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Best Finance Colleges in the U.S.

American education provides students with not only daily language practice but also the most advanced educational methods. The choice of economic specialties in the United States is very wide and varied. It is no secret that business education abroad is especially popular among foreign students. America, in turn, is one of the best countries in the world to study entrepreneurship, business, and management. A large number of universities specializing in finance operate in the United States, each of which has its own flavor and strengths. The world of finance is very dynamic, therefore, in order to achieve success for an educational institution, it is important to comply with the latest business trends and introduce modern technical innovations into the educational process. Where can you find a university that meets these criteria? Especially for you, we have selected 5 excellent US finance universities, where you can not only get a diploma but also prepare as much as possible for your future career or starting your own business.

 

1. Stanford University

Stanford has had a significant impact on the development of the high-tech industry in the area it is built. Many students and alumni of the university have become the founders of successful companies, which include Google, Snapchat, and Hewlett-Packard. In total, companies founded by Stanford alumni earn $ 2.7 trillion each year. However, be prepared to study hard at this university as the academic standards are extremely high. That is why we want to help you and recommend https://assignmentshark.com/finance-help.html help with finance homework, where professionals will do everything for you.

The complex of buildings covers 8,180 acres of land, more than 50% of which has not yet been developed. The characteristic sand-colored buildings with red roofs make Stanford’s campus one of the most recognizable in the world. In addition to faculty buildings and a community meditation center, there are many sculpture parks and art museums on the campus.

As you would expect from one of the best universities in the world, Stanford has a high competition for admission. Currently, the number of applicants is just over 5 percent of the total number of applicants.

Of the 16,000 students, most of whom live on campus, the foreign share is 22%.

 

2. University of South Florida

The University of South Florida offers over 180 applied and research training programs in the humanities, technical and social sciences. The strongest are considered to be business, management, and marketing, healthcare, biology and biomedicine, engineering, social sciences.

For foreign applicants, it is possible to enroll in the International Year One and Graduate Pathway preparatory programs with the subsequent transfer to the bachelor’s or master’s degrees, respectively.

The university is noted by many international ratings as one of the strongest in the country and the world, and in Florida County, it is considered the best university in terms of the quality and accessibility of education (The Princeton Review rating). According to the INTO Student Experience Survey, 92% of students are completely satisfied with their learning and living conditions.

Graduates of the University of South Florida become famous politicians, artists, media personalities, journalists, and writers, and they occupy leadership positions in large companies, including IBM, Google, and United Airlines.

 

3. Florida University

Founded back in 1853, the educational institution can boast not only a solid history but also an excellent level of teaching both the exact and the humanities. Full time at community college takes 4 years, but many students spend much less time there. At the end of the 2nd year, the student receives a “two-year degree” – Associate’s degree. With this degree, you can go to work or continue your studies. Often, students after two years of college apply to the university for a bachelor’s degree. Americans and foreign students prefer this way of studying (rather than immediately applying for a bachelor’s degree at a university) to save money.

 

4. Harvard University

It is the oldest and most prestigious university, which ranks second among the best universities in the international ranking of education quality. Scientific programs related to biology and medicine rank first in the world. Acceptance rate – 7%, every 4 students entered Harvard from abroad. In addition, at Harvard, it is quite easy to get full funding, as one of my acquaintances said.

 

Summing up

More than 500,000 students from all over the world come to the United States each year to pursue quality higher education. America, like no other country, is famous for eminent universities, whose diplomas open up excellent career prospects for graduates. If you are planning to get higher education in the United States, pay attention to our words in this article. This article provides comprehensive information about American universities, conditions of admission, and tuition fees. So, you can safely apply to any of the above universities.

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Premature Ejaculation Myths Debunked – Just A Pack Of Lies

There isn’t a man alive who hasn’t been through premature ejaculation, once in their lives. But, it’ll be like seeing a unicorn if you catch a man talking about premature ejaculation as a first-hand experience.

Men find it embarrassing to discuss sexual complaints. Anything from erectile dysfunction, premature ejaculation, or the positions they enjoy most during sex – is a taboo that isn’t whispered even to their sex partners.

So, we’re here to talk about premature ejaculation and bust a few myths related to this issue. The reason why we do this is simple. We don’t want you to worry over ridiculous nothings. 

Since you won’t talk, we’ll tell you what we know and hope it’ll help you figure out that PE isn’t such a big deal, after all.

Myth No. 1: Premature ejaculation sufferers have severe anxiety issues.

Truth: Stress and anxiety do indeed cause premature ejaculation. But, not every man is unable to handle stress. Some men show better performance under pressure. 

PE is common in younger men who feel sex-related anxiety, and don’t have enough experience to pleasure themselves or their better halves. 

Myth No.2: PE decreases with age. 

Truth: Rumor has it that PE is a problem suffered by the young. Those who haven’t been with enough women or have no sexual experience tend to ejaculate earlier. 

And, that as you gain more experience, you learn to have more control over yourself. But, a Belgian study done to research the effects of PE on men show that the prevalence of PE remains from the teens to the 50s. 

Myth No.3: If you have PE, you’ll have it all your life.

Truth: Technically, men see premature ejaculation as a curse that is passed down the family, from one generation to another. The truth is that you may be able to control sexual ejaculation from partner to partner, and from one situation to another.

Myth No.4: Men who ejaculate within two minutes of sexual intercourse suffer from PE.

