Category: IT How To

There were fears of job losses and machines taking over, but what’s happening in the financial services industry is anything but that. The finance sector is claiming greater benefits with the assistance of Artificial Intelligence. Due to the unscripted power of AI, the creation of the New-Collar worker has emerged. The potential of AI evolving the next avatar of the financial services industry is more than evident.

What 4 Areas Has AI Started Transforming the Financial Sector?

Regardless of where you sit on the AI argument, it’s evident; Artificial Intelligence has made an enormous impact around the world. There will be no turning back. Big data, customer satisfaction, and more convenience are no longer on the horizon. All are here to stay. Organizations and institutions will be required to collaborate and foster a favorable environment if they want to be successful.

Currently, the financial industry has extended an olive branch of acceptance, wanting more interaction with this technology. The four areas AI has made the biggest impression with banks, lending institutions, and creditors are listed below.

1. Risk Assessment:

The basics of AI is gathering and learning from past data. In the Financial Services sector, where records and bookkeeping are paramount to any business is how AI will succeed. Credit cards, for example, use credit scores. Those scores are gathered and used to determine who is and isn’t eligible for a credit card.

Now, let’s add that person’s number of loans currently active, what their loan payment habits are, and the current number of existing credit cards in their possession. All of that personal information gathered together, gets used to customize the interest rate on a credit card, and based on that collected data the financial institution may or may not offer their card.

When you have a system, that can access, scan, and sort through tens of thousands of personal and business financial records instantly; the results will provide AI with an accurate solution, and make or not make a recommendation for a loan or credit, all based on what it has gathered and learned. That reduces any risk the lending institution has to assume.

2. Fraud Detection And Fraud Management:

Every business does their best to reduce their risks that may surround them. Financial institutions are no different. The loan a bank extends to you is someone else’s money, which is why financial institutions and banks view fraud with extreme prejudice and scrutiny. And how artificial intelligence gets used for fraud detection, identification, and security.

From what AI has learned from past spending habits it can point out odd transaction behaviors. For instance, when using a credit card in one country, but only a few hours early, the card got swiped in another country, thousands of miles away, on another continent.

Furthermore, there is a unique feature about AI when used for fraud detection. Due to not having any bias about learning, when AI raises a red flag on what’s considered a regular transaction and a human being corrects that, the system will learn from that experience and remember that behavior. From that point forward it begins to make more sophisticated decisions about what can be considered fraud on any particular account.

3. Financial Advisory Services:

Begin to look forward to more Robo-advisors. Robo-advisors or Robo-advisers are a class of financial adviser that provide financial advice or investment management online with moderate to minimal human intervention. They offer digital financial information based on mathematical rules or algorithms.

Besides these advisors, there is another interesting advisory field emerging known as bionic advisory. Along with calculations from machines, it will include human insight. That is where collaboration comes into play. AI is the component, and the human offers viewpoints, and together provide options and is more efficient. It becomes a balance between machine and human interaction with future financial decisions.

4. Trading:

Data scientists and computers determine future patterns in the market, and investment companies rely heavily on them. Their findings do affect investments and selling when predicting the future accurately. That is another area the financial industry is transforming with machine learning, because of their ability to gather and crunch massive amounts of data quickly.

These devices can be taught to observe patterns from past prediction data and forecast how these particular patterns might repeat in the future. Even with anomalies, AI machines can be programmed to study and find the anomaly triggers to assist with any future forecasting.

From what AI has learned it would then make portfolio suggestions, based on each person’s demand and the individual’s risk appetite. So if a person has a lower risk appetite, they would receive alerts when the market might fall, but then the high-risk appetite person can count on AI for decisions on when to buy, sell, or hold stock.

In Conclusion

Artificial Intelligence is transforming the financial industry now and not in the future. It’s transforming that sector through risk assessment, fraud detection, fraud management, financial advisory services, and trading. It helps companies with saving money on hiring humans and also avoiding human errors in this process. With AI still in its budding stages and it’s rapid learning speed, the finance sector will evolve quicker. As you continue to watch the industry, expect that the prospects are going to lead to smarter trading, minor losses and excellent customer experiences.

