There’s no one-size-fits-all answer, but there are some dos and don’ts when it comes to recruiting top talent. Here are a few tips:

The Dos of Recruiting Top Talents

The success of your company depends on your ability to attract and retain top talent. To do this, you need to have a clear understanding of what your company needs and what top talents can bring to the table. Here are the things you need to do:

Do your research

Don’t just assume that the most impressive resume belongs to the best candidate for the job. Dig deeper and get to know a potential hire before making a decision. Consider their past work experiences, ask for references and recommendations, and assess how they might fit into the company culture. It may take some extra time and effort, but it’s worth it, in the long run, to ensure that you are bringing on top talents who will be successful addition to your team.

Use social media

Harnessing the power of social media is critical for tapping into a broader pool of potential hires. Social media allows you to reach a wider range of candidates and provides an opportunity for them to learn more about your company’s culture and values. Plus, actively utilizing social media in your recruiting efforts shows that your company is modern and technologically savvy, making it an attractive option for job seekers.

However, it’s essential to make sure that your social media presence accurately reflects your brand and establishes a positive image. Regularly updating relevant content and engaging with your audience will demonstrate that you’re a desirable employer and attract top talent.

Make sure to schedule interviews

One crucial but often overlooked aspect? Scheduling candidate interviews. Aspiring team members want to know that their time is valued, and having a consistent and organized interview schedule shows them that they are a priority. It can also give the impression that your organization values efficiency and communication. But with busy calendars and multiple stakeholders, coordinating schedules can be tricky.

Lucky for us, technology has made this task much easier through candidate interview scheduling software. These tools not only streamline the scheduling process but can also send automatic reminders to both the candidate and interviewers, helping to ensure no one misses their appointment.

Offer competitive salaries and benefits

Offering competitive salaries and benefits can make all the difference. While job titles and company culture play a role in attracting top candidates, the bottom line is that professionals want to feel financially secure in their positions. Offering salaries that match or exceed those of similar situations in the industry shows prospective hires that their value will be recognized and compensated at your company. In addition, providing comprehensive benefits packages – including healthcare, retirement contributions, and paid time off – helps to demonstrate your commitment to employee well-being and satisfaction.

The Don’ts of Recruiting Top Talents

There are a few things you need to avoid if you want to successfully recruit top talents. Here are a few things NOT to do:

Don’t make assumptions

When it comes to recruiting, don’t make assumptions about what candidates are looking for. Instead of making assumptions, ask questions and get to know the person behind the resume. What are their goals? What type of environment do they thrive in? What motivates them? The answers to these questions will help you determine if they are a good fit for your organization and, more importantly if your organization is a good fit for them. Remember, it’s not just about finding someone with the right skills – it’s about finding someone compatible with your company’s culture and values.

Don’t ghost candidates

ghosting candidates is a huge no-no. If you’ve been in the job market, you know how frustrating it is to be ignored after investing time and energy into the interview process. So don’t do the same to your candidates! If you’re not interested in pursuing someone, let them know as soon as possible. It may not be the news they wanted to hear, but it’s better than being left in the dark. Furthermore, ghosting candidates reflects poorly on your company and can damage your reputation as an employer.

Don’t forget about soft skills

While hard skills are essential, don’t forget about soft skills when recruiting candidates. Things like communication, collaboration, and problem-solving are essential for any role – no matter the industry. In fact, research shows that soft skills are becoming increasingly important as we move into the future of work. So when you’re assessing candidates, be sure to pay attention to both their hard and soft skills.

Final thoughts

These are just a few of the dos and don’ts for recruiting top talents. Of course, every organization is different, so it’s important to tailor your approach to fit your needs. But following these tips should help you get started on the right foot.

The post How to Effectively Recruit Top Talents appeared first on Proche.

Is digital transformation only a creative way to explain migrating to the cloud? What particular actions must we take? Do we need to employ a consulting firm or develop new positions to assist us in developing a framework for digital transformation? We may need answers to all such questions and perhaps more.

What digital transformation entails is something that many corporate executives are unclear about. Hence, this article aims to clarify some commonly asked questions about digital transformation. It shall also imply what elements of corporate strategy require modification and whether it justifies the expense.

What Is Digital Transformation Consulting? 

Digital transformation consulting is a solution that can assist companies in using technology to add business value. Companies undergoing digital transformation are expected to generate more than half of the global GDP by 2023. One of the key advantages of using it is that it can improve a company through digitalization and security as it reacts to changes swiftly and with less risk.

Although each consulting company is unique, generally, their offerings will examine more than simply an organization’s technological decisions. This ensures that improved customer experiences and commercial outcomes may be achieved through technology, affecting the fundamental class order, ways of working, and how they are structured. 

In other words, rather than being only a technological implementation, digital transformation consulting is socio-technical in character.

What Is The Purpose Of Digital Transformation Consulting?

A digital transformation consultancy’s main objective is to improve the user experience, whether the customer is an internal or external user.

