With the coronavirus (COVID-19) recently classified as a pandemic by the World Health Organisation, and with over 128,000 people infected worldwide (at the time of publishing), many countries are opting to close schools and businesses, in order to reduce ‘community spread’ of this virus. As a result, schools, government offices, and even businesses, are being closed for several days, or even weeks, in the hope that declining rates of infection would be realised.

However, for many, these closures are not a glorified holiday. The work of an organisation, and even of a country, still needs to get done. So, even if it was not embraced before, many employers are now arranging for their employees to continue working from home. However, although most of us might be thrilled at the prospect of being able to work from home – albeit without the threat of a global pandemic in the mix (!) – like many things, it does take some know-how in order to do it well. Here are six tips when preparing to work from home.

1. Be clear about the personal resources that you will be using at home

In circumstances when remote working is being imposed – such as to lessen the spread of COVID-19, many organisations may not have fully considered plans or the requisite systems already in place to allow ALL of their employees to work from home. As a result, a lot of things are likely to fall through the cracks, and may be the expectation that essentially, the employees will pick up the slack. A big area where such omissions tend to occur is with respect to telecoms and ICT, specifically, phones, computers and the associated software.

For employees who already had been assigned laptop computers, the transition tends to be easier, as they would just use those devices at home. However, for those who work at a desktop computer at the office, there may be an expectation that they will use their home computers when required to telework. Similarly, if employees have not been assigned mobile/cellular phones, are they expected to make – and bear all the costs for – work-related calls on their personal phones?

These are some of the matters that ought to be discussed and clarified before remote work commences, in order to ensure that appropriate arrangements are in place, and to limit the chances of employees feeling as if they have been taken advantage of, and left out of pocket, albeit in challenging circumstances.

2.  Maintain regular hours

The discipline of not having to bolt out of the door at a particular time, and beat through the traffic, in order to get to work on time, could give way to a more laissez-faire attitude when working from home. Instead of being at your desk by about 8:15 a.m., as you would do normally, with work officially starting at 8:30, at home, you are now clocking it at 10.

One of the keys to working from home successfully is being disciplined: respecting the fact that there are prescribed periods in which you are supposed to be working – unless, of course, other arrangements have been made. Hence, although some flexibility is permissible, even though you might be at home, it is important to still conduct yourself as a professional – even though you might still be in your pyjamas at 10 o’ clock in the morning!

3.  Set a schedule, and stick to it

Recognising that many of us are conditioned to be in the ‘work zone’ at work, and leave work behind at home, some kind of mental adjustment might be needed when those two worlds collide. At the office, our days might be quite organised, where we know what tasks we have to complete, the meeting we are scheduled to attend, etc. However, when (almost) everyone might be working from home, things might not necessarily go to plan.

Also, if you and your colleagues are teleworking, due to COVID-19, it is likely that schools have also been closed, and your children are at home. In tending to their needs and trying to keep them occupied, your work commitments could suffer – although you are supposed to be on the clock. It is crucial to manage distractions, in order to be truly productive and to be able to show tangible or measurable work-related outputs.

4.  Set targets and goals

When working from home, the days can easily meld into each other, and especially when distractions abound, you may realise that you have accomplished very little at the end of a work day. In order to set yourself up for success, it is recommended that you set targets and goals, These targets and goals can be as granular as you need to keep you honest, such as, targets or goals you want to accomplish: within the hour; by the end of the morning; by the end of the day; by the end of the week.

It is important to highlight that unlike when everyone is working at the office, where there may be a lot of seamless collaboration and teamwork, in working from home, there can be a sense that each employee is under their own spotlight. Hence, what you have or have not accomplished, and/or what you have contributed to your team, becomes quite clear, and could affect future performance evaluations.

5.  Use online tools to meet and collaborate

To stave off the isolation that can happen when working from home, especially when one is accustomed to working and sharing space with colleagues, it may be useful ensure that the team remain connected, although everyone might be working remotely.

Platforms such as Slack, Google Chat, Skype, or even WhatsApp, can be used to for group chats, or even to hold internal team briefing and meetings, or even conference calls with clients. Cognisant that one’s office might closed for several days, the aim is to still foster a sense of normalcy, and to limit the losses to one’s team, and to the organisation, when face-to-face engagement may be limited.

6.  Mind the munchies!

Finally, with kitchen and the refrigerator so close by when you are at home, you are liable to go rummaging around a lot more often when you feel bored or could do with a break. At the office, snacks and the like might not be as readily available, and so you may be less tempted to eat between meals, or just consume empty calories.

