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The Best Tripods And Projector Mounts

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The Best Tripods And Projector Mounts

I bought a video projector to set up a mini-cinema in the living room or the garden or to show my graphics and projects in the office: but now, where do I put it? The question is not trivial because those who buy a device of this type often do not mainly take into consideration the fact that to use it, they will have to position it at a certain distance from the wall or the hanging cloth or on a tripod, which varies according to not only the resolution offered.

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From the projector and, therefore, from the yield it can offer and the size of the projection itself. Almost all video projector models are now able to correct the perspective distortion. 

They, therefore, can also be positioned laterally, but not all living rooms or gardens are the same. The coffee table in front of the seats is not always the most practical choice, especially when you want to create a stable location so that you can turn it on and start using it immediately without wasting time with cables and cables. With the following list, we propose some of the best solutions currently on the market that allow you to position any projector in the best possible way, either through a tripod, therefore on the ground, or to hang it on the wall or directly from the ceiling, with visible solutions or concealed variants. Thanks to the aid of a trap door.

Tripod System

The most versatile and least invasive option allows you to place the projector on the ground using a tripod. A standard tripod, the kind used for photography, might be okay, especially if the projector you intend to use has the universal 1/4 ″ screw mount on the bottom. But if you are not fond of photography and therefore do not already have a tripod or if the projector cannot be securely attached, then it is worth buying a tripod explicitly designed for this purpose.

The solutions that we suggest in this context all have a shelf on which it will be possible to place the video projector and can be used both to create a fixed location and, above all, if you intend to use the projector from multiple angles of the room easily or if the intent is to be able to take it with you to school or the office and quickly set up a workstation in the environment in which you are.

A first solution,  a Neewer Tripod Stand for Aluminum Projector for sale at about 52 euros, is made with an aluminum structure and the height on which the pedestal can be adjusted is between 46 and 121 centimeters, using a screw attachment of 3/8 ″. The base has a non-slip surface of 24 x 34 cm to increase the stability of the projector.

Alternatively, there is the BESPECO LPS100 support on sale at 49 euros, whose height can be adjusted between 77 and 121 centimeters and, in addition to the shelf for the projector, measuring 40 x 30 centimeters, it has a second shelf of 25 x 20 centimeters where a remote control or a second peripheral, such as a DVD player, can be placed. 

Wall Fixing System

For those who intend to create a fixed station, one of the possible solutions is to buy support with wall fixing like the one we suggest, currently on sale at around 52 euros. It is an “L” bracket with a modern and elegant design.

The projector is fixed through the thread on the bottom, so it can only be used with projectors equipped with this hooking system (almost all have it, but before buying it, we advise you to check it). The distance from the wall is fixed, while the orientation can be adjusted through the knob with which the screw is tightened under the projector.

The System With Ceiling Fixing

Alternatively, the projector can be fixed directly to the ceiling. Among the cheapest but still reasonable solutions is the olisicht bracket on sale at 11.90 euros which can support video projectors with a maximum weight of 3 kilograms.

The coupling system relies on the standard 6 mm thread, and the length of the rod, made of aluminum, is fixed at 21 cm. However, it uses a ball head that allows you to adjust the inclination and direction of the projector at three hundred and sixty degrees. The fixing to the ceiling is done through the use of three plugs (included in the package).

A System With Ceiling Fixing Using A Retractable Hatch

This last option combines the best of both worlds, that of home video projection which is not at all invasive, but it’s installation requires a minimum of manual work or renovation of the room in which it is installed. It is fixed to the ceiling, and thanks to an accordion structure, it can be hidden for as long as it is not used under a trap door.

It is, therefore, necessary to have a plasterboard false ceiling, which must be drilled to the size of the hatch (48 x 48 cm) at the point where the projector is to be positioned. The opening and closing are motorized and remotely controllable with the remote control. The structure is made of sturdy metal and can support video projectors for a maximum load of 20 kilograms. The price is much higher than the other proposals: 352 euros.

This Is How Effective Marketing For Small Businesses Succeeds

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This Is How Effective Marketing For Small Businesses Succeeds

A little budget, little experience, brief period: These are presumably the most well-known issues that make independent companies frantic regarding promotion. To outline the tips in this article, we might want to acquaint ourselves. 

In doing as such, he deals with the very issues recently referenced. The accompanying tips demonstrate how he can effectively execute showcasing for independent companies and accordingly gain the consideration of his objective gathering.

ALSO READ: GDPR: How Companies Should Deal With It

Tip 1: Set Goals

Assuming you continue keenly and decisively right all along, you save time, yet additionally cash. These two elective situations show that great arranging is an essential thing in the world of achievement: With the interjections “time is cash” and “the end product would speak for itself,” he hurls himself entirely into the deep end with a rich head plunge. Sadly, the leap closes as an excruciating awkward dive. Why?

How much cash might he want to put resources into publicizing consistently? Who can make text posts for themselves, and how would it be a good idea for them to be distributed on their blog? On which web-based entertainment stages could he at any point arrive at potential student drivers? These are questions that lead him to his objective. Furthermore, because this method is precisely on and these inquiries are pertinent, we will presently give the responses in this article.