This may be done by speeding up the use of technology within a company and increasing its effectiveness. When people, processes, and technology work together to influence business, it results in a better customer experience. That is how digital transformation consulting services succeed. 

By equipping teams across an organization with protocols to analyze new technology and manage rapid change, this all-encompassing strategy enables enterprises to stay up to date with technological change effectively.

Benefits Of Digital Transformation Consulting Services

A digital transformation consultancy assists companies in various ways to expand to their full potential.

A Refreshed Business Strategy

Digital transformation consulting views operations, organizational structure, staff, and consumers as a single entity rather than multiple entities belonging to different concerns.

Doing so creates an environment in which proactive coordination and connection between the interested parties can be improved.

As a result, it reduces internal conflict and creates a smoother customer experience while meeting organizational and internal demands.

Improved Resource Management

Digital transformation services can evaluate your present resources and skills, improving resource management. In addition, with the use of technology, they can increase your effectiveness by using the knowledge they have gained.

Stronger Talent Acquisition

Consulting firms for digital transformation can help you manage your human resources more effectively. They assess the workforce’s current skill sets and aid with the changeover to a new digital work paradigm. As a result, their ability to contribute to the company is increased, and their possibilities for professional advancement are improved.

Improved Customer Maintenance

Digital transformation enables your company to offer distinctive solutions that meet the evolving demands of your clients. Your target audience will be thoroughly analyzed by a consultant, who will also build digital tools that will help you learn more about them. These talents will help ensure a smooth experience.

Efficiency And Flexibility

A consultancy firm may evaluate your company’s organizational structure and workflow to find operational gaps. Then, they can help you integrate automation techniques to quicken antiquated procedures and promote organizational agility.

Assistance With Management

Digital transformation is complex since it requires overturning the established order and integrating new procedures. You may engage stakeholders in a way that encourages a change in company culture with the assistance of a digital management consulting firm. You can improve internal business processes using this help.

Scalability

If you use digital technologies internally, you could see certain one-time advantages. But, a digital transformation consultant can assist you in putting scalable ideas into action that produce lasting outcomes.

How To Select The Best Digital Transformation Consulting Service?

There are a few factors to consider when picking a digital transformation consulting group.

Ensure the consultant has a thorough grasp of both business and technology. Excellent digital transformation consultants will be well-versed in both business and technology. In addition, they must be able to grasp your unique company goals and objectives and assist you in developing a strategy to meet them.

Make sure the consultant has a track record of delivering successful campaigns. This is important since you want to be certain that the firm you select has a plethora of expertise and experience. Request analyses and references from previous clients.

Try ensuring that the consultant will be a suitable match for your business. By conducting interviews with several digital transformation consultants, you can get a sense of the styles and approaches of these individuals. Then, select a consultant with whom you are at ease working and believe would be a good match for your business.

Final Thoughts

It’s time to think about hiring a digital transformation consultancy if you feel confused in the digital world or that your company may be doing more business online. This approach can support your company in evaluating its position concerning clients and rivals, knowing how technology is altering consumer behavior, and developing a modernization strategy. 

Although it’s not an easy road, you can have great success if you have the perfect partner by your side.

The post What Is Digital Transformation Consulting & How Can It Help Grow Your Business? appeared first on Proche.

Fractional CFOs provide financial guidance and organization to small businesses and startups that don’t have the financial resources to hire in-house teams. This outsourced form of accounting lets owners focus on their core principles while implementing effective, efficient financial operations.

Fractional CFOs also offer a level of financial guidance and flexibility that in-house teams can’t provide. Because of the recent digital advancements, choosing a fractional CFO for your business is highly recommended if you are a startup or smaller business trying to expand. It will likely be the wave of the future for small business accounting purposes.

What Are Fractional CFOs?

Fractional CFOs are chief financial officers who work part-time for more than one company while handling their financial operations and providing strategic financial advice. These financial professionals typically provide guidance to smaller companies and startups that don’t have the resources or stability to hire an in-house financial team.

Fractional CFOs are typically hired on a contractual basis with a monthly retainer agreement involved. The most common use of fractional CFO is in the early stages of a startup.

Who Are Fractional CFOs?

Fractional CFOs are financial experts who offer sound strategic advice to companies on how they can operationally and sustainably expand their business. Most CFOs work part-time and others are employed by agencies. To become a fractional CFO, financial professionals likely have to complete 15 years of experience in finance and at least a few years of experience as a VP of finance.

Fractional CFOs also need data analyst skills since part of advising clients boils down to how well they can analyze trends and devise strategies in order to expand the business.

Why Should You Hire a Fractional CFO?

There are a few reasons why you should consider hiring a fractional CFO if you are a startup looking to expand.

• Comprehensive short-term strategies that save money and optimize internal financial operations.
• Organize your company books, saving money and easing the upgrade process when your company needs a more advanced accounting system.
• Highly optimize your financial systems from the start so you can focus on other core areas of the business.
• Fractional CFOs typically have experience with a number of industries so they can specialize your financial strategy using past experience with clients within your field.

