Price Optimization in Real Time

Food is a commodity and we treat it that way at the wholesale level, and since free market economics are all about 'Supply and Demand' shouldn't we take that whole concept and philosophy down to the street level? Well, we kind of do that now right? I mean when supplies are abundant and a particular fruit or vegetable is in season, the prices becomes stunningly low, and then at the end of the season it rises up again.

Why? Supply and Demand, and somewhere there is a climate where such fruit or vegetables can grow in the off-season, South America and Australia for instance - opposite seasons right? Yes, but figure the cost to transport and hazards of perishables being shipped across the planet and every crop competes for field space, water, and farmers plant what's most profitable or what they think will be at the end of its growing season.

If this all sounds like the type of writings Adam Smith put forth in the Wealth of Nations or a Milton Friedman economics speech (still available on YouTube by the way) that's because all of these things are the basics and fundamentals of free markets and supply and demand dictates. Okay so, about the street level, what if the supply and demand in the store were to take all that into mind?

You see, there was an interesting article in Grocery Retail Online News on August 14, 2014 titled; "KSS Retail Introduces New Automation Solution To Enable Real-Time Price Optimization," and I wonder if they might take this even further, let's talk.

What if the cash registers were connected to the produce 'electronic price' sign guaranteeing that price for one-hour if you hold a little tag or have an app on your iPhone synchronizing that price until you get to the register where you scan your phone for the 'special price' even if that price is less than the advertised price you received in your junk mail coupon flayer?


Lastly, I wonder if people will complain of price gouging were this to be taken to its Free Market limits? And would it cause people to come to the grocery store every day to see what was on sale? What if something isn't in the mailer coupon flayer and yet, when you run to the store to get that item for your recipe you see there are only a few left and the price is now $5.00 per pound? Time to think on all this, because it seems others already are and they are ready to implement these real-time systems for pricing at the consumer level.

Clock Software For Employee Time Tracking Is One Easy

Time clock software for employee time tracking is one easy way to reduce the stress of payroll and free up time for more important tasks that contribute to your bottom line.

There are many strategies for dealing with workplace stress. For some, there may be a need to DE-clutter their work area. For others, cutting some task or resolving some conflict may be the required remedy. Knowing the cause of the stress is important to finding its resolution. A common source of stress is a demanding workload with a lot of strict deadlines. This stress can be amplified when the tasks required are not engaging or even remotely enjoyable.

For those in charge of employee compensation, payroll can be a stressful time. Gathering and sorting all of the employee time sheets, compiling scattered information, resolving employee errors, deciphering illegible markings, and all of the other hassles of payroll can add up to a lot of stress. Time clock software keeps employee time records in a single location. It also prepares reports and makes payroll a breeze.

With time clock software in place, all a manager has to do is open the desired report, and all of the employee time information is compiled and ready for payroll. Many time clock software offerings are compatible with payroll software, so management doesn't even have to transfer information from time sheets to payroll by hand. Depending on the size of your workforce, this could save you significant time.

If you're a busy professional with multiple responsibilities, there's no need to stress over tracking employee time. For a minimal investment, you can obtain a software package that will track it for you. Whether your workforce is large or small, the software will quickly pay itself off in saved time and reduced stress. I'm sure you could think of a myriad of things you'd rather do than spend hours compiling and entering employee time records for payroll.

There are plenty of resources available to help you determine the best time clock software to meet your needs. Look for free trials and online reviews. Many time clock programs will track your accruals of sick time and vacation time as well as regular hours worked. With a free trial, you can compare alternative software offerings, check out all of the features, and find the best software to track your employee time and accruals so you can do more of what you do best.

Hawk eye technology invites you to try Time Click free for 30-days. It is an easy-to-use software solution that will spare you many headaches and save you lots of time.

It's Time To Move Forward

The hardest things to do is to accept the fact that something that you have worked so hard at has now come to an end. To many people it comes as a shock, to others, they could actually see it coming. I am sure that for USC coach Lane Kiffin who was terminated Sunday by USC athletic director, Pat Haden, it was something that he could probably see coming after the 7th loss out of 11 games. 

He should know, as well as you, that regardless of the turn tables that brought you to this point, reality has to sit in as you come to the conclusion that you have just been terminated from your job. Now what? Where do you go from here? How did this happen? Who is to blame? So many questions without knowing all the answers... but guess what... it's not the end of the world! As devastating as this situation may seem, you have the inner strength to move on and to rise above this circumstance and make the decision to move past this obstacle. 

