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Are there Benefits of Cloud Computing for Businesses?

If you’re fairly new to business, then there is a lot to learn. Of course, it will vary what you need to know, depending on the kind of business that you have. But one aspect that can universally benefit businesses is cloud computing. This is where data is stored and managed, as well as processed, and it is all done using a network of servers that are hosted remotely. This kind of computing and storage for business data is popular with business users for a number of reasons. It offers some savings, as well as a large capacity of storage. So if you’re still not sure, here are some of the reasons why cloud computing could be just what your business needs.

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Save money

There is one thing that a lot of business owners have in common, and that is that they will always be on the lookout for different ways to save money. And for any business that is looking to use technology, and see if it offers any value, won’t have to look too far from cloud computing in terms of getting a good return on their investment. Cloud computing means that you don’t need your own hardware as everything is hosted elsewhere, which can be a good saving. Plus, if you look for a cheap VPS (virtual private server), then you will be able to save even more. Cloud computing means that you won’t have to cover the costs of security, power, and insurance for this kind of thing, as it is all taken care of remotely.

Strategic competitive advantage

The time in cloud computing is low, and any applications that are needed for growth and success can be found online nearly instantly. This helps to give you a strategic competitive advantage over any competitors, especially those that have not yet got on board with those kinds of cloud technology. It also means that as a smaller business, you’re not at a disadvantage compared to large businesses. You can all be on the same playing field when it comes to data and storage.

Lightning fast performance

If you want to stay competitive, then you need to have cloud service providers that will help to update technology to then meet the demands of the business customers. This can mean that cloud computing gives great performance which can be a huge benefit for business. Cloud computing also uses load balancing to make sure that no server suffers with any performance problems.

Flexible working

Cloud computing is something that will provide much greater flexibility in the way that employees work. It can mean that no matter where people are working from, they will be able to access the same information, as it is all internet based. Flexible working, especially in recent weeks, has improved so much, and more and more businesses are seeing that it can help their business, so it is definitely something that is here to stay. Using cloud computing can help your business as people work more flexibly, as it will keep everyone up to date.

What’s The Most Important Thing For Your Business Growth?

StrategyDriven Managing Your Business Article | What’s The Most Important Thing For Your Business Growth?

When it comes to being in business, it’s safe to say that you’re going to want to make sure that you can grow. But this isn’t something that you can do overnight. And it’s not always easy to make it happen. And so, when you know that you want to get somewhere with your business, you have to be intentional about it. Being intentional with your business means knowing what it is that you need to do to grow. It means having a plan and focusing on the right things. And this can be hard. So, it’s important for you to work on the things that are the most important to your growth. Let’s consider a few options.

The Right Intent

To begin with, it may be as simple as you having the best intentions for the business. Sometimes, it’s easy to think that you know what you want to achieve, But then your actions don’t match that. And so, you need to be able to make sure that you are setting goals and then following through with actions that allow you to achieve them. If you are really keen to grow, this is something you definitely have to stick to.

Better Research

Or maybe for you, the most important thing to focus on right now is research. If you have a particular product that requires advancement or that is in a technological or scientific area, then research is everything. And you will want to invest here. Whether that’s in Chemyo SARMs for research or for the team and equipment, it’s important to do it. Because if this is the one thing that will guarantee you success, you should go for it.

StrategyDriven Managing Your Business Article | What’s The Most Important Thing For Your Business Growth?

More Sales

Sometimes, it can be as simple as needing to get more sales. When you want to increase your revenue, it can feel like you have to jump through hoops to get there – but that’s not always the case. Have a great product, try to help others, and watch the sales come in.

A Connection

When it comes to finding any kind of success in business, you’re likely to find that it matters for you to make a connection with your customers. So if you know that you want to see exponential growth soon, learning how to connect with your customers can really help you. So this is definitely something that you should make a priority. Because if you care to connect with them, it really makes a difference.

Perseverance

Sometimes, the most important thing that you can do is just keep going. Business success doesn’t happen overnight. It’s not a quick thing – it takes work and perseverance. It’s important that you can be patient and keep going – because the results will come. You never know whether the thing you need to make everything a success is right around the corner. So keep going – the growth will come.

Managing Your Business with Location Mapping

What are businesses to do with the explosion of data occurring in the marketplace? The ideal solution is to put it to work.

Chances are, you already knew that. However, we’re willing to bet that you aren’t using your data to its full extent. For example, are you using the locations of your current customers to find hidden insights about your business? Didn’t think so.

But how can you find these insights in your data without burning yourself out? With location mapping tools, it’s a piece of cake.

StrategyDriven Managing Your Business Article | Managing Your Business with Location Mapping

Location heat mapping in action, courtesy of Maptive.com

Let’s look closer at what location mapping is and how it can help manage your business.

What is Location Data?

Most location data is information that comes from a mobile device, such as a tablet or a smartphone. This data provides the current position of the user. It can also simply come from spreadsheet data that you have collected from your customers.

With smartphone use on the rise, location data only continues to grow. At first, it might seem that all of this data would add to the complexity of the business landscape. However, this information brings power and makes the information easier to understand.

