Category: Technology

How CIOs Can Prepare for the Brave New World that 5G Is Going to Usher

February 27, 2018

With most countries set to start rolling out 5G networks late this year, businesses have wondered what it means to them, and they would need to prepare themselves for the changes. 5G is poised to be at least 10 times faster than 4G, and five times more responsive than its predecessor. This means, consumers are going to download movies, play games, and run complex applications effortlessly. 5G is expected to connect 100 times more devices than 4G did, giving rise to a deluge of IoT-enabled gadgets and devices. C-level executives such as Chief Information Officers will need to upgrade their skillsets in order to ready themselves for an ultra-fast future. In this article, let us understand how 5G is going to affect enterprise IT, and what skillsets CIOs and other C-level executives will need to acquire in order to implement 5G networks successfully and enhance products optimally. 5G’s impact on Enterprise IT With ridiculously high speeds, 5G is set to revolutionize the way internet-of-Things (IoT) is imagined and used currently. With more devices being connected to the internet, the resulting data deluge will be something that businesses will have to deal with. However, this data also provides them with opportunities to access rich insights. In addition, people will be able to use applications that are stupendously quick. This may give rise to security issues, and mobile security will be an issue that most businesses will have to deal with once 5G is rolled out. As 5G enables speed and mobile responsiveness, businesses will have to focus more on upgrading their applications to meet the standards of 5G speeds. This means, user experience and user interface design will be something that every business will have to consider improving. 5G requires complex infrastructure, and many businesses will have to focus on upgrading existing infrastructure or investing in newer networks and systems. Enterprise IT will also need to reassess the skill sets of its IT teams, and probably hire developers with advanced programming skills. It is important to remember that 5G will spur a different kind of mobile revolution where applications will be more complexly built, with a more minimalist UI/UX. The top implications of 5G on enterprise IT are : Cloud-enabled applications Enterprise applications so far have been limited by 3G and 4G devices that aren’t exactly impressive when it comes to speed. Cloud applications have often failed to load or even crashed when network signals haven’t been strong. With more employees using cloud-based enterprise applications on their devices, 5G provides the necessary speed to successfully run enterprise-grade applications. this mans, businesses will find it easier to use cloud-based applications, many of which are subscription-based. This will lead to reduction in infrastructural expenditure. AR and VR technology Augmented reality and Virtual Reality will find an impetus thanks to the 5G network. Both AR and VR technologies are likely to be used in situations outside entertainment. For instance, businesses may begin to use virtual reality in shipping and transportation. With robotics improving alongside, 5G will help in remote management of many tasks that were previously done manually. Being able to remotely control and manage logistics, shipping, and other processes will likely be a groundbreaking scenario for eCommerce entities. Fast-loading applications 5G is likely to encourage developers to create fast-loading applications, which are free from bugs. Launch-time performance will take the center-stage among developers and will be an important criteria while conceptualizing applications. The implication for businesses here is, they will be able to get more users to take action. It is a well-known fact that even a millisecond of delay in app-loading results in the user not using the application at all. 5G will encourage users to engage with an application for a longer time. Smart devices Tremendous speeds will help businesses to toy around with IoT-enabled devices, giving them opportunities to access data that probably wasn’t available previously. businesses may also benefit from Big Data, specific instances of which may be shared via Blockchain. Speaking of Blockchain, enterprise IT will find itself having to worry less about security as Blockchain adoption is going to grow alongside 5G, enabled by its speed. Blockchain, IoT, artificial intelligence, and other emerging technologies will help build better smart devices, which will perform better thanks to 5G. Mobile responsiveness With speeds come responsiveness, and that is where enterprise IT will need to focus on this year. 5G has the resilience and capacity to support really complex applications while also making sure that responsiveness is not at risk. This means, users get to engage with complex applications intuitively, without realizing that underneath the simplicity, the code is unfathomably complex. This also means, businesses will begin to focus a lot more on UX/UI than they ever did before. Sales and marketing A surprising outcome of 5G rollout will be the effect it will have on sales and marketing departments. This will necessitate enterprise IT to develop better strategies to deal with data that results from customer interactions. Data resulting from social conversations will need to be managed ever more deftly, as 5G will definitely encourage people to interact with companies and product manufacturers/developers more frequently. Security This whitepaper by Ericsson explains why 5G requires additional security aspects to be considered. 5G is not exactly a faster version of 4G. It involves a very different kind of technology, which necessitates a different kind of infrastructure. Consequently, the biggest implication for enterprise IT will be that of security. IT departments will need to plug in all holes to ensure security and privacy are protected. As 5G will encourage more employees to use mobile devices for most enterprise-related tasks, BYOD policies need to be bolstered with adequate security measures as well. With 5G spurring changes with enterprise IT, there will also be a need for CIOs to develop new skill sets or hone existing ones. 5 skill sets that are closely associated with 5G rollout are : Programming knowledge As 5G will herald superfast mobile apps, complex AR and VR enabled

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Attribution Metrics and Performance Marketing in Mobile