Truth: Research has shown that men tend to obsess over the duration of sexual intercourse far more than women. Also, most men part of the study who claimed to suffer from PE lasted longer than two minutes. 

Most women, on the other hand, enjoyed the moment and didn’t seem to have a clue about the duration of time during sex.

Myth No.5: PE can only be treated with medications.

Truth: Premature ejaculation is treatable with certain medications such as Priligy. But, that isn’t the only option available to men. 

Medical advancements have made room for many other solutions to help you solve your problem without popping pills. You can use Numan to buy delay sprays and delay wipes that help with PE also. There are also supplements you can take to help you achieve the holy grail of cum. This means you’ll be able to increase your ejaculate levels.

Myth No.6: Partners of men with PE suffer great trauma.

Truth: Women tend to deal well with emotional and psychological concerns far better than men. So, you may find that women who are distressed because their partners have PE are worried not for their well-being, but are gravely concerned for their partners.

In Conclusion

We’re hoping that you find this article useful. Premature ejaculation is a basic problem that many men suffer from and is treatable. All you have to remember is not to worry yourself into more trouble. Keep calm and enjoy life.

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How Much Does it Cost to Find Russian Brides

Many dating sites have hundreds of profiles of stunning mail order Russian wives. Western men have always envisioned the gorgeous mail order brides from Russia as their girlfriends or companions. They have always felt enamored by their beauty and charm. Men love dating these ladies because they don’t cause any inconvenience in comparison with other European brides.

Russian brides are great life partners as they have rational expectations from their husbands. They will never put their spouse under fire, nor will they lose their temper without any reason. A Russian mail order bride typically prefers not to make a mountain out of a molehill. 

 

Finding a Russian Mail Order Bride For Yourself

A fascinating part of any reputable dating service is that all profiles are detailed with verified profile pictures. It is easier to find accurate information such as hobbies, education, background, marital status, etc., of any user to help you initiate contact. Useful functionalities such as sending interests/likes, messaging, video chatting, preferential placement in searches, virtual gifts can enhance your chances of landing a date with hot Russian women. Although these features are only for subscribed members, you have much freedom regarding access to all profiles, no restriction on sending messages, interests, or emails, and fuller site access. 

If you are wondering how to get a Russian mail order bride, these functionalities are important aspects when signing up for a dating site. However, the cost of these premium features is something that can’t be disregarded. Various dating apps offer paid services such as video chats, calls, virtual presents, and travel arrangements to meet beautiful Russian women. Apart from that, you have to pay for translation services. If you want to invite your Russian girlfriend to your country, these dating services can manage this, but you have to provide all costs. Overall, it is a no pain, no gain situation when it comes to finding the best Russian brides for yourself, and the expenses can go up to $30,000, including traveling and other costs.

Many dating websites offer exclusive features that make these services alluring to members when it comes to communication. But to use these functionalities, you need to buy credits or upgrade your membership from standard to premium.

 

Cost of Finding Your Love Online

Online dating and matchmaking have witnessed incredible explosion during the past few years, with people joining from different age brackets to find their perfect match. If you are thinking about whether you should register as a free member on various sites or subscribe to premium membership, you need to consider that standard membership is geared towards casual dating. If you are seriously looking for an ideal Russian wife, these exclusive features will help you interact with her in real time. The key is to find the right website(s) to find genuine profiles of mail order brides from Russia. 

It would be best if you kept in mind that you can only use limited features such as browsing profiles, sending limited likes/interests and emails, and reading few texts as a standard member on most sites. All other features, including live chatting, require credits to continue. Paid sites give you more flexibility for different types of relationships, including hookups, friendships, and same-sex relationships. On the other hand, free sites only work best for singles or couples who are separated. Let’s take a look at some free and paid features of an online dating site:

Free Features Paid Features
  1. Free registration and account creation
  2. Sending interests to members
  3. Only replying to messages from paid members (restriction on sending messages)
  4. Support form customer care
  5. Uploading profile image
  6. Using basic search tools
  7. Browsing profiles
  8. Seeing match recommendations
  1. No restrictions on sending texts, winks, flirts, and email to all members
  2. Viewing contact details of other users
  3. Initiating a conversation with a member
  4. Priority support from customer care
  5. Profile visibility in search results
  6. Accessing full profile photos
  7. Sending virtual gifts
  8. Live chat
  9. Video conferencing
  10. Using advanced search filters for matchmaking
  11. Uploading unlimited photos/videos on your profile
  12. Participating in online forums and blogs
  13. Browsing profiles anonymously
  14.  Liking and commenting on any profile/post/picture
  15. Getting a notification if someone views your profile
  16. Live webcams (watching broadcasts from other users or models)

 

Unlike standard members, premium users immediately get noticed as they appear on top of search results. The cost of paid plans depends on the membership type, features, and duration. For instance, a Gold membership will include some of these premium features and cost at least $20 – $40 for a month. The price gets cheaper when you buy this plan for 3 or 6 months. On the other hand, a platinum plan will normally include all functionalities and its one month subscription starts from $50. 

 

Final Word

The premium features are what makes any dating platform exclusive from other sites. If these fit your preference criteria, it will save your time and energy to find real Russian mail order brides. You can select any plan that fits your budget, choose users you want to talk to, send them a message, and wait for their response. Soon you will be interacting with the ones who interest you the most.

