Category: Development

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5 Models to Monetize Your OTT App

Back in the days when traditional or cable TV was king, advertising models were simple. You simply told your advertisers how many viewers your channel had and what their demographic information was then set rates accordingly. 

Today, with the popularity and shift to online (streaming and OTT) watching, content service providers have had to shift into one or more of the major monetization models. So if you are thinking about creating your own Roku channel or getting a channel on Amazon’s Fire TV, you’ll want to explore these options.

Check out these 5 OTT monetization models to utilize to generate a profit on your app.

1. Subscription

Apps on tablet with many icons

Subscription-based revenue models tend to be the most lucrative model for content providers. This model has the added benefit of sitting most favorably with consumers. By providing unlimited access to content, users are enticed to view their favorite content whenever they want.

The challenges of this OTT monetization model, however, are that brands typically need a lot of upfront investment in content to appeal to viewers who are willing to pay for it. If the library of content is not there, the demand by consumers may result in the fizzling out of the brand before it is able to generate a large subscriber base.

2. Rental

The rental monetization strategy is based on providing consumers incremental access to content that tends to be new in nature. This type of model is used frequently by cable companies who offer video on demand but was also made popular by iTunes.

Unlike the subscription model, the rental model tends to make advertising revenues less predictable. Customer demand for new content ebbs and flows and this may also result in fluctuating revenues month-to-month.

3. Purchase

Not unlike the rental model that attracts consumers who like the latest shows and movies, the purchase model works when demand is high. Users get lifetime access to content in cloud libraries and pay a premium for access at any time. The purchase model shares similar predictability models as the rental model.

4. Freemium-to-Premium

Freemium-to-premium revenue models are based on providing viewers access to content — perhaps the first episode of a popular show — then getting them hooked on the content so they are inclined to purchase a membership.

Content publishers should have shows that lend to this type of engagement (i.e. access to pilot episodes) so they can entice viewers in and work on converting them to the subscription model.

5. Advertising

Similar to the traditional TV advertising model, in-app advertising on streaming apps have been modernized with more relevant ads than what cable can bring. For example, the introduction of Dynamic Ad Insertion, or DAI technology, means that ads can now take into account the viewer watching the stream. This means two viewers watching the same stream can see two different ads.

In-app advertising does require more sophisticated analytics, so brands who invest in this arena will need to partner with existing advertising brands or have some inherent data structure built in.

Regardless of the monetization model, or models, you choose (hybrid approaches can also be considered), you’ll want to leverage the power of data to provide the most appetizing access to niche demographics. Decide what is best for your business model and tap into this exciting world of advertising.

DevelopmentInsightsMartechSaaS

Why Do You Need To Get Lead Management Software?

When you just make marketing efforts in order to produce a lead then you need to know what happens next. If we see the latest reports, then we get to know that there are various leads of marketing that are never followed and even it is also assessed that 80 percent of the leads produced through the marketing which gets lost, rejected and disregarded. You would also see that much of the income and this is the most efficient way to stop the leads from vanishing and is to use the management system of lead. You also need to know that why do you need to get the management. There are some answers that you must know such as you spent cash and capital on marketing activities in order to capture a lead, and there are also many leads who do not just transfer that means that they aspire to be cultivated over time. There are also various organizations that could take advantage of applying a lead system of management and there are also some essential merits that involve.

Know About Lead Organization

If we see the Lead Management CRM system gives an arranged method of categorizing and recording leads since they are apprehended. They could also be planned in various ways, by media channel, traits of behavioral, topography, and appointment period and more. If you just do not get a management lead system, then this could be so much challenging for you systematize distribution or enhance a suitable acquaintance schedule. 

See The Response Time

These days customers always demand instant response to an investigation. If you just do not get the system of management then this way many purchasers may be overdue. In case, if some leads just do not get a response in a day or in one hour then this way they would need to move on to the other options. The management of lead would permit a company to plan automated responses involving requests that are made during the peak hours and in off hours as well that permit company in order to enhance contact with the leads during the requests which are dispersed to the suitable departments. 

Distribution of Lead

There are many companies with the maximum sales lands, and a Membership Management Software gives an arranged flow of leads to the force of sales, both geographically or chronologically and by the product line. This would also enhance the staff of sales by allocating the leads to suitable salesperson in an opportune fashion. The procedure of the distribution also helps to enhance the sales team’s effectiveness and minimizes the risk of calling on dead ends. 

