What Is ‘AI Washing’ And How Can We Stop It?

July 3, 2024

by Ed Watal, Founder & Principal at Intellibus

Amid the boom in artificial intelligence’s popularity, some wrongdoers have decided to capitalize on this trend under false pretenses. This practice of making false claims about the use of AI technology has come to be known as “AI washing.”

AI washing is a misleading, unethical marketing practice that attempts to cash in on a popular trend without offering the benefits of this exciting new technology. Yet, given how novel artificial intelligence technology is, it can be difficult for the average consumer to distinguish between legitimate and illegitimate claims about AI use.

Examples of AI washing

One of the most common examples of AI washing is mislabeling other automated technology as AI. Because many people don’t understand the difference between traditional algorithms and artificial intelligence models, some companies will attempt to pass off the former as the latter with unsuspecting consumers. This deceitful practice abuses the misinformation around artificial intelligence technology.

However, some businesses have been found to conduct an even more duplicitous form of AI washing by claiming to use AI when there is little to no integration of the technology in their offering. Many companies like to use buzzwords like “AI-powered” to describe their products or services when their use of artificial intelligence technology is minimal, incidental, or in its early stages.

Why AI washing is a harmful practice

Of course, the most obvious victims of AI washing are the consumers that companies are directly defrauding. If a consumer eager to hop onto the AI train is misled by AI washing into thinking that a product or service offers more of the technology’s advantages than it actually does, they will spend their hard-earned money on a product or service that does not deliver on its promises.

It isn’t just consumers who are hurt by AI washing, though, as the practice has a massively negative impact on the market as a whole. Any money invested in or spent by consumers on products that misrepresent their use of artificial intelligence could be going to innovators who are making legitimate strides to push the technology forward.

However, perhaps the most damaging effect of AI washing is that it will erode the public’s trust in this emerging technology. Because AI is still in its early stages and people are still exploring its capabilities — along with its consequences — many are still reluctant to embrace this new technology with open arms. When the public’s perception of AI is based on misleading products or services that underperform due to their false claims regarding artificial intelligence, they are unlikely to trust future projects that make similar claims.

How we can stop AI washing

Due to the consequences of AI washing, innovators in the artificial intelligence space must push for increased transparency and honesty in products and services using the technology. For a variety of reasons — from the technology itself being difficult to understand to companies’ desire to protect their IP — businesses tend to be somewhat cryptic with their explanations of their use of AI. To thwart AI washing, we must encourage businesses to clearly and understandably explain their use of artificial intelligence and provide evidence of its use when available.

This transparency can arguably only be achieved through oversight. Leaders in the AI sector have the opportunity to develop industry-wide standards and benchmarks that can be used to evaluate AI products and claims. For instance, certification bodies could offer a trustworthy mark of authenticity to help consumers better understand and approach the technology. Outside the industry, regulatory bodies like the SEC can end this practice by enforcing more stringent verification processes and penalties for false claims.

That being said, perhaps the most potent way we can fight against wrongdoers using AI washing to gain an unfair advantage for their business is by improving education and awareness around the practice. When people are more aware of the benefits, features, and shortcomings of legitimate AI products, they are much less likely to fall victim to deceptive claims. Thus, by increasing the discourse around AI, we can help people be more prepared to evaluate AI products for themselves.

While artificial intelligence has the potential to help people and businesses alike, AI washing poses a significant threat to the public’s acceptance of this exciting and innovative technology. By leveraging false claims about the use of AI technology, businesses practicing AI washing distract from and erode trust in legitimate artificial intelligence ventures. Ending this harmful and deceitful practice is key to creating a landscape where AI can be embraced as a transformative force.

Ed Watal is the founder and principal of Intellibus. He regularly serves as a board advisor to the world’s largest financial institutions. C-level executives rely on him for IT strategy & architecture due to his business acumen & deep IT knowledge. He has also built and sold several Tech & AI startups. Prior to becoming an entrepreneur, he worked in some of the largest global financial institutions, including RBS, Deutsche Bank, and Citigroup. He is the author of numerous articles and one of the defining books on cloud fundamentals called ‘Cloud Basics.’

Innovations In Workplace First Aid: Tools And Techniques For Modern Businesses

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July 2, 2024

The safety and wellbeing of your employees is always a priority. One way to support this is with the right approach to first aid.

This guide explores tools and techniques that all modern businesses should use with their workplace first aid.

First Aid Kit

Despite the exciting advancements in first aid technology, there’s only one place to start: the traditional first aid kit. In countries like the UK, it is mandatory for these kits to be readily accessible and stocked with essential items. The contents of a first aid kit generally include:

Adhesive bandages and plasters
Antiseptic wipes and creams
Sterile gauze pads and adhesive tape
Scissors and tweezers
Disposable gloves
Burn dressings

Even when not mandated to do so, it’s important for your business to have on hand adequate, appropriate first aid equipment. For instance, highly rated commercial first aid kits at seton.co.uk are fully equipped with everything you need. The result: you can supply employees with immediate, effective attention should they sustain an injury.