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Understanding Distracted Driving Collision

Distractions are unhealthy in several aspects, including truck driving. In recent times, several truck accidents have been associated with distracted driving. Like other vehicle drivers, truck drivers engage in multitasking, forgetting they driving a huge vehicle that is capable of wrecking significant damage if mishandled. For that reason, they need to be extra careful and responsible when driving these beasts on the road.

Distracted driving is more dangerous and fatal when it involves truck and tractor drivers. There are several types of distractions that result in head-on collisions, leaving some victims dead and others injured in most cases. If you have been involved in a recent truck accident caused by distraction and negligence, it is important to see a traffic collision personal injury lawyer.

 

Distracted Truck Driving And What Makes It Dangerous

Unlike small vehicles, trucks are huge and quite complex to operate. Hence, a driver has to fully conscious of his movements and coordinations when driving a truck, paying attention to the vehicle’s operable parts and the surrounding environment. More responsibility falls on the driver’s shoulder to keep himself and other people safe when on the road.

Interestingly, an average 18-wheeler has a weight and length of 80,000 pounds and 74 feet, respectively. These specifications can increase, depending on the brand, model, and options. With such immense weight, a truck collision at full speed is always fatal, especially if the other vehicle is smaller.

Truck accidents can have truly devastating consequences, which is why it’s so important to remain alert on the roads—whether you’re driving a truck or simply driving near one. And sleep deprivation can really be a dangerous factor to this. Here’s How To Decrease Sleeping Behind The Wheel

 

Types Of Truck Driver Distractions

Common truck driver distractions are grouped into three parts: visual distractions, manual distractions, and cognitive distractions.

  • Visual Distractions

Do not take your eyes off the road. You can’t foresee what would happen in a split second. Unfortunately, many drivers get distracted by what they see. Being visually distracted while driving can lead to various road accidents. We have seen or heard it happen, and have also watched it in the movies.

  • Manual Distractions

In this case, the driver lets go of the steering wheel to attend to something else.  Most often, manual distractions go hand in hand with visual distractions. The moment the driver can’t reach for a particular item, he or she takes their eyes off the road.

  • Cognitive Distractions

A driver may have his eyes on the road, hand on the steering wheel, but disconnects from reality. It seems like he sees the road; however, he is absent-minded. Inattentional blindness can cause on-head collisions.

Under these three types of distractions, there is a subset that shows various sources of distractions, which include the following:

  • Texting and talking while driving
  • Use of electronic devices
  • Reaching for items or controls
  • Interaction with passengers and pets
  • Eating, drinking, and smoking while on the road
  • Concentrating on people, objects, or events while driving
  • Impairment resulting from alcohol, drugs, or fatigue.

Drivers involved in truck accidents must first seek medical attention if they are severely injured. Even when they appear fine, they need a doctor to validate such claims. The next line of action is to contact a truck driver distraction lawyer who will represent them in obtaining compensation.

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Cyber Security & Cyber Crime: Is It Possible to Protect Your Business?

Over the past 30 years, the internet and information technology – commonly known as ‘IT’ – has advanced significantly. These advancements in IT and technology have meant that the way that many companies do business has changed considerably over time. The internet and IT have become invaluable resources for business – in fact, most businesses could no longer function effectively without them.

Of course, while the internet and the rise of IT, technology, and solutions have offered various benefits, these advancements have also come with a major con, and that is the rise of cybersecurity threats. Think viruses, malware, and hackers, among other tech-related threats – the truth is that cybercrime is a serious problem, and each year it’s becoming more and more common. In recent years, a growing number of businesses, some large and some small, having fallen foul to cybercrime. There’s no getting away from the fact that the threat is consistently growing, and it’s something that every business needs to be aware of.

That being said, the good news is that it is possible to protect your venture from cybersecurity breaches and cybercrime. It’s a case of knowing what steps to take. Wondering how you can prevent your business from becoming the next company targeted by cybercriminals? While hiring a cyber security expert is an incredible idea, there may be a few things you can do on your own too. Take note of the advice below and implement it within your business’s security strategy.

Secure your systems

One of the best steps that you can take to prevent cybercrime from impacting your business is to take steps to secure your systems. Installing a basic anti-virus program isn’t enough to keep your company – and its valuable systems – safe, you need to do more to protect your company. It is a good idea to seek guidance from PacGenesis regarding the best security software for your specific business and its various needs. Reliable security software is the first step towards ensuring that your business is adequately protected. You can start by combing through your existing system to check for any errors through this Penetration testing company. You may also want to consider sourcing effective professional security support from a fraud management provider or cybersecurity specialist. It’s important to remember that the more support you have in place, the lower the chance your business will fall foul to cybercriminals or their fraudulent activities.

Use various authentication methods

A single password is nowhere near enough to protect your business. If you are serious about keeping your systems secure, then you need to use multiple authentication security procedures. Ideally, you want to set up each employee with their own two-factor authentication, in addition to a company-wide password. Just remember that when it comes to passwords, strong, unique passwords are the key to preventing security breaches.

Backup everything

Should a data breach occur, you must adequately back up your documents and data. Ideally, you want to back up your documents and key data on two separate platforms, such as Dropbox and Google Drive, ensuring that no matter what happens, you’re covered. Having hard copies of critical documents and data can also be an excellent step to take, as long as those papers are securely stored in a dedicated storage facility.

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How partnering with a product fulfillment company could transform your business

With businesses increasingly moving their operations online, it seems the impending end of what we consider the traditional High Street may well be inevitable. E-commerce and online shopping are exploding – particularly in light of the recent Coronavirus.