Having the right mind set in times of opposition is very important and will help you to move pass unwelcome circumstances. If you have just been terminated from your job or laid off unexpectedly, the following mental exercises will release you from the mental stress that will try to hinder you from taking the next step of moving on to bigger and better things.

Exercise #1: Don't Blame Yourself

Whether you recognize that there are things that you did to contribute to your termination or whether your employer just decided that you were not the right person for the job, don't spend another second beating yourself up about it. What is done is done! I advise you to look at the circumstances surrounding your

situation and take note of all the mistakes that you may have made to contribute to your termination and then turn those same mistakes into an opportunity for self-improvement to help you to become a better employee for your next employer.

Exercise #2: Don't Blame the Employer

The first thing that comes to mind for many of us when faced with a termination or lay off is to blame the company for maybe being too strict on their policies, or not being compassionate enough towards personal issues; maybe they didn't appreciate you like they should have or maybe they placed too many responsibilities on you without providing the proper support... all of the above plus more. It is sometimes hard to look at things in the eyes of the employer. Blaming your past employer will only set you up for having an unstinting attitude towards your new employer. This is not fair! Let go of the past and appreciate all the skills that you were allowed to take away from your former employer that can be used to benefit your new employer.

Exercise #3: Be Determined!

Now is the time to make the decision to place one foot in front of the other and move forward. Without blaming yourself or your former employer, you need to prepare to put your efforts into action for your next employment opportunity. Update your resume and create cover letters that speak on your strength as a competitive candidate for the positions that you are applying for.

Time Clock Software for Your Business

Your company is unique, you'll want to find software that is compatible with your unique needs. The features that sell another company on a time clock software package may not be the features that are right for your company, and it may take some work to find which has the best features for the needs of your business. In addition to features, there are four important considerations in selecting a time clock software:

1. What kind of trial is offered?

2. What kind of technical support is available?

3. Is the provider reputable?

4. What are the costs of the software and support?

Let's consider each:

1. Time Clock Software Trials

Free trials are a great way to get acquainted with new software. They give you an opportunity to explore the features and get a feel for the utility and ease of use of the software. This can be a great way to do side by side comparison of rival time clocks. Some companies only offer limited versions of the software to trial users. The most useful trials give you full access to the software, allowing you to explore everything it will allow you to do.

2. Time Clock Technical Support

Good technical support can spare you hours of frustration and lost time and ensure that you are getting the full benefits of the software you purchase. Because you don't want to be bogged down with technical issues, you'll want to purchase a time clock system that is backed by reliable technical support. When looking for technical support, there are several important factors to consider:

Format: What types of support are offered with the software? Common forms include email, live chat, and phone support. Having live support via chat or telephone can get you real-time solutions and ensure you get minimal frustration and maximum usefulness from your time clock software.

Hours of availability: You'll want to know when support is available and if the hours work for you and your company. If a company's live technical support is only available from nine to five in the Philippines, but you operate in the North America or Europe, the support might not be very compatible with your business.

Availability during trial period: Can you access technical support during the trial period? This access can help you determine whether the technical support is going to meet your needs and can allow you to make an informed decision on the software and support package that you purchase. The trial period is a great time to learn how easy it is to contact technical support, whether you get to talk to an actual person, how timely technical support is in responding to your communications, and how helpful the people are to you. These factors will all make a big difference when you run into questions or issues down the road.

3. Reputation of Time Clock Provider

The legitimacy of a company is important to consider in any kind of purchase. While the Internet allows you to compare thousands of options before making a transaction, the ability to purchase remotely comes with certain risks. Among these is the difficulty of distinguishing reputable companies from pop-up companies or schemers.

One determinant of credibility is the length of time a company has been in business. If the company has been around for years, it is likely to be a legitimate company. It is also more likely to have reviews from external sources that support (or detract from) its claims, and these can help you to make an educated buying decision. A company that has sustained success over a long period of time is likely to have the skills and infrastructure to remain a viable company in the future. This means they're more likely to be there to support you and stand behind the time clock software you purchase.

