Tag Archives: cybersecurity

Self-Help Kiosks vs. Human—The Pros and Cons

Self-Help Kiosks
Cybersecurity, Technology, , , , , ,

Self-help kiosks are becoming more commonplace by the day. There used to be a time when a business would consider it extremely high-tech if they had touchscreen monitors installed. But today, you can find these kiosks in many establishments.

A self-help kiosk is an interactive screen that gives information or provides a service with a simple touch. They are extremely versatile and used in a wide range of applications. They are popular in fast-food chains, bus stations, and banks.

What Are the Pros of Self-help Kiosks?

There are plenty of benefits to self-help kiosks, which is why companies are all eager to get them for their store or office. Here are the top three that come to mind.

Contactless Transactions

This benefit is the biggest reason for the rise in popularity of the self-help kiosk. During the COVID pandemic, direct contact between people was avoided as much as possible. Kiosks allowed businesses to continue despite the restrictions.

Increased Profits

Kiosks can give you huge savings on a lot of resources, especially on manual labor. Much of the work is easily automated, which reduces operation costs for our business. You can also give your employees’ new jobs, which is a great way to make them more efficient and productive.

Faster Service

Your business will serve more customers because of the faster transactions and the shorter line. This would also ultimately translate to a much more pleasant customer experience.

Adaptability and Connectivity

You can adapt kiosks to perform multiple functions. For example, you can add a way to pay to your self-ordering kiosk so your customers can buy right away. You can also connect your kiosk to a cloud-based CMS that lets you display any content on your kiosk screens.

What Are the Cons of Self-Help Kiosks?

Just like any piece of technology, there are also some concerns you can encounter with a self-help kiosk.

Customer Frustration

Even in this digital age, many customers will not be comfortable using kiosks. Some might find it difficult to navigate the channels, while some will be hesitant to touch the screen altogether for fear of making a mistake.

Maintenance Downtime

When your system shuts down for whatever reason, maybe a power failure or an error, the kiosk will shut down with it. Also, there will be the need for repairs and maintenance. During these times, your kiosk will be temporarily out of commission, and business will be at a standstill.

Significance of Self-Help Kiosks in the Hybrid Workplace

A hybrid workplace is a convenient blend of remote work and in-house operations. The exact setup depends on the company. There might be days when employees work remotely, and days when they must physically be in the office.

No matter what the specific schedule, a hybrid work environment means fewer employees working in the office or the commercial establishment compared to a 100% in-house setup. This brings up the significance of the self-help kiosk. These machines can provide information or perform transactions for employees, clients, or visitors without human interaction. A business can go on as usual despite the reduced staff.

Setting Up Self-Help Kiosks for Your Business

It is possible to install your own kiosks, but the process can be complex. In most cases, it is advisable to seek the help of a managed service provider with relevant expertise. Here at our company, we can set up your kiosks and integrate them seamlessly into your system. We have already helped dozens of clients set up kiosks as part of the transition to a hybrid workplace.

To learn more about kiosks and how they can benefit your company, just call us. We can schedule a consultation where we can discuss the best kiosk solutions for your business.

How Small Businesses Attract Large Enterprise Talent

how to attract large enterprise talent
Cybersecurity, Manage Service, Technology, , , , , ,

It is a goal for all companies, big or small, to attract and keep large enterprise talent that is suitable for the different areas of the business. After all, the more competent your workforce is, the more chances you have of successfully growing your business. But attracting talent is not always easy, especially for the SMB sector.

The Challenge of Attracting Large Enterprise Talent to SMBs

For large, multinational corporations, there is no problem because everyone is eager to work for them. These companies usually offer attractive benefits. We are not just talking about monetary compensation. There are also many other perks, like a prime office location, free training, travel opportunities, and many more.

For the SMB sector, it can be a big challenge to attract and keep large enterprise talent. The main reason for this is the limited funds. As a small or midsize business owner, what can you do to pique the interest of enterprise talent and get them to work for you? It will please you to know that there is a lot that you can do.

Effective Ways of Attracting and Retaining Large Enterprise Talent

While you might not have the prestige of working for a multinational company, you can build a highly competent workforce through other means. Here are some ways to help attract large enterprise talent.

Partnership with Local Institutions

One of the most effective ways to attract large enterprise talent is to partner with local institutions, particularly schools or community projects. You can launch a mentoring program or an internship and invite top students from the local college to sign up. Fresh minds have much to offer and can be a precious addition to your company.

Make the Hiring Process a Wonderful Experience

If you hope to lure and attract large enterprise talent into signing with your company, you must give them a wonderful experience throughout the hiring process. From the interview to onboarding, you need to make them feel valued. This increases the odds that they will want to work with you and stay with your company for a long time.

Maintain Communication with Qualified Candidates

A lot of the candidates that show up might be qualified, and you can only hire so many. In that case, keep in touch with the ones you did not hire. Let everyone know you are expanding and there might be open positions available soon. By doing so, you are essentially creating a filtered talent pool that would be precious for future hiring.

Offer a Hybrid Work Environment

One of the silver linings of the COVID pandemic is that most employees got to experience the many perks of a remote work setup. Because of this, it is now a smart move to offer a hybrid work environment, which is a mix of both remote and in-office work. Candidates will find this highly attractive because of the flexibility and improved work-life balance.

How a Managed Service Provider Can Help Attract Large Enterprise Talent

As you can see, there are plenty of things that you can do to attract and keep large enterprise talent. Some of these things need more preparation, and others might require the help of a professional. Switching to a hybrid workforce, for instance, might cause changes in your network and data infrastructure. No worries because a reliable managed services provider can take care of all that for you.

Here at our company, we have specialists that can help make the acquisition of top talent for your business a much easier task. We can set you up so well that the best candidates will soon swarm to you like bees to honey. Call us and we can talk more about how we can help you build the workforce of your dreams.

