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  • Ford CEO: A New Cloud-Based System Being Developed to Control All Driverless Cars

    Ford CEO: A New Cloud-Based System Being Developed to Control All Driverless Cars

    The automobile business has become a technology business with the advent of driverless cars that learn on their own via artificial intelligence. Now we have learned that Ford is involved in working on a cloud-based central monitoring system that will revolutionize transportation. There are privacy implications too, where governments will know where your car is at 24 hours a day.

    From a technology standpoint, this cloud system will help prevent accidents, keep traffic moving, enable smart intersections and promote environmental advantages by bringing more efficiency to every transport mile.

    Ford Motor Company President and CEO James Hackett discussed this concept this morning at the Bloomberg Global Business Forum in New York:

    Three Transformative Technologies

    Ford’s advantage in the future is that it’s got in its hand in three technologies that have been transformative. The first is the nature of propulsion which is moving from gas to electric. It might surprise you that less than 5 percent of the market right now is electric, but it’s estimated to be 30 percent in the near future.

    The second technology has to do with robotics. You’ve heard about AI where the vehicle is so smart that it can drive itself in the future. The third technology, which isn’t as public, is the notion of a cloud-based system over the vehicles. The confluence of the three of these technologies means that we can now design transportation systems differently and with a system that enables and empowers a better CO2 outcome.

    A New Cloud-Based System Being Developed to Control All Driverless Cars

    This cloud-based structure is something that hasn’t been here and what it allows is the vehicle and the city to now have a connection. I was in a discussion yesterday with Prime Minister Trudeau and he asked while we were sitting in a traffic light late in the evening when there is nobody in the intersection, why does the red light stay on. In the future, the vehicle will be mediated through intersections like that with this smart system.

    If you are an investor looking at this it will be over an $11 trillion industry. This is why the tech industry is so interested in our business because it’s a systems play of the smart technologies of the vehicle and the environment coming together. It’s talking about building bandwidth so the vehicles can communicate, 5G is really important. It’s also about making smart intersections so that the navigation of the vehicles are safe.

    Then a third idea is parking where we can have the vehicle communicate with parking spaces. You lose more fuel efficiency trying to find a parking space than you do being stuck in traffic.

    Combination of Vehicles and Technology Now Defines the Car Business

    I look at the car business as a combination of vehicles and technology which is what’s defining it in the future, versus just thinking about it as a pure vehicle. Think of it this way, the cars have a number of computers and software in them today but the way they are in the future is really rolling computers. You have to think of the business differently because of that.

    Ford Committed to be “In Market” with a Driverless Car by 2021

    Ford is committed by 2021 to be in market with a driverless electric car. But this is a marathon, the cars will be super smart and they learn. The way they learn is by being driven. When they hit the market they will be safe, probably have narrow assignments as to what they can do, but over time they will expand.

    The great thing is that when you hear about serving the world, this is going to allow us to do things because the vehicle is intelligent, like getting goods to people that couldn’t get it, helping people have jobs that don’t have transportation today or helping take older people to the doctor. This kind of assistance will be available with that technology.

    This aspect of the car business is one where there is no profit yet, the technology is new, the design of the systems is emerging, but it’s where all the future will be.

  • How to Write Code 10-20 Times Faster

    How to Write Code 10-20 Times Faster

    Writing code is at the heart of software and it’s what makes applications like Google, Facebook, and Tinder work. The problem for startups and large enterprises alike is that writing code is a tremendous undertaking, costs a lot of money and takes a lot of time. For years, companies have been trying to create code-writing software with limited success.

    Appian CEO and founder Matt Calkins says that their code writing platform is a generational improvement that will literally, according to an independent study, enable developers to write code 10-20 times faster because it takes the code writing out of code writing.

    Matt Calkins explains how their revolutionary code writing platform works in an interview this morning on Squawk Box:

    We Can Write Code 10-20 Times Faster

    These days companies compete based on the software they write, that’s how they impress us. As customers, every company has to be more efficient but also more appealing. It used to be just back office and now it’s front office too, now it’s appealing to everybody and differentiating from their competition.

