Your ophthalmologist has probably advised cataract surgery if your eye’s lens has gotten foggy and cloudy eyesight is producing blurry, hazy, or dim vision. Cataract surgery, which is among the most often performed treatments in the world, may assist patients who have been experiencing growing trouble seeing while driving, watching television, climbing stairs, or perhaps even concentrating in bright lighting.
Cataracts are an eye disorder that affects the eye’s lens, causing it to become cloudy and impairing vision. Cataracts are more frequent in elderly individuals than in younger ones. Cataracts, in contrast to glaucoma, which damages the visual nerve and can also be reversed, may be treated by surgery on the eyeball. Before you visit cataract surgeons at Robbins Eye, here are a few things that you must know.
Laser surgery vs. traditional surgery
In the past, cataracts were removed with a tiny incision in the eye and removing the hazy lens that was causing the problem. Although conventional cataract surgery is still required in certain circumstances, lasers are now used to conduct the majority of cataract procedures. This enables the removal of the clouded lens without cutting the eye. During the previous 60 years, cataract surgery technology has progressed dramatically, making it one of the safest treatments available anywhere in the world.
It’s possible that you have poor night vision and that driving in the dark is more difficult for you. It’s possible that you’re susceptible to glare from headlights. People with severe cataracts may even be unable to pass the visual portion of the driver’s examination.
With cataracts, your eyes might become more susceptible to bright sunlight. Around bright lights, you could see a halo forming. This may keep you from spending as much time outside as you would want. It also makes it more difficult to participate in some activities, including skiing or golf.
Preparation for surgery
In order to prepare for cataract surgery, you really should get a thorough eye exam. You may also require further testing such as specific eye exams, blood tests, as well as other procedures. Your doctor will provide you with detailed instructions on how to take your medicines and when you should cease eating and drinking completely before surgery. You would also need to make arrangements for transportation home following your procedure.
Recovery
Most individuals see a difference in their eyesight within a few hours of having their procedure. Generally speaking, recovery is painless, and eyesight continues to improve with each passing day. A little redness or discomfort is usually the day after surgery, and this is completely acceptable. Like reading or watching television, most everyday activities may continue without interruption. Heavy lifting & sports that might cause jarring of the eyes, including running or basketball, should be avoided by these individuals.
A surgeon would often ask the patient to return for follow-up appointments following surgery. This is done to guarantee that the eye recovers in the manner predicted. In most cases, follow-up appointments are scheduled the day following surgery, a week afterwards, and many weeks after that.
A bail bond agent is a professional who can get the accused out of jail until he is guilty of the crime and the suspect can appear for court hearings in exchange for the bail provided. If you wish to get out of prison in the minimum time possible, contacting a bail bond agent is the only solution. There are various roles and responsibilities of a bail bond agent and here is a discussion on a few of them and some glimpses of how do bail bonds work.
Examination of the qualifications of the accused: The first and foremost responsibility of a bail bond agent is to evaluate the qualifications of the accused as soon as the agency receives the application for bail. The bond agent must also make sure that the client has been present in the court for previous hearings (if any). Also, the bond agent must evaluate whether or not the client is capable of paying the bail bond fee.
Filtering the paperwork: As soon as the bail bond agency accepts the bond application, the bond agent must obtain 10% of the total bond fee from the client. Also, the bond agent is responsible for the assessment of the entire paperwork. Furthermore, the bond agent must make sure that all the legalities regarding the bail are clear to the client. After the completion of all the legalities, the bond agency acts as the representative of the accused in front of the court.
Acts as a middleman: It is the bail bond agent who acts as the middleman between the agency and the accused. The bond agent must ensure that he/she makes clear contact between the agency and the client, the exchange of all the paperwork and the receipt between the two should be at the desired time.
Imprisonment under certain conditions: As discussed earlier, the bond agent represents the accused in the court and hence takes responsibility if the accused fails to be present at the court for the consecutive hearings. Moreover, the bond agent has the right to even arrest the client if he/she is acting carelessly in respect to the court hearings. Also, it is the responsibility of the agent to, ensure that the client delivers his/her presence in the court on time.
You must maintain direct contact with your bond agent to ensure the security of your freedom disguised as bail.
