Posts tagged: real estate

There’s no lie in the statement that Dubai is the land of luxuries. People plan to spend their holidays in Dubai, they intend to buy or rent property in Dubai and those who have not seen it ever, yearn to visit Dubai at least once in a lifetime. Acquiring a piece of land in Dubai, Ajman, Abu Dhabi, Sharjah or Fujairah has become a dream to many of the expatriates, therefore, the real estate in Dubai is witnessing a rapid and extensive growth.

Few of the reasons that Dubai seems to be charming to settle in are;

· Innumerable opportunities

· The exceptional quality of life

· Continual economic growth and development

· Chances of growth for every individual

· Easy acquisition of land as compared to other highly developed cities

· One of the best places to enjoy life

Though the acquisition of property in Dubai has become easy, the procedure of attainment proves to be complicated because the people and agencies involved in between turn out to be fraudulent. The real estate agents avow to get you an affordable property in Dubai but many of these claims are pretentious.

Someone had to come up with the solution for the convenience of people, and the one who has emerged as a prevalent name in the world of real estate in Dubai is ‘EZestate’. Bridging the gap between genuine buyers and sellers of the property in Dubai, EZestate works with an aim to provide affordable accommodation for the people who are in pursuit of any sort of property in Dubai. If you need to buy or sell property in Dubai, be it an apartment, house, townhouse, villa, off-plan property, or an office, then EZestate is surely the best fit for it.

Considering the heightened demand of properties and intricacy faced by the buyers and sellers to get those properties, EZestate offers the 10 most affordable properties in Dubai, Ajman, Ras Al Khaimah, Abu Dhabi, Sharjah, Fujairah, Al Ain, and Umm Al Qawain;

· Townhouse for rent and sale/purchase

· Studio house for rent and sale/purchase

· Apartments with various bedroom capacities for rent and sale/purchase

· Elegant homes for rent and sale/purchase

· Beachfront/Sea-facing apartments

· Beachfront/Sea-facing houses

· Unfurnished and fully furnished properties

· Aesthetic villas

· Seemly office place

· Off-plan properties for rent and sale/purchase

Conforming to the regulations laid by the RERA, EZestate maintains transparency in the dealing of the property which makes them credible and makes it conducive for its clients to buy, rent or sale property in Dubai. EZestate also offers you to schedule your payment plans according to your affordability. Providing clear and comprehensive guidelines relating to the payment options, DLD, and the agent’s fee, they assist you in setting the down payment and lease plans with an extremely simplified payment calculator available on their website.

To cut the story short, EZestate is a matchless option if you are planning to buy, rent or sale property in Dubai. It’s the all in one stop, providing directions to a successful life ahead.

Quizno’s is the second leading sub shop company today; Subway is the first leading shop. Quizno’s does have other competitors such as Blimpie’s and Jerry’s Subs; however, Subway is Quizno’s primary competitor. The Subway website reads, “Subway is the world’s largest submarine sandwich chain with more than 30,000 restaurants in 87 countries.” (Subway History 2009). Rebecca Steinfort, the Chief Marketing Officer for Quizno’s said, “Our main competition is Subway, which is an 800-pound gorilla” (York 2009). Subway began back in the 1960’s, according to the Subway official site page. The site reads that, Subway was started in New York by Fred DeLuca and Dr. Peter Buck; Subway has been in business for over forty-three years (Subway, 2009).

Size and Trend of Industry

According to the National Restaurant Association, the quick-service restaurant industry is very profitable; the profit revenues represent 47.5% (or $511 billion) of the food dollar. The quick service industry in the U.S. receives profits of up to 120 billion. The convenience of quick-service has proven to be a substantial success for this industry. According to the United States Department of Agriculture, between 2000 and 2010, the consumption and spending on fast food is expected to increase six percent mainly because of the new-age families that spend more time engaging in activities outside of the home. According to an affiliate of the Dun & Bradstreet Company, Hoover Incorporated, many households favor convenience over cooking, which prompts quick-service restaurants to place their franchises in more unorthodox locations such as inside airports or gas stations. According to Hoover’s Inc., fast-food chains in the U.S. are looking to accommodate the increase in consumer spending by targeting international markets, particularly in China (Advertising Age 2009).

The company seeks to be the number one sub shop choice. In its attempt Quizno’s has made tremendous progress through its interesting, yet questionable advertising techniques. In Quizno’s advertising techniques, they have created ads that are targeted primarily to men and women between the ages of 18-34 years of age. According to an article from the Mcclean Marketing Group titled “Quiznos sponge monkeys revisited – Buzz isn’t enough,” the restaurants’ target audience is 18-34 year olds and its spots are created with this audience in mind. In the past, Quizno’s had used a commercial ad, created by the Martin Agency, which used a sponge monkey as the spokes person. When the ad was created, the idea was to create an eye catching and interesting commercial that would stand out from its competitors. In a Washington Post News Week article, the sponge monkey in the commercial is described as, “A small, furry creature, wearing a bowler hat, levitates as he sings an ode to Quizno’s subs” (Stevenson 2005). Other past marketing techniques used by Quizno’s included the Quiz Kidz program, “in which a special menu was developed for the little ones and initially launched with a “kids-eat-free” promotion.” This Business Network article also mentions the purpose of the Quiz Kidz program, which was to attract parents who would, instead of a sub, enjoy a salad or pasta. Overall, the sponge monkey commercial was a success in grabbing the attention of viewers; however, it had drawn in a vast number of complaints from customers who felt the commercial was unpleasant and tasteless. On the other hand, the Quiz Kidz program was a success due to its family oriented approach. According to this Business Net article, the Quiz Kids program increased “evening and weekend business, it nearly tripled sales.” These are the major past marketing activities that have been presented by Quizno’s. (Edwards 2009 p. 2).

The current marketing activities that Quizno’s is currently using include delivery and catering services; Quizno’s has also altered its menu to surpass Subway’s five dollar foot-long deal. In doing so, Quizno’s is currently offering the four dollar Torpedo sub which claims to be a better tasting sub for a lower price. In the attempt to promote the lower priced sub, Quizno’s has taken the sexually suggestive approach in its current commercial ads. Advertising for the Torpedo sub was created by the advertising agency Nitro. The commercial ad is focused on the Torpedo sub; however, in the commercial an actor and a voice over is used; the actor and the voice over both say sexually suggestive phrases such as, “Put it in me,” and “Say it Sexy.” This commercial has also drawn up much attention for Quizno’s however it has stirred up many complaints as well. (Ehrke 2009)

In addition to the captivating commercials and lower priced subs, Quizno’s has developed and implemented the “Million Sub Giveaway.” In this tactic, Quizno’s is offering free subs to customers who agree to share personal information; mainly their email addresses. According to an “Advertising Age” article titled, “Quizno’s throws Subway curve with Sexy 4-dollar foot-long,” “Quizno’s offered a “Million Sub Giveaway,” “which is an online effort that e-mailed a coupon to the first million customers to give their names and e-mail addresses.” These marketing activities are fairly new to the public, and are continuing to be promoted on national and international levels (York 2009 p. 7).

According to Advertising Age, in 2008 Quizno’s spent $90 million on advertising via the Nitro Group, with the total profit/revenue at an estimated $1.9 billion. In contrast Quizno’s competitor spent over 300 million dollars on ads (York, 2009 p. 10).

Franchising a Quizno’s. According to the Quizno’s internet homepage, in order to franchise a Quizno’s certain criteria must be met. To buy a Quizno’s franchise, you need a credit score and a net worth of $125,000. As a part of your net worth, you need $70,000 in liquid assets like cash or stocks which you can use to invest in tour restaurant franchise opportunities. Net worth is defined as your total assets; so that’s cash, stocks, homes, cars, recreational vehicles, businesses, as so on, less your total debt (Quizno’s Homepage 2009).

Referring back to the Quizno’s homepage, “You can have between three and six employees working at one time. You might have 15 total employees on your payroll if you use part-time employees to work on different shifts.” Also, the number of hours spent depends on the owner’s preferences, such as operating the franchise independently, or hiring a manager to oversee the stores day-to-day affairs (Quizno’s Homepage 2009).

