Customer service expectations have grown over the last few years. Businesses have had to adapt to meet the needs of their customers. Here are some ways that tech can be implemented to improve the customer service experience.
You can program a chatbot to respond to customers’ immediate needs or questions on your website or app.
With the use of augmented or virtual reality, you can demonstrate how a product will look or work for your customers.
Through certain automation programs, you can ensure that your e-mails appear as if they were tailored for each customer.
Technology experts fear that the next major issue to affect our country will come from the digital world.
During the pandemic, ransomware attacks have increased 500% and don’t seem to be stopping anytime soon.
Ransomware attacks occur when a hacker installs software on a network that prevents the owner from accessing any of their devices or data. They essentially hold the business hostage as they demand a ransom payment.
To combat this, your business needs to put some cyber security practices in place to prevent ransomware attacks. This includes implementing offline backups and keeping your software up-to-date.
The technology your company uses has always been important in attracting experienced and talented employees, but it has become even more important with remote and hybrid work.
Very few employees will want to work remotely for a company that doesn’t provide any of the basic tech needed to perform their role.
A recent study by Barco, Inc. found that 1 in 3 hybrid employees say that one of the top factors in searching for a new job is their frustration while dealing with tech issues.
If you want to retain your top talent, you need to provide your team with the tech needed to perform their daily duties. Check on them to make sure they have everything they need and even the playing field between your remote and in‑office employees.
Children in this day and age are growing up in a technological climate that many of us never could have imagined 20 years ago.
Kids who were born during the last decade will never know a world where everyone doesn’t have a cellphone on them at all times.
They’ll never truly understand what the world was like before the Internet.
This rapid development of technology has made it so our kids’ online and offline lives are merged into one.
The conversations they have on social media or over texting are the exact same as the conversations they would have in person.
They have direct access to just about anyone at a moment’s notice and can see directly into other people’s lives through social media.
Additionally, many kids are stumbling upon graphic content and some pop-ups are even encouraging them to click on inappropriate material.
40% of American children receive cellphones before they turn 11
To put it simply, it’s becoming much more difficult to keep our children safe online.
They’re able to share information, pictures and videos at a moment’s notice, and oftentimes, the parents are unaware their children are participating in these behaviors.
Considering that 40% of American children receive cellphones before they turn 11, it’s important that parents do everything in their power to ensure their children stay safe online.
If you are not sure of what steps you need to take to ensure your children’s safety online, don’t worry – we’ve got you covered.
Fostering a safe online environment for your children starts at an early age.
They should be introduced to the online world when they’re young and taught the safest way to use it.
Once they’ve been introduced to the Internet, set time constraints and do everything you can to ensure their technological devices aren’t interfering with their sleep.
Many children will get their first experience with social media thanks to their parents.
Lead by example by making appropriate, safe posts that do not reveal personal information.
There should be no graphic or mature content on your feed as well, especially if it’s public.
Make sure your children know how to create strong passwords as well as the dangers of having a weak password.
Teach them to use different passwords for each account and to never share their passwords with anyone outside of the family.
Getting a password manager and teaching them how to use them is also a good option to help them keep a great password hygiene.
Parental controls are great when it comes to streaming services and computers, but did you know that most smartphones and tablets also come with parental controls?
On your child’s smartphone, you can set parental controls for time limits as well as content restrictions.
You can even choose which specific websites they’re allowed to visit while blocking everything else.
This is a great way to prevent them from stumbling upon inappropriate or harmful content.
The Internet can be an informative and enjoyable place for your children if you take the proper precautions.
Teach them the basics of the Internet and preach safety above all else.
Over the past 20 years, technology has developed rapidly and advanced to levels that previously only existed within the confines of our imaginations.
Whether you’re an entrepreneur starting a new business or a seasoned business owner, there are many pieces of technology you can incorporate into your business to produce better results.
Digital marketing tools have seen some of the biggest advancements over the past decade.
To stay ahead of the competition, you need to have an informative and useful social media presence that coincides with your website and other digital campaigns.
You also need to invest in cloud technology since it will allow your company to revolutionize how you share information.
If your business deals with customers, it can be incredibly beneficial to find customer relationship management software (CRM) that works for you.
Various studies have shown a direct correlation between using CRMs and positive customer retention.
