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sanjay-chem · 21 days ago

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Carbon-Neutral Concrete? The Race Toward Sustainability in the RMC Sector

The global ready-mix concrete market, traditionally defined by logistics, batching precision, and on-site performance, is quietly undergoing a digital evolution. As construction demands intensify and the industry faces increasing scrutiny around sustainability, cost efficiency, and quality control, a relatively under-discussed innovation is reshaping the game: remote quality monitoring. This transformative approach, powered by real-time data collection and analysis technologies, is not just an operational upgrade—it is redefining how stakeholders approach quality assurance, compliance, and customer satisfaction in the pre-mixed concrete industry.

𝐔𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐑𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐲-𝐦𝐢𝐱 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐜𝐫𝐞𝐭𝐞 𝐋𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐬𝐜𝐚𝐩𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐈𝐭𝐬 𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐬

The ready-mix concrete market is projected to grow from USD 801.6 billion in 2025 to USD 1,621.6 million by 2035, reflecting a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 7.3% during the forecast period. Despite this growth, one enduring challenge has been maintaining consistency in concrete quality between batching and delivery. Conventional quality control methods rely heavily on manual sampling, periodic testing, and operator expertise. This results in variability, waste, and frequent delays—issues that translate directly to project inefficiencies and increased costs.

𝐌𝐚𝐤𝐞 𝐈𝐧𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐦𝐞𝐝 𝐃𝐞𝐜𝐢𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 – 𝐀𝐜𝐜𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐘𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐒𝐚𝐦𝐩𝐥𝐞 𝐑𝐞𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭 𝐈𝐧𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐭𝐥𝐲! https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/sample/rep-gb-8592

As a material that must meet strict specifications before being poured, concrete leaves little margin for error. Factors like water-cement ratio, temperature control, and construction aggregate composition must remain within optimal ranges. Any deviation in these parameters can weaken structural integrity or violate regulatory standards. It is within this context that remote quality monitoring emerges as a game-changer, offering concrete suppliers and construction managers a real-time window into their production process.

𝐓𝐞𝐜𝐡𝐧𝐨𝐥𝐨𝐠𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐥 𝐒𝐡𝐢𝐟𝐭: 𝐅𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐌𝐚𝐧𝐮𝐚𝐥 𝐎𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐒𝐦𝐚𝐫𝐭 𝐌𝐨𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠

Remote quality monitoring in ready-mix concrete production integrates digital sensors, cloud-based data analytics, GPS tracking, and Internet of Things (IoT) platforms. This ecosystem of technology captures key metrics—such as slump, temperature, pH levels, and setting time—during mixing, transport, and even placement. Unlike traditional batch reports that offer a retrospective look at quality, this real-time visibility enables dynamic adjustments and immediate corrective actions.

Companies such as Giatec Scientific and Command Alkon have pioneered solutions where embedded sensors transmit continuous data on concrete behavior. These insights help monitor curing cycles remotely and alert engineers to inconsistencies before the product reaches the job site. In India, for example, ACC Limited has begun incorporating IoT into its batching plants, enhancing the traceability and accountability of its deliveries. This digital feedback loop minimizes the risk of structural defects and reduces project downtime caused by material rejection or rework.

𝐌𝐚𝐫𝐤𝐞𝐭 𝐑𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐑𝐞𝐠𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐃𝐢𝐬𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐢𝐧 𝐀𝐝𝐨𝐩𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧

While the promise of remote monitoring is compelling, its adoption varies significantly across regions. Developed markets like North America and Western Europe are witnessing faster integration of these technologies, aided by digital infrastructure, skilled labor, and a strong push toward Industry 4.0 principles. In contrast, several Asia-Pacific and African countries remain reliant on traditional methods due to cost constraints and a lack of technical know-how.

𝐔𝐧𝐥𝐨𝐜𝐤 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐡𝐞𝐧𝐬𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐌𝐚𝐫𝐤𝐞𝐭 𝐈𝐧𝐬𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬 – 𝐄𝐱𝐩𝐥𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐅𝐮𝐥𝐥 𝐑𝐞𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭 𝐍𝐨𝐰: https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/ready-mix-concrete-market

However, emerging economies are showing signs of strategic investment in digital construction practices. For instance, the Middle East, with its ambitious smart city projects, is actively exploring advanced material tracking systems. In Saudi Arabia, initiatives under Vision 2035 include smart infrastructure planning that encourages private sector adoption of intelligent batching systems.

This disparity is not just technological but also regulatory. Environmental bodies in countries like Germany and Canada are now mandating transparent reporting of carbon emissions associated with construction materials. Remote monitoring provides the data backbone for such compliance, allowing suppliers to calculate CO₂ footprints with greater accuracy and credibility.

𝐋𝐨𝐧𝐠-𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐦 𝐈𝐦𝐩𝐥𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐌𝐚𝐫𝐤𝐞𝐭 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐩𝐞𝐭𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 ��𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐛𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐲

The implications of remote quality monitoring extend beyond operational efficiency. As ESG (Environmental, Social, and Data Governance) standards tighten, stakeholders across the construction value chain are being asked to demonstrate their commitment to sustainable practices. Ready-mix concrete producers who leverage remote monitoring tools can not only ensure consistent quality but also optimize raw material usage, reduce energy consumption, and extend the lifecycle performance of structures.

Furthermore, this approach enhances client trust and transparency. Real-time data logs can be shared with contractors and regulatory bodies, minimizing disputes and facilitating faster approvals. In large infrastructure projects—such as high-speed railways, nuclear facilities, or smart bridges—such digital validation is increasingly becoming a procurement requirement.

Smaller producers, too, stand to benefit by differentiating themselves in a competitive landscape. By advertising their use of smart quality control systems, they can appeal to high-end clients seeking assurance, reliability, and innovation. As the cost of IoT devices and cloud subscriptions continues to decline, the technology is becoming more accessible even to mid-sized batch plants.

General & Advanced Materials Industry Analysis: https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/industry-analysis/general-and-advanced-materials

𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐲𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐀𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐝 𝐢𝐧 �� 𝐃𝐚𝐭𝐚-𝐃𝐫𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐧 𝐌𝐚𝐫𝐤𝐞𝐭

The ready-mix concrete market is poised for accelerated transformation, and remote quality monitoring is quietly leading the charge. What was once an afterthought in production��ensuring mix consistency and delivery quality—is now a strategic pillar in maintaining competitiveness and meeting rising regulatory expectations. As urbanization accelerates and infrastructure projects grow in scale and complexity, the demand for consistent, verifiable, and sustainable concrete will only increase.

Adopting remote monitoring technologies is no longer optional for forward-thinking suppliers. It is a critical investment in quality assurance, customer satisfaction, and market relevance. By embracing this less visible but highly impactful innovation, players in the ready-mixed cement industry can align themselves with the future of smart construction.

𝐌𝐚𝐫𝐤𝐞𝐭 𝐒𝐞𝐠𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧

By Production:

In terms of Production, the industry is divided into On-Site and Off-Site

By Product Type:

In terms of Product Type, the industry is divided into Residential, Non-Residential, Infrastructural, Commercial, Industrial

By Region:

The report covers key regions, including North America, Latin America, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, East Asia, South Asia, and the Middle East and Africa (MEA).

𝐀𝐛𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐅𝐮𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞 𝐌𝐚𝐫𝐤𝐞𝐭 𝐈𝐧𝐬𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬 (𝐅𝐌𝐈)

Future Market Insights, Inc. (ESOMAR certified, recipient of the Stevie Award, and a member of the Greater New York Chamber of Commerce) offers profound insights into the driving factors that are boosting demand in the market. FMI stands as the leading global provider of market intelligence, advisory services, consulting, and events for the Packaging, Food and Beverage, Consumer Technology, Healthcare, Industrial, and Chemicals markets. With a vast team of over 400 analysts worldwide, FMI provides global, regional, and local expertise on diverse domains and industry trends across more than 110 countries.

Join us as we commemorate 10 years of delivering trusted market insights. Reflecting on a decade of achievements, we continue to lead with integrity, innovation, and expertise.

𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐚𝐜𝐭 𝐔𝐬:

Future Market Insights Inc. Christiana Corporate, 200 Continental Drive, Suite 401, Newark, Delaware - 19713, USA T: +1-347-918-3531 For Sales Enquiries: [email protected] Website: https://www.futuremarketinsights.com LinkedIn| Twitter| Blogs | YouTube

#Ready-mix Concrete

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sarin-n-v17 · 6 months ago

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Data Privacy and Digital Marketing in 2025: Navigating New Regulations

In 2025, the digital marketing landscape is more privacy-conscious than ever. With new data regulations, evolving consumer expectations, and advanced privacy technologies, marketers are being challenged to balance personalization with ethical practices. Let’s explore what these changes mean for businesses and how you can adapt to this privacy-first era.

The Growing Importance of Data Privacy

Consumers are more aware of how their data is collected, used, and shared. They’re demanding transparency and control, while governments worldwide are enacting stricter regulations to protect personal information. Laws like GDPR in Europe, CCPA in California, and newer frameworks emerging globally are setting the tone for how businesses must handle user data.

For marketers, this means rethinking strategies that once relied on extensive data collection and third-party tracking. Instead, it’s about building trust and ensuring compliance with these new standards.

Key Challenges for Marketers in 2025

Stricter Regulations New laws are setting higher standards for data collection, storage, and sharing. For example, consent must be explicitly obtained, and consumers have more rights to access, correct, or delete their data.

The Death of Third-Party Cookies Major browsers have phased out third-party cookies, making traditional methods of tracking user behavior obsolete. Marketers now need to find alternatives for targeting and attribution.

Consumer Trust Consumers expect businesses to be transparent about how their data is used. Any breach of trust can damage a brand’s reputation, making ethical data practices a competitive advantage.

Tech Adaptations Companies must invest in privacy-focused technologies, such as secure data storage solutions, encryption, and tools for managing consumer consent.

Adapting to the Privacy-First Era

Embrace First-Party Data Focus on collecting data directly from your audience through website interactions, email subscriptions, and loyalty programs. First-party data is more reliable and comes with user consent, making it compliant with privacy regulations.

Invest in Consent Management Platforms (CMPs) CMPs help you manage user consent and preferences in line with regulations. These tools ensure you stay transparent and give users control over their data.

Adopt Privacy-Enhanced Ad Platforms Many ad platforms, like Google and Facebook, are introducing privacy-friendly solutions such as aggregated reporting and AI-driven audience targeting. Learn to leverage these tools while respecting user privacy.

Focus on Content Marketing Create valuable, engaging content that draws users in naturally. When users find your content helpful, they’re more likely to share their information willingly.

Educate Your Team Ensure your marketing team understands the nuances of privacy laws and ethical data practices. Regular training can help avoid costly mistakes and keep your strategies compliant.

