How Technology Helps Non-Profits

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In the era of the Internet, non-profits need to be online and take advantage of the latest advances in technology, just as a business would, in order to give its recipients the best services possible. Technology helps give organizations the opportunity to reach out to, and help, more people than ever imagined in the past. These are just a few of the ways technology is helping non-profits.

 

Websites

Take a huge non-profit, like the Humane Society of America. It has a first-class web site with everything you need to know about their mission, and more. Website specifics that help to spread the word include:

  • Videos: Organizations use videos on their websites or a link to a YouTube Channel to illustrate their mission, who they are trying to help, how they do it and why. Here is where non-profits can tie in celebrities who are supporters of the cause, to hopefully entice new donors to join.
  • Blogs and Newsletters: Blogs allow authorities in the field share their expertise while newsletters keep supporters up to date on the organization’s progress.
  • FAQs: Having a list of FAQs is a good idea for a non-profit so any interested party can get information about the cause. A contact email should be added if there are additional questions that were not included in the FAQ section.

 

Online Donations

An online donation section is used by the Humane Society, Michael J Fox’s Parkinson’s site and many more. This is ideal for non-profits because it is so easy for a donor to click, and send money for support. Most sites have pre-set amounts ($25, $50, $100 etc) for selection, but there are spots available for donors to type in any amount they choose. This is such a great innovation for non-profits because it cuts down on the dependency of mail, phone and fund raisers for solicitation.

 

Social Media

Non-profits are jumping on the social media bandwagon like everyone else. This is an excellent platform for an organization to gain followers that will receive their mission message every time they log on. Hashtags are a great way to draw attention to a cause on Twitter or Facebook, such as the Humane Society’s recent #Spayday to bring attention to neutering animals to control the population. It is also a great way to create events and invite people, such as an animal cruelty fundraiser or a 5K where the proceeds go to the organization.

 

Recruiting Volunteers

With all of the above technological advances being used by non-profits, it is easier than ever to recruit volunteers. Viewing videos on the web sites and social media posts and Tweets will attract those who want to help. Email and social media also makes it simple to reach someone, and not have to meet face-to-face for an initial visit. It makes it much more efficient than having to make a ton of calls or wait for replies to mailers. With video conferencing and chats, it is possible to recruit volunteers or donors from anywhere in the world, and not have to leave your home office.

New eBook: How Having A Virtual CIO Can Help Your Business

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We’ve worked hard on a new eBook that’s designed to help your business grow.

In our eBook, you’ll discover how having a virtual CIO can help you achieve your business goals.

To us, your vision for your company is important, and we go the extra mile to help you make it happen!

So, if you want to learn:

  • How to gain a competitive advantage
  • How to regain focus
  • How to find affordable expertise
  • How to set yourself up for long-term success

…We’re here to help you!

The best part? It’s completely FREE!

So check out our new eBook now and let us help you make your vision for your company a reality!

Click here to find out more!

How 3D Printing Technology Could Change the World

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Prepare yourself for the next Industrial Revolution. 3D printers are here and already changing
the world. The technology is going to make life as we know it unrecognizable in the next few
decades to come, the techie visionaries say it is for the better. The science behind these
machines is advancing at a rapid rate, as items from body parts to vehicles are being created
on 3D printers.

About the 3D Printer

If you’re unfamiliar with this technology, you won’t be for long. A 3D printer can create a three
dimensional object, by building it a layer at a time, until you have the item you desire. Designs
start with a digital file that instructs the printer just what to “print”. It is able to make items out
of metal, plastic, nylon and over a hundred more materials. No longer will we need to find
parts to screw together or weld to make an object. All you have to do is design it on the
computer. Experts say eventually we will be able to make anything, anywhere. If you’re not
convinced they will change the world, let us explain what is already being done with these
amazing machines.

3D Printed Cars

At the 2015 North American International Auto Show in Detroit, Local Motors debuted its Strati
EV, a 3D printed car that you can drive in. The wiring, motor and suspension are plugged into
the 3D printed frame and exterior. The carbon fiber body and chassis weigh 1100 pounds.
This is only one example of how 3D printers are working in the automotive world. Oak Ridge
national Laboratory has unveiled a Cobra that was created, 3-D printed, assembled, painted
and driven in only six weeks. This is surely only the beginning for the auto industry.