Once again, discipline is necessary. If you are unable to completely resist temptation, you might want to tie your food rewards to work-related targets and goals previously suggested. So for example, by your morning break, you should have accomplished A, B and C, and only then can you have half of the muffin you had been eyeing since breakfast. Hopefully, the last thing you want is to have gained 10 pounds (5 kilogrammes) because you were working from home for just two weeks!

Image credit:   Arek Socha (Pixabay) 

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In the days leading up to the World Economic Forum (WEF) Annual Meeting, which began in Davos, Switzerland, yesterday, 17 January 2017, the WEF published a report, Shaping the Future of Retail for Consumer Industries.  The report seeks to highlight key forces that will shape the retail and consumer packaged goods into the future, specifically over the next 10 years.

For those who are not familiar with the term, consumer packaged goods (CPG) are consumable products, such as food and beverages, footwear and apparel, tobacco, and cleaning products (Source: TechTarget). Hence, matters related to the supply chain for those goods is also expected to be change significantly in the next few years.

In addition to a more empowered consumer  and the implementation of transformative business models, the WEF identified disruptive technologies as factors that are going to change the retail and CPG industries. Below, we highlight those eight technologies, and verbatim from the WEF, some of the ways they will alter retail and CPG.

1. Internet of Things

The Internet of things (IoT), which speaks to the interconnection of devices via the Internet, is not yet at a stage where it is expected to truly have the impact envisaged. However, in the next two to five  years below are a few of the ways IoT is expected to transform the retail and CPG industries:

• Enhanced customer experience via personalized service offerings that adapt to individual needs
• Device data can provide a 360-degree view of the customer
• Enabling new purchasing channels by automating product purchase via subscription refill and//or providing new channels to discover, research and purchase products directly.

2. Autonomous vehicles (AV)/ drones

Drones, also known as unmanned aerial vehicles, have become quite popular, both among individuals and businesses, and is being used in limited circumstances by select retailers. Autonomous vehicles, also know as self-driving cars, are currently being piloted in a few cities in some developed countries; but it is still years away from mainstream acceptance. However, in the next six to 10 years, the WEF predicts that autonomous vehicles and drones will be used to:

• Reduced operating costs in transporting people and goods
• Enhanced productivity from continuous operations
• Increased fuel efficiency and use of alternative energy sources, specifically for autonomous vehicles

3. Artificial intelligence (AI)/ machine learning

Although we have been hearing about artificial intelligence and machine learning for decades, according to the WEF, it will still be another two to five  years before the technology is at full readiness. However, below are some of the ways artificial intelligence and machine learning are expected to transform retail and CPG:

• Foundational technology for disruptive trends (e.g. autonomous vehicles)
• Removes need for human involvement in routine and predictability tasks
• Greater precision, accuracy and speed when conducting tasks.

4. Robotics

Similar to artificial intelligences, the existence of robots has been part of our psyche for decades. Although robots are being used extensively in manufacturing, they are expected to have an impact in the retail and CPG industries in the following ways:

• Reduced operating costs through the automation and optimisation of commoditised tasks
• Increased utilisation by operating up to 24/7
• Enhanced customer service experience by allowing store staff to focus on customers
• Speed in performing simple and structure repetitive tasks at faster rates via software bots.

5. Digital traceability

Typically, digital traceability refers to the creation of a common digital language for supply chain traceability (Source:  Global Food Safety Resource). Although traceability is frequently mention with respect to food, for example farm-to-table, and fair trade produce, it also important in the production and supply of other products, especially in relation to quality control. At this point, the state of digital traceability is still two to five years away from being ready for the retail and CPG industries, at which point it is expected to have the following impact:

• Increased accountability on supplier quality, as all product elements are traced back to suppliers
• Quicker responses to food safety situations, drastically reducing the risk of consumer backlash
• Real-time analytics enables timed offers and circumstantial pricing, which can lead to revenue uplift.

6. 3D printing

Over the past two years, 3D printing has been discussed extensively in the media. Currently, 3D printing machines are available, but not yet priced within the reach of the typical home or office. Accordingly it is expected to be another six to 10 year before 3D printing is used extensively in retail and CPG, and having the following impact:

• Moves production closer to the end consumer, minimising movement of commonly available raw materials and increasing product customisation
• Reduces response time to shifting consumer preferences by enabling on-demand production
• Creates new retail and at-home models based on capability to manufacture flexibility at a small scale
• Enables product customisation, from appearance and packaging, to flavour and nutritional content.