Digital First Aid Kit

Traditional first aid kits are still essential, yes – but digital solutions are also complimenting them. Digital first aid kits are equipped with QR codes and sensors, which supply real-time information on their contents. As a result, these smart kits can alert you when supplies are low or specific items have been used. This helps to keep your first aid kit fully stocked and ready to use.

That’s not all. These kits can also offer step-by-step instructions on how to use each item. Simply scan a QR code, and you can receive a video or guide that details what to do – ideal in high-stress situations where quick, accurate responses are imperative.

Automated External Defibrillators

An automated external defibrillator (AED) has become a staple in the modern workplace. This is for one simple reason: their life-saving potential in cases of sudden cardiac arrest.

Thanks to innovations in AED technology, these devices have become more user-friendly, compact, and accessible. This has made them more viable for businesses of all sizes. Newer models also come with advanced features like voice prompts and visual instructions, which guide even untrained individuals through the resuscitation process. Some AEDs go a step further and connect to emergency services, supplying real-time data and reducing the time for professional medical responders to arrive.

First Aid Apps and Online Training

Due to virtually everyone being in possession of a smartphone, this has opened up new avenues for first aid training and assistance.

Take specialist first aid apps as an example. They offer instant access to key information and step-by-step guides on handling various medical emergencies. This makes them particularly valuable in remote work environments where immediate professional help may not be available.

Furthermore, there are various online training programs that are becoming popular – and effective – for educating employees on first aid. These interactive platforms, from courses to VR simulations, create immersive experiences that help the given information stick.

Wearable Health Devices

Wearable health devices, aka smartwatches and fitness trackers, are not only for personal health monitoring anymore. These devices can be important to your company’s first aid goals. Some wearables can detect falls or sudden changes in vitals like heart rate and oxygen levels, which triggers automatic alerts to designated first aid responders or emergency contacts.

This immediate response can truly be life-saving.

Sidestep The Unpaid Consulting Trap: How To Stop Giving Away The Farm (And Still Get The Client)

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July 2, 2024

by Julie Bee, author of “Burned: How Business Owners Can Overcome Burnout and Fuel Success“

If you’re an entrepreneur, you’ve probably done your share of pro bono work: helping a family member or friend, or volunteering to do some work for your child’s school or a favorite charity. You’re happy to help; after all, these projects crop up only occasionally and don’t take up large swathes of time.

But what about the pro bono work you do on a regular — even daily — basis? Many entrepreneurs spend countless hours doing work with no reward.

The culprit?

Unpaid consulting.

In order to secure new business, entrepreneurs have to do a lot of up-front thinking, strategizing, and advising. While you do need to show potential clients that your business can deliver a quality product or service, it’s easy to let this stage drag on way too long—to your own detriment.

During the initial call or meeting with a prospective client, you go all out to demonstrate your value. In a week or two, you schedule a follow-up…then another, and another. You continue to share advice, strategies, and ideas in hopes that you’ll close the business — and maybe even get a bigger commitment because of your hard work. But instead, it becomes an endless loop of calls where the prospect picks your brain, and you get nothing in return.

Too often, you’re ghosted or told that the prospect decided to go with another option. You’re left feeling resentful, tired, and broke. Even when the client does sign a contract, it’s frustrating to look back on all the unbillable hours you’ve spent to get this far.

Worse, when unpaid work becomes habitual, it can lead to burnout. Constantly exerting effort but getting nowhere can make you feel demoralized and “stuck” with no end in sight.

So, how do you stop giving away so much of your time and expertise — both on the front end and throughout the project?

Here are a few suggestions:

First, practice your new mantra: “My time is valuable.”

Before you set boundaries with clients, you have to change your own mindset. It’s easy to assume that if a conversation isn’t costing you materials or product, it’s not a huge deal.

Not so. How much could you have charged a paying client for that hour? How much closer could you have gotten to finishing a project or implementing a new idea? For that matter, could the prospective client take what you’ve shared with them and leverage it to make more money on their own? Never forget that your time is a valuable asset.

Set a time limit on unpaid work or initial consulting.

I know a business owner who has a one-hour initial call with prospective clients. If they want to continue the conversation after that first hour, the clients have to purchase a package of this entrepreneur’s time, which she sells in five-hour increments.

If you want to follow this business owner’s example, set expectations up front and be consistent with every prospective client. Explain that you want them to get a taste of your work, and acknowledge that an initial conversation is necessary to determine if your business is a good fit. Then let the prospect know how much you’ll charge for your consulting time going forward.

Get your post-consultation budget out front…

When you share your consultation fees, it’s also a good idea to give prospective clients an idea of how much the actual project is likely to cost. Being up front about the expected budget will help you weed out “tire-kickers” who may not be serious or who just don’t have the funds.

Say something like, ‘We normally work on a six-month retainer. Our range is $X to $Y, with the average contract being $Z. Is that within your budget?’

