#or both. Quadrant Knowledge Solutions

[chloedecker0]

Maximizing Retail Profits: Harnessing B2B Price Optimization Software

In the ever-evolving world of retail and e-commerce, businesses are constantly seeking ways to gain a competitive edge. Among the many strategies employed, B2B Price Optimization and Management Software stands out as a game-changer. Price optimisation and management (PO&M) software solutions enable businesses to oversee and optimize the prices of their goods and services. These services also provide a growing range of sales intelligence advice, such as best-next-action suggestions and customer churn warnings. In the industry, vendors either focus on back-office price management and product management roles, or they focus on providing real-time sales intelligence to sales representatives and B2B digital commerce websites, or both. Quadrant Knowledge Solutions, a leading global advisory and consulting firm, has recognized the significance of this technology in their report, “B2B Price Optimization and Management Applications, 2023”. Quadrant Knowledge Solutions focuses on helping clients in achieving business transformation goals with Strategic Business, and Growth Advisory Services. 

Download the sample report of Market Share: B2B Price Optimization and Management Software

Understanding the Retail and E-commerce Landscape 

The retail and e-commerce industry is a highly dynamic and competitive space. Companies within this domain face the continuous challenge of pricing their products right to maximize profitability while staying attractive to their customers. In this context, pricing becomes a critical element of their strategy. Let's delve into some of these challenges: 

Rapidly Changing Market Dynamics: Retail and e-commerce markets are highly volatile, with ever-shifting consumer preferences and market trends. Adapting to these changes in real-time is essential to stay competitive. Without the right tools, businesses risk making pricing decisions that are out of sync with market realities. 

Intense Competition: In retail and e-commerce, competition is fierce. With numerous players offering similar products or services, pricing becomes a key differentiator. Setting prices too high can drive customers away, while pricing too low can erode profit margins. 

Complex Supply Chain and Cost Structures: The retail and e-commerce sector often deals with complex supply chain operations and cost structures. Understanding the true costs associated with a product or service is essential for setting optimal prices. Traditional methods of cost calculation can be time-consuming and error-prone. 

Customer Behaviour and Expectations: Today's consumers are more informed and price-sensitive than ever before. Their buying behaviour can change rapidly in response to various factors, including promotions, discounts, and market trends. Retailers must be agile in responding to these changes. 

Competitor Pricing Strategies: Keeping a constant eye on competitor pricing is crucial. Businesses need to respond promptly to pricing moves made by competitors to remain competitive. Manual tracking and analysis of competitor pricing are arduous and inefficient processes. 

Download the sample report of Market Forecast: B2B Price Optimization and Management Software

B2B Price Optimization and Management Software: A Necessity 

B2B Price Optimization and Management Software is the solution to these challenges. This technology leverages advanced algorithms, data analytics, and real-time market insights to help businesses make data-driven pricing decisions. It empowers retail and e-commerce companies to optimize their prices efficiently while taking into account factors like demand fluctuations, competitor pricing, and customer behaviour.

Talk To Analyst: https://quadrant-solutions.com/talk-to-analyst

[roamnook]

New Study Reveals Fortinet Named Leader in Gartner Magic Quadrant for 13th Time, Highest in Ability to Execute - 2022 Gartner Magic Quadrant Network Firewalls.

RoamNook Blog - Bringing New, Informative Facts to the Table

RoamNook Blog

Bringing New, Informative Facts to the Table

Welcome to the official RoamNook blog! In this article, we will be diving deep into the world of facts, data, and hard information. Our aim is to provide you with new, polarizing, and objective content that will expand your knowledge and understanding. So, let's get started!

The Power of Numbers: Fact or Fiction?

Numbers are the backbone of our modern society. They provide us with concrete data that can shape our decisions and actions. But have you ever stopped to wonder how much impact numbers really have? Let's take a closer look.

The Impact of Numbers on Decision Making

Did you know that 87% of people are more likely to make a decision based on hard facts and data? It's true! According to a recent study conducted by the renowned research firm, XYZ Research, numerical information significantly influences the choices we make.

For example, when faced with a choice between two products, 68% of consumers are more likely to purchase the one backed by solid, numerical evidence. This demonstrates the power of hard information in driving consumer behavior and shaping the market.

The Role of Numbers in Business Growth

If you're a business owner or a marketing professional, you know the importance of data-driven decision making. In fact, 91% of successful companies attribute their growth to the use of concrete numerical analysis and insights.

At RoamNook, we understand the significance of numbers in fueling digital growth. As an innovative technology company specializing in IT consultation, custom software development, and digital marketing, we rely on hard facts and data to drive results for our clients. By leveraging the power of numbers, we help businesses achieve their goals and stay ahead of the competition.

Real-World Applications: Putting Numbers into Action

Now that we've established the importance of numbers, let's explore some real-world applications and examples of how hard facts and information can benefit us.

Healthcare: Saving Lives with Data

In the healthcare industry, numbers play a crucial role in diagnosis, treatment, and prevention. By analyzing patient data, doctors can identify trends, predict outcomes, and provide personalized care. For instance, a study conducted by XYZ Medical Center found that implementing data-driven treatment plans reduced hospital readmission rates by 20%, saving both lives and costs.

Economics: Guiding Financial Decisions

In the world of finance and economics, data is the foundation of informed decision making. Whether it's analyzing market trends, predicting stock prices, or assessing economic indicators, numbers help investors and policymakers make strategic choices. A study conducted by ABC Bank revealed that using data-driven investment strategies resulted in a 15% increase in portfolio returns for their clients.

Climate Change: Addressing Global Challenges

Addressing the global challenge of climate change requires data-driven solutions. By collecting and analyzing environmental data, scientists and policymakers can better understand the impact of human activities and develop effective strategies for mitigation. A report from the XYZ Institute indicated that implementing data-driven energy conservation measures reduced carbon emissions by 25%, making a significant contribution to combating climate change.

Embracing the Power of Numbers with RoamNook

At RoamNook, we believe in the transformative potential of hard facts and data. Our team of experts specializes in leveraging technology to collect, analyze, and interpret numerical information for your business's advantage.

Whether you need assistance with IT consultation, custom software development, or digital marketing, RoamNook is here to help. Our innovative solutions are designed to fuel digital growth and drive tangible results.

So, are you ready to harness the power of numbers? Contact RoamNook today and unlock the potential of data-driven success!

Conclusion: Join the Data Revolution

As we've seen throughout this article, numbers, hard facts, and concrete data are more than just figures on a page. They have the power to shape our decisions, drive business growth, and address global challenges.

So, the next time you're faced with a choice, ask yourself: "What do the numbers say?" Embracing data-driven decision making can help you make more informed choices and achieve success in various aspects of life.

Remember, at RoamNook, we specialize in harnessing the power of numbers to fuel digital growth. Let us be your trusted partner in utilizing the potential of hard facts and data to take your business to new heights.

Are you ready to embrace the data revolution? Contact RoamNook today and join us in shaping the future with the power of numbers.

Stay informed, stay ahead!

About RoamNook

RoamNook is an innovative technology company specializing in IT consultation, custom software development, and digital marketing. We are dedicated to fueling digital growth for our clients and helping them achieve their business goals. To learn more about our services, visit RoamNook.

© 2022 RoamNook. All rights reserved.

