Author: WebEditor

Traditionally, services are done during the company hours and within the company premises to ensure that employees will do their work properly and the management can oversee the quality of the products. But just like their product counterpart, services evolve and become more complex because of changing customer needs. In this modern era, more people seek services that are done in their homes for their own conveniences.

Examples of services that require labor in homes are telecommunications and cable industry, where the company sends technicians to install or replace cables. In some cases, the healthcare industry requires mobile nurses to provide service in a patient’s home. Repairs and maintenance, where the company sends people who specialize in the repair and maintenance of a system, is one of the most common examples of service done at the customer’s domain.

Because of the increase in the demand for home-based services, managing employees has been one of the concerns of the management. Management problems started to arise because of miscommunication delays and incorrect or incomplete communication. Fortunately, now that phones are easily accessible, app developers were able to develop what we call the Field Service Management App, a sophisticated kind of application that handles work orders, employee monitoring, scheduling, and other field-related services.

Work Order Creation and Scheduling

Field service management apps enable the easy distribution of jobs from the management to the employee on the field. The management can also send scheduled jobs for its technicians as well as reminders for an upcoming work schedule. This feature saves time and effort for both the management and the employee.

Job Status Update

By using the app, technicians deployed can update the current status of the job. In case an unexpected hidden problem was diagnosed during the initial job operation, and the technician needs more people or more equipment, he can use the app to ask for additional resources.

Document Records

Paperless documentation is possible with the use of documentation features of the app. The app can also be accessed by both the technicians and the management for additional information. There are also apps that offer offline documentation such as ServiceMax which offers configurable output documents that are used for reporting and quoting.

Time Tracking and Logs and GPS Navigation

Time tracking is important for management. Time tracking and driver logs can be used to monitor the time and location of its technicians and drivers. This feature does not only monitor the location of employees, but it can also be used to know if something wrong happened while your employees are en route.

Accounting Features

Quotations and billings are one of the most frustrating things to do before and after the service. Depending on the company’s system, the pay for a service is complicated and needs calculation. Field service management apps include real-time, automated pricing and invoices creation in their core features in order for both the customer and the company to save time and become more efficient.

In recent years, the threats that were found on the internet and on networks are becoming more and more complicated. Protections from these threats have also seen improvement in recent years. However, there is one universal truth about network security protections: they can only protect your network on threats that they already know. If the threat is still not registered on the database, or if it is still an unsolved case, chances are, your network protection will fail.

Hackers are always one step ahead of antimalware programs and network protection. This is because they have the advantage of being the creator of threats. In recent years, one of the most famous methods in thwarting hackers is through thinking like them. Attacking your own network and patch vulnerabilities help in creating layers of protection for your network. One of the best ways to do that is through pentesting or penetration testing. Here are the four benefits of getting your system tested through penetration testing.

Know Your Network’s Technical Vulnerabilities

These technical vulnerabilities are computer-related things that can be exploited to get data or control over something. By penetration testing, you will be aware of certain holes in your network. Is the network admin password weak? Is there vulnerable software that can compromise your information? Penetration testing simulates a real-time attack from hackers, so you would know how your system thrive when your system is struck by the real deal.

Know The Vulnerability In Your Internal Policies

Network vulnerability is not only existing in computers. Internal policies also come to play, especially if there are a lot of computers in use. Using an unsecured email program or putting information in external devices are examples of poor internal policies that can compromise security.

Patch All The Major And Minor Threats

Being able to patch any security invulnerability before they became a real threat to the network is one of the benefits of penetration testing. After identifying the threats before the hackers do, your network is more protected and will be more reliable in the long run.

It is also worthy to note that a penetration tester will point out your network’s most vulnerable areas, which will help in deciding what parts of the system need funds for protection. The penetration testers will not really use the data from your system against you. However, the information learned will help tester diagnose threats in the future.

Save Money And Enjoy A More Secure Network

Damages from computer attacks cost a lot, not to mention that the repair cost will also be expensive most of the time. When your business is not frequently dealing with hackers, you can save more money and use it somewhere to improve your business. In addition, knowing the major vulnerability of the system will help you decide the best countermeasures that are needed to be prioritized. A more secure network will also give business owners the peace of mind when it comes to their files. If the vulnerabilities are patched, you can take a sigh of relief. No system is completely invulnerable for threats but knowing that your files are safer is a good addition.

Globalization has brought about very many technological changes in our globe today. Everything including marketing has transformed and taken the digital and online shape. This explains the need for big data solutions and particularly for big companies. To ensure smooth running in companies and enterprises, there is always a need for complex technological layers to ensure the effective collection of data. Companies in this case always find themselves in need of services like data lake solutions to ensure pieces fit together. In this review, we are going to give a better overview of some of the solution patterns and data validation for Data Lake.

