Satellite inmarsat services help in connecting smart grid technologies applications as well as Satellite SCADA supported networks that provide ever-present IP connectivity in utility services in an entire territory. One of the renowned global mobile commercial satellite communication network set up by Inmarsat is the award-winning Inmarsat-4 (1-4) satellites. Offering Broadband Global Area Network (BGAN), Inmarsat-4 concurrently delivers both voice and broadband data and has a gained a strong base in sectors such as oil and gas, international aid agencies, and broadcast media.
Moreover, Inmarsat introduced BGAN M2M and this is a two-way IP services for data transmission only. The BGAN M2M is ideal for low, high frequency transmissions, which are required in normal automated data reporting right from Smart Grid and Satellite SCADA application. Some of the benefits of satellite Inmarsat services are;
Smart Grids Metering
The advanced metering infrastructure (AMI) of the Smart Grids helps consumer manage their energy consumption by providing utilities based on visible demand. The meters are connected to aggregation points, which collect data from consumers in a given geographical area and transmit back to the data center of the utility in a fixed link or cellular network.
However, since cellular networks experience restricted bandwidth and are faced with congestion, coupled with their vulnerability to natural disasters, then it means that bgan inmarsat offers a better option. It is accessible in areas where cellular and fixed line coverage is not available. Therefore the BGAN is a cost effective and high quality option for backhaul usage data experienced in advanced concentrators or aggregation points and this allows utilities to reach entire networks and offer energy solutions to the entire customer base.
Automated distribution
The deployment of BGAN or BGAN M2M network connectivity infrastructure alongside power distribution lines offers a primary or secondary link to the utility’s data center. This provides monitoring and control of switches, reclosers and other devices on the distribution network, recording any voltage fluctuations, outrages and also consumer energy demand. This kind of data helps in making real-time decisions on smart grid energy based on ready hand information.
Connectivity in substations
Inmarsat offers Satellite SCADA or equivalent applications at electricity substations and these could be standalone or combined with VSAT. Such connections help reach out to the locations where it is difficult or costly to apply fixed-line and cellular communication. BGAN connectivity guarantees data streaming all the time since it can work in both low-volume/high-frequency data traffic situations or in high-volume/low frequency data streaming situations. And in addition, there is a backup communication in every substation.
Disaster recovery application
In times of disasters, the Satellite Inmarsat communication terminals are deployed quickly to offer alternative communications and this helps in diagnosing problem issues pretty fast and thus offer solutions immediately. This reliability aspect of the Inmarsat connectivity substantiates the reason why it has widely been used by organizations such as the American Red Cross and Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to provide immediate and dependable communication for coordinating disaster relief.
Smart Grid Communications
As energy utilities seek for electricity grids that offer greater scalability and control over energy consumption; it is certain Smart Grid communication will play a big role in managing energy costs. The Smart Grid is dynamic and interactive infrastructure that offers real-time solutions in energy consumption and cost control. The Smart Grid communication helps enhance operational efficiency and extends the accessibility of network across the utility’s entire service territory.
In essence, Inmarsat BGAN and the data only BGAN M2M, which supports Satellite SCADA applications, are critical energy utility network solutions and offer real-time data, which helps in management of energy consumption as well as improves operational efficiency through workforce mobility enhancement.
Tuesday, November 26, 2013
What are the Benefits of Lean Consulting?
Businesses need to embrace the benefits of lean consulting in order to turn around their performance towards increased productivity while at the same time maintaining high level of customer relations. Lean is a process that helps create value for the benefit of the end user customer and it is looped around elimination of waste and utilization of resources in an optimal manner.
The cornerstone to Lean is continuous improvement and this helps in improving people and processes so that they can achieve better results with either the same resources or even less. In essence, lean applies in virtually any process or person’s activities and therefore, has a wide application in the improvement of people and processes.
The lean process thrives in all sectors and disciplines ranging from social care to the medical and engineering fields. In people lean consulting helps in optimizing the workers talents, willpower, knowhow, efforts, time and efforts and translate them into results while adding value by minimizing wastes and improving outputs.
This process eliminates aspects, which increase unnecessary costs, wastes of space, underutilized time and knowledge as well as the non-optimized resource applications. Lean process helps leaders to have the time to be able to lead others. It embraces leading by example. It helps businesses organize their space at the workplace by eliminating the underutilized space.
Space utilization is one of the aspects, which bring a lot of expenses to businesses, which could otherwise be eliminated. For instance, the arrangement of office and production areas could help improve the time workers take to move from one location to another. It also helps streamline the workflow in these critical production areas.
In addition, the lean consulting helps develop a team of workers that fosters resilience, engagement, morale, enthusiasm, flexibility, accountability and optimal use of resources with reduced wastages. There are different types of lean consulting and these include productivity, time, production cost, inventory, floor space, quality, transportation, and human skills.
Different lean practices are carried out to address the commonly identified wastes in business processes. Overproduction is one of the processes, which can cost businesses a lot of money and the lean consultancy helps addresses aspects of overproduction in order to reduce wastes. Organization of time is also a key element of the lean process as it minimizes the time people spend waiting and staying idle.
The movement of people and materials in a plant or business premises should be re-arranged and restructured to ensure that it adds value to the product and service. The inventory control needs to be managed so that there is no excess supply of inventory in business, which could remain underutilized or unsold in the warehouses.
Peoples need to translate their efforts, knowledge, talents and time into results and therefore, they need to be transformed to use the best of their unique skills and abilities. Quality control needs to be enhanced so that there are reduced defects, which could lead to reduced value of products and services.
In essence, lean thinking, though has its origin on the automotive industry; it has successfully been transferred to virtually all disciplines and produce great improvements in elimination of various types of wastes, reduction of production time and minimization of inventory. Last but least, lean consulting also minimizes storage space and enhances efficient use of personnel resources.
The cornerstone to Lean is continuous improvement and this helps in improving people and processes so that they can achieve better results with either the same resources or even less. In essence, lean applies in virtually any process or person’s activities and therefore, has a wide application in the improvement of people and processes.
The lean process thrives in all sectors and disciplines ranging from social care to the medical and engineering fields. In people lean consulting helps in optimizing the workers talents, willpower, knowhow, efforts, time and efforts and translate them into results while adding value by minimizing wastes and improving outputs.
This process eliminates aspects, which increase unnecessary costs, wastes of space, underutilized time and knowledge as well as the non-optimized resource applications. Lean process helps leaders to have the time to be able to lead others. It embraces leading by example. It helps businesses organize their space at the workplace by eliminating the underutilized space.
Space utilization is one of the aspects, which bring a lot of expenses to businesses, which could otherwise be eliminated. For instance, the arrangement of office and production areas could help improve the time workers take to move from one location to another. It also helps streamline the workflow in these critical production areas.
In addition, the lean consulting helps develop a team of workers that fosters resilience, engagement, morale, enthusiasm, flexibility, accountability and optimal use of resources with reduced wastages. There are different types of lean consulting and these include productivity, time, production cost, inventory, floor space, quality, transportation, and human skills.
Different lean practices are carried out to address the commonly identified wastes in business processes. Overproduction is one of the processes, which can cost businesses a lot of money and the lean consultancy helps addresses aspects of overproduction in order to reduce wastes. Organization of time is also a key element of the lean process as it minimizes the time people spend waiting and staying idle.
The movement of people and materials in a plant or business premises should be re-arranged and restructured to ensure that it adds value to the product and service. The inventory control needs to be managed so that there is no excess supply of inventory in business, which could remain underutilized or unsold in the warehouses.
Peoples need to translate their efforts, knowledge, talents and time into results and therefore, they need to be transformed to use the best of their unique skills and abilities. Quality control needs to be enhanced so that there are reduced defects, which could lead to reduced value of products and services.
In essence, lean thinking, though has its origin on the automotive industry; it has successfully been transferred to virtually all disciplines and produce great improvements in elimination of various types of wastes, reduction of production time and minimization of inventory. Last but least, lean consulting also minimizes storage space and enhances efficient use of personnel resources.
What are the Top Applications of Business Intelligence (BI) Systems in SMEs
Businesses create a lot data and for them to use the data meaningfully, they need to use business intelligence applications software to analyse the raw data and translate it into a reliable information. In business processes, companies continuously create data, which may be stored in files, spreadsheets or other forms of databases. This data is a valuable tool for the company in making key decisions and improving the functional role of different departments of the business.
What is business intelligence?
In definition, business intelligence-BI is an umbrella term, meaning that it is a term that carries many terminologies such as data mining, data analytics, data querying and data reporting with use of business intelligence software. It is therefore a process of software applications that is used to analyze an organization’s raw data and provide meaningful information, which can be relied upon in making key business process decisions.
Small businesses are still not embracing the potentials, which are presented by business intelligence tool in their processes because they are reluctant in investing in this essential technology. These small businesses can leverage analytics capabilities and be able to transform their decision-making processes and steer their business to growth. About 40% of the mid-market businesses are interested in predictive analytics software, according to Tachaisle survey. The following are the top applications of business intelligence.
Data visualization
One of the areas of business intelligence applications is in data visualization. This is the process of presenting data in visual graphics, which makes it easier to understand and comprehend. The main goal of data visualization is to enable different people in the business to understand the textual and number information more clearly through visual presentations. Businesses can use graphics to display their sales trends in different periods. Graphical data presentations are essential in making comparisons in business performance.
In addition, data visualization should also be able to stimulate the viewers’ engagement and entice them to capture the details in whole. For instance, a drill down of the sales data entails navigating through the details such as accessing individual product sales in a particular region, and individual sales representative performance details for a particular period of time.
Reporting
Another area of BI application is in reporting. Small businesses can make use of financial reporting and forecasting software tools to understand their financial performances. Furthermore, small businesses like other entities do not operate in “vacuums” meaning that they are in a real business environment where data sharing is essential. One of the aspects in which data is required to be shared is in the field of research. Research is very important as it helps businesses know where they are now and where they are heading.
Knowledge management
BI is also used in knowledge management by business intelligence analyst. Small businesses need to participate actively in knowledge management in order to achieve their set goals. There are knowledge management software systems, which are used in learning management as well as regulatory compliance. Take for example a case where customers walk into your store and don’t buy anything. This doesn’t mean that since there are no sales and customer information that is entered into the databases, the business should not know more about the behaviour of those customers.
Businesses can use the CI systems to carry out surveys and use that data to make inferences as to why the customers are behaving in such a manner. It is also imperative to understand that not all business intelligence tools are applicable to every other small business and therefore, a thorough research and advice should be sort to establish the best viable BI for each small enterprise business entity.
Exploitation
Last but not least, business intelligence is used to measure performance. Like the large corporate, the small businesses need to know where they are today in terms of performance by comparing their previous data, current data and future expectations. This is where business intelligence systems come in handy.
Businesses can have very huge data stored in their systems but if this data is not analyzed to produce key beneficial information, which can be used to make decisions and change business processes for the better, then it remains useless data taking up storage resources for the company. Small businesses need to realize that such data produced by business intelligence software can be used as a tool for reorganizing their business processes.
What is business intelligence?
In definition, business intelligence-BI is an umbrella term, meaning that it is a term that carries many terminologies such as data mining, data analytics, data querying and data reporting with use of business intelligence software. It is therefore a process of software applications that is used to analyze an organization’s raw data and provide meaningful information, which can be relied upon in making key business process decisions.
Small businesses are still not embracing the potentials, which are presented by business intelligence tool in their processes because they are reluctant in investing in this essential technology. These small businesses can leverage analytics capabilities and be able to transform their decision-making processes and steer their business to growth. About 40% of the mid-market businesses are interested in predictive analytics software, according to Tachaisle survey. The following are the top applications of business intelligence.
Data visualization
One of the areas of business intelligence applications is in data visualization. This is the process of presenting data in visual graphics, which makes it easier to understand and comprehend. The main goal of data visualization is to enable different people in the business to understand the textual and number information more clearly through visual presentations. Businesses can use graphics to display their sales trends in different periods. Graphical data presentations are essential in making comparisons in business performance.
In addition, data visualization should also be able to stimulate the viewers’ engagement and entice them to capture the details in whole. For instance, a drill down of the sales data entails navigating through the details such as accessing individual product sales in a particular region, and individual sales representative performance details for a particular period of time.
