Planting the seeds: Why adopting automation today will help grow your business tomorrow

Business News

By taking the leap into automation, UK businesses can unlock unparalleled efficiencies, driving innovation, and positioning themselves for long-term success.For many businesses, working hard has been replaced by a new mantra: working smart.Though it may sound cliché, working smart enables your business to make efficiencies, maximise creativity, and harness technology to achieve more with less effort.It’s important to note however that this shift is not about cutting corners: it’s about driving productivity and adapting to the realities of our modern economy, where marginal gains make all the difference. And, when it comes to working smart, one of the most powerful tools a business has at its disposal is automation.Whether you’re a startup striving for growth, a mid-sized company looking to scale, or a large enterprise focused on maintaining a competitive edge, automation offers many transformative benefits.In this article we’ll delve deeper into the advantages automation presents to companies of all sizes and the role it can play in driving your own business forward.Automation is accessibleOne of the most compelling aspects of automation is its universal applicability. Contrary to popular belief, automation is now accessible to businesses of all sizes due to advancements in technology and the availability of cost-effective tools.Cloud-based platforms and software-as-a-service (SaaS) solutions allow small businesses to automate tasks like customer service using chatbots, social media management with tools like Buffer, or invoicing with apps like QuickBooks.Meanwhile, larger enterprises can employ more complex automation, such as robotic process automation (RPA) for streamlining operations. These tools are scalable, affordable, and require minimal technical expertise, making automation a practical solution for any business aiming to increase efficiency and reduce costs.Boosts productivity and efficiencyAutomation significantly enhances efficiency by streamlining repetitive tasks, reducing the time and effort required to complete them. For instance, automating customer relationship management (CRM) tasks, such as follow-up emails or data entry, empowers teams to focus on higher-value activities like building client relationships and developing strategic initiatives.Moreover, automation can lead to a substantial increase in productivity. Automated processes run 24/7, ensuring that critical tasks are completed without the delays associated with human intervention. This can be particularly beneficial for small businesses that may not have the resources to operate around the clock.Reduces costsWhile there is an initial investment involved in implementing automation, the long-term savings can be substantial. By reducing the need for manual labour, automation helps businesses cut down on operational costs. For example, automating inventory management can reduce errors and minimise excess stock, leading to significant savings in inventory holding costs.For smaller businesses, this can be a game-changer. With fewer resources at their disposal, SMEs often operate on thin margins. Automation allows these businesses to optimise their resources, ensuring that every pound spent contributes directly to growth and profitability.Improves accuracy and consistencyHuman error is inevitable, but it can be costly. Automation enhances accuracy by eliminating the variability associated with manual processes. Whether it’s processing transactions, managing data, or handling customer inquiries, automated systems perform tasks with precision and consistency.For mid-sized companies, where operations are expanding but resources are still limited, maintaining accuracy is crucial. Errors in data management, for example, lead to poor decision-making and lost opportunities. With automation, in-play data is accurate, up-to-date, and reliable, enabling better strategic decisions.Easily enables businesses to scale and flexibleAs businesses grow, their processes must scale accordingly.Automation provides the scalability that companies need to expand without proportionally increasing their overheads. This is particularly important for startups and SMEs, where rapid growth can strain existing resources. Automation enables these businesses to scale their operations seamlessly, meeting increased demand without compromising on quality or customer service.Moreover, automation offers the flexibility to adapt to changing business needs. Automated systems can be easily reconfigured to accommodate new processes, products, or market conditions, providing businesses with the agility to stay competitive.Enhances customer experienceIn today’s competitive marketplace, customer experience is a key differentiator. Automation can significantly enhance customer satisfaction by providing a faster, more efficient service. For instance, automated chatbots can handle customer inquiries in real-time, providing instant responses to common questions and freeing up human agents to handle more complex issues.For large enterprises, where customer interactions are often high-volume, automation ensures that no customer is left waiting. For smaller businesses, automation enables them to provide a level of service that rivals larger competitors, helping them build and maintain customer relationships.Provides valuable data-driven insightsAutomation doesn’t just perform tasks—it generates valuable data that can provide insights into business operations. By analysing this data, businesses can identify trends, optimise processes, and make informed decisions.For example, automated systems can track customer behaviour, providing insights into purchasing patterns that can inform marketing strategies. For businesses of all sizes, these insights are invaluable for staying ahead of the competition and responding to market changes proactively.The future of business will be powered by automationThe future of business is undoubtedly automated. As technology continues to advance, the scope of automation will only expand, encompassing more complex tasks and processes. Businesses that embrace automation today will be well-positioned to leverage these future developments, gaining a competitive edge in their industries.For small and medium-sized businesses, the journey to automation may seem daunting, but the rewards are worth the effort. By starting with simple, high-impact processes and gradually expanding automation efforts, businesses can achieve significant gains in efficiency, productivity, and profitability.Automation is no doubt a powerful tool that can drive growth, enhance efficiency, and improve customer satisfaction for businesses of all sizes. By embracing automation, companies are unlocking their full potential, ensuring long-term success in an increasingly competitive and dynamic business environment.If you’re a looking to gain a better understanding on the right automation tools to help drive your business forward, head over to the Vodafone V-Hub to speak with a dedicated adviser today – either over the phone or online – free of charge. Share via:

Planting the seeds: Why adopting automation today will help grow your business tomorrow

Business News

By taking the leap into automation, UK businesses can unlock unparalleled efficiencies, driving innovation, and positioning themselves for long-term success.For many businesses, working hard has been replaced by a new mantra: working smart.Though it may sound cliché, working smart enables your business to make efficiencies, maximise creativity, and harness technology to achieve more with less effort.It’s important to note however that this shift is not about cutting corners: it’s about driving productivity and adapting to the realities of our modern economy, where marginal gains make all the difference. And, when it comes to working smart, one of the most powerful tools a business has at its disposal is automation.Whether you’re a startup striving for growth, a mid-sized company looking to scale, or a large enterprise focused on maintaining a competitive edge, automation offers many transformative benefits.In this article we’ll delve deeper into the advantages automation presents to companies of all sizes and the role it can play in driving your own business forward.Automation is accessibleOne of the most compelling aspects of automation is its universal applicability. Contrary to popular belief, automation is now accessible to businesses of all sizes due to advancements in technology and the availability of cost-effective tools.Cloud-based platforms and software-as-a-service (SaaS) solutions allow small businesses to automate tasks like customer service using chatbots, social media management with tools like Buffer, or invoicing with apps like QuickBooks.Meanwhile, larger enterprises can employ more complex automation, such as robotic process automation (RPA) for streamlining operations. These tools are scalable, affordable, and require minimal technical expertise, making automation a practical solution for any business aiming to increase efficiency and reduce costs.Boosts productivity and efficiencyAutomation significantly enhances efficiency by streamlining repetitive tasks, reducing the time and effort required to complete them. For instance, automating customer relationship management (CRM) tasks, such as follow-up emails or data entry, empowers teams to focus on higher-value activities like building client relationships and developing strategic initiatives.Moreover, automation can lead to a substantial increase in productivity. Automated processes run 24/7, ensuring that critical tasks are completed without the delays associated with human intervention. This can be particularly beneficial for small businesses that may not have the resources to operate around the clock.Reduces costsWhile there is an initial investment involved in implementing automation, the long-term savings can be substantial. By reducing the need for manual labour, automation helps businesses cut down on operational costs. For example, automating inventory management can reduce errors and minimise excess stock, leading to significant savings in inventory holding costs.For smaller businesses, this can be a game-changer. With fewer resources at their disposal, SMEs often operate on thin margins. Automation allows these businesses to optimise their resources, ensuring that every pound spent contributes directly to growth and profitability.Improves accuracy and consistencyHuman error is inevitable, but it can be costly. Automation enhances accuracy by eliminating the variability associated with manual processes. Whether it’s processing transactions, managing data, or handling customer inquiries, automated systems perform tasks with precision and consistency.For mid-sized companies, where operations are expanding but resources are still limited, maintaining accuracy is crucial. Errors in data management, for example, lead to poor decision-making and lost opportunities. With automation, in-play data is accurate, up-to-date, and reliable, enabling better strategic decisions.Easily enables businesses to scale and flexibleAs businesses grow, their processes must scale accordingly.Automation provides the scalability that companies need to expand without proportionally increasing their overheads. This is particularly important for startups and SMEs, where rapid growth can strain existing resources. Automation enables these businesses to scale their operations seamlessly, meeting increased demand without compromising on quality or customer service.Moreover, automation offers the flexibility to adapt to changing business needs. Automated systems can be easily reconfigured to accommodate new processes, products, or market conditions, providing businesses with the agility to stay competitive.Enhances customer experienceIn today’s competitive marketplace, customer experience is a key differentiator. Automation can significantly enhance customer satisfaction by providing a faster, more efficient service. For instance, automated chatbots can handle customer inquiries in real-time, providing instant responses to common questions and freeing up human agents to handle more complex issues.For large enterprises, where customer interactions are often high-volume, automation ensures that no customer is left waiting. For smaller businesses, automation enables them to provide a level of service that rivals larger competitors, helping them build and maintain customer relationships.Provides valuable data-driven insightsAutomation doesn’t just perform tasks—it generates valuable data that can provide insights into business operations. By analysing this data, businesses can identify trends, optimise processes, and make informed decisions.For example, automated systems can track customer behaviour, providing insights into purchasing patterns that can inform marketing strategies. For businesses of all sizes, these insights are invaluable for staying ahead of the competition and responding to market changes proactively.The future of business will be powered by automationThe future of business is undoubtedly automated. As technology continues to advance, the scope of automation will only expand, encompassing more complex tasks and processes. Businesses that embrace automation today will be well-positioned to leverage these future developments, gaining a competitive edge in their industries.For small and medium-sized businesses, the journey to automation may seem daunting, but the rewards are worth the effort. By starting with simple, high-impact processes and gradually expanding automation efforts, businesses can achieve significant gains in efficiency, productivity, and profitability.Automation is no doubt a powerful tool that can drive growth, enhance efficiency, and improve customer satisfaction for businesses of all sizes. By embracing automation, companies are unlocking their full potential, ensuring long-term success in an increasingly competitive and dynamic business environment.If you’re a looking to gain a better understanding on the right automation tools to help drive your business forward, head over to the Vodafone V-Hub to speak with a dedicated adviser today – either over the phone or online – free of charge. Share via:

Scientists unveiled the veil of fiery gas around the disc of the Milky Way

Science and Health

Our galaxy, the Milky Way, contains more gas than stars, and this abundant gas is the primary source of star formation. However, its diffuse nature makes it challenging for astronomers to observe and measure the gas.

Decades ago, studies revealed that the Milky Way is surrounded by a massive gas sphere heated to a few million degrees Kelvin, extending up to 700,000 light years. This heat is thought to result from the galaxy’s gravity, causing atoms to move rapidly to avoid being pulled in.

More recently, scientists discovered even hotter gas, reaching around ten million degrees Kelvin, evidenced by faint X-ray emissions across the galaxy and its presence in the spectra of distant quasars.

A new area of research has emerged as astronomers try to identify the sources responsible for heating and sustaining the scorching gas surrounding the Milky Way. In collaboration with IIT-Palakkad and Ohio State University, Raman Research Institute (RRI) scientists have proposed a model to explain this mysterious source in two related studies.

Their findings confirm that the gas responsible for emitting and absorbing X-rays detected by astronomers differs. The X-ray emitting gas originates from a puffed-up region around the Milky Way’s stellar disk.

This hot gas is heated by the explosions of massive stars in the disk, which occur due to ongoing star formation. These supernovae raise the gas temperature to extreme levels.

Mukesh Singh Bisht, PhD student at RRI, said, “As “uch, explosions keep heating the gas floating around the disc of the Milky Way, and they enrich the gaseous matter with elements synthesized within massive stars.”

The turbulent gas surrounding the Milky Way’s disc is either swept into the surrounding medium or cools and falls back onto the disc as it swirls violently. In absorption studies, astronomers were surprised by the gas’s extremely high temperatures and its elemental composition.

The gas was found to be enriched with α-elements, which are vital building blocks of heavier elements in the universe. This discovery added a new layer of complexity to understanding the gas surrounding the galaxy.

Biman Nath, faculty at RRI and one of the contributory authors in both papers, said, “This fiery gas, at least in a few directions, seems to be enriched with large quantities of α-elements, such as Sulphur, Magnesium, neon, etc., whose nuclei are nothing but multiples of Helium nuclei. This is a vital clue of nuclear reactions occurring within the stellar core. These elements are thrown out of massive stars during supernovae explosions.”

While thousands of run-away stars are ejected from the Milky Way’s disc, those that explode as supernovae above the disc could generate puffed-up, α-enriched gas. If these supernovae align with the light from distant quasars, the atoms in the hot gas will absorb the quasar’s light, creating shadow signals that explain the observed absorbing gas.

Meanwhile, a fiery veil of hot gas surrounds the Milky Way’s disc, continuously fueled by ongoing star formation in the stellar disc. As Bisht, one of the researchers involved in the study, stated, this explains the X-ray emission from the hot gas.