Know About Tracking

When you get the management system of lead then this way the company would be able to see a position of the lead’s in the sales cylinder in simultaneous. When the leads become much more affianced then this way, they could also be arranged to get more powerful exposures like webinar invitations or free white papers, etc. For more details, you could also have a look at Fitness Wellyx as this would be helping you in knowing everything well. 

DevelopmentInsightsProducts

Cloud Kitchens – Everything You Need to Know

In a world where real estate prices are sky-high, a lot of restaurants are looking for ways they can avoid these exorbitantly high rental costs. Today, there’s a new business model that has been doing the rounds – the cloud kitchen business model.

A Cloud Kitchen, also known as a Virtual Kitchen, is essentially just a kitchen for a restaurant. It doesn’t offer any dine-in or seating areas to its customers. It is the central place for the preparation of food and beverages, which are delivered to a customer’s doorstep by designated delivery personnel. Customers can order food either using third-party apps such as Swiggy and Zomato or through the restaurant’s own food delivery app and website too. Sometimes, there might be a take-away option as well. So, customers have the choice of coming in and picking up an order.

With the rapid growth the food delivery market has witnessed in the last decade or so, Cloud Kitchens have become more and more popular. Saving a ton of money that would otherwise have gone on rent or maintenance charges as well as having easy operations, lesser workload…the perks are quite appealing. 

Today, it is not only new restaurants entering the food industry who opt for this business model. A lot of restaurants who have a loyal customer base and a sound reputation have been interested to give this a shot too. The popularity of this fresh concept goes hand in hand with the growth of food delivery platforms as well as the increasing customer preference of ordering food instead of dining out. However, restaurants do end up paying a large amount of commission to these third-party apps. 

In this article, we’re going to cover the following:

  • How to open up a Cloud Kitchen
  • Costs involved in opening up a Cloud Kitchen
  • How you can profit from opening up a Cloud Kitchen
  • Cloud Kitchens in the News

How to Open up a Cloud Kitchen

To get started with a Cloud Kitchen, you have to first pick a location. This doesn’t matter as much as it would for a conventional restaurant. You don’t have to worry too much about the kind of locality you are in. What you do need to make sure of is that you’re based at a distance of about 5-6 km from your target audience. This could be a student dominated area or maybe even one where there are several offices.

Next, get started on acquiring the kitchen equipment you will need. Woks, ovens, pans, ladles…you name it. All your utensils, electrical appliances, gas cylinders are included in your kitchen equipment. On the basis of the cuisine that you want to offer, start searching for qualified staff who have relevant experience. Explain to them what exactly you have in mind for your restaurant and what expectations you hold from your employees. Train them to be able to use the POS System at hand properly and manage all orders.

Depending on which state and country you are carrying out operations in, it is necessary to run your business in accordance with the law of the land. Apply for every license and permit you will need for your Cloud Kitchen. Make sure that you have acquired all these licenses before you start operations on a daily basis. After this, you have to keep in mind to renew licenses annually as well.

Decide how you want to reach your customers. Do you want to opt for food delivery platforms like Swiggy and Zomato? Do you want to launch your own website and application? If it is the former, you will have to get in touch with the apps to partner with them and show legal verifications as well. If you want to create your own website and app, get in touch with professionals who can help you with this task.

Build a sound marketing strategy. Check out your competition. If you want to market exclusively to youngsters out there, get started on actively promoting your business on social media platforms. Try to build a solid image for your brand and connect with your customers through every platform possible- email, SMS, Instagram, Facebook and so on.

If you are carrying out operations through your own app and website, you need to set up a customer service department that responds quickly to customers. Hire people for this job and have them keep tabs on the whereabouts of every single order that you receive. 

Costs Involved in Opening up a Cloud Kitchen

The costs that you have to account for while running a Cloud kitchen are a little different from the costs that come with running a traditional restaurant. To begin with, your rental costs will be significantly lower. You don’t have to go out of your way to get your hands on a location in a very classy neighborhood. Given that you only have a kitchen to run, your rent should come to about Rs. 25,000 to Rs. 40,000 every month.

