Tuesday, August 28, 2012

Relevance of Cultural Integration Into Translation

Many of us consider translation as a more conversion of text from one language to another. However, the term has a much deeper meaning. If we try to understand the very need of translation services, the in depth meaning of translation becomes implicit.
Translation Services are needed whenever a document or content of any type is written in a particular language and the reader of the content is not familiar with that language. Thus, the content needs to be converted or translated into a language that the reader is familiar with. There can be numerous instances of such necessity - a technical paper, a website, a software, a news article, a machine manual, a blog, a corporate white paper etc. The conversion is normally required into the mother tongue or native language of the reader. Thus, when the document is translated, the reader expects that the language used must be as per the grammar, culture etc A reader Is really disappointed if he/she needs finds the translation is a more phrasal translation of the source text.
The demand for Chinese Translation Services and Japanese translation services is on a rise. Because of the growing trade relations of China and Japan with the rest of the world, there is an increasing need for Chinese to English Translation, English to Chinese Translation and similarly for Japanese.
Now let's take up Japanese Translation first. Japan is one of the world leaders in automotives and most of the automotive manuals, thus, are in Japanese. Now, for anybody outside Japan, to understand the manual is not possible, thus, necessitating the need for Japanese to English Translation. Again, while translating the professional Japanese Translator must take care of the target language culture, jargons, grammar so that the reader 'feels at home' while reading the translated document. When a document is written in English and needs to be sent to a Japanese counterpart, there is a requirement for English to Japanese Translation. This type of task can be best performed by a native Japanese translator having a good hold on English.
China is one of the fastest growing economies, and hence is rapidly interacting with the rest of the world in terms of trade. Chinese being the language used in China, all content written there is in Chinese (Mandarin or Simplified) and thus if it has to be shared with another part of the world, a language translation is required. A professional Chinese Translator must have a solid understanding of the Chinese and English languages and also, must be conversation with the corresponding cultures.
In a nutshell, whenever a document is translated into another language, a word to word or phrasal translation does not work. The translation services have to be context based and must have an implication of the target culture and locale.

Tuesday, August 21, 2012

Control Temperature With Essential Equipment in Your Lab

One of the main factors in health care institutes and hospitals is the monitoring and logging of moisture and temperature. This factor holds a greater importance in those labs which store tissue and blood samples along with the medicines which are required to be stored under controlled temperature. Find below certain equipments extremely useful for controlling temperature in the labs.
Wireless temperature monitoring systems
Wireless temperature monitoring systems are extremely easy to program and one can have fully customized operation according to his specific needs. Once the wireless temperature monitoring systems are programmed, it is not require to be reprogrammed unless direly required. This system automatically works by collecting the logs to maintain humidity levels and controlling a critical temperature along with reducing the manual labor in turn minimizing cost as well.
A multimeter can be termed to be an essential tool in the laboratories today owing to the measurement flexibility and accuracy. This device is able to measure the resistance of both current and the AC and DC voltage and hence has often found use in testing the prototype circuits. The different accessories associated with multimeter are temperature sensor probes, transistor testing modules, probe kits and high voltage probes.
Laboratory incubators
A typical laboratory incubator has a see through chamber having an in-built equipment which allows the room to control temperature, ventilation and humidity. Initially, the incubators were used in keeping newly born sick or premature babies and for hatching of poultry eggs. However, with time, the function of incubators has moved to the development of microorganisms. The incubators, help in allowing the rooms to easily manipulate and grow these elements to help in research and development.
LCR meter
An LCR meter which stands for Inductance, Capacitance and Resistance can be said to be a higher version of the multimeters as they cannot measure capacitance. The LCR meters are of two types, one a low cost version which helps in measuring the full impedance of any component and second, the costly version which can measure not only the impedance of all the components but also quality factor and the equivalent series resistance of that component.
However, the accuracy of the low cost version of LCR meter is generally of poor quality with the highest tolerance level of only 20%. Considering that many capacitors have in built tolerance level of 20%, mixing the tolerance of both the meter in use and the component can result in creating addition issues in the procedure of temperature control.
Soldering iron
A resistive block heater is used to heat the tip of a soldering iron which is in turn is often examined by a temperature sensor in order to keep the temperature of the soldering tip stable. There are different forms of soldering iron available in the market; however for controlling the temperature in the labs generally a soldering station is preferred.
Oscilloscopes are a primary tool in measuring and observing the shape of any signal. The digital oscilloscopes have various in built trigger and measurement options which help in making the measurement of frequency, pulse width, peak-to-peak voltage and signal comparisons an easy task in controlling the temperature of the room.

