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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. If you’re a developer, hobbyist, or just someone trying to keep up with modern programming tools without emptying your wallet, this deal might catch your eye: Microsoft Visual Studio Professional 2022 is currently on sale for just $9.97 on StackSocial—down from its usual $499. The sale ends October 12, and it's a one-time payment for lifetime access. Once you buy, the redemption code gets emailed to you instantly, and you have 30 days to activate it. There are no recurring fees, just a fully loaded development environment with features that make coding faster, cleaner, and less of a headache. This version of Visual Studio marks a shift—it’s their first 64-bit IDE that handles larger projects without choking. If you’ve ever waited for your code editor to stop freezing while dealing with massive workloads, that’s less of a concern here. It supports cross-platform app development through .NET MAUI, so you're covered whether you’re building for Android, iOS, or desktop. Plus, features like Live Share make collaboration more streamlined. You can co-code in real time, control what collaborators see, and even carry over your custom settings. There’s also IntelliCode, which is basically AI that learns your coding habits and fills in the blanks intelligently. It can finish lines of code or suggest the next logical move based on your style and context. It’s a little eerie, but it works. You can also build, test, and deploy to Azure right from the IDE, which is great if you’re cloud-focused. There are some things to keep in mind. This is for Windows users only. If you’re working on a Chromebook, iPad, or even a 32-bit system—this won’t work. It’s compatible with Windows 10 and 11, and you’ll need at least 4GB of RAM (though more is better). Depending on the number of features you install, it also requires storage space ranging from 850MB to 210 GB. For just $10 for Microsoft Visual Studio, this is a great steal and worth trying out. View the full article

You might have noticed some of your coworkers are overly excited this week and counting down the minutes until midnight on October 3. No, these are not diehard cinephiles devoted to the 2004 film Mean Girls (which features a joke about the date). Instead, they’re Taylor Swift fans. The Life of a Showgirl, Swift’s twelfth studio album, is set to be released late Friday night. (So if the Swifties in the office seem overwhelmed, grant them grace, because this is a big week.) Here’s everything you need to know about the album—in case you’re cornered by the coffee maker by someone with a friendship bracelet (the unofficial signifier of a Swift super fan). When and how did Swift announce The Life of a Showgirl? On August 11, Swift’s website revealed a countdown to 12:12 a.m. ET on August 12. When time ran out, she announced The Life of a Showgirl and promised more details would be revealed on her later appearance on her fiancé Travis Kelce’s podcast “New Heights.” How did the Eras Tour influence The Life of a Showgirl? During her two-hour podcast conversation with both Travis and his brother Jason Kelce, Swift revealed that the album was inspired by her experiences behind the scenes of the Eras tour. She wrote, produced, and recorded the majority of the album on the European leg in 2024. She would do three days of shows, then fly to Sweden to record. It was hard but rewarding work: “I was physically exhausted at this point in the tour, but I was so mentally stimulated and so excited to be creating,” she explained. Who is the creative team behind The Life of a Showgirl? For this album, Swift is teaming up with producers Max Martin and Shellback again. The trio had previously collaborated on tracks such as “22,” “Blank Space,” and “. . . Ready for It?” Former long-time collaborators Jack Antonoff and Aaron Dessner did not work on this album. “These guys, they’re just geniuses,” Swift gushed on the podcast, referring to Martin and Shellback. “We’ve never actually made an album before where it’s just the three of us. There’s no other collaborators. It’s just the three of us making a focused album.” What do we know about the album’s tracks, titles, and lead single? There are just 12 tracks on the album, which is a big departure from Swift’s recent releases. The Tortured Poets Department turned into a surprise double album with 31 tracks. Midnights had 13 tracks, until Midnights (3am Edition) added seven bonus tracks. Because of Martin and Shellback’s involvement, we can guess this will be a more pop-centered album full of big showstopping numbers, and likely more upbeat and less folksy than recent releases. “It just comes from like the most infectiously joyful, wild, dramatic place I was in in my life,” Swift explained on the podcast. “And so that effervescence has come through on this record.” The album’s lead single is “The Fate of Ophelia,” referencing William Shakespeare’s tragic character from Hamlet. Meanwhile, the title track features Sabrina Carpenter, who opened for Swift in select cities during the Eras Tour. She is the only known guest artist on the album at this time. Historically, the fifth track of a Swift album is saved for the most emotional song. This time around, “Eldest Daughter” gets that honor. I heard there’s also a movie? Swift is a master of public relations and marketing. To coincide with the album release, she is also “hosting” a movie event. Taylor Swift: The Official Release Party of a Showgirl will feature behind-the-scenes footage, the music video for “The Fate of Ophelia,” and special commentary on the creative process. The 89-minute extravaganza will only be in limited theaters from October 3 to 5. How is Swift promoting The Life of a Showgirl? During release week, Swift is appearing on The Graham Norton Show, The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, and Late Night With Seth Meyers. Her social media accounts have a calendar listing all the events leading up to the big day. Why are Swift fans talking about the word ‘standby’? One of these events is currently a mystery: Saturday, October 4 is simply listed as “standby.” Swifties, known for being internet detectives, are desperately trying to figure out what this means. Could it be a tour announcement, or a surprise Saturday Night Live appearance? All will be revealed with time, but one can see how Swifties have a lot to be excited about this week. View the full article

Rumor has it that soda fountains at a handful of gas stations and convenience stores across the Midwest are serving a thicker, more syrupy variant — with extra sweetness. Aptly dubbed “heavy soda”, the drink option can be traced back to a singular post on the subreddit r/Soda, and a few TikTok videos. “You know when the gas station fountains have this option you’re in gods country,” creator Kate Boyer wrote in the caption of a post earlier this year. The video has since gained almost seven million view. The drink has recently been picked up by a number of news organizations. Not to be confused with the recent dirty soda or protein soda trends, heavy soda is all about dialling up sweetness and flavor (also rumored to be the secret recipe behind McDonald’s Coke’s superiority to all other types of Coke). The soda fountain supposedly dispenses an extra blast of syrup, resulting in a sweeter, more concentrated version of popular sodas like Pepsi, Mountain Dew, and Dr Pepper. Taking it a step further, one TikToker, an employee at a movie theater, even claimed that co-workers skipped the water altogether and drank straight from the Mountain Dew syrup fountain. Some commenters have taken this as an opportunity to dunk on America’s sweet tooth culture. “Heavy soda is the most American culture,” one wrote. “Gods country is the reason we can’t have free healthcare,” another wrote. Many, however, protested their innocence, claiming they’ve never seen the heavy option out in the wild. “I’ve lived in and been all over the South most of my life, and I have never heard of or seen this anywhere,” one Reddit user responded. “This must be some very backwoods rural area place.” It seems most of the confirmed sightings have been in Missouri. “For everyone asking, Heavy Pepsi is a Missouri thing,” one wrote. Another responded: “I’ve seen it in Missouri gas stations south of St. Louis. I tried the ‘heavy’ Mountain Dew. It’s way better than it should be.” Another explained that the fountain option is ideal for those who need their Big Gulp to last all day, with the ice diluting the heavy soda over time to the perfect ratio, thereby avoiding a watered down drink by the end of the day. Viral soda recipes? While heavy soda may not have caught on in other parts of the U.S. just yet, companies like McDonald’s and Crumbl Cookies are trialling their own versions of viral soda recipes to capitalize on the social media-fueled frenzy for ultra-customized and made-to-order beverages. Beverages have been one of the hottest growth businesses for U.S. restaurants, the Wall Street Journal reported, with sales up 9.6% in 2024, the biggest annual increase of any restaurant category. At Starbucks, one-quarter of the chain’s custom drinks sold in the U.S. have more than three customer modifications — like an extra shot or pump of flavored syrup, a company spokeswoman recently told The New York Times. In an era of personalization and “little treat” culture, an off-shelf soda no longer hits the same. View the full article

Businesses are data-driven. By collecting and analyzing data they can make more insightful decisions about their business, whether they work in manufacturing, construction, professional services, IT or any industry. Power BI is a tool that delivers that information. What is Power BI? We’ll explain that first and go into the various features this technology-driven business intelligence tool has and what they can be used for. Then we’ll show the steps to use Power BI and integrations that can supersize Power BI. What Is Power BI? Microsoft Power BI is a tool businesses use to analyze and visualize raw data to discern actions that can be taken from the information collected by the software. It uses business analytics, data visualization and best practices to give businesses the information they need to make better decisions. It’s a way to easily connect businesses to their data sources, visualize and discover what’s important and share it with anyone who wants to see it. Everyone on the project team can find value in the data Power BI collects. There are two ways to access Power BI, which we’ll explain momentarily. But Power BI is only as good as the data that goes into it. Businesses without a project management system with task, resource and cost progress data, the reports aren’t trustworthy. Sign up for ProjectManager, award-winning project and portfolio management software, to leverage our dashboards and reports, which integrate with Power BI. But our reporting tools are so robust, users might not even need PowerBI to get the insights they need to make better, data-driven decisions. Get started with ProjectManager today for free. /wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Light-mode-portfolio-dashboard-CTA.pngLearn more As noted, Power BI has two different ways it can be used. There are two main types of platforms on which users can access Power BI. Power BI on Premise: This desktop application is downloaded and installed on a local computer. It’s a complete data analysis and reporting tool. Reports can be shared with a Power BI Pro license. Power BI Online: This cloud-based service supports report editing and collaboration for teams and organizations. Unlike Power BI on Premise, modeling is limited but can create dashboards, analyze data and more. ProjectManager’s Power BI Integration One way to use Power BI is by integrating it with ProjectManager. Power BI’s customizable reporting interface to merge ProjectManager’s data with other data sources helps users get more valuable insights and analysis. /wp-content/uploads/2024/05/power-bi-pm-integration-1600x627.png They can import project data and use Power BI’s powerful analytic tools with ProjectManager’s real-time dashboards and reporting features. Benefits include. Real time data from ProjectManager into one’s Power BI account to create custom reports that are data rich and always up to date. Share reports on projects, tasks and resources from ProjectManager with other sources and get valuable insights into how projects impact the wider organization. Add Power BI integration to ProjectManager now. Microsoft Power BI Key Features MS Power BI has many data analytic features that can help businesses collect and digest information to make more informed strategic and operational planning decisions. Here are a handful of the most important ones. Power BI Dashboard The Power BI dashboard is a tool to visualize data. It provides a high-level overview of data in graphs and charts that populate one page. Dashboards aren’t available on Power BI desktop and can’t be created on mobile devices. Users can pin tiles, or the visualizations of data sets, and selecting one of these titles will take the user to a report, which goes more in-depth on the data collected. Dashboards are powerful for executives who need a snapshot of performance, but they can also be misleading if not carefully designed. Because they summarize large datasets on a single page, important context may be lost. Users often need to dig deeper into reports to verify trends rather than relying solely on dashboards. Power BI Calendar The Power BI calendar function is a data analysis expressions (DAX) function that allows users to create a calendar from a custom date table. Users can define columns in the data table, such as fiscal periods, week numbers or custom attributes specific to their business needs. But it’s only done by manual configuration and scripting, so it’s more suitable for high-level customization or specific date-related requirements that can’t be done with automatic methods. The flexibility of the calendar function is useful for organizations with unique reporting requirements, but it comes at the cost of complexity. Without DAX knowledge, creating and maintaining calendars can be frustrating. For casual users, the manual setup feels unnecessarily technical, which limits accessibility and makes Power BI less user-friendly for date-based analysis. Power BI Reports What is a Power BI report? A Power BI report is a multi-perspective view of a semantic model, including visuals that illustrate the findings. Power BI reports can have a single visual or many pages of visuals. Users can design reports or just use them to gather information. Reports are the core of Power BI analysis, offering depth that dashboards often lack. However, designing meaningful reports requires a solid grasp of data modeling and visualization best practices. Poorly structured reports can overwhelm with too many visuals or mislead with confusing filters, showing that flexibility does not guarantee clarity or accuracy. Power BI Charts & Graphs Power BI delivers its data through various built-in data visualization components, such as pie charts, maps and bar charts. These charts and charts make it easier to understand data. For example, you can use Power BI’s graphs, charts and tables to visualize your project schedule. Here are a couple of examples of Power BI charts and graphs. Power BI Table: A grid that contains the related data in a series of rows and columns. They are useful when comparing the same category for many values. Power BI Matrix: Shows the relation between two or more variables in a data set. It is made up of columns and rows that represent data in a grid format. While Power BI offers many chart types, users often rely on default visuals like bar or pie charts, which can oversimplify complex datasets. Choosing the wrong chart type can distort findings, leading to poor decisions. Power BI’s library is versatile, but its true value depends heavily on user knowledge and careful selection. Power BI Custom Visuals Developers can create custom visuals so business users can see their data in a way that best fits their needs. Reports can import the custom visuals and use them as any other Power BI visuals. Custom visuals can be filtered, highlighted, edited and shared. The following are a couple of examples of Power BI custom visuals. Power BI Timeline: This is a column chart with an X and Y axis. Instead of having one axis for value and the other for a category, the timeline substitutes this for a chronological measure of time. Power BI Gantt Chart: You can find various custom visuals that can help you make a Power BI Gantt chart to visualize project tasks, duration, dependencies and sequence for project managers to quickly understand the project’s scope, status and progress. Custom visuals expand Power BI’s capabilities, but they also introduce risks. Since many are developed by third parties, quality and support vary widely. Some visuals may not scale well with large datasets or integrate smoothly with Microsoft updates. Relying heavily on custom visuals can create long-term maintenance issues for organizations. What Is Power BI Used for? Power BI visualizes business data, analyzes that data and manages business. Microsoft Power BI provides valuable insights for business by converting data from different sources and building interactive dashboards and business intelligence reports to help make better decisions. MS Power BI can access volumes of data from multiple sources, therefore, it’s helpful for business analysts and other professionals. It is used in industries as varied as healthcare, retail, manufacturing and engineering, education, finance and insurance and the public sector. All these industries use Power BI to find insights into the business’ data. This helps tell stories through charts and data visualizations, examples of what-if scenarios with data and creates reports that answer questions in real time and helps with forecasting to ensure departments meet business metrics. Building a dashboard allows executives, administrators and managers more insights into how departments are doing. How to Use Power BI While we know what Power BI is, we have yet to show how to use MS Power BI. Follow these steps to create a Power BI report. 1. Import Data Into Power BI The first step is to get data into Power BI. This is done by clicking on Get Data from the Home ribbon. Then, select the data source to be imported and choose the specific data file or database to import from. Configure any necessary settings. 2. Choose a Favorite Data Visualization Tool Choose the data visualization tool in MS Power BI based on the type of insight the business is seeking. There are different data visualization tools for comparison (bar chart), data over time (link chart), correlation (bubble chart), distribution (group chart), part-to-whole (stacked bar) and ranking (ordered column). Several of these data visualization tools can be used for multiple insights. 3. Make Reports and Monitor Your Data Go to the Datasets section in the workspace and click the Create a Report icon. Microsoft Power BI will take the user to the report builder or editor. Microsoft Power BI Plans and Pricing For those interested in using MS Power BI, there are different plans at a different price point. Power BI Desktop is a free download. Power BI Pro can be subscribed to for $14 per user, per month. Power BI Premium is $24 per user, per month. There’s a free Power BI trial for those who want to see if the software is a good fit for their business. Benefits & Advantages of Power BI The popularity of Microsoft Power BI is due to the benefits it offers business users. Some of those advantages include the following. Accessibility: Easy to use by technical and nontechnical professionals, with several options available to fit the financial needs of those businesses. Integrations: Seamlessly integrates with Microsoft products, such as Excel, but also project management tools, such as ProjectManager. Customer Support: Microsoft offers assistance and troubleshooting for users. Customization: Create custom visuals, which add value for businesses looking for patterns in complex data sets. Collaboration: Allows different teams to work together. Scalability: Supports large-scale data sets, so it can help small businesses and enterprise customers. Disadvantages of Power BI All those advantages don’t mean Power BI is without its disadvantages. Here are a few things that businesses should be aware of. Pricing: There is a free version, but compared to the Power BI Pro and Premium, the features are limited. Resource-Intensive: Running the software can consume computing and other resources faster than businesses can tolerate. Cluttered User Interface: All the Power BI features can add complexity and often require a great deal of knowledge and technical expertise to understand. Complex Table Relationships: When Power BI seeks relationships among data points of more than a few tables the risk of inaccuracies increases and the processing slows down. MS Power BI Alternatives Power BI isn’t the only analytics platform on the market and it might not be the best fit for every business. There are many Power BI alternatives to choose from. Do the due diligence and decide which is the best statistical analysis software for business intelligence. Below are several of the top Microsoft Power BI alternatives. Google Analytics Qualtrics Alteryx Domo Looker Qlik ProjectManager Is the Best Power BI Integration for Project Management One thing that Power BI has that professionals in the project management sector will immediately find attractive is its many integrations. But there is only one true project management integration found on the Power BI marketplace: ProjectManager, an award-winning project and portfolio management software that works with Power BI to customize reporting and merge ProjectManager data with other sources for better analysis and greater insights. When teams integrate Power BI with ProjectManager, they can find patterns that might otherwise have been missed to facilitate timely project delivery. Get Real-Time Data for Better Reporting ProjectManager is online project and portfolio management software that when integrated with Power BI can pull real-time project data into a user’s account. This allows them to create in-depth customized reports that are always up to date. There are reports on status, portfolio, variance, timesheets, workload and more. Filter these reports to focus only on the data one is interested in and then easily share them with stakeholders to keep them updated. /wp-content/uploads/2023/01/Reports-Light-2554x1372-1.png Manager Projects, Tasks and Resources There’s more than customizing reports that users can do when integrating ProjectManager with their Power BI account. They can better collaborate, have more effective meetings and better strategic plans. All of this leads to managing more successful projects. Task and resource data can be added to other sources to see how they impact the wider organization. ProjectManager’s robust tracking tools combined with Power BI’s reporting interface improve processes and allow organizations to thrive. /wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Construction-Gantt-chart-timeline-light-mode.webp Microsoft Power BI FAQ What is Power BI? If the answers above aren’t enough, below are some frequently asked questions to more fully explain the analytic software. Can Power BI Be Used on a Mac? Power BI is a Windows-based application and cannot run on a Mac in the desktop edition. However, the web-based application is available for Mac users, though there are limitations. Is There a Mobile Power BI App? Yes, the Microsoft Power BI app is available for Android and iOS devices. Related Microsoft Content Microsoft products are usually unavailable for Mac users. But there are advantages and disadvantages of using Microsoft. Below are links to a handful of articles that explore such applications as MS Planner, Microsoft Project Online, MS Teams and more. Power BI Gantt Chart: A How-to Guide With Pros, Cons & Alternatives How to Create a Power BI Dashboard: Pros & Cons (Example Included) Microsoft Planner: Pros, Cons and Alternatives Microsoft Project Online: Pros, Cons and Best Alternatives What Is Microsoft Teams? Uses, Plans, Features & Pricing What Is Microsoft Project? Uses, Features and Pricing Microsoft Project Viewer – View & Edit MPP Files Online ProjectManager is online project and portfolio management software that connects teams whether they’re in the office, out in the field or anywhere in between. They can share files, comment at the task level and stay updated with email and in-app notifications. Join teams at Avis, Nestle and Siemens who use ProjectManager to deliver successful projects. Get started with ProjectManager today for free. The post What Is Power BI? Uses, Features and Pricing appeared first on ProjectManager. View the full article

