Archives November 2022

Accessible Business Analytics Set to Be a Boon for Small Businesses

Accessible Business Analytics Set to Be a Boon for Small Businesses

It’s hard to overestimate the value that data insights have come to represent to today’s businesses. Investments in analytics tech have risen commensurately, with some 73 percent of respondents telling IDC that they expect to spend more on data-focused software than any other category in 2023.

While emphasizing data analytics has become the standard for the business community as a whole, smaller teams are often the exception. Small business owners are still prone to see business intelligence as a luxury that they can’t afford, as it requires employing data specialists to manage dedicated data repositories, data consolidation and ongoing coded queries – all of which is a non-starter for organizations where each team member is required to wear so many hats.

There are encouraging signs, however, that this sentiment is on its way out, and with a recession looming, small business leaders are going to need data insights to help optimize their strategies.

Many specialized data tools are now available as self-service web apps, making enterprise-grade data software more affordable and circumventing the need for dedicated servers. The expertise barriers have also been lowered, with onboarding rendered simple and quick – today, even non-data experts can set themselves up and make data-based strategic decisions on an ongoing basis.

With a better understanding of what the advantages analytics bring, small business owners are finally getting started with business intelligence.

Consolidating Information

Analytics gives business owners an accurate picture of the state of their ventures. Fortunately, businesses are likely already gathering data from the various business apps they use. All this information can be imported to analytics tools for processing.

Modern business intelligence platforms can integrate with hundreds of data sources like marketing communication tools, ecommerce platforms and payment providers to create this holistic picture. Business leaders can then consolidate whatever performance metrics matter most to them into dedicated interactive dashboards and dynamic reports.

Businesses that use cross-functional management suites can also explore their built-in analytics tools. Business management app vcita, which allows small teams to handle client relationship management, payment collection, appointment booking and marketing activity under one platform, uses Google’s Looker BI software to generate reports from specific operational areas that already flow through the app.

For example, a service business owner can examine their appointment conversion data to check which services are the most popular or how many customers follow through with each booking. By analyzing these specific areas of the business, entrepreneurs can readily spot issues and implement improvements.

Visualizing Trends and Extrapolating Predictions

Traditionally, it takes a certain level of specialized expertise and experience to make sense of raw numbers. What makes analytics accessible to most people is visualization. Modern tools can readily create charts and graphs to help users spot trends from their data.

The only thing that small business owners have to do is integrate their apps with visualization tools. The cloud version of Tableau, for instance, allows non-technical team members to use native “connectors” to import data sources like Salesforce, QuickBooks and Amazon Seller Central, helping merchants visualize data based on historical sales figures.

By plotting line charts of monthly sales for products, it’s possible to identify peak seasons and top-performing items. These insights can then be used as the basis for promotions and marketing campaigns.

Analytics can also be predictive. Through machine learning, even basic tools can crunch historical data and provide predictions readily. Combined with visualization, analytics can help owners of even the smallest businesses to plan for the immediate future, like increasing inventory to prevent stockouts during peak sales.

Performing Analysis in Natural Language

Analytics platforms are constantly innovating to further lower barriers to entry. Developers use effective usability design and artificial intelligence so that non-experts can perform data analysis capably.

By applying artificial intelligence, platforms can allow users to use natural language to interact with analytics platforms. Intelligence platform Phrazor, for example, allows for queries to be phrased using simple questions. Keying in a question such as, “Why did my sales grow in the last six months?” can bring up sales data within the period and the possible answers to the query.

Inversely, natural language report generation is now also emerging as a standard. Alongside visualizations, reports with accompanying insights can be generated in natural language, allowing less data-savvy business owners to create easily understood reports quickly.

Making Key Decisions Using Data

According to the Small Business Administration, about two-thirds of new businesses survive in their first two years. Armed with a clear picture of the states of their companies, entrepreneurs can quickly pinpoint whether they are poised for survival or growth. They can decide which business areas to focus on to improve their standing or pivot their business if necessary.

Through analytics, business owners can base their decisions on solid information – or, at the least, validate their intuition.

While today’s business environment is volatile to say the least, specific sectors and niches are still projected to be growth industries, providing opportunities to smarter owners of small businesses. Through business analytics, small businesses can create viable strategies to navigate their respective markets and position themselves to thrive and succeed.

The post Accessible Business Analytics Set to Be a Boon for Small Businesses appeared first on SmartData Collective.

Source : SmartData Collective Read More

Machine Learning is Invaluable for Mobile App Testing Automation

Machine Learning is Invaluable for Mobile App Testing Automation

Machine learning technology has transformed countless fields in recent years. One of the professions affected the most by advances in machine learning is mobile app development. The market for mobile artificial intelligence is projected to be worth nearly $9.7 billion within the next five years, since machine learning helps developers create powerful new apps.

We have talked extensively about some of the benefits of AI and machine learning in mobile app development in previous blog posts. However, one of the benefits that we haven’t talked as much about is the application of machine learning for testing new apps during the design process. Apps need to be carefully tested, so it is important to use the right strategies to do so.

App developers can find novel ways to use machine learning to automate the testing process. This can reduce the costs of app development and help them spend more time on other essential tasks.

Machine Learning Enables App Developers to Automate Essential Processes Like Testing

In the past, mobile applications were much more straightforward and had fewer features than the mobile apps we know today. As the features increased and the functions of the apps became more intricate and complex, the app testing process required adaptation to meet the requirements of the modern applications.

Testing of applications nowadays can be done manually or automatically, but in the past manual testing was the only way. As the features of the apps increased and became more enhanced, manual testing became extremely timeous and difficult. This is one of the main reasons app developers use AI and machine learning.

This is where automated mobile app testing became the way to go for modern apps with more features and capabilities and only 13% of app developers reported that they only use manual testing. App developers use test automation to enhance app testing processes and to simplify the entire testing process.

Companies like HotShots Labs use automation testing tools for all the mobile applications that we develop to ensure we provide the highest quality applications to our clients. They are able to accomplish this process with the use of advanced machine learning algorithms. Machine learning has helped them streamline the process considerably.

1.      What Is Automated Mobile App Testing?

Automated mobile app testing refers to the evaluation process that mobile app developers should run through for each application that they develop to ensure the mobile apps perform correctly before publishing. The process relies on advanced machine learning algorithms that help make the process go more smoothly and rapidly.

There are various test automation frameworks that developers can choose from to find the perfect mobile testing framework for their specific application and to evaluate how it will operate on different mobile devices and on different operating systems such as Android and iOS.

How do testing tools that use machine learning work? Mobile app testing tools are used to run through the entire operation process of the application using a test script as if it were a user operating the application. In this way errors and bugs are picked up, and can be fixed or updated to ensure efficient operation of the mobile app.

The testing tools run through different test scenarios and test cases to detect any errors that might be in the development code of the mobile application, and therefore these automation testing tools are extremely beneficial and developers, therefore, rely heavily on automatic mobile testing.

2.      7 Benefits of Automating Mobile App Testing with Machine Learning

There are a number of reasons that app developers may want to use machine learning technology to automate the testing process. Some of the biggest benefits are listed below.

Enhance Publishing Timeframes:

repetitive operations are automated throughout the mobile app testing process, saving a lot of time, and accelerating the test execution process.