February 26, 2018

Are you reading this article on a mobile device? Going by statistics, insights and the scene at any dining table or college cafeteria, you most likely are. We live in a mobile-first world. In an average day, at least one out of four people with access to the internet, only use a smart phone. Moreover, we freely move back and forth between devices to get things done: Over half of this demographic rely on more than one type of device in an average day, with 1/5 of them using another device while concurrently using a computer (Google Insights).  Due to the stupendous role mobile phones play in our lives enabling us today to conduct all operations on the move, consumers now have the flexibility to develop curiosity, interest, attraction, and craving for a product, even compare it with similar products and place the order, within moments of viewing its ad on Instagram! But, there is an acute dearth of conclusive data on what determines online consumption today. With the advent of Marketing Attribution, we are closer to solving the mystery of what makes up effective digital marketing. Attribution Metrics is the way in which marketers assess ROI of the strategies/channels that connect them to potential customers. These tools simplify the retailer’s understanding of what it takes to make their products marketable, in the absence of any direct communication between the consumer and the seller (save for review forms and online surveys). To learn which marketing strategy is paying off, which chess piece needs to be moved around to generate better results, Marketing Attribution brings you the best system to standardize and monitor consumer behaviour. Why is accurate attribution so important for your business? The holy grail of media measurement is to analyze the impact and business value of all company-generated marketing interactions across the complex customer journey. Settling to remain in the dark—or worse, working under wrong assumptions—is akin to driving without a navigator. Inaccurate attribution will not only hamper your growth rate, it can also throw you off the right track by generating false impression or sketchy information about the complexities involved in online retail. Various marketing channels combine and permute to convert leads to sales, and the number of such channels is increasing every day with each new feature getting added to social media-verse. Facebook Explore, Instagram Live, Snapchat stories, Twitter buttons and Pinterest redirects are constantly revamping themselves to make it easy for businesses to attract and improve their presence for prospective buyers. This also makes it more difficult for these businesses to generate an actionable analysis of which channel is ultimately responsible for their success or the lack of it. With new agents (for mobile online payment like PayTm or Apple Wallet) being constantly introduced to the cycle reaffirms how important it is for marketing attribution to be constantly vigilant about the newest developments in the field. According to Matt Voda writing for The Make Good, “With accurate attribution comes not just more confidence in the strategies and tactics in place today, but most importantly, better decision-making, improved efficiency and effectiveness, and higher ROI. Accurate attribution helps you confidently zero in on your next best moves.” Attribution will be the biggest challenge marketers face this year Besides facing the perennial challenges of piecing together the product’s lifecycle complicated by dynamic ads, there are privacy and customer trust issues which makes tracking every step of the way difficult, unethical, unprofitable and counterproductive. One aspect that attribution metrics have not yet been able to solve is how offline advertising affects the online purchase. This offline to online transition has made one thing difficult for sure: it is now much harder to estimate the impact of your campaign, especially when it comes to mobile marketing. Developers are still struggling to come up with ways in which cross-channel influencers affect the performance of online ads. The rapidly changing scene today demands granular ad-level analytics to drive day-to-day activities of branding and marketing teams. Different Types of Attribution Models : 1. Single Source Attribution: First or last touch-based attribution takes into account only the channels engaging target audience with the product in the very beginning or the end. Upper Funnel Distribution registers the beginning of a customer’s purchase journey as in the case of programmatic display ads, while Bottom Funnel Attribution makes note of an ad’s ability to close the deal, like run search ads. 2. Multisource attribution: Since both touch points work together in driving conversions, most businesses prefer a model that generates insights on all levels of lead engaging. Multisource attribution credits each channel for their contribution to the final conversion; it includes everything from ads and social posts to webinars and e-newsletters. Also known as equal attribution, this accounts for every involvement in attaining a final sale. “It brings a sense of equality to the process, but at the same time doesn’t take into consideration the idea that certain aspects of the conversion have more weight than others – for example, the first time an ad is shown could arguably have played more of a role in the final conversion than duplicate impressions.” In such cases, weighted attribution proves to be more effective because it facilitates and substantiates these insights with by filing the hierarchy of the roles played by each channel in converting leads to sales. 3. Post-view attribution gives conversion credit to the visibility, reach of the ad. However, this is highly unreliable and quite useless at the end of the day, because while a lot of ads are shown to users, not all of them are necessarily seen. This is why post-click attribution is more useful in eliminating unnecessary data, taking into account only those ads which have generated clicks or redirects to the next stage of purchase (to the company’s website or shopping portal, for example). After the initial touch and before the final touch point before the sale, it doesn’t account for any prior website visits and is thus unable to shed little

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How Digital Transformation is Revolutionizing Offline Retail Experience