7. Augmented reality/virtual reality

Augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) was all the rage in 2016, with a few simple mass consumer devices being released, and more yet to come. However, within the next two to five years, AR and VR are expected to play an important role in retail and CPG in the following ways:

• Alternative purchase channels provide a new way for customers to discover and evaluate products
• Ease of access for customer via on-demand shopping, helping tham avoid physical-store trips
• Limitless access for experiencing products through ‘endless aisles’.

8. Blockchain

Blockchain might be new to most, but according to Don & Alex Tapscott, authors Blockchain Revolution (2016), “the blockchain is an incorruptible digital ledger of economic transactions that can be programmed to record not just financial transactions but virtually everything of value” (Source: BlockGeeks). As one of the newer technologies, it is still between six and 10 years from being fully developed, at which time it is expected to be used in retail and CPG in the following ways:

• Secure decentralised digitalisation of assets and transactions
• Complete audit trail for purchased products and/or materials
• Process digitalisation/automation, e.g. instantaneous settlement
• Risk mitigation in settlements, counterparties, operations and points of failure

In summary, and according to the WEF, the above technologies are not only expected to disrupt the retail and CPG industries, but open up a broad range of opportunities. However, ultimately, they will “fundamentally change some aspect of the end-to-end value chain and redefine the core operations of the retail and CPG industries” (Source:  WEF).

Image credit:  Mr. Muggles (flickr)

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1.  Regulation continues to evolve in the region

The Caribbean region as a whole is at an interesting crossroads with respect to telecoms regulation. Some countries that had introduced regulatory policies in the early 2000s are in the throes of overhauling the framework to make it more relevant for today’s landscape. Others that either more recently embarked on the liberalisation process, or are just about to do so, are still to experience and understand the dynamics of those emerging environments.

It must be emphasised that policy, and by extension regulatory, changes can be a protracted process. However, it is expected that by the end of 2017, the region as a whole will be on a better footing, or at the very least on the path to a better footing, than it currently is at the beginning of 2017.

2.  Network security continue to get attention

As noted over the course of 2016, the Caribbean was not immune to network hacking and cybercrime. This year promises to be no different, as globally, all countries continue to grapple with the pervasiveness of the problem. In that regard, it is expected that the efforts – both by individual countries and by the region as a whole – to increase awareness among policymakers, and possibly introduce better practices and systems, will take greater shape and become more evident in 2017.

3.  Changing competition dynamic

Finally, with two major players, Digicel and Flow, in most telecoms markets across the region, it may be expected that the competitive dynamic between them would have settled by now. Whilst that might be true to some degree,, with Digicel now becoming a quad-play provider in some countries, similar to Flow, by offering fixed-line telephony, mobile/cellular communications, broadband Internet and subscriber television services, Digicel will be eager to develop market share in the new segments it is now serving. Further, Flow is also under pressure to increase its profitability whilst, at the very least, maintaining the quality of its services.

4.  More smart gadgets, smarter homes, smarter societies

Although smart gadgets may be widely available in local markets across the region, and can be readily imported, this year, a shift in perception is expected. Gadgets will be seen less as individual devices that work in isolation, and more as devices that can work together in system. In that regard, the region is likely to get on board the current fascination with virtual assistants, such as Amazon’s Alexa, Apple’s Siri and Google Home, and also their ability to support a smarter, more automated environment.

Although by the end of 2017 those threads will not transform Caribbean countries into smart societies, awareness and critical mass are being developed, thereby setting the stage for transformational changes to be realised in the future.

Image credit:  Pexels

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1.  Lose weight:   MyFitnessPal

With a large food database of over 5,000,000 foods, and a platform that allows fast and easy food and exercise entry, MyFitnessPal will help you get in better health and take those extra pounds off. Not only will it help you keep track of your calories and your exercise throughout the day, you can also use MyFitnessPal to scan items you are about to buy at the supermarket to get additional nutritional information.

Platforms:  iOS; Android

Price:  Free

2.  Eat healthier:   Nutrino

Reach your health and fitness goals with your own personal diet and weight loss plan with Nutrino. This app gives you personalized meal suggestions. No pre-made meal plans. Its suggestions are based on your tastes, health and fitness goals, other dietary needs, and even your physical activity throughout the day. It also factors in allergies, special needs (e.g. diabetes and hypertension), and diets (such as vegan or vegetarianism).