Journal Reference:

Mukesh Singh Bisht et al. On the Origin of the 107 K Hot Emitting Gas in the Circumgalactic Medium of the Milky Way. The Astrophysical Journal. DOI 10.3847/1538-4357/ad77c0

New group for book lovers in Derbyshire’s artsy town

Arts & Culture, Books

Belper Book Club organiser Jennifer Allsopp, pictured in the Italian city of Florence where she spent a lot of time reading Dante and connecting with the refugee community.A university academic is launching a new chapter in the arts offering of a Derbyshire town.Jennifer Allsopp is one of the driving forces behind Belper Book Club which will meet for the first time on December 4 at No 28 in the Market Place.Monthly get-togethers will continue to be held there on the last Thursday of the month from January 2025.Jennifer, 37, moved to Belper in 2023 after living in Florence and Rome where she worked as a visiting professor for a year. An academic at the University of Birmingham where her primary research concerns refugee policy, she previously worked for two years at Harvard University and more than a decade in Oxford.No 28 in the Market Place will host meetings of the new Belper Book Club from December 4.”I found Belper to be a really thriving small cultural community,” she said. “One of the ‘must haves’ on my moving list was that the town would have a local bookshop so I was thrilled to find Dormouse Books. I was also really excited by the range of events on at the community hub No 28 Belper which includes comedy nights, pop up art classes and foreign language conversation evenings. I was nevertheless surprised to find that such a bustling artsy town didn’t have a book club. I studied literature for my first degree and am a huge bookworm.”I contacted Stephanie Limb, the owner of Dormouse Books who was happy to collaborate so we put some feelers on social media to see if there was any interest – there was! Our post got over 100 likes and lots of positive comments and at the recommendation of the community we chose six books to kick us off that are a mix of classics and modern fiction by local and international authors.”We’re kicking off with Frankenstein since it’s one of my favourite books. People think it’s a horror story which in some ways it is, but it’s also a very romantic tale about the human need for love, care and companionship. Mary Shelley herself suffered greatly in her life including being sidelined by her husband Percy Shelley and undergoing multiple miscarriages and one way of reading the book is to see Frankenstein’s creature as an expression of her own desperate desire to love and be loved – about how when we’re denied that love we can turn in on ourselves and become lonely and bitter. In Frankenstein’s creature – I’m loth to call him a monster – we see that absence of connection and love taken to the extreme. The creature is abandoned by its creator and shunned by the community when it tries to form bonds, an experience that many stigmatised people can relate to today. Most people will have an old school book of the text kicking around at home and because it’s so familiar it seemed a good place to start.”The next session we’ll be reading the latest novel by local author Ian McGregor, Lean Fall Stand which discusses how a couple navigate the explorer husband’s brain injury and then we’ll be covering some award winning international authors including Min Jin Lee and Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie. We’ll also be reading Wuthering Heights for which we’re planning an accompanying walk in the moors where it was set.Stephanie Limb at Dormouse Books, on the Market Place, has helped to get the new Belper Book Club up and running.”Each month we’ll come together to discuss the book and our thoughts and feelings around it.”We’ve already had around 30 people sign up so we’ll likely break into two smaller groups. Number 28 is the perfect space for an event like this. People can bring snacks and wine and get to know their neighbours in a welcoming environment while exploring new worlds. I can’t wait to get started!”Jennifer is an author whose latest publication documents a year that she spent reading Dante’s Divine Comey with refugees in Italy. She said: “I would never have thought a 21 year old refugee would be moved to tears by Dante’s experience of exile some 700 years ago but that’s the power of the written word – it transcends place and time and gives us a new vocabulary to discuss our own experience through empathising with that of the characters or author. Who knows what the people of Belper will find in their literary travels and what points of connection with cultures past and present.”Continue Reading

USA’s FCC announces final rules for C-V2X use in 5.9GHz band

Technology

The USA’s Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has adopted final rules for cellular-vehicle-to-everything (C-V2X) technology.
The Report and Order, released November 21, 2024, after a unanimous vote by the bipartisan Commission, promotes efficient use of 30 megahertz of spectrum dedicated for ITS in the 5.9GHz band.

The spectrum available for ITS was reduced by 45MHz by an FCC decision in 2020, with subsequent attempts by transportation bodies to overturn the ruling proving unsuccessful. However, the new rules now provide final clarity on how the remaining 30MHz can be used by C-V2X in-vehicle and roadside units in the US.
The Order permits devices that have already been authorized under C-V2X waivers to continue to be marketed and operated, and provides a timeline for sunsetting existing Dedicated Short-Range Communications (DSRC)-based technology.
It codifies C-V2X technical parameters in the Commission’s rules, including power and emission limits and message prioritization.
Bryan Mulligan
“We are pleased that the FCC has approved the widespread deployment of C-V2X technology to improve roadway safety,” said Bryan Mulligan, president of Applied Information, one of North America’s leaders in connected-vehicle technology. “Now communities can focus on the benefits of C-V2X and work to deploy this life-saving technology.
“We expect to see accelerated deployment across the US focusing on Day One applications, such as giving emergency vehicles green lights for better and safer response times and reducing speeds of vehicles around schools.”
For nearly a decade, Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel has led a bipartisan push to reconsider the best use of the 5.9GHz band that had long been designated for automobile safety technology.
Jessica Rosenworcel
“The FCC’s efforts to evolve the 5.9 GHz band are a win-win. It drives innovation in our wireless and transportation economies and can help keep us safe on our roadways when we walk, ride and drive,” says FCC chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel. “I thank the FCC staff, as well as federal and state partners, for their dedication to this game-changing spectrum project.”
The rules also provide flexibility for the auto industry to use three 10-megahertz channels either separately or in combination as a 20-megahertz channel or as a single 30-megahertz channel.
The FCC says that the new rules will accelerate the automotive industry and state and federal government plans for transitioning from dated technology to the more advanced C-V2X automobile safety technology.

