Glass louvres let the sunlight in

David Construction, Sun Protection

Many of us will never have heard of brise soleil, glass louvres or external louvres but those who do business in buildings where they are fitted will definitely realise their benefits. When natural light is scarce they encourage its penetration of the building. In harsh hot summer sun they provide shade and keep us cool inside. These uncommon terms, so commonplace in architectural circles, should be learnt by any employers in any field who wish to keep their staff content.

In the winter, it is not atypical for staff to absent themselves from work because they feel down in the dumps with flu, exhaustion or mild depression. Increased exposure to natural light, which working in glass louvres or external louvres allows, will have a positive impact of the health of these workers. Anyone who has endeavoured to work in low light will know how sleepy it makes one feel. Working late when it’s dark or gloomy meanwhile, makes one feel an intense kind of self-pity.

Fitting innovative light and heat efficiency elements might also allow us to gaze out of the window a little less in summer and focus on our work. We might also be less tempted to spend our entire lunch breaks outdoors when the sun is at its hottest and capable of frizzling us to a crisp.  Inhabitants of the UK have a notorious reputation for worshipping the sun. Though we receive a much more bountiful dose of UV rays than people living in Finland, Sweden or Norway, our reaction to the first signs of fine weather would make anyone unfamiliar with the British stereotype think that we spent most of the year shut in the dark. The thing is, many of us who work 9-5 jobs do really feel this way. Especially in the winter, when we are obliged to get up before the sun has risen and leave the office at dusk.

The unhealthy culture of taking lunch at one’s computer means that it is easy in winter not to get very much light at all. Thus we suffer, from seasonal affective disorder or just a sallow complexion, and appear excessively overjoyed when spring and summer finally give us some sun. Encouraging your employer to install brise soleil, glass louvres or external louvres will be a move you won’t regret. With much more exposure to light when you need it and shade when the sun gets too bright, you’ll start enjoying your job and a newly energised you.

Please visit http://www.maplesunscreening.co.uk/ for further info.

Accounts Payable Audit Software – from Fiscal Technologies

David Business, Finance, Software

In the past, it was possible (and even expected), for most organisations to process accounts in-house. The number of payments to be processed were relatively small and possible for one person to keep track of without much difficulty. However, nowadays working between companies and across countries and even continents is much more normal, and therefore most businesses find themselves dealing with lots of different suppliers, providers and customers. There is, these days, a much greater risk of duplicate payments, missed discounts and even outright fraud.

There is nothing worse, in the 21st century, than attempting to use archaic software to process payments. Such software includes a dependence on accounts payable remembering the details of payments as the databasing and processing programs set up to keep records have to be manually updated and recorded. This old-fashioned way of working can be avoided, however, by using accounts payable audit.

An accounts payable audit can effectively eradicate the losses of thousands or even millions of dollars that come from missed invoices, over or under, or even duplicate payments, and forgotten rebates or VAT adjustments. Using an expert auditing service relieves the headache of worrying about these issues, allowing the accounts staff to get on with their day to day jobs without headache.

However, accounts payable audit can only go so far, and whilst they are an incredibly vital tool for keeping aware of past mistakes, they still require action to be taken, credit notes to be requested etc, in order for the blunders to be rectified. For more sizable companies, there is a method to minimise any losses being generated in the first place.

This can be achieved using recovery audit software. This software enables bosses of larger companies to keep up a continuous scrutiny of outgoing payments, by alerting accounts payable specialists to issues, as and when they are discovered.

These days, a company of any real size will be trading on a day-to-day basis with tens, hundreds, and for larger interests, thousands of suppliers of supplies and services. These range from electricity, phone and heating suppliers, to contract caterers, handymen, courier services and plumbers – not to mention the specific suppliers a business utilises, from machinery for factories to food goods for shops and supermarkets, even including outfitting suppliers for cleaning services, train companies etc. Recovery audit software can keep on top of all of these numerous payments, ruling out the risk of duplicate payments, undetected fraud and other error.

