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Business Finance Financial Market Technology U.S

Fujitsu to Divest Entire $1.1B Air Conditioning Unit Stake; Bloomberg

Fujitsu Ltd., a leading Japanese global information and communication technology company, is reportedly divesting its stake in Fujitsu General Ltd.—the unit that manufactures cooling systems.

The declaration came during its quarterly financial announcement in October 2022. The company revealed that it was planning the sale of its stake in non-core affiliates—Fujitsu General, Shinko Electric Industries Co., and FDK.

Fujitsu owned around 50% and 59% stake in Shinko Electric and FDK respectively—as of the end of September 2022.

Not a Partial Divestment

Fujitsu shared plans to sell its entire 42% stake in Fujitsu General Ltd. as the Japanese IT coalition looks to speed up a business overhaul.

Fujitsu General Ltd. shares are worth an estimated ¥140B ($1.1B).

“We have set certain criteria for the sale and aim to sell 100% of the 42% stake,” stated the CEO Takahito Tokita in a recent interview. “We won’t do it halfway.”

Fujitsu Receives Substantial Bids

In line with its divestiture strategy, the company kicked off the auction process after it had found several long-sought customers, such as Bosch. The initial bids for the procurement were submitted by January 20, as decided. 

Fujitsu General received around ten bids from high-profile strategic investors and private equity firms. However, the company has not yet narrowed down the list of bidders, said ION Analytics. 

Why Is Fujitsu Divesting its Air Conditioning Unit Stack?

The CEO marked the divestiture as a part of the company’s effort to ensure more streamlined operations, reported Bloomberg, a leading financial news website. 

Even though the CEO refused to comment on the negotiations, he said the company was “happy to have interested parties.”

Fujitsu is the sixth-largest technology services provider in the world (based on yearly revenue). In its heyday, this Japanese giant manufactured almost everything—from smartphones and laptops to integrated chips. 

In order to focus more on IT and communication systems, the IT firm is now divesting non-core affiliates and has already sold off much of its consumer product lineup.

For the fiscal year ending March 31st, 2023, the company predicts its operating profit to reach a staggering ~$3.11B (¥400B)—a jump of 83%. 

However, analysts unanimously agreed that the profit will be ~$280B (¥359B). Fujitsu General expects its net sales to rise 37.3% to a total of ~$297.2B (¥390B). It predicts an operating profit of ¥18B for the fiscal year through March this year—an upturn of 113.2% year-on-year. 

In the report, the CEO underscored the COVID-19 outbreak and geopolitical pressures regarding Taiwan as the biggest factors making Fujitsu extremely vulnerable.

According to the report, policymakers worldwide are vying to hold sway over the semiconductor technology used for military purposes. 

According to RF Globalnet, the USA is pressuring Japan to help clip China’s chip industry. In this circumstance, when Fujitsu is hugely dependent on Taiwan’s semiconductors, Tokito said the divestment would help the company prepare for any emergency.

Navigating Carve-out Challenges to Success

Divestiture is a cross-functional process that takes place on a legal, financial, organisational, and technical level. Even though equity carve-out is a standard strategy of business management among consolidated and dynamic enterprises, the permanent split-off of the IT poses challenges to participants. 

Leveraging a high-end IT carve-out consulting service, such as US-based Fission Consulting, can streamline the transaction process and significantly shorten the separation timeline with minimal business disruption.

Wrapping Up

Being at the forefront of hyperconnected business transformation, Fujitsu combines the power of IoT with AI, and network solutions. The aim is to help future-focused companies cope with technological shifts. Regardless of the reasons behind the divestiture, Fujitsu hopes the divestment would help the company optimise business operations while also maintaining the supply chain.

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Media & Communications Technology Telecom U.K U.S

How Will Artificial Intelligence Change the Way Businesses Optimise Their Websites?

A short while ago, there was a news story about how Google was panicking about ChatGPT, OpenAI’s “chatty” chatbot. 

ChatGPT is an AI-powered tool which has access to information on the internet—all the way up till 2021.

Ask a question, get the answer.

Of course, the answer might not be completely accurate or original. It does rely on potentially old information and only what’s available online, after all.

However, what worried Google is the fact that it gives an answer and not a list of pages. A complete, coherent answer. 

The Google “Code Red”

Google CEO, Sundar Pichai, declared a “code red” over the threat. And, the company’s founders, Larry Page and Sergey Brin, who had not been involved in the running of the company, were now attending meetings with executives.

