Health

How to manage your diet and exercise for weight loss

By Ashutosh Jha → Sunday, September 8, 2024

A balanced diet and physical activity is the key to a healthy lifestyle. Due to the busy lifestyle, we all neglect our choice or compulsion for our healthy lifestyle. But it’s never too late to start again and gain the weight you desire.

This is my personal story when I was of weight 192 lbs with a height of 176 cm which is clearly an unhealthy lifestyle. I started my routine of physical activity and started with a controlled diet recently and within 2 months, i am able to reduce around 20 lbs. Although I have still not achieved what I wanted, I am satisfied with the progress I have made.

In this article, I will talk about how you can plan your diet and exercise based on your weight loss goal. I will also talk about some of the tips and tricks I adopted to reduce my weight.

How to measure diet and exercise for weight loss?

There are many platforms available which you can use to estimate the reduction measurement you need to do. Please note, these platforms are good to get estimates and in no way should be considered for medical alternatives.

One of the platforms I have personally explored earlier is Culinary Schools. The platform offers various tools in the categories of games, health and fitness, career, fun, and more. The tool which I like most is the weight loss calculator. I will use this tool to demonstrate how you can plan your diet and physical activity based on your target weight reduction.

Step-1: Head over the website’s weight loss calculator page and you are expected to land on a page something like below -

 

Step-2: Enter your height, weight, and physical activity details. I am taking an example of someone who is 176 lbs and would like to reduce to 154 lbs with a height of 5 ft 10 inches. The person has a body fat of 20% and moderately exercises 4 days a week. You should fill in these details based on your body measurement and requirements.

Step-3: Once you click on calculate, you will get a summary report where you can clearly see that the result is overweight. I will show you a basic and nutrition report to see. It shows me that it will take 34 weeks to achieve the weight goal I want to achieve.

 

Step-4: The website also shows you instructions like how you should use this report or tool. If you explore the page further, it also suggests some effective tips for weight loss. Along with this, you will also get to know various other metrics in detail which will be very useful.

Tips to reduce your weight

Here are some quick tips to reduce your weight -

Eat nutritious rich food: This is one of the most important things that you should consider. You might have heard already that to reduce fat and weight, you need to control your diet. So, it’s not just the diet but a healthy diet. You should include fresh fruit, vegetables, nuts, seeds, etc. on your diet. At the same time, you should also avoid white bread, processed foods, sugar, oil, etc. to gain your results in time.

Maintain a calorie chart: You should keep a track of your daily food and see how much calorie intake you are taking. It has been seen that those who track properly achieve results far more quickly.

Regular physical activity: If you are still not on track, hit the ground for physical activity. You don't need to hit the gym only for physical activity and you can do it on your own. Maybe a simple walk to run to some advanced exercise may do your job.

Avoid sugar: Sugar intake should be avoided at any cost. This includes direct consumption of tea/coffee or indirect intake of cookies, chocolates, etc.

Eat mindfully: This is another important point you should consider. Create a schedule for your food and try to be very mindful of what you are eating. Also, it is advisable to have your dinner early so that your body will have some time to digest.

Conclusion:

Here's a quick guide on how to measure and plan your diet and exercise for weight loss. I talked about a few tips and a tool to plan your goal effectively.

Legal considerations for traditional notaries switching to online notary Virginia

By Ashutosh Jha → Tuesday, March 26, 2024

There are unique legal issues and obstacles that must be carefully considered and met by traditional notaries in Virginia who are making the switch to digital notary services. The legal environment of remote notary services may be efficiently navigated by notaries who are knowledgeable of Virginia's framework for online notarization, who implement strong authentication and identity verification processes, and who verify adherence to regulations regarding the protection of personal information.

Reliable and trustworthy remote notarization services may be provided by each online notary Virginia via proactive legal compliance and adherence to professional standards, all while safeguarding the integrity and legality of the notarial process.

Knowledge of the regulatory framework

If a traditional Virginia notary is thinking about going online with their offerings, they should research the laws and regulations that apply to remote notarizations in Virginia. The steps to take and rules to follow for remote notarizations are laid forth in Virginia's online notarization statutes and regulations. Electronic signatures, remote identity verification, and secure electronic document delivery all have legal ramifications that notaries must be aware of and compliant with.