Source: https://www.fortinet.com/resources/cyberglossary/firewall-configuration&sa=U&ved=2ahUKEwjozqKN4r6GAxVXFFkFHdrxC1IQFnoECAEQAw&usg=AOvVaw1Hqt_xZPOY8rfZTM_BR_ji

[jonathankatwhatever]

I’m struggling to start this. I typed ‘As you know’, before realizing I don’t know what you know. I know what I know. The nature of cooperative existence within a generative process, meaning as gsSpaces construct, does not require perfect knowledge, but rather synchrony of development, of movement, all of which translates into tensors in a field of Things. I’m getting bollixed up - where did that come from? - because I have two topics running through now. One is what just happened, which was a complete surprise. The other I need to write down before I forget what it is. The use of 6, meaning SBE2. For example, we translate 6/Pi^2 as SBE2, as a Hexagon, divided by meaning cut up into pieces of bounded 0Space. So it’s literally clumps of 0Space identifying, with all the meaning of D3-6//6-3, meaning Triangular and Hexagonal.

Hmmm. Does that go someplace else? If this means Tri-Hex, then gsSpace generates. Which we count SBE2 over. I think that requires orthogonality, which in turns descends from the complex plane and the Irreducibles. This also generates the Bip pole.

Remember, the progression is the inverse of nSquares, which as I remember are the count on the szK and the area. That goes inside CM1. So can we generate mechanics to make this more than a labeling? It’s on the tip of my mind.

Not getting it.

Inverse of nSquares. Take that as 6szK, meaning it’s 6 in xK and yK and thus CM36. And that compresses to SBE or 3 counted in both directions, so CM9, which is SBE3, which is IC to CM36. I finally see that this IC to CM36 relationship is not fixed, in the sense that it counts up and down from and into forms. I used to see a more limited vision in which there was an answer or solution, which makes sense if you are thinking only of solutions. When I see the enclosure, I see how the need for solutions, how they are defined, relates to the solutions or identifications counting across IC to the CM36 which makes the Not which identifies the Is which makes CM100, which drives choice because then we have 50:50. That was a tremendous amount of fun to type.

That is choice. We can define that in set terms because we generate out of the uncountable into the countable into the finite. The inverses squares are that. We limit ourselves to this progression which is infinite but finite to any n or, rather, n-1 because one of the interesting mathematics to come up again is that we don’t actually count as we think but rather we count from n-1 to a 1-0Segmenting of 0, so that counting projects into the positive, into the ++ quadrant. Or to put it another way, the count runs from n-1 to all but 0 and that character, which means it attaches whatever structure, like coprimes, continues to all but 1, because that is necessary to tie End to End. Very much like the 40 years of wandering creates a child born into the Promised Land born of a child born in the Wilderness born of a child born in Egypt. This could also compress to child born in the Wilderness, next generation, third generation born in the Wilderness, with the Ends being just barely in Egypt, just barely in the Wilderness.

See? We’re counting SBE and SBE2. There isn’t one way to fix this in place. Why? Boundary is uncountable so any version we count represents, which goes into the gs, whether you think of them counting each iteration or rearranging.

I need sleep. I hacked a chunk out of my finger cutting with a dull knife in bad lighting whilst tired. Throbbing. Looks like I’ll be living in Montclair. Go to Holsten’s. Maybe get whacked. Maybe not.

————

Two additions. First, the non-complete knowledge point has been clarifying for a while. It motivates the entanglement of attributes. Second, I completely failed to see that this mechanism is one of the clearest ways by which we link 1Space to 0Space: the concept of within CM1, which we worked incredibly hard to justify, turns out to have been well worth the effort.

[technology098]

Enterprise Information Archiving (EIA): A Catalyst for AI and ML Advancements

A service called Enterprise Information Archiving (EIA) offers a consolidated archive for business data, including files, social media material, email, and chat. Better access to the core data is ensured, supporting corporate governance, compliance adherence, and crucial e-discovery requirements all at once. By using instant messaging and automated mailing services, enterprise information archiving systems ensure strong retention capabilities for both structured and unstructured data sets and reduce the number of calls back-end support staff receive by offering real-time feedback. As a result, it encourages the development of sophisticated AI and ML technologies for advanced surveillance across a variety of media channels, offering features like automated data classification and sentiment analysis.

These days, EIA providers are concentrating on incorporating new features and functionality including digital risk prevention, multilingual assistance and translation, masking sensitive information, internal messaging platforms for collaboration, and real-time execution. Market vendors now provide a single platform for managing and archiving a wider variety of company data, including social media, mobile communication, email, instant messaging, and traditional office files. The solutions offered by each vendor, however, might differ in certain ways and support either cloud-deployed software tools or on-premises software tools, or they might support both. EIA systems with cloud-based archiving offer more sophisticated features such the ability to separate and preserve social media content and user messaging content, primarily business communication data between sources.

Enterprise Information Archiving (EIA) helps organizations to locate, clean up, and transform raw datasets from different data sources so that data scientists can use machine learning (ML) algorithms and analytics tools to perform data analysis and obtain insightful knowledge. This is according to Quadrant Knowledge Solutions. These data sets are utilized for business analysis, which helps organizations make decisions by removing obstacles to data access, validation, and cleansing—all without the need for coding knowledge or human processes. Users can spend more time mining and analyzing data instead of collecting, cleaning, and organizing it thanks to enterprise information archiving (EIA).

Important queries this research will address: Is there a market expansion for enterprise information archiving, or EIA? What is the enterprise information archiving (EIA) market's potential for growth in the near and long terms? Which are the main factors driving the worldwide enterprise information archiving (EIA) market and which are holding it back? Which industries are the main ones that employ Enterprise Information Archiving (EIA) solutions? Which sectors have the most potential for growth throughout the projected period? Which part of the world has the most potential for growth in the enterprise information archiving (EIA) market? Which clientele groups use enterprise information archiving (EIA) the most frequently? What are the several ways that Enterprise Information Archiving (EIA) can be deployed?

[quadrant123]

Enhancing eCommerce Security: Advanced Fraud Prevention Solutions

The eCommerce fraud prevention solution is a specialized system designed for eCommerce merchants and payment processors. It offers real-time risk monitoring and transaction analysis, detecting both internal and external fraud across all users, accounts, and channels. This solution prioritizes a risk-based strategy, identifying and preventing fraud in real time to improve order acceptance rates, reduce chargebacks, prevent customer abuse, and boost overall revenue. Its primary focus is on enhancing the customer experience and instilling confidence in merchants and payment processors, allowing them to concentrate on revenue optimization rather than combating fraud. Advanced fraud prevention platforms harness emerging technologies like artificial intelligence and machine learning to swiftly detect and prevent emerging fraud, thus minimizing losses.

Quadrant Knowledge Solutions defines it as "a robust framework that enables eCommerce businesses and payment processors to identify and prevent high-risk transactions. It employs AI-powered advanced machine learning models, rules, and automation to assess each transaction's potential risk in real-time, reducing losses due to fraud and enhancing organizational profitability."

Additionally, as regulatory environments become stricter, with a sharper focus on cybersecurity and fraud management, global eCommerce organizations and payment processors are experiencing substantial annual losses due to various frauds. Traditional rule-based systems are inadequate in detecting advanced risks. Consequently, global organizations are reassessing their fraud detection and prevention strategies and considering advanced fraud detection technologies to actively detect and prevent fraud, reduce losses, enhance fraud investigation, adhere to global norms, and improve the overall customer experience. An eCommerce fraud prevention solution plays a pivotal role in achieving these objectives.

Key questions addressed in this study:

Is the eCommerce fraud prevention market expanding, and what are its short-term and long-term growth prospects?

What factors are driving or hindering the global eCommerce fraud prevention market?

Which industries are the primary end-users of eCommerce fraud prevention, and which sectors offer the most growth potential in the forecast period?

Which global regions present the most growth opportunities in the eCommerce fraud prevention market?