    Every company’s got to write a lot of software and they need a faster way. We can write code 10-20 times faster because instead of writing it by lines you draw it like a picture. It’s a flowchart with boxes and arrows and you depict your intentions in the software and then we translate that into code. It’s an interpretation layer, you could think of it as a code already existing but it’s not blocks of code because that wouldn’t be smart.

    Built-In Artificial Intelligence

    The is absolutely AI in there, but AI is not the translation it’s just an augmentation. AI isn’t smart enough yet to actually write your code. The important thing here is there’s never an authoritative layer that you can go down to and modify. We’re interpreting your instructions, so you express what you want in software and then we interpret that on every mobile device and on any cloud in a scalable way.

    You write something in Appian and it’s going to end up being in a native app on your phone. It’s going to be a native app on every phone and every device. Appian is going to translate your intentions that you expressed in a flowchart in drag and drop ways into a piece of software that’ll run on your phone.

    What’s Missing in Code Writing is Simplicity

    Over the years there have been a lot of attempts to create an easy way to write software and this is the latest generation and I think it’s gone a lot further than the other generations. You can tell that because we’re being run by the biggest organizations in mission-critical ways, unlike these old attempts that kept it simple and weren’t powerful enough to do the top job. We’ve got some of the top firms in almost every industry around the world running multi-million dollar applications on the Appian platform which shows that it’s really industrial strength stuff.

    My mission is simplicity, with the organization too, everything about creating code should be simpler in order to allow people to develop more of it and change it faster. I think that’s what’s really missing in code.

  • Adobe Creating an Industry Around Digital Engagement and Customer Experience Management

    Adobe Creating an Industry Around Digital Engagement and Customer Experience Management

    Shantanu Narayen, Adobe CEO, recently discussed on CNBC about how Adobe is working to actually create a brand new industry focused on digital engagement and customer experience management. I thought this was interesting in that this makes Adobe a CRM company competing with the likes of Salesforce, rather than what most people think when they hear the name Adobe, a company providing creative, marketing and document solutions.

    Much of this new focus will rely on their AI solution, platform Adobe Sensei, which you can read more about here.

    Narayen’s expands on Adobe’s intent to be a CRM leader in the excerpts below:

    We really believe that what’s happening is that every enterprise wants to in real time engage with customers. When you think about what CRM used to be, CRM was more about a record that was in a relational database. That is not as important as what you do with that customer information and how you make action out of it.

    That’s where the Adobe and Microsoft partnership is so valuable because together with what they have done with Azure and the ability for people to process the data at the pace at which they want and what Adobe has done. We enable people to attract customers to your platform. We allow you to engage it. We think we’re actually creating a brand new category and industry which is all about digital engagement and customer experience management, far more critical than what a record might store.

    We continue to think that content and data and how content and data come together is really where this magic happens. You’ve walked into a retail store you’re accessing an application on a mobile device and it’s all about what’s the right content that’s being delivered based on the intelligence.

    I think it’s a dramatically different approach that Adobe has pioneered and I think it’s companies like Adobe and Microsoft and SAP who actually see this vision for what’s happening in the world.

  • Shopify’s ‘Ping’ App Streamlines Customer Conversations for Merchants

    Shopify’s ‘Ping’ App Streamlines Customer Conversations for Merchants

    As an entrepreneur, time is your most valuable resource, especially when you’re in a highly competitive market. Shopify is now helping businesses maximize their time with a new app that manages customer conversations across multiple messaging platforms.

    The company recently rolled out ‘Ping,’ for iOS devices. The standalone app can streamline customer interactions from SMS, Facebook Messenger, or a company website.

    Shopify is putting more focus on mobile solutions for businesses as half of its estimated 600,000 retailers are already using its mobile application. Most of these merchants currently use the shopping platform to process their business needs and handle their payment system.

    Communicating with Ping

    The Ping app will enable retailers to communicate directly with clients and respond quickly to their requests. All conversations a company has with their clients on any messaging app can be accessed using Ping.

    The fast response time is a great way to assist companies in delivering excellent customer service and building better relationships with clients.

    Shopify explained in its blog that the company developed Ping as another means for online merchants to run their company. With the app, retailers “can spend less time shuffling between separate tools” and spend more time on essential things like serving clients and expanding their business.

