Work Instiute Business Magazine: January 2018

Friday, January 19, 2018

Samsung Odyssey

Microsoft's plans for virtual reality aren't what you're used to. Rather than go for a straight VR platform, Microsoft is investing heavily in a platform it refers to as mixed reality. And, since it's Microsoft, it's partnering with a bunch of third parties to make it happen, like Acer, Lenovo and HP.

Microsoft is still trying to create a more affordable version of high-end VR, and many of the headsets are built to run in two modes: one for PCs with dedicated graphics cards and one for PCs with integrated graphics. Many of these headsets start around $300, but at the top of the pile is the Samsung Odyssey. It has built-in spatial headphones from AKG, two 1400 X 1600 AMOLED displays, and a 110-degree field of view.

Also see: OCULUS RIFT DK2

In our hands-on time with the Odyssey, we felt it was the one Mixed Reality headset that's on the same level as Oculus Rift. It has a premium, comfortable feel that the other headsets, from the likes of Lenovo, Acer and HP don't have.

4 Tips for Improving Business Cash Flow

Invoice Factoring -When it comes to business costs, one of the main things that you will have to determine is whether or not a certain type of cost is actually worth paying. Invoice factoring, also known as invoice financing, is definitely a cost that’s worth adding to your outgoings as it can have a great effect on your company’s cash flow and enable your business to stay afloat and even develop and grow despite clients and customers who don’t always pay their invoices when you need them to. Invoice factoring works like this – if you have a client who still hasn’t paid what they owe, you can ‘sell’ their debt to the factoring company, who will then pay you a large percentage of the total amount, keeping a percentage back for security. Once your client makes their payment, the factoring company will give you the rest of the money, minus a small fee for their services which many business owners will agree is worth it.
Ask Nicely - If you’ve noticed that your clients seem to be struggling paying their invoices on time, it could well be the way that you’ve worded the request for payment that’s to blame. It may seem small and insignificant, but research has shown over and over again that simply asking nicely – i.e., putting ‘please’, ‘thank you’, and ‘have a nice day!’ etc. on your invoices can actually prompt your clients to pay faster, simply by being friendly and polite to them. So, next time you’re writing out an invoice, don’t forget to politely thank your client for choosing your services – and of course, for their prompt payment!
Offer Incentives - Making payments is something that none of us like to do, and your clients probably feel the same way about this. Even people who’ve managed to amass a lot of wealth don’t often like parting with their money, so it’s a good idea to keep this in mind when designing your invoices and determine how you can encourage your clients to part with their money in a manner that’s a little more speedy. For example, cash incentives, such as offering them a discount for paying before a certain date or even offering them a free gift in their next order, can definitely turn up the heat and get your clients opening their wallet.
Use Online Invoices - Not only are online invoices much easier to keep track of for your own accounting and tax purposes, they can also have a huge effect on how quickly you get paid. If you send a paper invoice, you’re already losing time as you’ll need to wait for it to arrive in the post and be opened before the client then has to take the money to the bank and transfer it or make the payment in the way you have instructed them to on their invoice. On the other hand, using online invoicing services can make things much easier for everybody, as this will not only allow your client to receive the invoice in mere seconds of your sending it to them, they’ll also be able to easily pay you online, meaning that you could receive the money within a matter of minutes if they are at their desk. And, thanks to mobile technology, they may not even have to be at their desk at all to make the payment there and then.