Did you find this article informative? If you liked this one, check out our other content we think you’ll find interesting.

Cybersecurity is one of the main concerns for most businesses, and for a good reason. Companies of all sizes, from small mom-and-pop businesses to large corporations like eBay, are facing cyber attacks. Each year, cybercriminals become more and more innovative when it comes to the types of cyber attacks they launch against organizations. Here are three types of cyber security solutions your business must have to protect against cyber attacks.

Perimeter Security

The first type of cyber security solution your business should have is perimeter security. This type of solution serves as a barrier between the Internet and your network. Mobile devices, cloud technologies, and web services provide a significant number of new opportunities for organizations. However, these technologies also add to the number of solutions and services that need to be kept secure. If there is a vast web of connections, it can be easy for just one malware to invade and spread throughout the entire network. To deal with such threats, you need to establish a perimeter security framework that will guard access to vital data, applications, and services.

Some examples of perimeter security solutions include the following:

• Firewalls
• Intrusion preventions system
• Spam protection

Firewalls refer to a set of protocols that dictate what can and cannot enter your network. A firewall works by monitoring outgoing and incoming traffic. Firewalls scan where payloads are coming from and determine whether these sources are trusted. Firewalls are typically used to prevent Trojans and other malware from entering a network. However, firewalls can also be used to prevent employees from sending sensitive data outside your network.

The main disadvantage of firewalls is that they can be circumvented if hackers send payloads that are trusted to avoid detection. Therefore, you should use an Intrusion Prevention System (IPS) along with your firewall. An IPS is a solution that is intended to identify malicious network activity. IPSs use “anomaly-based detection” to look for patterns in data, applications, IP addresses, and network packets that may suggest an intrusion. An IPS are able to identify intrusions even if they come from a trusted source. The IPS is a useful solution for identifying hackers who make changes to already existing malware to avoid detection. IPS kill, or quarantine identified malicious payloads to prevent the spread of malware through your system.

Some research studies indicate that as much as 91 percent of cyberattacks begin with a phishing attack, which is often sent through email. The hacker sends an offer or requests to encourage users to click on the links, which are full of malware. Spam solutions work by flagging emails and blocking ads to make sure employees don’t have to see threatening or annoying emails. Some spam solutions come with a “safe browsing” feature that checks the destination of an URL to ensure that it is safe.

Intranet Security

Another type of cyber security solution is an Intranet security solution. An important of cybersecurity is protecting individuals devices and computers from malware that has managed to infiltrate your local network. The most common strategies for Intranet security include the following:

• Updating and patching software
• Anti-malware software

Human Security

Many computer users mistakenly believe that the only treats they need to consider are innovative hackers and malware attacks. A side effect of this is that many companies pour all their resources into intranet security and perimeter security, only to ignore human security. IBM conducted a study in 2016 and found that 23 percent of all security breaches are caused by human mistakes, such as having weak passwords, connecting to networks that are unsecured, and answering spam emails. If trusted individuals in your organization perform these actions, spam blockers, firewalls, and anti-malware software become useless.

Here are a few tips that will help you ramp up human security within your organization.

Employee Training

You should offer comprehensive security awareness training to your employees so that they are equipped with the skills to protect themselves and your organization from a variety of threats. You can hold training seminars in-house, or you can get support from a third-party to train your employees.

Your employees should learn about the different types of malware, such as worms, ransomware, and Trojan horses. Teach your employees about the capabilities of each form of malware so that they know the warning signs if their device becomes infected.

Establish a strong password policy. Teach your employees about the importance of a strong password and inform them of proper techniques for setting good passwords. Not only is it right to use complicated passwords with symbols, numbers, and uppercase and lowercase letters, but it’s also important that the password is lengthy. You should also have your employees use different passwords for different applications. That way, if a hacker is able to get a hold of a password, they are still not able to access all of the applications within your network.