Platforms:  iOS; Android

Price:  Free

3.  Collaborate:  Quip

Overwhelmed by emails, meetings, chats and document versions when preparing documents in a team? Quip allows work teams to create living documents. It combines chat, docs, task lists, and spreadsheets in one app — making collaboration fast and easy. Among other things, Quip allows you to edit documents with the team; take notes in the office and edit them from your phone; and collaborate and chat with any group or team on a particular document or project.

Platforms:  iOS; Android

Price:  Free; USD 30.00 per month for a team of five

4.  Get organized:  Google Keep

Do you want to jot all of your ideas and moments of brilliance, anytime, anywhere? Consider Google Keep. You can create notes and lists, set time and place reminders, and check off your completed tasks. Google Keep also allows you to share ideas and collaborate with others, along with dictate your notes, and organise your entries.

Platforms:  iOS; Android; Chrome

Price:  Free

5.  To-do lists:  Streaks

Streaks is a to-do list app that helps you form good habits. It lets you track up to six tasks you want to complete every day, with the goal of building a streak of consecutive days. It works especially well for health and fitness-related issues Streaks also works with the Apple Health app to help you achieve your fitness goals.

Platforms:  iOS

Price:  USD 3.99

Image credits:  Courtney Dirks;  Google Play; Apple Itunes 

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1.  A settling of telecoms/ICT competitive landscape in the Caribbean

As expected, with the mergers and acquisitions that had occurred in 2014 and 2015, there has been a sense that the region’s telecoms landscape is still finding a new equilibrium in 2016. Publicly, there have not been any overt changes, such as with respect branding, by the new owners of Cable and Wireless Communications, Liberty Global plc, though in the latter half of the year, a number of management changes were reported.

With regard to Digicel, the firm has been rolling out Digicel Play (its fixed-line voice telephony, subscriber TV and broadband Internet platform for the home) across the region. In doing so, the firm is evolving into a quad-play provider, and so will be able to compete against Flow across the major service segments. However, the firm may be strapped for cash. It withdrew its Initial Public Offer on the New York Stock Exchange in September, which experts projected would not secure the level of investment Digicel had hoped. Further, recent reports have suggested that the firm is heavily in debt, which it may soon need to address.

2.  Regulation beginning to get some attention

Although we, here at ICT Pulse, continue to accuse regulators of being flat-footed, in 2016, there was also evidence of policy and regulatory changes that could result in improvements in the medium to longer term. Examples include the following:

• Guyana finally promulgated its Telecommunications Act, and is in the process of negotiating with the incumbent provider to end the latter’s exclusive monopoly in that country.
• In the Eastern Caribbean, a new Electronic Communications Bill and new Regulations were approved by the Eastern Caribbean Telecommunications Authority (ECTE) for implementation in the five participating countries (Dominica, Grenada, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and Grenadines).
• Jamaica is also in the process of drafting ICT legislation that will also make provision for a single ICT regulator, and should be tabled in Parliament in 2017.

However, as was mentioned with respect to this projection, and especially with respect to legislative processes, they can be quite protracted, and run the risk of no longer being relevant, or just having limited impact, when they are finally ready to come into effect.

3. Growing focus on the customer experience

With the recent changes in the competitive landscape in the region – due to the mergers and acquisitions that have occurred – the remaining firms seem to be trying to reposition themselves in the markets and countries they serve. Though price (for service) continues to be a battlefield in which the players jostle, broadband Internet may be the most dynamic segment. Across the region, plans have been improved, with faster speeds being offered, but without the commensurate increase in rates that one would normally expect.

In the mobile/cellular space, focus continues to be on the prepaid segment, which the carriers offering a broad range of benefits and inducements, such as free minutes for calls at specific times of the days, along with other short-term promotions. However, many Caribbean countries have introduced mobile number portability, which allows customers to vote with their feet, and change their providers whilst keeping their mobile/cellular number.

4. Internet/video streaming cannibalising subscriber TV

Though we do not have hard data on this trend, the improvement in broadband Internet plans – in terms of advertised download speeds and price, which we reported in our Snapshot – would provide consumers with better online streaming experiences. Most of the major carriers that offer subscriber TV services, have been bundling it with other services, such as with fixed-line telephony and broadband Internet, with may help to reduce the loss of subscriber TV customers generally.

