What is Cloud Computing? – Facts Every Small Sized Business Should Know

It takes great flexibility in order to run and sustain a growing business. Thanks to new developments in technology, e-commerce solutions, and more advanced software options, business owners have a way to control all aspects of their organization and operations. Just the same, vigilance must be practiced as the needs of the market change and as more challenges arise in running the business.

Greater growth often entails greater operational demands for a business. This is why it is important to invest in technologies that can help you organize and manage each aspect of the business efficiently. Cloud-based technology is the way of the future as cloud computing platforms provide business owners and managers unparalleled control over different aspects and components of business, enabling different business functions to intermingle with each other in one cohesive system and interface that allows access anytime and from anywhere. Here are the key facts that business owners should know about cloud computing and cloud adoption:

1. Cloud software systems are easier to set-up and install (as well as deploy) than many on-premise alternatives.
2. At least three quarters of cloud services are enterprise-based or are built for enterprise.
3. Cloud adoption has steadily been increasing since 2015, and a mass transition can be expected in the years to come.
4. One of the key motivators for cloud adoption is cost reduction.
5. Innovation is another key factor for businesses that decide to switch to cloud systems.
6. More and more small businesses now turn to cloud computing for file back-up, risk reduction, and disaster recovery.
7. More end users approve of cloud computing and are getting more accustomed to cloud services.
8. Cloud computing facilitates efficient and reliable real-time collaboration.
9. Software updates that improve functionality and security are possible with minimal cost through cloud computing.
10. Cloud computing helps simplify ERP and CRM customization.

Making yourself aware of these facts and benefits will help you better understand why cloud computing is a worthwhile investment for your business and why cloud adoption could very well be the best decision you will make for your own company.

What to Expect from Microsoft Dynamics 365

Microsoft Dynamics 365 is a family of business applications designed to help businesses turn their operational processes into the very business edge that they need to stay ahead of their rivals. It includes over a dozen applications and add-ons that address ERP or enterprise resource planning, CRM or customer relationship management needs among many other business process requirements that many companies face.

Dynamics 365 include licensed apps that work together to provide businesses the flexibility, stability, and extensibility that they need to sustain business growth. The same flexibility combined with rapid development and innovation makes it possible for Microsoft Dynamics 365 to adapt and fit the needs of most any business.

The best way to understand Dynamics 365 is to separate its ERP components with its CRM solutions. Dynamics 365 ERP focuses on the core accounting, distribution, and manufacturing needs of a business, while providing even more extensive functionalities to help manage other business-critical processes. All in all, the value of these apps can be measured in the way that they help increase business efficiency, automation, control, and scalability.  The Dynamics 365 ERP solution can be subdivided into 2 main categories—Business Central and Finance & Operations, the first of which is ideal for small to medium sized businesses, while the latter is designed to meet the needs of much larger operations.

Dynamics 365 CRM on the other hand, consist of 5 different apps that are designed to fulfill an organization’s customer relationship management needs. These are apps that work to help business teams make a sale, dispatch support, ensure customer retention, and keep track of all these processes. The five Dynamics 365 CRM apps include D365 Sales, D365 Marketing, D365 Customer Service, D365 Project Service Automation, and D365 Field Service. Leveraging any combination of these systems and integrating them with Dynamics 365 ERP and furthermore with Office 365 can help ensure a robust business strategy for your most critical business processes.

Points to Consider Before Buying an ERP Software

Enterprise resource planning (ERP) can improve the way your organization works and fulfill its most critical tasks. The set of software applications will empower your business to connect and manage information from every corner of the organization to enhance decision-making processes. Some of the most critical features of an ERP software are its ability to integrate financials and customer order fulfillment with other relevant functions, speed up and standardize core processes, and minimize inventory. However, not every ERP solution is the same, so you should consider the following points before investing in one:

·         Your needs – Determining the right ERP software starts with your organization’s unique needs. Figure out what you want it to do and make sure it is suitable for your industry and your kind of business. Moreover, make sure it is always up-to-date and easy to upgrade or scale to your needs, and that it can easily be integrated with your existing technologies.

·         Data quality – Organizations would typically have to consider consolidating different solutions and replacing their legacy data as they implement a new ERP software. You need to determine the type of data to be collected for business and operational processes, and eliminate any duplicate or inaccurate data from your old system. A digital transformation expert should help you through that process and ensure that your data is balanced with your new ERP system.

·         Technical issues – Look for an ERP software that suits all your technical requirements and pick an appropriate delivery model that can make them work together. This means deciding whether it should be implemented in the cloud or on-premise, or both (hybrid). That said, you may need to create a project plan to cover every stage of implementation where there should be a timeline for all factors, such as resource controls, hardware requirements, data entry, and data conversions. This way, you have an effective roadmap to cover the process of designing a unique ERP system that suits your organization.

Boost Your Business Activity with Push Notifications

The challenge for every business is to communicate a message clearly with potential and current customers. Push notifications can help with that by sending segmented and personalized real-time notifications to your web and mobile applications. This way, they empower you to manage and send informative web and mobile messages from an intuitive platform. Anyone who has access to these notifications will easily receive and see your business communications from your app.

Push notifications are like the alerts you get on your browser or smartphone when you get a new email. However, they represent a brief message or an alert sent through your app on your customer’s phone. As long as they are enabled, your customer should be able to receive those short and informative messages, no matter what brand or operating system of smartphone they are using.

