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We may earn a commission from links on this page. Deal pricing and availability subject to change after time of publication. The new Google Fitbit Air is finally out. It costs $99.99, but if you pre-order by May 25, Google is offering $35 in Google Store credit after your order ships. The watch also comes with three months of Google Health Premium, which unlocks a wide range of Gemini-powered AI coaching features. Compared to Whoop-style trackers, which the watch is designed after, this is an especially appealing offer since Whoop’s premium plans start at $199 a year, depending on the region. Google Fitbit Air $64.99 at Google Store $99.99 Save $35.00 Get Deal Get Deal $64.99 at Google Store $99.99 Save $35.00 The Google Fitbit Air is essentially a Whoop alternative with its minimalist, screenless design, built to be worn discreetly while quietly tracking metrics like health, fitness, sleep, and recovery, making it a must for people who dislike the ping of a traditional smartwatch. The screenless design is also a perk if you’re not a fan of bulky wearables and want something you can wear during workouts, at work, or while sleeping without it being a distraction. Metrics like the Sleep Score, Sleep Stages, Cardio Load, and Readiness score help you focus on long-term recovery That said, it won’t automatically reduce screentime. Although having no display is the point, it means you’ll need your phone to check stats and progress. It doesn’t come with true smartwatch features like accessing calls, texts, apps, or maps on a watch face. Additionally, many of the best features rely on a paid subscription to Google Health Premium. Still, the three free months are a nice bonus, and with optional plans starting at $99 per year, it’s half the cost of a yearly mandatory Whoop subscription. (But it’s also worth noting that the Google credit comes after your order ships, so you’re still required to pay the $99.99 upfront.) Still, this is a great choice for people who want screen-free tracking à la Whoop but at a more budget-friendly price point (both upfront and over the long term with the subscription), and for those who want to track their daily activity and get insights without wearing a full smartwatch. It’s worth considering if you want a lighter, clutter-free wearable for overnight tracking or would use the $35 Google Store credit toward a second band or another Google accessory. However, if you want features like a built-in screen, music controls, and notifications available on your wrist, you’re better off with a more traditional smartwatch. Our Best Editor-Vetted Tech Deals Right Now Apple AirPods Pro 3 Noise Cancelling Heart Rate Wireless Earbuds — $199.99 (List Price $249.00) Apple Watch Series 11 [GPS 46mm] Smartwatch with Jet Black Aluminum Case with Black Sport Band - M/L. Sleep Score, Fitness Tracker, Health Monitoring, Always-On Display, Water Resistant — $329.00 (List Price $429.00) Fitbit Versa 4 Fitness Smartwatch (Black) — $149.95 (List Price $199.95) Apple iPad 11" A16 128GB Wi-Fi Tablet (Silver, 2025) — $299.00 (List Price $349.00) Anker 20,000mAh Portable Power Bank With Built-in USB-C Cable — $49.99 (List Price $69.99) Deals are selected by our commerce team View the full article

Effective hiring and recruitment is vital for building a strong team. To achieve this, you need to follow seven important steps, starting with defining your hiring needs and creating detailed job descriptions. It’s important to establish a recruiting budget and timeline to streamline the process. By developing a strategic recruitment plan that focuses on diverse sourcing methods, you’ll attract qualified candidates. The next steps involve creating a great interview experience and providing excellent candidate communication. Let’s explore how these elements work together to improve your hiring process. Key Takeaways Define hiring needs by analyzing team skills and creating detailed job descriptions that outline responsibilities and required qualifications. Establish a recruiting budget and timeline, considering both direct and indirect costs, while engaging stakeholders for alignment. Develop a strategic recruitment plan that includes diverse sourcing methods and ensures a structured interview process for fair candidate evaluation. Maintain timely communication with candidates, providing updates and feedback at each stage to enhance their experience and reduce anxiety. Foster open negotiation during the offer stage, addressing candidate concerns promptly to build trust and strengthen the employer brand. Define Your Hiring Needs When defining your hiring needs, it’s essential to first analyze your existing team’s skills to identify any gaps that a new hire should fill. Start by engaging department heads to gather their insights on the specific qualifications and competencies necessary for the role. This guarantees you have a thorough comprehension of the position’s purpose. It’s important to outline both the technical skills and the soft skills that will improve team dynamics and align with your company culture. Furthermore, consider the future growth potential of the position; a well-defined role addresses immediate needs while supporting long-term business objectives, reducing turnover. Finally, maintaining clarity on the role’s operational necessity will help justify your hiring decision within the HR recruitment process, making certain that the new hire directly contributes to your overall company strategy. Create Detailed Job Descriptions Creating detailed job descriptions is fundamental for attracting the right candidates to your organization, as they serve as the foundation for the hiring process. These descriptions should clearly outline responsibilities, qualifications, and desired skill sets, during incorporating measurable performance goals or KPIs. This approach helps in effectively attracting suitable candidates. Utilize data from top performers and managers to guarantee your job descriptions reflect the actual needs and expectations of the role. Using active language instead of cookie-cutter formats makes your job descriptions more engaging and appealing, increasing the likelihood of attracting a diverse candidate pool. Moreover, optimizing job descriptions for SEO is significant, as it boosts visibility on job boards and search engines, bringing in more qualified candidates. Regularly updating these descriptions guarantees they remain relevant, accurately reflecting the evolving needs of your organization and the job market, which is crucial for a successful recruitment process. Establish a Recruiting Budget and Timeline To effectively recruit, you need to define your budget parameters and set a realistic timeline for the entire process. This includes both the direct costs, like advertising and recruitment fees, and indirect costs, such as onboarding and training. Define Budget Parameters Defining budget parameters for your recruitment process is essential for ensuring financial efficiency and alignment with your organization’s goals. To effectively manage costs in the recruitment process in human resource management, consider the following: Direct costs, including advertising and recruitment agency fees Indirect costs, such as training and onboarding expenses Average estimated cost per hire, around $4,000 Stakeholder engagement for alignment on budget and hiring process steps Regular review and adjustments based on candidate feedback and hiring outcomes Set Realistic Timeline When setting a realistic timeline for your recruitment process, it’s important to take into account the specifics of the role and the current job market. A well-defined timeline should cover all stages, from sourcing candidates to onboarding them effectively. Consider the complexity of the role, as this impacts how long each stage will take. Furthermore, establishing a recruiting budget is vital; it should include both direct costs, like advertising and agency fees, and indirect costs, such as onboarding. Align Stakeholder Expectations Aligning stakeholder expectations is crucial for a successful recruitment process, as it guarantees everyone involved understands the budget and timeline for hiring. To achieve this, consider the following steps: Develop a recruiting budget that includes both direct and indirect costs. Track hiring costs to gain insights on cost per hire and resource efficiency. Establish a realistic timeline for all stages of the recruitment hiring process, from job posting to onboarding. Engage stakeholders in budgeting and timeline planning to encourage collaboration. Regularly review and adjust the budget and timeline based on market conditions and organizational needs. Devise a Strategic Recruitment Plan Creating a strategic recruitment plan is essential for attracting and engaging qualified candidates effectively. This plan should outline specific methods that align with your broader business goals and team requirements. Incorporating diverse sourcing strategies, like leveraging internal networks and employee referrals, can maximize candidate reach as well as enhancing engagement. Clearly defined hiring objectives and timelines within your recruitment business process can streamline the hiring process, improving the overall candidate experience. Regularly reviewing and adjusting your recruitment plan based on market trends and recruitment metrics helps maintain a competitive edge and adapt to changing hiring demands. Engaging stakeholders throughout the recruitment planning process encourages collaboration and guarantees that the plan meets organizational needs and expectations. Source Qualified Candidates To effectively source qualified candidates, it’s essential to adopt a multi-channel approach that broadens your reach and engages a diverse talent pool. Here are some strategies to improve your sourcing candidates in the recruitment procedure steps: Utilize job boards, social media, and networking events to widen your search. Engage with passive candidates through professional networks like LinkedIn, as they may consider new opportunities. Implement employee referral programs, since referred candidates often fit your company culture better. Attend industry-specific job fairs and college recruitment events to connect directly with potential candidates. Use data analytics to evaluate the effectiveness of your sourcing channels and adjust strategies accordingly. Create a Great Interview Experience After successfully sourcing qualified candidates, the next vital step in the recruitment process is creating a great interview experience. To do this, clearly communicate the interview process and expectations, as many candidates feel left in the dark. Using structured interviews with standardized questions guarantees fairness and consistency, allowing you to evaluate all candidates objectively. Incorporate behavioral interview techniques to gain insights into candidates’ past performances, which can be more predictive of future success. Creating a welcoming environment and introducing candidates to team members can greatly improve their overall experience. Finally, providing timely feedback after interviews is essential; many candidates feel disillusioned when they receive no feedback. Element Importance Clear communication Reduces candidate anxiety and confusion Structured interviews Guarantees fairness and consistency Behavioral techniques Predicts future performance effectively Welcoming environment Improves overall candidate experience Timely feedback Improves candidate satisfaction Provide Excellent Candidate Communication To provide excellent candidate communication, you need to focus on timely application updates and clear interview instructions. Keeping candidates informed about their progress not just improves their experience but also keeps them engaged in your hiring process. Furthermore, being open to offer negotiations can cultivate trust and show candidates that you value their input, in the end strengthening your employer brand. Timely Application Updates Even though the recruitment process can often feel overwhelming for candidates, providing timely application updates is essential for nurturing a positive experience. Effective communication during the application process helps maintain candidate interest and prevents them from seeking other opportunities. Here are some key practices to implement: Send updates at each stage of the recruitment process. Provide constructive feedback after interviews, regardless of the outcome. Schedule regular check-ins to keep candidates informed. Guarantee transparency about the timeline and next steps. Avoid “ghosting” by maintaining open lines of communication. Clear Interview Instructions Effective communication doesn’t stop at timely application updates; it extends to providing clear interview instructions, which can greatly improve a candidate’s experience. When you share detailed information about the interview format, expected duration, and the interviewers involved, candidates can prepare effectively and feel less anxious. Timely updates regarding the interview schedule, including reminders and any changes, show respect for their time and improve engagement. Furthermore, providing feedback post-interview is essential; 80% of candidates who receive no feedback miss valuable opportunities to connect with your organization. Utilizing technology to streamline communication, such as automated emails for interview confirmations and follow-ups, guarantees candidates feel valued throughout the recruitment process and helps build a positive employer brand. Open Offer Negotiation Clear communication during the offer negotiation phase is crucial for nurturing a positive candidate experience and ensuring a smooth changeover into the role. To effectively manage this process, consider the following: Provide thorough offer letters detailing salary, benefits, and work policies. Engage candidates swiftly after extending an offer to reduce their search for other opportunities. Be open to discussions about compensation and benefits, as flexibility cultivates positive relationships. Maintain regular check-ins with candidates during the waiting period to prevent “ghosting.” Address any candidate concerns immediately to improve trust and transparency. Frequently Asked Questions What Are the 7 Steps of the Hiring Process? The hiring process consists of seven key steps. First, you identify the need for a new role. Next, you create a detailed job description. Then, you establish a recruitment plan. After that, you source candidates through various platforms. You proceed by screening applications to assess fit. Following this, you conduct interviews to evaluate candidates further. Finally, you extend a job offer that clearly outlines compensation and responsibilities during allowing for negotiation. What Are the 5 C’s of Recruitment? The 5 C’s of recruitment are Clarity, Consistency, Communication, Candidate Experience, and Culture. You need Clarity to define job roles and skills accurately, helping attract the right candidates. Consistency guarantees you apply the same evaluation criteria throughout the process, promoting fairness. Effective Communication keeps candidates informed, enhancing their engagement. Focusing on Candidate Experience creates a welcoming environment, whereas a strong Culture aligns new hires with your organization’s values and goals. What Are the 5 Steps of the Hiring Process? The hiring process involves five key steps. First, you define the need for a new role by identifying skill gaps. Next, you create a detailed job description to attract suitable candidates. Then, you source candidates through job boards, social media, and referrals. After that, you conduct structured interviews to evaluate their skills and cultural fit. Finally, you extend a clear job offer, including compensation and onboarding details, to secure your chosen candidate. What Are the 4 R’s for Recruitment? The 4 R’s for recruitment are Recruitment, Retention, Refinement, and Re-engagement. First, you attract suitable candidates through targeted strategies. Next, you focus on Retention, ensuring employees feel valued and have growth opportunities. Refinement involves regularly evaluating your recruitment methods using data to improve efficiency. Finally, Re-engagement means reconnecting with past applicants who showed potential, allowing you to keep a talent pipeline ready for future openings and strengthen relationships with top talent. Conclusion In conclusion, following these seven crucial steps can greatly improve your hiring and recruitment process. By defining your needs, creating thorough job descriptions, and establishing a budget, you set a strong foundation. Developing a strategic recruitment plan and sourcing candidates effectively guarantees you attract the right talent. Prioritizing a positive interview experience and maintaining clear communication throughout keeps candidates engaged, eventually leading to successful hires. Implementing these practices will streamline your recruitment efforts and enhance overall outcomes. Image via Google Gemini and ArtSmart This article, "7 Essential Steps for Effective Hiring and Recruitment" was first published on Small Business Trends View the full article