Tip 2: Use Content

Content marketing is an incredible promotion, a potential open door for private companies. This is fundamental because you are working with your insight here and exploiting existing potential incredibly effectively.

The objective gathering of any item (or administration) has issues, questions, and objectives and is searching for arrangements: creation directors are searching for ways of decreasing creation costs, and student drivers are searching for ways of bettering plans for the tests with more information. Furthermore, YOU are searching for the response to how independent venture advertising currently succeeds. 

Clients naturally see those organizations in a superior light that can respond to their inquiries justifiably. You can distribute the substance, for example, your expert information, as blog entries, recordings, and digital broadcasts and make it available to potential clients on the Web. In the ideal situation, you now have the site, a PC, or a cell phone with word handling programming. What’s more, for webcasts and recordings in happy promotion, you don’t require costly expert innovation. Notwithstanding, offices and specialists are a decent choice if you need to ensure that everything runs impeccably or more expertly – or you need more limits with regards to making content right now.

Tip 3: Find The Proper Channels: Owned Media

You can address nearly everybody on the Web – even 50% of the more than 65-year-olds are currently on the Web. It would help if you characterized the proper channels for your advertising to contact individuals who will profit from your items and administrations.

Most importantly, tracks can be partitioned into three classifications: Possessed Media, Paid Media, and Procured Media. We restrict ourselves to possessed and paid media: “Claimed media” are the channels that “have a place” as far as you might be concerned, like your site. 

“Paid Media” are the channels through which you can disperse your substance for an expense. Notwithstanding your site or blog, claimed Media additionally incorporates your virtual entertainment profiles and bulletins. To begin with, we should take a gander at virtual entertainment. There is currently a massive determination of stages on which you can address your objective gathering.

Tip 4: Paid Media – Targeted Advertisements

We might now want to make sense of the focus on references in more detail. All online entertainment clients consistently share data about themselves, and independent ventures showcase benefits. Based on this information, you can address your objective gathering precisely: age, orientation, interests, and locale.

This is strictly the exact thing focusing on implies: utilizing these channel choices to guarantee that promoting via virtual entertainment contacts the ideal individuals in a designated way. Like Facebook, they appear in the news source on Instagram, each client’s standard ads. You can characterize unequivocally who ought to see your promotions. What’s more, for every one of these promotions, you set a financial plan to spend on every advertisement. So you generally have the costs taken care of.

This Is How You Will Be Found – Google Services

You have frequently involved Google and seen commercials there in the list of items. This works with the assistance of Google Advertisements. Here, notices are just shown for specific inquiry terms – you can choose for yourself what these are.

Be that as it may, this requires complete watchword research ahead of time to characterize practical inquiry terms. With Google Promotions, you pay per click on your advertisements and can set a most extreme bid. Here it would help if you dealt with fluctuating costs contingent upon the costs of the contenders. 

While the publicity for well-known search terms can cost up to €10 per click, they are accessible for different periods for just a dime. You generally choose how much the singular pursuit terms are worth to you. One more free choice to be found on the Web is Google Business. You can utilize this to add your organization to your research. Then, at that point, Mr. Koehler’s driving school is consequently shown with all the essential data, for example, phone numbers, surveys, and a connection to the site when somebody looks for driving schools in their city.

GDPR: How Companies Should Deal With It

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GDPR How Companies Should Deal With It

The General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) has been in force since May 25, 2018, and companies must now comply with the new regulations. But what exactly is changing, and why is the GDPR suitable for customers and companies? This article addresses the questions of GDPR and how companies should deal with it.

Why GDPR Is Good For Customers And Businesses

The GDPR brings benefits to customers and companies alike. While customers can look forward to more protection of their data, companies have the opportunity to bind customers more closely through targeted handling of their customer’s data.

ALSO READ: Survive And Live With The Customer Who Does Not Pay

After all, it is precisely the trustworthiness that determines whether a customer entrusts the company with his data or not. With the introduction of the GDPR, a big step towards more security and trust is taken for both customers and companies. To comply with the GDPR, one should resort to companies for document destruction.

The GDPR Is No Reason To Panic – This Is How You Keep An Overview

The best way to keep track is to familiarize yourself with the new regulations. For that, there are different possibilities. On the one hand, you can get information from experts or read through various articles and guides on the Internet.

The data protection authorities themselves also offer helpful information. On the other hand, you can also contact a data protection officer who will help you implement the new rules. Another critical point is to check your data protection regulations and adjust them if necessary. 

You should ensure that all information is clear and understandable and that no questions remain unanswered. The declarations of consent must also comply with the new requirements. If you are unsure about this, you should consult an expert. Finally, it should be said that the GDPR does not only mean a change for companies but also for private individuals. Everyone should familiarize themselves with the new regulations and know their rights. This is the only way to ensure that your data is well protected.

GDPR – The Most Significant Changes

The GDPR sets some new obligations for companies. On the one hand, they now have to document exactly which personal data they process and why. On the other hand, they must clearly and comprehensively explain their rights to information, deletion, and objection to those affected.

