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Saving money with cloud computing services

• Public vs. private clouds
• Reduces the necessary amount of hardware
• Less demanding labor and maintenance
• Higher productivity
• Lower initial capital investment
• Top public cloud computing providers

Public vs. private clouds

When moving your data and applications to the cloud, you need to decide between a public or private cloud environment. Public clouds are hosted by providers like Amazon or Microsoft, and each one can host several different companies. The data is segregated to keep it organized and secure, but this multitenancy keeps prices low. Additionally, public clouds are maintained by the vendor, reducing operating costs for the company purchasing cloud space.

Private clouds, on the other hand, are hosted by the company storing their data on the cloud. There is no data from other companies on these clouds, which is often required for businesses in highly-regulated industries to meet compliance standards. Because there is only one company per cloud environment, the cost is often higher than with public clouds. This also means that the organization itself is responsible for maintenance.

To offset the higher costs of private clouds but still adhere to compliance requirements, some organizations opt for hybrid cloud or multicloud environments. With a hybrid environment, companies can place their sensitive or regulated data on private clouds, while keeping everything else on a public cloud. Hybrid clouds offer more flexibility and reliability than using a single cloud environment.

Also read: How the Cloud and Mobile are Changing Professional Services

Reduces the necessary amount of hardware

An advantage of public cloud computing is the reduction in hardware costs. Instead of purchasing in-house equipment, hardware needs are left to the vendor. For companies that are growing rapidly, new hardware can be large, expensive, and inconvenient. Cloud computing alleviates these issues because resources can be acquired quickly and easily. Even better, the cost of repairing or replacing equipment is passed to the vendors.

Along with purchase costs, off-site hardware cuts internal power costs and saves space. Large data centers can take up precious office space and produce a large amount of heat. Moving to cloud applications or storage can help maximize space and significantly cut energy expenditures.

Also read: IaaS vs. PaaS: Which Cloud Model is Right for Your Business?

Less demanding labor and maintenance

Cloud solutions can also lead to a dramatic decrease in labor and maintenance costs. As a result of the hardware being owned by vendors and stored in off-site locations, there is less demand for in-house IT staff. If servers or other hardware need repairs or upgrades, it is the responsibility of the vendor and doesn’t cost your company any time or money.

Eliminating routine maintenance can free your IT staff to focus on important initiatives and development. In some cases, this could even mean reducing staff size. For companies lacking the resources for an in-house IT staff, the cloud will help eliminate costly third-party hardware repair bills.

Higher productivity

In addition to the outright labor savings, cloud computing can be extremely cost-effective for enterprises because of the increase in workforce productivity. The deployment of cloud software is notably faster than conventional installation. Instead of the weeks or months that a standard company-wide installation may take, cloud software deployment can happen in a matter of hours. This means employees can spend less time waiting and more time working.

Adoption time is also decreased with cloud solutions. SaaS applications are typically available through a web browser and can be learned quickly and easily. Finally, most cloud storage and software applications are available anywhere with an internet connection. This is great news for enterprises that rely on travel or have telecommuting policies in place.

Lower initial capital investment

Typically, cloud solutions are available in a pay-as-you-go pricing model. This format provides savings and flexibility in several ways. Foremost, your company doesn’t have to pay for software that isn’t being utilized. Unlike an upfront license, cloud software typically only costs per user. Additionally, pay-as-you-go software can be canceled at any time, reducing the financial risk of any software that doesn’t work.

The up-front cost of the cloud is also lower than in-house solutions. For companies that need top-tier products but don’t have extensive funds immediately available, cloud solutions provide fantastic flexibility.

Cloud computing can help you save on investments in other areas as well. By storing data and applications on the cloud, your employees can access them wherever they are, improving work from home capabilities. This means you’ll need less office space and can lower your rent and utility payments.

Top public cloud computing providers

If you’re ready to make the jump to cloud computing, here are a few providers you should consider.

Amazon Web Services

Amazon Web Services (AWS) owns a large portion of the market share for cloud computing and offers a large feature set, including support for analytics, storage, developer tools, and security. The platform offers a pay-as-you-go pricing model, allowing companies to only pay for what they use each month. Customers like how reliable AWS is, thanks to the number of data centers it has all over the world.