Location Mapping Can Help Your Business

As you exploit location mapping, you gain the information needed to make smart business decisions.

Location intelligence showcases the relationship between the data in a way you might not have seen without the analytics. With these advanced insights, you can quickly see where your customers are, where there is room to grow, and so much more.

You can also use location mapping to set boundaries, label points of interest, segment the demographics, analyze interest and assess risk. Instead of relying on spreadsheets, bar graphs and pie charts, you can showcase your data with the help of a useful map.

Location Mapping Case Study: Starbucks

Wondering what companies are using location data? Look no further than the coffee in your hand.

Starbucks has found incredible success through location intelligence. By using their rewards app to offer freebies and special offers, Starbucks has received valuable data worth far more than a free coffee.

The coffee giant now knows what products each customer likes; and they can quickly extract information about purchasing habits from that data. On its own, this would create overwhelming amounts of data, but Starbucks uses the information to personalize content, laser-focus their marketing, and make ordering coffee easier than ever.

This information also helps Starbucks determine where to put up new locations; and it also helps them decide what items to add to their ever-growing menu.

While you might not be as big as Starbucks, it doesn’t take millions to achieve the same results for your small business.

Getting Started with Location Mapping

If you want to turn your data into an easy-to-understand map, here are a few simple steps to follow.

  • Think Spatially: Determine how the place and location data will make a difference for your organization. How will this information help you understand the problems you face and allow you to craft solutions?
  • Perform Due Diligence: Go through the data you have to see how you can enhance it further. What steps do you need to take to ensure its integrity?
  • Collect More Data: What tools can you implement that will give you access to further data? Could you add a rewards app to gain more information about your clients?
  • Be Careful with Partnerships: You don’t want to choose just any location intelligence vendor. It’s vital to gain reputable data and high-quality support. Vet any company you plan to work with.

Most mapping solutions offer a free trial, making it super easy to import your location data from a simple excel spreadsheet.

StrategyDriven Managing Your Business Article | Managing Your Business with Location Mapping

The key to starting with location mapping is to take the first step. Begin with the information you already have and see what new insights you can glean from using mapping software.

7 Outsourcing Trends You Should Keep an Eye on in 2020

StrategyDriven Editorial Perspective Article | 7 Outsourcing Trends You Should Keep an Eye on in 2020Is your small business expanding? Do you wish to cut down on your costs without compromising your services? Then outsourcing is likely the answer you are looking for.

Regardless if you’re a small firm or an established one, outsourcing can help you in many ways. A key survey revealed that 59% of companies invest in outsourcing to cut down their expenses.

Though this is encouraging to hear, it is not enough for you to simply outsource on the fly. You must also look at the latest outsourcing trends that will shape the industry this year.

So what are these trends to look out for? Continue reading below as we discuss seven trends that businesses must be aware of.

The Outsourcing Industry: A Brief Overview

Before we discuss the latest outsourcing trends, let us first get a glimpse of the outsourcing industry today. Apart from its cost-cutting benefits, outsourcing helps companies focus on their core business. This helped the industry nearly double its growth over the past two decades.

From $46 billion in 2000, spending on outsourcing grew to $85.6 billion in 2018. Furthermore, the United States outsources around 300,000 jobs annually.

Companies are also starting to embrace cloud services to improve their outsourcing. This is despite the concerns on data security surrounding cloud technology.

Furthermore, 70% of transportation and retail firms outsource portions of their services. The same thing goes for 71% of financial service executives in the country.

Outsourcing Trends

With 2020 already underway, there are outsourcing trends that will make an impact this year. Let’s take a look at seven of the most important ones:

1. More Flexible Contracts

If it is your first time to outsource, you will encounter a contract that comes with stipulations. But unlike before, companies can expect more custom outsourcing agreements this year.

You will see more contracts that come with room for flexibility. This is important considering the different limitations and cost pressures that businesses face in regard to their outsourcing needs.

This flexibility covers service, delivery, and pricing.

2. More VAs and Chatbots

You can also expect to see more virtual assistants (VA) and chatbots doing the job for companies. Businesses will incorporate these technologies to interact with their customers.

This new form of outsourcing is evident in the chat boxes that you see on various websites. These chat boxes address customer inquiries without sounding too robotic.

The good thing about chatbots and Vas is that they offer consistency. Though real people can show emotional knowledge, there is a tendency for them to lose their cool. Moreover, chatbots can handle different tasks that don’t require human emotions.

These tasks include arranging schedules, finalizing meetings, and qualifying clients, among others.

3. The Cloud Effect

As we mentioned earlier, more companies are opening up to cloud services. Cloud-based technology increases connectivity. In turn, this makes offshoring more efficient.

Furthermore, the media and information industries will continue to invest in telecommunications outsourcing. They will continue to incorporate cloud-based systems to expand their reach without physically going out in the field.

Also, the cloud computing industry will likely continue to grow. In 2020, the market grew to $180 billion. By the end of 2020, observers believe the industry will reach the $411 billion mark.