Please visit https://www.fiscaltec.com

How is document processing carried out?

David Archiving, Communication, Organisation

Document processing is the conversion of physical documents – whether already typed and printed, or hand-written – into electronic ones. This is achieved by a variety of means, including just scanning and conversion to pdf, optical character recognition and intelligent character recognition, amongst others. The advantage of this is that the files created as a result can be moved to a document management system, allowing for far greater flexibility in their later use, sharing and so on. It can also be used to transform invoice processing, so that instead of manual copies being made the whole system can be automated – with benefits in terms of efficiency, time scales and accounting.

Document processing has come a long way in the last decade or so. Before, there was no reasonable way for physical letters and memos to be turned to Word documents; instead the best that could be achieved was a scanned picture. These took up a lot of disk space (at a time when storage was more costly and far more limited) and, of course, could not be edited. Now, optical character recognition (OCR) has come of age. Intelligent character recognition (ICR) is a progression of this, and can even be used to understand handwriting and turn it into an electronic file. This generally uses a neural network and ‘learns’ to understand handwriting as it goes along. This means that first results may be quite poor, although when the system is properly ‘taught’ it can lead to 97 percent accuracy – with obvious efficiencies to enjoy, especially if such documents would usually be transcribed by employees.

The nature and sophistication of document processing that you choose will depend on your budget and needs of your company – obviously a smaller outfit with fewer documents will probably not benefit from the most expensive and extensive form of ICR. However, document management is an important step in bridging the gap between past practices and truly paperless offices. Although emails are easily the most popular form of written communication, plenty of people still use notes and letters, and many documents are sent through the post. These can all-too-easily be lost or mislaid if they are not carefully tracked. The same is true of invoices, but invoice processing can bring your procedures for paper invoices in line with those submitted by bacs and other electronic means. This makes for far greater efficiency and fewer mistakes.

Please visit http://www.bottomline.co.uk/ for further information about this topic.

Coach hire London: see the city in style

David Transport

Luxury coach hire is a great alternative to travelling separately in cars or using public transport if you have a big group of people. Costs shoot up when you multiply the number of vehicles travelling together, not to mention the logistical problems of making sure that everyone gets to the destination at the same time. Consequently, coach hire london can be a good alternative – even with a relatively low number of people going, it becomes economically viable. Meeting centrally and travelling together misses many of the problems inherent in large group outings, and the cost savings mean that suddenly a list of new options become worth thinking about. A luxury coach will come with air conditioning, comfortable seats, movies and refreshments – more like a flight than a typical coach ride. Plus, you have the peace of mind that comes with a qualified and experienced driver (or drivers, for long journeys). That means no one has to think about being the designated driver – an important point if you are, for example, hoping to celebrate an away team’s victory. For smaller groups, minibus hire can be way to travel together and save money.

Although coach drivers require a special licence, anyone with a normal licence can hire and drive a minibus. This can make it a more flexible option; if you don’t know how long you will be away or when you will leave to come home, or need to save money on a driver, then hiring a minibus for groups of up to 15 or so might be a better bet. Coaches really only come into their own when you have larger numbers of people, which decreases the cost.

Coach hire london is one of the best ways to see the city, since you can travel in comfort and let someone else do the navigating. If you are travelling further afield, perhaps to France, then organising a coach and drivers is one of the best and cheapest ways to do it – as well as having a much lower eco footprint than catching a plane. Luxury coach hire is well worth the higher cost when it comes to such long journeys – if you are spending more than a few hours on board then you will want all the creature comforts you can get. Minibus hire is ideal for shorter journeys, although if you are prepared to split the driving between different members of the bus then it can be a very cheap way of holidaying abroad.

Please visit http://www.goldenboy.co.uk/ for further info.

