It's the de-facto feature of the 21 century. It's driving innovation from business to healthcare. Some may even be so bold as to argue it's driving the fourth industrial revolution and the current worldwide political and social strife. Yes, we're talking about artificial intelligence, usually referred to as A.I. But what do we mean when we say '"artificial intelligence,' and what makes it uniquely special? You'll likely get different definitions depending who you ask and what field you are discussing. In this week's blog post, we're going to do our best to give you a clean, clear explanation to the concept of A.I.

The Two Types of Artificial Intelligence

The term artificial intelligence might immediately bring to mind a robotic exoskeleton chasing after humans. In fact, Hollywood has done an excellent job of this. Fortunately - or unfortunately depending on your disposition - this is not what artificial intelligence typically refers to in IT or business. You see, there are two types of artificial intelligence: general and narrow.

The idea of fully autonomous programs or robots that can think, make, learn, and create across a wide variety of fields and subjects like a human is referred to as general A.I. While there are researchers working on general A.I., creating an autonomous homo sapien-esque program appears to be far away. Instead, software focuses on utilizing narrow A.I., which encompasses any computer-automated process designed to handle specific tasks. Google translate is one such example most of us are familiar with. In the case of the US' most popular translation device, the automated task is to process text from one language to another. Not so scary, right?

A.I. In Industry

A.I. isn't just for scientists hanging out in university departments. The push for data scientists, predictive analytics, and general automation in industry is helping to drive the recent surge in A.I. research and development. Let's take a look at some of the ways that A.I. is transforming business.

Customer Service

The likelihood that anyone reading this blog hasn't interacted with an automated voice message system in the year 2021 are slim. Although not terribly enjoyable, you are having an encounter with a form of A.I. - speech recognition whenever you interact with one of these digital secretaries. Similarly, if you have ever had a conversation with an automated chat bot when visiting a website, you are interacting with a text-to-text A.I. application.

Accounting

We've previously mentioned the limited nature of narrow A.I., but don't doubt the usefulness of such constricted programs. In accounting, thousands of hours are saved each year of repetitive and menial tasks, increasing the productivity of bookkeepers everywhere. Algorithms can now automatically calculate, store, and visualize entered data and records. This opens time for opportunities that require the human-mind of an expert accountant.

Healthcare

One of the hottest growing fields around the world, A.I. is present in virtually every aspect of the medical sector, both inside and outside of the waiting room. Common tasks include aiding in diagnosis and treatment suggestions, even aiding in surgery. Most impressive of all, computers are now able to aid in medical research and discoveries that would otherwise be out of reach for contemporary science.

Finance

Being one of the earlier adopters of A.I., the financial sector is no stranger to the benefits of automated assistance. Almost 35 years ago, banks started using neural networks to help prevent and detect fraud. Now, artificial intelligence systems can maintain business operations overnight, forecast future growth and decay, and even make investments!

Apps. From websites to tablets, they're everywhere. In fact, there were 2.9 million apps in the google play store as of July 2020 (Statista) and a whopping 4.4. Million apps in the Apple App Store. With so many apps available, their functions vary widely. From practical applications that help track calories for weight loss to less practical niche topics, such as this app that literally does nothing. But not all apps are designed with personal use in mind. In fact, the biggest impacts apps are having on the world may just be in the world of small and local businesses in the form of local apps.

Over the past decade, we have all become accustomed to web applications and customer portals from large businesses. But what we have been seeing over the past couple of years is that local businesses have started to adopt them as well. These smaller entities are utilizing applications to improve all areas of their operations, including scheduling, payroll, and customer experience. Let's take a look at some of the more practical and effective ways these businesses are employing apps to save time and money.

Accounting

If you own a business, accounting is almost assuredly involved. The process of financial recording was one of the first applications of computerization in the workplace, and it has remained one of the most common computer-assisted tasks to date - it may actually be increasing. A Sage survey found that 90% of respondents felt there is a cultural shift towards technological adaptation. These sentiments weren't only from ust large businesses. Statista found that nearly 2 out 3 small and mid-sized businesses are incorporating accounting software to streamline their accounting processes.

