Business Solutions & Software Group Blog

Establishing and nurturing positive customer relationships stands as important for any business. A vital tool in achieving this goal is the implementation of a customer relationship management (CRM) platform. While many CRMs share common features, some offer more advanced capabilities at a higher cost. This month, we will explore the suitable CRM options for businesses at different levels.

Back in 1942, Isaac Asimov wrote a short story called “Runaround” that formally introduced his Three Laws of Robotics as a complete set of rules that all robots in his Robots series were beholden to. Now, Google has announced that a similar safeguard will inform how their future AI-enabled machines will operate, partially inspired by the Three Laws.

Let’s look at what Google has coined their “Robot Constitution,” and how it works.

Enhancing collaboration is pivotal for the success of many businesses, and leveraging technology can exponentially improve collaborative outcomes. The challenge lies in identifying the most suitable collaboration tools for your organization’s specific needs. In this month’s newsletter, we will explore two categories of software that can enhance your organizational collaboration.

In 2022, Microsoft introduced the concept of "productivity paranoia," highlighting managers' overwhelming concerns that remote workers might not be operating at peak efficiency. As remote and hybrid work models persist, however, a new manifestation has surfaced: the pervasive feeling among workers that they must constantly prove their productivity while working from home.

It doesn’t matter who you are; your age, your occupation, your employment status, your station in life—you need to make 2024 the year you get your cybersecurity hygiene in check. What we’re going to talk about today isn’t overkill, overly complicated, or expensive. This isn’t us trying to sell you on something. In fact, this is probably the easiest New Year's Resolution you can give yourself.

First, let me start with a really quick story.

Running a business can be really hard and filled with difficult decisions. Some of the most important surround the policies that make it possible to retain your employees; and ensure that they are effective at the job you are paying them to do. In today’s article, we talk a little bit about how problematic it can be when you are forced to deal with a workforce that has a high percentage of turnover or employees that are too distracted and burnt out to be effective.

Data loss has a severely damaging impact on the businesses that suffer from it, so why not help protect your business the same way you would with other damages? Cyber insurance helps do just that, and is therefore a super helpful investment for today’s businesses to embrace.

That said, just like other forms of insurance, there are certain requirements that must be met for a business to qualify. Let’s touch on some common requirements insurance providers have.

Smart devices empower individuals and businesses to redefine the boundaries of connectivity, granting unprecedented control over their homes and offices. With just a tap on a screen, people can adjust their thermostats, secure their front doors, and regulate their energy consumption. The Achilles' heel of these interconnected devices, however, lies in their security.

Today, technology stands out for its remarkable pace of growth and continuous innovation. I really mean continuous. Nearly everything that has been developed is eventually improved upon, until something new comes along and replaces it. If an improvement is good enough, especially if it is seen as indispensable, it will often transcend the initial invention. This has happened many times over the years. 

It’s no secret that data security is of paramount importance, with phishing and ransomware making weekly appearances in the news cycle at this point. You need to prioritize your business data’s privacy. Otherwise, you’re apt to suffer from your data being accessed without authorization and all the consequences that come with this outcome. Today’s criminals are very capable, which makes it challenging to protect yourself.

Here, we’ve put together some essential strategies to make it easier.

Blockchain has increasingly become a technology you hear about, but you may not completely understand how it works. It’s often painted as a controversial technology because the corrupt behaviors of people managing cryptocurrency exchanges have put a negative sheen on the technology. The technology, however, has a wide range of applications across various industries due to its decentralized, secure, and transparent nature. Let’s take a look at a couple of the uses for blockchain. 

It’s been a few years since remote work was suddenly thrust into popularity, and in that time, remote or hybrid styles of work have become a means for businesses to return to normal operations without requiring a full return to the office. While many seem perfectly content to continue operating in this way, there are businesses that are pushing for a return to how things once were.

Let’s talk about why this strategy may not be all that wise.

The conference room for any business is bound to be pretty interesting, and it can tell you all there is to know about a business. This is why it’s especially important to ensure your conference room gives the right impression, especially if you have clients who frequent your office. Let’s go over how you can make your conference room the best it can be!

When it comes to ransomware, you want to do all that you can to prevent an infection rather than respond to one. Of course, this isn’t always possible, so if you are struggling with a ransomware attack, you’ll need to act quickly to keep it from spreading. Let’s go over some of the steps that you’ll need to take to come out of a ransomware attack without too much scarring.

For the past six months, the social media giant Meta (AKA Facebook) has attempted to take advantage of the perceived instability at X (AKA Twitter) and create a microblogging community in the same vein, called Threads. Today, we thought we would take a look at Threads and how it is similar to X, and how it aims to pull users away from the microblogging giant. 

Even the best-laid plan can be disrupted, and any business needs to understand that going into these types of situations with limited knowledge is also risking the plan falling apart. Business technology needs to be cost-effective, and if you don’t have a plan, you could wind up paying far more than expected. It helps to have a professional on your side who can help you make these decisions.

In our rapidly evolving society, very few things are as they once were. One thing that feels a lot similar to the past is the Christmas holiday. Sure, it’s more commercialized than ever, but by-in-large many of our holiday traditions stay the same. People make a point to get together and exchange gifts and eat too much; and they tend to do this every year. 

We aren’t shy about the numerous benefits that remote work has to offer. That being said, as it becomes increasingly clear that remote work is going to be a part of operations in some shape or form, it will be a challenge to keep those working remotely engaged as a part of a company’s established culture.

Let’s examine this issue, and a few ways to address it.

Every organization must implement a baseline of cybersecurity measures, encompassing elements such as firewalls, antivirus software, VPNs, encryption, and centrally managed security policies. However, the evolving landscape of cyberthreats means that modern cybercriminals are adept at circumventing these defenses.

While you’re reflecting over the past year of business, it’s time to also consider what your future will consist of from an operational perspective. By reducing the organizational clutter on your network, you might find that you’re paying for and hosting a lot of applications that are completely unnecessary—something that needlessly strains your bottom line.