In addition, they must ensure that the personal data of the persons concerned is correct and up-to-date. To implement the obligations under the GDPR, companies must first check which personal data they process and why. This check is necessary because many companies do not know which sensitive information they store and process. For example, many companies collect personal data in their customer databases without a specific reason. This practice is now no longer permitted with the GDPR.

Furthermore, companies must clearly and comprehensively explain their rights to information, deletion, and objection to those affected. This can be done, for example, in the form of a notice on the website or in the terms and conditions. The explanation must be designed to be easily understood by everyone concerned. Finally, companies must ensure that the personal data of data subjects is correct and up-to-date. Companies should regularly check whether the records stored are still valid. If not, these data records must be deleted immediately.

It makes sense as an entrepreneur to read the GDPR carefully.

AI Trends: 2022 Predictions Under Scrutiny

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AI Trends 2022 Predictions Under Scrutiny

“Reasonable AI” is about artificial intelligence that can log every detail about itself – and thus becomes explainable (=understandable) – and AI that knows that it is not sure of the correct answer can be sure (= Humble AI). Both approaches are essential in data science and complete the overarching area of ​​responsible AI. Where we currently stand in AI trends.

AI Trends For 2022: Auditable AI Methods Will Be Used More Frequently

Where do we stand with the AI ​​trends: Auditable or interpretable machine learning models are an essential component of “auditable AI,” but initially, only a small group of specialists were interested in interpretable machine learning. In recent months, however, leading data science experts have also taken up the topic. The advantages of interpretable AI are now obviously recognized and used in practice – for example, more often when it comes to lending.

ALSO READ: AI In The World Of Work: What Managers Need To Consider

It is nice to see that in this area, which many consider high-risk, interpretable AI is being used to achieve more transparency and fairness. This is an excellent credit to explainable AI. Models that can be interpreted can uncover, record, and monitor distortions – and don’t exclude themselves: the AI ​​also checks whether the models themselves have been set up and are working without bias.

Prediction: Data Scientists Lead The Way In Adopting “Modest AI”

Where do we stand now: A big step towards “Modest AI” is the Machine Learning Model Operationalization Management (MLOps). In addition to proactive and continuous model monitoring, MLOps believe that no distinction should be made between developing and practically using a machine learning model. In the past, these were usually two distinct phases, often weeks or months apart.

In today’s regulatory environment, on the other hand, closer integration is expected. With continuous model monitoring, the alarm bells ring early if the assumptions based on the model are violated, in complete contrast to the idea that the user would blindly and naively accept every result of the AI. That’s what Humble AI is all about. The MLOps model shows how relevant this topic is today and how important initiatives by data scientists are to achieve the goals of the humble AI.

Prediction: AI Transparency And “Ethics By Design” Will No Longer Be An Option

Where are we now: I’ve blogged a lot about the recommendations of the IEEE 7000 standard: “Create models that you can reliably communicate with and explain with sufficient transparency.” That thought is becoming more and more important as the regulation of AI comes into focus.

The Brookings Institute, for example, says that the European Union’s AI Act “aims to create the first comprehensive regulatory framework for artificial intelligence, but its implications will not stop at EU borders. Some EU politicians even consider setting a global standard a key goal of the AEOI, leading some to speak of a race to regulate AI.”

AI Trends: Discussion About High-Risk Artificial Intelligence

In my opinion, high-risk AI is not yet widely deployed, and the EU’s AI regulation is overshooting the mark. The intention is good, but not all AI is risky. In particular, interpretable machine learning can specify what influences the results. It is hoped that the regulators’ overreaction to AI will be limited as the year progresses.

My approach is to find a middle ground by letting users carefully and responsibly choose an algorithm developed with ethical considerations. It is also essential to question the model repeatedly while it is being used. Because in the words of the well-known statistician George Box: “Basically all models are wrong,

Looking back, my outlook on AI trends for 2022 was exact. The responsible use of artificial intelligence is increasingly coming to the fore and is slowly becoming a matter of course in the data science world.

Survive And Live With The Customer Who Does Not Pay

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Survive And Live With The Customer Who Does Not Pay

Even freelancers have deadlines like all VAT numbers, albeit facilitated, and your accountant should have told you. Right? Well, because surviving nowadays is already challenging in itself, if we then go and add working for free, it’s worth migrating to a new country. 

Because it is the country it is, can you afford not to pay at the agreed deadline or close a business because it is full of debt and open a new one using the name of the wife (figurehead )? These fantastic “games,” among many things, have sent professionals and companies upside down, hundreds of thousands, leading to disgrace.

ALSO READ: Is Your Company Fit For The Future?

You, a freelancer, are particularly at risk. Do you know that? Because in 2015, you are still regarded as a weak link in society: an unemployed 2.0. This is not the reality, especially if you have chosen to start your own business. However, this can cause you many problems, such as not seeing you provide financing for a car or a simple PC, which is fundamental for your business. That’s why you need to know how to live with a customer who doesn’t pay, and here are some tips on how you can survive this misadventure.

