Tech Talk: Server Types

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StrategyDriven Tactical Execution Article |Rack Servers|Tech Talk: Server TypesWhen it comes to the world of data centres there is one clear battle emerging and this is between rack servers and blade servers. Unfortunately there is no evident winner when it comes to selecting between the two. There are evident advantages and disadvantages associated with both options and it largely depends on you and your requirements.

So, let’s begin by defining what each type of server is…

Rack servers – A rack server is often also referred to as a rack mount server. In essence, it is a standard sized network that has been designed so that it can be mounted to rack frame infrastructure or a data centre server cabinet.
Blade servers – A blade server is often described as a stripped down version of the former. This type of server is absent of an array of components found within standard rack servers.

By merely assessing the definitions of both options you have probably already picked up on one main advantage a blade server has over a standard rack server. This is the fact that it makes much better utilisation of space. Data centres using blade servers have the possibility to reach optimal efficiency on this front. You can find more information on this website about the sort of tech businesses that have these key decisions to make.

Nevertheless, one of the main disadvantages associated with blade servers is that the start-up costs are a lot larger in comparison to other options. This can present a significant problem for businesses who are just starting up and therefore do not have the luxury of a large budget. The reason why blade servers tend to cost more in the beginning is because you will require some initial infrastructure which is not needed with any other type of server, such as the chassis.

Another issue a lot of people have noted is that blade servers are somewhat limited when it comes to I/O expansion options. This is because there is a lack of expansion slots. This expansion limitation is also represented in terms of disk drives (most are limited to two or four internal hard drives) and PCI/PCI Express slots. You don’t experience any of these issues when it comes to rack servers as they are very expandable.

However, one problem which does come your way if you opt for rack servers is cable management. It can be somewhat tricky to keep everything organised because you will have a wealth of different cables to keep under control. There are lots of products available for cable management to help you with this. But when it comes to blade servers the confusion and clutter is minimised substantially.

Finally, another advantage associated with blade servers is the fact that easier integration can be possible because of the fact that a blade enclosure utilises a single power supply. This of course further represents efficiency in terms of power usage. You may find that you have an opportunity to lower your costs and even improve your data centre in terms of eco-friendliness.

It is quite easy to see that there are pros and cons associated with both rack servers and blade servers. The decision you make all depends on your data centre requirements and what is more important to you. For instance, if space is a massive issue then you will more than likely want to go for blade servers.

3 Ways Business is Changing in the Information Age

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StrategyDriven Tactical Execution Article |Digital Technology|3 Ways Business is Changing in the Information AgeYou’ve probably heard it countless times before, but every company is a tech company now. The nature of the information age is that if you aren’t keeping up with the latest in digital technologies, even the simplest of businesses can quickly fall behind the competition.

Accessing, analyzing and utilizing information is essential for businesses. Even if you are only running a small side hustle, the more information you have and the more you can manipulate it, the more efficient and successful your business could be.

But knowing that technology will impact your business in the future is not enough. Business owners need more than entrepreneurial flair and a good head for numbers these days, they also need to understand their corporate responsibility, their duty to their customers and, above all else, how to comply with business regulations in their industry. And they need to realize that this is happening now.

Compliance is Key

In the information age, compliance has become a huge part of business. For example, health care isn’t just about diagnosis and treatment any more, it’s also about managing data, maintaining customer privacy and implementing technological systems to improve performance.

As business gets more and more complex, so the law has to keep up. But businesses need to keep up to and a proactive approach to compliance is the best option. For example, a SOC 2 for Healthcare demonstrates an understanding of responsibility and a duty of care to the customer.

Your Customers Know You

The information age has democratized knowledge. For businesses, the information age means that consumer profiles and targeted advertising are more effective than ever before. But increased knowledge goes both ways and consumers are more likely to know about your business too.

Consumers are much more concerned with ethical business practice than ever before because the have access to the information. Companies that fail to live up to their customer’s standards in any way – socially, environmentally, economically – can stand to lose and lose quickly.

