4 Things You Should be Looking for When Picking a Contract Management Solution

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StrategyDriven Managing Your Finances Article | 4 Things You Should be Looking for When Picking a Contract Management SolutionBad contract management costs companies in many different ways, and it exposes them to unnecessary risks. This is why contract management is essential to the long-term success of your business. Fortunately, there are many contract management systems on the market to choose from. The challenge is finding the right one for your business’ needs. Here are four things you should be looking for when picking a contract management solution.

Ease of Use

Many firms are reluctant to adopt a contract management system because of the time, money, and effort involved. When picking an option, you aren’t just spending money on a software application and its support, you also have to train people how to use it. This is why ease of use is one of the top factors to consider when researching contract management systems.

Lifecycle Management

Before you start shopping for contract management software, it is important that you understand what contract lifecycle management is and how important it is. It isn’t enough to have a decent data repository. You need a system that manages contracts from initial negotiation to completion. This ensures that salespeople present contracts from approved templates, have any changes to the standard contract approved, and save the final version in an accessible database.

The ideal contract management system ties into your task management system and email servers. This allows your legal department to know what contracts need to be reviewed as soon as possible and how much work is in their queue. Salespeople can also look up the state of the contract, and the system may send a final version of the contract to the customer for approval or just their own records. The best contract management systems notify management when contracts are up for renewal or may no longer be legally valid.

The ideal contract management system is customisable, allowing you to integrate it with your finance, customer relationship management, and enterprise resource planning system. Then your customer support staff can view a customer contract when someone calls in with a complaint, and approved contracts automatically feed into your financial planning systems.

Collaboration and Sharing Capabilities

A good contract management system should allow you to create, assign, manage, collaborate, and execute in minutes instead of days. For example, a good tool would allow a salesperson to upload a draft contract to the repository and have it available for legal review within moments. Team members should be able to share relevant documents and discuss them in real-time, and approval should arrive within minutes of legal signing it off.

Risk Management

You should also make sure that the contract management tool you choose has risk management capabilities. For example, the tool may notify you when contracts expire so that you don’t continue to work without a valid legal agreement in place. Or it may warn you when there are risks associated with various contracts. Not all contract management systems have legal analytics built-in but knowing when contracts are now null and void due to changes in the law allows you to work on mitigating that risk or renegotiating the contracts.

Email and spreadsheets aren’t good enough for managing your contracts. Choose a contract management system that streamlines your administrative processes, manages risk, and provides the legal protection you expect from your contractual agreements.

Preparing for the Next Mission: 5 Things to Consider When Choosing a Military Storage Unit

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StrategyDriven Practices for Professionals Article | Preparing for the Next Mission: 5 Things to Consider When Choosing a Military Storage UnitLife as a member of the military can be challenging, but there are many ways to make things simpler and easier. Service members often find themselves being reassigned to different bases or even forced to move from one residence to another in the same area.

When such situations arise, renting a storage unit can make it easier to complete the transition smoothly. Having access to storage often does away with issues that would otherwise complicate life as a service member.

Because members of the military have distinctive needs, it will always be best to choose a storage service that will accommodate those needs well. Keep the following five things in mind when looking for a storage unit, and your career in the military should go a little more smoothly.

1. Some Companies Offer Discounts for Service Members

Business owners often respect the service that members of the military provide, and some of them show their appreciation in concrete ways. Discounts available at StorageWest and other storage companies can cut the cost of renting a unit by quite a bit.

That can make a large difference when a unit will be rented for many months or even years. Service members who get reassigned away from home for long periods will always be able to put the savings to good use.

2. Some Storage Companies Regularly Serve Members of the Military

Millions of Americans actively serve in the United States Armed Forces at any given time, with millions more making up the reserves. Some storage companies owe a majority of their business to service members, and they tend to be the best and easiest to work with.

Storage facilities located near military bases will almost always be staffed by people who understand what it is like to serve. That can end up being invaluable, as it will mean being able to rely on the advice of someone who is well-equipped to provide it.

When a storage company regularly rents units to members of the military, its offerings will often be tailored to suit the needs of that customer base, too. That can end up enabling a better fit for the kinds of situations service members most often find themselves needing to address.

3. Size is a Good Place to Start

Storage units come in many varieties, so it can feel a bit overwhelming to choose one. The best way to get started will normally be to figure out just how much space will be required.

