How to Host a Hybrid Networking Event?

Would you like to know how to host a hybrid networking event from A to Z? Buckle up because you are in for a sweet treat! Today, we will reveal everything, from greasing technical nuts and bolts to achieve better profit margins.

The idea of this article is to give you a bird's-eye view of the whole process. Of course, you will have to pick and choose some extra steps. But by the end of this brief guide, you will feel confident and able to plan your hybrid event.

Before explaining the practical steps, let's define the term hybrid networking event.

What Is A Hybrid Networking Event?

A hybrid networking event is a networking event that integrates multimedia tools for reaching another audience.

Unlike traditional networking events, a hybrid one entertains two audiences at once. The first audience is the people in the room with you. And the second crowd is the people that watch the show from home via streaming.

With this in mind, hosts need to learn new skills and use cutting-edge technology to achieve success. This is why we discussed how to host a hybrid networking event today.

How to Host a Hybrid Networking Event

Step 1: Analyse Your Audiences

Arguably, the most important reason why attendees want to join networking events is that they want to do business and network with similar entrepreneurs or colleagues. So, you have to allow interaction between the people in the room and the people at home.

You can easily overcome such technical hardship thanks to advanced hybrid event management platforms like Eventiia. In detail, this solution comes with an event mobile app that makes networking easy as pie for anyone who has access to it.

If you do not opt for ready-made technology, you will have to hire several specialists. In general, you will need a web designer, a back-end developer, and a software engineer. Making sure that both audiences can interact is imperative. Without achieving this step, discussing how to host a hybrid networking event is futile because people will leave sooner than desirable.

As soon as you have your platform, gather as much data as possible from the attendees. Later, match the members of the audiences accordingly by:

  • creating groups
  • planning activities that involve different sets of skills
  • sending personalized links to separate chatrooms before the event starts

Step 2: Baptise Your Hybrid Networking Event

Even if you come up with a cool-sounding name for your event, people still need to understand what you will offer them. In general, networking events are opportunities for people to connect. But every audience has different expectations.

Some people may be searching for a job, while most entrepreneurs may seek commercial partners. Establishing a theme for your event can help. And if the name of the event highlights the theme, making it even more memorable and obvious, that would be a better choice.

During the show, you could utter the event name as a slogan. Some hosts prefer to place their brand in front. Here, the idea is to choose a meaningful label for your event that helps promote it and clarify what it is all about. It could be the core message you want to bring home; the choices are endless.

Step 3: Commence Speaking With A Smile

A big part of mastering how to host a hybrid networking event is learning how to communicate effectively. If you hosted networking events in the past, maybe you already have effective phrases to introduce a successful discussion. But with the online crowd, you have to hone your skills. Otherwise, the online audience will not perceive you as sharp as a tack or equally charismatic.

Here are some tips for communicating effectively during a hybrid networking event:

  • Do a mic check before the show, or have a professional do it.
  • Give attendees time to get ready before the show starts or after a pause. Even better, prepare some activities for them to do during the breaks.
  • Handle interruptions as soon as they come up. In case of technical difficulties, have your staff crew fix them promptly. Above all, keep everyone on the same page.
  • Look in the camera to connect with the people at home. Of course, smile and convey your emotions. Even if you cannot see their faces, you can think of the camera as the most interested person in the room. So, take good care of it.
  • Make them introduce themselves and what they do when inviting them to speak or ask questions.

Step 4: Do Not Let Panellists Bore The Audience

Special guests can attract people you would never reach on your own. But this does not mean that your guests, panellists, teachers, and so on are perfect.

You had better schedule a guest's talk session ahead of time and have a plan B (and C) in case the expert starts dragging the topic non-stop. What will you do if they begin to spout their political agenda?

First, talk with your guests. Above all, make sure that they understand how much time they have to do their bits. But do not fully trust them to end their talk in time because most of them will not do so as soon as they have delivered their message or pitch.

If you cannot trust your guest, take the stage and interview the expert. As soon as the time is up, you can drop the questions, wrap it up, and ask for a round of applause.

Step 5: End With A Unique Selling Proposition

A UPS is essential for any event's success. If you want to take small steps and start with short webinars, prepare an offer for your audience.

It is vital that you can give them the opportunity to do further business with you and your company. But make it an offer that follows what you have discussed up then. In other words, make it relevant enough for them to buy it.

Active listening skills are necessary to create the perfect UPS. In fact, you may have to alter it before the end. Think of the hybrid networking event as an unprecedented opportunity, mainly because it is.

Have a dedicated link sent to people who did not buy the offer you made on stage. Or give them a personal call after collecting their consent for marketing calls and communication during the registration.

5 Common Used PCB You Should Know

The digital industry is evolving day by day. Today, computers and phones are no longer heavy. They are sleek, powerful, and very light. Actually, some smartphones are more powerful than laptops. All this is possible because of the miniaturization of the electronic gadgets' printed circuit boards (PCBs).

Printed Circuit Boards or PCBs are categorized into several types based on design specifications, manufacturing processes, and application requirements. They are used in various sectors such as automotive, medical, defense, and other areas, you can learn more information at PadPCB.

Before you select a PCB, there are several factors you need to consider. Moreover, it is essential to seek advice from professionals. Although there are several types of PCBs, the five standard PCBs are multilayer PCBs, Rigid PCBs, Flex PCBs, HDI PCBs, and Heavy Copper PCBs.

Common Types of PCBs

Let's have a look at the common types of PCBs:

1. Multilayer PCBs

One commonly used PCB is the multilayer PCB. The board has more than two copper layers and is designed in a sandwich fashion. Also, they have many double-sided conductive layers separated by several insulating material sheets.

