Business

In the digital age there are so many companies with grand plans as to what they are able to offer their customers yet they often fail to have the know-how or the technical ability to set it up, or even to manage it. For this reason why are going to look today at API management solutions and what that is able to offer a business. To those of you who believe that you are unaware, and API is an application programming interface and simply put it is a piece of very simple software which allows your company programs to interact with others. Let’s say for example that you wish to put together an application for a travel agent and you want the customer to be able to get the most up to date information, and API will help your app to integrate with airlines, hotels and even weather information to give your customers the best advice.

This is why it is critical that your company utilizes the API management solutions.

Essence of Outsourcing

The absolute essence of outsourcing is that you hand off a particular area of your business to he experts so that they will be able to ensure that your business is improved as a result. When it comes to the management of an API, or multiple APIs, it is absolutely essential that you have some experts on board who are going to be able to make sure that you are able to scale up when required and to deliver the best results for your customers. Most companies do not have in-house API experts, which is why using management solutions makes the most sense.

Ensuring Maximum Speed and Functionality

For those who know what APIs are all about, the management of them is in fact very simple, despite the number of moving parts that is involved. To the unaware however this is in fact a very tough aspect of the business to manage. The problem that so many companies have is that they believe that once an API or multiple APIs have been established, that everything is going to run smoothly. Sadly however it only takes one very small thing to go wrong and all of a sudden the app is not functional and you are disappointing your users. Having an API management solution team on your side is the perfect way to avoid this from happening and to ensure that your apps run just as smoothly as they should.

Company Reputation

There is little point in offering your customers something that glitters with gold when in fact it doesn’t operate well, and in doing so you are going to greatly damage your reputation. With this in mind, the use of a company which can offer you API management support, is going to make sure that you have a team on board which will maximize your reputation and which will deliver to your customers exactly what it is supposed to.

 

If you are heading off to work for a number of weeks or months then there is only one accommodation type that you should be looking for and that is furnished corporate housing. Many businesses will look to place their staff in hotels other private facilities but the reality is that there is no better option when it comes to where you spend your time away. Today we are going to talk about just some of the benefits which you can count on when you choose furnished corporate housing instead of some of the more traditional accommodation options, let’s take a look.

That Comfort Level

Hotels of course do all that they can to try and make you feel comfortable and in the main they do a very good job of this. There is however a limit to hotel stays and anything more than two weeks us just going to become very frustrating. When you stay in corporate housing however you will find that they are furnished in such a way as to make sure that you are as comfortable as you would be at home, or at least as close to that as they can deliver for you. This is why so many look to this kind of accommodation option in particular.

Looking After Yourself

If we continue to look at that hotel comparison we can see that there are plenty more reasons for staying in a private rental. The main reason here is that you are able to take care of yourself when you live in these types of apartments. For example eating in the hotel restaurant all of the time or eating out all of the time can indeed get pretty boring, and sometimes you just want a kitchen where you can knock yourself up a quick sandwich or something similar. The same goes for washing your clothes, it is much easier just to do it yourself sometimes and that is exactly what corporate housing will do for you.

Serviced and Designed For You

These are apartments which have been designed with people like you in mind, someone who is working in an unfamiliar area and someone who is looking to set up shop away from home. For this reason these are not only beautifully furnished but they more often than not have a range of services which they can offer you, that will help you to improve your time there. For example you may find that there are gyms and swimming pools where you can unwind, and in most cases you’ll find that amenities are not too far away at all.

All of this points to the fact that this kind of living is optimal when it comes to your time away and if you are able to find yourself some high quality apartments then you will find that your time working away from home is made infinitely easier and more enjoyable than if you were to stay elsewhere.

 

Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, one of your main concerns when traveling for business was likely securing a high-quality, luxurious accommodation option for yourself and your party. Now, securing a safe option is high on your list of priorities as well. The good news? A corporate housing provider offers an accommodation option that ticks both boxes, according to travel guru Brian Ferdinand in a recently published article. Let’s take a look at what business travelers can expect when they book corporate housing units this winter season.

Luxury

In the recent article, Brian Ferdinand, the managing partner of CorpHousing Group, explains that business travel can be stressful even for the savvy traveler. In addition, whether your employer has called you to visit Los Angeles, Boston, or Denver, you might encounter the same types of travel-related challenges. Many travelers automatically choose hotel rooms to stay in, but the problem with this type of accommodation is that it can leave you feeling disconnected from your destination city. In addition, if you have to stay in your hotel room for multiple weeks, you may end up feeling a little stir crazy at some point.