Security Testing

Not only do you want to train your employee, but you also want to conduct security testing to ensure your employees have learned all the information you want them to know. Security testing is excellent for reinforcing the security practices you want your employees to adopt. According to some studies, security testing has helped some companies reduce susceptibility to threats by up to 20 percent. There are many different software solutions out there that you can use to test your employees. For example, some solutions send fake spam emails to employees. If employees fall for the spam emails, the solution corrects the actions of the employee and tells them what they should do in the future.

For more information about the types of cybersecurity solutions that your business should have, don’t hesitate to contact us.

Microsoft has announced that Microsoft Teams is about to become the primary communications client for users of Office 365. This means that an upgrade from Skype for Business to Microsoft Teams is imminent, and your company and its IT department will need to be prepared.

Microsoft Teams

Teams is a major upgrade compared to Skype. It provides a host of collaborative tools that center around what Microsoft describes as a chat-based hub. It supports enterprise voice and video calling using Skype for Business. Going beyond Skype, it integrates with existing Office 365 services such as Azure, SharePoint, Yammer, Outlook, OneDrive, and Exchange while providing access to team-enhancing tools such as intelligent Bots and Connectors.

Microsoft now feels that users can switch to Teams without using the functionality they have become accustomed to in Skype for Business –teams are considered to be at “feature parity” with Skype for Business. It has spent more than a year preparing Teams for this transition and has pointed out that nearly 70% of their enterprise customers who are using Skype for Business are already using Teams. While change is often met with resistance, it seems that this particular upgrade will prove quite useful in the long run.

The Upgrade Is Not Really Optional

The first thing to realize is that this move from Skype to Microsoft Teams may sound as if it is an optional upgrade right now, but in time it will prove to be mandatory. This upgrade will be pushed on users, and it is better to be prepared and have a plan in place to make the move. For the time being, however, Microsoft supports their clients being able to make the move on their own timetable – while still encouraging them to start using Teams immediately.

There are Two Types of Upgrades Available

For smaller organizations, there is an option known as Upgrade Basic which will upgrade the entire organization at one time. This is great for businesses that don’t have the IT resources to make the move on their own and is basically an automated upgrade. The automatic upgrade offers became available on November 1. For those who prefer or need a more phased upgrade approach, Microsoft also has an Upgrade Pro option. Note that there is an abundance of tools Microsoft has made available to assist with the transition process for both types of upgrades.

Administrators Have Some Control Over Team Creation

If your company is subscribed to Azure AD Premium, then IT administrators can limit who is able to create teams. This is possible because Groups and Teams are interconnected. Limiting who can create teams will be used to keep the number of teams created in check until the transition process to Microsoft Teams is complete.

Be Aware of Potential Compliance Issues

Teams is designed to serve as a central hub for groups to collaborate. Because of that design, there are project specific spaces that can include features such as file storage, SharePoint sites, and guest access through Gmail or Outlook accounts. These types of features can be problematic when it comes to compliance issues for areas such as healthcare, government, education, or legal applications. These compliance risks will need to be carefully addressed early on during your company’s adoption/transition process.

File Sharing

Decisions regarding file sharing need to be made before transitioning, also. First, note that if your organization is using Teams, there is no need to be using network file shares. Another factor to consider involves sharing procedures for Teams. When sharing files in Teams, a system needs to be established for how users will be accessing shared files. Resulting issues can include unnecessary duplication and users accessing different versions of the same files.

Microsoft Has Provided Guides for Teams

There is a Quick Start Planning Guide and Adoption Guide from Microsoft that provides a wide overview of what Teams can be used for and how to best implement it, along with some video content to help users better understand the potential of Teams. It would be a wise move to check out the materials Microsoft has made available and to do so well before your company is forced to make the change to Teams.

Conclusion

No official sunset date or end-of-support has been set for Skype for Business, but the transition to Teams is imminent. Now is the time to make sure your company is ready to make the change. You are strongly encouraged to take a look at the materials that Microsoft has made available to help companies and employees make the transition as smoothly as possible. And don’t forget, as you follow your own roadmap to upgrading to Teams, that you need to keep in mind critical (but easily overlooked) issues such as file sharing and compliance.

Are you considering taking another step forward with your IT career? With the dynamic, disruptive technologies emerging today, the opportunity to lead the technology initiatives within an organization is an enticing prospect.