Kickboxing London has a lot to offer you

David Fitness, Sports

Most people’s impression of the martial arts is still coloured by the well-known movies of the 1970s and 1980s. In these, the protagonist would study his particular style, usually through the torturous, painful and bizarre techniques of a master, or in a brutal and sadistic class at the hands of a semi-insane instructor. London kickboxing classes generally don’t follow this pattern, unless that’s what you’re hunting for – there’s generally something to fit most tastes if you look hard enough. Your average London kickboxing club teaches sparring and self-defence (probably using some of the same techniques, but some from other styles) in a friendly and informal yet disciplined and safe environment. You will be taught basic techniques – the kicks, punches, blocks and footwork that form the bread-and-butter of kickboxing – before being encouraged to spar in a controlled setting. Sparring is, in any case, optional. Some people study the style for fitness, some for competition, some for self-defence, and so on. You should not be pushed harder than you are comfortable with, although the best instructors will know how to get the most out of you. For kickboxing London has something for everyone.

Kickboxing is a relatively recent style, pieced together out of techniques that American soldiers found when stationed in Japan in the Second World War. They recognised the effectiveness of the traditional martial arts taught there, such as Karate, and simplified it for their own needs. This means that kickboxing encompasses almost endless variation – it is not a strictly codified style in its own right, but a collection of techniques and disciplines. Similarly, the ethos and direction of each class might be different. This adds to the variety which is on offer. Some people might be more interested in the complex techniques and patterns that derive from oriental styles; others will be happy to learn the basics of sparring and self defence. Obviously, there is a massive overlap, but each instructor and class will have its own take on things.

This means that if you are interested in trying kickboxing London is a great option. There are so many London kickboxing classes that it won’t take long to find one that suits you. Most have free introductory sessions to let you try before you buy. When you do settle on a London kickboxing club, you will probably need to spend a small amount of money on essentials – insurance, membership fees, and possibly pads and gloves at a later stage. But you will get lots out of your choice, as you learn a useful and energetic style with like-minded martial artists.

Please visit http://www.karmaa.co.uk/ for further information about this topic.

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Sales presentations depend on more than a good idea

David Meetings, Sales

Powerpoint presentations are extremely easy to put together with a minimum of training. That is both their strength and their failing. sales presentations are complex undertakings that need effective communication of your idea. But as well as what you are communicating, you need to look at how it is communicated. Powerpoint design can either strengthen your presentation – adding to its impression and convincing your hearers of your ideas – or it can seriously detract from it. If that’s the case, it may not matter how good your ideas or competitive your package. If you lose your audience with a dull presentation, they’re not going to be interested.

That’s why Powerpoint has to be employed with a pinch of salt. It’s a fantastically useful program and, delivered well, it can add significantly to the effect you are hoping to transmit. However, it has become the expectation that sales presentations must be accompanied by a Powerpoint presentation. That adds a pressure to put something – anything – together, even if it is badly thought through. Needless to say, relying on an amateur slide presentation is a recipe for disaster.

Part of this is unfortunately our culture’s love of multimedia. The more parallel strands of information we can take in, the better. So a talk isn’t complete without visual representations of what you’re saying – pictures and, better still, video clips. The problem arises when these distract from the chief content rather than adding to it. Simplicity is key. But additionally, the presentation needs to contribute something of itself. We’ve all attended lectures where the spoken content is mirrored on the screen – and, quite likely, in a handout too. Thus the message is simply triplicated, and you could equally skim the handout in five minutes than sit through the hour of speech. It’s frustrating and a waste of time – and something to be avoided in your own presentations.

So, Powerpoint presentations must complement, not replicate the content of your sales presentations. Careful Powerpoint design will enable you to communicate more effectively, rather than distracting from your spoken message. This is vital, since the expectation that a talk will be accompanied by overheads can push well-meaning but misguided speakers into hamstringing themselves and losing their audience on what would otherwise have been a fascinating talk. If that costs you a contract, then it’s easy to see that a little training or outsourcing can be an investment that is worth making and can pay for itself over and over.

Please visit http://www.eyefulpresentations.co.uk/ for further information about this topic.