Enhance Application Functionality:

Automated mobile app testing thoroughly validates app functionality and makes sure there are no faults or flaws that might affect it. Thus, it allows mobile apps to operate efficiently.

Enhance App Security:

Security flaws in mobile apps can result in the theft of client information and reputational damage to enterprises. Security flaws in a mobile app can be easily spotted and fixed by using the right mobile app testing strategy and mobile automation framework.

Improved Application Performance:

Several performance tests are done during automated mobile app testing to make sure there are no performance holdups in an application and that it functions properly under all user loads.

Boosts App Loading Speed:

Mobile app developers must offer quicker loading times for both Android and iOS apps since slow mobile app loading speeds negatively affect user experience. By eradicating flaws from the app, automated mobile app testing provides a quicker download time.

App Multiple Platform Compatibility Verification: 

This ensures that the mobile apps are compatible with multiple operating platforms and software to boost user experience. App integration tests are also run to ensure sufficient performance.

Boosts Cost and Time Efficiency: Test automation of mobile applications protects brands from abrupt app failures or crashes, saving enterprises a significant amount of money and preserving their good name. Automated testing also ensures that testers do not have to allocate their time towards tedious and repetitive duties. It also guarantees that tests are run faster.

3.      How to Use Machine Learning to Automate Mobile App Testing

Here are a few things that you need to do when you are trying to automate the mobile app testing process with machine learning technology. You want to follow these steps carefully.

Establish Automation Test Plan

This step is completed by developers by creating a plan on which devices will be used in the testing phase and what specifications the devices should have. This plan will also include the type of testing that will be conducted and will be detailed at a later stage in the testing process.

Create Test Scripts and Test Cases

This is a crucial step as this will set out the exact functionalities and operations that the test should focus on. These scripts and cases can be used multiple times for different testing operations as it is a base followed by developers in the testing process.

Establish Mobile App Test Setting

In this step developers need to install the application that needs to be tested on the right devices, and developers should ensure that testing data can be monitored and revisited for enhancement and amendment purposes.

Proceed with Testing

In this step the developer will action the testing process through the automated testing framework. The mobile app test automation framework and tools will then perform the tests based on the type of testing required as stated in the first step. These types of tests can include Functional testing, Continues Testing, Usability testing, UI testing, User acceptance testing, Performance and load testing, Security testing, Accessibility testing, and Digital testing.

Use Machine Learning to Automate Mobile App Testing Strategically

There are many benefits of using machine learning in the mobile app development process. One of the top benefits is that it can help automate testing. Automated mobile application testing provides numerous benefits and if the testing done correctly and the right steps are followed, at the end of the automated mobile app testing process you should have an app that performs effectively and will therefore be ready for the big launch.

The post Machine Learning is Invaluable for Mobile App Testing Automation appeared first on SmartData Collective.

Source : SmartData Collective Read More

What Data Scientists Must Know About Italy’s Tech Credentials

What Data Scientists Must Know About Italy’s Tech Credentials

The demand for AI and data science professionals is growing all over the world. Many data scientists are pursuing careers in Europe and Asian, which means that they have to be aware of the opportunities and requirements abroad.

Italy is one of the most promising countries for people seeking careers in data science. Italian employers spent $78.3 billion on big data last year. This figure is expected to grow as more companies discover the benefits of investing in big data and AI.

However, Italy also requires data scientists and AI programmers to possess the right credentials to seek employment. You will need to make sure you are familiar with them before you can get a job as a data scientist.

Italy is Home to a Growing Market for Data Scientists

As the global financial situation becomes increasingly concerning, many businesses are turning to technology to shore up their foundations. Small businesses are using data analytics tools to cut their expenditure, while some large firms are exploring international options when it comes to tech innovation.

One of the newest arrivals on the scene, with a multi-city tech ecosystem that is just beginning to come of age, is Italy. Its cities do not yet have the long-term tech credentials of established centers such as London, where tech companies raised $18.4 billion in 2021, or Berlin or Paris. However, a number of Italian cities are growing fast in terms of their tech scenes.

At present, Italy’s tech scene is on a par with Latvia’s in terms of its development. It has attracted some of the best data scientists in the world. Both countries have nurtured their first unicorn during 2022. Latvia’s was print-on-demand group Printful, which raised $130 million, while Italy’s was fintech start-up Scalapay, which raised $497 million in Series B funding. In total, investments in tech start-ups in Italy equated to around €1.4 billion in 2021.

Home-grown talent

When it comes to tech talent, Italy is punching well above its weight. Some 12% of Europe’s top tier AI researchers come from Italy, despite the fact that Italy accounts for just 8% (approximately) of Europe’s population. The country is also home to some of the best data scientists in Europe. The country is attracting an increasing amount of venture capital funding to its tech scene and has begun capturing the attention of the international community.

Rome (Italy’s capital) and Milan (the country’s financial center) have rapidly established their tech scenes in recent years. They have invested heavily in big data, as they try to find new ways to scale economic growth and boost technological progress. Milan is currently developing an entire tech district, with not just workspaces but also a start-up accelerator and research labs. Padua, in the northern Veneto region, meanwhile, is the latest newcomer. This city is a semi-finalist in the European Rising Innovative city category of the European Capital of Innovation Awards (iCapital) 2022.

Tapping into Italy’s Tech Scene to Discover Qualified Data Scientists

If your business is one of those drawn to Italy’s blossoming tech scene to find some talented data scientists or AI programmers, it’s time to take on board some tips around language and culture. Italian workers are known for putting in long hours and for being both focused and productive at work. They also value the social side of business interactions, developing personal connections within the hierarchical framework that still typifies much of Italian working life (though Italy, like many other countries, is seeing its rising tech entrepreneurs take a less formal approach to working life).

In language terms, any business looking to get involved in Italy’s tech scene will do well to partner with an Italian translator that they can rely on. English to Italian translation (and vice versa) will be a regular, ongoing requirement. What is the best Italian translator? It is a service that delivers tech expertise alongside Italian translation. Translating tech documents requires technical knowledge. According to language services provider Tomedes, whose native Italian translators have translated thousands of documents for official and professional use, that means sourcing an Italian translator with relevant experience who understands technical language and concepts, as well as the particular nuances of the Italian tech scene.

Tomedes’ highly tech-savvy, tech-driven translation expertise has satisfied many clients over the past 15 years, including major players in digital industries, such as Amazon, Microsoft and Google. Key to its service delivery is an in depth understanding of the Italian language, including those words such as gattara and abbiocco, which have no direct translation in English (the former is a woman who takes care of stray cats; the latter a sudden desire to sleep after a hearty meal). The company has used some of the most sophisticated big data tools to expedite its service delivery.

How do I choose a good translation service? Firstly, keep those technical requirements front of mind. Next, ask the agency who it is that will translate Italian for you. It should always be native speakers of the target language – so if you need English to Italian translation, it should be native Italian speakers delivering your documents. Likewise, if you need an Italian to English translation service, it should be native English speakers who undertake the work. They have a number of AI and big data algorithms that make the job go by more quickly.

It’s also important to look for a translation service with experience of business and marketing translation. Your Italian translation needs likely won’t relate solely to technical documentation. Instead, you will need to connect with other businesses, working out supply chain logistics, manufacturing deals and more. You will also need to market and/or advertise your products, whether through social media, content marketing, pay-per-click advertising or myriad other channels. It’s likely you’ll need legal translation at some point too – particularly around contract law or employment law – so be sure to factor that into you plans.

