(This column originally appeared in Forbes)
Here are five things in tech that happened this week and how they affect your business. Did you miss them?
1 — The best free tax software for filing your taxes.
For those who haven’t yet filed their 2023 taxes, ZDNet listed the best fee tax preparation software. CashApp Taxes is chosen for “best overall” software that will help you file both state and federal taxes at no cost. It’s also mentioned for its easy-to-use system only there’s no support service if you run into a problem. H&R Block is also on the list for their long-established guidance on tax preparation and the support team. IRS-approved TaxAct is named for its assistance with items such as the Earned Income Tax Credit and unemployment income.(Source: ZDNet)
Why this is important for your business:
All good choices and could be good solutions for your business. Bear in mind that you will still need time working with these applications and your time isn’t free. Also, I strongly recommend having a CPA review your tax docs before filing them. Taxes are so complicated nowadays that, even with technology, it’s often better outsource to experts.
2 — Microsoft to unbundle Office and Teams globally following years-long criticism.
As of April 1, new subscribers to Microsoft 365 will need to sign up for the collaboration tool Microsoft Teams separately. Based on strong objections from competitors like Slack that generated an antitrust investigation by the EU, Microsoft has chosen to discontinue the inclusion of Teams in 365’s application suite. It’s now available through a separate plan, starting at $4/month. The concerns raised by competitors have been sustained by the European Commission as it has gone on the record: “The Commission is concerned that Microsoft may grant Teams a distribution advantage by not giving customers the choice on whether or not to include access to that product…” Microsoft has indicated existing customers who have a Teams bundle will not see their subscriptions altered. (Source: TechCrunch)
Why this is important for your business:
This does not apply to U.S. businesses but who knows if this will happen in the future. I think having Teams available as an app separate from Office makes sense for many businesses, particularly if you’re a Google customer but want to just have Teams and not have to incur the cost and complexity of the fully Office suite.
3 — Taco Bell, Pizza Hut going ‘AI-first’ with fast-food innovations software company.
Fox Business reported on a Wall Street Journal article that featured Yum! Brands — whose operations include Pizza Hut and KFC — about their current plans to make fast food service super-efficient and automated with AI. Yum’s chief digital and tech manager — Joe Park — shared that the company’s investment in high-tech has increased significantly over the past four years. (Source: Fox Business)
Why this is important for your business:
The story included an app developed by the company called “SuperApp” that can organize employee shifts and will provide answers to restaurant-related questions. According to the report, the app is being used in over eight thousand KFC and Pizza Hut establishments. Big brands are investing in AI apps to increase productivity and replace employees (which are already hard to find). Look for more apps like this to be available for smaller companies in the not so distant future.
4 — Salesforce announces the beta availability of Einstein Copilot for Tableau: An AI assistant to help make everyone a data expert.
Data analytics platform Tableau now includes the beta version of Einstein Copilot allowing users to do a “dive deep into their data,” Salesforce said. (Source: Salesforce)
Why this is important for your business:
Developed as a conversational assistant that’s programmed to have a comprehensive understanding of company data, Einstein Copilot made its debut this past February. Tableau helps companies to see that data making it more accessible. Einstein will bolster the task of data mining using “Tableau’s powerful analytical engine through natural language to query and derive rich insights,” as described on the Salesforce page. Einstein is also equipped with a security tool — “Einstein Trust Layer” — that protects sensitive information while refining the AI’s results to maintain accuracy.
5 — OfficeSuite review: A fair alternative to Microsoft Office (for less money).
How-To Geek reviewed OfficeSuite as a suitable tool for those who want to try something other than Microsoft Office. To see the full review, visit the link. (Source: How-To Geek)
Why this is important for your business:
This is a less expensive option and will read/accept Microsoft Office or OpenOffice files according to the review (“cross-compatibility”). Additionally, its apps are similar to those in Microsoft Office making it a user-friendly transition. One key difference are certain functions like inserting tables. Another issue is Mac users won’t see all of OfficeSuite’s apps on the macOS (to be worked on according to OfficeSuite). Other highlights include a built-in AI assistant and OfficeSuite Slides for its organization and support of dated content/slides.
