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Tag: Office Tech

  • AI Won’t Wait for Your Strategy — Why Should Your Leadership? | Entrepreneur

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    AI is rewriting the playbook for businesses, and it’s reshaping market winners and losers in real time. The next several years may well decide which companies survive and which get squeezed based on who can keep up with the pace of change.

    When cloud computing transformed the tech world, it took a decade to reach mass adoption. Gen AI achieved the same scale in just a year, and Agentic AI, poised to become mainstream next year, is setting a new benchmark, already boasting a 50% adoption rate among tech execs. With AGI (superhuman AI) on the horizon, the rate of change will be almost incomprehensible, transforming life as we know it.

    In North America, 66% of organizations using AI agents report measurable productivity gains, 73% view their strategy as a competitive edge, and nearly half worry they’re already lagging behind their competitors.

    Despite anxious headlines (and even some dire warnings), I’m energized by the possibilities — and I share that optimism with my team, focusing on the transformative opportunities AI unlocks.

    Related: Artificial General Intelligence: The Next Frontier In Technology

    But optimism alone doesn’t cut it. The pace of change is so quick that the only way to build business resilience is to match it with speed and precision. I’ve always believed in short timelines and fast results, but now they’re non‑negotiable.

    The question for leaders is how to build organizations that can move as quickly and as intelligently as the world around them. Here’s how to get there:

    As a leader, you’ve likely got a plan in place for the next three to five years. But with the velocity of change, it’s tough to see what’s around the corner. That doesn’t mean you can’t set your business up for success, no matter how the landscape evolves. You just need to build the right foundation:

    A strong and unwavering vision and mission

    No matter how fast AI evolves, your company’s mission should remain steady. A clear, simple and consistent purpose keeps teams rowing together. For us, it’s about transforming access to the digital world. We do this by delivering content that is compliant and performing — both for humans and AI.

    What will evolve is how we execute on that vision. Today, we’re transforming our platform capabilities with agentic AI; tomorrow, emerging technologies may lead us to new strategies. But the mission itself? That provides focus and steadiness through change.

    Collaboration that moves as fast as AI

    I’ve seen organizations where leaders are incentivized to compete against one another, yet research has shown that internal competition can actually stifle innovation. A better approach? Empower cross-functional teams to collaborate on strategic thinking at all levels.

    Problems don’t care which department ‘owns’ them, and neither should your organization. I don’t hesitate to bring everyone involved in a project into the same room, regardless of title or position. Flattening hierarchies and breaking down silos accelerates decision-making, fosters shared accountability and unlocks the kind of speed and creativity AI demands.

    Related: Is AI Truly Driving Your Growth — or Wasting Your Time?

    A relentless commitment to AI alignment

    Keeping pace with today’s market realities requires more than urgency; it demands alignment on why we must keep embracing AI’s evolution. That understanding can’t be assumed. During a recent company-wide meeting on agentic AI, someone asked if we had invented the technology. It was a powerful reminder that we aren’t all starting from the same place.

    While I’ve never been one to mince words, alignment only happens when people truly comprehend what’s happening and what’s at stake. In recent months, I’ve made it a priority to connect directly with our entire global team, along with sharing regular updates through a recurring internal newsletter.

    The goal? Ensure everyone feels informed, empowered and included in the journey ahead.

    Pulling your team toward AI versus pushing them

    Resistance to change is often endemic, particularly in larger organizations. But forcing change is not the answer, either. While I actively encourage everyone to explore AI, I believe people need to pull themselves toward the opportunity.

    This requires fostering a culture where continuous learning and experimentation are encouraged — and where failure is seen as a necessary part of growth. Ultimately, it’s about helping people understand that the more you pull yourself toward change, the more successful you’ll be. The more you push away, the more it’s going to hurt.

    AI-paced decision-making (quarterly business reviews won’t cut it)

    AI compresses timelines. To move quickly, you need to dramatically increase your cadence. It may sound excessive for a busy CEO, but I meet weekly with our product teams and monthly with leadership to fine-tune execution. That way, we can quickly test assumptions, learn from real-time feedback and adjust course.

    Of course, evolving your culture to one of fast execution doesn’t mean barrelling ahead recklessly – it’s about establishing a steady rhythm of learning, iterating and improving at a pace that matches the world around you.

    That shift has already started paying off. I’ve seen early results in productivity: our team is more agile than ever, moving from idea to execution in a fraction of the time.

    Related: A Founder’s Guide to Building a Real AI Strategy

    But this isn’t just about speed. In our case – and likely for many other organizations – agentic AI is expanding the kinds of problems we can solve and the customers we can serve. So much so that we’re betting on a massive expansion of our total addressable market within the next three years.

    The real lesson of leading at the speed of AI is not about simply surviving the next wave of disruption; it’s about positioning your organization to shape it. At the end of the day, leaders must envision where the world is going, bring that future into their organizations and inspire their teams to take the leap alongside them.

    This is no time to wait and watch.

    Today it’s agentic; tomorrow it will be AGI. Either way, if you don’t adapt, you can be sure others will.

    AI is rewriting the playbook for businesses, and it’s reshaping market winners and losers in real time. The next several years may well decide which companies survive and which get squeezed based on who can keep up with the pace of change.

    When cloud computing transformed the tech world, it took a decade to reach mass adoption. Gen AI achieved the same scale in just a year, and Agentic AI, poised to become mainstream next year, is setting a new benchmark, already boasting a 50% adoption rate among tech execs. With AGI (superhuman AI) on the horizon, the rate of change will be almost incomprehensible, transforming life as we know it.

    In North America, 66% of organizations using AI agents report measurable productivity gains, 73% view their strategy as a competitive edge, and nearly half worry they’re already lagging behind their competitors.

    The rest of this article is locked.

    Join Entrepreneur+ today for access.

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    Nayaki Nayyar

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  • Keep the Office Cool This Summer with $10 Off a Klima Thermostat | Entrepreneur

    Keep the Office Cool This Summer with $10 Off a Klima Thermostat | Entrepreneur

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    Disclosure: Our goal is to feature products and services that we think you’ll find interesting and useful. If you purchase them, Entrepreneur may get a small share of the revenue from the sale from our commerce partners.

    It’s difficult to do your best work when you’re uncomfortable. So, if you’re working from a home office or going into an office with poor climate control this summer, you may find it a struggle to get anything done until the room temperature evens out. But you can take greater control of the temperature with a Klima Smart Thermostat, now $10 off for a limited time.

    This smart thermostat and controller is compatible with more than 10,000 models of mini split and window A/Cs, or air-to-air heat pumps. It’s easy to install in just a few minutes on your own and gives you complete control of the A/C or heat from your phone. Klima takes over the control of your unit’s remote so you can control it through your smartphone. It must be installed in the same room as the unit, and you will need one Klima per unit.

