Great Platform As A Service (PaaS) Options For Developers

Sean-Seshadri

Computer Scientist, Sean Seshadri can tell you that the most intelligent way to work on an app today is with a platform as a service (PaaS). A PaaS is merely a category of cloud computing services. It provides a platform allowing developers to run and manage web applications.

The function of PaaS is to simplify the code writing process for developers. The PaaS service provider handles all of the infrastructure and operations. In the early days of PaaS, platforms existed in the public cloud. However, since many companies preferred not to have everything in the public cloud private and hybrid options were created.

How PaaS’s work

A PaaS is not an application. It is best to describe it as an application platform which runs on top of infrastructure as a service (IaaS). Simultaneously it hosts software as a service (SaaS).

PaaS consist of operating systems, middleware, and other software that allows operating systems to run in the cloud. Much of the systems administration management and stack related difficulties are thus of no concern to the developer. Therefore, he or she can focus on customers and their code.

What the developer must do

PaaS takes care of all of the system administration details as far as configuring and setting up servers, databases and VM’s. It can also configure building and testing tools. Developers don’t even have to concern themselves with installing library runtimes. The workflow for using PaaS is as smooth as coding in your IDE, and then pushing the code using a developers tool like git to the PaaS and seeing the changes go live immediately.

How vendors deliver service

Providers can deliver PaaS services in two ways:

  1. As a public cloud service from the PaaS vendor. In this case, the developer controls the software deployment and configuration settings, while the provider is responsible for the network’s servers, storage and other services to host the customer’s application.
  2. As software installed in a private data center managed by an internal IT department.

What to look for in a PaaS

When a software developer is considering a PaaS, the essential thing to keep in mind is how effectively it can accelerate app development. A PaaS should reduce the turnaround time on an app by freeing the developer to focus on the app alone with no other headaches. Thus it is the ultimate productivity enhancement tool for a developer. The app developer’s only concern should be the application and data. The service provider’s job is to manage the following:

  • Storage and networking
  • Virtualization
  • Servers
  • Runtime
  • Middleware
  • Operating systems

Furthermore, the development tools provided by the vendor are customizable according to the needs of the developer. PaaS software providers allow their customers to elect to maintain the PaaS software or have the vendor keep it up to date for them.

Sean Seshadri suggests the following vendors:

Amazon AWS

  • Mixes and matches services depending on developers needs
  • An API-based service
  • Central function includes simple storage, elastic compute, email service
  • Rates vary based on services chosen

App Agile

  • A Cloud-based development environment
  • An Industry-based solution
  • Facilitates free testing of apps without delays
  • You only pay for what you use

Microsoft Azure

  • Support for different platforms such as mobile, PC, and browser applications
  • Ease of use with international development teams
  • Access to dozens of Azure storage products
  • Cost is pay-as-you-go with a free primary option

Standing Cloud

  • Automated application management
  • Tools include scalable upgrades
  • Support for several platforms and programming languages
  • Must contact Standing Cloud for price information

Users are Spending 44% More Time in Shopping Apps – Here’s How You Can Cash In

In the United States, the number of smartphones is expected to go over 220 million within the next 2 years. Such an astronomical figure has changed the way many things operate, including online sales and shopping. People who used to spend long hours going through stores and trying things on are turning to the virtual selection that can be done from their phone. Thus, those businesses that have facilitated app-accessible strategies have seen tremendous benefits. Andrew Knight New Canaan discusses. 

 

Capitalizing on the Trend 

Although marketers are fully aware of the ramification of the trend, people sometimes fail to take full advantage of it. According to App Annie, an average user spends over two hours on various apps every day. This further translates to 2-4 hours spent on shopping apps alone every month, a 44% increase in the first half of 2017. Thus, what are some best ways to make money from such a changing environment of sales? 

 

  1. Leaving Mobile Websites

In order to enjoy users spending more time in apps, one should obviously have an app. Days of people getting online to look at the “mobile-friendly” version of some brand’s website are in the past. People prefer possessing an app that will allow them to access it through the home screen of their device, get notifications from it, and purchase straight from. The watered-down website versions used to be a great effort to reach people back in the early 2010s, yet no longer is this the case. Every business looking to increase online sales should focus all their attention on creating a multi-screen platform that will mimic the website in an app-friendly tone.  

