Ulistic Projects Blog

November 7, 2018

10 Tips for Future CIOs

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.

November 7, 2018

What You Need to Know About Free WiFi in New York Airports

As a seasoned business traveler, you already know that flying through JFK, Newark, or LaGuardia can be a bit challenging—even on a good day. Between dealing with security, flight delays, and hordes of obnoxious fellow passengers, what is supposed to be a smooth transition to your destination can easily turn into a mess of inconvenience and annoyance. Add in a lack of free internet and an ordinary three-hour layover can seem like an eternity with no way to send email, check the weather, or even tackle a little bit of out-of-office paperwork.

Thankfully, the powers that be have come up with a solution to ease the burden on passengers and make it easier to surf, stream, and work remotely. Effective immediately, all New York City travelers have access to four hours of free high-speed Wi-Fi at major terminals. Here’s what you need to know to take advantage of the program.

Which Airports in New York City Offer Free Wi-Fi?

Three major airports in New York City—JFK, LaGuardia, and Newark—now offer free wireless internet. Additionally, New Jersey’s Stewart Airport is also taking part in the program. For business travelers who regularly venture outside of the New York City area, the word that these locations are finally joining the rest of the world by offering free high-speed internet is good news.

And there really is no catch. Passengers are allowed up to four hours of high-speed use per session. The internet works with laptop computers, smartphones, tablets, and other Wi-Fi enabled devices deemed safe for terminal use by the TSA.

How Do You Login to Airport Wi-Fi in New York?

According to the Port Authority, signage was placed inside the terminals with instructions on how to connect to the public network. However, in most cases the setup is similar to connecting at a local hotspot in your neighborhood: select the appropriate connection in your Wi-Fi options, agree to the terms of service, and watch a short advertisement. The connection will reset after four hours, but travelers are allowed an unlimited number of four-hour blocks.

Can You Only Get Wi-Fi in Certain Terminals?

Previously, JetBlue’s Terminal 5 in JFK was the only area with free high-speed internet for travelers. The only option in other terminals included a service called Boingo, which was free for thirty minutes before requiring additional payment and was often frustratingly slow. Thankfully, this new system expands the coverage to all areas of the four airports listed above.

How Fast is the Wi-Fi Connection?

According to the Port Authority’s Robert Galvin, the free airport Wi-Fi connection offers download speeds ranging from 20 Mbps and up to 50 Mbps. This is comparable to most public connections at hotels or your favorite corner Starbucks. And it certainly is fast enough for a quick video chat, downloading a large file, or binge watching a couple of episodes of your favorite television series on Netflix.

Staying Safe While Connected to Public Wi-Fi

Officials at all New York City airports agree that data safety is important. However, business travelers need to adhere to a few additional personal rules to keep their information secure while on a public network.

For example, save viewing sensitive data such as online banking, medical, or sensitive business information for a time when you are on a private connection. Hackers have been known to use large public Wi-Fi networks to mine identity data, so it really is best to not put yourself in a bad situation unnecessarily.

Also, when you can, try to stick to websites with the “https” prefix. This signals that the site is secure, making it much more difficult for tech-savvy travelers on the same connection to snoop on what you’re looking at on your screen. And be wary of any popups that suddenly appear while on an airport connection that ask you for personal information other than the first setup screen when connecting according to the instruction signage.

Are you traveling through JFK, LaGuardia, Newark, or Stewart Airport soon? Look for more information and signage from the Port Authority on-site as to the login process, how to connect, and what to expect when using free airport Wi-Fi in New York City.

November 7, 2018

How to Insert or Remove a Page Break in Microsoft Word 2016

Page breaks are incredibly useful when it comes to formatting your Microsoft Word documents so that they look exactly the way you want them to. The page breaks tool allows you to determine where a page begins and ends. Here is some information about how to insert and remove page breaks in Microsoft Word 2016 as well as the types of page breaks that exist.

How to Add a Page Break

When a page can no longer fit additional content, Word automatically adds a page break. However, in some cases, you may want to add page breaks elsewhere. For example, if you’re working on a lengthy document, you may want to create to add a page break to create a new section. Page breaks are also useful when it comes to adding space around images and other graphics.

Fortunately, the process of creating a page break is incredibly simple.

1. Move your cursor where you want to begin a new page. For example, if you want to add a page break between two paragraphs, you should place the cursor before the first character of the second paragraph.