3D Printed Body Parts

This is exciting for those who have lost limbs or are in need of a transplant. Currently,
prosthetic limbs are being created that are tailored to fit the individual so that symmetry is
restored to their body, as well as a sense of feeling “normal” around others. In the medical
world, organs like skin, kidneys and heart replicas are being printed. Imagine how this will
affect the life span of a human being.

3D Printed Food

England has produced the first 3D printed hamburger with a machine called “The Foodini”.
The creators claim it will change the way we prepare food in the future. Imagine having
whatever you desire created from scratch right before your eyes with only the press of a
button, and the insertion of a few food capsules containing the ingredients you need. This is
surely only the start as experts talk about replicating livestock for consumption down the road.

Keeping it Local with Less Waste

With 3D printing, there will be no need to outsource to countries like China or Indonesia. We
will be able to domestically manufacture goods easily. It will create much less waste because
of the preciseness of these printers, which will do wonders for the landfills and environment.

What do you think about 3D printers in the future? Pros? Cons? Let us know in the comment
section below!

Nomad Technology knows VoIP Phone Systems

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What is Hosted IP Voice or VoIP?

If you’ve never heard of VoIP, get ready to change the way you think about business phone systems. Voice over Internet Protocol, is a method for taking analog audio signals, like the kind you hear when you talk on the phone, and turning them into digital data that can be transmitted over the Internet.

Hosted IP Voice is not just an alternative to traditional phone lines, it is the new standard. Utilizing our carrier-grade equipment located in our partners secure and redundant Data Center, the need for an expensive PBX at your business location is eliminated. Our service gives you more features than most on-site PBX systems with little or no capital investment.

VOIP Telephone Benefits

Get More for Your Money

Are you tired of overpriced phone lines that don’t even have the features that you need? Imagine having affordable phone service that includes features that would otherwise require an expensive PBX system.

No Capital Outlay

No upfront capital outlay on highly depreciable equipment. We offer all inclusive monthly packages, including phones.

Total Flexibility

Subscribe to only the phones you need now. Grow and add as many as you need whenever you need it.

Rapid Changes

Adding new phones, changing features, and fine tuning your system design are all quick and easy processes.

Total Customization

One of our Sales Engineers will work with you to determine your specific needs, then custom program your final system design.

Free Upgrades

Most phone systems are obsolete the minute you install them. With Nomad Voice all features are delivered through our central platform and are constantly being updated. You receive the updates free of charge.

Phone Portability

Any Nomad Voice phone can be moved to any other connection on the Internet without any expensive programming or upgrades. Working from home or on the road is no problem and you appear as though you are working in the office.

Digital Connections

Quality of service is amazing thanks to Nomad’s proprietary technology. All connections are digital vs standard analog connections. You will notice a difference in the call clarity over analog telephone lines.

Disaster Recovery

Call processing is done off-site in our Secure and Redundant Data Center Facility. In the event of a disaster at your location, phones can be easily moved and you can be back in business immediately. If needed, call logs and recordings can be downloaded to your server.

Contact Us Today to get a FREE CONSULTATION.

Managed IT Services for Small and Medium-sized Businesses

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Proactive_Maintenace_IT_ServicesNOMAD TECHNOLOGY GROUP Proactive Maintenance Plan

Reduce downtime, increase profitability, and make your technology work for you.

NOMAD TECHNOLOGY GROUP is dedicated to keeping your technology investment up and running smoothly so you can focus on your business.  You can relax knowing our partnership with your organization means we take your IT personally, and strive to keep your staff productive with the tools they need to drive your business forward.
Change the way you think about IT with NOMAD TECHNOLOGY GROUP.

Think of us as your Outsourced IT Department.  We strategically optimize and protect your infrastructure while performing day-to-day maintenance that keeps your users from experiencing downtime.

24/7/365 Proactive Monitoring and Maintenance

Detect and stop IT issues before they affect your bottom line.

NOMAD TECHNOLOGY GROUP’s IT Services  are built to cover all of your IT support needs, from your employee workstations to your servers, and even other devices on your network that are necessary for your organization’s efficiency.  By performing regular maintenance and monitoring your systems 24x7x365, we can drastically reduce the amount of downtime your staff experience.  Our team is always looking out for your business and your goals, and can help you meet your IT needs as you expand.  Our proactive maintenance can keep your IT investments running smoothly and our experienced support staff can assist your users with any technology-related issues.

The Benefits of Flat-Rate IT

Finally budget your IT expenses

Imagine being able to finally budget your technology.  Imagine how much faster issues will get resolved if your entire staff can call for support without increasing your monthly IT expenses.  With NOMAD TECHNOLOGY GROUP, you and your staff can rest assured that you can focus entirely on other business issues that need your attention, not your IT.  In the long run, you save money with fewer issues, less downtime, and a no-surprises flat-rate that’s designed to work for small businesses.