 

  1. Impulse Brings in Millions

When one purchases a product from Amazon, per se, they will be shown a screen with other products that users purchased in addition. Though this may seem like a simple way of upselling, it is a thoroughly planned and data-supported impulse buying strategy. Those who buy a set of plates will be offered to look at some cutlery because, naturally, people need both. Thus, Amazon is capturing sales that people did not even intend on making originally which is called impulse buying. This is the same concept that every online selling app should have. Some of the ways to showcase it:  

  • Offering free shipping for a certain overall amount of money spent 
  • Displaying products that normally go together
  • Showing statistics about other users who purchased similar items  

 

  1. Data Drives the World

A popular saying goes “Knowledge is Power”. Well, in 2017, information is knowledge which means that information is power. Going off of the last idea, to be able to make predictions and check out suggestions, the business must be able to analyze previous purchases. What are the most common items bought in certain areas? What time of the year do some items sell the best? What do people buy together? All of these questions must be answered and backed up with thorough research of previous transactions. The scope of that analysis should not go beyond ethical boundaries, however, as that would endanger customer’s loyalty.  

 

  1. Technology Sometimes Fails

Just like Apple has to do updates to their iOS every time that a new operating system is released, most apps will have to improve over time. Glitches and errors are expected which means that people will need help getting over the problems they cause. This is when an outstanding customer service should be implemented. Just like buyers prefer to access shopping through home screen apps, they do not want to waste time looking for customer service numbers or e-mails all over the internet. A good app should contain such information within it. Consequently, the downtime will be minimized and buying can continue rapidly! 

 

  1. Safety and Privacy

In order for people to purchase things online, they must be reassured that their safety will not be hindered. Since online buying requires an e-mail, an address, usually a phone number, and payment information, a hacker would have all they need to get an insight into someone’s life. The customer must be 100% confident in the stability and security of the company’s operation. This can be achieved by disclosing what type of encryption system is in place or using third-party, safe check out windows. Additionally, an online store that gives away a professional vibe will instill confidence upon view.  

 

  1. Loyalty and Payment Methods

People like to be a part of something. This is why almost every product-based business has member programs. These can range from gather points to being a part of a draw for gift cards. Apps should enable people to get involved through things like the aforementioned as they will generate customer loyalty. Furthermore, paying for things should be done in multiple ways. Some users only have credit cards and zero debit cards (vice-versa applies). Others prefer to increase safety by using Paypal. In order to get the most out of a transaction, a company should enable as many payment options as possible to cover all their basis.  

  

A Fine Time to Get More Customers 

In reality, there has been no better time in history to reach millions of people. A simple yet customized e-mail that can be generated by outside companies can increase brand awareness exponentially. Apps operate in a very similar manner by providing people with an easily accessible outlet to get informed and buy on. Nevertheless, almost limitless time must be dedicated to keeping an app up to date and ensuring it possesses what modern users need to trust it which, in turn, means they will use it. 

Why Adrian Rubin Sees Mobile Development Continuing To Grow

Mobile development will not slow down any time soon, as there will always be a new app or software that is introduced either for Android or iOS. For most market experts, it is predicted that the software will continue to grow at a rapid pace in the next few years.

The rise in mobile development is a result of reduced mobile data, increased connectivity between mobile devices, compatibility with other devices being enhanced, mobile platforms will have new advertising mechanisms, and an increase of smartphones usage. With these factors backing it, it is why Adrian Rubin sees the continuous growth of mobile development.

Other areas in which the mobile development is likely to continue to grow is because of the in-app purchases and developments that are increasing significantly and might be the cause of continuous growth in the mobile industry.

Other than the US, mobile applications should take into account the Asian markets like China and India as they are a population that is largely untapped. This way, they will be expanding all over the world.

With there being apps for the consumer, there are new apps developing that are enterprise-oriented. This is due to businesses willing to give up some of their money to get an app if the product has great potential, will help them cut back on their costs, and increase their productivity levels.

If most app developers will continue to provide apps that will attract the enterprise world, the mobile development sector is not going to slow down any time soon. It is a lucrative market, all they need to do is do their research and produce a product that will be in the market for a long time.