    With remote access, you can set schedules for cooling or warming to automate the temperature so it’s always comfortable when you arrive. That will also help save on energy bills since you can turn the system off when you’re not there.

    Klima is full of convenient features, like voice control for hands-free thermostat adjustments and appliance health monitoring to alert you if your A/C or heat pump needs maintenance soon. It has open window detection that turns off the A/C automatically and offers smart zoning so you can adjust temperatures on a room-by-room basis to avoid wasting energy. With the guardian mode, you can also set minimum and maximum temperature levels.

    Stay comfy this summer while saving energy and money.

    Right now, you can get a Klima Smart Thermostat for $10 off the regular price of $145—just $134.99 for a limited time.

    StackSocial prices subject to change.

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  • Save $35 on This Innovative Tool to Declutter Your Workspace | Entrepreneur

    Save $35 on This Innovative Tool to Declutter Your Workspace | Entrepreneur

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    Disclosure: Our goal is to feature products and services that we think you’ll find interesting and useful. If you purchase them, Entrepreneur may get a small share of the revenue from the sale from our commerce partners.

    Efficiency is the name of the game for any entrepreneur. One in three small-business owners believes a disorganized workplace leads to less productivity. You need to be able to maximize your productivity to maximize your profitability, and that all starts in an organized workspace.

    You don’t have to bend over backward to implement a complete organizational process for your business. A good start is getting your desk in order, and the 6-in-1 CASA HUB Stand Pro USB-C Laptop Stand can help with that. During our Presidents’ Day Sale, it’s $35 off.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8u9DQGyHJkg

    This laptop stand has an anti-slip grip. It attaches firmly to your desk and allows you to move the 360º rotatable base and adjust the angle to find the perfect ergonomic setup. Generous heat dissipation and a robust load-bearing mechanism make it a versatile stand that will elevate your M2/M1 MacBook, laptop, or iPad off your desk to make room for other items.

    The durable all-aluminum design and 4K@60Hz resolution support make it an excellent tool for designers, while the generous port hub gives you additional flexibility. It includes a USB-C host, USB-C PD, HDMI, two USB-A ports, and an RJ45 port, offering you a powerful array of charging and peripheral options to truly make your workspace your own and maximize your daily productivity.

    Upgrade your workspace and get yourself more organized.

    During our Presidents’ Day sale, you can get the 6-in-1 CASA HUB Stand Pro Laptop Stand for 26% off $129 at just $94.97 — only through 11:59 p.m. PT on February 19.

    StackSocial prices subject to change.

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    Entrepreneur Store

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  • Cybersecurity Attacks Are On the Rise — Is Your Business Prepared? | Entrepreneur

    Cybersecurity Attacks Are On the Rise — Is Your Business Prepared? | Entrepreneur

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    In the ever-evolving landscape of cybersecurity threats, the traditional castle-and-moat approach is proving increasingly inadequate. The global average data breach cost in 2023 was $4.45 million. Compared with 2020, this is a 15% increase. Organizations must fortify their defenses with proactive and comprehensive strategies as cyber adversaries grow more sophisticated. In this era of uncertainty, the key to resilience lies in continuous monitoring.

    Related: The World is Doubling Down on Cybersecurity — Here’s What Business Leaders Should Know

    Understanding the value of continuous monitoring

    At its core, continuous monitoring is not just a tool but a mindset — a proactive and comprehensive approach to cybersecurity. It transcends the reactive measures of the past, emphasizing continuous data collection, analysis and correlation. It is also not a one-time event but a perpetual vigilance system that allows organizations to stay one step ahead of cyber adversaries.

    The primary benefit, of course, is identifying threats early on. Furthermore, employing advanced analytics and machine learning helps go beyond signature-based detection and recognize anomalies that may indicate potential threats. This proactive stance is crucial in the dynamic landscape of cyber threats, where speed is often the differentiator between containment and catastrophe.

    When breaches occur, and they inevitably will, the monitoring system plays a pivotal role in isolating compromised systems and containing malware. This containment strategy limits the blast radius of an attack, preventing the spread of malicious entities within the network. In the aftermath of a breach, the ability to swiftly and effectively mitigate the impact is a testament to the resilience afforded by continuous monitoring.

    Related: 4 Ways Continuous Learning Will Make You and Your Business Unstoppable

    Knowing is half the battle, especially in the realm of cybersecurity. Continuous monitoring gives organizations valuable insights into attacker tactics, techniques and procedures (TTPs). Organizations can strengthen their security controls and create an adaptive defense architecture by understanding how adversaries operate.

    Beyond resilience, in an era of stringent regulations and compliance standards, monitoring is crucial in demonstrating adherence to industry guidelines. By providing continuous visibility into security postures and monitoring activities, organizations can proactively address compliance requirements, avoiding the pitfalls of non-compliance.

    Finally, the financial burden of cyberattacks extends far beyond immediate remediation costs. Minimizing the impact of breaches and optimizing incident response significantly reduces the overall economic toll of cyber incidents. It transforms cybersecurity from a necessary expense into a strategic investment that safeguards data and the bottom line.

    Executing continuous monitoring in your organization

    To offer complete visibility, a comprehensive monitoring plan should consider every endpoint, network, and software your company utilizes. As such, the first step is assessing every asset within the corporate network. However, not all assets are equal. Prioritizing monitoring efforts is essential to protect the most valuable information. Allowing organizations to focus their resources where they matter most helps create a targeted defense that fortifies the digital crown jewels.

    A monitoring architecture should also include an incident response plan. Due to its ability to allow organizations to record, respond, and learn from cyberattacks, incident reporting is essential. Facilitating the development of well-defined incident response procedures ensures that organizations can react swiftly and decisively to mitigate potential damage when a threat is detected.

    Selecting the most suitable technology and monitoring tools is a crucial choice. To have complete visibility, the monitoring architecture established must account for every attack vector that can be used to launch a cyberattack. Considering the expanding nature of today’s attack surface, choosing the right tools is paramount.

    For instance, most enterprises start with a Security Information and Event Monitoring Tool (SIEM), followed by Endpoint Detection and Response (EDR) and a Unified Endpoint Management (UEM) solution. SIEM searches for patterns that make it easier for security teams to recognize attacks, breaches, and technical problems. An EDR, on the other hand, collects data from each endpoint and uses AI to determine threats.

    While on the outside, both SIEM and EDR offer visibility, EDRs focus on endpoints, and SIEM covers the entire network. However, EDR offers deeper capabilities regarding incident response, allowing security teams to fight back. UEMs, on the other hand, utilize their remote capabilities to keep track of device compliance. Furthermore, non-compliant devices, once identified, can be flagged and managed remotely. With new national and international regulations emerging, the consequences of non-compliance are grave indeed.