The most glaring advantage is efficiency. Applications are able to quickly calculate and complete tasks. These completed tasks also minimize simple errors in accounting procedures that humans are prone to make. Finally, apps enable accounting on the go. Apps release clear, transparent accounting information via reporting features that are accessible anywhere and at any time. Perfect for owners that may not always be in one place at any given time.

Time Management

One of the greatest constraints facing businesses is - wait for it - time. When you work as many hours in a day as many local business owners do (read: all of them), finding ways to manage your workload is imperative to keeping operations running smoothly. Luckily, there's an app for that! 

For many service-based businesses, such as dental or repair services, the correct scheduling of client appointments is a critical aspect of keeping the business healthy. Custom, local apps can track and schedule appointments, but they often act as so much more than a mobile calendar. These applications allow for the tagging of tasks, which allow for filtering and prioritization. Additionally, contact information, notifications, and other valuable notes can be easily accessed on the fly. 

Customer Experience

As any successful business owner can tell you, customer experience is vital to long-term success. From providing accurate information quickly to decreasing service time, the customer experience often determines the average customer lifespan. Small business owners have taken to a variety of commercial and custom applications to increase their customer lifespan and thus increase their average customer value. To be more specific, The Chamber of Commerce reports that 42% of all small businesses use mobile apps with the percentage increasing to 55% when looking at small businesses owned by millennials.

Of particular note, small businesses are making use of customer relationship management (CRM) applications to enhance customer support. With the help of these database-like applications, customer information, including order and payment history, can be brought up instantly. CRM has proven to be so convenient that 91% of all businesses with over 11 employees are using them. That time saved ends up transferring to money saved, with a Nucleus Research study finding that sales teams that utilized CRMs made back $8.71 for every $1 spent their CRM services.

Local Apps for Human Resources

Let's not forget about the employee! While smaller businesses may not have legions of employees to manage, for small employers, managing payroll, hours, and benefits can prove to be a time consuming endeavor. And even before that, finding and then maintaining candidates that are a good match for a company is a challenge all in itself. 

Employee self-service portals (ESS) are the most common local HR apps in the workplace today. ESS are web portals that can be either built into a website or accessed via mobile devices. At their core, ESS portals allow for a greater level of autonomy on the part of the employee. This helps simplify employee data management and retrieval for everyone involved. ESS portals accomplish this feat by allowing employees to request time off, elect benefits, check their work stats, and log their own hours and work progress. You may also be wondering if employees will be resistant to adapt. But research shows that employees tend to want ESS implementation in their place of work. This Paychex survey concluded that the majority of respondents wanted ESS apps in their workplace by nearly a 2 to 1 margin.

Get Your Own Custom Web or Mobile App

Does your local business needs its own local app? Perhaps an employee self-service app? Or are you looking to minimize payroll or accounting errors? Our web and app developers know that not all businesses are the same. Our team works with you to understand your business and its needs to provide easy to use and implement applications.

Wildfires, hurricanes, pandemics, flooding, drought...the world literally appears to be falling apart at the seams. Fortunately, it's not all doom and gloom. Distinguishing ourselves as toolmakers, humans have historically managed to find a way to innovate and invent their way out of a bad situation. Clothing was devised as a way to protect us from inhospitable environments. Various agricultural revolutions have saved unquantifiable amounts of people from starvation. Penicillin and vaccines were discovered and developed in order to help fight off infectious disease. The future looks to be no different. We'll be taking a look at several ideas, inventions, and trends that demonstrate how we are saving the world through tech.

Air Quality

Perhaps no form of pollution comes to mind quicker than air pollution. The thought of thick layers of smog rolling from industrial towers into the sky unabated is the classic image of environmental damage. But it isn't just in our heads. The combustion of fossil fuels releases large quantities of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. And we mean large. A 2014 EPA study found that 92% of all greenhouse gas emissions came from carbon dioxide (81%) and methane (11%). This makes carbon dioxide the primary driver of climate change. Methods of cutting down our '"carbon footprint' (i.e. our greenhouse gas emissions) are being invested in now more than ever, and they are producing creative results.