Supplement Your Current Internal IT

Benefit from NOMAD TECHNOLOGY GROUP’s Flexibility

Already have an internal IT department or a technical guru on site that handles most of your day-to-day IT issues?  NOMAD TECHNOLOGY GROUP isn’t out to replace them, but we can certainly supplement and assist your current internal IT staff providing our 24x7x365 monitoring, maintenance, and support.  Your current IT staff will be able to take advantage of us as we strive to prevent downtime.  If your current IT department is overloaded, NOMAD TECHNOLOGY GROUP is the perfect solution for lightening their workload to ensure the rest of your company continues to function without a hitch.

How to Cut 25% Off Your IT Expenses

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We’ve all learned in our Business 101 studies that cutting costs is an absolute priority of business operation. While there are plenty of products available that promise to save your business money, perhaps the easiest and most effective way is to downsize. Gartner Inc. reports that you can eliminate a quarter of your IT expenses by simplifying your IT network.

Without a clearly mapped out IT gameplan from the outset, your company can easily end up with an overly complex IT network that costs more money to operate than it should. This disorganized network can take on several different lifeforms. Does your network look something like this?

  • Your network connection wires resemble a plate of spaghetti.
  • Your company lacks an IT roadmap.
  • Every network user has their own printer.
  • Your network devices were carelessly installed.
  • Your file paths are an syytem of unorganized clutter.

If you can identify with any of these points, your business’ IT system is costing you more to operate than it has to. In this case, an estimated 25% of your budgeted IT dollars are being spent on purchasing longer cable, installing more connections, and servicing your equipment. Your company is investing unnecessary time and money into purchasing and maintaining equipment. Now, let’s look at how to save your company some IT dollars.

Adapting New Technologies

The goal of technology in the first place is to simplify your life at home and at work. The latest trends in technology mirror this philosophy. Now more than ever, devices are smaller, faster, and easier to use. Likewise, their operating systems are becoming more intuitive, saving us time and effort and cutting out massive learning curves. Simplicity is the solution to cutting a quarter of your company’s IT costs. NOMAD TECHNOLOGY GROUP can analyze your IT infrastructure, and help design new solutions to simplify your network and save you money.

Our solution plan for your company may be as simple at rerouting a few cables, or as complex as upgrading your servers. No matter what we suggest for your business, we’ll be able to show you how you can save money and time on your IT efforts that you can in turn invest into other aspects of running your business.

Adopting an IT philosophy of simplicity will ultimately add to the value of your business. You’ll have less devices to maintain and integrate into your network, and you’ll save your employees from having to wait on your technology, increasing their productivity at work. Ultimately, increasing the efficiency of your technology means increasing the efficiency of your business and everybody working for it, while cutting costs and maximizing profits.

If you would like to know how your company can potentially cut a quarter of its IT costs and maximize your efficiency by simplifying your network, then give NOMAD TECHNOLOGY GROUP a call at 812-618-4032.

4 Mobile Technology Features Every Business Needs

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Are you looking to enhance your business with new mobile technologies to give your workforce the competitive edge? If so, then we recommend that before you go out and purchase new mobile devices, you first need to understand the technology requirements of your organization. Here are four crucial needs you will want to consider.

Performance

Implementing a new technology that doesn’t meet the performance needs of your business will be a waste of everyone’s time and money by negatively affecting productivity. One mobile technology performance feature you will need to take into consideration is the ability keep employee productivity up, even when the Internet isn’t available.

It’s easy to overlook this performance feature because you assume that a connection will always be available, but when doing business on the road, your Internet connectivity can be spotty. Instead of going with a mobile device that needs the Internet to do everything, it will be better to give your staff mobile devices that can be used to work on every project, even if they can’t get any bars.

Easy to Use

Of course, ease of use is a goal with all technology, but you will especially want it when it comes to mobile solutions because not all mobile devices are built for business. It’s not worth your money to go with a cheaper consumer product that your employees will have to fight with in order to do basic business tasks like sharing files, using e-mail, and accessing up-to-date documents over your network.

Reliability

The best mobile solutions work seamlessly at sharing content over the device and your company’s network. When it comes to using the mobile versions of the software your business runs on, it’s important that the mobile app version is just as reliable. A mobile application that’s inferior to its desktop counterpart will cost your business money when employees lose productivity over reliability issues.