… And don’t assume that the budget has dried up mid-project.

Sometimes entrepreneurs end up doing unpaid work because they think a client doesn’t have the budget to cover everything. This often happens mid-project, when you’re already locked into a contract. You believe that the consequences of not doing the work would be worse than spending some unbillable hours. Maybe it’s true that the client’s dollars just aren’t there, but always ask and verify!

If you believe budget will be an issue, you can ask the client, ‘What is your budget at this point?’ or say, ‘This is what I usually charge for a project like this’ then see where the conversation takes you. Perhaps the money is available after all. If not, maybe the client’s expectations can be modified.

One more option- If there isn’t enough money to cover you, see if you can negotiate another form of payment. Maybe the client can help you out with admission to an industry conference, give you access to attendee lists, trade one of their own services, etc.

If you do it for free, do it without expectations.

Maybe you’ve decided that charging for your time after an initial consultation isn’t right for your business, or you believe you’re justified in making an exception. (Or perhaps you’re doing an actual premeditated pro bono project!) Whatever the circumstances, do this unpaid work without any if/then expectations.

In other words, don’t justify the work by saying, ‘If I do ABC, then the client will respond by doing XYZ’. This type of thinking is what fuels seemingly infinite consulting cycles. You’re working toward a hoped-for outcome that the client has not agreed to (and may never agree to). Either be okay with not being compensated, or put a payment plan in place.

Proceed on a case-by-case basis.

Some prospective clients need more time than others to commit. Maybe they are cautious by nature or constrained by a tight budget. Perhaps the desired project is particularly complicated and legitimately needs multiple conversations to talk through.

You don’t always have to shut people down if they don’t immediately commit, but you do need to recognize when discussions are likely to drag on so you can shorten the cycle. Also, in my experience, clients who require a lot of your time and energy on the front end will continue to do so throughout the project. This isn’t necessarily a reason to end the relationship — but it is helpful to be aware of as you plan your workflow.

Remember that you’re your best advocate.

If you find yourself feeling resentful about the unpaid consulting you’ve already given to a prospective client and have another meeting coming up with them, you can still advocate for yourself.

Send an email to the prospective client as far in advance of the scheduled meeting as possible to let them know you’ll need to charge for the upcoming, and any future, consulting sessions. But also give them an out to cancel the meeting with no hard feelings.

If you feel like you owe the prospect one more meeting, that’s also okay. Just make sure that budget and billing for future consulting sessions and strategic research is at the top of the agenda for that final freebie.

Do your best work, no matter what.

“Free” does not equal “lower quality.” Always give 100 percent, whether you’re being paid or not. If you cut corners or deliver a half-baked pro bono service, it can hurt — or even ruin — your brand.

Dissatisfied prospects can do plenty of damage to your business with a few keystrokes. On the other hand, folks who are impressed by your work can be some of your best ambassadors — even if they don’t sign a contract! For instance, ‘It turned out that I needed some services Julie’s company didn’t offer, but I was so impressed by her ideas and communication. You should give her a call!’

Watch out for “brain-pickers” in social settings.

When you’re in a social setting where people know what you do for a living, it’s inevitable that some of them will want to “pick your brain” or “get your professional opinion.” Bolder individuals might even ask you for “a quick favor.”

If you genuinely don’t mind sharing your expertise at a family cookout or on the sidelines of your nephew’s soccer game, go for it! But if you’d rather not spend your off-hours talking shop (or giving away free advice), have a few responses prepared. For instance, ‘It’s been a long week and my brain is fried! Let’s circle back,’ or, ‘Let’s talk about this during the workday, when you’ll get my full attention. I’ll send you my calendar link to set up a time.’ Then move the conversation on to a different topic.

Walk away if you need to.

Not all business is good business. When you’re in the unpaid consulting stage, use your instincts. Ask yourself, Is this relationship one I really want to be in? Is this person impossible to satisfy? Are they legit but slower to move…or are they consciously trying to take advantage?

Eventually the takers, time-wasters, and chronic complainers will wear on you and drain your time, energy, and mental health. Scout them out early and don’t be afraid to ‘pass’ on their business if you believe it will take up too much of your professional or personal bandwidth.

For most entrepreneurs, a judicious amount of unpaid consulting is one of the best ways to build your brand and attract new business. But too much of a good thing can leave you frustrated, struggling to make ends meet, or even burned out. Most clients don’t abuse the system intentionally, but if you want to end the unpaid consulting cycle, it’s up to you to set the boundaries. Very few people are going to say no to a continued stream of free ideas!

Julie Bee is the author of “Burned: How Business Owners Can Overcome Burnout and Fuel Success“. A business owner burnout strategist, Bee has been dubbed the “small business fixer” by her clients and peers. With over fifteen years in the entrepreneurial field, she has solidified her reputation as a dynamic consultant, a riveting speaker, and a leader who sheds light on the darker side of business ownership.