To be a chief information officer today means having a deep technical background, leadership expertise, and the ability to influence other senior leaders. CIOs today need to become bold trailblazers, helping companies identify, invest in and implement the key innovations that will transform organizations.

What does it take to be a successful CIO. Here are 10 tips.

1. Remember that Perfection Is Not the Aspiration

Many CIOs have grand visions and ideas for how a company may use technologies to fuel transformation. The reality, however, is that most organizations have resource constraints and may be hesitant in taking big technology leaps. That’s why even small steps can be transformative. For a company with no strategic IT plan, developing the network infrastructure and improving the website may be big steps. Getting to perfection is, in most cases, impossible.

2. Seek to Understand Through Data

Data-driven decisions are going to be better for the organization. That’s why smart CIOs look closely at the data to inform their work. The challenge is that many organizations do not have the systems, discipline or procedures that are necessary to collect, analyze, use and fine-tune the right data. Data can serve as the evidence that allows leaders to move faster and accelerate innovation. CIOs need to understand what foundational data is needed, understand the processes that collect, store and report that data, and ensure that others in the organization are using a similar approach.

3. Focus On Fundamentals

There are a lot o big, shiny new toys for CIOs to play with. Virtual reality, automation, cloud solutions, the Internet of Things, quantum computing and 3D printing are sexy and enticing ideas, but be careful. The IT fundamentals need to be locked down before you can layer on new ideas. Those fundamentals — infrastructure, connectivity, access and security — have not changed in many years. Get these areas right and you’ll be a stronger organization in a better position to look at new approaches.

4. Advocate for Digital Transformation

Increasingly, CIO roles are changing. Gone are the days when managing new system installations and “keeping the lights on” are the primary responsibilities. Once those fundamentals are in place, it’s time for the CIO to step up and lead digital transformation. CIOs are uniquely positioned to integrate the silos that exist in any complex organization. They can bring together the disparate parts of the enterprise, buoyed by their knowledge of existing technologies in use, and integrate those with supply chain needs, marketing and sales, and customer relations. It’s the holistic approach to digital transformation that’s necessary to compete. CIOs should seek to be in the driver’s seat.

5. Automate Where You Can

Automation is a major factor in digital transformation today. Whenever possible, look to automation that can simplify processes, free up human and financial resources, and improve productivity. There are capabilities to automate many manual processes today, from document creation to manufacturing. Finding those solutions and successful implementations that show return on investment can be persuasive ways to convince other leaders to invest in further transformation.

6. Create a Shared Understanding

One challenge most CIOs face is the unfamiliarity with many technologies. Legacy systems are working just fine, say the doubters. That’s why persuasive education is so important. Building a shared understanding is a two-way street. It starts with the CIO gaining a keen understanding of the core business of each corporate unit. It then needs to extend to helping leaders of those units understand what IT is and what’s capabilities are. This shared understanding allows for better conversations about needs, challenges and opportunities. Whether you work in an agile organization or under a more rigid approval process, the shared understanding helps to create partnerships and more effective collaborations.

7. Build and Nurture Trust

This adage is true in any workplace, but the need to establish and build trust is critical. Trust takes a long time to gain and can be lost quickly. At every point in your career, you should work on building, maintaining and strengthening trusting relationships. How? Do what you say you will do. Don’t gossip. Focus on solutions that are shared wins and that help your partners be better and more effective at their work. Trust often leads to advocacy and support, especially in the c-suite.

8. Make Vision a Shared Experience

Leaders need to be visionary, carving out a path with inspiration that compels others to follow. But while CIOs should be adept at creating a vision, they need not create it alone. In fact, it’s powerful to engage others at your level and at others in the development of the vision. You can shape and guide the discussions, but others should either see themselves in the final product or know that their ideas were carefully considered before a decision was made.

9. Don’t Overly Govern

Governance structures are necessary. Policies need to be developed, oversight needs to be established, protocols need to be followed. But too much rigidity and by-the-book thinking can slow down processes. In small companies, governance may be as simple as the CEO, CFO and CIO being on the same page about a direction and need. While governance is important, it shouldn’t completely dictate every aspect of your work.

