Month: April 2020

Business Communication: Cutting Edge Solutions That Are Affordable

Every organisation relies heavily on the ability to communicate effectively, and the larger the company, the harder it is to maintain a level of communication even the security team need two way radio hire to keep secure communication. And in today’s rapid pace of industry, there are cost-effective platforms to ensure that everyone is on the same page.

Voice Over Internet Protocol

Known as VoIP, or hosted telephony, this enables audio and video to be broadcast over the Internet. There are IT providers that can specialize in setting up and configuring this system for your company, which empowers you in numerous ways. Sometimes, an email simply won’t do it and if you have a team that are spread across the country, VoIP solutions allow you to video conference in real-time, and with file sharing and whiteboard facilities, you can hold business meetings and come up with solutions.

Sales & Support

These are both critical aspects of any business, and using a dedicated online communication network offers you cost-effective real-time communication that ensures every employee is on the same page, so to speak. An engineer could, for example, have a video call with a customer, which might be enough to solve a pressing issue, or a sales manager could hold a virtual meeting with their team, regardless of where they are located.

Easy Installation & Configuration

If you would like to use a dedicated VoIP network, there is no bulky software to install, and with the provider’s assistance, you can be up and running within an hour. Users do not have to download bulky applications and the network will accept every digital device; laptop, PC, tablet or smartphone, and with a system that is password protected, you can control who uses your network.

Global Applications

As VoIP uses the Internet, participants of video calls can be in any location, all they need is a digital device and an Internet connection. You could be in London and wish to have a video call with a client in Australia (imagine the cost of a 30-minute phone call), which is very easy to do with VoIP solutions, and this really does empower you in so many ways.

How Does VoIP Work?

The provider would assign you a dedicated remote server, through which all of your call data is transmitted and stored, and as long as you have a device and an online connection, you can use the service. The fact that you have your own dedicated server means you can use the service at any time, and as the bandwidth is significant, you will enjoy crystal clear video and audio.

Online Solutions

If you would like to learn more about VoIP solutions, an online search will help you find an established IT support company, who can set up the system and train you how to use it. Once installed on your employees’ devices, every member of your team can make good use of video calling, and when compared to the cost of regular voice calls, VoIP offers a very cost-effective way to communicate in real time.

Talk to an IT support company and they can show you the many benefits of VoIP communication and many would offer you a free trial.

Give your Child an Edge with International School Education

If you live in South East Asia and you want your child to have a comprehensive schooling, look no further than international education, a system that is designed to develop the essential life skills needed for success in the modern world.

Why are international schools widely regarded as the best in the world?

The very core of every school is their curriculum, and international schools use either the US or the UK curriculum, as they are widely recognised as being the best there is. The main reasons for having international schools is so that the children of diplomats, managers and armed forces personnel can obtain a structured education while their parents are serving in foreign countries, which is possible due to all schools using the same curriculum.

Native English Professional Teachers

International schools recruit their teachers from the United Kingdom, which attracts the best people who wish to live the expat life for a few years, so your child would be in the best possible hands from the age of 5 until they prepare to enter university. If you choose a school that has K-12 capabilities, your child will not have to change schools at any time, which can be a traumatic event that negatively impacts their education.

Online Solutions

Any parent who would like to learn more about a British international school in Bangkok, for example, a simple Google search will bring up a list of reputable international programs in and around the city. You can then browse each website, looking for a school that offers the British curriculum that is delivered by professional qualified UK teachers.

Fluency in English

In order that your child has the essential English language skills, they need to be learning in an English-speaking environment from day 1. Even if the parents do not speak English at home, the child will be exposed to English around 8 hours per day, and from an early age, an intermediate level of language skills is rapidly acquired. Learning in a Thai school would not give your child the English language exposure, mainly because they would only learn English one hour per day, whereas, with an international program, the language of instruction is always English.

Critical Thinking

It is a general observation that Asian education is mainly a rote learning system (learning through memorisation) and it is a cultural thing not to question the teacher, which is often seen as a sign of disrespect. The goal of a western style education system is to cultivate an enquiring mind, which develops essential critical thinking skills, and by using project-based learning, all students play an active role in the learning process.

Finding your Passion in Life

If a child is engaged in a dynamic curriculum, there are many opportunities to pursue new interests, and this can very often be the springboard into a lifelong love of something that might lead to a very successful career.

Give your son or daughter a head-start by enrolling them into an international school program and you certainly won’t regret it.

