How to Protect Your Business from Downtime

14 November 2018

One of the costliest experiences your business can face is network downtime. It can result in tremendous loss of profit if contracts are not fulfilled or services are not provided simply because you cannot access the relevant information you need.

While there are many advantages to moving to a cloud network, there are also some things that can go wrong. As with any business practice, it is important to plan for what can go wrong and protect yourself when this happens.

Expect the Unexpected:

Downtime can occur at any point with little notice. When this happens, it can fully interrupt your daily business plan and can leave you spinning and looking for something to do until you can get online.

To minimize the loss in this time, it is imperative that you develop a full continuity plan to be utilized in the event of downtime. You may also need to check any service level agreements (or SLAs) that you may have with a third party to make sure that you are protected from any action from then during downtime.

Appreciate That It Might Sometimes Be You:

These frustrating periods of downtime are not always caused by the cloud provider. Sometimes it might be as simple as a dodgy script or piece of code causing your cloud to go down. In this scenario, the onus is on you to fix it and not upon the cloud provider since the problem originated from you.

Check everything frequently to ensure that you are completing things to the best of your ability. Any coding needs to be properly checked before it goes live on the site and bugs need to be found and fixed as quickly as possible. If you are introducing something from a third-party developer, make sure that is from a reputable source so that it does not damage any of the structure that you have worked so hard to build. Do not add anything to your cloud unless you know exactly what it is and where it has come from.

Use a Multi-Cloud Structure:

By using a multi-cloud structure which operates across different accessibility zones, you are decreasing the likelihood of your business being completely cut off from its work. This may not eliminate your downtime risk but it can certainly help to minimize it.

Check that the individual cloud providers you are using for your hybrid structure aren’t using the same data centre and the same resources. If this is the case, having a multi-cloud structure for the purpose of reducing downtime is completely redundant.

Prepare for Recovery:

Sudden downtime can result in some awful loss of data and projects if you are not careful. Sometimes, this loss can occur even if you follow the best online practices. To best recover from downtime and data loss, you will need to use some proactive measures and potentially contact an expert to help.

Disaster Recover as a Service (or DRaaS) is a service which can be implemented as part of your overall cloud package from the right provider. Along with other services like infrastructure or software, many should be able to offer disaster recovery. Find out more about DRaaS from ukcloud.com; these experts know all about it.

Downtime may seem like a scary prospect which can seriously affect your performance depending on how you handle it. Like many aspects of business, you will be able to weather even periods of unexpected downtime if you have a proactive business plan in place. Be sensible, and you will be able to protect your company properly no matter what is thrown at it.

Read More:

Ariana Smith

I enjoy writing and I write quality guest posts on topics of my interest and passion. I have been doing this since my college days. My special interests are in health, fitness, food and following the latest trends in these areas. I am an editor at Content Rally.