Opportunities in a Privacy-Conscious World

While the shift toward data privacy might seem restrictive, it also opens new opportunities. Brands that prioritize transparency and ethical practices can build deeper trust and loyalty with their customers. By respecting privacy, you’re not just complying with laws—you’re showing your audience that you value their rights.

Moreover, focusing on creative, authentic marketing strategies that don’t rely heavily on personal data can set you apart. From storytelling to community building, this is your chance to connect with audiences on a human level.

Looking Ahead

Data privacy is no longer an afterthought—it’s a fundamental part of digital marketing in 2025. The brands that succeed will be those that embrace the change, innovate responsibly, and prioritize their customers’ trust.

Are you ready to navigate the future of digital marketing in a privacy-first world? follow sarindigisol Let’s start a conversation in the comments below!

#digital marketing #digital trends #digital privacy

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social-chat-studio · 4 years ago

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This Privacy Policy describes Naughty Chat’s practices for collecting, using, disclosing, maintaining and protecting your personal information on the media platforms we operate, including the Naughty Chat app on the iOS or Android platforms (the “App”), our Website, or any other platform on which you see this Privacy Policy (collectively, the “Services”). We will refer to our users as “you” in this Privacy Policy. This Privacy Policy is incorporated into, and part of, the Terms of Use (the “Terms of Use”), which governs your use of our Services.

Please read this notice carefully to understand our policies and practices for processing and storing your personal information. By accessing and utilizing our Services, you accept and consent to the practices described in this Privacy Policy. This Privacy Policy may change from time to time (see Changes to our Privacy Policy). Your continued access and/or use of our Services after any such revisions indicates that you accept and consent to them. Please check periodically for updates.

1. Who We Are

We are SocialChat Studio Limited (“Naughty Chat,” “we,” “our,” “us”).

Third-Party Links

The platforms on which our Services run may include links to third-party services, plug-ins and applications. Clicking on those links or enabling those connections may allow third parties to collect or share data about you. We do not control these third-party services and are not responsible for their privacy statements. When you leave our website, we encourage you to read the Privacy Policy of every other website or app you visit.

2. The Data We Collect About You

We collect several different types of personal information from you depending on how you interact with our Services. Personal information means any information about an individual from which that person can be identified. It does not include information where the identity has been removed or is not able to be associated with an individual.

We may process the following types of personal data about you, which we have grouped together as follows:

Identifiers：

This may include your name (first and last), a username (or similar identifier), data of birth, gender, and profile photo if you upload it.

Contact Information：

This may include your email address, mailing address, telephone number.

Marketing and Communications Information：

This may include your communications preferences in receiving marketing from us and/or third parties.

3. How We Collect Your Personal Information

We collect information about you in many different ways. Most of the time we collect through your direct interactions with our Services, but we may also automatically collect personal information from your devices, and occasionally from third parties or publicly available sources.

We collect information about you in the following ways:

Direct Interactions. When you interact with our Services, you may provide us your personal information by filling in forms, communicating with us by email, telephone, text/SMS, post, or otherwise. This may include personal information you provide when you:

· Subscribe for our Services/Register for an Account;

· Request that the App be texted to you;

· Request marketing be sent to you;

· Provide us feedback, requests support, or otherwise communicate with Us.

4. How We Use Your Personal information

We will only use your personal information when allowed by law. Generally, we will use your personal information: (a) where we need to perform the contract we are about to enter into or have entered into with you; (b) where it is necessary for our legitimate interests and your interests and fundamental rights do not override those interests; and (c) where we need to comply with a legal or regulatory obligation.

5. Disclosures Of Your Personal information

From time to time, we may need to share your personal information with others, including in the following circumstances.

Disclosures to the Public. Some of your personal information will be shared with the general public, including your first name and last name initial, city, state, and country. When information is made publicly available it may be accessed by anyone with access to the platform to which the information is posted. It may also be indexed by third-party search engines, and be imported, exported, distributed, aggregated, and redistributed by others without our knowledge.

Protection of Naughty Chat and Others. We may share personal information when we believe it is appropriate to enforce or apply our Terms of Service and other agreements; or protect the rights, property, or safety of Naughty Chat, our products and services, our users, or others. This includes exchanging information with other companies and organizations for fraud protection and risk reduction. This does not include selling, renting, sharing, or otherwise disclosing personal information of our customers for commercial purposes in violation of the commitments set forth in this Privacy Policy.

6. Data Security

We have put in place appropriate security measures to prevent your personal information from being accidentally lost, used or accessed in an unauthorized way, altered or disclosed. In addition, we limit access to your personal information to those employees, agents, contractors and other third parties who have a business need to know. They will only process your personal information on our instructions and they are subject to a duty of confidentiality. We have put in place procedures to deal with any suspected personal information breach and will notify you and any applicable regulator of a breach where we are legally required to do so.

7. Data Retention

We will only retain your personal information for as long as necessary to fulfil the purposes we collected it for, including for the purposes of satisfying any legal, accounting, or reporting requirements. To determine the appropriate retention period for personal information, we consider the amount, nature, and sensitivity of the personal information, the potential risk of harm from unauthorized use or disclosure of your personal information, the purposes for which we process your personal information and whether we can achieve those purposes through other means, and the applicable legal requirements. In some circumstances you can ask us to delete your data (see “EU Data Subjects Legal Rights”). In some circumstances we may anonymize your personal information (so that it can no longer be associated with you) for research or statistical purposes in which case we may use this information indefinitely without further notice to you.

8. International Data Transfers

Naughty Chat has its headquarters in Hongkong. Information we collect from you will be processed in Hongkong. Where we transfer EU data subject’s personal information to third parties outside of the European Economic Area (EEA), we rely on appropriate suitable safeguards or specific derogations recognized under data protections law, including the GDPR. The European Commission has adopted standard data protection clauses, which provide safeguards for Personal information transferred outside of the EEA. We may use Standard Contractual Clauses when transferring Personal information from a country in the EEA to a country outside the EEA.

9. EU Data Subjects Privacy Rights

EU data subjects have certain rights with respect to your personal information that we collect and process. We respond to all requests we receive from individuals in the EEA wishing to exercise their data protection rights in accordance with applicable data protection laws.

· Access, Correction or Deletion. You may request access to, correction of, or deletion of your personal information. You can often go directly into the Service under Account Settings to take these actions. Please note that even if you request for your personal information to be deleted, certain aspects may be retained for us to: meet our legal or regulatory compliance (e.g. maintaining records of transactions you have made with us); exercise, establish or defend legal claims; and to protect against fraudulent or abusive activity on our Service. Data retained for these purposes will be handled as described in Section 9 “Data Retention”, above.

· Objection. You may object to processing of your personal information where we are relying on a legitimate interest (or those of a third party) and there is something about your particular situation which makes you want to object to processing on this ground as you feel it impacts on your fundamental rights and freedoms. You also have the right to object where we are processing your personal information for direct marketing purposes. In some cases, we may demonstrate that we have compelling legitimate grounds to process your information which override your rights and freedoms.

· Portability. You have the right to request the transfer of your personal information to you or to a third party. We will provide to you, or a third party you have chosen, your personal information in a structured, commonly used, machine-readable format. Note that this right only applies to automated information which you initially provided consent for us to use or where we used the information to perform a contract with you.

· Withdraw Consent. If we have collected and processed your personal information with your consent, you can withdraw your consent at any time. Withdrawing your consent will not affect the lawfulness of any processing we conducted prior to your withdrawal, nor will it affect processing of your personal information conducted in reliance on lawful processing grounds other than consent.

· File a complaint. You have the right to file a complaint with a supervisory authority about our collection and processing of your personal information.

To file a request or take action on one of your rights, please contact us at the contact details provided. You will not have to pay a fee to access your personal information (or to exercise any of the other rights). However, we may charge a reasonable fee if your request is clearly unfounded, repetitive or excessive. Alternatively, we may refuse to comply with your request in these circumstances.

Occasionally it may take us longer than a month if your request is particularly complex or you have made a number of requests. In this case, we will notify you and keep you updated.

10. Children’s Privacy

We are committed to complying with the laws protecting the privacy of children, including the United States’ Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA). Our Services are not directed to children under the age of 16. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under the age of 16. If we receive personal information that we discover was provided by a child under the age of 16, we will promptly destroy such information. If you would like to learn more about COPPA, visit the Federal Trade Commission home page at http://www.ftc.gov.

11. Changes to our Privacy Policy

By using this website, you agree to the terms and conditions contained in this Privacy Policy and Conditions of Use and/or any other agreement that we might have with you. If you do not agree to any of these terms and conditions, you should not use this website. You agree that any dispute over privacy or the terms contained in this Privacy Policy will be governed by the laws of the State of California. You also agree to arbitrate such disputes in California, and to abide by any limitation on damages contained in any agreement we may have with you.

This Policy is expected to change from time to time. We reserve the right to amend this Privacy Policy at any time and provide notice to you by posting of the amended Privacy Policy on the website. We may also email you to give you notice of material changes to this Privacy Policy. The provisions contained herein supersede all previous notices or statements regarding our privacy practices and the terms and conditions that govern the use of this Services.

12. How to Contact Us

If you have any questions or wish to register a complaint in relation to this Privacy Policy or the manner in which your personal information is used by us, please contact us:

[email protected]

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iminheatdaddy-blog · 6 years ago

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New Questions About Implementing a Business Intelligence (BI) Solution Answered and Why You Must Read Every Word of This Report

Implementing a Business Intelligence ( BI ) Solution Secrets That No One Else Knows About Names ought to be as long as essential to prevent ambiguity or confusion. Reports are somewhat more accurate as they may look at the thousands of calculations behind report values. Data catalog is extremely similar. The target of BI is to allow for the simple interpretation of information. Advantage of QlikView is it can load substantial amounts of information. Our very first obstacle with Power BI is that it's designed for Windows developers since the only tool to construct the reports and dashboards runs on Windows. Who Else Wants to Learn About Implementing a Business Intelligence ( BI ) Solution? Keeping tabs on a big and complicated BI and DA Systems implementation and ensuring things are becoming done isn't an easy job. There are plenty of strategies for gathering this info, such as questionnaires and interview sessions. For the security topic all 3 solutions aren't that bad. 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So, along with making sure that you have the appropriate data, you must be certain the data is ready for AI algorithms to digest, and that you are able to process the algorithms quickly. Unstructured and semi-structured data have various meanings based on their context. In the event you've got lots of legacy systems, these would increase the complexity too. It offers tools that let us drill down data and see the effect in a visual format that may be easily understood. Another benefit of random forests is they have an in-built validation mechanism. Actually, you ought to take care that the customizable reports functionality needs to be available. Formally checking in your code and research guarantees that your work and all its prior incarnations live on. Connecting to others who can offer assistance or who can benefit from knowledge sharing is a potent method to leverage each individual's individual understanding.

