Management feature, which helps companies stay on top of customer care. This software focuses less on the numbers side of things, and more on helping you to increase customer relations and drive more sales to the business.
Floranext
Floranext will help you to maintain and improve your online presence, as well as helping you to seamlessly integrate what is sold in the store, with the information which you keep online. For those florists who are looking to add a level of E-commerce to the business, this is the perfect option for you. Floranext is built by florists and it is designed to help any business launch online and manage its sales through a well-built E-commerce platform.
BloomNation
BloomNation is yet another one-stop-shop that will take care of all of your daily needs in the business. This software package offers a POS portal, an E-commerce management platform and it can also be integrated with other software so that you can manage inventory and track orders coming in and out of the business. The target market of BloomNation is very much small businesses, and each aspect of the software package has been created with those florists in mind. This is a software suite that is updated on a regular basis and which has a dedicated team that is always looking to add tools and features to the package to help its customers be the best they can be.
There are many software choices to choose from and these are the top picks for us. The choice will come down to what you are looking to spend like having a flower subscription Melbourne account and where your business fits within the floristry landscape, in terms of size and customer base.
Powerful Software to Increase Productivity in Your Floristry Business was last modified: February 16th, 2023 by John Guevara
In this digital era, there is a high need for businesses to manage and track their assets. With everything technology has brought about, tracking and managing assets have become a bit complicated. Furthermore, there is high insecurity of data with the employee turnover. There is a lot that a company can cost from mismanaged and misplaced assets. Companies tend to spend more than they need without proper tracking of their assets. They need to have an accurate picture of their assets and where they are located. This is very crucial for the energy sector that provides utilities such as water, electricity, and gas to businesses and households. This sector faces a lot of challenges in asset management and areas like equipment maintenance.
Resolving Challenges in Energy Sector with Asset Management
The energy sector relies on heavy usage of assets and asset management tools have become important. Companies like Neara provide asset management software for a power line. You can also get the best power line design for pole compliance and efficiency. Assets management tools such as CMMS and AMS provide many benefits to organizations. Some of the benefits reaped from these tools include;
Creation of an active preventive maintenance program
Real-time tracking of assets and their performance
The main benefit of using asset management tools in the energy sector is to collect data in real-time with a centralized system. When this data is accessible to managers, technicians, and workers, it speeds up operations and provides an overall overview of all assets that still hold value. IoT tools are best for collecting real-time performance details of an asset. IoT devices can be used to:
Assess the condition of an asset
Assess the usage history of an asset
Check for the latest compliance and permit history
Check the repair and maintenance history
CMM, AMS, and IoT devices are the best for asset management. With the data collected from these, it is easy to work on important assets like towers and transmitters. The utility sector has technicians employed specifically for repairing and maintaining aging infrastructure to minimize the chances of outage or failure. That means that these experts must have accurate data for active response. Accurate data provides more visibility and a connection between the technicians in the field and the workers in the office.
Real-time collection of data using assent management software helps in the proper calculation of asset RIO. A company in the energy sector can get a rough idea of the value of its assets. Calculating asset RIO is done by calculating the cost of maintenance and operation. Through this calculation, it becomes easy to decide if the equipment or asset will be worth replacing or throwing away at the end of its life cycle.
IoT devices can be used to minimize the costs of maintenance and avoid failure. IoT makes it easy for companies to collect accurate data on the performance of assets. Devices like trackers, sensors, and barcodes interact and pass the information to the central management system where the data is stored. Asset management tools can help companies in the energy sector in different ways as follows.
Reducing risks and safety issues of their assets
Approaching maintenance proactively
Reducing impact on the environment
Improving the use of renewable sources of energy such as solar systems, and wind and hydronic turbines
Conclusion
These are important asset management tools and software suitable for the energy sector. When finding one, you need to identify the gaps in your assent management and maintenance. You can also compare software based on the company’s needs for asset tracking and management.
Useful Asset Management Tools and Software for The Energy Sector was last modified: June 6th, 2022 by John Guevara
Productivity is a big part of running a business. But, unfortunately, it cannot be easy to keep up with everything that needs to be done and maintained by your sanity. That’s where productivity apps come in handy for your devices.
In recent years, online and mobile businesses are on a full boom as you can run any campaign or your store through your mobile phone and stay updated with your business activities.
This blog post will cover some android apps for small businesses and how you can use them to stay on top of things from anywhere you go. Check on the list below.
VPNs for Android
VPNs are a crucial tool for small businesses with employees who work remotely. This type of app encrypts your internet connection and can help keep you safe from hackers, identity thieves, or other threats to your company’s data security.
These VPN apps for android phones are fantastic tools to securely transmit your data over the internet and get you connected to different regional markets trends by unblocking geo-restrictions on websites.
These VPN apps are often free and can be found in the Google Play Store. However, it is essential to note that free VPNs may not offer many features or protection. To get better security and results, you might want to research VPNs with more robust features provided by their developers at an additional cost.
The premium reliable and consistent VPN providers are optimal especially for startups and small businesses to help them run their online tasks securely and without any potential risks.
Microsoft Apps
Microsoft is one of the world’s leading providers for productivity applications, so it should come as no surprise that they have an android app. In addition, Microsoft offers a range of apps to help you stay connected with your business and customers from anywhere.
One such application is Skype, which Microsoft developed in 2004 when video chatting wasn’t famous yet. This android app will allow users to make free voice calls over Wi-Fi or data connections to others who also use this android application, making communication between staff members very easy! However, to call people on their phones, tablets, or computers outside of Skype’s network can incur additional fees.
Slack
Small business owners know the importance of staying connected with their staff and clients, but sometimes it can be challenging. Slack Android apps are designed to make this task easier by providing a platform for instant communication accessible from any device you have on hand, whether or not your business has an internet connection!
This android productivity app lets users send text messages, share files, images, and videos and receive notifications when they are mentioned in chat rooms. And best of all? It’s free! So if you want great android apps for small business owners who need more than just emails to stay up-to-date while working remotely, then check out the slack Android app today!
Trello
Trello Android app makes it easy to stay on top of tasks that need to be completed. No more forgetting about what needs to get done! This android productivity app is a great way for small businesses owners or freelancers who work from home and find themselves juggling multiple projects at once to organize their time and activities.
Trello Android applications are free, but some features such as person-to-person voice calling will require an upgrade. But all in all, this android application provides many useful tools, including creating lists of tasks, lists within lists, called boards, and attaching images, pdfs, or other files related to the task at hand. Users will also receive notifications on their android app when others comment on a board for discussion and collaboration with team members or clients.
DocuSign
DocuSign Android apps allow users to send and sign documents from anywhere in the world. This android application provides a platform for instant, secure communication that’s accessible on any device. In addition, it is easy to use, allowing you to create templates with your custom fields and information needed, so all you need to do is fill out the form before sending it off.