Science Data Lab Solution Pattern

Just as its name sounds, it is called lab since it is where experimentation and discoveries always take place to ensure effective use of the tools of data science. This is the best and most sorted method of Data Lake since it is diverse in that it can work with both new and existing data. It is also an effective method to ensure a good combination of data emanating from different sources. The central importance of this solution pattern is to try out machine learning and also try to get the value in data.

Data Warehouse Solution Pattern

This is the most highly structured forms of data solution patterns. The pattern is always liked most by enterprises as it helps manage essential business data and also act as a source of business intelligence. The most significant advantage of this solution pattern is the large rational databases it is built on. Before data is loaded into warehouses, there is always a need to ensure it is transmitted in the best way by transforming it into the desired structure. This solution pattern ensures all this making it one of the most sorted by most of the big companies and enterprises.

Advanced Analytics Solution Pattern

Just as its name sound, this pattern is advanced in that it works out in most advanced operations that require machine learning, geospatial, graph analytics techniques and many more. The pattern is also one of the most effective when a lab has limited processors and storage since it effectively works to meet the demands of a scaled-up workload. This data pattern is also one of the most liked due to its automation to run jobs periodically.

Stream Analytics Solution Pattern

This is more of an analytic data that focuses more on advanced analytics of big data patterns. When streaming data, there is always a lot of demands. Among them include ensuring the process is completed quickly. The model is also one of the most liked due to its ability to distinguish patterns in trades and also its ability to make predictions about customer’s behaviors.

From the review in this article, we can see every pattern has its advantages. The best thing with the models is their ability to be combined. Companies and enterprises can, in this case, be in a position to use more than one pattern to achieve their objectives and purpose.

Has anyone ever unplugged your electric vehicle at a commercial charging station to charge their EV? It has been known to happen. A home charging station would eliminate that problem. Another benefit of having your own charger is charging your EV at home costs less. There are some things you need to know before installing an EV charging station aka electric vehicle supply equipment (EVSE).

Level 1 and 2 Chargers

If you research chargers further you may come across mention of a level 3 charger. With a five-figure price tag level 3s are basically commercial units. Choosing a level 1 charger saves on the cost of an electrician because it plugs into any 120-volt receptacle. The tradeoff is waiting an hour for enough juice to go four miles.

Level 2 charger prices range from $300-$1,200. In an hour a level 2 charger restores enough power to go 25 miles. Level 2s need special installation because they are 240-volt units. A chart to help you decide which level charger is best for you can be found at Consumer Reports 

The Cost of Installing a Charging Station

As determined by Improvenet.com the average cost of installing a private charging station is $1,100-$1,200. That figure includes a $600-$700 charging station and having an electrician install the station at a rate of $65-$85 an hour. The cost of charging stations range from $699-$4,499.95.

Charging Station Placement

To protect it from the elements a charging station should be inside. If it has to be outside having a shelter built should be added to your charger installation budget. For outdoor installations, a site like https://emotorwerks.com/store/residential advises making sure that the station is rated for outside usage. Look for a charger that is UL approved and has a NEMA 4 standards rating. Where the station is installed will also be dictated by the length of its cord.

Choose a Station For The Future Not The Present

The electric car you own in the future may require a greater charging capacity than your current (no pun intended) EV. For that reason, one source recommends installing a 40-amp charger. A 40-amp unit can be thought of as a universal charger.

Calculating The Cost of Charging

Fueling an EV costs less per year than fueling their internal combustion counterparts. To calculate the cost of charging your electric vehicle you need to know the electrical rates in your area at different times. Apply that information to this formula number of kWh required to travel 100 miles x the cost of electricity = cost per 100 miles.

A second formula is kWh hours to completely recharge x cost per kWh = price of a single charge. What time you charge can save you money. WI-FI equipped EVSE units are available. These units allow programming the charging station to start charging during off-peak hours. This feature not only saves you money but reduces demands on the grid.

When it comes to running a successful business, you need to make sure that everything is being looked after. However, one thing that many people tend to overlook until it’s too late is their computer systems which can end up being a costly mistake. Having said that, one way to look after them is with some network management software. With a computer network, especially a large one, IT can’t see many issues occurring until they’ve already happened; this will often lead to an inevitable network outage or other problems either for your employees or your customers and probably both. Having some kind of management software in place can reduce this risk but also provides a few other key benefits.

Issues Are Fixed Faster

In the majority of businesses, time is money. Because of that the longer your network is out then the more money your business ends up losing. With some kind of management software, however, you’ll be able to identify any issues wrong with your network a lot faster than you would without it. Not only will performance maps give point you directly toward to issue at hand, but these metrics will show you the performance of your network over time. Having these metrics at hand may also provide your IT staff with the ability to foresee any issues before they develop. Much of these programs also include network automation tools which can fix any issues as they arise; with that, you’ll end up saving a lot more time and effort than you would have if you hadn’t had the software in place.