Tesla has raised lease prices for all its vehicles in the U.S. after a $7,500 federal tax credit that helped boost electric vehicle sales expired, according to the company’s website on Wednesday. The change follows the end of tax incentives under sweeping legislation passed by Congress, which eliminated the $7,500 credit for new EV leases and purchases, as well as a $4,000 credit for used EVs, effective September 30. Tesla and its rivals had been passing these credits on to customers through competitive lease offers. The monthly lease of the electric vehicle manufacturer’s best-selling Model Y increased to a range between $529 and $599, from a range of $479 to $529. Prices of all vehicles, however, remain unchanged. Model 3 lease prices touched a range of $429 to $759 per month, from a range of $349 to $699. Demand for battery-powered models is already showing signs of a slowdown after rapid growth earlier in the decade. Sales could drop after the credits dry up, auto executives and analysts have warned. Reuters reported last month that Tesla’s U.S. market share dropped to a near eight-year low in August, as buyers chose electric vehicles from a growing stable of rivals, according to data from research firm Cox Automotive. Tesla, which once held more than 80% of the EV market in the United States, accounted for only 38% of the country’s total EV sales in August, according to early data from Cox. —Nilutpal Timsina and Kanjyik Ghosh, Reuters View the full article

Scientist and global activist Jane Goodall, who turned her childhood love of primates into a lifelong quest for protecting the environment, has died at the age of 91, the institute she founded said on Wednesday. Goodall died of natural causes while in California on a speaking tour, the Jane Goodall Institute said in a social media post. “Dr. Goodall’s discoveries as an ethologist revolutionized science, and she was a tireless advocate for the protection and restoration of our natural world,” it said on Instagram. The primatologist-turned-conservationist spun her love of wildlife into a lifelong campaign that took her from a seaside English village to Africa and then across the globe in a quest to better understand chimpanzees, as well as the role that humans play in safeguarding their habitat and the planet’s health overall. Goodall was a pioneer in her field, both as a female scientist in the 1960s and for her work studying the behavior of primates. She created a path for a string of other women to follow suit, including the late Dian Fossey. She also drew the public into the wild, partnering with the National Geographic Society to bring her beloved chimps into their lives through film, TV, and magazines. She upended scientific norms of the time, giving chimpanzees names instead of numbers, observing their distinct personalities, and incorporating their family relationships and emotions into her work. She also found that, like humans, they use tools. “We have found that after all there isn’t a sharp line dividing humans from the rest of the animal kingdom,” she said in a 2002 TED Talk. As her career evolved, she shifted her focus from primatology to climate advocacy after witnessing widespread habitat devastation, urging the world to take quick and urgent action on climate change. “We’re forgetting that we’re part of the natural world,” she told CNN in 2020. “There’s still a window of time.” In 2003, she was appointed a Dame of the British Empire and, in 2025, she received the U.S. Presidential Medal of Freedom. Kenya-bound Born in London in 1934 and then growing up in Bournemouth on England’s south coast, Goodall had long dreamed of living among wild animals. She said her passion for animals, stoked by the gift of a stuffed toy gorilla from her father, grew as she immersed herself in books such as “Tarzan” and “Dr. Dolittle.” She set her dreams aside after leaving school, unable to afford university. She worked as a secretary and then for a film company until a friend’s invitation to visit Kenya put the jungle – and its inhabitants – within reach. After saving up money for the journey, by boat, Goodall arrived in the East African nation in 1957. There, an encounter with famed anthropologist and paleontologist Dr. Louis Leakey and his wife, archaeologist Mary Leakey, set her on course to work with primates. Under Leakey, Goodall set up the Gombe Stream Chimpanzee Reserve, later renamed the Gombe Stream Research Centre, near Lake Tanganyika in present-day Tanzania. There she discovered chimpanzees ate meat, fought fierce wars, and perhaps most importantly, fashioned tools in order to eat termites. “Now we must redefine tool, redefine man, or accept chimpanzees as humans,” Leakey said of the discovery. Although she eventually paused her research to earn a PhD at Cambridge University, Goodall remained in the jungle for years. Her first husband and frequent collaborator was wildlife cameraman Hugo van Lawick. Through the National Geographic’s coverage, the chimpanzees at Gombe Stream soon became household names – most famously, one Goodall called David Greybeard for his silver streak of hair. Nearly thirty years after first arriving in Africa, however, Goodall said she realized she could not support or protect the chimpanzees without addressing the dire disappearance of their habitat. She said she realized she would have to look beyond Gombe, leave the jungle, and take up a larger global role as a conservationist. In 1977, she set up the Jane Goodall Institute, a nonprofit organization aimed at supporting the research in Gombe as well as conservation and development efforts across Africa. Its work has since expanded worldwide and includes efforts to tackle environmental education, health, and advocacy. She made a new name for herself, traveling an average of 300 days a year to meet with local officials in countries around the world and speaking with community and school groups. She continued touring to the end of her life, speaking at Climate Week in New York City just last week. She later expanded the institute to include Roots & Shoots, a conservation program aimed at children. It was a stark shift from her isolated research, spending long days watching chimpanzees. “It never ceases to amaze me that there’s this person who travels around and does all these things,” she told the New York Times during a 2014 trip to Burundi and back to Gombe. “And it’s me. It doesn’t seem like me at all.” A prolific author, she published more than 30 books with her observations, including her 1999 bestseller “Reason For Hope: A Spiritual Journey,” as well as a dozen aimed at children. Goodall said she never doubted the planet’s resilience or human ability to overcome environmental challenges. “Yes, there is hope … It’s in our hands, it’s in your hands and my hands and those of our children. It’s really up to us,” she said in 2002, urging people to “leave the lightest possible ecological footprints.” She had one son, known as ‘Grub,’ with van Lawick, whom she divorced in 1974. Van Lawick died in 2002. In 1975, she married Derek Bryceson. He died in 1980. —Susan Heavey; additional reporting by Kanishka Singh, Reuters View the full article

United Wholesale Mortgage dropped the fees for Title Review and Closing plus to as low as $1,295; it also extended its R/T 90 refi promo for another month. View the full article

Not even half of the spots in the 48-team field have been claimed. The schedule of matches won’t be finalized until December. And other than host nations U.S., Canada and Mexico, nobody has any idea where or when they’ll be playing. Millions of soccer fans worldwide evidently don’t seem to mind any of those points. Tickets to next year’s FIFA World Cup officially go on sale Wednesday. The buyers will be those who were selected, out of 4.5 million applicants in a lottery that took place last month, to have the first formal chance to purchase tickets over the next few days. FIFA said lottery winners have been, or will soon be, informed by email. There are unique questions for consumers heading into the tournament, particularly about how they’ll get visas, if necessary, to visit the U.S. as the country cracks down on immigration. There are also more traditional concerns such as who, when, and where — and none of those will be answered until the draw on Dec. 5. FIFA knows many fans won’t fret about those answers; they just want tickets now and will figure out the rest later. “These are not only outstanding figures, but also a strong statement,” FIFA President Gianni Infantino said on social media, reacting to the 4.5 million applicants for a spot in the purchase window that opened Wednesday. “The whole world wants to be part of the FIFA World Cup 26, the biggest, most inclusive and most exciting event ever. From Canada, Mexico and the United States, to countries big and small across every continent, fans are proving once again passion for football truly unites.” In divided times, the notion of soccer being something that “truly unites” will be put to the test. Here are some things to know as tickets go on sale. What’s for sale? Fans can purchase seats in one of four categories; Category 1 is the best seats, Category 4 is somewhere around the tops of stadiums. Ticket prices will range initially from $60 for group-stage matches to $6,730 for the final but could — and almost certainly will — change as soccer’s biggest event utilizes dynamic pricing for the first time. There are other ways to get tickets other than shelling out big bucks. American Airlines announced last month that its AAdvantage loyalty program members can redeem miles for World Cup tickets, starting Oct. 13 for executive platinum and concierge key members, then Oct. 14 for platinum pro, platinum and gold members, followed on Oct. 15 by all members. And starting Thursday, some Verizon customers will have access to free World Cup tickets and other perks. The telecommunications giant is a World Cup sponsor and will simply start dropping free ticket chances to its customers through its app. “For me, there are few things as exciting as experiencing football live, whether that’s on or off the pitch, and so I am proud to partner with Verizon to celebrate their plans to give fans unprecedented access to the tournament,” said soccer icon David Beckham, part of Verizon’s promotion for the World Cup. Who’s in? The U.S., Mexico and Canada all automatically qualified as host nations. Also in so far: defending champion Argentina, Japan, New Zealand, Iran, Uzbekistan, Jordan, South Korea, Brazil, Australia, Ecuador, Uruguay, Tunisia, Colombia, Paraguay and Morocco. That leaves 30 spots still unclaimed. FIFA said fans from 216 countries and territories applied to be part of the first ticket lottery. The top three nations of interest, to no surprise, were the hosts: the U.S., Mexico and Canada, in that order. The rest of the top 10, also in order of application totals: Germany, England, Brazil, Argentina, Colombia, Spain and Italy. Nobody has said how many tickets FIFA plans to sell in this first window. Availability won’t be depleted; based on the listed stadium attendance figures, there are roughly 7.1 million seats to fill for the 104 matches around 16 North American venues, though it’s unknown how many of those seats will be available for sale to the public. Will visitors travel to the US? There is an immigration crackdown unfolding across the U.S., which could dampen overseas interest in traveling to the country. U.S. tourism officials already have noted a drop in overseas visitors this year and even organizers in some U.S. host cities have acknowledged that political dynamics may have an impact on attendance. Adding to some of the uncertainty, President Donald The President, who has a close relationship with Infantino, has suggested that the host cities could be changed if he wants to move some events away from places his administration considers unsafe. The U.S. cities that are scheduled to host are East Rutherford, New Jersey; Inglewood, California; Foxborough, Massachusetts; Houston; Arlington, Texas; Atlanta; Seattle; Santa Clara, California; Philadelphia; Kansas City, Missouri; and Miami Gardens, Florida. “If any city we think is going to be even a little bit dangerous for the World Cup … we won’t allow it to go there,” The President said last week. “We’ll move it around a little bit. But I hope that’s not going to happen.” The State Department says that “the safety and security of the United States” along with “World Cup matches, athletes, fans, and venues” are the top priorities with regard to its role in the World Cup process. It also suggests that travelers who need a visa should start applying now, and officials have said the U.S. is trying “to ensure an efficient, smooth, and effective visa process.” What’s next? A second phase, called an early ticket draw, likely will run from Oct. 27-31, with purchase time slots from mid-November to early December. A third phase, termed a random selection draw, will start after the final draw of teams on Dec. 5 determines the World Cup schedule. Tickets also will be available closer to the tournament “on a first-come, first-served basis.” FIFA also said it will start an official resale platform. Some tickets already have been snagged; hospitality packages have been sold since May. “The world will come together in North America,” Infantino promised, “like never before.” The tournament runs from June 11 through July 19. —Tim Reynolds, AP sports writer View the full article

Defining your value proposition is vital for standing out in today’s competitive market. Start by identifying your audience’s specific needs and pain points, as this will form the foundation of your approach. Next, analyze your competitors to pinpoint gaps in their offerings. Once you understand these elements, you can articulate how your products uniquely meet customer needs. This process will lead you to a compelling value proposition that resonates. What comes next is fundamental for validation. Key Takeaways Identify your target audience’s specific pain points through market research and customer feedback to ensure relevance. Analyze competitors to find gaps in their offerings and understand where you can differentiate your value. Clearly articulate how your products or services address customer needs with unique value propositions. Validate your claims with real-life testimonials and case studies that demonstrate effectiveness and satisfaction. Craft a concise value proposition statement that highlights your unique selling points in simple language. Identify Your Audience’s Needs and Pain Points How well do you really know your audience’s needs and pain points? Comprehending these elements is essential for crafting a compelling value proposition def. Start by conducting thorough market research, including surveys and interviews with potential customers. Gather insights about their challenges and desires. Analyze customer testimonials to identify common themes and specific issues your product can address. Segment your audience into different demographics or buyer personas, as their needs can vary greatly. Utilize tools like empathy maps and customer experience mapping to visualize their emotional and practical challenges. Finally, remember to regularly revisit and update your comprehension of audience pain points, as market dynamics and consumer behaviors can shift, necessitating adjustments to your value proposition. Analyze Competitors to Find Gaps To effectively position your product in the market, analyzing your competitors is essential, as it helps you identify gaps that your offering can fill. Start by conducting a thorough competitive analysis, identifying key players and evaluating their strengths and weaknesses. Use tools like SWOT analysis to evaluate their value propositions and customer offerings systematically. Gather customer feedback and reviews to pinpoint common pain points and unmet needs. Look for market gaps where competitors may not fully cater to specific segments or emerging trends. Regularly monitor competitor changes and innovations, as this will allow you to adapt your unique value proposition continuously, ensuring it remains relevant and effectively meets customer demands. Articulate How Your Offerings Address Customer Needs Comprehending your customers’ needs is crucial for effectively articulating how your offerings address their challenges and desires. Start by identifying their specific pain points through surveys and market research. Then, demonstrate how your product alleviates these issues, showcasing its unique value proposition. Use testimonials and case studies to provide real-life examples of improvements experienced by previous users. Highlight features that competitors lack, ensuring these advantages directly address customer needs. Here’s a quick overview: Customer Need Your Offering Unique Advantage Pain Point 1 Solution A Feature A Pain Point 2 Solution B Feature B Desire 1 Solution C Feature C Desire 2 Solution D Feature D Common Challenge Solution E Feature E Keep your messaging clear and straightforward so potential customers understand how you meet their needs. Validate Your Claims Through Feedback Validating your claims through customer feedback is essential for ensuring that your value proposition resonates with your target audience. Start by gathering insights through surveys and interviews, which can reveal how well your value offering definition aligns with customer needs. Consider A/B testing your messaging in marketing campaigns to see which version captures more attention. Using the five-second test can help you assess if your message is clear and impactful at first glance. Furthermore, analyze competitor messaging to identify unique elements in your value proposition that need emphasis. Continuous validation through customer feedback keeps your value proposition relevant and aligned with evolving customer preferences, ensuring you effectively communicate the benefits of your offerings. Craft a Clear and Compelling Value Proposition Crafting a clear and compelling value proposition begins with pinpointing the specific problem your target audience faces, as grasping this issue allows you to frame your product or service as the ideal solution. To understand what’s a UVP, use customer feedback and insights to identify their needs and preferences. This guarantees your value proposition resonates on a personal level. Keep your language simple and straightforward, avoiding jargon, so it’s easily understood and memorable. Highlight unique selling points that differentiate your offering from competitors, focusing on the tangible benefits customers will receive. Aim for a concise statement that encapsulates your business’s essence in two to five sentences, clearly communicating both the value and benefits provided to customers. Frequently Asked Questions What Are the 5 Steps of Developing a Value Proposition? To develop a value proposition, start by defining your target audience. Identify who needs your product or service. Next, understand their motivations by researching their pain points and desires. After that, create a clear offer statement that outlines the unique benefits you provide. Then, test and refine your proposition by gathering feedback from customers. Finally, promote visibility by ensuring your value proposition is prominent in all marketing materials. How Do I Define My Value Proposition? To define your value proposition, start by identifying the specific problem your audience faces. Understand their needs and desires clearly. Then, articulate how your product or service provides a unique solution to that problem. Highlight what sets you apart from competitors, focusing on tangible benefits. Use straightforward language to create a concise statement that effectively communicates your value. Finally, seek feedback from peers and potential customers to refine your proposition for clarity and impact. How to Create a Value Proposition in a Four Step Framework? To create a value proposition, start by identifying your target audience and their specific needs. Next, articulate the unique benefits your product or service offers as a solution to their problems. Combine these elements into a concise statement that clearly communicates the problem, solution, and what makes you different from competitors. Finally, seek feedback from potential customers to refine your proposition, ensuring it resonates and effectively highlights your brand’s distinct value. What Is My Value Proposition Example? To create your value proposition example, start by identifying your target audience and their needs. Next, clarify what unique benefits your product or service offers. For instance, if you provide a fitness app, your value proposition might be, “Achieve your fitness goals anytime, anywhere.” This statement directly addresses convenience and effectiveness, making it appealing. Finally, guarantee your proposition is clear and concise, communicating the core value you deliver to customers effectively. Conclusion Defining your value proposition is crucial for distinguishing your business in a competitive market. By comprehending your audience’s needs, analyzing competitors, and clearly articulating how you address those needs, you can create a compelling value proposition. Continuous validation through feedback guarantees your claims remain relevant. Finally, distill your insights into a concise statement that effectively communicates your unique benefits. This process not only improves customer engagement but likewise strengthens your overall business strategy. Image Via Envato This article, "How to Define Your Value Proposition in 5 Steps" was first published on Small Business Trends View the full article