Why Fractional CFOs are the Future

Though fractional CFOs aren’t necessarily a new industry, it is a burgeoning one. Much of the reason for this advancement is due to the digital applications available to companies. Now, more than ever, fractional CFOs have a wealth of digital tools at their disposal to analyze, communicate, and strategize for their clients.

Their Application for Startups

Having an on-demand financial advisor on your team is not something you could have done thirty years ago. Whether for a one-time project or for longer term hiring, fractional CFOs can provide a level of analysis and operational expertise without the hiring and training overhead. THese professionals are especially important during the genesis of a new company because they can implement critical operational procedures that allow the business to scale without losing resources to inefficiencies. 

How to Find the Right Fractional CFO

Founders can take their time to ensure they find the right CFO. Hiring the wrong person can result in catastrophic losses that hurt the company long-term. You need to choose a fractional CFO with the right background, experience in your industry, and one that you can establish rapport with. These professionals also need impeccable communication skills to ensure that you can contact them if things ever go awry.

How Do Fractional CFOs Provide Value to Startups?

Fractional CFOs provide stability and efficiency to your company while helping you avoid many of the overhead costs associated with hiring in-house accounting teams. The following are some of the many benefits fractional CFOs can provide startups:

• Capital connections: Many fractional CFOs have established extensive networks of angel investors, family firms, venture capitalists, and private equity firms. Giving your fractional CFO an influential role in your finances means you will be have access to these resources.
• Financial planning: Fractional CFOs are experts at devising a strategy that maximizes your financial portfolio. These companies can streamline your budgeting and position you in an advantageous financial situation so you can scale while focusing on the core business principles.
• Fractional CFOs watch cash flow closely and make sure your company keeps enough positive cash flow to expand successfully.
• When you use a fractional CFO, they ensure your dates are up to date and clean. First-time founders might not understand how critical this business component is but it can mean the difference between success and failure.
• Fractional CFOs will establish the best financial practices for your start-up. These practices lay the foundation for your expansion without having to modify operations as you grow.
• Perhaps the most important thing fractional CFOs provide is their data analysis and strategic planning. If you’re a CEO, chances you are, you aren’t focused most intently on the financial operations of your business. You have many hats to wear and that’s one hat that requires a significant amount of attention. Fractional CFOs take the burden of financial planning off your shoulders.

Conclusion- Why Are Fractional CFOs the Future of Accounting for Startups?

If you’re a startup or a small business, you have to keep track of an extensive amount of business branches. However, the most important thing you can focus on in the early stages of your business is getting it off the ground with a solid business plan, targeted marketing, and sales generation.

However, as you grow your business, you need to ensure its financial health. Taking on all of these responsibilities is simply not feasible for anyone who wants to keep a shred of their sanity intact. That’s why fractional CFOs can offer assistance during the times when startups or small businesses are trying to sustainably grow. These financial professionals offer a level of financial expertise and data analytics that takes the burden off of your shoulders. This delegation lets  you focus on the core principles of your business, all while you rest easy knowing that sound financial operations are in place to protect your company from financial damages.

The post Why Are Fractional CFOs the Future of Accounting for Startups? appeared first on Proche.

Although the use of face masks and traditional cleaning has proven to help prevent the spread of the virus, many are still looking for other ways to increase their defenses as other variants begin to emerge.

We have listed four tech devices that will maximize your protection againstCoronavirus whether you’re working remotely or traveling to work daily.

UVC Lights and Lamps

The FDA suggests that the use of ultraviolet-C (UVC) light is one of the most effective ways in reducing germs and bacteria on surfaces, air, and objects.

UVC radiation can disinfect open spaces, water, nonporous surfaces, and can reduce the spread of most viruses.

It’s worth noting that it has its limitations. For example, the virus has to have direct exposure to radiation coming from the device. Also, many cheap UVC lamps sold for home use tend to have a low dose. In such cases, you would want to expose the area longer to effectively kill the virus.

Make sure that you’re getting a UVC lamp since UVB or UVA radiation is said to be less effective at inactivating the Covid-19 virus.

Air Purifiers

Air cleaners or air purifiers can help reduce airborne viruses in a home. They’re made to filter particles and pollutants out of the air that goes through the filtration system, therefore, reducing airborne particles that might be contaminated by the virus before they settle on surfaces.

Note that it’s not recommended to solely rely on an air filter to eliminate viruses and bacteria.

Here are some factors that you should look for to make sure that your air cleaner is effective in killing the virus.

• The air cleaner should be able to remove small particles in the size range of 0.1-1um.
• Choose a unit that’s the correct size for the space you’re going to use it in.
• Choose a unit that has a high Clean Air Delivery Rating (CADR) for smoke (instead of just pollen or dust.)

Smart Electrostatic Sprayer

While person-to-person contact and airborne transmission can occur in more enclosed spaces, disinfecting surfaces and objects remains to be key in protecting yourself and those around you.

