Category: Learn

The new iPhone XS and XR have finally dropped and with them, an abundance of security features. Thanks to the latest iOS update, iOS 12, your phone is safer than ever. In addition to the new OLED displays, aerospace-grade aluminum bands, and the professional “portrait mode” camera feature, there are great, new ways to protect your information. Smartphone security features have always been a point of pride by Apple, and with their latest innovations, they have clearly been a priority. Here are some of the latest updates you can expect to find on your iPhone.

Limits On Ad Tracking

If you’ve ever wondered why a website displays banner ads for a new toaster, car, or clothing items every time you’ve been searching the internet for a new toaster, car, or piece of clothing, then you’ve witnessed targeting ads. It is easy for a website to find out a bit of information on you every time you log on. Luckily, Safari on iOS has been blocking third-party cookies for some time. However, the new iPhones have an additional feature; now Safari can block social media sharing icons and comment boxes that automatically identify you and plug in your information. The new iPhones are also putting up a bigger fight against Facebook. Before, if you were logged into your Facebook account in your browser, any site could track who you are if they used a Facebook Share button, even if you decided not to share the page. Now, the browser is able to recognize when a website is tracking you and you can choose to block the tracker or not. This traffic-restricting tech will also be available on the new macOS.

Video Chat Will Be Safer

iPhone uses encryption for your privacy in everything from your texts to your pictures. Data cannot be read without a facial scan, fingerprint, or passcode. Now, FaceTime chats can’t be spied on either. All chats and videos sent between iPhones can’t be stopped and spied on by hackers, in fact, Apple can’t even gain access to them. Even now that Apple has updated FaceTime to include group chats for up to 31 people at once, encryption will be still be activated.

Stronger Password Protection

Safari already uses a tool where it suggests strong passwords and will keep them safe in a storage system. Apple claims that this tool will be stronger than ever in iOS 12. Your Safari browser will also recognize when you use the same password and login information for multiple accounts and advise that you change one. And you won’t have to worry about juggling all of these different passwords since iCloud will keep them all safe and linked between all of your devices.

Emergency Location Sharing

If you find yourself in an emergency where you need to dial 911, your iPhone will automatically share your location with the emergency operator. This is an extremely important feature that could save lives when timing is everything, or it can’t be vocalized for some reason. This is also important for people who find themselves in emergency situations while in unfamiliar places.

Better Hacking Security

The new iPhone is prepared for hacking criminals and law enforcement agents trying to hack into your information. Previously, if your phone was not unlocked for seven days the security would block attempts at entry. Now if your phone is not unlocked for one hour it will be prepared to block attempts at data retrieval from persons trying to crack your codes.

Two-Factor Authentication

Two-factor authentication is commonplace for many secure websites such as those that deal with your money. A two-factor authentication means that you would need a code from your phone in addition to your username and password for entry into the site. This is a great inconvenience to a hacker, but it could also be annoying for you if you just want a faster entry into your information. This next great security update uses AutoFill to automatically fill-in your passcode on sites that you visit frequently. So not only are you doubly protected, but you also don’t need to add in double the information.

Developing a global mindset and having cultural competency are the fundamental elements of having a successful business in the global and domestic marketplaces. In order to thrive in today’s integrated labor force, employees, expatriates, and their managers must know how culture can impact business practices and everyday communication. The global business market has become very diverse and, as a result of technology, there are no more tangible borders and impossible transportation/ exportation problems. The only intangible border that exists between multiple countries now is the communication barrier.

Differences, even if subtle, are common across all cultures, and are even evident across state lines in the US. There are differences in the ways that people talk, the ways they walk, and even how they eat their pizza. As a person entering into the global business field, you must expand your awareness of multicultural communication in order to take advantage of the opportunities and avoid things that may present challenges when doing business.

What is Globalization?

Globalization has been and will continue to be the creator of a new and ever-changing international business landscape. Globalization has served as the object tethering societies together no matter how far away in the world they actually are. People now work and communicate across cultures daily with immense simplicity, like they never have before.

As great as globalization may seem, it does come with its challenges. Globalization adds work for managers who have to take on the responsibility of handling the operations of not only their local business, but a global business as well. There is a need for managers to not only have the correct amount of education, experience, and competency, but they must also be able to conduct themselves properly in a setting where there are differences in societal norms and beliefs.

The Importance of Observing Cultural Differences

If a manager is not able to understand such cultural differences, then a corporate partnership or business relationship will essentially be ruined. Misunderstandings between different cultures can become costly for businesses if they are not conducting themselves properly in international territories. When the management is effective in different parts of the world it typically means that they have an awareness, respect, and understanding of the way multiple cultures think, act, and do.

