Categories » ‘Technology Management’
January 18th, 2012 by Admin LKF
There was a time when companies would find the need to set up local branches in order to accommodate customers throughout a larger service area. With recent advances in technology it is now possible to establish virtually unlimited numbers of ‘branches’ which do not need to be manned and can operate 24/7 through network connectivity. Protouch internet kiosks make it possible for customers to quickly connect with a central office to have questions answered, resolve customer service issues or simply check status of orders in progress.
Through the use of intuitive Touch Screen Software it is possible to either find answers on the network kiosk or be connected to a customer service rep. Within just moments a connection can be established and the customer can communicate his or her needs with a user-friendly software interface program. Each business can have a totally customised all-in-one software program manager which is controlled from the home office. Not only can kiosks be located throughout the UK, but Protouch is the leading manufacturer and distributor of touch screen products throughout all of Europe.
From bank kiosks in airports to retail kiosks in stores, fully bespoke software from Protouch can provide the software framework for Touch Screens. Programmed on a familiar embedded Windows operating system, customers can feel comfortable executing commands on the screen whilst employees will be able to quickly learn to navigate program functions on their end.
When it comes to remote connectivity, Protouch kiosks provide all the capabilities of a fully staffed local office without the financial encumbrance of paying a multitude of employees. Every function operates in real time so that reports can be generated at the home office whilst customers can track orders, buy tickets and even bank from retail outlets, airports and train stations. If you are looking to extend your business without going into major debt staffing remote offices, consider the benefits of a tailored Protouch kiosk.
October 17th, 2011 by Admin IQY
The Asia Pacific Submarine Cable Network upgrade carried out by NEC has been completed successfully.
The world’s first 40Gb/s dense wavelength division multiplexing (DWDM) undersea cable capacity upgrade to an existing large scale submarine cable network has been carried out in a multi-million dollar contract with a consortium of 14 major telecom operators in the Asia Pacific region.
The existing APCN2 (Asia Pacific Cable Network 2), of more than 19,000 km of submarine cable, connecting 10 landing stations in the Asia Pacific region, was originally installed by NEC in 2001 with a 10Gb/s DWDM system design. The marine management project was developed because of the growing need for improved transmission in the region. NEC proposed its state-of-the-art 40Gb/s DWDM technology as a dramatic enhancement and expansion to the capacity of the existing 10Gb/s undersea cable network. They calculate that by adding 40Gb/s wavelengths the cable’s capacity improve by as much as 4 times its original ultimate design capacity of 2.56Tb/s.
“We have passed yet another significant milestone by becoming the first supplier to install a 40Gb/s DWDM system on a major large scale Submarine Cable Network that was initially designed for 10Gb/s DWDMs. We are honoured that the APCN2 purchasing consortium has again selected NEC as their capacity upgrade supplier,” said Yasuhiro Aoki, General Manager of NEC’s Submarine Network Division.
NEC is a renowned provider of innovative technical solutions to the challenges of providing ubiquitous and high reliability broadband communications, through a variety of means including marine management projects, submarine cable technology and more.
September 22nd, 2011 by Admin IQY
Event management software is crucial in providing excellent service, unbeatable facilities and unforgettable catering in order to convince clients to choose your venue for their conference or event; then hopefully choose it again too.
At NFS Hospitality, we believe that our Rendezvous Events management software is the quintessential event management package for every aspect of venue management and operation, including instant availability info, client info and access to a host of hospitality options. Take a read of our 10 best reasons for choosing this event management software and decide for yourself whether Rendezvous Events could provide your venue with the edge in this competitive market.
1. Calendar Management – The Rendezvous Events management system offers highly visual calendar management for better, faster sales and space management decisions.
2. CRM – Our event management software captures client info, spending patterns, unique preferences so that sales staff have as much helpful information as possible to secure revenue and repeat business.
3. Sales Management – Rendezvous Events includes follow up and document management so that no business opportunities are missed and not acted upon.
4. Food Service – Food and drink are valuable sources of revenue in the field of event management, which is why our event management software includes a foodservice element for upselling and maximising the venue when securing new events.
5. Guestroom Management – Rendezvous Events system features fully integrated guest room and overnight stay management, so that a residential booking can coincide with meeting room, dining and all other elements of a venue booking.
6. Restaurant Management – This information can also be easily configured into your Rendezvous Events system.
7. Event Billing – Rendezvous Events manages billing, invoicing, deposition handling and the payments process and all information is captured seamlessly upon booking.
8. Management Reporting – Our event management software also contains comprehensive, flexible reporting tools with which to review your event management programme, and monitor how your venue resources are being allocated.
9. Outstanding Service – You Rendezvous Events, superior event management software, is provided by expert, experienced professionals who understand your industry and provide a service which can optimise your business.