The savings that can be achieved by running a business online are already well documented. Something a little less apparent is the potential financial savings that can be achieved by engaging with a product fulfillment company.

What is product fulfillment, and how does it work?

In essence, product fulfillment can be loosely defined as everything that happens from the moment an order is placed online to the point where a product arrives with the consumer. In the majority of cases, there are four key stages involved in setting up a product fulfillment company.

Storage and warehousing

The first step is the most crucial – yet will probably feel the most alien too. Rather than keeping stock on-site, the vendor ships their product to a third-party warehousing service. This concept will seem a little strange at first, but it’s central to the idea of another company dealing with your delivery processes – after all, they need to have your product close to hand to ship quickly to consumers.

Responsibilities on your side to make this happen are limited; however, you will need to send a properly formatted inventory to allow for effective tracking on both sides. From there, though, you don’t need to worry much about your product anymore – all processes from this point onward become the responsibility of your fulfillment company.

Finding and picking

When an order is received on your website, it is transferred directly to the fulfillment company. All the details you captured online on your site – i.e., product, color, type, size, quantity, delivery name, and address, etc. – are transferred to the fulfillment company. A member of their staff will then go and select the correct product from their warehouse facility.

Wrapping and packing

Once the order items been selected, they need to be packed. A member of the fulfillment team will get all the items together and securely packaged them up. As you would expect, an order receipt is bundled at the time of packing. Depending on the fulfillment company, you may have the option to use your own branded boxes or tape to further personalize your deliveries. It’s worth noting, fulfillment companies are all different, and you should check if they include the packing component as part of the service (some companies charge on a per-package basis).   

Shipping and delivery

With the products packed and boxed, the final step in the process is delivery. Again, companies differ from one another, and you will find some have preferred courier partners while others will check around for the best price, on an ad-hoc basis. It’s worth checking this in advance, so you are aware of how their processes work and the fees involved. Lastly, you should also check whether or not order tracking is included as part of the service. The delivery date is essential to consumers, and most expect regular progress updates.

Reducing responsibility and streamlining processes

In a traditional e-commerce model, these processes would have been largely handled in-house by you and your staff at your company premises. Outsourcing to a product fulfillment company removes these responsibilities and hands them to a third party, allowing you to concentrate on what you do best – selling.    

Partnering with a product fulfillment company has the potential to transform your e-commerce operations and improve the way you supply products to your consumers. Search online and find your partner company today.

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6 Best Guidelines in Finding Yourself an Ideal House

Freedom comes with making decisions, and getting an ideal house when you finally move out of your parent’s home is one of the most critical calls. For you to find a perfect house can be daunting, and the Essay writers online can offer you insights on house-related must-know tips that can help you stay grounded while studying. An ideal apartment while on campus is one key ingredient in determining how successful your studies can be. So what should a student consider?

 

Top Guidelines for Getting an Ideal Campus House

College demands a lot from students, and with the newfound freedom, students can make poor choices not only concerning their education but lifestyles as a whole. House hunting and the right pick can catapult your study life in the right direction as no one would love sharing a house with individuals who can make you miss living at home instead. For you to have an easy time picking the right house for your entire campus life, consider the following.

  • Imagine living with your housemates throughout the year and pick them if you will feel comfortable enough. An adage goes that individuals you first meet in the first week of college won’t be your best friends throughout campus. In as much as this say stays arguable, you must ensure that the individuals you pick have characteristic that you can tolerate throughout the year. Pick tidy people if tidiness personifies your life as it will provide a smooth sailing living and studying in school. It can be a disaster to have someone careless and untidy as a housemate as you will always be arguing instead of studying.
  • Ensure that the house location is ideal for you.  Before you decide on what house to rent while on campus, consider the lecture hall distance and other amenities close to the household. It is always hard enough to wake up after an all-night party, but a longer trek to a lecture to cap it off is almost impossible. So you need to know if staying near the campus and the library is more important than staying in the city center near a club. Finding a medium to have a balanced life can be the best solution as a social life also matters while in college.
  • Price. Having discussions can be difficult and awkward, especially with individuals you hardly know. But such deliberations are vital and can be useful when you decide to do some house hunting with friends. You need to agree on the price range that is comfortable with both of you before physically looking at the houses. It can be awkward to start arguing or get into a spat about prices before the property agent. 
  • Don’t be in a hurry, but place an order at the appropriate time. Instances arise where a group of boys or girls who met on the first day of college book houses for their second year just a month into their first year. In as much as they are an anomaly, please don’t wait too long to book a house, especially a great flat that you can get proud of showing your parents later on when they come visiting. Most good apartments or properties sell fast, so if you wait far too long, then you can miss out on an ideal house.
  • Bills. College life presents a different phase where you have to deal with bills for the first time. However, you decide to look for properties with inclusive bills to reduce the administration costs for everyone. It can allow you peace of mind while using products like electricity without the anxiety of having to deal with massive bills at the end of the month. 
  • Work together. You need to incorporate everyone’s view in picking an ideal house to live in as the group will form your family in school. You will all live and spend time in that house, so having everyone contented with the flat will go a long way in ensuring harmony and exciting experiences you share in the house.

 

Conclusion

An ideal house is everything on campus, as this forms your home away from home. The guidelines provided will enable you to pick the right house and ensure your study life is a success.