There’s been a renewed focus on how businesses interact with the environment.
There are many consumers who prefer to do business with companies that are more eco-friendly.
While it’s great for attracting new clientele, putting your business on the path to a greener and cleaner future is the best way to stay environmentally conscious.
Don’t know where to start? Try out these four easy methods for a greener workplace.
If you own or operate a small business, you’re probably aware of some of the different methods that cybercriminals will use to try to steal sensitive information from your business, but there are some new threats making headlines.
A recent report from CyberCatch saw the cyber security platform provider review 20,000 randomly selected small businesses in the U.S. for vulnerabilities that can be exploited by cybercriminals.
It found that “spoofing,” “clickjacking” and “sniffing” are new methods they are exploiting, but what do these terms actually mean?
It’s important to stay up-to-date on all the new methods used by cybercriminals in order to keep your business protected.
If you are not sure where to start with protecting your business against cybercriminals, take a look at our comprehensive stack of cyber security solutions.
In the world of business, you’ll inevitably hear about the many ways to beef up your cyber security to ensure your company’s and clients’ safety.
However, another term is often heard when discussing cyber security: compliance.
It’s not talked about as often, but both cyber security and compliance are essential for any business to succeed.
Compliance helps businesses keep consumer information protected.
Compliance is fulfilled when businesses and organizations prove that their cyber security practices meet specific security regulations and standards set by third parties like government agencies.
Compliance is not optional.
Businesses must meet these requirements to protect sensitive information as well as their clients.
Failure to meet compliance requirements results in fines, penalties and even legal ramifications.
Compliance is often driven by business needs rather than technical needs, whereas security is driven by the need to protect against constant threats.
If your business is compliant with its cyber security protocols, it’ll also appear more trustworthy to the clients and other businesses that work with you.
One cyber security breach can permanently damage your company’s reputation.
Customers will no longer want to do business with you for fear that their personal information could become compromised.
While cyber security and compliance sound fairly similar, there is a slight difference between them.
Compliance is often driven by business needs rather than technical needs, whereas security is driven by the need to protect against constant threats.
If you want to maximize your company’s cyber security practices, then you’ll need to go further.
Overall, compliance and cyber security should work hand in hand.
Your initial cyber security plan should be based on compliance.
You must know the standard requirements to remain compliant and put the necessary practices in place to achieve that status.
This comes down to knowing the exact details of what is necessary to stay protected.
You should be specific so your team knows exactly what is needed to protect your business.
You also need to make an effort to document your practices as frequently as possible.
You should create a paper trail of everything you have done to stay compliant as well as your added cyber security practices.
It can help to add potential audits and any frequency-bound events to your calendar so you don’t get blindsided or miss something important.
After you’ve gathered all of your evidence and put your cyber security and compliance protocols to work, you can automate many of your reports. That way, you won’t have to dig and pull data yourself in the future.
While it might seem like a lot of work to ensure your business remains compliant, companies out there can help.
Managed IT services providers go above and beyond to ensure your business’ cyber security plan is bulletproof.
While they are taking care of all of your IT needs, they are also ensuring your business remains compliant with any third-party governing bodies.
New cyber security threats are introduced every day, and only with strong cyber security and compliance practices can you ensure your business is protected for the foreseeable future.
For more information about compliance, this post provides useful tips on how businesses can start the road to compliance and how to stay compliant.
Many of the changes brought forth by the pandemic are here to stay and may even evolve further.
The year 2022 is shaping up to be a big one for technology, and you’ll want to stay informed if you plan to keep up with any changes in your business.
With more people working remotely than ever before, there’s been a greater focus on Internet speeds and usage.
Over the next year, we’ll experience an increase in 5G coverage as well as rapid development for 6G.
Additionally, we’re likely to see some growth in the AI sector.
It’s also imperative that you pay attention to the Metaverse and any impending developments, as the Metaverse has the potential to majorly impact a lot of industries.
E-mail marketing campaigns are performed by almost every company because they’re a cost-effective way to reach a large number of potential customers.
However, have you ever felt like your campaign was not getting the attention it deserves?
Is it possible you did something that actually turned people away from your campaign?
You’ll want to reconsider your approach if you’re doing any of the following:
When you first start a business or develop a product, you’re probably trying to figure out a way to maximize its value.