Quizno’s has many good qualities as a company, three of its current strengths are the four dollar Toasty Torpedo, the commercials are very memorable, and Quizno’s delivers. The Quizno’s four dollar Toasty Torpedo is cheaper than the Subway Five Dollar Footlong. In today’s economy everyone is looking for a cheaper lunch and the Toasty Torpedo is the better buy. The Quizno’s commercials over the last few years have been very memorable; they contained a memorable message and recently came out with a commercial that is getting a lot of attention. Another strength of Quizno’s is its delivery service, Subway and other fast food restaurants have not yet begun delivering, so Quizno’s is pioneering the fast food delivery. Another strength that benefits Quizno’s is its delivery service. Currently, participating franchises offer the services during typical lunch hours. Unlike Subway, Quizno’s delivers personal and catered orders to customers, with a base fee and delivery charge. Choosing the option of group ordering, and the time you would like the order delivered, are also offered. These benefit Quizno’s because they have more franchises that provide the delivery service. Also, this helps the company because of the effect the economy has had on fuel prices. Rebecca Steinfort, Quizno’s senior vice-president of delivery and catering, explains: “We’ve seen a great response even though we have not been advertising.

The Quizno’s four dollar Toasty Torpedo is also cheaper than the Subway Five Dollar Footlong. For 4 dollars, customers can buy a toasty torpedo sandwich before tax. In comparison, Subway’s five dollar footlong costs $5 before tax (Green Eggs Marketing, 2008, para.1-2). Quizno’s benefits because the low price of the sandwich can encourage customers to add on to their meals by adding a bag of chips or a soda. Those side items are low priced, and the total cost of the meal will not exceed $6 (Toasty Torpedo, 2008, para.2).

A weakness that Quizno’s has right now is that although it has a delivery service it is very poorly advertised. The only way to discover Quizno’s delivery service is to visit the website; on the site there is very little information about the service. Customers should be made aware of the delivery opportunities. Another major weakness that Quizno’s has is its prices. According to President of Quizno’s Subs Greg Macdonald, “Consumers love the sandwiches but found them too expensive” (Marketing Magazine p.3).

The next weakness that Quizno’s holds is their advertising approaches. For instance, previous commercial ads seemed a bit tasteless and un-appetizing. One commercial that involved a sponge monkey was raved as disgusting and unnecessary. According to an article from the Commercial Archives titled, “Quiznos Dusts off Baby Bob,” Quizno’s commercials have had negative ratings and perceptions, despite the ads’ popularity. It is reported in the article that, “the ads give the idea that rats are in Quizno’s subs,” (Adland p 1). Another perception of a Quizno’s ads was,” Baby Bob just isn’t very funny or interesting or anything” (Adland 1). These two commercials involved the shouting sponge monkeys, and the talking baby. As for the most recent commercial advertisement, there is a huge weakness in this add. The commercial focuses on the new four dollar torpedo sub. While the commercial does focus heavily on the sandwich, its sexual suggestions are even heavier. To compete with Subway’s five dollar foot long, Quizno’s has created the four dollar Toasty Torpedo.

To promote this sandwich, Quizno’s has developed a commercial that has been called inappropriate, offensive, and tasteless. There is a talking oven that is having a conversation with a chef. The oven is repeating comments such as “Put it In Me.” According to the website onemillionmoms.com, an article titled, “Quizno’s is more than ‘Toasty’; they are in HOT WATER,” reports various mothers who are against the new commercial advertising approach because of its potential affect on television viewers. The article quotes one mother as saying, “I find the homosexual innuendo tasteless, and it only serves to lessen the character of your company. Young children may not see the implication, but teens and adults certainly do”

As for the actual Toasty Torpedo sandwich, the sandwich has been reported as gross, disappointing, and even bland. According to an article titled, “Quiznos’ $4 Torpedo vs. Subway’s $5 foot long,” from the “Orange County News Source,” consumers have said “I couldn’t believe how bland the sandwich tasted, and how dry the bread was. I was really disappointed” (Luda 2009). The Toasty Torpedo is all reported as looking like a completely different sandwich compared to the one shown on television. It is said that the sandwich does not even look close to what has been shown in the Toasty Torpedo commercial (Orange County News Source p 3). Quizno’s has been reported as having another weakness, Quizno’s has a malfunctioning issue with the Million Sub Giveaway special. In this, consumers were given the opportunity to share their names and email addresses in exchange for coupons at Quizno’s restaurants. Though the giveaway was successful at collecting consumer data, it had a few malfunctions. In the giveaway it was reported that consumers never received their coupons, others could not print the coupons out, some Quizno’s franchises even turned the coupons away (Advertising Age 2p).

One big opportunity for Quizno’s is to undertake international expansion. Quizno’s currently has over 500 restaurants in over 21 countries. If Quizno’s opened more restaurants in other countries the company could continue to expand more and reach a larger group of customers.

Currently, Quizno’s largest threat is Subway. Subway has launched the five dollar foot long deal on every one of its sandwiches; in contrast, Quizno’s only offers its four dollar sub deal on select subs, which are the Toasty Torpedo subs. In addition to the sandwich deals provided by subway, they have also launched a side kick deal. In this, when a consumer buys a five dollar sandwich from subway, they are able to choose from a variety of side orders for only a dollar. The side orders include cookies; apples, and a 20 ounce beverage.

Another big threat to Quizno’s right now is the commercials that they are running to promote the Toasty Torpedo. Although it is a memorable commercial, it may cause some problems. The Toasty Torpedo commercial uses many sexual innuendos and potential homosexual suggestions which could potentially cause different groups of customers to develop a negative attitude towards Quizno’s. On other hand its competitor Subway, has developed multiple commercial ads that have a catchy jingle that promotes its five dollar foot long subs. This jingle has been reported to be a huge success and has captured the attention of millions.

According to an article from the Review Atlas titled, “Get Tuned up for the Return of Advertising Jingles,” “Subway’s “Five Dollar Foot-Long” commercial contains three key ingredients of a successful jingle. It’s catchy, it’s concise and it tells consumers something about the company you want them to know.” (Review Atlas p, 20). The threats that Subway presents to Quizno’s are immense and appear to be unbeatable. Therefore, it is essential for Quizno’s to continue to compete in the race as a leading sandwich provider

Using primarily a focus group to gain an in-depth look at Quizno’s, there was a vast amount of information. In addition to a focus group, the observation method was used to substantiate the findings that would come from the focus group. On a Wednesday, at approximately 12:40pm, The Quizno’s restaurant was packed with costumers. There were consumers in every seat, and there was a line that stretched to the back of the restaurant. In this observation, the consumers who were seated were all eating in groups. Most of the consumers were dressed in collared shirts and neatly pressed dress pants. It appeared that everyone was on a lunch break. All of the customers purchased a sub that was toasted, and oozing with cheese. However, there was one female customer who was eating a salad, and appeared to be quite pleased. All of the consumers had a fountain beverage along with a bag of potato chips. As for the environment in the restaurant, it was somewhat noisy and crowded. In addition, the weather outside was unpleasant because of the rainfall. However, this did not stop the consumers from ordering a Quizno’s meal. Each consumer patiently waited for their meals, however, they did not appear pleased with the service. It seemed as if the workers were moving too slow, according to the consumer’s facial expressions. Also during the observation, the demographics of the consumers were obvious, including, gender, race, and age. During the lunch hour, there were more men than woman throughout the entire restaurant, and it was documented that approximately 95 percent of the consumers were Caucasian. The other 5 percent were of other races that ranged from African American, Asian, and Hispanic. The general age range was 25-45.

Though the observation method was used, the primary research method was the focus group. The focus group consisted of eight individuals; 5 of them were actually eating and enjoying a Quizno’s meal, and 2 two were in the restaurant with a friend who was waiting in line for a Quizno’s sub. The consumers all agreed to participate in the focus group; they all were delighted to do so. The age range of the focus group was 19 to 45. The focus group members were Caucasian-Americans. The majority of the focus group members were white collar workers who had decided to eat at Quizno’s for their lunch breaks. The other half was Towson University students. The members were asked over 30 questions, including demographics, favorite Quizno’s commercials, favorite Quizno’s items, and least favorites items. The questions were designed to understand the underlying feelings that consumers had towards the suggestive messages displayed in Quizno’s advertisements. However, in regards to asking questions relevant to said advertisements, there was a variety of answers.