Fortunately, there are some relatively straightforward ways to do so. Many storage companies maintain lists that allow the size of a home, apartment, or existing storage space to be used to select an appropriate unit.

4. Other Options Can Matter, as Well

While focusing on units of an appropriate size will make for a good start, other features and extras can be worth emphasizing, too. Service members who own valuable electronics, for instance, often find that storage facilities featuring strong security suit their needs the best. There are many ways of controlling access, some of which are likely to be more effective than others.

5. Flexibility Can be Invaluable

Although most members of the military can count on serving for well-defined stints, it can be useful to be able to adjust storage unit arrangements later on. A service member who initially planned to move back to a particular town, for example, might end up with different plans and a need to give up a rented unit.

Keep the five facts above in mind when looking for a storage unit as a service member and the process should go smoothly. It is so common for members of the military to use self-storage that advice from others is normally easy to come by, too.

The Beginner’s Guide to Choosing the Perfect Domain Name

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The Beginner's Guide to Choosing the Perfect Domain NameChoosing a domain name is probably the most difficult thing you have to do when setting up a website. You may think you need to spend days trying to figure out what name to use but there is no reason you can’t come up with a great name in a short time.

This article provides you with tips that can help ease the process and ensure you choose a name that suits your brand perfectly.

So, how can you arrive at that perfect domain name?

Think of something that adequately represents what you do

Your domain name should give visitors an idea of what the website is about even before they visit your landing page.

Your domain name should project what you do as a company – if, for instance, you run a dance crew and you are looking to get traction for your crew online, a domain name like thecreativedancers would be great.

Choose a name that is not complicated

Because less is more, and simplicity is sophisticated, it is best practice to choose a domain name without complications.

What you want is a simple domain name that checks the following boxes:

  • Easy to memorize and pronounce: If people find it difficult to memorize your domain name, they may never return to your website or share that amazing post you have there with their friends. You need a name that people won’t struggle to remember, preferably a short one.
  • No punctuation marks or numbers: Underscores and hyphens are not your friends. It is better to use words instead.
  • No wrong spellings: It may sound great to use realtymegist but 97% of the time people would type in realtimegist instead.

Try a domain name generator

There are applications that can give you different options to choose from. All you have to do is input a search term and you will find many results related to it.

Chances are you will find what you are looking for, but in case you don’t get one immediately, you will still have more domain name options you can tweak until you find one that works for you.

Some top domain name generators are Lean Domain Search and Nameboy.

The dictionary/thesaurus is your friend.

When nothing else seems to work you may need to use a thesaurus or a dictionary.

It is not easy to find the right words or phrase that capture what your brand is about, but don’t give up on that idea or word because it is already taken, a careful search through the thesaurus will provide you with synonyms and related ideas you can use.

Avoid legally contestable names, no matter how awesome

People get sued for infringing on a trademark. To avoid this, ensure that the name you choose isn’t similar to something that is already being used, especially by another brand which operates in the same niche as yours.

You can find this out by searching on Google. Scan each result on pages one and two and if you are in the clear, buy the domain.

Buy your domain from a trusted source

The internet is fraught with all kinds of fraudsters. Domain name registrars are not exempt either. Therefore we recommend that you purchase a domain name from tested and trusted sites, which have a reputation to protect.

Choose a perfect domain name extension

There are many domain name extensions, the oldest and most popular is .com. About 47% of websites use this TLD (top-level domain). You could also opt for more specific TLDs that make it easier for people to find you because it creates awareness in and of itself.

For instance, consider a .shop or .store if you plan on creating an e-commerce site. If it’s a local business intended to focus on local customers, using a TLD for that country is not a bad idea either. Other options include: .it, .blog, .club, .fm, and so on.

With all of these at the back of your mind, that seemingly difficult process of choosing the perfect name for your domain name becomes a walk in the park. For more information on choosing the right domain name for your website visit https://www.openhost.co.nz/domain-names

Web Hosting Options for your Website

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StrategyDriven Online Marketing and Website Development Article |Web Hosting Options|Web Hosting Options for Your WebsiteOwning a website is the best way to stay visible in the digital world and a pre-requisite for businesses which intend to leverage the power of the internet and expand their reach. For individuals, a website can be a way to gain extra income or keep in touch with one’s followers.

There are different types of websites, classified according to functionality and content – each serving a unique purpose. They include blogging websites, community portals, eCommerce websites, brochures, social media sites, crowdfunding sites, and personal websites.