For each of these tasks, you will need not just a qualified linguist, but an Italian translator with relevant experience. So, when you’re choosing a translation service, be sure to grill the agencies you speak to on the breadth of their experience, not just their language expertise.

Given the explosion of interest in Italy’s tech scene over the course of 2022, the stage has been set for the country to achieve big things in 2023 and beyond. It’s the ideal time for forward-thinking businesses to engage with the Italian tech marketplace and be a part of the country’s future. The fact that the Italian Ministry of Economic Development began awarding €45 million worth of funding in September 2022 for certain blockchain projects, of course, may also be a powerful reason for your business to set its sights on a future venture in Italy.

Data Scientists and AI Programmers Are Discovering New Opportunities in Italy

Italy is home to a thriving tech sector, which has attracted countless data scientists in recent years. Anyone in this profession should consider relocating to this Mediterranean country. However, they must be familiar with the credential requirements first.

The post What Data Scientists Must Know About Italy’s Tech Credentials appeared first on SmartData Collective.

Source : SmartData Collective Read More

Is Artificial Intelligence Setting A New Standard For Web Design?

Is Artificial Intelligence Setting A New Standard For Web Design?

Artificial intelligence is playing an important role in modern creative professions. There are a lot of reasons a growing number of companies are turning to AI technology. One poll showed that 61% of companies found that AI and machine learning were their best data investments.

One of the industries that is evolving by adopting new AI tools in web design.

Here is a fact that you should consider. According to content marketing statistics, 32% of marketers say visual images are the most important form of content for their business, which is probably why you’re here. AI is crucial to helping these companies use these new images.

How AI is Changing the Nature of Web Design

Mirza Irfan of Usability Geek discussed some of the benefits of AI in web design. These benefits include improving UX and creating ADI (artificial design intelligence) solutions).

If you’re a web designer or web developer, your job is to work to make a website functional and attractive. You must consider the user experience (UX) every step of the way.

If you are not sure where to start when creating awesome eye-catching visuals for your digital marketing, then you should keep reading. You will find out why AI is helping companies meet these standards.

The best way is to synthesize all that information down to these four basic design principles:

Contrast

Repetition

Alignment

Proximity

These principles predate the existence of AI. However, AI is helping designers reach them more effectively.

These concepts do not just apply to web design and UX, but rather anything you want to make look smooth, clear, and eye-catching (i.e. graphics, blog articles, and Facebook ads).

By the end of this article, your site will have an ace up its sleeve in design. You’ll have a secret hand to trounce the visual competition by providing you with effective principles to enhance your visual content.

The Three Stages of Design with AI: A Formula for Visual Success

When figuring out the visual design of a website and the ways to leverage AI to achieve it, the design process can be broken up into three parts:

Target Research: Researching and thinking about the target audience.

Strategic Goals: Understanding the company goals and how the goals impact the user.

Creative Design: Applying creative design thinking to develop a smooth and enjoyable end-user experience.

What Does It Take to Master the Principles of Design in the Age of AI?

The short answer? Not as much as you think!

You will find that there are a number of new AI tools that simplify the process. This helps reduce the need to be a skilled designer. The AI algorithms can do a lot of the heavy lifting for you.

Web designers often have a background in graphic design, art, advertising, or another creative discipline. But AI is becoming a more important competency.

However, as marketing teams become smaller, professionals of different backgrounds have had to take over the responsibilities of graphic designers. They use easy design tools online like Canva and Visme to create custom graphics.

Trained web designers or creative marketers alike should always focus on the actual needs of the people you are designing for, a.k.a. be human-centric in your website design.

This makes for a simple and enjoyable user experience.

4 Basic Visual Design Principles

Here’s where we get to the juicy material: contrast, repetition, alignment, proximity. These 4 basic design principles will make sure your content has good UX, no matter the graphic. Your website will be visually stimulating to visitors and leave a memorable, positive impression.

1. Contrast

Contrary to popular belief, web designers can contrast more than colors. This includes:

Shading: Light vs. Dark

Size: Big vs. Small

Patterns: Solid vs. Ornamental

Fonts: Serif vs. Sans serif

Color: Complementaries, Adjacents, Triads

Themes: Symmetry vs. Asymmetry

Texture: Rough vs. Smooth

Check out the example below to see how the contrast between light and dark is used to draw attention to the form fields in a website popup:

Here’s my number one suggestion for employing contrast:

Establish a brand color palette carefully and early.

Browsing existing color palettes on Adobe Color is extraordinarily helpful. You can determine specific hex codes, proper combinations, etc. You can even use the Adobe Color software to dissect the exact colors inside existing images if you found a color online that you are dying to have!

The image above is a user experience example of contrasting colors to guide readers’ eyes where the designer wants them to go.

What are the first things your eye catches? Is it first the image, then the heading, and then the button?

If so, the Taab web designer who created this was successful.

2. Repetition

Repetition is an important element of web design that automates the user experience. It makes going through your webpage faster and easier because users do not have to constantly go back to get to a different page. For example, a web designer should always include the main menu for a website on every page to allow the user easy access to all pages on the website.

Backtracking runs the risk of losing visitors and having them click off their page due to complexity or laziness.

Always make the user experience and simple and smooth as possible!

In addition, visual repetition also contributes to:

Unity

Consistency

Memorability

In psychology, the fact that our brains rarely need to hear the whole message before putting the pieces together is called heuristics. Repetition contributes to this phenomenon by calling on a user’s memory to fill in the missing parts.

In other words, the user knows what to expect. Repeating elements contribute to building the big picture a lot faster. Your user will be able to understand a graphic or navigate a website if they’ve been exposed to a similar design or pattern for that content.

Keep consistency throughout your website to maximize the user experience. If the menu bar is on the top-right corner of one page, make sure it is in the same spot on every other page.

Design aspects you can repeat:

Logos (make sure to choose the right file type for this, weighing up vector vs raster graphics)

Buttons

Patterns

3. Alignment

Alignment is not just good for your back, it is good for your UX design!

That’s because alignment accomplishes the following:

Sets a hierarchy

Makes your design orderly

Adds a sense of professionalism

Alignment is one of the most vital design principles for beginners and the top tool for effective alignment is grids. Grids work very well in helping web designers maintain spacing between objects so as to not overwhelm the user with too many elements on a page.

Check out the example below for an example of how a web designer can use grids to organize the layout of a webpage:

Without alignment, your website can look unprofessional and lack order. It runs the risk of looking amateur and unattractive. Equally bad, your users will be confused and click off the page.

You want your website to be cohesive and for all of the elements (buttons, text, graphics, etc.) to be aligned neatly and consistently.

Horizontal alignment includes:

Flush-left (also called left-justified or ragged right)

Flush-right (also called right-justified or ragged left)

Centered

Fully justified

With vertical alignment, elements can be aligned vertically, which includes top, bottom, or middle (center).

Here’s a PRO TIP:

Ignore the little voice inside telling you that you can fit just one more thing and go for a “clean” design!