Conclusion
At times people wait for the trial to get over rather than applying for bail due to the expensive bail expenses. It rather results in so many drawbacks because applying for bail can get you freedom. Besides, if you don’t apply for bail as early as possible you are at a greater risk as the opposition can easily use the evidence against you in your absence. In addition, you also lose your stature if you are in the prison for a longer time and in turn, it affects your business or job opportunities. Hence, it is beneficial that you get in touch with a reliable bail bond agency and apply for bail.
If you have ever had to deal with a flight cancellation, you should know how frustrating it gets. You have your trip planned and your bags packed but for some reason, your flight is suddenly cancelled! This is never any traveler’s fantasy. However, as much as we might detest this, it doesn’t change the fact that flights often get cancelled. If you travel very often, you would likely have had to deal with this at least once. The question now is, what do you do when your flight gets cancelled?
1. Expect Flight Notifications
If your flight has been cancelled, you should get a notification from the airline. This notification should inform you of the reason behind the cancellation. If you did not get a notification before the departure date, you can contact the airline to request the reason why it was cancelled. The notification or the lack of it and the reason behind the cancellation can further help you when exercising your rights for compensation.
The EU Regulation Nr. 261/2004 requires airlines to inform customers about cancellations at least 14 days before departure. If the airline informed you on short notice, you may be entitled to compensation.
2. Know and Understand Your Passenger Rights on Flights
Knowing your rights as a passenger is the first step to getting compensated for a cancelled flight. You need to know if you’re eligible and what you’re entitled to.
Are You Eligible?
Following the EU Regulation 261, you must check the following eligibility criteria:
The airline was responsible for the cancellation
You checked in for your flight on time
Your flight was due to depart within the EU or land in the EU, for the latter the airline needs to have its headquarters in the EU
You encountered these problems on a flight operated in the last six years
What Are You Entitled to?
What you are entitled to is largely dependent on the flight distance, which is further broken down below.
Short distances up to 1500km, e.g. London – Edinburgh: €250 compensation
Medium distances up to 3500km, e.g. London – Athens: €400 compensation
Long distances more than 3500km, e.g. London – Tokyo: €600 compensation
3. Act Quickly
As soon as you learn of your flight cancellation, you must act quickly. Start by getting all your documents together, including receipts from any extra expenses you might have accrued as a result of the flight disruption. You can also contact your travel agent to know the next best steps you can take and consider rescheduling the flight.
Bottom Line
When a flight gets cancelled, it usually gets rescheduled. However, if you choose not to reschedule your flight with the same airline, you can request a full refund. Flight cancellations happen all the time but when you know what to do, you won’t always be at the losing end. This article highlights the major things you should know and do after a cancelled flight and you can seek help from professionals to make the best of it.
Are you planning to get the interior walls painted? Or did you get them painted? In both situations, you will automatically think about how long will your new paint lasts. The longevity of your interior wall paint depends on multiple factors. However, if you wish to have a freshly painted appearance and add more life to the interior paint, the guidelines in this article will help you.
Make use of high-end paints
When trying to choose the best paint shades for the home interior, it is essential to opt-in for the correct color. Also, it’s necessary to ensure that you get it from a quality paint manufacturer. If the paint quality is high, it will last you longer and not fade or get yellow from exposure to the sun. It can help you to save money and time in the long run. If you are looking for interior paint job see here.
When you opt for a high-end interior paint, you have the following advantages:
Secure the drywall – The high-end paint provides ample thickness to secure the drywall for the paint job to appear good for years.
Good pigment level – It indicates that you wouldn’t need many coats. The high-end paints can make the ceilings and walls appear shinier and brighter. It can last till smoke and cooking run their course.
Covers odors and food stains–The excellent quality paint can contain food odors and stains to provide a refreshing feel.
It’s durable –It indicates that the paint will cater to the wall and keep it free from blistering, mildew, cracking, peeling, and mold.
It’s wipeable – The high-end paint ensures that you can easily wipe food particles, scruffs, and fingerprints away.
