One of the more popular devices these days is the tablet, it seems like almost everyone has one, or at least wants one. The problem is, there are so many to choose from that it can be a daunting task, especially when you're looking for one for your business. To help make the decision easier we will look at the three tablets that could be good for businesses.

Here's a five point comparison of the three most popular 10-inch tablets - Apple's iPad 4, Google's Nexus 10 and Microsoft's Surface Pro.

Price

• Apple iPad - The iPad starts at USD$499 for the cheapest model and USD$929 for the top model. The major differences between the models is storage size and connectivity options.
• Google Nexus 10 - The Nexus 10 starts at USD$399 for the base model and USD$499 for the top model. The only real difference between the two models is storage size.
• Microsoft Surface Pro - The base model of the Surface Pro starts at USD$899 while the other model starts at USD$999.

The prices listed above are for just the device, the price you pay will be higher if you add peripherals like keyboard cases, screen protectors or extended warranty.

Storage

• iPad - Comes with 16, 32, 64 or 128GB of storage.
• Nexus 10 - Has either 16 or 32GB of storage.
• Surface Pro - Offers 64 or 128GB of storage. The Pro also has a Micro SD card reader which can support up to 64GB of extra storage. There is also a USB port which you could connect an external hard drive to, allowing for nearly unlimited storage.

It's important to note that these storage numbers are provided by the manufacturer of the device, these numbers don't include the space the operating system and other pre-installed programs take up. For example the Surface Pro 64GB actually has 29GB of usable storage space. In comparison: The Nexus 10 32GB has about 29GB of usable space while the iPad 32GB has slightly over 27GB.

Internet Connectivity

• iPad - There are two versions: Wi-Fi only and Wi-Fi/3g/LTE (Mobile data).
• Nexus 10- Wi-Fi only.
• Surface Pro - Wi-Fi only.

Being able to connect to the Internet either through a Wi-Fi or mobile data connection is important for many business users, especially if you are out of the office on a regular basis.

Battery life

• iPad - Around 10 hours with normal use.
• Nexus 10 - Around 8.5 hours with normal use.
• Surface Pro - Around four hours.

The total battery life depends on what users do with the tablets. The numbers reflect what an average business user will get out of their tablet. As with almost any mobile device, it would be a good idea to keep a spare cord at the office and at home so you can charge it when you need to.

Apps

• iPad - Apple's App Store has slightly over 800,000 apps, many with versions optimized for the iPad.
• Nexus 10 - Google Play also has slightly over 800,000 apps available to download. The number of tablet-specific apps is far lower than the App Store however.
• Surface Pro - The Surface Pro runs a full version of Windows 8, which means any Windows program that is compatible with Windows 8 will work on the Surface Pro.

Which is best for business?

When it comes to buying a tablet for work, you need to take into account what you will be using it for. Below are eight popular scenarios and which devices may be best suited for that task.

1. Email only - If you are looking for a tablet to just check your email on, it would be a good idea to look at the Nexus 10. The main reason for this is twofold: First, you can install different virtual keyboards which make it easier for you to type messages. Second: There are more email apps that allow you to connect to multiple accounts.
2. On a budget - The Nexus 10 is the cheapest 10-inch tablet, and would be the best option here.
3. To replace a laptop - The Surface Pro, which costs the same as most mid-range laptops, is really more of a laptop with a touch screen, which makes it an ideal candidate to replace an existing laptop.
4. To help with presentations - The Surface Pro is your best option here. Because you can install a full version of Office 2013 (with PowerPoint) on the device which is mostly portable, you shouldn't need anything else. Beyond that, there is a mini display port which allows you to connect to any monitor or projection screen (HDMI or VGA) with an adapter.
5. Everyday use - If you plan to be doing a bit of everything, including personal use, most users will go with the iPad due to its ease of use and great platform.
6. Google user - The Nexus 10 is built to be the 'Google' tablet; what Google deems to be the benchmark for other Android tablets. As such, any Google user will find this tablet to be the best choice, especially if you use Google Apps in the office.
7. Apple user - If you use an iPhone or Apple computers in your office, the iPad would be the best device.
8. Microsoft user - Windows users will likely benefit most from the Microsoft Surface.