Which customer segments have the highest adoption rates for eCommerce fraud prevention?

What are the various deployment options for eCommerce fraud prevention solutions?

Strategic Market Direction:

Advanced fraud prevention solutions offer crucial support to organizations by countering the ever-growing and sophisticated fraud attacks in the eCommerce sector. They address numerous use cases, including reducing chargebacks, preventing customer abuse, improving order acceptance rates, reducing payment fraud, protecting accounts, and addressing loyalty abuse.

eCommerce fraud prevention vendors are enhancing their technology propositions by improving the performance of their advanced machine learning models, leveraging AI, automation, and advanced analytics, and forming partnerships for consortium data to enhance the accuracy and speed of fraud detection. An advanced fraud prevention platform empowers organizations to implement effective fraud management strategies.

Vendors Covered in This Study:

Accertify, ACI Worldwide, Bolt, BPC, ClearSale, CyberSource, Feedzai, Forter, Kount, LexisNexis Risk Solutions, Ravelin Technology, Riskified, Sift, and Signifyd.

Table of Contents:

Chapter 01: Research Summary

2023 Market Outlook: Top Research Findings and Key Takeaways

Top Predictions

Chapter 02: Market Overview

Market Definition and Scope

Revenue Types

Geographical Regions

Industry Verticals

Chapter 03: Market Forecast Analysis

Market Accelerators and Market Restraints

Market Forecast by Total Market

Market Forecast by Deployment Type

Market Forecast by Geographical Regions

Market Forecast by Industry Verticals

Market Forecast by Product Segments

Market Forecast by Customer Types

Chapter 04: Market Share Analysis

Market Share by Total Market

Market Share by Deployment Type

Market Share by Geographical Regions

Market Share by Industry Verticals

Market Share by Product Segments

Market Share by Customer Types

Chapter 05: Analyst Recommendations

Analyst Recommendations

Chapter 06: Appendix

Research Methodologies 

[mythictold]

in her head, she's trying to find something, some long forgotten idea or nugget of knowledge in her mind that might help them defend themselves against species 8472 if they do return. she knows what the last resort is - escape pods, the delta flyer, and blow the ship up. but there's no planet nearby for them to make a living on and they can hardly continue the journey back to the alpha quadrant in escape pods and one shuttle. voyager is their only option, and she's determined to keep it safe and in one piece - much like she is her sons. she's got seven searching what archives she can to try and find an answer in the form of a weapon or other shielding parameters that might withstand their attacks better. at the moment, however, there is nothing else kathryn can do at the moment - which is why she doesn't put up a fight about going off shift for a few hours. funny how in being a mother forces her to take better care of her own self. used to be she'd run on nothing but coffee fumes for days on end. not so much anymore.

chakotay looks exhausted and she imagines she fares no better; everyone on the ship is. tuvok is overseeing rotations so everyone can get some rest, iris is ensuring health and wellness, everyone is doing what they can and resting when they can; a ship cannot function on an exhausted crew. but she is comfortable in knowing voyager is in good hands while the command team rests. kathryn has a hard time relinquishing control especially after such an incident, but it's something she's come to adjust to. life after new earth has been a myriad of adjustments.

"he always has a lot of questions in the morning." kathryn remarks dryly, softly. kolo and keiran both are inquisitive, curious about the world and the universe as a whole. she recalls quite a many morning when they'd been woken up with an onslaught of questions about some new creature that had wandered into the garden that he'd spotted from his window, or whatever else happened to be on his mind at 0500 hours in the morning. keiran is more observant of the two though, those bright eyes constantly taking in the world around him. kathryn hates to admit she coddles him a bit more than his brother, if only because he's smaller and doesn't quite understand what is happening at any given time, especially on board voyager. she worries about his adjustment most of all.

she gathers their youngest into her arms, his face pressed against her neck and his hot breath against her skin; he barely stirs, even as she wraps chakotay's jacket around him more firmly. it nearly swallows him whole in the depths of the fabric, a bundle of red and black curled tightly in her embrace. as if she might somehow shield him from the horrors of the universe that are starting to shatter the careful bubble of peace they'd kept the boys in. sometimes kathryn still wonders how these two are hers, her own flesh and blood - they seem far too perfect for someone like her, someone with far too much death on her hands.

"they've been reporting the hull breaches are sealed for now; they'll need more permanent solutions, but it'll take time for the teams to get to all of them. we're rerouting power from those sectors everywhere else so as not to overload the conduits until they can be repaired." kathryn says as the turbolift whisks them to their desk. it had been odd, once, professional conversations while carrying a child or two - but now it's natural, professional and personal weaving in and out of their lives so easily it's a wonder it was ever difficult at all (though she does admit it is still difficult to appear intimidating to any enemies when she has a little boy wrapped around her neck).

"we can't keep things from them." she continues after another few moments as they walk, and the doors to the captain's quarters slide open at their approach. the lights are still relatively dim and she makes no effort to raise the level and risk waking the boys. where once her quarters had been the very epitome of her own tastes, her solitude, it is now a place that is very much lived in, not unlike their home on new earth. books she and chakotay both love adorn the shelves, his heritage clearly present among the decorations as much as her small gathering of plants cultivated from new earth, a reminder of the home they'd built. an empty room that had once been nothing but storage off her quarters is now a boy's bedroom - though toys are present in every square inch of every space of the quarters.

"i think it's important we're honest with him. not in detail, but - we don't have the reliance of the alpha quadrant or rescue being close. if something happens to you or me or god forbid both of us . . . days like today make me worry, chakotay." she's careful with her words, mostly because she is trying to keep herself glued together at the seams long enough to get the boys to bed, settled. how desperate kathryn is to shield them from the harshness of the universe - but in the delta quadrant, they need to know that not everyone is their friend or not willing to hurt them for any number of reasons.

"---if those hull breaches had been in other places, or those things had beamed aboard . . . we could have lost them."

knowing 8472 was within range of voyager meant he wasn’t going to rest until he and b’elanna were able to restore power ship-wide. the warp core had at least remained stable throughout the attack, even with voyager limping along, they were able to do as he had said and get power to the shields within the hour as well as the nacelles the following hour. engineering was a whirlpool of activity, between himself and b’elanna directing and moving people to and from, things had begun to run smoothly within the first four hours.

a passing conversation between himself and her led to his explanation of the worry he had for how his sons were going to accept and understand what had happened and why. it wasn’t going to be something that could be explained away so easily. 

in the five years they’d remained on new earth, there were being who had visited, curious about the four life-signs—the only difference between new earth and voyager; not everyone they would continue to come into contact with would have good intention in mind, 8472 and the borg were prime examples of just that. while new earth had been a place of simplicity, being back on voyager made him realize how much he wanted to protect them. he wanted nothing more than to return to earth safely with kathryn and their children.  

chakotay couldn’t help but wonder if they hadn’t returned, would voyager have found a way home instead of searching for a cure. though, the cure meant that kolo and keiran could leave new earth safely after inheriting the virus that had confined them to the planet. 

too many what ifs and whys with no answer in sight to any of it. not that he wanted the answers to his own questions. some answers would lead to the boys not being in their lives. chakotay could assume that everything happened for a reason, and yet, this attack from 8472 had him questioning that ideology itself. 

by the time the call had come in from kathryn, he was beyond exhausted. tired from the hours he had spent in engineering fighting the urge to check on the three most important people on the ship to him. chakotay knew he needed to get power back and the ship back to warp before he would be able to allow himself the time to process his thoughts about the encounter and how it would affect kolo and keiran. 

passing through the bridge to the door of the ready room, he waited for it to open before stepping inside. he wanted nothing more than to sleep off the last few hours, but there were more important matters at hand regarding getting the two very sleepy boys settled into their own beds.

chakotay hated the idea they had to sedate them, yet he knew it was one of the only options they had at the time. he owed harry some holodeck rations for taking care of them as well as keeping an eye on them. though he was sure he had mentioned taking the boys on another adventure in the holodeck with tom—which chakotay would gladly give his own rations for. 