One of the favorite features about this productivity app is how simple their service makes remote signing, saving time, money, and an unnecessary hassle! So if you’re looking for a great android app for your business docs signing and record-keeping, Docusign is your good-to-go choice.
Cam Scanner
This android application is a must for small business owners who want to turn their phones into an all-in-one tool. Cam scanner android apps let you scan documents, create and send PDFs, and save them in the cloud. This means that even if your device breaks or gets lost, then any document saved on it will be accessible from another.
This android application is free and very user-friendly, making it perfect for small business owners and those looking for android apps with more features such as voice recognition software.
I hope this blog on android productivity apps was helpful for all those looking to stay productive in small businesses. It can be hard at times, but you will find that it becomes much more manageable with the right android app. I’m sure many other android applications out there could also make your life as a small business owner and freelancer so much easier.
Small Business Productivity Apps for Android Phones was last modified: July 26th, 2021 by Hannah Hills
As Microsoft’s Teams application becomes an ever-increasing staple in the work environment and Microsoft’s conscious decision to allow third-party developers to contribute to the workplace has seen a flood of apps to supplement your workflow. Here is a list of the top free and paid-for apps that will boost your productivity.
VirtoSoftware
VirtoSoftware offers both free and paid-for apps laser focus on improving workplace productivity. The free MakeSomeBreak is great for those who realize too late they should have scheduled some break time for a coffee or to get some fresh air. Taking a break every now and then is now being seen as vital to a successful endeavor. The app allows users to schedule break times with a click of a button and to the user’s preferences.
The developer’s paid-for apps for MS Teams like the Kanban Board App are a godsend for those who follow Agile methodologies. The app acts as a task management interface specifically designed to include a scrum board allowing for better visualization and management of tasks.
MindMeister
This app has been around for some time but the importance of mind mapping for professionals has never dissipated. Offered as both a free tier package and a monthly pro subscription with superior features, the app allows for the quick and legible creation of mind maps that can be used by an entire team at a moment’s notice. MindMeister’s true selling point is that it is a one-stop mind map creator without the need to rely on other third-party messaging apps.
GitHub
For those working on digital projects being able to track any changes to the development’s codebase is vital. GitHub enables exactly this eagle-eyed approach to be readily adopted. GitHub now offers many of its core features for free. There are paid-for packages, but teams will only need to consider those when they cross certain generous usage thresholds.
The GitHub app for Teams allows team leaders and developers to see all changes without having to open new browser tabs and login pages. Another great advantage of the app is that code snippets can be shared by team members with ease in-app.
Trello
Trello is a complete project management solution in app form capable of MS Teams integration. Trello functionality means that projects and tasks can be updated without even needing to leave the Teams Chat service. All information is presented in an easily digestible way, preventing things from becoming a mess.
Offered in both free and paid versions as is the typical business model of today, the free version is incredibly feature-rich for the price tag of zero.
The apps provided above were picked for their usefulness to an incredibly broad scope of businesses. The apps above are also apps that can put productivity into high gear. More specialized apps exist for specific needs that are equally as good as those mentioned above but have a smaller target market.
The Best Apps for MS Teams Free and Paid was last modified: July 26th, 2021 by Edward Roesch
Automatic Number Reading has Evolved Significantly in Recent Years
The automatic number plate reading system was introduced at the end of the 90s’. They were in fact some of the first applications of artificial intelligence in the field of Intelligent Transportation Systems. The first of such camera systems could read the license plate of moving vehicles. Their computation capabilities were modest as the hardware and software at the time were basic yet expensive. Though there were cheaper options available, they were not all compatible to be used for access control.
Evolution of ANPR
Over time as more and more development was done in this sector, both the hardware and software technologies rapidly evolved. Since then the possibility to use commercial processing systems with a normal or good quality video surveillance camera became a norm in many countries. As the cost of installing and acquiring them also reduced substantially, these cameras were used in a number of industries and fields.
Since then these cameras have only seen a growth in demand. With good ANPR cameras, traffic monitoring has been revolutionized. These can provide access control, parking management, border control, toll payments, speed control, and law violation control. The law enforcers can currently benefit from this application as it provides a spread of geolocation technologies as well as a centralized database option.
Vehicles can be monitored easily in the traffic through a web page as well as from mobile devices. This helps the traffic police officers to get immediate notification if there has been any violation of law by a vehicle driver like crossing the red light, exceeding the speed limit, or bigger crimes like theft of vehicles or hit and run incidents.
How Does it Work?
The architecture of these surveillance cameras has pretty much remained the same but the software has been updated continuously. The plate recognition takes place with the help of the use of software that is being run on powerful computers. These back-end computers analyze the video streams and distribute them to the front end for monitoring. These systems are limited only due to the high bandwidth demand as well as an increase in the power needed to process the frames. This is because the frames consist of millions of pixels. The company’s that make these cameras then started to miniaturize and increase the power of the processing unit in order to find a solution.
In some commercial properties, the ANPR is usually placed at the entrance and exit of car parks. They are used for capturing and processing the details of all the vehicles that enter or exit the building. If there is an unauthorized vehicle entering the building, then the license number of that car is identified and stored. The same goes for if anyone exceeds the speed limit on parking lots or parks their vehicle for a very long time in the parking lot and breeches the stay period. In these cases, the license plate number is recognized using specialized LPR software and the driver gets a fine via post or on this mobile. For commercial properties, these give them an ideal solution to solve the problem of everyone who is trying to use their parking lot as a free facility. These cameras can not only capture the details of all the vehicles in the daylight but also in the dark at night.
Furthermore, when you use these cameras for your business property, then you can decrease the cost of installing a manual parking system as well as labor costs. By providing all the employees with a touch screen pay option as well as display machines, their vehicles will easily be identified by the camera and allow them to enter. As the system is fully automated you will eliminate the need for every driver to display a ticket to enter.
Future of ANPR
As more and more industries make sure of these surveillance cameras to maintain safety and security on their property, the future of ANPR seems to be bright. There is an ever-growing demand for these as businesses and law enforcement try to maintain control over car park control and management, airport security, journey time management, transport and logistics, and traffic surveys.
While these cameras continuously upgrade the use of their technology to be able to make it more smarted, there are still some challenges that need to be overcome. These cameras have given rise to a new kind of criminal activity called car cloning. In such crimes, the number plates are copied so that when they are read by such systems, they will identify fake license plate numbers. However, with the innovation and technology galloping at the fastest pace than it ever hard, it won’t be long before these challenges are overcome as well.
Revolution of Traffic Monitoring: How Did ANPR Cameras Evolve Through Time? was last modified: November 7th, 2024 by Allen Brown
The Pandemic has meant a significant switch in lifestyle and even career. Many people decided that this is the perfect time to pursue that small business idea they’ve always flirted with.
Despite the comfort of running a business while sitting in pajamas, there are still a million things pulling business owners in different directions. For example, security isn’t always a top concern and sometimes goes unnoticed until something goes wrong. But it is a crucial element. Keeping up with cybersecurity basics for a business can prevent irreparable damage and more than $25000 in losses.
