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11 Slides You Need to Include in Your Pitch Deck Presentation

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Raising money for a business venture requires a striking pitch deck. The pitch deck is a presentation giving brief information about a business to win investors. Thus, it would be best to be intentional and skillful when writing a high-level pitch deck to get you the needed funds. Besides, it should have outstanding performance as a visual document while telling your business story. Here are 11 suggestions to consider.

Slide 1: Introduce the Business

Before going strong into the main objective, introduce the business by telling a nice story that is easy to understand. Touch on the name, logo, business virtues, and scope of operations. Let your audience know your brand and remember your name.

Slide 2: Vision

Here you can dive into the business vision and give a beautiful explanation behind it—besides, research on words to use in introducing the vision. Capture the attention of the audience and frame your idea in their mind and imagination.

Slide 3: Target Market

Use this slide to explain your market size and how you intended to conquer new territories. Your potential investors need to understand your position in the market by getting some data to back your claims. Besides, present your growth plan and prove its viability.

Slide 4: Solution

At this point, describe your service or product. Show how you solve a customer’s problem when they make a purchase. Also, use the opportunity to show the relevance of your business now and in the future. Remember, no one wants to invest in a product that will be irrelevant tomorrow.

Slide 5: Business Model

Having described your product, it’s time to demonstrate how it makes you money. How much do you charge? What are the expenses involved? Besides, use the opportunity to show how the extra funding would help bring more revenue for the business. Remember, a pitch deck presentation is designed to help you get more funding.

Slide 6: Roadmap

Talk about early adopters using your product or service here. Investors are hungry for such data, and this helps you stand from the crowd. Proving the existence of business traction lowers the risk of investors and validates your product. Take yours in preparing this section as it helps you showcase your goals and achievements so far. Besides, indicate your future steps and why you need partnership.

Slide 7: Marketing and Sales Policy

Tell your audience your plan to getting customers’ attention and a sketch of your sales process. Use the opportunity to answer all questions regarding sales and marketing by proving why you are ahead of the competition.

Slide 8: The Team

It is the deal breaker of many pitches as you prove you have the right people to accomplish the plan. Use the slide to show your recruitment process, wage structure, and incentives. Leave no doubt in the mind of your audience that you have the right team for the task.

Slide 9: Finances

You must include the financial information of your business for the last three years. Before discussing the competition, it’s time to talk about profits, losses, expenses, sales forecasts, and cash flow projections. Also, be ready to discuss your sales models that will help you achieve the sales projections and other business cost drivers.

Slide 10: Competition

Even when starting a new market, you will have potential competitors, and it’s time to show how you will deal with their influence in your activities. Be sure to have conducted extensive research in the business or risk falling flat. Be practical and dramatize your solution to the problem to eliminate any doubt in your audience’s mind or your risk of losing the deal.

Slide 11: Use of Funds

Finally, it’s time to talk about money. That is the reason you are doing the pitch. Here you let your investors know how much you seek to raise and how you intend to use it. Be confident and show them why they have to partner with you. Besides, show how you intend to safeguard their interests and how you will achieve the business goals.

Conclusion

Always remember to give your audience a chance to ask questions at the end of your presentation. After taking questions, give a final statement that provokes direct action. Make every slide meaningful and unforgettable by showcasing confidence in what you are saying.

Music and You: Why Music Should Be a Part of Your Life

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Music has been around for centuries. Evidence has shown that people have used music for religious ceremonies, story-telling, celebrations, and as a form of expression or communication. People used music to bond with each other and it dramatically impacts our way of life in today’s society.

Musical instruments have evolved over the years; however, in the past, they mainly consisted of anything that could produce a sound or melody. Thus, one could say the first musical instruments are the human voice and our hands, but the earliest types of instruments were made from sticks, animal bones and skin, rocks, and beads.

