Having a fleet of commercial vehicles is more important than you may think. Not only does it allow your team members to get from A to B with a consistent level of style and professionalism, but it also serves as an advertisement for your company, whether your employees are out on the road, or arriving at meetings with clients.
However, there are many questions that you need to ask before you get a fleet of vehicles, and one of them is whether you should install dash cams. We’ve done a brief rundown of some of the pros and cons here!
Pro: it’s easier for insurance purposes
Let’s be honest, no business wants to go through the headache that is associated with an accident concerning one of their vehicles. In fact, getting to the bottom of what has happened could be the hardest thing to do, and a lot of time – and potentially money – could be wasted in the process.
However, if you have a dash cam, you can easily see what has happened, and speed up the process of any insurance claims.
Pro: you can keep an eye on the standard of driving
If your name is on the side of a business vehicle, you want to know that the person driving it is doing a great job at showing your potential customers how professional your company really is. This is especially the case with vehicles that are used for long distances, and a truck dash cam will allow you to see this, no matter where they are.
You’ll be able to monitor your employees on the road, which will put your mind at rest that they’re not making your company look unprofessional!
Con: it can be misconstrued
OK, so there are many, many benefits to dash cams in business vehicles. However, it can be misconstrued by your employees as a way to spy on them, rather than just trusting them to do their jobs. It’s important to remind people that this isn’t the reasoning behind dash cams; they are used to uphold the driver’s safety.
Be sure to consult your team before installing them, and tell them all of the benefits that will come with doing so.
Pro: it comes with GPS options
If you’re thinking about opting for dash cams for your business fleet, then you may want to look into all of the added bonuses of doing this. Not only can you protect the safety of your drivers and monitor the standard of driving, but you can also see where they are, which comes with many benefits.
Firstly, it’s helpful if there are any cases of vehicle theft, and secondly, it allows you to see the real time progress of your staff.
So…
If you’re thinking about putting dash cams into your business vehicle fleet, then you could benefit in many ways by doing so. In the 21st century, these small pieces of tech can make our lives much easier, and as such, they are great additions to any company with a fleet of vehicles!
https://www.strategydriven.com/wp-content/uploads/car-connection-dashboard-1305305.jpg35765000StrategyDrivenhttps://www.strategydriven.com/wp-content/uploads/SDELogo5-300x70-300x70.pngStrategyDriven2019-08-08 07:00:232020-11-20 20:34:30Should You Put Dash Cams In Your Business Vehicles?
Starting and managing a hotel is a complex task which is not suited to every entrepreneur, but for some, it can be a lucrative and rewarding project with the opportunity for creativity alongside hospitality. A hotel business can be a stand-alone luxury villa, cottage or house, a large building with multiple rooms up to something more like a skyscraper with hundreds if not thousands of rooms. Regardless of the size of the venture, a hotel needs to be able to satisfy a variety of needs from catering to leisure as well as offering something unique so it can stand apart from its competitors.
Is the hotel business right for you?
On a day-to-day basis a hotel owner will be faced with a number of responsibilities ranging from hiring and managing staff, scheduling shifts, setting prices for rooms (including different rates for different days or seasons), paperwork, administration, financial management and continuing to research new ways to innovate and improve the hotel’s service. The hotel will also need to work with external service providers depending on the amenities on offer. For example, if the hotel has a pool, the owner may need to contract experienced water treatment specialists, or the hotel may need the services of a commercial laundry service for bedding and towels.
Many owners choose to hire a hotel manager to take on the everyday management of staff and looking after the guests.
The majority of people who start their own hotel business have some experience in the hospitality sector and are familiar with the potential problems they may run into. It’s also possible to study an MBA in hospitality management which equips people with essential business skills such as financial management and marketing.
Who is the target customer?
Broadly a hotel could target any traveler who needs a place to stay, but the most successful will target their offering to a specific demographic. This may be influenced by the location of the hotel. For example, if the hotel is in a rural setting, it could seek to attract couples or families looking for a relaxing and homely retreat. If the hotel is in the middle of a busy city center, it may be better suited to business professionals or groups. It could even offer conferencing facilities, which could be an additional revenue stream.
How much does it cost to start a hotel business?
Whether you are opening a large hotel with many hundreds of rooms or a smaller hotel with just a few rooms, you need to have a substantial amount of hotel financing capital behind you to get things off the ground. The cost of the land and buildings will be substantial as will the furniture and equipment needed, but these will vary widely depending on the size of the venture, so it is almost impossible to estimate.