Reporting
Another area of BI application is in reporting. Small businesses can make use of financial reporting and forecasting software tools to understand their financial performances. Furthermore, small businesses like other entities do not operate in “vacuums” meaning that they are in a real business environment where data sharing is essential. One of the aspects in which data is required to be shared is in the field of research. Research is very important as it helps businesses know where they are now and where they are heading.
Knowledge management
BI is also used in knowledge management by business intelligence analyst. Small businesses need to participate actively in knowledge management in order to achieve their set goals. There are knowledge management software systems, which are used in learning management as well as regulatory compliance. Take for example a case where customers walk into your store and don’t buy anything. This doesn’t mean that since there are no sales and customer information that is entered into the databases, the business should not know more about the behaviour of those customers.
Businesses can use the CI systems to carry out surveys and use that data to make inferences as to why the customers are behaving in such a manner. It is also imperative to understand that not all business intelligence tools are applicable to every other small business and therefore, a thorough research and advice should be sort to establish the best viable BI for each small enterprise business entity.
Exploitation
Last but not least, business intelligence is used to measure performance. Like the large corporate, the small businesses need to know where they are today in terms of performance by comparing their previous data, current data and future expectations. This is where business intelligence systems come in handy.
Businesses can have very huge data stored in their systems but if this data is not analyzed to produce key beneficial information, which can be used to make decisions and change business processes for the better, then it remains useless data taking up storage resources for the company. Small businesses need to realize that such data produced by business intelligence software can be used as a tool for reorganizing their business processes.
Top Benefits of Using Integrated Business Intelligence (BI) Systems
Many companies have invested in business intelligence (BI) systems but most of these are typical BI installations, which entail a mix of various customized and packaged intelligence systems with applications that access data from multiple stores. What this means is that the businesses have not consolidated their BI systems into one large system application, which handles different data inputs. For instance, an accounting system offer finance-oriented data output while marketing and sales system offers information on business marketing.
Using integrated BI systems reduces the number of employees obliged to perform business processes thus saving the businesses the cost of hiring additional workforce. In addition, the turnaround time of creating business reports is reduced significantly. Businesses need reports done in time so that decision-making processes are not stalled. The stagnation of the decision-making process negatively affects business growth and continuity.
In ensuring efficiencies in business processes, the BI tools and systems create benchmarks, which allow companies to easily identify areas of weaknesses and strengths and thus make swift actions to address any shortcomings. The process of mining data from the business data archives can help in uncovering forgotten, hidden or lost data, which can help a business avert past mistakes and learn from the past strategies. With the integrated business intelligence system, these business reports are available on-demand. This makes it easier to drill down and across the details of the report as well as sort and filter the details for easy tabulation.
Moreover, there is increased interactivity within the integrated BI systems as information is easily shared across departments. For instance, data stored in the accounting enterprise resource planning-ERP system and the customer relations management-CRM system is shared through data consolidation, which in turn produces better results in decision making.
As businesses continue to register increased data creation and storage, they are also finding it necessary to use that data in making decisions more quickly. In order to ensure that the huge data created by the systems is turned into meaningful information, integrated BI systems can be used to tabulate and manipulate the data. The unstructured best-of-the breed business intelligence tools are posing a challenge to business executives as the data they get from independent systems is not coordinated into one output platform where it can easily be tabulated.
However, by adopting a standardized BI strategy with help of business intelligence analytics, this helps in integration of the business intelligence for informed decision making. Whereas BI tools are not “decision makers” by themselves, if they are applied consistently and in well structured forms, they can evolve to be tools of enhancing decision making.
In addition, dashboard reports offer current metrics of the performance of the business showing the health and wellbeing of the company in real times. Key performance indicators-KPIs are offered in graphical formats through data visualization so that the users can easily tabulate the data reports. Whether, it is data from the accounting package, payroll systems or the CRM, all this can easily be accessed with the integrated BI systems tools.
Whereas the benefits of integrated BI systems may not be exhaustively covered, it is imperative to mention that companies have benefited from integrated and standardized BI systems because they are cost effective to implement.
In conclusion, as companies embrace business intelligence, it is important that they identify a BI partner who is able to offer integrated BI systems, which can help businesses save in their intelligence investment. Whereas it is difficult to place tangible value on the benefits of BI, businesses can capture the aspect of BI cost and returns on investments (ROI) for their BI investments. This can help in determining the cost of purchasing and applying the systems in data warehousing, information delivery, and data collection, and the associated infrastructure such as software and support resources, needless to mention the expertise required in enterprise business intelligence systems applications.
Using integrated BI systems reduces the number of employees obliged to perform business processes thus saving the businesses the cost of hiring additional workforce. In addition, the turnaround time of creating business reports is reduced significantly. Businesses need reports done in time so that decision-making processes are not stalled. The stagnation of the decision-making process negatively affects business growth and continuity.
In ensuring efficiencies in business processes, the BI tools and systems create benchmarks, which allow companies to easily identify areas of weaknesses and strengths and thus make swift actions to address any shortcomings. The process of mining data from the business data archives can help in uncovering forgotten, hidden or lost data, which can help a business avert past mistakes and learn from the past strategies. With the integrated business intelligence system, these business reports are available on-demand. This makes it easier to drill down and across the details of the report as well as sort and filter the details for easy tabulation.
Moreover, there is increased interactivity within the integrated BI systems as information is easily shared across departments. For instance, data stored in the accounting enterprise resource planning-ERP system and the customer relations management-CRM system is shared through data consolidation, which in turn produces better results in decision making.
As businesses continue to register increased data creation and storage, they are also finding it necessary to use that data in making decisions more quickly. In order to ensure that the huge data created by the systems is turned into meaningful information, integrated BI systems can be used to tabulate and manipulate the data. The unstructured best-of-the breed business intelligence tools are posing a challenge to business executives as the data they get from independent systems is not coordinated into one output platform where it can easily be tabulated.
However, by adopting a standardized BI strategy with help of business intelligence analytics, this helps in integration of the business intelligence for informed decision making. Whereas BI tools are not “decision makers” by themselves, if they are applied consistently and in well structured forms, they can evolve to be tools of enhancing decision making.
In addition, dashboard reports offer current metrics of the performance of the business showing the health and wellbeing of the company in real times. Key performance indicators-KPIs are offered in graphical formats through data visualization so that the users can easily tabulate the data reports. Whether, it is data from the accounting package, payroll systems or the CRM, all this can easily be accessed with the integrated BI systems tools.
Whereas the benefits of integrated BI systems may not be exhaustively covered, it is imperative to mention that companies have benefited from integrated and standardized BI systems because they are cost effective to implement.
In conclusion, as companies embrace business intelligence, it is important that they identify a BI partner who is able to offer integrated BI systems, which can help businesses save in their intelligence investment. Whereas it is difficult to place tangible value on the benefits of BI, businesses can capture the aspect of BI cost and returns on investments (ROI) for their BI investments. This can help in determining the cost of purchasing and applying the systems in data warehousing, information delivery, and data collection, and the associated infrastructure such as software and support resources, needless to mention the expertise required in enterprise business intelligence systems applications.
7 Critical Things to Consider When Choosing a Transportation Management System
Businesses are increasingly focusing on how to optimize their supply chain operations such as transportation and delivery logistics and one way they can achieve this goal is to use transportation management systems. They are compelled to adapt to changing supply chain business environments including choosing a transportation management system that promotes efficiencies. There are many challenges facing large and medium transport organizations and they range from escalating costs due to increased fuel prices to proliferation of many ineffective and incompatible transport management systems- TMS tools in the market.
In order for logistic organizations and departments to improve their efficiencies, reduce costs and overheads as well as grow profits, while at the same time meeting customer satisfaction, they need to integrate the best TMS tools. When choosing a transportation management system, there are numerous factors, which should critically be considered;
1. The TMS technology solutions
Before you embark on any transport management system in your company, you need to analyze what benefits it offers. It is essential that you have a chronology and prioritization of the challenges your company is facing. Logistics organizations and departments want to achieve efficiencies in transport, reduce costs of transportation, optimize on distance and mileage coverage, initiate proper route planning and scheduling, avoid delays in delivery and promote customer satisfaction.
You need to evaluate how the management systems application is able to solve key problematic aspects in your transportation services. In cost management, when choosing a transportation management system, it is important to ensure that it addresses the aspect of load distribution and cost allocation in movement of goods.
The reason is that cost management in logistic companies is a major drawback. These companies are facing difficulties in cost allocation and dispatch scheduling. With fuel price margins not expected to go down, businesses need to streamline their costs of operations in supply chain to ensure high efficiencies in fuel consumption.
2. Upgrading needs of the system
It is important to point out that software application systems are dynamic and changing. This means that you may obtain a transportation management system today and after a few months or years, it is rendered obsolete. When choosing a transportation management system, you should examine the possibilities of upgrading its features to keep pace with new developments.
There are enterprise and network-based TMS solutions. The enterprise based models are highly customizable and require internal infrastructure and this means that if there are upgrades to be done, you have to meet cost of the upgrading the infrastructure too.
3. Data collection, evaluation and reporting
One of the main aims of using transport management systems is to be able to gather essential data that can be used in making decisions. When you are choosing a transportation management system, you need to ensure that it provides key metric data that can easily be interpreted for wise decision making. If the system is able to provide real time information, it means that companies can change their strategies to align with the prevailing transportation challenges and needs.
4. Compatibility/integration of existing management systems
One key aspect logistic companies should evaluate when choosing a transportation management system is its compatibility with the existing enterprise resource planning -ERP. If your TMS easily integrates with other software applications such as warehouse, accounting, purchase and HR resource management system, this means that information is easily shared among all the departments in a company.
With a TMS that fits in the Enterprise Resource Planning Tools, it means that logistic managers can share important information in real time with financial managers, purchasing managers and Human resource managers. This helps in the decision making process. If you are acquiring the best-of-breed TMS tool, you need to ensure that it can be incorporated in the already existing system.
5. User experience and navigation of the software interface
Whether you are using a third party logistics (3PL) tool or an in-house transport management tool, it is important to ensure that it can be accessed easily. The navigation and user interface should be self-guiding and easily maneuvered by users. If you have a complex system, this means that it takes a lot of time for the workers to derive the data they want.
If a staff is drilling down a report to find crucial data, it should easily be found within a click of a few buttons. This is essential because, at times employees accessing the data will need to provide instant feedback to questions raised by vendors and customers about their shipments or transportation orders. This will ensure that customer satisfaction is achieved. What this means is that if the system cannot easily be accessed with straightforward leading interfaces, then it can be complex for it to achieve its intended goal.
6. Sustainability of the TMS
The sustainability of a TMS tool can be analyzed in different perspectives whether in inbound transport, outbound goods movement or fleet management operations. If you are choosing a transportation management system, it should amicably address the aspect of sustainable growth in its application. The system should be able to reduce carbon footprints and environmental degradation, which have a cost implication on the company. It should also be able to provide in-depth analysis through key performance indicators (KPIs) of the aspects such as engine inefficiencies and amount of emission of carbon monoxide.
The system should have a trace back capability in monitoring green logistic infrastructure. It should be able to capture and report shipment information and history. There is need to get prove of the TMS’ reliability and scalability not to acquire a tool that will not be able to perform a few years down the line. This is a mission-critical application that should support current infrastructure and any future expansion and growth of the company.
7. Financial feasibility
Although you may acquire a TMS tool for your business at relatively low cost, if you are not careful, this could be trap that can easily lead your business into financial pitfalls. When you are choosing a transportation management system, you need to leverage current and future cost implications, which range from training of employees to execute the system, upgrading to new versions as well as offering network security measures to avert risks of hacking and theft of essential company information. Most in-house TMS tools can attract additional costs in the future.
This is one main reason why companies are outsourcing for the transportation management system so that they are able to concentrate on the application part. The infrastructure and maintenance tasks are left with the systems vendor, and the logistics companies can concentrate on key aspects of data analysis and implementation of key strategies.
According to a 2012 Supply Chain Software User Survey conducted by Logistics Management (LM), a supply chain news and resource information analyst, it shows that 37% of companies are using TMS. This is an increase from 32% in 2011. The report cites that the use of TMS is slowly-and-steadily gaining a positive growth path. However, companies are facing challenges on how to go about in choosing a transportation management system that fits to their business goals and objectives. In essence, despite the slow adoption of the TMS by logistic companies and departments, this transportation systems management tool has a proven track record of enabling companies adopt efficient and cost effective freight movement only if the right software tool is obtained.
