Reliability is an essential component of good utility services. Homeowners and business owners alike need to be assured they won’t lose power unexpectedly and know that it will be up and running as soon as possible if they do lose power. From tsunamis, forest fires, and ice storms, extreme weather has proved to be the number one opponent of utility reliability, and it has only become a bigger threat each year since the early 2000s. New technological developments have played a crucial role in helping utility providers re-establish control over external threats and re-establish reliability. Here are a few technological

It is no surprise that over the last few months, e-commerce use has skyrocketed. By mid-March, same-day shipping orders were up by 237 percent, and e-commerce orders in 2020 were up 110 percent over 2019. But this trend is not new. The use of e-commerce has been steadily increasing since 2014, and by 2021 the e-commerce industry is expected to generate 4.5 trillion dollars annually and accounts for 16 percent of retail sales.  E-commerce offers consumers ease, speed and accessibility, but it is not all positive. As consumers switched to online shopping, fraudsters followed. It was estimated that by the

Gone are the days of casually strolling through the mall, sipping a coffee, and window shopping. Now consumers ‘window shop’ online before committing to a purchase. To keep up with consumer habits and turn casual visitors into return shoppers, brands need to upgrade their e-commerce platforms.  A website’s design is an essential component of an e-commerce sale. A well-designed website allows the shopper to easily find what they are looking for without feeling lost or overwhelmed. If a website is poorly designed, shoppers will quickly move on to the next to find what they are looking for.  To help your

As we head into our 10th month of working from home, it is hard to deny the way we work has changed and continues to change as we move through each month. The pandemic is not the only cause of the shift to remote work though. For years, businesses have started to look for the best talent regardless of the distance, and with each technological advancement, an office-space becomes less and less essential. The next big tech trend expected to change the way we work is 5G. 5G stands for “fifth generation” and is the latest generation in a series that

Supply chains are an essential part of most businesses. The ability to get products from point A to point B without delay is pivotal to creating a successful business with a healthy bottom line and happy customers. In 2020, the success of the supply chain was threatened by changing consumer habits and increased restrictions brought on by the pandemic. Supply chain management teams had to work quickly and seamlessly to re-work supply chains, increase resilience, and re-consider current strategies. As a result, supply chains will go through major upgrades in 2021. To help your business prepare for the new year,

2020 saw a boom in eCommerce use as more consumers opted to ditch the brick-and-mortar store and shop online instead. The sudden shift changed not only consumer habits but also the business ecosystem as brands had to quickly pivot their business plans to meet new consumer demands. As we come to the end of 2020 and review current trends, it is hard not to wonder what the 2021 eCommerce playing field might look like. To help get your eCommerce brand ready for 2021, we’ve put together a list of ten notable eCommerce trends expected to grow in 2021. Hopefully after

In the twentieth century, tech brought people to the office — but now it’s sending them home. For decades, employees needed to go to the office to use the fax machines, computers, phones and files they needed to complete their work. A sense of community and easier management were just added benefits. Since the start of the pandemic though, employees and employers alike have realized that shared office space is not as necessary as it once was, and tech is the main reason.  From messaging apps, video conferencing platforms, and shared docs, technology has allowed people to leave the office

The holiday season this year is going to be a little different. Instead of rushing to the mall to find great deals and the perfect presents, consumers will be shopping from their laptops. Criteo, a leader in eCommerce marketing, found that 88 percent of consumers this year plan to shop online this holiday season. To adapt to the changing nature of shopping, businesses will need to pivot their focus to eCommerce and updating infrastructure to ensure they can handle the shift.  Here are three ways for businesses to upgrade their business plan and make it through the holiday season. Improve

The recent e-commerce boom has positively impacted retailers and shoppers by increasing the bottom line and making shopping easy. Shoppers love the convenience of being able to browse, select and receive from the comfort of their homes. The development of same-day and two-day shipping has only increased the desirability. Unfortunately, e-commerce and the highly desirable same-day shipping does not benefit the environment. When e-commerce and home-deliveries first started to become prominent in the retail world, it was praised for being beneficial for the environment. Researchers determined online shopping was ‘greener’ than brick-and-motor shopping since fewer people are making personal trips

Over the past year, the telecommunications industry has seen some significant change. From an increased focus on smart cities to better tech security — here’s a look at some of the telecom trends that have seen growth in 2020.  The Internet of Things The Internet of Things (IoT) is the connection of powered devices to the internet. If your home has a lamp, coffee maker, air conditioner or any other appliances connected to the internet then you are living in an IoT network. Experts predict that 30 billion devices are predicted to be connected to the IoT network by 2021.