Mobile development will increase the number of apps developed by Google and Apple. With this, the demand that is growing both regionally and globally will induce an increase in mobile development in order to meet the demands of the consumer market.

To entice and encourage consumers to continue using their apps, the operators will have to invest more resources and time to meet their targets. Data security and smart connections are among the few new advances that operators will have to install in their apps in order to assure the users that their apps are safe to use.

For continuous growth, mobile app developers will put all their time and resources into ensuring that they put out a product that will entice the users. Some applications can have data security and smart connection, and with the world being connected, it could pay off in the end.

Like Adrian Rubin knows, the surface of mobile development has just been scratched as there is yet tons of progress to be made. With developers and designers all uniting to come up with different ways of using virtual reality, we can be assured of its involvement in future apps and it can also creep into our daily lives soon.

Virtual reality is being used in video games and sometimes to watch a few minutes of a movie. With it, you can create a whole new world that for now, is untapped. Therefore this further emphasizes the fact that mobile development will not fade into the background.

 

When Text Messaging Services Like Miss Bongo Avis Are Thriving

The tech industry has tons of futurists who project and talk about inflection points and other disruptive innovations. The development of futuristic technology has made it common for other innovations to be declared dead by the time they begin. Although texting can be categorized in this line and it is recognized as a basic functionality of a phone where other applications have been developed to improve its capability, texting is still a widely used form of communication even in developed countries.

SMS is a force to reckon with and it is growing at a great pace. For the people who think that SMS is dead, they should think again because SMS is a silent king that will remain on top for a long time. As many experts still choose mobile apps over SMS, companies are reaping the benefits of using SMS.

Although there are cheaper alternatives to SMS, it is a long shot to wait for the death of SMS. Even though mobile apps are a great addition to the mobile market, it is largely used in the first world countries. Mobile phones are not as common in many countries as feature phones which use SMS as its basic mode of communication. This by itself declares SMS as the king of communication on a large scale.

As a global brand, you cannot afford to market only on smartphones because you will be missing approximately 80% of the market.

Some brands are using SMS to accomplish their marketing campaigns successfully, especially when it comes to exclusive offers that are made to subscribers in the event of an offer. The most effective marketing campaigns are short and straightforward, and they include a call to action that is direct, that makes the customer feel like they are being offered a valuable deal that is exclusive to them.

Not everyone feels like text messages can be the ideal platform for communicating an offer as they at times seem like a spam or impersonal mode of communication. Customer support is, however, a one to one experience that allows for a more personal form of communication, and the SMS is an acceptable way of communicating this way. Most companies are not using this line because of the number of communication channels available today.

What is the future of SMS?

Competition is brewing in the chatting field as OTT (Over The Top) service players like WhatsApp are trying to put SMS out of the game, including the widespread use of Instant Messaging services like Blackberry Messenger (BBM), Yahoo Messenger, VoIP services like Skype and others like Facebook Messenger.

Amongst all the chatting applications that exist, WhatsApp is the one that comes close to challenging SMS to take the top crown. Although very many chatting applications exist, there are a couple of things that make you question about the sustainability of these apps. For starters, they are all fragmented and this will not change anytime soon.

Additionally, OTT services depend on smartphone users with a good data plan. But if you look at it, features phones outnumber the smartphones by 5:1 globally. You will also find that you will experience outages on these applications compared to SMS. Although SMS is not that dominant at this point in time, it is still a great player even in the business world.

We are yet to see a rise in the use of SMS as a tool for marketing or customer support in companies. Mobile phones are still expected to grow in numbers and we expect customers to stay informed of the services they use accurately and consistently. At the moment, we have a few companies using SMS to communicate with their clients.

Apart from the use of SMS as a customer service channel, there are companies that have made SMS their core business line. For instance, Miss Bongo Avis is a service that allows people to send a text message comprising of their entire name plus the name of the city they live in. The service then gives a response a few seconds later with some interesting details about your personal life just from those two inputs you have sent to the service. There are other companies that have made SMS as a core business line and not just a notification channel or a customer support line. We hope to see more services taking the SMS platform to a whole new level even with the rising development of mobile apps, just like the way Miss Bongo Avis is doing.