One way to go about reducing air pollutants is to eat them. No, we aren't suggesting breathing in unfiltered smog, but engineers have been working on devices that can. Known as direct air capture devices, these machines work to capture excess carbon once it has been produced. Among such inventions are smog-eating towers and trees. While these inventions have yet to be released at scale, there are some that are. In Switzerland, a plant that sucks down CO2 directly from the air, a world first, was released in 2017. Interestingly, carbon capture devices can also capture carbon from the air and pump it deep underground for storage. The concept of these carbon capture and storage (CCS) devices is effectively the reverse of extracting petroleum.

The second - and more immediately useful - method is to prevent such high levels of CO2 emissions in the first place. While policies such as carbon capping and rewarding sustainable minded commuters can be helpful, it's our continued dependence on fossil fuels that is driving our carbon footprint. Fortunately for the planet, and us, we have more than a couple sustainable alternatives.

Sustainable Energy

One of the greatest threats to the environment, not to mention humans, is our reliance on unsustainable sources of energy. Outside of causing air, water, and land pollution, reliance on unsustainable resources is an issue because, as the name implies, they can be exhausted. The majority of these non-renewable energy sources come from fossil fuels, which include petroleum and coal. In fact, they make up about 84% of the world's energy consumption. Researchers are hoping that advanced technologies can help us switch over to more green (i.e. sustainable) resources.

The chief alternative power sources being investigated are solar, wind, hydro, and geothermal energy. While technologies such as solar panels, wind turbines, and hydro and geothermal plants aren't new, the last decade has seen advancements and increased interest in harnessing and utilizing these technologies. According to the American Wind Energy Association, U.S. wind energy has more than tripled over the last decade, and it now ranks as the largest source of renewable energy in the country. The association also reports that just last year, 9,132 wind turbines were installed, making it the third highest year for turbine installations in the states. Why is this investment important? In 2019, the US generated enough electricity from wind to power 27.5 million households. That's significant.

Emerging technologies are also making it more efficient to harness clean energy. Take geothermal energy for example. Derived from the Earth's natural energy, geothermal plants are now able to operate in areas and off of resources they were previously unable to generate power from. Likewise, solar panels are now able to be custom built almost anywhere, and large floating solar farms are being developed to generate huge amounts of electricity.

Data Science & AI

Predictive AI is being used to forecast changes in ecosystems, climate, and even the Earth itself. Analysts are using computer modeling and statistics to better respond to and understand changes to our planet. Take deforestation for example. An estimated 18 million acres of forest have been lost every year as calculated by the United Nations' Food and Agriculture Organization. To put that in perspective, since 2001, an area over twice the size of South Korea has been lost due to deforestation. What can be done to reverse this destructive trend? Satellite imagery is being used to identify areas and causes of destruction to better inform decision makers on environmental policies. But computer and software engineering is doing more than just simple monitoring and data analysis work.

AI software is already being developed to help provide firefighters with real-time information on likely flow paths and flashovers during wildfires. This software will prevent the spread of fires and keep firefighters safe by altering them to likely danger areas. AI and data science aren't just restricted to natural disasters either. Combined with robotics and other automated tools, data science is being used to optimize livestock nutrition and farming methodologies in order to decrease waste and increase yield. Who knew AI and livestock management would be such a great match?

Waste Management

We've all been told since we can remember to recycle, and for good reason. Solid wastes, officially tracked as solid municipal waste (SMW), include plastics, discarded food, paper, metals, glass, and other discarded solids, and can cause a great deal of harm to humans, land and aquatic ecosystems, and global environmental health. Currently, humans produce about 2.01 billion metric tons of waste annually. Unfortunately, our SMW production is forecasted to increase faster than the human population up to 2050. So what is being done to prevent a literal pollutant landslide?