So it’s time to get those ducks in a row before something happens! Here’s a short guide to the best steps business owners can take right now to protect their home-based businesses.
Set Up Admin Access Control
Access control is one of the most important things any business can do if it has any employees. It’s crucial for anyone who works remotely or with freelancers. This goes for online accounts, internal systems, and work accounts that are used by many people.
Access control is a security technique that regulates who can view or use certain accounts or data. For example, if the business has a website on WordPress, then the owner can control who gains admin access to the site and what they can do.
This prevents people from gaining full control over the website. And if their login details get stolen or their account hacked, the hackers will also have limited access. The same goes for data and account sharing. Give people access only to that information they need to perform their duties.
Keep Those Passwords Secret
There will be some preaching about passwords on a list like this because passwords are that important.
With passwords, it’s best to stick to the advice of cybersecurity experts, which are reiterated in such trusted sites as Wired, TechCrunch, and Forbes. The standard best practices stay the same:
– Use a unique password for every account.
– Make passwords long, with multiple characters, numbers, and symbols.
– Don’t share passwords on unencrypted chats.
If it’s hard to remember all those passwords, then it’s best to make use of a password manager. Also, always enable two-factor authentication on accounts. If you own an iOS device, you should always try and share Wi-Fi password with iPhone.
Perhaps this sounds like a luxury you can’t afford, but here’s why you should make cybersecurity insurance a must-have, despite the fact that cyber insurance rates are rising.
Keep Off-Site Data Backups
A lot of businesses are not prepared to deal with the consequences of having all their data stolen in a cyber-attack or locked away by ransomware. Not only do many not have up-to-date backups, but those that do often make the mistake of storing them on the same premises. Sometimes even on the same devices/servers. That doesn’t help anyone.
Backups should be stored on encrypted hard drives in an off-site location that isn’t easy to access or on a secure cloud server. The second usually costs a monthly or annual fee, but the upside is that it can’t be lost or destroyed in a fire. Both of these off-site data protection options are essential if you want to safeguard your business from a data disaster.
The downside of using cloud servers, however, is that they aren’t infallible. Hackers have managed to break through in the past.
Use Encryption Tools
Encryption is a method of changing the original plaintext of computer code into a different, undecipherable code. This code can only be decrypted by the person that has the key (app). Everyone else sees scrambled nonsense.
So, there are apps and software that can encrypt hard drives, emails, and even network connections. Even messaging systems like WhatsApp use end-to-end encryption to keep messages private.
Look for encryption apps and software that have received good reviews online. Make sure to encrypt any files and drives on devices used to run the business. Also, use a secure email provider that encrypts emails and a VPN to encrypt the network connection.
The last is important because hackers can use digital devices to gain access to the home’s network and infiltrate the business’ accounts. There are even VPNs for Fire Stick for watching shows in the background while getting work done (it’s okay, we don’t judge).
Keep in mind that this advice goes for any employee as well.
Conclusion
It’s obvious that a lot of work could be done from home. That’s why people switched to running their businesses from the home offices. But it’s important to remember that this comes with a number of cybersecurity risks as small businesses are big targets for hackers! It’s much easier to do a little preparation now than having to deal with the consequences of a cyber-attack later.
Best Cybersecurity Tips for your Home-Based Small Business was last modified: September 2nd, 2022 by Tom Minton
If you’re an entrepreneur, there will probably come a time when you’ll need to set up your website to establish a presence on the market. This will be more important for you if you’re selling some sort of service; according to the eCommerce Foundation, almost 90% of customers first search for a product on the internet before going to a physical store. Things have also changed with the COVID-19 pandemic, where even people who were proponents of traditional shopping now prefer to do everything online.
If you haven’t had experience running a website before, there’s a good chance you’ll make some mistakes….
Atlanta-based web design company enhances the product design departments of the most forward-thinking eCommerce startups and established businesses. They offer continuing UI/UX design, remote staff augmentation, and continuous design iteration for your business and website.
And we’ve prepared this article to help you prevent some of them! We’ll cover the ten most common mistakes and risks when managing a website and give you our solutions for all of them.
1. Malfunctioning mobile version
We do everything on smartphones, from business to private life to entertainment. According to statistics provided by outboxerdesign, about 80% of all smartphone users have made some purchase in the last six months via their mobile device. That said, your mobile website simply MUST work!
Our solution — Use solutions that will make the user experience on iOS and Android as good as on the full version of the site. Moreover, consider creating a mobile app with additional benefits for your customers.
2. Data loss
Data loss, in extreme cases, can force you to start your website (and maybe even your entire business) from scratch. Because of one shortcoming, you can lose a lot of time and money — for what?
Our solution — Backup your site from time to time using sites such as iDrive. These will be additional costs but think of the losses you will incur if you lose the data needed to handle, for example, tax matters.
3. Inactive links
Every so often, we ignore certain parts of the site that seem unimportant to us. Meanwhile, our customer might want to use them, and if he isn’t able to, we might just lose him in a second.
Our solution — Have someone review the content on your site on an ongoing basis. This is especially useful if you sell third-party products where you have no control over their actions. As an entrepreneur, you can’t be up-to-date with everything, so have someone do it for you.
4. Poor content
One prominent mistake entrepreneurs make when creating websites for their businesses is trying to create content themselves. All it takes is for your market competitors to hire professionals to create content such as graphics and articles, and you are already on the losing end… We’re even talking about things like spelling errors or punctuation; one misplaced comma can affect the credibility of your services, for real.
Our solution — Hire content professionals. If you’re afraid about the costs of hiring a full-time employee, use freelancers!
5. Long website loading time
People no longer tolerate sites that take too long to load, not in a world where everything happens instantly. If your website doesn’t open immediately, you need to change that as soon as possible.
Our solution — Factors such as the size of the graphics on the page or cluttered source files can cause the page to load too long. To check how fast your website opens, you can use a free tool from Google called Pagespeed Insights.
6. Outdated plugins
One non-functioning plugin can disrupt the functionality of the entire site. Sometimes even after an update, one extension might stop working with another, resulting in unnecessary site bugs and potential customer loss.
Our solution — Regularly make sure that all plugins and extensions on the site are updated and work well together all the time. Before launching your website, you might want to try out our software testing services.
7. Not considering SEO
SEO (Search Engine Optimization) aspect is essential when launching a website. In short, the better optimized a website is in terms of SEO, the higher it will appear in Google results.
Our solution — Work with an SEO specialist and Copywriter for written content. SEO consultation prices may seem tremendous, but the better the SEO, the better the chance for new clients.
8. Bad meta description
Your meta description is the first thing a customer will see after searching for your business in a browser. And as we all know — you can only make a first impression once.
Our solution — Prepare a good meta description and see how it will look by using tools like Meta Tags. Typically, the meta description should be between 60 and 140 characters.