However, some surface areas are easy to miss or hard to reach. Think about tables, chairs, or railings. This is where e-sprays or electronic sprayers come in.

The traditional sprays tend to just reach the target object or the portion that’s mainly visible to the eyes. Then, the rest of the liquid sprayed will fall to the floor or float elsewhere.

Electrostatically sprayed liquid tends to wrap around the object so that it coats the entire object instead of just the area that’s in the sprayer’s line of sight.

There are more advanced electrostatic sprayers and vaporizers that can only be used by trained professionals. However, for you to get the right one for your facility or your home, make sure that you do proper research or talk to sales representatives of the brand.

Utensil UV Sterilizer

Your home and pantry are some places where you should feel safe. However, the pandemic has made it so that we now have to take precautionary measures wherever we go.

Sterilizing kitchenware and utensils makes sure that any form of bacteria, spores, virus, or fungi are killed. Although boiling water is effective in killing viruses, make sure that there’s no risk of exposure to the Covid-19 virus.

Aside from alcohol or bleach, you can use UV light to make sure that your utensils are sterilized.

Ultraviolet light works by crosslinking proteins and DNA inside cells, viruses, and other molecules, which then causes damage that leads to the elimination of viruses.

Note that you shouldn’t expose your skin directly to UV as it will cause burns and can even lead to cancer as a result of DNA mutations.

Increase Your Protection with the Right Tech

Cleaning regularly with traditional household cleaner, bleach, or detergent is important to reduce the number of germs and decrease the risk of catching the virus. With the emergence of the Delta variant which is reported to be more infectious and more transmissible compared to other variants, we have to triple our efforts.

Though there are establishments that help humanity fight against Covid-19, thus the emergence of more effective vaccines, we still have a long way to go. Even vaccinated individuals have to take extra measures when it comes to protecting themselves from the virus.

Always read on ways you can protect yourself and others. Make sure that you follow the proper guidelines and equip yourself with one or two of the items listed above. Nothing is guaranteed, but it helps to double or triple the protection for yourself and others.

The post Tech Devices to Help You During the Pandemic appeared first on Proche.

Pricing is one of the most important factors in determining success for a business. Prices are determined as a result of factors such as cost, competition, market value, customer expectations, and many others. Customers expect that they are getting quality product or service for their money. A good price strategy takes all these things into account before deciding on a price point including cost and competition.

Why Does Your Business Need Price Management?

Price management is important because it lets you have control over your pricing and makes it easier to make changes. It also helps you make profits by understanding what other companies are charging for similar items.

Price management is essential for any business because it allows you to set your own prices. This is helpful in a competitive environment where prices can change quickly, but often the price will be set too high or too low and not generate as much profit as intended. Price management can help avoid this by tracking the market so that the business can better understand what other companies are charging for similar items, and adjust accordingly.

The Different Types of Price Management Systems to Consider

1. Traditional Pricing Methods

The three traditional pricing methods are cost-based pricing, competitive pricing, and value-based pricing. Cost based pricing is the simplest and least time consuming method. Competitive pricing is a middle ground between cost-based pricing and value-based pricing. Value based pricing takes into account the customer’s needs as well as their wants.

Cost-Based Pricing: This type of price covers the costs involved in the production of a product or service with no consideration for what customers want or need.

Competitive Pricing: This type of price is based on what competitors charge for a product or service. It can also be determined by analyzing other factors such as input costs, supply and demand, etc.

Value Based Pricing: This type of value takes into account both what customers want/need as well as what

2. Penetration Pricing Management

Penetration pricing simply means pricing your product or service at a level where customers can afford to buy it.

In order to make a successful penetration price, you would need to lower the cost of the item without expecting to see any losses in sales. It’s primarily used by less established brands because it is much more difficult for well-established brands to offer discounts.

Once you’ve accomplished this technique, you should reward loyal customers with an exclusive discount or coupon code. This will encourage them to spend more money with your company and will create a sense of exclusivity that draws in new customers who are looking for deals.

3. Seasonal Pricing Management

Seasonal pricing is when prices are raised or lowered for certain periods of time because of what the company wants to do with their inventory.

This technique is used when companies want to sell more products, or they need to make room in storage for new products. This technique is also known as dynamic pricing.

4. Promotional Pricing Strategies to Boost Sales and Profits

Promotional pricing strategies can be divided into two groups. The first group is known as “loss leader” strategies and the second group is known as “bait and switch” strategies. Loss leaders are products that are sold below cost to attract potential buyers to a store or company. They often have low margins, but high sales volume. Manufacturers often promote loss leaders in the hope that customers will buy other more profitable items while at the store or company’s website.

Some companies use bait-and-switch tactics to lure customers by advertising a product with an attractive price, but then switching at point of sale for a more expensive product without informing them beforehand.