In order for logistic organizations and departments to improve their efficiencies, reduce costs and overheads as well as grow profits, while at the same time meeting customer satisfaction, they need to integrate the best TMS tools. When choosing a transportation management system, there are numerous factors, which should critically be considered;
1. The TMS technology solutions
Before you embark on any transport management system in your company, you need to analyze what benefits it offers. It is essential that you have a chronology and prioritization of the challenges your company is facing. Logistics organizations and departments want to achieve efficiencies in transport, reduce costs of transportation, optimize on distance and mileage coverage, initiate proper route planning and scheduling, avoid delays in delivery and promote customer satisfaction.
You need to evaluate how the management systems application is able to solve key problematic aspects in your transportation services. In cost management, when choosing a transportation management system, it is important to ensure that it addresses the aspect of load distribution and cost allocation in movement of goods.
The reason is that cost management in logistic companies is a major drawback. These companies are facing difficulties in cost allocation and dispatch scheduling. With fuel price margins not expected to go down, businesses need to streamline their costs of operations in supply chain to ensure high efficiencies in fuel consumption.
2. Upgrading needs of the system
It is important to point out that software application systems are dynamic and changing. This means that you may obtain a transportation management system today and after a few months or years, it is rendered obsolete. When choosing a transportation management system, you should examine the possibilities of upgrading its features to keep pace with new developments.
There are enterprise and network-based TMS solutions. The enterprise based models are highly customizable and require internal infrastructure and this means that if there are upgrades to be done, you have to meet cost of the upgrading the infrastructure too.
3. Data collection, evaluation and reporting
One of the main aims of using transport management systems is to be able to gather essential data that can be used in making decisions. When you are choosing a transportation management system, you need to ensure that it provides key metric data that can easily be interpreted for wise decision making. If the system is able to provide real time information, it means that companies can change their strategies to align with the prevailing transportation challenges and needs.
4. Compatibility/integration of existing management systems
One key aspect logistic companies should evaluate when choosing a transportation management system is its compatibility with the existing enterprise resource planning -ERP. If your TMS easily integrates with other software applications such as warehouse, accounting, purchase and HR resource management system, this means that information is easily shared among all the departments in a company.
With a TMS that fits in the Enterprise Resource Planning Tools, it means that logistic managers can share important information in real time with financial managers, purchasing managers and Human resource managers. This helps in the decision making process. If you are acquiring the best-of-breed TMS tool, you need to ensure that it can be incorporated in the already existing system.
5. User experience and navigation of the software interface
Whether you are using a third party logistics (3PL) tool or an in-house transport management tool, it is important to ensure that it can be accessed easily. The navigation and user interface should be self-guiding and easily maneuvered by users. If you have a complex system, this means that it takes a lot of time for the workers to derive the data they want.
If a staff is drilling down a report to find crucial data, it should easily be found within a click of a few buttons. This is essential because, at times employees accessing the data will need to provide instant feedback to questions raised by vendors and customers about their shipments or transportation orders. This will ensure that customer satisfaction is achieved. What this means is that if the system cannot easily be accessed with straightforward leading interfaces, then it can be complex for it to achieve its intended goal.
6. Sustainability of the TMS
The sustainability of a TMS tool can be analyzed in different perspectives whether in inbound transport, outbound goods movement or fleet management operations. If you are choosing a transportation management system, it should amicably address the aspect of sustainable growth in its application. The system should be able to reduce carbon footprints and environmental degradation, which have a cost implication on the company. It should also be able to provide in-depth analysis through key performance indicators (KPIs) of the aspects such as engine inefficiencies and amount of emission of carbon monoxide.
The system should have a trace back capability in monitoring green logistic infrastructure. It should be able to capture and report shipment information and history. There is need to get prove of the TMS’ reliability and scalability not to acquire a tool that will not be able to perform a few years down the line. This is a mission-critical application that should support current infrastructure and any future expansion and growth of the company.
7. Financial feasibility
Although you may acquire a TMS tool for your business at relatively low cost, if you are not careful, this could be trap that can easily lead your business into financial pitfalls. When you are choosing a transportation management system, you need to leverage current and future cost implications, which range from training of employees to execute the system, upgrading to new versions as well as offering network security measures to avert risks of hacking and theft of essential company information. Most in-house TMS tools can attract additional costs in the future.
This is one main reason why companies are outsourcing for the transportation management system so that they are able to concentrate on the application part. The infrastructure and maintenance tasks are left with the systems vendor, and the logistics companies can concentrate on key aspects of data analysis and implementation of key strategies.
According to a 2012 Supply Chain Software User Survey conducted by Logistics Management (LM), a supply chain news and resource information analyst, it shows that 37% of companies are using TMS. This is an increase from 32% in 2011. The report cites that the use of TMS is slowly-and-steadily gaining a positive growth path. However, companies are facing challenges on how to go about in choosing a transportation management system that fits to their business goals and objectives. In essence, despite the slow adoption of the TMS by logistic companies and departments, this transportation systems management tool has a proven track record of enabling companies adopt efficient and cost effective freight movement only if the right software tool is obtained.
Prepaid Credit Cards...a Killer to those Wishing To Repair Damaged Credit Score
When prepaid credit cards first hit the market, they were they were pitched as good options for those who could not qualify for credit cards. However, these prepaid credit cards are actually debit cards because they do not carry credit limit. You can only use what is loaded on the debit card and no more and therefore it does not provide credit facilities like you would find with credit cards. If you have less-than-stellar credit, it means that the first priority is building the score. This cannot be achieved with prepaid debit cards because they do not offer credit and no payments are reported to credit reporting agencies.
If your credit is bad, you should work on bringing it to better levels so that you have access to regular credit cards, low interest personal loans and other credit facilities. A secured credit card can help you raise your score and the good thing with this card is that it is accessible to anyone with good or bad credit. What you need to do is look for some money to put as deposit against the card. That deposit acts as the collateral or security against the credit on that card.
Secured credit cards attract low interest rates and can help you push up your score to a better higher point. The deposit you place against the secured card is not used and only remains on the account until you close your account. The reason why prepaid cards are killer to those focussing on bringing up their credit score is because they cost the card holder a lot of money in terms of fees. If you check the monthly fees charged by prepaid cards, they are far way above the fees for bad credit secured credit cards even those, which attract annual fees.
For example, if you acquire American express prepaid card, and you reload the card and use it in the ATM two times each month, you are likely to pay a cost of about $11.90 per month. This comes from the card loading fee of $9.90 and the ATM fees of $2. An ideal secured card can cost you about $4 to $6.5 per month. This means that at the end of the year, you can save a lot of money with secured credit cards.
A prepaid debit card only adds more burden to your spending because of the fees. Although consumers say that they do not worry about the fees, this cannot be overlooked because it contributes to the state of indebtedness. The prepaid card does not allow you to enjoy credit facilities. It cannot help you rebuild your bad score and it will cost you more in monthly fees.
Perhaps a prepaid card is not designed for people who are truly working hard to have their score push upwards. Prepaid debit cards are known to help those with lose money-spending morals and who cannot hold money in their accounts. You can use these cards to put a gauge on your spending patterns and habits. You only load what you want to spend in specific time and after spending what is on the card, no credit. You must reload your prepaid debit card again.
If your credit is bad, you should work on bringing it to better levels so that you have access to regular credit cards, low interest personal loans and other credit facilities. A secured credit card can help you raise your score and the good thing with this card is that it is accessible to anyone with good or bad credit. What you need to do is look for some money to put as deposit against the card. That deposit acts as the collateral or security against the credit on that card.
Secured credit cards attract low interest rates and can help you push up your score to a better higher point. The deposit you place against the secured card is not used and only remains on the account until you close your account. The reason why prepaid cards are killer to those focussing on bringing up their credit score is because they cost the card holder a lot of money in terms of fees. If you check the monthly fees charged by prepaid cards, they are far way above the fees for bad credit secured credit cards even those, which attract annual fees.
For example, if you acquire American express prepaid card, and you reload the card and use it in the ATM two times each month, you are likely to pay a cost of about $11.90 per month. This comes from the card loading fee of $9.90 and the ATM fees of $2. An ideal secured card can cost you about $4 to $6.5 per month. This means that at the end of the year, you can save a lot of money with secured credit cards.
A prepaid debit card only adds more burden to your spending because of the fees. Although consumers say that they do not worry about the fees, this cannot be overlooked because it contributes to the state of indebtedness. The prepaid card does not allow you to enjoy credit facilities. It cannot help you rebuild your bad score and it will cost you more in monthly fees.
Perhaps a prepaid card is not designed for people who are truly working hard to have their score push upwards. Prepaid debit cards are known to help those with lose money-spending morals and who cannot hold money in their accounts. You can use these cards to put a gauge on your spending patterns and habits. You only load what you want to spend in specific time and after spending what is on the card, no credit. You must reload your prepaid debit card again.
Prepaid Debit Cards... Some 4 Viable Alternatives to Prepaid Debit Cards
Prepaid debit cards can enable you manage your spending patterns so that you do not overspend your money. These cards also enable you alleviate some of the troubles that come with credit cards such as late or missed payments as well as over-the-limit penalties. However, prepaid cards come with fees such as ATM withdrawal fee, annual fees, monthly fees, transfer fees, loading fees and other types of charges. It has been argued that prepaid cards are costly than some checking accounts. They are also costly than secured credit cards but despite these aspects, people are preferring use of prepaid cards.
Prepaid credit cards do not help in rebuilding credit score because they do not offer loans or credit limits. Therefore, card issuers or banks do not report the card usage in credit reporting companies like Equifax, TransUnion, and Experian. Below are 3 alternatives to prepaid debit cards;
1. Secured credit cards
Although there are many alternative to prepaid debit cards, the right choice is determined by the reason why you are looking for a prepaid debit card in the first place. If you are seeking for a card to use when you are in bad credit, then a secured credit may be the right choice. Prepaid debit card cannot help you repair your damaged score and therefore if you have a less-than-stellar credit score, then you would better seek for secured credit card.
It only requires you to seek for a few hundreds of dollars to put as deposit against the secured card. A secured card cannot cost you more than a prepaid debit card if you make balance payment in time. The secured credit card will help you build your score and eventually qualify for a regular credit card.
If you are seeking for an alternative for a prepaid debit card, you may consider secured credit cards from Capital One and Citibank. These are primed institutions that offer secured cards with low fees and also an option to be able to trade up or increase the credit limit after 12-18 months if you demonstrate that you can really use the card wisely and competently without late payments and over-the-limit use.
2. Unsecured credit cards
Besides the secured credit cards, there are also unsecured cards and these are designed for those people who cannot afford to pay the little deposit to secure a secured credit card. However, an unsecured credit card opens doors for fees levied by banks and card issuers and therefore, they may not be a perfect alternative to prepaid debit cards. Some banks are helping people with stinky or bad credit by offering them credit cards with low limits so that they develop their scores.
3. Rewards checking accounts
If you want to control and manage your spending, instead of going for a prepaid debit card, you can opt for rewards checking account. With this checking account, you cannot overdraw and this means that you do not incur the over-the-limit fees charged on credit cards. With this account, you can transfer money between your checking account and saving account. A rewards checking account can also earn you interest. It is important to check a reward checking account that offers low minimum balance. Instead of losing money through prepaid debit cards fees, you can earn as much as 4% with high-yield checking accounts.
4. Cashback debit cards
Moreover, you may choose a cashback debit card. Rather than going for prepaid debit card, you may choose a cashback debit card which works comparatively the same as prepaid debit card but you can get refunds or cashbacks on your purchases. This means that you save about 1 to2 percent on your purchases. This can help meet some of the fees that come with these debit cards.
Prepaid credit cards do not help in rebuilding credit score because they do not offer loans or credit limits. Therefore, card issuers or banks do not report the card usage in credit reporting companies like Equifax, TransUnion, and Experian. Below are 3 alternatives to prepaid debit cards;
1. Secured credit cards
Although there are many alternative to prepaid debit cards, the right choice is determined by the reason why you are looking for a prepaid debit card in the first place. If you are seeking for a card to use when you are in bad credit, then a secured credit may be the right choice. Prepaid debit card cannot help you repair your damaged score and therefore if you have a less-than-stellar credit score, then you would better seek for secured credit card.
