The importance of technological convergence for companies

In an increasingly digital world, technological advances have a direct impact on the way companies do business, and companies need to act to keep up with the latest information technology. Technological convergence is increasingly important to unify processes, tools, methods and diverse sectors. In today’s article, we talk about the importance of technological convergence for companies!

What is technological convergence?

Technological convergence is an increasing trend in the economic environment. This concept represents the union of the different services that share the same structure among themselves. The goal is to meet customer needs and anticipate trends. A good example that everyone uses is the smartphone. In one device you can use camera, electronic calendar, alarm clock, television, GPS, internet, among many other things. In the business world, this convergence translates into technological tools that give the possibility to gather on a platform with all the communication services, such as telephones, emails, support, production processes and logistics, among others. This means that companies can use a tool to simplify the use of IT solutions, offer employees more flexibility and reduce the cost of operations and automate tasks. Both internal and external teams can work from anywhere because of the mobility that cloud systems provide. Technology convergence proves to be an important ally to achieve business objectives.

Main innovations that integrate technological convergence

  • Big Data: in this field, business monitoring software such as Multipeers play a very important role, since in a single dashboard manager can access all company information from the most diverse data sources.

  • Artificial Intelligence: artificial intelligence helps companies prevent fraud, analyze customer behavior, and is very important to analyze and monitor the requirements of the target audience.

  • Business Intelligence: Business intelligence is a very powerful tool and is increasingly used by all business segments as it provides integration and reading of various data sources. Business intelligence also helps identify trends and market variations, which is essential to maintaining competitiveness.

  • Internet of Things: this concept interconnects equipment, business and people, allowing the crossing of the data in a matter of seconds. All sectors can take advantage and technological convergence to the business from the internet of things.

  • Image recognition: Identifying citizens through facial recognition is not new, but this recognition is nowadays held in many physical stores. Thus, it is possible to check what articles the person liked the most, to know if they tried clothes, to know their behavior in the store, among other things.

  • Voice services: a number of Google services, for example, can be activated through voice commands, doing surveys, and helping the consumer decide. It is a growing technology and professionals in this area work daily to improve its operation.

Advantages of technological convergence for companies

The main advantages of using this trend for companies are: greater capacity for innovation, greater control over all company processes, increased productivity, increased security and better treatment and storage of data.

5 Tips for Implementing Digital Transformation Correctly

Digital transformation in business is increasingly a necessity and is no longer seen as just a fashion trend. Nowadays, a company that doesn’t exist online is almost as if it didn’t exist and is easily surpassed by the competition. Digital technologies have redefined the way companies do business, changed how we relate to customers and how we communicate. Forrester research reveals that large business owners expect 47% of total sales to be influenced by digital media by 2020. In today’s article, we leave you 5 tips for implementing digital transformation in right way!

Redefine your business

Digital transformation is much more than just including technology in every company process. Digital transformation is a change that affects all areas of the business and requires cultural change, which can only be achieved if employees are willing to change. It is important to analyze the market of your company and define a strategy for the future, identifying potential threats and opportunities, adapting the whole company’s performance.

Involve the whole team

Even if there is a person responsible for the process of digital transformation, it is very important that you involve all employees in this change, because only then you will have their support and commitment. Communication between all departments is essential if digital transformation is to be implemented correctly.

Stay up-to-date

When a company decides to invest in digital transformation, it must be aware that it is necessary to be constantly updated on technological trends and innovations. Artificial intelligence is the biggest trend for the next few years, according to a Gartner study released in 2016. It is believed that more and more the customer relationship through digital means will be done using chatbots. Using cloud storage is another big trend. According to a survey by IDC, by 2020 about 67% of software spending will be related to cloud storage tools.

Get expert help

The shift from an analog paradigm to a digital paradigm can be quite complex for companies that don’t have the experience they need. In these situations, it is advisable to hire external support. Specialized companies have more experience and more technical knowledge on the subject and will be more prepared to face the challenges that have come up along the way. However, you have to evaluate the costs: adopting a ready-to-use solution will certainly cost less than developing the tool internally. On the other hand, it is essential to know all the needs of the company, because existing solutions may not be able to meet all the requirements of your company.

Always work with goals

Following the market trend is very positive, but it can be detrimental if you don’t know what your business objectives are with the adoption of digital transformation. It is important that you know your goals well and that they are specific, realistic and measurable, because only then can they be achieved. Digital transformation can help you achieve a wide range of goals: win new customers, retain current customers, optimize team performance, and more.