You need to invest in maintenance
When you spend money and time repainting your house, it is essential to keep it looking good for a long time. It is necessary to:
Clean your wall –Most people clean their floors. By the same logic, they can clean their walls as well. Washing and cleaning the walls can make your paint last for a long time. You should pay attention to the spaces behind the television, close to cooking surfaces, and behind wall switches. You can opt-in for gentle cleansing, and it will work for you.
Make use of correct painting techniques and tools
Do you want to leverage your interior wall paint? If yes, it’s essential to join hands with a professional interior painter. It will ensure that you have access to the best techniques, tools, and paints for painting the wall. The best interior painters will help to ensure that your paint lasts longer by:
Preparing the walls correctly – From choosing the best paint primers to repairing drywall, you can always count on a professional to execute the task correctly.
Using the correct painting device – An interior paint job that lasts long needs the proper patching tools, paintbrushes, and spraying tools to execute the job well. Professional painters make use of the best devices and tools to ensure a good job.
Once you opt for these guidelines, you will find that your interior wall paint will last you for a longer time.
Medical science has developed so much in recent times that now impossible things have become possible. One such treatment is testosterone replacement therapy (TRT). But people do not get to know the fact about many such treatments in their entirety and form some misconceptions about what they can and cannot do. TRT may sound like an immediate and effective anti-aging treatment for men, but in actuality, its effectiveness in fighting age-related issues hasn’t yet been established. Let’s see what is known to us about TRT.
Testosterone and its functions
Testosterone is a male hormone that is produced in the testicles. It helps in maintaining men’s red blood cell production, fat distribution, bone density, facial and body hair, sex drive, muscle strength, muscle mass, and sperm production.
Testosterone and aging
During adolescence and early adulthood, testosterone level generally reaches its peak. But as you age, the level gradually diminishes by one to two percent a year after you turn 30. So, older men will have comparatively a lower testosterone level than younger men. It’s also mention-worthy that low testosterone levels can also happen due to a disease called hypogonadism.
Hypogonadism is a disease that hinders the ability to produce normal amounts of testosterone. It may be due to the problem of the testicles or the pituitary gland (that is known to regulate the functions of the testicles). Testosterone restoration therapy is fruitful for those people who suffer from this disease, and they are treated with pills, injections, gels, or patches. To know more, you can visit NovaGenix at Palm Beach Gardens.
Is declining testosterone level responsible for the signs and symptoms of aging?
Not always. Some symptoms that men can notice due to the declining hormone level are –
Physical changes
You may observe an increase in body weight, decreased bone density, reduced muscle bulk, and muscle strength. You can also experience body hair loss, swelling of breasts (gynecomastia), and less energy than before.
Emotional changes
Low testosterone leads to a decrease in self-confidence. You may even feel depressed, sad, or have a problem concentrating on things.
Changes in sexual function
You might experience low libido, fewer spontaneous erections, and even infertility.
Other factors also can lead to the occurrences of some of these symptoms. It can be the side effect of a medicine you might have been taking. Diabetes, thyroid, depression, or sleep issues can also cause such signs to occur.
Can TRT give you back your youth and vitality?
It’s a debatable question. Testosterone therapy has proven results in treating hypogonadism. But it is not clear whether it will help in the age reversal process in older men who are otherwise healthy. Though some men, after getting this therapy have reported that they feel much younger and energetic than before, there’s very little scientific evidence to support this claim.
Conclusion
If you think this therapy might help you, then the best thing you can do is consult your doctor regarding the pros and cons of the treatment. Your doctor is likely to run you through specific tests before determining whether you actually need testosterone therapy.
When it comes to absolute old yet gold building materials, wood tops the list for sure!
Apart from being accessible organically, it’s aesthetic in outlook and quite handy as well. It also has an interesting texture, shade, and character, making it a popular choice for houses, log cabin, and cottages.
Moving on, we will discuss wood and how you should know five things before using it for construction. So, let’s grasp more about the same below.
#1 Renewable, recyclable, natural
First of all, wood is renewable from scratch and is available naturally from the tree. Not only is it less pollutant but also cost-effective. The material is said to consume less energy with a recyclable potency.
Its recyclable nature makes it an eco-friendly material that keeps the environment clean. Waste woods produced during construction are convertible into brand new wooden products.