Benefits of Learning to Play an Instrument

Learning to play an instrument is not only an excellent skill to have, but it has many cognitive, social, and physical benefits. Children are encouraged to take music lessons from an early age as it stimulates the brain and enhances concentration. In addition, the longer you play an instrument, the lower the risk of developing brain disorders such as Alzheimer’s, dementia, and Parkinson’s.

Playing a musical instrument not only makes you smarter, but it has the following benefits:

1. Increases Patience

Not everyone can handle uncertainty or wait for a long time. Learning to play an instrument takes time, and one has to employ patience to master such a skill.

2. Improves Language Skills

Learning to play an instrument introduces you to the different pitch sounds, which are beneficial to learning other languages. Additionally, it allows you to identify the accents, tones, and rhythms found in many languages.

3. Discipline

If you want to play an instrument, it requires developing a schedule or plan for practicing. Adhering to a plan allows you to become more disciplined.

4. Coordination

Learning to play an instrument helps develop motor skills by simultaneously using your eyes, ears, voice, and even hands.

5. Social Skills

Playing an instrument makes you more confident, especially if you are in a band or group. In addition, it allows you to work with other people and develop a sense of empathy.

Making Music a Part of Your Life

Now that we know the benefits of playing an instrument, let us look at incorporating music into our daily lives.

  • Set your alarm to play your favorite song in the morning. Waking up to music is a great way to motivate you to get out of bed
  • Create a workout playlist of lively and energetic music to encourage you to exercise
  • Play music while commuting to make it more comfortable and make the time go by faster
  • Listen to music while doing chores or tasks that you consider to be boring. Playing music in the background will also help to get them completed in a much faster time
  • Attend a concert or music festival in your spare time

Benefits of Listening to Music

Not only is listening to music entertaining, but it also has many physical, mental, and emotional benefits, especially during a pandemic. Music can:

1. Lower Stress and Anxiety

Music is a great tool to manage stress and anxiety as it can relax your mind or act as a distraction. Listening to music is therapeutic and can relax your muscles, reduce your heart rate and lower your blood pressure. Many persons listen to music to become more optimistic during and after stressful or traumatic situations. College students who need to function at optimum levels can listen to music to get good grades.

2. Bring Back a Memory

Hearing a specific song from your childhood can bring back memories long forgotten. Listening to music can help with learning and the retention of information. Many students perform better in tests when they listen to music while they study.

Music has also proven to slow the effects of brain diseases that contribute to memory loss. So, just as the body needs exercise to keep fit, the brain uses music to stay in shape.

3. Manage and Reduce Pain

Focusing on music can significantly alleviate acute and chronic pain in some people. Music is used as a distraction and provides an escape while the brain releases endorphins into the body. In addition, many hospitals and outpatient clinics use music therapy as a way for patients to manage and decrease pain levels after accidents and surgeries.

4. Make You Sleep Better

People who have insomnia will have a slightly better chance of falling asleep if they listen to soothing music before bed. Music can create a relaxing environment for babies which soothes and lull them to a peaceful sleep.

5. Influence Your Mood

Listening to music can significantly affect our moods and regulate our emotions. For example, certain types of music stimulate the brain to release dopamine, which is a chemical that makes us happy and even reduces depression.

6. Increase Performance

Music motivates us to work harder. Whether during a workout or writing an article, listening to music allows us to focus on the task at hand. Overall, listening to music contributes to our well-being and keeps us healthy.

 

Become an Occupational Therapist for a Rewarding Career

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When you want a career that’s rewarding, but you’re not sure what to choose, you may want to consider something that helps others. Occupational therapy is one option, because it’s a great way to work on making people’s lives better and helping them move toward being able to do more of the things they want to do in life. Like other types of therapy and rehabilitation, working in this capacity can mean helping people get back on their feet, learn new skills, and more. Here’s what to know about getting started.

Choose the Right Schooling for Your Career

To get a Master’s of Science in Occupational Therapy (MSOT), you’ll need to stay focused on your goals. It takes time and effort. But one of the biggest things you need to focus on when trying to get your MSOT, is to choose the right school. Even though schools are going to teach the same basic things, they may have some different ways of doing it. Instructors are also all different, and some schools are more dedicated to information beyond the basic curriculum. Choosing the right school is important.