The Role of Technology in Businesses in 2023

Technology in Businesses in 2023
Cybersecurity, Manage Service, Security, Technology, , , , , , ,

Technology has always played a key role in businesses across different industries in 2023. But recently, this role has grown even more because IT is used more and more in businesses around the world. To draw more customers and stay ahead of the competition, you should understand all the changes and use them to your advantage.

Technology Trends in Businesses to Look Out for in 2023

grow your business in 2023

Many trends in technology are useful in growing businesses in 2023, as discussed in our first blog this month, 8 Ways Technology Will Grow Your Business in 2023. You don’t need to use all of them – just take your pick depending on your industry and the nature of your business. There are some kinds of technology, however, that can add value to just about every industry, like the following:

Artificial Intelligence

Commonly used today for online shopping, digital assistants, and fraud prevention, AI can make your operations faster and more efficient while freeing up a lot of time and other resources for your business.

Cloud Computing

Cloud-based solutions virtually take away the boundaries to how you operate your business. It gives you access to software, infrastructure, and other resources you could only dream of before.

Automation

So many processes that used to be done manually are now automated through technology in businesses, especially in 2023. This transition speeds up operations, reduces the risk of human error, and makes for a much better customer experience.

Internet of Things

Now that software, sensors, and other things can connect almost everything, we are living in the age of connectivity. The IoT provides many ways for businesses to save time and increase efficiency, but it also opens up new security risks, so we must exercise due caution.

Vendor Management Technology in Businesses in 2023

Working with vendors is a more complicated task than many assume. To reduce risks, you need to keep costs low and get the most out of your vendors. With the aid of a good VMS, all this is possible without breaking a sweat.

The Importance of Cybersecurity Technology in Businesses in 2023

importance of cybersecurity in 2023
Technology Trends for CybersecurityAs technology in businesses advances in 2023, so does the risk of online threats. For this reason, it is more important than ever to protect your business with a dependable cybersecurity solution.

As we talked about in our blog post on week 2, Top 8 Technology Trends and How They Impact Cybersecurity, each current technology trend has its own impact on cybersecurity. Some are good, and some are not so good. You can read more about it by checking out our blog here.

Perks of Working with a Managed Service Provider

Changing your IT provider

Staying updated on all the changes in technology in businesses can be tiresome in 2023. Typically, business owners would not have the time to do it themselves. But there is a way to enjoy the benefits of technology for your business—by partnering with a managed services provider.

If you currently already have an IT provider but are not always happy about the service you are getting, it might be time to make a change. Changing your MSP is a bold move that must not be taken lightly. In our week 3 blog entitled When Is It Time to Change Your IT Provider? we list some signs that tell you to find a new provider.

A reliable MSP can give you all that IT offers and make it work for your business, just like we do at Our Company. We can provide everything from simple IT consultation to business automation, vendor management, cybersecurity, and anything technology-related that can help grow your business.

One of our areas of expertise is vendor management. This is quite an underrated aspect of business that needs more attention as it deals with crucial business expenses that impact growth. Click here for more about our vendor management services and how they can benefit your business.

When Is It Time to Start Changing Your IT Provider?

Changing your IT provider
Cybersecurity, Manage Service, Security, Technology, , , , , , ,

Changing your IT provider is not an exciting task. Finding a new one can be stressful. You need to find one that will serve your needs to the highest standards and that you can trust to keep your best interests at heart. Because of the difficulties, many companies choose to slug it out with the one they have even though they are no longer satisfied with the services they are getting.

For some businesses, this kind of setup might still be manageable. But what if your company is already taking losses because of poor service, and you don’t even realize it? How do you know if changing your IT provider is already a must? Here are five signs that you should look out for.

No Dedicated IT Team

When working with an IT provider or managed services provider, you should have a contact person or team you can work with. This plan contrasts with just relying on whoever answers your call. A dedicated team would understand your business and your corporate goals and know how to tie it up with the right IT services to produce the best results.

No Monthly Contract

If you need to pay your provider by the hour, or for every time you require their services, this will not be very economical for your business. When they do not address the problem, and you would need to call them again and pay them again, it makes little sense. You should change your IT provider to one that offers a fixed monthly contract, regardless of how many times you call them.

Use of Outdated Resources

Technology changes constantly. Just because the software or equipment your provider initially used was innovative at the time doesn’t mean that it won’t need to be replaced. A good MSP knows to upgrade resources so that the service they give you is always better or, at the very least, at par with current industry standards.

Inadequate Data Security is A Sign to Start Changing Your IT Provider

Cybersecurity can never be emphasized enough, especially in the world of business nowadays. The threats are getting more rampant and dangerous each day, and companies need to be vigilant. Switch If you feel that your IT provider is not giving you the best cybersecurity solutions your business requires. It doesn’t matter how much they excel in other aspects. It’s not worth it if your business does not have protection.

Changing Your IT Provider Who Is Slow to Respond

When you contact your IT provider, they should give you a prompt response. Every second wasted during a critical network issue or system failure can cost your business greatly. They should at least communicate clearly with you regarding the issue and their proposed solution for a problem.

Final Thoughts on Changing Your IT Provider

The temptation of staying with your current provider can be strong. At least you already know their limitations rather than take the risk on a new provider altogether, right? But then, this would mean continuing to take losses, waste resources, and miss out on great business opportunities.

If you are considering changing your IT provider, Our company is ready and capable of taking over. We have a wide range of managed services for many different industries.  We’d be happy to be your IT partner. To learn more about the services we offer, click here.

If you’re looking for help managing your vendors, download our Free Infographic for helpful tips. You can also call us so that we can discuss the best IT solutions for your business.