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Posts for September 2015

Why smaller retailers should give Apple Pay the cold shoulder

September 22, 2015 by IT Donut contributor

Why smaller retailers should give Apple Pay the cold shoulder{{}}When Apple Pay arrived in the UK this summer, it was surrounded by an awful lot of buzz. At launch, it was already supported by over 250,000 retailers and many mainstream banks

But little, if anything, was said about how this new payment option will affect smaller independent retailers - nor how they might use the technology to drive growth.

While there is an opportunity to benefit from this increase in mobile payments, it doesn't lie completely with Apple's way of doing things. Read on and I'll explain why.

Lacklustre Apple Pay adoption

Apple Pay has been available in the US for around a year. However,

Gallup research found that only 21% of iPhone 6 owners used their device to process Apple Pay transactions.

What's more, according to Pymts.com, 60% forgot about the service after using it for the first time.

Here in the UK, Apple Pay is expected to enjoy more rapid uptake because we're much further along in the use of near field communication (NFC) and contactless payments. But will it be rapid enough?

Not all equipment supports Apple Pay

It's certainly not safe to assume that every retailer already has hardware that supports Apple Pay.

Equipment that will work with Apple Pay is known in the industry as a 'standard payment encryption device' that supports NFC. Businesses without this equipment will need to upgrade in order to accept Apple Pay.

There's also a disparity between Apple Pay in-store and Apple Pay online.

Take Shopify. This popular online shopping platform allows retailers to set up an online shop to process sales, manage product listings and process payments - including those via Apple Pay.

But, currently, the hardware and credit card readers that Shopify supplies to stores do not accept Apple Pay.

There's a cap on transaction size

The cap for contactless transactions - due to rise to £30 in September - is another hurdle. This limits the ability of consumers to pay for larger transactions via Apple Pay, lessening adoption and usage.

What's more, to accept higher-value payments, retailers will need to spend money to invest in terminals enabled with 'consumer device cardholder verification method' (CDCVM) technology.

CDCVM adds an extra layer of security to mobile payments. As it's supported by payment card networks, it removes merchants' liability for fraud when used for Apple Pay transactions.

Together, these challenges emphasise why independent retailers should focus less on supporting Apple Pay and more on their overall mobile strategy.

With global mobile commerce predicted to reach $298bn next year - and more than doubling to $626bn by 2018 - the main challenge for retailers is making sure the shopping experience they offer is designed with smart phone users in mind.

The traditional mobile shopping experience involves cramming a typical online store into a small screen. This doesn't work well.

A custom-designed m-commerce site is essential, as is a smooth checkout process. Requiring mobile shoppers to enter sensitive information like credit card numbers into complicated forms isn't popular with consumers.

This is where mobile payment solutions like Apple Pay, PayPal, and Google's Android Pay come into the picture. The secure, single-touch pay button provides an easier way for people to check out via the mobile web and apps.

Fewer taps and screens means increased sales.

Loyalty cards coming soon?

Looking down the road, Apple will begin supporting the addition of retailer's loyalty cards to a user's Apple Wallet. This feature will also be available with Android Pay when it enters the UK market.

In the US, vertical markets like travel and hospitality have enthusiastically embraced new mobile capabilities.

For example, Marriott Hotels allows guests to use Apple Pay for check-in, thus bypassing the queue. You can also use it to instantly pay for dinners and drinks by the pool (there's no spending cap in the US).

Other hotels are rolling out technology that allows a guest to use their smart phone as a room key. This eliminates the lost card scenario, appealing to the mobile-centric generation.

The key point for retailers is that consumers use different mobile devices, have different shopping habits and choose different ways to spend their money. They need to support mobile payments across all devices, not just Apple Pay. That's the best way to maximise the opportunity for increased sales.

Copyright © 2015 Henry Morland, Chief Product Officer at Brightpearl.com.