February 23, 2018

Before we go any further, allow us to declare that retail is here to stay. It is alive and kicking, and the boundaries between brick-and-mortar stores and online stores have already blurred, highlighting the importance of omnichannel marketing. Most online and offline resources discussed omnichannel experience as a novel concept in 2017, but conversations in 2018 will focus on the digital transformation that is already brewing in offline retail experience. With omnichannel experience taking centre stage, retailers and industry insiders have certain urgent priorities to focus on. These include, understanding technologies that are revolutionizing retail, setting up a budget for making changes, and promoting innovation within respective niche markets. With that in mind, digital transformation can be clubbed under these 3 categories which we shall discuss below. Technologies to watch: Bluetooth beacons, Internet of Things, Artificial Intelligence and chatbots, in-store applications, in-store push notifications Digitizing operations: Online access to inventory, communicating inventory needs before arrival, mobile wallets and digital checkouts, personalized recommendations, dynamic pricing Bringing digital to the store: Creating a multisensory experience, data and predictive analysis, enhanced customer support, social media tools, focusing on in-store experience Revving up the technology front at retail stores It would be foolhardy to assume that everyone wants to simply order products online without ever visiting a store. In fact, most people would rather walk into a store, physically touch the product they want to purchase, see it with their own eyes, or try it on themselves, before making a purchase. But they will use their mobile devices when they are inside your store. Using technology to create multi-sensory experiences for your customers is important to drive up sales. Retail stores across the world have begun to combine elements of Bluetooth, artificial intelligence, and the Internet of Things to create unique shopping experiences for customers who walk inside stores. Conversations are no longer about which technology is better to use in a store, but the focus is more on how all technologies can be used to create a holistic shopping experience for the customer. In other words, we are in a retail situation where various digital technologies intersect at retail stores to provide unique shopping experiences that are omnichannel in nature. Who is doing what: A number of retail chains began to experiment with Bluetooth beacons and internet of Things in 2017. While Sainsbury’s toyed with Bluetooth beacons, Singapore-based A Better Florist began to offer chatbot experience to clients so that they can track their orders quickly and easily. Sainsbury’s push notifications were delivered to customers when they arrived at the store, highlighting the importance of in-store applications and notifications. Here is what you can take from this: Consider speaking to digital consultants to understand how various emerging and existing technologies can be used together to create unique omnichannel shopping experiences for your customers in-store. Digitize your offline retail operations to deliver a friction-free shopping experience What could be worse than visiting an online store and realizing a product that is listed is not available anymore? What could be more unfortunate than having something in stock but not displaying it on the website because of communication and technology errors? A customer walking into a retail store and realizing the exact product that they want is not available. Nothing hurts a brand more than a customer walking away in disappoint from a retail store because a product that they wanted and assumed was available, isn’t. To avoid such situations, digitizing operations is a boon to retailers. When customers have access to available inventory at each retail location, they can simply look up on their mobile phones and arrive at the store, knowing for sure that what they want is indeed available. in fact, they could even call up your store (or text your chatbot) to inform you what they want to try or take a look at so that the product in question is ready to be tried or observed as soon as they arrive at the store. To ensure there are no literal abandoned shopping carts, you could urge them to pay via mobile wallets or ensure digital checkouts. Personalized recommendations based on various psychographic data will help you to cross-sell and upsell as well, right when they are at your store location. Want to tempt the reluctant customer who is looking at something longingly but is about to walk away? Deliver push notifications to their mobile phones and offer discounts and coupons, thanks to dynamic pricing. Who is doing what: Decathlon, the French sports apparel chain, offers online access to its inventory so that people can check beforehand what is available at their store locations before venturing out. Those who don’t want to try the products at a retail store can simply order them on the same website. Decathlon’s unique marketing strategies have helped it to digitize its operations and become a world leader in sports apparel in a very short period. Here is what you can take from this: understand how you can enhance the shopping experience by using technology and by digitizing your operations. A retail store that is efficient and that which operates flawlessly makes customers happier than anything else. Use the myriad technologies available to create a friction-free shopping experience for your customers. An immersive shopping experience keeps your customers hooked Another area that is transforming retail experience is the actual process of shopping. By providing a multisensory experience using technology, many retailers are making it cool to shop offline again. After all, it is a human tendency to rebel against what is the norm. If shopping online is the norm today, there is an equal number of people who would rather go to a store for a more immersive and sensual shopping experience. One way to enhance the shopping experience at retail stores is by understanding each customer personally, and by providing personal and customized attention to everyone that walks in. Let’s face it. Everyone likes to be treated like a king or a queen. This is

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Is your ERP solutions partner as efficient as your ERP System?

January 25, 2018

“The era of digitalization has made the business world of today complex and volatile. The software can support a company, but it can also act as a brake when it is inflexible and obsolete.”   – Rödl & Partner ERP systems are revolutionizing the world of retail and how. Nowadays, all entrepreneurs with an expansive base of operations choose to simplify their business processes by deploying management systems like the ERP. The future of Enterprise Resource Planning Systems has never been brighter, and it has become a popular management technology in India as well. However, procuring an ERP for your enterprise isn’t enough to ensure seamless performance and worry-free round-the-clock management. Being an intricately designed software interface, ERPs require impeccable servicing, from the moment a need for it is identified, right up to its installation. A solution partner will be there beside you every step of the way to help you adapt to the changing landscape. Besides offering comprehensive advice and innovative solutions, any ERP consultant worth their dime provides holistic support for companies with international operations. Remember, your ERP is as good as your ERP partner. To get the most out of your software, you must work alongside a good service provider. ERPs afford a future-oriented user-experience IT strategy for the enterprises of tomorrow. Today, they are capable of dexterously managing every aspect of your business. They can put your company “on the road to success, especially in the core areas of planning, reporting, finance, controlling and logistics” (Rödl & Partner). In the increasingly automated retail landscape, ERPs are becoming a necessity rather than a mere luxury. Once the need for an ERP system is recognized, an informed decision must be made regarding the kind of ERP your enterprise needs. In this respect, it is advisable to consult a solution partner before settling for the ERP you’ll ultimately choose to engage with. “Failure is incumbent when you invest in things without thinking long and planning ahead of them”.  Remember that selecting the right software is a lot like signing a business contract—not easily retractable once implemented. After you’ve made your mind up and committed to the planner, you are in it for the long haul. This is primarily because the initial investment involved in installing an ERP is very high. Therefore, replacing it due to dissatisfaction with the existing system is not really a viable option. Furthermore, developing a level of intimate familiarity with the model (of your choice) is of paramount importance, if you’re uploading control and access to your enterprise onto the resource planning system. This offline to online transition is made easier with the help of an expert to walk you through the imminent changes likely to take over your operations model, post-installation. Constant maintenance, monitoring, and upgradation of the ERP software is also required, and for that, it is crucial to avail the services of a reliable ERP solutions partner that is as efficient as your ERP. In addition, it is better for you and your ERP system, if your solutions partner is prompt and proficient intending to immediate hiccups, glitches, and related issues that are bound to appear in your enterprise technology with time. High responsiveness to ERP-related emergencies is always a quality that determines the reliability quotient of your solutions partner. There needs to be a team of skilled and intuitive personnel ready for dispatch, whenever the need arises, at any point during the product’s lifecycle. If you’re curious and skeptical about how much enlisting this support system will cost you (especially considering the lump-sum investment in purchasing the ERP software), frankly speaking, that is a small price to pay if you consider the amount of savings ERP implementation will generate for you. But if you want to get the implementation right, a good consultancy can maximize your ERP’s competitive potential. In an ideal world, the software would work endlessly without bugs, hardware wouldn’t break down and employees would run like clockwork with fail. But disasters happen with technology, just as easily as human resources. To avert the loss of productivity caused by such unavoidable breakdown of man-made systems, ERP solution partners come into play. In case of deciding on a consulting partner, take into account the scale and type of your business. Based on your needs, you can either opt for a full-service provider or problem specific services. To select the right solution for your business, understand exactly how much the project will cost at each stage and chalk out the timeline for each phase. Having a thorough discussion about price can prevent future surprises and disappointment, including the Upfront cost, Support coverage, and Recurring costs. Complete understanding and clarity about the partner’s role from start till end will help shape a contract both parties are happy with. Remember to include:  Timeline of go-live  User-friendly  Support & Services  Regular upgradations on current statutory  Bug fixing timeline A good partner will offer you solutions commensurate to and appropriate for your company. There is a host of specialized services that are offered in addition to the common ones: Strategy and innovation consulting Requirements analysis and implementation Improvement of your business processes Operation of the total solution including application management There is a popular saying in the business stratosphere, it is no longer enough to manufacture a good product; it needs to be followed up with good servicing. The same applies to the ERP market as well. Without a reliable and efficient solutions partner to fall back on, the entire prospect of improving your business operations with your new state-of-the-art ERP goes for a toss. To get you up and running quickly, Breeze offers ERP Implementation service to meet your business management needs and get you started quickly. Choose from: Rapid Essentials Implementation Service, which covers essential key functional areas and goes live user training Essentials Plus Implementation Service, where you can include additional requirements tailored to meet your business’ specific needs Customised Implementation Service, designed specifically for your business FEEL FREE TO CONTACT US FOR A