 

How Douglas Knight Sees Technology Changing New Canaan

In the 2018 tech predictions released by GB-Bullhound in December 2017, the most important prediction was the relationship that was changing between politics and technology, followed by cybersecurity, TV in China being overtaken by mobile, translation technology, the end of emails, labor in a global scale, software suite, the new industry 4.0, and the commonality of blockchain regulators and ICO (Initial Coin Offerings). The last piece was AR, Augmented Reality.

Douglas Knight New Canaan would like to direct you to another technology shift that is coming up at the Mixed Reality Lab of USC which is IOA, Internet of Actions. IoA is a digital technology that has a vision of being an effective human partner as we go through the increasing relationship between worlds of mixed realities.

Todd Richmond, the Director and IEEE Member of the Mixed Reality Lab believes that AI (Artificial Intelligence) will be the main driver of personalization which is an important player in IoA.

The Rise of IoA

The major challenge of this journey is going to be trust. As humans increasingly place their faith in tech algorithms, GPS navigation, and online commerce, these are tools in this path rather than partners or collaborators according to the team at Mixed Reality Lab.

The pairing of humans and machine will undergo major R&D over the next two decades and while algorithms shift into decision-making levels that determine life and death, we are going to see a lot of human interactions coming up.

The technology that is going to be developed according to Richmond is one that will be human-focused to help shift the move towards the human challenges of navigating through a fast-paced autonomous and virtualized agent filled earth; and the field of HCI (Human Computer Interface) has to undergo a quantum leap in order to see it through.

For most of us, it is hard to understand how humans are going to communicate seamlessly with AI agents, how we are going to control and exercise commands over a swarm of drones or other AI agents, and how we are going to make sense of the gigantic amount of real sensory data from these devices.

Example of AI to human interaction

There is an increasing use of chatbots that are AI-powered in e-commerce platforms to assist buyers in making smarter online purchases and ensure that a customer’s overall experience is top-notch. Chatbots using AI enhance customer service by using machine learning. Chatbots are now able to respond to simple human questions, but over time, they are going to understand complex queries and solve even complex problems, allowing them to have more meaningful interactions with customers.

According to Richmond, development in technology needs to move to humans at the end of the technology from the current focus that is placed on the device. Despite the common use of user-centric design, technology is focused mostly on widgets and spec instead of improving and enabling the condition of humans.

Douglas Knight New Canaan has been keen to understand the experience of users with the technology, especially when it comes to assessing the intent of the users with technology. Since a lot of tech devices are coming up, with recent developments in creating new technology to be used in training, the most important part is on the human experience. For instance, if a human is put in a simulation and the human makes a wrong decision, if there is no understanding of why the decision was made, there is no actionable information to improve the system or to train the design bit. This will apply to IoA experiences.

If you look at the drones that are being developed for the near future by companies like Mixed Reality lab, the technology is teaming up both humans and machines, and this will play an important role in the future of IoA.

As algorithms become more and more synonymous with our daily routines and become part of our decision-making process, it will be vital for us to understand why an algorithm will take specific action and why a user takes another share of the actions. Additionally, the algorithm will also explain the things that are happening.

Now, back to our contentious topic, trust. If as humans we are not able to trust the machines that we have presented, it will be hard for us to engage with the tech. Knowing how we will build trust and pair humans and machines will be a very important step, as it will lead us into designing systems that will expose the story behind the actions of the systems.

In Summary, we learn and understand through stories, and the tools of representation and abstraction are important for making sense and exploring complexity. The best tech that can come up can be useless if it cannot help in discovering and telling a story that is in the complex data.

Why Some Countries Are Banning Cryptocurrency

Cryptocurrency

About a dozen countries have already ‘banned’ trading using cryptocurrencies. China, India, and South Korea are leading the pack in this emerging battlefront. Let us look at whether banning is even a possibility. All cryptocurrencies follow one protocol, unregulated and decentralized. How can authorities claim to ban what is not yet within their purview? Well, they have tried, and some of the reasons given are here.