A personal website is a great way to share your knowledge, experience and expertise with the world. From food blogging, travel blogging, and book reviews to sharing pictures of events with friends, a personal website provides you with the means to share what you love online at little cost.

Creating and hosting a website may prove difficult after the need for a website has been identified. With open-source content management tools like WordPress, you can model a good website without much difficulty. Obtaining a domain name using domain name NZ seller Discount Domains and hosting options must be considered before you can share your desired content with the rest of the world.

There are many web hosting options available, each with its costs and payment plans. The right hosting platform depends heavily on the kind of website you want to host. Ensure you keep your eyes wide open while searching for the company that best fits what you are looking for. Their plans not only have different prices and memberships but also their payment methods differ. There are month-to-month hosting plans, bi-annuals, and annuals. With all this information at hand, you will hit the nail when hiring the best hosting service.

If you are looking for a suitable host for your personal website, here are your best web-hosting options

Hostinger

Hostinger’s single web hosting package is ideal for personal websites. At just $2.15, Hostinger offers a complete package for a basic website. Hostinger has other packages which make it suitable for other types of websites too, but the low cost of its single package makes it personal-website-friendly.

It offers 99.9% guaranteed uptime and 24/7 online support which keeps your site online and helps you resolve any issues you may encounter. It is user-friendly, optimised for the best WordPress performance, has an easy SEO-optimised website builder, and gives you every resource to set your own rules.

TMD Hosting

TMD prides itself on being one of the few hosting platforms which provide a Linux-shared, cutting edge technology, and fully managed hosting for its subscribers at a low price. Its least package, the shared hosting, comes at $2.95 per month and has the same features as the premium versions of most web hosting platforms.

Thanks to its cutting-edge tech and many data centres all around the world, websites hosted under them work seamlessly, and at optimum speed. TMD Hosting also provides daily backups, regular updates and 24/7 traffic and content monitoring.

HostGator

With more than 8 million subscriptions, HostGator is one of the leading hosting platforms in the world. For as low as $3.13 dollars per month, you get a free website builder, page transfer at zero cost, free marketing plan, and a 45-day money-back guarantee.

For personal websites, HostGator’s Baby Plan provides scalable tools that grow with the site, unlimited domains, unlimited emails, and 24/7 support. HostGator is the ideal hosting platform for personal websites, as its tools make building and managing the website very easy. You also have a 99.9% uptime guarantee, and more than enough resources in their knowledge base for every problem you may encounter.

SiteGround

SiteGround may not be among the cheapest web-hosting platforms, but it offers you a chance to enjoy premium features in even the most basic of their packages. Its basic package, StartUp, comes at $3.95 per month and its other two packages, GrowBig and GoGeek, cost $5.95 and $11.95 respectively. If you do not expect more than 10,000 visits monthly, then the StartUp plan is best for your personal website.

While it does not have all the great features other platforms offer, its fewer features make it faster and more effective than others. SiteGround provides daily backups even for shared packages – which is not common with all other web-hosting platforms. The platform offers one of the best protection options with its multiple layers of security, which is what helped the site itself survive a 2011 WordPress hack.

DreamHost

Depending on your needs, DreamHost has two hostings – shared hosting, and WordPress. To ensure 100% guaranteed uptime, the platform scales up its bandwidth from time to time – a very uncommon practice. Its shared hosting features unlimited domain names and websites with just one account, for as low as $2.59 per month.

DreamHost, besides hosting your personal website, also offers many tools that will make managing the site easy for you. This includes a page builder at $4.95 a month – Remixer – which aids you in designing your website. The platform is very easy to use, very reliable and provides 24/7 support.

Blue Host

Blue Host is one of the best hosting platforms for websites designed using WordPress. With more than 2 million subscribers, the platform is very popular and safe. For as low as $2.95 you get a basic website package, with a free SSL certificate, 24/7 support, and 30-day money-back guarantee.

Thanks to its alliance with WordPress, Blue Host offers a lot of great features for sites built with WordPress. The site is reportedly slow for basic packages due to the limited resources shared by its 2 million subscribers.

However, its premium package promises improved performance.

iPage

iPage offers a lot of awesome features at an introductory offer of $1.99 and a low renewal amount monthly. It also comes with a free easy-to-use drag-and-drop website builder for better website efficiency.