Helping People Can be Very Rewarding

One of the most valuable things about getting your MSOT is the rewarding nature of the career you’ll have. Helping people never goes out of style, and it generally makes you feel good, too. You don’t have to save the world to feel rewarded by helping people live their best lives. You can do small things and receive a lot of reward, as well. Just seeing people get through their OT and be able to work again, or perform activities of daily living that they couldn’t do before, is often its own reward.

Don’t Settle for a Career You Don’t Like

There’s no reason you have to settle for a job where you feel like you’re not reaching your potential, or not really helping people who may need and want that help. Instead, you can choose to get an MSOT and focus on new and better ways you can add more value to your life and the lives of other people. Choosing to work toward more education, especially in the medical field, is among the great ways to make sure you’re getting involved in a career that can be very rewarding to you and fulfill your desire to help others.

Too many people get stuck in careers that really aren’t right for them, and that doesn’t provide them with the value they want and need. They may be interested in helping people, but find that they aren’t able to really do that very effectively in their current job. If that’s where you’re finding yourself, getting your MSOT could be what you need to change all that. You can get into a field that’s important to you, and find a way to start making a big difference in the lives of the people in your local community.

You Can Focus on Important Career Goals

Among the value of getting an MSOT for a lot of people, is the career goals that their degree helps them meet. Maybe you already work in OT, as an aide or an assistant. Or maybe you’ve always dreamed of moving into OT or working in the medical field. No matter where you currently are in your career, and what kinds of jobs you’ve had in the past, getting your MSOT could be exactly what you need to start down a new path that’s going to fit your goals and dreams better than the career you currently have.

People Need the Kind of Help You’ll Provide

Every day, people need help with OT activities. They may need to relearn skills after an accident or illness, and they may have trouble working or performing daily life tasks because of something that’s happened to them. If that’s the case, you and your MSOT can help them. Not only does that give them physical help, but it can also make it easier on their mental health and provide them with healing and hope that they might not have experienced before. Those are all important things, and very worthwhile.

You Can Make a Difference in the World

Making a difference in the world, or even in your local community, is a great way to leave your mark. With an MSOT, you have the opportunity to make that difference, and you can have an entire career that’s centered around the kind of value you can provide to other people. There’s no reason to avoid that, or feel like it’s not for you. No matter your age or education level, there are ways to work toward the career you want. Getting your MSOT will let you build a strong career that’s based on helping people live better lives and reach their own goals and dreams, as well.

 

A Guide to Achieving the Perfect Lawn

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The lawn needs regular maintenance to keep it in perfect shape. It is the first thing a visitor sees when they visit, and you need to take care of the setup to maintain its appearance. Whether it is a commercial or residential property, landscaping can transform the outdoors into beautiful scenery. At home, it is a nice area to host the kid’s parties or where you gather to bond with other family members. A well-done lawn is a joy. You will love spending time in the place and playing with your pets or have a taste of the morning sun. On the other hand, businesses can host events on the lawn around their commercial property. In this read, we will offer you insights on how you can achieve a perfect lawn.

Things to do to get a Perfect Lawn

You do not have to be a farmer to care for your lawn. Since it is important to maintain the lawn, the practice is for those who love gardening and those who don’t. However, you can opt for landscaping and lawn care experts to outsource professional services in the industry. The ventures undertake the full responsibility of getting the perfect lawn, depending on your preference. Below are a few techniques to achieving the perfect lawn;

Fill the Bare Spots

When growing grass around the house, there may remain some bare spots after they sprout. Leaving the places with no cover will alter the pattern and make the place unattractive. However, introducing new seedlings in the spots you can cover the area gives it a complete look. Most of the time, the problem arises from not having the right seeds to grow. Therefore, ensure you get quality ones that leave minimal bare spots.

