Gregory

In the past ten years, businesses have moved the line of communication, data storage, and applications to the cloud. Most applications workers use in their everyday work, from order-tracking databases to finance systems, rely on fast performance.

So when the internet becomes undependable, everyone using it notices it. That is because internet connection issues may cause delays or latency in the data transmission.

Hence, HTK Enterprise solutions like a strong internet connection are important for businesses today. Some of the key reasons for using a reliable internet connection are the following:

Business Growth and Expansion Opportunities

Information and data travel with the internet’s speed. Business organizations in cities often have more accessibility to reliable and high-internet speed through DSL, hotspots, and fiber compared to companies in undeveloped territories and rural areas. So this means the investments and development will go to places and cities with stronger internet connections.

But step by step, internet connection is also becoming stronger in rural areas by providing more job opportunities and enabling entrepreneurship. Even if people don’t become writers, developers, bloggers, YouTube influencers, or freelancers, they will contribute to the economic development goals of business organizations.

Cloud Access

The cloud has become a powerful tool for hosting and apps, from data storage to CRM (customer relationship management) tools. In fact, 95% of business organizations now use the cloud. A strong internet connection’s bandwidth and speed capabilities mean quicker access to your apps and data stored in the cloud platform.

Your business organization will benefit from a few delays in accessing data stored in the cloud through SaaS (software-as-a-service) tools as well as other platforms. That means your customer service and sales agents won’t face delays when communicating with prospects or clients. And as your business moves more services to cloud platforms, a reliable internet connection becomes important.

Supports Many Users

In the world of business, the broad internet supports users and devices. Apart from desktops, which are logged in continuously, your team will log into the same internet connection from their personal devices. Naturally, the more individuals who access your internet connection, the more they will share the bandwidth, slowing down the speed in turn.

To be productive always, every user must need a minimum of one Mbps to visit websites and send emails efficiently. And you will require more power for uploading images/content/files and video conferencing. So the best way to gain a competitive edge and be ahead of the curve is to have a strong and reliable internet connection.

Business Automation

Well, automation is the main internet-driven trend in the world of business. The capability to automate different tasks that traditionally needed workforce saves cash and makes the entire operations more efficient and simpler. Everything from customer service to accounting practices has automation capabilities based on the business requirements and models.

Small businesses may also automate basic accounting and receipt tracking through software, which connects to accounts, as well as classify and track income and spending.

Enhanced Network Security

Business cybersecurity is important, especially if you deal with sensitive and confidential data, like clients’ or employees’ personal information. In addition, cybersecurity is a vital part of financial security in your business.

A dedicated broad internet connection is the best way to improve your security. You can strengthen your cybersecurity strategies by not sharing your internet with outsiders. With a reliable and dedicated internet connection, you will worry less about cyber threats from different networks, allowing you to allocate your business resources better towards handling other weak points in all your cybersecurity systems.

Apart from the basics, some ISPs can provide you with extra security features. This often includes firewall options that help to block viruses, malicious code, and other intrusions.

Symmetrical Upload and Download Speeds

Shared internet connections hardly enable you to control download and upload speeds. That is because many businesses download data far more than they upload. Whichever the case, many teams don’t know matching speed is important for collaboration, calling, voice, and video conferencing platforms.

Uneven rates often result in delays or interruptions, not to mention visual and audial glitches. As a matter of fact, research shows that workers lose one or two weeks of productivity every year because of lagging download/upload speeds and poor connection. But with a strong internet connection, your business may customize its download and upload rates to ascertain symmetrical speeds.

Better Productivity

A slow internet connection leads to productivity loss. Because of that, most businesses collaborate with software and online tools. For example, businesses can use a free task management tool, such as Taskade, to meet their targets. Hence, the importance for internet speed is vital.

In addition, to improve employee productivity, give them the choice of taking leave during federal holidays. This will enable them to rest and take a break before going back to the office to work more proactively.

As a business owner, take care of this well. You may do this by planning your staff’s yearly goals while considering internet connection needs.

Collaboration

The days of employing workers in the local city hall to work from a dedicated office are over. Today, businesses have several teams, with members based in various parts of the world.

An internet connection becomes invaluable for workers in different locations to collaborate effectively and work together. This internet also enables your workers to make video calls with clients who could as well be hundreds of miles away.