2. Navigate to Insert > Pages > Page Break. Microsoft Word will then create a new page where you placed your cursor.

You can also the keyboard shortcut CTRL + Enter to add a page break quickly.

Other Kinds of Page Breaks

In Microsoft Word, there are many different types of breaks that you can add.

Column Break: If you have multiple columns in your document, you can use a column break to start adding content to a new column. Using a column break is far better than simply pressing the Enter key to move to the next column. Even if you make changes to the text or change the font size, you won’t have to worry about formatting as long as you use a column break instead of pressing the Enter key.
Text Wrapping: Another type of page break is text wrapping. If you have an image or in your document, you can use a text wrapping break to ensure the rest of the content flows around the image and the caption.
Next Page: The Next Page feature works similarly to the Page Break feature. The main difference is that it creates a new section and gives you the option to use formatting that is different from the prior sections. For example, you can use the Next Page feature to rotate a section to portrait or landscape mode. You can also use different footers or headers or add columns to the next section without impacting the formatting of the rest of the document.
Continuous Break: The Continuous Break feature creates a new section but doesn’t have you begin on a new page.
Even and Odd Page Breaks: This feature allows you to add a section break. You will begin on the next odd or even page, depending on the type of break you pick. You can also format the even and odd pages of a document differently.

How to Remove Page Breaks

It is just as easy to remove page breaks from a document in Microsoft Word 2016.

1. Click on the symbol for Show/Hide.

2. Double-click on the page break you want to get rid of.

3. Click on “Delete”.

Keep in mind that you can’t remove page breaks automatically added by Microsoft Word, However, you can change where these automatic page breaks land so that you can keep certain lines or paragraphs together.

November 6, 2018November 6, 2018

Mobile Note Taking With Microsoft OneNote

If you are new to Microsoft OneNote, let me say it provides a unique way to collect and review all your useful “bits” of information, whether you are at home, in the office or on the move. You can collect a range of different information. You can access your data on various devices. You can share your notes with friends and colleagues. Plus, it’s easy to find the info again quickly!

What Features Are Available With OneNote?

As a Microsoft OneNote user, you immediately feel at home with the familiar menus to format data, change the view and insert different objects like tables, images, audio, and video recordings. The powerful search tools mean that you can find what you need instantly, irrespective of whether you have added it to one page, or stored your information in different sections within the notebook.

Microsoft OneNote is available for Windows, Mac, iOS, or Android devices. All you do is sign into your

Microsoft Office 365 account. Then go ahead and access your online notebooks from anywhere, at any time, on any device. Here are just a few OneNote things you will do:

Go full-screen
Navigate and search
Draw, write, or sketch
Resize note containers
View and manage notes
Easily undo your mistakes
Explore commands on the ribbon
Instead of your files concentrate on your ideas

You can store your notebooks “in the cloud” (on the internet), and they synchronize so that as you make changes, you get the one version of information irrespective of which device you are using. OneNote Notebooks can be stored using Microsoft’s online storage service – OneDrive, or SharePoint in your corporate environment.

Part I – Microsoft OneNote Has Easy Access and Eliminates Manual Saving

You can access your notes anywhere and on any device. Any notes, plans, or ideas are not trapped on a computer at work or home. By signing into OneNote from your Microsoft account, your notebooks are there waiting for you to continue.

You never have to worry about saving in OneNote. It automatically keeps your changes while you work. Even if you closed the app by mistake, or your device goes to sleep, your notes always get saved, so you can continue right where you left off.

Then there’s jotting down with ease because OneNote never runs out of paper. When you’re ready to create new pages, go ahead and tap the plus sign [+] at the top of the sidebar. When you want to edit a page, go to the Recent Notes list and tap the name of that page. And now you’re ready to make changes.

OneNote gives you the option to touch or click where you want to work. In laptop mode when you have a keyboard and mouse connected or tablet mode when you are on the go. Go ahead and tap anywhere on a page to activate the cursor. You can also double-tap existing text to begin a selection allowing you to adjust by dragging the handles.

Part II – Microsoft OneNote Let’s You Write, Zoom and Organize

Writing, sketching, or drawing notes is vital for most who use OneNote. While you can quickly type notes in OneNote, content doesn’t have to be walls of text. Creative ideas and plans do get expressed with the drawing tools that OneNote offers.