    The chosen tools must seamlessly integrate into the existing cybersecurity ecosystem, whether it’s network monitoring, endpoint monitoring or threat intelligence platforms. For example, selecting a SIEM with data loss prevention or a UEM with patch management capabilities saves IT teams from managing multiple platforms.

    Finally, let’s say you have implemented a reliable architecture. This, however, is not the end. There are always fresh risks to be aware of in the evolving field of cybersecurity. To respond to changing threats, continual improvement and refining are necessary. Regular reviews and updates ensure that the watchtower remains vigilant and resilient in the ever-changing cyber threat landscape.

    Last but not least — your employees. An issue with complex tools like SIEMs is that they require skilled security professionals to manage. Beyond security professionals, each employee must be updated on the latest cyber threats and attack vectors through regular workshops and training sessions. Knowing how criminals breach security will help them notice the minute details and signs that could help them identify a breach. Moreover, it also impacts how well they respond to a cybersecurity dilemma.

    Going forward

    As cyber threats become more sophisticated, the significance of continuous security monitoring continues to grow. It is not an exaggeration to portray it as a vital tool for businesses looking to safeguard their assets and ensure business continuity — in fact, doing so is a strategic requirement. The agility and responsiveness afforded by continuous monitoring are the building blocks of a resilient cybersecurity strategy in an age where digital disruption is the norm.

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    Apu Pavithran

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  • 4 Reasons Why Your Small Business Needs a CRM | Entrepreneur

    4 Reasons Why Your Small Business Needs a CRM | Entrepreneur

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    The life of a small business owner can be far from easy at times. There are prospects to follow up with, sales to track and commitments to deliver to clients daily. Feeling overwhelmed and fearing the business will fail if you can’t keep up is easy.

    When I became an entrepreneur, prioritizing my tasks and projects was one of my biggest challenges.

    Since I was coding and selling, I had a lot going on at once and was constantly switching between multiple roles. I would forget to call a prospect or customer back, where a previous conversation had left off, and what I had to do as part of a follow-up interaction.

    Initially, I tried to streamline my work process. Yet, after much research, I could not find a solution I needed in the Mac ecosystem.

    So, I decided to build one for myself to meet my needs. As they say, “Necessity is the mother of invention.”

    Years later, that initial product designed to keep me organized in my earliest days as an entrepreneur evolved into Daylite, an all-in-one tool for solopreneurs and small business owners.

    I understood that I was not the only entrepreneur to experience the same struggles trying to prioritize my tasks and projects. And we don’t even have enough people on our teams to do it all for a long time, so we are juggling and switching between tasks. We are forced to focus on multiple things simultaneously, leading to errors and client frustrations.

    Related: What Is A CRM? A Beginners Guide

    The path to success in a small business can have many obstacles. Investing in the right tools can be a true game-changer. A CRM can boost sales by 29%, elevate productivity by 34% and increase forecast accuracy by 42%. It can also help us navigate challenges, regain control of our businesses and work more efficiently to close more deals and get more done.

    Today, you have a choice and can take advantage of many options. I can’t say which CRM is right for you, but I can tell you that having one is absolutely crucial to the success of a one-man (or woman) show or any small business.

    With the evolution of my career and after speaking with so many small business owner customers, I’ve learned four important things about having a powerful CRM in your business.

    1. Saves time

    Something as trivial as searching for a client’s contact information, a seemingly trivial task, can accumulate to be a significant drain on your time. Imagine a scenario where you must make a follow-up call but find the contact details missing. You have sent your team a request, and time is lost waiting for the details to be sent.

    In the long run, the ripple effect of such delays compounds into significant time loss. A CRM solves it by being a centralized repository — wherein all essential contact information is present and ready to access when needed.

    Related: How CRMs Can Spark (or Continue) Fast Growth

    2. Helps build better relationships

    An often overlooked aspect of business interactions is the personal touch. Having a repository of insights into our clients’ lives, ranging from family details to memorable dates, can help us build better relationships with them.

    We store information about the achievements of our client’s children and their key life events to reference in future conversations. But even storing something as simple as the client’s birthdate and being able to send them a present, a card or perhaps simply an email with congratulations can go a long way.

    We all care about our clients and want to be attentive, but storing all of this information in our minds is impossible. A CRM acts as our second brain, in this case, storing it all for us.

    Related: How to Create Authentic Relationships and Build Customer Trust

    3. Saves money in case of a dispute

    It’s normal sometimes to forget discussions or even agreements. It’s also normal to remember things differently. And yet, a memory lapse can have dire consequences.

    Imagine you implement something that a client approves via email. And a few months later, he challenges your execution simply because he forgot about this old request. Finding an old email in an overflowing inbox can turn into a nightmare. Being able to pull out any email from a client’s file in the CRM becomes a game changer.

    4. Helps focus on the right opportunities

    Effectively selling to a variety of potential customers requires careful planning. Deciding where to focus our efforts is crucial – some clients are ready to buy, while others need more time.

    Having all this information in one place and being able to categorize prospects helps sales professionals know which opportunities to pursue and which to hold off on. This approach ensures that we can match our efforts with each customer’s progress, increasing the chances of a successful outcome.

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    Alykhan Jetha

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  • How the QR Code Will Transform Brand Experiences | Entrepreneur

    How the QR Code Will Transform Brand Experiences | Entrepreneur

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    Welcome to the new, new thing. Some say it’s the new television or radio. Some say it is the new out-of-home experience. Others call it the new way to experience a brand.

    There is certainly no shortage of steroid-injected, turbo-charged descriptions for this amazing, revolutionary technology. So, just what is this radical disrupter, this global game-changer that we’re talking about here?

    Ladies and gentlemen, drum roll, please! It’s the humble cereal carton, a can of soda, a box of washing powder.

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    Gabe Miller

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  • Breathe Easier with This Portable Air Purifier, Now Only $129.99 | Entrepreneur

    Breathe Easier with This Portable Air Purifier, Now Only $129.99 | Entrepreneur

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    Planning on spending a lot of time in the office this summer? If you’re not among the more than 42 million Americans planning big vacations in the coming months, per AAA, make sure there are some perks to staying behind, like super clean air.

    The Wetie PM2.5 Air Purifier with HEPA Filter is portable and helps purify the environmental space around you. And at the moment, this game-changing personal air purifier is on sale for just $129.99 — $170 off the usual $299 price tag for a limited time.