Tuesday, August 14, 2012

10 Drivers to CRM Failure

In our years of working in the SaaS space, we can't tell you how many meetings we've attended where an executive expressed those frustrations. Even in organizations where CRM adoption is mandated, teams and individuals will still riotously resist changes in systems, processes, reporting, you name it.
As you can imagine, this doesn't sit well with top management. After sinking thousands of dollars and months of time into a CRM rollout, companies want to see optimized sales performance. Not a long list of grievances.
How can these organizations get a path forward? Helping their people to connect the dots between the data that they put into the CRM system and the value they can derive from it.
And now: an examination of key areas where CRM ROI either succeeds or fails - and what you can do about them.
Missed ROI - and common points of failure
1 - Maintain clean data.
This least-glamorous part of the process is also the first reason for CRM failure and end user dis satisfaction. Getting good data in and getting bad (or old) data out should be a highly visible management priority. Ownership must also be clearly identified for ongoing data validation and maintenance to ensure that the data retains integrity.
Where do companies commonly struggle in the quest for clean data?
It's not a one-and-done project. Data management extends from the initial upload of data to the system's date of final retirement. Maintaining accountability for ongoing attention to data mainte­nance is a challenge in many organizations.
Free-for-all data entry. When fields in the CRM are free-form data entry, queries and reports have a tough time displaying and performing calculations on that data. Risk of user error and incom­plete data also increases. The solution is to make as many important fields into standardized lists and forcing the user to choose from the menu. System validation and logic rules should be thought through in a holistic way before transferring any data from other systems, and the data entry screens designed in a way that enforces this logic.
Initial data load. Users are more likely to accept (and maintain data in) your system if they see good data in there at the start. Whether the data is coming from a legacy system or being compiled from multiple sources, invest the time to scrub the data before importing it into the new application. After data is imported, it is less likely to be cleansed. Time spent scrubbing data before import guarantees that data will start off clean. Your project team must also validate the data and relationships after the load and make additional corrections/adjustments.
Bad data. A company's processes can often contribute to the creation of bad data. For example: different teams may not share the same definition of terms like "revenue" or "completed" or "start date." With different users interpreting a field differently, and all having access to update it, the field data becomes impossible to interpret over time.
Duplicate data. Duplication creates conflicts, such as who works the lead or services the account, and creates waste and duplication in downstream processes, such as sending marketing letters to the same person multiple times (or at old addresses). End users also deal with the confusion of multiple records by ignoring the system, distributing their updates across multiple records, and even creating their own new duplicate records.
Weak / incomplete data. Records with missing or incomplete data are often filtered out of reports, communications, data mining searches, and many other system uses. Optimize business intelli­gence, and improve marketing and segmentation, with regular data maintenance. Key data can often be appended to existing records with data enhancement services from such providers as D&B and Hoovers.
Data Overload. Carefully evaluate what information is truly essential and what is "nice to have" at each point in your process. Minimize the must-have information at each step in the process; especially for field personnel. This increases the likelihood of user adoption and data integrity.
Handling turnover gracefully. Some job roles can turn over at a high rate. When Tom leaves, and Suzie replaces him, is the company reassigning Tom's records and updating the record owner(s)? If not, over time those records are not updated and lose their value. Companies need a standard process for reassigning records to the appropriate person(s), instead of case-by-case assignments.
2 - Drive process alignment.
Your CRM fields, reports, and screen flow must match the way people actually use the system and its outputs. This must be constantly tended, as processes and people change.
Where do companies commonly struggle in the quest for process alignment?
The Kitchen Sink view of the business. Some developers may prefer to provide one screen contain­ing every field in the system. However, simplifying screens for the user is a huge part of aligning CRM systems with end user workflow. Decision tree wizards and custom page layouts allow your users to retrieve the data they need, at the point in their workflow when they need it. This customiza­tion takes both initial effort and ongoing updates. The ongoing system ROI driven by such updates is significant in many organizations.
Examine and document processes with a critical eye. Simply automating the old process can not only create frustration, but also cause you to forego benefits the software can provide. It is essential to document the new process, taking into consideration how the technology can help facilitate not only a more efficient/effective process, but also collaboration (via the use of workflow).
3 - Automate repetitive processes.
When your CRM system correctly aligns with your business processes, the system can take over low value, repetitive work through automation. This is a powerful source of CRM ROI.
Where do companies commonly struggle in the quest for automation?
Data consistency. When the underlying data in a system isn't consistently maintained (see #1), processes are tough to automate. Consistency in key areas must be present for the system to perform automatic calculations, consistent reports, workflow routing, and so on.
Keeping CRMin sync with changing people and processes. As the organization changes, CRM must keep up for its automated components to remain useful. When turnover is frequent, this becomes both more challenging and more important. When Tom leaves, and Suzie replaces him, does the process also change? Does she have exactly the same job mandates and work style that Tom did? Does Suzie need a different report, and does her boss still calculate key metrics the same way? Do automated processes such as lead assignment now need updating?