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Posted in Computer hardware | Tagged apple | 0 comments

Bring your own device? It's really about the apps

September 14, 2015 by IT Donut contributor

Bring your own device? It’s really about the apps{{}}The world of work has changed unbelievably in the last decade. And it's thanks, almost entirely, to advances in technology. The 9-5 model is no longer a necessity. We now have the right and the opportunity to be pickier about how we work

Flexible working has come on in strides. In the UK, employees have the right to request it. As a result, bring your own device (BYOD) policies are now commonplace.

BYOD means allowing your employees to use their own devices - usually smart phones and tablets - for work. Some companies have embraced BYOD as a way to enable smarter working without having to spend a fortune on mobile devices.

Often, employees like BYOD too, because they can use their preferred device for work - and don't have to carry two smart phones with them.

How far can BYOD take you?

When employees can access company data securely on their own PCs, laptops, and mobile devices, they can work more easily and efficiently.

But it shouldn't stop there. As nice as it is, the modern employee - and top talent in particular - demands more. It's not unreasonable for them to do so, either. It's entirely possible for them to work flexibly and fulfil their job duties without any additional cost to your business.

A big part of this is letting them use software they're comfortable with instead of forcing them to make do with something they don't like. I've taken to calling this 'choose your own application' (CYOA).

Of course, a few ground rules need to be put in place before you implement a CYOA policy. If you use group messaging apps, employees will need to use the same one. You all need to be on it, no matter whether it's Slack, Facebook Messenger or something else.

Another fundamental rule has to be that nobody starts using awkward file extensions. For instance, if you're a media company and a staffer insists on sending you video files in QuickTime's .mov format while you're all using .mp4, you need to have a word.

Outside situations like those, it's generally smart to trust people to get on with things. Modern cloud software lets workers access all the business-critical information they need from wherever they are, on any device – and safely.

So whether an employee is using Microsoft Office or Google Docs is beside the point. I personally prefer to use Word to draft my proposals, but if someone does dazzling work with different software, it shouldn't matter.

The cloud is everywhere

When we talk about the virtues of cloud technology, we tend to emphasise location.

It's true, the cloud is everywhere, and it lets us be everywhere too: we can work from home, from the beach, or pretty much anywhere there's an internet connection.

But while the cloud does let your employees choose where they work from, it's equally important to remember that it can empower them to choose how they work – if you let them.

In 2015, being able to CYOA is just as important as being able to BYOD.

Copyright 2015 © Simon Osman, CEO of iFollowOffice

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Image: ymgerman / Shutterstock.com

Posted in Buy and manage IT | Tagged BYOD, apps | 0 comments

Does your business need a cloud strategy?

September 10, 2015 by IT Donut contributor

Does your business need a cloud strategy?{{}}If you're looking for a short answer as to whether your business needs a cloud strategy, the answer is simple: yes. Read on to find out why

Even if you plan to do nothing for now other than to watch your business grow and to monitor how cloud computing changes as your requirements shift, that's a strategy. But is it the right strategy for your business?

Cloud computing and storage have crept into organisations in many forms. Tools like Google Apps, Microsoft Office 365 and Dropbox mean that the cloud is commonplace.

These 'shadow IT' solutions are often implemented in a piecemeal fashion, as particular needs arise. But as the cloud becomes more sophisticated and your business needs evolve, you may need to use the cloud in a more organised, strategic manner.

We're (nearly) all using the cloud

RightScale's 2015 State of the Cloud Report found that 88% of enterprises are using public cloud services (like Dropbox), while 63% are using private cloud (this means their own cloud applications that aren't shared with other organisations).

These companies have adopted the cloud to enjoy some significant benefits:

  1. Agility. Cloud services can be set up quickly. This means you can get the IT services you need almost immediately, with no need to set up any major infrastructure, like new servers or software.
  2. Cost-effectiveness. Replacing out-dated hardware is expensive, particularly for key equipment like servers. With cloud computing, you pay a regular fee instead of a large fee upfront.
  3. Capabilities. Technology is still growing in importance in most businesses. Big data, better customer relationship management, improved ecommerce - the cloud can help in these areas, and more.