9. Vulnerability to cyberattacks
These days, hacking attacks and DDos are the order of the day. According to statistics provided by SafeAtLast, the healthcare industry lost over $25billion due to cyberattacks in 2019.
Our solution — Backup your site, and work with two-three different website hosting companies. That way, whenever your website goes down to cyberattack, you can always pull it up through some other host.
10. Pop-up advertisements
Pop-up ads are an easy way to discourage your potential client from browsing further. Not only do they obscure the content on your site, but they are also annoying like nothing else (especially for mobile users). Furthermore, it is confirmed that use pop-up ads rank lower in Google searches.
Our solution — We understand that pop-up ads are supposed to monetize your website, but there are much better alternatives for that. One of the most efficient and least annoying forms of advertising are in-text hyperlinks and banners.
Conclusion
As you can see, running a website comes with various risks, and it’s not as simple as it may seem. Setting up a top-functioning site requires a lot of experience, and it just so happens that an experienced IT team has it!
So don’t be afraid to entrust us with the task of taking care of your website and look into web development services mentioned heremlsdev.com/services/web-development.
Author’s bio: Anastasiia Lastovetska is a technology writer at MLSDev, a software development company that builds web & mobile app solutions from scratch. She researches the area of technology to create great content about app development, UX/UI design, tech & business consulting.
Key Risks and Top 10 Ways to Manage Your Website Effectively Once Launched was last modified: February 2nd, 2022 by Anastasiia Lastovetska
The tech industry is developing streaming devices with unique features to suit the user’s daily routine, from watching live and free content to the sleeping ability of the Firestick device. This control feature is easy to set on when one is not using the gadget. It’s an intelligent technology that saves power for the user. However, Firesticks are designed to sleep after few minutes if left idle. The feature is among the many Firestick controls which offer the ultimate experience. Most users don’t know how to reset Firestick and utilize the sleep feature since it automatically goes to sleep after 30 minutes.
Firestick remote to set the Firestick to sleep
Every Firestick comes equipped with a remote. This helps the user get a better experience on the streaming device. The remote has several controls which function differently. On the remote, there is the home button in the middle of the remote. First, press and hold it down for few seconds; this will open the home menu.
The menu will display some options, one being a moon-shaped figure. Click on the option; this will put your Firestick on low power mode. Note the option is like turning off your device. The new Firestick version has a power button making it easy to turn off the device.
Using an app
Besides the remote control, you can utilize the app to set your Firestick to sleep. Use your smartphone or tablet to control your Firestick. Download the Amazon Firestick app on your Google play store or App store. Launch the app to access some Firestick icons on the app. click on the Firestick remote icon to convert the app into remote mode. The page will look similar to the remote; click the gear icon on the page to proceed. Next, click the moon-shaped icon or sleep tab to convert your Firestick from active mode to sleep mode.
Importance of sleep mode
The sleep mode is significant to the Firestick gadget as it saves power. The user doesn’t have to shut off the device entirely but can leave it to sleep and move to other activities. The device automatically goes to sleep mode after 30 minutes. One doesn’t have to wait for 30 minutes but can do it immediately. It helps save the remote batteries and power. The device will stop functioning, but the software will be active. It will be easy to update anything when it’s on sleep mode.
Using the remote from sleep mode
Now that we know how to put the Firestick to sleep. It’s also easy to use and continue watching your favorite content. The gadget is always in ready mode; press any tab and continue from where you left. Suppose you’re using the Amazon app as the remote press any icon to activate the device.
Firestick not going to sleep
Some technical hitches might arise, and the Firestick refuses to respond to the sleep command. You can give it time to go to sleep automatically or just reset the Firestick by turning it off and on again. You can restart the Firestick and try pressing the home button to get the menu. Now you can click the sleep icon to put the Firestick to sleep. It is typical for the Firestick not to respond to any command. You need to restart or reset and try again.
Other features which make Amazon Firestick unique
The shortcut menu for easy access.
Alexa voice
Smartphone as screen or remote.
The parental controls ensure receive safe content.
Expanding your internal storage to accommodate games, video, and other apps.
Connection for Bluetooth
Personalized screen saver.
How to Reset Firestick and Make it Sleep after You Are Done Watching was last modified: December 14th, 2021 by Emmy David
Software delivery itself is a very broad concept, and with the introduction of a new wave of test Automation, the demand for continuous testing tools has grown across organizations. In this article, let’s learn about the top 10 continuous testing tools in 2021.
First, we’ll understand the concept of Continuous testing. It is the technique of running automated tests as part of the software delivery pipeline to provide instant feedback on the business risks posed by a software release candidate. Continuous testing was first presented to shorten the time it took for developers to receive feedback by including development environment-triggered tests and more traditional developer/tester-triggered tests.
Continuous testing may be made even faster with the assistance of Continuous Testing Tools. Customers currently want high-quality software for their companies and personal usage. To meet this need, software firms are implementing Continuous Testing Tools as a standard practice to ensure that the software they bring to market can compete.
Top 10 Continuous Testing Tools in 2021
For DevOps, there are several open-source tools and testing frameworks. Organizations can use these frameworks to help with setup, integration, and delivery management. It assists them in saving time and automating the testing procedure. We’ve compiled a list of the Top 10 Continuous Testing Tools (2021). This ranking is based on the most popular frameworks, their ratings, industry acceptance, and trends.
The following is a list of the best Continuous Testing tools of 2021:
1. Jenkins
Jenkins is an open-source automation server that is free to use. It aids continuous integration and delivery by automating the portions of software development related to building, testing, and deploying. It’s a server-side application that runs on servlet containers like Apache Tomcat.
Features
Jenkins allows isolated changes to be tested even when the codebase is huge.
It can do automated testing of builds.
Jenkins will assist you in scaling up the system by adding nodes to spread the workload evenly across the nodes.
It is capable of distributing work over several computers.
It can also automate the process of deploying the software that has been built.
Best Functionality
Jenkins is a Java-based framework for continuous testing. It features a simple setup method and supports several integrations.
Price: Free
2. Tricentis Tosca
Tricentis Tosca is a test automation tool that supports agile and DevOps techniques, accelerates continuous testing, including dashboards, analytics, and connectors.
Tricentis Tosca assists users in making test items more reusable.
To keep yourself updated with this most in-demand continuous testing tool, check out this Tosca Training.
Features
A low-code/no-code technique is used.
It enables Model-based Test Automation, which is a script-free method that lowers maintenance costs.
Functional testing, business intelligence testing, load testing, and risk-based testing are all included.
It allows for distributed processing.
Best Functionality
It supports a wide range of technologies and applications, including web, mobile, and API, as do many other test automation tools. Integration management, risk analysis, and distributed execution are all included in Tricentis Tosca.
Price: Tosca offers Free Trial
3. Docker
Docker is a set of DevOps tools. DevOps teams may use it to create, ship, and run distributed applications. Users may use this tool to construct apps from components and collaborate on them. This open-source platform allows you to manage an app’s containers as a single group. Docker is a series of platform-as-a-service solutions that distribute software in containers with the help of OS-level virtualization. Containers have features of self-contained, containing their software, libraries, and configuration files and communicating with one another over well-defined channels.