To be in compliance with the law and protect the credibility of the notarial process, they need also be informed of any changes or revisions to the legislation governing online notaries in Virginia.

Validation of identities and authentication

Making sure that signers in distant transactions are real and verified properly is one of the main legal hurdles when traditional notaries in the state of Virginia transition to providing their services online. Robust ways of authenticating signers mandated under online notary legislation in Virginia are:

1. knowledge-based authentication;
2. biometric proof of identity;
3. multi-factor authentication.

To reduce the possibility of fraud or impersonation during remote notarizations, notaries should put in place trustworthy identity verification procedures. Further, in order to prove they followed the rules and prevent future legal issues, companies need to keep meticulous records of all notarization and identity verification transactions.

Ensure that data protection and security rules are followed

For conventional notaries in Virginia making the switch to electronic notary services, complying with data privacy and security standards is another important legal concern. Electronic documents must be encrypted, secure communication mechanisms must be used, and signers' personal information must be protected in order to ensure the confidentiality and integrity of electronic notarization transactions in Virginia.

To prevent illegal access or disclosure of sensitive personal and financial information, notaries must follow state and federal data privacy rules. By establishing strong protocols for data privacy and security, notaries may protect themselves from legal trouble and make sure that online notarization transactions are secure and secret, as required by Virginia law.

Also, it is important for traditional notaries in Virginia who are considering offering their services online to consider the risks and liabilities that may come with remote notarization. To protect themselves against lawsuits filed over online notarial acts that include mistakes or omissions, notaries should get insurance for mistakes and omissions.

Online Security

4 Essential Facets of Cybersecurity to Pay Attention to

By Ashutosh Jha → Friday, February 2, 2024

Whether you own a business, work for a company, or simply use the Internet for personal purposes, cybersecurity is more essential than ever in 2024. Cybersecurity acts as our defence against so many threats on the World Wide Web.

So much of our existence lies in the online space, that it’s become equally as important to protect our data as it is to protect our homes, health, and finances.

Here are some important aspects of cybersecurity that you need to know about in order to keep yourself and your business safe this year.

IP Access Control

Preventing unauthorized access to your device should always be front of mind. Of course, this means using a password and always keeping your smartphone, laptop, tablet, etc. on hand at all times. However, you also need to go further by thinking about other devices.

IP access control systems will check and limit the devices that can connect to your computer or network, only allowing trusted devices to protect your data and the integrity and security of your network. IP access control is usually integrated with other factors in a strategy, such as firewalls, encryption, etc.

Network Security

When it comes to interconnected devices, networks facilitate and allow the flow of information. However, making sure that these networks are secure is essential. This is because securing your network is important for data protection, user privacy, and business continuity (since security breaches can seriously impact your productivity).

You can secure your networks with various protective tactics such as firewalls and intrusion detection systems, which will create barriers and act as a watchdog for your system activities. It’s always a good idea to chat to a professional if you’re unsure of what software and systems to invest in.

Data Protection

If you’re working with any kind of sensitive data (as most of us are), you need to protect it. This applies to information related to your work, such as client information, or even personal details like your address and banking details.

First of all, you need to ensure you won’t accidentally lose this data by making sure that it’s backed up. Cloud storage is a great option, but having a physical copy as well could help you with peace of mind. You should also encrypt your sensitive data in case of any breach in your system and ensure to protect yourself against issues like DDoS attacks.

Employee Training and Awareness

If you run a business and working with people, you need to make sure they’re as clued up as you are on cybersecurity. Everyone you work with will need to have some kind of access to your business network and data, so training your staff about workplace cyber threats is an essential factor to consider.

However, don’t forget to consider internal threats too – staff that has access to passwords and data could always take advantage of your trust, so make sure that the people you’re hiring are people you trust and that you keep any particularly sensitive information private and inaccessible if at all possible.

SMS Marketing

Maximizing ROI with Targeted SMS Campaigns

By Ashutosh Jha → Friday, December 1, 2023

As a result of the competitive nature of business today, it has become increasingly important to maximize returns on investment (ROI) from marketing campaigns. Targeted SMS campaigns have demonstrated themselves to be a valuable resource in this regard. Companies are able to enhance customer engagement and revenue generation significantly by harnessing SMS's personal and direct nature.