Defining your value proposition is vital for standing out in today’s competitive market. Start by identifying your audience’s specific needs and pain points, as this will form the foundation of your approach. Next, analyze your competitors to pinpoint gaps in their offerings. Once you understand these elements, you can articulate how your products uniquely meet customer needs. This process will lead you to a compelling value proposition that resonates. What comes next is fundamental for validation. Key Takeaways Identify your target audience’s specific pain points through market research and customer feedback to ensure relevance. Analyze competitors to find gaps in their offerings and understand where you can differentiate your value. Clearly articulate how your products or services address customer needs with unique value propositions. Validate your claims with real-life testimonials and case studies that demonstrate effectiveness and satisfaction. Craft a concise value proposition statement that highlights your unique selling points in simple language. Identify Your Audience’s Needs and Pain Points How well do you really know your audience’s needs and pain points? Comprehending these elements is essential for crafting a compelling value proposition def. Start by conducting thorough market research, including surveys and interviews with potential customers. Gather insights about their challenges and desires. Analyze customer testimonials to identify common themes and specific issues your product can address. Segment your audience into different demographics or buyer personas, as their needs can vary greatly. Utilize tools like empathy maps and customer experience mapping to visualize their emotional and practical challenges. Finally, remember to regularly revisit and update your comprehension of audience pain points, as market dynamics and consumer behaviors can shift, necessitating adjustments to your value proposition. Analyze Competitors to Find Gaps To effectively position your product in the market, analyzing your competitors is essential, as it helps you identify gaps that your offering can fill. Start by conducting a thorough competitive analysis, identifying key players and evaluating their strengths and weaknesses. Use tools like SWOT analysis to evaluate their value propositions and customer offerings systematically. Gather customer feedback and reviews to pinpoint common pain points and unmet needs. Look for market gaps where competitors may not fully cater to specific segments or emerging trends. Regularly monitor competitor changes and innovations, as this will allow you to adapt your unique value proposition continuously, ensuring it remains relevant and effectively meets customer demands. Articulate How Your Offerings Address Customer Needs Comprehending your customers’ needs is crucial for effectively articulating how your offerings address their challenges and desires. Start by identifying their specific pain points through surveys and market research. Then, demonstrate how your product alleviates these issues, showcasing its unique value proposition. Use testimonials and case studies to provide real-life examples of improvements experienced by previous users. Highlight features that competitors lack, ensuring these advantages directly address customer needs. Here’s a quick overview: Customer Need Your Offering Unique Advantage Pain Point 1 Solution A Feature A Pain Point 2 Solution B Feature B Desire 1 Solution C Feature C Desire 2 Solution D Feature D Common Challenge Solution E Feature E Keep your messaging clear and straightforward so potential customers understand how you meet their needs. Validate Your Claims Through Feedback Validating your claims through customer feedback is essential for ensuring that your value proposition resonates with your target audience. Start by gathering insights through surveys and interviews, which can reveal how well your value offering definition aligns with customer needs. Consider A/B testing your messaging in marketing campaigns to see which version captures more attention. Using the five-second test can help you assess if your message is clear and impactful at first glance. Furthermore, analyze competitor messaging to identify unique elements in your value proposition that need emphasis. Continuous validation through customer feedback keeps your value proposition relevant and aligned with evolving customer preferences, ensuring you effectively communicate the benefits of your offerings. Craft a Clear and Compelling Value Proposition Crafting a clear and compelling value proposition begins with pinpointing the specific problem your target audience faces, as grasping this issue allows you to frame your product or service as the ideal solution. To understand what’s a UVP, use customer feedback and insights to identify their needs and preferences. This guarantees your value proposition resonates on a personal level. Keep your language simple and straightforward, avoiding jargon, so it’s easily understood and memorable. Highlight unique selling points that differentiate your offering from competitors, focusing on the tangible benefits customers will receive. Aim for a concise statement that encapsulates your business’s essence in two to five sentences, clearly communicating both the value and benefits provided to customers. Frequently Asked Questions What Are the 5 Steps of Developing a Value Proposition? To develop a value proposition, start by defining your target audience. Identify who needs your product or service. Next, understand their motivations by researching their pain points and desires. After that, create a clear offer statement that outlines the unique benefits you provide. Then, test and refine your proposition by gathering feedback from customers. Finally, promote visibility by ensuring your value proposition is prominent in all marketing materials. How Do I Define My Value Proposition? To define your value proposition, start by identifying the specific problem your audience faces. Understand their needs and desires clearly. Then, articulate how your product or service provides a unique solution to that problem. Highlight what sets you apart from competitors, focusing on tangible benefits. Use straightforward language to create a concise statement that effectively communicates your value. Finally, seek feedback from peers and potential customers to refine your proposition for clarity and impact. How to Create a Value Proposition in a Four Step Framework? To create a value proposition, start by identifying your target audience and their specific needs. Next, articulate the unique benefits your product or service offers as a solution to their problems. Combine these elements into a concise statement that clearly communicates the problem, solution, and what makes you different from competitors. Finally, seek feedback from potential customers to refine your proposition, ensuring it resonates and effectively highlights your brand’s distinct value. What Is My Value Proposition Example? To create your value proposition example, start by identifying your target audience and their needs. Next, clarify what unique benefits your product or service offers. For instance, if you provide a fitness app, your value proposition might be, “Achieve your fitness goals anytime, anywhere.” This statement directly addresses convenience and effectiveness, making it appealing. Finally, guarantee your proposition is clear and concise, communicating the core value you deliver to customers effectively. Conclusion Defining your value proposition is crucial for distinguishing your business in a competitive market. By comprehending your audience’s needs, analyzing competitors, and clearly articulating how you address those needs, you can create a compelling value proposition. Continuous validation through feedback guarantees your claims remain relevant. Finally, distill your insights into a concise statement that effectively communicates your unique benefits. This process not only improves customer engagement but likewise strengthens your overall business strategy. Image Via Envato This article, "How to Define Your Value Proposition in 5 Steps" was first published on Small Business Trends View the full article

It’s official: AOL‘s dial-up internet has taken its last bow. AOL previously confirmed it would be pulling the plug on Tuesday (Sept. 30) — writing in a brief update on its support site last month that it “routinely evaluates” its offerings and had decided to discontinue dial-up, as well as associated software “optimized for older operating systems,” from its plans. Dial-up is now no longer advertised on AOL’s website. As of Wednesday, former company help pages like “connect to the internet with AOL Dialer” appeared unavailable — and nostalgic social media users took to the internet to say their final goodbyes. AOL, formerly America Online, introduced many households to the World Wide Web for the first time when its dial-up service launched decades ago, rising to prominence particularly in the 90s and early 2000s. The creaky door to the internet was characterized by a once-ubiquitous series of beeps and buzzes heard over the phone line used to connect your computer online — along with frustrations of being kicked off the web if anyone else at home needed the landline for another call, and an endless bombardment of CDs mailed out by AOL to advertise free trials. Eventually, broadband and wireless offerings emerged and rose to dominance, doing away with dial-up’s quirks for most people accessing the internet today — but not everyone. A handful of consumers have continued to rely on internet services connected over telephone lines. In the U.S., according to Census Bureau data, an estimated 163,401 households were using dial-up alone to get online in 2023, representing just over 0.13% of all homes with internet subscriptions nationwide. While AOL was the largest dial-up internet provider for some time, it wasn’t the only one to emerge over the years. Some smaller internet providers continue to offer dial-up today. Regardless, the decline of dial-up has been a long time coming. And AOL shutting down its service arrives as other relics of the internet’s earlier days continue to disappear. Microsoft retired video calling service Skype just earlier this year — as well as Internet Explorer back in 2022. And in 2017, AOL discontinued its Instant Messenger — a chat platform that was once lauded as the biggest trend in online communication since email when it was founded in 1997, but later struggled to ward off rivals. AOL itself is far from the dominant internet player it was decades ago — when, beyond dial-up and IMs, the company also became known for its “You’ve got mail” catchphrase that greeted users who checked their inboxes, as famously displayed in the 1998 film starring Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan by the same name. Before it was America Online, AOL was founded as Quantum Computer Services in 1985. It soon rebranded and hit the public market in 1991. Near the height of the dot-com boom, AOL’s market value reached nearly $164 billion in 2000. But tumultuous years followed, and that valuation plummeted as the once-tech pioneer bounced between multiple owners. After a disastrous merger with Time Warner Inc., Verizon acquired AOL — which later sold AOL, along with Yahoo, to a private equity firm. AOL now operates under the larger Yahoo name. A spokesperson for Yahoo didn’t have any additional statements about the end of AOL’s dial-up when reached by The Associated Press on Wednesday, directing customers to its previous summer announcement. At the time, Verizon sold AOL in 2021, an anonymous source familiar with the transaction told CNBC that the number of AOL dial-up users was “in the low thousands” — down from 2.1 million when Verizon first moved to acquire AOL in 2015, and far below peak demand seen back in the 90s and early 2000s. But beyond dial-up, AOL continues to offer its free email services, as well as subscriptions that advertise identity protection and other tech support. —Wyatte Grantham-Philips, AP business writer View the full article

Amazon is pushing deeper into the grocery aisle with the launch of Amazon Grocery, a food brand that keeps most prices under $5. The idea of buying much of anything for $5 seems like a distant memory for most shoppers these days, as The President’s tariffs and persistent inflation keep the price of everyday consumer goods high with little relief in sight. Keenly aware of that, Amazon is looking to undercut the competition’s prices with its own newly unified private label brand for everything from eggs and pre-made salads to ground beef and olive oil. The company plans to expand its offerings to more grocery staples like frozen pasta, granola and cakes in the coming months. The company says that its new Amazon Grocery brand will merge its existing Amazon Fresh and Happy Belly brands into a single storefront for essentials. In its online grocery store, many items have already been relabeled digitally away from the Happy Belly and Amazon Fresh brands and given a makeover with a “modern, clean and distinctive” new design so shoppers can spot the line of core items easily, much like Target does with its in-house Good & Gather line. The new and rebranded Amazon Grocery lineup products are now available online and through the company’s brick and mortar Amazon Fresh stores. “During a time when consumers are particularly price-conscious, Amazon Grocery delivers more than 1,000 quality grocery items across all categories that don’t compromise on quality or taste – from fresh food items to crave-worthy snacks and pantry essentials – all at low, competitive prices that help customers stretch their grocery budgets further,” Amazon’s Vice President of Worldwide Grocery Stores and Whole Foods Market CEO Jason Buechel said in a press release. Amazon’s big grocery push On paper, Amazon is trying to make its branding less confusing, differentiating its core grocery line from its other in-house brands like 365 from Whole Foods. But a year ago, Amazon made a similar announcement, hailing a value-minded “new private-label brand” called Amazon Saver. “From crackers and cookies to canned fruit and condiments, Amazon Saver offers affordable grocery essentials at a great value both in-store and online,” the company wrote in a press release at the time, highlighting that most Amazon Saver products would be priced under $5. Confusingly, the company claims that the new Amazon Grocery brand will complement its portfolio of private label products, including Amazon Saver, which apparently isn’t going away. It’s been almost a decade since Amazon bought Whole Foods in a then-shocking $13.7 billion deal that revealed the extent of the company’s master plan to dominate even offline shopping. The company’s commitment pushing deeper into selling wallet-friendly fridge and pantry staples is a sign that Amazon’s ambitions in the space haven’t yet been fully realized. In August, Amazon introduced same-day delivery service for perishable foods in 1,000 additional U.S. cities, with plans to double that coverage by the end of the year. The company’s ongoing aggressive expansion into on-demand grocery delivery puts the undisputed king of shopping on a collision course with grocery delivery competitors like Walmart, Target and Instacart. Not all of Amazon’s grocery experiments have been successful. Last month, the company announced that it would close all of its Amazon Fresh stores in the U.K. after “a thorough evaluation of business operations.” At the same time, the company noted its plans to expand its online grocery sales, doubling down on the “very substantial growth opportunities” in online grocery delivery. View the full article