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The future business landscape, and ensuring there is one

By Alexander Igelsböck, CEO of Adverity

Whether you consider Coronavirus as being the “ultimate black swan event”, or more accurately a “grey rhino”, pulling the world through this particular crisis will take more than just looking for lessons in the past. Rebuilding the business landscape for lasting success is going to mean preparing for an ever-more digital, eco-friendly, and entrepreneurial future. It is also an opportunity to gently nudge companies to uphold moral standards.

Coronavirus is being dubbed1 a “grey rhino” event and not without reason. Rapidly disrupting everyday life and sending the global economy into the worst2 recession in almost a century, it fits the bill of a colossal crisis that seemed impossible, until it wasn’t. And looking back to when the spread of the virus was first identified as the pandemic it was, in hindsight it’s clear to see the signs were there.

But comparisons to grey rhinos or ‘unforeseen’ events from the past only take us so far. Looking to historical events does offer positive proof that the world and its financial systems have made it through tough times before. In fact, the 28%3 decline in the Dow Jones experienced at the end of Q1 this year is significantly eclipsed by the drop that came with the Great Depression (89%), and to a lesser extent the more recent Black Monday (31%).

Although unique in its own way, and with obvious repercussion, the 2020 pandemic has also brought about significant, positive change – from massively accelerated rates of digital transformation to a greater focus on environmental issues.

Fuelling this particular recovery will mean recognising these distinctive changes and taking steps to harness the opportunities they offer. Companies hoping to protect the business landscape and secure their place in it must therefore get to work on reshaping their models and processes for the new, post-pandemic reality.

 

Entrepreneurs will grease the wheels of recovery

While COVID-19 has brought some companies to a halt, others are finding different ways to keep moving. Distillers in the US4 are switching to production of hand sanitiser. Fashion brands such as Germany-based Trigema5 are swapping leisurewear for protective gear. Entertainment companies in Denmark6 are holding drive-in gigs. What these smart adapters have in common isn’t just a flair for problem-solving, but also an entrepreneurial spirit that will be essential to power future prosperity.

In times of turmoil, companies that rise to meet changing market conditions and consumer needs with creative solutions are crucial to keeping the wider economy going. And this doesn’t just mean big corporations. As noted in a paper7 on entrepreneurship by the Robert Schuman Foundation, start-ups are often the unsung heroes of recovery: playing a “fundamental role in reviving growth” and bringing societies through crisis.

The turbulence sparked by COVID-19 presents multiple openings for entrepreneurs, whatever their size. In fact, smaller businesses may find their flexibility, lack of extensive capital investments, and easily adjustable models give them an edge over larger players; especially in the increasingly digitised world. There are significant gains to be made for those who can use digital technologies to minimise running costs and boost agility. 

Key among the obvious areas in need of innovation are healthcare, finance, and education, and a variety of start-ups are answering the call. That includes the COVID-19 tracker app8 developed for Iceland’s national healthcare system by Sidekick Health, the online platform created by Kry to remotely connect patients with medical professionals in Sweden, and the free online training pack built for caregivers by Swiss e-learning platform, Coorpacademy.

But the potential for entrepreneurial efforts stretches much further. Many small players have already moved to fill specific niches created by the challenges of lockdown and strict social distancing; from home-delivery crafting kits9 and workout apps to digital takeaway services. In the coming weeks and years, we’re going to need plenty more of these independent pioneers.

 

Understanding the value of data

The value of data continues to appreciate as an asset. It is ever-increasing in quantity and in a digital landscape, where customer behaviours are constantly changing, marketers need stronger forecasting capabilities to allow their teams to stay agile and focus on actions that drive results. Many companies have been forced to accelerate their digital transformation and adopt a new mindset, to ensure their survival during COVID-19. Those companies with the ability to continuously analyse data during the pandemic were able to react quickly to the resulting fast moving and ever changing customer behaviour. For example, while many found their holiday plans had been disrupted, retail trends showed people still had intentions of taking a vacation – as indicated by the increase in online searches for inflatable swimming pools and staycations. Couple this with the 87%10 of marketers still claiming data as their most under-used asset, and the race to implement a robust digital transformation strategy has never been more important, as companies realise the opportunities that come with access to real-time data insights, at speed.

By adopting technologies that automate data preparation, reporting, and analysis, marketers are able to rapidly process data – at scale and with greater accuracy – and reallocate their time on more impactful tasks. For example, Vodafone Italy’s digital marketing team was able to transform their campaign data reporting and reduce waste by 75%. We helped Vodafone by unifying its offline and online data sources to extract and analyse campaign performances in a quicker and easier way – previously data reporting was a time-consuming process as analysis for decision making was often done manually.

Using data technologies to keep ahead of market changes and be proactive in responding to them is essential for freeing up the time and resources to ensure marketers can continue innovating their position in what is a dynamic and competitive space.

 

Remote working requires a cultural rethink

Another coronavirus-triggered change is, of course, the rise of remote working. As recently as last year, only 61%11 of companies allowed some form of home working. Now, the number of remote teams has skyrocketed across the globe — with around half of all workers in both the UK12 and US13 estimated to be logging on from a distance, and officials in Japan aiming to reduce commuter volumes by 70%14.

These numbers will inevitably fall once the storm passes, particularly as retail stores reopen and face-to-face service resumes. But it’s also likely the mass adoption of remote working will have a lasting impact; inspiring more companies to go permanently remote-first or blend home working options into their new business set up.