The goal was to push out the company’s own AI capabilities to combat the threat of the chatbot.

So, on the 7th of February 2023, Google launched Bard, an AI-powered chatbot that would compete against ChatGPT.

What’s more, Bard has a slight edge over ChatGPT. It can draw information from the internet whilst ChatGPT currently only has the information it was “fed”.

End of story, right?

Nope.

The launch of Bard (and the ever-growing popularity of ChatGPT) leads to the question: Will AI kill SEO?

AI Chatbots and Digital Marketing

Digital marketing, currently, has been focused on search engine optimisation (SEO). This term encompasses all the activities a company undertakes to make its website and web pages rank high on search engines.

Whether by oneself (with the right technical knowledge) or with the help of companies like Geeky Tech, businesses try to make their online presence attractive to both Google and users.

Businesses need to appeal to search engines because they determine if—and where—their web page shows up when users search for a relevant query. 

However, chatbots that look up questions and distil an answer from various sources might change the way people search online.

The New Way of Searching 

Instead of typing out their search queries and then looking for the answer in the hundreds and thousands of pages that show up, users would be able to use chatbots to give them the answer right off the bat, in natural language.

Suddenly, Google SERPs—Search Engine Result Pages—would no longer be relevant. 

Why go through thousands of results when someone can use AI to get a complete answer, which takes a fraction of the time? 

Google’s competitor, Bing, is already in the process of integrating ChatGPT into its search page, complete with the chat feature. So, a person can have a conversation with the bot, complete with follow-up questions. 

With these AI-powered entities answering user queries like a person would, traditional SERPs might be on their way to becoming obsolete.

So, with no more SEO, what will digital marketers do?

No, they won’t lose their jobs. They’ll simply have to move from SEO to AEO.

What Is AEO?

AEO, or Answer Engine Optimisation, is actually a part of SEO which focuses on providing answers to search queries instead of just making the page optimised for search robots.

It’s not a new concept, either. 

AEO became a part of SEO jargon when mobile voice search started gaining traction. People would verbally ask the search engine on their phones a question. And, instead of giving a written answer, which one would need to read, the helpful Google lady would read out the answer.

Since voice search was growing rapidly, and was expected to be the primary way people would search in the near future, AEO became a hot topic.

At the same time, there was also position 0 on the SERPs—the much-coveted featured snippet. Ask a question and find the answer on the search page directly, right at the top.

Trying to “win” that spot required AEO.

Again, it is still a component of SEO, but AEO has a different focus. Instead of appealing to search robots, it aims to answer questions real people are asking. 

SEO is all about taking a keyword and optimising a page for it. AEO looks at the whats and whys of the question—the search intent. Then, it tries to answer with that intent in mind, succinctly and knowledgeably.

People-Friendly Content for AEO

So, how does this come back to chatbots and search engines?

If people start using search differently, then, in order to keep up, marketers would need to make sure they are answering people’s questions. It will no longer be enough to satisfy crawlers—they would need to be people-friendly as well.

In conclusion, AI-powered chatbots will change the landscape of search and search engine optimisation. 

Categories
Pharmaceuticals & Biotech Technology U.S

Cell Therapy Bioprocessing Market Projected to Reach $30M by 2028

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The healthcare industry is heavily investing in developing safe and effective treatments using cell therapy technologies as an alternative to traditional treatments.

The result: The cell therapy bioprocessing market is ballooning at breakneck speed. 

The global cell therapy bioprocessing market size is predicted to hit a revenue of a staggering $30,052.61M by 2028—up from $ 11,192.50M in 2020. The market is expected to grow at a CAGR of 13.14% during the forecast period between 2020 and 2028, according to a report by Insight Partners published in medgadget. 

Cell therapy bioprocessing

Cell therapy bioprocessing is a subfield of bioprocess technology that blurs the lines between bioprocessing (biopharmaceutical manufacturing) and cell therapy. 

The goal is to develop robust and reproducible manufacturing processes for producing therapeutic cells by substituting, rebuilding, repairing, or regenerating damaged cells, tissues, and organs. 

Cell therapy bioprocessing holds great promise to revolutionize healthcare and treat chronic conditions—such as cancers, age-related blindness, macular degeneration, stroke, and more.

Driving Forces Behind the Cell Therapy Bioprocessing Market Growth

The growing need to efficiently treat chronic ailments has pushed research activities in cell and gene therapy bioprocessing which, in turn, is likely to propel the market’s growth over the coming years.