    Whether you’re allergic to pollen and dust, have asthma or other respiratory issues, or simply want to ensure you’re always breathing the cleanest, freshest air possible, this personal air purifier is ready to help. The Wetie PM2.5 Air Purifier comes equipped with an advanced filtration system with plasma ion technology, which can remove 99.9% of bacteria, viruses, and mold in treated air — all of which can contribute to common illnesses.

    The 3-in-1 H13 HEPA Filter can remove at least 99.97% of particles 0.3µm micron. The high-efficiency activated carbon filter gets rid of smoke, odors, fumes, and VOCs; the H13 True HEPA filter can get rid of fine dust, smoke particles, pollen, dander, and dust mites; and the pre-filter knocks out dust, lint, fibers, hair, and pet fur.

    While in use, you can pick between high or low fan speed, and its wide coverage can purify air in a room up to 1,184 square feet despite its tiny stature. That small size also comes into play if you get some time away from work, as it’s easy for traveling.

    Enjoy purified air anywhere with the Wetie PM2.5 Air Purifier with HEPA Filter, now only $129.99 (reg. $299) for a limited time.

    Prices subject to change.

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    Entrepreneur Store

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  • Get More From Your Laptop With This 5-in-1 Docking Station for Less Than $25 | Entrepreneur

    Get More From Your Laptop With This 5-in-1 Docking Station for Less Than $25 | Entrepreneur

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    Disclosure: Our goal is to feature products and services that we think you’ll find interesting and useful. If you purchase them, Entrepreneur may get a small share of the revenue from the sale from our commerce partners.

    As a busy professional, you’ve got a lot on your to-do list — the last thing you need to worry about is running out of battery. This useful 5-in-1 docking station means you’ll never be without your devices, elevating your deskspace and turning your laptop into a productivity powerhouse.

    If you aren’t already maximizing the capabilities of your MacBook Pro, this useful little tool is the way to do it. The pocket-sized hub connects to your laptop, and then allows you five extra ports, for both connecting devices to your computer and for easy charging. That includes a 4K HDMI output port, USB 3.0 port, 3.5mm AUX jack, PD charging port, and USB Type-C port. So, no matter what you want to connect, pretty much all bases are covered — from your Samsung Galaxy to your Nintendo Switch — setting you up perfectly for work and play.

    That also means no more carrying a mess of multiple power outlets for all of your devices: good news not just for those who like to keep a tidy desk, but also for anyone who travels regularly. When you’re already traveling with your MacBook Pro, all you need to throw in your carry-on is this nifty little hub, and you’ll also be able to charge your other USB-C gadgets too, with no need for a ton of in-wall chargers, and without having to rely on just one hotel room outlet. With so many ports at your fingertips, you’ll wonder how you ever got through your business trips without it.

    The other thing to love about this tool? It’s super simple to use. Just plug in and you’ll be able to start transferring, streaming, and charging right away.

    Check out this 5-in-1 Type-C Docking Station for MacBook Pro, on sale now with 37% off for just $24.99 (reg. $39).

    Prices subject to change.

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  • The Future of Calendars: Predictions and Trends | Entrepreneur

    The Future of Calendars: Predictions and Trends | Entrepreneur

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    We live in a world where online calendars are a part of our daily lives. No matter how diligently you use an online calendar, you’re still benefiting from it. For instance, you might be reminded to send a birthday card online, schedule events or business meetings, or block out your day.

    It is important to realize that online calendars are still a relatively new productivity tool that is rapidly developing. As a matter of fact, your online calendar is becoming more of a personal assistant that will advise you on how to spend your time best. But, there is so much more than calendars are capable of in the future, such as the following predictions and trends.

    Solving scheduling problems

    “So far, it looks like the reinvention of the calendar will happen in two phases,” notes David Pierce for Protocol. “First, users will get access to a new set of tools, integrated with Google and Outlook calendars but opening up lots of new features.”

    After that, calendars will be turned into a standalone service if they prove successful. In the same way, Slack is to email, Zoom is to a desk phone, and Airtable is to Excel, all these companies hope to be to your Outlook calendar, he added. “Time is money, all these calendar companies will argue to investors and customers, and we’ll save you both.”

    Related: 7 Tips for Managing Your Schedule Like a Pro

    We’re only at the beginning of the first phase and still attacking the first problem worth solving: scheduling. How about one solution? It’s as simple as speeding up the process.

    For example, Superhuman scans emails for dates like “next Friday” and lets users send invitations accordingly. Scheduling is, in essence, an email problem. As a result, it should be available as an email solution as well. In a similar vein, Vimcal, often referred to as “Superhuman for calendars,” is a new app that focuses on speed, and CEO John Li said most people want meeting creation to happen lightning fast.

    Calendar is another option if you want to speed up the scheduling process. The Find a Time feature in Calendar allows you to schedule with others quickly. Using multiple calendar users, create events based on their availability and see when they are busy.

    Chatbots will be able to organize your meetings

    Professional life has become quite complicated following the pandemic. For example, working remotely from home isn’t as straightforward as it seems. Many of us find it hard to keep up with the increasing demands on our time.

    At the same time, the number of American employees working remotely is expected to increase to 36.2 million by 2025. So, we will have to get used to these new working conditions.

    The majority of the time, work involves scheduling meetings and being on time. To make your life easier, you can use a chatbot to help you set up meetings. Chatbots, such as SharePoint calendars, can still be useful as an additional meeting planning tool.

    Related: Chatbots, their positive impact and how to take advantage of the customer experience

    You can also schedule meetings using Messagely or TARS. It is also beneficial to manage teams remotely and track their time by using a time tracker. It is possible to balance work and life with the help of these chatbots.

    Chatbots and software powered by artificial intelligence also show great promise for helping businesses become more productive and profitable. For example, a phone validator app checks the validity, type of line, network carrier, location, etc., of the line to improve productivity.

    These chatbots can handle scheduling and organizing meetings while you focus on other important tasks.

    Calendars will become even more intelligent

    Smart or intelligent calendars collect every schedule or action to boost productivity and simplify management using intelligence or automation. Using an intelligent calendar will help you establish boundaries between your personal and professional life.

    As well as blocking time, you can reduce the time spent on certain tasks manually. Your ideal workweek can be automatically scheduled and managed using a smart calendar. Besides scheduling tasks, you can use an intelligent calendar to increase efficiency and reduce human dependency.

    It goes without saying that an intelligent calendar can enhance productivity and save you time. In an effort to streamline meetings, increase event aggregation, and reduce time wastage, intelligent calendars have become a necessity due to the following:

    • Notes can be jotted down in the calendar to help keep track of important information and deadlines.
    • Synchronize your personal and work calendars.
    • It is possible to get information from smart notes that will help you determine what actions to take.
    • Organizes all your meeting invitations
    • From the app, you can get relevant information about the weather, traffic, and drive times.