A company like Mitto, with its sophisticated communication solutions, plays a crucial role in optimizing these campaigns and making sure they are as effective as possible.

The Strategic Advantage of Targeted SMS Campaigns

Targeted SMS campaigns offer a direct line of communication to customers, which is essential in the digital age. The key to their success lies in delivering personalized and relevant messages to a specific audience. This approach ensures higher engagement rates than generic messaging, leading to better conversion rates and higher ROI.

Crafting Effective Targeted SMS Strategies

Segmentation: The first step in a targeted campaign is to segment the customer base. This can be based on various factors like demographics, purchase history, or even customer behavior. Proper segmentation ensures relevance of messages to each group.

Personalization: Addressing customers by name or referencing past interactions in messages can create a more personal and engaging experience. Timing: Sending messages at the right time, perhaps when a customer is most likely to make a purchase or during special events, can increase the effectiveness of the campaign.

Every SMS should have a clear and compelling call-to-action, guiding the customer on what to do next.

Utilizing Data for Precision Targeting

Data is at the heart of any successful targeted SMS campaign. Analyzing customer data helps us understand their preferences and behaviors, which is crucial for crafting resonated messages. Advanced analytics tools provided by companies like Mitto can help businesses gather and interpret data to refine their targeting strategies.

Mitto's Comprehensive Approach to SMS Campaigns

Mitto offers more than just SMS API solutions; their comprehensive approach includes advanced analytics, campaign management tools, and personalized support. These services enable businesses to send messages, track and optimize campaigns for the best outcomes.

Measuring Campaign Success

Key performance indicators (KPIs) such as open rates, click-through rates, and conversion rates are essential for measuring SMS campaign success. These metrics provide insights into customer engagement and campaign effectiveness, helping businesses refine their approach.

Adapting to Consumer Trends and Behaviors

Consumer trends and behaviors evolve constantly. A successful SMS campaign must be flexible and adaptable to these changes. Regularly updating campaign content and targeting criteria ensures relevance and effectiveness.

Integrating SMS with Omnichannel Marketing

Integrating SMS campaigns with other marketing channels creates a unified and cohesive customer experience. This omnichannel approach ensures that the brand's message is reinforced across different platforms, amplifying the overall impact of the marketing strategy.

The Future of Targeted SMS Campaigns

As technology advances, the potential for personalized and interactive SMS campaigns grows. The future may see the integration of AI and machine learning for even more sophisticated targeting and personalization. This may open up new possibilities for engaging with customers.

Conclusion

Targeted SMS campaigns are a vital component of a modern business’s marketing arsenal. By leveraging the targeted messaging and technological prowess of companies like Mitto, businesses can create highly effective campaigns that resonate with their audience. These campaigns can deliver substantial ROI. As the digital landscape evolves, the strategic use of tailored SMS campaigns will continue to be a key factor in marketing success and driving business growth.

Tools

120+ Best Blogging Tools to Grow your Blog- [2023 Edition]

By Ashutosh Jha → Thursday, November 23, 2023

With the advancement of technology, almost made our work damn easy. No matter what you are doing, you will find such tools which can make your work easy.

The same also applies to Blogging. It’s no more a secret that Blogging is now a business and people are making Millions out of it. It is an art and with the help of tools, we can make this art run and shine.

Just for an example, a few years ago, if we had to build links, we type the keyword in the search engine and check on which all sites we can make the links but what about now?

With the help of link building tools, we can get the list of all the sites, their status, ranking or say all the details about it in just a click. Isn’t Blogging tools have made Blogging easy?

There are many such best blogging tools those are making our way easy and we should use those as and when required. To get those on a single page, I have compiled the epic list of best blogging tools to grow your blog and business.

Personally, I have used many of these while others are based on the expert’s recommendations. You can use these tools without a second thought and can make your blog run like a business.

The Ultimate List of Best Blogging Tools

Here is the list of 120+ Best Blogging Tools for your reference. I have categorized all these tools in different sections so that you can pick the one which you like the most.