It only requires you to seek for a few hundreds of dollars to put as deposit against the secured card. A secured card cannot cost you more than a prepaid debit card if you make balance payment in time. The secured credit card will help you build your score and eventually qualify for a regular credit card.
If you are seeking for an alternative for a prepaid debit card, you may consider secured credit cards from Capital One and Citibank. These are primed institutions that offer secured cards with low fees and also an option to be able to trade up or increase the credit limit after 12-18 months if you demonstrate that you can really use the card wisely and competently without late payments and over-the-limit use.
2. Unsecured credit cards
Besides the secured credit cards, there are also unsecured cards and these are designed for those people who cannot afford to pay the little deposit to secure a secured credit card. However, an unsecured credit card opens doors for fees levied by banks and card issuers and therefore, they may not be a perfect alternative to prepaid debit cards. Some banks are helping people with stinky or bad credit by offering them credit cards with low limits so that they develop their scores.
3. Rewards checking accounts
If you want to control and manage your spending, instead of going for a prepaid debit card, you can opt for rewards checking account. With this checking account, you cannot overdraw and this means that you do not incur the over-the-limit fees charged on credit cards. With this account, you can transfer money between your checking account and saving account. A rewards checking account can also earn you interest. It is important to check a reward checking account that offers low minimum balance. Instead of losing money through prepaid debit cards fees, you can earn as much as 4% with high-yield checking accounts.
4. Cashback debit cards
Moreover, you may choose a cashback debit card. Rather than going for prepaid debit card, you may choose a cashback debit card which works comparatively the same as prepaid debit card but you can get refunds or cashbacks on your purchases. This means that you save about 1 to2 percent on your purchases. This can help meet some of the fees that come with these debit cards.
Prepaid Debit Cards Cannot Help Rebuild Your Credit score...What Reasons are People using Prepaid Debit Card?
The need for prepaid debit cards has moved from a fringe need to a mainstream. Many consumers are finding it within their comfort and fulfilling to use prepaid cards despite the fees these cards carry. Although there are better options such as secured credit cards and low fees checking accounts, consumers never seem to go for those options. So what are the reasons why consumers are opting for prepaid debit cards yet they cannot help in improving credit score?
The answer to this question depends on preferences, consumer education, and the circumstances in which the cards are being used. Initially, prepaid debit cards were seen as good alternatives for people with bad credit who cannot get credit cards. However, this is not the case today, because there are bad credit credit cards and also secured cards that even people with bad credit can get.
Prepaid cards tend to eliminate the bottlenecks that come with credit cards such as late payment fees, and overdrawing fees on credit card balance. When you make late payment as it may happen with or without your consent, this can put you into a fine of increased interest rate of up to 15 percent in just one missed payment. Although the first and second missed payment may not attract an increase in APR, if it becomes a habit, then you will bear that cost.
Similarly, if you are tempted to use more than the credit limit, you are also subjected to hefty fines because of over-the-limit use of the credit card. These are some of the fees that you can do away with when you use prepaid cards but then again, these prepaid debit cards have their own fees. They charge ATM withdrawal fees, annual fees, monthly fees and other types of fees.
If you are not in bad credit and you do not intend to use a credit card to improve your score, then you may opt for the debit cards. They can help you manage your spending. A study released by Pew Health Group discovered that consumers are not even wild about the prepaid debit card fees and they say they are better than checking account fees.
Some consumers even cited that they do prefer prepaid debit cards because they simply do not like banks. They argued that banks only lure you to have a sense of comfort while on the backside side they are slowly ripping from your account through fees and other charges. When the pre paid debit cards first entered the market, they were being marketed as alternatives for people who could not qualify for a credit card. Those days are gone when consumer ailing in bad credit could not get credit cards.
The prepaid cards only offered the consumer a way of using a card like debit card without a credit limit. These cards were and even today are not solving the problem of consumers with bad debt. A prepaid debit is not a good substitute for helping in building credit score. If you have a bad and stinky credit, then be wise and save a few hundred of dollars and use that amount to acquire secured credit cards. Using a credit card can be a good way of building your credit score. You save a few bucks to enable you place a deposit against a secured credit card and be able to get a card that helps in repairing your credit history.
The answer to this question depends on preferences, consumer education, and the circumstances in which the cards are being used. Initially, prepaid debit cards were seen as good alternatives for people with bad credit who cannot get credit cards. However, this is not the case today, because there are bad credit credit cards and also secured cards that even people with bad credit can get.
Prepaid cards tend to eliminate the bottlenecks that come with credit cards such as late payment fees, and overdrawing fees on credit card balance. When you make late payment as it may happen with or without your consent, this can put you into a fine of increased interest rate of up to 15 percent in just one missed payment. Although the first and second missed payment may not attract an increase in APR, if it becomes a habit, then you will bear that cost.
Similarly, if you are tempted to use more than the credit limit, you are also subjected to hefty fines because of over-the-limit use of the credit card. These are some of the fees that you can do away with when you use prepaid cards but then again, these prepaid debit cards have their own fees. They charge ATM withdrawal fees, annual fees, monthly fees and other types of fees.
If you are not in bad credit and you do not intend to use a credit card to improve your score, then you may opt for the debit cards. They can help you manage your spending. A study released by Pew Health Group discovered that consumers are not even wild about the prepaid debit card fees and they say they are better than checking account fees.
Some consumers even cited that they do prefer prepaid debit cards because they simply do not like banks. They argued that banks only lure you to have a sense of comfort while on the backside side they are slowly ripping from your account through fees and other charges. When the pre paid debit cards first entered the market, they were being marketed as alternatives for people who could not qualify for a credit card. Those days are gone when consumer ailing in bad credit could not get credit cards.
The prepaid cards only offered the consumer a way of using a card like debit card without a credit limit. These cards were and even today are not solving the problem of consumers with bad debt. A prepaid debit is not a good substitute for helping in building credit score. If you have a bad and stinky credit, then be wise and save a few hundred of dollars and use that amount to acquire secured credit cards. Using a credit card can be a good way of building your credit score. You save a few bucks to enable you place a deposit against a secured credit card and be able to get a card that helps in repairing your credit history.
Choosing Reward Credit Cards … What Exactly Are The Things To Look For?
You will most likely notice that rewards on credit cards come in two versions. There are those that attract no annual fees and others that impose annual fees but offer higher rewards. In addition, if your credit card carries a balance, it is essential that you do your mathematics properly to determine whether you will save when you transfer it. Balance transfer cards come in different forms. There are those that offer 0% intro rate in their first months mostly about 18 months but the interest rates hike to higher levels than those balance transfer cards, which attract some interest rates during the first months.
If you are able to repay your balance within a short time, you may need balance transfer cards that attracts some intro rates but does not hike the rates to very high levels after the introductory period. However, if you cannot repay the balance in a shorter period, you may go for the 0% intro rate cards.
Today, mass market airline frequent flyer reward cards are offering good deals such as free check in baggage and travel insurance and these are deals which previous used to come with only the high-free premium cards. Although 0% balance transfer cards could seem enticing for people with big balances they have to pay off, on the other hand, low-rate cards might do better in the deals in the long run.
Maximizing rewards on credit cards can be a complex thing for card owners. Although cash back reward may be straight forward, others may be difficult. For example, if you are spending in categories like gas, you may earn the set maximum reward up to a particular amount but after that, the percentage rewards go down. This means that you will only enjoy the maximum rewards in a certain period and after spending certain minimum amount, which you may not be able to achieve sporadically.
Planning the spending patterns on your credit card benefits in order to optimize on rewards can be difficult and could plunge you into impulse purchase, which does more damage on your finances. You should not be ruined or tempted to spend more that you have planned simply to get the rewards. This can cost you a penny. It is essential that you keep note of confusing deals on cards.
Spending tiers are some of the confusing aspects you will find in rewards on credit cards. Some rewards cards will require that you spend up to certain amount so that you get the advertised deal. Consumers need to look for phrases such as “up to” when choosing the card offers. This could mean that you can only get the highest rewards only if you spend the set amount, which could be thousands of dollars in a year.
Similarly, if you find the phrase “up to” on a card deal, you also need to check on the other part of the rewards on credit cards that is not shown. If you do not spend the amount required to get the maximum perk advertised on the deal, what are the other options? In addition, you also need to check on hidden caps where cards such as gas rewards credit cards reduce the rewards percentage when you have spent the initial deal amount. Other important aspects you may need to check in rewards on credit cards are missed payment penalties, changes in terms and expiry dates of the rewards.
If you are able to repay your balance within a short time, you may need balance transfer cards that attracts some intro rates but does not hike the rates to very high levels after the introductory period. However, if you cannot repay the balance in a shorter period, you may go for the 0% intro rate cards.
Today, mass market airline frequent flyer reward cards are offering good deals such as free check in baggage and travel insurance and these are deals which previous used to come with only the high-free premium cards. Although 0% balance transfer cards could seem enticing for people with big balances they have to pay off, on the other hand, low-rate cards might do better in the deals in the long run.
Maximizing rewards on credit cards can be a complex thing for card owners. Although cash back reward may be straight forward, others may be difficult. For example, if you are spending in categories like gas, you may earn the set maximum reward up to a particular amount but after that, the percentage rewards go down. This means that you will only enjoy the maximum rewards in a certain period and after spending certain minimum amount, which you may not be able to achieve sporadically.
Planning the spending patterns on your credit card benefits in order to optimize on rewards can be difficult and could plunge you into impulse purchase, which does more damage on your finances. You should not be ruined or tempted to spend more that you have planned simply to get the rewards. This can cost you a penny. It is essential that you keep note of confusing deals on cards.
Spending tiers are some of the confusing aspects you will find in rewards on credit cards. Some rewards cards will require that you spend up to certain amount so that you get the advertised deal. Consumers need to look for phrases such as “up to” when choosing the card offers. This could mean that you can only get the highest rewards only if you spend the set amount, which could be thousands of dollars in a year.
Similarly, if you find the phrase “up to” on a card deal, you also need to check on the other part of the rewards on credit cards that is not shown. If you do not spend the amount required to get the maximum perk advertised on the deal, what are the other options? In addition, you also need to check on hidden caps where cards such as gas rewards credit cards reduce the rewards percentage when you have spent the initial deal amount. Other important aspects you may need to check in rewards on credit cards are missed payment penalties, changes in terms and expiry dates of the rewards.
10 Ways to Increase Your Business Sales with Corporate Video Production Companies
A corporate video is one of the modes of communication, which a business can use to further its growth, profitability and customer satisfaction and this is why corporate video companies are essential in your business success. As businesses strive to increase their profit margins, videos can be used as tools of boosting sales. Different video media production can be developed for a company and each of these corporate video creations can be used in enhancing business performance and sales growth.
They can be used as training and instruction videos, safety videos, financial results videos, promotional and advertising videos as well as product launch videos. Businesses can also develop business event filming as well as live and on-demand webcasting with help of corporate video film companies.
Below are top 10 ways in which businesses can use the services of corporate video production companies to further their business sales.
1. Train your employees with aid of training video production
Whereas you can train your employees with other media such audio training materials, use of videos production is one of the most effective ways. Workers grasp, understand and comprehend the concept and subject of discussion more easily, fast and clearly when presented in graphic motion form.
Corporate training videos can impart great knowledge and skills in sales lead generation and customer relations. They can be used to train production workers on how to produce quality goods. These types of corporate video trainings help in tapping new customers, enhancing customer satisfaction, improving sales and attaining good returns on investment (ROI).
2. Elaborate your brand with e-Commerce videos
You can develop corporate video production for your e-Commerce application, which can help communicate your brand to the consumers more clearly. Whereas photos present 2 dimensional features, on the other hand, video productions can show 360-degree of a product. This offers a better visualization of the product. These videos can be used online or they can be used in exhibition stands to reach out to consumers and communicate the brand. This helps in influencing the buying behavioral of the consumers.