From the start, Adverity has been a practitioner of blending a strong office culture with the freedom to work from anywhere. We find this mix advantageous as it gives team members the choice to be productive in an atmosphere that best suits them, while ensuring the benefits of the office environment, such as face to face interactions, are not neglected. Having this embedded in the way the company operates has been key to our success in easily transitioning to the “new working norm” during the pandemic. It meant our team could get on with their work without the technological disruption many businesses experienced and, just as importantly, they were already versed in how to conduct themselves professionally with clients in virtual meetings without requiring a period of adjustment. Many businesses already lend themselves to the office-and-working-remote model, while others need to adapt; in any instance the pandemic is forcing businesses to assess and adopt new ways of working.

The relationship with the office is changing in other ways too. Morgan Stanley CEO James Gorman has already hinted15 the banking giant will hold “much less real estate” in the future, as the pandemic has illustrated it can operate just as effectively with a smaller footprint and less expensive office space. And Gorman isn’t alone; Twitter has also announced16 all employees can now work from home forever, if they choose.

As a result, it will be crucial to adjust to the changes in corporate culture. Alongside efficiencies, the sudden virtual transition has created complications for leaders and employees used to office-centric working; with the challenges felt most heavily in the US. Studies show two in three17 US managers are finding it hard to keep up morale, while more than half18 of workers say their jobs are harder than they were before the pandemic.

Maintaining high performance and engagement is going to mean building new avenues of connection. As well as upholding a constant line of direct communication with their teams, business leaders will need to implement initiatives that allow for organic conversations and help employees to grow; whether that includes holding idea sharing video conferences, personal development sessions, or social events such as online talent shows.

Additionally, it will be critical to ensure all workers not only have the basic means to work from home, but also the capability to do so efficiently. Going halfway down the road to digital transformation by installing computers and cloud-based networks isn’t enough; companies must also build a robust infrastructure that incorporates the key ingredients for streamlined virtual working, covering everything from collaboration platforms to systems for billing and documentation.

But making working from anywhere a success is not only a question of technology, it’s also a question of motivation and trust, as well as about attitudes towards working collectively as a team.

 

The business future is set to be greener 

When it comes to the unexpected benefits of COVID-19, few examples are more potent than the reappearance19 of the Himalayan mountain range in skylines across India, for the first time in 30 years. As lockdown stopped travel and industrial activity around the world, air pollution also plummeted: dropping by 60%20 in Delhi, 71% in Los Angeles, 56% in Madrid, and 34% in London. China, previously the highest producer of carbon dioxide, saw levels fall by 25%21.

These figures prompt some convoluted questions, as well as celebration. We’ve proved our environmental impact can be dramatically reduced but figuring out how to sustain these positive effects will be a challenge once the globe goes back to work.

For businesses, the best next step is aiming to stay as green as possible; and not just for the good of the planet. Research has found companies actively managing their carbon emissions can see up to 18%22 higher return on investment than those who don’t, and commitment to eco-friendly practices is also increasingly important to consumers: cited by 37%23 as a major factor on purchase decisions in a recent international study.

At a functional level, that’s likely to involve holding onto green habits established amid current restrictions. It almost goes without saying that keeping new digitised procedures will be at the top of the list: remote working to cut down on emissions from employee commutes — as well as the energy consumed by physical workspaces — and more virtual meetings with clients regionally and globally. Zoom has negated the need to rack up air miles. For those still in the office, there is scope for small changes to go a long way; from encouraging use of washable fabric face masks to replacing plastic materials with sustainable alternatives, even recycled24 post-it notes can make a difference.

Taking a wider view, embracing the green finance movement and making more substantial commitments to limiting impact could reap significant rewards on multiple fronts. Global authorities are dialling up financial support for eco-centric initiatives and financial systems; including the European Union and its “Renewed Sustainable Finance strategy” 25. With high ambitions to not only make the European economy greener, but also expand the worldwide scope of environmentally friendly finance, the initiative forms part of a €1 trillion package that’s striving to bolster green investment and fully integrate “climate and environmental risks into the financial system.” And investors are following this trend closely. According to Bloomberg, investors are shifting more dollars towards green businesses and companies working to enhance their sustainability efforts; with investments rising to $30.7 trillion26 in 2019 alone.

For all the parallels with the black swans that have come before, it’s important to remember this crisis isn’t an exact repeat. There are specific challenges that will need to be addressed, as well as new possibilities for a different kind of recovery.

Companies will need to accept that many aspects of the way we work won’t be going back to normal; and that’s not necessarily a bad thing. In the revamped business landscape, there will be more potential for agile small players to find their position of strength and make a vital contribution to the overall economy. As temporary changes turn into longer-term practices, it will also be critical to hold onto the bonuses of lockdown — including increased remote flexibility and cleaner air — and fine-tune processes to keep leveraging them effectively.

The mass disruption caused by the pandemic has given the world a chance to rebuild and improve the business landscape, both in terms of practices and the environment. We must ensure it isn’t wasted.

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About the Author

Alexander Igelsböck is the CEO of Adverity. Data based efficiency has driven every stage of Alex’s career. From the creation, growth and successful exit strategy applied to the multiple companies he has been involved with, to his latest role as co-founder and CEO of intelligence platform Adverity, powering smarter decisions with accurate analysis remains a key passion for Alex.