The importance of technology in team management

Managing a team and having effective communication between all members is not an easy task. Technology plays a very important role in this area as it helps to reduce communication noise, encourages good communication among all, and reduces costs. In today’s article we will address the importance of technology in team management!

How does technology improve team management?

Using the right technology allows employees to stay productive and connected throughout the day. The right tools help to define priorities and track tasks, as well as manage relationships within the team, avoiding conflicts and minimizing communication errors. Using software and applications, managers are able to communicate more easily their strategy and objectives and define KPIs for employees.

There are several tools that help managers communicate more effectively with their team. Let’s find our top 4!

Instant Messaging Tools

Tools like Skype and WhatsApp are very important for team members to keep in touch and to communicate with each other. Although these applications are used for professional purposes, they are also important for creating cohesion and linkage between the group.

Video conference

This tool is very useful for group meetings and allows even the team members who are far away to participate in the meeting. The manager can share presentations and reports with all participants. In addition, videoconferencing helps reduce travel and accommodation costs and helps reduce lost productivity.

Cloud

Cloud storage is already seen as a competitive strategy that responds to the needs of small, medium and large companies. Companies like Google and Microsoft provide servers where files are stored the same way if they are stored on a computer or mobile device. Files are stored for miles, but over the Internet, through a login and password, you can connect to your account and access all of your files. This facilitates sharing of documents by all members of a team.

BAM tools for real-time data analysis

The business world is increasingly accelerated and it is essential that a manager knows, at every moment, what is happening in the company. Analyzing reports with a few days means to have a reactive action to the events, which can bring losses to the company. Thus, real-time data analysis is increasingly essential in the business world. Multipeers is a BAM system that allows you to analyze the business to the minute, through a platform where all the information of the company, from the diverse sources of data is found. This allows for faster, more effective decision-making and an in-depth knowledge of each employee’s work.

Big Data and Human Resource Management: Find the Relationship

Companies are constantly looking to make the most of their data so they can make the best decisions for the business. Big Data is an increasingly popular term as companies look for solutions that enable them to manage information and gain the best insights. The area of ​​human resources has paid close attention to this giant wave of information that is created daily in companies. A study by Workday reports that over the next 5 years the use of analytical technologies over large volumes of data will have a major impact on human resource management. In today’s article, we address the relationship between Big Data and human resource management!

Understanding people’s attitudes

People Analytics is a term that will be very fashionable in the coming years. People Analytics is the process of collecting, organizing and analyzing employee behavior data in order to contribute to decisions made in the company, anticipating trends and adjusting strategies. “When we use data to understand the behaviors within the work environment that make people efficient, happy, creative, experts, leaders, followers, we are using People Analytics,” said Ben Waber, CEO of Humanyze. It is very important to use this form of analysis to obtain information about productivity declines, reduced employee engagement, and difficulty retaining the best talent. With the use of analysis tools in human resource management it becomes simpler to analyze behaviors, understand why people act in a certain way, and take corrective action before it is too late.

Delete high team turnover

Many companies face the challenge of seeing their teams change multiple times in a short period of time. Without realizing why, they are not able to retain the best talent, which means that there is little stability. By analyzing the data, it is possible to get to know each employees better and help them to feel good in the workplace, thus avoiding his exit. It is important to know the motivations, long-term desires and opinions of the employees, since only in this way the management positions will be able to create a pleasant environment where each employee feels good.

Smarter recruitment processes

Big Data in human resource management is a key factor in finding the right people for the right jobs. For example, through Big Data you can find out if people who have an interesting work experience are more likely to stay in the company for long periods of time or if the duration of previous experiences impacts on the performance of the current job. Based on these results, the company can focus on the most relevant factors at the time of recruitment.

Performance evaluation

Big Data helps ensure that employee performance is measured more accurately by determining what times of the day the company has the best productivity rates. You can also identify which collaborators perform best.

 

Multipeers is a business monitiring system that helps you analyze the huge amount of information that is generated daily in your organization. Through simple dashboards, you can instantly see where your business is and act immediately to get the best results possible!

5 reasons to implement real-time monitoring in your business

Business is happening at a very fast pace today, which forces managers to monitor in real time everything that happens in companies. Nowadays, it is no longer advisable to only analyze reports with a few days: the market demands that you be always aware of what happens in your business. In today’s article, we’ll give you 5 reasons to implement real-time business monitoring!