3. Use compelling video ads on your website
With statistics showing that 60% of all traffic on the internet emanates from online videos, this means that marketing video ads developed by professional a videographer are essential tools for a business to boost its sales. When these videos are embedded on websites, they help usher in the audiences and they also help in converting the leads into sales. You can use corporate video ads done by an expert corporate video company to enhance the conversion rate of your website landing page. This means increased sales and improved profitability.
4. Create convincing customer Testimonial videos to reach audiences
The buying behavior of consumers can easily be influenced by viewing testimonials of what kind experience other consumers have had with your products and services. When you present these corporate video production screenshots in exhibitions, conferences and trade shows, you are linked to hook the audiences and they can be carried away by what other customers say about your business.
This can easily contribute to making a buying decision and it is a good way in which you can increase your business sales. You can use the videos on webinars and other on-demand shows to showcase your business, its culture, products and services.
5. Present your new product launch with cutting edge videos
When you have a new product to introduce in the market, there are different ways in which you can do this. Corporate video production is one of the most exciting ways to present the new product whether in exhibitions or trade shows. In your business reception area, you can create an interactive point where customers waiting to be attended can have a view of your products and services.
The newly launched product can be presented in such a setting where many customers pass before they reach your business offices. This can help the consumers know more of any products your business has released in the market. Visual presentation grabs the eyes of the audiences quickly and strongly.
6. Film your special events to reflect your brand
Whether it is employees’ end of year party, a new product launch, or workshop video production and presentation, you can film that event and use it as a tool of increasing sales growth. When employees see such special events where the company has excelled previously, they are able to put more efforts in their production and sales obligations.
7. Educate your consumers with use of videos
When you are designing your corporate video production, you need to know your audience. This will help you prepare a video that will communicate the message across properly. Depending on the type of audience, you can change the tone of the video content while retaining the overall theme.
A video production that presents a launch of a product for young people may not have the same tone as a video that is produced for the adult audience. This will ensure that the message about the product is understood clearly by the consumers. These consumers are more likely to buy your products when they understand its formulation features, ingredients or its characteristics through visual aid.
8. Make use of quality videographers
The video you use is a brand image of your business. It speaks something about your business. In order to stand out of your competitors, you need to create video productions that are of the highest quality. Using a high quality video production company can earn you good reputation from the audiences.
It also improves your image to the consumers. The consumers would like to be associated with a brand that shines above the rest. Your corporate video leaves a lasting impression for your business and must professionally be done whether it is a video ad, a training video, a new product launch film or a company overview/descriptive video.
9. Develop an outstanding corporate overview video
Overviews are descriptively the launching point of many companies and this is perhaps the first video that a company develops. You can develop a short video that gives an overview of your business in just 2-5 minutes and give what the audiences want to hear about your business.
The video production may entail a brief history of your company, introduction of the executive and senior management team, its location, facilities and the key products and services. This corporate video helps portray the image of your company to the consumers and it can help create confidence and increase clientele base.
10. Reach your audiences with Video News Release (VNR)
Video news releases are like press releases. They are ideally 90 seconds or so videos that your company distributes in television channels so that they can be aired in news programs. These video press releases need to be created thoughtfully so that viewers can feel them as original news stories. This not only helps strengthen your brand name but also helps in increasing consumer confidence and sales growth.
These corporate video news releases can be produced by featuring professional actors who perform as news correspondents. The professional actors may also feature as experts who are interviewed by news anchors bringing a feeling of real and true experience.
In a nutshell, corporate video production is not an easy undertaking that can be done by neophytes. It requires a high degree of expertise in creative video services to enable a videographer develop a video masterpiece that has interesting storyboard, engaging quality images and sound effects as well as convincing video tone and content.
They can be used as training and instruction videos, safety videos, financial results videos, promotional and advertising videos as well as product launch videos. Businesses can also develop business event filming as well as live and on-demand webcasting with help of corporate video film companies.
Below are top 10 ways in which businesses can use the services of corporate video production companies to further their business sales.
1. Train your employees with aid of training video production
Whereas you can train your employees with other media such audio training materials, use of videos production is one of the most effective ways. Workers grasp, understand and comprehend the concept and subject of discussion more easily, fast and clearly when presented in graphic motion form.
Corporate training videos can impart great knowledge and skills in sales lead generation and customer relations. They can be used to train production workers on how to produce quality goods. These types of corporate video trainings help in tapping new customers, enhancing customer satisfaction, improving sales and attaining good returns on investment (ROI).
2. Elaborate your brand with e-Commerce videos
You can develop corporate video production for your e-Commerce application, which can help communicate your brand to the consumers more clearly. Whereas photos present 2 dimensional features, on the other hand, video productions can show 360-degree of a product. This offers a better visualization of the product. These videos can be used online or they can be used in exhibition stands to reach out to consumers and communicate the brand. This helps in influencing the buying behavioral of the consumers.
3. Use compelling video ads on your website
With statistics showing that 60% of all traffic on the internet emanates from online videos, this means that marketing video ads developed by professional a videographer are essential tools for a business to boost its sales. When these videos are embedded on websites, they help usher in the audiences and they also help in converting the leads into sales. You can use corporate video ads done by an expert corporate video company to enhance the conversion rate of your website landing page. This means increased sales and improved profitability.
4. Create convincing customer Testimonial videos to reach audiences
The buying behavior of consumers can easily be influenced by viewing testimonials of what kind experience other consumers have had with your products and services. When you present these corporate video production screenshots in exhibitions, conferences and trade shows, you are linked to hook the audiences and they can be carried away by what other customers say about your business.
This can easily contribute to making a buying decision and it is a good way in which you can increase your business sales. You can use the videos on webinars and other on-demand shows to showcase your business, its culture, products and services.
5. Present your new product launch with cutting edge videos
When you have a new product to introduce in the market, there are different ways in which you can do this. Corporate video production is one of the most exciting ways to present the new product whether in exhibitions or trade shows. In your business reception area, you can create an interactive point where customers waiting to be attended can have a view of your products and services.
The newly launched product can be presented in such a setting where many customers pass before they reach your business offices. This can help the consumers know more of any products your business has released in the market. Visual presentation grabs the eyes of the audiences quickly and strongly.
6. Film your special events to reflect your brand
Whether it is employees’ end of year party, a new product launch, or workshop video production and presentation, you can film that event and use it as a tool of increasing sales growth. When employees see such special events where the company has excelled previously, they are able to put more efforts in their production and sales obligations.
7. Educate your consumers with use of videos
When you are designing your corporate video production, you need to know your audience. This will help you prepare a video that will communicate the message across properly. Depending on the type of audience, you can change the tone of the video content while retaining the overall theme.
A video production that presents a launch of a product for young people may not have the same tone as a video that is produced for the adult audience. This will ensure that the message about the product is understood clearly by the consumers. These consumers are more likely to buy your products when they understand its formulation features, ingredients or its characteristics through visual aid.
8. Make use of quality videographers
The video you use is a brand image of your business. It speaks something about your business. In order to stand out of your competitors, you need to create video productions that are of the highest quality. Using a high quality video production company can earn you good reputation from the audiences.
It also improves your image to the consumers. The consumers would like to be associated with a brand that shines above the rest. Your corporate video leaves a lasting impression for your business and must professionally be done whether it is a video ad, a training video, a new product launch film or a company overview/descriptive video.
9. Develop an outstanding corporate overview video
Overviews are descriptively the launching point of many companies and this is perhaps the first video that a company develops. You can develop a short video that gives an overview of your business in just 2-5 minutes and give what the audiences want to hear about your business.
The video production may entail a brief history of your company, introduction of the executive and senior management team, its location, facilities and the key products and services. This corporate video helps portray the image of your company to the consumers and it can help create confidence and increase clientele base.
10. Reach your audiences with Video News Release (VNR)
Video news releases are like press releases. They are ideally 90 seconds or so videos that your company distributes in television channels so that they can be aired in news programs. These video press releases need to be created thoughtfully so that viewers can feel them as original news stories. This not only helps strengthen your brand name but also helps in increasing consumer confidence and sales growth.
These corporate video news releases can be produced by featuring professional actors who perform as news correspondents. The professional actors may also feature as experts who are interviewed by news anchors bringing a feeling of real and true experience.
In a nutshell, corporate video production is not an easy undertaking that can be done by neophytes. It requires a high degree of expertise in creative video services to enable a videographer develop a video masterpiece that has interesting storyboard, engaging quality images and sound effects as well as convincing video tone and content.
10 Ways to Increase Sales with Online Video Ads
Statistics show that over 60% of all traffic on the internet today originates from online video contents meaning that a marketing video ads are very essential tools in your marketing strategy. A website is embedded with video ads attracts a higher ranking by the search engines like Google and Yahoo and this can easily help increase sales in your business. However, the ability of your corporate video to deliver good results in achieving sales growth is based on many factors which range from the design aspects of the video, through the level of engagement and the type of channels where the video is submitted.
It also depends on how you measure your video ad performance and adjust to the prevailing demands in online video ad creation and marketing. Nonetheless, when the business video ads are used intuitively, they can deliver very good results. Below are top ten ways in which you can increase your sales through use of corporate video;
1. Design engaging online video ads
The design of your business video ad is the building block for an effective video. There are different corporate videos, which can be prepared such as training videos, special occasion videos and advertising videos. All these require varying designs in order to fit their applications. To enhance the effectiveness of your online video ads, you can consider animated videos for instance, which influence the viewers greatly than the traditional 2D or 3D videos. The videos should be created by professionals so that they bring out the best qualities that are required for a corporate video advertisement.
2. Know your audiences
Before you embark on any video creation, you need to understand the audiences, which you are targeting. This is one aspect which helps define how the audiences will respond to your video ad. If you do not know your audience and their likes and dislikes, you are likely to create a very high quality video but which does not yield any results. You need to influence your audience viewers and convert them into leads and then into sales. This needs to be done intelligently. The message you put across should fit well to the cadre of audience you are reaching out to.
3. Make your online video short, precise and targeted
Before you create your video, you need to understand how the audiences behave when they are viewing videos online. According to a survey carried out by Poll Position, it showed that 54% of the interviewees think that 15 seconds is the acceptable that they would dedicated to view an online video ad from YouTube, Google Video or any other video channel. 12% of the participants said that 30 seconds would be suitable for an online video ad.
The poll involved 1,179 participants and the general message put across by the interviewees is that patience is low in regard to viewing commercials on the internet before consumers can access the information they want. It is recommended that a corporate video should run between 2-5 minutes depending on the content being put across to avoid abandonment by the viewers. Before, viewing a video ad, the viewers check the time it runs.
4. Optimize your online video on the website
The way in which your video is embedded on the website determines how it will perform. The ranking of your online video ad by the search engines like Google will depend on many factors such as the title and description tags, views and frequency, likes and dislikes, flagging, sharing, comments, age of video, video responses, subscribers, favorites, inbound links, and embeds.
Your corporate video helps in creating inbound links to your website. The keywords, titles, and description tags for your videos should be relevant, creative and unique. Tags help search engines to crawl your site and readers to find your web pages.
5. Engage viewers in your video ad
Your video should be able to engage viewers from the beginning to the end. This is because, if the viewers abandon the video, they will not get the message put across and will also not be able to visit the main website page. The first 15 seconds of your video will determine if the audience will continue watching the video or not.
The first seconds should spark curiosity among the viewers to continue watching. The opening part of your corporate online video should be compelling in both personality and content. The personalities should usher in the viewers and ask a question that teases the rest of the video. The content should start with a quick recap of what is to come thereafter. In the video, you need to create short attention spans that hook the readers and keep them engaged. You also need to use “call-to-action” phrases.
6. Put your video on the first page
Viewers may not have the time to navigate through other pages and it is good that the video is embedded on the first page. The video helps create an image of your business. The first impression lasts and this can help redefine the kind of response that you get from the viewers. In addition, the video helps create confidence among viewers, which can easily influence the buying behavior.
7. Submit your online video ad to social bookmarking
There are plenty of social bookmarking sites which you can submit your online video ad such as Digg, StumbleUpon, Delicious, and SocialMaker. The aim is to increase the level of viewership for your video, which helps increase inbound links to your website. The more quality links a website receives, the higher it is ranked on the SERPs.