    What Can Kit Do

    Ping comes with a built-in virtual assistant dubbed Kit. This little helper can help you conceptualize, develop, launch, and manage your marketing plans. Shopify explained that Kit is designed to run your Instagram and Facebook ads, manage your email marketing campaign, retarget clients, and more depending on the information collected from customer messages.

    Kit can also implement complicated workflows, like touching up product images and searching for new products to expand your inventory.

    The marketing bot was purchased by Shopify in 2016 and an upgraded Kit Skills API is slated to be released later this year. Some improvements expected to be introduced is a natural language processing system that will provide business owners with more insights and the capacity to represent their company in a chat environment. The built-in assistant will be able to respond to frequently asked questions and shipping inquiries. Of course, there will still be instances when human intervention is needed, like when dealing with a large order from a client.

    The Ping app and Kit will also be able to do other AI processes like flag conversations that could lead to big deals or alert the owner of a customer complaint regarding an order.

    Retailers big and small can now download Ping for free on iOS. However, it’s not clear just when the app will become available to Android users.

    [Featured image via Shopify]

  • Walmart May Bring Customer Service Drones to Its Stores Soon, Retailer Files Patents

    Walmart May Bring Customer Service Drones to Its Stores Soon, Retailer Files Patents

    Walmart has always been known to push boundaries. The company is continuing this innovative culture with its recent filing of patents for keeping track of inventory, a store drone and other technologies aimed at changing how customers shops.

    Walmart is no stranger to filing patents. The company has reportedly filed 1,400 patents since 2009, all of which focused on technology that enhances their customers’ in-store experience. One of the newly filed patents pertains to a sensing device designed to make smart shopping carts that can communicate with a mobile device. This can make searching for grocery items go more smoothly.

    Meanwhile, several of the patents that were filed are geared towards sensing and managing inventory levels and one that can track customers via wearables.

    Walmart has also filed two patents for autonomous technology. One is for tech that can detect items or products in containers while the other can gather vehicle information, like size, temperature, pre- and post-delivery weight, using an intricate system of sensors, an interface, and a processor.

    One patent that could drastically change how things are done at Walmart is for a drone that could assist customers as they shop in the store. According to the patent outline, a customer can call the drone through a mobile device that’s either the customer’s own or one that’s been provided by the store. The drone can be used to navigate around the store or to verify product price.

    The patent detailed how the device can control the aerial drone to guide the user to the location of the item in the store. The drone could also give a visual projection to show the shopper what direction they should take or provide audio instructions.

    There’s also the possibility of Walmart utilizing a variety of drones to perform different tasks. Each drone will reportedly have its own distinct features based on its assigned job.

    While the patents appear promising, there’s no guarantee that they will be realized. Most of the time, the patents companies file are never realized.

    However, Walmart’s recent patent filing underlines just how serious the company is in its bid to compete against Amazon and other established retailers. It has already increased the prices of products bought online and has started producing and selling its very own meal kits. Walmart has also signed an exclusive deal with Rakuten, a Japanese e-commerce company, to sell Kobo e-readers.

    Featured image via Pixabay

  • 5 Best CRM Mobile Apps for Doing Business on the Go

    5 Best CRM Mobile Apps for Doing Business on the Go

    Entrepreneurs today are busier than ever, working even when they’re away from the office. A good Customer Relationship Management (CRM) program goes a long way in helping to keep track of client information, manage data on deals (both past and present) while still giving access to all the tools they require to stay productive.

    But with more business professionals on the go, there is a growing need for comprehensive mobile CRM apps that will give them a competitive edge. Here’s a list of the top five:

    1. Agile

    Image result for agile mobile crm

    This CRM platform can easily automate your company’s marketing, sales, and customer service. The Agile mobile app also lets users get a real-time idea of your business process, track deals and manage relevant milestones. Managing tasks becomes simpler as the app allows users to check pending items, create new tasks, manage and respond to social media mentions, start email campaigns, place calls to customers and jot down notes minutes before a meeting. This CRM app is available for both Android and iOS. While it’s free for up to 10 users, you’ll need to sign up for the Premium plan if you want more people to use the app. Price: Starts at $8.99/month/user (also offers free service)