    With Motion, for example, you can always know what to do next. It creates a day-by-day schedule based on meetings, giving you a minute-by-minute overview. Trevor AI is another AI calendar app that helps you organize your day by keeping track of your lists of tasks to do; this AI calendar app puts one task at a time so that you work more efficiently.

    Furthermore, Calendar can provide smart suggestions on when, where, and who to invite when scheduling meetings. It’s not magic. With artificial intelligence and machine learning, Calendar can create a unique scheduling experience for you.

    Finally, intelligent calendars can help you become less distracted and more productive

    If you block out 8:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. in your calendar for undisturbed work, quiet time is from 8:30 am to 11:30 am. Your calendar will automatically block out this time instead of creating a recurring event.

    During this time, you may find your calendar automatically disables distractions like email and social media notifications. It’s possible that your calendar will determine when you’re most productive as well. As such, if you fade out every 50 minutes, you’ll be reminded to stretch and take a break.

    And, that’s just scratching the surface. Considering that the size of the global artificial intelligence market was $136.55 billion in 2022 and is projected to increase by 37.3% from 2023 to 2030, calendars will continue to become more and more intelligent.

    The AR calendar will bring your calendar to life

    It’s true that some companies have been using augmented reality (AR) to make plain old paper calendars more interactive for the past several years.

    As an example, once you download an app, you just need to point your phone at a calendar image and tap the screen. Using AR, Tengo Interactive created an airport calendar that provided users with a behind-the-scenes view. Other companies have created wall calendars that utilize augmented reality to explain their entire product range.

    By 2028, the AR market is expected to reach $97.76 billion. Due to this, augmented reality calendars and marketing opportunities will continue to expand rapidly.

    By using this technology, you will be able to walk through a property in virtual reality. From there, you might be able to make an appointment with the realtor if you like what you see.

    If you are planning a trip to the Grand Canyon, you could experience the destination before booking the trip. Or, you could view local restaurants, salons, or museums. You then have the option to make reservations or book tickets and have them automatically added to your calendar.

    Use ChatGPT prompts to manage your time

    On November 30, 2022, ChatGPT was launched, which quickly sent the internet into a frenzy. Just one week after it was launched, OpenAI’s chatbot reached 1 million users. It also gained 57 million users in its first month and is supported by Microsoft’s $10 billion investment in Open AI.

    Still not impressed? After two months of launch, ChatGPT reached 100 million monthly active users, making it the world’s fastest-growing consumer app. And some people have even dubbed it “the best AI chatbot ever released to the general public.”

    But what link is there between ChatGPT and calendars?

    In particular, Chat GPT can help you locate open times on your calendar for dental appointments or team meetings. In order to fix this problem, you might write a prompt telling it what your schedule looks like for the week and ask for a reorganization.

    Related: Here’s How Your Business Can Use 3 Popular AI Content Creation Tools

    As well as scheduling meetings and appointments, ChatGPT can keep track of deadlines and deliverables for event managers. ChatGPT’s natural language processing feature enables event managers to input their requirements and view their schedules on a calendar.

    Some of your chores will be taken care of by your calendar

    “Online calendars aren’t merely more useful than their paper peers,” writes Howie Jones in a previous Calendar post. “Today’s top calendar apps can recognize and prevent double-bookings.” Others can adjust meetings across time zones.

    But, over the next decade or so, how much more will online calendars be capable of?

    “While I wouldn’t hold out for magically tackling your chores for you, there are many more online calendars will be able to do by 2030,” Howie adds. You may see the following upgrades:

    Book travel

    As your calendar continues to evolve, your reservations will be made for you. How? Several popular online calendar apps will integrate airlines and hotel services. From the same app, you can decide when and where you want to go.

    Scan and plan

    Let’s say you walk past a flyer or a billboard advertising a local event. Rather than scanning down the information, why not let your calendar app copy it down for you?

    Suggest nearby events

    You can use your mobile device’s location tools to find out where you are. Your calendar app will then show you all events within a specified radius when you choose the day and hour. As long as it knows your preferences, it won’t suggest a roller coaster park if you hate them.

    Tend to your home

    Google Home and Alexa will soon be able to connect with your online calendar, so you can schedule actions for each device connected to your smart home network.

    Maintain your vehicle

    Changing your car’s oil and rotating its tires should be done every few thousand miles. Using your calendar app, you can keep track of your mechanic visits and schedule future appointments. With the help of an app like Google Maps, it will alert you when you have reached your mileage threshold. The app will suggest a highly-rated mechanic if your current mechanic is unsatisfactory.

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  • Clean Your Workspace and Boost Productivity with Desk Mat Pro | Entrepreneur

    Clean Your Workspace and Boost Productivity with Desk Mat Pro | Entrepreneur

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    Disclosure: Our goal is to feature products and services that we think you’ll find interesting and useful. If you purchase them, Entrepreneur may get a small share of the revenue from the sale from our commerce partners.

    The job of a business owner is never done, and one look at your desk might show that better than anything else. Recent studies have found that working in a clean, uncluttered environment can help increase productivity. If you want to clean up your workspace, try the Desk Mat Pro. This premium desk organizer is sleek and professional, and it was featured at CES 2023. Get one for $49.99 until March 5 at 11:59 p.m. PT and no coupons necessary.

    The Desk Mat Pro has a minimalist look. Each Mat has a top layer of premium PU pebble leather. This high-quality material is soft and water-resistant for easy spill cleanup. The faux suede bottom is also naturally water resistant, so cleaning your mat is as simple as giving it a quick wipe down.

    If cables are cluttering your work area, keep them in one place using the two magnetic cable blocks included in the bundle. These blocks connect to the metal-infused inner layer of the Desk Mat Pro, so you can move them wherever you want on the mat and still retain a firm hold on your cables and cords.

    Whether you’re in a customer-facing space, are preparing for client visits, or want to get more from your workday, cleaning up the place is a quick solution that starts with simple but effective tools like the Desk Mat Pro.

    Need a productivity boost? Get a Desk Mat Pro and Two Magnetic Cable Block Managers for just $49.99 (reg. $59) until March 5 at 11:59 p.m. PT in the following colors:

    Desk Mat Pro Bundle in Black
    Desk Mat Pro Bundle in Gray
    Desk Mat Pro Bundle in Navy
    Desk Mat Pro Bundle in Purple

    Prices subject to change.

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  • Entrepreneur | What Does ChatGPT Really Mean For Businesses? It’s Benefits and Disadvantages

    Entrepreneur | What Does ChatGPT Really Mean For Businesses? It’s Benefits and Disadvantages

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    Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.