All are laminated and bonded together through high temperatures to ensure no air gaps occur and ensure the final PCB assembly is stable.

Advantages of Multilayer PCBs

  1. Compact in size – one advantage of multilayer PCBs is compressed in size. This means they can be used on numerous devices.
  2. More robust – multilayer PCBs are strong and are suited for extreme environments and harsh conditions.
  3. Suitable for high-speed circuits – multilayer PCBs are the best for devices that require high-speed circuits.
  4. High level of design flexibility – PCBs can be used in various sectors.

What are the applications of Multilayer PCBs?

Multilayer PCBs are commonly used in laptops, computers, tablets, smartphones, medical equipment, GPS trackers, and many other complex gadgets and circuits.

2. Rigid PCBs

A Rigid Printed Circuit Board cannot be folded or twisted. The board base is made of a rigid substrate giving it strength and rigidity.

In addition, it is composed of many layers that include a copper layer, a substrate layer, a silkscreen layer, and a solder mask layer. They adhere together with heat and adhesive.

Depending on the needs, it is possible to find single-sided rigid PCBs, rigid double-sided PCBs, and rigid multilayer PCBs. Nevertheless, once a rigid PCB has been made cannot be changed or modified.

Advantages of Rigid PCBs

  1. Cost-effective
  2. Simplicity of diagnostics and repair
  3. Solid
  4. Lightweight
  5. Little electronic noise
  6. Capability of absorbing vibrations

What are the applications of Rigid PCBs?

Rigid PCBs are commonly used in laptops, GPS equipment, computers, mobile devices, tablets, CAT scans, X-rays, heart monitors, MRI systems, control towel instrumentation, and temperature sensors.

3. Flex PCBs

Flex PCBs or Flexible Printed Circuit Boards are designed with several printed components and circuits arranged on a flexible substrate. Flex PCBs are also known as flex circuit boards, flexible circuits, or versatile printed boards.

A flex PCB is mainly made from polyamide, transparent conductive polyester film, or polyether ether ketone.

They are made using the same elements as rigid printed boards. But with Flex circuits, the board can flex to your preferred form throughout the use. There are flex single-sided PCBs, flex double-sided PCBs, and flex multilayer PCBs.

Advantages of Flex PCBs

  1. Save space due to flexibility
  2. Eradicate connectors
  3. Increases repeatability and reliability
  4. Thermal management
  5. Suitable for various applications, especially where high signal trace density is required.
  6. Offer uniform electrical features for high-speed circuitry

What are the applications of Flex PCBs?

Flex PCBs are typically used in flex solar cells, LCD fabrication, cellular telephones, automotive industries, laptops, cameras, and many other devices.

4. HDI PCBs

HDI PCB or High-Density Interconnect is a PCB with several interconnections but minimal space. The components are placed nearer, and the board space is considerably reduced, but the functionality is not affected.

Advantages of HDI PCBs

  1. Compact design – the combination of buried vias, blind vias, and micro vias offers the board space requirements.
  2. Cost-effective – the tasks of a standard 8-layer PCB are reduced to a 6-layer HDI board without affecting the quality.
  3. Phenomenal versatility – the boards (HDI PCBs) are perfect where space, weight, reliability, and performance are the primary concerns.
  4. High reliability – HDI PCBs are reliable even against extreme environmental conditions.

What are the applications of HDI PCBs?

  • Medical devices - are involved in HDI PCBs because they can fit in smaller gadgets such as imaging equipment and implants.
  • Automotive – HDI PCBs are the most recommended to save space in automotive. This helps in providing a better driving experience.
  • Smartphones and tablets – modern smartphones are HDI PCBs. These PCBs are responsible for creating smaller and thinner electronic devices.
  • Military and Aerospace – HDI is integrated into most military communication gadgets such as defense systems and missiles. Moreover, HDI PCBs are suited for harsh environments and dangerous conditions.

5. Heavy Copper PCB

Heavy copper Printed Circuit Board is also known as a thick copper PCB. It features three ounces of copper. Hence, they are highly valued due to their thermal management capabilities. Due to the increased copper thickness, the board can carry more current.

Advantages of Heavy Copper PCBs

  1. Increased current carrying capacity, mechanical strength, and increased thermal endurance.
  2. Easy incorporation with high power circuits and control circuits
  3. Many copper weights on the same circuitry leads to a smaller product.
  4. Heavy copper PCBs can withstand high thermal cycling.
  5. Permit the use of exotic materials to their total capacity without causing a circuit failure.

What are the applications of Heavy Copper PCBs?

Some of the applications of heavy copper PCBs are overload relays, solar power converters, power converters, weapons control systems, nuclear power applications, HVAC systems, and safety and signal systems.

Summary

PCBs have modernized the electronic industry. Today, the boards are used in almost every electronic gadget you know. However, those mentioned above are the commonly used PCBs.

If you are not sure of the best PCB to consider for your applications, make sure you seek help from an expert. Moreover, it is essential to purchasing PCBs from reputed manufacturers for commercial or industrial use.

7 Tips for Selling an App

Selling an app to a buyer requires a careful approach to extract the most value from the digital asset. The marketplace for apps extends well beyond the iOS and Android market to ones for e-commerce platforms, Amazon’s Alexa, Salesforce, and many other places.

If you’re thinking ahead about the long-term prospect of selling your app that’s now in development or wanting to exit in the next year, these 5 tips for selling an app are for you.

Can You Sell The App?