 

They Don’t Know What It Is

Governments want to be ahead of information. From antiquity, authorities hate being in the dark. How do they keep up with what the people are doing if they don’t know what it is? Bitcoin, Litecoin, Ethereum and other leaders in the cryptocurrency world use blockchain technology. Only a few countries have white papers about the technology, and only a handful of people in the world can tell you exhaustively what exactly it is.

 

Governments are in this position, and because it is an uncomfortable situation for them, some are considering regulating it, but they don’t even have concrete ideas how to do it. So, they decide to get rid of it altogether. Unfortunately, even in countries such as China that have the systems and institutions to eliminate crypto trading, they have no control of forex sites accessible through VPN and VPS.

 

Lack of Regulation

To regulate, you ought to have legal mechanisms to facilitate the same. Crypto technologies are highly advanced. Legislators drive the mood of the regulatory mechanisms. If they have little information about something, they have little incentive to lend a hand. Only governments want to regulate. Politicians across the globe tend to harbor symbiotic relationships with ‘lawless’ havens. Perhaps, they are not enthusiastic about sponsoring legislation.

Mark Dukas Charlotte

Anything can happen in a deregulated market. As seen in pre-Dodd-Frank regulation, the danger was lurking at the corner. So, some governments are exercising caution instead of waiting for the ‘reckoning.’ However, Mark Dukas thinks that this is misplaced caution. According to him, cryptocurrencies are anchored in one of the most stable technologies in the world.

 

Seen As a Hotbed of Cybercrime

In an area where the authorities cannot peep occasionally, it becomes a problem to trace terror cells and their funding methods. While this remains a huge concern for a deregulated market, governments may have to look for alternative ways to stop funding or terrorism apart from following the money. Countries are concerned that cybercrime will be bred, as crypto trading ensures that the authorities do not know anything. The possibility of getting away with anything is real.

 

Mark Dukas Charlotte is however optimistic about how cryptocurrencies can overcome this challenge in the future. It depends on how blockchain technology will evolve over the years.

 

Perceived Threat to Financial Stability

A centralized system means a sane environment where stability and reliability exist. Banks and central banks rely on information to set out monetary and fiscal policies that affect people. They determine how people obtain loan facilities; interest charged; the amount of money in circulation; and many other things. Thanks to cryptocurrencies, governments cannot know precisely how much is in the pool. If a negative-impacting fiscal policy coincides with a negative crypto market swing, it could be devastating, as governments do not know the crypto market. According to Mark Dukas, such a possibility is rare, and can only happen when cryptocurrencies are ubiquitous. Some governments, such as South Korea, want to be safe.

 

Lost Revenues

Governments want a share of every transaction that goes on within their jurisdiction. If a producer can sell using Bitcoins or any other coins, it will be difficult for governments to claim taxes. So, governments are losing revenues especially when it comes to money exchange, one area that countries globally consider lucrative. As far as coins continue to change hands in breathtaking speeds with governments not partaking in the broth, expect more of them to try to stop it.

 

However, these currencies have endured worse — from when only a handful people knew about them to a time when we can comfortably say they are the future. It will be interesting to see how the debate will pan out especially when it comes to the economics of a possible takeover of exchange by coins from banks and central banks.

 

Conclusion

Mark Dukas Charlotte expresses enthusiasm about blockchain-backed assets despite the apparent bans. While issues of security should worry everyone, governments must find a way of accepting that the future is full of coins.

 

How Technology Is Changing The User Experience

E-commerce Transaction

As the business world shifts into the modern era of e-commerce, a well guided user experience could be the difference between bankruptcy and success.

Technology is a very potent tool that can be used to influence and transform the behavior of consumers. New technologies are constantly being introduced and deployed that are designed to disrupt well established industries no matter what their sizes are. If a company fails to adjust, adopt and get their customers onboard, it will fall by the wayside, but those who are fast to adapt with the times will be the first to reach the finish line.

This is what UserIQ has been concentrating on – underlining the need for companies to enhance their consumers’ user experience and providing the tools by which these companies can enhance their user adoption and customer onboarding. As it is, user experience is a very important element that influences a company’s chances of succeeding in today’s business climate. With the recent advances in technology, ready and timely information is always at the fingertips of every consumer. If a company is not fast to adapt, it will fall behind its competitors.