Design aspects you can align:

Labels

Headers

Margins

Rows and columns

Buttons and icons

Graphics

Text

4. Proximity

Last, but not least, we have proximity. Here’s a breakdown of what proximity does:

Connects Elements: Objects that are closer together are more likely to go together in the user’s mind.

Finishes Ideas: Using heuristics in proximity lets the design fill in the blanks for a reader.

Accelerates Understanding: Design elements that are close together speed up the comprehension of the reader.

Interestingly, the design principle pf proximity is relatively unknown compared to big-name principles like contrast.

Of course, these ideas are meant to be used in conjunction, but if you absolutely had no way of employing contrast, you could still get your point across with the principle of proximity.

Often, proximity is best combined with repetition to form consistent spacing between particular sets of elements.

If you need help planning out the structure of your design, you could use the golden ratio, which leverages proximity to maintain balance.

Here’s an example of the golden ratio at work:

AI is Changing the Nature of Web Design

AI is changing the role of web design in crucial ways. It couldn’t have come at a better time, because having a user-friendly website is more crucial than ever. You need to ensure your business gets the attention it needs. Keep visitors on your page by incorporating these design tips in every aspect of your website. By employing contrast, repetition, alignment, and proximity into the user interface, yourself, web designers and developers will be able to increase the user experience and ultimately drive conversions on your website.

The post Is Artificial Intelligence Setting A New Standard For Web Design? appeared first on SmartData Collective.

Source : SmartData Collective Read More

AI Can Amplify Benefits and Temper Risks of Bitcoin Investing

AI Can Amplify Benefits and Temper Risks of Bitcoin Investing

AI technology has been invaluable to the financial industry. The amount of money that fintech companies are spending on AI is projected to grow by 16.5% a year from 2022 and 2030.

AI is changing the alternative financial sector as well. For example, many bitcoin investors are finding creative ways to use AI to improve their trading strategies. In fact, AI has played a key role in the growth of bitcoin popularity.

What Are Some Ways that You Can Use AI in Your Bitcoin Trading Strategy?

There are a number of ways that you can use AI technology to improve your bitcoin investing strategy. Here are some ideas.

Use AI to Automate Your Trading Strategy

One of the biggest benefits of AI is that it can automate your bitcoin trading strategy. AI-driven trading systems like Immediate Edge have made trading easier than ever. As we stated before, AI-based bitcoin trading can disrupt the bitcoin market.

AI-based trading systems help you take advantage of the volatility of the cryptocurrency market and make large amounts of profit. The software uses multiple market parameters and critical market data to break down and analyze market movements. AI-driven bitcoin trading application can perform all the heavy lifting for you, from speculating on market fluctuations to taking out profitable trades and executing them.

You don’t have to do anything because all the work will be done by the system itself. Just sit back and enjoy or monitor your profits. The algorithm technology has great accuracy in detecting market rates to give you peace of mind for investing. This bitcoin robot provides the same opportunities to both experienced and inexperienced.

The process is very simple, the software buys the most active cryptocurrency of each moment and sells it when it increases in value. Before selling an asset, the algorithm takes into consideration the price of that asset on all cryptocurrency exchanges and sells it on that exchange where its price is higher.

Predict Price Movements with Predictive Analytics

AI has also led to the inception of predictive analytics technology, which can also help bitcoin investors. Predictive analytics algorithms are able to evaluate a number of different variables and identify future price movements. This can help you take advantage of market inefficiencies.

Since bitcoin is a much less efficient market than stocks and bonds, it is a lot easier to exploit new information to make a profit. AI-driven technology can help if you are willing to invest in predictive analytics.

What Are the Benefits of Using AI as a Bitcoin Investor?

There are plenty of different reasons you may want to consider investing in Bitcoin. These benefits will be even more significant if you are willing to invest in AI technology to support your bitcoin trading strategy. Some of the arguments for buying Bitcoin are listed below.

Inflationary Hedge

One of the main reasons to consider buying Bitcoin has to do with there being a finite number of Bitcoin out there. Whether fiat currency always has an inflationary risk because more can always be printed. Monetary and fiscal policy can drive the overall value of the dollar to decrease. You can boost your returns even more by using AI, which makes it an even better inflationary hedge.

Limited Supply

Bitcoin will never have this inherent risk attached to it. There are only 21 million bitcoins and as many as 3.7 have been likely permanently lost. As a result, there’s only going to be 17.3 in circulation at any given time.

Transactional Usage

AI isn’t the only new technology that is helping with bitcoin trading. Blockchain is also extremely important for cryptocurrency investors.

There is a lot of hope that one day Bitcoins will be used for transactions on a wide scale. As Bitcoin gets increasingly mainstream, it can be used for more and more transactions whether you are paying for a movie ticket or something else. It’s getting more mainstream attention as you’ll find it showing up on popular and widely used financial sites alongside the stock market and precious metals.

Bitcoin is inherently more secure because of its blockchain technology. The blockchain technology used in Bitcoin is completely decentralized. Thus, it makes for a much more secure way to complete transactions. This also allows for transactions to go smoother without middleman interference and fees being imposed.

Digital Gold

There is a lot to like about Bitcoin having a finite supply. Because of this, it’s been seen as the digital version of gold. Being compared to gold is always a plus because gold has been a tremendously stable store of value dating back to 550 B.C. While Bitcoin is relatively new in comparison, it’s much easier to use in day-to-day transactions than gold has ever been with the use of a crypto trading app.

As you can see, there are plenty of strong arguments as to why Bitcoin could be a good investment decision. However, there are equally as many reasons not to buy Bitcoin and these arguments could be considered even stronger. These include:

Bitcoin Is Overbought

One of the things you don’t want to do is buy at the peak of bull markets. Bitcoin is up a lot over the past 5 years or so. Because of this, you could be buying way too high which can expose you to a lot of unnecessary risks. Since May 19, 2020 Bitcoin is up 7,876%.

You will want to use AI-driven trading strategies to better anticipate future price movements, so you can purchase at the right time.

The Risk to Reward Is Skewed

One of the biggest reasons to avoid buying Bitcoin right now is because it’s priced too high that the risk-to-reward ratio is skewed. Bitcoin cannot continue to surge in value as it has in the previous 5 years. While it’s impossible to predict the price movement of any asset, it’s reasonable to expect Bitcoin’s value to not continue going up in a straight line. If it continued to grow as it did in the previous 5 years, it would put the total value of Bitcoin at $88 trillion in only 5 more years. This is nearly impossible to think about considering that’s over 4 times the USA’s Gross Domestic Product for the year 2020. It’s simply not going to happen and the mania days resulting in exponential growth are likely over.

There’s More Competition

In the earlier days, Bitcoin was one of the only cryptocurrencies out there generating a lot of appeal among investors. Nowadays, you will find a lot of cryptocurrencies available and there are limited barriers to entry for making new ones. This has led to the entire market being flooded with cryptocurrencies. For instance, Dogecoin was created as a meme and it achieved a $43 billion valuation as of May 18. Ethereum is another that has a value nearing half of what Bitcoin is worth. And Ethereum utilizes a similar decentralized payment network and has other applications like smart contracts that make it highly intriguing.

The Crackdown Could Happen At Any Moment

Global governments can crack down on the cryptocurrency market at any time. It’s an unregulated space. A lot of governments could eventually ban cryptocurrencies. The crypto space already has the IRS’ attention.