    The advent of ChatGPT has disrupted the online world, and businesses must consider the potential impact of this technology on their operations. Companies need to reflect on how they conduct their work and the products and services they provide and evaluate how the integration of ChatGPT could improve their processes and deliver an even better experience to their customers.

    Benefits of chat-based AI

    ChatGPT’s ability to create natural language responses when given input from a user makes it a valuable addition to businesses seeking to improve communication with their customers or clients. With its potential to enhance workflows and deliver a superior customer experience, ChatGPT creates enormous opportunities for companies strategically leveraging technology.

    The use of ChatGPT in businesses presents numerous benefits, including:

    • Enhanced customer engagement: ChatGPT can help businesses improve customer engagement by providing quick, informative, and more natural responses to their inquiries. It leads to a more positive experience for the customer and can result in increased customer satisfaction and loyalty.
    • Automation of repetitive tasks: ChatGPT can automate repetitive tasks such as answering frequently asked questions, freeing time for employees to focus on more complex and value-adding tasks. It can increase efficiency and productivity within a business.
    • Generation of high-quality content: ChatGPT’s ability to generate human-like text can produce high-quality content for marketing, customer engagement and other business purposes. It will save businesses time and resources that supposedly would have otherwise been spent on content creation.
    • Global reach: ChatGPT’s language model can be applied in various languages, making it a powerful tool for businesses looking to expand globally and reach a wider audience.
    • Personalization and customization: ChatGPT can personalize customer interactions and tailor responses based on the customer’s preferences, needs, and history. It can increase customer satisfaction and loyalty, leading to increased sales and revenue for the business.

    These advantages highlight the potential for businesses to improve operations and customer experiences. By leveraging the capabilities of this technology, companies can streamline workflows, engage with customers on a personal level, and generate high-quality content at scale. Additionally, businesses can reach a wider audience and offer customized experiences to customers, further strengthening their connection and building brand loyalty.

    Related: 7 Ways to Use ChatGPT at Work to Boost Your Productivity, Make Your Job Easier, and Save a Ton of Time

    The limitations and challenges of chat-based AI

    While ChatGPT offers numerous benefits for businesses, it also has its limitations. ChatGPT lacks emotional intelligence and can generate errors in its text. Additionally, it requires a large amount of data for training, and there are concerns about the potential misuse or misinterpretation of its generated text, as well as privacy and security.

    In the beta version of ChatGPT, its developer OpenAI acknowledges that it may still generate inaccurate information or biased content. Its familiarity with data and events may be limited as the model was trained until 2021. AI models like ChatGPT require extensive training and continuous refinement to achieve optimal performance.

    Below are further limitations and challenges of ChatGPT:

    • Lack of emotional intelligence: ChatGPT cannot understand and respond to emotional cues and human expressions. It may lead to less human-like and personalized customer interaction, reducing the overall customer engagement experience.
    • Potential for errors in generated text: As the AI model is trained on a massive dataset, it may generate incorrect information or biased content. It can cause miscommunication and loss of credibility for the business.
    • Dependence on a large amount of data for training: AI models like ChatGPT require a vast amount of data to be trained effectively. Without sufficient training data, its ability to generate accurate and relevant responses is compromised.
    • Potential misuse or misinterpretation of generated text: ChatGPT’s ability to generate responses can cause misuse or misinterpretation, leading to negative consequences for the business.
    • Privacy and security concerns: Storing and processing large amounts of data for AI training raises privacy and security concerns for businesses. The data used for training ChatGPT or other AI models must be adequately secured to prevent unauthorized access or misuse.

    By understanding the potential limitations, businesses can make informed decisions about incorporating ChatGPT into their operations to maximize benefits and minimize risks. Additionally, ongoing monitoring and refinement may be necessary to ensure that ChatGPT continues to deliver the desired results over time. AI models require lots of training and fine-tuning to reach ideal performance levels.

    Related: Are Robots Coming to Replace Us? 4 Jobs Artificial Intelligence Can’t Outcompete (Yet!)

    Can chat-based AIs replace the workforce?

    This is a question that many people in the business world are asking as the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in the workplace becomes more widespread. The rise of AI-based chatbots like ChatGPT has the potential to automate many tasks that human workers previously performed. While chatbots can handle simple, repetitive tasks, they may struggle with complex, creative, or emotional functions that require human expertise.

    Instead, it is more likely that chatbots will augment the workforce and enhance human performance by taking over mundane tasks, freeing up time for more important tasks that require human skills. However, as with any technological advancement, businesses need to consider the potential effects on the workforce and make informed decisions about incorporating chatbots into their workflows.

    Related: How the Changing Labor Market Is Impacting Digital Transformation

    Vast possibilities of AI technology

    AI technology, particularly chat-based AIs like ChatGPT, has vast possibilities for businesses and the workforce. From enhancing customer engagement and automating repetitive tasks to generating high-quality content and providing personalization, the benefits of ChatGPT are clear. However, businesses must be aware and ready for potential limitations and disadvantages. Nevertheless, the potential for growth and innovation within AI technology is immense, and companies must weigh the benefits and limitations to make informed decisions about integrating AI into their operations.

    With careful consideration, AI technology’s potential to transform how we work and interact with customers is enormous.

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    Baruch Labunski

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  • This Tech is Disrupting Real Estate. Don’t Miss Out

    This Tech is Disrupting Real Estate. Don’t Miss Out

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    Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.

    Real estate development and construction have changed since the 1960s: Contractors typically built the container and let the homeowner fill in the rest. However, smart home technology is disrupting the industry, presenting a major market opportunity for designers, builders, entrepreneurs and investors. Recent research from Mordor Intelligence predicts that the smart home market, valued at $79.13 billion in 2020, is expected to grow to $313.95 billion by 2027.

    As a result, I expect to see an increase in the term “smart home automation” — referring to Internet-connected devices that monitor and control essential household functions such as lights, cameras, locks and climate. As the industry transforms, it presents a prime opportunity for entrepreneurs, corporations and investors.

    Touchless interactions and whole-home automation that drive efficiency and save energy are among the concepts driving consumer interest. Automated heating and cooling will see high demand, with new government efficiency regulations requiring replacing or retrofitting existing systems. In January 2023, all residential central air-source heat pump systems sold in the U.S. must meet new minimum energy efficiency standards.

    This trend is about improving the home experience — from programming devices that always behave the same to automating devices that anticipate and understand the homeowner’s needs. As evidence, Grandview Research predicts that smart kitchens will see an impressive compound annual growth rate of 30.5% from 2021 to 2030. Grandview also predicts that security and surveillance technology installations will increase by 31%.