Take Responsibility

One of the most important lessons businesses can take from this age is that they have a responsibility. Taking responsibility isn’t just about apologizing and carrying on any more. As consumers have woken up to bad business practices and the law has tightened up, any company reputation ultimately comes down to their sense of responsibility. And, while rebuilding a business reputation might sound easy, it is far easier to do the work first.

All businesses have a responsibility to their consumers to provide a product worth their money but they also have social and environmental responsibilities too. No business can operate in a vacuum and understanding the impact your business has – good and bad – is essential for building a positive impact model to guide your business forward.

The information age has in many ways made doing business more challenging. However, this relatively new landscape is also providing new potential for businesses to behave properly and serve their customers even better. The world is changing and businesses need to keep up!

Guide To Employee Name Badges

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StrategyDriven Tactical Execution Article |Name Badges|Guide To Employee Name BadgesYou would be surprised to discover the monumental number of choices you have at your disposal when it comes to purchasing professional name badges for your company. You need to determine the type of badges you want to buy, how many badges you are going to buy, the size of the badges, the style of them, the colors used, and so on and so forth. These decisions are a lot more important than you may imagine. After all, you want your name badges to be unique and impressive. They are a representation of your company and thus they need to be a good representation.

There are several different types of name badges available. In general, name tags are separated into two categories; permanent and reusable. Deciding between the two options is the first decision you should make and it is a very important decision at that. The latter option – a reusable name badge – is very much recommended. Nevertheless, as is the case with all products, there are pros and cons and these qualities need to be assessed.

Essentially with a reusable name badge, you will have name badges created which acts as a shell. You can then pop in a piece of cardboard that will have the name of the person who is going to wear the badge on it. This means that when someone leaves your company and another person comes in all you need to do is change the piece of card. This means you do not need to spend any more money on having more name badges created. This highlights an obvious benefit; cost-efficiency. You can ensure your costs are kept low and that once you have made your initial investment on name badges it is unlikely that any more money will need to be spent. Keeping costs down is highly important in any business and thus this is a crucial advantage.

A lot of people deterred from buying reusable name badges because they deemed them to be less professional with regards to image. Nevertheless, with the advancements in technology and design, this is a notion that is largely no longer shared. The way in which most of the reusable badges operate is via a clear plastic seal and thus if well designed it is often impossible to tell that the name of the employee is merely printed on a bit of cardboard.

Aside from the fact that a reusable name badge is absent of any permanent name printed on it, the design process is pretty much identical. You can incorporate any colors you like, you can have any shaped name badge you like, and you can add your company’s logo or the name of your company, and so on and so forth. Therefore you will not be compromised in any other areas of the design process or style outcome.

There are lots of benefits to be had by opting for reusable name badges for your company. You can keep your costs low and ensure that no new products need to be ordered, whilst also benefiting from an effective and stylish badge.

Choosing the right supplier

When ordering business products it is of the utmost importance that you purchase from a company offering quality and affordability. After all, you need to ensure that the products you receive are perfect for your business. It is inefficient to have to order more products, and thus spend more money. Moreover, every decision you make effects the successfulness of your business, and therefore every purchase you make has heightened importance. This is something that certainly applies to buying name badges as well. You need to ensure that you buy tags that are clear, long-lasting, innovative, effective and affordable. Therefore, finding a top company to purchase these badges from is essential.

When seeking a company providing name badges you need to find a company who offers you a free sample or at least allows you to order one badge without needing to buy in bulk. This allows you to be certain that you are happy with the badges you are spending your money on. There are a lot of companies out there who do not offer either of these options. This means that you have to spend your cash on a bulk order of name badges and this is something that can be very damaging if the badges are not what you were expecting in the end.