Any application stack and continuous integration tool may be connected with a DevOps strategy created using Docker Enterprise.
It runs on both Linux and Windows.
It will work with any infrastructure, whether it’s on-premises, in the cloud, or both.
Best Functionality
Docker Enterprise is a one-stop-shop for developing, sharing, and running container-based applications. Docker Enterprises is integrated with CI/CD, Developer Productivity Tooling, and End-to-End Kubernetes support are among the features.
Price: It starts with a free plan that includes one private repository. Organizational Docker Hub subscriptions begin at $7 per month for five private repositories and five similar forms.
4. Bamboo
Bamboo is a Continuous Integration (CI) and DevOps testing platform. It automates the build, test, and release processes all in one spot. Ducker, Git, SVN, Mercurial, and Amazon S3 buckets are among the technologies and languages it supports. Parallel tests, Docker agents, Permissions, Quarantine, Branch Detection, and Triggers are all capabilities and functions provided by Bamboo.
Features
Bamboo works with a variety of languages and technologies, including AWS CodeDeploy and Docker.
You may use the dedicated agents’ functionality to perform essential builds and hotfixes.
Changes to the code will be visible thanks to Bamboo.
It’s compatible with HipChat.
Features that allow for real-time cooperation.
Best Functionality
Bamboo works with AWS CodeDeploy, Docker, and Amazon S3, to name a few. If you combine Bamboo, Bitbucket, and JIRA software, you’ll be able to track the whole development process, from planning to deployment.
Price: Bamboo provides a 30-day free trial. The Small Teams plan will set you back $10 for ten jobs. The project from the Growing Team will set you back $1100 for an unlimited number of jobs.
5. Selenium
The most widely used automated testing tool is Selenium. It’s one of the best DevOps automated testing solutions, and it’s mainly built to enable browser automation testing. Selenium is a lightweight framework for online application testing. Without having much more knowledge about test scripting language, Selenium provides a playback tool for creating functional tests. It provides below common features and with proper Selenium training, you can understand how to implement them for a productive result.
Features
The record and playback functions are included in Selenium-IDE.
It may be used to create bug reproduction scripts quickly.
Selenium WebDriver is compatible with a variety of browsers and operating systems.
You’ll be able to develop scalable scripts using Selenium WebDriver that can be spread across many environments.
It works with a variety of programming languages.
Best Functionality
Selenium provides a set of tools to aid in testing online applications, with Selenium WebDriver being one of the most prominent.
Price: Free
6. GitLab
GitLab is built by GitLab Inc, it is mainly designed for the web-based DevOps lifecycle solution. GitLab assists in issue tracking, Git repository manager, wiki deployment pipeline capabilities, all under an open-source license and continuous integration. Ukrainian developers Dmytro Zaporozhets and Valery Sizov built the program.
Features
Project management capabilities are available on GitLab.
It has excellent cooperation features. It will enable the teams to work together on code.
Access Control, API, SSL Security, Monitoring, Projections, and Third-Party Integrations are all included.
It also offers code review, code hosting, and social coding capabilities.
Best Functionality
You may use this platform to review code, manage projects, and build software. The GitHub Marketplace is the place you go to browse and buy tools.
Price: GitLab provides a free plan that includes the fundamentals of GitHub. Pro ($7/month), Team ($9/user/month), and Enterprise are the other three levels available.
7. JIRA
JIRA is used by approximately 50,000 clients for problem tracking and project management, according to Atlassian. JIRA Software is used by several companies like Nasa, Twitter, Audi, The Telegraph, etc. It is a commercial tool with a free trial period.
Features
Kanban boards will assist teams in producing the maximum amount of production.
It offers tools and functions for sketching out the broad picture, discussing plans, and ensuring the roadmaps are linked to your team’s progress.
Agile Reporting allows for real-time actionable reports.
Customizable processes, configurable filters, Mobile Apps, and Rich APIs are among the capabilities available.
Best Functionality
JIRA is a popular project management tool with capabilities such as limitless custom fields, defect management, sophisticated search, and comprehensive reporting, among others.
Price: It has a free unlimited plan for up to ten users. It offers two distinct programs, Standard and Premium, both of which include free trials.
8. Puppet Enterprise
DevOps, Security & Compliance, Configuration & Management, Cloud Management, and more areas are all covered by Puppet Enterprise. It will assist you in updating your cloud-native application’s continuous delivery methodology.
Features
The Puppet enterprise tool automates the software delivery process. This DevOps for testers tool aids developers in fast delivering outstanding software.
Create a model of your whole environment and manage it.
Visual workflows and intelligent orchestration
Context-aware reporting in real-time
Infrastructure should be defined and enforced regularly.
Best Functionality
Version control, code review, automated testing, continuous integration, and automated deployment are among the DevOps techniques that the tool will assist teams in implementing.
Price: Puppet Enterprise provides a 10-node free trial of the software. If you need more than ten nodes, you can contact the business.
9. Kobiton
Kobiton is a mobile testing app that runs in the background. Scriptless Test Automation from Kobiton can generate DevOps-ready automated test scripts. Appium Anywhere, the company’s technology, will provide a solution for shaky test scripts.
Features
Kobiton integrates effortlessly with your DevOps platform as well as all major CI/CD systems.
It’s an intelligent test automation platform that enables scriptless mobile test automation capabilities.
It provides real-device testing capabilities, such as manual and automated testing on actual devices.
Functional testing, visual testing, performance testing, device lab management, and other features are available on the Kobiton platform.
Best Functionality
Run your manual test, and the tool’s intelligent test automation capability will generate automated test scripts that are DevOps-ready.
Price: Kobiton has plans ranging from $50 to $1400 for every team.
10. JMeter
Apache JMeter is a free load testing software. Its purpose is to assess the effectiveness of websites. This load testing tool is compatible with DevOps.
Features
JMeter may be used to do load and performance tests on a variety of server types.
The test plans for this load testing tool are stored in XML format, allowing users to create them with a text editor.
The tool may be used to test apps in an automated and functional manner.
Best Functionality
Concurrent sampling by several threads and simultaneous sampling of various functions by separate thread groups are possible with a complete multi-threading framework.
Price: Free
Tabular form of top 10 Continuous Testing Tools
S.NO.
List of Tools
Features
Price
1.
Jenkins
Jenkins allows isolated changes to be tested even when the codebase is huge. It can do automated testing of builds.
Free
2.
Selenium
The record and playback functions are included in Selenium-IDE. It may be used to create bug reproduction scripts quickly.
Free
3.
Docker
Docker facilitates collaborative code development.It runs on both Linux and Windows.
Begin at $7 per month for five private repositories and five similar forms.
4.
Bamboo
It’s compatible with HipChat.Features that allow for real-time cooperation.