    Related: 3 Aspects of the Real Estate Industry That Can Benefit Immensely from the Metaverse

    Think keyless door locks that use a PIN or connected doorbells that always know when a guest (or delivery) has arrived. For multi-family developments, AI-powered, public space video cameras that track what’s happening around the community and automated exterior lighting will be in demand.

    I see a significant market opportunity because the smart home market has matured over the past five years, poised to move from “do it yourself” to “do it for me.” Buyers will likely look increasingly for pre-built homes with curated technology. According to a Coldwell Banker Real Estate survey, 71% of buyers want a tech-enabled “move-in ready” house, while 61% of millennials favor smart-tech homes; so do 59% of parents with children living in the house.

    Making this a reality is new artificial intelligence (AI) technology that learns its residents’ patterns and preferences, then intuitively sets ambiance routines to match. Energy-saving thermal windows add to a home’s efficiency. Every smart device in each home is choreographed to work in concert with each other, connecting to a centralized home management app that is very manageable and simple to use. Such systems are updated regularly via the cloud, and all hardware is housed indiscriminately in a central hub in the home. Technology fully integrates into the structure and blends into the minimalist interior design.

    Second-generation, AI-powered smart home technology self-learns, adapting to the routines and preferences; with most software solutions offered via the cloud, it continues to improve over time. In the ideal smart home setup, all devices are synchronized and orchestrated, made accessible through a smartphone or a computer. Call it a smart home with a genius IQ.

    Related: 5 Ways AI Technology is Making Our Buildings Smarter

    Urban density

    Growing urban density and awareness of environmental sustainability require designers and builders to think about domestic space in a new way. The new urban home is comfortable and welcoming while using space with greater efficiency, flexibility, and responsiveness compared to houses of the past. Not to be underestimated is the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, which underscored long-held beliefs that the home can and should contribute to the health and wellness of its inhabitants.

    This kind of home — purpose-built to become the foundation of holistic well-being for its residents — must include a versatile modern design, multi-functional use of space and curated, pre-configured technology built-in before the resident occupies the space.

    A great example of this trend is in Portland, Oregon. The Portland market is attractive for builders and investors: The city is a rapidly growing urban center that needs high-density housing solutions that move beyond the traditional detached single-family home. Urban residents are progressive, seek balanced lifestyles and welcome innovation that challenges the status quo.

    Real estate trends in urban areas

    Real estate trends are pointing toward modern designed, open floor plans that offer adaptability. Large windows and courtyard views help residents connect with nature inside the home. A skylight in the stairwell adds natural light. Built-in storage under the staircase for storing shoes and other things keeps clutter minimum; an outside storage area next to the second-floor patio keeps large or seasonal items out of the living space. A community bike storage room within the building is convenient and frees up additional space within the home. There is the efficient placement of lights and sensors. An unassuming, out-of-sight cabinet holds all the technology hardware.

    Residents in growing urban centers like Portland typically value a close connection to nature and regularly participate in outdoor activities. Developments such as this one take advantage of materials with an organic feel that creates a sense of connection to nature. Carefully selected oak flooring, Corian kitchen countertops, and cedar fencing bolster the environment. Landscaping with bamboo and trees creates shade and further mitigates sound to maintain quiet inside the homes.

    Real estate will see more focus on balancing resident privacy with creating connectedness between members of the community. Smart technology, combined with well-designed common spaces, makes this happen. Modern developments often have courtyards with a balance of quiet space and gathering space for community members.

    As the real estate industry evolves, holistic and adaptive urban living will drive the industry. Savvy builders will combine modern design, architecture, and technology into homes that provide are combined into one product — the home — that has been built to provide beauty, comfort and wellness. Startup founders, corporate executives and investors should keep an eye on these trends and be ready to capitalize on opportunities they will create.

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    Anis Uzzaman

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  • 3 Simple Reasons to Add Technology to Your Non-Tech Business

    3 Simple Reasons to Add Technology to Your Non-Tech Business

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    Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.

    You are a business owner but aren’t in the tech industry, so why would you need to focus heavily on adapting technology in your daily workflow? Some people may say you don’t need to. However, I’m here to put a bug in your head and prove how technology is critical to any business across any vertical. And that includes you!

    We know technology can be intimidating. It also can be complex, and there are seemingly endless options. So, is it worth the cost, integration headaches and question if you are picking the right ones? Yes! Here are my top three reasons to focus on technology, and I’ll explain how to integrate it into your business:

    1. Not applying technology means you could face a technology deficit

    Let’s face it, not having a line item in your books for technology and software subscriptions means your company will hit a point where you can’t grow any further. Whether your marketing team will be missing major data points for essential customer acquisition or your efficiencies will eventually put you behind, your competition could pass you by (we’ll get to this one more in the next point). No matter the roadblock you will hit, the point is your growth will have to slow down or halt. You don’t want to wait until that point to use technology once the train has left the station without you!

    Related: 5 Types of Technology All Entrepreneurs Need Access to in the Digital Age

    2. Results are everything

    No matter your business or vertical, your most valuable resource is your team. How can you empower your team to work smarter, not harder, and ultimately produce the best results? The answer is with the right technology! Even if your staff has been set in their ways and doesn’t want to learn a new program, you must pick the right operational systems and offer proper training. A minor setback in the learning curve will mean a huge uptick in productivity.

    I once ran into a mid-sized company that was technologically behind due to not prioritizing this aspect of its business. This inadequacy caused marketing and sales to lag compared to its competitors. I likened their technological powers and abilities to taking a knife to a gunfight.

    If a company can increase its operational automation in the marketing space, that would allow it to understand its target customer and truly understand how to sell to its market in an efficient and results-driven way.

    A data warehouse and congruent CRM would allow this business to properly segment and hit goals for its best marketing demographic more accurately. Identifying, understanding and addressing low-hanging fruit, such as abandoned shopping cart funnels, is crucial.

    When you are focused on results, technology almost always needs to be integrated to increase efficiencies and drive sales in the long run. And it’s always easier and cheaper to integrate the right technology early to ensure your team is trained and using it along the way!

    Related: How Technology Is Shortening the Road to Fame

    3. You’re increasing your footprint of liabilities without the right technology

    I’ve seen every range of technology integration, from the tech-savvy millennial CEO who relies on data and analytics for every business decision to the companies that don’t integrate it at all and still use a pen and paper within every significant department. However, if you are closer to the latter, you are potentially putting your team at a huge safety risk. If you have only minimal or wrong technology, you could be putting your customers, reputation and finances at risk too!

    I’ve even seen clients using only a single source for major bookkeeping and documentation, like Excel. One wrong move or fat-fingered mistake can change your calculations completely. Or worse, delete everything! If that isn’t risky, I don’t know what is.