Identify Security Threats

Very few businesses can afford extensive levels of data and cyber security; however, management software can provide a relatively decent degree of protection for your network. When it’s first set up, you’ll be able to see what your network looks like at normal levels; this will let you or your IT staff spot anything out of the ordinary while your network management program is being operated. This could be the likes of a surge in traffic or any unexpected or unapproved devices being connected to your network. By using the network management program effectively, your IT staff will be able to figure out how your network was attacked and exactly which device was behind it. With that in mind, you’ll be able to take a proactive approach to your network security.

Justify Equipment Upgrades

No business owner wants to buy new equipment such as servers or any other networking tools regularly; after all, it can be quite expensive if they need to be bought regularly. However, a network management program will be able to show you exactly how each device and server has been performing over the past year. With that, you’ll know exactly how you’ll benefit from buying a new server or upgrading your equipment, as well as exactly when you’ll need to replace any equipment.

With those kinds of benefits, what’s stopping you from taking care of your networking? After all, it’ll end up providing a lot more security and financial savings in the long term.

If you have your own websites and apps, then you are going to have to make sure that they are working at its best. As a matter of fact, you want to make sure that the apps are working in a way that will satisfy the users of the app so that you can continue to have users. The only thing is that you need to know whether or not the app is working. One problem that you need to avoid is having the thought that the website or app is working when it is actually not. Fortunately, there are tools you can use to find out whether or not your app is working.

One of the tools you can use are load testing apps. These apps will test and let you know how long it takes to load a page on your website. It will also test and let you know how well an app is working. This is so that you can make needed adjustments to the app. As you make the adjustments and troubleshoot, you can keep testing the app or website. Then once you get it to the preferred level of performance, then you can release it.

When it comes to websites, the loading speed and performance of the website depends on a lot of factors. One of the factors is the type of content you have on the page. You can take the opportunity to find out what you can put on the page and what you may need to remove. With load testing apps, you can figure out if you can afford to put more on this page or if you are going to have to remove something from the page. This will help you make the necessary adjustments to the pages you own.

You are not just testing how much content you can put on your site, but also how many people can access your site all at once. For one thing, web access is influenced by traffic. If there is a lot of traffic, then websites are going to load a little more slowly. This is one of the reasons to run a test on your site. You get to find out how well it would load in times when tons of people are visiting your site. After all, you want to make sure that people are having a smooth and efficient experience. If the site slows down, then you can lose traffic which can limit your earnings.

Running an online business or an app takes a lot of work. For one thing, you want to keep the customers coming. They are looking for more than products. They are actually looking for an experience. If the website provides a great experience, then the customer is going to be compelled to return to the site for other products or content. While you can stay connect with your customer, in order to keep them coming, the site has to be organized and quick to load.

Business, it is everywhere one is to look: around the corner or on the world wide web. Businesses market to clients and potential clients through various means like billboards and campaigns found on the internet, television, and radio. Technology has changed so many ways in which one is to operate their business.

Think of a time that you last went a whole day at your job without using a method of technology. Whether you are accessing files, looking up your schedule online, or simply responding to a heap of emails for the day. Technology is intertwined in day to day business activities and plays no small role. It makes things both simpler and convenient. Let’s look at some daily examples in which one finds the use of technology in business.
The key to any sort of business is security. Businesses deal with sensitive customer information on top of several in-house files that are not very replaceable. It is important that any sort of sensitive information has the protection customers and employees deserve. Information that is private is meant to be that way.

Security systems are always evolving as they need to—identity theft and fraudulent activity is seen every day in today’s modern world of internet and lighting fast connectivity. Businesses need the best software to best handle the safety needs both externally and internally. You work at a typical business office in the city that deals with student loans. The first thing you do upon arriving at the office is to turn on your computer—once it is up and running you open up the dashboard and see what is on the daily agenda. Borrowers have inquires for your department and you have to manage them both electronically and through telephone conversations with them.

You not only want to keep all of these files save and secure but want to keep the portfolios well organized so you can respond efficiently and effectively to inquiries. This is why several businesses are moving towards the unification of software. It makes things work more efficiently and is much easier to navigate for the person using a computer at work.

Business in today’s modern tech world is complex–things are always evolving. Any business owner, whether the business is big or small needs to stay up to date with software and technology. Antiquated systems are good for some things, but not in the world of business. It is absolutely vital that one needs a system that is advanced and can handle all of the demands.

Technology is meant to enhance a business and make it better. If the technology in your office is struggling and making the performance worse, there is no point in using it: your business won’t do well. It is advised to do research and keep up to date with technological trends within business. Security is important and so is the way your business operates. There is no way you want any sensitive information compromised. Find software that works well.