A commercial entity really needs to understand how technology is changing the user experience. UserIQ is a service provider that helps companies understand how technology affects their consumers’ user experience and then assists these companies in developing strategies to improve the products or services that they provide. In other words, the first priority of a business enterprise is to understand the role that technology plays in transforming user experience.

  1. Technology Has Made Information Instantly Available

During the past decade, many consumers have been transformed from retail store shoppers into online buyers. The instant access to product information and prices has driven the prices of products down. Many online companies were able to advertise their products and services and are able to deliver their goods 24/7. All these massive changes in conducting business were technologically driven.

Although online commerce does not offer the human touch that is found in physical stores, this is only a small factor of a consumer’s motivation, as some industry insiders have observed. Business enterprises, if they want to continue their operations, must adapt to the incoming advances in technology. They need to because their customers can’t wait for them to adapt. They will readily transfer their allegiance to their competitor if this other company can deliver the goods better using modern technology.

  1. Technology Has Made Product More Usable

Modern technology has enabled manufacturers of goods to produce products that offer more usability to consumers. With greater user adoption, such products become more attractive to consumers. People are able to use these products more efficiently without as much effort or training. When given a choice, a consumer will choose a product that is easier to use over another product which is cheaper but is harder to use.

  1. Technology Has Made More Products Readily Accessible

When strategizing user experience, companies often overlook the element of customer onboarding. Designers and makers of consumer products should also give importance to the accessibility of a product. If a product is really accessible, even the disabled will have no problem in using its full range of capabilities. In other words, even those who can’t see, hear, walk, or have difficulty in learning will still be able to find the product useful.

Most companies have the approach that this is just a waste of their money. They believe that the disabled are just a miniscule part of their market. Current statistics show that around 19 to 20 percent of the U.S. population can be classified as disabled. If a company ignores this aspect of accessibility, it could mean that it is willing to lose 20 percent of the market to its competitors. That’s a big chunk that a company will carelessly and foolishly neglect.

Thankfully, this situation is about to change. In the E.U., it is reported that companies and manufacturers are now being obligated to make their products accessible to the differently abled. Failure to comply may result in fines and penalties. However, it is also reported that this law is not being fully enforced.

  1. Technology Has Made Products More Convenient

Today’s consumers are happy with the convenience that smart devices offer. The market for connected devices has started to take off. More and more homes are being transformed into smart houses where every task from opening the door to cooking to heating and cooling can be controlled by just a single device. With all companies competing at the same level of product capabilities, the only thing that could separate them is high quality user experience; one that anticipates consumer needs that offers peace of mind at the same time.

 

How Data Management Increases Profitability

Data Across the Globe

Modern business depends heavily on the controlled flow of useful data. To help separate the useful from the junk, it helps to employ Master Data Management tools.

Competition has pushed businesses to come up with strategies for staying relevant in the market. One of these strategies is migrating to big data. This trend has proved to be very helpful in streamlining the operations of enterprises. Companies that are directly using big data are doing better than their counterparts who are sticking to their traditional storage means.

However, to many institutions, master data has proved to be a problem rather than beneficial. Firms are at many times overwhelmed by the bulk data that they receive in their systems. When this data is stored in a disorganized manner, it further causes confusion and loss of revenue in the long run. Businesses are currently adopting the use of master data management tools as a solution.

This software helps to keep information in an organized manner that is easy to retrieve when required. Master data management tools also ensure that every bit of data is utilized as required. Companies that want to increase their revenue should not hesitate to use management programs in organizing data. These days, getting the most effective data management tools is very easy. There are several sites on the internet such as Profisee that are equipped with all the necessary information about data management. Just by browsing the Profisee platform, you can gain crucial advice on how to manage your data to increase profitability.

The following are some of the countless reasons data management can help in increasing the profitability of a firm:

1. Data management saves on space.

Traditionally data used to be stored in the form of written materials such as books and filed papers. This technique is effective as long as a company remains its original size. However, as the company grows, data storage becomes a problem due to limited space. This is where storing data on computer devices come in handy. With a computer, vast data is stored in a single database.