    Technology can feel overwhelming, which is often why we hear people stay away from adding it to their daily workflow. However, there are simple ways to make that change. Start with finding a company to give you a technical audit — which is often cheaper than you might expect. Take their advice and then apply it in chunks.

    You may not need to go from 0 to 100 in the first week. You can slowly add, integrate and manage critical technology into various departments as you feel comfortable. And as I mentioned earlier, a key to tech success is training! Empower your team to take the tech leap with you and work on this together. Everyone can learn a new trick, and it could even be fun! Finally, ensure that you have a base infrastructure to make the ideal environment for success. This includes having the basic technology hardware and compatible systems in place.

    Take this article as your sign to take the first step and better your business with tech!

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    Craig Ceccanti

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  • The Critical Role of System Integration In Digital Transformation

    The Critical Role of System Integration In Digital Transformation

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    Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.

    In recent years, businesses of all sizes have increasingly relied on digital tools and technologies. There has been a rapid increase in adopting the newest trends to enhance productivity and efficiency and improve processes and outputs.

    In their quest to go digital, many organizations are forced to give up their old ways and welcome contemporary processes and systems with open arms. Some traditions are hard to let go of. Thus, business owners and employees alike might be apprehensive of the changes that come with digital transformation.

    How can your business make sure to switch it up without losing existing data, systems, processes, techniques or people? An integrated system will address all your troubles and concerns.

    What system integration means

    Every business, at any point in time, often has a combination of manual and automated online and offline systems to manage each aspect of its operation. To reap maximal benefits from global technological advancements, businesses must fully embrace the digital age. However, going digital can take time.

    Many organizations that started early on took each process or department through digitalization. Others wanted to undergo digital transformation in one go — a tiresome, high-risk and expensive process. To take a cautious, calculated approach to digital transformation, there is one integral part of the process you cannot ignore — system integration.

    System integration refers to collecting the various separate modules, processes and data systems and having them work in a unified manner. It enables organizations to streamline operations, strengthen collaboration between departments, and improve operational efficiency. This process not only facilitates the introduction of new IT systems to existing digital environments but can also help combine modern systems with dated legacy ones.

    Related: Why You Should Speed Up Your Digital Transformation During the Crisis

    The benefits of system integration

    In recent years, the global system integration market has been growing at impressive rates, and Grandview Research predicts an upward trend for the next few years. Let us explore why system integration is vital to the digital transformation journey and how it can benefit your business.

    1. Lower costs

    Installing and maintaining multiple disparate subsystems can be expensive. The costs can quickly rack up to staggering amounts over the years. With an integrated modern system, your organization will no longer have to host and manage multiple systems and their individual data stores. A consolidated system will reduce redundancy and repetition and allow valuable resources to be reallocated toward more critical tasks or areas of operation.

    Additionally, without a proper system integration strategy, the thought of undergoing digital transformation can be daunting. Introducing a highly complex state-of-the-art digital system to be implemented across the entire organization at once will incur significant financial damage, not to mention the intimidation and doubt it will cast over the workforce. System integration can help assuage the impact of digital transformation by putting existing systems to their best use and only introducing new elements where necessary.

    2. Improved efficiencies

    Working with many systems — some of which may be entirely isolated — negatively impacts performances and subsequent results. There can be a sizable gap in communication and collaboration. Isolated systems may have to be manually updated with new incoming data. And let us not forget the hassle you would have to go through every time some important information needed to be retrieved. A lot of time would be wasted on interdepartmental communication for the simplest exchange of data, further delaying time-critical resolutions. Even minor errors could cause catastrophic outcomes.

    With a consolidated digital platform, you will get many benefits in terms of higher efficiency.

    Firstly, system integration will facilitate knowledge transfer by providing a high level of connectivity between teams and departments. This leads us to the second benefit — massive time-saving. Introducing a digital system would open up new possibilities for automating mundane and critical tasks. Urgent decisions could be made in real time. Each member of your organization would then be able to focus their efforts and energies on more important things, boosting the team’s collective productivity and efficiency.

    Related: 3 Key Steps to Make Your Business More Efficient and More Profitable

    3. New insights

    With disparate subsystems all handling different data stores, there is a certain gap that can sometimes be difficult or impossible to bridge. Businesses could miss out on a goldmine of valuable insights and reports that high volumes of data could potentially provide. Consequently, they likely make pivotal decisions based on incomplete or inaccurate data.

    With an integrated system, all the relevant people can access any data they need at any time. This data can then be used to analyze employee, department or overall business performance. The insights you gain into your business’s operations can then be used to make any changes needed to improve outputs and outcomes.

    Wrapping up

    System integration is an essential part of the digital transformation process, a phase without which businesses will not be able to experience the true advantages of going digital. Thus, your end goal should be not just introducing newer, more innovative IT systems in the workplace but also making room for any adjustments necessary for a truly digital, smooth and unified experience.

    Related: Why Enterprise Application Integration for Businesses is an Absolute Necessity?

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    Yasin Altaf

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  • Get This Smart Lock for an Extra 25 Percent off Through October 12th

    Get This Smart Lock for an Extra 25 Percent off Through October 12th

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    Disclosure: Our goal is to feature products and services that we think you’ll find interesting and useful. If you purchase them, Entrepreneur may get a small share of the revenue from the sale from our commerce partners.

    Entrepreneurs frequently hear about the importance of cybersecurity but don’t let that lull you into sleeping on your physical security, either. Your office — whether it’s at home or not — is still an important place to protect. During our Deal Days promotion going on through October 12th at 11:59 p.m., you can add an extra measure of security to your home or office with a discount on the BOSMA Aegis Smart Door Lock.


    Bosma

    One of the web’s top-rated smart locks, Aegis works with your existing deadbolt, turning it into a smart lock by simply replacing the indoor portion of it. You can keep your current key as a traditional backup and just get more out of your office door’s regular lock.

    When you install the Aegis (an easy process that takes about ten minutes, by the way), you can create temporary passcodes for your guests, tenants, or service providers so you never have to go down with a key, and manage all of the passcodes in the app. Aegis’s bank-fraud AES-128 Advanced Encryption ensures nobody can hack the lock digitally while break-in detection and an automatic siren alert you when somebody does manage to break through. Plus, the Aegis auto-lock and auto-unlock ensures you won’t forget about locking up after you leave — it handles it all for you automatically. It will even work with Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant for voice controls and give you door ajar alerts in the event that you forget to close it all the way.

    If you pair your Aegis with BOSMA’s Sentry system, you’ll get even more comprehensive security features and even more control.

    Give your home office the protection that it deserves. During our Deal Days promotion, you can get the BOSMA Aegis Smart Door Lock on sale for an extra $10 off its already discounted price at just $89.99 (reg. $119) now through October 12th.

    Prices subject to change.

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