More efficient decisions

If you know exactly what is going on in your business, it will be easier to make the right decision. Analyzing your business in real time will give you all the inputs you need so that you can consciously decide on the best course to take. The reports with a few days present outdated information, which doesn’t correspond to the actual state of the company at that time. Therefore, often the decisions made are incompatible and don’t benefit the business. Monitoring the business in real time will change this scenario as it will have reliable information in your hand!

Identification of business opportunities

With real-time business monitoring you can identify opportunities at the moment they appear, allowing you to stay one step ahead of the competition. A fluctuation in demand for a product, for example, could lead you to launch a specific campaign, increasing sales and improving company results.

Possibility of alerts

Business monitoring software like Multipeers allows you to set up business alerts whenever there is a deviation from what is considered normal within your company. Wherever you are, you will be notified by SMS or email about any changes and you can act immediately, even before there is damage to the organization.

Better People Management

Real-time information on human resources can be a great competitive advantage for companies that want to adapt to change faster. The monitoring systems provide immediate data on the distribution of employees in different sectors of the company, as well as updated information on their availability. Thus, it becomes easier to manage teams and optimize the work of employees, increasing the collective income.

Connection to all data sources

Real-time business monitoring software such as Multipeers interact directly with all your data sources such as databases, web services, MDX, Microsoft Excel, RSS feeds, multimedia content, e-mail, applications, among others. You can even build your own connectors using the provided API so that no information from your organization is lost. So, in a single dashboard you will find complete and up-to-date information on everything that goes on in the company!

 

Analyzing data in real time is increasingly a reality in companies around the world. Business happens at a very fast pace and it is essential that you know what is happening in your company to make the most appropriate decisions for your business. Download our e-book and learn how a BAM tool can help you manage!

The importance of technology in financial management

Financial management is one of the most important areas in a company. It is essential that managers have a thorough and up-to-date knowledge of the expenses that happen in their business, so as to know how much they can invest in the future. The information flow that exists in companies today is huge, so it is imperative that companies adopt technological solutions appropriate to the specifics of their business, so that they can take full advantage of the help that technology provides us. In today’s article, we will address the importance of technology in financial management!

Centralization of information

The sharing of information on the Internet, namely in the Cloud, allows all employees to have access to the same document, facilitating their consultation and editing. However, ERPs are very complete resources that interconnect all sectors of the company, computerizing the data and automating the processes. To complete the ERP solution, technology provides us with another solution: the BAM system. Softwares like Multipeers allow information coming from all the company’s data sources to be consulted on a single dashboard and in real time, which will facilitate decision making!

More efficient decision making

With a system that generates reports simply and quickly, it becomes much easier to make strategic decisions. Often, bad decisions happen because managers don’t have a real knowledge of what actually goes on in the company. With the use of technology, the information becomes more accessible and the decisions taken will be more assertive.

Mobility: an ally of good management

Managers spend some time outside the company at events and meetings. If this was a problem before, due to the technology, everything was solved. For example, Multipeers lets you, in addition to being able to query information on mobile devices, set business alerts for certain actions. For example, if you have a chain of stores and you want to be alerted whenever the middle of the day has not made X sales value, Multipeers will alert you by SMS or email so you can, regardless of where you are, act immediately.

More effective data communication

Technology has improved communication, as there are more and more systems to transmit information, from e-mails, various softwares, cloud solutions, among others. Internal communication benefits greatly from the correct use of technology, but there have also been significant improvements in communication with banking institutions, since it is now possible to make transfers and consult balances and movements anywhere, from a mobile device.

Increased productivity

With more efficient software, process automation happens more easily, which means that every employee can devote himself to tasks that really need the utmost attention. The end result, in the medium and long term, will be an increase in overall productivity, which will be reflected in the company’s profits.

Top Mistakes to Avoid When Starting a Business

Starting a business of your own is a goal for many people, but you have to keep in mind that having a company requires dedication, planning and facing constant challenges. The temptation to start your own business is great, as it is becoming easier nowadays because of the simple tools that help entrepreneurs put their ideas on the ground. In today’s article, let’s talk about the top mistakes to avoid in setting up a company!

Not knowing the market where you want to act

Often entrepreneurs are so convinced that their idea is perfect that they don’t do an exhaustive market study to assess the competition or to see if consumers in fact need the product or service they want to sell. However, if there is not a need of your product, there is no point in starting a business. Thus, studying the market well in order to know all its particularities is essential to have a successful company in the short and long term.