5.  Network and system vulnerability will become bigger news

Ransomware made its presence felt in the Caribbean in 2016, having affected several government ministries, departments and agencies across the region. Other types of breaches were also reported, including major incidents at some of the largest banks in the region.

To varying degrees, it appears that regional governments are beginning to give network and cyber security the attention it deserves. Over the past year, there have been calls for a regional approach to tackle cybercrime, and a number of meetings have been held to foster strengthening of cybersecurity efforts.

Is there anything we missed? What topics or issues do you think were big in 2016?

Image credit:  digitalart (FreeDigitalPhotos.net)

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Of the nearly 140 articles published on ICT Pulse so far for the year, below are the five most widely read in 2016. If you have not done so, do take to the opportunity to check out those posts.

5.  Should mobile/cell phones be banned in the workplace?

Although mobile/cellular phones are becoming ubiquitous in our daily lives, to varying degrees, they are beginning to be seen as a nuisance in the workplace. Not only do they appear to be a distraction, there are also concerns that they are contributing to lower productivity, which in turn can affect an organisation’s competitiveness. As a result, and especially in developed countries, mobile/cellular phones are being banned in the workplace. In our post, we discussed some of the pros and cons of adopting that posture, which business owners and managers may find particularly useful.

4.  Digital globalisation: where is the Caribbean?

Global management consulting firm, McKinsey, published a report on digital globalisation, in which it examined digital flow and its impact worldwide, and included six Caribbean countries in its assessment of digital connectedness: Barbados; the Dominican Republic; Grenada; Guyana; Jamaica; and Suriname. Based on the report, we highlighted some key findings generally, and then discussed them from a Caribbean perspective.

3.  3 major trends that will transform our telecom/ICT landscape in the near future

Following publication of its latest annual global ICT regulatory report, Trends in Telecommunication Reform 2016, by the International Telecommunications Union (ITU), we sought to highlight three trends we believed are not just pertinent to the Caribbean, but also have the potential to transform our digital landscape. Generally, the ITU report examines a broad range of ICT policy and regulatory trends, along with capturing the views of top experts from a variety of fields, which in turn can provide  considerable insight into the challenges and opportunities ICT stakeholders are facing, and are likely to face over the next three to five years.

2.  Snapshot: 2016 update on the state of telecoms in the Caribbean

Our Snapshot series continues to be extremely popular among our reader. We have been providing an annual update of the state telecoms in the Caribbean, since the inception of ICT Pulse in 2011. In our 2016 post, we examined 23 Caribbean countries, primarily based on the latest telecoms data released from the ITU. However, some of the Dutch Caribbean countries, specifically Bonaire, Curaçao and Sint Maarten, had to be excluded, as current data was not publicly available.

1.  Snapshot: 2016 update of Internet speeds and pricing across the Caribbean

Finally, and in the top spot, as the most widely read article, was our latest update of Internet speeds and pricing across the Caribbean. Similar to our update of the state of telecoms, which is in the number two spot, we have been tracking Internet speed and spend in the region since 2011. In addition to presenting the latest download speeds and pricing by the major Internet Service Providers across the region, we compared those findings with those reported in 2015, and so can highlight the improvements, or lack thereof, that have occurred over the past year.

Image credit:  Brad K (flickr)

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With Christmas just over two weeks away, and for those of us who either are still struggling to decide on a nice tech gift for that special someone, or a present for ourselves with our Christmas bonus (!), below are six gift ideas that should do the trick.

Samsung Gear VR

For those of us who have been fascinated with science fiction and tales of virtual reality, the Samsung Gear VR could the best gift to receive this Christmas. It provides an immersive experience when used in conjunction with the following Samsung Galaxy devices:  the S7, S7 Edge, Note 5, S6 edge+, S6, and S6 edge.

The Gear VR has an easy to use touch pad, and wide field of view, precise head-tracking and low latency brings reality to the virtual,

MacBook Pro

For those of us who have been waiting for Apple to release a significant upgrade to the MacBook, the MacBook Pro with Touch Bar and Touch ID may be what you have been waiting for. The new MacBooks are thinner, lighter and more powerful than previous versions, and having longer battery life.

The MacBook Pro with Touch Bar and Touch ID has some new and interesting features. The Touch Bar a dynamic addition, that replaces the static function keys, and now change the shortcuts available depending on the application that is being used. The Touch ID introduces fingerprint security to the MacBook family of laptops through the power button.