Conclusion

A well-managed pricing strategy can help one to sell more products at higher price points. The conclusion of using price management software is that it is a tool to help us maximize our revenue and profits. It does so by giving us the flexibility to adjust prices on the fly, alter discounts, manage inventory and optimize our product mix.

The post How to Make the Right Price Management Decision for Your Business appeared first on Proche.

Teamwork Makes The Dream Work 

One of the biggest mistakes businesses make when trying to scale up is attempting to do everything by themselves. While there is merit to earning everything you have with only your internal resources, you’ll find success far quicker if you bring in outside help where necessary. 

If you’re stuck on exactly how to scale, consider looking into a group mentoring program for small businesses rather than just floundering around on your own. Bringing in an expert is always a good idea, and you’ll probably also find your sessions to be quite effective networking tools. 

Go Behind The Scenes

Nine times out of ten, consumers will purchase from brands they know and trust rather than the competition, even if there is a significant difference in pricing. To help form this bond with your target demographic, use your social stories as a sort of work diary. Besides, your website should reflect your future plan and offers which can be very effective in keeping the customers hooked to your brand.

Obviously, you need to stay on-brand with your posts and status updates, but as stories disappear in 24 hours, they’re a great way to give your audience a peek behind the scenes. You’ll still want to showcase a professional image, but there’s nothing wrong with also showing that you’re real people who sometimes need a coffee or a jovial team lunch.

Promotional Products

Never underestimate the power of a useful (and beautiful) promotional product. If your branded products serve a purpose in someone’s life, they can essentially provide free advertising to the people that the recipient is around – all while boosting customer loyalty. Make sure you’ve done your research and correctly geared your product selection to your target demographic, and you should easily reap the benefits. 

Level Up Your Address

Are you currently working out of a dodgy office in the sticks? Or maybe even your garage? Consider getting a virtual office in a more prestigious location. You’ll save on rent by not fully committing but still score yourself the perks of having somewhere fancy to meet with big-ticket clients (and an address that isn’t your home to put on your website).

Create Content

Blogging used to be the pastime of bored teenagers on MSN, but these days, it’s an invaluable tool for businesses. Regularly creating quality, long-form content helps you build authority and is also great for your SEO. You can hire a freelancer to create this content for you if you don’t have the budget to bring someone on full-time. 

You’ve got flexibility in the way you implement this strategy, and the addition of clear information about your products will help boost your conversion rate. This means the content will pay for itself in the long run. In other words, it’s the perfect strategy for sustainable, long-term growth. 

So there you have it – five simple, yet powerful, ways to grow your business in 2021. These strategies obviously need to be implemented in line with the rest of your plan, but they should get you a good part of the way there!

The post Small Business Strategies – 5 Simple Yet Powerful Ways To Grow Your Business In 2021 appeared first on Proche.

There are many options to choose from when you want to turn your PDF into another format. One option would be to redo the contents of your PDF file manually, but that would waste so much time and energy. The next option is to download a converter tool, but that would be too costly. Another option would be gaining access to an online converter tool. Here are the top 3 most convenient online PDF converter tools that would catch your attention and most likely be the ones you need.

GoGoPDF: Converting Your Files To And From PDF For Free

GoGoPDF’s PDF converter tool will surely take most of the workload for you. With this tool, everything’s unbelievable, so easy. Just upload the file and let the PDF converter handle everything. GoGoPDF is an all-in-one PDF converter tool. You don’t have to go to other websites if you want your file converted into Word, then another file to Excel, PowerPoint, and so on. You can all do it with GoGoPDF. Everything about PDF, you can count on GoGoPDF.

GoGoPDF’s fast processor converts PDF files to another format in merely minutes. When using GoGoPDF’s PDF online converter tool, the converted output will be the best possible. And the contents of the document will be exactly the same as the initial file—everything about the original file, such as the words, pictures, graphs, and the sheet, will be the same and editable. 

There are four easy to familiarize steps in converting your PDF to another format. The first step in the conversion is to upload the PDF file from your device, or you can simply drag the file and drop it in the conversion box. Next will be, GoGoPDF will start scanning the file and then extracting it. Wait for the tool to copy the formats and texts from your initial file and then select the format you want. After processing, you can now download the newly converted file.

PDF Bear: The All In One Online PDF Converter Tool

PDF Bear is an all in one online converter tool. Everything about converting PDF to another file format and vice-versa. You can conveniently and quickly convert your PDF file to popular file formats such as Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and many more. This tool doesn’t limit only to converting file formats to another but also merging, splitting, organizing, and optimizing your files and documents. Everything about PDF files, you can do it with PDF Bear hassle-free.

PDF Bear’s PDF converter is also a full package. The converter tool converts to and from PDF. When a conversion happens, PDF Bear ensures that the output will have the highest possible quality. You don’t have to think twice about security because, with PDF Bear, privacy is paramount. And as a fully packaged converter tool for PDF files, PDF Bear caters to converting PDF to Word, Excel, or PowerPoint. Solid Documents accommodate this tech. 

