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 – These are the 10 best Google Chrome extensions for business, according to a tech writer.
Tech expert Andy Wolber of TechRepublic provided his list of the 10 best Google Chrome extensions for business tasks and it’s a useful read. (Source: TechRepublic)
Why this is important for your business:
Among Andy’s list are DocuSign (which organizes documents that require electronic signatures), Google Translate (a handy extension that will translate web pages in other languages) and NewsGuard (an app that will review and verify stories and information from various news organizations). I’ve already added a few of these extensions.
2 – All-in-one platform Ignition announces a new feature to turn scope creep into profits for professional services.
Ignition an all-in-one platform for professional services announced a new product called Instant Bill, which allows users to bill and retrieve payment for services – specifically those that are “ad-hoc” or “out of scope” – using a single process. (Source: Ignition)
Why this is important for your business:
Not getting paid for work done that’s over and above what you promised in a contract? With over six million payments processed through its system, Ignition is a player in the professional services business application market and the company’s research found a high percentage of accountants in the US, UK and Australia aren’t paid for out-of-scope work. With this new feature the company hopes to increase revenue and cash flow for its clients while helping them to save time.
3 – GoDaddy Studio adds AI-powered instant video capabilities.
Website builder GoDaddy has announced Instant Video which the company says will give entrepreneurs the ability to create high quality video content with AI technology. It will also generate slogans based on the type of video content that’s created. (Source: GoDaddy)
Why this is important for your business:
The company emphasized how this will give entrepreneurs an advantage in creating dynamic visual content without needing to be tech-savvy. “By using the latest technology, entrepreneurs will now be better equipped to maximize social media platforms’ algorithms, which favors videos, and increase engagement to grow their business,” Laka Sriram, GoDaddy’s VP of Product Management, said.
4 – Amazon is reportedly testing generative AI tools for sellers.
With millions of products listed on its site, Amazon is now testing an AI model that will generate product descriptions and titles. (Source: Search Engine Journal)
Why this is important for your business:
According to the report merchants will enter keywords for their products then AI will optimize the description and produce a title. Amazon reiterated that this will not negate their guidelines for posting content and will adhere to a strict policy. The aim is for this AI integration to provide “human” oversight. The company also aims to improve the customer experience by providing better categorization of products.
5 – Phishing scams targeting small business on social media including Meta are a ‘goldmine’ for criminals.
Fintech writer Ellen Sheng reported on the looming threat small businesses should be aware of in the social media space. Sheng detailed an alarming story about a small business owner in Cleveland who took a hit after an attacker infiltrated her Instagram account by sending a seemingly harmless link from a trustworthy contact. The attacker then demanded ten grand – just one example of the FBI’s warning about the rise in cyberattacks on small business owners totaling $7 billion in damages in just 2021. Sheng cited almost half of small business owners say social media is their preferred channel to generate business. (Source: CNBC)
Why this is important for your business:
Sheng gives many useful tips for minimizing your exposure to these kinds of threats. But the best deterrent is to invest in training and educate your people as to how these kinds of incidents can happen.