Sometimes it’s not enough to simply create a great product or service.
You need to inject it with the spirit of your company.
When you first started your business, you should have written out some core values you never want to forget.
Your products should also follow these values and, at times, be the greatest representation of them.
Oftentimes, you can showcase this through the design of the product itself and its packaging.
When someone first uses your product or service, it should look flawless and work perfectly.
When a potential customer first sees your product and uses it, they should have no qualms about the quality or design.
They should view your product the same way you ideally view it – like it’s the best thing since sliced bread.
As we progress through 2022, more and more Gen Zers will be entering the workforce.
When millennials entered the workforce, we saw different attitudes and behaviors than ever before, and we should expect Gen Zers to come with their own uniqueness and differences.
You may think that since they are the first full generation to grow up in the digital age they will be well-prepared for any technological challenges and security issues that arise, but that isn’t always the case.
78% of Gen Zers use the same password across multiple accounts
Since most Gen Zers grew up with a smartphone and social media, they’re more likely to share information without any regard for security.
According to Entrepreneur, many Gen Zers struggle to distinguish between friends they met online and in real life.
Cybercriminals could use this knowledge to carefully craft social media profiles to gain access to valuable information about the individual and possibly even their workplace.
There are many common issues that plague Gen Zers when it comes to cyber security.
Password issues seem to be the most prevalent.
According to a recent Harris Poll, 78% of Gen Zers use the same password across multiple accounts.
That’s up 10% to 20% when compared to millennials, Gen Xers, and baby boomers.
Other common issues include safe browsing habits and tracking basics.
Over the next few years, there’s a good chance that you will hire a Gen Zer for some role in your business.
You’re probably wondering how you can prepare your cyber security so it’s ready to handle whatever the next generation brings.
It’s important that you’re proactive in your strategy.
Waiting until you already have Gen Zers in your workplace could leave your information unprotected or make your company open to cyber-attacks.
Before anything else, you need to develop an information security training program.
It’s imperative that your company have a well-established cyber-secure culture that everyone has bought into.
That way, when you have new hires, you can put them through the same training while your other employees demonstrate proper techniques through behavior.
Make sure your training is up-to-date and that you continue to update it whenever new software or technology is released.
Remember when we said that many Gen Zers struggle with password security and often use the same password for every account?
If they continue to do that and use the same password for their personal and professional accounts, it could leave your business vulnerable.
Start implementing password manager programs in your business as soon as possible to avoid this dilemma with any current or future employees.
Password managers make more complicated and secure passwords that your average hacker can’t crack.
If you truly want to keep your business protected from cybercriminals, you can hire a managed services provider to take care of your IT needs.
MSPs are all about being proactive.
A comprehensive managed IT services cybersecurity bundle will get your business:
Basically, all of your cyber security concerns will be covered when you hire an MSP, and you won’t even have to worry about the next generation making things more difficult.
QWERTY’s cybersecurity complete solutions can be found in the Enhanced managed plan.
Take a look at the cybersecurity services included in our Managed IT plans here.
As Gen Zers enter the workforce, it’s important that business owners across the country prepare for their arrival.
Don’t wait for them to start at your business to make changes to your cyber security plan.
Be proactive and do what you need to fully prepare your business.
After taking a trip to go apple-picking in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, Abhi Ramesh came up with an idea to prevent food waste.
He saw apples all around the ground that would eventually be thrown out.
He thought there must be a better way and began developing his company, Misfits Market.
They offered a subscription service and single-order boxes of “unwanted” produce.
When the pandemic hit, Misfits Market had to completely revolutionize the way they operated.
They saw five times as many orders and had to shut down their website’s checkout page while they figured out a plan to meet the demand.
They created a wait list while hiring a massive number of new employees.
Their staff grew from 175 to over 1,000 in a few short months.
Their plan seems to have worked out, as Misfits Market is now valued at $2 billion and has expanded its delivery service to include items not considered produce.
Some of the biggest costs that brick-and-mortar businesses face are gas and electricity bills.
However, you can’t just cut these energy bills out of your budget; they’re essential to your business.
That doesn’t mean you should be stuck paying incredibly high bills, though.
There are things you can do to lower your company’s monthly energy costs:
Many business owners who are trying to improve their company’s IT security look at fixing potential hardware and software problems.