To think that you can do everything by yourself

Even if you think you can do it all yourself, you are advised to surround yourself with a trusted team. Business can grow faster than you think and you will need support to respond to all requests. Likewise, if things don’t go so well, it’s better to have a team that helps you to deal with the difficulties because if you are alone you may feel discouraged and give up.

Too high investment

Even if you have studied the market and all the predictions are that your business will succeed in a short time, you shouldn’t invest more than what is strictly necessary at an early stage. The additional costs should be reduced as much as possible and investments should be made according to the commercial evolution of the product and not on the basis of future profit forecasts. Very high investments at an embryonic stage of the project are the main causes of business bankruptcy in a short period of time after starting a business.

Do not invest in communication from the first moment

Many entrepreneurs think that communication is only important from the moment the company starts to grow. However, this is an area of ​​the company that you should pay attention to from the beginning, because it is essential that the market knows that you arrived and that you are there to win. Pay particular attention to the name of your brand and the logo that illustrates it because they are the first elements that contact the public and should be coherent and differentiating. Having a good website and a strong presence on social media is imperative on these days and you should invest time in working these areas.

Lack of market segmentation

Communicating to everyone, in an undifferentiated way, is a mistake that should not be practiced, especially since the current consumer is increasingly informed and demanding. Starting a business without knowing who your target audience is and without knowing their main features and needs can be a real waste of time. As good as your business is, not everyone will need it, so you’ll be spending resources communicating with people who don’t need your product or service. So you should target your audience according to their main characteristics, so you can communicate in a personalized way with each type of person. In this way, it will be easier to reach people who really need you!

 

Extra tip: Business happens at a very fast pace and it is essential that you know what is happening in your company to make the most appropriate decisions for your business. Download our e-book and find how a BAM tool can help you!

5 Netflix series that all managers should see

Netflix has conquered fans worldwide and is undoubtedly a great platform for moments of relaxation. However, even in leisure time it is possible to learn and there are series that teach us true lessons about management and leadership. In today’s article, we present 5 Netflix series mandatory for managers!

The Office

This comedy series is a kind of documentary about a company that sells paper. Company manager Michael Scout thinks that everyone loves him, but his colleagues have a different idea. In fact, Michael Scout doesn’t have any kind of talent to relate to people, much less to coordinate a team. He ends up wondering why his classmates never have fun in their workplace, considering that it is a “dream job”. The series focuses on the concepts of leadership, showing us what not to do when we are in a leadership position. You can see this series in the Netflix catalog and have fun while learning important lessons about leadership and team management!

House of Cards

Surely you’ve heard of this famous Netflix series. The series shows us Frank Underwood, an unscrupulous deputy of the United States Democratic Party. Throughout the episodes we have revealed his ways to achieve, at any cost, an increasingly strategic position in the world of politics. We have learned in this series that we must treat our subordinates with respect and that to win we must always be one step ahead, anticipating the enemy’s moves and knowing our opponents well.

Breaking Bad

Walter White is a chemistry professor who discovers an incurable disease. Knowing that the end is near, he decides to do everything he can to leave his family in a good financial position. Walter thus becomes Heisenberg, a powerful drug dealer. What to get out of this Netflix series for your business? The most important lesson is that the secret to success is to truly enjoy what you do. We also learned that image is very important in business, and Walter also teaches us valuable lessons about negotiating!

Mad Men

This series takes place in the 60’s in New York, and shows us the daily life of Don Drapper, a creative director. We are revealed the world of advertising at that time, as well as the changes it has undergone throughout the season. The series also focuses on the personal lives of the characters, where we see a struggle for power and several moments of frustration. Mad Men shows us a fair and intelligent leader and a timid and quiet secretary who manages to reach a position of power. It is a very interesting series because it shows us that the capacity for innovation is fundamental in more troubled times and that business opportunities should be taken advantage of. Mad Men is especially suitable for marketing managers.

Dr. House

Gregory House is everything a leader should not be. He is a respected physician who is willing to do anything to diagnose the rarer and more complicated diseases that his patients present. Without respecting professional ethics, Dr. House is able to invade his patients’ home without authorization. He is an antisocial person and treats all his subordinates badly, eventually being hated by his team. So why is Dr. House on this list? Despite his complicated temperament Dr. House doesn’t follow the obvious path: he questions everything and looks for the best solution in all cases. It also shows us that a leader must constantly challenge the abilities of each member of the team, because only in this way can you keep them motivated and committed to doing better and better. Finally, Dr. House shows us that it is not necessary to waste time with formalisms, focusing only on what really matters!