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Brise soleil: their role and importance

David Sun Protection

Every decent architect or builder should be familiar with certain important terms, and anybody who wants his or her designs to be amongst the best buildings of today certainly needs to know his brise-soleil from his glass louvres.  One need not be put off by the sophisticatedly confusing sounding French names – these structures are essentially fairly simple, and as soon as you get your head around them they are likely to be very useful.  This article aims to give a succinct explanation of these key architectural terms, so that next time external louvres come up in conversation with a builder or architect, you will know what they mean.

The word ‘brise soleil’ is from the French, meaning ‘sun breaker’.  The term refers to a variety of permanent sun-shading techniques, and the beauty of the technique is the range of architectural strategies that come under this umbrella.  They span from basic patterned walls to the impressive mechanical, pattern-creating devices of the Institut du Monde Arabe in Paris.  In its classic form, this sun breaker is a horizontal projection extending from the sun-side façade of a building.  Façades with a large amount of glass can be in danger of overheating during the summer, and using a brise-soleil is a very effective way of stopping this from happening.  The structure can be further modified by incorporating louvres, which prevent high-angle summer sun falling on the façade, and allow low angle winter sun to provide passive solar heating.

Glass is one of the most useful and multifunctional building products there is.  It can be used formany different purposes, from creating striking glass façades to elegant internal screen solutions.  Glass louvres are used to control solar heat gain within buildings, and have traditionally been tinted to create the desired effect.  More elaborate finishes are available, too.  Ceramic frits, for example, involve baking a type of paint onto the glass.  These type of finishes create a more unusual appearance while reflecting the sun’s heat and helping to maintain a comfortable interior temperature.  Presently, glass louvres are taking on a more active role in buildings than ever before, with light redirection and photovoltaic systems allowing for various different functions.  These louvres can offer building owners and specifiers realistic solutions in terms of creating environmentally friendly buildings by lessening the need for air conditioning while providing renewable energy sources as well as shading.

Basic external louvres, on the other hand, are usually mounted in the vertical, with a row of horizontal blades shaped and positioned to minimise the ingress of water.  With relatively simple functions such as providing shade from the sun, brise-soleil, glass louvres and the like should not provoke confusion.  Once you know what they are and how they work, it should be fairly straightforward to assess which solution would be right for your project.

Please visit http://www.maplesunscreening.co.uk/ for further information about this topic.

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Cash Genie: letting you save money and get back on your feet

David Loans

Inflation has been running at high levels recently, with numerous things pushing up the cost of living disproportionately. These ‘one off factors’, as they have been called by politicians and economists, don’t seem to be going anywhere fast. The rate of inflation – currently around 5 percent, depending on how you calculate it – has been predicted to fall for months now, but unexpected factors have kept it high. Cash Genie offers some ideas for how to bring down your own personal inflation level.

Inflation is really a measure of how much your money is worth. If £100 buys you 100 loaves of bread in January 2010 but you need £105 to buy the same number in January 2011, then inflation is 5 percent. Five percent doesn’t look like much, but if you multiply that total across all your spending for the year, it could end up equalling £1,000 or more for the average taxpayer. But it’s worth noticing that the inflation figures are one-size-fits-all numbers that don’t look at much of what goes on under the surface. There’s some difference between RPI and CPI indexes – one takes into account mortgage payments, the other doesn’t – but besides that they are pretty blunt instruments. Cash Genie argues that inflation is more complex and personal than this. After all, no two shopping lists for the month are the same, which means that a month-to-month comparison of how much more you are spending than the same time last year will be different for everyone.

So, think about your personal inflation figure and how you can bring that down. What are the areas of spending for you that have added disproportionate expense? Fuel is one clear one for many people, since oil prices have been driven up by problems in the Middle East. However, other categories like household equipment, cleaning products and furniture reduced the average. In other words, Cash Genie argues that to make the best impact on your spending, find the categories that have pushed it up the most. You will be able to save far more by economising on fuel/travel, alcohol and tobacco than on other areas. If you want to get the largest bang for your buck without cutting back on every single area (which isn’t much fun) then it’s worth being a little more smart about which things you try to economise on.

Please visit http://www.cashgenieblog.co.uk/ for further information about this topic.