Security

Any mobile device that connects with your company’s network will need strong security in order to protect your sensitive information. The location of the needed files should be secure and obvious to the user, and data cached on employees’ devices should be safe and encrypted.

Finding the right mobile solution for your business takes knowledge and effort to make sure that all four of these features are covered. As a rule, when it comes to implementing new technology for your business, the better you know the needs of your business, the better you can find solutions that are right for your company. You also need to be familiar with all the latest technology solutions to give your business the competitive edge.

NOMAD TECHNOLOGY GROUP knows what mobile solutions are best for business, and we will take the time to learn about the needs of your company. This way, we can recommend technology solutions that will make all of your company’s technology work for you! Call us at 812-618-4032 to learn more.

A Healthy Intranet = Strong Marketing

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Marketing is not done in a bubble. Instead, it requires input from outside resources. When it comes to effective marketing, communication is key. Having a computer network that acts as a communications hub for every department is one the best ways to help your marketing team.

In order to be successful, your marketing team must have the ability to quickly get feedback on a project from your entire staff. Your marketing team will need the ability to easily share files with each other and the entire company. Here are just a few of the major audiences your marketing team will need to effectively communicate while using your company’s network.

The Need for Direction from the Higher Ups

In business, everything starts at the top and rolls (or sometimes flows) downhill. Your marketing team needs direction. They need to know how their project fits into the company’s overall vision and implementation strategy so they can accurately communicate this to your market, and target the right prospects.

You need to be able to share with your marketing team any file that you think helps explain your vision, and they need to be able to easily find, view, and have some kind of forum in place where comments and ideas can be exchanged. All of this is done over the company intranet. The less reliable your company’s intranet is will translate to more delayed or misinterpreted communications, which can lead to your marketing campaign going in a different direction than what you would have liked.

The Necessity of Hearing from the Bottom

Even the best marketing team will fail if they’re trying to sell something to a customer base that’s simply not interested. The more avenues of communication your marketing team has in place to get feedback from your customers will mean the better the message can be tailored to the people you need to reach.

You will want to have some kind of technology in place where your customers can communicate their needs to your marketing team, and you will want to have a communication system in place on your network where all the other departments can also view and benefit from this data. You as the leader will especially want access to this data to inform the vision and direction of your company.

The Value of Peer-to-Peer Communication

Your marketing team will benefit from gaining insight from all the other departments in your business. Peers work closely with the same products the marketing team is trying to sell, and they interact with the same customers the marketing team is trying to reach. Adding this kind of insight to a marketing campaign will help make it more robust, and help your team develop marketing strategies that are more holistic. Your company’s network is the best place for this type of peer-to-peer communication to take place, and because this communication is valuable, you will want your intranet to be organized.

There are several different communication solutions available on the market, and while it’s great to take advantage of as many technologies as you can, it works out best if all of these different solutions are connected to your company’s network in an organized fashion. This way, no valuable information will be lost. A marketing team tooled with a reliable network that they are trained to use, will produce dynamic and informed marketing campaigns that will achieve your goals.

If you would like help organizing your IT infrastructure to provide your business with this level of communication between all of your departments, your customers, and yourself, then call NOMAD TECHNOLOGY GROUP at 812-618-4032. We can keep your network running smoothly with our managed IT services, and even introduce you to the latest business solutions to enhance communication between all of your departments. Call NOMAD TECHNOLOGY GROUP today and make your technology work for you!

4 Statistics Every Business Ought to Know About Data Backup

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Every business needs to have a business continuity plan to keep operations going after experiencing a disaster. The centerpiece to every plan is having a backup and recovery solution in place for your company’s data. If something happens to your data, your business may not recover. Here are four backup statistics that show the importance of backing up.

6% of All Computers Experience Data Loss Each Year

Data loss doesn’t just happen when a system crashes, even a small loss of data, like one workstation’s hard drive going down, can cost your business time and money. Taking a chance on a figure like 6% is kind of like playing Russian roulette with twelve-chamber revolver. It’s only a matter of time before the bullet goes off, and when it does, things will get messy.

Concerning Businesses that Do Backup Their Data, 34% Never Test It

While it’s vital to have a backup solution in place, just the act of backing up isn’t enough, you will also want to regularly test your backup solution to make sure it can perform under pressure. For the businesses that do test their backup solutions, 77% find that their backup solution fails on some level. Regular testing of your backup solution will give you the opportunity to take care of any shortcomings so your business can be prepared for anything.