Corporate housing firms can help you to overcome the above challenges by offering spacious units that give you direct access to your new city. With this type of accommodation, you can consistently enjoy a more personal, local, and relaxed travel experience.

Safety

In addition to providing comfortable accommodations, leading corporate housing firms are taking their unit cleaning processes seriously during the current pandemic. This is necessary to prevent their guests as well as their staff from contracting the coronavirus.

For instance, you can expect professional cleaners to sanitize unit chairs, sofas, and sofa sleepers/ pull-outs to make sure that all surfaces remain clean. They will also thoroughly clean all hard furnishings in any unit that you book, including not only furniture but also windows, air vents, electronics, mantles, and artwork.

Professional cleaners will also take extra steps to make sure that your kitchen is clean. For instance, you can expect them to completely sanitize drip pans and cooking surfaces, microwaves, and refrigerators. Likewise, floors, cupboards, countertops, drawers, and dishwashers will be fully cleaned to your satisfaction.

Overall, when you choose the right provider of corporate housing for your next business trip, you can feel confident that your home away from home will not only meet but also exceed your comfort and cleanliness expectations time and time again.

To read more on topics like this, check out the Business category

If you are an employer, you will likely send employees on business trips to distant cities over the next several months, or you may require some of your workers to permanently relocate to other cities. Either way, it is critical that you explore all of your housing accommodation options before immediately settling for hotel accommodations. Travel expert Brian Ferdinand recently shared in an article that corporate housing remains one of the best accommodation options for employers when compared with hotels. Here, we’ll take a peek at what corporate housing is and what makes it so attractive to employers and employees alike.

Corporate Housing vs. Hotels

According to Brian Ferdinand, the managing partner of CorpHousing Group, corporate housing offers the best accommodations for employees who need temporary housing, as these accommodations are fully furnished. As a result, with a corporate housing unit, an employee won’t have to waste time setting up furnishings in his or her temporary home, or struggle with the inconvenience of not having a place that is move in ready. This means that your employee can focus more on his or her work assignment, which will benefit your bottom line.

In addition, corporate housing units tend to be less expensive than hotels are over a period of several weeks. As a result, your company won’t have to spend excessive amounts of money on your employees short-term accommodations. This leaves more money in the coffers to spend on other aspects of your workers’ business trips.

Additional Insights into Corporate Housing

As a general rule of thumb, corporate housing is an excellent housing option for any worker who needs temporary housing while completing a work-related relocation. However, this type of housing has especially appealed to government workers, corporate VIPs, and business executives over the years.

When you book a corporate housing unit for an employee, you won’t have to enter a full-year agreement as you would a traditional apartment. Rather, your short-term agreement will likely last between three and six months. This makes corporate housing very different from hotels, where stays are usually no longer than a handful of days at a time.

All in all, corporate housing units shine by offering the types of amenities that you would expect in a hotel or at home but without a hefty cost. As a result, they are a cost-effective and efficient way to provide your employees with the temporary housing they need.

To read more on topics like this, check out the Business category

Last month I was chatting on Skype with a very good friend of mine who works as an executive for the Cumby Group, a high level construction company. I made the comment to my friend that there will be more business and more money-making opportunities for his firm, given that so many smaller companies had been forced to close their doors for good. Now the Cumby Group is a big operation and whilst they have certainly had their fair share of pain in the last 12 months, there is no doubt that they will be alright, and will be able to continue operations.

I was quickly corrected by my friend, who actually spoke worryingly about the risk that these closures has on the industry as a whole.

Loss of Talent

The result of so many businesses which worked in the construction industry closing, is that there are now much higher levels of competition for jobs. Let’s say that you need an electrician for a big project, you will now have 5 options to every 1 that you would have had in the past, which seems like it is a positive. Unfortunately however it will not be long before some of those 5, get sick of applying for jobs which they are unable to get, and eventually they will look elsewhere for work, and may even switch careers. This will result in a loss of talent in the industry which will certainly hurt many companies.

