Imagine trying to make a decision with only half the information. Today, nearly all organizations across the public and private sectors rely on data to make better decisions about everything from employee salaries to new legislation. Data provides decision makers insight into what the baseline is, where collective needs are, and where resources should be allocated. But half our world’s population—women—are underrepresented and many times completely unrepresented in these datasets.
Inaccurate data often results from gender bias in the design of surveys or questionnaires, or from someone other than the woman or girl responding to a survey on her behalf. Misrepresented or incomplete gender data collection yields results that misses the mark on understanding women’s needs or their economic and social contributions. Policies and initiatives around healthcare, education, economic opportunity and more are built based on what’s available—gender-biased data—and fail to fairly serve women and girls. How can we close the gender data gap and pursue the global ambition towards gender equality and a fuller understanding of the whole population?
To view the multimedia release go to:
http://www.multivu.com/players/English/7889731-bloomberg-western-digital-bgovdata/
https://youtu.be/Y6rIs220PXc More businesses are taking their products and services online than ever before. Consumers, for the most part, are feeling safer about completing online transactions – especially with businesses they trust.
But some entrepreneurs in the e-commerce world have never started their own business. Many are unfamiliar with how to run an e-commerce store. There’s no doubt that this is an exciting time to explore the e-commerce marketplace – especially for people who are testing it out while keeping their full-time jobs.
Having said that, business owners new to the online world should understand from the get-go that the e-commerce industry is one of the most lucrative targets for cyber criminals. News of the recent eBay hack is a stark reminder of the vulnerabilities associated with online businesses. But big businesses aren’t the only ones getting hacked. More than 20 WordPress sites are hacked every minute of every day.
But there are a few basic things you can do to help prevent losing control of your website and your customer’s private information.
Choose a Secure eCommerce Platform
More than two third of all active e-commerce sites are using either Magento or WordPress’ WooCommerce. Why? Mainly because of their sophisticated security features. There are other factors as well, but what makes them stand apart is the extensive security. PrestaShop can be yet another choice with a proven security framework.
Keep your software up-to-date and, it should go without saying, keep your passwords unique and secure. Educate your clients, as well as your workforce, about your information security practices. Let them know how you are protecting customers’ credit card information and what they should do from their end to keep the financial information secure.
Implement SSL Certificates
SSLs (secure socket layers) are the de facto standard when it comes to securing online transactions. An SSL certificate authenticates the identity of users and encrypts data while at store and transit. Implementing SSL is essential for E-commerce websites to establish secure connectivity between the end-user systems and your website.
For tech-savvy buyers, the padlock icon with HTTPS in the address bar is an essential prerequisite for providing their personal details and credit card information. If the consumers believe that a vendor is doing everything possible to secure their transactions, they are more likely to do business with them.
Scan Your Site for Security Vulnerabilities
Although SSLs protect your transactions, they don’t protect your website. No matter which platform you decide to use, ensure that your server maintains PCI compliance requirements by running PCI scans on your server to validate whether you are compliant or not. Companies like Trust Guard not only scan your site for more than 75,000 known vulnerabilities, giving you detailed reports about its safety, but they also provide users with trust seals.
These small, digital images, when placed on your home page and checkout page, have been proved to drastically increase sales and conversion rates. They show potential buyers through accompanying certificates that you are serious about their privacy and security. It gives them the peace of mind they need to make the buying decision.
Whether you’re a seasoned entrepreneur or just are getting started, you should understand that keeping your site safe is your most important endeavor. Hackers can (and do) cause economic, legal and reputational damage every day. Keep your site safe and protected by following these three simple website security tips for your online business.
As entrepreneurs struggle to find desirable investments that also allow them to have an impact on the future of our country, Primrose Schools invites them to explore the benefits of opening a high-quality Primrose preschool in their communities. As the nation’s leading early education franchise company, Primrose currently has more than 350 locations in 29 states and is growing across the country.
Financial forecasters and economic developers alike point to early education as a stable investment that yields strong returns. A recent report by Child Care Aware shows that the high-quality early education industry generates a return of more than $8 for every $1 spent, meaning the returns of providing early education for children positively impact the economic development of communities and future workforce development. Last year, IBIS World reported that the industry reached a record high of $47.8 billion and is expected to continue to grow at an even faster pace than the overall child services market.