8. Don’t just rely on YouTube, diversify your video ad channels
In order to increase the level of viewership of your corporate online video, you should not rely on one channel. There are many channels that you can upload your video. YouTube is the most popular video platform for creating video engagement on the internet and it has a total of 81.9% of the total embedded and linked videos on the internet. It is followed by Vimeo with 8.8% and DailyMotion with 4%. My space has 1.1%. Other video channels you can consider are such as Yahoo Video, Google Video, MySpace, Flickr and Blip TV.
9. Ensure consistency in your video ad
Viewers will not want to see the same video clip over and over again every time they visit your site. You need to ensure that you keep on changing the video themes while still capturing the right message to pass across to the readers. This will ensure that they remain engaged in your site.
10. Measure your video ad performance
One of the most effective ways in which you can succeed in internet advertising and marketing including corporate video marketing is to measure the performance of your video ad. This gives you a direction on where you are heading in your video campaigns. It can help you change tactics in the video design as well as content presentation. There are many analytics tools you can use such as the YouTube analytics. This tool provides deep insights about your video, content, as well as the audiences. The tool helps you prioritize video optimization and measure impacts of new strategies that you have applied.
In essence, when you apply the above tips, you can greatly increase the performance of your corporate online video ad and build confidence within your audiences. This increases the traffic in your websites and enhances the conversion rate of your landing page. What this means is that you increase sales and returns on investment (ROI).
It also depends on how you measure your video ad performance and adjust to the prevailing demands in online video ad creation and marketing. Nonetheless, when the business video ads are used intuitively, they can deliver very good results. Below are top ten ways in which you can increase your sales through use of corporate video;
1. Design engaging online video ads
The design of your business video ad is the building block for an effective video. There are different corporate videos, which can be prepared such as training videos, special occasion videos and advertising videos. All these require varying designs in order to fit their applications. To enhance the effectiveness of your online video ads, you can consider animated videos for instance, which influence the viewers greatly than the traditional 2D or 3D videos. The videos should be created by professionals so that they bring out the best qualities that are required for a corporate video advertisement.
2. Know your audiences
Before you embark on any video creation, you need to understand the audiences, which you are targeting. This is one aspect which helps define how the audiences will respond to your video ad. If you do not know your audience and their likes and dislikes, you are likely to create a very high quality video but which does not yield any results. You need to influence your audience viewers and convert them into leads and then into sales. This needs to be done intelligently. The message you put across should fit well to the cadre of audience you are reaching out to.
3. Make your online video short, precise and targeted
Before you create your video, you need to understand how the audiences behave when they are viewing videos online. According to a survey carried out by Poll Position, it showed that 54% of the interviewees think that 15 seconds is the acceptable that they would dedicated to view an online video ad from YouTube, Google Video or any other video channel. 12% of the participants said that 30 seconds would be suitable for an online video ad.
The poll involved 1,179 participants and the general message put across by the interviewees is that patience is low in regard to viewing commercials on the internet before consumers can access the information they want. It is recommended that a corporate video should run between 2-5 minutes depending on the content being put across to avoid abandonment by the viewers. Before, viewing a video ad, the viewers check the time it runs.
4. Optimize your online video on the website
The way in which your video is embedded on the website determines how it will perform. The ranking of your online video ad by the search engines like Google will depend on many factors such as the title and description tags, views and frequency, likes and dislikes, flagging, sharing, comments, age of video, video responses, subscribers, favorites, inbound links, and embeds.
Your corporate video helps in creating inbound links to your website. The keywords, titles, and description tags for your videos should be relevant, creative and unique. Tags help search engines to crawl your site and readers to find your web pages.
5. Engage viewers in your video ad
Your video should be able to engage viewers from the beginning to the end. This is because, if the viewers abandon the video, they will not get the message put across and will also not be able to visit the main website page. The first 15 seconds of your video will determine if the audience will continue watching the video or not.
The first seconds should spark curiosity among the viewers to continue watching. The opening part of your corporate online video should be compelling in both personality and content. The personalities should usher in the viewers and ask a question that teases the rest of the video. The content should start with a quick recap of what is to come thereafter. In the video, you need to create short attention spans that hook the readers and keep them engaged. You also need to use “call-to-action” phrases.
6. Put your video on the first page
Viewers may not have the time to navigate through other pages and it is good that the video is embedded on the first page. The video helps create an image of your business. The first impression lasts and this can help redefine the kind of response that you get from the viewers. In addition, the video helps create confidence among viewers, which can easily influence the buying behavior.
7. Submit your online video ad to social bookmarking
There are plenty of social bookmarking sites which you can submit your online video ad such as Digg, StumbleUpon, Delicious, and SocialMaker. The aim is to increase the level of viewership for your video, which helps increase inbound links to your website. The more quality links a website receives, the higher it is ranked on the SERPs.
8. Don’t just rely on YouTube, diversify your video ad channels
In order to increase the level of viewership of your corporate online video, you should not rely on one channel. There are many channels that you can upload your video. YouTube is the most popular video platform for creating video engagement on the internet and it has a total of 81.9% of the total embedded and linked videos on the internet. It is followed by Vimeo with 8.8% and DailyMotion with 4%. My space has 1.1%. Other video channels you can consider are such as Yahoo Video, Google Video, MySpace, Flickr and Blip TV.
9. Ensure consistency in your video ad
Viewers will not want to see the same video clip over and over again every time they visit your site. You need to ensure that you keep on changing the video themes while still capturing the right message to pass across to the readers. This will ensure that they remain engaged in your site.
10. Measure your video ad performance
One of the most effective ways in which you can succeed in internet advertising and marketing including corporate video marketing is to measure the performance of your video ad. This gives you a direction on where you are heading in your video campaigns. It can help you change tactics in the video design as well as content presentation. There are many analytics tools you can use such as the YouTube analytics. This tool provides deep insights about your video, content, as well as the audiences. The tool helps you prioritize video optimization and measure impacts of new strategies that you have applied.
In essence, when you apply the above tips, you can greatly increase the performance of your corporate online video ad and build confidence within your audiences. This increases the traffic in your websites and enhances the conversion rate of your landing page. What this means is that you increase sales and returns on investment (ROI).
10 Small Business Website Ideas You Can Use For Your New Site
Creative and intuitive website ideas can help small business owners who are designing and developing websites to create brand name awareness and advertise their products and services. Internet marketing has become quite competitive and for a business website design
to increase its presence on the internet, it has to impress the search engines and readers. There are great website ideas that can help small business owners to reap from the benefits offered by the internet.
The following are 10 cool small website business ideas, which you need to embrace when you are designing and developing a website for your small business in order to get optimal returns on their investment (ROI);
1. You need to create a problem solving business website design. This simply means designing a website that helps solve problems. Many people are desperate to know how they can solve problems they are going through. It could be health problems or even social problems.
2. When searching for new business ideas, you can start from your home by reading through magazines on your drawers. You can extend to the internet and search from popular sites such as eBay, Amazon, Yahoo, and the rest. You can create a forum on a social media network such as Facebook to gather ideas from friends and relatives about a web design.
3. Create you new website based on products that have passionate demand. You have to sell products that are sellable. Products such as consumables are frequently replaced and these could give you a good business.
4. You need to define your online business website target audience. The website you design should be able to represent what your audience would like to see. A website that targets men over 35 years would be different from a website that targets teenagers.
5. Understand the likes and dislikes of your audience. This is a very important point of the website ideas. This will help you create the right impression for your business through your website design.
6. Establish your business competitors when you design business website. This will enable you understand your business environment. If you are venturing in selling women shoes, you can narrow down your business to target young female shoe designs. This way you are cutting off most of your business competitors.
7. The design and layout of your new website is a very essential. This will not only determine how your website is ranked by search engines but also how user friendly it is to the readers. Today, Google, which controls over 65% of the search engine share, ranks websites depending on how easily they are read by the engine and readers.
8. Another essential aspect of the website ideas is that you need to know how to promote your website. Depending on budget, you could opt for search engines, pay-per-click, email marketing, and social media marketing. One reason why search engine optimization is preferred to pay-per-click such as Google AdWords is because it is cost effective and can produce very good results.
9. You need to harness the marketing power of social media networks such as Facebook, YouTube, Google+, and Twitter. This is one of the most important website ideas that small businesses need to explore. Business owners get suggestions from customers on how to improve their products and services through these sites.
10. Share your opinions on hot topics on the internet. Readers will want to know more about you and your business. Identify a topic you are knowledgeable in and contribute in discussions. This could be through the social media networks or forums.
In a nutshell, there are many small business website ideas that can you can use to succeed in your business and these begin right from the web design, through identifying your audience, to ways on how to promote your website on the internet. On top of those ideas, ensure that you get an outstanding business website hosting company for enhanced online presence and visibility.
to increase its presence on the internet, it has to impress the search engines and readers. There are great website ideas that can help small business owners to reap from the benefits offered by the internet.
The following are 10 cool small website business ideas, which you need to embrace when you are designing and developing a website for your small business in order to get optimal returns on their investment (ROI);
1. You need to create a problem solving business website design. This simply means designing a website that helps solve problems. Many people are desperate to know how they can solve problems they are going through. It could be health problems or even social problems.
2. When searching for new business ideas, you can start from your home by reading through magazines on your drawers. You can extend to the internet and search from popular sites such as eBay, Amazon, Yahoo, and the rest. You can create a forum on a social media network such as Facebook to gather ideas from friends and relatives about a web design.
3. Create you new website based on products that have passionate demand. You have to sell products that are sellable. Products such as consumables are frequently replaced and these could give you a good business.
4. You need to define your online business website target audience. The website you design should be able to represent what your audience would like to see. A website that targets men over 35 years would be different from a website that targets teenagers.
5. Understand the likes and dislikes of your audience. This is a very important point of the website ideas. This will help you create the right impression for your business through your website design.
6. Establish your business competitors when you design business website. This will enable you understand your business environment. If you are venturing in selling women shoes, you can narrow down your business to target young female shoe designs. This way you are cutting off most of your business competitors.
7. The design and layout of your new website is a very essential. This will not only determine how your website is ranked by search engines but also how user friendly it is to the readers. Today, Google, which controls over 65% of the search engine share, ranks websites depending on how easily they are read by the engine and readers.
8. Another essential aspect of the website ideas is that you need to know how to promote your website. Depending on budget, you could opt for search engines, pay-per-click, email marketing, and social media marketing. One reason why search engine optimization is preferred to pay-per-click such as Google AdWords is because it is cost effective and can produce very good results.
9. You need to harness the marketing power of social media networks such as Facebook, YouTube, Google+, and Twitter. This is one of the most important website ideas that small businesses need to explore. Business owners get suggestions from customers on how to improve their products and services through these sites.
10. Share your opinions on hot topics on the internet. Readers will want to know more about you and your business. Identify a topic you are knowledgeable in and contribute in discussions. This could be through the social media networks or forums.
In a nutshell, there are many small business website ideas that can you can use to succeed in your business and these begin right from the web design, through identifying your audience, to ways on how to promote your website on the internet. On top of those ideas, ensure that you get an outstanding business website hosting company for enhanced online presence and visibility.
Tips on How To Succeed In Drop Shipping At eBay Marketplace
One thing you need to know is that eBay is a very reputable selling and buying marketplace. Before you even consider drop shipping using this platform, you need to re-evaluate your competency in offering the services including those of your drop shipping supplier. The clients who buy goods and items at eBay expect nothing short of quality goods and services. The following are simple tips, which will make your drop ship business successful;
Research the products
It is important to research on the products you want to sell and find out if they are sold at eBay or they are sellable in this marketplace. There are thousands of products sold through eBay marketplace and choosing the “hot selling” items gives a competitive advantage over other retailers in this market.
You also need to know that there are many other retailers and also big companies selling same or similar products and the competition is high. You must model out a good marketing strategy. The market is highly competitive meaning that only products which have a good rating from consumer reviews at eBay or Amazon will be able to sell fast. If there are negative expressions from customers on the products, it means that you will have a tough time selling them.
Seek an eBay approved drop shipper
You have to look for a drop shipper who is integrated with eBay. If you get an approved drop shipper, your task is made easy. You do not have to find out if the products of the supplier are sold at eBay.
Monitor stock levels from your distributor
To avoid complaints which could damage your reputation, you should ensure that there is sufficient stock level from the distributor. Any complaints and negative comments you get from customers will affect your business and therefore, you have to set everything right.