Eliminate the Weeds

Weeds will establish themselves in any garden, and the lawn is not an exception. Pulling out small traces of weeds from the grass will prevent them from multiplying further. You will need to pull out the whole plant because leaving the roots behind will make them sprout again. Whenever you find weeds encroaching and thriving in your lawn, it is vital to consider other long-term solutions. Probably there is an imbalance in the soil nutrient composition.

Proper Lawn Preparation

Landscaping is a step-to-step process, and you get the perfect lawn by following the procedures to set up. The initial step involves removing unwanted items like stones and weeds. After which, the specialist prepares the soil by digging the land. Leveling the surface helps keep the soil together to avoid leaving spaces that may affect grass growth. It is essential to give the land time before putting the seedlings in. Ensure you have a specialist with knowledge on setting up the lawn. You will not regret it.

Watering

Consider the amount of water you use on your lawn to keep the grass healthy. Watering the plants before the sunrise will give it time to take in. doing it on a hot day will require more water as the moisture evaporates into the air.

Conclusion

If you have pets, you need to train them in the right places to pop. You do not want them to spoil the lawn with their waste.

The Different Ways the K12 Education Market Can be Segmented

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K12 Market

Market segmentation is the research that shows how an organization divides its market into smaller approachable groups based on factors such as personality traits, income, age, and behavior. Therefore, the education market would mean a division into several groups of cohorts (parents, pupils, and workers or teachers). This division is according to different factors.

The K-12 education is a phrase used to describe classes from kindergarten to class 12. In many countries, this level of education is free. The K-12 market aims to drive education technology resources in both the academic and non-academic sectors. LISTedTECH is a market research firm that gathers adequate information on the education market. Read further for detailed information.

The K-12 market can be segmented by application (Pre-primary, Primary, Middle, and Senior secondary), type (public K-12 education, Private K-12 education, and Online K-12 Education), and Geography. Let’s delve into these segmentations.

Segmentation by Application

This kind of segmentation covers pre-primary, primary, middle, and senior secondary schools. In broad terms, segmentation is the most popular as many would usually categorize the K-12 market into four: pre-primary, primary, middle, and senior secondary schools. This segmentation may vary in different countries. Schools around the world follow several curricula for each level of the categorization. For example, in India, many education boards have devised their educational systems. Some of these educational boards are the National CBSE and the ICSE boards; state-level boards which offer their curricula at the state levels and the international boards such as IGSCE (International General Certificate of Secondary Education), AS and A-Levels, and lastly, the International Baccalaureate Organization (otherwise known as IB)

Segmentation by Type

This kind of segmentation encompasses private k-12 education, public k-12 education, and online k-12 education. Private K-12 schools are non-public schools that are regulated in the same way most businesses are concerning safety, zoning, and registration. Technically, a private school is a business that conducts full-time instruction with a full complement of subjects at the elementary, middle, or high school level. Compared to public K-12 schools, the laws allow for some variation in curriculum and organizational structure, as opposed to the rigid alignment to the educational statutes by the state. Simply put, private schools are regulated but independent. On the other hand, public schools are not subject to all applicable local, state, and federal laws and regulations governing the business side of its modus operandi. It also subjects to the educational philosophy of the government, not the wishes of the students and their families, as private schools do.

With the development in technology, education doesn’t necessarily have to be always physical. There are several online school programs designed for pre-primary, primary, middle, and senior secondary schools. These programs are designed with a curriculum that meets educational standards and engages students’ minds and hearts. Connections Academy is an example of an online platform where wards and teenagers can learn from.

Segmentation by Geography

K-12 market, according to this segmentation, covers geographical regions such as North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Latin America, and sometimes, Middle-East Africa

● North America

In North America, K-12 market including public, private, and non-profit, profitable businesses, provide training and instructions to students enrolled in elementary till high schools, college, and universities. However, several factors affect their operations. For instance, funding-related challenges have a significant impact at every level of the education sector. On the other hand, public K-12 schools are vulnerable to state budget cuts, declines in local property tax revenue, and increasing federal support for alternatives to traditional public schools. There has been a sharp decline in enrollment. It is not only in private K-12 schools, but also in colleges and universities. This is partly due to rising tuition costs. As a result, this decline has stifled revenue growth in universities as well as colleges.