Within the focus group, the majority of them replied “I just fast forward past the commercials on my TIVO, (An interactive television application), so I have never even seen a Quizno’s commercial.” Others expressed which commercials stood out to them the most, and which commercials were ineffective and offensive. The replies ranged from “the commercials were funny;” to “the Quizno’s commercials are gross;” to “I’ve never seen any of their commercials to be honest,” to “the commercials made me hungry for subway.” One focus group member even replied, “Quizno’s is the McDonald’s of subs, it’s sickening, they both are horrible!” Each question was directed to each member and each member gave an equal response. From this focus group, the underlying feelings, opinions, and emotions about Quizno’s were discovered, as well as their feelings about Subway. Consumers expressed personal preferences in regards to Quizno’s commercial advertising, and provided suggestions on how to improve it. The ultimate findings from this focus group was the low effectiveness of Quizno’s advertising approaches; primarily its television commercials.

The reason for using the focus group was to gain in-depth and personal information from actual Quizno’s costumers. Another reason for using this approach was to gain actual responses to recognize the short comings of the Toasty Torpedo television commercial, and other advertising approaches. This approach was also effective because it allowed personal interactions with costumers; the focus group also allowed consumers to feel comfortable and willing to open up. A survey was not used in the research because it would not exhibit the truthful feelings that consumers had toward Quizno’s. In a focus group, a firsthand response would be given truthfully and openly.

A personal interview was not used in this research because there are so many differing opinions in regards to Quizno’s and its commercial ads. A focus group would display the varying opinions on a more detail and emotional level. Ultimately, the interview would limit the results to one perspective, compared to a focus group. Also, the results from a personal interview would be biased and lack a multi-dimensional response. The focus group has positively affected the Marketing campaign, primarily by providing insight of why Quizno’s past commercials were ineffective. The results from the focus group will demonstrate the specific elements that can assist in the effort to gain more customers, while regaining lost customers through enhanced advertising strategies.

The primary target audience that is best for Quizno’s to appeal to is the middle class white collar segment. The middle class is in fact the largest class in the United States, according to the Pew Research Center. The middle class is largely comprised of married individuals with children, college students, and college grads. The Pew Research Center reports that 68 percent of middle class members are homeowners. It is also reported that a large amount of middle class member eat out several times a week; this audience is describe as healthy individuals as well. Moreover, the middle class is described on a geographic level as well. In this report, most middle class individuals reside in suburban and rural areas. Approximately 54 percent of middle class members reside in suburban areas, compared to the 40 percent that live in urban areas. According to the Social Analysis and Reference Groups, the middle class tends to value education, news, homeownership, and stability (Social Analysis p. 13). According to Dr. L Robert Khols, the director of International Programs at San Francisco State University, the middle class American also values equality, wealth, newness, innovations, success, and time. (Kohls, p.3-10). The middle class target audience has a variety of demographics, geographic, and behavioristic elements; however, the more affluent segments of the middle class are crucial to finding the perfect target market for Quizno’s.

The 18-24 year-olds represent 26.1 million of the United States population, with the highest numbers of this demographic living in the Northeast. Whites still have the highest population of citizens at 62 percent. Hispanics are second at 16 percent, Blacks are third at 13 percent, and Asians are last at 5 percent. Less than 3 percent of this age group lives at home with their parents either in school full time or not in school at all. In the U.S. 62 percent of this population have a high school diploma with some college education, while 16 percent have no high school diploma or degree. Fifty-five percent are working middle to low-income full-time jobs, with personal earnings amounting to 60,000 dollars. A little over half of the individuals in this age group have never been married, and currently have no children. According to the Journal of Advertising Research, “this generation of citizens are idealistic, socially conscious, individualistic, anti-corporate, speak their minds and dress as they please.” (Kapner, 1997). It is because of these reason that this particular segment is difficult to advertise to. They do not succumb to the usual advertising methods that have proven to be successful for other age groups (Wolburg, 2001). Those in this age group that are college students are also important because of the impact they have in the market. In numbers they can influence others because of how quickly they adopt new products, and how quickly they develop brand loyalties that will last long into adulthood (2001).

This target market consists of middle class males who are between the ages of 25 and 39. The salaries of this market ranges from 35,000 to 50,000 dollars a year. They are fresh in their careers; mostly in good health and value time as they do money. Most of the individuals in this market area are in a managerial position (Lexis-Nexis, Valios). To further support this is an article from Restaurants and Institutions. The article reads, “Middle-class consumers are most likely to say that casual-dining restaurants are their primary dining-out choices.” This market has also been reported to eat at restaurants that reflect their social status. The Restaurant and Institutions site article reads, “Middle-class consumers are more likely than lower-middle-class or upper-middle-class consumers to say that their restaurant choices reflect their social status.” The article says that these middle class individuals have a range of household incomes starting at 35,000 dollars a year. To also illustrate this target markets value of time is the Restaurant and Institutions article, which reads that most individuals in this middle class market will more than likely not wait more than thirty minutes for a meal; nor will they wait that amount of time to be seated at any restaurant; “nearly one-third of these consumers purchase lunch on weekdays, the members of this demographic also feel time-pressed” (Hume, Restaurants and Institutions, 2008 p5). This target market appears to value time, work, money, and quick-meals. This group is a great market because of the large amount of members who dine out frequently during the week.

This suggested target market mostly comprises of males who are white collared workers between the ages of 41 and 65; they are mostly married with children and typically live in suburban areas, however work in urban areas. This segmented group is a good target market due to its growing numbers in corporate work fields. Therefore, since the amount of white collar workers has increased, so have the amounts of lunch breaks that can be catered to by Quizno’s. According to a report from the United States General Accounting Office, the workforce is increasing with elderly workers. In this was reported a 19 percent increase in white collar workers who are between the ages of 55 and 77. These numbers were calculated for the year of 2008 (GAO projections 2008). The report also illustrates the median salaries of white collar workers who are between 55 and 74. More specifically, the report says that a large amount of white collar workers, between 55 and 64, are in executive or administrative positions, earning over 50,000 dollars a year. This is one target market that Quizno’s should consider due to its growing size. Another report from the Pew Research Center illustrates, in a series of charts that the percentage of males, who are between the ages of 40 and 60, tend to be in professional or executive positions. The report describes most of these individuals as being married with an average of two children; about 45 percent of these individuals have a ranging salary of 50,000 to 100,000 (Pew Research Center, p.68. 2009). The reason this market may be a great choice is due to the available financial resources that these individuals hold. Another major reason for this target market choice is due to TIVO. From the results of the focus group that was conducted, the older members of the group admitted to fast forwarding through commercials. With the TIVO feature, commercial spots are being missed and un-heard by older middle class workers. In the focus group, most of the older members had never even seen a Quizno’s commercial; yet, they are familiar with the restaurant but not its specials. The goal is to reach out to the more affluent middle class male workers because they are able to afford commercial filtered television; thus, decreasing the amount of commercial viewership. Therefore, it is necessary to heavily target this market in a new and innovative manner. To support this is Stephen Baker, from Business Week, who reports, “Approximately 6.5 million TiVo-like devices are currently in use in the U.S. And 70% of them are routinely used for commercial avoidance; the devices are threatening to bring the $60-billion-a-year TV advertising business to its knees” (Business Week, p 1). Therefore, the Elder market segment will be the main focus for the enhanced Quizno’s marketing strategy.

Not only is advertising necessary for Quizno’s, more attractive and tighter advertisements are needed. Subway is Quizno’s leading competitor and is having much success. Subway has advertisements that range from jingles, to funny skits, to special meal deals. In contrast, Quizno’s is the second leading sub dealer; therefore, it is necessary for Quizno’s to keep up with Subway on a constant basis. It is important for Quizno’s to target its consumers through a combination of advertising forms. These forms include image advertising, and national advertising,. With image advertising, Quizno’s will have the opportunity to transform its image as the second leading sub provider. According to an article from the Microsoft Corporation titled “Advertising,” image advertising gives a product a personality that is unique, appealing, and appropriate so that the consumer will want to choose it over similar products that might fulfill the same need” (Microsoft 2009 p. 9). National Advertising is absolutely necessary for Quizno’s to continue with so that consumers are continuously reminded of Quizno’s; thus, fervently competing with Subways advertising approaches. The significance of this national advertising approach involves informing the nation about Quizno’s its image, and its products on a continuous basis. The purpose for this continued national advertising approach is to developing loyal consumers; thus, having them choose Quizno’s over its competitors. According to the Microsoft Corporation article, “national advertising tries to build consumer loyalty to a product or service.” (Microsoft 2009 p. 2). Gaining loyal customers is the objective in using the national advertising approach.