Google Pixel and Pixel XL.

The Google Pixel and Pixel XL are the latest smartphones releases from Google, and great new devices for Android lovers. It is a solid phone which an excellent camera.but, more importantly, as a Google manufactured smartphones, there is seamless integration with your Google account, Google Assistant, and with other Google services.

Apple iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus

The iPhone continues to be one of the most coveted smartphones in the world. The latest releases, the iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus, do not disappoint, with increase in processing power, a phenomenal camera and stereo speakers. The display has also been improved, and it is now both splash and water resistance.

Amazon Echo

For those who want to begin to experience what it might be like to have a smart home, look no further than the Amazon Echo. It can be used to control your TV, lights, thermostat or pretty much any other connected device in your house. It also responds to voice commands, can play music, answer questions, read audiobooks and the news, report weather, and more, using the Alexa Voice Service.

Google Home

Similar to Amazon Echo, Google Home is a voice-activated speaker powered by the Google Assistant. Use voice commands to get answers from Google, manage everyday tasks, automate your home, and even to enjoy music. Google Home is compatible with Android and iOS operating systems, and can control compatible smart devices such as Chromecast or Nest.

Image credits:  Maurizio Pesce (flickr);  Martin Hajek (flickr);   Maurizio Pesce (flickr);  GSMArena;  Rick Turoczy (flickr);  Google; Master isolated images (FreeDigitalPhotos.com)

Among Caribbean tech startups, it has been observed that to a considerable degree, they tend to focus on providing products and services for the individual consumer. For many entrepreneurs and startups, the business they seek to develop is frequently based on their own personal needs or desires, that of their colleagues, friends and family, or what they perceive might be of interest to others. Little thought is given to the needs of the business community.

Further, in the Caribbean, and especially with regard to mobile/cellular applications (apps), which is a popular segment in the tech startup space, those ventures tend to struggle to generate revenue, as the business models adopted tend to rely on advertising, or a scarcely selected premium version. Consequently, these businesses tend to flounder, and never move beyond the early startup phase. It could thus be argued that ventures would have a greater chance of longevity and success if they were geared towards businesses and organisations. Four reasons why Business-to-Business (B2B) ought to be targeted are outlined below.

1. The mass market consumers are fickle

To a considerable degree, many Caribbean tech businesses that are focussed on the mass consumer market are targeting a young demographic, around 15–25 years old. Generally, this age group not only has limited funds, compared with our segments of the population, but are rabid consumers of technology with relatively short attention spans. Hence, as can be seen among the big tech brands worldwide, they constantly have to iterate – add fun new features or capabilities – in order to remain visible and relevant.

2.  Competition is stiff in the mass consumer market

Again referring to the big tech brands, it can be readily observed that stiff competition exists, which is also driving the speed at which they release new products.  In the mobile/cellular apps space, the situation is more pronounced, as there has been an emphasis is on free apps. As a result, in apps stores, where millions of apps are available, it is likely that there will be several free apps providing a specific service, and to some extent, it can be difficult to distinguish on from the other.

3.  Longer relationship likely with business customers

Following from the fickleness of the individual consumer, and the competition that obtains across multiples segments of the market, customer loyalty to a particular brand or product tends to be limited. For business customers that intend to roll out a solution across an organisation, be it hardware and/or software, it is likely that they will be prepared to work with the vendor, supplier, or manufacturer (the seller) over an extended period of time, not only to maximise the returns of their initial investment, but also because to minimise the disruption that is inevitable when a major change is implemented

4.  More lucrative arrangements likely

Depending on the organisation, its size and needs, it may require specific features or functionality, or that a particular product be customised, or that a certain level of aftersale service be included. All of these “extras” not only allow the seller to add value to the customer, but also can make such arrangements quite lucrative for the former. For example, it could include not just the initial price of the product or service, but the cost for whatever enhancements that are made, and even a maintenance/aftercare arrangement over an agreed period of time.

Image credit:  Flazingo Photos (flickr)

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Earlier this week, reports emerged that global technology firm, Yahoo Inc. had been hacked and data associated with over 500 million email accounts were stolen. The hacking incident(s) appeared to have occurred several weeks, even months, ago, but is only now being made public. Whilst it is not clear how many subscribers Yahoo has worldwide, nor has any information been disclosed on whether the stolen accounts were limited to specific countries or geographic regions, it would be safe to assume that Caribbean subscribers of Yahoo have been affected.