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Google Cloud

Google Cloud is still expanding their cloud offerings, but they can provide a lot of value, especially to companies that are new to cloud computing. The platform supports a large selection of industries, including software development, healthcare, retail, and manufacturing, and it’s available in over 200 countries. Google even offers free credits for new users to help them get started. Customers like how flexible the service is and the different options that are available.

Microsoft Azure

Microsoft Azure is quickly gaining ground to tie AWS for the largest cloud computing market share, especially as their offered services grow. The system offers over 200 products, including support for the internet of things (IoT), artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML), and mobile application development. To attract new customers, they’re even offering some of their most popular services free for a year. Customers like the stability of the platform and how easy to use many of the features are.

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Making the jump to cloud computing for your business

Have you considered maximizing your budget with cloud computing solutions? If not, it’s time to look into what the cloud can offer. Cloud migrations can be intimidating, but all of the benefits they offer make them worth the time and effort. Saving money is great, but the advantages don’t stop there. You can also reduce the workload on your IT team, get more productivity from your employees, and lower the amount of hardware you need to keep and maintain.

Ready to get started? To make finding the right vendor easier, TechnologyAdvice has done the heavy lifting for you. Check out our Cloud Backup and Storage Product Selection Tool and easily compare over 50 cloud storage and backup tools.

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Like many technology trends, “Software as a Service” (SaaS) has entered into the realm of buzzwords that can be confusing and easy to ignore.

So, what is SaaS, and what good does it do you to know?

It’s a method of software delivery where applications are hosted remotely by a vendor or service provider and are made available to customers over a network. Simply put, users rent the software instead of purchasing it. Most SaaS providers offer a usage-based subscription that can be purchased on a monthly or yearly basis. Although it is a departure from the conventional method of purchasing software, SaaS can provide extremely notable advantages in the business environment. As the integration of cloud computing increases, many software providers are adding SaaS capabilities that could lead to huge gains.

If you’re looking for a provider with SaaS abilities, check out our IT Software Product Selection Tool. Answer a few questions and get up to 5 recommendations from our technology advisors tailored to your needs. It’s fast and completely free.

More of a visual learner? Here’s a video breaking down the pros and cons of SaaS:

Four advantages of SaaS

1. Cost

SaaS can provide notable savings for several different reasons. Foremost, it eliminates the upfront cost of purchase/installation, as well on-going costs like maintenance and upgrades. Instead of spending large amounts of money on hardware installations, SaaS applications can be easily downloaded and maintained. Furthermore, pay-as-you-go models allow businesses to pay for only what they are using and not pay heavily on un-used licensing. SaaS can be especially advantageous for small businesses because it provides access to expensive, high-powered software that might have been otherwise unobtainable through conventional purchasing methods. Also, the subscription based method eliminates the extreme financial risk of expensive software.

2. Time

Many people say “time is money” and thankfully, SaaS can save both. For many SaaS applications, installation is as simple as having an internet connection and acquiring a log-in. Furthermore, maintenance responsibilities are shifted from your IT department to the vendor itself. This eliminates extra work hours and downtime that might have been necessary to upgrade conventional software. Finally, SaaS apps tend to have a smaller learning curve which means quicker adoption across your workforce.

3. Scalability & Accessibility

Another great feature of SaaS is that the pay-as-you-go model provides fantastic flexibility and options. Because the software is hosted externally by a vendor, changing your usage plan is easy and can be done without advance notice. Additionally, web-based use allows subscribers to access the software easily from any location with internet capabilities.

4. Compatibility

With the conventional software installation method, updates can require enormous amounts of time and money. Even worse, version discrepancies between members of your workforce can lead to compatibility issues and wasted time. With SaaS however, subscribers can simply log-on to already upgraded services.

Why choose SaaS?

Software as a Service has a lot to offer. If it’s used properly, it can help your business save money, time, and human resources. By eliminating problems like software maintenance and incompatibility, SaaS can provide streamlined focus and greater productivity. However, like other technology solutions, SaaS has some drawbacks. It is important to thoroughly research the options on an individual basis before implementing any solutions. To help with the confusing terrain of SaaS, we will soon detail some disadvantages and drawbacks to help you make balanced and well-informed decisions.

Need a product that offers SaaS? Use our IT Software Solutions Product Selection Tool to get recommendations based on your feature, business size, and industry requirements.