Methods Of Coexistence With The Customer Who Does Not Pay

  • Once the invoice has been issued, always send a copy by email to the customer. Before sending it, however, close the sentence with a “Waiting for payment, I remain available for any new ones” or a more informal “As soon as the transfer has been made, can you notify me? Thank you. 
  • Has it already been a week since your invoice expired, and the home banking keeps telling you that no bank transfer has been received? This is the first alarm bell. I always start with a polite reminder email. If I do not accept any credit in the 2/3 days to come, I go to the phone call. Also, in this case, do not allow yourself to commit terrorism. Always use good manners but make it clear that you are not joking, with a severe tone, especially if you had been promised, like “Monday I’ll pay you!” They were not kept. You are a professional. You don’t have to be fooled.
  • Whether it is an agency or a company, it happens to be told this: “As soon as I receive the transfer from PincoPallo, I will pay you.” This is one of the most uncomfortable situations because you are faced with a customer who works only with what he gets or who has scratched the bottom of the barrel and used the money that was due to you for his business. Therefore, the is pulling for length. Here, in this case, the line is skinny between “I can no longer give you extensions” and “go to that country! I worked, and now I’m coming to get my money. Make sure you find them!”. This will allow you to maintain a dialogue with the client who does not pay without going through unnecessary threats or passing through letters from lawyers, which will never let you review the money in the short term, if not to lose it;
  • The company for which you have lent your activities is not in good water, and they give you transparency by telling you that they will not be able to pay you shortly. Well, indeed, bad! Because the homeowner does not wait for the rent and the refrigerator does not fill itself. The first thing you need to do is think about your credit, how to take it all home, then immediately set two safe dates with the company contact, in an honest time frame for both parties, and sign that commitment in black and white. . In this way you will have some more chance of seeing your efforts paid off, even if diluted in the months to come;
  • “I no longer have a lira. I’m sorry. The only thing I can offer you is to give you what you are entitled to be Royalties….” She escapes, and on the way, you stop by your lawyer. You are facing a dinosaur, something bigger than you, and you better protect yourself;
  • Never work for just one client. In addition to precluding you from potential further work, in the event of economic difficulty, you will have no other sources of credit;
  • Never work for friends and family. Not even for the company in which your brother or mother works! This will make you more vulnerable in collecting payments because there is a family connection to them.

Methods Of Survival With The Customer Who Does Not Pay

  • Every holy month, as soon as you receive the payments, always ensure that you have some money left in the cashier because the possibility of outstanding fees can always arise in the following weeks. This will give you more financial autonomy and a guarantee of survival;
  • If you want to invest, whatever it is in terms of volume, before making it, always check that you can maintain its commitment in all its short or long deadlines in parallel with your existing projects and upcoming collections. This will give you some extra guarantees to always walk on your legs, even if the storm of the customer who does not pay arises;
  • If you have to leave behind some deadlines, as long as it is a few days (not weeks), do it with the bills of standard utilities, such as electricity, gas, water, and telephone. If you pay late, you will be charged a late payment on your next bill, usually of a few Euros (if not a handful of cents, check the contract you have active), but it will allow you to receive late credits;
  • Do not make any unnecessary purchases during the period in which you have accumulated credits because the situation may not be released in a short time, and this would only lead to overloading your financial autonomy;
  • Look for new projects and collaborations, and do not scruple to contact a colleague you know could help you, professionally speaking, in case it could be the opportunity for a new and lasting relationship of work/collaboration.

Innovations: Human Innovation Index Shows What Consumers Think About It

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Innovations Human Innovation Index Shows What Consumers Think About It

Deloitte’s new “Human Innovation Index” examines which innovations companies can use to inspire consumers. According to the index, Amazon, Apple, and Netflix are the most successful.

  • As Deloitte’s “Human Innovation Index” shows, more than a third have already tried out new products or services.
  • Consumers rely on the safety promises of strong brands regarding innovations.
  • Amazon, Apple, and Netflix are most successful in convincing customers.

Every year companies invest more than 100 billion euros in research and Innovation. This serves to develop innovations. According to calculations by the federal government, in 2020 alone, it was a total of 106 billion euros. And despite a corona-related decline, this is a significant increase of over 60 percent since 2009. “Sustainability, energy independence, digitization, and growth – we cannot achieve all this by maintaining the status quo. Companies compete for ever better, more efficient, new technologies, products, and services”.

ALSO READ: Collaboration: Telekom And Microsoft Are Merging Their Solutions

Looking For Innovations That Inspire People

But which of the numerous innovations that companies are developing excite people? The “Human Innovation Index” by Deloitte and YouGov is dedicated to this question, examining which companies manage to get people to do something new.

“The innovation activities of companies have been well studied.” “Much less is known about how many of these innovations reach people. Who creates innovations not only for their own company (corporate Innovation) but in such a way that they inspire people and try out new things.”

More Than A Third Try Out Innovations

More than 6,000 respondents, more than 39 percent, say they have recently tried a new product or service from a company—another 16 percent plan to do so. “If you look at the average innovation expenditure of over 1,000 euros per inhabitant, this can only be a partial success”.