This is because tech leaders like Google, IBM, Intel, and Microsoft will pour in more money to create a quantum computer. Experts also believe that the quantum computing market will reach a value of $8 billion globally by 2027.

4. Telehealth Market to Make Waves

The healthcare and medical technology industries will continue to outsource reduce their costs while improving their processes. The telehealth market will offer more online video calls in lieu of physical hospital visits to the doctor. You can expect to see more hospitals attending to patients living in faraway places through online services.

Moreover, hospitals will outsource wearables to improve their diagnostics. Examples of these wearables include smart eyewear, wearable patches, trackers, and heart bands. Observers project the medical industry will spend over $27 billion over the next six years.

Additionally, more doctors will outsource virtual reality tools featuring artificial intelligence. They will use these gadgets to diagnose more complex diseases like Alzheimer’s.

5. Small Businesses to Outsource Heavily

More start-ups and small businesses will outsource this year. These companies will increase their spending on software development from 6% last year to 9% this year. Moreover, small companies will look to use new technologies and approaches to improve their services.

Instead of building in-house teams to cover non-key operations and other excess workloads, they will opt to outsource since it’s the more cost-effective way to go.

Outsourcing offers financial respite for smaller companies that are working on a tight budget. It also solves problems concerning a lack of manpower.

6. New Outsourcing Destinations

You can expect to see new players for software development outsourcing. Though China and India will continue to serve as havens for IT and business process outsourcing companies, Eastern Europe will rise as the emerging provider for small to medium-sized firms. For example, Ukraine is one of the top outsourcing providers in Central and Eastern Europe. IT services in Ukraine are growing rapidly, and the opening of R&D centers of tech giants is proof of that.

Also, medium-sized companies in the US and Western Europe will continue to experience a talent shortage. This will prompt them to outsource employees who are technologically-skilled.

7. The Emerging Experience Economy

Last but not least, there is the emerging experience economy that will play a bigger role this year. This pertains to the companies’ needs concerning experiences affecting the overall client experience.

This involves outsourcing services that focus on intangibles and immaterial attributes. These include aesthetics, values, culture, and design.

Examples are services that improve the health and wellness of employees. Companies will look to outsource wellness solutions to increase employee retention and satisfaction. More businesses will hire coaches, trainers, doctors, and therapists who can provide these services.

Outsourcing and Beyond

By following these outsourcing trends, you can make better decisions about your outsourcing needs. You can invest in the right services that will improve your company’s overall efficiency.

But outsourcing is only one of the many tools worth considering. Check out our other articles to learn more about other solutions. We discuss topics that will help grow your business.

Tips in Choosing a Transcription Service for Universities

StrategyDriven Tactical Execution Article | Tips in Choosing a Transcription Service for Universities

Transcription is necessary for the field of Academics. Whether you are a student, professor, or researcher, you will find yourself with the impossible task of transcribing a significant amount of audio file into written text. Fortunately, hiring a transcription service is just as easy. But to make sure that you find not only the best but also the most reliable transcription service, it is essential to take note of the following tips.

Is the transcription service an expert in the field of academics?

Transcribing files for different fields require varying levels of expertise. When it comes to university transcription, you are looking for a company that has extensive experience working with similar clientele. There are some vendors today that prefer to focus on one particular industry. For example, there are transcription services that specialize in the medical and legal fields.

It is possible to find a vendor that can claim versatility. But before you confidently trust their services, take time to check their history with academic transcription. If possible, look for feedback from past clients and focus on the essential aspects of the service they provide. Finding a transcription service with an extensive background in your field means you will not have a hard time explaining technical jargon.

Ask about their data privacy policy

Transacting with a third-party will always expose you to some level of risk. This is especially true with online transcription services. It would help if you were particularly vigilant about the vendor’s security and privacy policy. If the document contains proprietary information such as research papers, unpublished work, and dissertations, ask the vendor how they handle keeping your information secure.

Do they provide a secure network for sharing files? What is the level of encryption? Does the vendor use a transcription software or rely on human transcription? Asking these questions will help you determine whether or not there is a guarantee that they can keep your data secure.

What is their turnaround time?

Scheduling is essential, especially if you are concerned about meeting deadlines. Does the transcription company follow a specific turnaround time, or are they amenable to requests? Will they accept rush projects? How long will it take them to complete a particular volume or load? Anytime you are outsourcing transcription; you need to verify whether they can meet deadlines. Otherwise, your work will also suffer if it takes them a long time to get the job done.

Ask for samples

If the firm allows it, ask for examples of their archived academic transcription projects. You will gain better insight into the quality, accuracy, and level of professionalism by viewing their past work. If there are references available, you may also try to contact previous clients and ask about their experience with the firm.

What type of transcription software do they use?

Most transcription companies today make use of some computer software to enhance efficiency. You must know this aspect of their service so that you have some understanding of what goes on behind the scenes. How do they handle quality assurance? Do they have human transcriptionists available to edit or double-check automated transcription results?

With the help of these tips and other best practices, you can find an excellent university transcription service that best fits your needs.

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