Bigger Demands

Construction is already a highly demanding industry and those who pay for projects want the job done perfectly and with haste, a common gripe of those who work within the construction sector. This, my friend worries, will only get worse in the coming months and years because there are going to be less companies available to carry out the work. The result of this will be a more demanding client who needs jobs done yesterday, before moving on to the next one. Ultimately some more companies in the construction sector could buckle under the pressure of bigger projects and less companies to support.

Using The Smaller Firms

Something which I had never considered until speaking with Paul, was just how heavily companies like the Cumby Group rely on those smaller firms to get the job done. This type of group will take on the project and help to manage the client and they will then utilize up to 7 or 8 different companies to deliver on the construction project. When you consider the construction site you are talking about plasterers, window glazers, bricklayers, project managers, electricians, plumbers and gas fitters to name just a few, these are all recruited from smaller firms and without these firms being in existence, it poses quite the headache for the company which is heading up the project.

As you can see, what may appear to be a benefit on the face of it, is in fact bad for everyone involved.

To read more on topics like this, check out the Business category

If you currently use the SAP suite of applications to run your business, you’re no stranger to the powerful tools available to you when you use this platform. SAP’s products and tools are used in numerous industries, including, but not limited to areas such as the world of finance, energy and natural resources, healthcare, automotive, and banking. From software solutions that help you harness customer data to supply chain management, ERP, payroll, and analytics, there are hundreds of uses for these business technology platforms and applications.

Even with all of that power, however, it’s important to keep your SAP applications up-to-date. As such, you may find yourself eying the new SAP S/4HANA system as a way to boost your functionality and add new features. Indeed, for anyone looking for the latest and greatest in cloud-based tech would do well to upgrade to 4HANA sooner than later. That being said, making the switch to HANA likely means that you’ll need to migrate your existing applications from one system to the next. This process can be a bit tedious and comes with some risk (as do all data migration and system upgrades), so it’s best to know what you’re getting into prior to starting the process. Learn more about SAP migration and the other benefits cloud-based technologies offer your business and its workflow below.

What do you need to know about SAP migration?

When it comes to SAP migration, there are a lot of steps to get right in order to ensure that you don’t jeopardize your data or your ability to do the tasks that are integral to your business. Keep in mind that if something goes wrong during the migration process, even for a day, it can really impact your company’s performance and ability to create an ideal customer experience. As such it’s not a bad idea to take advantage of reading and following an SAP migration guide as you work to switch to HANA.

As you prepare to make the switch from an earlier version of SAP such as R3 ERP to S/4HANA ERP, you’ll want to take a hard look at your company’s end-to-end processes. This includes auditing the sorts of tasks you use this application for regularly as well as which other applications are integrated with your existing system. Data migration and moving over user settings will need to be done for each of these components, so you need to make sure you can manage migrating these items as a bare minimum. You also should plan on what additional features you plan on using to ensure that these software solutions are set up appropriately at the time of migration as you expand your functionality.

The benefits of cloud-based software.

One of the biggest benefits of migrating to S/4HANA ERP is the ability to integrate your existing SAP tasks with other cloud-based software solutions. For example, if you use SAP’s CRM platform, you’ll probably want to link this data with your call center software to optimize the customer experience. An omni channel call center works so well, in part, because of how it streamlines communication between live agents and customers by letting them talk to each other via SMS, phone, live web chat, email, and even social media platforms.

That being said, the true way that personalization can occur because cloud-based call center software is through letting your call center agents harness CRM data to provide important context to all interactions, no matter what complex issue defines the customers’ needs. CRM integrations not only make it easier for your contact center agents to stay productive, but it also ensures that your customers feel valued and taken care of by contact center reps, and this seamless experience can play a role in keeping them satisfied. Without the cloud and APIs, this kind of integration is less streamlined.

To read more on topics like this, check out the Business category

A project portfolio management software is a tool which is designed to take care of the various products, projects or programs displaying the various details of the projects as they progress. The various updates include the resource allocation, the demands as well as the performance and even the dates when projects are supposed to be bid for. This is a formal approach adopted by an organization to orchestrate the various components of a project as well as prioritizing them to reap the highest benefits from each project. A PPM tool helps an organization examine the available resources, an idea about the risks and rewards giving them a fair idea of the duration of a project and what can be expected. Similar to Agile architecture PPM is a flexible and easy structure of processes that help build an organization.

The difference between Project Portfolio management and Project management.