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Hospitality jobs Singapore – a safe work prospect in Asia

David Employment, Services

Dubai has picked up some quite worrying headlines over the last two or three years, after its economy nosedived with the global financial crisis. With its building vision on ice, there were serious uncertainties over what the immediate future held for the area. Now, however, Dubai is viewed as a haven of stability in a fast-changing world. Since it appears all but immune from the Arab Spring, hotel jobs Dubai have received a confidence boost as investment and interest turns back there. If you’re interested in working in the hospitality industry in Asia but have wondered about Dubai’s future, you might like to add it back to you list along with hospitality jobs singapore, China and the Philippines. For hotel jobs, Gulf locations have to be considered carefully, but this is one that once again appears promising.

The Arab Spring has significantly impacted the Middle East and Gulf region. Although its effects might one day be enormously beneficial, as the popular uprisings bring democracy to a list of states that are essentially family mafias, in the short term there is little but uncertainty. The early days of Tunisia and Egypt were promising, with dictators swiftly thrown from power. Now, the ongoing and increasingly violent conflicts in Libya and Syria seem to buck that early trend, with leaders doggedly clinging onto power, even in the face of international criticism and military action.

But there are some areas that the Arab Spring will not damage – Dubai being one. A recent report from HSBC says that ‘confidence in political stability and security remains undimmed’ in the UAE and Qatar. The population is small and quite wealthy, thanks to oil exports and the good service sector, meaning that the grievances of their neighbours do not apply. In fact, Dubai may well benefit from the wider uncertainty of the Gulf, since it is in the stable minority.

This means that for hotel jobs, Dubai seems to have a promising future. Hotel jobs Gulf-wide should hopefully lift with economic recovery, but due to its political stability Dubai is now better placed than some. If you’re looking for a career in the service sector and are worried about the state of other economies, then it might be time to cast the net further afield. There are dedicated job agencies that collect opportunities from different region around the world and more specifically, from hospitality jobs singapore to chef vacancies in Mauritius – a quick search will uncover an array of possibilities.

Please visit http://www.asiacaterer.com/ for further information about this topic.

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Document processing brings you the best of both worlds

David Archiving, Communication, Organisation

A document management system is akin to a sophisticated filing cabinet for your computer network. Few companies today are really paperless, although many aspire to this for a variety of reasons. It may be cost – removing paper, printers and all that is associated with them (envelopes, stamps, fax machines, etc) saves cash. It is also environmentally friendly. Finally, it is quicker to organise – so long as things are ‘filed’ in the best place on the network, there’s no problem of that letter or memo ending up on someone’s desk under a pile of paper. document processing can help your business take a step towards being paperless. It is the method by which paper documents are processed for use on the computer. This can be a simple matter of scanning them and converting them into pdf files. However, it can be more complex and impressive, for instance in those cases where optical character recognition is used to come up with an editable Word document of a handwritten document. Finally, invoice processing refers to this technology when it is applied to your accounts department. This means that physical and electronic invoices are treated the same way, so clients are not disadvantaged by using one or the other.

The advantages of this technology are manifold. For starters, it does take you a step closer to the desirable paperless office. In twenty or thirty years, probably many more businesses will work online only. All documents will be sent by email, and invoices received and paid electronically. However, while a large proportion of the population operate offline, or at least prefer to work with paper, this is not possible. What document processing and management means is that you don’t have to have a two-tier system, where ‘old school’ clients and customers find that they do not get payments or replies so quickly – with associated fallout for the relationships.

There are plenty of companies who sell document processing solutions, and it is worth looking around to see what is available. Document management has progressed significantly in recent years, particularly with the advent of good OCR, which means that mere scans of paperwork can be turned into useful files. Similarly, as more companies and individuals migrate to online banking and BACS payments, you may find invoice processing becomes more important. Either way, these are changes that will inevitably occur in the near future, so if you want your business to have any kind of longevity it’s best to think in advance.

Please visit http://www.bottomline.co.uk/ for further information about this topic.

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