Microsoft Teams strives to improve the heart of every successful project: good communication and team collaboration. Stakeholders, managers and teams must set expectations, deliver directions and collaborate for greater productivity. Whether people are under one roof or distributed across the globe, a shared platform like Microsoft Teams with an open channel for communicating is the glue that holds projects together. The market is saturated with team collaboration apps that promise the moon, but often deliver far less. Microsoft Teams is a dominant player in the field and with good reason. Microsoft offers a suite of products that are designed to keep businesses working more efficiently. What Is Microsoft Teams? Microsoft Teams is a cloud-based collaborative platform for online meetings and other business communication needs. It offers top-notch cybersecurity standards and multi-factor authentication to keep teams connected and organized. Microsoft Teams is part of Microsoft 365, which features its Office apps, cloud service and security and it’s available on Linux, Mac, IOS, Android and Windows devices. Though it was only introduced in 2017, it’s become a go-to tool for project teams of all sizes. Besides managing teams, most organizations manage projects. While Microsoft Teams is a great team communication tool, it’s not project management software. In addition to MS Teams, you should use software like ProjectManager. ProjectManager allows team leaders to plan, schedule, track and deliver projects successfully. Use Gantt charts, kanban boards, task lists and real-time dashboards and communication tools. Get started for free. /wp-content/uploads/2022/11/Gantt-chart-construction-CTA.webpLearn more How Does Microsoft Teams Work? Teams are first divided into channels that let participants chat, share files, schedule meetings and attend video conferences. There can be channels that address the entire organization, but if every conversation was posted in one place, it’d become too distracting. If you want to bring someone into a channel to respond to a question or just update them, you can tag them and invite them into the channel. Chats can happen one-on-one, too, for conversations need to be private. Outside of conversation, everyone who uses MS Teams has a site on SharePoint Online, which is Microsoft’s collaborative platform to share files and work together. It provides document storage and fully integrates with Office 365. Microsoft Teams Tools & Features Here’s a quick overview of the main tools Microsoft Teams offers. However, the availability of these features depends on the subscription plan. Video conferencing: Microsoft Teams is a robust video conferencing tool that allows organizations to hold virtual meetings with features such as file sharing, screen sharing, collaborative annotations, gallery & together modes, background effects, recording, and end-to-end encryption. Virtual events & webinars: Teams supports webinars and structured events: webinar support for up to 1,000 fully interactive attendees, with additional view-only capability for more participants. Real-time collaboration: Teams allows users to co-author and edit Word, Excel, PowerPoint and other Microsoft 365 files in real time. It also integrates with Microsoft Whiteboard, enabling shared visual brainstorming and idea mapping during meetings or sessions. Phone system (Teams Phone): Teams includes a cloud-based phone system offering VoIP and PSTN calling, auto attendants, call queues, voicemail (with transcription), call transfer, call routing and dial-pad integration. Instant messaging & chat: Teams provides persistent chat with rich text, emojis, GIFs, file sharing inside chat, scheduling messages, chat translation features, group chats, and threaded replies to keep conversation flows organized. Integrations: Teams integrates tightly with Microsoft products like Planner, SharePoint, OneDrive, Forms, Power Automate, and also supports third-party apps such as Adobe Creative Cloud, GitHub, Trello, and more via the Teams apps marketplace. Meeting recording & transcription: Many Teams plans let users record calls and meetings with cloud storage of recordings, plus automatic transcription and captions, enabling later review and search within spoken content. Breakout rooms & meeting roles: Teams supports breakout rooms in sessions (for smaller group discussions), role controls (presenters, attendees), meeting lobby control, and moderation features to manage large meetings effectively. Analytics & usage reporting: Admins can access call quality dashboards, meeting reports, attendance logs, and usage analytics to monitor performance, detect issues, and optimize Teams usage across the organization. Let’s review the main plans and pricing offered by Microsoft Teams to understand how it can be used by different types of users. Microsoft Teams Plans & Pricing Here’s an overview of the Microsoft Teams for Business subscription plans. These plans offer a 1-month free trial. Microsoft Teams Essentials: $4.00 per user per month, billed annually. Ideal for smaller teams that need to communicate with video calls and share files. Microsoft 365 Business Basic: $6.00 per user per month, billed annually. Great for businesses that need a robust collaboration tool. Lets users collaborate online on Microsoft 365 apps and includes features such as Microsoft Whiteboard, business-class email and live captions, but it’s not suitable for webinar hosting. Microsoft 365 Business Standard: $12.50 per user per month, billed annually. The best choice for organizations that need all Microsoft Teams for Business features and webinar hosting tools. Learn more about Microsoft Teams for Business pricing plans Microsoft Teams can also be used for personal or family use. However, the home editions of MS Teams greatly differ from the business editions. Microsoft Teams (free): A free, limited version of Microsoft Teams with only 5 GB of online storage. Microsoft 365 Personal: This subscription plan costs $99.99 per year (or $9.99 monthly). It gives users access to 1 TB of cloud storage, Microsoft 365 apps, Outlook and some Microsoft Teams features. Microsoft 365 Family: This subscription plan costs $129.99 per year (or $12.99 monthly). It supports up to 6 users, includes Microsoft Teams home features, and provides up to 6 TB of total cloud storage (1 TB per person). Learn more about Microsoft Teams for Home pricing plans Benefits of Microsoft Teams The popularity of MS Teams is easily explained. As work grows increasingly online and teams work remotely, they require a collaboration platform that can keep people connected in real time, and working productively together becomes a paramount concern for businesses. There are many chat and video conferencing apps. So why choose Microsoft Teams over Slack, Zoom, Google Drive or GoToMeeting? Certainly, as part of the larger family of Microsoft products, it’s an attractive option. It’s already seamlessly integrated with ubiquitous apps such as Excel and Word. Plus, Teams has a simple design, is cloud-based and it’s easy to set up. Notifications can be set up so they show up on the screen, which helps keep everyone aligned. Also, Microsoft Teams offers task management functions such as to-do lists through Microsoft Planner. Another benefit is that everything is in one place. Because the Microsoft Teams app is integrated with Microsoft 365, teams can move from instant messages to email and document collaboration. Plus, the MS Teams app is always improving. Because of the evolution and integration, Microsoft Teams can be a real crowd-pleaser. Even with Mac users, as it can run on Mac operating systems, unlike Microsoft Project, which isn’t compatible with Apple products. Pros and Cons of Microsoft Teams It’s important to understand that MS Teams isn’t perfect. It does some things well, and in other areas, it falls short. Let’s take a look at where the program’s assets and deficits are. Microsoft Teams Pros Microsoft Teams sells itself as a way to increase productivity and strengthen communications, and it excels at both. The biggest pro of MS Teams is that it provides a seamless transition to the digital workplace. It connects teams individually and with online meetings. You can share files and tasks, all from one app. It integrates with a lot of third-party apps that further enhance the experience, especially if you work from home. Because you’re only using one app, you can better focus your attention on the essential work. There’s less sifting through old emails and looking for files you need to get your work done. The app provides transparency and keeps everyone on the same page and updated. This means the team is always aware of what it has to do. You don’t have to worry about disseminating materials, because there’s a depository in which to store them. It’s easy to notify people and tag them to bring them into a channel to help with the work. As work continues to migrate online, teams need a tool that can connect them. Having a portal to chat and share files makes remote work possible. Microsoft Teams Cons One of the challenges of using Teams is shifting away from Outlook. Moving it off can be a pain point. But for MS Teams to deliver all its promises, users need to migrate to Microsoft Teams. If you’re editing a doc in Word and want to share it, you can share directly in Teams, but the process may feel less intuitive than email for some users. Microsoft Teams doesn’t have a native group calendar view inside the app; users often rely on Outlook or SharePoint calendars for this function. If you’re looking for files, it can be a problem. While they’re accessible with a search, locating where they reside in SharePoint folders can be complex. MS Teams can create a complicated folder structure in SharePoint. If you try to move files into new folders outside of Teams, links and permissions may break. The online meetings have improved significantly with features like breakout rooms, live captions and recording, but some advanced webinar functions still require higher-tier plans. Guest access is supported, but setup and permissions can be restrictive, which sometimes causes frustration when collaborating with external users. Microsoft Teams FAQ Is Microsoft Teams Free? Yes, Microsoft Teams for Home has a free plan. However, if you’d like to use Microsoft Teams for Business, plans start at $4.00 per user per month for Microsoft Teams Essentials. Is Microsoft Teams Included in Microsoft 365? Yes, MS Teams is included with several Microsoft 365 subscriptions such as Microsoft 365 Personal, Family, Business Basic and Business Standard. Microsoft Teams Essentials is a standalone paid plan and not bundled with Microsoft 365. Does Microsoft Teams Work on Mac? Yes, Microsoft Teams can be downloaded and installed on PCs and Macs. The online version of Teams can also be used on Mac. Microsoft Teams Integrates With ProjectManager for Project Management The advantages of Microsoft Teams outweigh the disadvantages, but while it connects teams and gives them a platform in which to dialogue, it doesn’t have project management features. If you’re managing a project, the Microsoft Teams app can’t do it alone. It needs the robust project management tools of ProjectManager. ProjectManager is award-winning software that can manage unlimited projects and tasks with unlimited file storage to act as a central hub for all your documentation. Unlike Microsoft Project, our tool works with both Apple and PC products. It’s also a lot easier to share work on our software than with SharePoint, making it an excellent Microsoft Project alternative. We’ve outlined some of our top project management features below. Plan With Gantt Charts Our online Gantt chart makes it easy to plan your projects with powerful features that control every aspect of your schedule. Just upload a task list, list them manually or use one of our industry-specific templates to help you get started. Managers can also import, view and edit existing Excel and Project (.mpp) files, providing more features than a basic Microsoft Project viewer. /wp-content/uploads/2022/03/pm-gantt-screenshot.png Collaborate With Your Team Microsoft Teams only takes baby steps toward collaboration. With our software, you can easily invite team members, contractors and others and create tasks for them quickly and easily. Because the tool is cloud-based, it works on any computer web browser. You can create and update projects in real-time. /wp-content/uploads/2022/03/Notifications_Wide_Zoom-175.jpg Comments can be added at the task level to foster collaboration. Image files and documents can be added to tasks to help teams work together or provide detailed direction on how to execute the task. As tasks are updated, assigned team members receive email alerts and in-app notifications to keep everyone in the loop. Work Flexibly With Kanban Boards Besides creating dynamic project plans and collaborating in real-time, ProjectManager has multiple project views. You can create a task list to schedule your work or use kanban boards to visualize your workflow, manage backlogs and plan sprints. Calendars save important dates and much more. /wp-content/uploads/2022/03/Kanban_Marketing_Wide_Zoom-150_Moving-task-to-different-status.jpg Manage Resources Keeping your teams productive is why we have resource management tools, such as a workload chart that’s color-coded to show you who’s overallocated. You can reallocate resources right from the workload management page and balance the workload for greater productivity. /wp-content/uploads/2022/03/Workload_Wide_Zoom-175.jpg Track and Report Use our tool to manage your budget and resource costs. Plus, one-click reports give you detailed data that help you make better decisions. Reports can be filtered and shared with stakeholders to keep them updated. Real-time dashboards automatically calculate several project metrics and show them in easy-to-read graphs and charts. That high-level project view helps you monitor progress and performance. /wp-content/uploads/2022/03/Dashboard_Construction_Wide_Zoom-150.jpg You can manage projects, programs and portfolios with our tool, with portfolio dashboards and roadmaps. We also have timesheets to streamline payroll and track the hours your team logs on their tasks. You can’t do that on the Microsoft Teams app. Unlike Microsoft, we have a three-tiered pricing plan. Choose the subscription that works best for you and your organization. Related Content Best Microsoft Project Alternatives Best Microsoft Planner Alternatives What Is Microsoft Project? Uses, Features and Pricing Microsoft Project Online: Pros, Cons and Free Alternatives Microsoft Project Viewer – How to View & Edit MPP Files Online MPP File Extension: What Is It & How to Open It Microsoft Project for Mac: How to Run MS Project Files on Your Mac MS Teams doesn’t have online backups or file sharing or even a free trial to see if the software is right for you. ProjectManager has unlimited file storage, easy sharing and manages every phase of your project. Plus, you can try it for free with our 30-day trial. Do it today and see how MS Teams and ProjectManager can work together to make your project successful. The post What Is Microsoft Teams? Uses, Plans, Features & Pricing appeared first on ProjectManager. View the full article

We may earn a commission from links on this page. Did you know you can customize Google to filter out garbage? Take these steps for better search results, including adding Lifehacker as a preferred source for tech news. I've written a lot of e-bike reviews for Lifehacker, and almost all of the bikes have come from established companies like Canyon, Aventon, and Specialized. Though they came from big brands, you generally can't buy these bikes from large retailers like Amazon or Best Buy; you gotta buy 'em direct or through a bike shop. That means you have to put in a little more legwork to get one, but it's worth it. I always recommend test riding as many bikes as you can, and since those big box retailers tend to sell lower-priced e-bikes, the quality can vary wildly. To demonstrate this (and provide a general guide of red flags to look for in an e-bike), I'm comparing a fat-tire e-bike you can get at Walmart, The Magicyle Ocelot Pro, against a comparable, straight-to-consumer ride, The Aventon Aventure 3. At first glance, they seems similar—both are fat-tire trail bikes designed to be ridden on both local bike paths and a gravel roads—but there's a world of difference between them. The price of an e-bikeE-bikes are not cheap. For a reliable-but-not-flashy ride, you'll probably spend at least $1,500. You can buy e-bikes on Amazon for ridiculously low prices, like this e-mountain bike for $355, but I wouldn't ride this particular bike anywhere, let alone down a mountain. I'm a big fan of semi-disposable consumer goods in most cases, but not when it comes to safety; a powered vehicle that can reach speeds of nearly 30mph is not where you want to skimp. The Magicycle Ocelot Pro isn't one of these dirt-cheap bikes. They seem like they're somewhere between a no-name-special and a bike from a more established company. Unlike most bicycle companies, you can get Magicycles through larger retailers. The company lists the Ocelot Pro at $2,399 with a markdown to $1,499, but Walmart says the list price is $1,699. An Aventon Aventure 3 costs $1999, and can only be purchased through the company and partnered bike shops. Many people might think that because the Magicycle is cheaper and easier to purchase, the choice is obvious—but that $500 or so is the difference between one of the best e-bikes I've tested and one of the worst. Profit margins and cut corners Magicycle Ocelot Pro Electric Bike $1,699.99 at Walmart Get Deal Get Deal $1,699.99 at Walmart Manufacturers who sell through retail chains have a much larger base of potential buyers, but the downside is, generally, whippet-skinny profit margins. While I obviously don't know what Magicycle's profit-margins are like, my first impression of the Ocelot Pro was "corners were cut." Before I even gave it a test drive, I spun the front wheel. It's not aligned properly, which I noticed immediately: Getting a wheel sorted costs about $20 at your local bike shop, but many bike shops flat-out won't work on bicycles with parts that aren't from established companies. The Ocelot Pro is a mishmash of lower end components from brands like Shimano and parts with no manufacturer listed, so you could run into problems with repairs down the road. Speaking of non-name-brand parts, both WalMart's site and Magicycle's picture an Ocelot Pro with 20X4" tires from Kenda, a reputable tire company, but the tires on the actual bike have no name. Look: Credit: Stephen Johnson These anonymous tires might be fine, but how could you know? As promised, Aventon's bike has 26x4" Inova tires. Speaking of parts, the Aventure's suspension fork was made by Zoom. While not a top-of-the-line component, Zoom forks are a solid, lower-end component. Like its tires, the Ocelot's fork was made by no one, so who knows how it will perform? For casual riding, it would likely never make a difference, but these are both ostensibly all-terrain bikes that you can ride on gravel, which suggests a level of ruggedness that I wouldn't feel comfortable trusting to a mystery suspension fork. Speed testBoth the Aventure 3 and the the Ocelot Pro are legally classified as "class 3" e-bikes. That means the motor assistance should stop at 28 mph from pedaling, and the throttle-only assistance is supposed to top out at 20 mph. But on my first ride on the Ocelot, I twisted the throttle and the thing accelerated to nearly 23 mph. For comparison, the Aventure 3 tops out at 20 mph. Check it out: That makes the Ocelot Pro the fastest throttled e-bike I've ever tested for Lifehacker. "It goes faster" might be a selling point for some, but it makes this bike technically illegal to ride on the streets of California. Cops aren't likely to be radar-checking to make sure your e-bike never breaks 20 mph, but going over the limit by anything suggests a lack of quality control, a corner that has been cut. Another point of comparison in the video above: while both bikes output around the same amount of power, the Ocelot Pro's motor is a lot louder than the Aventon's. And then there's the battery gauge. For technical reasons involving voltage and amperages, the "fuel gauges" on e-bikes are never that accurate, but the Ocelot's is among the worst I've experienced. It's all over the place: when I left to take the above video, the gauge read 67%. It was 32% half a mile later, then down to 22% after a mile ride. I turned the thing on and off, and it was at 56%: Credit: Stephen Johnson Everything elseBeyond parts and performance, there are the intangibles that separate a budget e-bike from a premium one, and they matter, particularly when you're playing between $1,500 and $2,000 for a product. Overall, the Aventure 3 looks and rides like a premium e-bike: the welds are clean and the paint is sharp. The Ocelot Pro feels thrown together. It's not something you can measure on a spec sheet, but I've tested many e-bikes for Lifehacker, and I can feel the difference between a janky bike and a solid one. The Aventon feels like a bike you could trust on a long ride; the Ocelot feels like a bike you’d be nervous to take too far from home. The Aventure 3 comes with an app that connects to the bike via Bluetooth, letting you track rides, tweak settings (including getting granular with the pedal assist levels), and update firmware. It also features a suite of built-in anti-theft features—like disabling the motor if the bike is stolen and GPS tracking—for extra peace of mind. There's even a mini social media feature to check out what other Aventon riders are up to. The Magicycle has none of that. You’re buying a single product, not something that feels supported or maintained over time. Be careful where you buy your bike Credit: Stephen Johnson On paper, the Aventon Aventure 3 and the Magicycle Ocelot Pro look like they’re playing in the same league, but they just ain't. The Aventure delivers reliable performance, thoughtful features, and long-term support, while the Ocelot cuts corners in ways you might not notice, especially if you haven't ridden a ton of e-bikes. If you’re spending $1,500 or more on a bike, it’s worth spending a little extra for a brand with a reputation for producing worthwhile products. So my advice remains the same: test ride as many bikes as you can, and before you buy an e-bike from Target (or Walmart, or Amazon), make very sure you know what you're getting yourself into. View the full article