In the past few decades there has been a revolution in computing and communications, and all indications are that technological progress and use of information technology will continue at a rapid pace. Accompanying and supporting the dramatic increases in the power and use of new information technologies has been the declining cost of communications as a result of both technological improvements and increased competition. According to Moore’s law the processing power of microchips is doubling every 18 months. These advances present many significant opportunities but also pose major challenges. Today, innovations in information technology are having wide-ranging effects across numerous domains of society, and policy makers are acting on issues involving economic productivity, intellectual property rights, privacy protection, and affordability of and access to information. Choices made now will have long lasting consequences, and attention must be paid to their social and economic impacts.

One of the most significant outcomes of the progress of information technology is probably electronic commerce over the Internet, a new way of conducting business. Though only a few years old, it may radically alter economic activities and the social environment. Already, it affects such large sectors as communications, finance and retail trade and might expand to areas such as education and health services. It implies the seamless application of information and communication technology along the entire value chain of a business that is conducted electronically.

The impacts of information technology and electronic commerce on business models, commerce, market structure, workplace, labour market, education, private life and society as a whole.

1. Business Models, Commerce and Market Structure

One important way in which information technology is affecting work is by reducing the importance of distance. In many industries, the geographic distribution of work is changing significantly. For instance, some software firms have found that they can overcome the tight local market for software engineers by sending projects to India or other nations where the wages are much lower. Furthermore, such arrangements can take advantage of the time differences so that critical projects can be worked on nearly around the clock. Firms can outsource their manufacturing to other nations and rely on telecommunications to keep marketing, R&D, and distribution teams in close contact with the manufacturing groups. Thus the technology can enable a finer division of labour among countries, which in turn affects the relative demand for various skills in each nation. The technology enables various types of work and employment to be decoupled from one another. Firms have greater freedom to locate their economic activities, creating greater competition among regions in infrastructure, labour, capital, and other resource markets. It also opens the door for regulatory arbitrage: firms can increasingly choose which tax authority and other regulations apply.

Computers and communication technologies also promote more market-like forms of production and distribution. An infrastructure of computing and communication technology, providing 24-hour access at low cost to almost any kind of price and product information desired by buyers, will reduce the informational barriers to efficient market operation. This infrastructure might also provide the means for effecting real-time transactions and make intermediaries such as sales clerks, stock brokers and travel agents, whose function is to provide an essential information link between buyers and sellers, redundant. Removal of intermediaries would reduce the costs in the production and distribution value chain. The information technologies have facilitated the evolution of enhanced mail order retailing, in which goods can be ordered quickly by using telephones or computer networks and then dispatched by suppliers through integrated transport companies that rely extensively on computers and communication technologies to control their operations. Nonphysical goods, such as software, can be shipped electronically, eliminating the entire transport channel. Payments can be done in new ways. The result is disintermediation throughout the distribution channel, with cost reduction, lower end-consumer prices, and higher profit margins.

The impact of information technology on the firms’ cost structure can be best illustrated on the electronic commerce example. The key areas of cost reduction when carrying out a sale via electronic commerce rather than in a traditional store involve physical establishment, order placement and execution, customer support, strong, inventory carrying, and distribution. Although setting up and maintaining an e-commerce web site might be expensive, it is certainly less expensive to maintain such a storefront than a physical one because it is always open, can be accessed by millions around the globe, and has few variable costs, so that it can scale up to meet the demand. By maintaining one ‘store’ instead of several, duplicate inventory costs are eliminated. In addition, e-commerce is very effective at reducing the costs of attracting new customers, because advertising is typically cheaper than for other media and more targeted. Moreover, the electronic interface allows e-commerce merchants to check that an order is internally consistent and that the order, receipt, and invoice match. Through e-commerce, firms are able to move much of their customer support on line so that customers can access databases or manuals directly. This significantly cuts costs while generally improving the quality of service. E-commerce shops require far fewer, but high-skilled, employees. E-commerce also permits savings in inventory carrying costs. The faster the input can be ordered and delivered, the less the need for a large inventory. The impact on costs associated with decreased inventories is most pronounced in industries where the product has a limited shelf life (e.g. bananas), is subject to fast technological obsolescence or price declines (e.g. computers), or where there is a rapid flow of new products (e.g. books, music). Although shipping costs can increase the cost of many products purchased via electronic commerce and add substantially to the final price, distribution costs are significantly reduced for digital products such as financial services, software, and travel, which are important e-commerce segments.

Although electronic commerce causes the disintermediation of some intermediaries, it creates greater dependency on others and also some entirely new intermediary functions. Among the intermediary services that could add costs to e-commerce transactions are advertising, secure online payment, and delivery. The relative ease of becoming an e-commerce merchant and setting up stores results in such a huge number of offerings that consumers can easily be overwhelmed. This increases the importance of using advertising to establish a brand name and thus generate consumer familiarity and trust. For new e-commerce start-ups, this process can be expensive and represents a significant transaction cost. The openness, global reach, and lack of physical clues that are inherent characteristics of e-commerce also make it vulnerable to fraud and thus increase certain costs for e-commerce merchants as compared to traditional stores. New techniques are being developed to protect the use of credit cards in e-commerce transactions, but the need for greater security and user verification leads to increased costs. A key feature of e-commerce is the convenience of having purchases delivered directly. In the case of tangibles, such as books, this incurs delivery costs, which cause prices to rise in most cases, thereby negating many of the savings associated with e-commerce and substantially adding to transaction costs.

With the Internet, e-commerce is rapidly expanding into a fast-moving, open global market with an ever-increasing number of participants. The open and global nature of e-commerce is likely to increase market size and change market structure, both in terms of the number and size of players and the way in which players compete on international markets. Digitized products can cross the border in real time, consumers can shop 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and firms are increasingly faced with international online competition. The Internet is helping to enlarge existing markets by cutting through many of the distribution and marketing barriers that can prevent firms from gaining access to foreign markets. E-commerce lowers information and transaction costs for operating on overseas markets and provides a cheap and efficient way to strengthen customer-supplier relations. It also encourages companies to develop innovative ways of advertising, delivering and supporting their product and services. While e-commerce on the Internet offers the potential for global markets, certain factors, such as language, transport costs, local reputation, as well as differences in the cost and ease of access to networks, attenuate this potential to a greater or lesser extent.

2. Workplace and Labour Market

Computers and communication technologies allow individuals to communicate with one another in ways complementary to traditional face-to-face, telephonic, and written modes. They enable collaborative work involving distributed communities of actors who seldom, if ever, meet physically. These technologies utilize communication infrastructures that are both global and always up, thus enabling 24-hour activity and asynchronous as well as synchronous interactions among individuals, groups, and organizations. Social interaction in organizations will be affected by use of computers and communication technologies. Peer-to-peer relations across department lines will be enhanced through sharing of information and coordination of activities. Interaction between superiors and subordinates will become more tense because of social control issues raised by the use of computerized monitoring systems, but on the other hand, the use of e-mail will lower the barriers to communications across different status levels, resulting in more uninhibited communications between supervisor and subordinates.

That the importance of distance will be reduced by computers and communication technology also favours telecommuting, and thus, has implications for the residence patterns of the citizens. As workers find that they can do most of their work at home rather than in a centralized workplace, the demand for homes in climatically and physically attractive regions would increase. The consequences of such a shift in employment from the suburbs to more remote areas would be profound. Property values would rise in the favoured destinations and fall in the suburbs. Rural, historical, or charming aspects of life and the environment in the newly attractive areas would be threatened. Since most telecommuters would be among the better educated and higher paid, the demand in these areas for high-income and high-status services like gourmet restaurants and clothing boutiques would increase. Also would there be an expansion of services of all types, creating and expanding job opportunities for the local population.

By reducing the fixed cost of employment, widespread telecommuting should make it easier for individuals to work on flexible schedules, to work part time, to share jobs, or to hold two or more jobs simultaneously. Since changing employers would not necessarily require changing one’s place of residence, telecommuting should increase job mobility and speed career advancement. This increased flexibility might also reduce job stress and increase job satisfaction. Since job stress is a major factor governing health there may be additional benefits in the form of reduced health costs and mortality rates. On the other hand one might also argue that technologies, by expanding the number of different tasks that are expected of workers and the array of skills needed to perform these tasks, might speed up work and increase the level of stress and time pressure on workers.