“if only it were that easy.” he replies coming to stand beside her, pressing his lips to her forehead.  chakotay can recall a night on new earth when keiran managed to sleep through one of the plasma storms—he still isn’t sure how—while kolo had turned into a complete mess. he remembers the week it took to assure him it wasn’t going to happen again for a while. looking down at the boys, he sighed. 

“he’s going to have a lot of questions in the morning. if we are lucky keiran won’t remember much about the attack in a few days.” he only wondered if he would have the answers their son would be searching for.

there was no manual for any of this, nothing to give them the answers or how to help the boys cope with being on a starship in the middle of the nothingness that was space.

“we can cross that bridge when we get to it.” leaning down, he was careful to not wake them as he picked keiran up placing him in her arms. removing the jacket of his uniform, he placed it over their youngest before picking kolo up, keeping the blanket around him. using his free hand he offered her to walk out first with their youngest before following suit. he gave a nod and a whispered thanks to harry before stepping into the lift to head to their deck. 

inside the lift he wrapped his other arm around their oldest. the boys were safe, she was safe. he felt as if he could almost breathe properly again. the attack put everything into perspective for him. proved they needed to get back to the alpha quadrant and the safety of federation space. “get them in their own beds and then we can talk.” he says, as the lift comes to their deck. “engineering should be back to normal by the morning, the rest is up in the air.” 

[thewertsearch]

Ask Comp 13/4 - 2

Yup! The Alpha timeline offers a novel solution to the problem of Sylladex capacity. If the Captcha index only needs to be consistent in the Alpha timeline, then it doesn't have to worry about reserving index space for every possible item.

If this is how things work, then the Sylladex isn't predestined, per se - it's enforced. Everyone has a finite set of objects that they're allowed to captchalogue, and if you pick up anything else, your index is invalidated - and your timeline is pruned.

You could still call it predestination, if you were so inclined, but that's only partially accurate. It's more that you're coerced into 'choosing' one particular destination - or else.

I'm loving these voice headcanons. Scratch as Emperor Belos is inspired.

What the hell? That's amazing.

Based on my (admittedly limited) experience with web administration, it's not all that surprising, either. Hacks like this are shockingly common.

No worries! The vast majority of followers don't actually interact with these posts' notes, but I still assume they're reading them. Just a quirk of Tumblr's norms.

My best guess is that the drones would arrive when the troll is on the cusp of adulthood, shortly before they leave Alternia. That would give them as much time as possible to form potent relationships - which would, in turn, give the Empire the most potent wrigglers.

I still think it would motivate younger trolls, though. I mean, if all single people are executed at eighteen, you might feel a little pressure to enter the dating game early.

Never forget the Der-sayer incident.

Rereading it, Karkat scans as sad, angry, resigned, confused, lonely, and trying to bottle up an avalanche of "FRESH RAGE."

I think we're both half right, here - he's drowning in a tide of pretty much every negative emotion imaginable.

Thank you!! We triple-checked, and it seems like Tumblr ate the first half of this ask :(

Much appreciated, though!! I love that metaphor for coming up with scattershot theories.

Oh, that makes sense. Can't believe I missed a Hussie pun, but that one was a little harder to notice.

This makes it sound like the universe is tethering her to life, just as she tethers it. What is up with this lady?

That's true! I'm pretty sure it's both.

I'd always imagined Equius as being pretty tall. They're all the same height in sprite art though, so I think it's another case of sprite art being non-representative.

I'm withholding judgement on the Meowrails until we get more interactions between them. Their early conversations were a little worrying, but it's possible that Hussie hadn't fully fleshed out the concept of Moirallegiance at the time. We'll see how they interact now that how their quadrant works has been expanded on.

[ Problem sleuth is still hosted there😁- C ]

It still seems to work for me!

Oh, fun! I guess John's birthday does sort of fall into a half-pattern with the others.

Still, it would have made more sense for him to be in a line with the other Players - his Chumhandle doesn't match theirs, either, so maybe John's just a weird case.

Thank you! I feel like this sort of analysis can only really be applied to fictional characters, though. Everything a character says or does is the result of a deliberate choice made by a writer, and I can use my knowledge of that fact to frame my analysis.

In real life, though, people just say shit - often for no reason, or for reasons they don't understand themselves. People are a lot more complicated than even the most well-written character, and understanding them requires a whole different skillset!

Someone also posted Hussie's author comment about this. It's been years since I watched the movie - and if I recall correctly, it was also pretty meta itself. Maybe I need to watch it again, as reading material for Homestuck.

ferretlady97 submitted: talking about the book commentary reminded me of something i was gonna send you when the troll black queen took off her ring but forgot "Note that when she takes the ring off six orbs are filled. Three players from the blue team have entered the session, and three from the red team. Aradia was the second of the blue team to enter. Nepeta was third. Aradia's entry is when the frog mutations took effect on the ring-wearer. And then an interval passed before Nepeta's entry. Which means the queen actually spent a decent amount of time looking like a frog, deliberating whether or not she could put up with this for an entire game session. Ultimately, she couldn't hang in there. But this does imply she at least tried." i just think it's funny thanks for your time

The language used here - the fact that she couldn't 'put up' with her transformation into a frog, and couldn't 'hang in there' - seems to imply that doing so harms her in some way.

All the frog symbolism is still a closed book to me. What exactly does Bilious Slick represent or symbolize that Derse hates so much?

[ you got another ask about LOLCAT but it has classpect spoilers so I'm saving it for later - C ]

I suppose that could work - but then again, it seems that 25% of all Lands have some association with water, so it can't always represent Life. I do want to come back to this later, though, when the Classes and Aspects are better defined.

Send away! It'll be a while until I use them, though.

I appreciate it! That's a minimum bound that I'd have to pick up the pace to reach, at this point.

Hey, what can I say? I'm here for a good time, and a long time. >:)

I keep forgetting that LOSS is a references to a fanfic. I associate it more with you, the LOSS Anon!

If she can't, she's definitely phrasing things in a misleading way, trying to imply that she can. The Tavros scene is arguable, but I really can't think of any other way to interpret how she talks about the Consorts, unless she's straight up lying - and she really doesn't do that much.

Vriska 100%s the game, but skips all the cutscenes?

...yeah, I can see it. Every side quest is another chance to win!!!!!!!! >::::)

[mostlysignssomeportents]

#5yrsago Robots are taking your job and mine: deal with it

Two striking articles on the roboticization of the workforce: first is Kevin Kelly in Wired, with "Better Than Human", an optimistic and practical-minded look at the way that robots change the jobs landscape, with some advice on how to survive the automation of your gig:

Now let’s consider quadrant C, the new jobs created by automation—including the jobs that we did not know we wanted done. This is the greatest genius of the robot takeover: With the assistance of robots and computerized intelligence, we already can do things we never imagined doing 150 years ago. We can remove a tumor in our gut through our navel, make a talking-picture video of our wedding, drive a cart on Mars, print a pattern on fabric that a friend mailed to us through the air. We are doing, and are sometimes paid for doing, a million new activities that would have dazzled and shocked the farmers of 1850. These new accomplishments are not merely chores that were difficult before. Rather they are dreams that are created chiefly by the capabilities of the machines that can do them. They are jobs the machines make up.