Is a hotel business a good investment for the future?
With newer platforms like Airbnb hitting the market, there is a concern that traditional hotels will drop in popularity. While there is an appeal for some travelers looking for a more ‘authentic’ or intimate travel experience, hotels still hold a lot of appeal for people who prefer don’t want to stay in the homes of strangers or with hosts which aren’t regulated by corporate structure.
https://www.strategydriven.com/wp-content/uploads/design-3588214_1280.jpg8531280StrategyDrivenhttps://www.strategydriven.com/wp-content/uploads/SDELogo5-300x70-300x70.pngStrategyDriven2019-08-07 18:00:392021-08-02 21:02:38Starting a Hotel Business: A Guide
Understanding whether or not a website is any good can be a real challenge. Not only are a lot of factors which dictate this completely hidden from normal people, but they are also complicated and hard to understand. To help you out with this, this post will be exploring some of the areas which you need to consider the most, along with some tools which can help you to get an idea of how well you’re going in each of them. Of course, though, you also have to do some work alongside this, ensuring that your site is in the best possible shape.
Security
Security has always been an important feature on a website, though privacy laws have increased over the last few years and this has made this field even more crucial. You need to have SSL on your site as a minimum, with options like firewalls, bot/spam detectors, and anti-malware tools all helping, too. You don’t have to spend much to make a site secure, and there are loads of sites around the web which can be used to scan your security.
Speed
Along with security, it’s also wise to consider speed when you’re thinking about the value of your site. Users won’t stick around if they have to wait too long for pages to load, often leaving if the pages hang for more than a second or two. Tools like GTMatrix can be used to check your website speed, and will give you loads of suggestions which can help you to improve your current position. A big part of this revolves around your content, with large images and videos slowing down a site more than anything else.
SEO
Having people find your website will only be possible if you have the right SEO. Not only do you need to make sure that you are working on this are regularly, but you also need to ensure that you have the right foundations in place. SEObility is a great site for this, providing you with a detailed analysis of the state of your site’s SEO with the push of a button. You have to pay for this, but it will be worth it to improve your SEO.
User Experience
Finally, as the last area to consider, it’s time to think about user experience. There’s no point in working hard on a website if your users are going to have a bad time on it. You can use a website worth and domain value calculator to start this journey, and this will give you an idea of what your site will appear to be worth to your customers. Along with this, though, it will also help to give tests to real people, and this can be done on social media.
With all of this in mind, you should be feeling ready to get started on the work you put into figuring out whether or not you have a good website. A lot of people struggle with this sort of work, finding it hard to know how to figure out the value of their site.
https://www.strategydriven.com/wp-content/uploads/igor-miske-JVSgcV8_vb4-unsplash.jpg7241200StrategyDrivenhttps://www.strategydriven.com/wp-content/uploads/SDELogo5-300x70-300x70.pngStrategyDriven2019-08-07 17:00:572019-08-10 20:08:03How Good Is Your Website?
New businesses face several challenges, from financial difficulties to issues affecting brand reputation. As a business owner, it is vital that you have procedures in place to help you overcome these obstacles, to ensure that your business continues to grow and be a success. With this in mind, here are three common business obstacles and how you can overcome them.
1. Brand reputation
Brand reputation plays a vital role in the growth and success of any business. In this digital age, customer feedback travels fast, and many people rely heavily on the reviews of other consumers when making purchasing decisions. Often, new businesses lack the experience of more established companies, and this can lead to issues such as slow order fulfillment or delays in response times. If you find that your business has received some negative feedback or reviews, then it’s crucial that you take action straight away to resolve any issues. Here are some top tips to help you restore your brand reputation:
Respond to any written complaints on your social media sites straight away and publically. Doing so will allow potential customers to see that you are dealing with any customer issues quickly and providing a good level of service.
Focus on providing the best customer experience possible. Be honest with your customers and never promise more than you can deliver.
Consider installing customer support technology like life chat software. It can be used to provide your customers with instant 24/7 support with any queries.
Offer customer loyalty schemes to demonstrate that you value their business. This should also encourage valuable repeat business and referrals.
2. Debt
Most businesses require some form of funding in order to get up and running. Unfortunately, some businesses find themselves in debt and unable to make repayments. This can be due to a number of issues, such as unexpected financial emergencies or poor cash flow management. Try to avoid this by only ever borrowing as much money as you can afford to pay back and having a clear plan in place to make the repayments. If you find yourself having issues with debt collectors, then make sure that you seek legal advice to help you fight lawsuits over debt. It is important that you understand what options you have available to you in this situation and take the best course of action to help protect your business in the long-run.