You also need to account for the staff. This includes all the personnel in the kitchen- a head chef, a sous chef, commies…all in all, their salaries should range between Rs. 40,000 to Rs. 70,000.

Depending on the type of cuisine you’re offering to customers, you need to have all the necessary equipment. This includes everything that you might need for operations every single day- an oven, a microwave, stovetops, refrigerators, utensils and so on. The kitchen equipment will cost you about Rs. 5 Lakhs. This might even go up to Rs. 10 Lakhs, depending on the scale of operations.

A Cloud Kitchen isn’t like a conventional restaurant. However, you still need to acquire several licenses before you get started with your business. You will have to look into getting an FSSAI License, a Tax Registration License, and a Shop and Establishment License. Applying for these licenses should cost you somewhere around Rs. 15,000 to Rs. 18,000. As a restaurant, your business is bound by the law to ensure that its daily operations do not cause any major harm to the environment. Hence, you will have to acquire a Certificate of Environmental Clearance.

To ensure that operations take place seamlessly and there are no errors, you have to invest in a good POS system. This could help you manage your workload efficiently. It could also be of use if you want to evaluate your business from time to time through detailed reports. For this, you need to pay about Rs. 4000 to Rs. 5000 every month.

You also need to work actively in creating a solid online presence for your brand. This includes everything from sponsored advertisements on social media platforms to partnering with popular influencers and food bloggers. This can range from Rs. 20,000 to Rs. 40,000 every month, depending on how frequently you choose to partner with other people in the food business.

Summing Up

We hope this helped give you a fair idea of how to go about setting up your cloud kitchen. Do let us know your thoughts in the comments section below. More power to you!

DevelopmentInsightsMartechSaaS

3 Awesome WordPress Instagram Plugins

Creating brand awareness is one of the biggest challenges a business owner will face. Utilizing the power of technology is essential for any modern business trying to edge out the competition. Having a website and a social media presence is vital.

While most business owners use Facebook and LinkedIn, many fail to realize the untapped potential of Instagram. On average, Instagram has around 1 billion monthly users. Finding a way to tap into a fraction of this audience can help your business grow leaps and bounds. Part of any great SEO strategy is using social media to attract consumers from all walks of life.

Most companies use WordPress for their website. Some of the best web designs for your project can be found on the market, but more and more people ought to be authentic. Creative solutions should be consulted with relevant WordPress designer. Companies like UPQODE can be a great place to look for imaginative custom web presentations.

Once you have a site – you want to provide consumers with more information about your Instagram account, using plugins for your WordPress website is a good idea. These plugins allow you to optimize the content on your website and make it more engaging with the help of Instagram.

Read below to find out more about the best 3 Instagram plugins on the market.

 

Make Your Social Media Market Easier With the Feed Them Social Plugin

Are you looking for an all-in-one plugin to help you manage all of your accounts of major social media websites? If so, the Feed Them Social plugin is a great option. With a minimal amount of setup, you can instantly share your company’s Instagram feed with website visitors. You can also showcase the feeds of industry leaders, influencers and even celebrities if you want.

This plugin provides you with the ability to put these Instagram feeds in pages, posts and even sidebars. You can also change the color scheme used for these feeds. The Feed Me Social plugin provides you with the tools needed to put share and follow buttons on these feeds. Another great advantage of using this plugin is that it is responsive, which your mobile users will love.

Feed Me Social has over 80,000 active users. By all accounts and reviews online, this plugin works flawlessly and does not slow down the websites it is installed on. 

Increase Website Appeal With the Instagram Feed Gallery Plugin

One of the biggest website deal breakers for most consumers is pages of nothing but content. People want to entertain and captivated by the images on your website. If you want to offer an ever changing array of images and content, then you can’t pass up the chance to use the Instagram Feed Gallery plugin.

Showing visitors to your website the various images on your Instagram feed can also provide them with more insight into what you do. Luckily, this plugin allows you to display these images in a carousel or gallery. If you want to create a gallery of images based on a particular subject, this plugin allows you to do so by searching for a hashtag.

The Instagram Feed Gallery Plugin boasts over 50,000+ installations. With this plugin, you can take advantage of a simple and comprehensive one-click setup. The various reviews for this plugin are positive with most users noting that the plugin does exactly what it promises. No problems with website speed issues have been reported by former and current users of this plugin.