Gmail does a decent job at filtering junk mail to the Spam folder, but there are always the marketing emails, newsletters, and other mass messages that slip through to your inbox. Maybe you accidentally signed up for a mailing list, or you wanted those promo emails at one point, but now they've become too much. You can keep deleting them one by one—or you can take action to remove spam from certain senders once and for all. Set up filtering to banish unwanted emailsFiltering is one of our favorite Gmail hacks for moving junk emails straight to the trash. Select the messages in your inbox from as many senders as you want to filter out, click the three-dot menu at the top of the screen, and select Filter messages like these. On the pop-up, click Create filter and check Delete it. Be sure to also check Also apply filter to [X] matching conversations. Future emails from filtered senders will automatically go to Trash. Filter entire domains insteadIf you're still getting emails from a sender you've filtered out, it may be because they're using multiple aliases on the same domain. To solve this, you can set up a filter for an entire domain. Go to Settings > See all settings > Filters and Blocked Addresses and select Create a new filter. Add the domain (@[domain].com) to the "From" field, select Create filter, and check Delete it. Unsubscribe en masse via 'Manage Subscriptions'You can unsubscribe from mailing lists by clicking "Unsubscribe" at the bottom of each individual email you receive, but this is both tedious and a potential security risk, as threat actors have been known to hijack these links for malicious purposes. At minimum, opening the email and clicking any link therein confirms that your email address is active and ripe for targeting. Google updated Gmail last year to include a "Manage Subscription" view, which centralizes mailing list and promotional emails in one place with a one-click unsubscribe option. In the left-hand navigation bar, click More > Manage subscriptions, locate the sender, and click Unsubscribe to be removed from that sender's list. Note that Gmail may not pull all email campaigns into this view—if that's the case for a list you want to unsubscribe from, you can click Unsubscribe at the top of the email itself (next to the sender's address) instead or use the next step to block the sender entirely. Use the 'Report spam' button ruthlesslyIf you find yourself deleting emails from the same senders over and over, report them as spam instead. This helps Gmail to recognize these and similar messages as junk, which over time can reduce how much clutter actually reaches your inbox. Select the email and click the Report spam button at the top of your inbox to move the message to your spam folder. Gmail automatically deletes spam after 30 days. Block external images to prevent trackingMarketing emails typically have tracking pixels—invisible 1x1 images used to monitor online activity—embedded that let senders know when you open a message, which is why you should stop opening emails you don't want and use one of the above strategies to filter, delete, or block them instead. To add an extra layer of protection, you can keep external images from loading in emails unless you explicitly allow them. Go to Settings > See all settings. On the General tab, scroll to Images and select Ask before displaying external images. Keep your email address private and use aliases insteadAn obvious way to keep junk from reaching your inbox is to avoid giving out your email address in the first place. You can create a second Gmail account to use solely for subscriptions, shopping, service sign-ups, etc. so any lists you are added to are directed straight to a separate inbox. Gmail also has unlimited aliases via "plus addressing," so you can easily see where spam is coming from. Or you can create burner accounts via "hide my email" services in browsers, password managers, or Apple iCloud. View the full article

US president says Putin and Zelenskyy agreed to request for cessation beginning May 9View the full article

An in-person remote position sounds like an oxymoron, but that’s exactly what athletic supplement company Inno Supps was advertising in a LinkedIn job posting that’s gone viral for all the wrong reasons. Though its listing for a senior copywriter was labeled as remote, job seekers were quick to call out the fine print at the top of the job description: “Please apply only if you are willing to eventually work onsite in Henderson, Nevada,” it read. “While this role is listed as ‘remote’ for visibility, it is an onsite position and requires in-office presence.” Inno Supps was apparently looking to capitalize on the gap between the demand and supply for remote work. A 2025 LinkedIn report showed that while the level of job seekers looking exclusively for remote work has stayed close to its mid-pandemic peak, the supply of those roles has dwindled as more and more employers insist on a return to the office. But advertising a role as remote when it’s actually in-person is a recipe for angry applicants, as the response to Inno Supps’ listing makes crystal clear. ‘The employment version of clickbait’: Social media comes for Inno Supps When a screenshot of Inno Supps’ post made its way to X, it quickly went viral, amassing 2.3 million views. Several users said that lying in a job listing destroys a company’s credibility. “We lied to you in this job posting but trust us, it’ll never happen again,” quipped one user in response to the post. It also encourages applicants to match the company’s behavior, other users said: “If HR isn’t going to be honest about the job posting(s), why should I be honest on my resume?” one poster asked. “This is the employment version of clickbait,” wrote another user. Several posters also used comparisons to highlight the unfairness of falsely advertising any aspect of a role. “While this role listed the salary as ‘$1,000,000’ for visibility, it is actually $10,000,” imagined one user. Inno Supps has not responded to Fast Company’s request for comment. Loopholes in LinkedIn’s policies Is a job posting like Inno Supp’s actually allowed on LinkedIn? At first glance, it seems in violation of LinkedIn’s Job Policies, which state that “the primary location of the role, along with any relocation and travel requirements and/or conditions, should be plainly visible within the post.” Any job post violating those policies will be taken down after review. But Inno Supps’ post may fall into a gray area. The fact that the role is actually in person is plainly visible within the post—just not in its heading. Still, the listing contradicts itself, meaning it may also violate LinkedIn’s policy that “job posts must contain truthful, accurate, and complete information about the jobs they promote.” Fast Company has reached out to LinkedIn for clarification on whether Inno Supp’s job posting violates its policies. The posting has stopped accepting applications, but that hasn’t stopped disgruntled social media users from coming for Inno Supps’ other available positions, including its listing for a new CEO, which is also listed as remote despite requiring on-site work in its description. “Inno Supps, I will be your downfall!!!!!!” one user wrote, adding screenshots of them reporting the job as fraudulent. View the full article

Results cement proprietary trading firm as one of the most profitable on Wall StreetView the full article

Schools and universities across the country are recovering from an outage that knocked down Canvas, an online platform that manages exams, course notes, lecture videos, and grades. The disruption tied to a cyberattack hit in the middle of finals period for many colleges, a high-stress time when students and instructors rely heavily on the platform. By late Thursday, Instructure, the parent company of Canvas, said the platform was available again to most users. The hacking group ShinyHunters claimed responsibility for the breach, said Luke Connolly, a threat analyst at the cybersecurity firm Emsisoft. On Friday, Instructure and Canvas no longer appeared on a site where ShinyHunters lists its targets. Some schools, however, have continued to block students and teachers from accessing Canvas, citing an abundance of caution while assessing security threats. Here’s what to know about the outage. What is Canvas? Schools and universities use Canvas to manage nearly all aspects of instruction. The platform acts as a gradebook, a hub for digital lectures and course materials, a discussion board for classroom projects, and a messaging platform between students and instructors. Some courses also give quizzes and exams on the platform, or use it as a portal where final projects and papers are submitted on deadline. Who is ShinyHunters? ShinyHunters is a loose association of teenage and young adult hackers in the U.S. and the United Kingdom who have been linked to other large-scale cyberattacks, including one on Ticketmaster, Connolly said. On the page listing their targets, the group describes itself as “rooting your systems since ‘19,” using a term for accessing a computer system’s deepest layer. Earlier this week, ShinyHunters said that nearly 9,000 schools and 275 million individuals’ data could be leaked if schools did not pay the ransom by a deadline of May 6. The group then extended the deadline, indicating some schools had engaged with them to negotiate. Schools and universities, rich in personally-identifiable information on students, teachers and employees, have become prime targets for criminal hackers in ransomware attacks. Targets can be individual districts, like the Minneapolis Public Schools or Los Angeles Unified School District, or external vendor platforms like Canvas or PowerSchool that education systems increasingly rely on to manage schedules, courses and exams. The impact on students Though most schools seem to have restored access to Canvas, the disruptions to finals period are likely to ripple throughout the week. The University of Massachusetts at Dartmouth said that it would postpone exams scheduled for Friday and Saturday to ensure students had time to review course materials that would not have been accessible during the shutdown. The University of Illinois postponed all exams that were scheduled to take place Friday, Saturday or Sunday for all classes, regardless of whether the courses utilized Canvas. And Montgomery County Public Schools in Maryland continued to limit access to Canvas on Friday, citing an abundance of caution “while we work to better understand the full impact of the incident and any potential vulnerabilities involving information connected to the platform.” ___ The Associated Press’ education coverage receives financial support from multiple private foundations. AP is solely responsible for all content. Find AP’s standards for working with philanthropies, a list of supporters and funded coverage areas at AP.org. —Annie Ma and Heather Hollingsworth, Associated Press View the full article

