Artificial intelligence is starting to have a major impact on business tools. This week, Google announced the availability of new AI tools for Google Sheets to help business users automate and make decisions.
Another popular commercial tool, Slack, also announced a new feature this week, although more seasonal. The new package of vacation apps from the platform can help your team organize a Santa Claus draw. These and other headlines are included below in this week 's Small Business Trends newsletter and news.
Small Business Operations
Google bringing AI to G Suite leaves
Google (NASDAQ: GOOGL) just announced the availability of new tools for Sheets, the company's online spreadsheet application, to help companies use information from their data for better decision-making. Google will use its artificial intelligence and machine learning for this toolbox to automate various functions.
New Slack app will turn the secret Santa into your workplace
The name change and fiddling days of the Secret Santa Office are coming to an end with a new application on Slack. The Secret Santa application is the culmination of a new package of vacation apps built on Slack. The collaborative platform used by thousands of small businesses today just launched the new section in its app store last week.
Small independent trucking companies are particularly concerned about the new mandate of the government ERD
A new mandate is expected to come into effect for trucking companies this month, requiring the use of electronic logging devices (ELDs) in every vehicle. And some truckers and business owners are not happy about the change, with some even hosting ERD events across the country. This concern is of particular concern to small trucking companies because of the cost of compliance.
Xero + C automates expense reporting for the self-employed
With the introduction of Xero + C, Xero (NZE: XRO) will allow independent customers to automate their Schedule C report. There has never been a timely product, Xero + C is, since the self-employed now account for more than 33% of the total US labor force.
#MetLifeSmallBiz Twitter Chat breaks the Internet with a discussion of corporate culture
It's about shared values or the flexibility your employees need, and an interesting set of benefits, there are many aspects to attract great talent . But keeping that talent is also a challenge, with big companies coming in often to recruit your best and brightest. Maybe that's why our latest Twitter MetLife chat "Building Culture, Gaining Talent: Driving Small Business Success" Nov.
12 guests who seem to present themselves at each holiday office party (INFOGRAPHIC)
"It's the season of rejoicing – or not so happy that it can be if you're stuck next to the famous office joker at the holiday staff party! If you have worked in an office, you will almost certainly be able to relate to the different personalities mapped on GetVoip's infographics, colleagues who can make uncomfortable moments at any office party.
Finance
First Data acquires BluePay to strengthen integrated payment solutions for businesses
The global payment technology solutions company First Data Corporation (NYSE: FDC) recently announced that it had finalized the acquisition of BluePay Holdings, Inc., a provider of technology payment processing for merchants from the United States and Canada.
4 out of 5 microenterprises use owner's personal finance to grow
Getting a business loan is often a challenge for many businesses. But, for small businesses, it is even harder than for large companies to find loans.
Employment
Southern small businesses lead the nation to job growth, according to the index
Southern small businesses led the nation in the month of job growth. But it can be one of the only good news of a recent employment index. Overall employment growth among US small businesses continues to be on the decline.
7 common traits of the best small businesses to work for
Glassdoor just released their annual list of the best workplaces for 2018. The report includes 50 small business workplaces ranging from tech startups to auto companies. But if the companies on the list are diverse, there are some common qualities to many of them.
The SyncStream Benefits Analysis Toolkit Provides Insight into the Future of Your Business
SyncStream has a new tool designed to forecast the cost of benefits. The Benefits Analysis Toolbox automates a variety of benefit calculations to free up human resources service time and eliminate human errors.
Marketing Tips
The Google Assistant now connects local service companies to voice search
Google (NASDAQ: GOOGL) has just announced that it makes its assistant more useful by recommending nearby service professionals, such as electricians, plumbers, cleaners and others. The addition of Assistant in this segment is part of Google's desire to make local services easily accessible to consumers.
Apply These 5 Simple Strategies to Improve Holiday Sales Promotions
December holidays are on the horizon, and as usual, Christmas shoppers are gearing up for another shopping spree this Yuletide season. It's time to think of creative ways to take advantage of the strong demand around the holidays to increase the visibility of your brand. How should you go, you could ask? For starters, you can start a holiday sale campaign.
