With business travel spend reaching more than $318 billion in 2016, fraud potential is at an all time high. However, new advances in travel expense management technology combined with proper internal controls can help businesses reduce fraud and control their travel costs. Here are three fraud schemes businesses can now curtail with smart applications of … [More]
Speedier Feedback Improves Results
“What drives engagement is frequency of feedback,” notes Mark Heymann, founding partner and CEO of UniFocus, which recently successfully beta-tested its Pulse Survey solution with Best Western Hotels & Resorts. Working collaboratively with a group of its independently owned and operated hotels in North America, Best Western gained a valuable new metric to quantify the value … [More]
Reprogramming Tech Education
Woz U launched last month online and plans ground campuses in more than 30 cities across the country and around the world. Named after Apple Computer co-founder Steve “Woz” Wozniak, Scottsdale-headquartered Woz U is “education reprogrammed,” a new approach to higher education for the tech industry. It offers online curriculum to educate computer support specialists and software … [More]
Got Hacked Yet?
“There are two kinds of companies — those that were hacked, and those that don’t yet know they were hacked,” cybersecurity expert Sunny Handa, D.C.L., recently told attendees at The Counselors of Real Estate® Annual Convention, quoting former Cisco CEO John Chambers. Noting the global hacker economy is three to five times the size of the security industry, Dr. Handa warned that … [More]
Supporting the Tech Maker Community
The Hardware Studio, launched last month, is a new initiative designed to help hardware makers design products and plan ahead for manufacturing before they launch on Kickstarter. It is a collaboration among Kickstarter PBC, the world’s largest funding platform for creative projects, Dragon Innovation, a leading provider of manufacturing software and know-how, and Avnet, a … [More]
Hardware Studio: Resources for ‘Makers’
Hardware Studio has two components: Toolkit and Connection. Toolkit is an education hub, open to anyone (however, Creators with technical hardware products will likely get the most benefit). Toolkit will have a ton of great content in a variety of formats, such as articles, blogs, technical data sheets and webinars, to help Creators at any stage of their journey. For … [More]
Music Platform Innovates on Innovation
Streaming music lies at the basis of Arena Music’s business operations, but its success comes from taking that technology and giving it an innovative twist in the business plan. In fact, “It’s more about doing everything opposite,” says founder Damon Evans, referring to the major subscription-based music streaming platforms. “Arena is an on-demand merchandise storefront that … [More]
Locksmithing via Cloud
KeyMe takes a new approach to locksmithing, a $7.5-billion industry, using a digital scan that is securely stored in the cloud. KeyMe comes in the form of both a kiosk and an app, and allows users to store, share and duplicate their physical keys Customers can instantly make copies of their keys at a kiosk. Or use the app to digitally scan keys from their mobile device — … [More]
Partnering in Delivery
In a strategic partnership, OnTrac, which specializes in delivery services throughout the eight western-area states, and AB&R® (American Barcode & RFID) have joined forces to address issues in mobility and route management, and package tracking. AB&R is working together with OnTrac to move their devices over to AndroidTM devices. The Android operating system is … [More]
3-D Transforming Business
Jack King, founder and CEO of DustRam LLC, has spent his entire career in flooring, and, 15 years ago, founded Arizona Home Floors, LLC. In 2008, high-end flooring took a huge hit when the market for new housing construction collapsed. Since remodeling became the only game in town, he went to work on an invention for dust-free tile removal. After several prototypes and … [More]
McDonald’s ‘Snaplications’
For the 250,000 restaurant employees McDonald’s and its independent franchisees anticipated hiring for the summer (4,200 in Arizona), McDonald’s implemented a modern approach to recruiting — Snapchat. “Snaplications,” a term coined by McDonald’s, is a first-to-Ωmarket hiring tool in the U.S. that allows job seekers to be served an ad and opportunity to begin the application … [More]
Tech-Enabled Collaboration
Bolste has joined Current, powered by GE’s partner ecosystem, aiming to provide collaboration and communication technology to customers and partners worldwide. Bolste’s all-in-one platform provides all the familiar collaboration tools a team needs for optimal alignment, increased productivity and cohesive, instant communication with those that matter most. The platform … [More]
Tech? Or Healthcare?
Oscar operates in the healthcare realm. But it identifies as a tech company. “We use data, technology and design to make healthcare easier for employers,” explains Paul Gazeley, VP of customer care for the company he describes as a healthcare insurer and tech startup. “We believe if we help inform members about all their options and help them use the healthcare system whenever … [More]
Data Held Hostage – a Growing Problem
Ransomware is a form of malware that targets a user’s critical data and systems for extortion. Typically, ransomware encrypts data with a key known only to the attacker until a ransom (usually in a cryptocurrency such as Bitcoin) is paid. After the ransom is paid, the attacker will sometimes provide a decryption key. The FBI reports that approximately 4,000 ransomware … [More]
Top vs. Bottom Performers: What Role Does Technology Play?
Our IT firm was curious about the role technology strategies play in separating exceptionally successful firms from those that are stagnant in growth. We reviewed the business practices for dozens of local small and mid-sized businesses ranging from 20 to 500 employees, and we took an in-depth look at everything from mitigating risk and developing IT standards to budgeting, … [More]
Tech for Healthcare
Advances in technology and healthcare often overlap. Diet by App Order Healthy has created an app with which people ordering take-out or delivery can quickly and easily compare how healthy their food choices are. Recently launched for the Phoenix area, the app gives the user access to more than 10,000 restaurants, marking each menu item with a traffic-light rating system — … [More]
How to Make a Good First Impression with a Website
A brand has one chance to make a first impression. In this fast-paced digital world, there are many opportunities for a potential customers or stakeholders to learn about a company and have that first impression before any actual conversation even happens. That means a company’s digital presence has to be rock solid, and it all starts with a website. No matter what purpose … [More]
Technology Innovation for the Legal Market
The cost and risk of paper records are a severe business burden. Law firms and corporate legal departments, as a result, are migrating to a fully electronic matter file to improve efficiency and security for their clients; alleviate compliance and audit processes for the firm; and deliver increased mobility, collaboration and productivity for attorneys. DocSolid, a market … [More]