10. 27/7 Support – Whenever you require assistance with your event management software, help is at hand. One of the many reasons why leading international venues rely upon Rendezvous Events to ensure that their catalogue of events run smoothly and successfully.
April 12th, 2011 by admin
Ok, so you’ve read all the cool stuff and heard all the great things about going wireless and then it just hit you. However, that works you don’t know or care but it hit you. That was it, the little voice in your head said, “do it” and that was that. Unfortunately, that was awhile ago and since that “moment” you’ve done your part. You did some research into what was needed to upgrade your computer but it’s all just so darn confusing. You keep thinking, why can’t someone just give me a few basics so I feel more comfortable about this whole “upgrading” process.
If the above paragraph describes you and if you’re the typical computer user it probably does, then it’s time to exhale, calm your nerves, grab a latte and settle in because hopefully this article can shed a little understanding on at least one aspect of going wireless – the network card.
Like most “typical” computers users, you love your computer and you’ve pretty good at surfing the net, using email and you’ve probably even gotten fairly proficient at using your favorite word processing program but when it comes to some of the more technical aspects of your computer or computing in general, you are probably about as close to a “deer in the headlights” as you can get.
Hey, no problem because you’ve stumbled across a source that hopefully can shed a little light into that wireless networking card abyss. See, those searching skills do come in handy.
Let me start out by saying that when it comes to selecting a wireless networking card you can pretty much ignore all the hoopla except for the following three key factors: range, speed, and standards. Ok, let’s do it and take a look at a few specifics.
Below is a typical specification for wireless networking card. This one just happens to be for a Linksys wireless PCMCIA laptop card. Frankly, I can’t tell you if this card rocks or it stinks, I’m simply using it as an example. And with that, let’s take a closer look.
Here’s the description from Amazon: 11 Mbps high-speed transfer rate; interoperable with IEEE 802.11b (DSSS) 2.4Ghz-compliant equipment; plug-and-play operation provides easy set up; long operating range (up to 120m indoor); advanced power management features conserve valuable notebook PC battery life; rugged metal design with integrated antenna; compatible with virtually all major operating systems; works with all standard Internet applications; automatic load balancing and scale back; model no. WPC11
Like I mentioned above, most of the specs can be ignored. To start with, “compatible with virtually all major operating systems.” That means nothing. It’s simply fluff to expand the description to make the card appear better.
Range
Take a look at where it says “up to 120m indoor”. This means that the maximum range of the wireless card is 120 meters — sure if everything was perfect. And by the way, one meter is equal to about 39 inches or 3 feet. However, in the real world where nothing is ever perfect interference caused by thick walls, other power sources and the list goes on could reduce this number by as much as 90% – so just be aware of this.
And without enough range, your wireless network is no longer wireless and therefore – worthless. It serves no purpose to go wireless if you have to keep your computer next to the wireless port in order for it to work or if you have multiple computers to keep them all in the same room to get them to connect to each other.
As a rule of thumb, unless your walls are made of drywall or wood, it’s best to buy about four times the strength you think you’ll need. Even in perfect conditions, get twice what you think you’ll need – just to be safe.
Speed
Take another look at the description and find where it says Mbps. Mbps is the speed of the wireless connection – 11 Mbps is about one and a half megabytes per second. All 802.11b wireless cards have a speed of 11Mbps, while 802.11g cards run at 54Mbps or nearly 5 times faster. And of course, the next generation will be even faster.
Clearly, speed is important to your wireless network because it’s going to directly influence how long you have to wait to connect, how fast pages upload, file transfer rates, and your overall computer experience is always better when things download faster. I don’t know about you but if something takes more than a few seconds to download, I start to get impatient.
However, because there are currently very few Internet connections running at speeds over 11Mbps – it’s really as much as you need, at least for now.
Standards
You’ve probably noticed in the above specs the number 802.11 followed by a letter b. The b is the standard that the wireless device conforms too. Currently, there are 3 standards – a, b and g.
In a nutshell, 802.11b and 802.11g are compatible with each other while 802.11a isn’t compatible with either. Due to the incompatibility issues with the other two standards and because it’s an older less robust standard I would stay away from cards using it.
Between b and g, b is cheaper but slower, while g is more expensive but faster. It’s also worth considering that adding a b-speed device to a network that has g-speed devices will often slow the whole network down to b-speed, making the g-devices pointless. Basically, the network will operate at the speed of its weakest link.
If your wireless device doesn’t conform to the right standards, it’s not going to be much good to you. I often see uninformed people bidding for used wireless equipment on eBay, not realizing that it’s going to be terribly slow and may not work with other equipment they might have. Always check what standard the wireless equipment is using and if you don’t know the 802.11 letter, don’t buy it!