The increasing number of clinical trials conducted or underway is another leading factor contributing to the rapid growth of the cell therapy bioprocessing market.

Case in point: as of 2022, 1221 active clinical trials were conducted on cell and gene therapies, among which 342 were in phase 1/1b.

The report marks the advancement in genome editing as another driving force behind the cell therapy market growth. 

By allowing scientists to add, remove, or alter DNA in the genome at specific points, genome editing can provide effective treatment solutions for chronic ailments. 

Medical scientists hope that genome editing will act as a step-change in treating monogenic hereditary diseases—such as hemophilia, cystic fibrosis, muscular dystrophy, and Huntington’s disease. 

Interventions into the immune system can also help cure acquired diseases—e.g., AIDS or cancer. The potential of genome editing technologies, such as TALENs and Zinc-finger nuclease, has opened avenues in the modern therapeutic sector having the potential to accelerate market growth. 

Furthermore, the gradual invention of innovative technologies to support the development of avant-garde therapies has further aided market expansion. For example, CRISPR-Cas9 is one of the widely adopted genome editing technologies that yield higher accuracy. Being the cheapest yet highly efficient system to alter genetic traits in a cell, CRISPR-Cas9 has significantly fueled research activities. 

The Cell Therapy Bioprocessing Market Segmentation

According to the report, by technology, the market is segmented into a) lyophilization, b) bioreactor, c) electro-spinning, d) ultrasonic lysis, e) control-flow centrifugation, f) viral vector technology, g) cell immortalization technology, and h) genome editing technology. The bioreactor segment reigned in the cell therapy bioprocessing market, accounting for the largest revenue share in 2020. On the other hand, the genome editing technology segment is forecast to grow at the highest CAGR of 14.5% through the projection period.

By cell type, the market is segmented into a) immune cell, b) stem cell, c) hematopoietic stem cells, d) pluripotent stem cell, and e) human embryonic stem cell. The stem cell was the highest market-share segment in 2020 and is projected to record the highest CAGR of 14.0% during the forecast period.

In addition, by indication, the market is segmented into a) oncology, b) orthopedics, c) cardiovascular disease (CVD), c) wound healing, and more. Among the segments, oncology held the largest market share in 2020 and is foreseen to record the highest CAGR of 14.3% through the projection period.

The report highlights some of the key players in the market, such as Fresenius Kabi AG, Asahi Kasei Corporation, and Sartorius AG. Being at the forefront of adopting growth strategies, these companies strive to capitalize on the vast untapped potential of the cell therapy bioprocessing market.

How COVID-19 Impacted the Cell Therapy Bioprocessing Market Growth

The market growth of cell therapy bioprocessing was affected to a certain extent, with more focus put on curbing the onslaught of the COVID-19 pandemic. Research activities halted for a certain period as research institutions had to slow down their trial enrollment process. 

In addition, the global pandemic harmed the production and supply chain efforts in the biopharma industries. 

However, the market now continues to advance, with many leading businesses planning to make their therapies more accessible. 

Navigate Challenges to Success

Researchers are trying to reap the full therapeutic and commercial benefits of cell therapy bioprocessing technologies. For that, emphasis must be placed on overcoming the challenges regarding today’s existing capabilities to generate clinical-grade cells at commercially relevant scales.

However, the development process for bringing cell therapies to patients is highly intricate. The process involves multiple bio-production and bioprocessing steps that need to be executed optimally to confirm the required safety and effectiveness of the final product.

With that said, for cell therapy products to hit the expected success, taking a process-driven approach to bioprocessing operations is critical.

The solution: leveraging a high-end bioprocessing solution with predefined workflow templates for each step in the pipeline

Such a class-leading system like Sapio Sciences’s Bioprocessing solution includes extensive sample, material, and instrument management, charting capabilities, and native data analysis. The result: streamlined operations and seamless collaboration across teams that accelerate product to market. 

Wrapping Up

After decades of relentless efforts, gene and cell therapy bioprocessing is set to flourish incredibly in the coming future. A flurry of recent successes has led to the approval of multiple life-improving therapeutics—and many more are under development. 