The material is nutrient-conducting, generated through various botanical species. It’s naturally available in different grain patterns and colors.
#2Carbon Positive
Carbon positive means a material that is beyond providing positive enrichment to the environment. With wood being carbon positive, it means that the material renders a positive effect on the atmosphere.
Timber takes considerable time to mature. Throughout the time period, it holds carbon dioxide. That’s why wood is regarded as a building material that stores carbon. Construction through wood fights climate change due to this carbon accumulation.
#3 Low-energy production
Keep note that timber, when manufactured, takes less fossil fuel energy per unit volume than other materials, including concrete, steel, aluminum. Overall, it limits the production of pollutants during the manufacturing process. Also, the energy required to make wooden products is related to the renewable energy source.
Due to carbon storage, the material uses lesser energy in the entire process. Be it harvesting, transporting, manufacturing, or installation, the energy is used less in each step.
#4 Health benefits
It has been seen that being surrounded by wood implements a positive effect on health. Be it schools. Home or work, wood is a salutary building material. First, it works by improving the emotional state and self-expression of an individual.
When you reside in a wooden environment, you are likely to feel more warm, comfortable, and relaxed. It administers a feeling of hovering in nature.
Likewise, wood enhances the air quality and keeps the humidity in moderation. It helps people to breathe more freely and effortlessly. Wood is also known for lowering blood pressure and heart rate, which contributes to a healthy cardiovascular system.
#5 Natural Insulator
Wood is a natural insulator that creates a boundary between both heat and cold. The material is secured with air holes within the cellular structure.
It also has a lower thermal conductivity as compared to other materials. Due to its natural insulation property, wood has the potential to provide a warm atmosphere in chilling climates.
Conclusion
So, these were some of the things you need to know when building with wood. Not only is it renewable and natural, but also an excellent insulator. Overall, it’s a worthwhile material to construct a sturdy yet attractive structure.
Bordeaux is the name of a wine appellation, a region and a city. And if you’re into wine, you’ve undoubtedly heard about Bordeaux wine. Sure, this is the source of some of the most highly praised wines globally, but Bordeaux is much more than that. The region is pure inspiration.
Understanding Bordeaux is no easy feat. After all, people have been making wine in the area since the Ancient Romans. Still, some things are easy to understand — the wine here is awesome! Here’s all you need to know about Bordeaux wine and what makes it unique. This is one of the most extraordinary wine regions in France and the planet!
Of course, modern Bordeaux is a bit younger than that. During the Middle Ages, the entire region of Aquitaine changed hands between the French and the British, which ended in the Hundred Years War. British wine lovers had cemented a long-lasting affair with Bordeaux wine — a relationship that still exists today.
Being a strategic port, Bordeaux soon established itself as a dominating force over the wine trade, and by 1855 some of today’s most prestigious wine estates or Chateaus were already set up and were considered the source of the finest wine in Europe.
The Finest Grapes
Bordeaux is famous for its unique set of wine grapes. The red varieties Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Cabernet Franc, amongst others, became synonyms with Bordeaux wine and are now some of the most planted grapes globally.
For white wines, winemakers in Bordeaux also have a unique collection of varieties: Sauvignon Blanc, Semillon and Muscadelle. These grapes evolved to thrive in Bordeaux’s moody climate, and winemakers learned to combine them in sophisticated blends that were (and still are) hard to match. Of course, Bordeaux wine is fantastic not only for its grapes but also for its terroir.
It’s All About the Terroir
Terroir is a French term for ‘sense of place’ and means that everything, from the weather to the types of soil, proximity to the ocean and even the rain and sunshine define the wine’s personality.
Bordeaux is truly blessed by an extraordinary terroir. Patches of gravel dot the land and are ideal for growing robust Cabernet. Clay soils, on the other hand, are moist and fertile — just what Merlot vines need. Add to that plenty of sunshine and the refreshing Oceanic breeze running through the Gironde estuary, and you get the perfect stage for crafting fine wine.
Extraordinary Producers
The grapes in Bordeaux are certainly on another level, but you need more than that to make wine of the highest quality. You need expertise, and there’s plenty of it in Bordeaux. Unlike other wine regions around the world, Chateaux is Bordeaux tend relatively few hectares of vineyards, and they often only make one wine.