In addition to this, you should make sure that the company offers a vast selection of different identification badge designs, as well as other products, like corporate medals. After all, you do not want to have the exact same name badges as the rest of the country. You want your company’s badges to stand out from the crowd and be recognizable. After all, badges offer you the opportunity to strengthen your brand identity and image. In fact, there are a lot of companies nowadays which offer badge templates and then you have the opportunity to build on these and make them more unique and thus you play the designer role. This is a great way of making sure that you put your company’s stamp on the name badges.

It is also recommended that you take a read of the business’s testimonial page. A lot of individuals overlook the importance of these pages. However, those who have written a review were in the exact same position as you at one point and thus they will provide you with the information that you truly want to know. This is instead of the information that the company wants you to know. If a business does not have a testimonial page then this is a worry because there is no verification of the value of their products.

Finally, make sure you get in touch with the company. You should give them a call or drop them an email. Ask the professionals for their opinion regarding the name tags they believe will be best for your business specifically. Not only is this important in giving you an added opinion and thus the ability to make a better decision. But it is also important because it gives you an indication as to whether the company is of a high standard or not.

How the Rapid Growth of Ecommerce Is Driving Changes in Logistics and Transportation Management

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StrategyDriven Tactical Execution Article |Ecommerce|How the Rapid Growth of Ecommerce Is Driving Changes in Logistics and Transportation ManagementThe e-commerce industry is fulfilling one of the biggest needs of today’s shoppers: instant gratification. This means that American shoppers are drifting away from traditional brick-and-mortar stores and towards the so-called “Amazon effect”. This is causing the industry to grow by leaps and bounds.

Smart devices and wireless connections are now nearly everywhere and have already contributed immensely to the growth of the e-commerce industry. But, the desire for instant gratification is also forcing logistics and transportation businesses to provide delivery options that are faster, more cost-effective, and convenient as well as offer increased flexibility to the customer.

With the customers demanding faster deliveries, field service businesses are now looking to develop a more time-definite supply chain. They are in a race to conquer the “last-mile” and are seeking the most effective ways to deliver packages of all sizes directly to customers’ homes.

From the size of shipments to the distribution networks and even the way warehouses may need to be built, e-commerce is impacting more than we realize. It is changing the entire logistics industry and the world we live in.

How is Ecommerce Transforming Logistics and Transportation Management?

To maintain customer loyalty and stand out from the crowd, most e-commerce companies are continually trying to offer cheaper and faster shipping or easier returns. This means that logistics companies need to rethink their fulfillment processes.

Transportation Needs Are More Complex

The fulfillment process is well-trodden territory for brick-and-mortar retailers: packages come directly to the stores at predictable intervals. However, for e-commerce businesses, shipping parcels to different locations safely and punctually requires complex planning. Expensive and complex processes, such as reverse logistics and last-mile delivery, mean that logistics businesses are continually adapting their processes to meet customer expectations and stay competitive.

The latest trend in last mile delivery management focuses on the localization of distribution, where the goal is to leverage the existing infrastructure and optimize it through technology. Cloud-based optimization may also help transportation companies handle the fluctuations in demand through better scheduling and planning.

Inventory Planning Has Become Crucial

Online shoppers are becoming increasingly demanding. A recent study found that almost 80% of customers want same-day shipping, while nearly 61% expect their packages to arrive within 1 to 3 hours of placing an order. Many logistics companies are struggling to deliver on this expectation. So, rethinking inventory placement is key to gaining a competitive edge over rivals.

Distribution Centers Are Closer to Customers

With the omnichannel approach to e-commerce gaining ground, there is a major need for distribution centers to be located near urban markets. The proximity to urban areas allows parcels to get delivered faster, which is a key differentiator. Companies with a planned network of strategically placed distribution centers will be better able to handle the scalability issues that the hugely growing e-commerce market is likely to impose on them.

Operation Costs Have to Be Reduced

With customers expecting free shipping and membership schemes that guarantee same day delivery, transportation costs have increased. Route planning tools can help plan and share accurate routes with the drivers to deliver the parcels on time, while ensuring the lowest cost of transportation. In fact, according to a McKinsey report, algorithmic route optimization results in an almost 16% increase in a company’s profit, without compromising on quality.