However, to see the biggest potential benefits in these three areas, you really need to plan ahead rather than just reacting.

So, what is your cloud strategy?

A successful cloud strategy won't stifle your company's agility. But will increase your understanding of how decisions about the cloud can affect and improve the work your people do.

When developing a cloud strategy, make sure you focus on aligning your IT services with the needs of your business. (If you haven't done this in a while, you can go back to the basics of your IT requirements, thinking about how technology can help you achieve your business objectives.)

Regardless of your specific objectives, it's a good idea to aim for:

  1. A standard operating environment (SOE). This means you have a single set of software and cloud services used across your business. With an SEO, it's much easier to manage security, patches and updates.
  2. A single SOE management platform across your business infrastructure. This allow you to manage, monitor and automate cloud computing functions from one place.
  3. A system that will allow you to add capacity and deliver increased availability more easily than the software and services you rely on currently.
  4. A faster way to set up new users, features or other capabilities. (For instance, you should be able to create a user account for a new employee quickly and easily.
  5. A lower total cost of ownership (TCO). Because cloud-based systems are generally more effective, you should see your total costs reduce over the long term. (You can measure these over a period of 3+ years.)

Of course, your strategy should evolve in response to technological advances or market changes. Understanding how to adjust your strategy is key for it to remain fit for purpose.

Can a cloud partner help?

Coming up with a suitable cloud strategy can be tricky. The demands of day-to-day tasks may mean it's one of those jobs that never gets done.

As with other aspects of choosing and buying IT, you might also benefit from getting an external perspective on things. An independent consultant or local IT company may be able to help you develop a practical, long-term cloud strategy.

Copyright © 2015 Simon Mitchell, CEO at LinuxIT

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Posted in The internet | Tagged cloud computing | 0 comments

How I run a multimillion pound business from my iPad

September 07, 2015 by IT Donut contributor

How I run a multimillion pound business from my iPad{{}}In 1977, DEC's Ken Olsen said there was "no reason for any individual to have a computer in his home."

In 1995, 3Com's Robert Metcalfe predicted that the internet would soon go "spectacularly supernova" and collapse entirely.

In 2007, Microsoft's Steve Ballmer said that "there's no chance that the iPhone is going to get any significant market share."

People are spectacularly wrong about tech all the time. Many people still insist you can't run a business from a tablet or mobile device, for example.

Sure, they've got iPads, but they're used for playing Candy Crush and watching last night's Mock the Week on the commute. It's nice that you can check your emails, but when it comes to serious, business-critical work, the iPad just isn't up to the job.

Or is it?

In fact, people (including me) are already running entire companies from tablet computers. In many respects, it's easier than hauling yourself into the office and sitting at your desk. Why?

Working practices have changed

Flexible working: it's the new norm. While it's often thought to be a millennial thing - and sure, Gen Y does love working from coffee shops, trains, planes, and everywhere else in-between - the truth is that people have always wanted to do it. It just hasn't always been viable.

Employees now have the right to request flexible working, and - better yet - the ability to actually make it happen.

Cloud technology, along with ubiquitous wireless access, has made it possible to work while keeping an eye on the kids, during a conference (look, those things are long, and you might as well get something done), or commuting on a train.

And tablet computers make it even easier for entrepreneurs like me to take their workspace with them wherever they are.

How does it compare to being in the office?

The variety of apps available through the cloud means the difference between being in and out of your HQ is negligible. And where it is different, it's usually better.

All I need is an internet connection and I have access to all the information I need to run my company regardless of where I am. I can, in theory, do everything from my smart phone, but I prefer to use my tablet.

I have a keyboard which makes drafting lengthy emails easy, I can make calls via Skype, classic software like Microsoft Office makes writing proposals a breeze, and mobile access to customer relationship management systems (like PipeDrive) ensures I can watch our revenue stream on the move.