Pakistan cancelled plans to buy cargoes on spot market because it expected Gulf shipments to resumeView the full article

The Pentagon is releasing “never-before-seen” files on UFOs. The files, many which have been under wraps for decades, can now be accessed by anyone online. The Friday release includes the declassification of 162 files on what the government officially calls unidentified anomalous phenomena (UAP) these days. These files can be found under a new tab on the Defense Department’s website. The move follows a presidential order that came in February, which called for greater transparency around UAP. “The American people can now access the federal government’s declassified UAP files instantly. The latest UAP videos, photos, and original source documents from across the entire United States government are all in one place—no clearance required,” the Pentagon said in a post on X about the release. The statement went on to blame previous presidential administrations for keeping the documents secret. “While past administrations sought to discredit or dissuade the American people, President The President is focused on providing maximum transparency to the public, who can ultimately make up their own minds about the information contained in these files.” New files will be added to the database “on a rolling basis,” it said. That interest has undeniably ticked up in recent years. In part, that’s happened due to social media, given that a sighting viewed by one person—if captured on a smartphone—can go on to be viewed by millions. Likewise, there have been a number of documentary films released on the subject in recent years. Moreover, the number of people who say they believe in extraterrestrial life has been steadily climbing for decades. In 2025, 56% of Americans said they believe aliens exist, while 47% say they’ve probably visited Earth, up from 36% in 2012. As for the files, they include everything from photographs to reports on eyewitness sightings and other “unresolved cases,” which the page explains means that the government was unable to “make a definitive determination on the nature of the observed phenomena.” One file includes a transcript from Apollo 17, where astronauts can be heard speaking about “bright particles” or fragments,” along with alleged sightings going back to the 1950s. Still, experts say that those with an interest in alien life should keep their excitement in check. Sean Kirkpatrick, a former career intelligence officer who led the Defense Department’s All-Domain Anomaly Resolution Office (AARO) until 2023, has viewed the documents and told AP News that there is nothing that’s going to enlighten us on extraterrestrials. “Readers should not get their hopes up that there’s going to be some document with photos, interviewing the aliens when they came down,” he said. “Because that just doesn’t exist.” View the full article

Apple’s Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) is just one month away. That event will see Apple launch the next iterations of the software that powers its various devices, including iOS 27 for the iPhone. But Apple will also be rolling out a new version of iOS before then, and it will feature an enhancement that will benefit Android users as much as Apple’s own. Here’s what you need to know. iOS 26.5 brings encrypted RCS messaging to iPhone Apple’s iMessage protocol has long had end-to-end encryption for texts sent between Apple devices. But for texts sent between Android phones and iPhones, encryption has always been absent. And that wasn’t the fault of Apple or Android maker Google. It’s because, for years, the messages sent between the platforms were standard SMS, which lacked modern features such as read receipts and, more importantly, end-to-end encryption. Back in iOS 18, Apple added support for a new kind of text message protocol, called Rich Communication Service—better known by its acronym, RCS. This new RCS protocol brought read receipts, typing indicators, and more to standard text messages, greatly improving interactivity in messaging between iPhone and Android devices. Unfortunately, the way the RCS protocol has been implemented on iOS since then has meant that one of the protocol’s core benefits—end-to-end encryption—has not been adopted. But with iOS 26.5, that changes. Now, provided your carrier supports end-to-end encrypted RCS messaging, RCS texts sent between iPhones and Android devices on the same network will be unreadable to anyone but the sender and receiver—even Apple and your cellular service provider. What iPhones will support RCS end-to-end encryption? In the iOS 26.5 beta release notes, Apple states that new end-to-end encrypted RCS messaging will be in beta and work with “supported carriers” and “roll out over time.” The company points users to this support document, which lists which carriers support RCS messaging. In addition to carrier support, you’ll need an iPhone capable of running iOS 26.5. That includes any iPhone from the iPhone 11 series or later. Those using Android devices will also need to make sure their phone’s software and carrier support end-to-end encrypted RCS messaging. When can I download iOS 26.5? Apple has been beta testing iOS 26.5 for some time now, and this week it released the final candidate of the software, suggesting a public launch is imminent. That launch could happen today, though it is more likely to come sometime next week, perhaps as soon as Monday or Tuesday. iPhone users will be able to upgrade to iOS 26.5 by opening the Settings app, tapping General, and then tapping Software Update. In addition to end-to-end encrypted RCS support, iOS 26.5 will also add a new “Suggested Places” feature in Apple Maps that recommends businesses or other locations you may be interested in, as well as new Pride wallpapers and other enhancements. View the full article

Knowing when to switch project management tools is one of the trickiest calls a team leader can make. Hear from PMs and ops leaders who've been through it — and learn the real signs that it's time to go. The post The Moment I Knew It Was Time to Switch Tools appeared first on The Digital Project Manager. View the full article

Alongside its cloud-based brokerage, the company said the acquisition will transform eXp's existing infrastructure into a multi-model platform. View the full article

As technology advances, the demand for reliable and sustainable power solutions has become paramount for businesses, especially those growing in areas such as artificial intelligence (AI) and data management. Oracle’s recent initiative, Project Jupiter, located in Doña Ana County, New Mexico, aims to address this demand by harnessing the power of fuel cells. These innovative energy systems promise to deliver numerous benefits to local businesses while also contributing to a cleaner and quieter environment. Fuel cells, particularly Bloom fuel cells, have been a trusted source of electricity for essential facilities across the United States for nearly two decades. Unlike traditional power generation methods that rely on combustion, fuel cells utilize an electrochemical process to convert fuel and oxygen into electricity without producing harmful emissions. This shift from combustion to a clean energy solution can significantly affect how small business owners think about their energy needs. For small businesses, implementing fuel cells can yield several advantages. Firstly, they produce fewer air pollutants than combustion systems, which can lead to cleaner air and improved health outcomes for both employees and customers. This is particularly beneficial for small businesses striving for environmentally responsible operations, as they can align with community values promoting sustainability. Moreover, fuel cells use minimal water while generating electricity, which is a critical consideration in an age of increasing resource scarcity. As small businesses often face budget constraints, reducing operational costs associated with water usage can translate into significant savings over time. Additionally, the quiet operation of fuel cell systems, which are comparably quieter than common air conditioners, allows for seamless integration into community settings without disrupting daily activities. Another remarkable benefit is the visual compatibility of these systems. Designed to align with the surrounding infrastructure, fuel cells can fit into commercial environments without creating an eyesore. This aesthetic consideration can be pivotal for small businesses located in urban areas where appearance impacts foot traffic and customer perceptions. Fuel cells also deliver the promise of energy independence. As production costs fluctuate, small businesses can benefit from Bloom’s microgrids, allowing them to operate autonomously from the grid. This capability not only protects local businesses from sudden hikes in electricity bills but also ensures that they have a reliable source of power, essential for maintaining operations in an increasingly digital world. The modularity of fuel cell installations is another strong selling point. Small businesses can deploy fuel cells according to their immediate needs while retaining the flexibility to scale up as their operations grow. This capability ensures that businesses can invest in energy solutions that accommodate both current demands and future expansion plans without incurring unnecessary costs upfront. While these advantages paint a promising picture, small business owners should also consider the initial investment associated with fuel cell technology. Transitioning from conventional electricity sources to fuel cells may involve upfront costs that could be a concern for those with tight budgets. Understanding the financing options and potential long-term savings associated with fuel cells will be crucial in making informed decisions. Another consideration is the technology’s accessibility and maturity. While fuel cells have proven effective in various settings, businesses should evaluate if this solution aligns with their specific energy requirements and operational structures. Consultation with energy experts can help navigate these considerations. The push towards sustainable energy solutions such as fuel cells is gaining momentum as businesses realize the long-term benefits of cleaner and more reliable energy. Oracle’s Project Jupiter represents not only a shift in how data centers can meet their energy needs but also a broader signal to small business owners about the importance of sustainability in operations. For small businesses looking to enhance their operational efficiency while contributing to a healthier environment, fuel cells may represent a viable option. The potential benefits of cleaner air, reduced water usage, and energy independence underline the importance of exploring alternative power solutions. As the landscape of energy and technology evolves, insights from initiatives like this one can provide small businesses with the tools they need to thrive. For comprehensive details on the use of fuel cells, visit Oracle’s original post here. Image via Google Gemini This article, "Oracle’s Project Jupiter to Power AI Data Centers with Clean Fuel Cells" was first published on Small Business Trends View the full article