Converting from and to PDF with PDF Bear’s PDF converter has never been easier. There are only a few brief and straightforward steps in the conversion. The first step is to choose the file from your device, and then the converter tool will automatically detect your file and convert it to your desired file format. After the process bar finishes, you can download the newly converted file, but if you want to furtherly edit or compress the file, you can also do so.

Smallpdf: Converting To And From PDFs Free Online

This online converter tool is not what you think it is. It’s big; that’s why it is included at the top when browsing for online converter tools. With Small PDF, you can convert your files fast and easily. Smallpdf’s pdf converter tool converts PDF to Word, Excel, PowerPoint, JPG, and it’s vice versa. It has never been convenient.

You don’t have to worry about this online-based service’s security because your security is Smallpdf’s priority. All the file transfers are guaranteed with a higher level of SSL encryption. Moreover, Smallpdf deletes all file uploads from the server automatically. 

When converting, the first step is to upload the file you wish to convert, and then the PDF converter tool will automatically upload and transform the file into a PDF. After the process bar finishes, you can now download the PDF to your device or export it to Dropbox or G-drive.

Takeaway

PDF converter or PDF editor tools are convenient when you’re working on files that need to be converted or edited in a rush. It really takes off the workload, minus the time wasted on downloading unnecessary and costly programs or apps to your device. Whether you’re still a student or a professional, getting your hands on a PDF converter or editor tool is truly convenient. Online converter tools are the best and convenient way to convert your PDF files into another format. There are so many converter tools out there, but choosing one that is easy to learn, navigate, and comfortable would be a challenge. We hope this article gave you the best three options for PDF converters to choose from.

The post Converting To And From PDF: Your Top 3 Online PDF Converters appeared first on Proche.

The thing is, there is no one-size-fits-all answer to what type of connectivity is best for you, and IoT decision-makers must weigh various factors like the objective of the IoT system, how many devices are going to be implemented, and others.

On the other hand, we also need to consider scalability. With more and more connected devices, the amount of data transferred will also increase exponentially. Meaning, we need a connectivity solution that can grow together with our IoT system as our business grows. 

So, choosing the right connectivity solution is very important in ensuring the success of our IoT system and its growth.

In this guide, we will have a more in-depth discussion of the popular IoT connectivity solutions and what they are bringing to the table for different use cases. 

1. Wi-Fi and Bluetooth

Bluetooth and Wi-Fi belong to the short-range, wireless connectivity group of IoT connectivity options.

We define short-range wireless connectivity options as a connectivity solution where the distance between the device collecting the data (sensor) and the device receiving the data is less than 300 feet.

Wi-Fi is one of the most popular connectivity solutions in this category, along with Bluetooth. Bluetooth can be divided into various different types and the newest Bluetooth 5 Low Energy (LE) can theoretically reach 400 meters (1300+ feet) in range, but most Bluetooth available in the market can only operate up to 33 feet (10m). Wi-Fi has a maximum range of around 160 feet (50 m) but transfers data at much higher speeds than Bluetooth.

Specific to IoT, the Wi-Fi alliance introduced the Wi-Fi Halow connectivity, which promises ten times the range of regular Wi-Fi and 100 times the coverage area, promising a 3200 feet (1 km) maximum range. However, the development of Wi-Fi Halow as a strong solution for the IoT market is still very slow. 

2. Cellular IoT Connectivity

The cellular connection remains one of the most popular connectivity solutions for IoT systems that require long-distance connectivity and reliable bandwidth.

Cellular remains the best option if we are thinking about scalability, simply because cellular coverage is available virtually everywhere all over the world, and it is capable of sending a high amount of data at a reliable speed with 4G LTE and (soon) 5G. This allows us to connect two devices located in different countries to an IoT network. For example, Truphone for Things will allow you to connect and manage IoT devices in more than 100 countries. 

However, it’s not saying that cellular IoT is perfect, as it has its own weaknesses. The cellular connection is always famous for its high power consumption, and there’s the issue of the increased hardware costs (the hardware must have SIM/eSIM), and monthly data plan costs. 

Newer cellular technologies like LTE M1, LTE Cat-0, and NB-IoT (NarrowBand IoT), however, can now provide lower power consumption while maintaining a fairly high bandwidth. NB-IoT operates with very low power consumption, but can still reach 250 kbps max throughput. LTE M1 (or eMTC), on the other hand, can reach 1 Mbps but with relatively high latency (10-15ms)

In cellular data connectivity, we can expect newer technologies to be implemented especially to lower the power consumption while maintaining cellular SIM’s benefit in range and optimal bandwidth.

3. Z-Wave, Zigbee, and NFC

These three also belong to the short-range, wireless IoT connectivity option, but they have more specific use cases compared to Wi-Fi and Bluetooth.

NFC (Near-Field communication) has fairly limited use case applications due to its point-to-point topology and is mainly useful in smartphone automation. But in these specific use cases like smartphone payment, substituting hotel key cards, and home automation, NFC is often the most practical and convenient option.