3. Cash flow
The Telegraph mentions the importance of cash flow, with a large percentage of small businesses failing because of cash flow issues. It is vital that you manage your cash flow effectively and monitor your finances regularly, to ensure that you are sticking to your cash flow budget. Always keep in mind that if your business expenses are more than your income, then you have a cash flow problem. You, therefore, need to manage your spending carefully and look for ways to cut expenses to give your cash flow budget more flexibility. Make sure that you take advantage of accounting and management software that can help you manage your cash flow and finances more efficiently. Finally, you should always store important documents like cash flow spreadsheets in the cloud, so that you can access them remotely from anywhere.
https://www.strategydriven.com/wp-content/uploads/overcoming-2127669_1280.png9011280StrategyDrivenhttps://www.strategydriven.com/wp-content/uploads/SDELogo5-300x70-300x70.pngStrategyDriven2019-08-07 08:00:202019-08-07 01:22:05How To Overcome These 3 Common Business Obstacles
When 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.
https://www.strategydriven.com/wp-content/uploads/art-big-data-blur-373543-1.jpg8001200StrategyDrivenhttps://www.strategydriven.com/wp-content/uploads/SDELogo5-300x70-300x70.pngStrategyDriven2019-08-07 07:00:132019-08-07 00:56:41Tech Talk: Server Types
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Should You Put Dash Cams In Your Business Vehicles?
/in Risk Management/by StrategyDrivenHowever, there are many questions that you need to ask before you get a fleet of vehicles, and one of them is whether you should install dash cams. We’ve done a brief rundown of some of the pros and cons here!
Pro: it’s easier for insurance purposes
Let’s be honest, no business wants to go through the headache that is associated with an accident concerning one of their vehicles. In fact, getting to the bottom of what has happened could be the hardest thing to do, and a lot of time – and potentially money – could be wasted in the process.
However, if you have a dash cam, you can easily see what has happened, and speed up the process of any insurance claims.
Pro: you can keep an eye on the standard of driving
If your name is on the side of a business vehicle, you want to know that the person driving it is doing a great job at showing your potential customers how professional your company really is. This is especially the case with vehicles that are used for long distances, and a truck dash cam will allow you to see this, no matter where they are.
You’ll be able to monitor your employees on the road, which will put your mind at rest that they’re not making your company look unprofessional!
Con: it can be misconstrued
OK, so there are many, many benefits to dash cams in business vehicles. However, it can be misconstrued by your employees as a way to spy on them, rather than just trusting them to do their jobs. It’s important to remind people that this isn’t the reasoning behind dash cams; they are used to uphold the driver’s safety.
Be sure to consult your team before installing them, and tell them all of the benefits that will come with doing so.
Pro: it comes with GPS options
If you’re thinking about opting for dash cams for your business fleet, then you may want to look into all of the added bonuses of doing this. Not only can you protect the safety of your drivers and monitor the standard of driving, but you can also see where they are, which comes with many benefits.
Firstly, it’s helpful if there are any cases of vehicle theft, and secondly, it allows you to see the real time progress of your staff.
So…
If you’re thinking about putting dash cams into your business vehicle fleet, then you could benefit in many ways by doing so. In the 21st century, these small pieces of tech can make our lives much easier, and as such, they are great additions to any company with a fleet of vehicles!
Starting a Hotel Business: A Guide
/in Starting Your Business/by StrategyDrivenIs the hotel business right for you?
On a day-to-day basis a hotel owner will be faced with a number of responsibilities ranging from hiring and managing staff, scheduling shifts, setting prices for rooms (including different rates for different days or seasons), paperwork, administration, financial management and continuing to research new ways to innovate and improve the hotel’s service. The hotel will also need to work with external service providers depending on the amenities on offer. For example, if the hotel has a pool, the owner may need to contract experienced water treatment specialists, or the hotel may need the services of a commercial laundry service for bedding and towels.
Many owners choose to hire a hotel manager to take on the everyday management of staff and looking after the guests.
The majority of people who start their own hotel business have some experience in the hospitality sector and are familiar with the potential problems they may run into. It’s also possible to study an MBA in hospitality management which equips people with essential business skills such as financial management and marketing.
Who is the target customer?
