News - Page 13 of 16

The Transformation of Customer Service in the Digital Age

ENKI Team June 5, 2019

Brands must elevate their customer service to suit the online generation in the digital age. The Internet has completely transformed how individuals engage with brands, and in the past two decades, customer experience has become the driving force behind the digital transformation of modern brands. Most digital marketers urge brands to embrace digitalization because digitally mature brands are much more likely to influence the market in which they exist.

Social media and innovative technology have altered customers’ expectations of the brands they consume. Customers now expect instant results and seamless connectivity. For many, this means that brands have a distinct presence on social media, are accessible and cross-functional across smart devices, and keep in contact with their customers. They also expect brands to know what they want, sometimes, even before they know it themselves. Brands that are unwilling to revolutionize the way they market to their potential customers are doomed to failure. Brands must keep up with current trends and predict customer behavior if they hope to stay relevant.

To close the gap between a brand and its hopeful audience, a brand must understand their customer. Predictive analytics can help a brand compete with the ever-changing interests of their customer base by allowing them to utilize the data that their customers produce to get a clear picture of who their customers are and what drives them. Brands can then make profiles of their ideal customer and cater their marketing strategy to attract them using the context generated by that data. Automation and AI with machine learning capabilities allow brands unprecedented access to customer data and the power to cipher through it faster than any person ever could. Designing a digital marketing strategy that is unique to a brand and personal to the customer base they hope to reach will help to advantage a brand against its competitors.

Consumers are changing. Any brand that hopes to keep up must evolve. Digital literacy and progression are paramount for emerging brands to survive and thrive in any market. Brands that tether their digital transformation to customer experience tend to have a competitive edge because they are better positioned to predict what their customers will want.

What is Success? 13 steps mini-guide!

ENKI Team May 31, 2019

Let’s turn “impossible” to “I’m Possible”! You came in this life for one and only one reason: to live your life full of love and in bliss!

Set aside mind, feelings, and fear… Success is 13 steps away from you to claim it!

Clear target, which should be according to your talents
Your educational background
The skills you need to learn and have not mastered yet
Organize your ideas and create a plan with concrete milestones,
Be disciplined. Not hypochondriac or maniac. Just understand what has to be done, will be done and is only a step closer to reaching your target,
Maintain your state of body, mind and feelings in balance. Do not exaggerate on stretching any of them.
Do not associate yourself with how others – your ideas and life are unique and guided by yourself.
Listen to your heart but always check what exists in the market. Your most innovative ideas still have space.
Do not feel that you are “miss something”. Fulfillment comes from understanding what is really missing and cannot be covered with what it is easy. The apparent is covered by the easy solution,
Do not wait for any acknowledgment by anyone apart from yourself.
Be conscious of your present state, do not overestimate or underestimate yourself. In both cases, work harder to evolve.
Persistence. Most lost the big opportunity just because they didn’t accomplish a final effort.
Doing things you do not like, may happen only in the case where these will assist your target.
Try to excel yourself. Do not stagnate. Keep your mind and heart boiling.
Love what you do.

Technological advancement has had a significant impact on society and social interaction. The invention of the telephone shortened the time messages took to get across the country from a few weeks to a few minutes. The creation of the internet meant that individuals separated by borders and time zones could now connect with anyone anywhere. The internet’s rise caused a significant economic boom in the 1990s, which led to some of the most successful companies in the 21st century. With the internet came digital networks. With digital networks came another evolution in social interaction. And the change in human interaction in the digital age is no more evident than in the way we date each other.

Dating: A Brief History

Matchmaking is nothing new, but the internet has made it profoundly different. For centuries humans have engaged in the practice in both formal and informal ways.[1]

The first recorded “dating ads” appeared shortly after the invention of the newspaper in 1690. Before then, matchmaking was primarily left to family or influential community figures like village elders, priests, or rabbis. Prior to the 20th century, matchmaking and marriage were largely formal transactions predicated on ensuring family wealth and prosperity than love. But with the rise of the Civil Rights Movement and Sexual Revolution, the fight for gender equality, and women’s entrance into the formal workplace, the process of dating and marriage had begun to evolve into a more informal and personal experience. Women were no longer legally considered property. With the advent of birth control and the legalization of abortion, they had much more freedom and agency regarding family planning. As a result, casual dating became much more popular.