4 - Align Stakeholders.
Does your CRM system offer value to everyone who puts data into it, needs data from it, or manages people who do one of those things? Giving end users a voice in the process and value-added system outputs are natural drivers of end user adoption and clean data.
Where do companies commonly struggle in the quest for stakeholder alignment?
Executive alignment. In many companies, an executive sponsor signs the purchase order for the system, and that is the end of their involvement with the system. To align the tool to executive expectations, some face time with the project team makes all the difference.
Executive visibility. Ongoing, visible executive involvement sends an important message to the rank and file: "We've spent a lot of money on this system, and we take it seriously." Naturally, every company initiative would like to have this kind of support. Plan for activities that are manageable over months and years - such as public comments on the importance of CRM, hosting roundtable meetings to discuss CRM feedback. Real impact can be made by participating at least periodically in CRM steering committee meetings. Having very senior executives dropping into these meetings for surprise visits can help you manage a tight schedule while still communicating executive interest in the program.
One-way thinking. Do you depend on employees to maintain data who perceive no stake for them­selves in the outputs of your system? If value is moving only one way - up the chain - the likelihood of that data being inaccurate increases exponentially. Both the carrot and the stick are needed to keep the information maintained in the system the way you need it.
(Lack of) end user input. CRM programs can and should contain active vehicles for end user input (pilots, workshops, "beta" users) and satisfaction measurement. Simply asking end users how the system is meeting their needs and improvements they'd like to see can be a revelation for productivity, data value, process alignment, and much more. However, many companies simply move too fast to design effective questions, analyze the results, or take action based on the analysis.
Viewing training as "one and done". The CRM solution provides significant capabilities. It is unreal­istic to expect that people who are new to the system or technology can fully appreciate or leverage all of these at once. Training must be structured to be delivered over time so that individuals have time to absorb the new processes and system. This regular training will provide continued enlighten­ment for system users as to how the solution can add incremental value for them in their position. Sharing of best practices and "tips and tricks" is one way to provide this ongoing knowledge transfer.
5 - Integrate disparate/legacy systems.
No single system or piece of software can contain all the functionality needed to run a complex organization. But the closer you are to a 360 degree view of your business information, the more valuable all of your systems are. When data from all relevant systems is available in a single place, every customer-facing and revenue-generating function becomes more effective. And every executive view of the business becomes more meaningful.
Where do companies commonly struggle in the quest for system integration?
Complexity of the initial integration project. Many technologies exist to enable fast, easy system integration without custom code. Wizard driven, in some cases. However, every project and com­bination of systems requires professional evaluation to determine the right mix of technologies and custom integration points.
Complexity of data exchange. Simply migrating data from one system to another can be a significant feat. Ongoing complex data exchange between disparate systems can entail a significant trouble­shooting effort. Creating this seamless integration can be heavy lifting even for the pros.
Flexibility of future system updates. Upgrades, new fields, new reports, and other changes in any participating system must be recognized by all points of integration in all other systems. Will this slow down future customization of your systems infrastructure? It depends.
6 - Educate and empower All System Users.
Many useful IT systems fail because their rollouts did not take into account basic principles of adult learning and change management. The backbone of a successful rollout? Users who understand how it benefits them to use a system, are confident in their system know-how, and are in the habit of using that system.
Where do companies commonly struggle in the quest for user empowerment?
Upfront thinking about each user's needs. It may seem like a lot of work to get new users acquainted with an unfamiliar system and the process changes that come with it. Just think how much waste will result if those users are left to figure it out for themselves. A little mentorship and hand holding goes a long way.
Forgetting the new hire learning curve. New hires are often forgotten in this process, but they need as much support in acclimating to your CRM world that your existing staff did when the system was new. Once I've learned the system, it's easy to forget how much time a new user needs to climb the learning curve.
System changes mean educational updates. Education must be renewed for each end-user group as the system changes. Many organizations roll out system changes with centralized speed but forget to tell the end user what those changes are, what they mean to each user group, and how to interact with the new functionality.
Forgetting the System Administrator(s). An often over-looked resource, the system administrator needs continuing education as well. Salesforce.com and other SaaS platforms evolve constantly. Your administrator needs to stay current on release changes, best practices, add-ons offered in the community, and other topics that impact their effectiveness.
What's New? Opportunities to improve SaaS ROI come with each release of new platform function­ality. Define a process for reviewing new functionality. Brainstorm ways to use new enhancements to help address items on your company's CRM Wish List.
7 - Provide direct access to data.