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avercastllc · 2 years ago

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Avoid these Pitfalls & Generate Accurate Sales Forecasts

Without a doubt, all businesses want sales. They sell their products or offer their services in exchange for money to generate revenue for their businesses and earn profits. However, it is more challenging than it seems; to keep generating revenues, you need to forecast your sales and then plan to meet the figures.

Many businesses generate sales forecasting annually and divide them into small monthly targets. Some work another way around; they generate monthly numbers, achieve them and aggregate them into an annual number. Whatever method you choose, your ultimate goal is generating revenue.

Sales Forecasting is vital for the success of your sales teams. Forecast accuracy is critical for companies as sales is the only penny-generating process. Numerous companies rely on their sales teams and customers' feedback to predict their upcoming sales. The process seems quite efficient and correct to the naked eye, but it is not. Once you start analyzing the process with microscopic lenses, you sense that you incurred extra expenses or losses since your predictions were wrong. The only solution you have is to stop relying on these error-prone anticipations and trust Sales Forecasting Software.

Over the years, sales forecasting software has given results more accurately than any other prediction mode. If you choose a reliable source like Avercast, the chance of accuracy increases even further. Avercast software forecasts with the utmost precision and allows you to forecast for up to 60 months (about five years) in the future.

However, you must be aware of software for your Sales Forecasting. You need to know what features you want in your software and what things you should avoid, or getting carried away will not help.

Here are some of the pitfalls of Sales Forecasting Software and how to avoid them:

No hunching during decision-making: In hindsight, you should not have guessed; it can prove fatal for your revenue. Basing your sales prediction solely on hunching or guessing is as cruel as leaking your company's sensitive data because you will not make profits in both cases. Instead of thinking, make most of the sales forecasting tools and predict your demand based on some relevant logic and dates. Or else demise is inevitable.

Refrain from making decisions based on partial or little data: Generating predictions based on your small data set can prove harmful. It is only sometimes right that what applies to the small set applies to everyone. Your prediction has a higher probability of getting busted open. Instead, start collecting data, validate it, make a more extensive data set, and then forecast.

Avoid being rigid: Brittle materials tend to break easily, and so do sales numbers. Stop being strict with your forecasts. You must be flexible. The rigidity generally comes when you rely heavily on your past sales history; avoid that. Instead, use it for reference and generate the latest sales forecast. Also, you should be ready to make budget changes, make the most of the latest information you are getting, and witness sales growth.

Pay attention to sales patterns: You cannot sell body warmers in summer. A customer behavior that you should comprehend and stop making in summer. Never let go of any patterns or insights you get from your customers. If you see a decline in sales of your product, instead of throwing it under the bridge for some implausible reason, conduct a root cause analysis to reach the bottom of the problem and solve it.

Keep your past sales history: Even if you do not have advanced sales forecasting tools or a set sales forecasting process, you still have sales history. It is understandable to use your past data to generate forecasts. It tells you about how well you performed, where you performed well, and where you need improvement. However, as stated above, do not rely heavily on or only on past sales data, as it can be fatal.

Failing to follow the AIDA model: Attention, Interest, Desire, and Action, a small b-school concept usually underrated or ignored. Consistently follow the model to sell systematically. You create awareness of your product or grab customers' attention. If the product is intriguing, it will generate interest, the desire to buy rises, and customers will buy. The decline is near even if you fail to tap any one element.

Software-experienced business personnel can only hunch the future with a maximum of 100% precision. However, efforts are being made perpetually. Avercast, with its 250+ statistically advanced algorithms, allows you to forecast with up to 99% precision. Doing that will not only increase the productivity of your forecast but will also push you in the right direction to witness the continuous growth of your business.

#salesforecastingsoftware #forecastingsoftware #bestforecastingsoftware #bestsalesforecastingsoftware

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mark-tencaten · 3 years ago

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A New Chapter in the LINK Economy: Chainlink Staking

The decentralised oracle network's future is examined by Crypto Briefing as Chainlink token staking prepares to go live later this year.

Key points:

· In order to fuel DeFi apps, Chainlink, the leading decentralised oracle network in the cryptocurrency industry, provides pricing data.

· The network intends to introduce a node delegation and token staking system.

· The upgrades may contribute to Chainlink being more secure and decentralised, thus reviving interest in the venture.

What is Chainlink?

According to Mark Tencaten Chainlink is a decentralised node network that uses oracles to deliver data and knowledge to blockchain smart contracts from off-chain sources.

A smart contract can use Chainlink's oracle network to get the external data it requires, such as the price of Bitcoin in US dollars. When an eligible oracle responds to a request from a contract, a Chainlink Aggregation Contract gathers all the information from the oracles and reconciles it to produce a correct result. LINK tokens are then given to Oracles as compensation for their work. Chainlink offers timely, reliable off-chain data reports for anything from the SWIFT payment system to AccuWeather. However, to date it is most recognised for serving as an oracle to decentralised financial protocols that depend on off-chain pricing feeds.

Currently, the only Chainlink oracles that are permitted to offer data feeds and earn LINK are those that are managed by expert teams of node operators, infrastructure engineers, or businesses that construct infrastructure specifically for Chainlink. Although anybody can build a node, only those who have been approved by Chainlink are charged with delivering data. Chainlink is therefore more centralised than other blockchains like Ethereum, where anyone with 32 ETH may host a complete node and provide transaction validation. Positively, Chainlink is more robust than other more centralised oracles due to the fact that its nodes are dispersed throughout data centres all over the world.

Chainlink has evolved into a crucial component of the blockchain architecture by securely fusing information from various off-chain sources to on-chain smart contracts. According to Defi Llama statistics, all protocols that employ the Chainlink oracle network's data feeds safeguard almost $15 billion in value. Sergey Nazarov, co-founder and CEO of Chainlink, predicted that the company holds at least 60% of the market share in blockchain verticals including gaming and DeFi as of May 2022.

Chainlink has come under fire for the security of its oracle's price feeds despite being the top decentralised oracle network. With the current network configuration, node operators have no financial incentive to refrain from conspiring to provide false oracle replies to blockchain apps that rely on Chainlink's price feeds.

The reliability of Chainlink's trusted oracles ultimately determines how accurate its pricing feeds are. If these entities are compromised, bribed, fed a large number of bogus prices from other nodes, or jeopardised in any other manner, the network may be attacked. One of Chainlink's most outspoken detractors, Eric Wall of Arcane Assets, has previously asserted that the system's security is not "cryptoeconmically safe" as its developers claim and instead depends on a trusted system.

Despite the fact that Chainlink has never been attacked, significant stakeholders (ie those guarding assets valued at billions of dollars) that are locked in DeFi protocols, could find its reliance on trust and a small number of nodes unsettling. It could only be a matter of time before bad actors seek to hack Chainlink's data feeds in order to take advantage of the resulting instability and the motivation to attack its oracle network becomes too great.

Link Staking

Chainlink's developers intend to build a staking mechanism similar to that seen in Proof-of-Stake blockchains, in order to strengthen the security of the oracle network. Following the implementation of staking, nodes will be required to store LINK tokens as collateral, which may be taxed or "slashed" if a node produces false information. Then, honest validators will get a redistribution of the LINK tokens that were stolen from dishonest validators. Once the staking system imposes a penalty for dishonest nodes, the network's crypto-economic security should increase. The idea is that it will be more expensive to assault Chainlink's pricing oracles than it would be profitable to do so. The same game theory ideas that deter bad actors from trying to attack blockchains like Bitcoin and Ethereum would thus apply to the Oracle network say’s Mark Tencaten.

Staking will also encourage community involvement in the Chainlink network outside of individuals who are competent or qualified to manage their own nodes. Anyone who has LINK will be able to assign their tokens to a dependable node operator thanks to the staking concept. Chainlink's creators predicted LINK token staking will provide a 5% yearly return in a blog post on the subject from a mix of emissions from the treasury reserve and fees paid by users of Chainlink's data feeds. Once Chainlink's adoption increases, the ultimate aim is for treasury emissions to cease and all staking rewards to come from fees paid by oracle users.

The staking system's new reputation foundation will also improve network security. Here, feeds from nodes that consistently respond to data requests quickly and accurately will be given precedence over those from less trustworthy nodes. The network will need to consider other parameters to determine which nodes will be utilised to create oracle data when there are too many quick and dependable nodes for a particular request. In this instance, when and how often a node is selected to give data feeds depends on the amount of staked LINK supporting their oracle services. By coordinating the node operators' incentives with the Chainlink network, security is enhanced. It will be necessary for nodes to retain a significant quantity of LINK in order to be chosen as data feed providers, which should deter nodes from assaulting the network, as doing so would reduce the value of the LINK tokens supporting their node.

Combining these two ideas should result in node operators who are more dependable and secure. The greatest and most trustworthy validators will likely draw the most tokens from LINK stakers as LINK holders who wish to delegate their tokens to a node for staking will want to avoid having part of their delegation clipped. The selection of quick and precise validators should become automatic as a result, improving the network's overall security and dependability.

Later this year, Chainlink plans to deploy a 0.1 version of its staking mechanism. Staking nodes will first debut with a restricted feature set and simply offer a price feed for the ETH/USD pair. If the 0.1 version launches without any problems, the creators will release version 1.0, which will include new features like stake reduction and user fee inclusion in rewards. In the future, a full 2.0 version will provide loss protection and broaden Chainlink staking to include more services in addition to price feeds. With the use of this solution, providers of Oracle services can protect themselves from financial harm caused by erroneous data feeds from Oracle networks.

The Prospects for Chainlink

The LINK token economy will enter a new phase with the implementation of node delegation and staking. For the first time, LINK will be more useful than just a means of processing oracle service fees. In order to receive a larger share of treasury emissions and user fees, node operators will be encouraged to stake their LINK tokens. In order to gain staking incentives, many LINK holders will probably decide to assign their tokens to nodes.

Longer term, LINK staking may function as a source of cash flow for holders. The circulation supply will stop growing once the Chainlink treasury has released all of its reserve tokens. At that moment, the sole source of staking rewards will be fees charged by protocols utilising the Oracle network. Stakeholders in LINK will also get incentives depending on the demand for Chainlink's oracle services, much as how owning and staking Ethereum following its impending network Merge would provide a cash flow dependent on network usage.

It's unknown how long it will take the Chainlink ecosystem to reach its intended vision and use-case, however, there have been prior hints that LINK staking will launch in the latter half of 2022. To date, specific information on the system's implementation, the timing of token emissions, and the rollout of the whole 2.0 staking system has remained hazy. Even so, Chainlink should profit in the coming months from a surge of rekindled interest throughout the cryptocurrency ecosystem if it can integrate staking and move on with its 2.0 roadmap.

#chainlink #Mark Tencaten #Cryptocurrency #crypto

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marketingkiabizleadsintel · 4 years ago

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Choosing A B2B Data Partner? Here is why to go for Data Accuracy over Big Brand

How Do We Stand Out!