Hyperinflation Fears Have Always Been There

There’s always been this talk about hyperinflation and about how the value of the dollar is going to tank and plummet. However, to this point, it has never occurred. A lot of people have been investing in precious metals like gold because of this with minimal returns.

The Volatility

Bitcoin is easily one of the most violative assets out there. Bitcoin can make the stock market look stable with how volatile it is. Cryptocurrency is a pure speculation play at this point and not many people want to put their money into something that carries so much risk.

AI Technology is Changing the Future of Bitcoin Trading

A growing number of bitcoin investors are taking advantage of the benefits of AI technology to improve their strategies. AI-driven trading can help bitcoin investors boost profitability considerably.

The post AI Can Amplify Benefits and Temper Risks of Bitcoin Investing appeared first on SmartData Collective.

Source : SmartData Collective Read More

How Big Data Technology Helped Fight The Pandemic

How Big Data Technology Helped Fight The Pandemic

Although the COVID-19 pandemic was one of the greatest challenges the world has ever endured, it is important to acknowledge there were some notable advances in the fight against the infectious virus. Big data and AI technology have played a huge role in dealing with some of the challenges that arose. We previously talked about the benefits of big data and BI in overcoming the problems the pandemic caused for businesses. However, they were even more important when it came to dealing with public health concerns.

Consider that throughout the fight, many leading technology companies and other well-known parties have been using big data and AI technologies in new and innovative ways to help Public Health officials meet the challenge of COVID-19 since the outbreak’s inception.

Vaccine Matching Programs

One doctor recognized the high volume of vaccines that went to waste, despite many parties needing them. The resulting Dr. B platform allowed clinics with vaccines and people who wanted them to register and connect. Unlike the previously available state websites, this technology was simple for anyone to use. It used big data to better understand the needs of patients on an individual level and match them with the vaccines that they needed.

Anyone could join the waitlist by providing basic contact information and details about their eligibility in the state, such as employment and pre-existing health conditions, on a simple registration page. The website used state parameters to continuously readjust algorithms and suggest vaccine availability to only those who met their state’s requirements. This wouldn’t have been possible without major advances in big data technology.

3D Printing Helped Produce Nasal Swabbing Kits

One example is evident in the actions of the 3D printing community, which also wouldn’t have evolved without advances in AI and big data technology. Throughout the pandemic, one of the major issues confronting the healthcare system was a lack of tests and medical supplies such as Personal Protective Equipment (PPE). Companies like NASCAR donate 3D printing equipment and technology to Ford and Toyota to address the medical supply shortage. Other companies used their 3D printers to produce nasal swabs for Covid-19 testing.

Additionally, 3D printing is also helping to manufacture medical equipment such as ventilator valves and emergency respiration devices, as well as personal protective equipment (PPE) such as masks and mask fitters. AI and bigdata have helped improve the effectiveness and efficiency of 3D printing tools.

Artificial Intelligence Supported Covid-19 Diagnosis

Big data and artificial intelligence (AI) have also shown advancement in detecting and monitoring infectious viruses. For example, one artificial intelligence company released free COVID-19 analysis software for early virus diagnosis and assessment. The software could detect, segment, and generate 3D models of lung damage caused by the virus by using CT image analysis.

In addition, contact tracing in certain offerings could combat the coronavirus outbreak via mobile technologies such as GPS, cellphone masts, and AI-powered big data analytics to assist the government in understanding and managing the spread of COVID-19 within their communities.

Some tools were even able to use AI to monitor the spread of COVID-19 and predict where and when outbreaks might occur. AI-powered chatbots also gained popularity in use cases designed specifically for travellers. The mobile app could inform and assist with coronavirus-related questions as people moved around.

Online Technologies Paved Way For At-Home Education

Another way technology helped fight the pandemic was through the support of online initiatives. During the pandemic, the world met a variety of online platforms available to connect students and workers to their schools and offices from home. Educators in China, Colombia, Italy, Jordan, South Korea, Spain, Uganda, and the United States embraced online learning. They conducted live-streaming classes using digital platforms such as Alibaba’s DingTalk, Google Hangouts, Kolibri, and Microsoft Teams.

Businesses worldwide are using video conferencing and screen sharing on electronic devices via digital platforms to bring their teams together without needing to be in person.

Improving Patient Care with the Internet of Things

Healthcare providers are already using the Internet of Things (IoT). With IoT, patient imaging, health devices or applications, worker solutions, and ambulance programs could help improve treatment plans for the public. However, COVID-19 forced the technology to adapt to new applications to assist the world in combating the epidemic.

Some examples were tracking quarantine, pre-screening and diagnosing, cleaning and disinfecting, innovative drone use, and reducing in-home infections.

Mobile Apps With Up-to-Date-Information

Mobile apps were another notable technology that changed the game amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Before the pandemic, mobile apps were already looking for ways to help patients receive online therapy, at-home testing, complete self-checks, and improve their mental health. Following the pandemic, the world saw an increase in their usage, making it possible to track the virus’s path and help limit its spread.

In a more specific example, one application contained vital and relevant information on the coronavirus pandemic from trusted sources, such as hand hygiene practices, social distancing FAQs, quarantine guidelines, self-checking tutorials, and cleaning and disinfecting surface tips. The same app included a screening tool that advised the world on what to do if they had or came in contact with someone with COVID-19 symptoms who had recently returned from abroad.

Big Data and AI Have Been Invaluable for Dealing with Challenges During the Pandemic

Despite the coronavirus pandemic now being in the endemic stage, we still see the effects of the disease lingering. However, those issues would have been much worse without interventions that were made possible with AI and big data.

Furthermore, while some of these effects caused enormous damage, others have driven the medical industry forward. Throughout this blog post, we noted how many tech innovators accelerate improving medical treatment with IoT, AI and mobile apps.

Although smart technologies cannot replace or compensate for public institutions’ measures, they play an important role in emergency response. A reality we see today.

The post How Big Data Technology Helped Fight The Pandemic appeared first on SmartData Collective.

Source : SmartData Collective Read More

Why Big Data Is The Future Of Sales And Marketing

Why Big Data Is The Future Of Sales And Marketing

Proper marketing and sales prospects play a huge role in improving the success rate of your business. The strategy can either be offline or digital. However, digital marketing has become the major focus of marketers across all industries, mainly due to how customers interact and engage with modern businesses. 

Seeing an opportunity and knowing how and when to take advantage of it defines the majority of where today’s marketers stand. To develop effective and optimized strategies in this ever-changing marketplace, a smart marketer needs to know how to leverage technology. Enter Big Data. Although big data isn’t a new concept, it has become a sought-after technology in the last few years.  

The following blog discusses what you need to know about big data. You’ll learn what big data is, how it can affect your marketing and sales strategy, and more. Keep reading. 

What Is Big Data?

Big data refers to an extremely large volume of data sets, including structured and unstructured data from several sources. The big data is so vast that it’s hard for outdated data processing techniques to capture, manage or process the data sets. However, with the right software, it’ll be easier to process the data sets, addressing previously inaccessible business problems. 

Basically, big data has three characteristics: variety, volume, and velocity. In other words, the data sets contain great variety, coming in increasing volumes with high velocity. The data sets can come from publicly accessible sources such as the cloud, social media, and sites.