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Business Marketing & Sales Media & Communications Professional Services U.S

Marianne Schwab, Former National Talk Show Producer, Reveals Five Mistakes Businesses Make When Hiring a P.R. Agency or Publicist

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Hiring a public relations agency (P.R. agency) or publicist can be a great way for businesses to improve their image and reputation, as well as increase their visibility. However, it’s important for businesses to avoid making mistakes when choosing a PR agency or publicist, since these mistakes can lead to wasted time and money, and even damage to the business’s reputation.

As a former national network TV talk show producer, Marianne Schwab has worked with P.R. Agencies for over twenty-five years and shares some insight on what to do look for to make a good match with an agency and the business they’ll be representing. She says, “When I produced daily talk shows, I got a lot of pitches from P.R. agencies and some were great, but many publicists were kind of clueless and didn’t understand how to effectively pitch television talk shows to get results for their clients. Overall, publicists are generalists in P.R. and have to pitch print publications like magazines and newspapers or online publications so pitching broadcast outlets like podcasts, radio, and television talks shows and news programs requires an entirely different skill set and contact database that many publicists don’t have.”

Schwab says when businesses or entrepreneurs hire a PR agency or publicist they need to avoid making these mistakes because they won’t just cost money, but they’ll end up with little to no media results which is the goal when investing in a public relations campaign.

Mistake #1 – Not doing their homework. It’s important for businesses to thoroughly research and compare different PR agencies or publicists before making a hiring decision. This includes looking at the agency’s or publicist’s track record, understanding their approach to P.R., and getting references from other clients that include the media results. Schwab says, “It’s also important to look at the types of clients they have worked with and are currently representing for two reasons. First, they need to be the right fit for your industry or aligned with your brand, and second, confirm that they do not currently represent any competitors which would be a conflict of interest. This can sometimes be tricky if you’re thinking about working with a brand that specializes in beauty and skin care. On one hand, they have developed media contacts for that industry that can help you, but on the other hand, they may represent competing products or brands and that can be an issue.”

Mistake #2 – Failing to set clear and realistic goals or objectives. Before hiring a PR agency or publicist, it’s crucial for businesses to have a clear idea of what they hope to achieve through public relations. Goals might include increasing brand awareness, improving media coverage, or managing a crisis, but should also be measurable like securing a specific number of placements in print and broadcast with a specific number of impressions for the audience as well. “PR campaigns do take time to get traction and produce results so you need to be realistic about the time not only needed to achieve these goals,” Schwab says, “but also do not expect national coverage when local media may be far more effective and realistic.”

Mistake #3 – Not communicating effectively. Communication is key to the success of any PR campaign. It’s important for businesses to provide their PR agency or publicist with all relevant information they need to represent the client, including details about the business and its products or services, as well as any challenges or issues that need to be addressed. In turn, the PR agency or publicist should keep the business informed about the progress of the campaign and any opportunities or challenges that arise.

Mistake #4 – Not being open to expert consultation or feedback. A good PR agency or publicist will provide honest and constructive feedback to help the business improve its PR efforts. It’s important for businesses to be open to this feedback and be willing to make changes based on it. Marianne Schwab advises, “Remember that you have hired an expert and your results will depend on how much you respect their advice and heed it. I always love when a client is open to ideas that may push the envelope just a bit since those are the pitches that get the best results.”

Mistake #5 – Overpaying for services: There are also other considerations especially when it comes to the fee for public relations services. “I’ve seen some small businesses and entrepreneurs get talked into buying ‘too much P.R.’ for the size of their business. Retainers for small agencies start around $3,000 per month and the major P.R. agencies charge up to $25,000 and more. Small companies don’t need a big agency and it breaks my heart when I see them invest a boatload of money and get little to no results in media placements especially when I know I can guarantee meaningful media placements for clients,” Schwab comments.

By avoiding these mistakes, businesses can improve their chances of success when working with a PR agency or publicist. A well-planned and executed PR campaign can be a valuable investment for any business, helping to build its reputation and reach new audiences.

Marianne Schwab has worked as a producer for over 25 years in New York and Los Angeles. She is currently the Executive Producer of CMP Media Cafe where she works with clients to develop compelling media hooks and story angles that get them TV and radio interviews in today’s complicated media environment. She shares tips on Instagram and has created an online training that shares her insider secrets to promoting a business on TV talk shows and details the types of guests producers love to book as guests.

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Computers & Software Technology U.K U.S

Review Your Cybersecurity Stack to Stop API Breaches

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Earlier this month (January 2023, if you’re reading this in the future), T-Mobile revealed that it had been hacked and had the information of 37,000,000 customers stolen. 