If you have decided to collaborate with a reliable B2B data partner, pat yourself on the back! This decision would help you make time for the core business growth.

Two major things that B2B businesses consider while choosing a reliable B2B data partner are Data Quality & Brand Recognition.

However, if you have stumbled upon this piece, chances are you are in a bit of a dilemma.

Well, keep reading to get a clarity over this confusion.

Brand Name Doesn’t Guarantee Success

A business doesn’t become a Brand overnight. It does require a right mix of product quality, marketing tactics, financial backing, and even sheer luck. Hence, it’s not safe to assume that a recognised brand would definitely also be the best at their jobs.

Number one mistake that B2B businesses make is to go for a well-known solution rather than going for a reliable solution.

When it comes to something as significant as B2B lead generation, it deserves a critical review. Look beyond the brand name & prioritise data quality. In order to ensure that you are choosing the right B2B lead generation partner check the data quality yourself. Go through the online forums, look for customer reviews, as well as, request a coverage report for your ideal customer profile.

A smart way to go about it is to look for online complaints and check how the brand has responded to it.

Compromising with Data Quality Would Hamper Your Growth

Data is a hot topic in today’s business world. Left, right & centre everyone wants to talk about insights and value that can be derived from data.

Well, it’s worth the hype too!

Data is indeed one of the most valuable resources available for a B2B company.

But, here is something that majority of these people are missing out on:

Data is only useful if it’s high-quality.

At best, bad data is inconsequential.

What we have witnessed is that, in the worst case scenario, companies end up making expensive mistakes. As per a recent study published by IBM, bad data costs the U.S. economy $3.1 trillion every year. That is a deplorable stat.

With that being said, choosing Data Accuracy as the primary factor is a wise decision. It would save you a lot of trouble & would accelerate the business growth.

Go With The Data-First Approach

B2B businesses thrive on quality lead generation. As they become more data-mature, they would frequently rely on data analysis and modelling for important business decisions.

One such important decision is running marketing campaigns using that data!

For your marketing efforts, nothing matters more than data accuracy. Marketing is all about reaching out to the right audience & sending the right message. Target marketing brings in the real results, resulting in increased sales. High-quality data would help you with that. And More!

This has the power to reduce both time and cost.

Hence, if you are a B2B business owner, prioritise Data Quality over a Brand Name, any day!

If you no more conflate brand recognition with quality and reliability, here is something for you!

Choosing A B2B Data Partner? Top 6 things that go beyond the brand name!

Let’s dive deeper into each aspect, before you choose a B2B lead gen partner.

Consistency In Delivery

Especially when data is aggregated from multiple sources, data inconsistency becomes a concern.

In order to grow consistently, you must have access to the latest data. Data consistency ensures that your team doesn't come across any missing data in the fields. It allows your business to manage and use the data seamlessly.

Uniqueness NOT Overlapping

Uniqueness is one of the most critical dimensions that ensures that there is no duplication of data. You can measure aata uniqueness against all records, across data sets. Focus on getting the high uniqueness score. It would assure that there are minimized duplicates or overlaps. It would build trust, improve data governance and speed up compliance.

Accuracy Is The Key

Data accuracy is all about having the data which represents the real-world scenario, while confirming it with a verifiable source. Data accuracy ensures that those associated real-world entities are able to participate as planned.

Higher data accuracy has the power of factually correct reporting and reliable business outcomes. Especially for B2B businesses, accuracy is very critical.

Data Which Stays Relevant

Imagine your team collectively putting in 60 hours everyday in marketing to the audience who aren’t interested in what you are selling.

Hence, your business requires relevant data. As just adding a slew of data into your system won’t really help your team, if it is not relevant. Choose to pay for the data which helps you reach out to the target market & brings you business. Data relevancy is directly proportional to the ROI you will get.

Integrity Of The Data

Integrity denotes the validity of data across the different relationships. It means that the present data in a database can be traced back and connected to other data.

Otherwise, it just becomes an orphaned record.

Quality Of Service

You tick off all the above mentioned points. Company research is done!

From offering an accurate database to high deliverability guarantee & your expected pricing, everything goes as per you.

However, these things would still leave you unsatisfied, if the B2B lead gen partner hasn’t marked the customer service criteria.

Inaccurate data turns into a vicious cycle. It happens because most data providers offer data that lacks human verification. They only rely on AI and machine learning to produce & verify their data.

Hence, Leadsintel becomes your go-to B2B data provider.

We not only tick all the 6 crucial features of a B2B lead gen partner, we provide smooth onboarding & human-verified reliable data.

Give it a try, schedule a quick demo!

#B2B businesses #B2B data provider #B2B lead gen partner #B2B lead generation

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techcouncilglobal · 4 years ago

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Trends in Artificial Intelligence (AI) to Watch in 2021

As a result of the epidemic, artificial intelligence has become more widely used in numerous businesses. By 2023, IDC estimates that investment in AI technology will have risen to $97.9 billion. Artificial intelligence's potential utility has only expanded since the global COVID-19 epidemic.

AI will become increasingly crucial as companies continue to automate day-to-day operations and develop a better grasp of COVID-affected datasets. Businesses have become more technologically connected than ever before since the lockdown and work-from-home policy was adopted.

When it comes to identifying the technologies that will change how we live, work, and play in the near future, artificial intelligence (AI) is surely a hot topic. So, while we rebuild our lives and rethink our company's goals and objectives, here's a look at what we can expect in the coming year.

We've witnessed personally how critical it is to promptly evaluate and interpret data on viral transmission around the world during this current outbreak. Governments, global health organisations, university research institutes, and corporations have collaborated to develop cutting-edge data gathering, aggregation, and analysis systems. We've become accustomed to watching the results of the most current infection or death data for our respective regions on the news every night. Enroll in an AI certification course and acquire an AI certification to get started.

Trends in Artificial Intelligence (AI) to Watch in 2021

AI is used to improve operational efficiency or effectiveness. It's also an effective means of increasing stakeholder satisfaction. Let's look at the most crucial trends for the year 2021.

AI-based IT solutions

AI solutions that can self-discover common IT problems and self-correct any minor flaws or challenges are expected to gain popularity in the next years. While working on high-complexity projects, this will save downtime and allow teams to focus on other responsibilities.

The use of AIOps is becoming increasingly common

The complexity of IT systems has risen in recent years. With AIOps solutions and improved analysis of the vast volumes of data coming their way, IT operations and other teams may improve their key procedures, decision-making, and responsibilities. According to Forrester, IT administrators should search for AIOps suppliers who can help cross-team cooperation by providing end-to-end digital experiences, data correlation, and toolchain integration.

The data structure will be aided by AI

These technologies will be used by businesses to generate data that can be used by RPA (robotic process automation) technology to automate transactional operations. RPA is one of the software industry's fastest-growing segments. Its sole drawback is that it can only work with organised data. Unstructured data may be easily transformed into structured data using AI, resulting in a specific output.

Artificial intelligence specialists will continue to be scarce

A talent shortage is predicted to be a stumbling block to AI implementation in 2021. There has long been a skills gap in AI, and businesses have only recently realised its potential. It is critical to close this gap and educate artificial intelligence to a larger number of individuals. In order to focus on technology, learning methodologies, and promoting a transition in the workplace in 2021, it will be critical to ensure that a broader spectrum of users has access to artificial intelligence.

In the IT industry, AI is becoming increasingly widely used

Artificial intelligence (AI) is increasingly being used in the IT business. On the other hand, other experts believe that companies will begin to apply AI in manufacturing on a major scale in the near future. Artificial intelligence can assist a company with real-time ROI. This implies that organisations will benefit from their efforts.

Augmented procedures are becoming increasingly popular

When it comes to innovation and automation in 2021, artificial intelligence and data science will be part of a larger picture. Data ecosystems are scalable, lean, and provide real-time data to several sources. However, in order to adapt and inspire creativity, a foundation must be created. Artificial intelligence may be used to improve software development processes in the future, and we may expect more collective intelligence and collaboration. To evolve toward a long-term delivery strategy, we must develop a data-driven culture and go beyond the experimental stage.

Intelligence based on speech and language

NLP and ASR (automated speech recognition) skills have a lot of space to expand with the rise of remote working, particularly in customer service centres. Because one-on-one tutoring isn't an option, businesses may rely on artificial intelligence to do quality checks on client comprehension and intent on a regular basis to assure continuous compliance.

Artificial Emotional Intelligence (A.E.I.) is a type of artificial

Because it can recognise, analyse, and interact with numerous human emotions, Emotional AI is one of the most prominent Artificial Intelligence themes in 2021. As it's also known, affective computing pushes the bar on human-robot interaction to new heights. Emotional AI can read both oral and nonverbal cues to understand client behaviour. By analysing how people react to specific topics, products, and services, high-tech cameras and chatbots can readily determine a wide variety of human emotions. In the near future, this progress in Artificial Intelligence will have a big impact on the retail industry.

Ethics-based artificial intelligence

Google, Microsoft, Apple, Facebook, and other tech titans are developing ethical AI that adheres to a four-part ethical framework for effective data governance: fairness, accountability, openness, and explainability. These businesses are initiating a slew of initiatives and studies in the hopes of persuading other businesses to adopt ethical AI that is tailored to their specific needs.

Bringing the conversation to a close

In the next 18 months, we may expect substantial advancements in AI research, which will improve our ability to predict and respond to viral epidemics. However, continual worldwide collaboration between governments and commercial companies will be required. Global politics and politicians, as well as the rate of technology advancement, will likely affect how this plays out. As a result, in the coming year, concerns like access to medical databases and hurdles to international data sharing will be prominent subjects. As people become more aware of the industry's relevance and potential, artificial intelligence training is becoming more popular. Obtaining an artificial intelligence certification is the finest offer at this time.

#artificial intelligence certification #artificial intelligence training

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wickedbananas · 7 years ago

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GDPR: What it Means for Google Analytics & Online Marketing

Posted by Angela_Petteys

If you’ve been on the Internet at all in the past few months, you’ve probably seen plenty of notices about privacy policy updates from one service or another. As a marketer, a few of those notices have most likely come from Google.

With the General Data Privacy Regulation (GDPR) set to go into effect on May 25th, 2018, many Internet services have been scrambling to get in compliance with the new standards — and Google is no exception. Given the nature of the services Google provides to marketers, GDPR absolutely made some significant changes in how they conduct business. And, in turn, some marketers may have to take steps to make sure their use of Google Analytics is allowable under the new rules. But a lot of marketers aren’t entirely sure what exactly GDPR is, what it means for their jobs, and what they need to do to follow the rules.

What is GDPR?