Whether it is the availability of stock or the shipping process, they need to be offered satisfactory. When selling at eBay, you must monitor stock levels from your distributor. You have to get updates on the level of stock so that you do not sell products, which are out of stock.
Keep track of the shipment feedbacks
If you close a sale, then you have to follow-up on shipping of the items. It is essential you keep close contact with the customer and get feedback on their order progress. You may opt to provide a kind of satisfaction survey for the customer to provide feedback on their order shipment fulfillment.
Delay of order delivery and shipment will mean that you get negative feedback and this could lead to payment reversal like PayPal that can seriously damage your business success. Mistakes committed by the drop shipper distributor will end up affecting on your business meaning that your business will suffer from distributor faults.
Mediate issues of return and exchange of goods
If there are any issues which result to return and exchange of goods, you as a drop shipper retailer, you have to take a mediation role. You will need to engage the customer and apologize for any faults that are witnessed in the transactions, otherwise, all return and exchange issues come down to your business and not the supplier.
There are high expectations on the quality of products bought by buyers at eBay. The drop shipper you are dealing with should be competent and avoid any product faults or switch of inventory. If a buyer buys goods at eBay, he or she expects to get exactly what has been ordered.
A drop shipping wholesaler who will switch inventory and get you a substitute or another brand equivalent to the one you have advertised at eBay will only damage your business reputation. The customers are very particular with what they order and do not attempt to sell something different or similar unless you have consulted with the client and agrees to buy that product.
In essence, as drop shipper retailer, you have to know that you are managing your business. You must think outside the box and ensure that you deal with issues proactively. The drop shipping business model is faced with problems which may not make it successful at eBay. Right from the quality of goods, through the shipment process to customer engagement, all these aspects must be emphasized.
The drop shipping culture falls short of competency and the most affected is the retailer. Since the success of the drop shipping retailer business is largely depended on how he or she conducts the marketing strategy and how the distributor offers the supportive services like shipping, if there are loopholes on the distributors’ side, they land on the retailers’ business. Understanding the eBay culture and drop shipping scenario can help put in place mitigation measures that can lead to a successful drop ship retail business.
Research the products
It is important to research on the products you want to sell and find out if they are sold at eBay or they are sellable in this marketplace. There are thousands of products sold through eBay marketplace and choosing the “hot selling” items gives a competitive advantage over other retailers in this market.
You also need to know that there are many other retailers and also big companies selling same or similar products and the competition is high. You must model out a good marketing strategy. The market is highly competitive meaning that only products which have a good rating from consumer reviews at eBay or Amazon will be able to sell fast. If there are negative expressions from customers on the products, it means that you will have a tough time selling them.
Seek an eBay approved drop shipper
You have to look for a drop shipper who is integrated with eBay. If you get an approved drop shipper, your task is made easy. You do not have to find out if the products of the supplier are sold at eBay.
Monitor stock levels from your distributor
To avoid complaints which could damage your reputation, you should ensure that there is sufficient stock level from the distributor. Any complaints and negative comments you get from customers will affect your business and therefore, you have to set everything right.
Whether it is the availability of stock or the shipping process, they need to be offered satisfactory. When selling at eBay, you must monitor stock levels from your distributor. You have to get updates on the level of stock so that you do not sell products, which are out of stock.
Keep track of the shipment feedbacks
If you close a sale, then you have to follow-up on shipping of the items. It is essential you keep close contact with the customer and get feedback on their order progress. You may opt to provide a kind of satisfaction survey for the customer to provide feedback on their order shipment fulfillment.
Delay of order delivery and shipment will mean that you get negative feedback and this could lead to payment reversal like PayPal that can seriously damage your business success. Mistakes committed by the drop shipper distributor will end up affecting on your business meaning that your business will suffer from distributor faults.
Mediate issues of return and exchange of goods
If there are any issues which result to return and exchange of goods, you as a drop shipper retailer, you have to take a mediation role. You will need to engage the customer and apologize for any faults that are witnessed in the transactions, otherwise, all return and exchange issues come down to your business and not the supplier.
There are high expectations on the quality of products bought by buyers at eBay. The drop shipper you are dealing with should be competent and avoid any product faults or switch of inventory. If a buyer buys goods at eBay, he or she expects to get exactly what has been ordered.
A drop shipping wholesaler who will switch inventory and get you a substitute or another brand equivalent to the one you have advertised at eBay will only damage your business reputation. The customers are very particular with what they order and do not attempt to sell something different or similar unless you have consulted with the client and agrees to buy that product.
In essence, as drop shipper retailer, you have to know that you are managing your business. You must think outside the box and ensure that you deal with issues proactively. The drop shipping business model is faced with problems which may not make it successful at eBay. Right from the quality of goods, through the shipment process to customer engagement, all these aspects must be emphasized.
The drop shipping culture falls short of competency and the most affected is the retailer. Since the success of the drop shipping retailer business is largely depended on how he or she conducts the marketing strategy and how the distributor offers the supportive services like shipping, if there are loopholes on the distributors’ side, they land on the retailers’ business. Understanding the eBay culture and drop shipping scenario can help put in place mitigation measures that can lead to a successful drop ship retail business.
How Much Can You Earn From Drop Ship Business
The question as to how much you can earn from drop ship business is not easy to answer but the most probable answer is that you could earn as much as you may work for. Drop ship business is not a magic that will give you easy cash and although this is not ruled out, the bottom line is that you have to work for it. There are lots of marketing tactics required as well a strategic business planning. You need to identify the right products to sell. You also need to have a good marketing strategy.
There are numerous aspects which will determine how much you earn in a drop shipping business and they are;
• The marketing approach you apply.
• The goods you are selling.
• Competency of the wholesale distributor.
• The margins of commission you get from every sale.
It is estimated that only about 10% of drop shipping retailers make money and this is because there is a big competition in the market. You have to put everything right as far as marketing is concerned. Marketing is the cornerstone in succeeding on your drop shipping business.
There are different ways you can market your products. You can create a website which drop-ships to the product’s suppliers. This means that you have to post content on the website with descriptions of products. The descriptions have to be unique from those of the suppliers and other retailers. In this case, the quality of content will market your drop shipping business. If you submit very informative and interesting content on the website, you will create confidence with your buyers and this translates to more sales.
In addition, you will also need to create a blog. Because managing a website may be costly for a beginner in this business, a blog would be appropriate. Hosting a professional blog may not be costly as hosting a website. In addition, you have to use social media marketing to create social signals that will help increase the ranking of your website or blog. This means that more traffic will be generated on the blogs and this is connected to the supplier’s e-store you have been allocated.
Moreover, you may also use other methods like email marketing in order to make follow up on leads that have bounced. Search engine optimization is very essential when you are doing drop ship business.
You also need to write a few articles per week about the products and relevant topics. These articles are posted in major directories and will help drive traffic in your blog site or website from where visitors learn more about the products you are selling. The quality of content submitted to the directory and authority site will also help install confidence among the buyers.
You also need to select sellable products. There are many products you can sell through the drop ship business. These items range from diet pills, cell phone boosters, and power tools, garden equipments like lawn mowers, home appliances, kitchen equipments and toys. You may search for the “hot selling” items from sites like eBay in order to know, which products you go for in your drop ship business.
Another aspect which will determine how much you earn is the drop ship company you deal with. The wholesaler you are dealing with must demonstrate competency in offering the services. Since the company handles the shipping, it is important that when orders are made, the shipment process is done in time.
Your business image will largely be determined by how professional the wholesaler executes the shipping process. In addition, the wholesaler should be able to provide timely information on stock levels. Selling a product in your drop ship e-store only to realize that it is out of stock is quite frustrating for the buyers. The wholesaler should have a data feed system where you are able to get updates on quantities of stock.
The margin of commission of the sales also determines how much you are able to earn. If you only get 2% of commission, it means that you will have to close sales of 1000 items per month in order to earn a total of $2000 in that period. The kind of products you are selling will also determine the overall commission amount. If you are selling used low mileage automobiles from Japan, you will not get the same commission as selling used children clothes.
In essence, there are many aspects which will determine how much you earn. The most important thing is identify the most selling products and do a lot of homework in your internet marketing strategy. This way, the returns will be good. Also remember to engage with a professional drop ship wholesaler who has sufficient stock and is able to deliver goods in time. The shipment process must be done professionally in order to build loyalty with your customers. These are the same customers who will make a repeat purchase. They will also spread a word-of-mouth of your business to other prospective buyers.
There are numerous aspects which will determine how much you earn in a drop shipping business and they are;
• The marketing approach you apply.
• The goods you are selling.
• Competency of the wholesale distributor.
• The margins of commission you get from every sale.
It is estimated that only about 10% of drop shipping retailers make money and this is because there is a big competition in the market. You have to put everything right as far as marketing is concerned. Marketing is the cornerstone in succeeding on your drop shipping business.
There are different ways you can market your products. You can create a website which drop-ships to the product’s suppliers. This means that you have to post content on the website with descriptions of products. The descriptions have to be unique from those of the suppliers and other retailers. In this case, the quality of content will market your drop shipping business. If you submit very informative and interesting content on the website, you will create confidence with your buyers and this translates to more sales.
In addition, you will also need to create a blog. Because managing a website may be costly for a beginner in this business, a blog would be appropriate. Hosting a professional blog may not be costly as hosting a website. In addition, you have to use social media marketing to create social signals that will help increase the ranking of your website or blog. This means that more traffic will be generated on the blogs and this is connected to the supplier’s e-store you have been allocated.
Moreover, you may also use other methods like email marketing in order to make follow up on leads that have bounced. Search engine optimization is very essential when you are doing drop ship business.
You also need to write a few articles per week about the products and relevant topics. These articles are posted in major directories and will help drive traffic in your blog site or website from where visitors learn more about the products you are selling. The quality of content submitted to the directory and authority site will also help install confidence among the buyers.
You also need to select sellable products. There are many products you can sell through the drop ship business. These items range from diet pills, cell phone boosters, and power tools, garden equipments like lawn mowers, home appliances, kitchen equipments and toys. You may search for the “hot selling” items from sites like eBay in order to know, which products you go for in your drop ship business.
Another aspect which will determine how much you earn is the drop ship company you deal with. The wholesaler you are dealing with must demonstrate competency in offering the services. Since the company handles the shipping, it is important that when orders are made, the shipment process is done in time.
Your business image will largely be determined by how professional the wholesaler executes the shipping process. In addition, the wholesaler should be able to provide timely information on stock levels. Selling a product in your drop ship e-store only to realize that it is out of stock is quite frustrating for the buyers. The wholesaler should have a data feed system where you are able to get updates on quantities of stock.
The margin of commission of the sales also determines how much you are able to earn. If you only get 2% of commission, it means that you will have to close sales of 1000 items per month in order to earn a total of $2000 in that period. The kind of products you are selling will also determine the overall commission amount. If you are selling used low mileage automobiles from Japan, you will not get the same commission as selling used children clothes.
In essence, there are many aspects which will determine how much you earn. The most important thing is identify the most selling products and do a lot of homework in your internet marketing strategy. This way, the returns will be good. Also remember to engage with a professional drop ship wholesaler who has sufficient stock and is able to deliver goods in time. The shipment process must be done professionally in order to build loyalty with your customers. These are the same customers who will make a repeat purchase. They will also spread a word-of-mouth of your business to other prospective buyers.
How do you Get the Right Drop Shipping Distributors
One thing you want to avoid is dealing with a drop shipper who is unreliable and will cause frustrations when you are doing your business. The internet is flocked with many scams, shoddy deals and the essence is; if you are not careful, you will lose money even before you start your drop ship business. If you are beginning trading in drop ship business, you certainly want to build a good name. This is largely determined by the services offered.
The reason why you have to engage with a primed drop ship company or wholesaler is because you are not the one doing the shipment, packaging and labeling. These aspects are handled by the company and your job is to seek customers and convince them to but from your store. When a customer buys from the store you are allocated, the order is forwarded to the drop ship team to initiate the shipment and receive the payment.
If the company does not ship the products in time or there is shortage of stock, this means that your customer will be frustrated. These are the things you want to avoid because you are just starting your business. There are different ways in which you can get a good drop shipper on the internet.