How A Marketing MBA Can Help You Pivot To A New Industry

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July 2, 2024

An MBA in marketing allows graduates to work in various industries. Whether you’re interested in working in management, research, or creative roles, an MBA in marketing can help you pivot to your ideal field.

The flexibility of online learning formats makes an MBA in marketing a great choice for working professionals.

Identify Your Skills

An MBA in marketing will give you the knowledge and abilities to advance in virtually any industry, regardless of your level of expertise or where your career is taking off. This is because a marketing-focused degree will teach students essential subjects like marketing management, customer experience, and customer equity management.

Marketing professionals can often uniquely interpret and translate data into actionable insights. They know how to make sense of complex trends and convert them into a clear plan for the future. Business leaders in any industry value this kind of strategic thinking, and that’s why many marketers find themselves ready to pivot into other industries, such as finance or biopharmaceutical research.

This program may help you achieve those goals. The school’s curriculum includes courses like “Marketing Strategy,” which delves into essential marketing concepts and strategies to help you gain a competitive edge in the job market.

Identify Your Passion

A marketing MBA program focuses on the technical aspects of business strategy development and management, preparing graduates for leadership roles in all sectors. The BLS projects much faster than average growth in marketing manager jobs for those with a master’s degree in this field, making it an excellent choice for professionals looking to change their industry.

In addition to more specialist courses like digital marketing and search engine optimization (SEO), a marketing-focused degree would often cover more extensive management studies themes. Most programs also offer students the opportunity to participate in practical learning experiences such as study trips or internships.

These placements are a great way to build up your experience in the industry you’re interested in and demonstrate to potential employers that you have the relevant skills and expertise to succeed in the role.

Make the Transition

Whether you want to establish your own business, work for a charity organization, or the government, an MBA can help you.

Your management skills can make the transition to these industries easier, and your expertise in analytics can support data-driven decision-making.

Furthermore, a Marketing MBA can give you a competitive advantage over other business professionals with a bachelor’s degree by teaching you key topics that cover practically every area of the professional company today.

These include consumer behavior and buying habits, branding, social media marketing, data analysis, and product marketing strategy.

If you’re ready to explore a new industry, this degree can help you gain the skills and credentials to do so while allowing you to stay close to your passion for marketing. An MBA in Marketing can open doors you never imagined possible.

4 Ways Advancing Your Education Can Boost Your Career

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July 1, 2024

If you work in an industry that has a competitive and continually evolving job market, then taking the next step in your education is more than just an opportunity for personal growth; it’s an essential move for enhancing your career prospects.

Whether you choose to complete formal degrees, extra certifications, or sign up for professional development courses, advancing your education will open up new doors and propel your career forwards.

So, if you’ve been thinking of returning to education, here are four key ways that it can help to boost your career.

1. Enhancing Skills and Knowledge.

By taking the next step in your education you’ll be equipped with advanced skills and knowledge that are crucial in today’s dynamic professional landscape.

When you pursue higher education or professional certifications, you have the opportunity to develop deeper insights and a greater understanding of different specialities within your field.

Not only will this make you more able to succeed within your current role but it can also help to prepare you for a higher-level of responsibility.

2. Increasing Earning Potential.

Improving your earning potential is one of the more tangible benefits of education advancement, and studies indicate that there is a connection between higher education and increased income.

By completing an advanced degree in a specialism within your field, you could have the potential to seek out higher-paying positions that would previously have been inaccessible to you.

And, if you find that you’ve climbed as high as you can in your current company, consider searching platforms such as Indeed to see what other opportunities are out there. Your higher education could be just what another employer is looking for.

3. Expanding Professional Network.

Advancing your education is more than just acquiring knowledge; it can also give you the chance to build valuable professional relationships.

The programmes and courses that you’ll complete during your education journey can offer you an excellent opportunity to connect with peers, industry leaders, and mentors.

These connections can be a great tool for career growth, providing advice, and discovering potential job leads, so use platforms such as LinkedIn to grow these relationships and connect with others in your field.

4. Enhance Your Credibility and Confidence.

Completing a degree or professional certificate can not only boost your professional credibility, but your overall confidence as well.

It demonstrates your expertise, dedication, and commitment to your industry, and this can be a valuable tool for increasing your professional standing, making you more employable and promotable, and even gaining new clients.

By achieving greater educational milestones, you’ll be able to reinforce your self-belief and help you to feel empowered to take on new opportunities, challenges, and even step into leadership roles.

Of course, returning to the traditional campus setting isn’t possible for everyone. If you already have a career, or even family commitments, then taking time out to return to a campus can be out of the question. Luckily with online education providers, such as Signum Magnum College, you can complete your education on a study schedule that suits your needs. And, with an online degree, you’ll be able to start applying your new knowledge to your career from day one.

Have you returned to education? Share how your continued learning helped to take your career to the next level in the comments below!

What Is Permissioned Blockchain Vs Un-Permissioned Blockchain?