    2. amoCRM

    Image result for amocrm mobile

    This cloud-based CRM solution assists users in managing their sales pipeline. They can receive reports and feedback regarding the performance of other people on the team, sales analytics, email integration, and lead scoring. AmoCRM also lets users organize their contacts and deals using unique tags and customized fields. Existing customer details are also uploaded from databases like Gmail and Outlook. The app can be downloaded on any Android or iOS device. Price: Starts a $15/month/user

    3. HubSpot CRM

    Image result for hubspot crm mobile

    HubSpot initially made its mark developing marketing automation tools. Now the company has brought its expertise to customer management with Hubspot CRM, widely considered one of the best free CRM apps today. Get the information you need about a client or company by simply adding a contact’s name and email address or a company’s domain name. You can also customize fields by dragging and dropping them in the order you want. Use Hubspot CRM alone or alongside the company’s premier marketing services. Price: Starts at $50/month (also offers free service)

    4. Pipedrive

    Image result for pipedrive crm mobile

    Sales teams will undoubtedly find Pipedrive a godsend. The CRM platform is designed around activity-based selling. The app’s primary interface allows users to stay organized and in total control of the sales process. With the Pipedrive app, you can arrange and manage your contacts and to-do lists via a simple search. Get access to your deal history, create new tasks and take down notes wherever and whenever. What’s more, any changes made using the mobile app is immediately synced to the Pipedrive web platform. The program runs on both iOS and Android systems. Price: Start at $15/month

    5. Salesforce

    Image result for salesforce mobile crm

    Salesforce is the largest CRM platform out on the market today. And now the company is extending its features to mobile. Take advantage of its easy to assemble custom apps and create features that are perfectly aligned with you and your client’s requirements. The app also allows you to easily access crucial CRM information, productivity tools, and customizations anywhere. Your dashboards and reports are also on-hand whenever you need them, thus ensuring that you have everything you need to make an informed decision. Salesforce is available for both iOS and Android systems. Price: Starts at $25/month

    A mobile CRM app can do wonders for your company’s productivity and sales pipeline. While the five mobile apps we listed above work well for most entrepreneurs, there are dozens of CRM systems on the market to choose from. Depending on what you need to track and how you manage your team, you may find other apps that suit you better. So do your due diligence and carefully research your options before choosing.

  • Cloudflare Makes the Internet More Private With 1.1.1.1 DNS Service

    Cloudflare Makes the Internet More Private With 1.1.1.1 DNS Service

    Cloudflare recently announced a way for the public to enjoy faster and more private Internet. The top performance and security company just rolled out 1.1.1.1, the first DNS service of its kind developed specifically around the concept of putting privacy first and foremost.

    A lot of Internet users are unaware that everything on the web begins with a DNS request. Known as the Internet’s directory, a DNS translates a name into a numerical online address that a computer understands. However, DNS is an unsecured and unencrypted system. It’s also very slow.

    Every Internet Service Provider (ISP) has the capability to monitor DNS requests and see every app or website that a person visits, even if said site is encrypted. This information is sometimes sold and used for ad targeting.

    Cloudflare’s 1.1.1.1 provides an alternative to that. The service offers users unmatched security and speed. With 1.1.1.1, loading time of web pages become shorter and key user data are kept secret from ISPs. The service also supports DNS over HTTPS and encrypted DNS. Plus, data from logs is erased after 24 hours and no user data or IP addresses are stored.

    Cloudflare co-founder and CEO Matthew Prince says the practice of selling user data to advertisers is “creepy,” especially since the data will be used to target consumers without their knowledge and consent. Prince also said that what people do on the Internet is no one’s business and that Cloudflare designed 1.1.1.1 to ensure that the company and the ISPs of the world won’t know what users are doing online.

    The 1.1.1.1 service is reportedly easy to set up. The system doesn’t require any special software or technical skill. Anyone can have the system up and running in less than five minutes. To use the service, the user has to change the DNS server settings on their device. Instructions on how to go about this can be found on Cloudflare’s website.

    Installation is free and is available for desktop computers and mobile devices. However, Cloudflare says paying clients will receive biggest speed boosts.

    [Image via Cloudflare]