10. Practice Self-Care

CIOs often put in long hours, stretching themselves to be responsive and responsible. But they also need “white space” every day, unscheduled time where they can take a walk, play a game, exercise, or otherwise recharge.

For CIOs, it’s a heady time, full of opportunity and curiosity. Thinking about the practices, skills and strategies you’ll need when you become a CIO — and practicing them before you take the job — helps prepare for future success.

Phone systems might not be the most exciting entity, but they are a necessity for almost every business. Unfortunately, many business owners have dealt with phone system failures and the inevitable fallout that occurs when a major line of communications is down. With this in mind, Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) offers a new alternative phone system that is designed to replace traditional business communication platforms.

What Is VoIP? 

It’s important to note that VoIP is a service, not a brand. This uniquely designed telecom solution delivers the dynamic communications that fast-paced businesses need to thrive. Through VoIP, businesses can send and receive calls digitally; they can also enjoy the cost savings, enhanced productivity, and flexibility that VoIP offers over traditional telecommunications solutions. In this vein, VoIP is built to leverage the high-speed power and reliability of the Internet to help businesses remain agile, focused, and available on a 24/7 basis.

The Top Benefits Of VoIP

VoIP offers many of the same features that are found in traditional systems. However, unlike traditional systems, VoIP does offer several key benefits.

1. Voicemail To Email.  A modern VoIP system can easily transcribe voicemails before sending them via an email to the designated recipient. In an age where business operators are constantly on the go, reading a voicemail can not only save time, but it can ensure that all of the vital message details are already recorded in an easy to view, comprehend, save, and share format. This unique feature also allows users to check their voicemails online, which is especially convenient for any business associates that work remotely or are constantly traveling.
2. Call Routing And Conference Calls.  VoIP is designed to easily complete call routing tasks. At its core, call routing refers to a telecom’s ability to distribute incoming calls to certain personnel based on a number of factors, including a caller’s language preference, the time of day, the requesting department, or the extension number. In addition, to call routing, VoIP can be used to host conference calls. In fact, the days of hassle-free virtual meetings are here thanks to the simplicity of most VoIP solutions. Whether business owners want to host video conferencing meetings, manage the number of call attendees, share computer screens, record calls, or share documents, VoIP has the capabilities needed to transform the traditional conference call into something that is far more robust.
3. Remote Management.  One of VoIP’s top features is that the entire system can be managed remotely. This feature is especially beneficial for small businesses who do not have the internal IT team needed to manage a robust telecom solution. Outsourcing the VoIP phone system management can deliver cost savings, while also increasing productivity, streamlining services, and ensuring that only a single internal VoIP administrator is needed to perform any updates or make changes to the system.

How Does Your Business Switch To VoIP Solutions? 

Migrating from a traditional phone system to a VoIP system is typically a straightforward process, especially when working with a proven VoIP solutions provider. With this in mind, there are two key factors that you will need to assess before you can migrate to a VoIP solution. These factors are bandwidth and SIP.

Understanding Bandwidth Requirements.

Bandwidth typically refers to the Internet connection that you receive from your Internet Service Provider (ISP). In layman’s terms, the bandwidth refers to the amount and speed with which your business is able to conduct Internet-based actions, such as uploading or downloading files, streaming videos, emailing, etc. In order for a VoIP phone system to function properly, you must have enough bandwidth available. The correct amount of bandwidth will ensure that you can conduct all of your daily Internet functions and make Internet-based calls that are high quality and delay free. Since bandwidth requirements will vary depending on the VoIP system, it is important that you speak with your VoIP solutions provider to determine if you have the bandwidth required to enjoy a VoIP solution.

Understanding SIP Requirements.

Once you have determined that you have the bandwidth needed to support your new VoIP solution, you will need to consider Session Initiation Protocol (SIP). SIP ensures that the physical telephones used by you and your employees will be able to make the calls as you expected regardless of whether they are connected to a traditional landline or a VoIP system. Your selected VoIP solutions provider will provide you with the recommendations needed to implement a SIP network, as well as the guidelines needed to asses your phones and any other associated hardware.