 

Have you ever seen any of these series? Do you have other suggestions for important series for managers? Share your opinion with us!

7 Financial Mistakes That Harm Your Business

To err is human and it is very likely that a manager, throughout his career, make some mistakes. However, there are financial mistakes that can be very detrimental to running a business and can even lead a business to failure. In today’s article we address the 7 financial mistakes that hurt your business!

Lack of constant analysis

It is essential these days to continuously analyze your business, because only then can you find problems before they materialize. Managers can no longer survive just with Excel sheets and reports with a few days. It is essential that the business is analyzed at the minute, because only in this way will be able to be always ahead of the competition. Business monitoring software like Multipeers is a growing need in today’s business because it allows you to analyze in a simple way everything that is happening now with your business.

Spend what you (still) don’t have

Hiring a debt with money that has not yet gone into the box is a very common mistake and should be avoided to the fullest. There is no guarantee that the customer will not be late in paying or if an unforeseen event will happen and you will need to invest in something more urgent.

Do not make a balance sheet

As companies grow, various investments are made and the company’s assets are growing over time. However, there is often no concern about knowing what one possesses at a given moment, eventually continuing to invest in disorderly ways. Having knowledge of the balance sheet helps the company whether it needs to continue to invest or whether, on the contrary, it should reduce its investments.

Lack of automation

Performing tasks manually that could be automated is a very common mistake. Using an ERP helps you optimize all processes, reducing costs and increasing productivity by reducing human error. The information of a company must be integrated, so that all the data is updated so that it is easier to make decisions.

Do not have KPIs

The financial area is one of the most relevant in any business and the use of indicators becomes essential. Using business metrics enables you to measure the outcome and verify that the stated goals are being met. Working without indicators is like being lost in a complex labyrinth without a map to guide you.

Mixing personal expenses with company expenses

It is a very common mistake among business owners, who usually use the company account to pay for personal expenses. This mistake is very detrimental to business as it completely changes the fixed costs of the organization and distorts its financial reality.

Focus only on sales

Sales are the ultimate goal of every business, but if you don’t pay attention to the other areas of the business, you may compromise your entire business. Administrative and human resource management are examples of areas that deserve to be treated with care. Good management of all departments of a company will reflect the financial results in the medium and long term.

5 Essential Tips for Winning Customers in 2018

Conquering customers is a must-have goal every year and in every business. At a time when there is so much information coming from the most diverse channels, it becomes difficult to capture the attention of the target audience, so it is imperative to use the best techniques to attract new customers. We know that each business has its own specifics, but there are tricks that cross all areas and in today’s article we present the 5 essential tips to win customers in 2018.

Get to know your audience

It is essential that you get to know your target audience more than ever. The current consumer is very demanding, so it becomes increasingly difficult to please him. So, you should collect as much information as possible about it: preferences, social media he uses, media you prefer, among other things that are relevant to your business. The market studies are very important here, because it is a great way to better know the desires and characteristics of the audience you want to achieve and in this way you will be able to win customers.

Listen more and talk less

Customers like to talk and feel that they are attentive to their needs and desires. Many sellers fall into the error of talking too much because they want to show in a short time all the benefits of the product or service they have to offer. However, today’s consumers are looking for quick fixes and will be bored if they hear a standardized speech. Therefore, it is very important that you first listen to everything the client has to tell you and then present the possible solutions in a practical and very objective way.

Avoid clichés

There are phrases that immediately refer us to the insistent and boring sellers who just want to sell and who do not care about what we really need. Even if you consider that your product is the best in the world, you should avoid trying to sell it through this argument as it will sound false and overkill. Also avoid talking badly about the competition and never, but never, ever lie to the customer. Nowadays, the consumer is very informed and the information spreads at an amazing speed, so the probability of your lie being discovered is very great and in this case, besides not winning customers, you risk losing the current ones!

Follow the results

It is not enough to launch marketing actions and campaigns and not monitor their results. It is very important that you define indicators and analyze all the results of your actions. Only in this way you will be able to promote continuous improvement, which will certainly also have an effect on the number of clients raised. The current market is very dynamic and must ensure that your product or service does not stay static.

Use a content strategy

Digital marketing is increasingly present in corporate strategies and many brands use a content strategy in which they write articles and case studies about their area of ​​expertise. This will make potential customers look to the company as a reference entity and this will increase the confidence and likelihood of opting for your products and services.