On Tuesday, Spotify founder and CEO Daniel Ek announced he will step down from his leadership role after nearly two decades. Ek will serve as the company’s executive chairman and two former co-presidents — Gustav Söderström and Alex Norström — will share the role as co-CEOs. “Over the last few years, I’ve turned over a large part of the day-to-day management and strategic direction of Spotify to Alex and Gustav — who have shaped the company from our earliest days and are now more than ready to guide our next phase,” Ek said in a news release. Ek continued, “This change simply matches titles to how we already operate. In my role as Executive Chairman, I will focus on the long arc of the company and keep the Board and our co-CEOs deeply connected through my engagement.” Sharing the top position at a major company is still a relatively uncommon practice. But more corporations are testing the arrangement. This week, Comcast announced a second CEO, Mike Cavanaugh, will be stepping in come January to share the role with Brian Roberts. Oracle recently made a similar announcement. (Despite that back in 2020, Oracle had actually pivoted away from a co-CEO model. Salesforce and SAP similarly ditched co-CEO setups.) Meanwhile, Netflix has been led by two CEOs for more than five years, the current partnership being Ted Sarandos and Greg Peters. Deciding who becomes the CEO is an incredibly involved, high-stakes process. And nowadays, more seems to be riding on CEOs than ever: Shareholders and customers alike expect more from them, their brand is the organization’s brand and their decisions can make or break a company. So do things get muddled when there’s two people splitting authority and responsibilities at the highest, most visible level? Why firms do it The co-CEO trend hasn’t been studied extensively. But a 2022 Harvard Business Review report found that from 1996 to 2020, out of 2,200 companies listed in the S&P 1200 and the Russell 1000, fewer than 100 had dual leaders. Some say the arrangement is a surefire way to stay focused on the company’s mission, rather than personal accolades. Chip Kaye, a former co-CEO of Warburg Pincus, told HBR it forces leaders to “keep their egos in check.” Likewise, the research pointed to some promising findings, like a greater annual shareholder return. Companies led by joint CEOs generated 9.5% compared to 6.9% for solo led companies. In fact, around 60% of the joint CEO-led companies outperformed the ones with solo leaders. But some co-leaders argue it’s a positive arrangement. Netflix’s Sarandos told Fast Company’s Amy Wallace last September: “Having someone to talk to who is not an employee or a board member — who is your peer — is so helpful.” He also said having a partner to share authority with is a relief: “It is that lonely-at-the-top thing. The saying came from somewhere.” Still, the offbeat arrangement requires careful consideration. A delicate balance Partnerships like these need to be executed carefully, as sole CEOs tend to remain in power longer than co-CEO partnerships do, an analysis from the Wall Street Journal found. Don Yaeger, executive coach, author, and host of the Corporate Competitor podcast, tells Fast Company that co-CEOs have to put their egos aside for the setup to work — and ideally, have “opposing skillsets” in order to best serve the company. “You need two people who do not feel ‘less than’ when someone else is the focal point of interviews or stage time,” Yaeger explains. “The second one starts resenting the other, the wall comes crumbling down.” Likewise, Yaeger says that companies need to have a “clear delineation” of the responsibilities of each CEO. He cites the Netflix example as one company that is paving the way for how to put that into practice. “Sarandos is outward-facing with marketing, while Greg Peters is more inwardly focussed on product and operations.” Still, Yaeger presses that the relationship is a “delicate balance” that requires trust between co-CEOs. “If companies aren’t careful, the dual CEO arrangement can become somewhat like parenting,” Yaeger says. “When your child doesn’t like your answer, they immediately go looking for the other parent. That’s messy at home — and really messy at a Fortune 500.” In some cases, that messiness shows itself in public ways. Chipotle, which had co-CEOs from 2009 through 2016, returned to the more mainstream arrangement after a number of food safety incidents plagued the chain, and foot traffic failed to recover. Steve Ells, who stepped into the role — solely — told AP News at the time that it was vital for the brand to have “one CEO, one voice, and a very focused approach.” Of course, quite simply, there’s no denying that two heads are often better than one. Yaeger says that’s especially true as companies grow and become “more complex.” The job becomes too big for just one leader, who may not have all of the knowledge and skills to make the company thrive. But, if co-CEOs are able to put their egos aside, communicate effectively, and “respect the space of each other,” Yaeger says, the company — and the CEOs themselves — might be able reap the rewards. View the full article

Ecommerce warehouse fulfillment involves the systematic process of storing and delivering products ordered online, which includes inventory management, order processing, and shipping. This process is vital for operational efficiency and accuracy, impacting customer satisfaction greatly. For example, a streamlined fulfillment system can reduce order errors and lead times, nurturing brand loyalty. Comprehending these elements is fundamental, especially as customer expectations continue to rise. So, what are the key components that make fulfillment effective? Key Takeaways Ecommerce warehouse fulfillment encompasses the storage, management, and delivery of products ordered online, ensuring efficient order processing. It involves critical stages: receiving, warehousing, order processing, picking and packing, and shipping to meet customer expectations. Reliable fulfillment processes enhance customer satisfaction, as negative experiences can lead to brand abandonment. Technology integration, such as Warehouse Management Systems, significantly improves order accuracy and reduces fulfillment times by up to 50%. Outsourcing fulfillment to third-party logistics can lower operational costs and improve shipping speed, benefiting overall customer experience. Definition of Ecommerce Warehouse Fulfillment Ecommerce warehouse fulfillment is a crucial process that involves the storage, management, and delivery of products ordered online. It encompasses several key activities, including receiving inventory, processing orders, picking items, packing them, and shipping them to customers. This process typically takes place in a distribution center in the USA, where businesses can efficiently manage their inventory and improve shipping accuracy. Effective ecommerce warehouse fulfillment can greatly reduce operational costs and improve customer satisfaction through timely and accurate deliveries. With rising customer expectations, companies must prioritize reliable fulfillment to maintain brand loyalty. Advanced technologies like Warehouse Management Systems (WMS) support this process, allowing for better tracking and inventory management, finally streamlining the order fulfillment experience. The Ecommerce Fulfillment Process Comprehending the ecommerce fulfillment process is crucial for efficient order management and customer satisfaction. You’ll find that it involves five key stages: receiving, warehousing, order processing, picking and packing, and shipping. Each stage plays a critical role in ensuring that products are delivered accurately and on time, ultimately improving your business’s reliability in the eyes of your customers. Key Fulfillment Stages When a customer places an order, several key fulfillment stages guarantee that their experience is smooth and efficient. These stages include receiving and storing inventory, order processing, picking and packing, shipping and delivery, and handling returns. Each stage plays a vital role in the overall fulfillment process. Stage Description Importance Receiving & Storing Inventory is logged into a WMS and organized efficiently Optimizes operational efficiency Order Processing Integrates OMS with WMS for product availability Improves speed and accuracy in order fulfillment Shipping & Delivery Prepares orders for dispatch and coordinates with carriers Impacts customer satisfaction and repeat business Efficient management of these stages guarantees that products reach customers swiftly and accurately, nurturing loyalty and trust in your brand. Efficient Order Management Efficient order management is vital for a seamless ecommerce fulfillment process, directly impacting customer satisfaction and operational success. This process encompasses various stages, including receiving, storing, order processing, picking, packing, shipping, and managing returns. Accurate inventory data, maintained through integrated systems, is imperative; studies show that 70% of shoppers abandon a brand after two poor experiences. To improve order processing, Warehouse Management Systems (WMS) synchronize with Inventory Management Systems (IMS) to verify product availability. Furthermore, implementing various picking strategies, like batch and zone picking, boosts efficiency during the imperative picking and packing phases. Finally, effective returns management guarantees clear procedures, positively affecting customer loyalty and satisfaction by allowing quick resolutions for returns and exchanges. Key Stages of Ecommerce Warehouse Fulfillment In the key stages of eCommerce warehouse fulfillment, you start with receiving and inventory management, where products are unloaded and entered into the system to keep track of stock levels. Next, picking and packing come into play, as you retrieve ordered items, securely package them, and prepare them for shipment. Finally, shipping guarantees that packages are labeled and dispatched efficiently to meet customer expectations for timely delivery. Receiving and Inventory Management Receiving and inventory management are critical components of ecommerce warehouse fulfillment, as they lay the foundation for effective order processing. During receiving, you’ll unload products from suppliers and log them into a Warehouse Management System (WMS) for accurate tracking. Effective inventory management organizes storage based on item size and turnover rate, optimizing space and minimizing picking errors. It’s crucial to maintain accurate inventory data across all sales channels to avoid stockouts or overstock situations, which can disrupt order fulfillment. Activity Importance Tools Needed Unloading Products Guarantees accurate tracking Warehouse Management System Logging Inventory Maintains real-time data Inventory Management System Organized Storage Optimizes space usage Racking Systems Regular Assessments Informs stocking decisions Analytics Software Picking, Packing, and Shipping The process of picking, packing, and shipping is where your ecommerce warehouse fulfills customer orders and guarantees satisfaction. Picking involves retrieving items from shelves based on customer orders, using strategies like batch, zone, or wave picking to boost efficiency and accuracy. Once items are picked, packing guarantees each product is securely packaged with the right materials, including necessary documentation like packing slips, which improves the customer experience. Finally, shipping is the last stage, where packed orders receive shipping labels and are handed over to carriers. Timely delivery is vital, as any delays can increase fulfillment times and negatively impact satisfaction. Efficient coordination among these stages reduces operational costs and delivery times, promoting customer loyalty and repeat business. Importance of Efficient Order Processing Efficient order processing plays a pivotal role in shaping customer satisfaction, as studies show that 70% of shoppers abandon brands after experiencing just two negative interactions. By streamlining your order processing, you can greatly reduce operational costs; for example, using advanced technologies like Warehouse Management Systems (WMS) can cut order fulfillment times by up to 50%. Automated systems, such as pick-to-light technology, improve accuracy, achieving picking accuracy rates over 99%, which minimizes costly errors. Furthermore, effective order processing encourages repeat business, as timely and accurate fulfillment can boost customer retention rates by up to 30%. Integrating your order processing with inventory management guarantees real-time stock updates, preventing stockouts and reducing excess inventory by up to 25%, thereby optimizing overall operational efficiency. Inventory Management Best Practices In relation to running a successful ecommerce operation, excelling in inventory management is crucial for maintaining ideal stock levels and ensuring customer satisfaction. Effective inventory management helps you avoid stockouts and overstocks, which can negatively affect sales. Implementing a Warehouse Management System (WMS) can improve your inventory tracking accuracy and potentially reduce costs by up to 20%. Regularly reviewing inventory analytics allows you to pinpoint slow-moving products, leading to informed stock replenishment decisions and improved turnover rates. Utilizing forecasting models like Economic Order Quantity (EOQ) and Reorder Point (ROP) predicts demand patterns, streamlining your purchasing processes. Finally, maintaining an organized warehouse layout and conducting regular audits can decrease picking errors by up to 30%, boosting fulfillment efficiency. The Role of Technology in Fulfillment As you navigate the intricacies of ecommerce fulfillment, leveraging technology becomes vital for streamlining operations and enhancing accuracy. Integrating Warehouse Management Systems (WMS) with your ecommerce platform allows for real-time inventory tracking and precise order processing. Automated Storage and Retrieval Systems (ASRS) greatly boost efficiency by reducing picking and packing times, which is fundamental for handling increased order volumes. In addition, advanced technologies like pick-to-light systems can raise picking accuracy to 99%, minimizing errors. By utilizing data analytics tools, you can forecast inventory needs more accurately, reducing both stockouts and overstock situations. Moreover, cloud-based fulfillment solutions offer the scalability necessary to adapt quickly to fluctuating order volumes, enhancing overall agility in your supply chain. Customizing Shipping Options for Customers Offering a variety of shipping options is essential for improving the customer experience during the checkout process. By providing at least three distinct choices—standard, expedited, and free shipping—you cater to different delivery needs and budgets. Customizing these options can greatly boost customer satisfaction and loyalty. Consider the following: Personalized shipping experiences: Implement delivery date predictions and real-time tracking to build trust. Incentives for larger purchases: Offer free shipping on orders over a certain amount to encourage upselling, as many shoppers will add items to qualify. Tailored shipping methods: Adapt options based on customer demographics, like local delivery or click-and-collect services, to meet evolving expectations. These strategies can improve operational efficiency and align with consumer preferences. Benefits of Outsourcing Ecommerce Fulfillment Outsourcing ecommerce fulfillment can greatly streamline your operations, allowing you to concentrate on essential aspects of your business, like marketing and customer engagement. By partnering with specialized fulfillment providers, you gain access to advanced logistics technology, improving order processing accuracy and speed by up to 30%. Cost savings are also significant, as third-party logistics (3PL) partners optimize warehousing and shipping better than you might manage in-house. Furthermore, strategically located warehouses can cut shipping times by 50%, increasing customer satisfaction. Effective outsourcing improves returns management, nurturing customer loyalty in a competitive market. Benefit Description Impact Reduced Operational Burden Focus on core activities instead of logistics Enhanced business growth Improved Accuracy and Speed Access to advanced logistics technology Faster order processing Cost Savings Economies of scale from fulfillment partners Lower shipping expenses Improved Customer Satisfaction Shorter shipping times through strategic locations Increased loyalty and retention Challenges in Ecommerce Warehouse Fulfillment When you manage an ecommerce warehouse, you’ll face several challenges that can impact your operations. Inventory management issues, like stockouts, can lead to lost sales and unhappy customers, as shipping logistics challenges may arise from poor location choices that increase delivery times and costs. Furthermore, returns processing difficulties can hurt customer loyalty if the return process isn’t smooth and efficient, making it essential to address these areas for success. Inventory Management Issues Effective inventory management is crucial for successful ecommerce warehouse fulfillment, as it directly impacts both sales and customer satisfaction. When stockouts occur, it can lead to significant cart abandonment, with 25% of customers leaving because of unavailable items. Furthermore, the Bullwhip Effect can cause unpredictable inventory fluctuations across your supply chain, complicating your forecasting efforts. 43% of small businesses face inventory management struggles, often resulting in overstock situations. Manual tracking processes can introduce errors, with 40% of businesses experiencing discrepancies that hinder order fulfillment. Seasonal demand fluctuations require dynamic strategies, as 30% of retailers report challenges in managing inventory during peak seasons. Addressing these issues is crucial for maintaining efficient operations and meeting customer expectations. Shipping Logistics Challenges Shipping logistics challenges in ecommerce warehouse fulfillment can greatly impact operational efficiency, especially as order volumes continue to rise. You face pressure to process and fulfill orders swiftly during ensuring accuracy and efficiency. Customer expectations for fast shipping further complicate matters, often overwhelming your limited resources and increasing the risk of service failures. Seasonal demand fluctuations as well add complexity, requiring you to dynamically scale fulfillment processes without incurring excessive costs. Maintaining accurate inventory levels is essential; both over- and under-stocking can disrupt shipping logistics, leading to stockouts or excess inventory costs that negatively affect profitability. Finally, outdated systems can hinder your logistics capabilities, making it tough to adapt to the fast-paced demands of ecommerce and meet customer expectations effectively. Returns Processing Difficulties Returns processing presents significant difficulties in ecommerce warehouse fulfillment, compounding the challenges faced with shipping logistics. Managing returns effectively is essential, especially since up to 30% of online purchases are returned, necessitating robust reverse logistics systems. Here are some key points to reflect on: The average return processing cost ranges from $20 to $30 per item, which can severely impact profit margins. Approximately 40% of returned items can be restocked, whereas the rest may lead to additional write-offs if mishandled. Studies show that 61% of consumers expect their returns to be processed within 5 days, and a poor returns experience can deter 67% of customers from repurchasing. Addressing these challenges is critical for maintaining operational efficiency and customer satisfaction. Common Misconceptions About Fulfillment What misconceptions do many small business owners hold about fulfillment? One common belief is that managing fulfillment in-house is cheaper, but as businesses grow, inefficiencies often lead to higher long-term costs. Furthermore, fulfillment isn’t just about warehousing; it includes inventory management, order processing, and returns handling. Many underestimate the importance of fulfillment center locations, as rural centers can increase shipping costs to urban areas. Another misconception is that all fulfillment centers offer the same service level, but differences in technology and expertise can impact order accuracy and speed. Finally, returns management is vital; 85% of shoppers won’t return after a negative experience. Misconception Reality Impact Fulfillment is just warehousing It includes multiple processes Affects overall efficiency In-house fulfillment is cheaper Leads to long-term inefficiencies Increases overall costs All fulfillment centers are the same Service levels vary greatly Influences customer satisfaction and loyalty How Fulfillment Impacts Customer Experience Timely delivery and a streamlined returns process are crucial components of a positive customer experience in ecommerce. When you receive your order on time, it boosts your satisfaction, whereas an efficient returns system makes it easy to exchange or return items if needed. These elements not only improve your shopping experience but additionally cultivate loyalty, encouraging you to return to Amazon that prioritize fulfillment efficiency. Timely Delivery Benefits When you consider the impact of fulfillment on customer experience, timely delivery stands out as a crucial element that shapes consumer perceptions and behaviors. Efficient fulfillment processes not only reduce delivery times but additionally meet rising customer expectations for fast shipping. Here are some key benefits of timely delivery: 85% of consumers are less likely to shop again after a poor delivery experience. 70% of shoppers expect delivery within two days, highlighting the need for quick service. 61% of consumers prefer retailers that provide accurate delivery time estimates, emphasizing the significance of transparency. Streamlined Returns Process A streamlined returns process greatly improves customer satisfaction, especially considering that 92% of consumers are more likely to make repeat purchases from brands that offer easy return policies. Effective fulfillment services can considerably reduce the time it takes to process returns, with 66% of customers expecting their returns to be handled within five days. Companies with efficient reverse logistics can recover up to 80% of the value of returned items, positively impacting both profitability and customer loyalty. Moreover, providing clear return instructions and a hassle-free process can lead to a 30% increase in customer retention rates. When brands invest in optimizing their returns process, they often see an average increase of 25% in customer satisfaction scores, reinforcing the link between fulfillment efficiency and positive customer experiences. Choosing the Right Fulfillment Partner Selecting the right fulfillment partner is vital for your business’s success, especially as you scale and adapt to changing market demands. Here are some key factors to take into account: Order volume and SKU handling: Confirm they can accommodate your specific needs and growth trajectory. Geographic locations: Assess their shipping capabilities to optimize delivery times and costs, particularly for national or international markets. Experience with your product type: A partner with a proven track record in your industry can improve order accuracy and efficiency. Moreover, look for technology integrations, such as Warehouse Management Systems (WMS), to streamline operations. Favorable inventory shrinkage policies are significant, as they can help mitigate losses from damage or mismanagement, ultimately safeguarding your bottom line. The Future of Ecommerce Fulfillment With the right fulfillment partner in place, businesses can better prepare for the evolving environment of ecommerce fulfillment. Automation technologies like Automated Storage and Retrieval Systems (ASRS) are improving efficiency by optimizing picking and packing processes. To meet rising consumer expectations, companies are investing in advanced logistics and establishing fulfillment centers closer to urban areas. Sustainability, too, is critical, with 70% of consumers preferring eco-friendly brands. Furthermore, integrating artificial intelligence can boost inventory management accuracy by up to 80%. As omnichannel retail grows, fulfillment strategies must adapt to allow seamless online and offline operations. Trend Impact Example Automation Improves efficiency by up to 50% ASRS systems Urban Fulfillment Centers Reduces shipping times markedly Local distribution hubs Eco-Friendly Practices Attracts 70% of consumers Sustainable packaging AI Integration Improves inventory management accuracy by 80% Predictive analytics Omnichannel Retailing Seamless customer experience Integrated platforms Strategies for Optimizing Fulfillment Operations To optimize fulfillment operations effectively, businesses should consider implementing a Warehouse Management System (WMS), which automates inventory tracking and order processing. This approach streamlines operations and reduces processing times considerably. You can further improve efficiency by adopting these strategies: Utilize advanced picking methods, like batch picking or zone picking, to minimize travel time within the warehouse. Integrate your eCommerce platform with WMS through APIs, ensuring real-time data synchronization for accurate inventory management and reduced stockouts. Analyze fulfillment metrics regularly, focusing on order accuracy and shipping times to identify bottlenecks, allowing for continuous improvement in operations. Frequently Asked Questions What Is the Significance of Fulfillment Centers in E-Commerce? Fulfillment centers play an essential role in e-commerce by streamlining the storage and shipping processes. When you utilize these centers, you can swiftly scale your operations to meet changing demand without heavy investments in facilities or staff. Their strategic locations help reduce shipping costs and delivery times, enhancing customer satisfaction. Furthermore, advanced technologies like Warehouse Management Systems improve efficiency and accuracy, ensuring your orders are processed correctly and delivered without delay. What Is Ecommerce Fulfillment? Ecommerce fulfillment is the process of managing online orders from start to finish. It involves receiving products, storing them, picking items when orders are placed, packing them for shipment, and finally sending them to customers. This process is essential for maintaining customer satisfaction and loyalty. Efficient fulfillment guarantees timely delivery, reduces errors, and optimizes inventory management, eventually impacting your business’s profitability. What Is an Ecommerce Warehouse? An ecommerce warehouse is a specialized facility where you store and manage products sold online. It’s designed to handle inventory efficiently and process orders quickly. These warehouses can be owned by retailers or operated by third-party logistics providers, offering flexibility in storage options. They utilize advanced technologies, like Warehouse Management Systems, to improve tracking and organization. Having strategically located warehouses helps reduce shipping distances, enhancing delivery times and overall customer satisfaction. What Is the Purpose of the Order Fulfillment Feature in an Ecommerce? The order fulfillment feature in ecommerce streamlines the process from when a customer places an order to when they receive it. It guarantees accurate shipping and timely delivery, which greatly impacts customer satisfaction. By integrating with Warehouse Management Systems, it optimizes inventory tracking and order processing. Efficient fulfillment can likewise lower operational costs, saving businesses up to 30% on shipping expenses as well as managing returns effectively to maintain customer loyalty and brand perception. Conclusion In summary, ecommerce warehouse fulfillment is crucial for your business’s success. By comprehending the fulfillment process and implementing best practices in inventory management, you can improve order processing efficiency and customer satisfaction. Choosing the right fulfillment partner and optimizing operations will further streamline your efforts. As the ecommerce environment evolves, staying informed about future trends and technological advancements will help you adapt and maintain a competitive edge. Prioritizing effective fulfillment is fundamental for building lasting customer loyalty. Image Via Envato This article, "What Is Ecommerce Warehouse Fulfillment and Its Importance?" was first published on Small Business Trends View the full article