A business can utilize the data sets to access customer details such as likes, interests, purchase history, and more. Examining this crucial data makes it easier to develop personalized techniques to improve your marketing effort. 

Also, if you’re dealing with other businesses, you can employ big data analytics tools to examine b2b data and find out information such as hidden patterns, market trends, and more. Hence, you’ll develop a marketing effort that beats the competition, improving your future sales and brand awareness. 

How Can Big Data Revolutionize Future Marketing And Sales?

The following are the reason why big data is the future of marketing and sales. They include:  

Better Insights 

This is one of the ways big data can revolutionize future marketing and sales. Developing deeper insights into your target audience can take time and effort for most businesses. The concept of knowing your customer (KYC) was initially used by financial institutions to prevent bank fraud.

However, with big data, it’s easier to access crucial KYC data such as customer preferences, purchase history and patterns, likes, and more. Whence, it’ll be easier to develop personalized marketing efforts, improving their effectiveness and leading to increased sales. 

Additionally, it’ll be easier to understand how customers view and interact with your brand, improving business intelligence. Improved business intelligence allows you to bring about positive changes, such as improving existing products.   

Help Increase Conversion Rate 

This is another way big data might revolutionize marketing strategies. As discussed above, big data might help you develop deeper insights into your customer. Hence, it’ll be easier to understand what they need and why. Understanding customers’ behavior makes it easier for businesses to develop strategies that meet their needs and expectations, increasing the chances of conversions. 

Also, big data makes it easier for marketers to know when to respond to leads. Failure to respond at the right time may affect your conversion rate, affecting the overall sales and revenue. However, applying the insights of big data analytics in all areas of marketing makes it easier to respond at the right time, increasing the conversion rate. 

Making Pricing Decisions 

Your pricing decisions may affect the effectiveness of your overall marketing effort. When using basic data sets, you will need more information to make the right pricing decision. However, big data allows you to access crucial information such as incentives, completed deals, competitor pricing, product cost, demand, value, and more. You can use these data to achieve clarity in pricing, which can be crucial in the business-to-business (B2B) sector. 

Additionally, accessing crucial customer and current economic status may provide valuable insights into pricing. Thanks to technological advancement, you can also integrate advanced solutions such as automation to improve accuracy and reduce errors in your pricing process.  

Also, big data can help you access ever-changing information such as exchange rates, government spending, growth rate, and other data which are crucial when making the correct pricing decisions.  

Bottom Line

As discussed above, big data has become a crucial aspect of modern marketing and sales prospects. However, before integrating this technology into your marketing efforts, it’s important to understand how it might boost your strategy. Conduct extensive research to ensure you’re equipped with the necessary know-how, giving you value for your money.

The post Why Big Data Is The Future Of Sales And Marketing appeared first on SmartData Collective.

Source : SmartData Collective Read More

Data Analytics Solves Manufacturing Marketing Agency Challenges

Data Analytics Solves Manufacturing Marketing Agency Challenges

Data analytics is unquestionably one of the most disruptive technologies impacting the manufacturing sector. Manufacturers are projected to spend nearly $10 billion on analytics by the end of the year.

Data analytics can solve many of the biggest challenges that manufacturers face. One of the most significant benefits of leveraging analytics in manufacturing is with marketing optimization and automation.

An outsourced organization that handles specific marketing tasks of other companies is called a manufacturing marketing agency. They can operate as a marketing department, provide strategies and direction and act as a consultant to any marketing decisions being made by a company. Smart manufacturing marketing agencies understand the role that data analytics plays in their operations.

Big Data is Addressing Many of the Marketing Concerns that Manufacturers Face

Many manufacturers are trying to understand the role that data analytics plays in their operations. Before they can debate the benefits of using it in marketing, it is important to first grasp the relevance this technology has in standard manufacturing processes.

Amine Belhad and his coauthors addressed some of the issues about big data in manufacturing in their white paper Understanding Big Data Analytics for Manufacturing Processes: Insights from Literature Review and Multiple Case Studies.

It is clear that in recent years there has been exponential growth in digital technologies, computing power and the so-called Internet of Things (IoT), among other things. These technological advances provide manufacturers with the means to derive value from an increasingly large and overwhelming amount of data, with the goal of gaining a great competitive advantage. Several studies claim that Big Data has penetrated various aspects of everyday life, but it has also become vital for optimizing manufacturing processes.

Despite its clear benefits, there are considerable challenges in using data analytics in manufacturing processes. In some contexts, the massive use of information obtained from computers controlling processes and information systems means that the databases of these processes are of unimaginable size. It is increasingly common to find IoT devices, sensors that measure variables in a production process, etc., which will mean that in the future the data obtained from an intelligent manufacturing process will expand dramatically.

However, despite the enthusiasm and growing interest in big data, research on the real capabilities of data analytics technology in manufacturing processes is still relatively new. In fact, companies that are willing to use big data in their processes usually find it difficult to understand the concept.

On the other hand, some academics point out that big data is still in a primitive stage, which limits the effectiveness of this technology. Therefore, it is important for industrial engineering professionals to specialize in various areas of processes, quality, operations research and logistics, among others, take on the task of deepening the existing studies on Big Data associated with manufacturing and manufacturing processes, taking into account case studies in companies that use Big Data to improve their own processes. It is important to highlight several objectives in this context.

The role of data analytics in manufacturing marketing processes is even more unclear. Fortunately, new research is helping researchers better understand the benefits of using big data in manufacturing marketing.

What Are the Benefits of Using Data Analytics for Marketing in the Manufacturing Sector?

Some important benefits of using a manufacturing marketing agency that understands the benefits of data analytics are mentioned below.

●       Target Audience

The primary customers of a manufacturing marketing agency are wholesalers, retailers, supply chain manufacturers, and other business-end owners. Data analytics technology helps manufacturers thoroughly research their customers and find the best audience to target.

●       Customer requirements

Potential clients look for a win-win deal in which they can easily supply their customers and create a hefty profit simultaneously. Data analytics helps manufacturers evaluate customer reviews online and perform reputation management practices to better understand their customers.

●       Professions involved

You will be working with purchasing agents, managers, accounting and finance teams, and other field specialists. Artificial intelligence is also a big challenge to compete with.

●       Priorities

Every customer in the market looks for a marketing agency that has the ideal price, credit, how much help they will provide, and reputation. Data analytics helps manufacturers identify correlations between various factors and their performance goals, so they can see where their resources should be allocated.

All of the points as mentioned earlier must be prioritized by a manufacturing marketing agency.

Possible Challenges of a Manufacturing Marketing Agency that Data Analytics Can Address

A manufacturing marketing agency can face some trivial issues and problems, which can often be difficult but not unsolvable. Data analytics can solve many of their most pressing problems, such as:

Specific requirements

Depending on the niche, marketing agencies often need more traffic.

Long term sales

In comparison to a B2C marketing agency, a manufacturing marketing agency or a B2B marketing agency has a longer sale cycle in which benefits emerge gradually. This can cause trust issues between a company and a B2B marketing agency.

Marketing difficult Products

Taking on a company or business which has pricey objects can cause issues in the marketing department. Such high-priced products are harder to market and, as a result, sell, causing distrust and problems between a marketing agency and its client.