GDPR is a very broad reform that gives citizens who live in the European Economic Area (EEA) and Switzerland more control over how their personal data is collected and used online. GDPR introduces a lot of new rules and if you’re up for a little light reading, you can check out the full text of the regulation online. But here are a few of the most significant changes:

Companies and other organizations have to be more transparent and clearly state what information they’re collecting, what it will be used for, how they’re collecting it, and if that information will be shared with anyone else. They can also only collect information that is directly relevant for its intended use. If the organization collecting that information later decides to use it for a different purpose, they must get permission again from each individual.

GDPR also spells out how that information needs to be given to consumers. That information can no longer be hidden in long privacy policies filled with legal jargon. The information in disclosures needs to be written in plain language and “freely given, specific, informed, and unambiguous.” Individuals also have to take an action which clearly gives their consent to their information being collected. Pre-checked boxes and notices that rely on inaction as a way of giving consent will no longer be allowed. If a user does not agree to have their information collected, you cannot block them from accessing content based on that fact.

Consumers also have the right to see what information a company has about them, request that incorrect information be corrected, revoke permission for their data to be saved, and have their data exported so they can switch to another service. If someone decides to revoke their permission, the organization needs to not only remove that information from their systems in a timely manner, they also need to have it removed from anywhere else they’ve shared that information.

Organizations must also be able to give proof of the steps they’re taking to be in compliance. This can include keeping records of how people opt in to being on marketing lists and documentation regarding how customer information is being protected.

Once an individual’s information has been collected, GDPR sets out requirements for how that information is stored and protected. If a data breach occurs, consumers must be notified within 72 hours. Failing to comply with GDPR can come with some very steep consequences. If a data breach occurs because of non-compliance, a company can be hit with fines as high as €20 million or 4% of the company’s annual global revenue, whichever amount is greater.

Do US-based businesses need to worry about GDPR?

Just because a business isn’t based in Europe doesn’t necessarily mean they’re off the hook as far as GDPR goes. If a company is based in the United States (or elsewhere outside the EEA), but conducts business in Europe, collects data about users from Europe, markets themselves in Europe, or has employees who work in Europe, GDPR applies to them, too.

Even if you’re working with a company that only conducts business in a very specific geographic area, you might occasionally get some visitors to your site from people outside of that region. For example, let’s say a pizza restaurant in Detroit publishes a blog post about the history of pizza on their site. It’s a pretty informative post and as a result, it brings in some traffic from pizza enthusiasts outside the Detroit area, including a few visitors from Spain. Would GDPR still apply in that sort of situation?

As long as it’s clear that a company’s goods or services are only available to consumers in the United States (or another country outside the EEA), GDPR does not apply. Going back to the pizza restaurant example, the other content on their site is written in English, emphasizes their Detroit location, and definitely doesn’t make any references to delivery to Spain, so those few page views from Spain wouldn’t be anything to worry about.

However, let’s say another US-based company has a site with the option to view German and French language versions of pages, lets customers pay with Euros, and uses marketing language that refers to European customers. In that situation, GDPR would apply since they are more clearly soliciting business from people in Europe.

Google Analytics & GDPR

If you use Google Analytics, Google is your data processor and since they handle data from people all over the world, they’ve had to take steps to become compliant with GDPR standards. However, you/your company are considered the data controller in this relationship and you will also need to take steps to make sure your Google Analytics account is set up to meet the new requirements.

Google has been rolling out some new features to help make this happen. In Analytics, you will now have the ability to delete the information of individual users if they request it. They’ve also introduced data retention settings which allow you to control how long individual user data is saved before being automatically deleted. Google has set this to be 26 months as the default setting, but if you are working with a US-based company that strictly conducts business in the United States, you can set it to never expire if you want to — at least until data protection laws change here, too. It’s important to note that this only applies to data about individual users and events, so aggregate data about high-level information like page views won’t be impacted by this.

To make sure you’re using Analytics in compliance with GDPR, a good place to start is by auditing all the data you collect to make sure it’s all relevant to its intended purpose and that you aren’t accidentally sending any personally identifiable information (PII) to Google Analytics. Sending PII to Google Analytics was already against its Terms of Service, but very often, it happens by accident when information is pushed through in a page URL. If it turns out you are sending PII to Analytics, you’ll need to talk to your web development team about how to fix it because using filters in Analytics to block it isn’t enough — you need to make sure it’s never sent to Google Analytics in the first place.

PII includes anything that can potentially be used to identify a specific person, either on its own or when combined with another piece of information, like an email address, a home address, a birthdate, a zip code, or an IP address. IP addresses weren’t always considered PII, but GDPR classifies them as an online identifier. Don’t worry, though — you can still get geographical insights about the visitors to your site. All you have to do is turn on IP anonymization and the last portion of an IP address will be replaced with a zero, so you can still get a general idea of where your traffic is coming from, although it will be a little less precise.

If you use Google Tag Manager, IP anonymization is pretty easy. Just open your Google Analytics tag or its settings variable, choose “More Settings,” and select “Fields to Set.” Then, choose “anonymizeip” in the “Field Name” box, enter “true” in the “Value” box,” and save your changes.

If you don’t use GTM, talk to your web development team about editing the Google Analytics code to anonymize IP addresses.

Pseudonymous information like user IDs and transaction IDs are still acceptable under GDPR, but it needs to be protected. User and transaction IDs need to be alphanumeric database identifiers, not written out in plain text.

Also, if you haven’t already done so, don’t forget to take the steps Google has mentioned in some of those emails they’ve sent out. If you’re based outside the EEA and GDPR applies to you, go into your Google Analytics account settings and accept the updated terms of processing. If you’re based in the EEA, the updated terms have already been included in your data processing terms. If GDPR applies to you, you’ll also need to go into your organization settings and provide contact information for your organization.

Privacy policies, forms, & cookie notices

Now that you’ve gone through your data and checked your settings in Google Analytics, you need to update your site’s privacy policy, forms, and cookie notices. If your company has a legal department, it may be best to involve them in this process to make sure you’re fully compliant.

Under GDPR, a site’s privacy policy needs to be clearly written in plain language and answer basic questions like what information is being collected, why it’s being collected, how it’s being collected, who is collecting it, how it will be used, and if it will be shared with anyone else. If your site is likely to be visited by children, this information needs to be written simply enough for a child to be able to understand it.

Forms and cookie notices also need to provide that kind of information. Cookie consent forms with really vague, generic messages like, “We use cookies to give you a better experience and by using this site, you agree to our policy,” are not GDPR compliant.

GDPR & other types of marketing

The impact GDPR will have on marketers isn’t just limited to how you use Google Analytics. If you use some particular types of marketing in the course of your job, you may have to make a few other changes, too.

Referral deals

If you work with a company that does “refer a friend”-type promotions where a customer has to enter information for a friend to receive a discount, GDPR is going to make a difference for you. Giving consent for data to be collected is a key part of GDPR and in these sorts of promotions, the person being referred can’t clearly consent to their information being collected. Under GDPR, it is possible to continue this practice, but it all depends on how that information is being used. If you store the information of the person being referred and use it for marketing purposes, it would be a violation of GDPR standards. However, if you don’t store that information or process it, you’re OK.

Email marketing

If you’re an email marketer and already follow best industry standards by doing things like only sending messages to those who clearly opt in to your list and making it easy for people to unsubscribe, the good news is that you’re probably in pretty good shape. As far as email marketing goes, GDPR is going to have the biggest impact on those who do things that have already been considered sketchy, like buying lists of contacts or not making it clear when someone is signing up to receive emails from you.

Even if you think you’re good to go, it’s still a good time to review your contacts and double check that your European contacts have indeed opted into being on your list and that it was clear what they were signing up for. If any of your contacts don’t have their country listed or you’re not sure how they opted in, you may want to either remove them from your list or put them on a separate segment so they don’t get any messages from you until you can get that figured out. Even if you’re confident your European contacts have opted in, there’s no harm in sending out an email asking them to confirm that they would like to continue receiving messages from you.

Creating a double opt-in process isn’t mandatory, but it would be a good idea since it helps remove any doubt over whether or not a person has agreed to being on your list. While you’re at it, take a look at the forms people use to sign up to be on your list and make sure they’re in line with GDPR standards, with no pre-checked boxes and the fact that they’re agreeing to receive emails from you is very clear.

For example, here’s a non-GDPR compliant email signup option I recently saw on a checkout page. They tell you what they’re planning to send to you, but the fact that it’s a pre-checked box placed underneath the more prominent “Place Order” button makes it very easy for people to unintentionally sign up for emails they might not actually want.

Jimmy Choo, on the other hand, also gives you the chance to sign up for emails while making a purchase, but since the box isn’t pre-checked, it’s good to go under GDPR.

Marketing automation

As is the case with standard email marketing, marketing automation specialists will need to make sure they have clear consent from everyone who has agreed to be part of their lists. Check your European contacts to make sure you know how they’ve opted in. Also review the ways people can opt into your list to make sure it’s clear what, exactly, they’re signing up for so that your existing contacts would be considered valid.

If you use marketing automation to re-engage customers who have been inactive for a while, you may need to get permission to contact them again, depending on how long it has been since they last interacted with you.

Some marketing automation platforms have functionality which will be impacted by GDPR. Lead scoring, for example, is now considered a form of profiling and you will need to get permission from individuals to have their information used in that way. Reverse IP tracking also needs consent.

It’s also important to make sure your marketing automation platform and CRM system are set to sync automatically. If a person on your list unsubscribes and continues receiving emails because of a lapse between the two, you could get in trouble for not being GDPR compliant.

Gated content

A lot of companies use gated content, like free reports, whitepapers, or webinars, as a way to generate leads. The way they see it, the person’s information serves as the price of admission. But since GDPR prohibits blocking access to content if a person doesn’t consent to their information being collected, is gated content effectively useless now?

GDPR doesn’t completely eliminate the possibility of gated content, but there are now higher standards for collecting user information. Basically, if you’re going to have gated content, you need to be able to prove that the information you collect is necessary for you to provide the deliverable. For example, if you were organizing a webinar, you’d be justified in collecting email addresses since attendees need to be sent a link to join in. You’d have a harder time claiming an email address was required for something like a whitepaper since that doesn’t necessarily have to be delivered via email. And of course, as with any other form on a site, forms for gated content need to clearly state all the necessary information about how the information being collected will be used.

If you don’t get a lot of leads from European users anyway, you may want to just block all gated content from European visitors. Another option would be to go ahead and make that information freely available to visitors from Europe.

Google AdWords

If you use Google AdWords to advertise to European residents, Google already required publishers and advertisers to get permission from end users by putting disclaimers on the landing page, but GDPR will be making some changes to these requirements. Google will now be requiring publishers to get clear consent from individuals to have their information collected. Not only does this mean you have to give more information about how a person’s information will be used, you’ll also need to keep records of consent and tell users how they can opt out later on if they want to do so. If a person doesn’t give consent to having their information collected, Google will be making it possible to serve them non-personalized ads.