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We charted the most important moments in the history of gamification to show you how much the strategy has evolved. Check out our infographic and tell us in the comments what you think is next for gamification.

Where will gamification go next? Tell us in the comments below.

Top Gamification Software Recommendations

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To fix this problem, some companies have turned to automated support lines. Unfortunately, many customers find computer generated service annoying, and customer satisfaction doesn’t often improve. Consequently, companies have begun to realize that the most important part of customer support is the human element. Which creates the question – is there a way to increase the speed and efficiency of customer support while maintaining human service? There is, and it’s called gamification.

Gamification provides a fantastic platform for enhancing call center service. Incorporating game mechanics into a call center promotes efficiency and encourages employees to handle calls more effectively. Call center agents can often become frustrated and disengaged after dealing with difficult or angry customers. A gamification platform provides an enjoyable way to maintain engagement and productivity.

There are several gamification vendors that offer effective products designed specifically for call centers. Bunchball offers a platform that allows companies to create challenges based around their business goals. Their games allow for useful analytics that can be used to improved performance and increase first call resolution rates. Playvox, by Acaris, is a comprehensive gamification solution specifically for enhancing call centers. They provide games that aid in every step of the process , from employee training to performance recognition.

Freshdesk provides a low-cost alternative. Their service has an easy-to-use interface, and incorporates ticket management tools and analytics. Points are awarded to agents based on the quickness and accuracy of their customer responses. To increase competition, service representatives can be put into teams adn given specific goals – each team’s points are then displayed on an online leaderboard.

Call center gamification seems great in theory, but how effective is it in practice? LiveOps, a cloud-based call center service, wanted to increase their sales by enhancing the effectiveness of their training. They implemented a gamification platform using competitions, badges, points and an online leaderboard. Once this solution had been put in place, 72% of employees voluntarily completed additional certification. As a result, service levels increased by 9%. Additionally, the training time for new employees decreased from 4 weeks of class time to just 14 hours.

The quality of a customer service department relies heavily on the effectiveness of the service representatives. Call center gamification is a powerful way to increase the productivity of service agents. If you’re interested in adding game dynamics to your customer service department, try our Smart Advisor Tool and quickly compare over 90 gamification vendors. If you have further questions, contact us directly and we will find a gamification solution that meets your needs.

Top Gamification Software Recommendations

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Gamification Won’t Fix a Broken Sales Process

Gamification will have a minimal effect if there are problems with the actual sales process or the product/service you are selling. For example, if your sales team is working with old/fraudulent leads, a gamified CRM won’t create a quality audience. Similarly, the quality of your products and services speaks for itself. From a long-term perspective, a gamified sales team can’t compensate for poor quality products.

Additionally, if you want to increase online sales, it is essential to evaluate why your current numbers are low. A platform aimed directly at enhancing customer loyalty may prove useless if your web traffic is small. Likewise, gamification won’t foster long-term customer retention if you aren’t reaching a relevant target audience. A great example of successful loyalty gamification is Disney’s Disney Movie Rewards. The page allows users to earn points for every Disney product they purchase. The points can be redeemed for more Disney merchandise as well as other prizes exclusive to rewards participants.

Gamification Won’t Replace Bad Training Materials

Another popular application for gamification is in employee training. Gamification in the training process can create a deep interaction between prospective employees and the material being presented. Furthermore, it can lead to better information retention and a more genuine interest in the company. However, gamified incentives can’t replace outdated or inaccurate training materials. Before adding gamification to a training process, it is important to review the quality of the actual materials. Is the information still relevant to the demands of the job? Does the material reflect new technological developments? And finally, does it accurately portray the company’s values and culture?

In 2012, Delta Airlines added an employee gamification platform titled “Ready, Set, Jet!” Instead of basing their entire training process around gameplay, Delta created the game as an additional component to make existing employees more knowledgeable. The travel-based game uses challenges and rewards to blend Delta situations with the real world. It is aimed at call centers and helps employees gain a deeper understanding of cultural situations and Delta-specific processes. More than 1,400 call center employees voluntarily engaged in the game in the first two weeks after its debut.

Gamification Requires Adoption and Maintenance

Gamification shouldn’t be thought of as “set it and forget it.” Don’t expect to see huge results if you aren’t willing to dedicate time and resources. Many gamification platforms fail to meet their objectives because the organization isn’t’t properly monitoring the results. Thorough analytics will show what aspects of the platform are generating the best outcomes, and which could be expanded upon or rethought.