Both Zigbee and Z-Wave utilize the mesh-network topology, where they use the interconnected devices to transfer data to a specific device/sensor, creating a mesh-shaped network in the process. Both Zigbee and Z-Wave have roughly 30 feet of maximum range, and both have very similar use cases, especially in smart home IoT implementations.

ZigBee is currently more popular due to its open-source nature (so it supports more products at the moment) and because it is faster than Z-Wave (250 kbps vs 100kbps).

4. LPWAN

LPWAN stands for Low-Power Wide Area Network, so it’s characterized by two things: low hardware power consumption and wide coverage. LPWAN can cover more than 30,000 feet (10 km+) in a dense area, however, it typically has relatively low bandwidth (below 50 kbps).

LoRaWan and Sigfox are two of the more popular LPWAN implementations. LoRa can cover 15 km in range and up to 50 kbps in data transfer, while Sigfox can cover 50km in range but only 10kbps bandwidth.

Other LPWAN technologies, however, are currently being developed to either cover more range (like Ingenu that can cover 500 km in range) or more bandwidth. Weightless (W.N.P), for example, has a 5km coverage area but can reach 10Mbps in bandwidth. 

In the future, we can expect more implementations of LPWAN and advancements in technology to allow more reliable bandwidth and lower latency while maintaining its very low power consumption and very high coverage range. 

End Words

Choosing the right IoT connectivity option is very important to ensure we can achieve the objective of the IoT network. So, it’s very important to pick the right priority between bandwidth capability, coverage range, and power consumption. For example, cellular connectivity like Truphone for Things has high bandwidth and high coverage range but has its downside in high power consumption.

At the moment, there’s no perfect IoT connectivity that offers high coverage range, high bandwidth, and low power consumption. However, new technologies are being developed to pursue this, and we can expect our IoT connectivity options to get better in the near future.

The post The Future of Connectivity in IoT Deployments appeared first on Proche.

You can read articles about it, and many researchers say that it’s the thing that will replace traditional surveys. Big data provides businesses with a vast pool of data engineering services on which they can run their market research without asking any questions. 

While there may be some truth to this claim, things are not always as they seem. As a business owner, you still have to call your clients to get direct feedback, find the right focus groups, and hold interviews to get a clear picture. 

However, Big Data does have the power to improve the results you get from standard surveys and direct communication.

What is Big Data?

But before we get into the details, we have to answer one question – what is Big Data exactly? 

Many people don’t have a clue what Big Data means, even those who should know everything about it. That includes C-suite marketing executives, corporate researchers, and research suppliers. All of them have a different view of what Big Data represents. 

Most of them think that it’s something big and that it deals with a lot of data. The details are then interpreted differently by everyone, leading to a lot of disinformation. 

Everything you or anyone else does online creates data. Every Google search, every website subscription, every single email you send creates valuable data. That means that all actions taken on the internet create traceable data that can be used to make all kinds of stats and extract useful information. 

Big Data can be broken down into two primary categories:

• Predictive analytics data
• Social network data.

Both categories provide useful information that can help businesses improve their online strategies and create campaigns that will attract more customers. Let’s break it down.

Predictive analytics data

Everything we do, every move we make on the internet generates data. All of that data is collected and stored to be used by analytics software and specialists for many purposes. For example, every bank has a list of credit scores. 

Every first online shop remembers what you searched for, so it predicts what other products you might be interested in. 

The world of analytics is mostly dealing with predictions. The entire idea is to pinpoint the targeted audience that’s likely to buy something you’re selling. That leads to increased sales and more revenue. 

Social network data

Social networks have become a window into the world for billions of people. We leave comments and exchange information between ourselves for free. Large corporations and big companies have realized that they can use all of that information to improve their market standings. 

Brands employ entire teams of people whose only job is to monitor and possibly control what the general public thinks about them. 

The practice has led to new fields like Social Media Network Analysis, and Sentiment Analysis. Many software solutions were created to make sense of all that available data, hoping to use what they can to improve businesses and their offers.

Big Data and Marketing Research

Marketing research has been used for decades, and it has set the way for modern consumerism. However, the techniques for researching the markets have evolved. Instead of finding new methods for marketing like before, marketing research is used to answer specific marketing issues. 

For example, it’s used to figure out ways to segment shoppers in large retail companies. Some businesses use marketing research to create or improve their products. Others use it to figure out what price to put on a product or what type of campaign has the most success. 

The reason why Big Data can’t give you all of these answers is the lack of specificity. Big Data is packed with useful information that has to be segmented and deciphered before it can be used. Marketing research helps business owners find out where to start looking. 

You can use different analytics techniques to get a sense of what the general public thinks about your company or product. That will help you create surveys with accurate questions, which will give you a better understanding of what people think.

So, Big Data is the missing step between understanding consumers’ needs and improving your market strategies. It has massive value when it comes to developing marketing campaigns because it allows you to find the issue and improve it. 