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Handheld POS and IoT are set to revolutionize India’s retail industry. Is your ERP ready?

January 3, 2018

The world of retail is all about invisible players. In the current economic scenario, whenever a sector shows promising trends, powerful and unseen forces rush towards it and accelerate its growth. Similarly, the exponential boom in the retail sector today would not have been possible without the parallel technological advancement, especially in the field of management technology like ERP systems. For those who are unfamiliar with the role of Enterprise Resource Planning Systems in global and local retail today, ERP is essentially an extremely effective tool that integrates diverse functions of the enterprise and corporate responsibilities by incorporating the most successful practices, to improve research and development, facilitate rapid decision-making, encourage cost reduction, monitor fleet and dispatch management, track revenues, and sustain better customer relationship management (CRM): in short, it provides a greater managerial insight and control on the entire process. ERP Trends to look out for in 2018 IoT is the future and it’s high time we acknowledge how integrally everything else is linked to it. According to Forbes, “The analytics revolution, edge computing, and 5G cell processing—are all driven by the IoT at their core….up to 40% of all compute will happen at the edge in just the next couple of years.”  Trends that are already in place abroad and will eventually make their way into the retail sector in India, all focus on greater automation. ERP is set to bring about an increase in outsourcing and global partnerships by integrating key business operations into one system so that you can conduct your business from anywhere with anyone in the world. According to an article published in Solutions Review, “With improved technology and streamlined global logistics, supply chains have released manufacturing from the limitations of geography. Moving information, data and products from one location to another has never been easier, faster or cheaper than it is today.” With the advent of Cloud computing and SaaS making its foray into the domestic ERP market, further operational and infrastructural costs are likely to reduce, because the mainframe server and company database can now be uploaded and accessed online. This eliminates logistical and administrative factors too, now that the mediator is replaced by a bot. Recently launched Breeze ERP  is also uploadable on the cloud and encapsulates standards that ERP systems around the world will be expected to meet in the coming year. Moving towards a handheld POS system When it comes to purchasing and transaction, ERP’s today offer a handheld POS system which enables automated registration of responses and details from the consumer’s end, and quick secure payments without any third person intervention. Such ERP’s are becoming increasingly common at restaurants, departmental shops, and online delivery transactions. Besides the handheld point of sale functions, this feature also provides an organized and consolidated database for gathering customer information, registers shifting trends, and managerial functions based on these trends.  Recently launched with state-of-the-art upgrades and features, Breeze ERP’s highly functional interface is set to make monitoring and managing sales on the seller’s end simpler. Besides reducing workload and managerial responsibilities by a considerable extent, Breeze ERP is extremely efficient in multitasking and simultaneously overseeing various modules involved in the life of a product from the warehouse to customer’s doorstep: manufacture, distribution, inventory, invoicing, financial accounting, customer relationship and servicing. It is this 360° approach that elevates Breeze ERP to the level of a self-sufficient support system for the modern retailer. The role played by technology in retail is thus indisputable at this point. The fullest extent of its potential needs to be grasped at both ends of the demand and supply spectrum. Only then can we transcend rote modes of trade and manufacture, and transform retail into a space for vision and innovation. With Breeze ERP, this is finally a reality well within your grasp. In case, you want to see it in action, request for a demo. Do you agree that ERP can be the next game changer in the world of retail? Tell us what you think in the comments below.  

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Which Blockchain Model Should You Choose To Begin With?