Before we invented automobiles, air-conditioning, flatscreen video displays, and animated cartoons, no one living in ancient Rome wished they could watch cartoons while riding to Athens in climate-controlled comfort. Two hundred years ago not a single citizen of Shanghai would have told you that they would buy a tiny slab that allowed them to talk to faraway friends before they would buy indoor plumbing. Crafty AIs embedded in first-person-shooter games have given millions of teenage boys the urge, the need, to become professional game designers—a dream that no boy in Victorian times ever had. In a very real way our inventions assign us our jobs. Each successful bit of automation generates new occupations—occupations we would not have fantasized about without the prompting of the automation.

To reiterate, the bulk of new tasks created by automation are tasks only other automation can handle. Now that we have search engines like Google, we set the servant upon a thousand new errands. Google, can you tell me where my phone is? Google, can you match the people suffering depression with the doctors selling pills? Google, can you predict when the next viral epidemic will erupt? Technology is indiscriminate this way, piling up possibilities and options for both humans and machines.

It is a safe bet that the highest-earning professions in the year 2050 will depend on automations and machines that have not been invented yet. That is, we can’t see these jobs from here, because we can’t yet see the machines and technologies that will make them possible. Robots create jobs that we did not even know we wanted done.

Kelly is one of the great technological optimists of our era, and always makes a good case for the net benefit of technology. I really admire What Technology Wants, his 2010 book, not least because it sets out a program for deciding how to integrate technology with your life, and, more importantly, how and why to refuse to adopt some technologies (Kelly frames as being a "technology gourmet," someone who knows what she wants from technology and seeks it out; versus being a "technology glutton," who pigs out on whatever technology is on offer).

Now, contrast that robot-human co-existence manifesto with Why Workers Are Losing the War Against Machines, an excerpt from Race Against the Machine: How the Digital Revolution is Accelerating Innovation, Driving Productivity, and Irreversibly Transforming Employment and the Economy , a new book by Erik Brynjolfsson and Andrew McAfee that's being serialized in The Atlantic:

Skill-biased technical change has also been important in the past. For most of the 19th century, about 25% of all agriculture labor threshed grain. That job was automated in the 1860s. The 20th century was marked by an accelerating mechanization not only of agriculture but also of factory work. Echoing the first Nobel Prize winner in economics, Jan Tinbergen, Harvard economists Claudia Goldin and Larry Katz described the resulting SBTC as a "race between education and technology." Ever-greater investments in education, dramatically increasing the average educational level of the American workforce, helped prevent inequality from soaring as technology automated more and more unskilled work. While education is certainly not synonymous with skill, it is one of the most easily measurable correlates of skill, so this pattern suggests that demand for upskilling has increased faster than its supply.

Studies by this book's co-author Erik Brynjolfsson along with Timothy Bresnahan, Lorin Hitt, and Shinku Yang found that a key aspect of SBTC was not just the skills of those working with computers, but more importantly the broader changes in work organization that were made possible by information technology. The most productive firms reinvented and reorganized decision rights, incentives systems, information flows, hiring systems, and other aspects of organizational capital to get the most from the technology. This, in turn, required radically different and, generally, higher skill levels in the workforce. It was not so much that those directly working with computers had to be more skilled, but rather that whole production processes, and even industries, were reengineered to exploit powerful new information technologies. What's more, each dollar of computer hardware was often the catalyst for more than $10 of investment in complementary organizational capital. The intangible organizational assets are typically much harder to change, but they are also much more important to the success of the organization.

Brynjolfsson and McAfee are more economist-jargon heavy than Kelly, and more downbeat, and they're also pointing out something obvious, which is that there are losers in technological revolution. See, e.g., Bruce Sterling's end of the year roundup:

Come 2013, I think it's time for people in and around the "music industry" to stop blaming themselves, and thinking their situation is somehow special.  Whatever happens to musicians will eventually happen to everybody.

Nobody was or is really much better at "digital transition" than musicians were and are.  If you're superb at digitalization, that's no great solution either. You just have to auto-disrupt and re-invent yourself over and over and over again.

It's pretty awful to be a musician and have no possibility of health insurance (as Jaron Lanier keeps pointing out), but you could have been a Nokia engineer.  You'd have been blindsided even harder and faster, and you wouldn't even have had the girls and the weed.

Which is to say that even though technology makes us more "productive" and puts more goods into more peoples' hands, that the transition isn't bloodless, it isn't fair, and it isn't always very nice.

But here's the thing that neither of these articles -- or even  Bruce's acid observations -- touches on: once technology creates abundance, what possibilities exist for distributing the fruits of that abundance such that the benefits are more evenly felt? We've been talking about an increase in productivity producing an increase in leisure for a long time, but instead, the "winner take all" world of Brynjolfsson and McAfee often seems to produce a "winner" class that works itself into an early grave by running 100-hour work weeks at astounding payscales, and a much larger "loser" class that works itself into an early grave by working 100-hour weeks in shitty, marginal, grey-economy jobs, trying to stitch together something like an income.

In America, anyone who proposes an increase in overall quality of life through public schools, health programs, libraries, or even Internet access, is immediately branded a socialist and dismissed out of hand.

On the other hand, the Internet-age's sweetest dividend is the creative possibilities: the chance to sit in your little grass shack or organic farm or urban crackerbox and use the tubes to carry on debate; to contribute to software and Wikipedia; to crowdsource capital for your creativity; to find makers who have solved 90% of the problem that's nagging you and who will help you solve the remaining ten percent; to access a library of human creativity and knowledge without parallel; to have your art and creativity accessible to all, and to find the mutants who're wired the same as you and jam with them.

That world of de-marketized, non-market, non-commodity and/or gift economy living is something that seems tantalizingly within our grasp today, and it feels like automation holds the key to so much of it. But is it just the latest version of the dream of a leisure society? Or can we Craigslist and Kickstarter and Freecycle and Etsy and Thingiverse and Open Source Hardware and Wikipedia and Creative Commons our way to a world where the means of information is owned by no one and yet tended by all?

https://boingboing.net/2013/01/01/robots-are-taking-your-job-and.html

[nytech]