Create a Unique Look With the AccessPress Instagram Feed Plugin

For most business owners, creating a unique website is a must. The last thing you want is for your website and the content on it to look like a competitor’s. This is why you need to devote some time to figuring out how to achieve the unique look you are after.

The AccessPress Instagram Feed plugin provides three distinct layouts for your Instagram feed. Whether you want to display your feed in a mosaic style or in slider-form, this website can provide you with the tools needed to get it done. There are a number of features in the premium version of this website that may be helpful. The premium plugin offers more templates, various lightboxes, and even new hover animations to make your Instagram feed display more appealing. The money invested in this premium plugin upgrade will be worth it considering how unique it can make this part of your website look.

This plugin only has around 10,000 users. One of the biggest complaints about this plugin is that it does not work right out of the box. Extensive setup and optimization are required to get this program to function properly. 

Whichever plugin to choose, make sure you are aware of all the alternatives it provides. Also, the outcome received from a certain plugin should be useful for both – long-term and short-term strategy for your product or project.

DevelopmentInsightsMartechSaaSSEO

10 Ways E-commerce Sites Can Protect Their Shipments

You take pride in running your online store and look forward to finding new ways to make it more successful. Your hard work makes it easy for customers to navigate your website and place orders, but sometimes shipping can cause a few problems.

While you wear multiple hats to run your business, you’re not in charge of every step in the shipping process. It might make you feel powerless after your products have left your hands, but there are a few things you can try to prevent issues in the future.

Check out these 10 ways e-commerce sites can protect their shipments so every order arrives on time and in one piece.

1. Print Your Shipping Labels

It’s tempting to let your chosen shipping company print the labels for your orders, but it’s smarter to do it yourself. That way, you can double-check the information and ensure there are no mistakes.

2. Reuse Inventory Packaging

After you get new inventory supplies, save the packaging. You could use the boxes and padding to secure future orders without costing you an extra dime.

3. Pick Your Pallets

Pick the pallets for your international freight shipping to guarantee they won’t break like cheaper options. Some business owners hope companies protect their shipments for them, but sending them with chosen pallets protects your products and gives you peace of mind.

4. Recognize Fraud Transactions

Keep an eye on any transactions on your website. Extreme or repeat orders could signal fraud and create unnecessary risks. Never follow through with purchases that might be fraudulent.

5. Use a Shipping Platform

Shipping platforms streamline your orders and expenses, so look into popular software to find one that works for your business.

6. Insure International Shipments

It’s smart to get insurance to protect international orders and shipments in case they’re accidentally damaged or lost. 

7. Call the Shipping Company

If there are issues with an order, you can always call the shipping company to find out what happened and check on your shipments. It’s their responsibility to handle your items with care, but that doesn’t mean they’ll call you if problems arise.

8. Invest in Insurance

Protect your business when you invest in seller suspension insurance, which will keep your doors open if your customers are upset with shipping issues. This is especially important for companies that rely on mega brands, like Amazon, to be the middleman between you and your customers. 

9. Seal Shipments Yourself

Take matters into your own hands and seal shipments yourself. A little extra tape could be all you need to keep everything secure after you send off your orders.

10. Get Delivery Confirmation

Some customers may have issues getting things by their estimated delivery date. Get confirmation from your shipping suppliers so you can guarantee their order arrived on time. 

Go the Extra Mile

Any extra steps you can take to protect your shipments will help your business in the long run. Do everything in your power to make your products safer on their journey to your customers.

DevelopmentInsightsMartechSaaSSEO

Fastest Growing Industries for Entrepreneurs to Invest In

Entrepreneurs need to be actively searching for new opportunities. 

Once your startup has stabilized a bit and is starting to make a reasonable amount of revenue, it might be the time to start looking into other investment options.

By not placing all of your eggs in one basket, in this case, your startup, you’re putting a safety net for yourself and your loved ones if things take an unfavorable turn.

Here are the fastest-growing industries for entrepreneurs to invest in:

Artificial intelligence.

Artificial intelligence and machine learning are changing our world completely.

Almost every day, a new business has made a substantial profit thanks to artificial intelligence.