You might believe it is time to cash out your app, but there could be a few problems in your immediate future. Apps developed for the Apple ecosystem can’t always be transferred from one developer to another. It is a good idea to check the latest criteria on app transfers before you look at selling your app. While developers can transfer an entire account to a buyer, it will limit the price you can ask for.

Apps Don’t All Sell the Same

Apps don’t all sell with similar multiples or attract the same level of interest.

It depends on how large the related app marketplace is, how many apps are for sale, and the pool of interested buyers too. The multiple of earnings for app sales reflects their long-term potential but also the demand in that particular marketplace.

If you discover that the app you’ve developed and built up over the years sits in a marketplace that isn’t much in demand, maybe choose differently next time?

Maximize Value by Marketing Better

It’s necessary to get the most value from your app before listing it for sale. Ideally, any boost in top-line revenues should have occurred months ago. This helps to confirm that it wasn’t a one-time bump and is sustainable.

So, when identifying profitable marketing channels, do it as early as you can. Avoid trying one and adding others incrementally over the years. It’ll make it harder to implement them all before you’re thinking about selling the app.

Ensure the Customer Reviews Are Positive

A buyer is purchasing the app’s code, an existing relationship with its customers, and the reputation of the app too. When there are negative reviews left and right, the listing will be avoided.

It might be impossible to not get any negative reviews – some people are overly critical – but deal with them pragmatically. Reply to them in an informative, helpful, and friendly manner. Even if the review was unfair, unbalanced, or rude, don’t reciprocate.

Also, if one or more points within the review were valid, update the app to address those. Then amend your response to reflect how the app has been updated based on their observations.

Reconsider the Pricing Model

Apps are typically sold for up to 36X the app’s monthly profit. So, that’s the money you make after all associated expenses have been deducted. Be clear on this figure from the get-go. Potential buyers will want to see evidence of your earnings. Even if an app is making good sales, if operational costs are high, profit margins are going to be lower.

You may have landed on the best pricing model that’s fine with the customers and extracts the most value for what’s offered. However, it might just be the first one you tried, and you never considered any others.

Before concluding that that’s all your app can realistically generate, reconsider all options. Do some market research with current customers to gauge their reaction to switching the monetization model. See if there’s any wriggle room to add a premium version, extra features, add-ons, or something else to increase the app’s earnings when selling it.

Remember, an app is only worth what someone will pay for it. Be realistic about how much you can charge for the app. If you overvalue the app, interest will be limited for obvious reasons and you may struggle to find any buyers willing to take things to the next level.

Ensure the App Doesn’t Flout Expected Standards

While an app might flout standards set for the marketplace, it can’t do so forever.

Any broker or prospective buyer who’s aware of the appropriate standards will actively avoid an app that’s in breach of them, especially if they’ll be eventually stuck with making changes to fix the problem after delisting and begging forgiveness from the powers that be.

Depending on the marketplace, standards differ. Therefore, they must be investigated properly. For example, there are established WordPress Coding Standards. For WordPress plugins, these state that they must be written in the PHP language and be fairly easy to interpret. Spaghetti code that technically runs but is confusing and intentionally so won’t pass muster.

Also, requirements do change, so verify before any app sale listing it still isn’t in breach of standards that came into force recently.

Is it the Right Time to Sell the App?

Prepare ahead of time before selling your app and consider whether this is a smart business decision. Often, there is no good reason to sell an app, as you can continue making a great monthly income and the app won’t be worth any more in a year. However, you may have personal reasons for wishing to take a step back, and that’s OK. You may also want to pursue new development opportunities, which is another common reason why developers decide to sell a successful app and move on to the next project.

It’s also worth pointing out that there are tax benefits, as the sale profit could be classed as capital gain and taxed at a lower rate. Speak to an accountant to verify this first.

Once you are ready to sell, it’s time to look for buyers. There are sites where you can list an app for sale, such as Flippa, or you can work with an app broker. Either way, don’t rush into anything, and always check the reviews first if you decide to use a broker.

Finally, never accept the first offer you receive, it’s likely to be a low-ball offer and you can do much better if you exercise some patience.

Key Steps To Improve Health And Safety In Industrial Workplaces

Industrial workplace health and safety are essential for avoiding work-related accidents, injuries, and fatalities. In fact, as many as 13,455,000 workers across manufacturing industries in the US are at risk for fatal and nonfatal injuries, the CDC reveals. Not only does improving workplace health and safety protect workers, but it also prevents lost work days and lost revenue. The National Safety Council found work injuries cost businesses a total of $161.5 billion annually, equating to $1,100 per worker.

Improve employee training

New workers are three times more likely to sustain an injury in their first month than workers with a year's experience on the job. By improving employee training and tailoring programs to the demands of each individual role, you can better minimize the risk of accident and injury (a lab employee, for instance, requires vastly different training to an industrial line worker). In fact, OSHA advises implementing different plans for five key areas in order to form a comprehensive health and safety approach: hazard assessment; hazard mitigation; hazard prevention; electrical safety; and safety training. Additionally, it’s important to provide refresher training sessions on a regular basis. Never make health and safety training a one-time occurrence. By reiterating health and safety information and advice throughout the year, you can ensure workers maintain awareness of best practices.

Implement a health and safety management system

A health and safety management system is essential for identifying and resolving workplace hazards and protecting workers, as well as improving overall operational performance. In fact, it can reduce total costs arising from occupational injuries by at least 20-40%. To devise your system, OSHA recommends first identifying any health and safety issues, including, risks and hazards, management system deficiencies, and opportunities for improvement, and then prioritizing those issues. You can then determine the goals of your health and safety management system in order to maximize workplace safety and minimize risks. If an employee does sustain an injury while on the job, it’s important they inform themselves of their legal rights. Filing a lawsuit for personal injury damages can help injured employees secure financial compensation to cover the cost of medical bills and lose income, Aaron Allison Law explains.