No expense is spared in Bordeaux. World-class equipment, endless rows of exclusive oak barrels and expert hands make the most of every season, and quality is certainly much more important than quantity. You’ve surely seen some bottles of Bordeaux going for exorbitant prices; well, they’re justified. Making age-worthy wine is an expensive undertaking!
Age-worthiness Like No Other
What makes Bordeaux wine stand out is its quality and complexity, of course, and age-worthiness. The finest wine bottles evolve for decades, becoming more charming and intriguing with time. Let’s just say most red wine produced in the world is best enjoyed within the first five years. A premium bottle of fine Bordeaux is barely ready to be opened at age 10.
It comes as no surprise wine collectors love their Bordeaux. No wine cellar is complete without a few well-aged bottles of Bordeaux and enjoying a ‘birthday wine’ is not uncommon amongst those who can afford it. After all, who doesn’t want to taste a fifty-year-old wine on their birthday? Well, Bordeaux can help with that.
Delightful Wine at All Price Points
Bordeaux is widely misunderstood. There’s no doubt some of the most expensive wine bottles in the world are made in the region. Still, 90% of the wine produced in Bordeaux is not only affordable but of great value.
Bottles labelled simply as Bordeaux or Bordeaux Superieur can go for $20, and they’re by far more sophisticated than most wine produced elsewhere. And let’s not even get started with the region’s white wine; few wines on the market have a better quality-price ratio!
Bordeaux wine is not always expensive. In fact, it rarely is. You need not burn a hole in your pocket to try those meaty clarets and refreshing whites; the region can be enjoyed by all!
An Inspiration Worldwide
Bordeaux wine is truly exceptional. So much, that most other famous wine regions, from California to Australia and from Tuscany to South Africa, take inspiration from the region’s winemaking techniques and traditions.
Without Bordeaux, the world of wine as we know it would simply not exist. From the shape of wine bottles to the use of oak barrels, these are all plays borrowed from the French region’s playbook. You can safely say that, although great wine can come from anywhere, the original structured, oak-aged, age-worthy red wine is the one from Bordeaux. How’s that for a role model?
How Can you not Love Bordeaux Wine?
Bordeaux is a magical place; it has it all! The terroir, history and talent, the grapes, the popularity and the prestige. And although competition is fierce in today’s wine world, there’s always room for the classics, and few wine regions are as classic as Bordeaux.
What makes Bordeaux wine so popular? For red, white and even sweet wine, Bordeaux is just a classic wine style with history and tradition, and quality is a given. Just like we love classic cars and old movies, there’s something Bordeaux has that other regions don’t — Bordeaux is timeless.
In our day-to-day life, we enjoy the benefits of digital money transfer. It is allowing us to move through our daily transactions faster than ever before. A bank with net banking options is likely to get more customers than one that doesn’t. If you are such an agency looking for the security a website should have, you have come to the right place. You should not only focus on building a website that can handle money transactions. It should also provide a safe portal for doing so.
In this blog, we will discuss the security a website should have in this internet-driven era. Everyone has access to the internet these days, and it is only logical for you to implement all these security measures ASAP.
Which websites call for payment security?
Online payment security is usually the term used to describe the rules, regulations and protocols that serve as a shield for customer’s data, money and privacy. When you order something on Amazon and pay for it online, these online payment security measures actively secure your data against vulnerabilities.
The following are the kinds of website that needs to focus on improving their payment security.
1. eCommerce Websites.
2. Banking websites.
3. Financial institutions websites.
4. Casino websites.
Now, let’s move on to the part of the article that lists the various security measures that you should take.
1. Dedicated hosting:
This is the first step in ensuring that there are no secret backdoors to your website. You must have a dedicated server hosting your website rather than a shared server. A shared server is a weak link in your payment portal that any expert in hacking can break. Plus, it also offers your customers better speed.