In the end

GDPR is a significant change and trying to grasp the full scope of its changes is pretty daunting. This is far from being a comprehensive guide, so if you have any questions about how GDPR applies to a particular client you’re working with, it may be best to get in touch with their legal department or team. GDPR will impact some industries more than others, so it’s best to get some input from someone who truly understands the law and how it applies to that specific business.

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uhhhcool · 5 years ago

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Neosho Contractor Bond

The below article is an excellent intro to bid bonds. Bid bonds, as you know, are bonds utilized in the building and construction industry. These bonds ensure that if somebody quotes on a project, and is awarded the contract, then they will move forward with performing under the regards to the agreement.

See the below short article for more excellent information. You can see the initial short article here: https://swiftbonds.com/license-permit-bonds/contractor-bond-neosho/

Neosho Contractor Bond

What is a Contractor Bond in Neosho?

A Contractor Bond is a type of license bond. The purpose of the bond is to protect the state or governmental entity for certain things, such as the payment of taxes.

To get this bond, please see our Contractor Bond Application Form. Fill this out and mail to [email protected]

You can also Apply On Line by clicking on this link.

How Much does a Contractor Bond Cost in Neosho?

Just fill out the form below and we’ll have you a quote in a few hours – at the absolute best possible rate.

How do I get a Contractor Bond?

We make it easy to get a Contractor Bond in Neosho. Fill out the form above and we’ll get right on this for you.

How Does this Process Work in Missouri?

Once we get the Contractor Bond application back from you, we process it right away. We typically have an answer within a few hours. Once you get approved, we’ll let you know the exact fee. Then:

You send us the fee

We send you the bond

For certain bonds, we may send you original forms to fill out (depends on the type of bond)

Then we’ll get the Contractor Bond right out to you. Easy.

Neosho Contractor Bond Application Form Fill this out and mail to [email protected]

Apply On Line

Find a Contractor Bond Near Me

We’ll work as hard as possible to get you the bond that you need in Missouri.

Find out more about our Permit and License Bonds

Clear-Cut Guidelines When Looking At Permit Bonds Resolved

License and permit bonds are incredibly required to every business or operation that involves making any amount of profit. Most governments require that you have a permit bond for all your operations that include a consumer. You should get the bond to get the license or permit for your business. The surety bond is a type of an insurance that guarantees the delivery of a service or infrastructure project to customers. In this case, any contractor who is unable to deliver the required project result shall face feasible quandaries. On this article, we discuss the details, which include the importance, and how you can get a permit bond.

Determining License And Permit Bonds

The kind of license and permit surety bond that you’ll need for your company may vary depending on the industry or category of your methods. The difference is the function, and how the bond protects the consumer.

Types of Surety Bonds

You’ll find several kinds of surety bonds, which include:

The principal purpose of license and permit bond is to help the clients recover particular amount of cash in case the contractor is unable to deliver, and also to provide them the right to sue the failing contractor. Should the contractor default, for example, he or she will unquestionably face legal action due to non-compliance in governmental rules and regulations and the mutual agreement into with the customers. As a result, you have to consider not violating any laws for this may result in considerable loss for your company since you need to satisfy the financial damages done by your actions. Remember that governmental laws are always of high importance.

Performance bonds, alternatively, help the customers get insurance. It is necessary for contractors to supply result on the agreed date in cases of infrastructure projects. Portion of the quality services is meeting all specifications requested by the consumer. In case of failure to comply, the client has the right to recover particular amount of the whole project cost through the help of the performance bond. This right and privilege is based on the argument that professional contractors have the skills, tools, and machineries to obtain the job done as prescribed, therefore there is no reason for the contractor to violate rules. But, in some cases, contractors fail to deliver. Nonetheless, the client won’t suffer any loss.

Importance Of License And Permit Bonds

Now that you have learned why you need to get a license and permit bond, the next thing you need to learn is the significance of securing your company with these bonds.

Flawless Systematic Work

According to the requirements of the government, there are specific rules and procedures to be followed in doing a systematic work. Let us take for instance a construction project, the systematic flow of processes are defined in the license bonds. The contractor who is involved to this operation must then follow this system.

Insurance

Permit bonds serve as an insurance to customers who involved specialist help. It implies that the customer will be compensated for a particular proportion of the project should it fail. If a professional does not manage to provide what he or she promises, you will need to sue his or her bond and you are going to get compensation totaling to the bond’s specifications.

Actions Involved In The Application

Following the right processes in acquiring license and permit bond is the easiest method to obtain it. The following are the easy measures that you should follow when obtaining license and permit bond.

The Online Form

If you are applying online, the first thing you have to do is to fill out the form. Using the online platform of an approved forum is perhaps the fastest way to obtain this online application form. This implies that you have to not only choose a platform that has the application form, but also make certain that it has verification. Aside from correctness and completeness, you also need to make sure the truthfulness of the info you put in the form.

Getting A Quote

Next step after submitting the application is the quote, which indicates the amount you have to pay. Remember, the quote is dependent upon the amount of the project you indicated in the application form. So make certain that your figures are correct. The quote only comes after you apply and your application is successful.

Payment

Finally, you have to pay the surety bond after acquiring a quote. Your payment allows you to get the license and permit bond.

While Filling The Form;

When filling out the form, don’t lie. It’s because doing so will simply result in problems, like legal action. The government is cautious while checking this info. So even though you do not have a great credit score, it’s still essential that you provide the correct data to your surety bond.

About The License And Permit Bonds

To understand more about the need and significance of acquiring license and permit bonds, below are a few essential bits of info that you should learn.

For instance, permit and license bonds are worth a particular sum of money. Let us take for example the whole project cost is $500,000. This isn’t the full amount insured to surety bonds. In this case, only a relative portion of the whole project cost is insured with the performance bond. Generally, the amount that a contractor needs to pay money for a performance bond is just about 1% of its insured value.

Licensing

From the word itself, “performance” bond, it guarantees that the contractor will carry out or deliver the required project result because they are bonded with a surety. If you are a contractor, you need to as a result comply with this governmental requirement in order to avoid legal cases with your customers.

There are only approved issuing company so do not forget to bear in mind that when acquiring a bond. An ideal way not to make a mistake is by educating yourself with the different kinds of bonds through professional help.

See our Saint Charles Contractor Bond page here.

A Much Deeper Appearance At Bid Bonds in Building And Construction A Quote Bond is a type of surety bond utilized to guarantee that a professional bidding on a project or job will get in into the agreement with the obligee if granted.

A Bid Bond is provided in the quantity of the agreement bid, with the identical requirements as that of a Performance Bond.

All About Quote Bonds in Building The origins of our business was closely linked with the provision of performance bonds to the contracting market. It found that the personal contractor usually was insolvent when the task was awarded, or grew to end up being insolvent earlier than the challenge was completed.

The standing of your surety company is essential, since it ensures you that when you have problems or if even worse includes worst you'll have a trustworthy partner to rely on and get aid from. We work only with A-rated and T-listed companies, probably the most trustworthy corporations in the industry.

Usually no, they are different. However, bid bonds mechanically develop into efficiency bonds in case you are granted the contract.

What Is A Building And Construction Surety Bond? The origins of our business was thoroughly related to the provision of performance bonds to the contracting industry. Even if some jobs do not need expense and performance bonds, you will require to get bonded finally since the majority of public efforts do require the bonds. The longer a little contractor waits to get bonded, the more long lasting it will be because there will not be a observe report of meeting the obligatory requirements for bonding and carrying out bonded work.

It's your pre-authorized bond limits. Bond pressures accept single and mix limits. The only restrict is the greatest bond you may get for one particular task. The aggregate limitation is the entire amount of bonded work readily available you potentially can have without hold-up.

The Value Of Bid Bonds near You Arms, generators, radio towers, tree removal, computer systems, softward, fire alarms, decorative work, scaffolding, water towers, lighting, and resurfacing of existing roads/paved locations. Bid bonds in addition function an additional assurance for job owners that a bidding professional or subcontractor is qualified to execute the job they're bidding on. There are two causes for this.

https://swiftbonds.com/license-permit-bonds/contractor-bond-neosho/

0 notes

delspanda · 5 years ago

Text

Neosho Contractor Bond

See the below short article for more excellent information. You can see the initial short article here: https://swiftbonds.com/license-permit-bonds/contractor-bond-neosho/

Neosho Contractor Bond

What is a Contractor Bond in Neosho?

A Contractor Bond is a type of license bond. The purpose of the bond is to protect the state or governmental entity for certain things, such as the payment of taxes.

To get this bond, please see our Contractor Bond Application Form. Fill this out and mail to [email protected]

You can also Apply On Line by clicking on this link.

How Much does a Contractor Bond Cost in Neosho?

Just fill out the form below and we’ll have you a quote in a few hours – at the absolute best possible rate.

How do I get a Contractor Bond?

We make it easy to get a Contractor Bond in Neosho. Fill out the form above and we’ll get right on this for you.

How Does this Process Work in Missouri?

Once we get the Contractor Bond application back from you, we process it right away. We typically have an answer within a few hours. Once you get approved, we’ll let you know the exact fee. Then:

You send us the fee

We send you the bond

For certain bonds, we may send you original forms to fill out (depends on the type of bond)

Then we’ll get the Contractor Bond right out to you. Easy.

Neosho Contractor Bond Application Form Fill this out and mail to [email protected]

Apply On Line

Find a Contractor Bond Near Me

We’ll work as hard as possible to get you the bond that you need in Missouri.

Find out more about our Permit and License Bonds

Clear-Cut Guidelines When Looking At Permit Bonds Resolved

Determining License And Permit Bonds

Types of Surety Bonds

You’ll find several kinds of surety bonds, which include:

Importance Of License And Permit Bonds

Now that you have learned why you need to get a license and permit bond, the next thing you need to learn is the significance of securing your company with these bonds.

Flawless Systematic Work

Insurance

Actions Involved In The Application

The Online Form

Getting A Quote

Payment

Finally, you have to pay the surety bond after acquiring a quote. Your payment allows you to get the license and permit bond.

While Filling The Form;

About The License And Permit Bonds

To understand more about the need and significance of acquiring license and permit bonds, below are a few essential bits of info that you should learn.

Licensing

See our Saint Charles Contractor Bond page here.

A Bid Bond is provided in the quantity of the agreement bid, with the identical requirements as that of a Performance Bond.

Usually no, they are different. However, bid bonds mechanically develop into efficiency bonds in case you are granted the contract.

https://swiftbonds.com/license-permit-bonds/contractor-bond-neosho/

0 notes

aestheticsharry · 5 years ago

Text

Neosho Contractor Bond

See the below short article for more excellent information. You can see the initial short article here: https://swiftbonds.com/license-permit-bonds/contractor-bond-neosho/

Neosho Contractor Bond

What is a Contractor Bond in Neosho?