As technology advances, the demand for reliable and sustainable power solutions has become paramount for businesses, especially those growing in areas such as artificial intelligence (AI) and data management. Oracle’s recent initiative, Project Jupiter, located in Doña Ana County, New Mexico, aims to address this demand by harnessing the power of fuel cells. These innovative energy systems promise to deliver numerous benefits to local businesses while also contributing to a cleaner and quieter environment. Fuel cells, particularly Bloom fuel cells, have been a trusted source of electricity for essential facilities across the United States for nearly two decades. Unlike traditional power generation methods that rely on combustion, fuel cells utilize an electrochemical process to convert fuel and oxygen into electricity without producing harmful emissions. This shift from combustion to a clean energy solution can significantly affect how small business owners think about their energy needs. For small businesses, implementing fuel cells can yield several advantages. Firstly, they produce fewer air pollutants than combustion systems, which can lead to cleaner air and improved health outcomes for both employees and customers. This is particularly beneficial for small businesses striving for environmentally responsible operations, as they can align with community values promoting sustainability. Moreover, fuel cells use minimal water while generating electricity, which is a critical consideration in an age of increasing resource scarcity. As small businesses often face budget constraints, reducing operational costs associated with water usage can translate into significant savings over time. Additionally, the quiet operation of fuel cell systems, which are comparably quieter than common air conditioners, allows for seamless integration into community settings without disrupting daily activities. Another remarkable benefit is the visual compatibility of these systems. Designed to align with the surrounding infrastructure, fuel cells can fit into commercial environments without creating an eyesore. This aesthetic consideration can be pivotal for small businesses located in urban areas where appearance impacts foot traffic and customer perceptions. Fuel cells also deliver the promise of energy independence. As production costs fluctuate, small businesses can benefit from Bloom’s microgrids, allowing them to operate autonomously from the grid. This capability not only protects local businesses from sudden hikes in electricity bills but also ensures that they have a reliable source of power, essential for maintaining operations in an increasingly digital world. The modularity of fuel cell installations is another strong selling point. Small businesses can deploy fuel cells according to their immediate needs while retaining the flexibility to scale up as their operations grow. This capability ensures that businesses can invest in energy solutions that accommodate both current demands and future expansion plans without incurring unnecessary costs upfront. While these advantages paint a promising picture, small business owners should also consider the initial investment associated with fuel cell technology. Transitioning from conventional electricity sources to fuel cells may involve upfront costs that could be a concern for those with tight budgets. Understanding the financing options and potential long-term savings associated with fuel cells will be crucial in making informed decisions. Another consideration is the technology’s accessibility and maturity. While fuel cells have proven effective in various settings, businesses should evaluate if this solution aligns with their specific energy requirements and operational structures. Consultation with energy experts can help navigate these considerations. The push towards sustainable energy solutions such as fuel cells is gaining momentum as businesses realize the long-term benefits of cleaner and more reliable energy. Oracle’s Project Jupiter represents not only a shift in how data centers can meet their energy needs but also a broader signal to small business owners about the importance of sustainability in operations. For small businesses looking to enhance their operational efficiency while contributing to a healthier environment, fuel cells may represent a viable option. The potential benefits of cleaner air, reduced water usage, and energy independence underline the importance of exploring alternative power solutions. As the landscape of energy and technology evolves, insights from initiatives like this one can provide small businesses with the tools they need to thrive. For comprehensive details on the use of fuel cells, visit Oracle’s original post here. Image via Google Gemini This article, "Oracle’s Project Jupiter to Power AI Data Centers with Clean Fuel Cells" was first published on Small Business Trends View the full article

The opinion that supports national banks' ability to avoid paying interest on certain mortgage accounts in New York is unlikely to be the last word. View the full article

We may earn a commission from links on this page. Last weekend, I strapped two Garmin running watches to my wrists and raced a 10K—the top-of-the-line Forerunner 970 on one arm, and the budget-friendly Forerunner 165 Musicon the other. Whether you're toeing the line at your first 5K or chasing a marathon PR, one thing I learned is that even the most powerful running watch in the world won't help you on race day if you haven't set it up properly beforehand. Here's the checklist I wish I'd had before race day. Garmin Forerunner 970 $649.99 at Amazon $749.99 Save $100.00 Shop Now Shop Now $649.99 at Amazon $749.99 Save $100.00 How to train with a Garmin watch before a raceOnce you've registered for a race, it's time to start training. Step one: Set up a training plan in Garmin Connect. Once in the Garmin Connect app, navigate to Training & Planning > Training Plans to browse free plans for distances from 5K to marathons. Once you select a plan and sync it to your watch, daily workouts will push directly to your wrist. Beginner-friendly Garmin Coach plans are compatible with many models, including Forerunner 55, Vivoactive 5, and Venu 2/3. You start getting daily suggested workouts and more personalized, adaptive training plans with Garmin Run Coach in the more advanced watches, like the Forerunner 165 and 265. Jump up to the 570, you'll get projected race time and pace. The most advanced coaching features—like real-time stamina and endurance scores—are selling points for higher-end models, like the Forerunner 965 and 970. Before race week, take a look at your HRV Status and Training Readiness score. In theory, these metrics tell you whether your body has actually absorbed your training, or whether you've been digging yourself into a hole. HRV Status is available on the Forerunner 255 and above. Training Readiness is available on the Forerunner 265 and above, including the 955 and 970. The Forerunner 165 gives you a simpler "Body Battery" reading, which is still useful, albeit less granular. And remember to manually add your race as an event. Open Garmin Connect and go to Training & Planning > Courses, or look for the "Events" section. Add your race by entering the distance, date, and location. This does more than just mark the calendar—on supported watches, it activates a Race Calendar widget and begins surfacing a race-day countdown. If your race doesn't show up in the Garmin calendar, but it does have a published GPX or course file, you can download it and load it onto your watch via Garmin Connect. On race day, this gives you turn-by-turn navigation, elevation previews, and the ability to see exactly where you are on course (with compatible watches). Garmin Forerunner 265 Running Smartwatch (Black/Grey) $348.99 at Walmart $449.99 Save $101.00 Get Deal Get Deal $348.99 at Walmart $449.99 Save $101.00 How to set up your Garmin watch the night before your raceHere's the checklist I've cooked up after several races with several different watches: Charge your watch fully. Obvious, but easy to forget after a week of tapering distractions. Plug it in the night before so you start race morning at 100%. Confirm your data screens. Set up your race activity profile so the data fields you actually want—pace, heart rate, lap pace, distance—are front and center. Go to Settings > Activities & Apps > Running > Data Screens. Edit your screens so you're not fumbling through menus mid-race. An extra tip here: For racing, less is more. A cluttered screen with eight data fields is harder to read at race pace than two or three big numbers. Set up alerts. Pace alerts, heart rate alerts, or time alerts can keep you disciplined in the early miles. Set a minimum and maximum pace range if you tend to go out too fast, or a heart rate ceiling if you're racing by effort. Custom alert configurations are available across most Forerunner models, but heart rate zone alerts and the ability to set complex multi-condition alerts are more robust on the 265 and above. Configure auto lap. By default, Garmin watches auto-lap every mile or kilometer. For a race, decide whether you want to lap by distance, by the race's official kilometer markers, or manually. If you want to manually control your laps, which is useful for shorter races like 5Ks, turn off Auto Lap and use the lap button yourself. In the 970 exclusively, you can toggle on the "Timing Gate" option, and your watch will automatically trigger laps as you pass the predefined official course marker, in addition to showing the actual distance run. Check satellite signal. The night before, open the running activity on your watch and let it acquire a GPS signal. This helps pre-load satellite data so you get a faster lock on race morning. Set up Garmin's race day features. On higher-end models, make sure you toggle on any race-specific tools available on your watch. This might include Garmin's PacePro feature, which gives you a customized pacing plan for your race. Enter your goal time, and it will account for elevation changes and suggest a smart pacing strategy mile by mile. Another feature I plan to use during my next half-marathon is real-time stamina, available on the 970. This feature estimates how much energy you have left in the tank and projects whether your current pace is sustainable. It's a great reality check in the middle miles. How to set your Garmin watch on the morning of your raceGet a GPS lock early. Open your activity before getting into your corral. Wait for the GPS signal indicator to go solid. Don't start running until you have a clean lock, or your first splits will be inaccurate. Put on your heart rate monitor (if using one). If you race with a chest strap like the HRM-Pro Plus, strap it on and let it connect to your watch before the start. I personally don't race with one, but a chest strap will give you more accurate heart rate data when wrist-based optical sensors can struggle to keep up. Enable music (if using it). If you're racing with music, queue up your playlist before you get to the start corral. On any watch with "Music" in its name, you can store and play music directly from the watch without your phone. How to use your Garmin watch during a raceUse the lap button intentionally. Hit the lap button at official mile or kilometer markers if they don't line up with your auto-lap. This gives you splits that actually reflect the race course rather than GPS-calculated distances that can drift by several seconds per mile. Glance, don't stare. It's easy to become a data zombie mid-race. Train yourself to glance at your watch for one or two numbers—current pace and heart rate, for example—and then get your eyes back on the road. The watch should be a tool, not a distraction. Trust your training. No watch can run the race for you. At some point, put the data in the background and run on feel. The best use of a race-day watch is to keep you honest in the first half so you have something left for the finish. What to do on your Garmin watch after a raceSave and sync immediately. When you cross the finish line, let the watch record for a few extra seconds before stopping your activity. (Damn you, Strava tax!) Then sync to Garmin Connect over Bluetooth while your phone is nearby. Your race data, including splits, heart rate graph, and elevation, will all be waiting for you in the app. Review your race analysis. In Garmin Connect, pull up the race activity and review your pace curve, heart rate response, and cadence data. Look for where you faded, where you had a surge, and how your heart rate tracked to your perceived effort. This is some of the most valuable post-race coaching you can get. Whether you're wearing a $199 Forerunner 55 or the $750 Forerunner 970, working through this checklist before race day will make you a smarter, more prepared racer. The fancier watch gives you more tools—but only if you actually know how to use them. View the full article

If you’ve taken the New York City subway lately, you might’ve seen an ad that’s driving social media wild. The ad shows messages from two employees: Steve, who says he’s “not coming in today sry,” and an AI sales agent named Ava, who says she booked 12 meetings and researched 1,269 prospects. The ad’s header reads, “Fire Steve. Hire Ava.” In other words, fire humans and replace them with AI. goddamn this sucks pic.twitter.com/InMUGd0y1A — F♯A♯∞, fka ☕️ (@coopercooperco) May 7, 2026 The ad comes from AI company Artisan, which offers an AI agent to replace low-level sales representatives. The company is known for its controversial anti-human advertising—and the campaign is certainly doing its job, in the sense that everyone seems to be talking about it. But are provocative ads still worthwhile if they’re only generating hate? Social media tears the ad to shreds With a whopping 71% of Americans concerned that AI will permanently put humans out of work as of 2025, the new Artisan ad plays into a widespread anxiety. It’s a hallmark of the company’s branding: Other Artisan billboards throughout New York City and San Francisco feature messages including “Your next hire isn’t human” and “Stop hiring humans.” While the ads capture people’s attention, that attention isn’t necessarily positive, and the latest ad’s reception on social media proves it. Many social media users were quick to undermine the ad’s logic. “Anyone who’s ever hired people knows that this is actually signal to hire Steve not Ava,” one user wrote, with others agreeing in their replies. “Steve at least *tells* you when he’s not able to work,” another user commented. “Ava will just lie, hallucinate, and blow smoke up your ass.” Others argued that while AI may outdeliver on quantity, that’s no guarantee of quality. One user wrote that Ava likely “booked 12 hallucinated meetings” and is “straight up lying about researching 1,269 prospects.” “Was the research any good?” wondered another poster. “Who knows? Who cares? We have QUANTITY!” One user argued that even if provocation is the goal, it’s only contributing to growing anti-AI attitudes. An April survey from Gallup found that 31% of Gen Z says AI makes them angry, while only 22% said they were excited about the technology, a drop of 14 percentage points from the previous year. “I’ve seen people who work in AI act shocked and dismayed by the hostile and sometimes violent way people talk about them,” the user wrote. “But it really seems like they’re intentionally inviting it at this point.” Why Artisan sells itself as anti-human The negative response may look bad on paper, but according to Artisan’s CEO and co-founder Jaspar Carmichael-Jack, his company’s ads are meant to be provocative. In response to Fast Company‘s request for comment, he referenced a blog post he wrote about Artisan’s “Stop hiring humans” campaign. “It works because it’s uncomfortable,” Carmichael-Jack wrote. “The belief underneath is more careful than three words on a wall, but the three words still mean what they say: stop hiring humans for the work AI can do better, and stop pretending that work was ever good for humans in the first place.” Throughout the post, Carmichael-Jack expanded on Artisan’s AI philosophy: not to replace humans with AI across the board, but specifically in roles like cold outbound that were “never good for humans in the first place.” “On the days I think about what comes after this product, this company, this decade, I think about a world where people work less and live more,” he added. “That’s what I want the billboards to be remembered as a step toward.” View the full article