Once you have assessed the bandwidth and SIP requirements, you and your VoIP solutions provider will be able to easily transition your business from a traditional phone system to the modern VoIP telecom solution.

The Bottom Line: It’s Easy And Effective To Switch To VoIP

Switching to a VoIP solution is about more than simply upgrading your business communications system. Instead, VoIP is designed to help you meet your business communication requirements and increase ROI, while simultaneously providing the flexibility and scalability that you need to continue to grow. At its core, VoIP phone systems are the efficient, fast, and reliable solutions that businesses need to succeed in today’s fast-paced and digitally driven world.

At a special event in October 2018, Apple unveiled two new versions of two of its IPad Pro tablet, a new MacBook Air and an updated Mac Mini.

For Australian businesses, Apple’s latest product innovations provide additional options for providing employees with the tools they need to be more efficient, productive and profitable. Here’s a closer look at the announced technology enhancements.

IPad Pros

Enhancements to the company’s premium tablets have been rumoured for months. The new versions bring over some recent features of the newest iPhones, including an edge-to-edge display and FaceID authentication.

The newest iPad Pros come in two sizes — an 11-inch model and a 12.9-inch model. The models feature a range of storage options, from 64 GB to 1 TB. Here are some other specifications and features:

• Design. The new models are slightly thinner — 5.9 mm thick — than previous versions. The bezels aren’t as small as those on the latest iPhones. The design changes mean one radical departure — elimination of the Home button, meaning TouchID may be on its last legs across all of Apple’s newer mobile devices. There also isn’t the notch found on new iPhones, allowing for use of Apple’s True Depth camera functions, including a proximity sensor, ambient light sensor, front-facing camera, and dot projector that fuel the FaceID tech.
• Technology. These iPad Pros use Apple’s Bionic SoC, giving users a 90 percent multi-core and 35 percent single-core performance edge over 2017’s models. Charging has also changed from the Lightning port to a USB-C for the first time among iPads and iPhones. The USB-C lets users charge an iPhone from the iPad and connect cameras and displays. There’s also no headphone jack.
• Other Features. What else is included in the new iPad Pros? Here are a few other key features:
  • Gigabit LTE and eSIM capability
  • Bluetooth 5 support
  • Four-speaker audio with tweeters and woofers
  • 12-megapixel camera that shoots 60 frames per second at 4K
• Availability and Pricing. The latest iPad Pros are available as of 7 November 2018. The 11-inch model will start at $1229 and $1529 for the 12.9-inch model. Those base models include wireless access only and 64 GB of storage. Additional connectivity and storage are extra.

MacBook Air

This device has long been in need of an upgrade and the newest model delivers more speed … and a higher price tag. The MacBook Air has been a popular option for those users looking for a lower price and lighter design.

The resolution on the latest model is nearly twice that of its predecessor, with a 33.25-cm display at 2560×1600 pixels. Here’s a look at some of the other enhancements to the MacBook Air.

• Design. The latest model includes a Force Touch trackpad that’s 20 percent larger than earlier Airs. The keyboard has also been redesigned. Apple has also moved beyond offering its standard silver color option by adding gold and space gray selections.
• Technology. There are two memory options — 8 GB or 16 GM. The MacBook Air comes with a Core i5 processor (8th generation) at 1.6 Ghz. This version removes the SD card reader and USB-A ports. Instead, there are two Thunderbolt 3 USB-C ports. This feature allows users to work with external graphics processors and hubs that allow the Air to be converted into a desktop machine if necessary (though dongles likely will be needed).
• Availability and Pricing. The MacBook Air is available as of 7 November 2018. The starting price is $1849, compared to $1499 for the older model.

Mac Mini

Apple last updated the small desktop computer four years ago. This workhorse has several processor options from Core i3 to Core i7 and includes up to 64 GB of memory. It features several ports, including HDMI 2.0, two USB-3, four Thunderbolt 3 and a headphone jack. For an additional fee, a 10-GB Ethernet port is available.