View all posts

7 Common Construction Project Management Problems

Construction project management is a resource-intensive and complex process that involves coordinating different teams and disciplines to achieve a common goal. In addition, the construction industry is constantly evolving, so project managers must be adaptable and proactive to deliver projects successfully. However, even the most experienced and skilled construction project managers can face challenges during a project. Fortunately, construction project management software like Bridgit can help managers streamline employee management and performance. However, it's still critical to be familiar with the problems troubling the construction project management sector. Here are seven of them. 7 Main Problems Construction Project Managers Face: Every construction site has unique challenges, but some problems in construction project management are more common than others. 1. Undefined or poorly defined goals Every construction project should have specific and achievable goals to all team members. Without clear objectives, it isn't easy to measure progress and ensure that everyone is working towards the same vision. A common problem in construction project management is that goals are either undefined or poorly defined. It can lead to confusion and frustration among team members. In a recent survey, 52% of the respondents were dissatisfied with the project management maturity at their organization. It’s a wake-up call for project managers to step up their game regarding goal development. Plus, it's challenging to track progress without defined goals. As a result, the project may go over budget or take longer than expected. 2. Inaccurate estimates When creating a construction project budget, miscalculating the cost of materials or underestimating the time to complete a task can lead to big problems eventually. It's essential to be as accurate as possible when estimating the costs of a project. Suppose you're managing the construction of a new office building. You've estimated that the project will cost $5 million and take 18 months to complete. However, after six months, you realize that the project is only 50% complete and that the final cost will be closer to $8 million. It can cause problems for your construction project since you'll need to find additional funding to complete the project. 3. Employee turnover Employee turnover means that workers regularly leave and are replaced on a project. It can lead to a loss in productivity as new employees need time to get up to speed. High turnover rates can also lead to a shortage of skilled labor, which can impact the quality of work. On top of that, it disrupts the flow of communication and collaboration between team members. To deal with employee turnover, construction project managers should build a strong team culture. They should also create opportunities for employee development and provide competitive compensation packages. 4. Scope creep Scope creep occurs when the scope of a project starts to change or expands beyond the original scope. It can be caused by several factors, such as changes in the budget, unrealistic deadlines, or a lack of clear project objectives. Scope creep can significantly impact the budget, timeline, and quality of work. Therefore, construction project managers must understand the project objectives from the start. Here are some ways to tackle scope creep: Make sure everyone involved in the project understands the objectives.Keep track of any changes made to the scope.Work with the client to get approval for scope changes.Communicate with the team regularly to ensure everyone is on the same page. 5. Inadequate risk management OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration) has strict guidelines for the safety of construction workers. If these guidelines are not followed, it can result in injuries, accidents, and even fatalities. Construction project managers must identify and assess risks before they start working on a project. They should also develop a safety plan and ensure all workers are trained to stay safe. Inadequate risk management leads to the following problems: Injuries and fatalities: Workers can get injured or killed if risks are not managed properly. It can also result in legal problems and a loss of productivity.Property damage: Construction sites are often located near homes and businesses. If risks are not managed properly, they can damage the property.Loss of money: In case of an accident, construction companies must pay for medical expenses and property damage. 6. Poor communication Many construction projects are complex and require coordination between different teams. A lack of communication can result in errors. Some of these problems include: Lack of coordination: Poor communication translates to a lack of coordination. It can result in construction crews working on each other, leading to delays and errors.Delayed completion: A communication breakdown can cause a project to fall behind schedule, resulting in cost overruns and dissatisfied customers.Poor quality: If there is a lack of communication, it can be difficult to resolve issues. For instance, if a contractor does not communicate with the architect, the quality of the work may suffer. 7. Lack of technology The absence of technology from a construction site is a concerning matter that needs immediate attention. A construction company must have the latest technology to stay competitive and efficient. Technology has transformed the construction industry in recent years. In fact, the CAGR for the project management software industry is forecasted to be up to 10.67% by 2025. It has made it easier to communicate and coordinate between different teams. However, not all construction companies have embraced technology. Some companies still use outdated methods, resulting in errors and delays. How Can Construction Managers Avoid Common Project Management Problems? The key to avoiding common project management problems is effective communication. By staying in close contact with all team members, construction managers can stay up-to-date on potential issues and prevent them before they cause significant problems. Additionally, effective communication can help keep projects on schedule and within budget. Besides communication, construction project managers must also use technology to their advantage. This way, they can keep better track of deadlines, progress reports, and costs. Finally, construction managers need to have a good handle on the budget and schedule. They should be able to anticipate potential problems and take steps to avoid them. Conclusion As established, some common problems for construction project managers include lack of communication, ineffective budget handling, employee turnover, and unrealistic deadlines. While some of these can be out of your control, you can take steps to mitigate most of them. For example, creating a communication plan, being proactive about your budget, and being realistic about deadlines will help make your construction project more successful. Read Also: Project Management in a PRINCE2 settingHow Can BYOD Improve Your Productivity?The New Global Project PRINCE2 Management ForumCommercial Construction After COVID-19: How Developers Can Adapt

Walmart 101: What Is Walmart Neighborhood Market?