Zoom pages with pinch-zooming. In OneNote, it is switched off to eliminate any frustration with accidental magnification when you’re using a pen for drawing. To pinch-zoom in OneNote, find the icon that looks like this [ ≡ ]. Tap that Settings near the bottom, and then Options. Now you have access to turn on the Use touch to zoom option.

Copy text from pictures like a photo of a meal receipt. OneNote can recognize text in any images you’ve inserted. Press and hold the image. Next, tap Picture on the menu. Then tap Copy Text. Now wherever you want it, paste the text there, and move on.

If an Excel spreadsheet is too much, OneNote has the answer. You can create quick and easy tables in your notes to help organize your information. When you’re ready to start a table, you will tap the command Insert > Table. Before we forget, while any table cell is selected, tap the Table tab to delete, insert, or sort your rows and columns.

Part III – Microsoft OneNote Let’s You Share, Collaborate and Helps You

Sharing notes the way you want gives you a unique way of staying in control. When syncing your content to the cloud, it doesn’t mean they get automatically shared with others, unless you consent. Notes remain private unless you give explicit permission to view and edit your notebook files to specific people or groups.

When you want to collaborate with others in your notebooks, you will need to invite them. You can invite them using any of these options:

Any version of the OneDrive app
The desktop version of OneNote
From any browser, you would go to OneDrive.com

Microsoft knows every now, and then you might need help with OneNote, but you’re not sure where to look. For step-by-step guidance with OneNote, find the icon that looks like this [ ≡ ] tap Settings at the bottom, and then Helps. There you can search and see all the available OneNote Help articles for you to review.

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

November 6, 2018November 5, 2018

Quebec Government Embraces Cloud First Strategy

While a growing number of businesses are embracing the power of improving technologies, entities like government agencies are still catching up to speed. But why?

Given that government organizations should be striving for deeper engagement and more transparent communications, they haven’t always been as quick to seek ways to improve operations overall. This includes IT initiatives. Failure to keep up with IT trends has become problematic because citizens expect a modern government to implement some of the same innovations being made in the private sector. This takes form in mobile services, enhanced security and the ability to deploy government assistance faster and more efficiently.

Some countries, like Canada, are leading the way. The Treasury Board of the Government of Quebec recently published “Rénover l’état par les technologies de information”. This global modernization strategy has become the first comprehensive review of the organization’s IT workforce. Its publishing has paved the way for the organization to implement best industry practices. This has allowed for greater transparency and better continuity of services provided to Canadian citizens. Most notably, the report has encouraged the Government of Quebec to make the switch to a “Cloud first” strategy that will unlock the door to greater efficiency and functionality for the organization’s IT services.

Canada Embraces Cloud Computing

Cloud computing is one of the many technological advances government agencies are embracing. According to some studies, global spending on public cloud services and other improvements to infrastructure is expected to increase over 20% by the end of 2018. Tools like Microsoft 365 and other advanced services can hold a range of benefits for organizations in the public sector. Some of these benefits include connecting better with citizens, collaborating more effectively across departments and agencies, and increasing mobility.

Due to the success found in the Rénover l’état par les technologies de information, the National Assembly approved the implementation of a Cloud Broker, which was created to ensure an efficient and transparent process for obtaining cloud services.

Adopting a cloud-first strategy can be a big move for any organization. This rings truer for government agencies. It’s important that stakeholders fully grasp the variety of risks, challenges, and opportunities associated with a cloud-first strategy.

While there are a number of significant benefits to making the transition to the cloud for your organization’s IT, such as cutting costs, increasing scalability and providing more secure infrastructure, there are also areas that need to be evaluated beforehand. These include potential security, financial and legal issues. Once organizations make the decision to transition to a cloud-first strategy, it’s important they understand that cloud computing must operate under a shared responsibility model, with different parties responsible for different aspects of operations. This means that cloud initiatives must be run with top-down support. If all the moving parts fail to work together, you may run the risk of data breaches, missed deadlines, cost overruns, and other consequences.

Cloud Services Catalog

Implementing a cloud-first strategy is quite the undertaking and not one to be taken lightly. With projects of this scope, security is always an issue. To ensure a smooth transition for all parties involved, the CSPQ created a Cloud Services Catalog that would allow agencies to contract pre-qualified cloud services or vendors. These vendors are obligated to meet a mandatory set of requirements set forth by the Government of Quebec. These requirements contain a set of rules regarding privacy, operations, security and the protection of personal data.