Additionally, gamification also fails because the organization didn’t implement it using a clear goal. Gamification shouldn’t be thrown as a “Hail Mary Pass.” Instead, it should be based around a clear goal or aim to solve a specific problem. For online-sales, it is helpful to monitor customer behavior prior to adding gamified incentives. For example, if customers are more likely to make a purchase after completing a specific action, then adding game dynamics to that action will yield strong results. Don’t be scared by Gartner’s “80%.” Gamification can be successful if it’s used smartly, as a tool to help make improve your organization.

Have questions or concerns about gamification? Try comparing vendors with our Smart Advisor Tool or contact a TechnologyAdvice representative directly.

Top Gamification Software Recommendations

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Gamification, or the use of game dynamics in a non-game context, will yield powerful results for employee training. One of the most beneficial aspects of gamified training is that it adds fun and excitement to a previously boring procedure. While arduous training programs can discourage incoming employees, game dynamics can increase engagement and morale.

Increased engagement means that employees will better remember the content of the training. While a basic training program might deliver the necessary information, a gamified platform will allow for deeper interaction between the user and material. Many organizations waste resources when employees complete their training process but retain minimal knowledge. A fully engaging platform will lead to educated employees that can get to work right away.

In addition to conveying the specifics of the job, gamification can also instill company values and policies. By increasing interest and engagement during training, trainees are able to better understand the nature of the company.

How can game dynamics be added? Companies with online training videos or modules can use a service like Badgeville to add points and badges as prizes for completed courses. Adding incentives is a simple way to encourage participation. In addition to rewarding completion, there is an advantage to taking it further and rewarding mastery and knowledge. If the training program requires, assigning performance based status or rewards will encourage trainees to perform at a higher level.

Moreover, using leaderboards adds a social dynamic to training. Foremost, it brings in the power of competition. By publicly rewarding completion or mastery, trainees will feel driven to compete. This is specifically powerful in the training process because incoming employees may feel especially driven to show their capabilities. Furthermore, it can foster positive social interactions among new employees. Instead of losing productivity because new workers are alone or intimidated, a gamified training process can get them accustomed to the company culture and feeling comfortable right out of the gate. Additionally, it can put them directly in-touch with existing employees and tasks.

Although it seems great in writing, does it really work? In short, yes.For example, the enterprise software company, SAP, added gamification to their college recruitment process. SAP implemented a MindTickle platform that included badges, points and leaderboards. When the newly-gamified hires were compared to their predecessors, SAP noticed a 75% increase in awareness about the company and related products. The MindTickle platform helped remove four classroom training sessions and created 70% savings in senior management coaching time and a 60% reduction in administration costs.

Through enhanced employee training, gamification can save your organization money and time. If you’re interested in the possibilities of a gamification platform, try our Smart Advisor Tool. All you have to do is answer the targeting questions and the Smart Advisor will recommend solutions.

<sup>Sources
1. http://www.gamification.co/2013/02/15/gamified-training-in-corporate-environment/
2. http://www.mindtickle.com/customers/new-hire-sap</sup>

Top Gamification Software Recommendations

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Just to recap:

1. Select the picture and then select ‘Format’ from the picture toolbar

2. Click ‘Compress Pictures’

3. Select “Delete Cropped Areas of Pictures” and choose “Email” for your output settings

That’s it!

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As a recap – here’s how to format multiple sheets at the same time:

1. Ctrl + Click each sheet tab at the bottom of your worksheet (selected sheets will turn white).

2. While selected, any formatting changes you make will happen in all of the selected sheets.

3. Double-click each tab when you are done to un-select them.

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Make sure the goal of your gamification strategy matches the objectives and purpose of your product(s). The best long-term results come when your gamified platform directly encourages customers to purchase your product. Although games are useful for establishing brand recognition, a game that doesn’t relate directly to your products/services might not create long-term customers. A fantastic example of this can be seen through airline rewards programs. These programs allow customers to earn points and build status which eventually can lead to earning free tickets and qualifying for upgrades. The goals of the game directly match the intent of the airline because they compel customers to purchase tickets. Even better, these programs are so compelling that many frequent travelers have unwavering brand allegiance and sometimes make unnecessary flights just to maintain their airline status. Who hasn’t met a traveler (or been that traveler) who will forego logic and sacrifice convenience to utilize existing rewards or build more points with their favorite airline?