A great place to research and find answers to everything “wireless” is Zephyr Net. Simply click the Wifi Hotspot link in the resource box below.
This article may be reproduced only in its entirety.
April 4th, 2011 by admin
Wireless barcode scanners are a clear example of the best just having got better. Much like Alexander Graham Bells wired telephone that got eclipsed by the cordless phone which became a craze across millions of households, wireless bar code scanners have become a mega-hit with an ever-increasing number of business entrepreneurs making the upward shift to realize greater productivity day in day out. To put it simply, wireless barcode scanners offer you all the benefits of your regular barcode scanner or barcode reader and then, some more!
But hold on just yet, while wireless barcode readers and scanners are blitzing the market, you still need to which type of the device you need to best suit your business needs before going ahead and making a purchase. You need to very clearly articulate the reason for wanting to move into the wireless barcode scanner space and the plausible reasons for wanting to go wireless could be any of the following:-
* You need the freedom of mobility to be able to capture information away from your computer because of the spatial location of your tagged products
* You might want to collect the data away from your computer but be able to sync it or upload it once you get back to the origin i.e. the computer
* You might not only want to collect data away from the computer but also be able to log on via wireless networks to a database and post the captured information
Thus simply put, do you need a simple barcode scanner with a really long cord or do you have a genuine need for a wireless barcode scanner? And once you do a cost comparison on the various types of the barcode readers and barcode scanners, both wired as well as cordless, you will know exactly how much you are paying for what, and how much you are likely to benefit from the application of the device. Accurate information capture, ease of the information capture, speed at which different materials can be barcode registered and tagged, exquisite levels of data control are just some of the innumerous benefits that this technology promises for the user!
Finally a key thing that you need to keep in mind is that implementation of a new technology by itself does not guarantee success. You need to handle the change from one level to the next very well and proactively too, as in the case of wireless barcode scanners too. People management as part of change management is crucial to the success of your business and this should be given core focus. New technology is useless unless its espoused as a unifying cause by all in the work force. Once you have mastered the change in people, you have truly put yourself on the road to progress. Experience the wonders of wireless barcode scanners and be awestruck!
March 14th, 2011 by admin
Web designing is a process of designing the electronic files through planning, concepts, ideas, creativity, thinking, language etc, which is delivered via internet in the form of web site. The main purpose of the web designing is to create a web site. Web site interprets the information about particular topic and website design is creation and arrangement of web pages that can be done by web development that includes but not limited to; Web Development, eCommerce, CMS, Content Management System, shopping Cart, Business Website Design, Flash Website design, business development.
Main intent of designing/developing a website is to promote the business, advertising, access of online products, publishing news, giving information, education, money matters, etc.
It is important that the website must be well developed and designed, not under construction, and content must be specific and neat about the particular topic, otherwise, it will not attract any visitor.
So to design and develop a website, several companies of website designing can be found on the internet, but the trick here is to choose appropriate company. One of which on the internet for web designing and web development named http://www.mahiinfotech.com , is a well-established, well-experienced company, which also provides the best, qualitative, affordable services of web designing, web development, eCommerce, web, shopping cart, logo design, etc.
For more information, visit the site http://www.mahiinfotech.com
March 6th, 2011 by admin
In many respects, e-Learning has matured as a technology and industry. Today we will look at how web-based learning management systems can be and are being used as part of the partner support function in a company or organization.
What is a learning management system?
Learning management systems (LMSs) are web-based software application platforms used to plan, implement, and assess learning processes related to online and offline training administration and performance management. LMSs provide an instructor a way to create and deliver content, monitor learners participation, and assess student performance. They also provide learners with the ability to use interactive features, such as threaded discussions, web conferencing, discussion forums, and other methods of communication.
Where and why are learning management systems being used in partner support settings?
LMSs are being used in business-to-business, high-process, value-added, and technology-oriented business environments in industries like telecommunications, advanced electronic technology, semiconductor manufacturing, insurance, banking, medical products, and others. Learning management systems are being used in partner support settings because they can be a cost-effective solution to providing performance support for a companys products and services.
In some ways, partner support operations may be similar to customer support settings, but they possess some distinct differences. More often than not, and by its very nature, a partner channel of distribution exists because the partner adds value to the product and services your company offers. Partner support operations may be more concerned with tactical distribution or other issues because they are responsible for providing their part of the value chain in the delivery of your product or service.
Partners walk a different road with product end users. Partners need the flexibility to provide information and support customer needs, but in a way that supports and amplifies the value their company brings to the partner channel.
Why is it cost-effective to use an LMS for your companys partner support operations?
Learning management systems have lots of functionality that can be used in partner support organizations. A good LMS lets you create multiple partner campuses, which the partners themselves can customize to meet an end-user customers needs. Each partner can have their own look and feel, with a large selection of capabilities to deliver their unique value-add to the product or service.