2. Encryption:
Most browsers show that the website is not secure when it doesn’t have HTTPS. And those browsers are right. To get an HTTPS on your website address, you have to buy a Secure Sockets Layer encryption(SSL encryption). All websites with payment options must come with an SSL 256-bit encryption to make sure that all their customer data gets encrypted. Once you use this encryption, all the data the customer enters gets stored in an encoded format. Only someone with access to a key can decrypt the data. So, it is virtually unhackable.
3. DDoS Prevention:
DDoS is basically a type of cyberattack. This kind of attack by the hackers renders it impossible for actual customers to make use of a service. Thus, freezing all the data on your website server. Usually, this allows the hackers to siphon user information from your website. There are several ways to prevent these attacks. While looking for a dedicated hosting service, always choose a service that offers DDoS protection. This is one such way of preventing the attack.
4. Regular security scans:
Even with updated security protocols, you might be facing security challenges from time to time. So, it is better to identify any vulnerabilities before anything bad happens to your customer’s data and money. A website with good security should have regular vulnerability scans scheduled. For example, new casino sites have excellent security and regular updates. It can spot the areas that require attention before any kind of breach occurs.
5. CMS updates:
The content management system you run your website on gets regular updates from the providers. But it is your job to install those updates regularly. These security patches are what strengthens your website from the ever-growing cyber threats. Something as minor as these updates can save you from lawsuits from angry customers. Your website development and maintenance team should focus on ensuring that these security updates get implemented at the right time.
6. Intruder detection:
There can be instances where all your security efforts fail and someone breaches your system. From this moment forward, all the entries your customers make are at risk. This is why you should install an intruder detection system. Whenever your website detects a breach, you can deny the requests of customers to perform any other function until you fix the breach.
7. Regularly change the password:
As the website’s owner, you have a password that can access every element of your website. It is important that you change your password occasionally. Also, refrain from using passwords that you generally use for other accounts. Choose a web hosting service that has two-factor authentication. This involves you entering a password and authenticating it from a registered device. Thus, you can add an extra layer of security for all your customer transaction details, making their money transfers secure.
8. Educate your customers:
All the security measures you implement go to waste if your users do not adhere to them. So a secure website must advertise the security rules and regulations to follow. It prevents your users from making the wrong move while making online transactions.
9. Implement SET:
Secure Electronic Transaction is a process that ensures the confidentiality of all user information and payment data. It is a joint venture by MasterCard and VISA to secure the gateways of online payments.
10. Use tokenization:
While making online transactions, the customer enters the card details on your website. Then, your website uses that information to contact the banking server. It is important that you share these details through secure methods. One such method is tokenization. It is the process of cutting down information into small tokens of random numbers. Since it takes a lot of time to decrypt a token, it becomes nearly impossible for anyone to hack into those data.
Conclusion
Customers place a lot of trust in your website to enter their card details and make a transaction. You must remember that once a trust breaks, you can find yourself troubling to gain new customers. So, investing initially in security measures saves you a lot of revenue further down the line. Consider getting an encrypted backup service as well. As a financial institution or an eCommerce website, security must be your first and foremost priority.
Access to, and extensive understanding of, various information can be a game-changer when it comes to running a business. Because of that, many companies invest in tools and technologies to help them analyse valuable information that otherwise would be left unutilised.
One
example of this type of technology is the Geographic Information System (GIS)
that provides users with various geospatial data. This information can be used
as the basis of planning and management strategies to further improve your business.
But, how can you implement this technology in your venture?
In
this article, we will look further into the definition of GIS, how to use it in
your business, and talk about several examples of GIS-based software that could
help you out.
What Is GIS?
Geographic Information Systems is a technology related to any informational data about a geographic location. This spatial information lets users understand and problem-solve relationships, patterns, and trends within a specific area.
Most
GIS software works by displaying geographical imagery in the form of
cartographic, photographic, digital, or spreadsheet data. This technology has
become commonly used in various sectors like city development, navigation, and
business.
GIS
can provide you with useful data to improve various aspects of your business.
Even the simplified version of GIS technology such as Google Maps or Waze can
help you conduct some business processes more efficiently. Here, we will dive deeper into
how GIS can help you improve your business.
Using GIS to Improve Your Business
GIS
has a wide range of functionality and can be used in various business
processes, ranging from marketing strategies to technical processes like
logistics and delivery route efficiency.
