by Diana L. Martin

In today’s fast-paced business world, companies are constantly seeking innovative ways to enhance the customer experience and improve operational efficiency. One such trend gaining popularity is the use of chatbots to handle customer service inquiries. Like any technology implementation, there are both advantages and disadvantages to replacing your customer service staff with chatbots.

by Diana L. Martin

Even in today’s fast-paced digital world, printers in both home and office settings remain indispensable. Whether you need to print important documents, vibrant marketing materials or cherished memories captured in photographs, finding the right printer is crucial. However, with a plethora of options available in the market, selecting the perfect printer that matches your specific needs can be a daunting task. But fear not! This comprehensive guide will walk you through the essential considerations, features and factors to help you make an informed decision. From understanding different printer types to evaluating print quality, speed and connectivity options, we have all the insights you need to navigate the printer landscape and find the ideal device for your home or office environment.

The focus on hygiene and health in the office in order to keep employees and visitors safe has never been more important. An incredibly helpful solution is the Dial FIT Touch-Free Dispenser. Here are some of the benefits this product can offer your business…

When it comes to protecting sensitive information, shredding documents can be the perfect solution. However, manually shredding a large number of documents can be time-consuming and tedious. That's where the GBC AutoFeed+ Home Office Shredder comes in…

Ergonomics in the workplace is the gift that keeps on giving. From increasing employee productivity to reducing the risk of workplace accidents, ergonomic accessories are oftentimes viewed as a key component of a successful, comfortable workplace. Here are some of the benefits that ergonomics can bring to your office space:

by Diana L. Martin

We live in a digital world - rarely do I see anyone who doesn’t have a cellphone to their ear, in their hand or in their pocket. Laptop computers have made desktop PCs almost obsolete and the peripherals are all going wireless as well.

Wireless is convenient in a lot of ways, but all those wireless devices only last for so long before they have to be charged. There are lots of options out there for wireless chargers and one of the newer choices is wireless charging mousepads. The major selling point is convenience, but are they worth the price?

by Diana L. Martin

If you work with sensitive information, you undoubtedly need ways to keep that information away from unauthorized eyes. File drawers and office doors can be locked - that's an obvious solution. But you also need to keep the information on your computer screen private while you work.

Last month we asked you to pick what the best tech invention of the 21st century was, from smartphones to artificial intelligence. The overwhelming majority coined smartphones as the greatest, followed by online streaming. The truth is all the tech inventions of the 21st century have helped to transform how we do business today.

by Diana L. Martin

Over the years, I’ve spoken to many a customer who called to return or exchange the monitor filter they purchased. Usually it was because it was the wrong size and they needed assistance selecting the correct one. Reason number two was that it didn’t do what they wanted it to do.

Finding the right filter for your device needn’t be difficult. There are three basic pieces of information that you need:

Meetings are a regular part of the office environment. You may like them or you may hate them, but they are a fact of office life. Are you and your staff getting the most out of yours? If not, it’s time to get organized and get the right tools to make your meetings more effective.

Audio visual equipment plays a large part in the meeting equation.

I’ll bet that when you saw the title of this blog you were either:

a) Really excited to see some new advances in technology

or

b) Really bored and ready to pass it by because you’re not a technology-type person and you probably won’t understand what it’s discussing anyway.

How did I do?

No, that’s not what I meant. (Shame on you!)

If your business handles cash, you are constantly on guard for counterfeit bills. Forgers are coming up with new methods all the time and you need to be diligent in your efforts to protect your business. We’re all familiar with the counterfeit detector pens, but those only tell you whether the bill is on genuine U.S. currency paper. UV lights will show you other features of genuine bills, giving you added protection. There are several counterfeit detector products available that offer UV light and I’d like to showcase two of those products today.

Like it or not (I know many of you don’t), our world is technology-based. And technology moves at a very rapid pace. New inventions, faster speeds, networks, routers, more bells and whistles………………….honestly, it can make your head spin sometimes.

But it can also help your business run more efficiently.

AARRGHHHH!!!!!!!

The paper is curling in my printer AGAIN!! WHY DOES IT DO THAT?????

If you saw yourself in those first sentences, take a deep breath and read on. I can help you. Paper curling is a fairly common problem and can usually be solved with a few simple steps.

I think it's safe to say that most people either own a personal computer or work with one at their job, so I'm sure you will understand when I say that I really, really HATE the jungle underneath my desk.  I have a hard time comprehending how 4 pieces of equipment - computer, monitor, keyboard and mouse - can have 16 zillion cords attached to them.  Then they're plugged into the power strip or UPS backup device, which adds another cord.  And it seems like I'm kicking them all day long!

WRANGLE THE TANGLE!!

There were more than 40 major data breaches in the U.S. in 2017, which included such big names as Dun & Bradstreet, FAFSA, Gmail, Blue Cross/Blue Shield, Verizon, Uber and, of course, Equifax.  And just now, we all find out about Meltdown and Spectre, hardware bugs that affect the majority of computers out there (just what we needed to hear!).  Cybersecurity is a major threat and it isn't slowing down or going away anytime soon.

I recently read an article by Dan Howarth on www.dezeen.com about a new innovation in the field of 3-D printing that may surprise you.  Researchers at MIT have partnered with Steelcase Inc. to develop a process they call Rapid Liquid Printing that changes 3-D printing as we know it and may make it possible to manufacture custom furniture in a matter of minutes.

Our world is built around technology.  Twenty years ago the "must have" items for business professionals were Palm Pilots (remember those?) or a Blackberry.  Now, just about everyone has a smartphone, tablet or laptop computer and we take them everywhere we go.  Today's Product Quick Take is a great item for today's business lifestyle - the Lorell Mobile Laptop Caddy.  

Thieves get more ingenious every day.  When we find a way to foil them, they come up with a new scheme.  Does that mean we should stop being careful?  Quit locking our doors?  Not watch when we're in a dangerous area?  Of course not.

In the area of identity theft, thieves no longer need to steal your actual credit card - all they need is an RFID scanner and they can steal your credit card information just by walking past you if you aren't protected.

Here's a simple product that can help thwart those attempts - the Quality Park RFID Blocking Credit Card Sleeve.

I learned the value of an external hard drive quickly when Windows 10 trashed my home computer.  <sigh>  That was not a fun time.  I'm back on Windows 7 Professional and that's where I'm staying until this computer dies.

Your computer should be backed up regularly and the backup needs to be stored somewhere other than on your computer.  External hard drives are portable, secure storage for your data and are commonly used precisely for this purpose.