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June 29, 2024

Blockchain technology is versatile, with applications in fields like banking, finance, and computer science. This adaptability has led to the creation of different types of blockchains, some with participation restrictions and others without.

This article explores the differences in application and users for permissioned versus un-permissioned blockchains, detailing their differences and importance in various sectors.

Permissioned Blockchain

A permission ledger is indispensable in the realm of blockchain ledger security operations, restricted exclusively to authorized individuals. This distributed ledger can solely be accessed by a select few authorized by the administrator, endowed with distinct privileges enabling specific actions. Unauthorized access is rigorously controlled, ensuring stringent oversight over public entry.

Key Features

Transparency: Tailored to organizational objectives, clearly attributing changes to authorized users.
Enhanced Security: Provides heightened data security and control for private entities, managing access and modification permissions.
Accountability: Non-anonymity ensures meticulous logging of all user-initiated changes.
Decentralized Decision-Making: Enables private groups to authorize decisions despite lacking a central authority.

Prominently adopted by leading global enterprises, permissioned blockchains are ideal for business operations prioritizing data integrity. They find applications across sectors, including supply chain management, contract execution, and payment verification, ensuring robust security and privacy measures.

Un-Permissioned Blockchain

In stark contrast to a permissioned blockchain, an un-permissioned blockchain, also known as a public blockchain, operates on a completely decentralized model. Here, there are no restrictions on participation, and no administrator controls access or grants permissions to make changes. Anyone can join the consensus process and validate data, fostering a network of unknown participants.

Features

Transparency: Transactions are completely transparent to all users due to the open network.
Open Source: The platform is open-source, allowing users to access and modify it as needed.
Anonymity: While not providing complete anonymity, participants have a degree of privacy when making changes.
Decentralized: Lacks central authority, enabling unrestricted participation.
Token Incentives: Utilizes tokens and digital assets as incentives, promoting efficiency and effectiveness in operations.

Un-permissioned blockchains are pivotal in fostering open, transparent ecosystems where decentralized consensus and participation are paramount. They facilitate many applications, including cryptocurrency transactions, decentralized finance (DeFi), and decentralized applications (dApps), leveraging token incentives to drive network activity and engagement.

Advantages and Limitations of Permissioned Blockchain

Advantages

Incremental Decentralization allows multiple businesses to participate in a controlled manner, reducing the risks associated with highly centralized models.
Enhanced Privacy: Access permissions ensure that only authorized parties can view transaction details, enhancing confidentiality.
Customizability: Enables tailored configurations and integrations to suit specific business needs, fostering flexibility and innovation.
Improved Performance and Scalability: Fewer consensus and transaction verification nodes result in faster processing times and enhanced scalability.

Limitations

Increased Risk of Corruption: With fewer participants, there is a higher risk of collusion or malicious behavior among those controlling the network.
Consensus Vulnerability: Owners and operators can change consensus rules, potentially compromising immutability and integrity.
Limited Transparency: The closed nature of permissioned blockchains restricts visibility to outside parties, potentially reducing trust and oversight.

Advantages and Limitations of Un-Permissioned Blockchain

Advantages:

Broader Decentralization: Un-permissioned blockchains allow more participants to join and contribute to the network without permission.
High Transparency: Transactions are visible to all participants, promoting trust and accountability across the decentralized network.
Resistance to Censorship: The decentralized nature and broad participation make it difficult for any single entity to censor transactions or control the network.
Strong Security: Distributed consensus mechanisms and the inability to manipulate most nodes ensure robust security against attacks.

Limitations:

Poor Energy Efficiency: The extensive computational resources required for network-wide transaction verification contribute to high energy consumption.
Lower Performance and Scalability: Processing transactions across a vast network can strain computing resources, leading to slower transaction speeds and limited scalability.
Less Privacy: While transactions are pseudonymous, they are transparent and accessible to all participants, which may compromise user privacy.

Where Can Permissioned and Un-Permissioned Blockchain Be Used?

Both permissioned and un-permissioned blockchains exhibit distinct architectural characteristics suited to different types of applications. Here’s how they can be effectively utilized:

Permissioned Blockchain

Permissioned blockchain restricts access to data, making it suitable for applications requiring privacy and restricted access. It is beneficial in:

Supply Chain Tracking: Ensuring transparency and accountability in logistics and distribution.
Claim Settlements: Facilitating efficient and secure processing of insurance claims.
Identity Verification: Providing a secure platform for verifying identities and credentials.

These applications rely on restricted access to maintain data integrity and privacy.

Un-Permissioned Blockchain

Un-permissioned blockchain is ideal for building robust financial platforms based on decentralized principles. It finds application in:

Digital Trading: Facilitating secure transactions without centralized oversight.
Donation and Crowdfunding: Enabling transparent and accountable fundraising efforts.
File Storage: This is a decentralized and secure medium for public data storage.

Since Un-Permissioned blockchain imposes no restrictions on access, it offers broad accessibility to users.