Some companies successfully create innovations and get people to try them. The top 15 are shown in the Human Innovation Index: pure corporate innovations only have an internal effect. On the other hand, human innovations have brought about growth over the years. It is all the more important to understand which innovations motivate people to buy. A prosperous future beckons to those who have cracked the human innovation factor.

New Products Always Attract New People

8.7 percent of people have tried a product launched in the last five years, and 26 percent of a product was established during the previous ten years. This means: The best new brands, products, or services do not just kindle a flash in the pan. They attract new people over the years, retain their novelty and appeal, and eventually become mainstream.

Brands like Netflix, HelloFresh, and Spotify have been around for over five years – and are still at the forefront regarding getting people to try things out. However, established brands such as Telekom, Otto, or the brand evergreen Miele also encourage consumers to try new things.

Innovations Can Be Anything But Boring

Innovations only win people over if they move them emotionally. Brands like Picnic and Spotify convince by evoking the feeling of freedom – that’s what more than 30 percent of respondents answered.

Companies like Google, Siemens, and Dyson make users feel unique with their high-tech products. Miele and Etsy, the online platform for handmade items, are the only ones who manage to convey a sense of sensuality with their innovations (approx. 25 percent).

Despite all the diversity, a pattern quickly becomes clear: products and services that win an emotional key usually unite new people: fun is the most frequently evoked emotion (for 29 percent of all respondents). For products less than five years old, the figure is even 43 percent. And three brands stand out here with extra fun. The streaming providers Disney+ and Netflix naturally embody endless entertainment. But Otto’s fashion retailer Bonprix is ​​also playing on a similar level. Innovations rarely win people over only superficially. For most winning brands, that sense of excitement is backed up by an understanding of “everything is fine” (25 percent) and reassurance (19 percent). Brands that do this particularly well are Spotify, Etsy, Miele, and Kaufland.

Innovations Offer Platform And Reputation Advantage

The combination of fun and security is served perfectly by the major online platforms. Users know them and know that everything is fine here (Amazon 28 percent). This allows them to have fun (Amazon 40 percent).

The reputation of the big and familiar brands also helps: Telekom, Miele, Otto, or Bosch give people a feeling of security (over 30 percent). This essential trust makes many people willing to take the risk of trying a new product or service.

In conclusion, Virginie Briand, Co-Head of Deloitte’s Creative Consultancy, states: “Innovation involves new technology first. But it’s meaningless if it doesn’t change people, too. Only that makes them decisive for all companies that shape growth and markets.”

Collaboration: Telekom And Microsoft Are Merging Their Solutions

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Collaboration Telekom And Microsoft Are Merging Their Solutions

For the first time in India, Deutsche Telekom announces an innovation in Microsoft Teams that will soon be available for companies of all sizes. “Mobile for Microsoft Teams” promises efficient administration.

As the first provider in India, Telekom has announced an innovation in Microsoft Teams: “Mobile for Microsoft Teams.” Here, the best mobile network in India and the software companies use for collaboration are merged. Integrating business customers’ mobile phone numbers is a significant extension of Teams alongside the already possible integration of landline and dial-in conference numbers.

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Regardless of location and device, users can make calls directly in Teams and domestic and international calls with incoming and outgoing cell phone numbers. The additional use of chat and video conference functions is a matter of course. With Mobile for Microsoft Teams, Microsoft and Telekom create a future-oriented solution for communication and collaboration.

Installed Quickly And Allocated Flexibly

With Mobile for Microsoft Teams, all telephony services, including mobile communications, can be managed directly in the Microsoft Teams Admin Centre. The setup is straightforward: Telekom customers import the phone numbers of the suitable business customer contract directly into teams and assign them to their users.

Companies can react quickly and flexibly to the individual needs of their employees and receive a comprehensive solution from a single source. The boundaries between telephony and meetings, mobile and desktop devices, and office and field service are becoming even more blurred. And the efficiency of administration goes hand in hand with the efficiency of use.

Collaboration: Two Worlds Grow Together

No call is lost because the seamless merging of teams with Telekom’s mobile network secures every connection. Even if there is no data connection, users can still make mobile calls and work together in groups.

Thanks to the mobile integration, the user has only one call history, one voicemail, and one presence status across teams and the mobile device. The world of authentication via e-mail addresses is growing together with the world of uniquely assigned cell phone numbers.

Cell phone numbers and teams are virtually physically coupled. “Busy” on the mobile device also means “Busy” on all other devices in Teams – and vice versa. In addition, well-known and familiar UCC functions (UCC: Unified Communication and Collaboration) of teams, such as deputy or out-of-office rules, are available on the go. If an absence message is set up in Outlook, a corresponding text is played on the mobile mailbox. The media break is in the past.

The Working Environment And Collaboration Will Continue To Change

Even after the pandemic, the working environment will continue to change. For example, IDC predicts a sharp drop in local business meetings to 25 percent for 2024,” said Hagen Rickmann, Managing Director of Business Customers at Telekom Deutschland GmbH, when presenting the joint solution at Digital X on September 14 in Cologne.