Bamboo provides a 30-day free trial.
5.
GitLab
Project management capabilities are available on GitLab.It also offers code review, code hosting, and social coding capabilities.
Pro ($7/month), Team ($9/user/month)
6.
JIRA
Agile Reporting allows for real-time actionable reports. Kanban boards will assist teams in producing the maximum amount of production.
Free
7.
Tricentis Tosca
A low-code/no-code technique is used. It allows for distributed processing.
Free
8.
Puppet enterprise
Visual workflows and intelligent orchestration.Context-aware reporting in real-time.
10-node free trial of the software.
9.
Kobiton
It’s an intelligent test automation platform that enables scriptless mobile test automation capabilities. It provides real-device testing capabilities, such as manual and automated testing on actual devices.
Plans ranging from $50 to $1400 for every team.
10.
JMeter
JMeter may be used to do load and performance tests on a variety of server types. The tool may be used to test apps in an automated and functional manner.
Free
Conclusion
In general, continuous testing entails testing frequently and early. Continuous testing is advantageous in many ways, but it may also be challenging. So, before implementing this testing method in your company, make sure you have a strong strategy in place.
Continuous testing tools should not only fulfill your current requirements but also consider future trends and enhancements. Basic optimization, learning curve, supported programming languages, continuous testing features, technical compatibility, interaction with other CI tools, and integration with your organization’s complete CI/CD ecosystem are essential characteristics to look for in a good product.
Author Bio
Pradeep Kasipuri is tech-savvy, currently working as Digital Marketer and content contributor at mindmajix.com. He writes articles on various tech spaces – Software Testing, Business Intelligence, Cloud, Project Management, Document Management etc. Connect with him via LinkedIn.
Top 10 Continuous Testing Tools in 2021 was last modified: July 22nd, 2021 by Pradeep Kasipuri
Pasts are the days when you can create a website and show some information about your products or services. Nowadays, people want to see more of everything. More effects, better UI, improved user experience. And if you wonder what the secret to these great and intuitive dynamic interfaces is, it is Vue. In this article, we will review why you need to hire Vue developers and how they can help you build great web interfaces.
But let us start with the basics.
What is Vue.js?
Vue.js is a reactive, component-based view framework for building user interfaces. It makes it easy to manage the view layer of your application and keep the code separate from the data layer. Vue.js is extremely powerful when it comes to building a responsive interface that can be quickly adopted across devices and platforms. In addition, Vue.js enables developers to create large-scale Single-Page Applications easy to reason about and maintain over time. One of the core focuses on the library is its small size, as it helps prevent over-engineering.
Benefits from using Vue
Before youhire Vuejs developer, you should ask “why”. Why should you hire Vue.js programmer for your website? Let us see some of the things that make Evan You’s library so powerful.
Lightweight
Lightweight and fast, Vue.js is an excellent choice for all kinds of projects, especially those that require simple interfaces and fast handling. Thanks to its small size, the framework beats other competitors on the market regarding SEO and UX.
Time-saving
Vue.js is known for helping developers spare time and code in their projects — it has an excellent ability to identify and react to UI changes. Thanks to its reactive nature, Vue.js allows for simple data binding, which supports two-way data flow between the components of a single app. With this freedom, designers can focus their attention on implementing other project features while Vue.js takes care of the UI and UX behind the scenes. No wonder Vue js developers for hire are not so many – many of them are already occupied.
Integrations
Vue.js is an excellent choice for programmers looking to incorporate one technology across multiple applications. Since the framework only relies on JavaScript, it can easily be integrated into any application without significant additional development time.
Easy to understand
Vue.js is easy to use and straightforward with a basic structure. It is an excellent option for adding a little something to the client’s web program with little time spent on it. It works well for projects of all sizes and has the ability to scale from tiny to huge applications.
Who is a Vue developer?
Vue.js programmers are front-end software developers who can manage the GUI of a web application using the Vue.js framework. A seasoned Vue.js developer is expected to have many skills, including knowledge of its core components and how they interact with one another, and expertise in concepts such as single-page applications, data binding, and reusable components.
Find talents
A Vue js developer for hire should possess many qualities to get the position they want. Vue js developers should be highly qualified in JavaScript in addition to the Vue.js framework. Similar to front-end development, Vue.js developers should be familiar with web standards — they should be able to build fast and clean customer experiences.
Hire Vue developers on freelance platforms
There is no shortage of freelance developers who can create Vue-based applications. Upwork and Fiverr are just two cases of platforms where you can find talent for any technical project. Each developer is unique, so take the time to hire carefully — cheaper options aren’t always the best, and you don’t want to end up with a problem that costs you more than it should.
Outstaffing agencies
Working with an outstaffing agency is an excellent way for businesses to find qualified workers with the cultural and professional experience capable of adapting to new environments. Freelancers are more agile, but outsourcing lets you offload certain tasks and provides additional protection against risk by acting as a buffer between yourself and the workers.
Conclusion
No matter how you choose to hire Vue developers (freelancers or outstaffing companies), you should always make sure that you get the right developer for your needs.
Building Dynamic Interfaces or Why You Need to Hire Vue Developers was last modified: July 21st, 2021 by Ashima Gupta
The World Economic Forum (WFE) is the International Organization for Public-Private Cooperation. The Forum referred to the foremost political, business, social, and different leaders of society to shape global, local, and industry plans. It was set up in 1971 as a not-for-profit foundation and is settled in Geneva, Switzerland. It is autonomous, unbiased, and not associated with any external interests. The forum aspires to display entrepreneurship in the global public interest while maintaining the best governance expectations. Having such an assembly encourages communications, clarity, and trust, which is the core of all businesses. If you aim to start a new business in the Netherlands, the World economic forum will become your support.
Their activities are molded by a fascinating institutional culture established on the partnership system, which attests that an organization is responsible for all the layers of society. This establishment carefully mixes and balances the best of many organizations, from the public and private sectors, international organizations, and educational foundations.
The forum members believe that progress occurs by blending people from different backgrounds who desire improvements. . Read more…
Understanding the World Economic Forum (WEF)
The World Economic Forum’s (WEF) group includes a cross-segment of the global economy-experts from the private and public sectors. It involves the most prominent CEOs, negotiators, business tycoons, media influencers, government authorities, engineers, and association representatives worldwide.
Established in 1971 in Geneva, the WEF is dependent on stakeholder theory. The stakeholder theory implies that while a private area substance’s job is to build profits for its investors, it is firm owners upon the organization to see the rest of society as having an ‘opinion’ in its activities. Business partners, clients that the organization serves, and the nearby and global-local area are considered deciding factors while establishing new businesses.
Conference
Resided in Switzerland, the WEF foundation is even active in New York, Beijing, Tokyo, San Francisco, and India (Mumbai). The latest yearly gathering in Davos was held virtually, global community in January 2021, with an annual in-person conference anticipated August 2021 in Singapore under “The Great Reset.” The significant issues of this meet were how big data and data science would influence supply chains? To know more, click here on Intercompany Solutions Company Blog.