The Yahoo platform offers a broad range services, including email, news, online mapping, video sharing, to name a few, and it is in the top five most visited websites globally (source:  Alexa). Further, the company is in the process of being acquired by Verizon Inc. and from some reports, Verizon may not have been made aware major security breach until just a few days ago. Accordingly, longer term implications of the breach and theft are expected – not just affecting the firm itself, but also to its subscribers.

So many of us would be lost without email access, especially for work. We therefore take it for granted, until something happens, and we are reminded how vulnerable our personal information and private communication truly are. Hence, although we, at ICT Pulse, have done so before, it again is opportune to remind all of us of some basic email security tips – this time from popular computer security software firm, McAfee:

1.  Obtain comprehensive security software.
2.  Share your email address with only trusted sources.
3.  Be careful when opening attachments and downloading files from friends and family or accepting unknown emails.
4.  Be smart when using Instant Messaging programmes.
5.  Watch out for phishing scams. (Phishing scams use fraudulent emails and fake Web sites, masquerading as legitimate businesses, to lure unsuspecting users into revealing private account or login information.)
6.  Use email wisely. (Be careful about what information you submit via email. Never send your credit-card information, Social Security number, or other private information via email.)
7.  Do not reply to spam email. If you don’t recognize the sender, don’t respond. Even replying to spam mail to unsubscribe could set you up for more spam.
8.  Create a complex email address.
9.  Create smart and strong passwords.
10.  Never enter your personal information into a pop-up screen.

An issue that the Yahoo email incident has emphasised, is the fact that frequently both the firm and the email account holders are blissfully unaware of any security breach, and may only learn of it well after the damage has been done. In being proactive and incorporating the practices suggested above, account holders would be doing their part to minimise their exposure and loss, should their email accounts be compromised.

Image credit:  Heartlover1717 (flickr)

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Unlike generations before us, the majority of us will not only change jobs several times during our working lives, we are also likely to change careers at least once as well. As a result, and noting that competition is the job market is generally high, it is becoming increasingly important for individuals to distinguish themselves. That effort does not necessarily have to be limited to the confines of one’s job description or one’s organisation. Instead an individual could be seek to distinguish his- or herself within a wider context – the industry; the country; the region; or even globally.

An excellent way of setting yourself apart from the herd is by developing your personal brand. Though most of us might associate a personal brand with bloggers, YouTubers and reality TV stars, the world has shifted. In this highly commoditised and information-driven world, where more and more people – across all sectors and walks of life – are vying for attention, it is easy to be overlooked.  Below are five steps you can take when developing your personal brand.

1. Think of yourself as a brand

First, it is important to start to think of yourself as a brand, and what you would want others to associate with you when they hear your name.  Further, with that change in mindset, some of the decisions and choices you make may also change to be better aligned with the brand t=you are trying to nurture.

2.  Have a plan

For the whole effort to have long lasting effect and the impact you envisage, it is also crucial to understand that you have a plan and a some strategies you intend to implement. However, and in order to get to that point, you ought to be prepared to answer to following basic questions, which will eventually become inputs into your plan and strategy:

• Who are you?
• What your strengths, and how can they be more fully emphasised?  
• What are your weaknesses, are can they be minimised?
• Who is your target audience?
• What are the goals for your brand? What are you hoping to achieve?

3.  Find ways to produce value

When building a personal brand, typically, one of the main goals is to be recognised as an expert in specific field. In order to be seen as an authority in whatever area you choose, seeds need to be sown, by finding ways of providing valuable information to others – and also being seen to provide value. Examples that can be considered that provide a means of demonstrating thought leadership or domain expertise, include speaking engagements, writing articles, and participating in interviews.

4.  Build your networks

Finally, it is crucial to take every opportunity to build and nurture your own network of contacts, some of whom may eventually become your clients (if relevant to you and your brand), or equally important may act as connectors to other people you are eager to meet. LinkedIn is an excellent resource for that, but you can also seek to engage individuals of interest on other social network platforms.

5.  Build your online presence

In today’s world, people are suspicious if you do not have an comprehensive online presence. For example, if you are a professional or work in the corporate world, it almost goes without saying that you ought to have a detailed profile on LinkedIn. For other areas of work that might be considered more creative, a Facebook page would be recommended. Further, do consider being active on some social networks – Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, to name a few – and/or even developing your own website as your own platform to begin to share your thoughts and ideas.

Image credit:  Anne Worner (flickr)

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