Let’s take a look at five ways to utilise GIS to improve your business.
1. Identify Brand Preferences
Some GIS applications can be used to identify the population’s buying habits and brand preferences within a specific geographic area. Brand preference is essential because it helps you predict customers’ loyalty, the best marketing tactics, and the strength of your brand. The Marketing Science Institute (MSI) study found that superior brand preferences can influence price premiums of 26% on average, even when brand quality is the same. This shows how understanding brand preferences can improve your chances of having a successful campaign.
Keep
in mind that brand preferences can’t be built overnight. You have to follow a set of methods to develop a fine-tuned
brand preference within your target market. However, it is a good idea to
evaluate your potential using GIS before deciding where to build your brand.
2. Analyse Customer Segmentation
Understanding
customer’s backgrounds and characteristics are essential when building a
business. People tend to have different needs and preferences depending on
where they live.
Therefore, your company needs to organise a clear customer segmentation by conducting geospatial analytics.
Using
GIS lets you extract customer data based on demographics, socioeconomic
background, and location. With this information, your team can develop targeted
marketing strategies to engage existing customers better and gain more
attention from new audiences.
3. Improve Business Logistics and Supply Chain
Extensive knowledge about your area plays an important role in logistics and supply chain efficiency. GIS helps you identify areas with the heaviest demand and shows where to place your storage or manufacturing plant for the most efficiency.
GIS also lets you optimise delivery routes and accelerate shipping times. Some navigation applications like Waze can help you determine the most efficient route based on distances, speed limits, and traffic signal locations.
This
is very important, especially if your business is located in a large city with
heavy traffic. Since around 80% of online shoppers expect same-day delivery,
an efficient shipping system can really benefit your business.
4. Asset Management
Good asset management and preventive maintenance strategy let businesses maximise an asset’s useful life and avoid unplanned downtimes. A survey showed that preventative maintenance is the top priority for 80% of maintenance personnel.
GIS mapping lets companies conduct preventive maintenance by identifying the most cost-effective way to use, manage, and replace their assets. Construction, utilities, and energy companies that typically own numerous physical assets may use features like real-time asset monitoring from GIS software.
GPS tracking offered by some GIS solutions lets you track the location of technicians while they are on duty. Some software also has 3-D visualisation that lets you create 3-D models of your assets and buildings to visualise their location and condition better.
5. Conduct Competitive Analysis
Competitive
analysis is a process of identifying your competitors’ strengths and weaknesses
and comparing them with your own. Based on this analysis, a business can
identify opportunities for growth and discover the best strategies in order to
thrive in the industry.
GIS mapping can help you visualise competitors’ business movements and their areas of influence. This data can be used as a basis for various business decisions, such as the best location to place a shop while avoiding strong competitors.
Example of GIS Software for Business
There
are numerous GIS solutions available in the market to help your business
improve its operations and growth. Let’s take a look at four recommended
software you should consider.
Google Maps is arguably the most popular option when it comes to digital mapping platforms. It has various useful features such as driving directions, Street View panorama, and various styles of maps.
The cost for using Google Maps API on your website might vary depending on the number of requests you get. For example, a static maps solution is £1.50 per 1000 requests, and anything below that won’t cost you anything.
BatchGeo is a GIS tool that lets you create maps with your spreadsheet data. It accepts addresses, intersections, cities, states, and postal codes. Some features offered by BatchGeo including map badges, map grouping, and website integration.
BatchGeo Pro is available for £72/month, but it also offers a free tool if you want to check out some of the basic features.
Salesforce Maps is a location intelligence tool with useful features like live tracking, route optimization, and territory planning. It can help your company plan and manage business more efficiently using various geospatial data.
The basic version of Salesforce Maps is available for £55/month for each user. However, the advanced version and some addons are available for additional costs.
QGIS is an open-source GIS software to help you visualise, manage, edit, analyse data, and compose printable maps. It also has various plugins that further expand its functionality. QGIS is available for desktop, server, web client, and mobile devices.
Conclusion
GIS
can provide companies with various valuable information regarding their market
location to further improve their business processes. This data is valuable
when used as a basis for business planning and other administrative tasks.