Artificial intelligence and machine learning have countless use cases. From recommendation engines to self-driving cars, intelligent drones to optimized route finders, the use cases seem to become one after another.

Having a technical background will almost certainly help you out if you’re thinking about investing in a company that primarily focuses on developing artificial intelligence solutions. But with a few online courses, you’ll be able to manage.

Plus, there are tons of resources online that you can take for free that will give you enough insights about artificial intelligence that you’ll be confident in investing in it. 

Thanks to AI and another advancement, customer service can also be improved. Having a free live chat app for website will help you satisfy your audience.

Fintech.

Fintech or financial technology aims to use technology to solve the problems faced by the financial industry.

More and more people want to see innovation in the old and outdated financial industry. People are willing to try new technologies to see how they can be more efficient and savvier with their hard-earned money.

Blockchain, the technology behind popular cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin, is steadily being used for other financial applications.

Banks like the Russian ALFA Bank, Singaporean United Overseas Bank, and Australian Common Wealth Bank, Indian Yes bank, are all using blockchain in their fintech efforts.

Having a background in finance, business, or technology, would provide you with valuable insights that could help you in making a wise investment decision.

Health.

Health is an industry that is going through a lot of changes at a rapid pace.

People are starting to become increasingly concerned about how their actions affect their health and their quality of life.

Wearable technology like Fitbits is becoming increasingly popular, especially among a younger demographic. 

By investing in a company that is in the process of developing new technology that will help people and their health, you might be able to get a worthwhile investment.

If you invest in a company that has already developed a new product, the chances are that a lot of other people would also be interested in that company. 

It is up to you to decide what kind of investment and the level of risk that you are willing to take.

Construction.

Construction is quickly becoming a growing industry again. The need for efficient and environmentally friendly housing is becoming a fast-growing industry that you should consider investing in.

The millennial homeownership rate is declining. A large number of millennials can’t buy a house because of their student loans, and millennials are also less interested in settling down early.

You might have an opportunity in your hands. As an entrepreneur, you’re inclined to take risks when other people stay away.

If you find a company that is developing housing solutions that cater specifically towards millennials, you’re going to be able to tap in on an overlooked or unappreciated market. 

Consulting.

Consulting is a fast-growing field that entrepreneurs should be keeping a close eye on.

Most people are experts at least one particular thing. Find what you’re good at besides being an entrepreneur, and you’re all set to start consulting.

You can invest in a consulting business by investing only in your time. You don’t even need a lot of capital.

If you’re an entrepreneur who is running a startup that revolves around social media, you probably have more than average insights about social media. Businesses are willing to pay a good amount of money if you can consult them and help them out with the problems that they are facing with their business.

The great thing about consulting is that you don’t even need to be an expert. All you need is to do is have working, practical knowledge that will help you provide actual value to your clients.

Transportation.

Transporation is another rapidly growing industry. With climate change becoming a more significant challenge by the day, the way we commute needs to change, fast.

Smart cities will make our transport routes more efficient and less of a burden on our resources. 

Self-driving cars, once tested to perfection, will help save up for the time lost in daily commutes.

Electric cars will help save our planet by putting an end to our reliance on fossil fuels, as we go towards greener and renewable sources of energy.

The transportation industry is growing and will continue to grow in the future too. For entrepreneurs, transportation is a great industry to invest in with an expected stock market 10-year gain of 125.82%.

Consumer retail.

Consumer retail includes ecommerce, personalized retail, and pop up retailers.

As more and more people are becoming comfortable shopping online, consumer retail seems to be growing in the future.

When investing in the consumer retail industry, it would be ideal to invest in a business that has thoroughly invested itself in the digital world but maintains a sound brick and mortar presence as well. That way, you’ll be able to have the best of both worlds.

Conclusion

Entrepreneurs that take calculated risks can gain the most rewards.

Remember that you should only invest in industries and businesses you believe in and trust. Investing in something that you don’t completely understand (for me, it’s cryptocurrencies), you might be at risk of losing a sizeable sum.

By investing in fast-growing industries, you’ll be able to cash in on a trend at a good time. Keep observing the industry and when it’s time to jump, jump immediately, and move on to the next big thing.