A question that is more difficult to be answered is about the impacts that computers and communications might have on employment. The ability of computers and communications to perform routine tasks such as bookkeeping more rapidly than humans leads to concern that people will be replaced by computers and communications. The response to this argument is that even if computers and communications lead to the elimination of some workers, other jobs will be created, particularly for computer professionals, and that growth in output will increase overall employment. It is more likely that computers and communications will lead to changes in the types of workers needed for different occupations rather than to changes in total employment.

A number of industries are affected by electronic commerce. The distribution sector is directly affected, as e-commerce is a way of supplying and delivering goods and services. Other industries, indirectly affected, are those related to information and communication technology (the infrastructure that enables e-commerce), content-related industries (entertainment, software), transactions-related industries (financial sector, advertising, travel, transport). eCommerce might also create new markets or extend market reach beyond traditional borders. Enlarging the market will have a positive effect on jobs. Another important issue relates to inter linkages among activities affected by e-commerce. Expenditure for e-commerce-related intermediate goods and services will create jobs indirectly, on the basis of the volume of electronic transactions and their effect on prices, costs and productivity. The convergence of media, telecommunication and computing technologies is creating a new integrated supply chain for the production and delivery of multimedia and information content. Most of the employment related to e-commerce around the content industries and communication infrastructure such as the Internet.

Jobs are both created and destroyed by technology, trade, and organizational change. These processes also underlie changes in the skill composition of employment. Beyond the net employment gains or losses brought about by these factors, it is apparent that workers with different skill levels will be affected differently. E-commerce is certainly driving the demand for IT professionals but it also requires IT expertise to be coupled with strong business application skills, thereby generating demand for a flexible, multi-skilled work force. There is a growing need for increased integration of Internet front-end applications with enterprise operations, applications and back-end databases. Many of the IT skill requirements needed for Internet support can be met by low-paid IT workers who can deal with the organizational services needed for basic web page programming. However, wide area networks, competitive web sites, and complex network applications require much more skill than a platform-specific IT job. Since the skills required for e-commerce are rare and in high demand, e-commerce might accelerate the up skilling trend in many countries by requiring high-skilled computer scientists to replace low-skilled information clerks, cashiers and market salespersons.

3. Education

Advances in information technology will affect the craft of teaching by complementing rather than eliminating traditional classroom instruction. Indeed the effective instructor acts in a mixture of roles. In one role the instructor is a supplier of services to the students, who might be regarded as its customers. But the effective instructor occupies another role as well, as a supervisor of students, and plays a role in motivating, encouraging, evaluating, and developing students. For any topic there will always be a small percentage of students with the necessary background, motivation, and self-discipline to learn from self-paced workbooks or computer assisted instruction. For the majority of students, however, the presence of a live instructor will continue to be far more effective than a computer assisted counterpart in facilitating positive educational outcomes. The greatest potential for new information technology lies in improving the productivity of time spent outside the classroom. Making solutions to problem sets and assigned reading materials available on the Internet offers a lot of convenience. E-mail vastly simplifies communication between students and faculty and among students who may be engaged in group projects. Advances in information technology will affect the craft of teaching by complementing rather than eliminating traditional classroom instruction. Indeed the effective instructor acts in a mixture of roles. In one role the instructor is a supplier of services to the students, who might be regarded as its customers. But the effective instructor occupies another role as well, as a supervisor of students, and plays a role in motivating, encouraging, evaluating, and developing students. For any topic there will always be a small percentage of students with the necessary background, motivation, and self-discipline to learn from self-paced workbooks or computer assisted instruction. For the majority of students, however, the presence of a live instructor will continue to be far more effective than a computer assisted counterpart in facilitating positive educational outcomes. The greatest potential for new information technology lies in improving the productivity of time spent outside the classroom. Making solutions to problem sets and assigned reading materials available on the Internet offers a lot of convenience. E-mail vastly simplifies communication between students and faculty and among students who may be engaged in group projects.

Although distance learning has existed for some time, the Internet makes possible a large expansion in coverage and better delivery of instruction. Text can be combined with audio/ video, and students can interact in real time via e-mail and discussion groups. Such technical improvements coincide with a general demand for retraining by those who, due to work and family demands, cannot attend traditional courses. Distance learning via the Internet is likely to complement existing schools for children and university students, but it could have more of a substitution effect for continuing education programmes. For some degree programmes, high-prestige institutions could use their reputation to attract students who would otherwise attend a local facility. Owing to the Internet’s ease of access and convenience for distance learning, overall demand for such programmes will probably expand, leading to growth in this segment of e-commerce.

As shown in the previous section, high level skills are vital in a technology-based and knowledge intensive economy. Changes associated with rapid technological advances in industry have made continual upgrading of professional skills an economic necessity. The goal of lifelong learning can only be accomplished by reinforcing and adapting existing systems of learning, both in public and private sectors. The demand for education and training concerns the full range of modern technology. Information technologies are uniquely capable of providing ways to meet this demand. Online training via the Internet ranges from accessing self-study courses to complete electronic classrooms. These computer-based training programmes provide flexibility in skills acquisition and are more affordable and relevant than more traditional seminars and courses.

4. Private Life and Society

Increasing representation of a wide variety of content in digital form results in easier and cheaper duplication and distribution of information. This has a mixed effect on the provision of content. On the one hand, content can be distributed at a lower unit cost. On the other hand, distribution of content outside of channels that respect intellectual property rights can reduce the incentives of creators and distributors to produce and make content available in the first place. Information technology raises a host of questions about intellectual property protection and new tools and regulations have to be developed in order to solve this problem.

Many issues also surround free speech and regulation of content on the Internet, and there continue to be calls for mechanisms to control objectionable content. However it is very difficult to find a sensible solution. Dealing with indecent material involves understanding not only the views on such topics but also their evolution over time. Furthermore, the same technology that allows for content altering with respect to decency can be used to filter political speech and to restrict access to political material. Thus, if censorship does not appear to be an option, a possible solution might be labelling. The idea is that consumers will be better informed in their decisions to avoid objectionable content.

The rapid increase in computing and communications power has raised considerable concern about privacy both in the public and private sector. Decreases in the cost of data storage and information processing make it likely that it will become practicable for both government and private data-mining enterprises to collect detailed dossiers on all citizens. Nobody knows who currently collects data about individuals, how this data is used and shared or how this data might be misused. These concerns lower the consumers’ trust in online institutions and communication and, thus, inhibit the development of electronic commerce. A technological approach to protecting privacy might by cryptography although it might be claimed that cryptography presents a serious barrier to criminal investigations.

It is popular wisdom that people today suffer information overload. A lot of the information available on the Internet is incomplete and even incorrect. People spend more and more of their time absorbing irrelevant information just because it is available and they think they should know about it. Therefore, it must be studied how people assign credibility to the information they collect in order to invent and develop new credibility systems to help consumers to manage the information overload.

Technological progress inevitably creates dependence on technology. Indeed the creation of vital infrastructure ensures dependence on that infrastructure. As surely as the world is now dependent on its transport, telephone, and other infrastructures, it will be dependent on the emerging information infrastructure. Dependence on technology can bring risks. Failures in the technological infrastructure can cause the collapse of economic and social functionality. Blackouts of long-distance telephone service, credit data systems, and electronic funds transfer systems, and other such vital communications and information processing services would undoubtedly cause widespread economic disruption. However, it is probably impossible to avoid technological dependence. Therefore, what must be considered is the exposure brought from dependence on technologies with a recognizable probability of failure, no workable substitute at hand, and high costs as a result of failure.

The ongoing computing and communications revolution has numerous economic and social impacts on modern society and requires serious social science investigation in order to manage its risks and dangers. Such work would be valuable for both social policy and technology design. Decisions have to be taken carefully. Many choices being made now will be costly or difficult to modify in the future.

1. Shipping Centers May Be the Future

We all know that whenever you feel like having some fun and spending quality time with your friends, going to a shopping mall is the best thing to do. Nowadays, people are so busy that they don’t find time to visit a shopping mall, so they prefer shopping from eCommerce sites.

When we talk about India, shopping center conversion to shipping centers has not started to occur yet. However, there is some buzz that the shopping centers will be converted into shipping centers.

2. You Will Find More Than Just Shopping in Future Malls

Now, we find that most of the shopping centers have not yet realized this.

We need to understand that people want to have concrete reasons to visit a mall because almost everything is available online. That’s why in the future, shopping malls will no longer be just about shopping; these malls will be entertaining people.