Conclusion

The choice between permissioned and un-permissioned blockchain hinges on specific business needs. Permissioned blockchain offers robust privacy and controlled access, suited for applications like supply chain tracking and identity verification. In contrast, un-permissioned blockchain excels in decentralized financial platforms and transparent data storage. Scalability, privacy requirements, and token utilization are pivotal in determining the optimal blockchain solution for enhancing operational efficiency and meeting organizational goals.

In Celebration of July 5’s Workaholics Day, Let Enterprise Search Take Over Some Heavy Lifting

Contributor

June 29, 2024

by Elizabeth Thede, director of sales at dtSearch

As any current, recovering or aspiring workaholic knows, the hardest part of an assignment can be finding the data you need to get started. That’s where enterprise search comes in. It can automatically index all your enterprise data, letting you—and everyone else in your organization—simultaneously and instantly find anything in the full-text or metadata across terabytes of files, emails, etc.

Even workaholics can hear the word “indexing” and shudder at the thought that this might represent more work for them. But indexing is only an effort for enterprise search. Just point to the folders to index and enterprise search will take it from there. All software is different, but using dtSearch® as an example, here is a list of things that even the most diehard of workaholics can relax about.

Don’t worry if your organization has a mix of local and cloud-based files like Office 365, SharePoint attachments, Dropbox items, etc. So long as files, local or cloud-based, appear as part of the Windows folder system, the enterprise search indexer can work with them automatically.

Rest easy: you won’t need to identify individual file types.

The indexer can on its own determine the correct file type of each item through the binary format. Even files with mismatched file extensions like a PDF with a PowerPoint extension and an Access database with an Excel extension will not trip up the indexer.

Nested file formats are also not a matter of concern.

Emails can have ZIP or RAR attachments that themselves contain multiple formats, like a Word file with an Excel spreadsheet embedded recursively inside, and the indexer will cover all that.

Don’t fret that your organization has too much data for enterprise search indexing.

A single index can hold up to a terabyte of text, and there are no limits on the number of indexes that the software can create and end-users can instantly and simultaneously search.

Data updates are no problem.

Enterprise search can automatically update its indexes as often as you want to account for new, deleted and modified files. Such updates will not affect ongoing concurrent searching.

Don’t sweat that searching will slow down at peak times.

The indexes themselves can support multiple concurrent search threads across a network or in an online environment, where each search thread can operate independently with no impact on other search threads.

Be confident that you’ll have the right search options for each project.

Over 25 different search features cover everything from “I don’t want to think too hard about this search request” natural language searching to highly structured full-text and metadata phrase, Boolean (and/or/not), proximity, concept, date / date range, number / numeric range and other search refinements. The software offers multiple possibilities for relevancy-ranking. After a search, view full copies of retrieved items with highlighted hits for convenient browsing.

As a workaholic, you would never mistype anything.

But don’t lose sleep about other’s TYPOGRAPHICKGAL and OCR errors either. Fuzzy searching adjusts from 1 to 10 to sift through these.

Lastly, multilingual text is not an issue.

Unicode support automatically covers hundreds of languages, including European languages, right-to-left languages like Arabic and Hebrew, and double-byte character text like Chinese, Japanese and Korean. A single item can switch back and forth among multiple different languages, and Unicode and enterprise search will follow all of that.

Why Workaholics Day comes the day immediately after the fireworks and cookouts of July 4 U.S. Independence Day is anyone’s guess. But even if you wouldn’t be caught dead slacking off the morning after you stayed up too late with such festivities, consider lightening the load with enterprise search. You’ve earned it!

Elizabeth Thede is director of sales at dtSearch. An attorney by training, Elizabeth has spent many years in the software industry. At home, she grows a lot of plants, and has a poorly behaved but very cute rescue dog. Elizabeth also writes technical articles and is a regular contributor to The Price of Business Nationally Syndicated by USA Business Radio, with current articles on the USA Daily Times and The Daily Blaze.

How To Improve Your Time Management Skills With 5 Effective Tips

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June 27, 2024

by Suman Agarwal, co-founder of Image Consulting Business Institute

Time management is the process of organizing and planning how to divide your time between specific activities effectively. It involves setting goals, prioritizing tasks, allocating time for each task, and using techniques to work more efficiently. It’s necessary to develop time management skills for enhanced productivity, reduced stress, and a balanced work-life.

5 Best Time Management Techniques

Being one of the most essential soft skills to learn, time management is something everyone should master without fail. Here are six of the best time management techniques to help you get better:

1. Time Blocking.

An age-old technique for developing time management skills is time blocking. Here, you can assign a fixed time period to all the tasks. This helps you avoid distractions while performing the activities or tasks and fully enables you to focus on one task at a time, which in turn is great for completing tasks on time.

Further, this effective time management technique sets boundaries by doing one task at a time, promoting efficiency, and eliminating procrastination.

2. Prioritising.

Prioritization is not just a classic time management technique; it’s a powerful tool that can significantly boost your productivity and reduce procrastination. Focusing on the most important tasks first ensures that you’re making the most of your time and achieving your goals more effectively.