Rather than seeking the help of a religious leader or a village elder, individuals are increasingly turning to the internet for companionship and friendship. Currently, there are over 8,000 online dating sites and apps worldwide, and the number is only getting bigger. So how does online dating work?

The Dating Algorithm

Many online dating platforms claim to be infinitely better at creating better, more successful, longer-lasting relationships than traditional dating. And many online dating platforms claim to be able to achieve this through their unique matching algorithms. For most dating sites and apps, users can create an online profile and fill out a questionnaire of sorts that gives the platform some insight into who they are and what they are looking for. The information required from users may differ depending on the type of only dating platform they are using. The data given to the platform are then placed into an algorithm that then generates a series of “matches,” or a list of people who, based on their profile and the criteria you have for your companion(s), is an “ideal” match for them. With this matching algorithm, users can avoid the anxiety and frustrations of going out with a stranger. The platform takes your information and interests and automatically sorts through other profiles to find individuals you will presumably get along with better.

Dating Online: The Good and the Bad

Over 50 million people worldwide [1] have tried or are currently active on an online dating platform, and over half of them view online dating positively. Online dating platforms have certainly opened the doors for people from more marginalized backgrounds to pursue new relationships and friendships. For individuals who identify as LGBTQIA+, online dating can allow them to interact with and meet other people in and outside of their community more safely, especially if they live in a society that is less than supportive of their sexuality/gender identity. Many online dating platforms are being created to curate individual users’ specific needs in the dating world. There are dating platforms for older singles, singles with kids, LGBTQIA+ singles, even singles who are farmers. In a 2018 study conducted by eHarmony, researchers discovered that 4% of U.S. married couples had met over the popular online dating platform. [3]

One of the most considerable benefits of online dating platforms is the increased options for potential dating partners. [4] Less than 50 years ago, most people dated people who lived in their immediate communities. Because of this the dating pool was often limited, and it is not unreasonable to assume that there were many people who settled for the partner they eventually chose. Online dating platforms have opened a whole new world of possibility to find individuals one truly connects with. Online dating platforms have increased the number of interracial, international, and same-sex relationships. Communicating online can also help those who are shyer in social situations to interact with others from the comfort of their homes. most people dated people who lived in their immediate communities. Because of this, the dating pool was often limited, and it is not unreasonable to assume that many people settled for the partner they eventually chose. Online dating platforms have opened a whole new world of possibilities to find individuals one truly connects with. Online dating platforms have increased the number of interracial, international, and same-sex relationships. Communicating online can also help those who are shyer in social situations interact with others from the comfort of their homes.

Of course, online dating is not without its flaws. Unlike traditional forms of dating, online dating can be very impersonal. However, appearance and physical attraction are important aspects of dating and building relationships, online dating platforms like Tinder or OkCupid hyper-emphasize it through features like “swiping,” where users “swipe” left or “swipe” right to accept or reject potential matches. At any given time, users are “swiping” through hundreds of profiles and, being inundated with that many options at once; it becomes easier to operate more mechanically rather than taking the time to get to know a single person. Swiping through profiles can make dating feel very robotic, and ultimately. 1 in 10 online daters quite after three months [5] There exists

a level of anonymity online that makes individuals much less likely to empathize with the person on the other end of the screen. Online bullying is not just a problem on social media networks.

Many individuals who engage in online dating experience discrimination against them for their body type, skin color, sexuality, etc. There are many stereotypes and false assumptions about race and gender regarding potential romantic partners in American society. For example, African American women are often stereotyped as mean and aggressive, whereas Asian women are stereotyped as docile and submissive. Both stereotypes are based on ignorant beliefs about race and gender linked to historical and modern instances of discrimination. Unfortunately, online interaction can encourage these latent societal biases. Many online daters report experiencing racism and sexism on the platforms they have used. Statistics show that for those seeking heterosexual dates on an online dating platform, black women and Asian men are the least likely to be contacted. Objectification and dehumanization on online dating platforms have also caused many users to view them negatively. Women are more likely to receive unwanted explicit sexual content and sexual harassment over an online dating platform. As a result, women tend to view online dating more negatively than men.