Below is the statistics of the number of kindergartens to grade 12 enrollments according to the National Center for Education Statistics.

Public Schools – 50.7 million

Private Schools – 5.7 million

● Europe (UK, France, Germany, Russia, and other European countries)

● Asia-Pacific (China, South-Korea, India, Japan, Rest of Asia-Pacific)

The Asia Pacific witnessed a massive growth in EdTech (Education Technology), owing to the growing prevalence of computing and smart devices among the populace. This, in turn, is a result of the growth of the Asia-Pacific region generally. Other segmentation according to geography includes Latin America and Middle-East Africa.

CONCLUSION

With the K-12 market structure, education has enjoyed some benefits, such as making students graduate at an older age and with mature minds. Additionally, K-12 education is available on-site and online. It makes education accessible to varieties of individuals despite the various curricula available. It also influences the K-12 market generally.

 

Top Considerations Before Filing For Divorce

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Divorce is one of the things nobody dreams of going through, and it could also be a heartbreaking and hard thing to do. However, sometimes, it is in the best interests of both partners involved if nothing works for them anymore.

Unlike what many people may believe, there is more involved in filing for a divorce from your partner than submitting complaints in court and signing the papers. Some of the things you need to do for a more successful and unproblematic divorce process include:

Be Sure It Is What You Want

In marriage, many trying times could make you angry and feel like you don’t want to be with your partner anymore. However, you should not decide to separate from your partner when you are angry because it is not easy to back down from that.

Therefore, you should try solving your issues first. One of the ways you can do that is by taking online MFT programs or marital counseling from reputable places like Careers in Psychology.

Think Of Your Children

Children are the people who suffer the most after their parents’ divorce, which is why you should think about their custody situation. Plan how to balance taking care of the children and do not force them to take sides.

If you are divorcing because one partner is abusive and might be a bad influence on the kids, it is best to take the custody case to court.

Have All Your Documents Ready

If you present unorganized documents to your attorney, it will take longer and more money before the process is complete. Therefore, you should gather and make copies of all the documents necessary in the divorce process like tax returns, pay slips, bank statements, insurance, mortgage, etc.

Have the Best Legal Support

The success of the divorce process may heavily depend on how good your attorney is, which is why you need to go for the best. Interview more than one, compare their styles and ensure they understand and agree with your goals.

You should also look at their experience and their successful history in similar cases.

Figure Out a Living Situation

Figure out where you will stay during and after the divorce. That mostly applies if you are getting divorced because of an abusive spouse.

You should also ensure that you have money to last you at least three months if you are the one with limited financial access because your spouse could cut off your financial support.

Act Civil

Treat your spouse with respect, and do not get involved with another romantic relationship before the divorce is finalized. Also, do not act, speak, send emails, messages, or make calls to your spouse when you are angry and say spiteful things.

That is because all those things will be used against you in the divorce hearing, and things might get ugly for you.

Have a support system

One of the most underestimated yet major effects of divorce is the emotional pain it causes to you and your family. Have your friends and family around for any supportive words and actions during that time.

You can also take online mft programs to guide you on how to get over the emotional pain and move on.

Divorce is a tiring process and can sometimes take very long or be messy. If you want to avoid it, the best way is to take online mft programs with your spouse. Unlike therapy, which is general, MFT therapy focuses solely on family and marriage issues.

 

3 Important Things to Know Before Enrolling in a College

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After working at a tech-related job for some time, you definitely know you’ve chosen the right career. You really enjoy your work and are hoping to move up in the company and secure an even better position.

To do this, you’ve decided to enroll in college and start working toward an information technology certificate or degree of some kind.