Scalability

The scalability of the network measures how a network may deal with workload changes that drop or spike in the volumes of data causes. If the growth of a business organization outpaces network abilities, it will cause disruption to service.

In addition, scaling the network infrastructure helps to minimize IT expenses when demand reduces. In other words, IT flexibility and a strong internet connection are important.

Final Touches!

Where business organizations used to engage MSPs or ISPS separately for their network and internet connection needs, seeking layered solutions becomes important. This is why looking for a reliable service provider with all the solutions you need to ensure your business scalability and productivity is important.

 

As technology advances, businesses need to stay up-to-date with the latest communication tools to stay competitive. One of the most significant communication challenges for businesses is selecting the right telephony system. While traditional telephony systems have been used for many years, Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) has emerged as a popular alternative. In this article, we will explore the differences between telephony and VoIP, and help you determine which one is right for your business.

Telephony

Telephony is a traditional communication system that uses copper wires to transmit voice signals. It involves the use of a Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN), which connects callers from different locations through a network of physical wires. Telephony systems are reliable and provide high-quality voice calls. However, they are costly to set up and maintain, especially for businesses that require multiple phone lines.

VoIP

VoIP is a digital communication system that uses the internet to transmit voice signals. It involves the conversion of analog voice signals into digital packets that are transmitted over the internet. VoIP systems are highly scalable, and businesses can easily add or remove phone lines as needed. They are also cost-effective, as they do not require expensive hardware or long-distance charges.

Telephony systems have been around for decades and remain a popular choice for many businesses. Some of the advantages of telephony include high voice quality, reliability, and security. Telephony systems are also compatible with most legacy systems, making them ideal for businesses that have invested in traditional communication tools.

However, telephony systems are expensive to set up and maintain. They require physical wires to connect phone lines, making them challenging to scale as a business grows. Telephony systems are also vulnerable to outages, which can disrupt business operations.

The Pros and Cons of VoIP

VoIP systems have become increasingly popular among businesses due to their cost-effectiveness and flexibility. VoIP systems are highly scalable and can be easily customized to meet specific business needs. They also offer advanced features like video conferencing, virtual phone numbers, and call forwarding.

However, VoIP systems rely on an internet connection, which can be unreliable at times. The voice quality of VoIP systems may also be affected by bandwidth limitations or network congestion. VoIP systems may also be vulnerable to cyber threats, such as hacking or phishing attacks.

Which One is Right for Your Business?

Choosing between telephony and VoIP systems depends on several factors, including business size, budget, and communication needs. Small businesses with few phone lines and limited budgets may find telephony systems more cost-effective. Large enterprises with multiple locations and advanced communication needs may benefit more from VoIP systems.

Hosted Telephony: A Hybrid Solution

Hosted telephony is a hybrid solution that combines the reliability of traditional telephony with the flexibility of VoIP systems. Hosted telephony uses cloud-based servers to connect phone lines, eliminating the need for physical wires. This makes hosted telephony highly scalable and cost-effective. Hosted telephony also offers advanced features like call routing, voicemail, and call forwarding.

Conclusion

In conclusion, both telephony and VoIP systems have their advantages and disadvantages. When choosing a telephony system, businesses should consider factors like cost, scalability, reliability, and security. Hosted telephony offers a hybrid solution that combines the best of both worlds, making it an excellent option for businesses that require flexible and cost-effective communication solutions.

 

The average wage of a trucker in the United States depends on a number of different factors: location, routes, experience, company size, vehicle type. For example, hazmat truck driver salary will be higher than that of an ordinary trucker, because it is associated with hazards and requires a special permit. But one way to reduce your own expenses on the road and increase your earnings is per diem .

Per diem for truckers is one of the most important benefits offered by some trucking companies to attract professional drivers. When you first start working as a trucker, the first change in your lifestyle involves having to buy food and snacks on the road because you’re away from home for a long time. For starters, some trucking companies provide per diem for drivers. Meals are one of the most important per diem items for most truck drivers.

Most transportation companies that care about the health and general well-being of the driver and provide them with per diem programs, HMD Trucking is no exception to this list. What’s more, per diem is a good tool for attracting new employees.