References:

  1. https://www.moneyobserver.com/our-analysis/covid-19-ultimate-black-swan-event
  2. https://www.theguardian.com/business/live/2020/jun/10/stock-market-rally-fades-as-investors-await-us-fed-federal-reserve-forecasts-coronavirus-covid-19-sterling-eurozone-pound-brexit-business-live
  3. https://www.forbes.com/sites/greatspeculations/2020/03/16/market-crashes-compared28-coronavirus-crash-vs-4-historic-market-crashes/#2be3f993fa45
  4. https://www.anheuser-busch.com/newsroom/2020/03/anheuser-busch-will-redirect-sports-entertainment-investments.html
  5. https://www.faz.net/aktuell/technik-motor/technik/mundschutz-gegen-corona-so-stellt-trigema-masken-her-16702640.html
  6. https://www.nme.com/news/music/denmark-have-started-holding-drive-in-gigs-2657878
  7. https://www.robert-schuman.eu/en/doc/questions-d-europe/qe-284-en.pdf
  8. https://sifted.eu/articles/startup-initiatives-coronavirus/
  9. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-52383193
  10. https://www.forbes.com/sites/forbespr/2018/06/20/new-forbes-insights-report-shows-organizations-feel-customer-data-is-siloed-and-exclusionary/#2c6cea2c299b
  11. https://www.merchantsavvy.co.uk/remote-working-statistics/
  12. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-52720007
  13. https://zapier.com/blog/wfh-report/
  14. https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/health-environment/article/3079646/coronavirus-japans-employees-are-working-home-stress
  15. https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-04-16/gorman-sees-morgan-stanley-future-with-much-less-real-estate
  16. https://www.forbes.com/sites/danabrownlee/2020/05/18/twitter-square-announce-work-from-home-forever-optionwhat-are-the-risks/
  17. https://www.shrm.org/about-shrm/press-room/press-releases/pages/survey-how-covid-19-is-changing-the-workplace.aspx
  18. https://www.surveymonkey.com/curiosity/cnbc-workforce-survey-may-2020/
  19. https://cleantechnica.com/2020/04/21/himalayas-visible-for-the-first-time-in-30-years-in-india/
  20. https://www.instantoffices.com/blog/instant-offices-news/air-pollution-in-cities-lockdown/
  21. https://www.carbonbrief.org/analysis-coronavirus-has-temporarily-reduced-chinas-co2-emissions-by-a-quarter
  22. https://www.instantoffices.com/blog/featured/growth-green-office-trend/
  23. https://www.businessnewsdaily.com/15087-consumers-want-sustainable-products.html
  24. https://medium.com/@purposedesigner/a-small-change-with-a-potentially-big-impact-the-recycled-post-it-7ca59b30f019
  25. https://www.edie.net/news/11/EU-says-green-finance-will-be–key-focus–of-post-virus-recovery-phase/
  26. https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2019-04-01/global-sustainable-investments-rise-34-percent-to-30-7-trillion

How to Conduct a Business Energy Audit

Using gas and electricity is essential to powering your business. However, many SMEs often overlook a number of small steps that could help them save a significant amount on their energy bills.

This is why conducting a simple business energy audit can have a major impact on how your company consumes energy, allowing you to have cost-effective energy tariff, remove old inefficient habits. In this guide, we hope to cover the advantages that an energy audit provides, by outlining a number of steps on how to take action, along with a helpful checklist. Before getting started, any audit you undertake should be combined with a more cost-effective energy tariff. Using business energy comparison sites such as Utility Saving Expert can help you find a cheaper deal on your business electricity or gas, they also provide useful in-depth guides and reviews helping you make an informed decision before choosing your next provider.

Why should I carry out a business energy audit?

Many business owners and managers already have a number of day to day challenges to contend with, and will often assume that an energy audit isn’t worth the time and hassle, as they believe it will take too long to complete. However, in reality, this is far from the truth. A basic audit can provide you with a clear overview about your firm’s current energy usage, along with giving you vital insights into what areas are having a significant impact on your finances. This information can help you understand what is going on, allowing you to create a plan of action to address each individual area one after the other.

The audit will help you identify which areas of the business are wasting excess energy. The results will help you determine how best to reduce your power consumption, saving you money and cutting your carbon footprint. An audit should look at the premises’ interior, exterior, fixtures and equipment.

Developing a sustainable business model can set you apart from your competitors, giving you a distinct social responsibility advantage. This can be leveraged to show your potential customers what you’re doing to improve the local community and environment. Many buyers and clients have taken a keen interest in companies that take the necessary steps to becoming carbon neutral.

The process 

SMEs are not legally required to carry out an energy audit, whereas their larger counterparts are. However, it’s still worth carrying out this task. A professional auditor can provide invaluable advice and highlight areas that should be addressed in priority order. Alternatively, you can even carry out your own simple audit without hiring a professional.

To start with, you’ll need to understand your current energy usage. This helps you find out how much energy each activity or business area consumes. You can quickly identify inefficient areas across different departments or buildings. Assess energy usage in your own way, or download a free spreadsheet online to help you. Additionally, your current commercial energy provider can also offer assistance, having copies of your bills over the last 12 months will give you the relevant numbers. 

Walking around the site in a systematic way can aid you in finding various energy saving opportunities. The more in-depth your audit is, the more likely you will gain maximum benefit. Having a checklist allows you to prioritise which area can save you the most on gas and electricity. Some areas will require long term solutions, while others will only require a number of quick fixes that cost very little. Furthermore, areas that aren’t high on the priority list can always be addressed in the future.