World Economic Forum (WEF) Activities
The WEF is supported by its participation, which unites newcomers from different organizations with approximately $5 billion in yearly turnover, just as people from varying backgrounds, including VIPs, engineers, producers, researchers, and interested people willing to provide annual commitments and meeting charges to attend. 5 Regional gatherings are held in farming-oriented countries like Africa, East Asia, and Latin America, yet the yearly gathering in Davos, Switzerland, is the central gathering occasion for all participants.
Conclusion
WEF conferences effectively introduce new issues, patterns, and companies, individuals, and the public for conversation. And also, they are trusted to assist with developing corporate and public area strategies for future dynamics. The WEF’s purpose is to improve the position of the world economy by engaging business, political, and industry agendas with the help of other leaders of society.
World Economic Forum was last modified: March 4th, 2025 by Richard Cole
Anyone who has a website or is planning to have one should know the indispensable role of web hosting. Web hosting is the process of buying or renting space on a web server for a website to store its files and publish these files onto the internet. It is like a virtual warehouse that you can access to store and retrieve the resources you want to access or want other people to access. However, keep in mind that not all web hosting service providers are the same, and the web hosting plans they offer have advantages and disadvantages. Read on to know about some web hosting hacks and tricks you can use for a responsive and reliable website.
Research Your Web Hosting Options
Your web hosting option research should be extensive. Do not just look for the best providers and excellent reviews. Also, look for the worst ones and negative reviews. Chances are, some of those who make it to the best list are also found in the list of worst ones. Be investigative and verify the validity of the reviews you read. Weigh the percentage of disgruntled users and check if the reviews are subjective or biased.
Also, thoroughly research the promos and offers some providers display on their advertisements. Check the hosting types such as dedicated, shared, cloud, WordPress, VPS, or reseller and other relevant hosting information if they are indicated in fully visible Hostgator coupons or other similar web hosting coupons offered by other websites.
Different hosting types have different prices, with shared hosting being the cheapest and dedicated hosting being the most expensive. Discounts in these promos are often attractive but also check the applicable promo period and conditions associated with availing the promo.
Match Your Hosting Needs with Your Website
While it is good that you have various choices for your web hosting provider, not all the services are tailored to fit your website’s needs. Check if you are using a static HTML website or WordPress, if you are using a simple coding language like HTML or CSS or a more advanced language like PHP, Javascript, or Python, and the number of sites you want to create. Also, consider your monthly budget and the anticipated traffic your website will receive each month. Having these factors accounted for will help you make excellent web hosting service provider choices.
Register for Domain and Hosting Separately
It can be temptingly convenient to register your website’s domain and web hosting under the same company, but as much as possible, it shouldn’t be the case. Unless you are certain that the web host is established and reputable, you can entrust the domain of your site to the web hosting company. Otherwise, err on the side of caution and protect your website’s domain name – the online identity of your business or private site. Also, website domains are very expensive and are vital to the establishment of a website’s online presence on the web.
Thus, it would be best to choose a separate yet trustworthy and dependable web domain registrar. Web hosting and domain registration under the same provider can expose your website to the risks of an inaccessible domain, compromised web domain account, and possible loss of virtual identity. You don’t want any nasty surprises in the event the web hosting company goes down.
You might be asking what are the benefits of having a separate web host and domain registrar. One advantage is easier file management. When separate companies dedicate their services to hosting and domain maintenance, you get the best possible service without compromising the other, which usually happens in a two-in-one setup or bundle under a single company. Switching to another web host is also easier without other commitments tying you down.
If a separate company handles the domain, you can focus on changing your web hosting company if you are not satisfied with its services. Having a good company name is key, this will help SEO and keep your brand recognizable. Be sure you have thought this our thoroughly.
Go For Upgradeable Rather Than Unlimited Web Hosting
Unlimited storage or data transfers can be very enticing and misleading, especially to new website owners or creators. If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. The truth is, you are just given a large but limited storage size and a high data transfer cap under the web host’s Terms of Service. Does a regulated stream of traffic feel unlimited to you? Probably not.
A smart approach would be to choose a host that can give your website room to grow in the future. Look for a web host that offers upgradeable bundles or hosting types. As your business or private site grows, your need for more storage, bandwidth, and other hosting features and resources also increases.
Creating and maintaining a website is a wise investment, provided you have sufficient knowledge on how to get the best resources and services. Web hosting is one of the essential aspects of a website. To harness the benefits and advantages of web hosting, always start with assessing what you or your business needs to achieve with your website and align your website needs with the features offered by the web hosting provider. Strive for balance and harmony between responsiveness, relevance, and engagement between your website and web hosting.
Web Hosting Hacks And Tricks That You Should Know About was last modified: October 21st, 2024 by Charlene Brown
Educational institutions are always looking for new ways to help students learn and improve their knowledge. Some schools have taken to using learning management systems (LMSs), also called eLearning platforms, as a way of helping faculty teach courses online. These eLearning platforms offer many benefits that should make them an attractive choice for modern education. These include the following.
Easy Access to Information
One of the main challenges learners face with traditional learning is accessing course information. In many instances, students must walk a considerable distance from their dorm or classroom to find the relevant books.
LMSs solve this problem by giving learners quick and convenient access using any device with an Internet connection. When you need to find learning content, such as informative essay examples, all you need to do is type the phrase in the search bar and click “search.” Thus, it boosts the efficiency of education.
Learning from Others
Considering the ever-changing world, it is increasingly important to learn from other people. For this to happen with traditional learning methods, students would need an experienced mentor in their field of study and available at their convenience.
LMSs offer distance learners an opportunity to connect with mentors when they need them most. Students can post questions on forums where experts in the field will be able to answer them. They can also connect with them through live chats and video conferencing sessions.
Saving Time
One of the most significant benefits of using a learning management system is that it saves you time on activities like
scheduling courses;
reviewing course materials;
keeping up with deadlines;
meeting requirements such as grades and attendance;
submitting documentation to the institution.
With LMSs, instructors can update course content without going through the long process of writing new material and waiting for approval from the institution. This is a significant advantage over traditional classroom settings. Information becomes outdated quickly when there’s little time to update materials.
Cost-Effectiveness
Delivering a quality education is expensive and requires a lot of resources. It is common for schools and individual teachers to spend thousands of dollars on textbooks or equipment.
In comparison, many LMSs reduce the costs of learning inputs like stationery and textbooks. Besides, as learning can occur remotely, students can access self-guided learning modules.
Additionally, in open-source or free LMSs like Moodle, there are no costs involved apart from the time it takes for a school or teacher to set up the system.
Added Functionality
Some features that are popular with LMSs include
collaborative spaces;
document sharing;
quizzes or assessments of competencies;
attendance tracking for both students and teachers;
certificates to show learner achievements;
personalized digital statements for learners about their progress.