Complete the most important tasks from your to-do list first. It’s ideal to pick the tasks that stand tall on the priority list for meeting deadlines. Prioritising will reduce the burden of doing important tasks at the last minute and help you improve your performance.

3. Soft Skills Activities.

Many soft-skill activities involve prioritizing tasks or activities based on their importance and urgency. While some soft-skill activities involve planning and scheduling to achieve specific goals or objectives, improving your time management skills. Here are some ways in which these activities can contribute to the development of time management skills:

Team-building exercises: Engaging in team-building activities fosters collaboration and strengthens relationships among team members, leading to smoother workflow and efficient task delegation.
Communication workshops: Effective communication is essential for clear task delegation, minimizing misunderstandings, and maximizing productivity. Workshops focused on communication skills can improve time management by streamlining information exchange.
Conflict resolution training: Conflict is inevitable in any workplace, but learning how to handle it constructively through training programs can prevent time wastage on unnecessary disputes and promote a positive work environment.
Mindfulness practices: Mindfulness activities, such as meditation and breathing exercises, cultivate focus and reduce stress, enabling individuals to manage their time more effectively by staying present and attentive to tasks.

4. Pomodoro Technique.

The Pomodoro Technique is about breaking down huge tasks into shorter and more manageable ones to complete them easily. Ideally, the task is broken down into 25-minute intervals with five minutes of break between them. After four such five-minute breaks, the interval of the break time is increased.

With this time management technique, your brain is trained to stay focused on the given task without causing it to burn out.

5. Eisenhower Matrix.

The Eisenhower Matrix, also known as the Eisenhower Box or Eisenhower Decision Matrix, is a time management tool that helps prioritise tasks based on their urgency and importance. It’s named after Dwight D. Eisenhower, the 34th President of the United States.

In this time management technique, there are four categories:

Urgent and Important: These tasks are urgent and essential, requiring immediate attention. They are usually deadlines or important tasks that you cannot postpone.
Important But Not Urgent: These are tasks that are important for your long-term goals, personal development, or the success of your projects, but they are not urgent.
Urgent But Not Important: Tasks in this quadrant are urgent but contribute little to your long-term goals or priorities. They are often distractions, interruptions, or tasks that can be delegated or eliminated.
Not Urgent and Not Important: These tasks are time-wasters, trivial activities, or distractions that provide little or no value. Hence, they should be eliminated.

Plan Daily.

Time management skills are essential to develop not only to reduce your workload but also to bring a sense of peace to mind, helping you be stress-free. These skills are necessary to help you outshine in your career as well as your personal life.

Apart from the above effective tips, it is also important to spare a few minutes of your morning to plan your entire day’s activities and tasks. This gives you a clear agenda and helps lower stress.

Suman Agarwal is an award-winning image management professional. She has helped students, home-makers, women on sabbatical as well as people seeking second career alternatives to explore Image Management and Soft Skill Training as a vibrant professional choice. She frequently writes blog posts about the urgent need of image consulting professionals and soft skill trainers in the 21st century and loves guiding people in exploring lucrative career options. Write to her at sumanagarwal@imageconsultinginstitute.com to seek advanced career guidance.

Exploring Careers With A Degree In Business Management

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June 26, 2024

With an average of 1.1 million openings projected every year from 2022-2032, business management occupations are said to increase significantly in the coming years. So, getting a degree in business management will open a gateway of opportunities in different industries. Be it finance, marketing, entrepreneurship, or human resources, this degree holds all the foundational knowledge and skills to pursue a professional managerial career. Being a versatile degree, you can choose any professional domain easily. This guide will provide you with a detailed understanding of the diverse career paths after completing a business management degree.

Let us get started with the basics of a business management degree.

Overview of Business Management Degree

A business management degree covers different subjects to provide comprehensive knowledge and skills to manage and lead businesses effectively.

Curriculum

1. Management principles and strategy management: Introduction to the fundamental concepts and practices of management and planning and implementation of business strategies.

2. Marketing: Basics of marketing principles, strategies, and consumer behavior.

3. Financial Accounting: Understanding different financial statements, balance sheets, income statements, and cash flow analysis.

4. Business Law and Ethics: Understanding business legal issues with contracts, employment law, and intellectual property. Learning about ethical considerations and corporate social responsibility (CSR).

5. Economics: Microeconomics and macroeconomics principles that affect business operations.

6. Human Resource Management: Managing personnel effectively, including recruitment, training, and performance evaluation.

7. Operations Management: Techniques for managing production processes, supply chain management, and quality control.

8. Entrepreneurship: Creating and managing new ventures, innovation, and business planning.

Skills

A business management degree helps in developing critical business skills, such as:

Leadership: development of interpersonal skills including conflict resolution, and effective communication.

Strategic Thinking: The ability to analyze complex business situations and create strategic plans.

Analytical Skills: Subjects like economics, statistics, and data analysis develop strong analytical skills, to make data-driven decisions.