Whereas there may be outdated lists of drop shippers that will not give you good results, there are a few reputable drop shipping companies. The problem is that the common ones you may find on the internet are those that have already registered very many retailers. This means that you will be competing against thousands of other retailers selling virtually the same products.
However, with good internet marketing skills, you can still market your products and grow your drop shipping business steadily as long as you have identified the “hot selling” and unique products, which can fetch you cash quickly. There are reliable drop ship directories that provide updated information on the most reputable drop shipping wholesalers, which you can engage with.
You need to search for these directories online. You will also need to call manufacturers and ask them if they have wholesalers who sell their products. It is most likely that they will recommend the primed wholesalers who you can then contact and request drop shipping business opportunity.
The challenge is that you may get a wholesaler who will not offer shipping services. In any drop shipping, ensure that you do not handle the chain supply part of it. This can be very technical if you have to do both marketing and organize for product shipping. Moreover, you need to ensure that the drop shipping company you are dealing is very reputable so that it does not taint your image.
The list of items they sell must also be sellable not to invest your time and resources in products which are unsellable. You may also search for manufacturers from trade magazines. Not all distributors and manufacturers will be willing to offer drop ship arrangement.
In essence, you need to do a good research in order to find out the best drop shipping distributors and manufacturers who you can deal with. There are listing of drop shippers being sold on the internet and if you are not careful, you will spend a few dollars to buy the list only to find that it is useless and has not been updated for the last one year.
The reason why you have to engage with a primed drop ship company or wholesaler is because you are not the one doing the shipment, packaging and labeling. These aspects are handled by the company and your job is to seek customers and convince them to but from your store. When a customer buys from the store you are allocated, the order is forwarded to the drop ship team to initiate the shipment and receive the payment.
If the company does not ship the products in time or there is shortage of stock, this means that your customer will be frustrated. These are the things you want to avoid because you are just starting your business. There are different ways in which you can get a good drop shipper on the internet.
Whereas there may be outdated lists of drop shippers that will not give you good results, there are a few reputable drop shipping companies. The problem is that the common ones you may find on the internet are those that have already registered very many retailers. This means that you will be competing against thousands of other retailers selling virtually the same products.
However, with good internet marketing skills, you can still market your products and grow your drop shipping business steadily as long as you have identified the “hot selling” and unique products, which can fetch you cash quickly. There are reliable drop ship directories that provide updated information on the most reputable drop shipping wholesalers, which you can engage with.
You need to search for these directories online. You will also need to call manufacturers and ask them if they have wholesalers who sell their products. It is most likely that they will recommend the primed wholesalers who you can then contact and request drop shipping business opportunity.
The challenge is that you may get a wholesaler who will not offer shipping services. In any drop shipping, ensure that you do not handle the chain supply part of it. This can be very technical if you have to do both marketing and organize for product shipping. Moreover, you need to ensure that the drop shipping company you are dealing is very reputable so that it does not taint your image.
The list of items they sell must also be sellable not to invest your time and resources in products which are unsellable. You may also search for manufacturers from trade magazines. Not all distributors and manufacturers will be willing to offer drop ship arrangement.
In essence, you need to do a good research in order to find out the best drop shipping distributors and manufacturers who you can deal with. There are listing of drop shippers being sold on the internet and if you are not careful, you will spend a few dollars to buy the list only to find that it is useless and has not been updated for the last one year.
Drop Ship Business Model: the Right Business for the Financially Handicapped
Drop ship business model is a unique way of doing business because you do not need to have a lot of money to own a store. You are virtually allocated a virtual online store which you sell the products. Internet is offering many opportunities for those people who would like to do business and attain financial stability. Apparently, there are so many programs on the internet, which people can explore as business opportunities. Choosing the right business will determine how much you reap from this huge market. One thing which bars many aspiring business persons to pursue their dreams is finances. Opening up physical stores and stocking them with goods requires a substantial amount of investment.
This investment is scaled down to practically zero amount in drop shipping business because you do not need to set up a store. Through your wholesaler, you are allocated a virtual online store with goods. These are the products you have to sell. Since it is a virtual store, it means that you do not require space to stock or keep the goods. You sell them right from the wholesaler warehouses.
In addition, the drop ship company offers a professional online store with products descriptions, prices and other relevant information. Consumers visiting your online store are able to get all the information they want. The e-store is professional and this helps create confidence among the buyers. There are other aspects which are handled by your drop shipping company like receiving payments and shipping products.
It requires pretty good time to be able to handle shipping, packaging, and labeling aspects. In drop ship, these tasks are avoided and they are instead handled by your drop shipper. This means that you dedicate much of the time in marketing. This is why drop shipping may be likened with affiliate marketing but it is not. In drop ship, you have ownership of a business. You feel like you are selling your products.
Your store is your business though you do not physically handle the goods. They remain in the wholesaler’s warehouse and when you close a sale, you only have to contact them and the rest is taken care of. Marketing perhaps is the difficult task here. You need to generate visitors to your store. Increasing the readership of the store webpage means that you will make more sales. So the main question is where and how you get the customers.
Internet marketing is competitive. You are not the only one selling the products. There are many other drop shipping retailers and therefore, you have to make your store shine above the others. There are a number of ways you can achieve this. You need use the power of content. In internet marketing, content is regarded as the king.
You can create a website that covers topics on the niche market you are trading in as well as product descriptions. You can create different contents and post them in relevant directories and authority sites. This will enable you get backlinks that direct customers to your e-store. Backlinks are very essential in internet marketing.
Moreover, you can create a blog that will help you get backlinks to your drop ship retail store website. The blog can cover topics, news, trends and other information on the niche market. Social signals are also important in building a community of readers. Through Twitter "tweets", Facebook "likes", and Google+ "share", you increase the ranking of your retail store website on the internet.
What Is Drop Ship And How Does The Drop Shipping Business Model Work?
What is drop shipping? This is an online business model in which the seller does not own a physical goods’ store but instead owns a virtual store and upon getting an order of a product, that order is transferred to the wholesaler who then ships the goods to the buyer. If you would like to venture into drop shipping business, it is important that you understand what is dropshipping and how works. This is an online business and there are many business models you can get on the internet.
You may have retail store where you stock various products and you advertise them on the internet. Similarly, you may have services that you offer through the internet. Drop shipping is a business model where you actually do not have a physical store for goods.
It requires a minimum or little amount to start. In this business, you serve the role of a middleman between the consumer and the wholesale distributor. Practically, drop ship business has a zero investment because you will not be required to set up a physical store. In addition, you do not stock the goods yourself. There are five steps in which the business is done;
1. First, you get your online store from the wholesale distributor
2. You search for customers to buy products
3. You qualify the customer to buy goods
4. Tell the company that you have sold a particular product
5. The company ships the goods to the customer and receives the sales price
6. From the sale you earn a commission of the sold goods
Drop ship wholesalers provide an e-store where you sell products. This makes it convenient for you since you will not have to design a website, though may set a website for backlinking purpose. Searching customers and convincing them to buy products is perhaps the challenging task you have to do. You are a salesperson and must convince consumers to buy goods.
There are different ways you can do this and they include creating a blog site where you post content on topics covering the niche market and products you are selling. This will enable you build a community of readers who can be converted to customers. You also need to engage in social networks in order to create social signals for your blog site and the e-store website.
Social signals will help in ranking your blog site and drop shipping retail web page so that they are easily found by internet users. In addition, you may participate in forums that cover the niche market you are trading in. By participating in the forums, you build your expertise in the topics and create a pool of followers who would like to know more about your business.
This way, they are able to visit your store and see which products you are selling. In addition, you may consider posting articles related to the niche on major directories and authority sites. The aim is to increase the ranking of your store website on search engines. If you have many audiences visiting your site, the probability is that you will get increased sales and this means more commission.
When you get customers, you convince them to buy the products and then you order from the wholesaler and the shipping will be done by the drop shipper supplier. You will not handle the shipping process. Payment is received by the company and you get your commission though some drop shipper may allow you to receive payment.
You may have retail store where you stock various products and you advertise them on the internet. Similarly, you may have services that you offer through the internet. Drop shipping is a business model where you actually do not have a physical store for goods.
It requires a minimum or little amount to start. In this business, you serve the role of a middleman between the consumer and the wholesale distributor. Practically, drop ship business has a zero investment because you will not be required to set up a physical store. In addition, you do not stock the goods yourself. There are five steps in which the business is done;
1. First, you get your online store from the wholesale distributor
2. You search for customers to buy products
3. You qualify the customer to buy goods
4. Tell the company that you have sold a particular product
5. The company ships the goods to the customer and receives the sales price
6. From the sale you earn a commission of the sold goods
Drop ship wholesalers provide an e-store where you sell products. This makes it convenient for you since you will not have to design a website, though may set a website for backlinking purpose. Searching customers and convincing them to buy products is perhaps the challenging task you have to do. You are a salesperson and must convince consumers to buy goods.
There are different ways you can do this and they include creating a blog site where you post content on topics covering the niche market and products you are selling. This will enable you build a community of readers who can be converted to customers. You also need to engage in social networks in order to create social signals for your blog site and the e-store website.
Social signals will help in ranking your blog site and drop shipping retail web page so that they are easily found by internet users. In addition, you may participate in forums that cover the niche market you are trading in. By participating in the forums, you build your expertise in the topics and create a pool of followers who would like to know more about your business.
This way, they are able to visit your store and see which products you are selling. In addition, you may consider posting articles related to the niche on major directories and authority sites. The aim is to increase the ranking of your store website on search engines. If you have many audiences visiting your site, the probability is that you will get increased sales and this means more commission.
When you get customers, you convince them to buy the products and then you order from the wholesaler and the shipping will be done by the drop shipper supplier. You will not handle the shipping process. Payment is received by the company and you get your commission though some drop shipper may allow you to receive payment.
Choosing the Right Drop Ship Products to Sell
One thing you have to consider in drop shipping business is the products you are selling. There are thousands of products you can find but it is important that you identify the sellable ones. In addition, when you are selling, you also need to have some background knowledge on those products so that you are able to engage the consumer in the buying process.
Because it is you dealing with the client, you will answer questions posed by the customers when they inquire more about the products they want to buy. It is important that you sell goods that you are passionate about. This means that you will be interested in knowing more about these goods and how they function, and operate.
If you are handicapped in providing more information about the products especially when responding to customer queries, you can likely to fail in convincing them to buy. You should remember that you are “acting” as the producer of these goods but only that the consumer does not know.
You are representing the image of the company you are selling the goods on behalf. Not all goods you may sell interest you personally and this means that you may not be passionate about them. Therefore, you may opt for necessities like toilet cleaning products and trash can liners. There are products which you may not have interest in but they are a necessity for millions of people and have a high demand.
Items like jewelry, watches, DVDs, pet food, health and fitness products are in high demand. In addition, you have to check on the price of the goods. Too pricey products may limit the number of buyers and also may minimize the willingness of the customers to buy.
Moderately priced goods could attract high number of sales though you may again be discouraged by the commission you get out of a simple sale. Identifying a niche of products to sell could help you specialize in marketing those products. With a good knowledge on these products, you will be able to convince consumers to buy from your store.
Because it is you dealing with the client, you will answer questions posed by the customers when they inquire more about the products they want to buy. It is important that you sell goods that you are passionate about. This means that you will be interested in knowing more about these goods and how they function, and operate.
If you are handicapped in providing more information about the products especially when responding to customer queries, you can likely to fail in convincing them to buy. You should remember that you are “acting” as the producer of these goods but only that the consumer does not know.
You are representing the image of the company you are selling the goods on behalf. Not all goods you may sell interest you personally and this means that you may not be passionate about them. Therefore, you may opt for necessities like toilet cleaning products and trash can liners. There are products which you may not have interest in but they are a necessity for millions of people and have a high demand.
Items like jewelry, watches, DVDs, pet food, health and fitness products are in high demand. In addition, you have to check on the price of the goods. Too pricey products may limit the number of buyers and also may minimize the willingness of the customers to buy.
Moderately priced goods could attract high number of sales though you may again be discouraged by the commission you get out of a simple sale. Identifying a niche of products to sell could help you specialize in marketing those products. With a good knowledge on these products, you will be able to convince consumers to buy from your store.
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