It pulls the article and generates three to five distinct LinkedIn posts. Before that, every LinkedIn post started the same way. I’d re-explain the voice rules. The fold-line rule. The hook patterns I like, the ones I don’t. The example…Read more ›View the full article

When you’re considering applying for a commercial loan, comprehension of key lending criteria is essential. Lenders typically look at your credit score, business plan, and cash flow statements to evaluate your risk profile. They’ll additionally assess your existing debt obligations and the collateral you can offer. These factors notably impact your chances of approval and the terms you receive. Knowing how to present this information can make a substantial difference in your application process. So, what should you focus on next? Key Takeaways A solid business plan and credit score above 680 are essential for qualifying for commercial loans. Lenders assess cash flow statements, aiming for cash flow at least 1.25 times debt service requirements. Existing debt obligations impact loan approval; a low debt-to-income ratio increases chances for additional borrowing. Collateral, such as real estate or equipment, is crucial; it should exceed the loan amount for better terms. Personal guarantees can enhance approval chances, especially if credit history is lacking, leading to improved loan terms. Understanding Commercial Loans Grasping commercial loans is crucial for any business looking to grow or improve its operations. Comprehending what’s commercial loan countries list helps you recognize where these loans are widely utilized. Businesses across various sectors seek commercial loans for expansion, equipment investment, or enhancing operational efficiency. These loans come in different forms, including short-term, long-term, secured, and unsecured options. To qualify, you’ll need to meet commercial lending criteria, which often include a credit score above 680, a robust business plan, and financial statements that outline your historical and projected finances. For secured loans, collateral like real estate or inventory may be necessary to protect lenders. The application process can be lengthy, with approval times varying greatly based on the loan type. Familiarizing yourself with the specific terms in the term sheet is crucial for negotiating your loan effectively. Purpose of the Loan When considering a commercial loan, it’s important to grasp its primary purposes. These loans are designed to provide financial support for various business needs, ensuring you can maintain growth and stability. Here are some key purposes: Expansion: To fund initiatives like entering new markets or launching new products, which often require significant upfront investment. Capital Expenditures: To invest in crucial assets, such as upgrading technology or purchasing real estate. Operational Costs: To help cover expenses during revenue dips, ensuring your business maintains cash flow. Commercial loans come in different forms, including secured and unsecured options, allowing you to choose what best suits your financial situation. Grasping these purposes will help you make informed decisions about the type of loan that aligns with your business goals and needs. Business Cash Flow Assessment Comprehending your business’s cash flow assessment is vital, as it directly impacts your ability to secure a commercial loan. Lenders focus on your cash flow since it indicates how well you manage operating costs and meet debt obligations. Typically, you’ll need to provide a cash flow statement that details the inflows and outflows of cash over a specific period, allowing lenders to evaluate your operational efficiency and financial stability. A healthy cash flow cycle guarantees your sales revenue covers expenses, promoting growth and reinvestment. Cash flow projections are likewise important; they help lenders assess your future financial performance and the likelihood of timely loan repayments based on expected revenue and expenses. Aim to maintain a cash flow that meets at least 1.25 times your debt service requirements. This cushion helps manage unexpected expenses, confirming lenders of your repayment capability. Existing Debt Obligations When you’re applying for a commercial loan, your existing debt obligations can greatly impact your approval chances. Lenders closely examine your debt-to-income ratio, which helps them assess how much additional debt you can reasonably manage. To get a clear picture of your financial situation, you’ll need to disclose all current debts, including loans, credit lines, and other obligations. Impact on Loan Approval Existing debt obligations play a crucial role in the loan approval process, as lenders closely examine your debt-to-income ratio to gauge your capacity for managing additional debt responsibly. A high level of existing debt can hurt your creditworthiness, making it harder to secure favorable loan terms or even obtain approval. Lenders typically require detailed documentation of your existing debt, including payment history and current balances, to assess risks. To boost your loan approval chances, consider these key points: Maintain timely payments on existing debts. Work on reducing overall debt levels to improve your credit profile. Fully disclose all existing debt obligations during the application to avoid denial or unfavorable terms. Debt-to-Income Ratio Comprehending your debt-to-income (DTI) ratio is vital since it serves as a significant indicator of your financial health to lenders. This ratio measures your existing debt obligations against your income, with a standard approval threshold around 36% for commercial loans. A lower DTI ratio signifies a stronger financial position, showing lenders you can manage your debts without being over-leveraged. Typically, lenders prefer a DTI ratio below 30% for favorable loan terms, indicating you have enough income to handle additional debt. Your existing debts, including personal loans and credit cards, factor into this calculation. Maintaining a healthy DTI ratio is important for securing commercial loans, as it helps lenders assess the risk of extending credit to you. Types of Existing Debt Comprehension of the different types of existing debt is essential for any business seeking commercial loans. Lenders evaluate your total debt load and payment history when appraising risk. Here are key types of debt you should be aware of: Outstanding Loans: These include term loans taken for specific purposes, such as equipment purchases. Lines of Credit: Revolving credit options that allow you to borrow as needed, often used for cash flow management. Secured Debts: Loans backed by collateral, which can limit your borrowing capacity because of existing liens. Maintaining a strong payment history on these obligations is imperative for enhancing your credit profile. Transparency during the application process cultivates lender trust and can improve your chances of securing favorable financing terms. Available Collateral Available collateral plays a vital role in the commercial lending process, influencing both loan approval and the terms you might receive. Lenders typically require real estate, inventory, or equipment as security against the loan amount, which means the value of your collateral must often exceed the loan amount. This requirement provides a safety net for lenders in case you default. Secured loans usually offer lower interest rates compared to unsecured loans as collateral reduces the lender’s risk. Lenders assess the market value and liquidity of your collateral to determine its adequacy, which can influence your borrowing limits. If you lack sufficient collateral, you might face higher interest rates or be limited to unsecured loan options, which often come with stricter qualification criteria. Comprehending these aspects of available collateral is imperative for steering your borrowing options effectively. Importance of Documentation When applying for a commercial loan, proper documentation is a key factor that can considerably impact your chances of approval. Lenders typically require at least two years of financial records, including profit and loss statements and tax returns, to evaluate your business’s viability. A strong credit history, ideally above 680, is also crucial for favorable loan terms. To improve your application, make sure to include: A detailed business plan outlining your model, mission, and financial projections Consistent income verification through Business Activity Statements (BAS) or bank statements Accurate and complete documentation to avoid processing delays Personal Guarantees and Their Impact Personal guarantees play a vital role in the commercial lending process, especially for startups and businesses with limited credit histories. When you provide a personal guarantee, you commit to repaying the loan if your business defaults, which helps mitigate risk for lenders. This commitment can greatly boost your chances of loan approval, particularly when your credit history is lacking. Lenders often require personal guarantees for larger loan amounts or when collateral isn’t enough to secure the loan, evaluating your personal credit score and financial stability in the process. A personal guarantee can lead to better loan terms, such as lower interest rates and higher borrowing limits, showcasing your dedication to your business’s success. Nevertheless, it’s important to understand that personal guarantees put your personal assets at risk; if your business fails to meet repayment obligations, lenders can pursue those assets to recover their funds. Local Decision-Makers: Their Role in the Process Local decision-makers play an essential role in the commercial lending process by possessing the authority to assess and approve loan applications based on their comprehension of the regional market. Their insights into local businesses allow them to tailor loan terms that reflect unique circumstances, which can considerably influence approval rates. Decision-Making Authority Structure In commercial lending, decision-making authority often rests with individuals who possess a deep comprehension of the regional business environment, which allows them to tailor loan terms to better suit client needs. Local decision-makers understand local economic conditions and industry trends, providing insights that can influence loan approvals. By working closely with these individuals, you can experience quicker response times in loan processing, as they can expedite evaluations without the delays found in larger institutions. Building personal relationships with local decision-makers improves communication and trust, making it easier for you to navigate the lending process. They can adjust lending criteria based on your unique