Apps like Citrix Sharefile allow me to access documents offline. When I don't have mobile internet and aren't near a Wi-Fi hotspot, this is invaluable. And project management tools like Slack make instant group communication a simple, effortless undertaking from any mobile device.

So thanks to the cloud and the range of business apps now available, I can (and do) run my business from my iPad just as easily as if I were in the office.

The office, of course, is still there, but this flexibility means I can be just as productive wherever I am – whether that's en-route to a meeting, checking in with the office when I'm abroad or working from home.

Copyright 2015 © Simon Osman, CEO of iFollowOffice

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Image: Denys Prykhodov / Shutterstock.com

Posted in Communications | Tagged apple | 0 comments

How to master responsive email design

September 01, 2015 by IT Donut contributor

When you were growing up, did you ever have breakfast cereals with a toy inside? Not knowing what you'd find nestled within your cornflakes gave you a good reason to get on and eat the entire box in a single sitting.

The element of surprise was exciting back then. But it doesn't translate quite so well to the world of email marketing.

Do your emails look their best?

When you send out marketing emails, they'll be opened by people using an array of email clients. Can you be sure that your emails will look good in Outlook, in Google Mail, on an iPhone and on a tablet computer?

This isn't something you want to leave to chance. Every email client has its own quirks, so this blog post takes a look at how to make sure your emails look good in as many of them as possible.

Although there are a lot of email clients out there, the top five make up around 73% of the market. If you cater for these, you'll be well on your way to running successful email campaigns:How to master responsive email design{{}}

Why does responsive email matter?

You can see from the chart above that people tend to open emails on mobile devices more than anything else.

To ensure your emails look right on mobile devices, you need to make your emails responsive.

You might have heard of responsive web design before. With emails, it's the same: a responsive email changes shape and size so that it displays properly on the screen of any device.

Essentially, it adapts itself to fit anything from big desktop monitors to tiny smart phone screens.

The HTML code from which responsive emails are built can be complicated. The basics are straightforward, but the code required to cater for different devices can become confusing.

For this reason, we don't recommend attempting to code HTML emails yourself, unless you're confident and experienced at working with HTML.

However, taking some time to understand the principles underpinning email design will make it easier to work with designers and developers.

What to ask your email developer

Here are some things to ask a developer who's working on your marketing emails:

  • Have we checked what devices our recipients use?
    The graph shown above is taken from Litmus. It's a good overall view of email client use, but your own customers might have a different profile. For instance, if your email subscribers tend to be people in large companies, you might find more of them use Microsoft Outlook. Your existing email marketing tool may be able to show what clients and devices your recipients use.
  • How flexible is the width of the email?
    Catering for different screen widths is fundamental to successful responsive email design. Designing your emails with a few key screen sizes in mind is key. Ask your developer to show you how the email changes as it appears on screens of different sizes.
  • Have you put the key styles in line?
    Bear with us — we're going to get a little technical. The appearance of visual elements is governed by cascading style sheets (CSS). These define, for instance, what font, size and colour should be used to display text. When building a website, the CSS is usually separated from a page's HTML code. But when creating an email, your developer should include the CSS with each individual element. This is called 'in line CSS'.
  • What proportion of clients have we tested it with?
    It's very hard to create an email that looks perfect on 100% of email clients and devices. (You can do it, but it would cost a fortune.) There are just too many permutations to cater for. The best way to spend your budget is to concentrate on the email clients your recipients are using. Cover 80% of these and you're doing well.

Remember: when you're building marketing emails, you can avoid duplicating your efforts by creating a few email templates to edit and reuse easily for regular campaigns.

And finally, once you create those templates, test them on different platforms and devices. Make sure your customers see what you want them to see.

Copyright © 2015 Amir Jirbandey, expert contributor to the Marketing Donut.

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