Incentivize compliance

By incentivizing compliance, you have a better chance of ensuring your employees adhere to health and safety standards. Industrial workplaces often involve high-risk activities dealing with heavy machinery, electrical tools, and toxic chemicals on a daily basis. As such, employees can easily become too comfortable and lax, which results in potential injury or death. Incentivizing compliance could, for example, involve rewarding employees or managers when they achieve pre-set health and safety goals. Similarly, examples of non-compliance with rules and guidelines should also be corrected.

Health and safety should be a priority in all industrial workplaces. By improving employee training, implementing a health and safety management system, and incentivizing compliance, you can keep your workplace as safe as possible for employees.

Hyperconverged Infrastructure Market in 2022 and Beyond

Hyperconverged infrastructure becomes the go-to option for enterprise-level companies and startups looking to scale fast. While server virtualization is a mature technology, HCI continues to be one of the hottest trends in the IT industry right now. HCI offers businesses improved reliability, reduced deployment time, lower maintenance costs, and easy scalability. If you are thinking about purchasing a hyperconverged infrastructure solution, take a look at what your competition is doing. If other companies in your market are adopting HCI, maybe it's time you should, too. Let's take a look at the current state of the industry and the global HCI market growth.

The State of the Industry

HCI is a great way to reduce operating costs and simplify IT by using a single virtual environment to combine, compute, storage and networking. This virtual-box solution is flexible and affordable enough, allowing even smaller companies and startups to purchase HCI architecture to connect and interact with their remote workers, branch offices, and IoT applications.

According to researchers, the global HCI market will continue to grow at a steady pace during the next five years. Increasing customer demand and rapid adoption of SaaS and other cloud-based solutions due to the changes in daily operations of most businesses caused by the Covid-19 pandemic has brought HCI into the spotlight. More and more vendors are offering hyperconverged solutions, both for cloud and on-premise infrastructures.

More Software Offerings

According to experts, the HCI market was valued at an impressive $7.34 billion in 2020. It's predicted to surpass the $10 billion mark by 2025. Backup and recovery solutions and performance-enhancing environments remain the main drivers of market growth. Other niches where HCI solutions are popular include VM farms, desktop virtualization software, and database management.

  • The tech is moving beyond the large data centers which were its early adopters.
  • IT vendors have simplified control of HCI solutions, making them available for the general market.
  • The ability to scale horizontally by adding new virtual nodes is intuitively easy to understand even for non-tech-savvy entrepreneurs.
  • It leads to increased adoption of HCI by companies from different sectors of the economy, including retail and logistics.

Server providers and other IT vendors are divided on the issue of HCI. While some of them seem to have exited the HCI market completely, others, including even a few hardware vendors, have doubled their efforts, focusing on selling software-only products.

HCI and Edge: A Perfect Fit

Hyperconverged infrastructure fits seamlessly with Edge computing. Even smaller companies have to rely on Edge if they have branch offices or operate in remote locations. Industries like retail and banking use Edge as their default option. Since HCI removes the need for separate storage and networking devices, combining Edge with HCI creates natural synergy. Connecting thin clients and VDI workstations to the company's data center running on HCI improves the systems' reliability and makes it harder to breach from the outside. From the business point of view, partnering with a single HCI vendor instead of several hardware providers leads to cost reduction and better control and maintenance. HCI solutions consume less power and take up less space than their standard hardware counterparts.

Adoption of high-speed mobile networks like 5G will lead to further growth of Edge data centers using HCI. Enterprise data centers will either switch to this new business model or will provide HCI solutions alongside their traditional IT silos. In short, the HCI will continue to co-evolve alongside Edge, expanding from the niche of serving remote office environments to other businesses that look to cut costs, reduce storage capacity and benefit from centralized management of resources that HCI offers.

Hybrid Cloud Solutions Running on HCI

When it comes to IT infrastructure, the hybrid cloud has become the default option for most companies. Hyperconverged infrastructure can serve as the backbone of the hybrid- and multi-cloud platforms. Since HCI runs on widely-used x86 infrastructure and doesn't require tweaking and overhauling, cloud service providers switch from traditional storage/compute/network silos to hyperconverged alternatives.

Major players like Dell and Amazon are rapidly moving into the HCI niche. The new Dell Technologies Cloud runs on the VxRail platform, which is one of the HCI market leaders. AWS now offers Nutanix's hyperconverged infrastructure available as a service. Microsoft has come up with Azure Stack HCI, a powerful solution for hybrid clouds.

Hyperconverged infrastructure can become a promising alternative to popular public clouds like AWS or Microsoft Azure. The biggest selling points of HCI are its ability to scale, reduced costs, better performance, and control.

The Fastest-growing HCI Application

As mentioned previously, backup and data recovery remain the main market driver for HCI adoption. Due to the increasing number of cyberattacks, infrastructure security becomes one of the primary concerns for most companies. HCI allows to backup data on the fly, creating healthy redundancy. It's a cheaper solution since it doesn't require third-party solutions for data backup and disaster recovery. It also brings down costs associated with storage requirements, making hyperconverged infrastructure the most affordable and attractive option for backup and disaster recovery on the market right now.