Improved performance is evident throughout the new Mac Mini. The base model may still be 8 GM of memory but that memory works faster. Better cooling capabilities allow the machine to run at a 70 percent greater maximum sustained power level. It starts at $1249 for a 3.8-Ghz i3 processor, 8 GB of memory and 129 GB of storage. A model with the turbo-boosted processor starts at $1699. Like the other new products, it’s available 7 November 2018.

Apple continues to provide businesses with new and innovative products that enhance productivity and operability that can be a differentiator, leading to better business outcomes.

Productivity is key for any business in today’s competitive market. Even the largest companies can fall victim to dips in productivity, and this can happen for many reasons. Whether there are distractions in the workplace, too much work to do with not enough employees, or simply a lack of effort from a few bad eggs, productivity loss is costing businesses…big time.

Businesses are looking to new, innovative ways to encourage and maintain optimal productivity, and much of this begins with communication. While email still reigns supreme for team communication, productivity apps are gaining traction, especially with the new and improved variations available today.

Project managers are faced with many tasks on a daily basis. From calls and meetings to daily project evaluation, there isn’t always enough time in the day to complete everything efficiently. Productivity tools help cut down on some of the grunt work, making team communication and project management easier than ever before. Where some businesses may spend thousands, or even millions of dollars in search of tools to encourage productivity, many of today’s free apps are just as effective. Apps like these can help your team with all types of projects and issues.

Accountability

In addition to streamlining communication across projects, productivity apps are also useful in maintaining accountability among team members. Assigning tasks for the whole team to see makes it easier to determine where the ball has dropped. This is particularly important when identifying opportunities.

Multi-Tasking

Given that the modern worker has become accustomed to multi-tasking, it’s important to keep organized to reduce the chances of important files becoming lost or misplaced.

Easy Communication

With a growing number of remote workers now taking to the workforce, implementing simple methods of communication are important as ever. Today’s productivity apps are helping businesses do more with less.

Productivity apps allow team members to communicate openly, with the ability to share files and other important documents in real time. They’re one of the many tools businesses are using to keep employees focused on the tasks ahead. They can help to keep up with work easier, more balanced, and they can help employees maintain better control of their time.

Here are a few of today’s most popular productivity apps:

Trello

Trello is one of the most popular productivity apps, and for good reason. There are seemingly endless possibilities when utilizing Trello for business. This free app is designed for both solo and group work, so whether you’re a team of one or many, organization is well within reach.

Trello distinguishes itself from other apps in that it’s centered around boards. By unloading your ideas in a uniform space, you can move on to priority tasks and tackle them individually. This makes it easier to visualize tasks and keep team members on the same page. It also offers users the ability to set clear deadlines for tasks, ensuring accountability. From creating to-do lists to tracking projects and managing editorial calendars, Trello is filled with a range of tools that makes it well worth the download.

Asana

Asana is one other productivity app businesses are flocking to for organization, and it’s a quite effective one at that. Emailing between team members and searching for project materials internally can waste time and cause added stress for employees. Productivity apps like Asana let team members know who is doing what, with project deadlines and materials easily visible for optimal efficiency. Less visual than Trello, but still heavy on communication and organization, Asana is a way to break down large projects into small tasks. This has many benefits for big businesses with many departments, each responsible for their own unique work flow.

Basecamp
While many productivity apps are similar in function, their interfaces are what set them apart from others. Basecamp is a popular productivity app helping organizations work better together and is one of the easiest to use. Team members are able to view comments and discussions at a glance, which is extremely useful when there are multiple projects in the works. Streamlined communication can help minimize the need for meetings. Members are able to chime in on Basecamp discussions without missing a beat, and with real-time updates, accountability is easier than ever.

Zoho

Zoho does more than the typical productivity app, and while it may be more useful for larger businesses, small organizations can still find some use here with team collaboration and pipeline management. From performance analytics, to customizations, Zoho is built to help teams get it all done through one platform. Its team collaboration tools include things like a document library, calendar and feeds so employees are all on the same page.