Just as software is used in business to streamline operations, so is it being used in waste management. According to EPA estimates, about 75% of all waste is recyclable, but only about 30% of that waste actually makes it to the recycling process. This is where waste management software, now being distributed as a service via cloud computing, comes into play. Plants are using software services to identify disposal errors and manage and sort materials. These software services don't just help during the processing phase, they also provide detailed analytics on disposal and recycling rates by households that provide insights on areas for improvements.

Of course, the most impressive waste management tech doesn't see waste mitigated, it sees the waste converted into power. Appropriately dubbed '"biogas,' facilities are converting biological waste into gas. Similarly, heat is being used in a process called thermal conversion to otherwise useless solid waste into usable energy, and in some cases, materials. If that isn't intense enough, plasma arc recycling uses non-combustible sources of heat to melt and vaporize waste into usable gas. Hot!

It's not only the stuff we make, but the material we make our stuff with. Material scientists are hard at work helping material science and industry go green. One up and coming material is graphene. Although more research is needed to fully understand its effect on human health, the single atom-thick material is the thinnest material known to man yet among the strongest in existence. It is currently being used and studied for increasing the longevity of electronics, batteries, solar panels, paint, and more. If goods last longer, less waste will be generated.

Although it's true that data centers leave a large carbon footprint due to the large amount of electricity needed to keep them running, the switch to cloud computing is helping to cut down on physical waste. Without the need for in-house IT infrastructure and equipment, less waste is being used and discarded. And as for all that extra power being generated? A large percentage of power generated by data centers is caused by the need to cool infrastructure. New, more effective and efficient data center coolers are being used to reduce heat. In fact, one device might reduce heat by up to 90%! Now that's...wait for it...cool!

There's no way around it: IT support, also known as technical or tech support, is a necessary service for virtually every organization and department in the modern world. When the time comes, there are endless ways that organizations go about handling their IT support services. Luckily for business owners, all processes can usually be categorized as being part of either reactive or proactive models. We'll be taking a look at what makes these approaches to IT support different and the pros and cons of each.

Reactive Support

As the name implies, reactive IT support is reactionary. When something breaks or otherwise goes wrong, the IT professionals are called, which is why the approach is sometimes referred to as the break-fix model. Unfortunately, there tends to be more weaknesses than strengths with this model, but that isn't to say that there isn't any reason to take this approach.

Pros

The advantage of utilizing a reactive support strategy is that you only pay for IT support when you know you absolutely need them. Is it broken? Yes? Fix it! No. Don't fix it! This can often end up saving companies money in the short term.

Cons

The list of downsides when utilizing a reactive support approach are lengthy. Although you may only pay for service when you absolutely need it, if you end up needing more assistance than you initially thought, this can result in quite a bit of downtime and service charges. Calling for support in a reactionary manner also results in technicians with limited availability or lacking familiarity with an organization. The resulting wait time often can lead to expensive downtime. Not good. In short, utilizing a reactive IT support model often winds up being costly in regards to both service and downtime over the long haul.

Proactive Support

Proactive IT support, also known as the managed services model, is the opposite of the reactive model. With a proactive IT support strategy, an organization takes steps ahead of time in anticipation of issues. This mostly sees IT teams constantly monitoring system health to catch issues before they seriously disrupt or damage operations. This model isn't unlike exercising to ward off disease and illness or help us recover faster when we do get sick.

Pros

With so many strengths, there is a reason why businesses today favor a more proactive approach. Managed services providers are constantly monitoring client's system health; it's their job. When an issue presents itself, they can immediately start working to resolve the issue. This responsiveness reduces downtime and prevents larger, more costly issues down the line. These same managed service providers also provide fixed or flat-rate services, so costs are predictable throughout the year. Annually, the International Data Corporation (IDC) found that for every 100 users, $400,000 could be saved by using managed services!