This creates a seamless fixed-mobile convergence and significantly increases the resilience of companies.” Regardless of location and device, users can make calls directly in Teams and domestic and international calls with incoming and outgoing cell phone numbers.

AI In The World Of Work: What Managers Need To Consider

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AI In The World Of Work What Managers Need To Consider

Artificial intelligence (AI) will change the world of work and also cover management tasks: AI systems promise to relieve repetitive activities and should give managers more time for personnel management and strategic planning. At the same time, AI as an element in direction can unsettle employees and raise legal and organizational questions.

Leadership with AI support should therefore be based on participation, openness, and transparency and requires new skills from managers.

ALSO READ: Optimising Order Processing: The Interaction With The ERP

Artificial intelligence (AI) has been changing the world of work for several years. To remain competitive with innovative products in the coming years and decades, it will become strategically crucial for companies to integrate AI systems into their business models and operating processes. AI is thus gradually becoming an essential and new element in the work context and business organization and is leading to a redesign of the division of labor between man and machine. The introduction of AI in companies offers opportunities and potential both for employees, for example, in relief through AI systems, and for companies, for instance, in process improvements or new business models.

In the future, AI systems will support tasks in the office and the factory or be able to completely take over these tasks previously reserved for humans, despite all the industrialization and automation of modern times. This primarily applies to repetitive routine activities at all levels of responsibility and hierarchy across all domains and all processes. For the employees, using AI means even more flexibility, the performance of more demanding activities, individually adapted information, and relief from monotonous mental routine activities, and thus more space for more creative and cognitively valuable activities.

In corporate and personnel management, executives are already using digitized and (partially) automated software tools for many vital tasks. Corresponding AI systems, therefore, also have the potential to become essential tools of contemporary management. In the white paper Leadership in Transition: Challenges and Opportunities through Artificial Intelligence, the Work/Human-Machine Interaction working group of the Learning Systems platform shows how the role of managers is changing in the age of AI and what needs to be done to ensure that the use of AI in the company succeeds.

Managers take on different roles as development, design, organization, and motivation actors and fulfill other tasks within these roles. Thanks to AI automation potential, which comes into play above all in administrative coordination and control tasks and decisions, managers now have the opportunity to focus their resources and attention on innovation-promoting and strategic management tasks or the management and motivation of employees.

Automatable administrative and organizational tasks are taken over by AI-supported software. AI systems can be used, for example, to monitor defined company goals, support the composition of teams or duty and shift planning, and can be used to customize further training plans and content. In recruiting, AI systems can pre-sort applications. AI-based early warning systems alert managers to overwork among employees and can thus counteract work-related mental disorders in good time.

Privacy And Transparency

For many of these tasks, AI systems must be trained with sensitive, personal, and process-related employee data and work with this data. In principle, the collected data could be used for unjustified evaluations and conclusions about the employees, such as for automated recording and performance assessment.

The use of AI systems in the management context must therefore protect personal rights and data protection about employee data. A necessary but insufficient basis for this is compliance with the various national and European data protection regulations, such as the GDPR. In addition, it is expedient if applications have a high-risk potential for the protection of the personality of employees.

The responsible and transparent use of AI for managerial tasks is not only crucial from a data protection point of view. The more AI systems support or take over management tasks, the more questions both managers and employees have: according to which criteria and based on which data the AI ​​systems work and make decisions, for example, or make recommendations for the composition of teams? Do managers influence decision-making, and can they reject AI-based advice?

These unanswered questions can cause fears and worries among employees. As a result, this can, in turn, lead to mental stress, which managers must counteract preventively and reactively as part of their statutory duty of care. It is therefore becoming a central task for managers to build acceptance and trust in the systems used by employees. For this purpose, the active involvement of employees and their interest groups (e.g., works or staff council) in the planning and design of AI systems is essential.

As part of this participation, the aim and purpose of the systems should be jointly defined, the areas of application specified and the consequences, above all for mental health, assessed. In addition, managers as contact persons must have an open ear for the reservations and fears of the employees. If executives identify negative psychological stress, they must react to it appropriately. In addition to examining sensible solutions, it can also mean not introducing or extensively modifying an AI system in extreme cases.

Regarding a transparent design of AI, responsibilities and the division of tasks between AI and manager must also be clearly defined and communicated. It must be understandable for employees where the limits of decision-making authority and thus of responsibility for decisions between managers and the AI ​​system run and how a decision is made. If managers have greater scope for action and opportunities to intervene, this not only contributes to more trust in the technology but also prevents managers themselves from becoming demotivated.

The areas of organization and human resources are also very relevant for companies. The focus is on the consideration of opportunities and dangers of AI applications, preventive work design, change management, the integration of AI technology into the structural and process organization of the company, digital personnel development or deployment planning, and ultimately, the qualification of the specialist – and executives who are supposed to use and work with the AI ​​systems.

Skills For Dealing With AI

To finally make the AI ​​systems used as a natural support option, managers must be competently prepared for the new technological tools. On the one hand, this concerns the necessary basic technical skills. In addition, it will be essential to deal critically with the latest tools’ results: The AI ​​systems do not automatically produce better and fairer decisions. AI systems can also make difficult or discriminatory decisions: If distorting data sets are used to train the systems, the AI ​​systems will, in turn, reproduce this so-called bias in their recommendations or decisions.