However, this data may prove to be problematic to the user when it is not suitably arranged. This demonstrates the need for a management program that categorizes the data into the respective segments where it is required. This will lead to a systematic way of retrieving information whenever it is required. Data management, therefore, saves a lot of money through saving on space and improving retrieval.

2. It helps to minimize the marketing budget.

In the United States, companies use a considerable amount of their revenue in advertising. This is usually through the numerous marketing channels such as online and digital advertising. Marketing is crucial to increasing the profitability of firms. However, when it is erroneously done, it may result in losses instead of increasing revenue. Marketing is a costly undertaking that should be done with one eye being cast on its impact towards the profitability of the firm. There is a need to for a company to prioritize their marketing strategy. This ensures that they operate within their budgets and also bring in new clients.

Effective marketing that is profitable to the company can be brought about by the use of data that is received from clients and prospects. A company that has sufficient data management tools has a simplified way of getting feedback. With feedback, the company will know whether to stick with their marketing strategy or discard it if it is not working.

A data management program is also helpful in determining the product or service that is generating the highest traffic from online viewers. With this information, the company will know when to increase the production of a specific product and this will be accompanied by an increase in profits.

3. It helps to minimize labor costs.

Labor is one of the primary factors of production. Without its input, it would be impossible for any company to conduct its operations. However, labor is expensive, and its cost should be kept as low as possible. Data management is one of the means of ensuring that this is possible.

Businesses spend a significant amount of time in analyzing and interpreting data. This time can be used in doing other things that are more profitable to the company. This is only possible when there is a practical data management tool in place. With such a system, almost all tasks are automated, and the role of human labor is minimized. The company is, thus, able to operate at a faster rate while paying a considerably lesser wage bill.

The significance of data management systems in any company cannot be overemphasized. This is one of the mandatory prerequisites of companies that want to continue being productive in the ever-competitive business sector. It is, therefore, imperative for every company to have such a system in place.

 

Questions to Ask Yourself before Investing in New Technology

Saleh Stevens

Saleh Stevens

Businesses looking to stay ahead of the curve must find creative ways to do things. With technology, this doesn’t necessarily mean buying and adapting every new software or gadget that hits the market. To avoid wastage of resources, the investment should be clear cut to serve a specific purpose. Businesses that have invested in technology have seen their operations expand and their savings grow. According to the Small Business Chronicle, modern technologies such as virtual office, video conferencing and social networks are contributing to the growth of the business by eliminating the traditional boundaries that impede growth.

The other key benefits of the technology include creating the efficient workplace, improving communication and harnessing human capital by instituting an enhanced system of screening and hiring of workers. This process makes it easy for firms to target and track potential candidates and hires they want. On the other hand, improved communication using multiple channels often means better connections with clients and partners. Even as businesses invest in new technology in order to remain competitive in the marketplace, the whole process must be carefully crafted and implemented to avoid expensive disappointment. According to Commercient, here are 6 questions you need to ask before adopting new technology.

1. Establish if there is a learning opportunity
One desirable quality about a good technology is the learning opportunity it affords the users. The training should be conducted within a reasonable time frame to give the staff ample time to learn and appreciate the technology. It is important to note that quick learning minimizes lost time and ensures mass adoption.

2. Does it allow boundless or constrained collaboration?
Getting a technology that is easy to use is one thing, seeking one that allows boundless collaboration is another. Collaboration enabled software’s are critical in creating new ways to work, communicate and share information. For example, a good sales solution should allow the sales force to peer through the inventory, check customer records and complete procured orders in real time. The staff should also be in a position to serve the customers whenever and wherever they are.

3. Is the new technology scalable?
The question of scalability is very important, more so if you are thinking of expanding your business in future. Scalability is not just a question of price and processing speeds, you need to determine if the technology can expedite huge volumes of orders, co-opt more users and remain cost efficient at the same time. If the issue of scalability is pertinent to the day to day running of the business, ensure the new technology is tested for conformity before making the investment.

4. If it is a software, how well does it integrate with other systems present?
Application systems, whether CRM systems, e-commerce platforms or ad hoc third-party software’s all need to be integrated with one another to ensure steady workflow. Always ensure the software you are acquiring is well integrated without overlook the software capabilities and functions.