Mass E-mail Migration

Microsoft Canada was among the first on the approved list of vendors. Since then, the company has joined forces with the Canadian agencies to provide guidance and coordination with the goal of streamlining operations and making the government’s IT operations more efficient. The organization has been working closely with government stakeholders to increase privacy, mobility, security, and capacity. In just 6 months, Microsoft has helped migrate 190,000 mailboxes to Office 365. The migration is among the fastest in the history of the organization. Since then, there has been a noticeable improvement and a range of benefits, including lower costs.

Canada isn’t the only country embracing Microsoft’s cloud services, and it’s certainly not the first. Major government agencies across the world have already made the switch. In June of 2014, Los Angeles County announced it would be deploying Microsoft’s cloud-based Office 365 program across over 100,000 employees spanning 30 departments. At the time, this transition marked one of the Microsoft’s largest state and local government implementations.

Making the switch to a cloud-first strategy is only the beginning. It marks the start of a long process of assessments and decision making. This shift, while arduous to implement, can pave the way for big benefits for large and small businesses alike. Cloud computing is the wave of the future, and a growing number of organizations are bound to reap the benefits by embracing this technology.

November 6, 2018

What Is Background Blur With Microsoft Teams?

Remember that hilarious video of a BBC news reporter talking with a professor on camera, only to get upstaged by his family behind him? The professor is sitting in his chair. The door opens behind him and in marches a little arm flaying child. Then a baby wheels in on a rolling chair. Finally, a woman dashes in, stares straight at the screen, freaks out and then drops to the floor grabbing each child. All three scurry away, and the door shuts behind them. The professor is stunned, embarrassed and apologetic. He didn’t have Microsoft Team’s Background Blur that blurs video backgrounds, but his video did go viral.

What Is Microsoft Teams and Background Blur?

Microsoft Teams is a platform of cloud-based team collaboration software. Teams are only one part of the multiple suites of applications offered by Office 365. The core capabilities in Microsoft Teams include file sharing, calling, business messaging, and video meetings. Businesses of all sizes can use Microsoft Teams.

One of the main features inside Teams is Background Blur. According to Microsoft Team creators, the new background blur feature was added and permits users to remove embarrassing distractions and have only the focus placed on the individual, and not what’s behind them. The feature is currently available to all Microsoft Office 365 commercial customers and clients of Microsoft Teams and has discovered the capability is already available within their video calls.

Two Crucial Technology Details About Background Blur Most Don’t Know

Background Blur was announced back in July 2018. Along with getting the free version of Teams, users can now blur the background of their video calls. That feature is still currently available. However, if you don’t read the fine print, there are issues with performing facial recognition most don’t know. The blur feature is an AI-driven feature, and it will use facial recognition to automatically blur out your background while the individual is in a video meeting using Teams.

The technology to perform facial recognition, that identifies the person and understands where the background to be blurred begins and where the environment not to be blurred ends. The technology only runs on computers recently equipped with Advanced Vector Extension 2 (AVX2) graphics installed. AVX2 is what Microsoft Teams must use to blur the background after it figures out the position of the user.

Advanced Vector Extension graphics get supported when a computer has a post-Haswell chipset. If your current tablet, laptop or desktop background blurring is working, then you have the needed chipset; but if it’s an older device, it may not function. Also, be aware that a computer’s CPU has quite a bit of processing to do to locate a face and then blur the background. If you are running a loaded system, it will impact any other work on your PC that is in progress.

How To Blur Your Background During Your Video Call?

To start blurring your background, during a video call, you have two options you can try. Press the CTRL+Shift+P combination. If things go blurry, during your video call, you know that your PC has this feature.

The second option is to start your video from a meeting. Then, click on the Ellipsis icon from the meeting options and choose Blur My Background.
To un-blur your video, choose the Ellipsis icon again and select Don’t Blur Background.

Now let’s say you want your background already blurred, as you join a meeting before others see your video. It’s easy. Toggle the Video Blur icon to remove distractions from the start.