The company filed an 8-K form with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), which is a document that companies must file if there is a development that shareholders should be aware of.

The form stated that the company had “…identified that a bad actor was obtaining data through a single Application Programming Interface (“API”) without authorization.”

Data breaches that exploit API security flaws are not new. Last year, a leading cybersecurity journal, SC Media, reported that API security incidents affected 95% of the surveyed organisations in 2021-22.

In a more recent article, the magazine discusses how re-evaluating the cybersecurity stack of the company might be essential for stopping API breaches.

If you aren’t sure what an API is, this article might be difficult to follow. So, to answer your question (and feel free to skip to the next section if you already know)…

What’s an API?

An API is a bit of software that helps two different applications “talk” to each other. APIs can be very useful in application and software development because they save you the time and effort of building a tool when something already exists. 

Simply use an API to get that tool to show up within your application and you’re done.

It’s like when you want to show your location on the map on your website. Why code your own map when you can use Google Maps and have it show up on your website using an API?

Why Are APIs Vulnerable to Attacks?

The problem is, with so many applications being built, the use of APIs has increased exponentially.

Since APIs are programs that transfer information between two entities, they are prime targets for those who want access to that information.

As a result, cyberattacks that exploit APIs are on the rise.

According to the SC Media article, the rate at which APIs are being developed makes them difficult to secure.

On top of that, most companies don’t even know how many APIs they have, let alone a complete list. So, they have no idea how many of their APIs can access sensitive information.

Finally, the biggest problem APIs are facing is attacks using bots. Malicious automation is used to find vulnerabilities in the APIs as well as to exploit these vulnerabilities to gain access.

That means bots can quickly—at a much, much faster rate than a human—get access to a company’s database and grab information that can then be used for nefarious purposes.

Now, don’t get me wrong. It’s not like developers aren’t doing anything to secure their APIs. API management best practices include a discussion about security. However, regular security tools, like WAFs and API gateways, can be inadequate for bot attacks.

Is Re-Evaluating Your Cybersecurity Stack the Answer?

In the article, SC Media cites a report by Forrester (Planning Guide 2023: Security and Risk) which says companies must evolve their defences to keep up with the evolving threats. 

That might mean reviewing your current cybersecurity stacks and removing tactics and solutions that don’t work. CISOs should also be focusing on API security and bot management in 2023, the article advises.

Another thing to keep in mind is that the bot defence should be “proactive and dynamic”. Companies should be aware of the potential vulnerabilities of their products and plan their defences accordingly, and not rely on a one-size-fits-all approach.

As the bots evolve and change their attack methods, your API security should be smart enough to block them from every direction. If it’s not, then it might be time to take a look at it with a critical eye.

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Business Marketing & Sales Media & Communications Professional Services U.S

Ross B. Williams, Founder of Modern Profits, Reveals How Personal Branding Can Be a Game Changer for Entrepreneurs

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Personal branding has become one of the most important foundations for entrepreneurs as they build a business and professional reputation to promote their image to their ideal clients and there are three crucial keys to ensure personal branding success. Unfortunately, if these are not part of the initial business strategy, it can derail the best laid out plans since personal branding is much more than color combinations, fonts, and a cool logo. It is, in fact, an essential ingredient for every aspect of marketing a business that includes websites, social media posts, advertising, and everything digital.

Ross B. Williams, founder of Modern Profits, is a Personal Branding Strategist and he says, “When personal branding is done correctly, it will differentiate you from your competition and elevate your reputation, but business branding is very different from personal branding. Not only do you need to understand the difference between the two, but you also must understand why you need both. You can be successful at your business but if your personal branding is not aligned with who you are, you are missing opportunities that ultimately affect your bottom line.” 

Williams, who was recently interviewed on Tampa Bay’s Morning Blend, the local ABC-TV station, has a unique background as a personal branding strategist.  He has contributed multi-seven–figure sales revenue to several companies with his mastery of sales and uses his business building skills and digital marketing expertise to help successful business owners dramatically increase revenue by transforming their personal brand.  When he works with his clients, he incorporates three crucial keys to ensure personal branding success.

1. Personal branding should reflect the entrepreneur’s authentic self. A personal brand should be an accurate, yet authentic, version of who the entrepreneur is so they attract the types of clients with whom they want to work. According to Ross B. Williams, this is crucial for ultimate success, “I see a lot of successful entrepreneurs promoting their lifestyle on social media, for example, but I have no idea what they actually do, what business they’re in, or how I can help them by referring business. If people don’t know what you do, they can’t refer business to you and that is why a personal brand is so important.”