Conclusion

Hyperconverged infrastructure will see increased adoption both by enterprise-level companies and data centers. It has found its natural synergy with Edge computing. The need for increased security will accelerate HCI adoption in the niche of backup and disaster recovery. The popularity of hybrid cloud solutions will also increase the number of companies using HCI for their IT needs.

What is the difference between BIM and CAD Software for Architects?

Are you a new architect or aspiring to become an architect? If the answer is "yes," you will need to have the best programs to make a mark in this industry. Well, the two most important categories of software in architecture are building information modeling (BIM) and computer-aided design (CAD). Which one should you use? Keep treading as we dig deeper into each category and highlight key examples for you to consider.

What is CAD?

CAD, shortening for computer-aided design, is the use of computers to help create, modify, and optimize building design. CAD programs are developed to help people design and document their models using advanced computer technology. CAD files are particularly useful where multiple parts are required to fit precisely in a larger assembly.

Architects using CAD can effectively create both 3D models and 2D drawings for the parts of their products. The fast development of 3D CAD programs has rapidly transformed the building design and manufacturing industries because architects can create more complex products faster than before.

CAD Advantages 

The main advantages of using CAD include:

  • It makes it pretty easy for starters to get into the world of 2D and 3D.
  • You are able to create extremely complex models that were otherwise not possible with standard programs.
  • Spotting errors and correcting them in building design is easy and fast. You do not need to go to scratch to correct such errors.
  • Most CAD programs automatically create documentation for architects. This is very useful, especially when working on complex projects.

The main challenge of using CAD programs is that they simplify the work of architects so much. Although this is a good thing because you can complete projects faster, there is a risk of making some people complacent because everything has been done. See: you only need to fetch different parts from the library.

Good examples of CAD programs include AutoCAD, ArchiCAD, SketchUp, and AutoCAD Civil 3D. Most architects usually start with CAD programs before moving on to BIM.

What is BIM?

BIM is a new system where architects, engineers, and contractors collaborate by using the same database when creating new designs. This means that the entire team can easily visualize the whole building project way ahead of breaking the ground. It is considered a sort of natural evolution of CAD. So, how exactly does BIM work?

BIM provides the digital presentation of the actual facility that an architect is working on. It allows you to bring all the designs that you have, including different CAD models, so that you can work on them further or make rapid changes. When applied well, BIM can help the entire project team to visualize all parts easily, review them, and identify errors way before the task commences.

BIM Advantages

BIM has become so important in architecture, and it is now considered one of the most advanced technologies. Here are the main advantages:

  • BIM is better at making more complete presentations of architectural designs.
  • It pools all your docs into one database so that the entire team can easily access the latest changes.
  • BIM allows you to provide a lot more to your building design clients compared to what you would do with CAD.
  • Resource tracking with BIM is pretty easy.

The main challenge about BIM is that it is a relatively new method, and a lot of architects are yet to adopt it. This means that you might find working with some architects challenging because they are not used to BIM.

Common BIM building design software you might want to consider are Autodesk BIM 360, Revit, and Autodesk Civil 3D.

The building design and architectural niches are evolving fast, and you should not be left behind in using them. The good thing is that these advanced applications are making it a lot easier to create better models faster and note errors early. Since most architects are still in CAD programs, it is important to ensure you are also good in it even as you build skills in BIM. Remember that whether you prefer CAD or BIM, you will only be able to create top-rated designs by working with the best programs.

Significant Reasons for Investing in IoT Application Development

We all have heard of this term by now. IoT or the Internet of Things is an ingenious yet innovative technology that is the support system for uncountable apps in almost all sectors.

With the ever-increasing demand for higher technology, there has been a rapid growth in the field of IoT. You would require a professional IoT app development company for implementing the correct connected technology solution for your business.

As we are moving towards and becoming the tech generation, it's exciting to know how IoT Application Development has a huge Market Potential - wondering how it is possible? Let us tell you more.

Do You Know?

Let us tell you a fun fact. Worldwide there are about 9 billion Internet of Things (IoT) devices connected in 2020, which is expected to grow up to 25 billion in 2030.

In addition to this, we will also see a tremendous increase in the earnings & profit that would be generated by IoT and it is capturing all fields and sectors with speed equal to light and would soon become a major life-important technology.

Still not convinced enough to invest in IoT Application Development? Well, let us help you!

Why IoT Application Development? 

Familiar with these above questions? Don't worry; we have got your back!

The Internet of things has the potential to turn your home into a smart home and make processes automated. It's the world of 5G, and thus both IoT and 5G technologies, when combined, can result in super-advanced technologies and techniques. With each passing day, IoT Application Development services come to life and make more sense than previous days. IoT in the construction industry can boost work productivity and get access to real-time reporting. It can say that it covers almost every aspect!

Facts to know about the upcoming IoT culture & Investments 

  • Speaking of May 2020, there was an investment of over $5 billion in IoT applications. This entire investment was made by 2,550 Europeans.
  • There has been a trend about smart home appliances. Following this, by the end of next year, i.e., 2023, everyday consumers are expected to spend $150 billion on smart home solutions.

Key Factors to Capitalize and Put Funds in IoT App Development

Not only are the ones listed above, but there are many reasons why companies invest in IoT Application development.

1) Brings in Golden Opportunity for Start-ups:

To all the Start-up owners, this is for you. IoT applications are the need of the hour because they solve inefficient, slow, and costly processes that many enterprises of different industries were bearing previously. Therefore, many prominent global companies acquire the start-ups for their ideas and promising innovations so that they can integrate them with their existing operation to get better work efficiency performance and increase the turnover while decreasing the cost.