A Company That’s Down for 10 Days After a Natural Disaster Will Not Survive the Next Year

Your business may be able to easily bounce back from a minor disaster like an hour-long power outage, but are you prepared to withstand a major natural disaster that will disable your business for days? Think back to Superstorm Sandy, this storm left America’s Northeastern seaboard without power in 2012; and in some places the outage was as long as two weeks. Many businesses were unprepared for Sandy and paid a high price. A strong business continuity plan will make provisions to keep a business in operation after a bad storm, which must include a way to access your data.

Tape Backup is Found to Have Discrepancies or Completely Fail 77% of the Time

Not all backup solutions are created equal. While it is important that you have a backup solution in place, you will want it to be accurate and reliable. Backing up with tape has been around for a long time, and it’s fast being replaced by a more reliable cloud-based tool called a Backup and Disaster Recovery solution.

With BDR, NOMAD TECHNOLOGY GROUP takes care of the backup process for you, which includes regular testing to ensure your data is accurate, and BDR will not fail when you need it most. To learn more about how a reliable BDR solution can save your business from experiencing data loss and provide you with a strong continuity plan, call NOMAD TECHNOLOGY GROUP at 812-618-4032

5 BYOD Worst Case Scenarios You Need to Plan For

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As the mobile device market is booming, more employees are bringing in their own device to work (BYOD). Advantages to BYOD include a workforce that’s mobile, increased employee satisfaction, and more; but using personal devices comes with risks, and business owners must consider these risks before allowing BYOD in their office.

Strong risk management means being prepared for the worst case scenarios. Here are five BYOD worst case scenarios that every adopter of BYOD will need to be prepared for.

Having the Device Lost or Stolen

How much danger would your business be in if an employee lost a smartphone with your company’s sensitive information stored on it? Even a stolen contact list with your client’s and employee’s phone numbers can be a messy situation to clean up after. You may be legally obligated to notify everyone affected by the leak because you are responsible for putting their personal information at risk.

Do you think your employees are too smart to lose anything? Think again, even the best of us have brain farts and misplace things. According to a study by CompTIA, it’s estimated that every day in the United States, 160,000 phones are lost or stolen, which accounts for half of all mobile security incidents. The cost of replacing phones, time and money spent on damage control, and actual money stolen from accounts linked to the phone adds up to $30 billion per year in the US alone.

Mobile Malware

The other half of mobile security incidents come from mobile malware. As mobile devices become more popular, hackers are targeting these devices with new malware. Two of the biggest mobile scams that employees fall for is downloading malware that captures authentication information for financial accounts, and unknowingly sending SMS messages to overly priced premium-rate numbers.

Dumb Social Media Posts

An employee with a smartphone has more opportunity to post their thoughts or feelings to social media. While the majority of employees can handle this power, all it takes is one dumb social media post to hurt your company. What if an employee reacts to a work argument by airing out their grievances on Facebook? Or what would happen if an employee unintentionally leaked company secrets about an important project? A company with strict Internet usage and social media policies will want shy away from BYOD.

Blurred Lines between Work and Personal

While it’s great that your staff is now mobile and they can do work from anywhere, if they begin to feel like you are requesting them to do work outside of their contract, like bugging them at home to call or e-mail a client, then you may be hit with a lawsuit for unpaid overtime. Then there’s the issue of what happens if you let an employee go, and your company’s information is on their personal device. You can try to go into their phone and delete your company’s data, but what happens if, in doing so, you accidentally delete their personal information? A mistake like this can also result in a lawsuit.

Is BYOD Worth the Risk?

All of these risks can be managed by being intentional about mobile security and having policies in place that prevents or prepares your business for these worst case scenarios. NOMAD TECHNOLOGY GROUP can help you enact strong mobile security solutions and smart BYOD policies that will help your business get the most out of BYOD. Call us at 812-618-4032 to learn more.

When it comes down to it, you have to ask yourself if BYOD is worth the risk. Will your business see a return that warrants jumping through the necessary BYOD hoops? In a study by CompTIA, it was discovered that the top benefit businesses see with BYOD is employee satisfaction, and there is actual little increase in out-of-the office productivity, and little positive monetary effect. Maybe you value your employee’s happiness enough to give BYOD a try, or maybe you can find a less risky way to improve employee satisfaction like implementing Hawaiian Shirt Day Fridays. Whatever your final decision is regarding BYOD, NOMAD TECHNOLOGY GROUP is here to help.