Ross continues, “The ultimate point to keep in mind is that people buy from people so your personal brand is a reflection of you even when you’re not the face of a company. Since you are promoting yourself, you need to create your branding assets according to your personality. If you are selling something that’s not true to you, others will feel it.” 

2. Entrepreneurs must build their personal brand alongside their business brand. Today, more than ever, it’s not enough to build a business brand, but entrepreneurs need to build a personal brand in tandem as they build their business. Why? Williams advises, “It’s imperative that you begin with the end in mind. If you have an exit strategy when you build your business to sell it five years down the road, you only want to be the ‘face’ of a successful business without having your name tied to the brand because if you do, you can’t sell your business as a separate brand.”

Ross goes on to say, “If you choose to sell your business someday without a personal brand developed alongside your company, you’d have to start another business from scratch and cannot use your name on your business.”

3. The logo and color combinations are just “gift wrap” for a personal brand. Many entrepreneurs start their personal branding with a logo and branding board, but it is much more complex and scientific, according to Williams, “Personal branding starts with how you make people feel with what you do in your business, how you want to be portrayed and have others see you, then you wrap it in colors and design. The graphic designer understands the creative color combinations, fun fonts, and logo design, but most don’t understand which colors, and even fonts, trigger emotions and attract clients to buy from you before they even get to peek inside the box. These are psychological touch points that can dramatically increase sales and ultimately revenues.”

Content creation for personal branding can be overwhelming for most business owners and that’s why Ross B. Williams has put this all together in a done for you package that’s simple for any business owner. The key is not to build a little bit at a time and then try to bring it all together since that’s chaotic or doesn’t match. “Effective personal branding demands that social media, photos, graphic design, and media are cohesive and congruent so that it extends your digital footprint and your omnipresence.” Ross concludes.

Ross helps coaches, consultants, entrepreneurs, and business owners build their personal brand with his brand accelerator package. This helps entrepreneurs perfect their messaging and expand their digital footprint with a website, funnel, social media, and press that seamlessly work together as a cohesive brand that people remember and buy from. 

Ross B. Williams works with clients based in the U.S. and around the world to develop personal branding strategies that get results. He is available for Personal Branding Strategy sessions and can be contacted at RossBWilliams.com or connect with Ross on Instragram.

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Professional Services Technology U.S

A Case For Consolidating Insurance Systems and Data

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Insurance has been in existence since 1750 BC. With such a history, it’s logical to assume that any technology used in the industry is a recent phenomenon. 

And, it’s probably been adapted and adopted piecemeal.

The problem is, when solutions are bolted on bit by bit, they don’t really work well together. In an article by Damco (a digital transformation and technology company), insurance companies are advised to consolidate their disparate systems.

The article starts by talking about how various systems that try to coordinate with each other can lead to friction in internal communication, optimisation of processes, and collaboration within the business.

More importantly, it can also negatively impact customer-facing metrics. 

A multitude of systems spread across multiple databases doesn’t really scream “synergy”. To create synergy (and we all love buzzwords!), insurers must consider insurance systems and data consolidation.

The article discusses the three important reasons to do so:

  • Harnessing the power of data to grow the business
  • Giving customers a seamless and consistent experience
  • Improving product offerings

Business Intelligence and Data Management

Information is power. When it’s your business’s information, you want to use it to accelerate your growth. For that, however, this data needs to be accessible and cohesive.

Siloed information gives you parts of the story. Then, you either need to patch it all together to get the complete picture or stockpile information in vast quantities without getting any value out of it.

For insurers, this information is especially important. According to the Financial Times, technology has failed to disrupt the insurance industry because people don’t want to think about insurance.

In such a scenario, any bit of information that could help you improve your figures is invaluable.

Suppose the marketing department has information that can help the sales team, or the sales team has client information that could help marketing design a better campaign. That information needs to be accessible for you to exploit it.

Segregated data also means the formats could be different or it is tagged inconsistently. So, even if all teams have access to it, it doesn’t have the same impact or meaning for everyone.

Part of data management is bringing it all together in a consistent way so all teams have equal access to it. That means everyone has the complete picture, resulting in better decision-making.

Customer Experience and Satisfaction

Marketing today is not limited to one channel or format; neither is communication. You may advertise your wares through paid ads, social media, knowledge-sharing blogs, and more. Your customer could find you through any one of these.