In
this article, we talked about five ways GIS can improve your business,
including:
Identify brand preferences
Analyse customer segmentation
Improve business logistics and supply chain
Asset management
Conduct competitive analysis
We
also looked at four examples of GIS software you might want to consider for
your business process.
The
opportunities available when using GIS can be limitless. As technological
development continues, the potential applications of GIS for business are
likely to also grow exponentially.
Crumpets,
a quintessentially British snack (Welsh to be specific); reminiscent of chilly
afternoons and most typically, teatime. A couple of toasted crumpets probably
does not hit the spot as a main meal, but as a snack there are a raft of
possibilities. What to spread them with is a debate of its own. Should they be
sweet, savoury, simple or fancy, surely anything goes? Here, the new ‘wonky
bread’ online rescue service, Earth
& Wheat,
which includes ultra-fresh wonky crumpets in its planet friendly subscription
box, takes a look at both sides of this argument.
THE SWEET
Jam
/ Fruit Curd
Once
buttered, whilst we would suggest less is more, you cannot go wrong with your
favourite jam or curd here, or marmalade if your tastes are more… Paddington.
As a sweet snack a buttered crumpet with strawberry jam cannot fail to hit the
spot.
Chocolate
Spread
If
you are fortunate enough to find some left in the jar, chocolate spread,
especially the well-known Hazelnut variety, is a popular crumpet accompaniment.
It might be more so for the under 12’s but nevertheless, using your wonky crumpets
as an excuse for a chocolatey, nutty boost is understandable. You do lose the
crispy texture of a toasted crumpet under these thicker spreads though, so if
you are a true fan of the humble crumpet, you may wish to steer away from
these.
Honey
For many, crumpets are a snack that is enjoyed as a weekend ‘brunch’ time offering as well as the traditional teatime slot. If you have never tried them with honey then frankly, do. Better still, take a tip from chef Marcus Wareing and melt a few tablespoons of honey, cool a little and then blend with around half a block of butter, so you have home-made honey butter. This makes the flavour combination work perfectly on the textured crumpet, in a similar way to the oh-so-popular salted caramel… everything.
Fruit
& Yoghurt
If you are devoted to crumpets as a sweet snack, but dare not to develop a love for them with jam or syrup, then enjoy your crumpets toasted, served with a dollop of Greek yoghurt and some warmed berries with a pinch of mixed spice. Top off with just a drizzle of honey for a swift snack that adds a bit of protein and one of your five a day in just 10 minutes of effort. Thank the Hairy Bikers for the inspiration.
Syrup
Their
fluffy texture, mouth-watering way of soaking up buttery, sweet deliciousness
suggests that just like pancakes, crumpets will favour the addition of a touch
of syrup. Whether you like golden or maple, spoon on a little of your favourite
and enjoy. If you are in the camp of sweet toppings, it does not get sweeter
than this.
THE
SAVOURY
If
you do NOT favour sweet things and are a sucker for a savoury snack, then what
are some options?
Butter
Some
would say the original is best. If this is your topping of choice the best
advice is do not hold back. Save a thin veil of butter for your sandwiches, a
buttered crumpet is not that at all unless the butter is soaking through its
holes to the plate beneath.
Marmite
As
we all know, this is not for everyone, but love it or hate it, on a crumpet it
works, provided the butter is there already. So, if you are in the camp of
crumpets as a savoury snack and you are not a hater, then be our guest.
Cheese
As a
savoury snack, a crumpet, warm and buttered with a good couple of slices of
mature cheddar is a good call. Melt the cheese and you have got a rather greasy
mess going on, but each to their own. Just have the cutlery handy.
Crispy
Bacon and Eggs
As a
snack this may be a little much on effort; with protein and a good variety of
textures, a runny yolk to moisten the crumpet, this is definitely worth the
wait.
‘Crumpizza’
We get it, when you do not have pizza, anything that can hit the spot as a stand in is a good fallback plan. A quick sweep of tomato puree, a sprinkle of grated cheese and a smattering of oregano and you are good to go. Just know that if you have any teens in your house, any crumpets will soon be demolished before you have had a chance to decide what you will have on yours.
By 