Cons

A proactive IT support model doesn't have nearly as many downsides as its reactive counterpart. However, some periods may be more costly if service isn't required in the short term. This is a result of managed service providers tendency to favor fixed-rate pricing options. Added uncertainty can be added when an organization may not want to commit to a long-term contract with an IT support provider they are not familiar with.

What's Best For Your Company?

Given that IT issues are bound to pop up, we recommend a proactive IT support model. Being prepared simply saves time and money. In fact, according to B2B service provider Clutch, 59% of IT services have now transitioned to the newer managed services model.

If you or your business have yet to implement an IT support plan or are planning to move to a more proactive plan, we can help! After 15 years of providing proactive IT managed services, we know more than a thing or two about proactive solutions. We understand that every business has different needs, and we would love to learn more about your IT support needs! Get in touch with us

Are you looking to find out why cloud-based IT services are right for your small business? You've come to the right place! Read on to discover why you and your small business need the cloud.

What Is Cloud Computing?

The cloud stands for cloud computing - the practice of using a network of remote servers hosted on the internet to store, manage, and process data. This is typically contrasted to traditional computing which stores data on local servers or personal computers. This may not seem like a huge deal, but failing to make the switch from traditional computing to cloud computing can be a costly and time-consuming mistake. To save you from losing valuable resources, we've compiled a list of the top 6 reasons cloud hosting and migration can benefit your small business.

Less Work, More Savings

Who doesn't like to save money?

Because cloud storage uses remote servers hosted online to store, manage, and process data, you save on the time and expenses of having to buy, install, and maintain traditional on-site hardware and infrastructure. Migrating to the cloud can also prove to be far more cost-effective over time. With traditional data storage methods, you pay for server space up front. This means the cost remains the same no matter how much space you end up using. Cloud computing payment options are much more flexible, allowing you to only pay for what you use.

Ease of Access

When you store your business' data remotely, you can access it remotely. This means that even if you or your employees are out of the office you can still use your much-needed data. Whether it's a weekend hustle, an out-of-town (or out-of-country) trip, or a work-from-home situation, information is readily available. On top of that, your employees won't need special administrative privileges to access all of that data, unless you want them to!

Disaster Recovery

It's no secret that things go wrong. Sometimes, they go very wrong.
Cloud storage can help safeguard your data when things don't go your way. As cloud storage is not dependent on a single piece of hardware, a single point of failure does not spell doom for your most important information after a loss event. This means frequent backups utilizing disks, flash drives, or other storage devices are no longer necessary. Additionally, data can be stored and retrieved across multiple locations within minutes. This results decreased downtime, allowing your business to resume operations.

Future Scalability

We all want our business to grow, so it's important to have IT infrastructure that is scalable. On the flip side, you may sometimes find that you want to scale back. These are both very costly tasks when using on-site data centers. Due to adaptable payment models and off-site hosting, this is no challenge at all for the cloud. When it comes to scalability, cloud hosting is vital for all entrepreneurially minded small business owners.

Go Green

Cloud computing is far less wasteful than traditional business and IT infrastructure. Traditional IT equipment creates a large amount of non-biodegradable waste at the end of the equipment's life cycle while at the same time inefficiently using power that may never be used by an organization. Cloud computing avoids both of these issues. And while providers certainly require a large quantity of electricity to maintain server operation, the quantity used is still far less than what traditional IT infrastructure would utilize to perform the same big data tasks.

The Cloud Is The Future

According to Forbes, around two-thirds of all business infrastructure could be cloud-based by the end of 2020, and IBM found that 85% of businesses polled stated they were already using multiple cloud computing services. With worldwide spending on cloud computing reaching 107 Billion US dollars at the end of last year (Canalys), if you aren't utilizing the cloud, you are already at risk of falling behind the technological curve.

How To Get Started With Cloud Computing

Need help migrating to the cloud? ePathUSA's cloud migration and hosting experts can help you get started. Contact us here to learn more about how we can help you and your business leverage the benefits of the cloud!