These malls will be required to evolve as entertainment centers to attract more visitors. Future shopping malls are expected to offer a relaxed atmosphere that is filled with fun and enjoyment.

The situation will be the opposite of what we see today in Indian malls generally, just a large number of products kept in a row and a dull or stressed atmosphere.

3. Experience is What Will Matter

When we talk about the future of retail in India, there are a lot of expectations.

It is expected that the number of restaurants and other fun attractions will increase to a great extent in the coming years. Also, a new trend of conducting various classes such as yoga class, swimming classes, Zumba classes, etc. will increase. Of course, modern people would no longer be interested in visiting a large building with only products; a unique and unforgettable experience will matter the most.

4. Micro-City Malls Are Going to Be the Future

Now, most people in India are bored with the average stores; they are looking for something interesting. According to several retail experts, the idea of traditional shopping malls will be reinvented in the coming years. As we said earlier, the experience will matter more than extravagance, so retail stores will focus on forming fun communities so that customers get a fantastic experience.

Soon, malls will move forward, integrating body or mental wellness centers in the malls.

The integration of recreational centers into the malls will move the retail industry towards building micro-cities.

5. Integrating Environment

We have come to know that future malls will be more about making people socialize.

At the same time, future malls will start integrating the natural elements to revolutionize the kind of environment we experience today in Indian malls. You may expect to see malls with a spacious layout, totally rebuilding the environment you experience, giving it the appearance of a village.

Some retail industrialists have realized how important it is to provide a unique, friendly, and natural experience. From trees to waterfalls and a peaceful atmosphere with a lot of sunlight in shopping centers, the future of shopping malls in India is perhaps very ”Bright”.

6. Urban Farming Is The Way To Go

Nothing can be more exciting than getting fresh fruits, vegetables, or other food items directly from farms. Well, you can expect this to happen in the future.

In India, this may seem to be ”unrealistic,” but in the coming years, a lot of revolutions are going to occur in the retail industry gradually. Incorporating urban farms in Indian shopping malls will take much time, but we should remember that the future malls will take care of you and your needs more than anything else.

7. Robots

The use of modern technologies in shopping centers is going to increase in the years to come. You can expect to be welcomed by some cool robots in the shopping malls. Also, in the coming years incorporating the use of various technological gadgets will take place.

These robots will also serve as sales representatives. So, the future is going to be filled with technology to make the customer dealing more fulfilling.

8. Virtual fitting Rooms

You know what the center’s future has a lot more than just shopping for products by actually trying them. Like, you may expect to find some mirrors that give you the ability to try makeup digitally. In addition to this, you may also be able to try out different outfits with the help of virtual fitting rooms. So, no more struggling and moving in and out of the trying rooms with many outfits, you want to try.

Note that they again seem ”unrealistic” considering the present scenario of Indian shopping malls, but their scope and future beholds a lot of possibilities.

9. Use Of Virtual Reality

With the use of Virtual Reality, shopping becomes much more comfortable.

VR will also become a source of entertainment. In the future, you may not be required to visit theme parks to get amazing virtual experiences.

From the trip to a zoo to going deep under the sea, virtual reality beholds the future, where shopping malls will provide you unforgettable entertainment.

10. Parking That’s Pain-Free

Do you also find it annoying that whenever you go to the shopping malls, face problems when trying to find a parking place? Well, this is a significant problem with traditional shopping malls. In the future, this scenario will become just one of the horrible experiences of the past. The use of overhead sensors will ease out the process of finding a free parking spot.

11. Not Just Limited to Buying or Purchasing Products

Now, we all know that the concept of rental retails has not yet become standard in Indian shopping centers, but gradually it will. Purchasing that costly dress for a party, that doesn’t seem to be a good idea. In the future, you will be able to rent out expensive products that may include exercise equipment or a costly outfit.

12. 3D Advertisements

In almost every average shopping mall, we have seen those bright colored signboards, these things may also become things of the past. Holographic advertisements are going to be the future. In the coming years, you can expect to see more 3D ads that are eco-friendly and can grab the customer’s attention very quickly.

13. Customer Interaction Via Apps

We are already aware of the fact that Apps are being used everywhere. Many shopping giants in India already have their apps for customer interaction. But, in the future, this will increase to a great extent. Navigation through the shopping mall will become smooth, like never before. These apps will give the liberty to reserve the restaurants in advance.

14. Learning Spaces

Soon, you may also find reading rooms in shopping centers, this is following what you earlier said that future shopping malls are going to be more about wellness and learning.

These shopping malls will incorporate a vast library of books to read from.

15. Classroom Retail

This is another exciting idea that can help companies to interact with the customers in a better way. Classroom retail involves various brands organizing gatherings or seminars, including presentations of their services or products to attract potential customers.

These presentations can include the manufacturing process of the product and the people behind the product’s creation. This is an excellent way of engaging customers in a better way. Future Indian shopping malls are going to educate you at the same time and provide entertainment.

Conclusion

So, we have reached the end of this article. We hope you got an insight into the wonderful things that will enhance your experience in the future in a shopping mall. We can say that there are endless possibilities; we are going to see these things in reality in the future.

Banner stands and roll up banners are beneficial in many ways that are worth taking into account.

Portability

Roll up banners are easily portable since they are lightweight and can be carried with no trouble. Available in cases that are conveniently-sized, they are perfect for people who travel frequently and promote their company’s product at trade show displays and exhibitions. Additionally, they also fulfil the requirements of mobile service providing teams whose jobs require them to travel continually. Along with providing all the information and services to the clients clearly, they also convey a professional impression to the clients.

Attracting customers

Designed specially to attract potential clients, they stand out among the other dull exhibition tools and pull in customers. Roll up banners display high quality images because of the excellent of the banners. The height of the banners increases their visibility while the attractive designs and vibrant colours stand out and attract potential customers. Customers are more likely to become interested and approach your company’s stall to find out more about the products and services offered.

Easily Installable

Roller banners are acknowledged for being easy and hassle free to set up with spring installed mechanisms that allow the banner to be set up within seconds. When comparisons are drawn between exhibition banners and other displays, theys are often preferred by companies since they are time saving and can easily be assembled or taken apart by anybody and do not require any specific skill set. Setting up a banner stand is a one person job and does not require any added labour or technical knowledge.

Managing space

Apart from saving storage space and keeping it for use later, the retractable banner stand does not take up much space even after being set up. Ideally, it can be put in tight spaces to make the most of its compact style, like in an exhibition cubicle. The space saved is available to be put to better use for other advertising tools and displays, increasing your chances to attract customers to your exhibition stand.

Long-lasting

Along with the advertising benefits, banner stands are also a good investment with long term benefits for your company. Why I say this is because retractable banner stands are made using long-lasting, strong plastic and last forever, even after being used over and over again. This quality also makes them suitable for work done outdoors because of their durability.

When looking for a display to improve your company’s marketing that is long lasting, conveniently transportable, and effective, and can be installed without any hassle, as well as meets the aims and goals of the company by bringing in clients, retractable banner stands may be the only answer to your requirements.

Artificial Intelligence (AI) and its subsets Machine Learning (ML) and Deep Learning (DL) are playing a major role in Data Science. Data Science is a comprehensive process that involves pre-processing, analysis, visualization and prediction. Lets deep dive into AI and its subsets.

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is a branch of computer science concerned with building smart machines capable of performing tasks that typically require human intelligence. AI is mainly divided into three categories as below

• Artificial Narrow Intelligence (ANI)
• Artificial General Intelligence (AGI)
• Artificial Super Intelligence (ASI).

Narrow AI sometimes referred as ‘Weak AI’, performs a single task in a particular way at its best. For example, an automated coffee machine robs which performs a well-defined sequence of actions to make coffee. Whereas AGI, which is also referred as ‘Strong AI’ performs a wide range of tasks that involve thinking and reasoning like a human. Some example is Google Assist, Alexa, Chatbots which uses Natural Language Processing (NPL). Artificial Super Intelligence (ASI) is the advanced version which out performs human capabilities. It can perform creative activities like art, decision making and emotional relationships.