If you're looking for a new tablet and would like help figuring out which will be best for your business needs please contact us today, we may be able to help.

How many times have you been in a meeting only to have a participant's phone ring or vibrate? This is a common occurrence and to many, this is the type of interruption that drives them nuts. While smartphones have changed our lives, mostly for the better, there are still times when we don't seem to follow common 'mobile etiquette', leading to others perceiving us as rude.

Here's six cell phone etiquette tips you should practice to ensure you show respect to your peers, and people around you while on your phone.

1. Watch what you snap - Almost every phone has a camera these days, and we can't help but take pictures of nearly everything. While it is convenient to take pictures with your phone, there are times when it's not a good idea, such as in a meeting, for example. In general, if you are supposed to be paying attention to something, don't take pictures.
2. Indoor voices - It's not uncommon to hear someone practically yelling into their phone on a busy street. This is often because they think that they can't be heard by the person on the other end. The vast majority of modern phones have powerful enough microphones and noise cancelling technology to enable users to talk with an indoor voice, even while out on the busy street. If the person you're talking to can't hear you, try cupping your other hand over your mouth and directing the sound towards the phone.
3. Darn you autocorrect! - Most phones use touchscreen keyboards as their input for text. This can be quite inaccurate, so OS developers created autocorrect, which usually picks the wrong word, leading to some potentially embarrassing situations. When typing on your phone, be sure to always read over what you have written before you hit send.
4. Resist the beep - One of the more annoying things about smartphones is that every time a notification sounds people rush to check it. This can be seen as rude, especially if when you are talking with a customer your phone goes off and you cut off from them to check it. It's a surefire way to lose the sale! When you're in meetings, or talking with customers/employees, ignore your phone until you are free to answer/check. If you are expecting an important call, excuse yourself before turning your attention to your phone..
5. Pick the right notifications - Your phone has numerous notification levels. You can set the phone to vibrate, ring, or for lights to flash, etc. If you are in a meeting, it's best to set your phone on silent, as even vibrate is enough to distract these days. Really, the only time your phone should be on ring is when you have it in your pocket, or are in a loud location and unlikely to hear it.
6. Turn it off every now and then - smartphones bring the ability to be always connected, which can be both good and bad. Sometimes being constantly connected leads to higher stress, and increased work hours at the expense of your personal life. You shouldn't be too afraid of spending a bit of time away from your phone every now and then. Just be sure to let people know that you won't be answering calls or texts.

Polite use of your smartphone will go a long way toward ensuring you are seen as a person that others want to do business with. What are your etiquette rules in regards to phone use? Let us know.

If you would like to learn more about how to leverage smartphones in your business, please contact us today.

Competitive research - the act of keeping track of what your competitors are doing - is an integral part of business. Managers and owners need to be sure that what they are doing is at least as good as or one step ahead of their competitors in the eyes of the consumer. Before social media, this was pretty easy: Look at the weekly flyers, browse the website and that was about it. Now, you have to spend hours trolling different websites and social platforms. Luckily, one mobile app developer set out to make competitive research a bit easier.

Perch is a free app developed by Closely for the iOS and Android platforms. The concept of the app is that it provides you with a central place from which you can keep track of your competitor's social media campaigns.

Think of this app as your own personal business CIA. It allows you to keep tabs on what your competitors are doing on Facebook, Foursquare, Yelp and many other daily deal sites. You can even set it up so that you get a daily or weekly summary email with details on competitor efforts.

The app is powered by Foursquare's location technology, and when you first sign on it will display similar companies in your area. From there you are able to add companies to a watchlist which will constantly keep track of their social activity.

Is this a good idea? Keeping track of what your competitors are doing makes good business sense, and apps like Perch can help you cut back the amount of time you spend doing competitive research. This is a two-way street as it also gives your competitors a way to easily view what you are doing.

Some opponents have noted that apps like these that essentially allow businesses to spy on one another, could foster a non-competitive environment if every time a business does something, all competitors follow. This negates the benefits the app aims to offer. Then again, this app is really an aggregator of information that's freely available on the Internet, so it really just makes it easier to do something that businesses are already able to do.