Ecommerce warehouse fulfillment involves the systematic process of storing and delivering products ordered online, which includes inventory management, order processing, and shipping. This process is vital for operational efficiency and accuracy, impacting customer satisfaction greatly. For example, a streamlined fulfillment system can reduce order errors and lead times, nurturing brand loyalty. Comprehending these elements is fundamental, especially as customer expectations continue to rise. So, what are the key components that make fulfillment effective? Key Takeaways Ecommerce warehouse fulfillment encompasses the storage, management, and delivery of products ordered online, ensuring efficient order processing. It involves critical stages: receiving, warehousing, order processing, picking and packing, and shipping to meet customer expectations. Reliable fulfillment processes enhance customer satisfaction, as negative experiences can lead to brand abandonment. Technology integration, such as Warehouse Management Systems, significantly improves order accuracy and reduces fulfillment times by up to 50%. Outsourcing fulfillment to third-party logistics can lower operational costs and improve shipping speed, benefiting overall customer experience. Definition of Ecommerce Warehouse Fulfillment Ecommerce warehouse fulfillment is a crucial process that involves the storage, management, and delivery of products ordered online. It encompasses several key activities, including receiving inventory, processing orders, picking items, packing them, and shipping them to customers. This process typically takes place in a distribution center in the USA, where businesses can efficiently manage their inventory and improve shipping accuracy. Effective ecommerce warehouse fulfillment can greatly reduce operational costs and improve customer satisfaction through timely and accurate deliveries. With rising customer expectations, companies must prioritize reliable fulfillment to maintain brand loyalty. Advanced technologies like Warehouse Management Systems (WMS) support this process, allowing for better tracking and inventory management, finally streamlining the order fulfillment experience. The Ecommerce Fulfillment Process Comprehending the ecommerce fulfillment process is crucial for efficient order management and customer satisfaction. You’ll find that it involves five key stages: receiving, warehousing, order processing, picking and packing, and shipping. Each stage plays a critical role in ensuring that products are delivered accurately and on time, ultimately improving your business’s reliability in the eyes of your customers. Key Fulfillment Stages When a customer places an order, several key fulfillment stages guarantee that their experience is smooth and efficient. These stages include receiving and storing inventory, order processing, picking and packing, shipping and delivery, and handling returns. Each stage plays a vital role in the overall fulfillment process. Stage Description Importance Receiving & Storing Inventory is logged into a WMS and organized efficiently Optimizes operational efficiency Order Processing Integrates OMS with WMS for product availability Improves speed and accuracy in order fulfillment Shipping & Delivery Prepares orders for dispatch and coordinates with carriers Impacts customer satisfaction and repeat business Efficient management of these stages guarantees that products reach customers swiftly and accurately, nurturing loyalty and trust in your brand. Efficient Order Management Efficient order management is vital for a seamless ecommerce fulfillment process, directly impacting customer satisfaction and operational success. This process encompasses various stages, including receiving, storing, order processing, picking, packing, shipping, and managing returns. Accurate inventory data, maintained through integrated systems, is imperative; studies show that 70% of shoppers abandon a brand after two poor experiences. To improve order processing, Warehouse Management Systems (WMS) synchronize with Inventory Management Systems (IMS) to verify product availability. Furthermore, implementing various picking strategies, like batch and zone picking, boosts efficiency during the imperative picking and packing phases. Finally, effective returns management guarantees clear procedures, positively affecting customer loyalty and satisfaction by allowing quick resolutions for returns and exchanges. Key Stages of Ecommerce Warehouse Fulfillment In the key stages of eCommerce warehouse fulfillment, you start with receiving and inventory management, where products are unloaded and entered into the system to keep track of stock levels. Next, picking and packing come into play, as you retrieve ordered items, securely package them, and prepare them for shipment. Finally, shipping guarantees that packages are labeled and dispatched efficiently to meet customer expectations for timely delivery. Receiving and Inventory Management Receiving and inventory management are critical components of ecommerce warehouse fulfillment, as they lay the foundation for effective order processing. During receiving, you’ll unload products from suppliers and log them into a Warehouse Management System (WMS) for accurate tracking. Effective inventory management organizes storage based on item size and turnover rate, optimizing space and minimizing picking errors. It’s crucial to maintain accurate inventory data across all sales channels to avoid stockouts or overstock situations, which can disrupt order fulfillment. Activity Importance Tools Needed Unloading Products Guarantees accurate tracking Warehouse Management System Logging Inventory Maintains real-time data Inventory Management System Organized Storage Optimizes space usage Racking Systems Regular Assessments Informs stocking decisions Analytics Software Picking, Packing, and Shipping The process of picking, packing, and shipping is where your ecommerce warehouse fulfills customer orders and guarantees satisfaction. Picking involves retrieving items from shelves based on customer orders, using strategies like batch, zone, or wave picking to boost efficiency and accuracy. Once items are picked, packing guarantees each product is securely packaged with the right materials, including necessary documentation like packing slips, which improves the customer experience. Finally, shipping is the last stage, where packed orders receive shipping labels and are handed over to carriers. Timely delivery is vital, as any delays can increase fulfillment times and negatively impact satisfaction. Efficient coordination among these stages reduces operational costs and delivery times, promoting customer loyalty and repeat business. Importance of Efficient Order Processing Efficient order processing plays a pivotal role in shaping customer satisfaction, as studies show that 70% of shoppers abandon brands after experiencing just two negative interactions. By streamlining your order processing, you can greatly reduce operational costs; for example, using advanced technologies like Warehouse Management Systems (WMS) can cut order fulfillment times by up to 50%. Automated systems, such as pick-to-light technology, improve accuracy, achieving picking accuracy rates over 99%, which minimizes costly errors. Furthermore, effective order processing encourages repeat business, as timely and accurate fulfillment can boost customer retention rates by up to 30%. Integrating your order processing with inventory management guarantees real-time stock updates, preventing stockouts and reducing excess inventory by up to 25%, thereby optimizing overall operational efficiency. Inventory Management Best Practices In relation to running a successful ecommerce operation, excelling in inventory management is crucial for maintaining ideal stock levels and ensuring customer satisfaction. Effective inventory management helps you avoid stockouts and overstocks, which can negatively affect sales. Implementing a Warehouse Management System (WMS) can improve your inventory tracking accuracy and potentially reduce costs by up to 20%. Regularly reviewing inventory analytics allows you to pinpoint slow-moving products, leading to informed stock replenishment decisions and improved turnover rates. Utilizing forecasting models like Economic Order Quantity (EOQ) and Reorder Point (ROP) predicts demand patterns, streamlining your purchasing processes. Finally, maintaining an organized warehouse layout and conducting regular audits can decrease picking errors by up to 30%, boosting fulfillment efficiency. The Role of Technology in Fulfillment As you navigate the intricacies of ecommerce fulfillment, leveraging technology becomes vital for streamlining operations and enhancing accuracy. Integrating Warehouse Management Systems (WMS) with your ecommerce platform allows for real-time inventory tracking and precise order processing. Automated Storage and Retrieval Systems (ASRS) greatly boost efficiency by reducing picking and packing times, which is fundamental for handling increased order volumes. In addition, advanced technologies like pick-to-light systems can raise picking accuracy to 99%, minimizing errors. By utilizing data analytics tools, you can forecast inventory needs more accurately, reducing both stockouts and overstock situations. Moreover, cloud-based fulfillment solutions offer the scalability necessary to adapt quickly to fluctuating order volumes, enhancing overall agility in your supply chain. Customizing Shipping Options for Customers Offering a variety of shipping options is essential for improving the customer experience during the checkout process. By providing at least three distinct choices—standard, expedited, and free shipping—you cater to different delivery needs and budgets. Customizing these options can greatly boost customer satisfaction and loyalty. Consider the following: Personalized shipping experiences: Implement delivery date predictions and real-time tracking to build trust. Incentives for larger purchases: Offer free shipping on orders over a certain amount to encourage upselling, as many shoppers will add items to qualify. Tailored shipping methods: Adapt options based on customer demographics, like local delivery or click-and-collect services, to meet evolving expectations. These strategies can improve operational efficiency and align with consumer preferences. Benefits of Outsourcing Ecommerce Fulfillment Outsourcing ecommerce fulfillment can greatly streamline your operations, allowing you to concentrate on essential aspects of your business, like marketing and customer engagement. By partnering with specialized fulfillment providers, you gain access to advanced logistics technology, improving order processing accuracy and speed by up to 30%. Cost savings are also significant, as third-party logistics (3PL) partners optimize warehousing and shipping better than you might manage in-house. Furthermore, strategically located warehouses can cut shipping times by 50%, increasing customer satisfaction. Effective outsourcing improves returns management, nurturing customer loyalty in a competitive market. Benefit Description Impact Reduced Operational Burden Focus on core activities instead of logistics Enhanced business growth Improved Accuracy and Speed Access to advanced logistics technology Faster order processing Cost Savings Economies of scale from fulfillment partners Lower shipping expenses Improved Customer Satisfaction Shorter shipping times through strategic locations Increased loyalty and retention Challenges in Ecommerce Warehouse Fulfillment When you manage an ecommerce warehouse, you’ll face several challenges that can impact your operations. Inventory management issues, like stockouts, can lead to lost sales and unhappy customers, as shipping logistics challenges may arise from poor location choices that increase delivery times and costs. Furthermore, returns processing difficulties can hurt customer loyalty if the return process isn’t smooth and efficient, making it essential to address these areas for success. Inventory Management Issues Effective inventory management is crucial for successful ecommerce warehouse fulfillment, as it directly impacts both sales and customer satisfaction. When stockouts occur, it can lead to significant cart abandonment, with 25% of customers leaving because of unavailable items. Furthermore, the Bullwhip Effect can cause unpredictable inventory fluctuations across your supply chain, complicating your forecasting efforts. 43% of small businesses face inventory management struggles, often resulting in overstock situations. Manual tracking processes can introduce errors, with 40% of businesses experiencing discrepancies that hinder order fulfillment. Seasonal demand fluctuations require dynamic strategies, as 30% of retailers report challenges in managing inventory during peak seasons. Addressing these issues is crucial for maintaining efficient operations and meeting customer expectations. Shipping Logistics Challenges Shipping logistics challenges in ecommerce warehouse fulfillment can greatly impact operational efficiency, especially as order volumes continue to rise. You face pressure to process and fulfill orders swiftly during ensuring accuracy and efficiency. Customer expectations for fast shipping further complicate matters, often overwhelming your limited resources and increasing the risk of service failures. Seasonal demand fluctuations as well add complexity, requiring you to dynamically scale fulfillment processes without incurring excessive costs. Maintaining accurate inventory levels is essential; both over- and under-stocking can disrupt shipping logistics, leading to stockouts or excess inventory costs that negatively affect profitability. Finally, outdated systems can hinder your logistics capabilities, making it tough to adapt to the fast-paced demands of ecommerce and meet customer expectations effectively. Returns Processing Difficulties Returns processing presents significant difficulties in ecommerce warehouse fulfillment, compounding the challenges faced with shipping logistics. Managing returns effectively is essential, especially since up to 30% of online purchases are returned, necessitating robust reverse logistics systems. Here are some key points to reflect on: The average return processing cost ranges from $20 to $30 per item, which can severely impact profit margins. Approximately 40% of returned items can be restocked, whereas the rest may lead to additional write-offs if mishandled. Studies show that 61% of consumers expect their returns to be processed within 5 days, and a poor returns experience can deter 67% of customers from repurchasing. Addressing these challenges is critical for maintaining operational efficiency and customer satisfaction. Common Misconceptions About Fulfillment What misconceptions do many small business owners hold about fulfillment? One common belief is that managing fulfillment in-house is cheaper, but as businesses grow, inefficiencies often lead to higher long-term costs. Furthermore, fulfillment isn’t just about warehousing; it includes inventory management, order processing, and returns handling. Many underestimate the importance of fulfillment center locations, as rural centers can increase shipping costs to urban areas. Another misconception is that all fulfillment centers offer the same service level, but differences in technology and expertise can impact order accuracy and speed. Finally, returns management is vital; 85% of shoppers won’t return after a negative experience. Misconception Reality Impact Fulfillment is just warehousing It includes multiple processes Affects overall efficiency In-house fulfillment is cheaper Leads to long-term inefficiencies Increases overall costs All fulfillment centers are the same Service levels vary greatly Influences customer satisfaction and loyalty How Fulfillment Impacts Customer Experience Timely delivery and a streamlined returns process are crucial components of a positive customer experience in ecommerce. When you receive your order on time, it boosts your satisfaction, whereas an efficient returns system makes it easy to exchange or return items if needed. These elements not only improve your shopping experience but additionally cultivate loyalty, encouraging you to return to Amazon that prioritize fulfillment efficiency. Timely Delivery Benefits When you consider the impact of fulfillment on customer experience, timely delivery stands out as a crucial element that shapes consumer perceptions and behaviors. Efficient fulfillment processes not only reduce delivery times but additionally meet rising customer expectations for fast shipping. Here are some key benefits of timely delivery: 85% of consumers are less likely to shop again after a poor delivery experience. 70% of shoppers expect delivery within two days, highlighting the need for quick service. 61% of consumers prefer retailers that provide accurate delivery time estimates, emphasizing the significance of transparency. Streamlined Returns Process A streamlined returns process greatly improves customer satisfaction, especially considering that 92% of consumers are more likely to make repeat purchases from brands that offer easy return policies. Effective fulfillment services can considerably reduce the time it takes to process returns, with 66% of customers expecting their returns to be handled within five days. Companies with efficient reverse logistics can recover up to 80% of the value of returned items, positively impacting both profitability and customer loyalty. Moreover, providing clear return instructions and a hassle-free process can lead to a 30% increase in customer retention rates. When brands invest in optimizing their returns process, they often see an average increase of 25% in customer satisfaction scores, reinforcing the link between fulfillment efficiency and positive customer experiences. Choosing the Right Fulfillment Partner Selecting the right fulfillment partner is vital for your business’s success, especially as you scale and adapt to changing market demands. Here are some key factors to take into account: Order volume and SKU handling: Confirm they can accommodate your specific needs and growth trajectory. Geographic locations: Assess their shipping capabilities to optimize delivery times and costs, particularly for national or international markets. Experience with your product type: A partner with a proven track record in your industry can improve order accuracy and efficiency. Moreover, look for technology integrations, such as Warehouse Management Systems (WMS), to streamline operations. Favorable inventory shrinkage policies are significant, as they can help mitigate losses from damage or mismanagement, ultimately safeguarding your bottom line. The Future of Ecommerce Fulfillment With the right fulfillment partner in place, businesses can better prepare for the evolving environment of ecommerce fulfillment. Automation technologies like Automated Storage and Retrieval Systems (ASRS) are improving efficiency by optimizing picking and packing processes. To meet rising consumer expectations, companies are investing in advanced logistics and establishing fulfillment centers closer to urban areas. Sustainability, too, is critical, with 70% of consumers preferring eco-friendly brands. Furthermore, integrating artificial intelligence can boost inventory management accuracy by up to 80%. As omnichannel retail grows, fulfillment strategies must adapt to allow seamless online and offline operations. Trend Impact Example Automation Improves efficiency by up to 50% ASRS systems Urban Fulfillment Centers Reduces shipping times markedly Local distribution hubs Eco-Friendly Practices Attracts 70% of consumers Sustainable packaging AI Integration Improves inventory management accuracy by 80% Predictive analytics Omnichannel Retailing Seamless customer experience Integrated platforms Strategies for Optimizing Fulfillment Operations To optimize fulfillment operations effectively, businesses should consider implementing a Warehouse Management System (WMS), which automates inventory tracking and order processing. This approach streamlines operations and reduces processing times considerably. You can further improve efficiency by adopting these strategies: Utilize advanced picking methods, like batch picking or zone picking, to minimize travel time within the warehouse. Integrate your eCommerce platform with WMS through APIs, ensuring real-time data synchronization for accurate inventory management and reduced stockouts. Analyze fulfillment metrics regularly, focusing on order accuracy and shipping times to identify bottlenecks, allowing for continuous improvement in operations. Frequently Asked Questions What Is the Significance of Fulfillment Centers in E-Commerce? Fulfillment centers play an essential role in e-commerce by streamlining the storage and shipping processes. When you utilize these centers, you can swiftly scale your operations to meet changing demand without heavy investments in facilities or staff. Their strategic locations help reduce shipping costs and delivery times, enhancing customer satisfaction. Furthermore, advanced technologies like Warehouse Management Systems improve efficiency and accuracy, ensuring your orders are processed correctly and delivered without delay. What Is Ecommerce Fulfillment? Ecommerce fulfillment is the process of managing online orders from start to finish. It involves receiving products, storing them, picking items when orders are placed, packing them for shipment, and finally sending them to customers. This process is essential for maintaining customer satisfaction and loyalty. Efficient fulfillment guarantees timely delivery, reduces errors, and optimizes inventory management, eventually impacting your business’s profitability. What Is an Ecommerce Warehouse? An ecommerce warehouse is a specialized facility where you store and manage products sold online. It’s designed to handle inventory efficiently and process orders quickly. These warehouses can be owned by retailers or operated by third-party logistics providers, offering flexibility in storage options. They utilize advanced technologies, like Warehouse Management Systems, to improve tracking and organization. Having strategically located warehouses helps reduce shipping distances, enhancing delivery times and overall customer satisfaction. What Is the Purpose of the Order Fulfillment Feature in an Ecommerce? The order fulfillment feature in ecommerce streamlines the process from when a customer places an order to when they receive it. It guarantees accurate shipping and timely delivery, which greatly impacts customer satisfaction. By integrating with Warehouse Management Systems, it optimizes inventory tracking and order processing. Efficient fulfillment can likewise lower operational costs, saving businesses up to 30% on shipping expenses as well as managing returns effectively to maintain customer loyalty and brand perception. Conclusion In summary, ecommerce warehouse fulfillment is crucial for your business’s success. By comprehending the fulfillment process and implementing best practices in inventory management, you can improve order processing efficiency and customer satisfaction. Choosing the right fulfillment partner and optimizing operations will further streamline your efforts. As the ecommerce environment evolves, staying informed about future trends and technological advancements will help you adapt and maintain a competitive edge. Prioritizing effective fulfillment is fundamental for building lasting customer loyalty. Image Via Envato This article, "What Is Ecommerce Warehouse Fulfillment and Its Importance?" was first published on Small Business Trends View the full article