circumstances. Their local knowledge allows for more personalized financing solutions. They typically offer faster application evaluations. Influence on Loan Terms Comprehending how decision-makers influence loan terms can greatly impact your borrowing experience. Local decision-makers understand the regional business environment and economic conditions, allowing them to create customized loan terms. They often approve loans quickly—usually within two weeks—making them more responsive than national Bank of America. By engaging with these local lenders, you can share your unique business story and operational successes, potentially improving both approval chances and loan terms. Local decision-makers are typically more flexible and willing to negotiate, as they aim to cultivate long-term relationships within the community. Leveraging their insights can lead to more favorable interest rates and repayment structures, eventually making your borrowing experience smoother and more advantageous. Key Financial Metrics to Present When seeking commercial lending, it’s crucial to present key financial metrics that provide a clear picture of your business’s financial health. Lenders will look for specific documents and ratios to assess your viability and risk. Profit and Loss Statement: Highlight revenue, expenses, and net income over the past years to showcase operational efficiency. Balance Sheet: Provide a detailed snapshot of assets, liabilities, and equity, giving lenders insight into your financial position. Cash Flow Statement: Illustrate cash inflows and outflows to demonstrate your ability to manage costs and meet debt obligations. Also, include key financial ratios like the debt-to-equity ratio and current ratio to assess leverage and short-term health. Finally, prepare a three to five-year financial projection to outline expected revenue growth and expense management, helping lenders gauge future profitability and sustainability. The Value of a Strong Business Plan A strong business plan is crucial for securing commercial loans, as it clearly outlines your financial projections and operational strategy. Lenders look for detailed analyses that demonstrate your business’s potential for growth and sustainability. When you present a solid plan, it not only enhances your chances of loan approval but likewise reflects your commitment to managing costs and achieving long-term success. Financial Projections Importance Grasping the importance of financial projections in a strong business plan is crucial for anyone seeking commercial lending. These projections give lenders valuable insights into your expected revenue, expenses, and profitability over the next 3-5 years. A well-prepared projection not merely showcases your business’s growth potential but also supports your case for securing a loan. Detailed cash flow forecasts help assess your ability to meet operating costs and repayments. Including assumptions and justifications boosts your credibility. A strong business plan with solid projections can greatly improve your chances of loan approval, especially if you’re seeking funding above 80% of property value. Understanding these factors can make a considerable difference in your lending experience. Clear Operational Strategy Having a clear operational strategy is essential for crafting a strong business plan that resonates with lenders. This strategy outlines your business model, mission, and market analysis as well as including detailed financial statements like balance sheets and cash flow projections. By doing so, you help lenders assess both your historical performance and future sustainability. Effective cash flow management should likewise be highlighted, as it reassures lenders of your ability to meet debt obligations and operational costs. Research shows that businesses with thorough plans are 16% more likely to secure funding. Furthermore, presenting a compelling narrative that connects past successes to current goals can improve your credibility, finally strengthening your loan application and making it more appealing to lenders. Credit History and Its Influence With regard to securing a commercial loan, your credit history plays a pivotal role in determining your eligibility and the terms you receive. A strong credit history, typically a score above 680, signals financial responsibility to lenders, making you more likely to secure favorable loan terms. Lenders assess various factors, including your past payment behavior, credit utilization rates, and the length of your credit history, to evaluate the likelihood of timely repayment. Consider the following aspects of your credit history: Higher credit scores usually lead to lower interest rates and better loan conditions. A poor credit history can result in higher interest rates, stricter terms, or outright denial from traditional lenders. Small businesses often depend on personal credit scores if they lack a robust business credit history. Maintaining good credit is crucial for improving your chances of receiving favorable lending options. Industry-Specific Considerations When seeking a commercial loan, awareness of the unique lending considerations for your industry can greatly impact your success. The type of industry you’re in markedly influences loan terms and conditions. Lenders often favor sectors like healthcare and technology, which demonstrate stable cash flow and growth potential. Conversely, industries perceived as higher risk—such as hospitality or startups—might face stricter eligibility criteria and higher interest rates owing to their volatility. Lenders likewise assess the economic outlook of specific industries; those considered recession-resistant may secure more favorable terms. Moreover, regulatory and compliance standards can affect the loan approval process, requiring extra documentation. Your industry experience and operational history play vital roles in lender evaluations, as businesses with a proven track record are more likely to receive favorable lending conditions. Grasping these factors can boost your chances of obtaining the financing you need. Tailoring Your Application for Success To achieve success in your commercial loan application, it’s vital to tailor your submission to meet the specific requirements of lenders. A compelling business plan is important, detailing your business model, market analysis, and financial projections to show viability. Organizing key financial documents can streamline the application process. Aim for a strong credit score, ideally above 680, as this greatly improves loan eligibility. Here are a few key points to keep in mind: Include personal guarantees to reflect your commitment to the business’s success. Align your application with specific lender criteria to reassure them of your business’s capability. Demonstrate effective cash flow management to show lenders you can meet repayment obligations. Engaging With a Lending Expert Maneuvering the commercial lending terrain can be challenging, but working with a lending expert can simplify the process considerably. These professionals help you navigate the intricacies of various loan types, including full doc, low doc, and no doc loans, customized to different borrower needs. By evaluating your unique financial situation, they identify the most suitable loan type and potentially maximize your borrowing limits, which may exceed 80% of property value for small business owners. With their deep market insights, lending experts provide valuable information on current lender appetites, greatly impacting your borrowing limits and approval chances. They additionally assist in preparing a thorough loan application, ensuring that all necessary documentation, like financial statements and business plans, is well-organized. Furthermore, utilizing a lending expert’s services can help you leverage lender promotions, possibly securing better interest rates or waived fees, ultimately improving your loan terms. Frequently Asked Questions What Are the Three Cs of Commercial Lending? The three Cs of commercial lending are Character, Capacity, and Capital. Character assesses your credit history and reputation; a solid credit score boosts your approval chances. Capacity evaluates your business’s cash flow and financial statements, ensuring you can meet operating costs and debt obligations. Finally, Capital reflects your financial investment in the business, including equity and collateral, demonstrating commitment and reducing the lender’s risk. Comprehending these factors can greatly improve your loan prospects. What Are the 4 Cs of Commercial Lending? The 4 Cs of commercial lending are Character, Capacity, Capital, and Collateral. Character assesses your credit history and reputation, with a strong credit score being ideal. Capacity evaluates your ability to repay the loan, focusing on cash flow and consistent revenue. Capital reflects your investment in the business, showing your commitment. Finally, Collateral involves assets you pledge against the loan, providing security for lenders in case you can’t meet repayment obligations. What Are the 5 Cs of Commercial Lending? In commercial lending, the five Cs are essential for lenders evaluating your application. They include Character, which evaluates your credit history; Capacity, focusing on your ability to repay; Capital, reflecting your personal investment; Collateral, which secures the loan with assets; and Conditions, considering the economic environment and loan terms. Each element contributes to the lender’s comprehension of your financial reliability and the overall risk of the loan. What to Know About Commercial Lending? When you’re exploring commercial lending, it’s essential to understand your credit history, as a score above 680 can greatly impact your loan terms. Lenders often require two years of financial statements to evaluate your business’s performance. Depending on the loan type, you may need collateral, like real estate. Know that the application process can take 3 to 8 weeks, whereas some loans can be processed in just 72 hours for urgent needs. Conclusion In conclusion, grasping key commercial lending criteria is crucial for securing financing. Focus on maintaining a strong credit score, preparing a detailed business plan, and showcasing solid cash flow to meet lender expectations. Be mindful of existing debt and leverage available collateral to improve your application. Each industry may have unique requirements, so tailor your approach accordingly. Engaging with a lending expert can provide additional insights, enhancing your chances of obtaining the necessary funding for your business. Image via Google Gemini and ArtSmart This article, "Key Commercial Lending Criteria to Know" was first published on Small Business Trends View the full article

