Business Solutions & Software Group Blog

Baseball is known as America’s national pastime and for over a hundred years it has been shifting along with society. One of the newest trends baseball organizations are using to improve their competitiveness is using data to field their teams, set their lineups, and even set their fielding assignments. Today, we’ll take a look at how baseball uses all this data to improve their product and how you can learn a lot for your own business. 

“Knowledge is power.” This theme has been demonstrated countless times throughout history, from the huge conflicts that spanned the globe, to the meteoric rises that many businesses have seen, down to the conversations held at the dinner table. Knowledge simply makes things go better for you, which is why it is so helpful for businesses to have a knowledge base at their disposal. Today, your IT can give you even more opportunities to use information to your advantage.

Business analytics are quite popular nowadays, as businesses of all shapes and sizes are eager to use data to improve their processes and performance. Let’s consider how your technological strategy could benefit from such analytical considerations.

A lot is being made about running smarter businesses. Many businesses are looking to their data to try and work out how to build a better business. Two terms you typically hear during this conversation are business intelligence and business analysis. Today, we will take a look at the two terms, decipher their meaning, how they are different from one another, and how they can help you determine the resources a business needs to improve itself.

If you know more about your organization and its customers, you’ll be able to make better decisions about the future of your business. Thanks to an increased focus on business intelligence, even small and medium-sized businesses can take advantage of these analytical tools to improve operations and customer relations. What is business intelligence? How does it work, and why does your business need it?

Your business’s IT strategy is of incredible importance, especially when you consider how much your operations stand to benefit from a functional infrastructure. More than anything, though, IT can ensure that your business remains competitive in a world where the slightest advantage can mean all the difference.

There’s no question that mobile devices have changed the way society works on a fundamental level. It’s hard to imagine even leaving the house without your trusty smartphone by your side. The iPhone was once advertised as “life in your pocket,” and this phrase has proven to be entirely too true. Eight years following the introduction of these devices, businesses have grown reliant on this type of mobile technology to stay relevant in their chosen industry.

Big data analytics are changing the way that businesses handle their marketing endeavors. You might even have a data collection strategy yourself that’s helped you make changes to your business model. However, do you understand why these changes are being made?

Microsoft’s Internet Explorer is one of the most widely used web browsers, despite the fact that it has a tendency to crash from time to time. In order to improve the product and prevent future bugs, glitches, and crashes, IE creates an error report after every crash. Most of these reports go unsent, or so Microsoft thought.

Whether the world is ready for it or not, the Internet of Things (IoT) is on its way. As such, there is a lot of controversy about what actually constitutes the Internet of Things. Infoworld argues that a lot of what the public claims to be part of the IoT, is actually not a part of it, and that we need a more substantial definition for this oncoming phenomenon.

The other day, we introduced you to "the most connected human on Earth", Chris Dancy, and his story. Dancy had lost his job due to corporate downsizing, which in turn led the former IT manager to use his knowledge for the study of quantitative technologies and systems as part of a "quantitative life existence." In this second installment of our interview, Chris is going to explain how you too can lead a similar lifestyle.

Most tech-savvy people in this world will agree that if technology can provide the benefits it promises, it is worth giving a shot. However, these same people might feel uneasy about using technology to monitor so much of their personal lives. For Chris, it's about the differentiation between the "augmented self" that is displayed over the Internet, and your real-world self. Ultimately, the user has to lay down the fine line between shareable and non shareable, and it's up to you to determine what information you broadcast online and what you keep to yourself.

However, a person needs to be careful not to be too involved with their "augmented life". Rather, they should focus on finding balance between their online presence and their own earthly existence. Chris believes that taking advantage of as much technology as possible can ensure a successful future. Wired Magazine explains, "Dancy doesn't think that all tracking is necessarily positive, but he's fatalistic about the future. Even if workers reject more Orwellian surveillance from employers — or companies determine these measures to be counterproductive — individual workers will likely use self-tracking to gain a competitive edge."

How To Make Quantitative Technology Your Own
You might feel ready to get involved with quantitative technology, but you should carefully consider the benefits of it before doing so. There are so many types of technology that can be used to segue into a data-driven existence, and it might seem a bit overwhelming if you don't know what to look for. Chris offered Business Solutions & Software Group some advice for the average tech user wishing to adopt this new lifestyle.

• "Start at home. Put a nest thermostat in your house. Understand how the thermostat uses weather and behavior to self adjust. Watch it change as the climate changes. Watch it learn." With a smartphone-connected thermostat, you'll be able to adjust the temperature of your home from anywhere, and gather information at the same time. It's the perfect first step toward integrating more technology into your life.
• "Then get a fitbit. Wear it all the time, but only look at the data every two weeks. Then use that data and compare it to your schedule, see if you can find patterns." The fitbit, for Chris, has come with health benefits. Chris stated in an interview with FOX Business that he lost 100 pounds thanks to his lifestyle allowing him to track his health habits!
• "Stay off the 'news hype' 'tech fetish' cycle. There will always be something new and cool to talk about with peers and friends. Learn who you are and what you do. Work in 2020 is about awareness of information and how people will live a data-driven lifestyle."

With so much technology at his disposal, Chris is bound to have some favorites. We asked him the question, "If you had to limit yourself to five, which five would you choose?" In response, Chris selected a few of his favorites. So, if you are looking to quantify your life with lots of useful technology, these are a must.

1. A fitness tracker (anything on the market, like the Fitbit Flex)
2. Wireless scale (anything on the market, like the Fitbit Aria)
3. Automatic (a car sensor)
4. Cube Sensor (an environmental sensor)
5. Evernote

Outfit Your Business Plan For the Quantitative Revolution!
If you want your company to succeed in the near future, contact Business Solutions & Software Group. We can provide you with all of the skills you need to put your business at the head of the pack. We asked Mr. Dancy what his thoughts were about what to look for in an IT company when seeking to expand your technological horizons. Chris suggests that businesses ask about three specific technical topics when looking for a knowledgeable IT provider- "What is your time frame for 'location aware', 'proximity-based', and 'wearable' technology integration? If they can't answer at least one, change IT providers today."

• Location Aware - Devices that use technologies like GPS to deliver specific information based on your location.
• Proximity-Based Technology - A wide variety of devices that connect over WiFi, Bluetooth, or NFC (Near Field Communication) connections to deliver analytics and information.
• Wearable Technology Integration - Devices like smart watches, Google Glass, and fitness trackers, that makes Internet-connected technology even more mobile.

Business Solutions & Software Group knows all about the latest tech trends. Don't let the technology revolution leave your business in the dust. Call us at (954) 575-3992 today, and we'll help you transform your business into "the most connected business on Earth!"

Learn more about Chris Dancy by checking out his website: http://www.chrisdancy.com/