External software reviews come in various forms, ranging from customer reviews to professional reviews. Customer reviews can be found on company websites, personal blogs, and throughout social media. These can give you an indication of the satisfaction of current or past customers with the company, its products, and the customer service it provides. Professional reviews can be found on industry websites or professional review websites. These often review multiple products or services in the same category and can help you compare one company or product to another. Such reviews are a great way to compare time clock features and support plans side by side and determine which software package is best equipped to meet the needs of your business.

4. Time Clock Software and Support Costs

When it all boils down, costs can largely determine which time clock program will meet the needs of your business. You'll need to consider how much you are willing to pay for a time clock software package. The nature, structure, and size of your business will determine the savings you can expect by purchasing an electronic time clock, and this can help you decide on a price that is right for you.

Comparing prices of similar time clocks can help you get a feel for the range of reasonable prices. You should also consider the payment method and structure. Will the purchase require monthly or yearly payments or a one-time fee? Will you be charged per number of computers or number of users? Are there additional fees?

One additional fee that's important to consider is technical support. Support is often available on a per-incident basis, but it can be much less expensive in the long run to have a support plan that will cover all of your needs. You will want to ensure that you have access to good tech support.

Importance Of Time Expense (T&E) Management System

Over the years, time and expense management systems have become an essential part of all sizes of organizations. Employees need to accurately keep track of their work hour schedules so that the organization gets paid by the clients for the dedicated amount of time and expenses for their projects. As the organization keeps growing, the employee strength increases and so does the number and variety of projects handled by the employees. Inevitably, it becomes a headache for the organization to allocate and optimize resources with considerable visibility to fetch the maximum output as well as to maintain the account receivables with utmost accuracy.

There lies the importance for a time and expense (T&E) management system. This kind of a system can help an organization to effectively manage T&E entries and timely generate the invoices in order to keep the cash inflow running. An efficient application can keep track of all the work hours based on tasks, projects and/or resources for a particular client in order to bill the clients correctly and timely. It can also contribute to streamline the work flow at various levels of running projects. Organizations, big or small, are increasingly turning up to third party providers or for in-house development team to implement T&E management system as per organizational structure and project requirements. There exist a number of such application products in the market that enable single users as well as organizations to manage their project schedules and invoicing data efficiently.

 Employees, however, do not always feel free to use these applications. Most of the time, it takes a whole new system for them to understand thoroughly before they can actually fill the time sheets up online. Often the T&E applications are complex and difficult to interpret for the users. It requires a lot of time to first learn the system and then completing the process on a regular basis. Most of the employees consider this tasks as out of their project scope and nothing but waste of time.

Therefore, it is important for organizations to opt for a system that is simple and easy to use. It should have rich functionality to track time and expenses incurred in projects, separately and together. There should be some efficient tools to analyze the data stored in the system so that it can keep track of all invoiced and un-invoiced T&E entries and accordingly bill the clients for UN-invoiced time and expense sheets. For example, an effective dashboard view can help to slice and dice all the data and make reports of invoiced and un-invoiced T&E entries based on different parameters. Also, convenience is very important for such a system. As employees have to submit time sheets on a regular basis, it is essential that they can add, save and submit T&E entries as well as upload any necessary document/file without any hassles.

Currently existing web-based or browser-based systems have some restrictions when it comes to convenience and user experience. Such a system asks for certain hardware and software requirements. Employees can full up time sheets only while working in office network. But if an employee is working out of office or in some other remote place, he/she may not be able to log in to the system and submit time sheets.

This difficulty can be overcome by newly emerging cloud based systems. A cloud based system requires no upfront investment. A computer with Internet connection will suffice. The system can be accessed anytime anywhere as it demands no software or hardware. All the data is stored in the cloud and can be freely accessed. Employees, irrespective of where they are working from, can simply log in to a computer or a mobile and can submit time sheets on a regular basis. A cloud based application can offer all these advantages in order to optimize the time tracking and invoicing process with minimal complexity. The only
constraint for a cloud application is that some big organizations who deal with huge resources find it not secure enough to rely upon.

Organizations of varied sizes are increasingly adopting time and expense management applications into their systems. Even individual professionals and freelancers who work alone or in small groups are understanding the importance of such a tool that can help them to collaborate more effectively with the clients and keep the payment system more transparent. And with the ever growing complexity of organizational hierarchy and increase in clientele, cloud based applications are sure to make a big impression in near future in addressing the time sheet and billing management issues in organizations. Proper running and record management system.