Now let’s look at Machine Learning (ML). It is a subset of AI that involves modeling of algorithms which helps to make predictions based on the recognition of complex data patterns and sets. Machine learning focuses on enabling algorithms to learn from the data provided, gather insights and make predictions on previously unanalyzed data using the information gathered. Different methods of machine learning are

• supervised learning (Weak AI – Task driven)
• non-supervised learning (Strong AI – Data Driven)
• semi-supervised learning (Strong AI -cost effective)
• reinforced machine learning. (Strong AI – learn from mistakes)

Supervised machine learning uses historical data to understand behavior and formulate future forecasts. Here the system consists of a designated dataset. It is labeled with parameters for the input and the output. And as the new data comes the ML algorithm analysis the new data and gives the exact output on the basis of the fixed parameters. Supervised learning can perform classification or regression tasks. Examples of classification tasks are image classification, face recognition, email spam classification, identify fraud detection, etc. and for regression tasks are weather forecasting, population growth prediction, etc.

Unsupervised machine learning does not use any classified or labelled parameters. It focuses on discovering hidden structures from unlabeled data to help systems infer a function properly. They use techniques such as clustering or dimensionality reduction. Clustering involves grouping data points with similar metric. It is data driven and some examples for clustering are movie recommendation for user in Netflix, customer segmentation, buying habits, etc. Some of dimensionality reduction examples are feature elicitation, big data visualization.

Semi-supervised machine learning works by using both labelled and unlabeled data to improve learning accuracy. Semi-supervised learning can be a cost-effective solution when labelling data turns out to be expensive.

Reinforcement learning is fairly different when compared to supervised and unsupervised learning. It can be defined as a process of trial and error finally delivering results. t is achieved by the principle of iterative improvement cycle (to learn by past mistakes). Reinforcement learning has also been used to teach agents autonomous driving within simulated environments. Q-learning is an example of reinforcement learning algorithms.

Moving ahead to Deep Learning (DL), it is a subset of machine learning where you build algorithms that follow a layered architecture. DL uses multiple layers to progressively extract higher level features from the raw input. For example, in image processing, lower layers may identify edges, while higher layers may identify the concepts relevant to a human such as digits or letters or faces. DL is generally referred to a deep artificial neural network and these are the algorithm sets which are extremely accurate for the problems like sound recognition, image recognition, natural language processing, etc.

To summarize Data Science covers AI, which includes machine learning. However, machine learning itself covers another sub-technology, which is deep learning. Thanks to AI as it is capable of solving harder and harder problems (like detecting cancer better than oncologists) better than humans can.

You have heard about recruitment agencies, but you may not be aware of what these firms do. Just as the name sounds, recruitment agencies are companies or firms that have a list of job vacancies and a database of people who are looking out for jobs. They match their database of job seekers with job vacancies as and when they come up. These agencies sprung up in America in the year 1893. Fred Winslow started an engineering firm in 1893 and that later on became part of a much broader network called the General Employment Enterprise. The mode of operation of this firm was similar to what recruitment agencies do nowadays. The basic aim of recruitment agencies is to identify, locate and then hire workers on permanent or contractual basis. The temporary agencies handle the recruited people on short term contracts. Many companies like to outsource some of their workload during the peak season or when permanent staffs are on holidays. It is to fill this gap that temporary agencies hire people. There have also been situations where temporary staffs have been upgraded to full time jobs if proved efficient.

There are recruitment agencies that provide services within their country and agencies that provide services to employers abroad. International agencies are known to be present in larger numbers than local recruitment agencies. This is due to the fact that there is always a demand for employment abroad and there are more takers for jobs that come from another country. In fact the highest number of recruitment agencies is sourcing employees for the Middle East, where there is a high demand for foreign workers. The agencies in UAE are on the lookout for persons with varying skills and they usually have a job for people from most backgrounds. With the popularity of internet growing there are many agencies that operate online. Such online recruitment agencies are known to be very successful as the information gets across to the prospective employer and the employee at a much shorter time. There are also many recruitment sites where employers can post their requirement and job seekers can post their bio data onto the website. This gives both the employee and the employee a platform to interact before the final decision is taken. Many such online websites are springing up and are proving to be very successful.

In this modern world, many companies rely on recruitment agencies to find the right person for the job. In general, the agencies do not charge a free from the job seeker. It is the employers who pay the recruitment agencies a fee for finding them an employee that suits their requirement. So as a job seeker you do not end up paying for the agencies services. By going through an agency, you can save time that you would otherwise spend going through classified sections. If you are looking for a job in a particular sector, these agencies are your best bet as they will have a list of jobs that you are looking for and that will help you to land up with a job of your preference. These agencies will also be able to help you in preparing your CV and in preparing for interviews. They can also provide you with valuable feedback on the interviews that you attend and help you by doing mock interviews. Many employers prefer to go through recruitment agencies as they are a one point contact for their recruitment needs. Such employers may not entertain you if you apply to them directly. With so many advantages that a job seeker can avail with the help of a agency, it is a good choice to utilize their services.

With a host of recruitment agencies operating in the market, a job seeker has to exercise some caution before entrusting their future with a recruitment agency. Past records of the agency has to be checked properly and it is better to approach one that has been licensed to recruit people. In the case of online sites, go for reputed sites and check their disclaimer before moving forward. There are many bogus agencies that operate in the market and one has to aware of such agencies. These agencies often request job seekers to pay a nominal amount as registration fee and this is a sign for you to be cautious when dealing with the agency. Be smart and be aware otherwise bogus recruitment agencies can take you for a ride.

Smartphones dominate our attention throughout the day. They have come to change the very nature of how we interact with the world around us, including the way we do businesses.

When it comes to the travel and hospitality space, mobiles have drastically reshaped their functioning, that too in the favor of the consumer. And, with expectations regarding mobile interactivity rising, consumers have become more demanding regarding the kinds of services they have at their fingertips.

Here are some statistics that will help you grasp the extent to which mobile has penetrated the industry:

• TripAdvisor is the travel industry’s most popular mobile app, with more than 230 million downloads and 150 million monthly active users.
• Mobile bookings in travel have grown by 1700% between 2011 and 2015, moving from 1 per cent to 18 per cent of online revenues.
• 40% of travel sales have come from mobile in 2017, which is posited to reach 50 per cent by 2021.
• 88 per cent of leisure travelers will switch to a different app or website if yours isn’t meeting their needs
• More than 50 per cent of travelers don’t have a set destination in mind when planning a trip – and 60% will search their next trip from a mobile device
• 1 in 3 boarding passes will be delivered via mobile by 2019
• 66 per cent users prefer restaurants with a reward scheme, and 78% will use a mobile app if offered discounts.

The bottom line is, mobile is here to stay. In fact, it will only occupy more importance in the consumer’s daily life, so fine tuning your hospitality venture to make to most of mobile is imperative.

The hospitality industry invests heavily in online marketing (about $6 billion in 2016, to give you an idea) and uses it to engage customers and drive conversions. However, online engagement using only paid advertising is fast losing its appeal.

More and more companies are re-looking their strategy and trying to incorporate the mobile experience at each stage of the travel experience – right from research to sharing feedback about the journey and their stay in a hotel.

The Role of Mobiles in the Research Phase

Earlier, your travel research didn’t necessarily involve surfing the net. You’d call a travel agent after a brief search online, and trust him to get you a discount on the whole ‘package’.

Travelers these days pride themselves on their ‘researching skills’ and their ability to curate a great experience while also bagging the best deals for themselves. And a lot of their research takes them to social networking sites, like Facebook, Pinterest, and Instagram and user review platforms like TripAdvisor and Lonely Planet.

This means that you have to incentivize your existing customers to share their journey online. Check-ins, reviews, sharing photos, using customized hashtags, and writing blogs are popular strategies to invite contributions.

But don’t just leave it all up to the guests. Hotels should also actively participate in creating and distributing high quality content. Focus on value-driven stuff that gets your potential consumers to think, “These guys seem to know what they’re talking about when it comes to travel, so I’ll check them out!” And don’t forget to optimize the content for reading on smartphones, because looking up on PCs is so old-fashioned. Also, partner with experts, specialists, and influencers to enrich your content and give it credibility.

Now that you’re creating valuable content, ensure that it’s discoverable on Google. Have a robust SEO strategy so that you feature in top search results. Also, get a Google Business Listing for your hotel, and make maintain NAP (Name, Address, and Phone number) consistency across platforms like Yelp, Yahoo, Foursquare, and TripAdvisor.

A virtual concierge is even better. Guests can access this service on their mobile, allowing them to see the amenities of your hotel, check out local attractions, or even look at upgrade opportunities. You should use the power of video to your advantage to give them online tours as well.