Hamzah Adil is a digital marketing executive who loves to write about business and entrepreneurship. Lately, he’s also taken an interest in investing and finance. He is currently working for a startup that has developed a new live chat application called SwiftChat. Live chat software allows businesses to provide quality support to their website visitors at a reasonable price.

Website: https://www.swiftchat.io

DevelopmentInsightsMartechSaaS

Does My Business Need an App?

The world has changed, and it keeps on changing. We know live in a world where mobile devices and smartphones have become almost all-encompassing; we rely on them for far more than just basic communication – they have become the items around which our lives are organized, through which our thoughts and plans link up to the wider world, and wherein we record our daily existence, do our shopping, our banking, book our reservations, find love, and discover new forms of entertainment. Our mobile devices have intertwined with our lives in ways hitherto unimaginable… and believe us when we say that this is merely the beginning.

As such, even thinking for a moment that your business might not need an app is increasingly ridiculous. Businesses rely on their competitive nature, on staying one step ahead of the others, and gaining the edge over any others within their field. Not having an app for your business in 2020 is something which not only marks your business out as irrelevant in the modern, dynamic, and ever-evolving marketplace, it also cuts your business off from a wide range of advantages and opportunities which custom app development offers with ease.

While there are, frankly, dozens of different reasons why custom apps for business are more important and essential for business growth than ever before, we’re going to focus on just a small handful of justifications in this blog. By considering the points below, and thinking seriously about why business apps can open the doors for increased trade, heightened marketing reach, greater customer satisfaction and so very much more in 2020, it will become blatantly clear why your business really does need an app, and why a custom app for your business may just be the smartest move you make this year. Read on and find out for yourself!

Direct Customer Interaction

It seems like a million years ago that businesses would have distinct and impenetrable opening and closing hours, outside of which there could be no questions answered, no customer interaction, and no promotional efforts made. If business apps have achieved one thing, and can help your business in one way above all others, it’s in this sense of completely throwing open the doors of opportunity for heightening your communication with customers.

Whether this comes in the form of advanced AI chatbots, which allow you to answer customer questions and provide assistance through the wonder of artificial intelligence, or in the form of interactive blogs, link-ups to Twitter accounts, or a live chat feature (or indeed many other possibilities) the options are more or less endless. Customers are more demanding than ever before when it comes to their time and the level of service they receive, and believe us, your competitors will be more than happy to snap up customers who look – even for a moment – elsewhere. Business apps allow you to keep customers happy and in the loop… and happy customers spend more, and return again, and again, and again.

A Range of Features at Their Fingertips

While there’s little doubt about the fact that your website contains all the truly essential information your customers need to know about your business, it would be foolhardy to believe that this is the be-all-and-end-all of what your business requires.

After all, so very many online interactions and web searches nowadays take place on mobile devices, and your customers want to be able to access more than just the basics, and they’ll need to be able to do so on the go. With an app for your business, you can link up your website to your social media feeds. You’ll be able to add interactive maps. You’ll be able to turn those mobile devices into augmented reality marketing tools. You can bring mobile games into your app, turn phones into loyalty cards and voucher scanners. The possibilities are as broad as they are exciting!

Do I Need an App if I use Social Media Marketing?

In a word: yes. Don’t get us wrong: there’s no questioning the fact that social media marketing and social media feeds are fantastic tools for businesses of all types, linking your presence up to a truly global network, and helping your business to grow and establish itself on the marketplace. However, a custom business app can help complement your social media efforts, and can also achieve goals which social media cannot reach.

Why? Because a custom app for your business removes all the spam that comes with social media, and allows your customer base to have unfettered, uninterrupted access to everything your business does. Just think about it: when you put your messages out on Twitter or Instagram etc, those marketing messages and content needs to compete with millions upon millions of other items, and can easily get lost if the algorithms are not in your favor. An app will deal with this issue instantaneously, and it also gives you much more creative control regarding how your content comes across.

Take Email Marketing Further with Push Notifications

Push notifications are one of the most useful and effective aspects of a custom business app, as they allow your business to provide sharp, snappy, and efficient reminders and messages to your customer base, and keep engagement and interaction levels high.