Learning management systems can be used to create a library of custom online courses that demonstrate how to use products and services. These courses can be easily updated with the information/service offering unique to the partners contribution to the product. They can have the same look and feel as the partners site, to maintain a branded experience. The course can be updated at will, so youre not paying every three months to print new product guides and support manuals.
LMSs can be used to track and monitor your partners activities, instead of using a bunch of spreadsheets. This is very effective in scenarios where partners must be certified to use your products and services. The learning management system can be set up to notify a partner when their certification is set to expire, using an email tickler so they can recertify on your product. The partner organizations themselves can be configured into a hierarchy within the learning management system, which can be used to manage the partner distribution channel.
What other features in learning management systems can be used for the partner support function?
A well-designed LMS comes with a help desk feature that can be used for 24/7 partner and end-user customer support. Learning management systems can have integrated web conferencing technology, which can be used in a number of ways to support partners and end-user customers Such as:
synchronous training used in product implementation;
web conferencing on a new feature set that can be archived for later viewing;
actual, on-the-spot tech-support using the share your desktop feature so your tech can go in and fix any problems
and more.
LMSs can have a built-in survey tool that allows you to query your partners and end-user customers with the results stored in the learning management system database for later use. Learning management systems can have a single sign-on/e-Commerce registration feature that can be used to sell add-on features. LMSs also may have events management/seminar logistics add-on applications that can help you manage both your off-site and onsite partner and end-user customer support training. Each individual partner campus that is created can have its own reference area for materials, to help supplement online course content.
A company can realize effective resource planning and substantial cost savings by using learning management systems in partner support settings. The support offered through the functionality of a learning management system can go a long way to cement the relationship between the company and its partner distribution channel, and will have a direct impact on both organizations bottom lines. Using a learning management system, one or two channel partnership managers or business development managers can manage and direct thousands of partner firms at substantially reduced costs, with the ability to provide precise support requirements customized to that partners individual needs. In conclusion, web-based learning management systems can be a very useful, cost effective way to manage a companys partner support function.
February 18th, 2011 by admin
Microsoft BizTalk server is a very reliable and high-performing Microsoft server product for building and implementing business rules and workflow for a wide range of business solutions. Thanks to their proven efficiency and reliability, Microsoft BizTalk solutions for business management and integration have quickly become very popular, drawing more and more business owners towards BizTalk integration .
Microsoft BizTalk server 2006 is, by far, the most popular and most requested server application for business process integration. Based on the technology introduced in the previous release (Microsoft BizTalk Server 2004), Microsoft BizTalk Server 2006 includes a wide range of new features such as application containers, the latest management consoles for managing various BizTalk environments, productivity improvements for developers and Microsoft BizTalk professionals, and easy-to-use upgrade & migration wizards. The new features introduced by the BizTalk Server 2006 release greatly simplify the process of deploying and managing enterprise business applications and solutions.
Thanks to the benefits mentioned above, Biztalk currently has a nigh rate of deployment in enterprise-level companies. Lots of IT professionals/developers are striving to prove their skills and experience regarding Microsoft technologies by obtaining much-desired BizTalk Server training and certifications. Individuals who posses Microsoft BizTalk certifications can easily expand their horizons as IT professionals by becoming employees of major IT companies, while institutions and businesses also have a lot to gain from recruiting persons who are certified in the field. Although many IT aspirants find the process of becoming certified in this particular area difficult and time-consuming, there are various ways to easily obtain a Microsoft BizTalk certification with a minimal investment of time and money. There are many online services that offer Architects, Developers and IT Professionals the opportunity to enroll in appropriate BizTalk training programs, helping them gain a successful career as a Biztalk developer or architect.
If you want to polish your skills and rapidly expand your knowledge on Microsoft BizTalk solutions, it is best to turn to the Internet for help. In order to achieve the best results, you should seek the help of a professional website that offers participants access to comprehensive and well-structured materials regarding Microsoft BizTalk solutions and technologies. Whether you opt for self-study materials or teacher-led courses and seminars, there are various websites that offer you the chance to participate in official, Microsoft curriculum-based BizTalk training programs that can help you become a certified BizTalk professional in no time!
Choose the Microsoft BizTalk training program that best satisfies your needs and you will experience no difficulties during your certification exams. The keys to obtaining the BizTalk certification of your choice are to be highly motivated, to find and attend to an appropriate BizTalk training program and to do a little research regarding the structure and the requirements of your certification exams. Pre-examinations are also very useful for testing your overall performance in the field after completing the BizTalk training program. Follow these simple steps and you will be able to quickly enter in possession of a highly recognized BizTalk certification that can greatly boost your success and help you build a solid, lucrative career in the IT arena.
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