Broadly a hotel could target any traveler who needs a place to stay, but the most successful will target their offering to a specific demographic. This may be influenced by the location of the hotel. For example, if the hotel is in a rural setting, it could seek to attract couples or families looking for a relaxing and homely retreat. If the hotel is in the middle of a busy city center, it may be better suited to business professionals or groups. It could even offer conferencing facilities, which could be an additional revenue stream.
How much does it cost to start a hotel business?
Whether you are opening a large hotel with many hundreds of rooms or a smaller hotel with just a few rooms, you need to have a substantial amount of hotel financing capital behind you to get things off the ground. The cost of the land and buildings will be substantial as will the furniture and equipment needed, but these will vary widely depending on the size of the venture, so it is almost impossible to estimate.
Is a hotel business a good investment for the future?
With newer platforms like Airbnb hitting the market, there is a concern that traditional hotels will drop in popularity. While there is an appeal for some travelers looking for a more ‘authentic’ or intimate travel experience, hotels still hold a lot of appeal for people who prefer don’t want to stay in the homes of strangers or with hosts which aren’t regulated by corporate structure.
How Good Is Your Website?
/in Online Marketing and Website Development/by StrategyDrivenSecurity
Security has always been an important feature on a website, though privacy laws have increased over the last few years and this has made this field even more crucial. You need to have SSL on your site as a minimum, with options like firewalls, bot/spam detectors, and anti-malware tools all helping, too. You don’t have to spend much to make a site secure, and there are loads of sites around the web which can be used to scan your security.
Speed
Along with security, it’s also wise to consider speed when you’re thinking about the value of your site. Users won’t stick around if they have to wait too long for pages to load, often leaving if the pages hang for more than a second or two. Tools like GTMatrix can be used to check your website speed, and will give you loads of suggestions which can help you to improve your current position. A big part of this revolves around your content, with large images and videos slowing down a site more than anything else.
SEO
Having people find your website will only be possible if you have the right SEO. Not only do you need to make sure that you are working on this are regularly, but you also need to ensure that you have the right foundations in place. SEObility is a great site for this, providing you with a detailed analysis of the state of your site’s SEO with the push of a button. You have to pay for this, but it will be worth it to improve your SEO.
User Experience
Finally, as the last area to consider, it’s time to think about user experience. There’s no point in working hard on a website if your users are going to have a bad time on it. You can use a website worth and domain value calculator to start this journey, and this will give you an idea of what your site will appear to be worth to your customers. Along with this, though, it will also help to give tests to real people, and this can be done on social media.
With all of this in mind, you should be feeling ready to get started on the work you put into figuring out whether or not you have a good website. A lot of people struggle with this sort of work, finding it hard to know how to figure out the value of their site.
How To Overcome These 3 Common Business Obstacles
/in Managing Your Business/by StrategyDriven1. Brand reputation
Brand reputation plays a vital role in the growth and success of any business. In this digital age, customer feedback travels fast, and many people rely heavily on the reviews of other consumers when making purchasing decisions. Often, new businesses lack the experience of more established companies, and this can lead to issues such as slow order fulfillment or delays in response times. If you find that your business has received some negative feedback or reviews, then it’s crucial that you take action straight away to resolve any issues. Here are some top tips to help you restore your brand reputation:
2. Debt
Most businesses require some form of funding in order to get up and running. Unfortunately, some businesses find themselves in debt and unable to make repayments. This can be due to a number of issues, such as unexpected financial emergencies or poor cash flow management. Try to avoid this by only ever borrowing as much money as you can afford to pay back and having a clear plan in place to make the repayments. If you find yourself having issues with debt collectors, then make sure that you seek legal advice to help you fight lawsuits over debt. It is important that you understand what options you have available to you in this situation and take the best course of action to help protect your business in the long-run.
3. Cash flow
The Telegraph mentions the importance of cash flow, with a large percentage of small businesses failing because of cash flow issues. It is vital that you manage your cash flow effectively and monitor your finances regularly, to ensure that you are sticking to your cash flow budget. Always keep in mind that if your business expenses are more than your income, then you have a cash flow problem. You, therefore, need to manage your spending carefully and look for ways to cut expenses to give your cash flow budget more flexibility. Make sure that you take advantage of accounting and management software that can help you manage your cash flow and finances more efficiently. Finally, you should always store important documents like cash flow spreadsheets in the cloud, so that you can access them remotely from anywhere.
Tech Talk: Server Types
/in Tactical Execution/by StrategyDrivenSo, 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.