To help make your time in college as productive as possible — and ensure you’re spending your hard-earned money on the best program for your needs — consider the following tips:

1. First, Choose a Program

While you may already know what you want to study, you’re not quite done with major decisions. It’s also important to choose the right type of program that will help you achieve your career goals, while taking cost and time into consideration. The two main choices are a certificate or a degree. Essentially, a certificate is a shorter credential that shows you’ve completed a certain amount of coursework to help prepare you for relevant, entry-level roles in that particular field. Thus, if you opt for an IT certificate program, you’ll take classes that focus on this subject.

The other option is to earn a degree. Some common examples include a bachelor’s degree, associate’s degree, or master’s degree. In general, an online IT certificate won’t require as much time or financial commitment compared to a degree. Plus, it’s a great way to add value to your resume as you look to pursue new opportunities within your company or career.

2. Next, Decide if Online or In-Person Learning is Best

The next big decision to make before enrolling involves whether you want to attend online or in person. To succeed in an online program, you must be highly organized and motivated. You should also look at your current responsibilities and consider if it’s realistic for you to go in person. If you plan on continuing to work full-time at your current IT position, you may find it easier to choose an online program to allow you to complete the program on a more flexible schedule. Additionally, you might not find a brick-and-mortar university in your area that offers the IT program you desire. In these cases, it makes sense to apply for an online college program that you can fit around your schedule and can do from the comfort of home.

3. Finally, Choose the Best Time to Start

Now may be the perfect time to start applying to colleges. After reviewing your current work and personal commitments, consider when it makes sense to start classes. Some colleges run on a semester-based schedule, whereas others have classes starting more frequently.

If finances are holding you back, know that you might be able to secure some type of scholarship to attend school. You can also ask your boss if your company helps to supplement tuition costs. Remember to research tuition costs for your ideal program and come up with a financial plan that fits in with your other obligations, whether that’s setting a savings goal, taking out a loan, or a combination of options.

You Can Reach Your Goals

Attending college is definitely an important milestone in life — one that can help to pave your career in technology. By first deciding if a certificate or degree is best, carefully weighing in-person or online school options, and determining the optimum time to start college, you can be on the path toward pursuing advanced opportunities in your chosen field.

 

Advantages of Lab-as-a-service

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Before rolling out a program, software, patch, or updating a system, it must go through a Software Testing Life Cycle (STLC). The cycle involves testing the product for bugs by first understanding the development requirement and ensuring it is functioning adequately. The cycle involves five complex phases of requirement analysis, test planning, designing and development of test case, environment set up for the test, and test execution.

The entire cycle requires an expensive laboratory environment and infrastructure. Additionally, orchestrating and managing whole in-house software requires specialized personnel to reach your product to the regional or global physical environment. Recently outsourcing has proved an adequate solution to resolve the challenges of on-site laboratories.

Lab-as-a-service is commonly abbreviated as LAAS and refers to a cloud computing service where companies pay to use laboratory infrastructure instead of buying it. So, what are the advantages of outsourcing laboratory services?

1. Automation of product development process

Previously the speed of product development was extremely slow. Products took months or years before they are introduced in the market or used. With the introduction of laboratory outsourcing, the speed has been drastically increased and automated by more than fifteen times.

The automation of product development positively impacts a materially as the period reaches the market faster, usually in less time than anticipated. Additionally, companies earn a competitive advantage in the market due to the increased speed of product development brought by automation.

2. Reduced cost of product development

Two significant aspects can explain the reduced cost of product development: the cost of harnessing all the lab hardware and the cost of orchestrating, building, and managing a product platform. First, the cost of acquiring and operating a single piece of lab hardware is significantly high such that operating an entire hardware inventory is impossible, especially for small and medium business enterprises. Before a product gets out in the market, it must go through a cycle that is operated by a whole platform.

A working platform has been orchestrated and well-managed, which can only be achieved by adequate infrastructure. With good infrastructure, you can reach the regional and global target rapidly. Lab as a service can easily consolidate the entire global infrastructure hence aiding your organization to span your target audience without much cost. Also, the service increases the efficiency and usability of the expensive infrastructure by avoiding the underutilization of resources. The end cost benefits everyone in the chain, including partners and customers.