Let’s Go Ahead And Summarize What We’ve Discovered

Organizations use Microsoft Teams as a communication platform. It allows their employees to work and chat one-on-one. They can join company-wide video conference calls, share documents, and more. At the 2018 Microsoft Ignite developer conference, the company announced it added a few exciting features to the Teams platform, surprisingly the ability to add background blur during a live video call.
According to the Microsoft Teams creators, the new background blur feature was added to give users the mechanism to remove distractions behind them and have individuals focus on the person in front of them. The function was rolled out, and customers of Microsoft Teams will find that the capability is already available within their video calls.
The blur feature is an AI-driven feature, and it will use facial recognition to automatically blur out your background while the individual is in a video meeting using Teams. The technology only runs on computers recently equipped with Advanced Vector Extension 2 (AVX2) graphics installed.
Advanced Vector Extension graphics get supported when a computer has a post-Haswell chipset. If your current tablet, laptop or desktop background blurring is working, then you have the needed chipset; but if it’s an older device, it may not function.

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

November 6, 2018November 6, 2018

What Is Essential Software for Modern Law Firms?

Libraries of legal tomes, rooms of cabinets full of case files, dusty desks, and ink-stained fingers—no longer do these images represent the legal profession. Modern law practices continue to evolve to meet current and potential demands. The use of IT is one of the primary ways in which they have adapted to an advancing society.

Legal clients frequently require more intuitive service. They want to ensure that the legal counsel they hire is equipped to protect their data. The legal sector has heard their requests and has scrambled to comply.

There are many ways in which contemporary law firms can utilize technology to improve their practice. Better, more user-friendly communication platforms ensure that clients can easily reach their attorneys. Security software that is updated as needed keeps their personal information out of the hands of criminals. Plus, there are many different managerial aspects that can be streamlined with the use of technology.

Law practice management software is quickly outdated though. Here are the basic categories of essential software for the modern law practice.

Productivity Software: What Does It Do?

Productivity software handles all of the basic tasks that an office assistant would do. These include—but are not restricted to—the following:

Building databases and spreadsheets
Creating digital presentations
Drafting documents
Typing and sending emails

Although Microsoft Office has long reigned supreme as the ultimate—and for a while, the only—productivity software, there are now several to choose from. The top contenders include Corel’s Word Perfect Suite and Google Apps for Work. In a range of price points and capabilities, the right software is available to meet the needs of any law firm.

How Does Customer Relationship Management Software Improve a Law Firm?

Customer Relationship Management (CRM) allows firms to collect data about how they convert leads into clients. It tracks phone-calls and social-media interactions. CRM also provides basic contact management tools, as well as the ability to add notes to existing files for better record-keeping.

Additionally, the reporting function presents data in the form of charts and graphs to make it usable at a glance. Lawyers can then use the data collected to analyze their marketing platform and improve their strategies. Investment in this type of software pays off in a larger client base.

What Are the Leading Document Assembly and Management Software Options?

Document assembly software is designed for adding specific details to customize existing templates. It allows for the addition of client information or even non-generic clauses. Some of the premiere standalone or integration options include the following:

Draft Once
FileMaker Pro
HotDocs
LEAP
Outlook Signatures
Pathagoras
Smokeball
Turner
XPressDoc

Although many of these offer some level of document management, standalone tools provide more comprehensive control. Some of the top functions for these types of applications are check in and check out features, offline access, matter management, version control, global search capability, integration with related software, and integration with existing folder systems.

What Does Accounting and Billing Software Provide to a Law Practice?

Time and billing/accounting software is vital to the modern law office. Generally, even the most rudimentary options should perform a few basic tasks. It should have a convenient time-capture method and an invoice construction feature. It should also provide reporting tools that either are customizable or able to be integrated with trust account reconciliation management. Being able to track time and export that info to an invoice template that can be sent for billing is also a perk.

More comprehensive software offers more. Computerized spreadsheet tools like Quicken, Intuit, and GnuCash are well-known business accounting management options. These are useful in law firms. Legal-specific time, billing, and accounting tools, however, are more helpful. Tabs3/Practice Manager and PCLaw handle the basic tasks that the others do, but they have trust accounting features and other law-specific tasks as well.

What Are the Leading Case Management Software Options?

Case management software—or practice management software—provides a bit of an all-in-one for law firms. Many are cloud-based systems that require no additional purchases to supplement them.