When you’re considering applying for a commercial loan, comprehension of key lending criteria is essential. Lenders typically look at your credit score, business plan, and cash flow statements to evaluate your risk profile. They’ll additionally assess your existing debt obligations and the collateral you can offer. These factors notably impact your chances of approval and the terms you receive. Knowing how to present this information can make a substantial difference in your application process. So, what should you focus on next? Key Takeaways A solid business plan and credit score above 680 are essential for qualifying for commercial loans. Lenders assess cash flow statements, aiming for cash flow at least 1.25 times debt service requirements. Existing debt obligations impact loan approval; a low debt-to-income ratio increases chances for additional borrowing. Collateral, such as real estate or equipment, is crucial; it should exceed the loan amount for better terms. Personal guarantees can enhance approval chances, especially if credit history is lacking, leading to improved loan terms. Understanding Commercial Loans Grasping commercial loans is crucial for any business looking to grow or improve its operations. Comprehending what’s commercial loan countries list helps you recognize where these loans are widely utilized. Businesses across various sectors seek commercial loans for expansion, equipment investment, or enhancing operational efficiency. These loans come in different forms, including short-term, long-term, secured, and unsecured options. To qualify, you’ll need to meet commercial lending criteria, which often include a credit score above 680, a robust business plan, and financial statements that outline your historical and projected finances. For secured loans, collateral like real estate or inventory may be necessary to protect lenders. The application process can be lengthy, with approval times varying greatly based on the loan type. Familiarizing yourself with the specific terms in the term sheet is crucial for negotiating your loan effectively. Purpose of the Loan When considering a commercial loan, it’s important to grasp its primary purposes. These loans are designed to provide financial support for various business needs, ensuring you can maintain growth and stability. Here are some key purposes: Expansion: To fund initiatives like entering new markets or launching new products, which often require significant upfront investment. Capital Expenditures: To invest in crucial assets, such as upgrading technology or purchasing real estate. Operational Costs: To help cover expenses during revenue dips, ensuring your business maintains cash flow. Commercial loans come in different forms, including secured and unsecured options, allowing you to choose what best suits your financial situation. Grasping these purposes will help you make informed decisions about the type of loan that aligns with your business goals and needs. Business Cash Flow Assessment Comprehending your business’s cash flow assessment is vital, as it directly impacts your ability to secure a commercial loan. Lenders focus on your cash flow since it indicates how well you manage operating costs and meet debt obligations. Typically, you’ll need to provide a cash flow statement that details the inflows and outflows of cash over a specific period, allowing lenders to evaluate your operational efficiency and financial stability. A healthy cash flow cycle guarantees your sales revenue covers expenses, promoting growth and reinvestment. Cash flow projections are likewise important; they help lenders assess your future financial performance and the likelihood of timely loan repayments based on expected revenue and expenses. Aim to maintain a cash flow that meets at least 1.25 times your debt service requirements. This cushion helps manage unexpected expenses, confirming lenders of your repayment capability. Existing Debt Obligations When you’re applying for a commercial loan, your existing debt obligations can greatly impact your approval chances. Lenders closely examine your debt-to-income ratio, which helps them assess how much additional debt you can reasonably manage. To get a clear picture of your financial situation, you’ll need to disclose all current debts, including loans, credit lines, and other obligations. Impact on Loan Approval Existing debt obligations play a crucial role in the loan approval process, as lenders closely examine your debt-to-income ratio to gauge your capacity for managing additional debt responsibly. A high level of existing debt can hurt your creditworthiness, making it harder to secure favorable loan terms or even obtain approval. Lenders typically require detailed documentation of your existing debt, including payment history and current balances, to assess risks. To boost your loan approval chances, consider these key points: Maintain timely payments on existing debts. Work on reducing overall debt levels to improve your credit profile. Fully disclose all existing debt obligations during the application to avoid denial or unfavorable terms. Debt-to-Income Ratio Comprehending your debt-to-income (DTI) ratio is vital since it serves as a significant indicator of your financial health to lenders. This ratio measures your existing debt obligations against your income, with a standard approval threshold around 36% for commercial loans. A lower DTI ratio signifies a stronger financial position, showing lenders you can manage your debts without being over-leveraged. Typically, lenders prefer a DTI ratio below 30% for favorable loan terms, indicating you have enough income to handle additional debt. Your existing debts, including personal loans and credit cards, factor into this calculation. Maintaining a healthy DTI ratio is important for securing commercial loans, as it helps lenders assess the risk of extending credit to you. Types of Existing Debt Comprehension of the different types of existing debt is essential for any business seeking commercial loans. Lenders evaluate your total debt load and payment history when appraising risk. Here are key types of debt you should be aware of: Outstanding Loans: These include term loans taken for specific purposes, such as equipment purchases. Lines of Credit: Revolving credit options that allow you to borrow as needed, often used for cash flow management. Secured Debts: Loans backed by collateral, which can limit your borrowing capacity because of existing liens. Maintaining a strong payment history on these obligations is imperative for enhancing your credit profile. Transparency during the application process cultivates lender trust and can improve your chances of securing favorable financing terms. Available Collateral Available collateral plays a vital role in the commercial lending process, influencing both loan approval and the terms you might receive. Lenders typically require real estate, inventory, or equipment as security against the loan amount, which means the value of your collateral must often exceed the loan amount. This requirement provides a safety net for lenders in case you default. Secured loans usually offer lower interest rates compared to unsecured loans as collateral reduces the lender’s risk. Lenders assess the market value and liquidity of your collateral to determine its adequacy, which can influence your borrowing limits. If you lack sufficient collateral, you might face higher interest rates or be limited to unsecured loan options, which often come with stricter qualification criteria. Comprehending these aspects of available collateral is imperative for steering your borrowing options effectively. Importance of Documentation When applying for a commercial loan, proper documentation is a key factor that can considerably impact your chances of approval. Lenders typically require at least two years of financial records, including profit and loss statements and tax returns, to evaluate your business’s viability. A strong credit history, ideally above 680, is also crucial for favorable loan terms. To improve your application, make sure to include: A detailed business plan outlining your model, mission, and financial projections Consistent income verification through Business Activity Statements (BAS) or bank statements Accurate and complete documentation to avoid processing delays Personal Guarantees and Their Impact Personal guarantees play a vital role in the commercial lending process, especially for startups and businesses with limited credit histories. When you provide a personal guarantee, you commit to repaying the loan if your business defaults, which helps mitigate risk for lenders. This commitment can greatly boost your chances of loan approval, particularly when your credit history is lacking. Lenders often require personal guarantees for larger loan amounts or when collateral isn’t enough to secure the loan, evaluating your personal credit score and financial stability in the process. A personal guarantee can lead to better loan terms, such as lower interest rates and higher borrowing limits, showcasing your dedication to your business’s success. Nevertheless, it’s important to understand that personal guarantees put your personal assets at risk; if your business fails to meet repayment obligations, lenders can pursue those assets to recover their funds. Local Decision-Makers: Their Role in the Process Local decision-makers play an essential role in the commercial lending process by possessing the authority to assess and approve loan applications based on their comprehension of the regional market. Their insights into local businesses allow them to tailor loan terms that reflect unique circumstances, which can considerably influence approval rates. Decision-Making Authority Structure In commercial lending, decision-making authority often rests with individuals who possess a deep comprehension of the regional business environment, which allows them to tailor loan terms to better suit client needs. Local decision-makers understand local economic conditions and industry trends, providing insights that can influence loan approvals. By working closely with these individuals, you can experience quicker response times in loan processing, as they can expedite evaluations without the delays found in larger institutions. Building personal relationships with local decision-makers improves communication and trust, making it easier for you to navigate the lending process. They can adjust lending criteria based on your unique circumstances. Their local knowledge allows for more personalized financing solutions. They typically offer faster application evaluations. Influence on Loan Terms Comprehending how decision-makers influence loan terms can greatly impact your borrowing experience. Local decision-makers understand the regional business environment and economic conditions, allowing them to create customized loan terms. They often approve loans quickly—usually within two weeks—making them more responsive than national Bank of America. By engaging with these local lenders, you can share your unique business story and operational successes, potentially improving both approval chances and loan terms. Local decision-makers are typically more flexible and willing to negotiate, as they aim to cultivate long-term relationships within the community. Leveraging their insights can lead to more favorable interest rates and repayment structures, eventually making your borrowing experience smoother and more advantageous. Key Financial Metrics to Present When seeking commercial lending, it’s crucial to present key financial metrics that provide a clear picture of your business’s financial health. Lenders will look for specific documents and ratios to assess your viability and risk. Profit and Loss Statement: Highlight revenue, expenses, and net income over the past years to showcase operational efficiency. Balance Sheet: Provide a detailed snapshot of assets, liabilities, and equity, giving lenders insight into your financial position. Cash Flow Statement: Illustrate cash inflows and outflows to demonstrate your ability to manage costs and meet debt obligations. Also, include key financial ratios like the debt-to-equity ratio and current ratio to assess leverage and short-term health. Finally, prepare a three to five-year financial projection to outline expected revenue growth and expense management, helping lenders gauge future profitability and sustainability. The Value of a Strong Business Plan A strong business plan is crucial for securing commercial loans, as it clearly outlines your financial projections and operational strategy. Lenders look for detailed analyses that demonstrate your business’s potential for growth and sustainability. When you present a solid plan, it not only enhances your chances of loan approval but likewise reflects your commitment to managing costs and achieving long-term success. Financial Projections Importance Grasping the importance of financial projections in a strong business plan is crucial for anyone seeking commercial lending. These projections give lenders valuable insights into your expected revenue, expenses, and profitability over the next 3-5 years. A well-prepared projection not merely showcases your business’s growth potential but also supports your case for securing a loan. Detailed cash flow forecasts help assess your ability to meet operating costs and repayments. Including assumptions and justifications boosts your credibility. A strong business plan with solid projections can greatly improve your chances of loan approval, especially if you’re seeking funding above 80% of property value. Understanding these factors can make a considerable difference in your lending experience. Clear Operational Strategy Having a clear operational strategy is essential for crafting a strong business plan that resonates with lenders. This strategy outlines your business model, mission, and market analysis as well as including detailed financial statements like balance sheets and cash flow projections. By doing so, you help lenders assess both your historical performance and future sustainability. Effective cash flow management should likewise be highlighted, as it reassures lenders of your ability to meet debt obligations and operational costs. Research shows that businesses with thorough plans are 16% more likely to secure funding. Furthermore, presenting a compelling narrative that connects past successes to current goals can improve your credibility, finally strengthening your loan application and making it more appealing to lenders. Credit History and Its Influence With regard to securing a commercial loan, your credit history plays a pivotal role in determining your eligibility and the terms you receive. A strong credit history, typically a score above 680, signals financial responsibility to lenders, making you more likely to secure favorable loan terms. Lenders assess various factors, including your past payment behavior, credit utilization rates, and the length of your credit history, to evaluate the likelihood of timely repayment. Consider the following aspects of your credit history: Higher credit scores usually lead to lower interest rates and better loan conditions. A poor credit history can result in higher interest rates, stricter terms, or outright denial from traditional lenders. Small businesses often depend on personal credit scores if they lack a robust business credit history. Maintaining good credit is crucial for improving your chances of receiving favorable lending options. Industry-Specific Considerations When seeking a commercial loan, awareness of the unique lending considerations for your industry can greatly impact your success. The type of industry you’re in markedly influences loan terms and conditions. Lenders often favor sectors like healthcare and technology, which demonstrate stable cash flow and growth potential. Conversely, industries perceived as higher risk—such as hospitality or startups—might face stricter eligibility criteria and higher interest rates owing to their volatility. Lenders likewise assess the economic outlook of specific industries; those considered recession-resistant may secure more favorable terms. Moreover, regulatory and compliance standards can affect the loan approval process, requiring extra documentation. Your industry experience and operational history play vital roles in lender evaluations, as businesses with a proven track record are more likely to receive favorable lending conditions. Grasping these factors can boost your chances of obtaining the financing you need. Tailoring Your Application for Success To achieve success in your commercial loan application, it’s vital to tailor your submission to meet the specific requirements of lenders. A compelling business plan is important, detailing your business model, market analysis, and financial projections to show viability. Organizing key financial documents can streamline the application process. Aim for a strong credit score, ideally above 680, as this greatly improves loan eligibility. Here are a few key points to keep in mind: Include personal guarantees to reflect your commitment to the business’s success. Align your application with specific lender criteria to reassure them of your business’s capability. Demonstrate effective cash flow management to show lenders you can meet repayment obligations. Engaging With a Lending Expert Maneuvering the commercial lending terrain can be challenging, but working with a lending expert can simplify the process considerably. These professionals help you navigate the intricacies of various loan types, including full doc, low doc, and no doc loans, customized to different borrower needs. By evaluating your unique financial situation, they identify the most suitable loan type and potentially maximize your borrowing limits, which may exceed 80% of property value for small business owners. With their deep market insights, lending experts provide valuable information on current lender appetites, greatly impacting your borrowing limits and approval chances. They additionally assist in preparing a thorough loan application, ensuring that all necessary documentation, like financial statements and business plans, is well-organized. Furthermore, utilizing a lending expert’s services can help you leverage lender promotions, possibly securing better interest rates or waived fees, ultimately improving your loan terms. Frequently Asked Questions What Are the Three Cs of Commercial Lending? The three Cs of commercial lending are Character, Capacity, and Capital. Character assesses your credit history and reputation; a solid credit score boosts your approval chances. Capacity evaluates your business’s cash flow and financial statements, ensuring you can meet operating costs and debt obligations. Finally, Capital reflects your financial investment in the business, including equity and collateral, demonstrating commitment and reducing the lender’s risk. Comprehending these factors can greatly improve your loan prospects. What Are the 4 Cs of Commercial Lending? The 4 Cs of commercial lending are Character, Capacity, Capital, and Collateral. Character assesses your credit history and reputation, with a strong credit score being ideal. Capacity evaluates your ability to repay the loan, focusing on cash flow and consistent revenue. Capital reflects your investment in the business, showing your commitment. Finally, Collateral involves assets you pledge against the loan, providing security for lenders in case you can’t meet repayment obligations. What Are the 5 Cs of Commercial Lending? In commercial lending, the five Cs are essential for lenders evaluating your application. They include Character, which evaluates your credit history; Capacity, focusing on your ability to repay; Capital, reflecting your personal investment; Collateral, which secures the loan with assets; and Conditions, considering the economic environment and loan terms. Each element contributes to the lender’s comprehension of your financial reliability and the overall risk of the loan. What to Know About Commercial Lending? When you’re exploring commercial lending, it’s essential to understand your credit history, as a score above 680 can greatly impact your loan terms. Lenders often require two years of financial statements to evaluate your business’s performance. Depending on the loan type, you may need collateral, like real estate. Know that the application process can take 3 to 8 weeks, whereas some loans can be processed in just 72 hours for urgent needs. Conclusion In conclusion, grasping key commercial lending criteria is crucial for securing financing. Focus on maintaining a strong credit score, preparing a detailed business plan, and showcasing solid cash flow to meet lender expectations. Be mindful of existing debt and leverage available collateral to improve your application. Each industry may have unique requirements, so tailor your approach accordingly. Engaging with a lending expert can provide additional insights, enhancing your chances of obtaining the necessary funding for your business. Image via Google Gemini and ArtSmart This article, "Key Commercial Lending Criteria to Know" was first published on Small Business Trends View the full article