A Contractor Bond is a type of license bond. The purpose of the bond is to protect the state or governmental entity for certain things, such as the payment of taxes.

To get this bond, please see our Contractor Bond Application Form. Fill this out and mail to [email protected]

You can also Apply On Line by clicking on this link.

How Much does a Contractor Bond Cost in Neosho?

Just fill out the form below and we’ll have you a quote in a few hours – at the absolute best possible rate.

How do I get a Contractor Bond?

We make it easy to get a Contractor Bond in Neosho. Fill out the form above and we’ll get right on this for you.

How Does this Process Work in Missouri?

Once we get the Contractor Bond application back from you, we process it right away. We typically have an answer within a few hours. Once you get approved, we’ll let you know the exact fee. Then:

You send us the fee

We send you the bond

For certain bonds, we may send you original forms to fill out (depends on the type of bond)

Then we’ll get the Contractor Bond right out to you. Easy.

Neosho Contractor Bond Application Form Fill this out and mail to [email protected]

Apply On Line

Find a Contractor Bond Near Me

We’ll work as hard as possible to get you the bond that you need in Missouri.

Find out more about our Permit and License Bonds

Clear-Cut Guidelines When Looking At Permit Bonds Resolved

Determining License And Permit Bonds

Types of Surety Bonds

You’ll find several kinds of surety bonds, which include:

Importance Of License And Permit Bonds

Now that you have learned why you need to get a license and permit bond, the next thing you need to learn is the significance of securing your company with these bonds.

Flawless Systematic Work

Insurance

Actions Involved In The Application

The Online Form

Getting A Quote

Payment

Finally, you have to pay the surety bond after acquiring a quote. Your payment allows you to get the license and permit bond.

While Filling The Form;

About The License And Permit Bonds

To understand more about the need and significance of acquiring license and permit bonds, below are a few essential bits of info that you should learn.

Licensing

See our Saint Charles Contractor Bond page here.

A Bid Bond is provided in the quantity of the agreement bid, with the identical requirements as that of a Performance Bond.

Usually no, they are different. However, bid bonds mechanically develop into efficiency bonds in case you are granted the contract.

https://swiftbonds.com/license-permit-bonds/contractor-bond-neosho/

0 notes

suzanneshannon · 5 years ago

Text

Building Custom Data Importers: What Engineers Need to Know

Importing data is a common pain-point for engineering teams. Whether its importing CRM data, inventory SKUs, or customer details, importing data into various applications and building a solution for this is a frustrating experience nearly every engineer can relate to. Data import, as a critical product experience is a huge headache. It reduces the time to value for customers, strains internal resources, and takes valuable development cycles away from developing key, differentiating product features.

Frequent error messages end-users receive when importing data. Why do we expect customers to fix this themselves?

Data importers, specifically CSV importers, haven’t been treated as key product features within the software, and customer experience. As a result, engineers tend to dedicate an exorbitant amount of effort creating less-than-ideal solutions for customers to successfully import their data.

Engineers typically create lengthy, technical documentation for customers to review when an import fails. However, this doesn’t truly solve the issue but instead offsets the burden of a great experience from the product to an end-user.

In this article, we’ll address the current problems with importing data and discuss a few key product features that are necessary to consider if you’re faced with a decision to build an in-house solution. Importing data is typically frustrating for anyone involved at a data-led company. Simply put, there has never been a standard for importing customer data. Until now, teams have deferred to CSV templates, lengthy documentation, video tutorials, or buggy in-house solutions to allow users the ability to import spreadsheets. Companies trying to import CSV data can run into a variety of issues such as:

Fragmented data: With no standard way to import data, we get emails going back and forth with attached spreadsheets that are manually imported. As spreadsheets get passed around, there are obvious version control challenges. Who made this change? Why don’t these numbers add up as they did in the original spreadsheet? Why are we emailing spreadsheets containing sensitive data?

Improper formatting: CSV import errors frequently occur when formatting isn’t done correctly. As a result, companies often rely on internal developer resources to properly clean and format data on behalf of the client — a process that can take hours per customer, and may lead to churn anyway. This includes correcting dates or splitting fields that need to be healed prior to importing.

Encoding errors: There are plenty of instances where a spreadsheet can’t be imported when it’s not improperly encoded. For example, a company may need a file to be saved with UTF-8 encoding (the encoding typically preferred for email and web pages) in order to then be uploaded properly to their platform. Incorrect encoding can result in a lengthy chain of communication where the customer is burdened with correcting and re-importing their data.

Data normalization: A lack of data normalization results in data redundancy and a never-ending string of data quality problems that make customer onboarding particularly challenging. One example includes formatting email addresses, which are typically imported into a database, or checking value uniqueness, which can result in a heavy load on engineers to get the validation working correctly.

Remember building your first CSV importer?

When it comes down to creating a custom-built data importer, there are a few critical features that you should include to help improve the user experience. (One caveat – building a data importer can be time-consuming not only to create but also maintain – it’s easy to ensure your company has adequate engineering bandwidth when first creating a solution, but what about maintenance in 3, 6, or 12 months?)

A preview of Flatfile Portal. It integrates in minutes using a few lines of JavaScript.

Data mapping

Mapping or column-matching (they are often used interchangeably) is an essential requirement for a data importer as the file import will typically fail without it. An example is configuring your data model to accept contact-level data. If one of the required fields is “address” and the customer who is trying to import data chooses a spreadsheet where the field is labeled “mailing address,” the import will fail because “mailing address” doesn’t correlate with “address” in a back-end system. This is typically ‘solved’ by providing a pre-built CSV template for customers, who then have to manipulate their data, effectively increasing time-to-value during a product experience. Data mapping needs to be included in the custom-built product as a key feature to retain data quality and improve the customer data onboarding experience.

Auto-column matching CSV data is the bread and butter of Portal, saving massive amounts of time for customers while providing a delightful import experience.

Data validation

Data validation, which checks if the data matches an expected format or value, is another critical feature to include in a custom data importer. Data validation is all about ensuring the data is accurate and is specific to your required data model. For example, if special characters can’t be used within a certain template, error messages can appear during the import stage. Having spreadsheets with hundreds of rows containing validation errors results in a nightmare for customers, as they’ll have to fix these issues themselves, or your team, which will spend hours on end cleaning data. Automatic data validators allow for streamlining of healing incoming data without the need for a manual review.

We built Data Hooks into Portal to quickly normalize data on import. A perfect use-case would be validating email uniqueness against a database.

Data parsing

Data parsing is the process of taking an aggregation of information (in a spreadsheet) and breaking it into discrete parts. It’s the separation of data. In a custom-built data importer, a data parsing feature should not only have the ability to go from a file to an array of discrete data but also streamline the process for customers.

Data transformation

Data transformation means making changes to imported data as it’s flowing into your system to meet an expected or desired value. Rather than sending data back to users with an error message for them to fix, data transformation can make small, systematic tweaks so that the users’ data is more usable in your backend. For example, when transferring a task list, prioritization data could be transformed into a different value, such as numbers instead of labels.

Data Hooks normalize imported customer data automatically using validation rules set in the Portal JSON config. These highly adaptable hooks can be worked to auto-validate nearly any incoming customer data.

We’ve baked all of the above features into Portal, our flagship CSV importer at Flatfile. Now that we’ve reviewed some of the must-have features of a data importer, the next obvious question for an engineer building an in-house importer is typically… should they?

Engineering teams that are taking on this task typically use custom or open source solutions, which may not adhere to specific use-cases. Building a comprehensive data importer also brings UX challenges when building a UI and maintaining application code to handle data parsing, normalization, and mapping. This is prior to considering how customer data requirements may change in future months and the ramifications of maintaining a custom-built solution.

Companies facing data import challenges are now considering integrating a pre-built data importer such as Flatfile Portal. We’ve built Portal to be the elegant import button for web apps. With just a few lines of JavaScript, Portal can be implemented alongside any data model and validation ruleset, typically in a few hours. Engineers no longer need to dedicate hours cleaning up and formatting data, nor do they need to custom build a data importer (unless they want to!). With Flatfile, engineers can focus on creating product-differentiating features, rather than work on solving spreadsheet imports.

Importing data is wrought with challenges and there are several critical features necessary to include when building a data importer. The alternative to a custom-built solution is to look for a pre-built data importer such as Portal.

Flatfile’s mission is to remove barriers between humans and data. With AI-assisted data onboarding, they eliminate repetitive work and make B2B data transactions fast, intuitive, and error-free. Flatfile automatically learns how imported data should be structured and cleaned, enabling customers and teams to spend more time using their data instead of fixing it. Flatfile has transformed over 300 million rows of data for companies like ClickUp, Blackbaud, Benevity, and Toast. To learn more about Flatfile’s products, Portal and Concierge, visit flatfile.io.

The post Building Custom Data Importers: What Engineers Need to Know appeared first on CSS-Tricks.

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Building Custom Data Importers: What Engineers Need to Know published first on https://deskbysnafu.tumblr.com/

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lw161325 · 5 years ago

Text

The Role that Technology Plays in Advancing the Facility Management Industry

When it comes to maintaining your facility, the recent advancements in the world of technology has actually made great strides. No matter how technologically advanced your facility is, you always need to be updated on the recent technological developments in the sector of facility management. Even though this sector is advancing every single day, there are a lot of facility management organizations who even today rely on the traditional methods of managing maintaining facilities. As the sector continues to evolve and smart buildings take control over the traditional establishments of brick and mortar, it is important that the facility management sector as a whole embrace the change.

Let us take a look at the biggest technological innovations that the facility management sector has seen in tie recent past:

BIM in facility management: Building Information Modeling, commonly known as BIM is a popular tool that architects and contractors use to scale and develop various virtual models of facilities. With the help of BIM, contractors and facility owners get a complete visual model of their entire property. Though this is not an entirely new technology, it is gradually becoming a commonplace in the facility management sector. The power of these tools is gradually being recognized for data accessibility and timely project delivery. When this tool is integrated with the already existing work order programs or a facility management software, facility managers are powered with an enhanced ability to retrieve floor plans, asset information and O&M manuals. Though it is still in its infancy, companies are gradually recognizing the significance of collaboration and communication between facilities and building teams with the help of this visual modeling.

The Internet of Things (IoT in facility management): IoT generally refers to the network of accessible devices that is used by your facility. This technology relies on the tools like sensors, actuators, thermostats and the like in order to evaluate data and minimize the amount of energy that is used for each task. Each of these sensor or device picks up data on a building to better inform any facility team of the current temperature, sound levels and light vibrations in different areas of the building. The IoT is a lot like the human body. The better the communication between different parts of your body, the better will you your cohesive functionality be. By utilizing the IoT systems correctly, facilities teams can reduce the energy bills and provide an insight to the required data that is necessary to keep the residents of a facility happy and satisfied. A current challenge with this type of technology is that connectivity can be fairly costly to set up. If you do not have access to a common hub where devices will be integrated into, it will be impossible for you to aggregate all the facilities information into actionable metrics. However, this technology is continuing to develop and it will undoubtedly be an important part of the future smart buildings.