3. Reduced product development timeframe

Initially, a product or solution took nearly a decade before completing its development cycle. However, the capabilities and advantages of LaaS are drastically taking over the product development cycles of nearly ninety-nine percent of global organizations.

Lab-as-a-service grants an organization incredible power and functionality to orchestrate a test harness before taking the product through the testing cycle within a short time. The powerful LaaS technology has enabled the shrinkage of the overall product development timeframe, hence, encourages its adoption. The acceleration of creating a working platform coupled with speedy productivity ensures increased production at the organization in a slashed timeframe.

4. The organization can focus on core business throughout the product development cycle.

While in-house laboratories can deliver the required services, they eat up a big portion of the organization’s operating and overhead costs. Additionally, they cannot utilize the resources to optimum levels and deliver the test closure within the required timeframe.

On the other hand, outsourcing laboratory services are run by experts with the expertise to provide the product with lower variable costs and high fixed costs. This allows the organization to receive quality products at the end of the cycle with zero bugs while still focusing on their day-to-day activities.

The characteristics of in-house laboratories include a high initial investment, high fixed cost to cater for employees’ salaries and benefits and excessive under-utilization of workforce and resources. The characteristics of outsourced laboratories include an optimum total cost, labor, and investment. Hence, an in-house laboratory’s operating costs are significantly due to the costly and under-utilized equipment, excess capacity, and a shift of requirements to a minimum.

On the other hand, outsourcing reduces, rationalizes, or eliminates the ever-rising operating lab costs and rates of underutilization. It also earns you increased productivity, and the overall performance and service is significantly improved

 

5 Key Accounting Trends to Watch Out for in 2021

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There are several changes in accounting, especially due to volatility in the market demands. These changes can also be a result of changes in the needs of clients, regulations in accounting, and the adoption of a generational approach. Most businesses invest in new trends to stay up to date with the accounting needs of clients. Here are some of the trends to expect in 2021 and beyond.

1. Accounting Automation

More people work remotely today than they did last year and the year before that. Although automation has always been part of accounting with several businesses, it is only gaining more popularity. Automation yields lesser errors and businesses only invest in a few accounting personnel.

Accounting automation relies on computers and network technology. While accounting operations are faster and more efficient, there is a risk that businesses could suffer from cyber-attacks. Accountants and business management have to ensure that they keep their cyber insurance up to date.

Businesses use Big Data to get almost accurate forecasting, and they can also file tax returns within seconds. There are concerns that automation might displace jobs, but businesses see it as a way to run more efficiently.

2. Cloud-Based Accounting

Cloud-based accounting is another result of the popularity of remote working. Organizations can operate efficiently even when the employees are in different geographical locations. Most businesses will still have on-site servers and other computer systems in the business premises. These in-house premises help track sales, store confidential information, and track inventories. The cloud, on the other hand, offers the flexibility that businesses need to support modern remote working.

Through cloud-based accounting, businesses are able to handle huge datasets that enable them to create detailed accounting reports. There is still the risk of a data breach, so companies have to stay vigilant.

3. Use of Blockchain in Accounting

Blockchain is one of the biggest technologies today. Although some businesses still do not understand how to use blockchain in their day to day running, some have already started using it. In finance and accounting, blockchain can help track assets.

Blockchain technology uses a network of computers running independently to record and share and also synchronize transactions. This kind of a distributed ledger technology is not easy to manipulate. Businesses are able to create a chain of trackable transaction records that no one is able to alter. Using Blockchain, accountants will find it easy to perform audits and track down events in a business as no one can manipulate blockchain records.

4. Data Analytics in Accounting

With so many accounting firms using cloud computing, there is increased access to Big Data. This presents a valuable opportunity for accounting firms.

With data analytics, companies can collect insights into the future, identify loopholes and fix them, track the progress of clients, and be able to develop forecasting models. These details inform the decisions that a business takes. Data specialists will be in demand if this trend continues. These are professionals who can analyze and interpret the data from analytics tools.