The use of push notifications can vary mostly on your type of business. Automated bank alerts, gaming updates, event reminders, weather alerts, breaking news, marketing offers, order updates, travel plan updates, and location-based messages are just some examples. The notifications can be tailored to suit the needs of your company, too.

What makes them relevant?

Before push notifications, businesses would send promotional and marketing messages or alerts to customers via email or text, which can feel intrusive especially if there are too many. A lot of customers do not want any business to directly contact them because it feels like an invasion of their privacy. Moreover, there is a chance that the message can be marked as spam and never be read at all. Receiving a push notification can feel different, making it more useful in delivering crucial information using a format that is easier to read. Customers will have to tap or click on it if they want to learn more.

Do mobile marketing right

More people have smartphones, which they carry everywhere they go. As long as those are connected to the internet, their phones can receive your push notifications. Customers who have your app are likely to support your brand and enjoy your business offerings, so they are more likely to appreciate receiving those notifications.

Everything You Should Know About Mobile Wallet App Before Using It

Safety and security are among the top concerns when it comes to using a mobile wallet app. Despite the convenience it may offer, if the app is not secure and can easily compromise your information, you might as well give up your password and account names freely. That’s why you should get to know about the app before you use it. Here’s what you should know to determine if a mobile wallet is safe and secure:

• Verified – Make sure that the mobile wallet app is verified by the app store, and avoid downloading from suspicious third-party websites. Consider an app that takes the time to verify your identity too.

• Reviews – When in doubt, read the feedback from other users. They could reveal certain bugs and their experience with using the app. Just remember to take their opinions with a grain of salt.
  
  
• Check if it can be linked to your other accounts – A closed mobile wallet app is not linked to any bank account or credit and debit cards. Open ones can be linked to banks and offer a cash-out facility.
  
  
• Get to know affiliations – Is the mobile wallet tied up with any financial services provider, like banks and lending institutions? Make sure that they are reputable and trustworthy.
  
  
• Security of the login process – A good mobile wallet app may come with a one-time password (OTP) feature, which will send a unique password as a text message so you can input that instead. It changes every time you log in to avoid unauthorized usage of your account.
  
  
• Transaction limit – Are there restrictions to the number of transactions you can perform in a few hours or for the whole day? If there are, make sure they will not get in the way of reliability, especially if you will need the mobile wallet app for many transactions.
  
  
• Can my phone run it? - Make sure that the app is compatible with the current operating system version of your smart device.

Implementing Fleet Management Software for a Better Managed Cargo Transmission

How well do you take care of your fleet? If you are having difficulty in keeping track of your drivers, trucks, and the cargo you are responsible for, you could risk losing business and develop a poor reputation in your industry. You can resolve those challenges with a good fleet management software that can simplify the most critical tasks. It will deliver detailed tracking information to you no matter where you are, regardless of the time, whether on desktop or a mobile device. This way, it is easier to gain visibility into your entire fleet data with detailed, organized reporting tools, which you can access whenever and wherever.

The fleet management software lets you create dashboards and reports according to your particular preference, so you can find and view critical information immediately. As the software can be customized to suit the way you work, it offers a better way for you and your managers to oversee fleets of trucks and their respective drivers for seamless cargo transmission. It lets you monitor the movements and location of your vehicle with a GSM and GPS-based fleet monitoring and vehicle tracking system installed into every truck. It should communicate with the web-based software and your managers.

With the fleet management software, you can identify when a truck is stopped or started. It also lets you know of its speed, location, total hours spent driving each day, idling status, and how all these factors impact fuel consumption. This way, you and your fleet managers will only have to refer to a centralized dashboard to know the full actual status of the activities of each vehicle or driver. When you have that information, you could make informed decisions when implementing ways to make your fleet more efficient, while lowering operating costs.

The fleet management software can provide the key metrics about your fleet at a glance, so you can easily analyze productivity, performance, and compliance. Custom reports can also be created in case you need to manage other important trends pertaining to your fleet.

Advantages of Implementing an Omnichannel Banking Software for Happier Customers

Mobile banking used to be optional, but as smartphones continue to be prevalent, it easily became a must, especially for people who are constantly on-the-go. It allows anyone to access their bank account and perform an array of banking transactions anytime, anywhere. At the same time, your bank or financial institution could use it let customers know of special or time-limited offers. However, it is not enough that you have a mobile app that is isolated from your other channels. That said, look into an omnichannel banking software, which will help you save a lot of time and minimize any hassles on your customers’ end.

Disruptions to your banking services could cost you a lot. Frustrated customers could even leave and do their banking with your competitor. An out-of-box omnichannel banking software can help prevent that, as it immediately rolls out all critical mobile banking capabilities without any delays or disrupting your business. Cloud-based deployments, wearables banking, location-based services, distributed ledgers, and others are considered customer-centric instead of product-centric when it comes to banking. By implementing a multi-channel banking software, you could shift the focus from transactions to customers.

A high-quality omnichannel banking software will easily improve the way your customers can do business with you. When you make your service more convenient to them, the more they are likely to be happy and loyal customers. Consider a mobile banking solution that is used by many well-known banks in the world, and make sure it can easily be integrated seamlessly with your legacy core systems. Through seamless integration over multiple touchpoints using a dependable mobile banking middleware, the software supports deployment on the cloud and on-premise.

The omnichannel banking software will let your bank serve its customers more efficiently through their choice of channel throughout their banking life cycle, while minimizing your operating costs and boosting customer satisfaction. If you are not sure how it will work for you, get in touch with a seasoned developer for a demo.