If you have been a loyal customer to Walmart, you must have heard about Walmart neighborhood market. If you are interested to know more about this, you have reached the right place. We all know that platforms like Walmart and Target always try to ensure that they are selling their items at a much cheaper price to the customers. However, it might not be possible all the time, especially in times of inflation. And that is the reason why Walmart came up with the idea of launching their neighborhood markets. Keep on reading this article till the end to learn more about the same… What Is The Walmart Neighborhood Market? Image Source The multi-billion dollar convenient cum departmental store company Walmart launched its subsidiary the Walmart neighborhood market in the year 1998. They are reportedly about one-fifth the size of the regular Walmart Supercenters and are typically found in urban areas, in contrast to regular Walmart stores. Walmart Neighborhood Markets give a choice to the individual customers who are in need of better assistance and service, local food ingredients, and better food choices. However, what makes them unique is the fact that they compete with Whole Foods Market and Trader Joe's for similar store concepts. In case you are wondering what was the need to launch this section, let me tell you something. The Walmart Neighborhood Market opened to assist provide customers access to more affordable ingredients. The subsidiary is an endeavour to grow and adjust to the expanding demand for superior yet more affordable ingredients. In simpler words, Walmart Neighborhood Markets are the smaller stores that provide to the customers goods that are related to household as well as pharmacy at a much cheaper price. How Is The Walmart Neighborhood Market Different From Other Stores? Image Source You might be wondering how these are different from the ordinary and regular stores. If that is what you are searching for, then I have you covered. “The Markets are like mini Supercenters. The interior of some of the stores is very similar to Wal-Mart's big warehouses, with exposed ceiling beams, wide aisles and fluorescent lighting,” according to Business Insider. The Walmart Neighborhood Markets have a distinct competitive advantage over virtually everyone because the stores offer the same low prices as the massive warehouse stores owned by Walmart, but they are located in much smaller and easier-to-reach locations. These markets put focus on mainly three categories of items— pharmacy, fuel, and grocery. With aisles that are devoted to wines and sections that provide the freshest produce to the users and the customers, the Markets serve everything at a rate that is similar to the stores like Trader Joe’s. When talking about the difference, there is only one that makes the Walmart Neighborhood Markets different from other stores. And it is the fact that these stores are located in many urban and suburban localities. Services At The Walmart Neighborhood Markets Image Source As I have already mentioned, the Walmart Neighborhood Market is an organization that utilizes a more modest impression, while as yet offering a drug store and family merchandise notwithstanding full-line staple. Neighborhood Market stores are distinguished from the popular Supercenters by the format's distinctive exterior and interior finishes. And when it comes to the services that they provide to the customers, there are plenty of them. Here is a list of the primary services or categories of products that they provide at the Neighborhood Markets: Foods Wine Grocery Pharmacy Gasoline Are They Closing Walmart Neighborhood Markets? Image Source In the United States, Walmart began closing hundreds of Supercenter and Neighborhood Market locations in the year 2016 alone. The company closed eight additional Neighborhood Market locations in 2019. This gave rise to a question, whether they are closing down the section of the Neighborhood Market or not. With regards to Walmart Area Market, the organization has shared that the specialty store initially presented in 2015 hasn't proceeded as well as they'd trusted. The Walmart Neighborhood Market experiment appears to have not gone as planned, and Walmart is having difficulty determining what customers want. And even though a number of stores were closed in the year 2022, as per reports by the Wall Street Journal, there is no way the Neighborhood Markets are getting closed! Wrapping It Up! Walmart Neighborhood Markets give a choice to the individual customers who are in need of better assistance and service, local food ingredients, and better food choices. However, what makes them unique is the fact that they compete with Whole Foods Market and Trader Joe's for similar store concepts. In case you were searching for information regarding the Walmart Neighborhood Market, I hope that this article has been of help to you. If there are any other queries and queries related to the same, please do not hesitate to let me know. All that you need to do is scroll down till you reach the bottom of the page. And then leave your suggestions and questions in the comment box below. If there are any other stores that you might want to know about, let me know as well. And I will be there to answer them all for you! Read Also: How to Make Your Store Look More Put Together? Getting Help from an E-Commerce Expert to Boost Your Online Store Sales Operating Hours: What Time Does Walmart Customer Service Close And Open?