Financial management: Learn skills in budgeting, financial analysis and investment decision-making.

Communication: Effective communication skills in business writing, presentation skills, and negotiation techniques.

Teamwork: Working in teams fosters skills in cooperation, coordination, and project management.

Traditional Corporate Careers

Completing a degree in business management opens several traditional corporate careers. Let us have a look at some of them.

Management Roles:

Example 1: Business Analyst

You can become a business analyst after completing your management degree. Business analysts play a vital role in any organization where they identify the custom business needs and determine solutions to the issues. They analyze the collected data to get deep insights and evaluate the impact of all the new solutions. You need to have solid communication with proper problem-solving skills to excel in this role.

Example 2: Project Manager

The role of the project manager is another potential corporate career option after completing the management degree. The project managers oversee all the projects from beginning to completion. They make sure that everything is aligned with the pre-defined scope and that the project is delivered within the timeline and budget. You will need excellent organizational, leadership, and multitasking abilities to handle the complexities of various projects across different industries.

Example 3: Marketing Manager

Marketing management is another potential corporate career option. The marketing managers have to develop and execute new marketing strategies to grow the brand further. They have to conduct proper market searches to create new plans and manage the existing campaigns for the organizations. Moreover, they have to analyze the performance of all the marketing initiatives and work on the weak aspects to improve them.

So, you have to be creative and possess solid communication skills to fill the shoes for this role. Moreover, you should have strategic thinking and an analytical mind to grow the brand’s profits.

Specialized Career Paths

You can even follow some specialized paths in specific industries after completing a degree in business management.

Finance Sector:

Financial Analyst

The financial sector is another booming sector that has several roles for individuals who have completed a business management degree. A financial analyst is a promising role where one has to help with the financial performance of the organization. They have to guide the organization to make data-driven decisions while progressing forward. You have to analyze the data to prepare reports and predict future financial trends.

So, it is necessary to have a strong understanding of all the financial principles with analytical thinking to deduce complex financial data for deep insights. Moreover, you have to use these insights to create financial strategies and make proper investment decisions.

Human Resources:

HR Manager

Human resources is another lucrative industry where you can grab the role of HR manager. HR managers have to oversee all the aspects of the existing human resources practices and deploy new ones for better overall productivity. They have to manage the employee relations, recruitment process, training and development of all the employees, performance management, and compliance with all the laws.

You must have a proper understanding of HR policies and procedures with the temperament of managing the company’s workforce efficiently.

Operations:

Operations Manager

You can dive into the operations sector of the organization and become an operations manager. The operations managers have to make sure that all the operations in the organization are running effectively with proper efficiency. They have to oversee the overall production and manage all the supply chains. Moreover, they have to deploy strategies to optimize the processes for higher productivity and lower costs.

So, you must possess a proper understanding of all the business processes with solid leadership skills to create a career in this role.

Entrepreneurial Ventures

A degree in business management opens several entrepreneurial ventures that you can pursue and create a successful career.

Starting a Business:

Small Business Owner

You can start your own small business and become its owner. You have to establish and manage the entire business. You have to be responsible for all aspects of the business that will include planning, financing, marketing, and operations. So, you have to be versatile, proactive and resilient. You must have a strong vision to establish and grow your business. Moreover, you should have an adaptable nature to adapt to the dynamic market conditions of the corporate market.

Startup Ecosystem:

Startup Consultant

If you don’t wish to start a business you can explore the consultancy sector and strive for the role of startup consultant. The startup consultants offer expert advice and support to rising entrepreneurs who are new in the industry and are looking forward to growing their businesses. They help startups secure proper funding to grow, develop solid business plans for the future, and counter the challenges of the specific industry.

So, you must have a proper understanding of the startup market with problem-solving skills to help the startup deal with potential issues and grow to the next level.

The Final Verdict

By now, you must have understood the potential of a business management degree. It is truly a well-rounded education that prepares graduates to grab any role in the business world. The best part is its unique blend of both theoretical and practical skills that help in grabbing different management and leadership roles. It is time to enroll in a business management degree today!

How AI Is Shaping The Future Of eCommerce: 5 Predictions For 2024

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June 25, 2024

Welcome to 2024, where Artificial Intelligence (AI) is not just a tech jargon but a crucial element driving the evolution of ecommerce. If you’re an ecommerce business owner, manager, or just a tech enthu, it’s time to get excited. AI is transforming how we operate, market, and serve our customers.

Here are five exciting ways AI is reshaping the ecommerce landscape this year and what it means for your business.

1. Hyper-Personalised Customer Experiences.

In 2024 and beyond, personalisation is no longer going to be a luxury—it’s a necessity. How AI improves CX in ecommerce, you ask? Well, AI’s advanced data analytics capabilities allow businesses to create highly personalised shopping experiences for each customer.

By analysing browsing history, past purchases, and even social media behaviour, AI helps businesses predict what customers want before they even know it themselves.