Setting up a Marketing Agency

Some essential things everyone must consider while creating their own manufacturing marketing agency are:

Getting experienced staff and gaining proper knowledge beforehand

Serve your clients with dedication and commitment.

Be good at the thing you offer expertise in and show it in some way or form.

Be distinguishable from other companies, as there are hundreds of marketing agencies.

Best ways to integrate data analytics into a manufacturing marketing strategy

Setting up a manufacturing marketing agency can be difficult; therefore, you must look at possible strategies that can help it grow rapidly, such as leveraging data analytics strategically. You can use the following strategies to integrate data analytics technology into your business model.

1.      Publish content frequently

Content is the main power engine of a manufacturing marketing agency. The more content is published on your website, the more it will attract people, so it is necessary that the content on your site is engaging and well-written. It is recommended to have different topics posted on your website so that online traffic can be diverted toward your website.

2.      Email Marketing

Manufacturing marketing is always going to be beneficial when used in the long run, so email marketing can be the right strategy to get the word out.

3.      Google ads

Even after hiring an SEO expert, your agency’s success is not guaranteed. Google is the most commonly used search engine, so properly and intelligently investing in Google ads can be profitable.

4.      Optimize your website

Making a colorful, engaging, and user-friendly website is important to attract and hook customers. This is especially important for emerging marketing agencies as they must go all in to get traffic and potential customers.

5.      Integration of social media

Social media marketing can be the best way to promote products, as popular sites such as Facebook, TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube has millions of active users. Proper utilization of social media can be the key to success.

Data Analytics Technology is Vital for Marketing in the Manufacturing Sector

Agencies take some time to establish so it is pertinent to remain patient and loyal to your goal during the phase of setting up your own marketing agency. Data analytics technology can help manufacturers reach these goals, but they need the right agency to support them.

Benefits of starting a marketing agency that uses data analytics

Anyone specializing in marketing must join or start a marketing agency to fully utilize their skills, as there is more freedom and opportunity while working for a dedicated marketing firm rather than joining a marketing team of some other company. According to a report, the digital marketing and advertising industry is worth 332.5 billion and is expected to grow rapidly. Data analytics will make it easier for manufacturers to market strategically.

If you are thinking of starting your marketing agency, you may face some difficulties or have queries on how to operate and initiate it properly.

The post Data Analytics Solves Manufacturing Marketing Agency Challenges appeared first on SmartData Collective.

Source : SmartData Collective Read More

AI Can Help Restaurants Survive Challenges with Inflation and the Coming Recession

AI Can Help Restaurants Survive Challenges with Inflation and the Coming Recession

Inflation and an impending recession are two huge challenges facing the restaurant industry today. But could artificial intelligence be the solution to both of these problems? Let’s take a look at how AI could help restaurants survive and even thrive in spite of these challenges.

Many factors are contributing to inflation, including the rising cost of labor and the cost of food. This combination is putting pressure on restaurants’ bottom lines, as they have to either raise prices or absorb the costs themselves. 

In either case, it’s going to be difficult for restaurants to maintain their profit margins. But AI can help.

Before diving into how AI can play a part in the restaurant industry, let’s first discuss the problems faced by the restaurant industry:

Problems faced by restaurant

Rising gas prices

The cost of running a restaurant is going up due to the rising price of gas. In fact, the price of gas has risen by almost 50% over the last year. As gas prices go up, so do the prices of food and other supplies that restaurants need to purchase. 

The cost of food

Food prices are also on the rise, due to inflationary pressures. Droughts and floods are increasing with the effects of climate change becoming more prominent than ever. 

High prices are hitting restaurants hard, as they have to either pass on the costs to customers or absorb them themselves – putting pressure on restaurants’ bottom lines. 

The cost of labor

Restaurants are also feeling the pinch when it comes to the cost of labor. With the minimum wage increasing in many states, restaurants have to either raise prices or find ways to cut costs. But raising prices is not always an option, as it can drive customers away. 

Supply chain disruptions

Supply chain disruptions and the rising cost of inputs are making it difficult for restaurants to maintain their profit margins. Border controls and custom wait times have increased as a result of the pandemic. Around 75% of companies have been impacted negatively as a result of the supply chain disruptions. The food industry in particular has to go through a lot of intermediaries to source their ingredients, and the pandemic has made it difficult to get supplies from overseas.

Restaurants are struggling to keep up with these changes and are having to find ways to cut costs. For example, some restaurants are switching to cheaper ingredients, while others are reducing their portion sizes.

With a recession on the horizon and rising food prices, these challenges are only going to get worse, so let’s discuss the solutions. 

How can a scheduling software help?

As labor costs are rising, it has become a challenge for restaurants to keep their employees happy. This is where a restaurant scheduling software is required – to create schedules that are fair for all employees.

The software takes into account the preferences of each employee and creates a schedule that is optimized for both the business and the employees. This helps to reduce labor costs while also ensuring that employees are happy with their schedules.

The scheduling software can also be used to track time off, shift swaps, and team communication. This data improves the efficiency of the business and makes sure that employees are filling up shifts whenever required.

With scheduling software, employees have the liberty to choose their own shifts and have their own preference of work timings – improve management of workers and also increase employee’s retention. 

How can AI help in overcoming the challenges

AI robots

Provided the restaurant has sufficient finances to afford the initial investment, an AI robot can help automate monotonous tasks in the long-run. The image below shows AI robots serving the food at tables instead of waiters.  

Artificially intelligent robots can be used to carry equipment, crockery and food. The robot uses an obstacle avoidance algorithm to avoid crashing into objects or other humans along the way. The robot can be trained to follow a set path on the restaurant floor. The floor either has QR codes or some marking that can be followed. 

Application to reduce food wastage

Professional kitchens waste a lot of food that costs restaurants a significant amount. Through Orbisk, gauge what kind of food is thrown away and in how much quantity. With the rising environmental concerns and food shortages in different parts of the world, the importance of preventing wastage of food is paramount.

Fight climate change by preventing food wastage – something that can very easily be controlled by caterers, restaurants and other stakeholders – in the food industry.

When you avoid wasting food, not only do your costs decrease, but you save the world’s finite resources as well. 

Predictive algorithms helps in increasing sustainability

The aim is to make kitchens more sustainable. Sustainability entails making the most efficient use of resources. For instance:

Use data to analyze which days are the busiest for your restaurant. 

After that, see which hours are the busiest. 

Understand which menu items are the most popular. 

Doing this will help you make better use of your resources. The aim is to prevent over ordering of ingredients and preparing more food than the number of orders. With an AI predictive engine, get to know the expected number of orders for each menu item. This data can be used to help determine the amount of food that needs to be prepared in advance.

Predictive algorithms analyze customer behavior and demand, making you better prepared for busy days.

For example, some restaurants are using AI-powered chatbots to take orders and provide customer service. This frees up staff to focus on other tasks, which can help improve efficiency and lower labor costs.

Additionally, the algorithms monitor food costs and make suggestions for menu items that are both profitable and popular with customers. By using AI to streamline operations and keep a close eye on food costs, restaurants can help offset some of the effects of inflation.

Improved marketing through AI

Use AI to create a marketing campaign that is tailored to your target audience. This can be done by using data from your customer database. AI uses data to understand the needs and wants of your target audience to create a marketing campaign that is more likely to convert customers into paying customers.