The right people must be able to get the right information into and out of the system when they need it. Sounds simple, right? Well, these requirements can evolve over time. Teams tend to set them up once and then leave them alone, but they deserve occasional review & re-evaluation.
Where do companies commonly struggle in the quest for data visibility?
Integration and Reporting automation. If the data you need resides in multiple systems, then someone must export data from those systems and massage the output in spreadsheets to do the job. This time-consuming extra work consumes hours and headcount weekly and even daily in many companies. Computing errors and inconsistencies add to the costs of data access.
User access permissions. In large organizations, simply figuring out who needs access to what data can become a political challenge. Translating those needs for the technology to enforce can also create complexity when end user roles are highly customized across departments and job functions.
Editing permissions. Record-level and field-level permissions also affect data integrity. Are the right users able to edit the data, while those that need "view only" permissions are prevented from editing?
8 - Drive Accountability.
Now that you have good data, what are you and your team using that data to accomplish? Are you holding teams (and the processes and tools which enable them) accountable for the performance they deliver?
Where do companies commonly struggle in the quest for accountability?
Clear ownership. Typically, a company with successful CRM has a core team of business stakehold­ers who meet regularly. This team helps to drive user adoption, user communication, process chang­es, implementation of new releases, and much more.
Internal promotion. It's not enough to have an internal champion alone. The company needs a strat­egy for communicating the importance and value of the CRM system to the organization.
One and done. The internal promotion and communication program for launching your CRM must continue to keep the message of its importance in front of users.
Culture conflicts. Some old behaviors must be ousted. For example, if your team is rolling out CRM to increase information sharing, but fiefdoms still hoard data, these culture conflicts can cause CRM failure. This takes time, as well as the carrot and the stick. Leadership vigilance, both at launch and ongoing, is key.
KPI visibility as a way of life. Are your KPIs visible on executive, manager, and user dashboards? Are your managers reviewing their dashboards and discussing performance during team meetings?.These steps are integral to driving a culture of performance.
Define terms - and goals. Do users know the rewards for success and consequences for sub-par performance? If so, it is much easier to communicate (and understand) how the CRM system in helping them achieve rewards and avoid consequences. Clearly-defined metrics of success do not exist in every organization. Even in companies where they exist, acceptable levels of performance aren't always universally understood among the rank and file.
Take time to benchmark. It is difficult to quantify improvement without a benchmark, Before you roll out a new CRM system or any significant change, benchmark your chosen metrics for system success. Then measure change in those metrics regularly after system launch.
9 - Add incremental improvements over time.
CRM is not a one-time implementation. To take action on analysis and user feedback and add new/updated processes into CRM, new functionality may be needed quarterly, half-yearly, or annually. In the Cloud, add-on applications and CRM platform upgrades also support your efforts to streamline workflow, automate processes, drive data quality, and much more - if you take advantage of them.
Where do companies commonly struggle in the quest for incremental improvement?
Post-launch burn out. The energy and focus required to implement a system simply cannot be sustained over time. Make sure that each rollout, whether initial implementation or ongoing release, is realistic for the business to absorb and operationalize.
Having a Change Management plan. It's easier to create momentum for incremental improvements when setting expectations and managing to a plan. This must also be more than a bulleted list on a Powerpoint slide. Include dates and activities associated with project milestones in your change man­agement plan. A roadmap of CRM stakeholder needs and CRM development priorities can be very helpful in keeping the system in step with the organization. This roadmap requires executive interest and sponsorship for most organizations to maintain and carry through with it.
Surprising the Users. Inform your users early and often of your change management plan. Select a group of users to serve on the project team during requirements definition and acceptance testing. This helps drive accountability with the project team. It also improves user acceptance of your system changes. Keep everyone informed through emails, webinars, weekly meetings, executive communications. If milestone dates slip, inform the user community of the new timeframe.
Internal expertise. For example, if the CRM system administrator leaves the business, incremental improvement cannot be considered until the backlog of maintenance work is handled. A backlog of 2 or 3 months' administrative work can quickly drive system neglect requiring sustained effort to reverse.
Resources. Many companies are staffed for data maintenance, not application performance tuning. This can be a matter of workload as well as skills and education.
10 - Calculate ROI on more than sales opportunities.
Success of CRM can be much more than just an increase of Closed or Won sales opportunities.
What KPIs do other companies include in CRM ROI calculations?
- Reduced time for a customer service rep to search for a solution
- Increase of referred business (business development, partner support)
- Reduced cost to serve a customer
- Faster customer response time
- Shorter time to close a deal
- Reduced time to research and work a customer case
- Growth in email capture (to reduce customer communication costs)
- Increased data capture of marketing / segmentation data (i.e., growth in CXO title capture)
- Increase in number of opportunities per customer
- Increase in number of contacts per account (or number of contacts in various job functions)
- Improved ability to track and measure Marketing Campaigns
- Reduced time calculate sales commissions
What common internal barriers do companies encounter when trying to fight CRM neglect?

Tuesday, August 7, 2012

Helping Your Local Charity