For example, an AI system for pre-sorting job applications could be trained with the data of employees who have been successfully hired in the past. If these are predominantly male, the algorithm learns to rate applications from men better than those from women. As a result, the AI ​​system could enforce existing discrimination through technical means. Therefore, a responsible human component is essential in decisions made by managers, which comes about based on healthy skepticism, professional intuition, and specialist experience. 

In this respect, the ultimate design of the content-related division of labor and the division of responsibility between humans and AI will play a decisive role in the future. If these are predominantly male, the algorithm learns to rate applications from men better than those from women. As a result, the AI ​​system could enforce existing discrimination through technical means. 

Therefore, a responsible human component is essential in decisions made by managers, which comes about based on healthy skepticism, professional intuition, and specialist experience. In this respect, the ultimate design of the content-related division of labor and the division of responsibility between humans and AI will play a decisive role in the future. If these are predominantly male, the algorithm learns to rate applications from men better than those from women. 

As a result, the AI ​​system could enforce existing discrimination through technical means. Therefore, a responsible human component is essential in decisions made by managers, which comes about based on healthy skepticism, professional intuition, and specialist experience. In this respect, the ultimate design of the content-related division of labor and the division of responsibility between humans and AI will play a decisive role in the future. 

Therefore, an ultimately responsible human component is essential in decisions made by managers, which comes about based on healthy skepticism, professional intuition, and specialist experience. In this respect, the ultimate design of the content-related division of labor and the division of responsibility between humans and AI will play a decisive role in the future. 

Therefore, an ultimately responsible human component is essential in decisions made by managers, which comes about based on healthy skepticism, professional intuition, and specialist experience. In this respect, the ultimate design of the content-related division of labor and the division of responsibility between humans and AI will play a decisive role in the future.

After all, the use of AI and its focus on data sets means there is a risk of losing sight of the people behind all the parameters used: Therefore, the conscious strengthening of the social dimension of leadership is not only significant when using AI technologies. Instead of an anonymous and technocratic management culture, managers should rely on communication: Personal feedback sessions or approaches such as Management by Walking Around (MBWA) help maintain the human connection between managers and employees.

Despite all the technology, empathetic leadership behavior in business and work processes remains essential. It may become even more relevant because AI can, under bad circumstances, lead to declining human feelings, which would show up negatively in the corporate culture. It is all the more important to think back to the essential managerial tasks: communicating and motivating. If AI systems take on other cognitive tasks, there is more room for them.

AI systems will have a lasting impact on and change tomorrow’s leadership. This can become a real opportunity for a social, humane, sustainable, and innovative management culture. However, as with any technological change, this does not necessarily happen but must be consciously designed against the background of the challenges associated with each change. Companies, managers, and employees must work together to realize people-centered, modern leadership opportunities.

E-Commerce: From Shop To Digital – The Pros And Cons

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E-Commerce From Shop To Digital - The Pros And Cons

The e-commerce and digital sector have been the protagonist of constant growth in recent years, also driven by the numerous lockdowns that have forced individuals to make online purchases. Attracted by this tremendous commercial opportunity, more and more merchants and companies have turned to industry professionals to launch their e-commerce sites. 

However, going from a physical store to a digital one is not an immediate transition. Still, it requires commitment, money, and an understanding of different dynamics than what you are used to.

ALSO READ: E-Commerce SEO Optimization – Google Reveals Some Secrets

Be In Step With The Times By Going Digital

Opening e-commerce means adapting to changing times; the presence on the web is seen, in fact, by customers as a strength. On the contrary, being absent on the internet is perceived as a negative point. 

The mistake that many entrepreneurs make is to think that it is enough to have an e-commerce site to start selling online and thus increase their earnings. Unfortunately, this is not the case. 

The process that leads to successful e-commerce is long, demanding, and must be carried out rationally. Here are some aspects to consider when you decide to expand your business to the world of the web. 

The Cost

First of all, the cost of the operation must be taken into consideration. Many think that setting up an online store from scratch costs little or nothing. Wrong! The creation of the site has starting costs, to which are added the management costs and any costs for the promotion of the brand (which we will discuss later). 

Constant Commitment

Once the e-commerce is online, it is necessary to fill it with contents and products, update it periodically, and respond to customer requests, e-mails and reviews, and other activities of the most disparate. 

Daily work increases, and you have to be prepared to manage it; the risk is putting yourself and your employees in difficulty. The result is that what initially was supposed to be a source of income becomes a go-to that does not increase the business’s revenue due to mismanagement. 

To ensure your site appears among users’ searches, it must be constantly updated with news, helpful information, and curiosities. It is a more complex practice than one might think, as it implies particular rules. So much so that, in technical terms, it is defined as SEO or search engine optimization. Also, in this case, professionals in the sector deal with this aspect (such as the writer). 