2) Enhanced work productivity and cost efficiency:

IoT sensors and devices can automate various routine operations, making it possible to have minimum human participation. It also reduces the amount of time required to complete a task. Hence it makes the processes more productive and cost-efficient.

3) Employees advantages:

IoT makes things simple for employees too. It helps them perform complex tasks that might take long hours of effort and work to be completed in minutes. Some of the advantages are:

  • It provides real-time data for any emergencies.
  • It makes it possible for employees to act on any incidents as quickly as possible.
  • Improves work efficiency of employees and makes them less prone to make any mistakes.
  • Enables them to work remotely.

4) Reduces Risk:

IoT sensors can save you from significant breakdown risks. IoT sensors predict future equipment failures based on several factors.

This helps the responsible personnel take care of the faulty spare parts without affecting the whole operation.

And applying machine learning to collect data helps employees to determine the exact service time of each part of the machine that leads to efficiency in the investment of equipment.

Process of IoT System development and application:

  • Ideation:  The process starts with your idea of the IoT product. Your vision must be as precise as possible to have a clear picture.
  • Pass it through the Market: Take your idea to your potential customers and get their feedback. See if your IoT product is actually feasible and needed.
  • Choose your Platform: Choose the stack technology on which your IoT product will be based.
  • Select the Hardware: Select the best hardware components that will fit your IoT product.
  • Make it scalable: The software you build for your IoT should be scalable and has the capability to support both on-premise and cloud infrastructure.
  • Speed of your IoT: Your product should be able to process data at high speed, especially if you're building an IoT for commercial purposes.
  • Privacy and Data Security: It is necessary that your IoT product is designed keeping in mind the privacy and data security of your users. Your customers will show trust in you only when they will feel like their information and data are safe with your IoT.
  • Test your final product: Before launching your IoT for the public, run numerous tests and have a pilot launch with limited people access to the app to make sure that there are no bugs.
  • Customer feedback: It is essential for the betterment of your IoT development and application that you get feedback from your customers regarding the app. Provide them with multiple channels to receive feedback,

Key Takeaways

Above, we have discussed the reasons to invest in IoT application and development and why big firms have ever-growing interests in IoT investment. IoT products and devices are becoming a vital part of every industry day by day, and soon they will become a necessity.

Many IT companies offer IoT application development services that help businesses to gain real-time data and insights to analyze their areas of improvement and increase revenue by reducing their costs.

So, if you are an IT start-up that is looking to revolutionize the industry, then all you need is to innovate an IoT product that solves industries' problems and delivers the results.

Service Dispatch Software: An Efficient Tool for Delivering Goods and Services 

The transportation and logistics industry suffered from the impact of the pandemic. The disruptions in supply chains caused massive losses in businesses. Its spillovers extended to those relying on freight and delivery. But as the restrictions started to ease, its recovery followed instantly.

In 2021, supply chains benefited from the boom in e-commerce as online buyers reached 2.14 billion. Given the massive influx of customers, businesses had to scale up their operations. The challenge now is to improve efficiency and ensure the delivery of goods and services. It has become more challenging for companies to monitor every movement, especially logistics.

Fortunately, service dispatch software can make things easier and safer. Tracking vehicles and organizing schedules will no longer take so much time. This technology can impose desirable changes in daily processes. With that in mind, we will look at how it guides businesses toward growth.

Service Dispatch Software in a Nutshell

Service dispatch software is a technology that plans and schedules routes. It sends the details to the driver's mobile device. Once received, the management can view the progress on the delivery day. This feature allows them to improve efficiency and customer service.

Through automated technology, 24/7 management of fleets is possible. After automating routing and scheduling processes, coordination of routes and deliveries is easier. It also provides solutions to field workers, technicians, and other service providers. The following are its primary features.

  • Visibility of drive, vehicle, items, and customer information
  • Automatic notification on the arrival date and time to the customers
  • Ability to adjust the schedule due to unexpected problems
  • Access to data analytics to make sound business assessments and decisions.

For a better result, it has to work hand in hand with route optimization software. Service dispatch software monitors the delivery process through a cloud-based application. Meanwhile, route optimization software finds the best routes for smooth and efficient delivery. Their combined features can improve business processes and customer satisfaction.

Benefits of Service Dispatch Software

The number of products and services purchased online keeps growing. That is why transportation and logistics play a vital role in the e-commerce industry. Food and grocery delivery services have their software to monitor drivers. Here are the expected benefits of using service dispatch software.

Management of the Delivery Process

Service dispatch software serves as a centralized tracking system for transportation processes. Its features and connection to GPS and mobile apps provide timely updates. It allows the management to track the location and status of the driver and the items. The information gives the company an idea to improve its dispatch system.

It automates job assignments and notifies drivers about delivery changes. It also has access to traffic and weather conditions. That way, the dispatchers and drivers can estimate how long it will take to reach the drop-off point. In worst-case scenarios, they can adjust and schedule a new dispatch plan.

Moreover, it reduces or eliminates paperwork like work order management and service reports. It also generates invoices and provides billing assistance and resource management suggestions. It helps companies save more time and focus on improving customer experience.

Assessment of Driver Safety and Behavior

Service dispatch software is similar to employee monitoring software. But, it has more detailed info to assess employees. The management can determine whether the drivers follow the driving standards or not. It includes their driving speed, one of the typical causes of road accidents. Also, customers can rate and review their performance.

Increased Responsiveness

In a fast-paced environment, responsiveness sets a business apart from its competitors. It is more crucial for those involving field workers and other service providers. With service dispatch software, the management does not have to make follow-ups. The system alone provides all the information they need to track deliveries.