Social networks have yet to evolve enough to properly track those who use them to intentionally commit criminal and sexual offenses against others. With younger and younger generations growing up online, many parents rightfully worry about older individuals preying on underage kids over the internet. Though apps and online platforms exist to be exclusive for specific age groups, it is pretty easy to lie about one’s age online. There is also a risk of connecting with individuals with nefarious motives for adults engaged in online dating. Many online dating apps also rely on geolocation to find user matches in their area. Unfortunately, some people use these features to stalk people.

Conclusion

Overall, views of dating apps are mixed, but since their invention, dating apps have slowly become more popular. With any innovation, there are both positive and negative aspects to them. Most initial opinions of dating apps and online dating services were negative, as many viewed them as products for desperate people. But as our world and our social lives become increasingly digital, online dating platforms have grown to become the go-to way to meet and interact with new people. In addition, online dating and dating apps are firmly embedded into pop culture as the way to date in the 21st century. The question then becomes how we create safe digital environments for those seeking love online. To address the more negative aspects of the online dating world, some developers have begun to design online dating platforms and apps that encourage a safer digital environment for groups who experience more harassment on dating apps. And with hundreds of new dating apps being launched every year, the hope is that eventually, we will all be able to find our niche in the digital dating world.

References

[1] https://www.datingnews.com/industry-trends/online-dating-statistics-what-they-mean-for-future/

[2] https://www.datingadvice.com/online-dating/online-dating-statistics

[3] https://www.lovepanky.com/flirting-flings/dating-game/the-pros-and-cons-of-using-dating-apps-to-snag-a-date

[4] https://www.datingnews.com/industry-trends/online-dating-statistics-what-they-mean-for-future/

For entrepreneurs and business owners, the process of starting a new business or project can be daunting. For every successful new business, there is an even more significant number of others that have failed. Whether you are starting a project or a small business, creating a solid strategy for your venture is a fundamental part of the process if you want to succeed. What does it mean to develop a business strategy and to implement/execute that strategy successfully?

What is a Project/Business Strategy?

A strategy is typically a blueprint for a project or business that a company follows to achieve success. For example, the blueprint might outline who they are as a business, define who they want to reach and how to get to them, and identify the market they wish to enter.

To properly execute a project or business strategy, a business must also have an implementation plan. An implementation plan consists of accessing/gathering the resources (funding, marketing, research, etc.) necessary to execute a strategy correctly. For example, if a strategy is an outline, the implementation plan consists of the details required to reach the objectives defined in the outline. The ultimate goal of an implementation plan is to help a business move its project/business forward successfully.

Strategic Implementation Process

A strategic implementation process is designed to drive your project or business forward successfully. Some of the critical components in a strategic implementation plan include:

Detailing your objectives: What is it you hope to achieve with your project/business. Concretely defining who you are as a business and what you hope to achieve will help to give you a direction to follow.
Creating timeline: Mapping out a timeframe in which you hope to accomplish certain milestones will help you stay organized and on schedule during the implementation phase.
Gathering resources: Any successful project or business must access the necessary resources to sustain the process. Resources include money, time, and staff, etc.
Allocation of team roles: Your business/project is a team effort. Knowing the best position for each of your team members can help to make your team more efficient and successful.
Define your expectations: You should set your expectations in quantifiable and qualifiable terms. Using the right metrics to measure your success can help your team understand the areas in which they do well and the areas that need improvement.
Create a plan B: No strategy is perfect, and there are inevitable pitfalls and setbacks all businesses experience. Knowing how to handle a setback includes having a plan of action ready to go when it comes up.
Check-in: Checking in with your team’s progress and having an open dialogue with them will help to keep yourself and your team in the loop. A schedule should be implemented (monthly, quarterly, etc.) in which you will meet with your team and keep them up to date with your business’s/project’s progress.

Example: Starting a Website

What is Your Website?

Say you are an entrepreneur who hopes to captivate the internet with a new website. To build a quality website that stands out from the rest, you need to develop a proper strategy around it. First, you must ask yourself what kind of website it is that you want to build. Who is trying to reach? What products/services are you trying to sell? Knowing who your audience is and what market you wish to enter will steer the trajectory of your website-building strategy.