Then, they could contact you via email, phone call, or maybe a LiveChat feature on your website. Or, a combination of these.

Good customer service would mean that once the customer contacts you, they don’t have to introduce themselves in great detail in any subsequent interactions.

If they have to share their information over and over again, they are not going to be happy.

Similarly, if they’ve already bought a product, they don’t want to see ads for the same one. At the same, you don’t want to miss out on the chance to upsell to existing customers.

When you have a consolidated insurance and data management system, it’s easier to have all of this information accessible (and ready to be utilised efficiently and seamlessly).

Product Development and Innovation

In the process of insurance evolution, the one trend that has emerged is that people want customisable products. 

Customisation makes sense as well. People have different needs (and different risks). Something like insurance cannot be a “one size fits all” kind of deal.

If you could offer your customers a product that was designed for them, you’d see better satisfaction levels. And, they’d be more likely to buy from you. 

However, in order to do so, you need to have a well-rounded profile of your customers. That would enable your marketing team to plan a campaign designed for them, your sales team to pitch the product to them, and your underwriter to calculate their risks and premiums.

That’s how you’d be able to offer them products they just can’t refuse.

Of course, you’d need a well-planned strategy in order to get everything together, along with a software solution that works for you. For example, a Third Party Administrator product would help link different business processes under one “roof”.

The key is to design a roadmap that works for you and then select the technology that will help you get there.

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Computers & Software Technology U.K U.S

Luminos Software to Offer App Development Services to Start-Up Companies

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Leading app development company, Luminos Software, now offers app development to start-ups. 

The business is known for building digital products on fully flexible terms for its clients. Now, it offers a complete lifecycle app development service to visionaries who have a new idea and want to take it to market.

The services include helping clients develop their concept, designing the user journey and experience, building a Minimum Viable Product (MVP), and scaling up with an off-shore development team, the business claims.

Luminos Software explains that it only hires experienced teams and talent. That is the reason why it can offer clients any tech stack they require. As such, the company offers expertise in Ruby on Rails, Python, Django, Node.js, React, React Native, Ember, and Flutter.

The company also promises unlimited scalability, which allows clients to rest assured that as their user base grows, their app will be able to handle the load.

Scalability can be very important, the business explains, as start-ups should ideally launch an MVP before they bring out the full-scale product.

That, the business claims, is its main focus for start-up clients.

An MVP is an app that has the minimum feature set required to make it viable, the company explains. Since it doesn’t have non-essential features, it’s quick and affordable to build, which allows enterprises to quickly get their apps out onto the market.

Since the MVP encapsulates the business’ core idea, it helps them identify any issues with their product and get feedback from real users. Luminos points out that it also allows them to determine if the idea is viable or not.

In short, an MVP can help clients manage their funding and budget better. By releasing a stripped-down version of their product, a company can release a low-cost version, which can be used both for marketing the product to both users and potential investors.

The funding from this version can then be used to fund further iterations of the product. In each iteration, more features can be added based on the product roadmap and the feedback received from users.

Luminos also emphasises that since an MVP is a minimalist product, clients often need help in identifying the essential feature set they would need in the first draft. They would also need to prioritise the remaining features and decide when to add them.

The Product Consulting service is designed to help in such situations, the company claims. Using its expertise and experience, Luminos provides clients with a roadmap that will maximise their investment and help them get the most out of their idea.

Luminos Software allows businesses to develop smart solutions. The company offers complete lifecycle app development, starting from developing the concept to scaling up. To learn more about what the business offers, please visit https://www.luminos.software/ 

Categories
Automotive Living Technology U.K U.S

Parking Management Software Market Size Forecast to Reach a Revenue of $8.60B in 2030

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Having innovative technologies such as payment digitalisation, enforcement processes, access control, and reporting at the core, parking management software is fast gaining currency among local authorities and private parking companies.

Global smart parking management market size was valued at $4.38B in 2022. It is forecasted to hit a staggering $8.60B, growing at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 12.50% between 2022 and 2030, according to an article by Market Research Future (MRFR) published in Digital Journal.

What is a parking management system?

A parking management solution helps optimise parking spaces, better manage the influx of vehicles, and ensure the safety of both people and vehicles.  

It aids in managing vehicles efficiently by offering full control of the entire lifecycle of parking enforcement information—from issue to recovery and the stages in between.