One thing's for certain: Businesses that rely on daily deal sites, or review sites like Yelp, will greatly benefit from an app like this. We'd like to know your thoughts, from both a moral and business standpoint, on using mobile apps like Perch. Let us know.

In most companies, multiple applications support different functions and departments. Your sales team is using CRM, while the finance team uses ERP or an accounting system. The operation teams probably use line of business (LOB) applications that are specific to your industry. Each one of those applications comes with canned reports written for the “average” user.

The “average” user Reports generally allow you to specify ranges of dates, products, document numbers or some other parameter and then generate the report in a standard format. Data to populate the report is pulled directly from the application tables which were defined when the report was designed. The format, including columns and rows, are predetermined based on the expected needs of that “average” user.
But what if you need more than average information? There is undoubtedly information in your systems that is important to your business and that the canned reports don’t reflect.

Above average information A true Business Intelligence (BI) solution will consolidate data from all the applications across your organization. While a BI solution can still deliver “reports” to users, it also empowers the user to look deeper—past the high level information to find causes and solutions. With deeper information, every decision maker in your organization can look at data from new angles to make above average decisions.
In practical terms, BI allows the user to:

• access, build and save views of information that are more meaningful to the user,
• drill down from high level reports, dashboards or cubes to the transactional detail behind the numbers,
• create and distribute charts and graphs that provide information that team members and management can quickly comprehend,
• see only the information that is appropriate to his/her role.

Dashboards, charts and views can be manipulated to look at any combination of data points to provide new insights into causes, effects and solutions. All in real-time, enabling immediate response with more informed decisions.

The applications that you use to run your business, house information that will help you serve customers better. By replacing reports with business intelligence, you can tap that information to respond faster and stay ahead of the competition.

Let’s talk about how you can get above average results with better information from your business management solutions.

Keys, wallet, phone. Three things the majority of your employees check for when they stand up and head out for the day. The phone has become arguably the most important personal item of every business person, it allows you to stay in touch with the office and even work while you’re out of the office. When managers lose it, they feel paralyzed and may not know what to do.

Here are four things you should do before you lose your phone and three things you should do when you lose it.

While you still have your phone

1. Put your contact information on your phone’s lock screen. On Android, go into Settings, select Security followed by Owner Info. Put in your info and tick the box at the top of the window. For iPhone users, you’ll need to create an image with your contact information. When you have an image, plug your phone into your computer and put the photo in iPhoto. From there select Settings followed by Wallpaper. Pick the image you created and select Home. You’ll notice it show up on your lock screen.
2. Install a tracker app. Tracker apps allow you to take control of your phone from a remote location (not your phone) and do things like wipe the memory, turn on the ringtone and GPS. For Android users, Android Lost and Wheres My Droid are both good apps. For iPhone users, Find my iPhone is the best app, and should already be on your phone. If you have a Windows phone you can simply log in to My Phone and click Find a lost Phone.
3. Put your contact info in the phone. Many people who find a phone will turn it on and try to look for the owner of the phone, why not help them out and put called “Me”, or “In case of emergency.” Be sure to include another phone number and email so people can contact you.
4. Backup important information. You should be backing up your data for this reason. Luckily most smartphone operating systems sync with the cloud, so be sure to turn on syncing to ensure important information and contacts are backed up.

When you lose your phone

1. Call and text it. Before you activate the tracker app, try calling your phone and sending a text from another phone, maybe someone will pick it up or see it.
2. Activate tracer. When you can get to a computer, log in to the website the tracker uses and use some of the options. The first thing you should do is turn on the GPS and see the phone’s location. If that doesn’t work, try sounding the ringer. As a last resort, wipe the memory.
3. Contact the Police. If you’re worried about the information you have on your phone, or have reason to believe it was stolen, you should contact the police. It’s a long shot, but people have been known to also turn in lost cellphones to police stations, so it may be worth a visit.

It isn’t fun to lose a phone, but if you take steps to minimize the possibility of losing all of your data, you could be back up and running on a new phone in no time. If you’d like to learn more about securing your phone, please contact us.

