Finding an Outlet - Making Tech Work for Everyone

What iOS 12 Offers Businesses

6 days ago

The new iOS 12 update rolled out to Apple devices on September 17th, finally leaving the beta period behind. If you haven’t installed the update already, you can do so by going to Settings > General > Software Update on compatible devices. If you willing decided to not install the update, here are some reasons why you should consider iOS 12.

Many people don’t like change. Getting something new over something you already know works well enough might be a little intimidating. The fear of messing something up grows only larger when the device in question is for work and. However, the iOS 12 has a lot of updates for businesses and their employees. Checking them out and making the decision from there certainly won’t hurt and could, in fact, lead to increased productivity.

It’s Time to Talk About U.S. Data Laws

2 weeks ago

Nathan P. Sykes

Systems & Data

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A survey conducted by Pew Research, as if we really needed one, indicates at least half of all Americans perceive their online data to be less secure today than it was a few years ago.

America, despite relentless progress on other fronts, and despite being one of the most technology- and data-driven countries on Earth, is a patchwork of privacy and data laws right now. Even net neutrality has failed at the federal level, opening the door for states like California to lead the way.

It’s time to have a serious conversation about the current state, and ideal future, of U.S. data protection and access laws.

The Highly Efficient and Productive IT Team

3 weeks ago

Nathan P. Sykes

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It’s no secret that IT departments and team members are often tasked with handling complex solutions and systems, some of which can affect an entire group of users and therefore have varying degrees of consequences. Of course, it explains why nearly everything and anything implemented in the field is rigorously planned out and strategized first.

It’s also a field where troubleshooting and unforeseen consequences are common. Many times, in fact, issues can arise and cause delays in development or operations. So, converting any IT team into a more productive cog in the wheel can be a monumental task.

To that end, here are three tips that can help you foster a more productive IT team or department within your company.

Which Smart Home Gadget Should You Get First?

4 weeks ago

Nathan P. Sykes

Advice, Tech & Business

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Deciding to become a first-time owner of smart home gadgets means you’ve taken a significant step. However, there are still other things to figure out. One involves determining which smart device earns the spot at the top of your “to-buy” list. Indeed, many people find they’re interested in a range of smart gadgets, meaning prioritizing the first purchase isn’t always straightforward.

Here are four tips that should help you narrow down the options.

What a Customer Data Platform Can Do for Your Business

1 month ago

Nathan P. Sykes

Systems & Data

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Whether you’ve established a proper system or not, data is flowing in, and it’s ripe for the taking. The problem, however, is that it’s coming from so many different sources, flowing through so many different channels, and involves so many various events that marketers and support teams cannot keep up. This situation has created a need for a proper, comprehensive tool that can be used to organize and manage the data flows, and also integrate the information into existing processes.

Queue the Customer Data Platform or CDP. According to David Raab, Founder of the Customer Data Platform Institute and expert on the subject, a CDP is “a marketer-managed system that creates a persistent, unified customer database that is accessible to other systems.”

Let’s break that definition down into simpler terms, and explore how it can help your business.

How Technology Is Innovating B2B Sales

2 months ago

Nathan P. Sykes

B2B

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No B2C — or business-to-customer — company could survive without some technological platform. Whether by utilizing social media or an interactive website, customers in the modern age want to be able to do everything on their phones if at all possible. B2B, or business-to-business, companies are finding themselves increasingly going directly to customers and are thus forced to leap into technology.

Technology doesn’t just help with marketing, either, as B2Bs are quickly learning. Utilization of technology can help the company run smoother and change how business itself is done. To get a grasp of what technology can do for B2B, here are a few examples:

What the Gig Economy Means for the Future of IT

2 months ago

Nathan P. Sykes

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Many people are familiar with the gig economy and its influence on the transportation sector. Now, anyone with a car can apply to drive for Uber or Lyft and potentially make money with their vehicle by getting people in their communities where they need to go.

But, the gig economy is thoroughly disrupting the IT industry as well. Let’s take a look at some of the things already happening.

AI in SaaS

2 months ago

Nathan P. Sykes

B2B

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SaaS or software-as-a-service platforms specialize in mass data processing in more ways than one. The content alone is stored remotely and streamed — as data packets no less — to a remote machine.

But the technology has also evolved to the point where entire systems are delivered via the cloud. Think a sales facilitation and analytics platform that handles everything from product invoicing to customer experiences.

Becoming a Cloud-Native Business

2 months ago

Nathan P. Sykes

Cloud

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The progress of technology has forced many businesses to improve just so they can keep up. Robots and automation are driving some of this pace, but there are far more sophisticated options only the Internet and similar technology can provide.

Businesses are moving their entire structures to the cloud to become more high-tech and speed up their manufacturing. Becoming a cloud-native company is not an immediate or easy task, but the long-term rewards are worth the price.

Many consumers already do most of their business online anyway. Becoming cloud-native shouldn’t be a company’s first step into online business, but rather the goal.

Will the Blockchain Change Data Security?

3 months ago

Nathan P. Sykes

Systems & Data

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While data security was never a luxury or afterthought — it’s always been a crucial component of digital operations — nearly every business, organization and individual has to worry about it these days, from smartphones and wearable tech to smart home devices and IOT equipment. Just about anything and everything is connected, tapped into a nearby network and both collecting and creating data.

Every day our lives — personal and professional — are spent more and more online, and that amounts to lots of data and digital content. But alongside that, major data breaches and cyber attacks are also commonplace. We need to come up with a better solution for protecting all that information and fast. That’s where blockchain technology fits into the equation.