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IT teams in midsize — and even enterprise — organizations are drowning in integration requests. Project managers want Jira connected to Asana. Finance needs NetSuite connected to Wrike. Sales needs Salesforce to sync with ServiceNow. But with IT having the keys for all these integrations, the requests pile up quicker than they can build integrations to resolve them. IT isn’t the problem. Neither is the volume of requests. Most organizations default to an approach that breaks as they scale. If you build every integration from scratch, you get overwhelmed as you scale. If you hand everything off to an automation tool like Zapier, you have to deal with shadow IT as business users handle requests autonomously with no visibility from IT. Even enterprise iPaaS like Workato are heavy on implementation and learning curves, meaning it can take significant time for them to get up and running. Your finance team doesn’t approve every reimbursement one by one, nor do they let everyone spend whatever they want, whenever they want. They set spending limits, define approved vendors, and require receipts. You can have a similar framework for integration governance. Here’s how. The four-layer integration governance framework LayerWhat it controlsWhy it mattersWhat happens without itIn practice1: AuthenticationWhich tools can be integrated and how it’s done. Includes OAuth scopes and credential management.Makes the difference between allowing business users to work within IT-defined boundaries or creating potential vulnerabilities and rogue API keys.Direct API connections are created between tools with no visibility from IT, creating the potential for data breaches.IT pre-configures approved tool connections, with business users selecting from approved integrations. Tokens are rotated regularly.2: AuthorizationWhich fields and work items can be integrated. Excludes sensitive fields at the platform level.Creates clear guidelines for what data can and can’t be synced, preventing breaches from affecting particularly sensitive data.Well-meaning users accidentally sync sensitive data out to third-party platforms (e.g., internal cost estimates to a vendor’s project management tool).IT defines available and restricted fields, as well as which fields are available for one-way vs. two-way sync.3: ValidationPre-approved integration patterns by tool pairings and use case.Keeps IT from having to validate integration requests one by one.IT’s integration backlog keeps growing as there are no pre-defined models for batch approvals.IT creates and approves integration templates, including tool pairings, work item types, and field mappings. Business users deploy integrations according to templates.4: AuditVisibility into who built which integrations, what data flows through them, and how secure they are.Satisfies security certifications (e.g., SOC 2 Type 2) and creates a paper trail when integrations break or tools are breached.Integrations break but no one knows who built them or what projects they involve.Every integration has a pre-determined owner and changes are logged with timestamps and attribution. IT can pull up records on any integration at any time. Layer 1 – Authentication: Who can connect what Authentication is the foundation for your integration governance framework. This is both about defining which tools can and can’t be integrated as well as managing the actual keys (e.g., OAuth scopes, API tokens) involved in integrating these tools. Business users never get access to these keys. This foundation creates the approach you’ll use throughout this framework: balanced restriction. You don’t want your IT team to have to approve every integration request one by one, but you also don’t want business users to integrate anything and everything at will. Most self-serve automation tools handle authentication at the individual user level. This gives IT teams little visibility on who’s connecting what, unless they put work into building a reporting layer on top of these tools. Not only that, but credentials and API tokens are scattered across any number of user accounts, spreadsheets, and post-it notes. Revoking access — because someone leaves or changes roles — is complex, if not impossible. An integration governance model centralizes authentication. At the very least, IT defines which tools can and can’t be integrated, as well as how they should be integrated (i.e., defining access and guidelines). Ideally, though, the IT team should use whatever integration platform the organization has chosen to configure integrations, defining the access levels each integration should have. This gives business users a jumping off point to set up connections without needing the kind of configuration that introduces security risks. Layer 2 – Authorization: What data can be integrated This layer is to integrations what role-based permissions are to access control. Authentication is about determining which tools can be integrated and how. Authorization is about defining what data can be integrated. That can be on a field-by-field basis or project by project. For example, in CRMs with a significant amount of customer data, your integration governance framework would determine what data can be synced out of your CRM. In most self-serve integration platforms, there’s no built-in ability to restrict the fields or projects a user can sync, leaving IT with the task of building a framework for doing so. Another element of authorization? Sync direction. Two-way sync tools can both push data exclusively from tool A to tool B or back-and-forth between them. That said, some workflows shouldn’t be two ways (e.g., working with external vendors). Your governance framework should also cover which workflows can involve two-way syncing, down to the field level. The challenge is many of these guidelines need to be context-specific. Syncing customer data out of your CRM to a vendor’s project management should be restricted; the same isn’t true when syncing data internally. Layer 3 – Validation: Which patterns are approved Once you’ve determined which tools and which fields can be integrated, your framework can establish pre-approved integration patterns business users can follow when setting up their integrations. So instead of constantly approving and building integrations between a project management tool and a CRM, IT can approve the template once, defining which fields can and can’t be synced, and make that template available to business users — who set up the integration themselves through the platforms you’ve already approved. Any integration needs that would require a new pattern go through IT review, after which they can be deployed rapidly. Without this layer in place, IT has to validate every integration request one by one. This creates a massive backlog that will never meaningfully decrease, since your organization’s integration needs will always increase as it grows. Many of these requests will be variations on the same basic tool pairings, meaning they would be easy to approve in batches. For this layer, ensure that you have robust documentation describing approved templates and a system for submitting requests. From there, business users can consult and deploy approved templates instantly. Layer 4 – Audit: What happened and who did it Once your organization reaches a certain size, you need audit trails for everything. If you can’t name every integration your organization runs from memory, you need auditable processes. Integrations are no different. IT needs visibility into who builds integrations, how they’re built, and the tools they’re integrating. They need a record of modifications made to these integrations, the data flowing through, and more. That means dedicated, detailed change logs. Screenshots of an integration builder aren’t enough. An audit trail gives your team what it needs to actually govern the way you manage integrations. It gives you data to confirm that policies are actually happening in practice, but it also gives you a foundation for investigating anything that breaks. Not only that, but it’s often essential for complying with data security frameworks like SOC 2 or GDPR. Without auditability, nobody knows what to do when an integration breaks. The people relying on that integration have half the story while IT has the other half. But those halves don’t always match up without some serious investigation. So how do you make your integrations auditable? First, every integration needs an owner, and that ownership needs to be documented. Next, ensure the integration platform you use logs changes, updates, and issues with timestamps and user attribution. That allows IT to pull reports of active integrations whenever there’s an issue — or just a compliance check — with full detail. Everything from authentication events to authorization changes and pattern approvals should contribute to these reports. How Unito supports integration governance A centralized platform for all your integrations streamlines integration governance. Even better when that platform has enterprise-grade security built into the self-serve model. That’s where Unito comes in. Unito is a two-way sync solution with deep integrations for some of the most popular tools on the market, whether that’s project management apps like Asana, software development tools like Azure DevOps, or ITSM platforms like ServiceNow. It syncs data back and forth between them in real-time, and its integrations are easy enough to build that business users can set them up in minutes. But it also comes with enterprise-grade security measures, from audit trails for each flow to a developer platform for deep customization. Want to see what Unito can do? Get a custom product demo and see the impact of a two-way integration. Talk with sales Take control of your integrations Integration governance doesn’t mean sacrificing IT control for business-user autonomy — or vice-versa. It’s a model you build to address your integration backlog without sacrificing integration quality, prevent data breaches, and give business users the autonomy they need without the risks they don’t. It requires using the right tools, creating the right policies, and giving business users more autonomy without falling into shadow IT. As SaaS tool counts continue to grow, so will your integration backlog. Build your integration governance framework now and reap the benefits later. [book a demo CTA] FAQ: Integration governance for business users Who owns integration governance, IT or operations? Integration governance is co-owned by IT and ops teams. IT sets the initial guardrails for integration by determining what can and can’t be synced, choosing tools used for these integrations, and managing credentials. Ops teams are responsible for the day-to-day configuration of integrations, including the identification of new integration needs. The governance breaks down without collaboration between these two business functions. What’s the minimum viable integration governance framework? Authentication and authorization are essential elements of a minimum viable integration governance framework. Authentication allows IT to control which tools can be integrated while authorization breaks down what data can and can’t be synced. This prevents rogue credentials and unintended data exposure. What happens when an integration breaks and nobody knows who owns it? When an integration has no clear owner, a few things will happen: It takes longer to find out the integration is broken. IT has to reverse-engineer the integration to figure out who built it and why it broke. IT has to investigate the needs solved by the integration all over again, so they know which teams and projects are affected. That’s why clear ownership and audit trails are essential. An integration’s owner doesn’t have to be responsible for fixing it themselves, but they can answer any questions that come up when it breaks. Can business users accidentally expose sensitive data through self-serve integrations? Absolutely, and surprisingly easily. Fields containing sensitive information are rarely protected with self-serve integrations, since most of them require significant permissions from every user. An authorization layer managed by IT is essential for preventing data breaches or exposure. What’s the difference between integration governance and just using an iPaaS? An iPaaS centralizes your integrations, allowing you to build them all in a single platform, usually without writing a single line of code. While using an iPaaS can make governance easier, it doesn’t completely replace it. Integration governance covers how you use integrations, no matter how they’re built. View the full article

Effective communication needs to happen in three stages. By Will Hill The Holistic Guide to Wealth Management Go PRO for members-only access to more Rory Henry. View the full article

Effective communication needs to happen in three stages. By Will Hill The Holistic Guide to Wealth Management Go PRO for members-only access to more Rory Henry. View the full article