Louise Erdrich on ‘The Mighty Red’ and how her legendary books came to be

Arts & Culture, Books

Literary legend Louise Erdrich joined Jenna Bush Hager’s book club last month when her latest novel, “The Mighty Red,” was chosen as a pick.Warm and wise, “The Mighty Red” is a polyphonic novel following members of a close-knit North Dakota community in the mid-2000s, many of whom are Indigenous. Kismet, the 18-year-old daughter of Crystal, a single mother, finds herself in a love triangle. She’s between Gary, the heir to a beet farm empire who just proposed, and Hugo, her best friend who happens to be in love with her.Erdrich told TODAY.com the novel was inspired by her first job working at a beet farm when she was 13. “I was part of an all-girl crew, up before dawn. The hard work has given me a lasting sympathy for field labor and for people who work in the sugar industry,” Erdrich said.A member of the Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa, Erdrich’s award-winning, best-selling novels center around Native American communities. Her novel “The Night Watchman,” which won the Pulitzer Prize in 2021, was inspired by her grandfather, Patrick Gourneau.Erdrich is also the owner of an indie bookstore, Birchbark Books in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Her 2021 novel “The Sentence” is set at an independent bookstore in Minneapolis).Below, Erdrich answered 10 questions about “The Mighty Red” and her writing career — including whether she plans to write more novels in her “Love Medicine” series and the characters she still misses.TODAY IllustrationOf your many books, is there a book, a character or storyline that has stayed with you the most, or that you’re proudest of? There are parts of each of my books that I like and parts I’d love to change. I’m going to answer this as characters I miss writing the most. Those would be 13-year-old Joe in “The Round House” and Tookie in “The Sentence.” Somehow, who they turned out to be the ones that resonated most for me. Sometimes a character reveals a side of yourself you didn’t know about.Where do you get your inspiration — and when do you know you’ve landed on an idea for a novel? When I say that I start hearing voices, it sounds unreal, but that’s essentially what happens. Lines and phrases take shape, I write them on scraps of paper and tape them in a notebook. Eventually one of those scraps leads to a little more, then a lot more, then a whole world.What is your favorite part of owning a bookstore? Independent local bookstores, like Birchbark Books, bring a lot of comfort to people. Readers have a questing intelligence I really love. That curious bent of mind is something I really value, and the love of books is infectious. I love our customers — selling books is much more than a simple transaction.  There are so many favorite things!You compared writing a character to dealing with a “complicated phone bot.” How do you know when the character has come alive? Yes, writing a character really is like working your way through a complicated phone bot until you get a real person on the other end of the line. Sometimes you have to trick your way through the system many times. Getting a character is like hearing a real voice on the other end of the line, someone who will respond even when you say something irrational, or laugh at a joke. What does your ideal writing day look like? I’ve yet to have one — I write at any time and just try to fit writing into a host of other requirements. I suppose an ideal day is when I write something that hits me emotionally.Are you currently working on another book? I always start a new book before I finish a book. That way I have something to look forward to.Which book of yours was the hardest to write? “The Mighty Red” was extremely difficult — I have a whole other book made of back stories that I had to cut.Can we look forward to more ‘Love Medicine’ books? Not out of the question!Do you prefer to write with a computer, old fashioned pen and paper or a combination of both?I write everything out by hand at first, then I edit those pages and at last type the pages into a computer. Then I print the pages out and go back to editing by hand. I don’t edit on a computer because I might lose the old version and I like seeing handwriting again.What was the biggest hurdle that you had to clear to become a published author?Learning how to write a plot. I wrote for women’s magazines like Redbook and Ladies Home Journal when they printed stories and paid well. I thought I was a poet and was doing this to help support my poetry, but in fact, I liked writing stories and kept doing so in more innovative ways, incorporating my love of engaging language and complicated histories. Eventually I wrote “Love Medicine.”