Lexie Lu is a UX strategist and web designer. She enjoys covering topics related to UX design, web design, social media and branding. Lexie is a contributor to Marketo, Website Magazine and Envato. Feel free to subscribe to her design blog, Design Roast.
No matter what you sell, you have a supply chain. Perhaps you are the manufacturer and must get goods to your customers. You might run the transportation company that gets products from one location to the next. Perhaps you are the retailer and rely on a supply chain to keep things moving smoothly.
No matter where you are in the supply chain, you can take some steps to protect your business even during difficult times. The business Invesp reports 79% of companies with well-managed supply chains see greater than average revenue growth. Taking the time to tweak your supply chain is smart.
Black Friday and its ecommerce equivalent, Cyber Monday — sometimes abbreviated together as “BFCM” — are two of the biggest events for digital retailers of any kind. Most ecommerce businesses see a major demand spike around these holidays, and that surge in sales typically continues to grow until after the year’s holiday season wraps up.
This makes the two shopping holidays a great opportunity for themed marketing campaigns as well as holiday deals and promotions.
AutoCAD is a software utilizing computer-aided design (CAD). The company behind the program is Autodesk. Artists can draw and edit designs on the computer faster and more efficiently than by hand, saving time and enhancing productivity. You can also collaborate with others on your team to create your finished product.
According to Statista, the CAD market is worth over $5.5 billion for 3D design and $1.97 billion for 2D design. By 2028, experts predict the usage will rise to $10.48 billion for 3D design alone.
Machine learning (ML) allows computers to turn hard data into applications that enhance productivity and efficiency. As computers have gotten smarter, they've begun to think more logically and in ways similar to the human brain. Programmers now teach machines to rationalize and come up with solutions to complex problems — tasks that only the human brain could accomplish before now.
In recent years, the ability to print a prototype from a 3D printer has been a boon to many businesses. Perhaps the tech industry has benefited the most from these advances, including the ability to create rapid prototypes until a product is perfect.
Experts predict that 3D printing and additive manufacturing will usher in the fourth industrial revolution. According to Statista, the global 3D printing market will hit $50 billion by 2025. The ability to build functional prototypes for your high-tech goods results in faster concept-to-market speeds.
Today's public is more environmentally conscious than ever before. Not only do people want to reduce their personal carbon footprint, but they look for companies that are eco-friendly as well. If you don't already have a passion for saving the climate, seeing how passionate your customers and workers are about the topic should spur you on.
Recycling isn't only for huge corporations or community organizations. Even the smallest of tech startups can benefit from adopting a green philosophy. You'll save money and do something good for the environment in the process.
According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the country generates about 267.8 million tons of solid waste annually, or around 4.51 pounds per person each day. Only 94 million tons of that get recycled or composted. With only a 35% recycling rate, there is a lot of room for improvement, especially in the business sector.
We're living in a time of extreme global competition and rapid technological changes. For your business to remain competitive, you have to stay on top of day-to-day improvements and advances in technology. You might think you have an automatic handle on shifts in technical knowledge since you're in the industry, but it's impossible to stay on top of everything unless you make a concerted effort to do so.
There are many different reasons for adding an online map to your website. It offers visitors a point of reference based on location, weather or even geographic locations served. Some businesses benefit more from maps than others, and different types serve various purposes.
There are around 30 million small businesses in the United States, with small-business owners earning about $50,347 per year. If your company has a brick-and-mortar location, office space or distribution area, then a map shows users exactly where your products are available or where to find you.
Have you ever visited a website that created a strong impression and made you want to return again? What is that special formula that makes one site appealing and another boring? A basic website includes some features you'll see over and over again. You can expect a navigation bar, a footer and content. However, you can make a number of simple additions to a business website that enhance the user experience (UX) and help your site stand out from the competition.
No matter what type of business you run, there are risk factors you must navigate if you wish to maintain the same level of profit and growth. Tech businesses, in particular, may be susceptible to harm from interruptions such as hacking or power loss. Although there is potential for great profit in this sector, there is also the possibility that people could steal your ideas — not to mention fierce competition. A minor mishap can cause you to fall behind others selling the same or similar services or products.
Do people land on your website and instantly bounce away? If conversion rates are low, you may be lacking a key ingredient — visitor intent. To meet user needs and stand out from competitors, understand why your audience seeks you out in the first place. People are attracted to websites for a variety of reasons, and it's essential to address them all.
No matter what type of business you run, a style guide helps solidify your brand and present a consistent image across multiple media. The style for an industrial business may vary slightly from other types of businesses. People want to know they can trust you, so consistency and reliability become even more of a factor than, say, for an e-commerce store that sells kitchen gadgets. However, some of the rules are similar.