The one major difference between the two is the number of projects, while project management focuses on a single project at a time PPM considers every project that helps meet the overall business goals. This is where the two differ on a basic level, while one focuses on the completion and the road of a single project the other ensures that every project is taken into consideration so that the overall business succeeds.

The main objective of PPM is to prioritize projects and allocate required resources most efficiently along with keeping the parties up-to-date about the status of the projects and any other information of the projects. Its job is also to monitor the various ongoing projects following a top-down approach.

Certain approaches guarantee more success to a business that include some key elements some of which are mentioned below:

The first key element required to be successful with PPM is having common procedures, applications and training that help distribute relevant info that helps with easy portfolio analysis and decision making.

Setting goals with prioritizing projects and also information about the available resources which can be designated to various projects or also the consumed resources in the various projects of a business.

What does a PPM include?

• Streamlining and prioritizing projects.
• A robust reporting system that provides executives and managers with a perspective which allows them to predict the requirements of a project and highlight circumstances that may act as impediments to the overall goal of the organization.
• Maintaining communication with the parties involved.
• Allocation of available resources while having a firm idea of the capacity of the resources. When it comes to human resources, managing, planning and staffing them accordingly in terms of projects and keeping up with the skills of employees.
• Monitoring the evaluation of different projects.
• The budgeting and forecasting with the analysis of the risks and the rewards with a project.
• Helps organizations see the potential impact of overbudget projects on the whole organization.

To read more on topics like this, check out the Business category

A slab leak is a kind of leak that has developed in the water lines running below the foundation of your home. Slab leaks differ from pinhole leaks in that the latter happens above the ground, in the wall or ceiling.

What are some of the causes of slab leaks?

• Pre-damaged and poor installation

When building a home, some materials may get a little banged up, therefore affecting the pipes. When they are interfered with, you may need to consider the services of a Dallas slab leak detection company as they can prevent further slab leaks from taking place. If the pipes are installed incorrectly from the word go, they will not be able to function best once there’s a whole house sitting on top of them.

• Foundation shifts

Other times, slab leaks may occur when your house shifts on its foundation. When the ground accommodating your home begins to shift, your pipes may experience pressure. Too much pressure on these pipes can cause leakage.

• Abrasion

When pipes rub against each other, they could wear down. You need to call in a Dallas slab leak detection expert to counter this.

• Corrosion

When pipes come into contact with the soil on the ground, corrosion may happen. This is a common phenomenon in home plumbing systems where copper pipes are in use.

Signs you have a slab leak

Below are eight signs that you are experiencing a slab leak in your home:

• Sudden spikes in your bills related to water
• Huge sounds of running water when pipes are not in use
• Moisture under carpeting
• Standing water around your house
• Unusually low water pressure
• Cracks on the walls
• Warm or dump floors
• Mold problems

To get a Dallas slab leak detection expert, here is what you need to consider:

1. Location of the expert

Choosing a Dallas slab leak detection expert who lives near your home is a plus. You will not only be able to save money but also your time. Also, a locally-based Dallas slab detection expert is most likely to have relationships with local suppliers and can bargain on supplies you need for solving slab leaks.

2. Experience

The other significant factor you need to look into is the experience of the Dallas slab leak repairer. Be sure to ask how many years of experience they have regarding slab detection. Experienced ones will give you quality work and have a lot of skills and knowledge on slab leaks. By looking at their portfolio, you can ascertain the number of successful projects they have handled and any that they failed. This will give you the go-ahead as to whether you should consult their services or not.

3. Choice of tools

Last but not least, the type of tools the Dallas slab leak detection expert uses should be a huge concern. Check to see if they use the latest tools when it comes to technology and tools that are in good condition. When a Dallas slab leak detection expert uses the best tools, it is most likely that they will complete their project successfully and on time.

To read more on topics like this, check out the Business category

There are more ways to skin a cat than you can count, and thus as a marketer you need to know your options with Pay Per click.

The first thing to know is why do pay per click at all, and that’s easy. It can take you three or four years organically to build a webpage and coax it pasts Google’s algorithm, using everything possible to optimize your site.

Or… you can pay with pay per click and vault right to the top of the Google algorithm to get attention…and customers now.

And what’s the best way to win in the Pay per Click battle? Here is an experienced company such as our Las Vegas PPC agency to guide you through the ropes.