5. How safe is the technology?
Security is one of the most important considerations for adopting any new technology. You must always ask yourself whether the technology poses any risk to the security of your data and ensure your personal information and that of your employees and clients are safeguarded at all times. Other authorized personnel should also be in a position to carry out their work in an environment that is not compromised to ensure the integrity of data.

6. Peer on the competition
The world of business is often fraught by cut-throat competition. Before investing in a new technology, it helps to find out what the competition is using. Doing so will help you stay ahead of the curve in as far as the technological changes are concerned and get insights into what is best for business.

Besides the aforementioned, businesses also need to identify the parts of the business that require technology; establish how quickly the technology will change and find out how long the new investment will pay back. These ideas are well-aligned with today’s dynamics, where the demand for change, profitability, and enhanced productivity supersede everything else in the business. One of the tech heads driving change in corporate America today is Saleh Stevens.

Saleh Stevens is the CEO of Continental Clinical Solutions, a multi-therapeutic firm that uses cutting-edge technology to perform clinical studies and research. The solutions offered by the company target physicians in all therapeutic spheres looking to increase their revenue and benefit from cost-efficient clinical research. Saleh Stevens received his education at Wesleyan University and is currently based in Washington, DC. During his free time, he writes a lot about technology and global finance.

Artificial Intelligence and Its Application in the Healthcare Sector

The world is going through a major industrial revolution comparable to the one experienced in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Every day, there is an emergence of new technologies characterized by the merging of the physical and digital worlds. Artificial intelligence (AI) is the name of this new industrial revolution. A perfect example of the application of AI is in the transport sector where we have self-driving cars. Healthcare sector is another area where AI is expected to play a significant role enhancing provision of healthcare services.

Examples of AI Application in the Healthcare Sector

AI has continued to gain popularity in the healthcare sector. A survey by Frost & Sullivan in 2016 projected this market would be worth around $6.6 billion by 2021.

• 3D printing has been used to speed up wound healing by creating body parts such as blood vessels and skin cells.

• AI has been used the development of eye drops that eliminated the need for surgery to treat cataracts.

• Second Sight Medical Company has developed an artificial eye for those with vision problems.

Medical Applications of AI in the Future

Data Mining

AI has been found to be very efficient in collecting, storing, and analyzing data. It is therefore expected to play a vital role in the healthcare sector by managing data related to the patients. It will become easier for medical practitioners to recommend treatment as they will be accessing information about the patient faster than ever before.

Online Consultation

The availability of the patients’ history will make it easy for doctors to recommend treatment without necessarily meeting the patients physically. Apps are expected to replace doctors in recommending medications upon identification of the symptoms. Besides, some of these apps will also be reminding the patients to take medications.

Development of Treatment Plans

AI is also expected to provide medical practitioners with available treatment options for each case. Specific AI programs can analyze structured and unstructured data such as clinical notes. Such programs are supposed to be of an essential benefit to clinicians in helping them in selecting the best treatment method.

Development of Drugs

The process of developing drugs is tedious and costly. A faster, more efficient, and cheaper pharmaceutical development process would have a significant impact on this industry, especially reduction of the cost of medicine and enhancing the health of individuals. Thanks to AI. AI has been employed in the search for better drugs to treat diseases like Ebola virus. AI technology significantly reduces the time required to achieve this goal from months or years to just a day.

The prejudices and fear about AI technology have hampered its penetration and use in the society. It is essential for people to learn the significant role AI technology can play in enhancing our health. There is a growing consensus among various professionals that AI will eventually take control of human life. However, measures such as the development of ethical standards among others can play a major role in ensuring that humans gain maximum benefits from AI technology.

The continued use of AI technology in the healthcare sector is expected to cause significant disruptions in the industry. One thing that we are sure of is that the technology will have a substantial impact in improving our health through better disease prevention, diagnosis, and treatment.

About David Lubbat

David Lubbat is a prominent tech savvy. He has had an interest in web development and computer software, and this has played a major role in starting his own graphic design company. The company provides web development services to its clients.

Additionally, David Lubbat has provided consultation services for over a decade. He helps startup companies in forecasting their models. Due to his enormous interest in technology, he is the right man to rely on when you want to know about the latest technologies and their impacts on humans.