Smartphones are one of the tools that have been instrumental in blurring the lines between our personal and professional lives. While we’re at home, we access our work email and while we’re at work, we’re checking our personal email, all on the same device. As such, we tend to have a large amount of confidential information on our phones and should be taking steps to secure them.

Whether you have an Android, iPhone or Windows Phone 7, here are two tips to keep your smartphone secure:

Lock your screen If you have data or information on your phone you would like to keep secure, the first thing you should do is lock your screen. Most smartphone users lock their phone with a 4 digit number combination, but it’s recommended you use a password for higher security.

• On Android. To establish a password on your device go to Settings and select Security. Press Screen lock. On Ice Cream Sandwich, you have six options for security, with the least secure at the top and most secure at the bottom. Many users select Pattern or Password. Enter the password twice and press Confirm.
• On iPhone. Select the Settings app followed by General. From there select Passcode Lock and turn it on. You’ll be asked to set your passcode and confirm it.
• On Windows Phone. To set a passcode go to the home screen of your device. Open Settings from your Application list and select Lock & Wallpaper. Press Password, enter your password and then press Done.

It’s recommended that you set a password that’s unique. Don’t use your birthday, address or phone number. At the same time, you have to make it easy to remember. If you’re having trouble coming up with a password, this video by Mozilla is a big help.

Enable remote wipe While passwords and other security codes will go a long way in preventing others from accessing your phone, it often isn’t enough. The next step in device security is to set up the ability to remotely wipe your device.

• On Android. At this time there is no native remote wipe option on your phone. You’ll have to download an app from the Play store. The apps work by using a push service - you “push” the commands to your phone from another source i.e., a website. When you install the app, you’ll have to register your phone and access it from a website.
• On iPhone. The iPhone has remote wipe capabilities which can be accessed through iCloud. On your device select Settings, iCloud and turn on Find my iPhone. If you lose your phone log into iCloud and select Find my iPhone. From there you’ll be able to remotely wipe your device.
• On Windows Phone. If you lose your phone you can remotely wipe it by going to the Windows Phone website, logging in and selecting My Phone. From there you’ll be able to wipe your phone.

Even if you don’t have confidential information on your phone, it’s a good idea to, at the very least, set a solid passcode on your phone. Adding the ability to remotely wipe your phone will ensure the information won’t be viewed by other people. If you’d like other ways to keep your mobile phone secure, please contact us.

Running a business is hard enough without having to worry about technology issues that could impact profits and customer service. When you move your business management systems, including ERP, out of the server closet and in to secure data centers managed by professionals, you simplify life.

Hosted ERP simplifies business

Hosting is the service provided by ERP resellers and cloud providers to house and manage applications in data centers, providing access through the web or a network connection.  Some of the top reasons that businesses today choose to host their ERP and other business management solutions, include:

• No need to hire more IT professionals – The market for qualified IT professionals is tight. Trying to recruit and retain technical workers takes time away from revenue generating activities.
• Investment in new hardware – Spending money on the latest hardware is probably not the best use of your capital funds. Data center costs continue to come down, making hosting more and more financially attractive.
• Keeping workers productive – When systems go down and your IT guy is nowhere to be found, business comes to a standstill. SLAs (Service Level Agreements) require hosting providers to have contingency plans for almost every scenario.
• Eliminate the pain of upgrades – An ERP upgrade is a stressful event, no matter how smoothly it goes.  With a hosted solution, backups and testing keep your people focused on work, not the worry of whether the system will be back online soon.
• Business as usual, even in a disaster – Redundant facilities maintained by your hosting provider keep your business up and running, even when a storm has your competitors locked down. The cost of business interruption has been more than many could handle. Rest easy knowing you can keep the doors open and save precious jobs.

Flexible service options

Service levels offered through the hosting model vary by provider. You can retain ownership of servers or choose to rent. Implementation, upgrade and training services can be rolled into a monthly payment or paid up front. No other deployment method offers so many choices.

Hosting ERP and other business management systems can help you focus on business instead of technology. Let’s talk about how hosting can eliminate unnecessary worries.