Its real-time statuses alert the people involved with emergency calls and last-minute requests. That is why it is essential to integrate it with route optimization software. It helps you identify the location and nature of the raised concerns. From there, someone can go to the site, assist the driver, and solve the problem.

Data for Business Decisions

The system provides data, which helps businesses present them in charts and dashboards. These make the numerical values easier to interpret and generate recommendations. These figures enable them to assess their performance based on specific parameters. These include customer rating, delivery time, costs incurred. This feature also makes the business scalable and flexible to changing business requirements. It ensures that the services can suffice business needs.

Customer Experience Improvement

Service dispatch software can enhance the delivery process, leading to smoother transactions. Management can do job assignments and schedules faster. There is also shorter waiting and delivery time since the system can find the best route. The goods and services arrive at the exact location on time. In turn, customer satisfaction increases, resulting in higher demand.

The Bottom Line

Technology is changing, so businesses have to adapt and meet the insatiable demand. In a competitive market landscape, operational efficiency is vital to outdo peers. Service dispatch software improves processes and reduces costs. It helps businesses adapt to the trend and sustain growth.

10 Technologies That Are Shaping the Future of Dentistry

Over the past century, dental care has remained a relatively rigid area of healthcare. However, the accelerated digitization of the past two decades has seen the sector rapidly adopt mainstream technologies, with the advancement taking a seemingly steeper trajectory by the day. We looked at some of the new technologies making their way into dentistry and came up with this list of what we reckon will rock the world of dental care for years to come:

3D prosthesis printing

3D printing is getting deeper and deeper into medicine. Many companies use 3D printing machines to create prosthetics to replace missing body parts. Although subtractive manufacturing still heavily dominates dentistry, the general projection is that 3D printing will eventually take over.

Orthodontics, for instance, is already making use of 3D printers and has ClearCorrect and Invisalign as two of its most successful projects. Currently, it’s even possible for a standalone doctor or practice to obtain a 3D printer for orthodontics and design devices and prosthetics in the comfort of their office.

Robotics

A couple of years ago, the FDA approved the use of robotics for dental implant surgeries. While the technology hasn’t hit the ground running, it has shown that robotizing dental surgeries are a viable idea. Robots could eventually be used to create full-on automated systems for single crowns, or microrobots could be employed in minimally invasive procedures with minimal human assistance.

Ultrasound technology

The objective of ultrasound technology in dental care is to create radiation-free imaging of dental parts. It could offer a much-needed alternative to the 2D and 3D options currently available.

New breakthroughs show glimpses of what we can expect in the foreseeable future. The 3D ultrasound solution commonly used in hospitals for fetal imaging shows that we are making headway in the right direction. If that progress continues, it wouldn’t be a surprise to witness ultrasound becoming the standard approach to jaw and teeth imaging, caries detection, digital impressions, and more.

Teledentistry

Thanks to the COVID-19 pandemic, teledentistry has become common. Patients are embracing it with its flaws, and dental practices seem to be in a competition over who has the best equipment for virtual dentistry. There is little doubt that technology will outlive the pandemic. However, it remains to be seen how much more dentists can exploit the technology to improve dental care and cut back on operational costs.

Digital dentures

Traditionally, dentures took time to create. Dentists had to take impressions of the patient’s teeth alignment, create a design of the denture, and send the design to a lab for fabrication. It would then take another few weeks for the denture to be prepared and sent back to the dentist. Now, thanks to computer-aided design and computer-aided manufacturing, dental technicians can design and fabricate dentures right in their offices and in a fraction of the time.

Virtual reality

Virtual reality training is already established in other industries, and it could be the next big thing in dentistry. Instead of using PowerPoint presentations and other conventional training methods, dentists could use VR headsets to learn detailed procedures while experiencing surreal, close-up views of the oral parts being studied. Hygienists and other professionals could also use VR systems to experiment with various ergonomic techniques and hone their skills in the absence of an actual patient.

Artificial intelligence

Already a reality in some fields, artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) are yet to leave a mark in dentistry. This is mostly because they go hand in hand with automation, which is still a distant thought in health care.

However, outside procedural application, AI can be used to study data, develop patterns, and provide dental care professionals with analyses to infer from. It can go as far as suggesting treatment options, predicting oral health issues, and identifying scenarios where planned medication, procedures, and underlying conditions are likely to clash. With regards to direct involvement in medical procedures, our hopes are hinged on the prospect of robotics eventually taking over surgical operations.

Augmented reality

Augmented reality is less popular than its sister virtual reality, although its applications in dentistry may be more straightforward. The technology is already being used by cosmetic dentists to provide a simulated view of the expected post-procedural results before the procedure is done. It helps clients get a picture of how they will look afterward, allowing them to reconsider their decision or ask for adjustments.

Regenerative dentistry

There is a good chance you will need a denture or tooth implant at some point in your lifetime. Regenerative dentistry is a new form of dental care that looks to give you a different, minimally invasive way to fix your smile. The field proposes biological therapy and self-healing options for damaged teeth in place of a restorative procedure.

Researchers from Harvard University and the University of Nottingham are looking into the possibility of promoting the growth of dentin using stem cells. The cells will basically restore the structural makeup of the damaged tooth and the periodontal tissues around it, taking away the need for conventional invasive treatments such as dental implants and root canals.