The term “per diem” translates from Latin as “per day.” Thus, it is a way to make up for your daily expenses on the road. Remember that the IRS does not tax per diem.

To explain simply, the Per Diem deduction is a tax deduction that allows you to justify the normal necessary expenses for meals and some incidental payments while traveling away from home.

The IRS allows transportation workers who make business trips under the hours-of-service rules to deduct meal expenses from their income. The per diem rate is fixed and set by the IRS. On October 1, 2021, the rate was increased by $3 and is currently $69 per day in the continental United States. You should also know that the IRS allowed an 80% deduction until 2021, but the Federal Consolidated Appropriations Act for 2021 (FCAA) temporarily allows a 100% per diem deduction for 2021 and 2022.

IRS Publication 463 states that to qualify for these deductions, you must meet both of the following requirements:

• Your job requires you to be away from your place of residence for significantly longer than your normal workday.
• You need to sleep or rest to meet the requirements of your work away from home.

What might this mean for the driver? If you are an owner-operator, it’s quite simple: you are entitled to a tax deduction for each day you spend away from your “tax home”. On the days you leave for a trip and when you arrive home, you are entitled to a part-day deduction. It is ¾ of the standard benefit.

The situation gets a little more complicated if you are a local driver. Are you away from home for long periods of time? Local and regional drivers are mostly away from home for much longer than the average eight-hour workday. So the first part of the requirements is very easy to meet. But you have to meet both conditions to get the deduction. In other words, drivers who start and end their trip at home on the same workday under DOT HOS will not qualify for the per diem.

In addition, IRS Publication 463 also states that you must have a “tax home. There are three criteria for determining your tax home. To qualify, you must meet at least two of the following three items:

• You have incurred living expenses in your primary home that you have to duplicate because your job requires your absence from that home.
• You have not left the area in which both your historic residence and your declared primary home are located; a member or members of your family live in that home; or you regularly use that home for living purposes.
• You conduct part of your business in the area where your principal home is located and you use this home for your residence while conducting business in this area.

To summarize in simple terms, the point of everything written above:

• The IRS requires you to spend periods of time away from your home much longer than a standard work day.
• You have a home from which you will be leaving.

In 2022, if you meet the above two requirements at the same time, you are allowed a $69 deduction for each full day away from home in order to work as a driver and assistant who helps with business functions. You can deduct $51.75 for each part-time day you work as a driver and attendant who helps with business functions.

The easiest and most reliable way to start keeping per diem records yourself is to start a per diem calendar where you put an “X” for each full day worked and a “/” for each part day worked. You can do this either on a paper calendar or on your smartphone calendar. There are also quite a few apps on the market that help you keep track of your drivers’ hours.

Given your time, you’ll be able to calculate exactly how many per diem days you have for your tax preparer during tax season. To prove per diem, you will need to provide DOT ELD logs showing the time, date, and location. Also, it’s a good safe practice to keep all receipts and travel documentation for at least 3 years.

Receiving a per diem means that you cannot take advantage of the “standard deduction for meals” during tax season. However, it is interesting to note that most U.S. drivers receive approximately the same amount after taxes at the end of the year, regardless of whether they received a per diem.

 

Bankruptcy is a legal process that provides relief to individuals and businesses facing financial distress. In the United States, there are several types of bankruptcy filings available under the US Bankruptcy Code. In this article, we’ll explore Chapters 11, 12, and 13 of the code.

Chapter 11

Chapter 11 of the US Bankruptcy Code is designed for businesses that need to restructure their debts while continuing operations. It’s also available to individuals with a high amount of debt or income who don’t qualify for Chapter 7 or Chapter 13 bankruptcies.

Under Chapter 11, a debtor (the business or individual) files a petition with the court seeking protection from creditors while they work on a plan to reorganize their finances. The debtor remains in control of their assets and operations during this time but must obtain court approval for significant business decisions.

The goal of Chapter 11 is to help the debtor emerge from bankruptcy as a viable business or individual with manageable debt. This can be achieved through debt restructuring, selling off assets to generate cash flow, renegotiating contracts with suppliers and lenders, reducing expenses, and other means.

Chapter 12

Chapter 12 of the US Bankruptcy Code is similar to Chapter 13 but specifically designed for family farmers and fishermen. It was created in response to the unique financial challenges faced by these groups due to unpredictable weather conditions, fluctuating commodity prices, and other industry-specific factors.