Build Your Team

After finding the purpose for your site, you must begin building a team. Building a quality website takes time and effort, and hiring a skilled team will help you through the process. You will need graphic designers, software programmers, marketing experts, and content specialists at a minimum. In addition, a team of experts will provide you with valuable insights into what features work and what will make your website unique and popular.

Design Your Website

The next step is to create your website’s design. When designating website design to your team, it is essential to know what features you want your website to possess. Having a solid layout that clearly details your site needs will build a framework for your team to follow and help you set your site’s goals.

After mapping out your site layout comes the creative part of website design. This is the part where you and your team decide what the ‘feel’ of your website will be. In this part, you should consider what you are marketing on your website and who you are marketing to. If you want a site that appeals to a younger audience, for example, you might want to draw up a design that has a modern feel, one that is simple and sleek. However, regardless of your audience, your website should be easy to navigate for anyone, content should be easy to access, and the site’s purpose should be easy for anyone to understand.

Create Content

Content is an essential aspect of a website that can help keep your brand relevant. Having engaging content will help build your website’s audience and familiarize them with your brand. Your webpage links should work, headlines and articles should be easy to read, and videos should play seamlessly. Having a social media presence will also help you to connect to your audience across various platforms.

Update and Maintaining Your Website

Your website should have a site map. A well-made site map will organize your website’s pages into an easy-to-understand blueprint for search engines. A site map will allow search engines to optimize your content best, track updates to your site, and send traffic your way.

After your website is complete, you must make sure to maintain it. Even the best websites experience hiccups, and it is crucial to stay on top of them. If your site goes down unexpectedly, being quick to address it will save you time and resources.

This article is about the 5th P in Marketing: People. We believe that a successful company depends, first, on its leader. However, this leader cannot be self-appointed, s/he becomes a leader because there are individuals who decide that part of their path is to follow the leader’s direction.

HR represents part of the capital of the company, an investment that brings many benefits. The abilities, experience, and knowledge of each employee contribute to the growth and development of the company. Talented people can get added value to the enterprise.

Briefly, the value of human resources consists of:

knowledge (theoretical knowledge),
skills (eg. ability to use a computer program);
experience;
attitudes (eg. commitment, pro activity);
belief in the company and its leadership.

The way we manage human resources is significant. Competent and effective management can bring plenty of advantages to the company.

“Human Resources Management involves the establishment and execution policies, programs and procedures that influence the performance, capabilities and loyalty of the employees of an organization. Individuals are attracted, retained, motivated and developed to perform the work of the organization through these policies and procedures” (Clardy 1996)

In other words, human resource management is a strategic and coherent approach to the management of the company’s most asset, its employees. In those terms, the staff is a significant force in the organization because it contributes individually and collectively to implement its strategy and objectives.

Such management includes employment, professional & personal development, motivation, and appropriate relations between management and workers. HR management also supports the company’s efforts to use employees’ abilities, skills, and talents and retain the best employees by enabling them to continuously improve their qualifications and provide salaries adjusted to their achievements. Thus, HR management aims to allow the company to achieve success through/thanks to its people.

“A highly effective HR system is one that emphasizes staff performance in every aspect of the system, is internally consistent, and perhaps most importantly is aligned with the strategy of the organization.”

A company with a highly qualified and constantly learning staff is more likely to achieve higher returns than at places where workers cannot develop. Accordingly, the employees are the most valuable resource, which increases the competitiveness of the company. Therefore, it is essential to improve their skills continuously. The investment in “human resources,” although it is generally expensive, at the same time is highly profitable.

“HR is a strategic asset because it can play a critical role in both strategy implementation and management systems. Namely, the ability to execute strategy well is a source of competitive advantage, and “people” are the linchpin of effective strategy execution.” (Becker, Huselid & Ulrich 2001).

Forms and methods of improving staff should be tailored to the needs of a particular group or each employee, the scale of operations, and organizational solutions established in the company. The most common improvement method is training. The improvement process can be considered part of the company’s incentive system, as employees often treat training as a reward or opportunity for professional development. In addition, continuous development of qualifications can help a company increase its competitiveness in the market through its progress.

The Transformation of Customer Service in the Digital Age

What is Success? 13 steps mini-guide!

Online Dating: An Analysis

Fundamentals of Strategic Planning

Example: Starting a Website

HR & Talent Management As An Asset

BE THE LIGHT!

ENKI Inc.