December 15, 2017

Of all the emerging technologies today, it is blockchain that is discussed most often, yet implemented only by niche entities. One of the reasons why blockchain has not caught up as quickly as we might have assumed is, it feels intimidating even to larger enterprises. In reality, blockchain is accessible, easily implementable, and extremely useful for a business to enhance security, do background checks, maintain records, comply with regulations, and meet various governance and business requirements. As a decentralized public ledger of all transactions, blockchain is proving to be a revolutionary way to maintain a record of all transactions and to ensure that every transaction takes place smoothly without ambiguities. However, it may seem overwhelming in the beginning. To achieve operational efficiency through blockchain, it helps to choose the right blockchain model and start incrementally. Understanding and demystifying blockchain A blockchain is a distributed database, which acts as a tamper-proof ledger of all transactions and events that a group of entities (or even a single entity) might want to record. As the information is stored on multiple computers, making changes to recorded data (or events) on a single computer will not result in changes across the network. On the other hand, whoever tries to make those changes to recorded data (or events) can easily be tracked. In other words, blockchain ensures that all digital transactions are stored permanently, and any revisions made to it, whether authorized or unauthorized, is always recorded, along with previous versions of the data. Everything stored in blockchain is protected by advanced cryptography keys, adding an impenetrable layer of security and privacy. Today, such secure and tamper-proof public ledgers of digital transactions can be used to store and maintain assets, validate and manage identities, contracts, policies, and more. Blockchain is revolutionary because : It is transparent and remains in a constant state of consensus Functions as a distributed network via large number of computers, eliminating security threats Data is always tamper-proof and stored permanently. Changes made to data need to be authorized, and unauthorized changes are impossible across a distributed network Identical blocks of information are stored across a network of hundreds to millions of computers, making data stored on blockchain incorruptible Transactions are immutable. Once agreed and implemented across a network, it can’t be undone What kind of blockchains are available for businesses to use? It is natural to wonder if there are different kinds of blockchains for various needs, or if there is a one-size-fits-all model. Blockchain technology can be customized and implemented for every business need, and there are three major kinds of blockchain networks that can be deployed today. Public blockchain In a public blockchain, every authorized person can read, send and validate transactions without explicit prior permission. This is particularly useful when decentralization is needed in peer-to-peer situations. You might want to understand a public blockchain as being similar to Wikipedia, where any editor can make changes to a document, though previous versions are always available, and no change can go unnoticed. Public blockchains are great because : Every authorized user can make transactions on a common platform, and remain anonymous too Circumvent third-party vendors, as intermediaries are not required to facilitate transactions between users Affordable to implement Safe and secure Changes need not be permanent and can be discarded if they are not in the interest of the entire system Application developers do not have overarching powers beyond developing apps However, a public blockchain isn’t without disadvantages. They are : Resource heavy, and in the long-term, prove to be expensive as computational requirements increase with time and frequency of use May not be suitable for fast-paced transactions like trading, as transaction verification process can be delayed by a couple of hours Privacy may not be sufficient for regulatory transactions at enterprise level Decentralization may lead to possibility of collusion, and unintended consequences Private blockchain A private blockchain comes with more privacy and a greater degree of control. Only a certain organization or a group of individuals have write permissions and only they can create new transactions within the network. Authorized individuals and groups may have read permissions. As there are restrictions imposed on read, write and validate permissions, private blockchains are not distributed or decentralized to the level of a public blockchain. Private blockchains are perfect for intra-business usage where only company executives have access to the network. It is also the perfect blockchain solution where outside-interference or activity is not required. Private blockchains have a number of advantages such as : Suitable for traditional business and governance models Transaction costs are low, as computational power required is lower as well Cyber attacks are eliminated because blockchains are immutable, and in a small and closed network, the identity of the attacker can easily be established Transactions go through quickly as only a few devices need to verify them With restricted access comes better privacy A few drawbacks of private blockchains are : Decentralization can’t be compared with public networks Easier for those with write permissions to unilaterally make changes in spite of disagreements, if any Lacks the openness of public blockchains Is there an alternative to public and private blockchains? Well, there is. As both public and private blockchains come with their own drawbacks, there is a hybrid version of the two, also known as permissioned or consortium blockchain. In a permissioned blockchain, write permissions are not assigned to a single organization or a few individuals. Instead, a few pre-determined entities control the process of validating transactions consensually. They also have the permission to assign read permissions. Permissioned blockchains come with the immutability and efficiency of public blockchains, with a degree of privacy seen in private blockchains. A consortium blockchain (permissioned blockchain) is easily scalable, private, and consensual. Transaction costs are low, and you can start implementing it right away. Making a choice It is always difficult to make decisions related to technology, but one must make them when the time is ripe. Every blockchain model comes with its

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Here is how to get started with AI and ML for your business