Conclusion

The rapid growth of the e-commerce industry will demand an equally strong response from the transportation and logistics businesses. To keep up with the increasing demands from e-commerce companies and to meet the expectations of customers, logistics companies will need to invest in warehouses and distribution centers.

Businesses that fail to keep up with the logistics trends will risk losing a competitive edge and falling out of favor with customers. The successful logistics businesses will be those that can quickly find innovative solutions to new problems and are ready to find solutions to more problems the day after that.

How to Optimally Align IT with Your Business Processes?

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StrategyDriven Tactical Execution Article |IT architecture|How to Optimally Align IT with Your Business Processes?IT is an important subject for any organization and it becomes increasingly interwoven with business operations. The information should be accessible for any relevant person and it should be structured logically, so that everyone in an organization relies on the same, up-to-date information and is able to use it efficiently. Structuring business information is also referred to as enterprise architecture.

How Does Enterprise Architecture Add Value?

IT should be connected to a functional process in the organization. This is necessary for organizations to be efficient and for IT to generate value. The market a company operates in should also be taken into account for enterprise architecture.

In order for enterprise architecture to be effective, a company must be agile. The word “agile” is popular in the business world and it is bandied about frequently. However, agility is crucial in this article; it does not appear in this context, because it sounds interesting. To illustrate, enterprise architecture tools provide an opportunity to respond to inefficient and ineffective situations, but organizations must be able to benefit from these opportunities, before the relevance of an action has already passed.

For the IT architecture to be effective, it should be between centralized and decentralized. The enterprise architecture should manage changes in the architecture, but input by other employees should be appreciated. As a result, opportunities in the environment can be consumed.

Architectural centralization requires sharing knowledge, uniformity and standardization. Because randomly sharing knowledge could result in organizational chaos, it should be accompanied by the other two requirements (uniformity and standardization). Standardization of enterprise architecture can involve the process level, IT level and data level. In this, IT can be considered the bridge between data and process.

Balance between Centralization and Decentralization

To apply and appropriate balance between centralization and decentralization, the information pyramid can be implemented. This approach is developed by Aloys Kregting, who was entitled as CIO of the year twice. The pyramid presents questions that arise when changes in the architecture are proposed. The bottom layer represents requirements that must be met for the idea to be implemented.

The bottom layer of the pyramid is related to governance and involves leadership and organizational structures that are fundamental for the attainment of primary organizational goals. The second layer concerns the roles of employees and the behavioral adaptations that are necessary for the proposed architectural change. The subsequent layer represents data matters, such as key performance indicators. In the top layer Kregting referred to IT systems by which employees are supported. A proposal for change should correspond with the primary organizational objectives. If a requirement relates to one of the higher levels, without meeting a lower level, the implementation of the architectural change is suboptimal.

Two Views on IT

Gartner, a consultancy company, initiated the distinction between two modes of IT. The first mode concerns security and accuracy, whereas the second mode concerns innovation, which is less structured. Additionally, mode 2 requires agility. Mode 1 is related to non-distinctive IT: products and services are not directly influenced by it. And example of a mode 2 process is employee skills management. In mode 2, IT is part of products and services and serves as a competitive weapon. For instance, the customer journey could be a mode-2 aspect.

The Importance of Enterprise Architecture

Enterprise architecture provides guidance for organizations. It could be part of strategy, tactics and operations. Especially for IT companies, it can be effective to apply the bimodal view. Every action should add value to the business.

In conclusion, IT architecture should allow members of an organization to process information and contribute to the architecture, applications and processes. Information should be available to individuals in the organization to whom it is relevant. Also, organizations should distinguish between the two modes of IT. If these recommendations are executed, organizations will reap the benefits of enterprise architecture.

About the Author

Rianne Koopmans is a graduate in International Business Administration. In 2019 she will start her Master’s program in Digital Business. Currently, she is working as an online marketeer and is predominantly occupied with link building and web development.