With iPage, you also get free ad credits for your marketing campaign, free email addresses, unlimited disk space, unlimited MySQL databases, enhanced security suite, scalable bandwidth and you can host unlimited domains – all in one cheap package. You can also track your website’s performance with the analytics tool that comes with the hosting package.

Cloudways

Unlike most web-hosting companies, Cloudways offers a fully managed cloud hosting for all kinds of websites on a pay-as-you-go basis. This means you can select the feature or service you need and pay for that only. The account comes with a CloudwaysBot assistant that keeps users updated on the health of their websites.

Being a cloud hosting platform, Cloudways provides a better alternative to VPS and gives you a full package for your website. It also offers a free trial and a free migration from the previous host. It is easy for clients who are not tech-savvy to operate as it takes away technical complexities so users can focus on growing their website.

InMotion Hosting

InMotion has an optimised WordPress option for personal websites that will be run on WordPress. The option has the CMS already pre-installed in order to get you live as quickly as possible. Its drag and drop builder and pre-installed themes are made available to first-time users to enable the easy building of the website and navigation.

Inmotion’s shared Business plan, just like the WordPress plan, also comes with unlimited disk space, unlimited emails, ultra-fast performance, free data backups and malware protection. The account comes with a free SSL certificate, auto-updates on web apps, a custom firewall, and DDoS protection.

3 Reasons Why a Ball Screw May Fail: Here’s What to Do If You Encounter This

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StrategyDriven Tactical Execution Article |Ball Screw Failure|3 Reasons Why a Ball Screw May Fail: Here’s What to Do If You Encounter ThisPremature or unanticipated ball screw failure can be extremely frustrating, especially when it causes machine downtime. Thankfully, most ball screws can be repaired, and those that can’t be repaired or refurbished can be reverse engineered to meet the machine’s exact specifications. Before going into these repair options, let’s take a look at three of the most common reasons why a ball screw may fail.

Common Reasons for Ball Screw Failure

There are many reasons ball screws may fail prematurely, ranging from improper storage to overloading and even mismatching of leads between ball screws and ball nuts. Three reasons stand out among the crowd due to their frequency, so machine operators and owners should keep an eye out for these common problems.

Lack of Lubrication

Machine lubrication systems must be properly maintained using the correct type of lubricant. This helps to dissipate heat, reducing component wear. Insufficient lubrication is one of the most common reasons for ball screw failure, so machine operators should pay careful attention to this essential maintenance task. If the damage has already been done, machine owners can visit dynatect.com to get the help they need.

Eccentric Loading

Ball nuts and ball screws must be properly aligned to avoid eccentric loading, or sideloading. The ball screw assembly is only equipped to handle axial loading, so eccentric loading can cause the ball bearings to wear flat or break out of their return tubes. Eccentric loading can also create problems with overloading.

Excessive Speed

All ball screw assemblies are manufactured to withstand only a certain speed of operation, known as the critical speed. Exceeding this speed can cause the screw to vibrate or whip, causing misalignment and reducing ball screw longevity. Ball screw surface speeds above 8,000 inches per minute will almost always result in reduced rated life.

What to Do About Ball Screw Failure

The first thing to do is to call a specialized repair service. Some services offer 24-hour rush repairs, which may be the best option for those who need to get their machines up and running quickly. Otherwise, look for a company that offers quick turnarounds and economical replacement options.

In some cases, ball screw assemblies can’t be repaired. If it has sustained damage due to pitting or brinneling, the unit may need to be refurbished instead. The ball screw itself will need to be reground, and a new ball nut will be manufactured to fit the original assembly specifications.

Machine owners shouldn’t stop at repairing or refurbishing their ball screws and replacing them without first identifying and resolving the underlying problem. Lack of lubrication, eccentric loading, and excessive speed are all relatively easy problems to fix. If necessary, consult an engineer for help with correcting the problem. It will be worth the money since it will prevent the need for frequent repairs and costly premature replacements.

The Bottom Line

Ball screws have an impressively diverse set of precision applications, ranging from machine tooling to robotics, and beyond. These complex components are essential to the functioning of all machines that require linear actuation, so it’s important for machine owners to ensure that they are kept well-lubricated, clean, and properly aligned. When having a ball screw repaired, make sure to work with a reputable company that specializes in this niche field, and don’t shy away from hiring an engineer to help identify the underlying problem.