Wrap Up

Productivity apps aren’t just a means for improving your daily workload. They’re a way to minimize the unnecessary stress that comes with managing and working on multiple projects. Businesses both big and small are reaping the benefits of productivity apps, and it’s doing big things for their bottom line. Will your company be next?

Efficiency in the workplace is paramount to success. This concept is widely held across office environments everywhere. But while technology plays an increasingly valuable role in the way the world does business, that’s not to say it doesn’t come with its own unique set of drawbacks. Laptops and mobile devices are presenting problems within the workplace, particularly in regard to productivity.

In the workplace, screens often serve as barriers, and today’s businesses are tasked with coming up with new ways to minimize these technological distractions. One effective method? Banning laptops from meetings.

The research is clear: laptops and mobile devices are no good for productivity, especially when it comes to meetings. Banning laptops and mobile devices from meetings can boost both productivity and efficiency. From reducing the amount of time it takes to conduct a meeting, to encouraging employees to be more present and engaged, banning laptops may be the next big trend in business.

The Dangers Of Multi-Tasking

Technology that’s been designed to improve our productivity can actually serve as culprits. They can interfere with our point of focus, whether that be our boss or colleague during an important meeting or a lecturer in the midst of a seminar. Laptops distract from learning, both for users and for those around them.

Research shows that multi-tasking is a killer of productivity. This doesn’t apply to just individual productivity, either. It can also have negative effects on the organizational level, which is causing problems for businesses everywhere, regardless of industry. One report concluded that multitasking within organizations is even impacting the global economy, resulting in a loss of $450 billion.

The human brain simply does not retain information as well when there is a distraction like a laptop or mobile device competing for attention. There are numerous studies that back up these claims. In fact, when employees use their laptops or mobile phones during a meeting, they’re known to do a number of things that hinder productivity, including asking questions that have already been answered. It may seem like nothing but a minor inconvenience to some, but gather enough instances like this, and you’ll see how much time (and money) is at stake.

Not only is multi-tasking thought to hinder productivity, but it also makes employees more prone to distractions. Other negative effects include poor critical-decision-making and underperformance.

Benefits Of The Ban

There are several benefits to banning laptops from meetings. From boosting creativity to cutting down on meeting time and even encouraging engagement, banishing laptops from the meeting room may be doing your company more good than you initially realize. This is why a growing number of managers are making the call.

Here are some of the benefits associated with banishing laptops from meetings.

Time Management

Commanding complete attention during company meetings can lead to more valuable, engaging discussion. A meeting in which all participants can easily understand and contribute input concisely is an effective one.

More Engagement

One of the most important aspects of a meeting is being present in the moment. Staring at your screen makes this impossible. Employees fixated on their laptops won’t be able to make eye contact, and their body language may be off-putting during a meeting. Banning laptops during meetings is just one way to promote engagement and the sharing of ideas.

Better Comprehension

Writing notes by hand has been scientifically proven to help in information absorption. While taking notes during a meeting may at times be necessary, using a laptop to do it is not. Encourage teammates to use pen and paper to increase comprehension.

Tips To Take Control

Business owners and managers can do a number of things to further promote engagement during meetings. Once you’ve made the decision to ban laptops, you may want to put a solid system into place. Establishing a firm “no laptop” rule during meetings will help things remain consistent across the board. You may even consider a check-your-laptop-at-the-door rule that will help drive the point on home with your colleagues. If you are hosting a remote meeting where laptops are necessary, implement a rule that states all other apps and windows must be closed. This small step alone can help increase comprehension and cut down on distractions.

Banning laptops may seem futile if you are wasting time in other ways. A good rule of thumb is to let employees know how long the meeting will be, as well as whether or not there will be breaks. Not only is this common courtesy, but it can also help minimize the anxiety that may come with not having instant access to emails and texts.

If you know that your meeting will consist of need-to-know information, encourage fellow employees to use pen and paper. By providing these tools ahead of time, you’ll make it that much easier for your team to follow through.

These small steps can do wonders for promoting productivity and helping your employees make the most of their time in the office. While laptops are commonplace in today’s office setting, and often vital for productivity, leaving them off the table for a while (literally) can act as the first step toward more meaningful meetings.