Interestingly, this used to be the realm of more traditional email marketing, which many claim was effectively killed off by Google’s highly effective spam filters and ‘promotions’ folder. Be serious: when was the last time you looked through the emails in your promotions folder and gave the material there even the slightest hint of a second look? The chances are, this isn’t something you do often… if ever at all. Your customers will download your business app because they want to associate with your company, and they want to receive updates about what you do and will do in the future – push notifications bypass those spam filters and allow you to communicate your messages with ease.

Streamline Communications and Build Relationships with Business Apps

We’ve outlined just some of the key reasons why your business needs a mobile app, and why developing a custom app with a professional app development agency might just be the smartest move you make. The future is here, and through mobile apps, businesses are more capable than ever of keeping up with the increasing demands of an ever-growing consumer base, whose expectations and standards never stop growing higher.

Mobile apps not only place your business at the forefront of a quickly evolving market, they manage to do what businesses have been striving to do for generations: they deepen the relationship between customer and company, and personalize communication to an impressive and highly effective level. Add into this mix the efficiency of an app, the heightened marketing potential, and the progressive branding opportunities, and the reasons for developing a mobile app grow more convincing than ever before.

About the author

Though a lawyer by trade, Vasily Malyshev found his passion in the mobile tech, self-taught design and development. He is the founder of Messapps, one of the top New York app development companies. Today, in addition to working with Messapps, Vasily is also teaching app development and marketing at New York University and regularly invests in other tech startups.

DevelopmentInsights

Ways HR Professionals Can Provide A Great Experience For All Employees

The HR department in any organization plays a pivotal supporting role and may determine whether the larger vision of the organization is achieved. This department is not only responsible for hiring people that help to drive the vision forward but also helps in managing their daily tasks.

 People management is a complex activity given that humans will naturally adapt very slowly to various situations. HR professionals are thus key in providing a great experience to all the employees. This experience is further reflected in the results and the overall customer experience. In this article, we explore various ways in which HR professionals can help in improving the experience of all employees.

Think and Act Strategically

The main role that HR professional plays are providing an environment in which the company’s goals can be achieved. Human resource managers, therefore, need to align themselves with the company’s goals as a way of participating in their accomplishment.

This calls for the HR manager to create plans, steps, and means through which the vision can be achieved through the people hired by the company.

For instance, working with other company leaders, the HR manager should develop training and evaluation processes with certain goals to be achieved, or should even extend assistance to resigning employees through outplacement services.

Master Great Communication Skills

One of the unfortunate situations that affect the achievement of goals is having an HR department who cannot communicate effectively. Communication in this sense encompasses both verbal and nonverbal processes. 

If, for instance, there are changes or reorganizations to be made in particular departments, it not only matters whether it is done but also how it is done. 

Such communication is so vital that even how the message is crafted determines how employees respond to it. In a situation where the message is delivered by word of mouth, the tone of the voice, the time as well as the expressions that go along with it play a role in determining how it is received, understood and interpreted.

Be A Good Listener

A great part of the HR job includes solving problems. Solving problems, in return requires good listening skills without being biased. This is essential in helping you make decisions and give guidance.

Quite often, HR professionals get into situations where they have to solve conflicts and even handle personal challenges. Being a good listener helps to make sound judgment and offer guidance from an informed perspective.

Be An Inspiration

The HR manager in any organization is by default a leader. This means he/she is expected to abide by the rules and laws of the organization, but most importantly be an inspiration to others.

The role of an HR professional is not only in crafting policies but to a large extent, they are expected to live by them. They must lead by example in several aspects.

To a large extent, it is not an easy task to establish and live by the total requirements of the HR professional. It requires great interpersonal and intrapersonal skills.

Be Tech-Savvy

Modern communication is expected to be quick, efficient and timely. Through the use of technology, such communication becomes easier and should simplify the work of the HR practitioner.

For instance, the preparation of Powerpoint presentations and working with them through a projector requires one to be tech-savvy. In other circumstances, you will be needed to create video conferences for purposes such as long distant interviews. Whereas someone else may handle the technical elements in a meeting room, it still helps to understand the technology being used and how impactful it is to an organization

Being tech-savvy also helps practitioners to follow and implement what could be helpful for their organizations and enhance the experience of employees

Understand the Numbers

Organizations are always restructuring and adjusting in such a way that the profits are can cater to wider interests. It is very common for companies to cut costs by laying off employees. It is the role of the HR practitioner to establish how such changes will affect delivery within the organization.