Most include management features to handle calendars, contacts, documents, time, billing, and accounting features, as well as an email archive. There are a large number to choose from. Some of the top options are Action Step, Case Fox, Clio, Legal Files, Practice Panther, Pro Law, Tabs3/Practice Master, and Zola Suite.

Since many of these are cloud-based, users are able to access any updates or new features as soon as they are released.

In Conclusion

With comprehensive case management, document management, billing and accounting software, among others, a law office runs more smoothly. The monotonous and time-consuming daily tasks are handled effortlessly. The data is compiled for review without human interaction.

Using intuitive software and cloud-based tools, they can continue to adapt to the most advanced technology. By implementing a strong system of office management software, lawyers can focus their efforts on the aspects of the job they are passionate about instead.

November 5, 2018November 15, 2018

Stop Letting Being Busy Paralyze You From Being Productive

Today people are busier than ever. Whether you are overloaded at work or have mounting commitments away from the office, facing a long list of to-dos can quickly overwhelm even the most productive person. Luckily there is a way to get things done when the number of tasks you need to complete seems never-ending. The next time you begin to feel anxious about how much you need to get accomplished, try a few of these simple tricks to keep up your spirit and conquer your anxiety of a full schedule.

Ways to Become More Productive

Write a daily agenda. Even if you keep a monthly calendar or a weekly planner, invest 5 or ten minutes in the morning to physically write the day’s plan. Throughout the day, after finishing a task from your list, cross it off. Many people find that it is more effective and satisfying to create your daily agenda with a pen and paper, but you may prefer using your computer or phone.

Prioritize the tasks and your time. Everything is essential, but not everything is equally important. Separate your daily agenda tasks into different categories based on how essential they are for you to complete by the end of the day. Some tasks may have a real deadline, such as enrolling your child in school or paying a bill, while others may have an artificial deadline like finishing a book or going to the gym. Tackle the tasks with real deadlines first, and only when they are completed, move start working on assignments with artificial deadlines.

Break longer projects into smaller tasks which are easier to complete. Sometimes just thinking about the enormity of a project is enough to stop you from starting it. When you are facing such a task, try to break it down into chunks which you can tackle more easily. Ideally, you can break the longer projects into daily or weekly tasks, or even into smaller mini-tasks which you can complete in under 30 minutes.

Work in quick sprints, not marathon sessions. Since the vast majority of people do their best work in short bursts of time, don’t force yourself to concentrate for more than an hour or so at once. Working in this manner highlights the benefit of creating mini-tasks can help your productivity. Set a timer between 30 to 60 minutes, and work without interruption on one or two mini-tasks. When the timer goes off, take a quick break to refresh yourself. You will be amazed at how many mini-tasks you can through during the day.

Focus on the task at hand. Smaller tasks and shorter work sessions mean that it should be easier for you to focus all of your energy on the job at hand. Give your undivided attention to what you are doing. That means eliminate distractions including as a messy desk, chatting with co-workers, browsing online or chatting on your phone. If you can, try to clear from your head any thoughts which are not directly related to the task. In the beginning, this may seem impossible, but over time it gets easier.

Create rewards and consequences. Some people are motivated by carrots, while others by sticks. Discover which type of motivation factor works best for you and use it to your advantage. If you are someone who works better when you know a treat is waiting for you at the end, use your break between work sessions to reward yourself with something you want, a cookie or checking social media. If you are the type of person, who needs a good scare to get you to finish things, design a penalty for not completing a task like giving ten bucks to your office mate.

Be realistic when it comes to your expectations. Face it. Things are not always going to go as you plan. Deadlines get moved up; people get sick; appointments are missed — life happens. When the unexpected occurs, what makes the difference between a smooth recovery and huge issue is your ability to recover and make the changes necessary on-the-fly. Learning to adapt when things don’t go smoothly is critical for staying productive while busy. So never overpromise results and always give yourself enough extra time in case of a disruption.

Be kind to yourself. Whatever you do, don’t wind up pushing yourself too hard physically or emotionally. Control your stress levels, take care of your needs, and always remember there is still tomorrow.

Staying productive no matter is a skill even the most talented businesspeople isn’t born knowing is, but the tips above can help.

November 5, 2018November 5, 2018

Everything You Need To Know Before You Install A VoIP Phone System

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.

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.
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.
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.

November 4, 2018November 4, 2018

Apple Introduces New iPad Pro tablets, Revives MacBook Air

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.