December 5, 2017

Who could possibly blame the IT manager or the CEO of a company, who has watched Spike Jonze’s 2013 film Her and concluded that artificial intelligence and machine learning signal something ominous? While most news headlines either glamorize or sensationalize artificial intelligence, the reality is much more nuanced. Artificial intelligence has already begun to revolutionize businesses all over the world, and it is only a matter of time before everyone else will have to play catch-up. Delaying the adoption of artificial intelligence and machine learning comes at the cost of being left behind, and eventually having to hurriedly implement AI and ML. The time is ripe now to adopt artificial intelligence and machine learning in small and incremental phases, using agile methodology. Let us take a look at why and how every business in any industry vertical should implement AI and ML, without affecting one’s core business. Understanding machine learning and artificial intelligence in simple terms Artificial intelligence, in layman’s terms, is a machine’s (computer’s) ability to mimic human cognition, such as learning and problem-solving. Its applications and scope range from building autonomous cars, advanced medical treatments, Internet of Things (IoT), advanced statistics and computational intelligence, etc. Machine learning is the ability of computers to learn without explicit programming. In other words, machines can be programmed to learn independently, without human supervision or intervention. While machine learning has many applications, the most popular application is in the form of deep learning, which is about building mathematical algorithms that process large amounts of data. These algorithms are often called neural networks, as they mimic human information processing. Artificial intelligence and machine learning will be used by almost every business to detect anomalies, recommend products, improve services, or predict trends in the very near future. More than 90% of the 100 early-stage startups we met in the last six months plan to use machine learning to improve customer experience. Currently, businesses that have already implemented AI and ML can be classified into two groups: those that use AI/ML in their applications and services, and those that build and develop AI and ML middleware for others. Get Started with Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning Now If you feel intimidated by the quick advent of AI and ML, allow us to put your worries to rest. Instead, make the best use of AI and ML by keeping aside technicalities, and by identifying simple and non-business critical areas. Look at AI and ML as an innovation project that can be started small, and built upon gradually as the technology evolves. It is not necessary to bring dramatic and disruptive changes to your business. Practically, you can enhance every area of your business in small and non-critical ways using AI and ML. Let us look at possible scenarios in each department. Here are some of the areas where you can introduce AI/ML without affecting your core business: Business intelligence Predictive analysis helps you access trends, predict outcomes, and provide better solutions. Use old databases for rich insights, or merge AI with your BI tools to access insights and predict outcomes. Customer service Choose from improving search results, boost sales, retargeting potential customers, personalizing content, engaging visitors with a chatbot that answers queries related to products, etc. The sky is the limit. Enterprise asset management Use AI to manage contracts and assets, predictive behavior analysis and alarms, automated intelligent processing and standardization of data. Etc. Customer Experience Provide AI chatbot assistants to your customers, or use deep insights to enhance customer experience. Use machine learning to improve search results based on user behavior. Human resource Surprise your employees with accurate appraisals, incentives, and payouts. AI does not understand human concepts of prejudice and bias. Sales and marketing Design and implement sales & marketing campaigns based on deep insights derived from machine learning and AI. Predictive analysis can help you develop marketing campaigns that are prophetic in nature. Manage your social media without having to be online 24/7. Product development and production Machine learning is most often used in product development and service enhancements. You can use machine learning in the most innocuous manner to improve your product development and production. Procurement and inventory management Track your raw materials, predict when you might need to replenish, and intelligently procure the best at the lowest rates. Distribution Monitor fleets, track packages, and provide shipping and delivery services that are on the dot. There’s a storm approaching? Predict it before it happens, and have a contingency plan. Strategize AI/ML implementation Now that you know AI and ML can be implemented incrementally in almost all business areas, it is time to strategize the entire implementation process. In 6 easy steps, you can implement and use artificial intelligence and/or machine learning as part of your innovation project, without interfering with your core business. Identify safe targets to innovate Think about the problems you currently have in your business, and which one is the least critical to everyday operations, if changes were brought. Choose from the list above, and identify targets that could be safely innovated with AI or ML. Look around for inspiration If you are unable to decide what might be a safe target, look at what your competitors are doing. If none of your competitors are doing anything related to AI or ML, you might even want to find inspiration in adjacent industries. Assess your budget for innovation It is advisable to start small, as that helps you remain confident throughout your innovation project. Assess how much you are willing to spend on bringing innovation to your chosen area. Choosing open source technologies is another tried and tested method to innovate, as it costs lesser. Look for agile vendors Once you identify the area you wish to innovate, look for vendors with similar agile mindsets who believe in adopting and implementing technology incrementally. Implement AI innovation slowly but steadily As discussed earlier, it is important to adopt artificial intelligence slowly, as it gives you time to adjust to the

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Rivu Chakraborty’s Reactive Programming Book for Developers Gets Listed on Kotlin’s Official Website

December 1, 2017

We are excited to announce the launch of Reactive Programming in Kotlin, authored by Indus Net Technology’s Rivu Chakraborty. It is listed on the official website of Kotlin as an important resource, and on the official GitHub Repository of RxKotlin. The book is a hands-on guide that lucidly explains the theoretical and practical foundations of reactive programming in the context of Kotlin. Reactive Programming in Kotlin is a master-resource for programmers who seek to understand, learn, and practice Reactive Programming using Kotlin language. Reactive programming, as a concept, is not very well understood, and resources available currently do not make this complex topic accessible to developers. Rivu Chakraborty’s Reactive Programming in Kotlin aims to provide the necessary tools, resources, and self-training to Kotlin developers who wish to revolutionize their programming skills. To be fair, Reactive Programming has intimidated even the most seasoned programmers simply because it is an advanced topic with a complex learning curve, and not many currently specialize in it. Kotlin is a statically typed language and is officially supported by Google and Pivotal (Spring custodian). It is often considered to be the best combination of Object-Oriented and Functional Programming Paradigms. Like Reactive Programming Paradigm, Kotlin language is comparatively new, and globally, very few resources are available in either print or web. Rivu’s book helps programmers to immerse themselves in this new programming language. Why reactive programming? The problem with today’s programming techniques is that it is difficult to write stable and reliable code for programs that are increasingly asynchronous in nature. Programmers also need to consider the scalability of the application, as most apps tend to grow with time, both in size and complexity, as new features are added. Kotlin is best-suited for developing stable, reliable and scalable programs, and is often the programming language of choice for many developers today. However, Kotlin isn’t without limitations. It is still difficult to consider all aspects such as asynchronicity, scalability, and intuitiveness, while also keeping the application responsive. Reactive programming is a completely new paradigm that helps developers to take their programming skills to the next level. Working with asynchronous data streams becomes a walk in the park, when Kotlin developers employ reactive programming. Rivu’s groundbreaking book helps you do just that. The story behind the book A Google-certified Android developer, Rivu Chakraborty is a force to reckon with when it comes to Kotlin. Rivu is the right person to author a book on this topic, as he is a pioneering developer in Kotlin with around two years of experience in using the newly emerging language. Many developers who use Kotlin did not have a proper resource to refer to, or to self-train themselves in the field of reactive programming. Rivu wanted to change that. Upon being asked why he was motivated to write this book, he revealed, “I realized not many people use Kotlin, especially not with the reactive programming paradigm. I wanted to share my experience, knowledge, and skills with other programmers so that they can quickly learn how to develop programs written in Kotlin, using Reactive Programming.” What does the book cover? As most people are new to reactive programming, the book begins with the basic concepts of Reactive Programming and slowly moves towards asynchronous data streams. Usually, this is where even the most seasoned programmers feel stuck. After introducing the reader to general Reactive Programming concepts, they will be introduced to functional reactive programming, which helps programmers to apply what’s learned in practical use cases. It is at this level that the book helps Kotlin enthusiasts to create dataflow-based systems and RxKotlin library, both of which are necessary for reactive programming. The book also helps programmers learn how to manipulate time in data-flow and customize operators and providers. Further along, readers can learn more about the concept of asynchronicity and how they can use concurrency model to asychronicity that occurs within the code. Keeping applications scalable is one of the most challenging areas of programming, and this book helps programmers to use modular programming, which helps in scaling apps. Last but not the least, readers can expect to gain a fair knowledge of Springmicroservices, and learn to work with Spring 5 functional web framework and Spring boot 2. Also, this book will help Kotlin developers and programmers to create future-ready Android applications using a reactive programming paradigm. Reactive Programming in Kotlin covers the following concepts Extensive coverage of RxKotlin 2.0 and Reactive Framework Building future-ready Android apps using RxKotlin Learning to use Kotlin with Spring Framework 5.0 Working with reactor Kotlin extension Build scalable, reliable, and responsive Android applications in Kotlin Using Sping, Hibernate, and RxKotlin to build Rest APIs Test RxKotlin applications using test Subscriber Indus Net Technologies has been at the forefront of Kotlin and reactive programming revolution Indus Net Technologies has been a pioneer of sorts in bringing scalable, reliable, and efficient Android applications using Kotlin and reactive programming. Rivu Chakraborty’s book is a step in the same direction, of making this valuable knowledge available to other programmers and developers, in a mission to create a better development atmosphere. We wish Rivu Chakraborty luck and hope that his book achieves the success it merits. Reactive Programming in Kotlin is published by Packt, and is available in both print and Kindle versions. It probably makes sense to buy both the versions, as Packt is offering interesting deals. You can grab Reactive Programming in Kotlin on Packt’s website directly, or place an order on Amazon and other famous distributors.