Top Career Opportunities In Operations Management

Operations management is an in-demand career with lots of opportunities for growth and promotion. Here are some of the opportunities you may qualify for. Production A production manager is in charge of assessing inputs and outputs. This means ensuring that employees have what they need to perform their job as efficiently as possible. This can include implementing training programs. In addition, production managers look for problems in manufacturing processes and supply chains and work to create solutions to solve them. For example, discovering that a comparable product essential to the manufacturing process can be acquired for less cost from an alternative supplier will lead to a higher profit potential for the company. Financial As a financial operations manager, you will work closely with the chief operations officer to help your company form a solid financial plan. You are in charge of making sure that money is spent wisely and implementing cost-cutting measures when it makes sense to do so. Resource Resource managers work with all the departments within a company to ensure things are running smoothly and creating a profitable portfolio. This includes working with your company's financial, technical, and human resources departments. A large part of the role facilitates communication and teamwork between all departments. You will work to ensure that employees feel cared for and feel they have a voice in the day-to-day operations. Team morale is important to the success of any company. What do I need to do to get started as an operations manager? Operations managers need to have a good understanding of all aspects of the business world, especially in administration. A bachelor's degree in a business or economic field is typically the bare minimum for applying for management-level jobs. Those with a Master in Operations Management are often favored for top management positions. Achieving a master's degree online from an institution such as Kettering University Online is a way to keep working while getting the advanced degree that will offer you the highest salary and better career opportunities. Operations managers have excellent salaries and job security Operation management is an important position at a company. It takes a lot of attention to detail and knowledge to be a good manager, so it is no surprise that these positions pay well. With more businesses opening or expanding every day, the demand for those with the skills required to manage and lead is set to keep growing. Managers also tend to keep their jobs even if some layoffs have to occur for a company to succeed. Conclusion There are many opportunities for career advancement in operations management. There is no better time if you are considering an advanced degree in a business-related field. Even if you are just working on a bachelor's, it is essential to understand that you can simultaneously pursue an advanced degree. Gaining valuable business experience during the day and going to school online in the evening is an excellent way to put your career on the fast track. Read Also: Benefits That Employees Actually Look For 5 Reasons To Prefer Buying Printer Ink Cartridges Online 7 Ways Technology Can Help In Customer Management And Sales

How to Protect Your Business from Downtime

Expect the Unexpected:

Appreciate That It Might Sometimes Be You:

Use a Multi-Cloud Structure:

Prepare for Recovery:

Creative Marketing Strategies to Put Your Small Translation Business

Importance of Flexibility with Business Technology

Tags

Ariana Smith

I enjoy writing and I write quality guest posts on topics of my interest and passion. I have been doing this since my college days. My special interests are in health, fitness, food and following the latest trends in these areas. I am an editor at Content Rally.

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Popular

Technologies For Creating A Startup Idea

How to Download Facebook Videos on Android?

7 Rules of Effective Ecommerce Web Design

The 10 WordPress Plugins Every Sucessful Blogger Uses

Follow Us

Recent

Best Ways To Become An Electrician In 2024

Role Of Sound Design In Creating Memorable Advertisements

Data-Driven Insights And Enhancing Customer Experience

Simplify Your Conversions: A Powerful Cryptocurrency Conversion Calculator

Related

7 Common Construction Project Management Problems

Walmart 101: What Is Walmart Neighborhood Market?

Top Career Opportunities In Operations Management

How to Protect Your Business from Downtime

Expect the Unexpected:

Appreciate That It Might Sometimes Be You:

Use a Multi-Cloud Structure:

Prepare for Recovery:

Share this Article

Creative Marketing Strategies to Put Your Small Translation Business

Importance of Flexibility with Business Technology

Tags

I enjoy writing and I write quality guest posts on topics of my interest and passion. I have been doing this since my college days. My special interests are in health, fitness, food and following the latest trends in these areas. I am an editor at Content Rally.

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Popular

Follow Us

Recent

Related