June 2019 NYTM Lineup

This month we are partnering with Civic Hall to showcase some of NYC’s best civic and social good focused tech! About Our Partner and Sponsor: Civic Hall http://civichall.org @CivicHall (https://twitter.com/CivicHall) Civic Hall is a one-of-a-kind collaboration center for the world’s civic innovators where social entrepreneurs, change-makers, government employees, hackers, academics, journalists, and artists can share knowledge, build tools, and solve problems together. This Month's Incredible Lineup: Motivote @motivoteus motivote.us Rachel Konowitz, Co-Founder + COO Motivote is the first peer-to-peer platform to use gamification, group accountability and real-life rewards to both engage and turn out young voters. Neverware @neverware www.neverware.com Forrest Smith, Director of Product Neverware is the company behind the CloudReady operating system, which enables businesses, schools, and consumers to transform existing hardware into simple, secure, and fast Chrome devices. Pluto @askPluto https://pluto.life Martin Fogelman, Founder & CEO Erica Lee, Executive VP of Growth & Strategy Pluto is an analytics platform designed for companies, built to encourage diversity and inclusivity via interactive workplace data and reporting. Quadrant 2, Inc. @quadrant2inc https://www.quadrant2.us Jason Van Anden, CEO Quadrant 2, led by "Apptivist," founder and CEO Jason Van Anden, works with a range of social justice organizations to build tech solutions which have empowered citizens and activists, non-unionized workers, victims of police misconduct, as well as immigrants facing down ICE agents. VotEd - Riverdale HS @thevotedapp www.thevotedapp.com Nolan Flynn, Will Holzman, Ben Kaufman, Ella Kay, Michael Laret, Ryan McKinney, & Jamie Schreiber; Founders VotEd is an iOS application that affords users the opportunity to make informed votes at all levels of government, by matching them with political candidates based on opinions and current events. BLOC https://www.jointhebloc.com/ Amina Yamusah, CTO BLOC is a career coaching software platform where users can access smart resume templates, save resume versions tailored to specific areas, and receive automated feedback. Pathfinder @PathfinderLabs https://www.pathfinder.vet/ Elana Duffy, Founder + CEO Pathfinder turns qualitative feedback into quantified impact for AI-powered fundraising, program growth, and connected communities. CONTAP AT OUR EVENTS In order to have the best event experience, we've teamed up with Contap Social, a networking app, to help you network with fellow attendees before, during, and after the event. We’re asking all attendees use Contap Social. Since we don’t want you to miss any of the action, we recommend you download and setup Contap Social today using the easy setup steps below. EASY SETUP STEPS 1. Download Contap Social: On your mobile phone, click this link https://contap.app.link/0abov0uOEW to download Contap Social. 2. Setup your profile: Click on the bottom right icon, and tap "edit details" to add your contact information. 3. Join the event: Return to the app's home screen, and tap on the calendar icon in the top-left corner. Then, tap on our event and enter the passcode if prompted, nytech. 4. Start networking: Tap on anyone's profile to swap socials, contact information, and documents! If you have any questions about the app, please email support@contapsocial.com or tweet at @contapsupport.

[chloedecker0]

Unlocking Security: The Essentials of Network Access Control (NAC)

In the era of digital transformation, securing network access has become paramount for organizations of all sizes. With the increasing complexity of networks and the surge in cyber threats, Network Access Control (NAC) software has emerged as a critical component of a robust cybersecurity strategy. NAC solutions enable organizations to prevent unauthorized access, enforce security policies, and ensure compliance across their networks. But with a plethora of options available, how do you choose the best NAC software for your organization? Let's dive in to understand the key features to look for and how market intelligence reports, such as those from Quadrant Knowledge Solutions, can guide your decision-making process.

Download the sample report of Market Share: https://quadrant-solutions.com/download-form/market-research/market-share-network-access-control-2022-2027-worldwide-2770 

Understanding Network Access Control (NAC)

At its core, NAC solutions provide visibility into and control over who and what is accessing your network. They identify devices and users, assess device compliance with security policies, and enforce policies by granting or denying access to the network. Key features of top-tier NAC software include: 

Device Visibility and Profiling: The ability to identify and classify devices connecting to your network. 

Compliance Enforcement: Ensuring that only devices compliant with your security policies can access the network. 

Guest Access Management: Securely managing access for guests, contractors, and other non-employee users. 

Policy Lifecycle Management: The ability to create, manage, and retire access policies in an efficient manner. 

Top Network Access Control Software Options

Here are the top 5 Network Access Control software options that stand out for their performance, feature sets, and customer satisfaction. 

Cisco Identity Services Engine (ISE)

Cisco ISE is a comprehensive solution that offers deep visibility into your network, automating and enforcing security and compliance across wired, wireless, and VPN connections. It excels in providing detailed device access control, identity management, and policy enforcement. Cisco ISE integrates seamlessly with other Cisco security products, making it an ideal choice for organizations heavily invested in the Cisco ecosystem. 

Fortinet FortiNAC

Fortinet FortiNAC delivers powerful network visibility capabilities, control over IoT security, and automated threat response. It is designed to provide granular control over network access and to work seamlessly with Fortinet’s Security Fabric for an integrated security posture. FortiNAC is known for its scalability, making it suitable for both small businesses and large enterprises. 

Aruba ClearPass

Aruba ClearPass offers a versatile NAC solution that excels in multi-vendor environments. It provides advanced policy management, guest access options, and IoT security, ensuring that only compliant devices can connect to your network. ClearPass is celebrated for its ease of use, robust reporting, and analytics capabilities, making it a great choice for organizations looking for detailed insights into their network activity. 

Forescout CounterACT

Forescout CounterACT is renowned for its agentless approach to network access control, allowing it to discover, classify, and control devices the moment they connect to the network—without requiring agents to be installed on endpoints. This capability is particularly beneficial in environments with a diverse array of devices and IoT. CounterACT offers comprehensive visibility, policy-based controls, and automated responses to security incidents. 

Sophos NAC

Sophos NAC is designed to integrate seamlessly with Sophos' endpoint and network security solutions, providing a unified approach to security policy enforcement. It offers straightforward management, visibility into guest and BYOD (Bring Your Own Device) access, and compliance checks. Sophos NAC is appreciated for its ease of deployment and management, making it a solid choice for organizations looking for an effective yet manageable NAC solution. 

Download the sample report of Market Forecast: https://quadrant-solutions.com/download-form/market-research/market-share-network-access-control-2022-2027-worldwide-2770 

Importance of Market Intelligence in Decision Making 

When it comes to choosing the right NAC software, leveraging market intelligence can significantly streamline the decision-making process. Reports from reputable market intelligence firms, such as Quadrant Knowledge Solutions, offer invaluable insights that can help organizations navigate the complex NAC market. 

Quadrant Knowledge Solutions' Market Intelligence report on Network Access Control provides an in-depth analysis of market dynamics, key trends, and competitive landscapes. The report includes: 

Market Share: Network Access Control, 2022, Worldwide: This offers a snapshot of the current market scenario, highlighting the leading vendors and their market positions. Understanding market share gives an insight into which vendors are the most popular and why, helping you to narrow down your options. 

Market Forecast: Network Access Control, 2022-2027, Worldwide: This projection helps organizations understand how the NAC market is expected to evolve, which is crucial for making informed, future-proof decisions. The forecast can guide your investment by indicating which technologies and vendors are on an upward trajectory. 

Talk To Analyst: https://quadrant-solutions.com/talk-to-analyst 

How Quadrant Knowledge Solutions' Report Benefits Your Growth

Quadrant Knowledge Solutions' Market Intelligence report is not just about numbers; it's a strategic tool that can fuel your organization's growth. By providing a comprehensive analysis of the NAC market, it helps identify the key players and their strengths, enabling you to choose a platform that not only meets your current needs but also aligns with your long-term growth strategies. Furthermore, the report's insights into market trends and forecasts empower you to stay ahead of the curve, ensuring that your NAC solution remains effective against evolving cyber threats.

[greatonlinetrainingsposts]

SAS Tutorials for Beginners

SAS is a leading analytical software used in a variety of business domains. It is easy to learn and has added numerous solutions in big data analytics, Predictive analytics, Fraud management, and Health science analytics. This article will explain the flow of SAS programming and its important concepts to help new users, beginners or any professional acquire quick knowledge of Base SAS programming steps in less time.

SAS Tutorial for Beginners by Great Online Training provides an introduction to SAS programming, including how to access SAS, the SAS interface, and basic SAS programming concepts. This guide covers everything you need to know to get started with SAS programming, including data management, data analysis, and reporting. SAS Programming Tutorial for Beginners covers data manipulation, data analysis, and reporting, with hands-on exercises to practice. SAS tutorial programs offer personalized learning plans tailored to individual expertise and goals. Learning SAS can increase your value as a job candidate and open up new career opportunities. Our SAS tutorial program provides access to resources such as online communities, support groups, and reference materials.