No matter how many holes owners fill or barriers they put up, hackers can still find their way to important information.
The simple truth of the matter is that you cannot single-handedly control and monitor your business for security risks.
You must ensure that your entire team is on board and dedicated to maintaining a secure culture in the workplace.
Start with the top and make sure your leadership team has bought into the culture.
They’ll help influence the rest of the team.
You also need to incorporate IT security training into your onboarding process.
This will ensure that everyone who is hired understands the expectation.
Continue this training with your current employees by having an annual refresher training.
If your team buys into the security culture, you will have much less to worry about.
Like any seasonal holiday, tax time is when cybercriminals take the opportunity to pounce on human vulnerabilities.
Our minds are inundated with commercials and other reminders that ‘tax season is happening now’ so without even realizing it, we often trust that anything we see or hear is simply because of the time frame that we’re in, and don’t question the validity.
Tax scams are presented in a variety of formats.
Here are a few keywords, terms, and approaches cybercriminals use to take advantage of unsuspecting individuals, and what to be on the lookout for:
This is in no way a complete list, but it is a summary of some of the methods that the IRS has warned consumers about.
Have these tips into consideration and stay safe while paying your taxes.
For years, “going green” has been a huge trend for businesses. And 2022 will continue this trend, so it’s important for entrepreneurs to consider the effect their businesses have on the environment.
We’ve gathered five ways you can make your business environmentally sound.
Account And Offset Your Carbon.
If you don’t know the carbon footprint of your business, you should take some time to figure it out. Once you know, you’ll need to make a consistent effort to offset it.
Don’t Use Paper.
Most things you do in your business can be completed digitally now. Stop using paper for basic situations and let your computer do the work instead.
Allow Employees to Work Remotely.
When your employees have to commute, emissions from their vehicles are harmful to air quality. If your employees can responsibly work from home, let them.
Perform An Audit.
It might be difficult to tell which practices are harmful to the environment, but it can help to perform an audit so you can pinpoint any waste management and consumption issues.
Incentivize Environmentally Friendly Practices.
Give your employees even more of a reason to be environmentally conscious. Encourage and reward them for their efforts.
Cyber security, a huge focus for small businesses, may cause feelings of risk and confusion about how to protect data, employees, clients and a reputation. If you’re worried about cyber security in your business, implement one of these safety practices:
Adopt A Zero-Trust Framework.
Many IT security programs will require steps to access the system, but you’ll have access to everything once you’re in. That means one small breach and a cybercriminal will have full access. A zero-trust framework will close any gaps, keeping your information protected.
Utilize 2-Factor Authentication.
An experienced cybercriminal can get through password gates with ease, so you’ll need to create additional roadblocks. Two-factor authentication will add an extra layer of security that most hackers can’t break through.
Train Your Staff.
Your employees must know the basics when it comes to cyber security. Make sure they are trained – even incorporate training into your new-hire orientation so you can create a cyber-secure culture.
In this day and age, if you stand still in the world of business, you’ll get left behind.
Samsung is doing everything in their power to ensure they’re around for a long time.
In fact, Samsung’s CEO, Jong-Hee Han, recently explained three methods they are using to keep their customers happy for years to come.
While Samsung is known for developing new technology and devices, their methods can be applied to any product.
If you want to ensure customers will continue to purchase your products in the distant future, give these methods a try:
As a business owner, you’re the true heart of your business.
Though this may sound egotistical, there is some truth behind the expression.
In a way, your business is an extension of yourself, which also means that your business cannot be something that you personally are not.
So many people say, “I want to make the best product and get rich from it,” but instead they should be focusing on the why instead of the want.
Much better questions to ask when deciding what direction to take your business are “Why do I want to be rich?” and “Why is this the product to make it so?”
If you want to see greater success in your business, treat it as an extension of yourself.
If things get too muddied, take some time and reflect on what really matters to you.
This will help you realign your business and make sure that you’re focused on the things that truly matter.
It’s hard to argue that there’s anything more powerful in the world of marketing than word of mouth.
A report from Nielson found that people trust consumer reviews 66% of the time and recommendations from people they know 83% of the time, while fewer than half of the respondents showed trust in advertisements found on social media.
Word-of-mouth marketing can be difficult to obtain, but with these three tips, your business will be the talk of the town before you know it.