The popularity of applications to help teams organize their tasks, resources and more has reached a point where every major software company has a list-making product. So it’s no surprise that there’s a Microsoft Lists, but is MS Lists the best list-making app on the market? To find out, let’s define what Microsoft Lists is, look at its features and explore how to use MS Lists. We’ll also get into details about pricing and plans, pros and cons and how Microsoft Lists compares to other products by Microsoft. What Is Microsoft Lists? MS Lists grew out of SharePoint lists and facilitates tracking and organizing tasks. Project teams use it both personally and professionally. It seeks to present complex information in a clear and easily digestible format by displaying it in lists, grids and calendars. Microsoft Lists claims to be a simple app to use, creating lists easily and quickly with templates. It promises the flexibility to keep everyone in sync with alerts. Some integrations connect Microsoft Lists to Microsoft Teams and other MS products. It’s included in the Microsoft 365 suite. Microsoft List isn’t for everyone. It might serve personal use, but for managing a project it falls short. ProjectManager is award-winning project and portfolio management software that has a list view, but also Gantt charts for managers to schedule works, kanban boards for teams to manage workflow and calendar views for stakeholders to get an overview of the project. Even our list view is more robust, allowing for collaboration, assignments, due dates, tags, filters, attachments, subtasks, recurring tasks, automation and track work in real time. Get started with ProjectManager today for free. /wp-content/uploads/2022/08/Project-list-light-mode-CTA.pngLearn more Microsoft Lists Features Microsoft Lists might not be the best application to organize and track work, but it has useful features. To give MS Lists the credits it’s due and a fighting chance against similar tools such as Microsoft Project, Planner or Teams, let’s take a close look at a few of the essential features that make MS Lists competitive in the marketplace. MS Lists Grid View Once project planning data has been added to Microsoft Lists, it can be viewed in different ways. The view can be changed from a traditional list view to a grid view so users can add or edit multiple items at once. The list view is usually chosen when searching specific requirements, while the grid view is for exploring. MS Lists Calendar View Another view is the Microsoft Lists calendar view. This helps users organize and manage their lists by displaying items in a project calendar view. This relatively new feature lets users view their tasks in a month, week, work week or day format, which helps visualize deadlines, events, milestones, etc. Alerts & Notifications When a user right-clicks on an item in their list, several options pop up, including to alert the user. The users can then define who the alert goes to, whether it is sent by email or text and when the user wants to be alerted. For example, if another user changes something on one of the task list items, the user working on that activity will get notified. How to Use Microsoft Lists Now that we understand what Microsoft Lists is and explored some of the features that make it a useful project tracking tool, let’s learn how to use it. Follow the three steps below to make a list, customize it and share it with others on the project team. 1. Create a New List Users can get started from MS 365, MS Teams or SharePoint by clicking the app launcher and selecting MS Lists. Then select make a new list and start a new list from scratch, import an excel file or use an MS lists template. When selected, give the new list a name, a description, etc and save it. It’s now ready to use. 2. Customize List Columns Click on the arrow next to the column that will be customized and select column settings. A list will appear offering formatting, such as moving the column left or right, hiding it or adding a column. Settings will be different according to the type of column that’s being customized. 3. Share List With Others Microsoft Lists can be private or shared with the team. To do the latter, go to the MS Lists home page and hover the cursor over the list that will be shared. Select open actions and then select share. At this point, users are asked to choose who to share the list with. They can select the permissions and then grant access. Plans and Pricing There are a few plans and pricing tiers for Microsoft 365, the software that includes the MS List app. The plans are for home, business and enterprise. They’re listed below. Microsoft 365 Family (Home): $99.99/year, for one to six people Microsoft 365 Personal (Home): $69.99/year, for one person Microsoft 365 Business Basic: $6/user/month with annual auto-renew subscription Microsoft 365 Business Standard: $12.50/user/month with annual auto-renew subscription Microsoft 365 Business Premium: $22/user/month with annual auto-renew subscription Microsoft 365 Apps for Business: $8.25/user/month with annual auto-renew subscription Microsoft 365 E3 (no Teams): $33.75/user/month with annual auto-renew subscription Microsoft 365 E5 (no Teams): $54.75/user/month with annual auto-renew subscription Microsoft 365 F3: $8/user/month with annual auto-renew subscription Pros and Cons of Microsoft Lists MS List is a simple database tool. As we detailed, it can help organize tasks, collaboration and other things, but it’s not a one-stop shop. It’s especially less than useful in managing projects. But that doesn’t mean it’s without merits. Let’s look at the advantages and disadvantages of using Microsoft Lists. Pros of MS Lists Simple tool that allows users to quickly create and track lists without needing technical expertise or database knowledge. Views information in different contexts, such as grid, gallery or calendar views, making it easier to visualize work in multiple formats. Can share a list with team members and control permissions so everyone can collaborate and update data in real time. Add images, links and files directly to list items, providing richer context and reference material for tasks or records. Track list activities with version history and alerts, so users can monitor changes and stay informed about updates. Use built-in templates for common scenarios or create fully customized lists tailored to specific business processes. Create a new list by importing an existing Excel document, making it simple to migrate structured data into the app. Cons of MS Lists Limited views available, with no kanban board or timeline options, which restricts flexibility compared to dedicated project tools. For all its simplicity, MS Lists still has a learning curve, especially when configuring views, permissions and advanced settings. There’s no automation built into Lists, so repetitive workflows require Power Automate or external tools to function effectively. Lacks robust integrations outside the Microsoft 365 ecosystem, making it harder to connect with third-party platforms. No dashboard or advanced reporting features, which limits the ability to analyze trends or generate detailed summaries. No resource management tools such as workload tracking, scheduling or allocation across team members. No timesheets, cost tracking or other features necessary for managing teams and monitoring overall project performance. How Does Microsoft Lists Compare to Other Microsoft Software? MS Lists is part of a larger suite of Microsoft products. But is it a unique application? How does it compare to some similar software that Microsoft makes? Let’s look at how Microsoft Lists compares to three MS products: Microsoft Planner, SharePoint Lists and Microsoft Teams Lists. Microsoft Lists vs. MS Planner Both Microsoft Lists and Microsoft Planner are lightweight project management tools. MS Planner has more project management features to manage tasks, such as kanban boards, while MS Lists is more flexible and customizable. Neither tool is a real project management software with a full-service solution that includes resources, cost tracking, etc. While Planner is better for visual task tracking and assigning work, Lists provides more versatility to manage a wide variety of structured data such as inventories, logs and issue tracking. Organizations often use both together, combining Planner’s task management strengths with the customization of Lists. Microsoft Lists vs. SharePoint Lists These two Microsoft software products are basically the same. Microsoft Lists displays lists from the SharePoint site and allows users to connect directly to the lists without having to browse to find them through the SharePoint site. MS Lists is easier to use than SharePoint, which was Microsoft’s answer to collaboration, though many users were unhappy with its functionality. Microsoft Lists is essentially a modern, standalone interface for the same SharePoint lists, making them more accessible through mobile and Teams, while SharePoint remains tied to site-based content management. This makes Lists more approachable for everyday users. Microsoft Lists vs. Microsoft Teams Lists Again, with MS Lists, users can create, manage, assign and track lists. Tasks in Microsoft Teams show the user all their tasks within Microsoft Teams. It centralizes all the tasks that are assigned to a user in the Microsoft Planner and one’s personal to-do list in one place. While Teams emphasizes personal and group task management, Lists offers a more customizable database that can be added as a tab in a channel. This lets users design specific tracking systems directly inside Teams, giving flexibility beyond simple tasks and enabling a wider range of use cases across collaborative workspaces. ProjectManager Is the Best MS Lists Alternative Why use Microsoft Lists for project management? It’s only going to frustrate managers and their teams. It’s a fine tool for simple list-making, but a project is not a glorified to-do list. Project management organizes tasks, workflows, resources and monitors progress and performance to ensure that projects stay on schedule and don’t go over budget. ProjectManager is award-winning project management software that has a better list view than MS Lists, plus multiple project views and also manages resources, tracks labors costs and provides a high-level overview of the project with reporting tools for more insightful decision making. Use Multiple Task, Project and Workflow Management Tools Projects need more than a list to deliver success. Our software has multiple tools, such as Gantt charts that schedule tasks, link dependencies, filter for the critical path and set a baseline to track planned effort against actual effort in real time. Teams can use the list view or kanban boards to visualize their workflows, which can be customized and even automated, with task approval settings to ensure only quality deliverables move forward. There’s also a calendar view that gives stakeholders an overview of the project in broad strokes. /wp-content/uploads/2021/11/Gantt-Manufacturing-Light-2554x1372-1-2048x1100-compressed.png Manage Resources and Track Costs Another thing users can’t do with Microsoft Lists is manage resources or track costs. When onboarding teams to ProjectManager, their availability can be set, such as PTO, vacation time and global holidays, which streamlines the assigning process. Then go to the color-coded workload chart or visit the team page to get an overview of everyone’s allocation. From there, balance the team’s workload to keep them working at capacity. Costs, workload and more can be viewed either on the real-time dashboard or portfolio dashboard and reports. Labor costs can be monitored using secure timesheets that help with payroll, but also provide visibility into how far each team member has gone in completing their tasks. /wp-content/uploads/2022/07/Dashboard-light-mode.jpgRelated Microsoft Content Microsoft has many products for planning, projects and more, but they’re far from a dominant force in project management. They’re popular, it’s true, but they might be resting on their laurels. Let’s look at some recent blog posts that review Microsoft products and whether they live up to the hype. Microsoft Planner: Pros, Cons and Alternatives Microsoft Project Online: Pros, Cons and Best Alternatives What Is Microsoft Teams? Uses, Plans, Features & Pricing What Is Microsoft Project? Uses, Features and Pricing Microsoft Project Viewer – View & Edit MPP Files Online ProjectManager is online project and portfolio management software that connects teams whether they’re in the office, out in the field or anywhere else. They can share files, comment at the task level and stay updated with email and in-app notifications. Join teams at Avis, Nestle and Siemens who use our software to deliver successful projects. Get started with ProjectManager today for free. The post What Is Microsoft Lists? Uses, Features and Pricing appeared first on ProjectManager. View the full article