Why Ivanka Trump took a selfie with Ramon Ray, plus her 8 Power Networking Tips
Last week, Ivanka Trump joined 1,500 entrepreneurs in Hyderabad, India, for the Global Entrepreneurship Summit. Almost everyone wanted to get closer to this world celebrity and now special advisor to President Donald Trump, his father.
How to Create the Perfect Personal Brand for Your Business (INFOGRAPHIC)
The personal brand image is one of the most important and crucial parts of conducting business, offline and online. An infographic published by Best Marketing Degrees puts this into perspective.
Retail Trade Trends
Cyber Monday transactions increase by 50% in 2016, data show
People began to wonder if Cyber Monday was worth all the trimmings this year. Dead, even. If the sales start before Thanksgiving and extend almost a week after Cyber Monday, why even have a Cyber Monday? The point is that people can not wait for Cyber Monday, according to new figures from First Data (NYSE: FDC).
Amazon Handmade and Prime are now trying to promote small businesses with same-day delivery
Amazon (NASDAQ: AMZN) announces its intention to provide a boost to local artisans in its Amazon Handmade community by offering them faster delivery of their products through its Prime Now service. A list of products specially prepared by Amazon Handmade artisans is available at Prime Now in time for the holiday season.
Small advertising projector
Spotlight: Your Vitamin Offers Personalized Multivitamins
Taking vitamins can help you supplement your diet and lead a healthier life. But navigating all the options out there can be overwhelming for anyone without a medical degree. That's why Drs. Romy Block and Arielle Levitan founded You Vitamin – to help people understand the multivitamin market with simple solutions.
Startup
How TrueMan McGee Turned His Fitness Odyssey into a Funky Fresh Spring Roll Empire
Sometimes you have to get tired before you can succeed – physically tired, mentally tired, emotionally tired – basically, just ready to make a major change. That was the case of TrueMan McGee, founder of Funky Fresh Spring Rolls. In his case, the change initially came in his personal life. But that eventually led to a business too.
Technological Trends
4G HP and ASUS computers "Always On" give small businesses greater flexibility
If someone said that there is a device that is always on and that is still connected with the battery for days, guess that it's a smartphone would not be a bad one reply. However, these are the features of the new ASUS NovaGo and HP ENVY x2 notebooks with integrated LTE connectivity.
Quriobot provides custom robots for your company's website
Quriobot has just been launched to give website owners a new way to ask for feedback while helping visitors easily find what they're looking for. The application turns static web forms into an opportunity to have engaging conversations with your customers. Chatbots support many conversations with site visitors.
Android Oreo vs. Android Nougat: What's the best for your business?
So Google (NASDAQ: GOOGL) has already deployed its latest Android update in the form of a preview of the developer (or more specifically, I should say the "beta state"). This latest Android update is known as the Android Oreo, and it has indeed come with a host of changes for the better.
Target adds Wallet to the mobile application, should your small business do the same?
Target (NYSE: TGT) has just announced the integration of Wallet to its target application. This new feature will further extend the digital experience as customers buy in its stores. With this application, Android and iOS users can use their mobile device to simply scan at checkout.
The Canva Graphic Design Platform Now Has an Android App
Canva is finally available on Android. And for more than 10 million Canva users around the world, the move is a welcome addition to this popular design app. Making Canva available on Android now means that more than 2 billion active mobile users per month will have access to the DIY design platform on devices running the popular operating system.
Google's new app tells business owners how to save money on data use
Google (NASDAQ: GOOGL) has just built an application called Datally so you can better manage and track data on your mobile device. Datally is designed to address three important facets of mobile data usage. It allows you to understand, control and save the data you use as part of your plan. Google makes the app available worldwide after testing it in the last few months in the Philippines.
Verizon 5G Wireless Broadband Expected to Benefit Entrepreneurs and Home-Based Businesses
Verizon (NYSE: VZ) announced that it would launch fifth-generation – 5G – wireless residential services in three to five US markets by 2018. Using radio signals instead of fiber or copper cables, Verizon's 5G wireless broadband at unprecedented wireless Internet speeds.
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