A few decades ago, tracking mileage in business was all about the use of scrap papers, notebooks, or funny enough, napkins from fast food joints. In one way or another, you must have done this once in your lifetime. You would then calculate the math and determine the difference between your start and end points. However, the rise in technology has been our redemption, with the invention of apps that can perform the whole tracking process, perform reports and much more. The following are some concrete reasons why you need to use mileage tracking, fleet and expense application in your business.

Mobile Device Enabled

Instead of bulky laptops for every employee, you can have a mobile application installed on their smartphones or even tablets to help track mileage. Most apps connect and sync with a Bluetooth device to automatically record mileage once the vehicle takes off. Additionally, users can be able to determine their location using a GPS function built in the app. The sync feature allows sharing information with web services straight from your phone.

Linked to Accounting Software

You will have an easy time dealing with the accounting problems that require you to be continually inputting data in accounting spreadsheets. You can use the app and upload the required mileage data directly into accounting software. By doing so, your employees can be quickly reimbursed. You can also have the ability to use the app to directly upload small expenses such as parking receipts and so forth.

Helps Create IRS Compliant Reports

Applications such as mileage tracker by everlance help you create IRS compliant reports. It is mandatory for all drivers to retain the receipt for businesses or expenses that go above $75 according to IRS regulations. When you have a mileage tracking app, you can easily take a picture of your receipts and have them uploaded for safekeeping in the cloud. Such applications with these capabilities can assist one to be exempted from many cases. Most companies dealing with local service delivery rely mostly on these mileage tracking applications to track business expenses, vehicle expenses, insurance, maintenance and much more.

Tracking Your Fleet Whereabouts

You can use a tracking app to determine the location of every vehicle in your fleet. Whether you have few trucks or a large fleet, this app can assist you to track them to their exact positions. The apps are designed to operate in real-time and help you understand the whereabouts of your drivers with ease. Additionally, the app can have social media handles such as Facebook, Twitter and Google maps to share their trips.

Time and Money Saver

Having a tracking app that can keep a record of repairs or maintenance of your fleet can help save more money by removing redundancy and confusions of required repairs. This way, you can be able to alleviate costly repairs that could as well have been prevented if scheduled maintenance could have been performed. Additionally, by comparing costs from details provided by the tracking app, you can save even more. Good apps can help you compare and contrast gas mileage and fuel costs for the entire fleet.

Are you overwhelmed by thousands of calls from clients? Call center software can come to your rescue, a call center allows you to streamline your daily activities and this helps you get the best out of your agents. It is very important for all businesses to have all-in-one call center software. This is because it helps you monitor, track, and manage phone calls with ease as well as route incoming calls to the best agents.

Top Reasons Why You Should Simplify Your Call Center

When clients need assistance or have a complaint about your product, your t1 line should be the best place to look for professional assistance. Once clients make that call, they expect their needs to be handled efficiently and professionally. They also expect agents to record their concern and answer all their questions in time.

Due to numerous calls, it’s close to impossible for call center agents to manage all calls. This is where the software comes in handy. It routes calls based on the product’s category, customer’s location and ensures the most appropriate agent handles it. It also allows agents access, gather and exchange details directly hence smooth transition among your employees.

Advanced Reporting Features

Another benefit of a call center software is improved reporting. The software offers you with all the important information you need to create strategic plans as well as make informed decisions. Some of the reporting features include revenue per call, the ability to assess call volume, case categories, case times, and upsell rates.

Increased Professionalism

A good call center system improves overall productivity and enhances caller experience. Knowing a caller’s identity before greeting them helps the agents address the caller by name and provide personalized customer service. It also reduces customer frustration by not repeating information. This, as a result, improves your company’s image and the number of calls.

Reduced Costs

Improved professionalism and productivity ultimately reduces costs because only little resources and time will be used to manage calls. Call centers with a dialing feature incorporated with the call center software reduce cost significantly. The dialing feature captures and automates essential call activity into the software hence improved lead management. Moreover, it tracks the best time to contact clients and offer real-time metrics. This boosts sales without installing any telecom hardware.

Improved Data Security

Data security is a major concern in many businesses. You are at the risk of losing important and sensitive company and customer information if you do not have a consistent security system. The software in question has inaccessible security features that make sure the company and client’s data is secure in cloud backup. Only the service provider can review and enforce a security protocol if the need arises. Also, your company will not incur the costs of hiring a professional to review and manage the system.

Getting a competitive advantage in today’s business environment requires a lot of hard work, commitment, and good customer service. To keep customers satisfied after the sale is more challenging. However, leveraging a call center software help your business take care of your clients and team members.