• Master Your Field: Always aim for the highest level of customer service and become knowledgeable about the product or service you’re selling. If you wow your customers, they will probably tell friends about your business.
• Inform Others of Your Business Mission: It’s important that your business has a mission statement that the company works to maintain, but you should also be sharing that mission with all of your customers so they can buy in.
• Be Authentic And Charismatic: Be real with your customers and share your values with them. Find out what makes you and your business unique and find new ways to express that uniqueness.
The pandemic saw a huge shift in people working remotely.
Before the pandemic, only 6% of the workforce worked remotely, but those numbers soared to 54% in May 2020.
The shift has been difficult for many employers, but there are things you can do to make remote work easier for you and your employees.
Offer flexibility that better fits their needs, find ways to build trust, limit restrictions and listen to what your employees are saying.
To build a more appreciative and joyous remote culture, make the job more about your employees’ needs and less about what you want.
In the digital age, companies are growing faster than ever before, and the companies that are succeeding all have one thing in common: a growth mindset.
Companies that aren’t looking to grow get stale quickly, and this becomes more apparent with each technological advancement.
In order for your business to succeed, you will need to develop a growth mindset within your company.
There are a few things you can do to adapt and create a mindset that will catapult you to the top of your industry.
The first thing is to continue promoting a learning and mentoring ideology within your business.
There’s always room for growth; you just need to encourage it.
You should also encourage innovation by establishing areas where external and internal sources can communicate.
Also, stay informed and ahead of your industry by paying attention to new technology.
Lastly, don’t be afraid of feedback. It can help your company grow and help you to discover any shortcomings.
Facebook is in the process of unveiling hardware and other technology to support its metaverse, even calling this new network “Meta.”
The social media platform has seen a recent decrease in users who cite mistrust as a key factor in their departure.
A Facebook whistleblower, Frances Haugen, has stated that the virtual reality world could give Facebook another opportunity to steal even more personal information from its users.
Haugen said users will be required to set up many sensors throughout their home, which will encourage them to detract from reality and enter the virtual world.
The idea of adding sensors into users’ homes is a privacy nightmare.
It gets even worse if you consider the fact that employers who use Meta may require their employees to have the sensors in their homes so they can participate in meetings.
Trust in Facebook is already low, and Meta will have to ensure their system is safe if they hope for success.
Everywhere you look, it seems like more businesses are putting out “Help Wanted” signs.
Limeade, an organization that specializes in employee well-being, recently released the results of a study that focused on why people were leaving their jobs.
Burnout was the top reason most employees quit.
Through surveys and conversations with your team, you can discover if burnout is an issue in your business.
Introducing mental health days and finding ways to equally distribute workloads can help prevent burnout.
People who recently left their jobs also stated that they wanted a more flexible or caring culture.
Employees need time for themselves and will become unhappy if they feel work is taking away from that time.
Customer service expectations have grown over the last few years. Businesses have had to adapt to meet the needs of their customers. Here are some ways that tech can be implemented to improve the customer service experience.
You can program a chatbot to respond to customers’ immediate needs or questions on your website or app.
With the use of augmented or virtual reality, you can demonstrate how a product will look or work for your customers.
Through certain automation programs, you can ensure that your e-mails appear as if they were tailored for each customer.
Technology experts fear that the next major issue to affect our country will come from the digital world.
During the pandemic, ransomware attacks have increased 500% and don’t seem to be stopping anytime soon.
Ransomware attacks occur when a hacker installs software on a network that prevents the owner from accessing any of their devices or data. They essentially hold the business hostage as they demand a ransom payment.
To combat this, your business needs to put some cyber security practices in place to prevent ransomware attacks. This includes implementing offline backups and keeping your software up-to-date.
The technology your company uses has always been important in attracting experienced and talented employees, but it has become even more important with remote and hybrid work.
Very few employees will want to work remotely for a company that doesn’t provide any of the basic tech needed to perform their role.
A recent study by Barco, Inc. found that 1 in 3 hybrid employees say that one of the top factors in searching for a new job is their frustration while dealing with tech issues.
If you want to retain your top talent, you need to provide your team with the tech needed to perform their daily duties. Check on them to make sure they have everything they need and even the playing field between your remote and in‑office employees.
