7 tips to reduce IT costs

Information technologies are essential for companies that want to ensure a good operational routine. Companies are increasingly computerized and we live in an increasingly technological environment. Therefore, it is imperative to invest in information technology. However, many managers consider these investments to be very high and this mindset ultimately makes companies obsolete. In today’s article, we present 7 tips to reduce IT costs while maintaining all organizational efficiency!

Delete the software licenses you don’t use

Software licenses are often expensive and companies often pay for software they don’t use. Thus, it is advisable to regularly review all the software licenses the company pays for and analyze their real importance to the business. Not worth paying for software that is never used!

Form the collaborators

Often companies make the mistake of not properly training employees to use a particular software. This will cause people to make mistakes repeatedly and the company incurring superfluous costs. Training the workforce to properly utilize technology tools ensures greater process efficiency, increases productivity, and dramatically reduces IT costs.

Automation is the way

Many tasks in the area of ​​information technologies are quite repetitive. Automating processes is a way to reduce IT costs, as it is not necessary to highlight a collaborator to be exclusively dedicated to monotonous tasks. Automation reduces the time that the tasks take to execute and decreases the probability of human error.

Cloud Storage

The Cloud has come to stay and is very useful for reducing IT costs related to data storage. Transferring the entire IT infrastructure to the cloud is a way to reduce costs and increase the security of company information. In addition, by using this storage method, the manager can access information from anywhere in the world and from any device.

Privilege SaaS

Using software as a service can change your entire IT area. SaaS is a secure, simple and remotely managed solution. Equipment maintenance costs are eliminated because the service provider is responsible for this maintenance. Using the software in this way is one of the trends of the future and is already used by many companies.

Use fewer servers

Many companies use multiple servers, all with low individual performance and high costs. To minimize this problem, it is advisable that these servers be replaced by more powerful ones that concentrate all processes. Often companies use 5 servers and if they used only one they would have lower costs and better results.

Use videoconferencing

This is one of the easiest ways to reduce IT costs. Meetings can be held using videoconferencing technology as this reduces travel, accommodation and food costs. In addition, videoconferencing meetings are usually of shorter duration, which frees employees to perform their responsibilities and, as a result, the company’s productivity increases.

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.

Find the relationship between data analysis and marketing management

Companies generate more and more data in their daily lives, but more important than quantity is the ability to analyze the information generated. There is currently 5 times more information than in 1987, and one of the biggest challenges for companies is to analyze data effectively so they can make decisions on the basis of reliable facts. Marketing management is one of the areas that can most benefit from the correct management of information. In today’s article, let’s talk about the relationship between data analysis and marketing management!

Create reports frequently

Data analysis should be done on a constant basis so that decisions are made on the basis of current information. Many companies make weekly reports and when they find the information this already has a few days. Ideally, you should create short, relevant and easy-to-read reports. Multipeers allows you to create simple reports, in which all users perceive information and analysis outputs. This change will positively impact the marketing actions, which will be much more controlled and effective.

To know what you want to analyze

The data are irrelevant if we don’t know what we need to do with them. It is essential to define the key metrics for analysis and to evaluate often whether the metrics we are analyzing still make sense to the business. Today, business happens at a very dynamic pace and this causes constant change. Analyzing data effectively allows us to offer better customer service because we will be more aware of what our target really need.

Customize user experience

Nowadays, the consumer is more and more demanding and it is essential to create a unique experience for each one of them. This task is only possible based on data analysis. Netflix is ​​a good example in this industry because it suggests movies and series according to the preferences and habits of each user. If you know your customer well, you will be able to provide a differentiated service and data analysis is essential in this chapter.

Real-time data analysis

Nowadays, it is no longer enough to analyze the data after a week of situations occur. Everything happens at a very fast pace and it is imperative that you analyze the data at the moment they happen. Multipeers allows you to analyze the data in real time and alerts you to situations that go beyond what was previously established as normal. Let’s imagine that you own a chair of fashion accessories and that you want every day until midday to sell X. If one day the value is outside your normal standard, Multipeers alerts you immediately so you can take actions such as launching a promotional campaign for that day.

Invest time in data analysis

Data is generated and often organized into reports that no one reads. In this case, the data loses its purpose and the organization loses the opportunity to have better results. It is very important that the marketing manager dedicates part of his time to analyzing the information, since only then it’s possible to create relevant strategies for the company.