However, there may be new regulations on how institutions collect, use, and store data. This means that institutions have to review the way they handle client data. Educational institutions such as UWorld Roger CPA also have to adapt to engage accountants in data analytics skills.

5. Accounting Functions Outsourcing

Traditionally, firms have relied on in-house teams to get accounting operations going. However, there is a shift in employment trends. Some firms today prefer outsourcing accounting tasks to third parties. This way, the organization will have its hands free to take on new clients. There is a looming world debt crisis, and with outsourcing, businesses will cut costs and survive the crisis.

A business avoids paying full-time employees and employee benefits. As more accounting firms compete, other companies will find outsourcing easy. Further, the popularity of remote collaboration business models makes it easy for companies to outsource accounting tasks.

Conclusion

There were several trends seen in 2020 and these trends might continue into 2021 and beyond. For instance, businesses might continue utilizing social media and artificial intelligence in their accounting operations. From all these trends, one thing is clear; businesses are digitizing their accounting operations. Businesses are also looking at reducing the cost of operations by embracing technologies that make accounting more efficient.

 

Types of Student Housing Options You Will Find in Queensland

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Starting college can be an exciting journey, with lots of new experiences to be had. Along with all the fun, there’s also a lot of planning to be done.

From buying books to getting school supplies, the list is endless. The most crucial task in the to-do lists is finding suitable student housing on or near campus. While you will be spending most of the time in the class or library, choosing the right accommodation will let you live a comfortable university life.

There are quite a few options to choose from in Queensland, but it will depend on your specific needs and budget. It’s easier to check with your college or university if they have helpful resources for accommodation. Also, check out the websites like https://iglu.com.au/university/university-of-queensland/ to explore accommodation options in the city.

University Accommodation

Some universities will allow for on-campus accommodation or dorms. While these can be slightly expensive, the benefits outweigh the price. When you live on campus, you save time and money because you can easily walk to your classes. With off-campus living rentals, you’ll need to use public transport or invest in a car. This type of accommodation also includes electricity, water, gas, etc.

Another great part about university accommodation is that you’ll be living with other students who go there, increasing your chances of socializing with them and making lasting bonds. College years are supposed to be the best years of your life, and you can make great memories.

Hotels and Guesthouses

In today’s world, it’s not difficult to find a hotel or guesthouse that fits your needs. Hotels are for temporary living but can be used to your advantage if you find a good deal.

You can go ahead with this choice based on your comfort level if you are okay with being around lots of different people and can manage to study and keep up work in that space.

Purpose-Built Homes

Queensland is filled with students. Therefore you’ll find lots of them taking up two or three-bedroom apartments and sharing the space. It’s a convenient and affordable way to have your own space and still live with students from the same university.

With thorough research and making a few visits, you can easily find a house that fits your liking. This type of housing can be more affordable as you will be sharing common house costs with the other members.

Again here, the costs can be inclusive of stay, water, electricity, and food. Plus, laundry services will also be available to save more time. Purpose-built student accommodations are usually located in nearby neighbourhoods to cut down your commute time. They are laced with the latest amenities to make your stay comfortable while focusing on your studies.

The prices of purpose-built student housing near the Queensland University may be high, but the facilities are worth every dollar you’ll spend. However, don’t hesitate to ask the company about payment structuring, facilities available, room sizes, and culture to make the right choices.

Homestays

Homestays are like hotels or guesthouses but with a homier touch, as you will have a host family to take care of you. Most Australian universities have registered homestay centers as well.

Homestays also let you dive into the local Australian culture. The host family can help you adapt to the local customs and pass on their knowledge. They are very helpful as they will guide you in using local transportation, the best places to eat, and how to enjoy local life. Some families may even be kind enough to set up a room with minimal décor just for you.

If you are an international student, purpose-built student accommodations provide the perfect space to stay and enjoy your time. Choose the best one with adequate research.