5 Essential Safety Solutions for your Workplace

For the past decade or two, we have begun to look seriously at health and safety support in the workplace, in an effort to reduce or eliminate accidents at work, and there are many devices available today that do make the workplace that much of a safer environment for all. Here are just a few of the safety features that you could deploy at your office or factory to minimise the risks to your employees.

  1. Smoke Detectors – These are regarded as absolutely essential for any workplace and they should be installed in every room, which gives you an early warning in the event of a fire. There are specialist companies that will come into your work area and carry out a fire safety check, which would include installing smoke detectors and fire extinguishers. Storage areas are especially vulnerable, as they very often contain flammable items such as office stationery, so do carry out an exhaustive search regarding locations that are at risk of fire.
  2. Safety Cut Out Switches – Electricity can be very dangerous and you should install the standard electrical safety switch that automatically cuts off the power supply in the event of an issue. There are fusible and non-fusible types and the supplier would be able to recommend the best unit for your business premises, and such a supplier can easily be located with a Google search.
  3. Fire Extinguishers & Blankets – Whatever the type of company you run, your offices/factory/warehouse should have an adequate supply of either fire extinguishers or blankets, depending on the type of business. If you call your local fire safety officer, they would be happy to pay you a visit and make some recommendations, and remember that these units do require testing and inspection at specific intervals.
  4. Manual Handling Training – Most businesses can benefit from some hands-on manual handling training, which helps employees to gain a deeper understanding of the correct methods to manually handle objects. A short course like this could reduce staff absenteeism due to back injuries that are the result of incorrect handling procedures, and if you contact a specialist company, they would pay you a visit and put together a short training course that is designed specifically for your place of business.
  5. Safety Signage – Low doorways and slippery floors are just a couple of the situations when safety signage would be appropriate, and with visible signs warning people they are entering a loading bay area are also a good idea. If you asked one staff member to walk around the workplace and take note of your current safety signage, this would likely result in a few signs that could be added.

As a business owner, it is your responsibility to make sure the workplace is as safe as possible and to consider consulting a corporate risk solution to evaluate your business risks and advise on the most effective safety measures.

Track Your Vehicles All The Time With A GPS Tracking System

If you are the owner of a fleet of vehicles or even the owner of a private car or pickup truck, then you should be aware that GPS tracking devices can be installed, leading to you being able to enjoy a number of benefits. Indeed, given the various advancements in the GPS tracking industry over the last few decades, it is now possible to reduce your operating costs as well as increase your profitability. These benefits can be enjoyed as a result of installing GPS tracking devices in your fleet of cars or other vehicles. Furthermore, you should also be aware that if you are the operator of a fleet of vehicles, then GPS tracking devices can provide you with a number of significant ways to optimise your organisation.

1.            Optimise routes

One of the most important benefits that you can enjoy by tracking your vehicles all of the time through the installation of a GPS tracking system is that you can enjoy access to real-time data about where every vehicle is located. In addition, you should also be aware that GPS tracking units will have access to road traffic information, meaning you can send the ideal route information to the device in a particular vehicle, so that your drivers can avoid delays as a result of accidents or other traffic jams.

2.            Improve customer delivery times

Furthermore, you should also be aware that if you install a GPS tracking device in a particular vehicle, you can increase your response time when you have to pick up or deliver products to your customers. This is especially pertinent if you operate a courier or delivery business as you can choose the closest vehicle to the customer in order to provide them with a prompt and highly responsive service.

3.            Reduce operating costs

In addition, it is also important to understand that by installing a GPS tracking system in a particular vehicle, you can also reduce your operating costs. Indeed, vehicles that have a high mileage will often lose a considerable amount of value in depreciation. However, by installing a GPS tracking device in a particular vehicle you can reduce the cost of fuel as well as reduce the mileage of a particular vehicle. This is especially pertinent if you have a large number of vehicles that you may want to sell after a particular period of time or when they reach a specific mileage.

4.            Increase safety

Lastly, you should also be aware that by installing GPS tracking devices in a variety of different vehicles you can increase the overall safety of your drivers. Indeed, GPS tracking devices can allow you to identify any problems as well as prevent speeding. This is especially pertinent if you operate a large fleet of vehicles as you can prevent accidents and injuries from occurring. Finally, it should also be noted that if a GPS tracking device is installed in a vehicle and it is stolen, then you can have a way of recovering the vehicle thus preventing further losses.

  • Optimise routes
  • Improve response times
  • Reduce costs and increase safety

Therefore, in conclusion, if you are the owner of a fleet of vehicles you should think about installing GPS tracking systems to enjoy a number of different benefits.