To qualify for Chapter 12 bankruptcy protection, an individual or married couple must meet certain criteria such as earning most of their income from farming or fishing activities and owing less than $10 million in total debt.

Under Chapter 12 bankruptcy proceedings, farmers/fishermen can continue operating their businesses while repaying creditors over three to five years through a court-approved repayment plan. Debtors may also be able to reduce interest rates on secured loans and discharge unsecured debts such as credit card balances.

Chapter 13

Chapter 13 is another type of bankruptcy filing available under the US Bankruptcy Code. It’s designed for individuals with regular income who have too much debt to qualify for Chapter 7 liquidation but still want relief from creditor harassment and collection efforts.

Under Chapter 13 proceedings, an individual creates a three-to-five-year repayment plan that outlines how they will repay all or some of their outstanding debts through monthly payments made directly to a trustee appointed by the court. The trustee then distributes payments among creditors according to priority levels set forth in the plan.

During this time period (usually three-to-five years), creditors cannot initiate collection efforts or foreclose on any property without court permission. At the end of this period – assuming all payments have been made according to plan terms – remaining unsecured debts may be discharged!

Which One Is Right For You?

Choosing which type of bankruptcy filing best suited a unique situation depends on various factors such as amount, type of debt, amounts, type of asset, and more! Consulting experienced attorneys knowledgeable navigating complex legal landscape is a crucial step determining the right path forward!

In conclusion – Chapters Eleven/Twelve/Thirteen each offer different forms of relief depending on specific needs facing financial distress! Whether looking to restructure business finances, reorganize personal finances, or seeking relief as a farmer or fisherman – these chapters provide invaluable tools helping achieve long-term financial stability!

It’s important to understand differences between each chapter and carefully consider which one makes sense given unique circumstances! Working closely with a trusted bankruptcy attorney in Prattville willing to provide guidance/support throughout the process – essential component successful resolution!

 

As everyone knows by now, the cryptocurrency market is extremely volatile, and if you go in completely blind or without a guide, you stand to lose a few bucks. However, even though this volatility exists, having a baseline level of knowledge of the market and following the advice of a few experts can lead to investments that yield strong returns. Everything you need to know about cryptocurrency investments can be found online!

With that being said, if you’re thinking of entering the crypto investment market it’s important that you educate yourself with a few important tips before starting to trade. This article will provide you with five basic but extremely helpful tips to ensure that you make a financially sound investment!

Go in For The Long Term

Cryptocurrency investment should be looked at as one that you intend to hold for a long time.

All you need to do to know that this is a sound strategy is by looking at those who invested in Bitcoin back in 2009… they’re now some of the wealthiest people on the planet. Find an up-and-coming cryptocurrency that is still relatively cheap, but has a solid project behind it, and invest for the long term to yield massive results.

Manage Risk

When making any type of investment, whether that be a property investment, stock investment, forex investment, and especially a cryptocurrency investment, you need to manage your risk.

What this means is taking stock of things like your current financial situation, the amount you have to invest, and the investment choices you decide to make, and creating a risk management spreadsheet. This will help you make sensible decisions, instead of making a bad investment.

Diversify Your Portfolio

The best way to ensure success in the cryptocurrency market is to avoid putting all of your eggs into one basket. In this industry, one coin might fail miserably, while another could end up making you a millionaire.

The best way to increase your chances of this happening at all is by embracing the volatility of the market and diversifying your portfolio by investing in more than one promising project.

Don’t Buy Just Because The Price is Low

Volatility sometimes can be good for investors, as it gives them an opportunity to buy when the prices are low. However, in the cryptocurrency market, volatility is something you should be looking to avoid.

Try not to invest in crypto projects that frequently fluctuate violently on trading platforms. Instead, look for coins that have shown steady upward progressions over a long period of time, and simply buy in a small dip.

Do Your Research

The most important thing when entering any new investment market is research. The fact that you’re reading this article is a good start.

But you need to be all clued up on crypto before investing any serious money into the market. You need to know about the best crypto coins, the top exchanges and how the markets work. The fact that crypto is so unregulated and volatile means you should do some extra due diligence.