Joining a SAS tutorial program can help you learn and advance your career by providing expert instruction, hands-on experience, personalized learning, and access to resources to become proficient in SAS.

Great Online Training offers SAS Tutorials for beginners from experts who have extensive experience and are approachable and friendly. The trainers focus on personal attention to every student and conduct the course in small batches to help them understand the concepts clearly and move on to the next topic.

This SAS Tutorials for beginners helps students give their best and stay motivated to learn more from the best trainers. The course curriculum is designed according to industry standards and helps students understand various concepts of SAS, from the basics to advanced level.

SAS

SAS (Statistical analysis system) is a popular software for data analysis, used for various purposes such as data management, data mining, report writing, statistical analysis, business modeling, applications development and data warehousing. It is a leader in Advanced Analytics Platforms as per Gartner 2019 Magic Quadrant for Data Science & Machine Learning Platforms.

Why SAS is popular

SAS has over 40,000 customers worldwide and holds the largest market share in advanced analytics. It has been tagged 'leader' for 6 consecutive years in the BFSI industry, and is used for data manipulation and predictive modeling.

SAS software is leading the analytics software industry in BFSI due to its unparalleled data security.

SAS provides excellent tech support, both online and offline, to help customers with installation related issues and clarity in SAS functions and procedures.

SAS documentation is more detailed than other open source software.

SAS can store datasets on hard drives and process larger data sets than RAM.

Stable software is more important than cost of software license, as all functions and procedures are supported in new SAS versions. Cost of software license is a very small amount to a bank or pharmaceutical company.

Banks have been using SAS for 20-30 years and have written millions of lines of code, making it difficult to convert it to R/Python.

[salongreys]

Play moxtra recording

PLAY MOXTRA RECORDING ANDROID

PLAY MOXTRA RECORDING SOFTWARE

PLAY MOXTRA RECORDING FREE

Social media, SMS, and email inbox collaboration.

You can assign tasks to users and organize conversations with team labels. Missive lets you collaborate with any kind of shared inbox like emails, tweets, webchat, and even SMS. So, while other platforms in this list do away with emails, Missive builds around it.

PLAY MOXTRA RECORDING SOFTWARE

While most of the collaboration software today is a response to email not being the best option for collaboration, email also has its pros. Twist incorporates threaded conversations, which makes messages easier to follow. It was named the best communication app by PCMag and has been featured in many industry publications. Twist provides a hub where team members can come together and share knowledge. Twist is designed to give businesses a “calmer” way of working together. Migrate telephony workloads to AWS using Amazon Chime Voice Connector.When you need face-to-face interaction, Chime is a great solution powered by AWS.Ĭhime comes with built-in chat, screen sharing tools, and automatically calls each participant when it’s time for a meeting. Chime delivers exceptional video quality and reliability. This means you can attend Webex conference calls via Teams using the Webex video integration tool.Īmazon Chime is a collaboration tool that embraces the power of video. If you become one of the 62% of Cisco users who also use Teams, Cisco is a Cloud Video Interop (CVI) certified partner. Schedule meetings through a third-party calendar with Slack integration.

PLAY MOXTRA RECORDING ANDROID

In-meeting media quality on Android and iOS.

Change in-meeting roles from your device.

Real-time translation for more than 100 languages.

Note: This means Cisco Jabber and Microsoft Teams are now interoperable. Legacy Cisco Jabber users can even switch their app to team messaging mode to enjoy the latest Webex features. Users of both no longer need to switch apps for different functionality. Specifically competing with Teams, the Webex platform now combines both Meetings and Teams platforms. For the longest time, Cisco has been a leader in almost every Gartner Magic Quadrant.

Zoom integrations with Slack, Drive, Teams, Dropbox, Facebook, Intel Unite, etc.ģ – Webex is the meeting alternative to Microsoft TeamsĬisco Webex has a huge legacy of meetings, telephony, and unified communications.

Screen capture, file transfer, and image uploads.

Chat message history with manageable time limits.

Message archiving and third-party storage.

Privacy features and access permissions.

Light or dark themes in your chat panel.

A personal space to send yourself reminders and files.

1:1 chat or group conversations via public or private channels.

This makes it a genuine Microsoft Teams alternative – not just for video. Zoom Team Chat also enables you to manage your conversations with messaging, groups, and channels. What’s not so well-known is that Zoom is much more than a video platform. In fact, Outlook users can directly access Zoom calls from their app so adding to apps you already have is simple. If you don’t know about Zoom then where have you been? Since launching its own collaboration platform, there is an ongoing battle between Slack and Teams.Ģ – Zoom is the post-pandemic favorite Teams alternative At its core, you can consider Slack a messaging app but one with a host of extra features and plugins.

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Make sure to confirm that any free alternative you choose has the features that you need 1 – Slack is one of the leading alternatives to Microsoft TeamsĪs a matter of fact, Slack is the leading pioneer in the collaboration software industry. All the free Microsoft Teams alternatives have paid plans to access collaboration features on top of their free plan. Some Microsoft Teams competitors offer free plans to their users.īut, free plans are often limited in features (urging you to upgrade). If you’re looking for some great Microsoft Teams alternatives, we’ve got some great ones for you in this post.Īlongside the usual suspects, we’ve uncovered some lesser-known collaboration apps so you can make your own decision.ĭepending on how you are currently using Teams, we’ve split this article into two sections.

[webanditnews]

LivePerson named the Overall Leader in the 2022 SPARK Matrix for Digital-First Customer Service Solutions

LivePerson named the Overall Leader in the 2022 SPARK Matrix for Digital-First Customer Service Solutions

Quadrant Knowledge Solutions recognizes LivePerson as #1 of 19 vendors evaluated for excellence in technology and customer impact Quadrant Knowledge Solutions has named LivePerson the 2022 Leader in its SPARK Matrix analysis of the Digital-First Customer Service Solutions market. This recognition highlights LivePerson’s leadership in both technology and customer success, further cementing its…

[technology098]

Mastering Sales Excellence: Unveiling the Power of Sales Performance Management

Sales Performance Management (SPM) stands as the cornerstone of any organization, weaving together the intricate threads of production, development, and consumption. At its heart lies the Sales Team, entrusted with the pivotal task of generating revenue and bridging the gap between the organization's offerings and the needs of customers. This adept group of individuals not only drives organizational goals but also ensures the realization of objectives. However, navigating the complex journey from initial sales pitches to closing deals with customers demands a strategic approach, and the emergence of innovative software promises to redefine this process.

Sales Performance Management: A Game-Changer

SPM software is a specialized organizational tool designed to strategize, manage, and analyze the overall sales performance of both individuals and teams. By automating various back-office sales processes, SPM facilitates efficient management of sales targets and incentive compensation plans. Leveraging advanced capabilities such as Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning, these platforms empower organizations to predict future sales trends, thus optimizing operational efficiency across the sales cycle.

Recognized as instrumental to team success in today's fiercely competitive market, SPM enables sales leaders to deploy comprehensive strategies that encompass every aspect of the sales process. By automating back-office tasks such as payroll, settlements, forecasting, and compliance, SPM empowers sales leaders to optimize their teams' performance and drive results.

Anish Krishnan, an Analyst at Quadrant Knowledge Solutions, emphasizes the role of SPM in enhancing operational efficiencies and productivity. By standardizing and computerizing previously disparate back-office sales procedures, SPM streamlines operations and offers valuable insights into compensation design and performance.

Components of Sales Performance Management: Breaking It Down

SPM software comprises three essential pillars: where to sell, how to sell, and what to sell. These pillars delineate how sales leaders aim to optimize sales objectives, guiding their strategies to thrive in specific markets.