Driving forces behind the increasing demand for parking management software

The parking management market is gaining traction as more and more companies look to optimise their parking spaces. 

In addition, the rising number of vehicles, growing global demand for smooth traffic flow, and rapid development of smart cities are the pivotal factors promoting the adoption of automated parking management solutions, particularly across some regions of the world.

According to MRFR, due to developers creating additional spaces instead of not making the most of the existing ones, many parking slots remain unutilised.

The solution: leveraging state-of-the-art parking management software.

By notifying keepers of empty parking spaces, a class-leading parking management system with improved signage and real-time parking indicators helps minimise parking space waste. The result: fortified customer experience and a substantial saving on time and fuel.

On top of that, a high-end parking management system helps differentiate between under-pricing and overpricing parking spaces, enabling improved revenue management that leads to effective resource utilisation.

An integrated, cost-effective parking management solution can often address parking requirements by 20-40%, offering many social, economic, and environmental benefits.. 

How the Covid-19 pandemic affected the global parking management software market

Along with vehicle manufacturing activities, parking management software production remained halted in response to the Covid-19 pandemic. 

Many countries enforced stringent regulations declaring lockdowns and discouraged crowding on public vehicles and in transport stations. With declining need for parking management, the growth of the parking management software market witnessed a modest decrease for a short period. 

However, with more and more countries now easing travel and quarantine restrictions, the need for parking management is getting a substantial push. As a consequence, the demand for end-to-end cloud-based parking management software, such as ZatPark, is expected to increase.

North America to reign the global market

Accounting for more than 35% of the market share, North America reigned in the parking management software market last year. 

Countries with robust economies, such as the US and Canada, are the leaders in driving the growth of the parking management system industry across the region.

That said, with the demand for parking management systems on the rise, it’s critical for businesses to ensure enhanced user experience while also saving time and money. A high-end parking management system helps streamline enforcement and management for private enforcement companies and local authorities. 

Categories
Business Education Marketing & Sales Professional Services U.S

Ross B. Willimas to host The Modern Profits Mastermind Cruise For Entrepreneurs

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Orlando, Florida – January 9th, 2023 – Ross B. Willimas founder of Modern Profits is hosting the second Modern Profits Mastermind Cruise For Entrepreneurs. This is an exclusive entrepreneur experience business owners won’t get at other conferences or masterminds. At this mastermind, guests will learn business strategies, tactics, and tips all while networking and enjoying a luxury vacation on a beautiful cruise ship with amazing like-minded people.

During the mastermind attendees will enjoy 3-4 hours a day learning from a dozen expert speakers on how to grow their influence, dominate their market and turn their followers into dollars. Guests will learn skills in personal branding, the art of selling, and authority marketing and so much more. Business owners, coaches, and digital marketers that want more leads and more sales in their business can learn all the new trends from the best in the biz on this cruise.

At this event, entrepreneurs will meet and build relationships with other like-minded industry leaders. Daily activities will be held outside of the conference room to encourage everyone at the event to build meaningful long-lasting friendships and business relationships. Activities include beach cabanas, sailboats, snorkeling, dinners, and nightly networking parties. 

Attendees will enjoy awesome vacation time on an amazing cruise ship, relax in the pool, enjoy the private island and make new adventures on excursions.

The cruise will set sail on January 29th, 2023 on the MSC MERAVIGLIA out of Port Canaveral, Florida (Just outside of Orlando). It will be sailing to Nassau, Bahamas, and the private island Ocean Cay Marine Reserve.

MSC Meraviglia is packed with extraordinary features for the perfect experience at sea. Enjoy gourmet dining and out-of-this-world entertainment with new panoramic areas, an innovative ocean-view lounge, a two-deck “inside promenade” with an LED dome, and a spectacular amusement area connected to an outdoor water park. Best of all, MSC Meraviglia features late-night and overnight stays on our exclusive private island, Ocean Cay MSC Marine Reserve, in The Bahamas

Exclusive to MSC Cruise guests, Ocean Cay MSC Marine Reserve was designed to show their appreciation of the environment and ensure they are doing their part to take care of the planet, all while giving guests a slice of paradise. With docking right on the island, guests can walk straight off the ship and onto 2 miles of white sand beaches where chairs, umbrellas, and cabanas await to help guests sit back and relax beside crystal blue waters.

For more information about the Modern Profits Mastermind Cruise For Entrepreneurs please click the link below.

www.ModernProfitsCruise.com