To view the multimedia release go to:
https://www.multivu.com/players/English/8014454-primrose-schools-open-your-own-school/
The Retail Industry Leaders Association (RILA), the trade association for America’s most recognized and innovative retail brands, discussed the need for a much-needed overhaul to America’s current tax code. Despite supporting 42 million American jobs and being a top economic driver, America’s retailers pay one of the highest effective tax rates in the nation. RILA and the retail community are urging Congress to pass tax reform that lowers rates for businesses and American families.
To view the multimedia release go to:
https://www.multivu.com/players/English/8211151-rila-tax-reform-benefits-retailers-consumers/
The Mexico Tourism Board (MTB) reported that its 2017 Meetings and Events program has led to significant growth in the industry sector, showing a 6.7% increase from January to October, when compared to the same period in 2016. Mexico has taken a leadership position as a destination for meetings and events with the relaunch of its strategic partnership program with meetings industry organizations and initiatives that aim to elevate its ICCA ranking, as well as to increase the economic impact of the meetings and conventions industry in the Mexican economy, which currently accounts for US$25 billion. The International Congress and Convention Association (ICCA) ranks Mexico as 3rd in Latin America, 5th in the Americas, and 21st globally for meeting and incentive travel.
“The meetings and convention industry is a crucial part of our growth plan focused on elevating the average expenditure of travelers,” said Hector Flores, CEO of the Mexico Tourism Board. “We are continuing to invest in building Mexico’s profile for business events and are working closely with industry leaders around the world to bring more corporate and association events to Mexico while introducing them to destinations beyond our traditional sun and beach offerings.”
To view the multimedia release go to:
https://www.multivu.com/players/English/8242051-mexico-tourism-meetings-events/
As part of a yearlong 75th anniversary celebration, Crowe CEO Jim Powers challenged personnel to volunteer 75,000 hours in their communities, more than double the number of volunteer hours from the previous year.
“Not only did our people meet the 75,000-hour challenge, they crushed it,” said Powers. “By the end of the challenge, we volunteered 82,000 hours, the equivalent of providing 39 full-time people at the nonprofits we served.” Two-thirds of personnel volunteered during the year, well above the industry norm of 31 percent. Using data from Independent Sector, the volunteer hours translate to an economic impact of more than $2 million for the nonprofits.
To view the multimedia release go to:
https://www.multivu.com/players/English/8368851-crowe-personnel-volunteer-75000-hours/
Industry leaders attending the first Smart China Expo (SCE 2018) in China’s western city of Chongqing have articulated a new vision for how the world’s digital economy will evolve at the event’s Global Digital Economy Summit, a forum that brought together 650 participants under the theme “New Digital Economy, New Growth Engine.” Speakers projected a future in which Big Data reshapes the way businesses and governments operate, cooperate, and compete.
New forces being unleashed by current innovations threaten to disrupt the existing economic growth models of many industries, as digital information will rise to the same status as land and capital as a key element of productivity. Meanwhile, governments around the world are building “smart infrastructure” as they seek to use technology to upgrade power grids, railways, ports and toll roads, and seek to integrate everything. Big Data technology also helps build “smart cities,” boost consumption, and improve social welfare programs ranging from education to philanthropy to healthcare.
To view the multimedia release go to:
https://www.multivu.com/players/English/8389751-smart-china-expo-sce-2018/
https://exodraft-heatrecovery.com/about-heat-recovery/uk-heat-recovery-ihrs-funding/
Visit https://exodraft-heatrecovery.com
Did you know that your company can receive up to 50% government funding when installing an industrial heat recovery system?
The program is called IHRS – or Industrial Heat Recovery Scheme – and within the program, a total of £18 million are available for funding.
Of the £18 million, £6 million are earmarked for concept and design and £12 million are earmarked for installation, commissioning and monitoring.
A heat recovery project can receive funding at any stage – even at the consultant and analysis stage – all the way through to the final turn-key delivery.
Funding applications are graded on a 0-to-10 scale. The higher the score, the greater the funding potential.
In order to be eligible for funding, the heat recovery system must be installed on an existing installation.
The project as a whole is graded based on energy benefit, kilowatt savings as well as environmental, economic and social impact and must achieve a minimum score of 5.
It is a requirement that the recovered energy is used within the confines of the business.