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!

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.

Everything you need to know about ROI

All companies aim to make a profit and reduce expenses. Throughout a year of work, several investments are made with the purpose of obtaining financial gains. However, when it comes to investing in some stock, we are not sure if we will get the desired return, so there is always a risk associated with all the decisions. ROI – return on investment – is a very important concept for companies and in today’s article we’ll cover everything you need to know about ROI!

What is ROI?

ROI is the acronym for return on investment. This value represents the profit obtained after a certain investment and is commonly used in the evaluation of operational investments, such as acquisition of equipment, computer equipment, participation in events and marketing actions.

How to calculate ROI?

The formula for calculating ROI is very simple:

ROI = ((Revenue – Costs) / Costs) * 100

When calculating a return on investment, only costs and income related to the investment should be included, not the overall results of the company. The following example shows us how ROI applies in practice: a company will participate in a marketing event that costs € 10,000. During the event, they will generate leads that will become customers and in the next 5 years these customers will make a profit of € 20,000 to the company. The return in this case is 100%.

Advantages of calculating ROI

One of the main advantages of this calculation is the reduction of expenses and the increase of profit. It is essential to calculate the return on all actions performed, because only then managers can realize what actions result and which do not add value to the company. Thus, the company will be able to eliminate the investments that generate only expense. However, it must be borne in mind that some investments generate profit only after a considerable period of time. The manager must evaluate all the repercussions of the investment not only in the immediate but also in the long term.

The calculation of the ROI allows to improve progressively, because the company is able to follow the evolution of the investments, identifying standards and allowing to improve its performance. More than identifying the importance of each investment, the calculation of ROI also contributes to a positive evolution of the business.

Calculating this figure allows managers to make decisions faster because they often follow the status of the company and its investments. In this way, when choosing a particular investment, they will know the history of past actions and feel safer to decide.

It is increasingly important to keep track of the state of the business in real time as the markets are increasingly competitive. Multipeers is a BAM tool that allows you to track everything that goes on in your business through the connection to the information systems you use. Through a simple and intuitive dashboard, you’ll be able to instantly see what’s happening so you can make the best decisions for the future of your business!

5 Essential Tips to Make Your Business More Productive

New Year New Life! If in 2018 you want to make your company more productive, you should continue reading this article. Over the years, the way we work has changed a lot, especially due to technology. However, more and more we are “bombarded” with constant requests, which continually interrupt our work pace and diminish our productivity. In today’s article, we leave you 5 essential tips to make your business more productive in the new year!

Centralize information

One of the main problems of companies and especially of decision makers is to have the information spread through various software. This takes a long time to find the necessary data, which delays the operational decisions and undermines the good functioning of the companies. Softwares such as Multipeers allow you to centralize in a single platform all the information coming from the various systems of the company, showing it in a graphically clean and interactive way, which contributes to better decisions, since all the information can be consulted in real time.

Delegate tasks

It is not always easy for managers to be able to delegate important tasks to their team, but without realizing this is one of the main productivity problems. No one is a super hero to be able to carry the company on the back, so knowing trust in the team is fundamental to being able to dedicate to tasks that really cannot be done by anyone else. Surrounding yourself with qualified and responsible professionals will help you to know how to delegate some tasks.

Defining Daily Goals

We all have monthly and annual goals to fulfill, but if we think very generically we will not be able to perform daily the tasks that will contribute to this achievement of objectives. It is essential to set daily goals to make your business more productive. You should be realistic in setting goals for your day, otherwise you will not be able to accomplish all the tasks and this will lead you to a feeling of frustration.

Establish times to consult the email

The constant arrival of emails distracts us from the task we are currently undertaking. You should turn off incoming e-mail notifications on your Desktop and establish (and meet) e-mail query and response times. In this way, your day-to-day life will be much more organized and you will achieve higher levels of productivity.

Gather only if it is essential

Most companies live in a culture of meetings. Each and every subject is discussed around a meeting table and hardly the schedule and established plan are actually fulfilled. It has been proven that most of the issues discussed at business meetings could easily be solved by sending an email or a phone call. Therefore, you should meet only if the matter is delicate and require the input of various elements of your team. Otherwise, you can opt for quick and standing conversations so that employees realize that it will be a quick “meeting” and really focus on the matter to be resolved.