Read more on how AI is transforming mobile message marketing. Understanding how receptive users are to your messages, tracking online reviews and customer feedback and identifying potential problem areas, newer customers can be reached.

By utilizing data analytics, AI can help restaurants identify customer spending patterns and predict when a slowdown is coming. This allows them to adjust their marketing and promotional strategies accordingly.

A recession is often characterized by decreased consumer spending. As people tighten their belts, they’re less likely to go out to eat as often as they did before. This can have a major impact on restaurants’ sales and profits. As a result, sending out smarter messages will help gain traction in newer markets.

Can AI curb the effects of the coming recession?

AI is already having a major impact on the restaurant industry — and it’s only going to become more important in the years ahead. As inflation and the possibility of a recession loom large, restaurants will need all the help they can get in order to survive.

As discussed in the article, AI can help restaurants in a variety of ways. From reducing food wastage to automating monotonous tasks, AI has the potential to help restaurants survive and even thrive in spite of these challenges.

The food industry is one which will always have customers. It’s just a matter of being able to adapt to technology to keep the revenue stream flowing in.

However, the food industry is also the one that has faced the most number of challekarnges. At first, the restaurant industry was affected by the pandemic. Now, the threat of a recession is becoming more real for the industry. Only the restaurants that are prepared for the challenge – such as the ones that embrace AI – will be the ones that weather the storm most effectively.

The post AI Can Help Restaurants Survive Challenges with Inflation and the Coming Recession appeared first on SmartData Collective.

Source : SmartData Collective Read More

Cloud Technology Can Reduce Employee Turnover by Improving Communication

Cloud Technology Can Reduce Employee Turnover by Improving Communication

All employees suffer when the tech and their teams aren’t working at their best capacity. The entire office suffers even more when skilled people leave the company. The lack of the right resources, technology, and, most importantly, communication channels could bring unwarranted stress to the organization. The biggest challenge of today is retaining employees.

More than a decade ago, economies were hit by the Great Recession. Today, organizations face the Great Resignation, which has kept human resource leaders at the edge of their seats. Statistics reveal that hiring a new employee costs half or two times the employee’s salary. The good news is that cloud technology can improve communication and reduce employee turnover. 

5 communication strategies for the workplace

A communication strategy is the communication plans and methods a company applies at all stages. From planning a proposal to providing feedback for the same, communication is crucial for all company members. It builds trust, reduces employee turnover, and improves productivity. 

A few examples of communication strategies you can apply in your organization are:

1.      Use good communication tools

Set up a communication infrastructure in your company that is easy to use and highly collaborative. You need to involve and update everyone about what is happening within the company. Your employees need the assurance that they are heard and cared for, which will make them stay longer. In addition, platforms like Perkbox enhance productivity amongst a dispersed workforce.

2.      Schedule 1-on-1 meetings

Go the extra mile and get in touch with your team members personally. One can only get a limited understanding of what is happening in their life in group meetings. Some scenarios are best discussed privately. Whether it is a performance or a personal concern, address them 1-on-1. Your employees will appreciate this gesture.

3.      Create an amicable atmosphere

Many employees brush their suggestions under the carpet during meetings as they feel underconfident or unwelcome. It is your job to create a light atmosphere within the workplace where they feel welcome to share ideas and feedback of both professional and personal kind. A rushed or fast atmosphere at work adds stress and hampers business performance, which could lead to a talented individual quitting the job.

4.      Conduct training and activities across departments

The symbiosis between departments must be good for the communication strategy to be successful. Therefore, conduct activities where people from different departments can meet and collaborate. Conduct training sessions where new employees are made aware of how the company works and older employees are motivated to learn skills and perform better.

5.      Celebrate the big and the small achievements

Your company is what it is because of the people working under it. Therefore, you must celebrate their hard work and achievements and applaud their performance every once in a while. There are specific tools that can help you stay updated on your employees’ accomplishments. Simple and everyday gestures like “good morning” or “thank you” can boost the morale of your employees. 

5 ways cloud technology can improve business communication

Employee turnover refers to the number of employees who have quit the company over a certain period. These figures include the ones who have left voluntarily and those who have been fired. Many companies have discovered that cloud technology can help retain employees and increase productivity. From streamlining communications to improving productivity, a proper cloud architecture caters to the best interests of your company.

1.      Facilitates communication between employees

The unavailability of communication channels made it difficult for employees to share and brainstorm. Thanks to cloud technology, multiple platforms, like Slack or Microsoft Teams, are now available through which people can collaborate in real time. In workplaces where communication is to-the-point, more employees are bound to feel satisfied.

As more platforms pop up, the existing ones have built themselves into an all-in-one platform. Apart from interaction, one can store data, share documents, schedule voice and video calls, and do much more. When all teams work together and achieve goals, more people will feel that their time and efforts are worthwhile in the organization.

2.      Improves data management and productivity

Cloud technology can store copious amounts of structured or unstructured data and has no limit. With video calling and voice calling facilities, teams can work together to sort the data. As a result, problems will be quickly resolved, and decisions will be made quicker with everyone on the same page.

Another benefit is that this management style reduces errors and avoids duplication of work. Employees don’t desire to do the same work repeatedly, so with this tech, one can swiftly move on to other projects. When work is recognized, and more opportunities are provided, your employees will enjoy working with you for the long term.

3.      Improves onboarding process 

Cloud technology allows employees to work from around the globe. For employers, it gives more scope to hire talent from all over the world. Since devices and locations are secondary concerns here, they can focus on looking for the best-suited people for the job and boosting productivity in the workplace.

Today, more people want the freedom of working from the comforts of their homes or a beach miles away from their physical office. Cloud tech doesn’t require a tangible infrastructure at one specific place but only an optimized device and a reliable internet connection. Employers can also take this opportunity to get people on board from lower-wage regions and increase the company’s overall profitability.

4.      Secures personal and professional data

Before cloud technology, protecting the company’s hardware and software was crucial. Cloud technology has a dedicated team of professionals who work 24*7 to ensure all services and operations are running smoothly. This takes off the stress of safeguarding information and resolving issues immediately.

Data breaches are so common these days that companies often face downtime in their operations. However, with cloud tech bouncing back quickly, the downtime is reduced, and employees are keener on getting work done. At the same time, organizations must educate their employees on data security methods like multi-factor authentication and encrypted data.

5.      Adapts to conditions

Cloud computing technology is highly flexible; it can cater to businesses of all sizes. Companies can also use more tools or scale down as and when needed. Market conditions are unpredictable, but cloud tech forecasts and acts as a safety net for the company. Here, employees are empowered to work even in worse scenarios, knowing they have access to the best services that get work done.

Cloud tech can also adapt itself to the existing mechanisms in a company. It can be integrated smoothly with various software applications. Employees need not worry about learning newer working methods as they can be time-consuming.

Use cloud technology to stop the mass exodus of employees

Developing a communication strategy that is both advanced and liked by your employees can take time. It is better to invest time in setting up a solid foundation for communication as it has the most impact on your company’s success. As you take steps to get familiar with cloud technology, you are reducing employee turnover and securing your workplace.

The post Cloud Technology Can Reduce Employee Turnover by Improving Communication appeared first on SmartData Collective.

Source : SmartData Collective Read More