From the Booking to Arrival

There is always a time-gap between the time guests make reservation to the time they arrive at your hotel. This period is rarely utilized by businesses, but with some thought, you can reach out to your guest and offer value added services.

Communicate with your guests on their mobiles, but in a way that isn’t considered spamming. Give them useful information about the locality, introduce them to sightseeing options, and inform them of events happening around the hotel. And should they like something, let them reserve seats using their smartphones.

You can even eliminate the check-in line and other procedures with the help of a mobile app. Guests can choose their rooms, opt for add-ons and have a hassle-free check in to give them greater control over their stay. Not only will this free up your staff for other aspects of the business, you will also earn brownie points for being proactive.

The Hotel Lobby & The Stay

People would ignore your lobby because there isn’t anything there to capture their interest, apart from droll seating arrangements and eerie silence. You can change that, and use this space to actually interact with guests, using mobiles.

SoftBank’s humanoid robot Pepper is one of those innovations that really caught my eye. This robot makes a great way of channeling customers to use the gamut of mobile services that you might have in place, while also paving the way for affiliate services and programs.

Pepper can be programmed to chat with customers, answer questions and give directions – its functionality is like Amazon’s Alexa. With Pepper, however, there’s a robot in front of customers that can dance, look around, play music, light up, blush and even take a cool selfie with passersby.

Pepper can even capture email addresses and phone numbers, and can be programmed to send customers messages with links to your mobile app, loyalty programs and other things pre-and-post their stay at the hotel. With Pepper, you can capture the data you need to create a truly personalized experience for your guests, which is the reason for most hotels now looking at mobile favorably.

Finally, your App

Maybe you were wondering when we would get to this, since we’ve covered pretty much everything else. We won’t try and convince you why you need an app, but know that having a mobile site isn’t enough. Apps themselves take your customer engagement to the next level, and given the competition in the industry, you should leverage your mobile advantage as much as possible.

An ideal app should have the following characteristics:

• Ergonomic Design, intuitive User Interface
• Careful selection of essential features
• Brand consistency
• Cross-platform compatibility (iOS, Android etc.)
• Convenient booking options
• News – Local and industry related
• Analytics at the back end
• Image gallery / virtual tour
• Floor plan
• Loyalty program integration
• Event Calendar
• Flight information, weather updates, dynamism
• Social network sharing prompt

As technology becomes increasingly personalized and mobile, your engagement in the realm of hospitality should not fall behind. While these suggestions are extensive, consider implementing a few (if not all) of them to see the kind of boost you receive in your engagement – personal experience is the best teacher.

All things said and done, mobile engagement truly lets you interact with your guests in a personalized and more proactive manner, which does wonders for your brand image. In addition, it also lets you rise above the competitive clutter, which sounds like a win-win to me!

It is vital to take note of the Bali visa requirements outlined below and also contact your local Indonesian embassy before going to Bali to see if there are any changes in the visa requirements as Indonesian countries can be very stern with regards tourists who over stay their visa date. Finishing off your holiday by landing up in a Balinese or any Indonesian jail for a foreigner could be a nightmare come true. With so many Bali tours and leisure activities available when on holiday in Bali it is easy to get tempted to stay longer that you initially intended, but it is truly not a good idea.

Although these countries are quite forgiving to the western way of doing things, you’ll be imprisoned if you can’t pay the hefty fine that may be imposed for overstaying. Overstaying your visa is charged at US$20 each day for over stays up to 60 days, anytime over 60 days are your will be liable to five years imprisonment or a fine of 25 million Indonesian Rupiah. If you do intend to stay longer than your visa allows, then you can fly to a nearby country like Thailand or Vietnam fairly cheaply and re enter Bali to renew your visa.

Before you enter Bali make sure you are familiar with the different money denominations. The local currency utilized in Bali is the Indonesian Rupiah (IDR), The Indonesian Rupiah money denominations are:

Paper Notes: 100, 500 , 1,000, 5,000, 10,000, 20,000, 50,000, 100,000.

Coins: 25, 50, 100, 500, 1000.

Short term visa free entry of thirty days is available to people holding passports of the following 11countries : Brunei Darussalam, Chile, Hong Kong, Macau, Malaysia, Morocco, Peru, Philippines, Thailand, Vietnam and Singapore. Your passport must be valid for at least six months from the date of entry into Bali and you will need to show an onward of return ticket.

Short term visa on arrival (VOA), 7 day or 30 day visas are available for the following countries at a cost of $10 and $25 respectively. Once again a passport with more than six months left on it and a return ticket must be shown to get the visa. The countries are : Argentina, Australia, Austria, Bahrain, Belgium, Brazil, Bulgaria, Cambodia, Canada, Cyprus, Denmark, Egypt, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, India, Iran, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Kuwait, Laos, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Maldives, Malta, Mexico, Monaco, New Zealand, Norway, Oman, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Russia, South Africa, South Korea, Spain, Switzerland, Sweden, Suriname, Taiwan, Holland, U.A.E., UK and the U. S. of America.

All of the countries noted below will need to contact the Bali embassy in their country to get prior permission to enter Bali. Without a visa in advance you will not be permitted to go into the country. The countries are Afghanistan, Albania, Angola, Bangladesh, Cameroon, Cuba, Ethiopia, Ghana, Iraq, Israel, Nigeria, North Korea, Pakistan, Somalia, Sri Lanka and Tanzania.

Apart from the short term visas that are available, there are other more long term visas that may be applied for before traveling to Bali. It is better to make an application for these visas in your own country, even though they may be a little more expensive they will generally be processed faster. You’ll find a Balinese embassy in most countries that you can apply through. Some of the commonest long term visas that people make an application for are, business visa, social-cultural visa, job visa and limited stay permits (KITAS).

When you first arrive at one of the Bali hotels that you have selected to stay in contact your local government agency and tell them you have arrived and once again when you leave. This is recommended by all governments and it is just to ensure that you are safe and they will know if you haven’t left on the due date. This way at least you’d be contacted in the event you forget when you’re supposed to leave, you would be surprised how many times this occurs.

The United States was once seen as the emerging front of the diamond market. It was the land of the American Dream, mass-consumerism, and new money. However, the United States’ economy is lagging behind the high growth markets in the east, namely India and China. While demand for Diamonds in the United States fell after the global economic crises in the past decade, markets have in fact surged in the East, to the point where within a decade, Chinese demand for diamonds could reach the same level as the United States.

De Beers has long been the monopoly holder of diamonds in the world, amassing about 95% of the World’s supply of diamonds at one point. They source their diamonds from Africa and India, and release it through select avenues and retailers on a limited approval basis. In an interview this month with London’s Financial Times, the Managing Director of De Beers, Garreth Penny stated that “What we’re now seeing, with China growing as rapidly as it is, [is] annual double-digit growth compounded over a period of five years.”

However, it appears that the surge of the diamond market in China is not solely due to the solid performance of the local economy and stock markets. A lot of it has to do with the wedding culture and traditions in China. According to Penny, 20 years ago, it was rare for Chinese brides to receive diamond engagement rings. However, today about 50% of couples married in Beijing, Shanghai, and Guangdong buy them.

The growth of the diamond market in China is significant, since in 2009, China only accounted for 6-7% of the global diamond market, while the United States accounted for about 40% of it. De Beers has forecasted the Chinese demand to more than double by the year 2016.

A similar trend is visible in India today, where “the diamond jewelry business has been showing a growth rate of about 15% at a time when [just gold jewelry] has shown negligible growth.”The diamond jewelry market in India has been surging, and is representative of similar activity in India. According to experts, this is because with gold prices at an all time high, consumers are moving from investing in pure gold to diamond jewelry.

According to latest figures, in May 2010 alone, India’s polished diamond exports rose 73% from last year, to almost $1.8 billion. India has long been labeled a major hub of diamond cutting and polishing, and has a hand in 9 out of 11 diamonds that are produced around the world. Apart from India, Honk Kong and Dubai are also emerging as key trading areas.

It will be interesting to see how the balance of power between diamond trading centers shifts over the next decade. While the diamond industry is rebounding well from the global economic collapse of the past decade, there are many issues the diamond industry must deal with over the next decade, especially a decline in the diamond supply in the future. According to Penny, “These great mines that were discovered 10, 20, 30 years ago are not being replaced today. According to the data that is out there, we’re going to see some significant declines in diamonds.”