Digital Marketing

Another important aspect concerns the marketing strategy to make the online shop make the most of it. Especially for small local businesses, this is a fundamental operation. We must consider that on the web, we find ourselves competing with large companies worldwide. These will have excellent visibility and a much higher budget invested in advertising. 

Therefore, one cannot think of starting selling immediately throughout Italy, but it is necessary to begin in small steps. The first step is to make the company known locally and eventually broaden the action range. Users tend not to trust a company they have never heard of before. In short, you need to make yourself known through branding

Furthermore, for an effective promotional campaign, it is essential to know the tools to use in addition to relying on a team of professionals. Google ADS, Analytics, and other measurement tools are as fundamental as they are complex. 

Go To Meet The Customers

The shopping habits of web users are different from what usually happens in the physical store. Those who surf the internet are used to significant marketplaces such as Amazon, which offer the convenience of purchase, speed, and comfort. 

To be competitive with the great e-commerce giants, it is, therefore, necessary to offer similar services, which requires further commitment. Therefore, pay attention to the shipping methods, the services offered, and, above all, to offers and promotions. Usually, before making a purchase, a customer looks for the most convenient solution at the best price or that offers the fastest shipping. 

Integrated E-Commerce

The last point we want to address concerns integrating the e-commerce site with other tools. Often, the site itself is insufficient, or at least it is decidedly more effective when supported by other platforms. With this in mind, Facebook, Instagram, and other social networks can significantly increase the visibility of a business. 

This is again the concept of visibility: by increasing your presence on the web through different channels, your visibility and, consequently, your turnover also increases.

E-Commerce SEO Optimization – Google Reveals Some Secrets

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E-Commerce SEO Optimization - Google Reveals Some Secrets

The explosion of online shopping as a mass phenomenon has pushed more and more small and medium-sized enterprises to explore this territory. On the other hand, it is a market that generated, in 2021 alone, almost 5,000 billion dollars in the world,  

With the exponential increase in competition, it becomes increasingly difficult to get noticed on the web, among the tide of e-commerce that is born every day. For this reason, Google has shared new indications and tips to improve the SEO optimization of your site. 

ALSO READ: Is Your Company Fit For The Future?

SEO Optimization For Your E-Commerce

Search engine optimization ( SEO ) is key to standing out from the crowd and reaching the top positions in search results. It is a complex job, which requires numerous studies and includes different aspects of the website to be optimized. 

The final purpose is to satisfy the requirements “like” Google, which positively evaluates the operations carried out and thus makes the site “rise” to the top among the results. However, there is a small problem: Google has never released an exhaustive list of the criteria with which it evaluates these aspects. 

From time to time, however, the American giant shares advice and information, and it is, therefore, essential to stay up to date on this and take advantage of these opportunities to improve the SEO optimization of your site. So let’s see what these precious tips are.

Google’s Recommendations

Site Infrastructure 

The first tip concerns the infrastructure of the site. What are the technical foundations of the site center with SEO optimization? In short, if the site does not meet the essential criteria in terms of structure, Google will penalize its visibility. 

To increase the number of visitors to your site, it is therefore essential to start with the basic structure of e-commerce. It is a more complex job than it may initially appear. Several elements fall under the infrastructure: 

  • the basic structure; 
  • the lyrics; 
  • the page titles; 
  • the descriptions (meta descriptions).

Mark The Product Variant Pages

E-commerce often contains several variants of the same product, such as color variants, sizes, etc. Reporting these differences to Google helps the tool better understand the site’s content, with a relative improvement in SEO optimization.

Another detail that can improve search engine rankings is to use a different URL for each variant of the same product. 

Relevant Content

A user who lands on e-commerce does not necessarily access the home page but can arrive on any site’s pages. For this reason, it is essential that on each page, there is content that is relevant and useful to the visitor. 

Even the home page should not be neglected; quite the contrary. It must have specific content, links that refer to the site’s other pages, and beautiful images. E-commerce should follow the user step by step, guiding him in all navigation phases, from his entry to the purchase. 

Use The Same URL For Events

If a site uses dedicated pages for recurring events, such as holidays or seasonal sales, the best practice is to use the same URL. For example, suppose the site publishes a page dedicated to yearly end-of-summer promotions. In that case, using the same page (and, therefore, the same URL) is more convenient than creating a specific page every time. 

This prevents Google from searching and indexing a new page every time, as it already knows the URL.

Page Speed

The last tip is something already known and concerns the loading speed of the site’s pages. A slow page with loading times more significant than 3 seconds will be penalized by Google. 

In order to facilitate user navigation, Google favors sites that load content quickly. 

General Advice

To respect all the points indicated above, some helpful tools can tell us if we respect the rules for correct SEO optimization. 

The first is the Google Search Console, through which we can check for any technical infrastructure problems and the relationship between pages and URLs. A second useful tool is Google Analytics which measures the performance of different pages. Some devices also help us in the moment of creating content within WordPress, such as the Rank Math SEO plugin. 

For professional and performance SEO optimization, the best advice is always to rely on industry experts. Digify deals with creating websites in all its phases, including optimization for search engines, and offers a precise, timely service at your service.