Utilize the power of recognition to facilitate continued participation. Recognition can be utilized in two ways. First, recognition can appeal to the desire for competition against others. People like to win, and recognizing high scores might compel users to continue participating. Secondly, keeping users updated on their status within the game will keep them engaged. Reminding participants that they are close to the next reward or level will encourage them to continue playing. An important component of gaming is mastery. Why do many people continue playing video games with no tangible reward? Often, it is because they want to reach the next level or enhance their skill. Adding the potential for mastery to a game will help keep customers involved on a long-term basis.

Appeal to the desire for community and social interaction. Adding a social component will appeal to the competitive nature of many gamers. Being able to win or acquire heightened status is extremely appealing for many customers. (Think back to the airlines again, there is a powerful allure to being a “platinum member” or having “first-class” status). Additionally, people like to share games with their friends and family. Make sure that you appeal to the potential virality of a game by adding means for participants to share it with others.

Adding the component of time can be extremely powerful, but should done with limited and intentional use. Giving a time limit to a deal or product can drive immediate engagement because customers will feel a sense of urgency and a compulsion to participate. It’s important however, to use this sparingly because time factors can also create customers who lack continued loyalty. Perhaps they will only participate for the short time the deal is in place, or they may miss the deadline and abandon your product/service as a whole. The most powerful way to use time is to add it as a component to an existing gamification platform instead of building the entire platform around a ticking clock.

Gamification can be confusing and intimidating to implement. However, the results are powerful and undeniable. Simple, affordable gamification strategies can lead to continued customer loyalty and enhance revenue.

If you’re interested in gamification but don’t know where to start, try using our Gamification product selection tool. It will quickly narrow down your options and give you solutions that will directly meet your objectives.

<sup>Sources
1. http://info.objectfrontier.com/blog/bid/317819/8-Examples-of-Gamification-to-Encourage-Customer-Behavior
2. http://blog.aplicor.com/how-gamification-can-improve-customer-loyalty-programs/
3. https://www.helpscout.net/blog/gamification-loyalty/</sup>

Top Gamification Software Recommendations

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What are the benefits of implementing gamification?

Gamification can have a wide range of fantastic results. If implemented correctly, gamification can increase your website traffic, user satisfaction, user engagement, employee productivity and enhance your employee training process.

What problems can gamification solve?

A gamified platform can enhance your customer retention, audience engagement, public relations, brand intimacy, influence or inspire employees. It’s important to note though, that gamification has limits. Gamification is by no means a “cure-all” and cannot entirely transform a bad product or poorly managed business.

How to choose a vendor?

If you’ve made it this far and are interested in incorporating gamification into your enterprise, it’s important to know how to effectively select a vendor. There are most definitely a few things that you should define for yourself, before you begin your search.

1. What’s Your Industry? Before selecting a gamification vendor, it is important to thoroughly understand your industry. It’s a good idea to look at a game developer’s past work and see if their experience matches your business. This could make all the difference in ensuring a gamification platform is a success.
2. What’s Your Budget? Another facet of the decision making process is selecting a pricing model. Popular gamification pricing models include licensing, usage-based, deliverables, revenue share, and an hourly-rate or flat-rate. Additionally, well-implemented gamification is dynamic and responsive. Although large vendors have advantages of budget and experience, a smaller vendor with fewer clients may be more attentive to designing gameplay.
3. What’s Your Project Goal? Establishing a list of goals for a gamification platform is essential. If your goals are unclear or convoluted, it may be exceedingly difficult for a game developer to produce meaningful results. Although gamification is powerful, proper preparation is key. So ask yourself, do you want to motivate your employees? Train your employees? Create a customer loyalty program?
4. Which Features do you need? Figure out what you need in terms of features. Do you want an analytics dashboard so you can measure your results? Or maybe an API, or a platform that you can integrate with your CRM system – The point is, not all gamification companies offer these features. Deciding as early as possible which features are important to you will help tremendously with finding the right solution.

Confusing, right? That’s why TechnologyAdvice offers the Gamification Product Selection Tool to evaluate your needs and recommends relevant software– turning this daunting task into a simple one.

Try it out, and let us know what you think by emailing or commenting below!

Top Gamification Software Recommendations

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