Understanding the numbers is also important in the evaluation of the kind of workforce needed to execute various tasks. Having a workforce that is lean but efficient is a result of such evaluations and helps to improve employee interactions.

Conclusion

The HR profession is undergoing overwhelming changes. Many practitioners are using experimental approaches as a way of testing the changes taking place in the profession. However, it has been noted that one of the best ways to enhance HR experiences is by using both new and old systems within the organization.

The bottom line is that HR is a key driving force in helping the organization to achieve the set goals. HR practitioners must constantly evaluate their systems and create processes that deliver a great experience. More importantly, the HR practitioner must create systems that address specific challenges within various departments and in the entire organization.

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Mobile Point of Sale (mPOS)

The entry of the mobile point of sale (mPOS) has revolutionized many business sections by simplifying the options of cashless payments. Industries like hospitality, healthcare, travel, and tourism have been using mPOS systems and endpoints quite extensively. The rapidly growing payments ecosystem has mPOS as the major catalyst that triggered the industry into new heights.

Easy, seamless, and secure cashless payment transactions free customers from the obligation of carrying a high amount of cash and at the same time, the business owners can focus on offering improved customer experience. It fastens the sales completion cycle, boosts productivity, saves time spent on manual cash-counting, drives financial accuracy, provides customer satisfaction, and overall security.

Check out the Infographic to glean interesting insights about the current trends and future market of mPOS industry.


[Infographic] mPOS: Apprehending Future Market & Enterprise Benefits by Kiosk Lockdown Software


[Inforgraphic] Why Companies Need to Rethink Their Communication Strategy for Remote Teams by Team Communication App

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Don’t Live in the Past — Invest in These Ag-Tech Gadgets for Your Farm

Farming is challenging work — you have to wake up early, work grueling hours and deal with emergencies as they arise. If you want to ensure that you have the best crops and livestock, then you need to make sure that you’re getting everything done correctly and promptly.

In the past, farmers had to rely on their knowledge and work ethic to get tasks done on time.

Thankfully, this is no longer the case. There are several ag-tech gadgets that you can purchase that will help your farm or agribusiness reach its full potential.

1 – Rugged Computer

This is the most critical piece of ag-tech that you can have on your farm. Rugged computers are high-quality pieces of machinery that can be used in extreme environments and weather conditions. Additionally, many rugged computer monitors have LCD touchscreens, making them easy to use and see (even in poor lighting conditions).

Modern farmers rely on rugged computers to access important data, use agricultural programs and communicate with their employees. Top-of-the-line rugged computers can run Windows 10, giving you access to a plethora of applications and digital services.

These versatile pieces of ag-tech can be installed in your tractors and motorized harvesting equipment. This means that you can take them out into the field and use them while you work.

If you’re planning on purchasing one or more rugged computers for your agribusiness, you should go to a reliable and experienced manufacturer that makes custom products, like Smallpc.com. These companies provide their customers with high-quality products and unmatchable service.

2 – Livestock Sensors

Do you ever wish that your livestock could tell you when they’re hungry, thirsty or fertile? Have you ever lost an animal only to find it several miles away?

If you said yes to either of the questions above, then you need to invest in livestock sensors for your farm. Farmers can use livestock sensors to track:

  • Fertility
  • Hunger
  • Location
  • Temperature
  • Health

These gadgets use GPS (global positioning system) and RFID (radio frequency identification) systems to track these essential details. You can access this information from remote locations, which gives you the ability to watch your livestock without physically being at your farm.

3 – Telematics Technology

Some farmers like to claim that their equipment “speaks” to them. Although this may be a slight exaggeration, you can learn more about your motorized equipment, like your tractors and harvesters, by using telematics technology.

Farmers can use telematics technology to track their motorized equipment. Additionally, farmers can monitor important information like their fuel levels and harvesting progress.

Telematics devices obtain this information by utilizing both cellular and satellite communications. This information can be accessed via smartphone or rugged computer, minimizing the amount of time you and your employees have to spend in the office.

Regardless of the industry, it’s always better to work smarter, not harder. However, this saying rings particularly true in the agricultural sector. To do this, you need to invest in tried-and-true ag-tech gadgets like rugged computers, livestock sensors, and telematics technology.