But can you learn PPC yourself? Yes, if you are very patient and detail orientated. So, our number #1 action way you can learn PPC like a pro?

You can for example, follow Lynda.com, owned by LinkedIn, which offers hundreds of courses on PPA for around $20 a month.

You can also follow Google’s AdWords courses, which are completely free, and as you know, Google AdWords is the king of PPC.

Bing Ads offers similar courses, as well as Udemy, which has great courses on PPC.

#2. Read the book

There are of course lots of books on Pay Per Click marketing, the number one book possibly being “The Ultimate Guide to PPC Advertising” by PPC guru Richard Stoakes. For $20,00 you can almost get a master’s degree in PPC.

#3. Develop Target landing pages for your PPC campaign.

Target landing pages are a key to PPC success, and unbounce Academy can show you exactly how to master the art of the landing page for PPC. Just their blog alone is filled with PPC advise you can rarely find in other places on the web.

#4. Know the key places you can place PPC ads

Of course, Googles AdWords is the 500-pound gorilla in the Pay Per Click sphere but there are many more available, and you should seriously consider exploring them.

Kinsta. com at https://kinsta.com/blog/adsense-alternatives/ lists 21 alternatives to Google AdWords, many of them we are sure you have never even heard of.

#5. Learn to Budget your money for PPC

Many media companies such as our Las Vegas PPC agency stress that you won’t get much done spending $50 or $100. $1,000 to $10,000 per month is more like the target you should want to shoot for. The bigger the budget, the more likely you will achieve success.

#6. Try to get as big a bang as possible for your PPC

Experience shows that if you have $12,000 to invest, you might be better spending the $12,000 over a single quarter rather than spreading it out over the entire year.

#7. Always be testing

Always be testing and analyzing the results of your ads. This is another reason why people turn to PPC agencies. They have the analytics to evaluate your ads properly.

#8. Really have a complete PPC campaign in mind.

Another reason for a professional PPC agency is focus. Many people dabble here and dabble there in PPC and don’t really achieve the results they want.

#9. Present compelling copy

Your ads are only as good as your copy. By all means, hire a professional to make it as compelling as possible. It’s an art not everybody has mastered.

#10 Stay focused

Instant success rarely happens in PPC. You need to test ads, to adjust, to find different places to advertise. Stay focused and you will likely find great results.

To read more on topics like this, check out the Business category

I would never have overthought about places like Hawaii or other remotely desolate regions of the world that rely on the constant movement of supply chains. The commentary provided by Victor Restis, president of Enterprises Shipping & Trading S.A., is fascinating and eye-opening.

Yes, Hawaii is isolated, sitting in the middle of the North Pacific Ocean, about 2,500 miles from the nearest port, which would be in California. But Hawaii, I would argue, is exceptionally fortunate by its status as a state of the United States of America, and its unique location. It sits between the continental United States and Asian nations, including Japan, Taiwan, China, Vietnam, the Philippines, and so on. This not only makes it a vital port that undoubtedly imports and exports on both sides, but also serves a midway destination for trade between the U.S. and those Asian countries.

The article points out that Hawaii operates 10 commercial harbors across the six major islands, which means that it is one busy state in the global supply chain system. Great to know that it was not affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, at least in terms of shipping and receiving.

Mr. Restis points out that the overall shipping market was affected, but it seems like the industry was able to address any challenges that the global pandemic presented. And, thankfully! Imagine if supply chains around the world shut down because of COVID-19?

This article makes me wonder about other isolated locations and what they experienced or are still experiencing because of COVID-19. What about Iceland, New Zealand, Tasmania, or American Samoa?

In Tasmania, which sits just south of Australia, there are reports that lobster and abalone export markets are currently at risk of crashing. The article states, “The Seafood Trade Advisory Group, a coalition of fresh seafood exporters and researchers in Australia, confirmed the local government had closed wholesale markets, which process imported and local seafood, meats, and horticultural products, and were frequented by thousands of people a day.”

It looks as if one of Tasmania’s leading trading partner, China, has placed a hold on these products as it tests produce for coronavirus. This creates a massive backlog for Tasmania as the fishers are still reeling in the product with no place to export them. It seems that for now, several fishers are driving around rural country towns selling the lobster (and chips) from a food van. Oh, how I would love to visit that food truck!

To read more on topics like this, check out the Business category