Also, there are many ways to deliver learning content. One of these is through video. An LMS can allow teachers and learners to upload, view, or download videos relevant to the course under study.
Audio recordings can serve as a valuable input for students who need them to learn concepts more clearly. For instance, if students have audiovisual answers to common questions, like what is an explanatory essay, the chances are that they will be more interested in the topic at hand. Added functionality of LMSs also appeals to different types of learners.
Promoting Interactive Learning
Getting students to pay attention to the material can be a challenge for educators. The good news is that LMSs make this task much easier. When students are engaged with course materials, they have more motivation to retain information and learn new skills.
With an LMS, content variation brings a welcome change to the monotony of traditional learning. In addition, instructors can adjust how materials are presented based on students’ needs. LMSs provide an opportunity for interactive discussions through chats and forums.
Versatility
The convenience of LMSs makes them an ideal resource for schools and individual teachers. These systems are online and accessible anywhere at any time. Teachers can set up lessons long in advance, and students can access their content from home or school. This is especially helpful when a student has missed a class due to illness or other emergencies.
Easy Progress Tracking
LMSs make evaluations easier. A teacher can input feedback through a grading system, and students can see their progress. This is an important benefit for parents who want to know how well their child is doing in school.
The records that LMSs keep allow teachers to track student achievement. It helps them identify struggling students and tailor their lessons accordingly. It helps them identify struggling students and tailor their lessons accordingly. For example, by looking at the exemplification essay assignments submitted, an instructor can gauge the weak areas and adjust their teaching.
Wrapping Up
As LMSs have grown in popularity, they’ve also become more adept at simplifying the learning process. With an LMS, you can provide students with a more engaging and interactive course. This approach will ultimately lead to increased educational outcomes for your organization and learners. If you haven’t already considered leveraging this powerful tool, now is the time.
8 Benefits of Using Learning Management Systems was last modified: July 26th, 2023 by Julie Gunn
The hospitality industry is divided into before and after Airbnb. It is an American SaaS-based online marketplace that offers arrangements for lodging or tourism experiences, on a commission basis. Since the company’s launch in 2007, they’ve gone from one rental to 5.6 million active listings and over 4 million hosts in 2021. This startup idea was validated with MVP and made the cut.
Let’s dig into MVP development services. Why this stage is crucial for SaaS startups, and how to start off.
To begin with, let’s take a closer look at the Airbnb example. In 2007 Brian Chesky and Joe Gebbia created a simple AirBedandBreakfast.com. They bought air mattresses and put a part of their apartment in San Francisco to rent on their website for the first three visitors. It was enough to test the idea of short-term rentals, collect and analyze the feedback and move forward!
As of 2021, Airbnb expands beyond room bookings to vacation rentals, has 900M+ guest arrivals, 4M+ hosts, and over $9.6K annual earnings per host. Even with the 30% year-to-year revenue loss due to the Covid-19, Airbnb is still on top. In general, cloud businesses were not so badly affected by pandemics.
What’s in for you? If you are interested in software as a service domain or just have a business idea, you should start small. You don’t need to deliver a complex solution at once. The history of big brands, like Airbnb, proves the benefits of this approach.
What is an MVP for SaaS?
A minimum Viable Product (MVP) has a limited number of features to satisfy the first customers. It also collects feedback for future development.
When you have an idea of a product or service, you still need to check whether this idea is worth the effort. An MVP is a quick and effective way to build a functional product that can further be scaled. The delivered MVP product does not always coincide with your initial idea. In fact, it can be somehow or totally different.
To prove this idea, Henrik Kniberg, a product coach for Spotify, created a popular illustration of product versions. Every new version was based on the end-user satisfaction with the product and differed from the previous one. As a result, the initial idea and final product here are two different products with different functionality.
So, it means that the one who prompts the path for your idea and SaaS product development is your audience, first adopters, and end-users. Depending on their problems, your product should evolve and find the best shortest way to solve the users’ pains.
Benefits of MVP for cloud products
You, as a business owner, have certain risks and fears of starting something new. As a rule, the budget is also very tight for startups. An averageSaaS startup with up to 100 employees spends a staggering $1.16m annually. Here comes the MVP approach to help you out. Below are the core benefits for your business to think about. You can:
Check the product idea;
Probe the market of interest;
Reduce working hours of the team;
Receive the first income or donations from investors;
Analyze the first mistakes and feedback;
Save costs and thus resources.
How to Start Off: 7 Tips for Minimum Viable Product Development
Tip 1: First, define the problem before you define the solution
The common mistake of a new SaaS product launch is adding new cool features without checking the need for them and not having following a production launch checklist.
Answer this question first: does my solution solve the right problem?
Tip 2: Know your market and competition
Sounds obvious but true for all SaaS startups. The market and competitors research gives you a clue on how to start, how much to spend, how to fill the market gap, and where you can offer a better service.
Tip 3: Find out your customers’ needs and pains
There are some basic types of pain points: the convenience of use, the financial part, and the shopping journey. Your sales team can actually talk with your current customers and ask the right questions to find out all the pains.
Some examples below:
What problem were you solving when you first came across [product name]?
Can you share more information about the problem(s) you have now?
When do you need to fix this problem?
Tip 4: Narrow down the project scope and features list
The MVP approach will teach you to go small, identify the crucial 20% features and ignore or postpone up to 80% of other works. There are some helpful principles to narrow down the choices. For example, you can follow the Pareto principle or the 80/20 rule.
Tip 5: Test your idea with a prototype
Don’t confuse these two terms: prototype and MVP. While the prototype aims at checking the ideas; the MVP sticks to one selected idea and finishes with a product ready for the market.
Tip 6: Think about pricing models in advance
You can drive away a big pool of customers with a poor pricing model understanding. That’s why it’s smart to think about the needed model during the early stages. For instance, as per recent SaaS pricing strategy stats, 50% of SaaS companies still depend on usage-based pricing. Such a pricing model means that customers are charged only when they use a certain product or service.
Tip 7: Collect feedback after the SaaS MVP launch
The MVP approach has two main aims: to collect feedback from users and see whether this product brings value. After your launch your product, ask your end-users these questions to understand if you are heading in the right direction:
What is the key benefit you have received from [product name]?
What feature(s) are missing in [product name] from your point of view?
How can we improve our product or service to better meet your needs?
Final thoughts
There are many bright examples of various SaaS solutions on the market today: Airbnb, Microsoft Azure, Spotify, Buffer, and so on. All these products provide their unique services and have their end-users. Still, they have one thing in common – they’ve started their success with an MVP. This approach proved to be of big advantage to check the idea and move in the right direction.
Dmitry Chekalin CEO @ Codica. Software Entrepreneur with 15+ years of experience. Focused on the lean startup approach. I write about startups, marketplaces and SaaS products, and custom software development. Twitter | Linkedin | Facebook
7 Tips for Minimum Viable Product (MVP) SaaS App Development was last modified: January 22nd, 2024 by Dmitry Chekalin