CRISPR

CRISPR is mostly mentioned in gene editing and cancer treatment conversations, never in oral disorders. There are ongoing studies looking into the potential of using the tool to do away with hereditary oral cancer and plaque formation. The studies are still in their early stages, meaning there isn’t much substance to brandish. However, there is high optimism among researchers and dental care professionals that the technology has a lot in store for dentistry and will change the game once commercially available.

Endnote

Dating back to 7000 BC, dentistry is one of the earliest known medical professions, so whatever you see now is the work of about nine millennia. The coming century promises to outstrip all that effort several times over and modernize the industry, and with the above technologies already taking shape at a rapid rate, it is clear we are witnessing a revolution.

Flutter Developers For Hire: A Step-by-Step Guide

Everyone is talking about Flutter, and if you are looking for Flutter developers for hire, you’ll know how competitive and difficult the recruitment process has become. It’s not surprising by any means. If you want to invest in app development, you have to hire Flutter developer - and quickly. This process will take time and careful planning on your part, but once you’ve assembled your dream team, you’ll realize that it was worth it. Large companies all around the world - including Netflix and Facebook - are using Flutter to successfully build their apps. It’s worth considering for your business or start-up.

In this step-by-step guide, we’ll look at all aspects of hiring Flutter app developers for your business, including interviewing, do’s and don’ts, and the pros and cons of using the Flutter UI.

1. Determine Whether Flutter Is Right For You

Before you start the recruitment process, in order to hire Flutter developers for the first time, you need to carefully consider all the pros and cons. It’s always tempting to go straight to the latest technology and assume it’s the best way forward, but you never know what’s around the corner in the IT world. Before you commit to a new language or tech stack, you should think about your goals and the apps you would like to build in the future. Evaluate the pros and cons of Flutter before you dive in and hire a Flutter developer.

Flutter’s main benefit is its speed to market. You can build multiple apps across multiple platforms (like desktop, mobile, and web) at the same time, which cuts development and testing. Apps built on Flutter are extremely user-friendly and intuitive, allowing you to add fine details and attractive interfaces that give you a real branding edge over your competition. That doesn’t mean that there aren’t any disadvantages. Flutter is very new and still evolving. If you hire Flutter app developers, chances are they haven’t had the years of experience you may need to really realize the full potential of your project. If you can’t find a very experienced team, you either have to contend with developers learning on your dime, or you may have to opt for a more stable and mature platform.

2. Finding Flutter Developers For Hire

You’ve made the decision to hire Flutter developer. Now you need to figure out where you are going to find them. You can either put out a vacancy on LinkedIn, Marketplace or conventional job boards or hire workers on a contract basis. Again, whichever approach you choose will come with its own advantages and disadvantages.

If you have the time, looking for Flutter developers yourself can be rewarding. You can spend some time on forums and blogs or sites like Quora and Reddit to build up relationships and curate referrals, or just put a vacancy up on a job board and wait for the applications to roll in. Unfortunately, this approach can take months to complete. You’ll have to find the candidates, interview them, and onboard them. You can use a formal recruitment agency, but that’s a very expensive option and really not feasible for a start-up.

Most companies end up using freelancers or offshore agencies. Sites like Upwork or Fiverr will put you in touch with developers right away. They may be a little pricier than hiring someone via an offshore agency, and they may not be available to you exclusively, so bear that in mind. On the other hand, they will have experience working with a variety of clients. That means that they’ve learned a lot of lessons and gained a lot of experience.

Offshore agencies are a great way of finding skilled developers. This involves engaging with a trusted agency in a country like Ukraine to find talented Flutter developers for your project. It’s much cheaper and faster than doing the hiring on your own.

3. How to Interview Flutter Developers

Before even considering someone’s application, you have to know the technical skills required from a good Flutter developer. Look for candidates with solid knowledge of native programming languages, particularly for Android app development. This includes Java, C, C#, Lua, Kotlin, and others. You should also pay close attention to their seniority. Flutter is easy to learn, but you will need a few senior developers along with the juniors if you want to launch your app quickly. Candidates should understand and have a good working knowledge of Git, GoF patterns, SQL, and how the software development life cycle works.

Make sure that at least some of your developers have worked on apps similar to the one you’d like to build or within the industry that you are targeting. It’ll shorten the learning curve for everyone (and might lead to some key discoveries and innovations).

Once you’ve found your candidates, you should put them to the test. You can provide them with a few coding challenges and ask them questions about their experience and approach. Don’t just focus on their technical capabilities.  It’s a good idea to ask about their style of working and personality, too. You want to make sure that your new hires can fit in with your existing team and company culture.

A few good questions to ask could include:

  • Why do you like Flutter?
  • Why do you think Flutter is better for mobile app development?
  • Can you explain the benefits of Dart in programming?
  • How do widgets work?
  • Tell me about your previous projects.
  • Tell me about an incident where you experienced conflict in the workplace and how you resolved it.

Once you’ve picked your top candidates, always make sure to double-check their references. It’s always a good idea to give their previous employers a call.

Conclusion

Large enterprises and Silicon Valley-based tech companies are all turning to Flutter these days. Finding good Flutter developers for hire isn’t easy, but it’s a surefire way to ensure that your apps are built quickly and effectively. Follow these simple steps, and you’ll soon have your own team assembled.

Syed Zain Nasir

I am Syed Zain Nasir, the founder of <a href=https://www.TheEngineeringProjects.com/>The Engineering Projects</a> (TEP). I am a programmer since 2009 before that I just search things, make small projects and now I am sharing my knowledge through this platform.I also work as a freelancer and did many projects related to programming and electrical circuitry. <a href=https://plus.google.com/+SyedZainNasir/>My Google Profile+</a>

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Syed Zain Nasir