Although Big Data isn’t exact, the two aspects we discussed above can help you run extensive marketing research that will provide you with amazing results. 

Large companies with massive customer information databases can extract the right information, apply them to surveys, and get segmented feedback from customers. 

It does take a lot of time and effort, but if you create custom reports and stats, you will get only the information you need to improve conventional marketing research techniques. 

Such a thing has incredible value for any business because it improves the quality of the extracted information. Instead of sending out extensive surveys to everyone, you can create custom, segmented surveys and send them to the right people. 

You will then get feedback from every group, and once you analyze each survey, you will have a clear picture of the entire marketing process and its results. It’s a powerful tool that will change the way we do marketing forever.

Exciting Future for Marketing Researchers  

Big Data is like a gold mine waiting to be found. Even if you know that there’s gold lying in the ground beneath your feet, you won’t be able to get it without the right mining equipment. 

That’s exactly how Big Data works. It’s just like the gold in the ground, and if you can get to it, you can use traditional marketing research methods to turn it into jewelry. 

The process is slow and painstaking, but if you combine the two sides perfectly, the potential information you can extract is far more useful than either side can provide alone. Big Data and marketing research will give you all the answers if you know where to look.

The post What is Big Data and How it is Related to Market Research appeared first on Proche.

All these factors have created a ripe opportunity for cyber criminals and fraudsters. Fortunately, you have ways to protect yourself in cyberspace during the pandemic. The team at Amazing Support, an IT support company in London, has put together our top tips for staying safe from cyber attacks at this time.

Be on the Lookout for Scams

You should always be cautious when accessing the Internet, but your vigilance is especially important right now. Coronavirus-related scams are running rampant, so always think before you click. If you receive an email, SMS, or direct message from someone you don’t know, never click on any link they’ve sent you – particularly if it’s about coronavirus. Avoid clicking on coronavirus articles shared on social media, and don’t click on links from friends or family about coronavirus, because their social media accounts could be compromised.

Phishing emails can be easy to spot, but some hackers excel at making them look like the real thing. If there’s a sense of urgency in the email, typos, unsolicited offers, or payment requests, be wary. If you need to access your financial institution, do so through their website or app, never by clicking a link in an email or SMS.

Install Updates

Keeping the apps, programmes, and software up to date on your devices is also essential for cyber security. Hackers will often try to exploit weaknesses or bugs left behind by older versions of apps and software. Updates will include patches to fix these bugs, but if you don’t have the most recent version, then you’re left exposed. This is, unfortunately, a common way for cyber criminals to steal your information. By keeping everything updated, you protect yourself from vulnerability and ensure your devices are running properly.

Review Your Privacy Settings

Take some time to review privacy settings on your online accounts. Tech giants like Google and Facebook collect a great deal of information on you, including location tracking. You can bolster your Google security features, to limit the data collected on your Google account. It’s not so easy with Facebook though. Try to limit what other people can publicly see on your Facebook account, and share minimal personal details and photos.

It’s also worthwhile to check your privacy and security settings on other accounts, like your online bank accounts. Now is a good time to start using a password manager if you don’t already, and to add two-factor authentication for signing into your accounts.

Video Chat Safely

The use of video chatting apps has soared since coronavirus lockdown began. While this is a great way to connect with friends and family during quarantine, it’s been discovered that some apps, like Zoom, aren’t as secure as we thought. For large conference calls, try using open-source alternatives that don’t require you to download anything or create an account. For smaller group chats, apps with end-to-end encryption like Signal are better. Chat Alternative is a chat application for android users with which we can meet and talk to people from all over the world by connecting randomly.

Delete Old Accounts

If you have time to spare at home, go through your old accounts and delete those you don’t use anymore. There are probably dozens of accounts associated with your email address. These unused accounts can leave you vulnerable to security attacks.

While you’re going through your old accounts, take a look at unused apps as well. Checking which apps you’ve connected via Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram, is a great way to find these. Remember to delete or deactivate your account before deleting the app from your phone or tablet, though.

Check Credible Sources for Coronavirus Updates

We’re in the midst of what the World Health Organization (WHO) has called the “infodemic.” False updates and conspiracy theories around coronavirus pop up in alarming numbers every day. This false information is a public health and safety threat and it’s up to you to scrutinise the information you’re taking in about the pandemic.

Look for information from credible sources like the WHO or the UK’s National Health Service (NHS). The WHO has a COVID-19 myth-busting page on its website and the University of Portsmouth has put together a list of reputable coronavirus sources.

Final Thoughts on Staying Safe from Cyber Criminals During the Coronavirus Pandemic If you’re not careful, your information could easily be stolen during the pandemic. You’re always at risk for cyber attacks when you go online, but now is the time to be extra careful. With these tips, you can protect yourself and your family from dangerous cyber attacks during the COVID-19 lockdown.

The post How Can You Stay Safe From Cybercriminals And Fraudsters During The Coronavirus Pandemic appeared first on Proche.