In order to communicate in a cross-cultural manner, the management must be highly aware and prepared beforehand of the best ways to communicate with global business partners. Many corporations have become globalized already and the task of management has grown in difficulty and complexity. Furthermore, managers must now make decisions keeping in mind the issues of other countries. They are in charge of informing their employees and training their employees to be empathetic towards cross-cultural issues. If a manager and her team are not sympathetic to another culture’s issues, there will be disastrous and costly consequences that will affect the reputation of the corporation.

If intercultural business can be conducted properly, then a wide range of options become available for a company. Globalization has seen the growth of many companies beyond what any business was capable of before. Businesses that are successful in intercultural communications gain an advantage over their competition because they can more seamlessly flow into global expansions.

To understand the link between communication and culture, you must first understand that it is culture that influences how one communicates. It is not just language; there are also other characteristics, values, and traits that belong to certain cultures that need to be understood and respected. Culture and communication go hand-in-hand because it cultivates the way people interact, not just what they say.

To become successful in an international business landscape, steps must be taken to understand their language, products, and food. Those are givens, but you must also think about their values, such as what is considered right and wrong. Everyday norms must also be understood, such as how one conducts themself at dinners, in the office, and at home? Where people live and how they live is also important to consider when entering a person’s office or home. Each country is different from another, but doing your research on these key components will help you and your business to become successful in any country in the global marketplace.

When dialing a number manually, delays are typically caused by the phone continuously ringing while the caller does not answer and by the actual action of dialing the number. These problems are why researchers came up with a solution known as predictive dialing. If you have heard of robo dialers or auto dialers then you may also have heard of predictive dialers. Predictive dialers work in a similar way to autodialers with some slight differences between the two.

How Does the Predictive Dialer Work

A predictive dialer begins with a long list of telephone numbers that it is programmed to automatically dial. If a call is answered, then the call will be switched over to a human agent; this usually occurs within 3 seconds of answering. This is to minimize time wasted on humans placing phone calls one at a time. The predictive dialer uses an advanced algorithm to send out these calls at a rate that is meant to minimize the time that an agent waits to speak to the customer. The algorithm changes based on the number of agents available, so the possibility of someone answering and not being connected to an agent is also minimized.

Predictive dialers can also screen for voicemails and busy signals. These predictive dialers call multiple numbers at a time and use call metrics to predict the best time to send the call so that an agent will be available to answer. The intention is to maximize the number of calls that get connected to an agent in a day. An agent can possibly manually dial a customer and wait about one minute before getting an answer. The predictive dialer, however, calls several numbers at the same time and only those that are answered with a “Hello” will take up the agent’s time. The predictive dialing formula usually lasts about three seconds before an agent is connected with a customer on the other line.

The History of the Predictive Dialer

These dialers began nearly 30 years ago to make it easier for the banking industry to pursue debt collections. Predictive dialers began as hardware, but they are now available as an easy-to-set-up software. Many companies choose to use predictive dialing software for the reduction of up-front costs and IT expenses; they provide excellent cost savings, while the technology can be immensely time-saving. Another reason many companies choose to use predictive dialing software is that it is easily integrated into Customer Relation Management systems or CRMs.

When predictive dialers are working flawlessly, they provide agents with a constant flow of phone calls. Telemarketers and customer service agents can save a lot of time because manually dialing takes up to 30 seconds per call, and there is no guarantee that the phone call will be answered. Predictive dialers don’t just call multiple lines at once; the metrics can even calculate how long the answered phone call will most likely last. That way, agents can finish one phone call and immediately be switched to the next caller.

Who Uses Predictive Dialing?

Many companies take advantage of predictive dialing services. As previously mentioned debt collection agencies started the predictive phone call hardware and still use it today. Other businesses that use predictive dialing software tend to be in customer-service, market research, or telemarketing.

Not every company will find that predictive dialing is right for them. If your company is focused on creating customer relationships rather than quickly collecting a debt, getting fast answers, or solving an issue, then predictive dialers won’t work well. The mission for predictive dialers is to have a high turn-around; not to discuss important details on high-cost products and services.

However, if your company is in the business of selling everyday products or services, then you might find predictive calling a very effective way to see results. Agent productivity is especially effective when choosing to use predictive dialing software.

The drawbacks of high volume calling do not allow enough time to find out any real information. Although the efficiency of agents rises and the number of calls increases, there is a lack of background information that can be found. This means that agents will not be able to prioritize leads. The FCC has also banned auto dialers that do not have pre-authorized approval by the people the company is attempting to reach.