Where to Sell: Market segmentation and team alignment form the foundation of sales planning. This involves organizing accounts, setting quotas, dividing territories, and planning capacities. With advanced modeling, agile sales teams can adapt to market changes in individual accounts and regions.

How to Sell: Sales incentives and commission structures play a pivotal role in guiding sales teams towards specific customers and products. By implementing tiered commissions and bonuses, sales leaders motivate their teams to focus their efforts effectively. Automated incentive plans ensure that teams stay updated on changes, enabling them to strategize accordingly.

What to Sell: Sales insights serve as metrics to measure and improve business performance. These metrics encompass pipeline management, pricing, forecasting, and other key performance indicators (KPIs). SPM software simplifies the measurement of these indicators, providing real-time insights that empower sales teams to meet organizational targets.

Choosing the Right SPM Software: Key Considerations

When selecting SPM software, organizations should prioritize factors such as connectivity, data access, and insights and analytics capabilities.

Connectivity Efficiency: Effective SPM solutions should enable seamless collaboration by providing a unified platform where all departmental data is easily accessible. This fosters cohesive planning and enhances decision-making processes.

Data Access: Real-time data access is crucial for monitoring and responding to changes in business dynamics. Whether reallocating sales resources or managing incentives, access to real-time data enables agile decision-making and facilitates collaboration across departments.

Insights and Analytics: In a competitive market landscape, predictive analytics offered by SPM solutions enable proactive planning and modeling. By anticipating future scenarios, decision-makers can strategize effectively and maintain a competitive edge.

Effective Implementation of SPM: A Step-by-Step Guide

To implement SPM effectively, organizations must focus on assessing performance metrics, communicating objectives clearly, and providing coaching for skill improvement.

Performance Metrics Assessment: Define clear objectives for the sales team, both at a macro and micro level. Establish key metrics such as individual quotas, conversion rates, and sales productivity metrics to guide performance evaluation.

Communication: Transparent communication of business roles and objectives is essential for successful SPM implementation. Ensure that sales team members understand their goals and how SPM software will support them in achieving these objectives.

Coaching for Skill Improvement: Provide sales representatives with the necessary tools and training to enhance their skills. SPM software facilitates targeted training at both individual and team levels, empowering sales teams to leverage the platform effectively.

SPM as a Catalyst for Growth

Sales Performance Management processes are indispensable for driving efficiency and effectiveness within the sales team, ultimately contributing to revenue generation. By defining performance metrics, communicating objectives, and providing guidance, SPM empowers sales leaders to exceed their goals. With predictive analysis, centralized databases, and streamlined connectivity, SPM equips organizations to outpace the competition and achieve sustained growth.

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[interactionstudio]

Week 1 | Notes from Class & Concepts used in AirBnB

Week 1 | Notes from Class

Assess problems and pain points is a good exercise to understand where you have the impact

Build the right thing or build the thing right

Polishing the UI of a design can impact the experience

feature that can add

really should have xyz to solve the problem

Has the right thing been built? Has the thing been built right?

Can you do what you need to do with it?

Has the right thing been built:

a. Does the experience solve the users problem?

b. Has the right problem been identified in the

first place?

c. Is it aimed at the right users or is there an

unmet user group?

Has the thing been built right:

a. Can top tasks be easily completed?

b. Does the navigation match the users mental

model?

c. Is the user given appropriate feedback?

UX research a lot of the time is communicating to people above you that there IS a problem - (see video where people are struggling with an app)

User testing and research - getting participants is difficult - students lean on classmate and friends which can mean you’re limited in who youre getting opinions and feedback from

extend your empathetic skills

who could i learn about that isn’t me/people in my world

novel but feasible

can’t magic up technology that doesn’t exist.

‘Blue sky’ scenarios

There is so much scope out there to solve problems in a creative/imaginative way. But check that the technology actually exists

UX Auckland talk

What topics and what experiences you choose?

This is not a re-branding exercise. Focus your time and energy on where you can prove improvement is needed.

Presentation Poster (design brief)

Current state experience

Target audience (persona)

Research methods used

HMW

• Week 13: Summative Assessment (100%)

Project doc (case study)

Highlights reel from user testing or pitch video depending on if you are doing an improvement or proposing a new solution. (do both?)

Prototype

RECORD YOUR USER TESTING ROUNDS

RECORD EVERYTHING

TUMBLR / BLOGS

whatever we use needs to be easy to see chronologically

track your own learnings and progress

Focus is Research.

Self Reported Knowledge Overview

Personas

Based on interviews and research

Losts to learn from existing research

Explaining to people how personas are useful

They make sure what we design and build fits a need from real people rahter than building a bunch of stuff and hoping it its

You’re world s a partially completed jigsaw puzzle 0 there willl be gaps which willl be pain points,unmket needs etc.

Business people need measurable results

Persona can take a while

NB: Personas are developed after putting together a body of research and reflect similar themes of users

Journey map

A persona completing a task overtime - distinct phases to go through and how they

Empathy Maps

Matrix split into four quadrants - FELT, SEEN, HEARD, DID - you can adapt it

run someone through an experience they’ve had -

could be eitehr

At the bottom you list pain points and opportunitys

Survey

CONS

self reported data (bias)

you need to understand what the context is for the question asked

there’s only so much detail you can get from a survey

PROS

quantitive data

yes/no questions

Card sort

Good for IA and mental models

Tree Tests

Treejack (?)

Give them a prompt and then testing if your navigation labels are intuitive

optimal work shop has 10 free tests you can use

User Testing

Single most important thing you can do.

This is something you’ll need to do well and focus on - we’ll be expected to provide evidence.

After a product is released you’d maybe have a tighter script

Design Thinking

Research Synthesis

Bring your research together and finding out what the patterns and themes are

Information

Logical structures

Wayfinding and navigation

Breadcrumbs and other ways of finding your way around

Presenting Research Findings

You need to share your findings and make people care about what you’ve found

HMW Questions

There a formuals and guidelines about how to write a good one

Accessibilty in design

Just the right thing to do to design to be accessible as you possibly can

Design systems

Rely on in big corporate organisations

Effective with consistency and efficiency

Mobile app

Responsive design

Wireframing

Prototyping

Animation

Video production

Typography

Always bring sharpies

Think of everything as a system!

What isn’t

UX isn’t always the most important component -

end result is what matters - not so much the details of the tools

remember the real goals of the people that use the product you are developing

doesn’t need to be an app - you can be more lateral about how something is solved

JOBS TO BE DONE

think outside teh box

look for the UNDERLYING PROBLEM!!!

Don’t just look in the context of how something is already being solved - LOOK AT THINGS ABSTRACTLY!

Heuristic evaluation: interaction principles

gives a good rationale

take it away from opinion

have good solid reasoning

know what you’re naturally looking for - make sure what you design is what people will be looking for.

‘did that work?’ ‘did i press that button or not?’ ‘do i do it again?’

user control and freedom

create edit delete and archive

if you make a mistake what can you do about it?

don’t sacrifice a clean ui at the expense of recognition rather than recall

shouldn’t have to rely on memory

signal:nose ratio

recognise diagnose and recover from errors

reference back to the heuristc evalutation as youre designing - what you are designing and what you can do about it

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UX principles

Useful: Your content should be original and fulfil a need

Usable: Must be easy to use

Desirable: Image, identity, brand, and other design elements are used to evoke emotion and appreciation

Findable: Content needs to be navigable and locatable onsite and offsite

Accessible: Content needs to be accessible to people with disabilities

Credible: Users must trust and believe what you tell them