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Top Implications of Cyber Attacks on Enterprise Mobility Software

November 22, 2017

With an increasing number of companies opting for enterprise mobility software, the question of securing data and seeking protection from cyber attacks has become an issue of paramount importance. It is now becoming clear that companies need to subscribe to enterprise mobility management (EMM), and strong security services in order to protect data and privacy. While data, technology, infrastructure, and productivity are all hit when cyber attacks take place, there can also be legal and unforeseen implications that may put businesses at risk, if adequate measures aren’t taken. Key facts By 2021, the cost of damage caused by cyber crimes is expected to shoot up to $6 trillion, twice the amount since 2016. Companies spent $80 billion on cybersecurity services and products in 2016. By 2021, this expenditure is likely to exceed $1 trillion. More than 4 billion people will be online by 2020, which means, there will be so many potential hacking victims. Bloomberg reports that the next WannaCry attack can cost insurers $2.5 billion. There are dozens of Android devices that come pre-loaded with malware. An astounding 8.5 million cyber attacks were conducted in 2016 just on mobile devices. Ponemon mobile security survey revealed that only 39% of respondents had some level of mobile security feature in place. The rest were unprotected. Let us take a look at the top implications of cyber attacks on enterprise mobility solutions. Loss of data Most cyber attackers are now aware that a large amount of data is stored on applications and mobile data servers. If they are trying to harm a certain corporate entity, this is where they usually go. Moreover, cyber attacks may take down entire sites, including mobile data, which can lead to irretrievable loss of data. In a survey conducted by Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU) recently, private intra-company communications were held to be the most important asset by 14% of respondents, while strategic plans & initiatives and regulated data were held to be important by 12% of respondents each. Customer information was deemed to be the most important asset by 10% of the survey respondents. This study was sponsored by VMWare. The solution is to invest in data storage plans that secure all your files and ensure against loss of data. Also, these services make copies your data so that nothing is lost forever, even if you are attacked sometime. Consider contacting both cloud and on-premises storage companies. Data theft and misuse A potential cause for concern is cyber-attacks leading to theft of data. This is a more serious situation than the loss of data, as sensitive information may be used by malicious entities for their own ulterior motives. In fact, theft of data and its misuse has been described as the single most serious implications cyber-attacks. McAfee recently revealed that dead apps which haven’t been updated or secured are particularly vulnerable targets for cyber-attacks and data thefts. McAfee Mobile Threat Research revealed that more than 4,000 apps on Google Play were discarded without informing users, making their data vulnerable to misuse. To protect yourself against theft of data, invest in a good encryption service and make sure that all your dates encrypted and saved securely. It is also important to restrict access to sensitive data depending on time, place and person. Consider an overhaul of your BYOD policy as well. Impersonation and identity theft While theft of data is a serious concern, what troubles many e-commerce entities is that cyber attackers can easily steal consumer information and customer-related private information. This can lead to serious implications such as impersonation and identify theft, both of which have been described as anxiety-provoking for companies. Luka Malisa et al (2016) published a conference paper in 2016, in which they revealed that among the 150,000 mobile apps they analyzed, more than 40,000 impersonation cases were detected. They concluded that impersonation detection was possible if closer scrutiny was given to user interfaces of these apps. To protect yourself and your customers from impersonation and identity theft, invest in encryption and secure data storage services. Ensure that backups are encrypted too, so that identity cannot be stolen easily. Identity theft is a reality and millions of customers and consumers are already victims of these cyber-attacks. It is also important to focus on the UI/UX of the app so that it’s not vulnerable to impersonation. Legal consequences What could be worse than being attacked by hackers and losing data? Being sued by your clients and customers for loss of data and identity theft. Thousands of companies have faced litigations costing them millions of dollars because critical information was either leaked or stolen, leading to loss and other consequences. Legal consequences of being victims off cyber-attacks can be quite serious and it is something that you should seriously consider. In the UK, individuals can sue a company for causing them distress, while in the US, individuals can file class action suits against businesses that have rendered their data vulnerable. In the UK, fines can run up to 500,000 pounds, whereas in the US, 2-5% of annual turnover maybe confiscated as fines, according to an article published in the Infosecurity Magazine. To protect yourself from legal consequences of being victims,cyber-attacks ensure that you insure your service against hacking attacks and lose data. While insurance provides a layer of legal security, a better option is to make sure that you are protected from hackers themselves. Financial consequences An important consequence of cyber-attacks is a loss of money and financial losses. Financial consequences can be multi-faceted. You might have to spend money on retrieving data, on bolstering existing infrastructure, paying compensation, hiring detectives or cyber sleuths, legal expenses, etc. Financial consequences alone should force you got consider strengthening your cybersecurity. It is reported that companies spent a staggering $80 billion in 2016 alone on cyber-security products. This figure is expected to cross a trillion dollars by 2021. As an example, just WannaCry attack cost insurers more than $2.5 billion. If you were wondering how much the actual