Now that you’ve got all the necessary information from the business energy audit, it’s time to take action. You must estimate the potential savings along with how much it will cost you to improve an inefficient area. Lower-cost projects such as installing LED light bulbs can take off immediately, while those that require a larger investment such as solar panels will need to be evaluated at a managerial level through a solar panel calculator. Your business case should include the following key elements: 

  • Rationale for the project
  • Identify the right solution
  • Project plan and a timeframe
  • Financial cost breakdown
  • Cost-benefit analysis

Although creating this business case may seem like it’s time consuming, you can in fact make a number of small changes immediately. Here are a few easy action points:

  • Replace old lights with modern energy efficient LED bulbs
  • Shut down all computers and electronics when not in use
  • Make use of natural light as much as possible
  • Print less and recycle more
  • Install a smart thermostat
  • Install smart sensors that automatically dim or turn off the lights in areas that aren’t in use

Hopefully you have found the information in this article useful. Conducting a business energy audit is one of the best ways to understand your gas and electricity usage. Not only will you save money on your bills, you’ll also be having a real positive impact in driving us forward to a cleaner and more sustainable future.

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What Are The Challenges Faced by Finance Professionals?

The corporate world seems to be changing rapidly, and the accounting and finance industry is no exception. Gone are the days when finance teams spent all their time on a day-to-day, transactional tasks, and recordkeeping. Finance roles are changing in new and exciting ways, with the focus on financial planning and analysis higher than ever before.

Additionally, the expectations of business leaders from finance professionals seem to have increased with time. The traditional finance department used to be a completely separate function, focusing solely on carrying out its duties. However, the finance professionals of today need to be a lot more involved in the running of the business, providing their organizations with strategic direction and assisting in high-level decision making.

What does all this mean for finance professionals? It merely means you need to be aware of some of the challenges that you are likely to face once you will start your career so that you can prepare yourself for them.

To help you out, here is our list of the top challenges currently faced by finance professionals:

 

1. TECHNOLOGY IS REPLACING SOME OF THE TRADITIONAL ACCOUNTING FUNCTIONS

Automation and AI are gradually becoming capable of performing some of the duties traditionally performed by accountants, such as compiling transactions and using them to produce tax returns and financial statements. Moreover, automation will take over the routine, recurring tasks such as tax calculations and payroll processing, freeing up the time of finance professionals for more value-adding work such as financial planning, analysis, and risk management.

Does this mean you could lose your job? While technology can take over certain accounting functions, humans will still be needed to verify the work done by automated technology. In such a situation, finance professionals who can adapt to these new systems will continue to be in high demand as they are the ones who will help businesses implement and use the technology.

 

2. THE NEED TO LEARN NEW SKILLS

As technology reduces demand for some of the traditional accounting skills such as bookkeeping, processing transactions and maintaining extensive records, other skills such as those related to analysis, forecasting, and financial strategy are likely to grow in importance with time. Professionals who wish to be competitive in the future job market need to learn these skills.

A degree in finance can be useful for this purpose as it covers all these areas. It can help you develop the technical and analytical skills needed to assess large amounts of financial data and use it for forecasting and decision-making. Finance experts are also able to offer financial advice to help their clients manage liquidity, control costs, and make sound investment decisions. Make sure to read more about the challenges and opportunities that a finance degree offers before deciding if it’s the right option for you. It could be helpful to know about the average salaries of enrolled agent vs CPA.

 

3. CYBERSECURITY CONCERNS

Accounting information is one of the hottest targets for hackers. Whether it is bank account details, credit card information, or passwords to accounting systems, all these are high-value pieces of information about a business for a hacker.

With the rapid increase in cybersecurity attacks, it is the responsibility of accounting and finance professionals to have all the necessary measures in place to protect financial data. They must ensure the accounting software is regularly updated as these updates often involve protection against the latest security risks. Access to financial data should get restricted to only those who need it to perform their job duties. Additionally, cloud-based systems are considered more secure than traditional software, so businesses should consider whether the switch to the cloud can be a suitable option for them.

 

4. IMPORTANCE OF DEVELOPING SOFT SKILLS

With time, it has become increasingly important for finance professionals to develop soft skills. From being a separate function to playing a central part in managing the organization, the roles and responsibilities of the finance department have changed. The gap that previously existed between finance and other departments is gradually closing. Therefore, if finance professionals wish to liaise with other departments effectively, they need to work on building their communication and interpersonal skills. Doing so will allow them to connect with other stakeholders of the business and gain their trust.

Unfortunately, soft skills are something that most finance professionals lack. Their nature of work has always been such that their interactions were limited. But if the finance professionals of today wish to become successful business partners, they need the training to develop these skills.

 

5. THE NEED TO PROVIDE REAL-TIME DATA

Real-time data has become all the rage nowadays. As the accounting systems become computerized, many finance departments tend to provide the management with information that is up-to-date and reflects the exact position of the company at any point in time.

Although real-time data is something every finance department aims for, it is not as easy to achieve as it looks. The main reason being that many finance departments still rely on spreadsheets for their day-to-day tasks, even if this means duplication of work. Worksheets are just more convenient, and it will take some time before finance professionals can commit to replacing them entirely.

 

CONCLUSION

Finance professionals need to understand the challenges facing their industry because only then can they come up with suitable strategies to overcome them. The good news is that many professionals are finding ways to respond to these challenges by continuing to update their knowledge and skills in line with the latest developments in their field.

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