The first government shutdown since 2019 will slow flood insurance originations and new Small Business Administration loans, though self-funded banking regulators will continue operating as usual. View the full article

We may earn a commission from links on this page. Did you know you can customize Google to filter out garbage? Take these steps for better search results, including adding Lifehacker as a preferred source for tech news. Amazon’s second biggest sale of the year, October Prime Day, is set to start Oct. 7, but many early deals are already rolling in, as they have in the past. To take advantage of everything the sale has to offer, you’re going to need to be a Prime Member. If you sign up for an Amazon Prime account to take advantage of Prime Day but decide you don’t want to pay for an ongoing membership, you’ll need to cancel your subscription before the end of your free trial. How to cancel your Amazon Prime membershipYou can cancel your Prime subscription via browser by first logging into your Amazon account. Amazon has an End Your Prime Membership button on its support page to launch the process, or you can follow the steps detailed from Amazon's page: Head to Amazon.com in your web browser. Hover over the Accounts & Lists menu on the top-right of the window, then select the Prime Membership option. Click the Help tab at the top-center of the screen. Then tap the End Your Amazon Prime Membership button and finally click the Cancel Your Prime Membership orange button. Follow the on-screen instructions to proceed to canceling your Prime subscription. Note that Amazon requires a bunch of clicks to finalize your cancellation, giving you lots of “opportunities” to change your mind. How to cancel Amazon Prime via mobile appIf you prefer, you can cancel your Prime membership via Amazon’s Shopping app. To do so: Open the Amazon Shopping app on your mobile device. On the bottom of the screen, tap the Profile button, which looks like a silhouette of a person. Scroll down to Your Account and select Manage Prime Membership. Press on the Explore Benefits drop-down menu, and press the Help button in that menu. Press the End Your Amazon Prime Membership button. Scroll down and press the Cancel Your Prime Membership orange button. Follow the on-screen instructions to proceed to canceling your Prime subscription. What to know when canceling your Prime membershipAs mentioned, closing your account will immediately end your access. Amazon also offers you the option to pause your benefits and billing temporarily instead of canceling them completely. Either way, your Amazon account is still active—you simply won’t have Prime benefits. Finally, if you have other subscriptions connected to your Prime account, those will end when your billing is up. And if you signed up for Prime through the Android mobile shopping app or the Prime Video Android app, you’ll have to go through Google Subscription to manage your membership. Our Best Editor-Vetted Early Prime Day Deals Right Now Apple AirPods Pro 2 Noise Cancelling Wireless Earbuds — $199.00 (List Price $249.00) Samsung Galaxy Tab A9+ 10.9" 64GB Wi-Fi Tablet (Graphite) — $194.18 (List Price $219.99) Blink Mini 2 1080p Indoor Security Camera (2-Pack, White) — $34.99 (List Price $69.99) Blink Outdoor 4 XR + Mini 2 — Wireless and plug-in security cameras, motion detection, extended range. Sync Module XR included — 2 camera system + Mini 2 (Black) — $74.99 (List Price $219.98) Ring Battery Doorbell Plus — $79.99 (List Price $149.99) Ring Indoor Cam (2nd Gen, 2-pack, White) — $49.98 (List Price $79.99) Blink Video Doorbell Wireless (Newest Model) + Sync Module Core — $34.99 (List Price $69.99) Shark AV2501S AI Ultra Robot Vacuum with HEPA Self-Empty Base — $229.99 (List Price $549.99) Amazon Fire HD 10 (2023) — $69.99 (List Price $139.99) Kindle Essentials Bundle including Kindle (2024 release) - Black, Fabric Cover - Matcha, and Power Adapter — $117.97 (List Price $161.97) Deals are selected by our commerce team View the full article

“Butterfly in the sky, I can go twice as high . . . take a look, it’s in a book“: Reading Rainbow, PBS’ iconic kids show, is back after 20 years off the air. This time around, it’s hosted by beloved TikTok librarian Mychal Threets. But you don’t have to take my word for it. The news was announced on September 29 through an Instagram post shared by Threets, the official Reading Rainbow account, and Buffalo Toronto Public Media. Episodes of the new series will premiere at 10 a.m. ET every Saturday during October on the KidZuko, a kids’ YouTube channel from Sony Pictures Television, as well as on Reading Rainbow’s website. Reading Rainbow was first launched in 1983 as a response to “summer loss phenomena,” in which “a child loses some of his or her reading abilities because they tend not to read during the summer,” Reading Rainbow’s website explains. Each episode featured a different children’s picture book, often narrated by a celebrity, as well as guest interviews and book reviews. Over the course of the show’s 26-year run, it became the most-watched PBS program in the classroom, earning awards including the George Foster Peabody Award and 26 Emmys. A large part of Reading Rainbow’s success was thanks to host LeVar Burton, whose charismatic personality and comforting cadence set the show’s tone. Burton’s successor, Threets, has already cultivated a devoted audience of his own for his love of books and friendly communication style. Here’s what to know as Threets steps in to take viewers along the Reading Rainbow. Who is Mychal Threets, a.k.a. Mychal the Librarian? Threets, known on social media as Mychal the Librarian, has spent the last few years amassing a sizable following (including 829,000 followers on TikTok and 895,000 on Instagram) by sharing his love for reading with the world. When Threets first started his social media pages several years ago, he was working as a librarian in Solano County, California, at the same library that cultivated his own passion for reading. In 2024, he stepped down from that role and took up a new position as PBS’ resident librarian, a position that allows him to continue producing videos that encourage kids to develop healthy reading habits. Some of Threet’s most popular videos include heartwarming storytimes about his experiences as a librarian, book reviews, and calls for viewers to invest in their local libraries—all delivered with his signature smile. “Dear Solano County Library, I just want to say ‘Thank you,’” Threets begins in one TikTok post with over two million views. “Thank you for raising me as a homeschool library kid. This is the place where I’ve always felt safe, I’ve always felt like I belong, I’ve always felt like I have friends.” Now, Threets is bringing that same sense of safety and belonging to fellow “library kids” through the Reading Rainbow reboot. “I was raised on Reading Rainbow, LeVar Burton is my hero,” Threets wrote in an Instagram post about the series. “I am a reader, I am a librarian because LeVar Burton and Reading Rainbow so powerfully made us believe we belong in books, we belong everywhere. I am so happy for all of us that Reading Rainbow is returning! YOU all did this! We’re flying twice as high, butterflies in the sky!” View the full article

Officials hope exemption from 0.5 per cent levy for investors will boost liquidity and attract more London listingsView the full article

We may earn a commission from links on this page. Did you know you can customize Google to filter out garbage? Take these steps for better search results, including adding Lifehacker as a preferred source for tech news. Can you remember the last time you had a totally pain-free back? I know I’m on a never-ending search for relief. Percussive massage guns, non-percussive massage guns, regular foam rollers, even percussive foam rollers—I’m determined to try it all. Now, my search has brought me to decompression devices. These devices promise personalized, premium massages and decompression right in your own home. It's the closest thing you can get to replicating an actual masseuse. You lay on your back and let the rollers in the device do the work for you. And from personal experience, I can share that they do provide immediate comfort and relief. The thing is, compared to a standard massage gun, a full decompression massage table is pretty expensive. Products like the Chirp Contour might feel amazing, but with a price tag of $600, I have to wonder if they’re truly worth every penny. Do these devices deliver real results or just Instagram-worthy self-care moments? The massage professionals I spoke with shared a consistent perspective: These devices aren't worthless, but they're far from essential for most people. Here’s what you need to know before you drop hundreds of dollars in your righteous pursuit of muscle relief. Chirp Contour Decompression & Massage Table $599.99 at Best Buy Shop Now Shop Now $599.99 at Best Buy What these devices actually doTo be clear, these tables do provide real sensations of relief. "Of course this device is going to feel good. It's going to provide massage and heat, which is going to help to relax the muscle tension," explains W. Zach Smith, founder and doctor of physical therapy at HIDEF Physical Therapy. Plus, "devices like this are getting better and better, and if you have the disposable income, it can be of some benefit to you." I know I adore my Chirp Contour, which specifically offers considerable customization. But Smith quickly adds an important caveat: "For most people, what I see with these types of devices is they purchase some, use them for a few weeks and then they end up just sitting at their home not getting used." That pattern—initial enthusiasm followed by the device becoming expensive furniture—is perhaps the most damning criticism. Smith notes he personally hasn't "found one of these devices that is just an absolute game changer" for his patients that leads to consistent long-term use. Amanda Grimm, a sports and remedial massage therapist at Knead Massage, points out another often-overlooked benefit: "At-home massage/decompression tables can help with relaxation, if nothing else, for the fact that they make the person stop rushing around and take some time for themselves." That forced pause can help relieve tension, though it "may not be the targeted muscle relief that the individual requires." Addressing the root cause of back painHere's where things get sobering for anyone hoping a $600 purchase will solve their chronic pain. Smith is blunt: "At the end of the day, massage and heat is not going to resolve 90% of low back pain. You need the additional mobility, stretching, and the most important, a re-strengthening program in order to truly solve low back pain." Jennifer Brandon, rehabilitation manager at HOAG Orthopedic Institute, echoes this concern: "I think that at home decompression tables can be helpful in finding some relief, even to loosen your tight muscles. I would just note that at home gadgets should never replace structured rehabilitation, nor should they really be substituted for strength training to build up weak muscles." From a sports recovery perspective, Grimm notes these devices "may aid general self-care, but without the assessment, additional full movement and personalized treatment provided by a professional therapist, they are more superficial than impactful." Running the numbersStill, I get a lot of relief with my Chirp Contour, so let's do the math to see when these devices are worth their cost. If you typically pay $100 for an hour-long professional massage, a $600 device would theoretically pay for itself after just six uses. Sounds great, right? But here's the reality check: These aren't equivalent experiences. A professional massage involves assessment, targeted technique, adjustment based on your body's response, and often addresses issues you didn't even know you had. Your at-home device delivers the same experience every time—no expert eyes evaluating your problem, no hands adapting pressure to what your muscles need. If you were getting weekly massages at $100 each, you'd spend $5,200 annually. In that scenario, a $600 device seems like a no-brainer investment. But most people aren't getting weekly professional massages. They're considering whether to buy this device instead of occasional professional treatment—and that's where the comparison falls apart. Brandon sums it up well: "These items can be more of a wellness nice-to-have, than a must-have. Especially with such a steep price range. If you find yourself dealing with an ongoing issue, you might be better off investing that money into a professional that can help you get to the actual root of your problem." Grimm offers a practical middle ground: "For $600, it may be more beneficial to invest that in a series of remedial sports massages for injury relief—but that said, if you have the disposable cash to spend, then it can work as a cool-down tool after a workout or just a bit of pampering!" The bottom line Expensive decompression and massage tables aren't scams—they do provide relaxation and temporary relief. But they're not the miracle solution their marketing suggests. I would tell you if I thought something was worth every penny, but $600 is a whole lot of pennies. If you're dealing with chronic pain or sports injuries, that $600 is almost certainly better spent on professional assessment and treatment that addresses the underlying problem. However, if you already have a solid strength and mobility routine, see professionals when needed, and simply want a luxurious recovery tool for your home gym? And crucially, if you're the type of person who'll actually use it consistently rather than letting it collect dust? Then it might be worth considering. Just go in with realistic expectations about what it can and cannot do. Think of it like buying a fancy espresso machine. It's not going to replace your favorite coffee shop's expertise, but it's a nice convenience if you'll genuinely use it regularly and can comfortably afford it. The key question isn't whether it works; it's whether you'll still be using it six months from now. View the full article

Last month we talked about signs of financial trouble you’ve seen at work — the early signs that foretold something worse was to come — and here are 12 interesting stories you shared. 1. The shrimp harbinger One place I worked at had a holiday party, and long-timers clocked that the size of the shrimp cocktail tower was an indication of the financial health of the company. Some years it was a four-tier ice sculpture piled with giant shrimp, some years it was a single platter of average shrimp. It became known as the “big shrimp party.” One year … no shrimp at all, and rumors started flying. A few months later there were layoffs. 2. The rug repo You know those rugs you put in the doorways so that people don’t slip if it in wet weather? We were leasing them. Receptionist came to me to tell me the company that leased them to us had an employee come in, roll up the rug, told the receptionist that they were taking the rug because we hadn’t paid the lease/rental fee in a long time. 3. The ominous email I was working at a camper van rental firm where an email went out announcing that because we weren’t paying back people‘s deposits no one should be in the office alone any more in case angry customers showed up. 4. The polls My ex-company, as cost-cutting measures, sent some company-wide polls for employees to vote for perks they wanted to keep (one of each pair). And by “perks,” I mean stuff like “lactose-free milk or decaf coffee?” and “cocoa or fruit juice?” Not sure if a year of lactose-free milk came close to even one worker’s price. Not long after that they cancelled Fruit Thursdays and we all knew the end was near. 5. The trash bins They had the cleaners stop emptying the trash cans at our desks. We were expected to take them to the kitchen at the end of each day. Some people were better than others about taking out their trash. But also, each floor had 100+ people using the three garbage bins in the kitchen. Meanwhile, one of the VPs was $30 million over budget and it wasn’t flagged until almost year-end. Layoffs followed but the VP was spared. 6. The pay cut inquiry We literally just got an email asking us how much of a pay cut we could take and survive. 7. The blinds After 2008, OldJob encouraged “energy efficiency” by closing all of the blinds and dimming the lights in the summer. We had some layoffs and a hiring freeze, so there were rows and rows of empty cubicles. It was great for morale to come into a gloomy, half empty office every day. It was about a year later the company was suddenly sold, a month or so after the CEO swore we were not up for sale. 8. The quartered meatballs I used to work for a family-owned department store chain that had come under the “leadership” of the founder’s nephew, who was really really bad at it. The specific store I worked at had a restaurant inside it. The place always did a Christmas dinner for the employees and the offerings started to get skimpier and skimpier, until the last year they had it where the restaurant manager was only given a budget of $1.50 per head. The meal consisted of two different kinds of pasta, one with meatballs cut into quarters, and plain iceberg lettuce with store-brand dressing, and ice water. No fault to the restaurant manager, who did well to put together any kind of meal for that skimpy amount. Then, after the new year, there were loads of cut hours, reduction in benefits, lots of junky merchandise coming in, stores in the chain closing, and constant rumors about our store closing. The chain eventually declared bankruptcy and the founder actually came out of retirement to fix the situation. Amazingly, the chain actually recovered and in fact is thriving today, but that didn’t happen until I was way the hell gone from there. 9. The Sharpies When they replaced the brand-name Sharpies with significantly crappier ones. Soon after they closed our second location and cut staff at the home base. 10. The LinkedIn giveaway I figured out that layoffs were imminent when I checked out the LinkedIn profile of our new head of HR, and it it turned out he had a background in ushering companies through restructuring. He ushered us through our own restructuring a few months later. 11. The stock ticker Removing the stock ticker from the company intranet! We were told that it was because “people were spending too much time watching the ticker and not working.” Yeah, watching it fall off a cliff and realizing they weren’t going to be able to afford their kid’s college. 12. The meeting notice The shorter notice you have for a meeting, the worse the news will be. Normal monthly staff meeting schedule, nothing wrong. All-hands in one hour? Be ready to bounce. The post the shrimp harbinger, the quartered meatballs, and other signs of financial trouble at work appeared first on Ask a Manager. View the full article

The President’s executive order comes weeks after Israel launched missiles targeting Hamas leaders in DohaView the full article