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Hiring In a Post-Weinstein World : Blockchain to the Rescue

November 10, 2017

In the immediate aftermath of the Harvey Weinstein saga, human resource departments across industry verticals have had to deal with a tsunami of harassment complaints, leading to dismissals, compensations, and expensive lawsuits. Every hiring manager, whether at BBC or at a smaller organization, has asked the same question to themselves: “Why didn’t I learn more about whom I was hiring? How could I have avoided the embarrassment that my hiring decision caused to the company?” They could not have made a better decision anyway. Because they simply didn’t have access to verified and validated information about every candidate that applied. They probably had access to a one-sided, colored, and mostly favorable review of the candidate. If they had access to blockchain, they would have made better hiring decisions and avoided complex and unsavory situations. What is blockchain? Often described as a digital ledger, blockchain securely records every transaction, communication, or event that must be recorded and verified. Consenting parties contribute data to a shared network where a varying number of people record transactions in a ledger that only grow over a period of time. Once recorded in the ledger, information can never be altered or edited. Instead, blocks of transactions get stacked on top of one another in a permanent manner, with each block lending itself to be accessed by those who have the authorization to do so. Every block forms a chain with its preceding and succeeding block, thus validating the entire chain of blocks from the beginning of time to eternity. All these complex and encrypted recording of transactions take place automatically in the backend with the help of blockchain software. In other words, information stored in blockchain is literally indestructible. To tamper with information stored in blocks, a malicious entity will have to edit information on every computer where the block is stored, at the same time, which simply isn’t possible. Digital ledgers can be public, private, or semi-private. They can vary in size and may grant anonymous access or may not. How blockchain revs up the hiring process Blockchain technology has been around for many years now, and people usually associate it with Bitcoin. However, blockchain technology has many other important implications, especially in the hiring process. With every event that could influence a hiring decision recorded in blockchain, forming that perfect team gets so much easier. As a norm, hiring managers have depended on background checks, recommendation letters, references, qualification assessment authorities, etc., to access a wide range of opinions regarding a candidate. On top of these varied sources, a hiring manager also has to qualitatively evaluate a candidate during many rounds of interviews. BBC alone saw more than 25 claims of harassment after the Harvey Weinstein scandal kicked off. Somewhere, every hiring manager knows, if they had access to verifiable insight into a candidate’s character and conduct, all this could have been avoided. Blockchain not only helps you verify a candidate’s credentials and identity, it helps you evaluate his or her character and past conduct. As blockchain isn’t controlled or stored on a single server, data stored cannot be tampered with. Blockchain technology is all about transparence, made possible by decentralization of technology and distribution of digital ledgers across nodes. No block is stored only on a single computer but is rather stored on shared networks, which makes tracking and verifying each event and data so much more credible. In other words, a candidate cannot present only their most favorable reviews, while keeping unfavorable evaluations hidden. To put things in perspective, blockchain encrypts every verified document or event related to a candidate, right from the recommendation letters written by processors to certifications earned, appraisals in previous organizations, any legal issues, defining events in social media activity, and helps build a psychographic profile of the individual over a period of time, all backed by hashes stored in previous blocks. Clear benefits of using blockchain during hiring: Execute hiring contracts when certain conditions are met Conduct audits in a super-efficient manner Store and access verified files Use blockchain in combination with predictive analysis to foresee employee outcomes Use smart contracts to protect all your intellectual property, and prevent employee fraud and theft Track and analyze social media content Use distributed ledgers to develop and access universal digital identities Avoid expensive lawsuits and claims Create a safe working environment for the rest of your team Add value to your organization and team by hiring someone who will fit in Evaluate candidate’s compatibility with your work culture Between you and your candidate, there will be no middlemen Blockchain removes the need for middlemen and intermediaries, ensuring that information sought about the other entity is validated and guaranteed as “true” by blockchain technology. If you plan to hire a new senior-level manager for your organization, you can not only make sure that he actually got that Yale degree he claims to have, but also make sure that he did not bully someone at a job he held 10 years ago. As an employer, you will have access to his education, grades, conduct, and character, joining and exit dates at previous organizations, performance scores, etc. In other words, blockchain acts as an instant background check, especially when it can correlate events and information recorded in social profiles. For example, if you gain access to Blockcerts, you can immediately access verified and validated records of an individual’s qualifications. What makes blockchain truly remarkable is, you do not have to depend on just the quantifiable measures such as scores, certifications, and lack of criminal history. You can access qualitative information about a candidate built up over years, thanks to recommendation letters, appraisals, performance reviews, etc. Combine all this with predictive analysis and social media data, the sky is the limit. Build better teams, and a safer workplace In the end, blockchain helps you foresee whom you are hiring if they are fit for your team, and how you can reduce risks associated with hiring someone you don’t know much about. You

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