Top 5 trends in data visualization

Data is increasingly important to companies and knowing how to interpret them correctly and quickly is a constant challenge. The current business world is very fast, so it is no longer possible for companies to survive only at the expense of lengthy reports. Business Intelligence, artificial intelligence and the need for real-time information are changing the way we view data. In today’s article, we present the key trends in data visualization!

Location-based data analysis and visualization

Mobile applications and social networks are increasingly using geo-referencing. In this way, it is possible to know where a customer is located and to send personalized and useful information at the moment, in order to stimulate a purchase. This trend will be well present in the future, where applications will begin to integrate more analysis based on geotags.

Data visualization for all

The tendency is for all employees in a company to have access to data that is important for the performance of their obligations. If the data were previously only available to top managers and decision makers, in the future it is expected that there will be a democratization of data access so that all employees are better informed and better able to perform their tasks.

Interactive Dashboards

The large volume and complexity of data requires new ways of analyzing information. Interactive dashboards are going to be a big trend next year. Softwares such as Multipeers allow the creation of an interactive dashboard with information from several data sources, which makes the analysis faster and, consequently, the decision making is faster and efficient.

Presence on multiple platforms

Companies should be present on various platforms (social media, blog, website) and thus collect data from various sources. This information can be used to better understand customers and their needs and desires. In this way, business portfolio can be adapted to the real needs of consumers, which will make them more loyal to the brand.

Data Scientists

This will be one of the most important professions in the future. A data scientist is an analytical professional who has the technical capabilities to solve complex problems and has come up to deal with the huge amount of unstructured data that companies have to deal with on a daily basis. This professional creates algorithms to extract insights from the data generated by the diverse sources of information and presents them in a practical and simple format to analyze by the decision makers, who will be able to define strategies and decide the best way for the company.

Find the 7 Deadly Sins of the Digital Age

Digital transformation is one of the themes of the moment and it is impossible for a company to go alongside this revolution. Companies are continually looking for digital solutions that facilitate their business processes and that are capable of responding to all their needs. However, it is not always easy to adapt a company’s work to a digital reality and there are many errors that complicate business performance. In today’s article, let’s talk about the 7 deadly sins of the digital age and give tips to avoid in your business!

Don’t plan the implementation of technologies

Before starting to implement a digital strategy it is essential to assess the needs of the company and the main objectives that the company intends to achieve with the change. Digital transformation is not the cure for all business problems, but if implemented correctly it will help improve performance and increase success. Often companies make the mistake of adopting all the technologies they find without effectively planning the digital path they want to go through.

Complicate all processes

Most companies complicate the way they work. The digital transformation brings with it the agile methodology, which intends to increase the quality of service to the Customer. The chosen software should be intuitive and fairly easy to update, so that users can use it without having to resort to specialized technicians. When choosing software, effectiveness and simplicity should be the most important factors to consider.

Don’t involve all employees

Often, employees resist change and this is because they feel they are not involved in the whole process of digital transformation. It is important to show the whole team the advantages of change, especially advantages directly related to the work of each one. Communication is essential if digital transformation is well implemented.

Don’t integrate digital transformation into global strategy

This transformation should be part of the company‘s overall strategy, because only then it will succeed. It is essential to know where the company intends to go, design a transformation process and integrate that plan into the company’s overall strategy. Teams should work together towards modernizing processes

Don’t rely on the CEO’s support

It is important to have the support of the leadership and their commitment to the implementation of the digital strategy. Leadership must be committed to increasing the knowledge of its employees and actively participating in the dissemination of the new culture. It is only through good examples that employees will feel committed and willing to adopt a new philosophy of work.

Don’t equip the team with new skills

Digital transformation has brought the need to train employees to new skills. It is very important that teams are formed for this new way of working because otherwise they will feel frustrated that they are not able to embrace the new challenges of the industry.

Don’t elect a responsible person for the transformation

The responsible person for digital transformation must work towards implementing this new philosophy of work in a continuous and consistent manner. Although this process is common to the entire organization, it is important that there is a person responsible for digital transformation that coordinates all activities and involves all people.