“By 2022, we’ll be talking to bots more than our own spouses.” – Deloitte Rapid technological advancements have pushed businesses to make all information available at customers’ fingertips to deliver a seamless digital experience. Customers today prefer to be self-sufficient. 40% of consumers1 now prefer self-service over human contact.

How do ideas turn into actions? We often believe when people have brilliant ideas, it is as if a lightning bolt struck them somehow. This romanticized image of innovation couldn’t be farther from the truth. The reality is that innovative ideas come from collaboration, a key factor to manage any project successfully. Think about how Steve Jobs started Apple, now one of the biggest tech companies globally, with Steve Wozniak as a partner. Or, moving away from tech, how two scientists, Dr.

Starting a project is easy. Set your objectives, create a plan, and execute. But what about project closure? Too often, projects are never formally put to bed. They’re just “sort-of” closed. Small issues are left unresolved, which can come up later as big problems. Don’t worry. We’re not going to let that happen to you. Keep reading to get our 7-step checklist for closing a project the right way (and impressing your boss while you’re at it).

When you think of measuring your company’s success, what markers come to mind? Perhaps you consider revenue KPIs or customer enrollment. Maybe you dream of your run rate increasing as your cost of sales decreases. No matter what success looks like to you, it’s unlikely you measure it in sales volume. But perhaps it’s time to start. Sales volume is a largely overlooked measuring tool, but its benefits to your company can’t be ignored.

There’s no perfect approach to sales psychology. Sales tactics are ever-changing based on the market, your products, your company, and your customers. That said, most sales tactics fall into either a hard or soft sell category, and understanding the difference between those categories is crucial to your sales success.

In the early 2010s, the Age of the Customer emerged. Consumers were more connected than ever before, and as their access to information and resources grew, so did their expectations. The Age of the Customer continues today—and the data shows it. Gartner research reveals that 74 percent of customers expect more from brands, not only in their products and services but also in how they treat their customers.

Time tracking and time management help organize everything more effectively. Some techniques are good to stop putting off tasks, while others allow us to manage schedules. In this post, you’ll find five alternative time-saving methods that will help overcome procrastination, plan your day or week, and re-organize an approach to your schedule. We bet you’ve heard of Eat the Frog and Pomodoro time management techniques already.

Employee absenteeism refers to employees being frequently absent from work without any justified reason or prior discussion with their manager. It doesn’t count paid time off or justified absences like maternity leave. Excessive absenteeism can hurt your company’s bottom line and result in lost productivity, time, and poor employee morale. To ensure your employees follow the proper procedures and inform beforehand, you need to clearly understand the main causes of absenteeism.

As a small business owner, you probably have to wear many hats, including managing employees, shift scheduling, tracking work hours, and so on. Wouldn’t it be great if there was a way you could streamline these processes? Fortunately, a time card app can help you out here. Using a time card app for your small business, you can track time and ensure that your team operates like a well-oiled machine. In this article, we’ll highlight the ten best time card apps for small businesses.

When it comes to deciding on a service management solution, pricing matters. But nobody likes surprise charges popping up! That's why comparing platforms simply on an advertised monthly charge per seat is not the answer. Cheaper isn't always better. Vivantio's Director of Digital Marketing Todd Carruth provides 3 questions you can ask to protect yourself from unwanted surprises when selecting your service management solution.