HVAC technology: when we talk of large facilities, the HVAC system proves to be a particularly expensive system to maintain. It is the advancement of technology and the implementation of different green ideas that have promoted the transformation of HVAC systems for the better. In order to be able to reduce the costs of cooling and heating of your facility and at the same time reducing the environment footprint, is surely a benefit for all. Advancements in the HVAC facility management systems and Building Automation Systems (BAS) have indeed come a long way in reducing facility management costs in different ways. These systems save facility managers some good dollars by notifying them promptly if any system in the facility is not functioning properly. These allows facility managers to avoid costly equipment failures by correcting them even before they occur. In the future, when these systems are integrated with a facility management software, they will be able to auto create and assign work orders to facilities team members depending on the type of asset and its location. However, the main challenge of implementing advanced HVAC and BAS technologies is cost and time. Therefore, before you go down the road and decide to implement a new BAS system, take your time and explore what your return on investment will be for a new system.

Facility management app: when you are in the need to access facilities information, you need to ensure that all this information is accurate, updated most importantly, is available instantly. By introducing a combination of contextual search, artificial intelligence and machine learning, a facility management app allows instant access to critical building and equipment information. By using optical character recognition, these apps extract information from old and faded building drawings absolutely accurately.

Therefore, the role of technology in facility management cannot be ignored. The earlier organizations embrace, the more efficiently will they be able to manage facilities.

#Facility management app #facility management software #facility management

0 notes

cdrforea · 5 years ago

Text

Call for common EU approach to apps and data to fight COVID-19 and protect citizens’ rights – smarthometec

New Post has been published on https://bestedevices.com/call-for-common-eu-approach-to-apps-and-data-to-fight-covid-19-and-protect-citizens-rights-smarthometec.html

Call for common EU approach to apps and data to fight COVID-19 and protect citizens’ rights – smarthometec

The European Commission has responded to the regional puzzle of apps and data to help tackle the coronavirus crisis and called for a common EU approach to increasing the effectiveness of digital interventions and ensuring that key rights and freedoms are respected.

The European Union The executive body wants to ensure that Member States' individual efforts to use data and technical tools to combat COVID-19 are coordinated and able to work across borders – and are therefore more effective because the virus does not respect national borders.

The fragmentation of approaches is hampering current efforts by governments across the EU to fight the virus, she warns.

At the same time his recommendation sets a strong Focus on the need to ensure that EU fundamental rights are not rushed to override to curb the spread of the virus The Commission calls on health authorities and research institutions to comply with an important EU legal principle for data minimization when processing personal data for a coronavirus purpose.

In particular, it writes that these bodies should apply what they call "appropriate safeguards" – List of pseudonymization, aggregation, encryption and decentralization as examples of good practice.

The Commission believes that getting EU citizens to trust digital efforts – such as the multitude of COVID-19 contacts that apps are currently developing – will be crucial to their success by helping Promoting acceptance and use, which means that core rights such as data protection are taken on additional meaning in a moment of public health crisis.

EU Internal Market Commissioner Thierry Breton said in a statement: “Digital technologies, mobile applications and mobility data have tremendous potential to understand the spread of the virus and respond effectively. With this recommendation we are launching a European coordinated approach to using such apps and data without compromising our EU data protection rules and avoiding fragmentation of the internal market. Europe is stronger when it acts together. "

“Europe's data protection regulations are the strictest in the world and they are also suitable for this crisis and provide exceptions and flexibility. We are working closely with the data protection authorities and will shortly be issuing guidelines on the effects on data protection, ”added Justice Commissioner Didier Reynders in a further justification. “We all have to work together now to overcome this unprecedented crisis. The Commission supports Member States in their efforts to fight the virus, and we will continue to do so when it comes to an exit strategy and recovery. In all of this, we will continue to ensure full respect for the fundamental rights of Europeans. "

Since Europe quickly followed China to become a secondary epicenter for the SARS-CoV-2 virus, governments, institutions and the private sector have rushed to collect data and technology to track the virus's spread and policies provide answers. The Commission itself has relied on telecommunications companies to provide anonymized and aggregated user location data for COVID-19 tracking purposes.

Some individual Member States have gone further and asked technology companies to ask directly for resources and / or data without the public being aware of exactly what is being provided. Some governments have even launched apps that use location-level tracking to enforce quarantine measures.

Several EU countries also have contacts that track apps – inspired by Singapore's TraceTogether app, which uses Bluetooth proximity as a proxy for the risk of infection.

With so many digital activities – and enormous economic and social pressure for a "coronavirus correction" – there are clear risks to privacy and civil liberties. Governments, research institutes and the private sector are all mobilizing to collect health-related data and track people's locations like never before against the background of an urgent public health emergency.

The Commission today warned that some of the measures are being taken by certain countries (not mentioned) – for example tracking people; the use of technology to assess a person's health risk; and the centralization of sensitive data – the risk of putting pressure on EU fundamental rights and freedoms.

His recommendation emphasizes that any restriction of rights must be justified, proportionate and temporary.

Such restrictions should remain "strictly limited to what is needed to combat the crisis" and "without proper justification" after the end of the COVID 19 emergency, he adds.

It is not alone to express such concerns.

Bottom-up efforts have been made in recent days by EU research institutions to standardize an approach to protecting privacy when tracking coronavirus contacts.

A coalition of EU technologists and scientists, led by institutions in Germany, Switzerland and France, is pushing for a shared approach that they hope will be integrated into such apps to limit risk. You called the effort: PEPP-PT (Pan-European Privacy-Preserving Proximity Tracing).

Another group of data protection experts, however, is pushing for a decentralized method to do the same (DP-3T). She argues that it fits the EU data protection model better, since no pseudonymized IDs have to be centralized on a server. Instead, the storage of contacts and the processing of the individual risk of infection would be decentralized – carried out locally on the device of the user – which would reduce the risk of such a system for the surveillance of citizens being implemented at the state level.

Although supporters of this protocol accept, not all risks are cleared. with the potential for tech-savvy hackers to intercept the pseudonymized IDs of infected people when, for example, they are sent to devices for local processing. (While health authorities may be used to the concept of centralizing data for backup rather than radically distributing it.)

Earlier this week one of the technicians involved in the PEPP-PT project told us that both approaches – central and decentralized – should be supported to maximize international acceptance and give developers the opportunity to choose their preferred infrastructure.

However, questions remain to achieve interoperability between different models.

According to its recommendation, the Commission seems to prefer a decentralized model – the closest one fit the legal framework of the EU.

A section of his recommendation paper on privacy and data protection for "mobile warning and prevention applications COVID-19" also includes a preference for "protective measures to ensure respect for fundamental rights and to prevent stigmatization" – and for "the least intrusive." and yet effective dimensions ".

The Commission recommendation also stresses the importance of keeping the public informed.

"Transparency, clear and regular communication, as well as consideration of the contributions of the most affected people and communities, will be essential to ensure public confidence in fighting the COVID 19 crisis," she warns.

The Commission proposes a common toolbox to be developed with EU Member States to promote a legal, coordinated and common approach for smartphone apps to track COVID-19 infections will consist of (highlighting its):

Specifications to the Effectiveness of mobile information, Warning and tracking applications from a medical and technical perspective;

Measures too Avoid spreading incompatible applications, Support requirements for interoperability and promotion of common solutions;

Governance mechanisms to be used by health authorities and in collaboration with the European Center for Disease Control;

the Identify best practices and mechanisms to exchange information on how the applications work; and

Data exchange with relevant epidemiological public bodies, including aggregated data to ECDC.

It also means that guidelines will be given to Member States specifically covering data protection and privacy implications – another clear signal of concern.

"The Commission is in close contact with the European Data Protection Board (EDPB) to get an overview of the processing of personal data at national level in the context of the coronavirus crisis," she added.

Yesterday, after a plenary session of the EU Data Monitoring Board, the EDPB announced that it had assigned expert sub-groups to work on Development of guidelines on key aspects of data processing in the fight against COVID-19 – also for Geolocation and other tracking tools related to the COVID 19 outbreak, with the sub-group of technology experts leading the work.

While a subset of compliance, e-government and health experts are also currently working on guidelines for the processing of health data for research purposes in the coronavirus context.

These are the two areas that, according to the EDPB, are currently a priority and are putting the planned guidance for teleworking tools and practices on hold for the time being during the current crisis.

"I firmly believe that data protection and public health go hand in hand," said Andrea Jelinek, chairman of the EDPB, in a statement: "The EDPB will take action on these issues as soon as possible to ensure that the technology is available. " used responsibly to support and hopefully win the fight against the corona pandemic. "

The Commission also wants a common approach to modeling and predicting the prevalence of COVID-19 – and says that the toolbox will focus on developing it using "anonymous and aggregated mobile location data" (like that from EU operators) was provided).

"The aim is to analyze mobility patterns, including the effects of inclusion measures on the intensity of contacts and thus on the risk of contamination," she writes. "This will be an important and proportionate input for tools that model the spread of the virus and provide insight into the development of strategies to reopen societies."

“The Commission launched the discussion with mobile operators on March 23, 2020 with the aim of covering all Member States. The data is completely anonymized and transmitted to the Joint Research Center for processing and modeling. It will not be shared with third parties and will only be stored for as long as the crisis lasts, ”he adds.

The Commission's efforts to coordinate technical work on coronavirus across the EU have been welcomed by data protection and security experts.

Michael Veale, a supporter of the decentralized protocol for tracing COVID-19 contacts, told us: “It is great that the Commission recommends decentralization as a core principle for information systems to combat COVID-19. As our DP-3T protocol shows, creating a centralized database is a completely unnecessary and removable part of Bluetooth contact tracking. "

"We hope to be able to put code online next week to review and give feedback – completely open source, of course," added Veale. “We have already received great public feedback on the protocol, which we are revising against this backdrop to make it more private and secure. Centralized systems that are being developed in both Europe and Germany have not released their protocols, leaving code behind – maybe they are afraid of what people will find? "

Lukasz Olejnik, an EU-based cybersecurity and privacy research consultant, also welcomed the Commission's intervention and said: “A coordinated approach can certainly be easier to build trust. We should prefer data protection approaches and make it clear that we are in a crisis situation. Such a crisis system should be dismantled and it looks as if the recommendations recognize it. It's good."

The Commission intends to develop the toolbox for a Europe-wide approach to COVID-19 mobile applications, to be developed by April 15th.

It also wants Member States to report on measures taken in this area by 31 May and to make their measures available to other Member States and the Commission for peer review.

She added that she will assess progress and will publish regular reports from June 2020 and throughout the crisis recommending action and / or expiry of measures that are no longer required.

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