This post is going to be bit long so a cup of coffee is highly recommended :)

Blogging Platforms

• WordPress: It is the leading CMS to start with blogging. WordPress is very popular as it has over 40k plugins to your required work easily.

• Blogger: After WordPress, Blogger is widely used. It is a free platform and has good features available. You can start a blog on Blogger platform in minutes.

• Joomla: Joomla is also a leading platform to start blogs and websites. There are several top sites hosted on Joomla. Drupal is also one good alternative of it.

• Tumblr: recently it has become one of the top choices of blogger. Especially bloggers use Tumblr to rank their money making sites. You can find high quality expired Tumblr domain and can rank site easily.

Desktop Blog Editors

• Evernote: I use this tool to make quick notes and it’s available via cloud syncing.

• Desk: This is a paid tool for Mac OS and is a distraction free writing tool. Very useful for blogger using Mac.

• Open Live Writer: This is one of the best tools to write and publish directly from the tool itself. Here once you will sync your blogs in the Open Live Writer, you can write and publish directly. The only this is, it works only for Windows and won’t work on Mac OS.

• Blogo: Blogo is a desktop editor where you can do offline writing and directly publish to your WordPress blog from the dashboard. It is again only for Mac.

Blog Post Title Generator

I would recommend you to please check our detailed post of Best Blog Title Generator for details. Here is the list of Blog Post title generator.

• UpWorthy title generator: This is a viral title generator and will help you a lot. Great for a story like a site.

• Potent C idea generator: Will work both as a content idea and title generator for your next post

• Headline Analyzer: This is by Coschedule and is one of the best blog post title generator tools I have come across. Here you just paste whatever is in your mind as the title and it will give you the complete analysis as should you use it or not.

• Emotional Marketing Value Headline Analyzer: It checks the emotional marketing value of a title. The higher the EMV score, the better it will perform on social media channels.

• TweakBiz title generator: This is another great tool by Tweakbiz and helps you a lot to find the idea for the next blog post title.

Proof-reading tool

• Grammarly: One of the best tools available in the market to check grammar today. It is available in both free and paid segments.

• AtomicWriter: A good alternative to Grammarly. Again available as free and paid. For advanced checking, you will have to buy this tool.

Check out our Top Grammarly alternatives to learn about other proof-reading tools.

• Ginger: Ginger is a free online proofreading tool to check the grammar and spelling and help you to write error free articles for websites and blogs.

Stock Image for Blog

• Google Images: The best place to find the image for your blog post. But be careful while choosing it, especially if you are not getting credit to the owner of the image. They may file DMCA and you will be in huge loss. You can check our article on How to Find Royalty Free Images in Google.

• Flickr: Use advanced search to find images with a creative common license.

• WP Image Suite: It is a paid WP plugin to find the image. This tools searches over 9 image sources and will give you the wide option to get the images. Also, you won’t have to provide the credit if you are using this plugin.

• Canva: It is a graphic design software where you can design images and banners for your site.

• Unsplash: It is a great tool to find the HD images. It’s a free source to get high-quality images.

Content Ideas

• Blog Comments: Get the ideas for the next blog post from the comments done by your readers.

• Google Trends: Check the trending topics of the current time or you can also search for the trendy topics based on your keyword.

• Ask your readers: You can also send an email to your subscribers and can ask what they want you to write. This is one of the best ways to get content ideas. You can also create a poll on your blog for the same.

• Social Media: Post some topics on your social media wall and ask your followers to suggest what they want you to write.

• BuzzSumo: You can enter a website or topic and the tool will show you the most engaged topics and content shared on that.

• Quora: One of the best Q&A sites where you can get unlimited content ideas. Just enter the keyword in the search box and you will get thousands of topics to write on.

• Blog Submission Sites like Kingged: You can also check sites like Kingged where others share their posts and so you can get an idea what to write.

Offline Reader & Content discovery

• Pocket: One of the most productive tools I am using. You can save the web pages which you want to read later or for reference purposes. You can read it later anytime.

• Feedly: Subscribe to any blog feeds or search for your interested topic to discover new blogs to subscribe to.

Visitor Stat & Analytics 

• Google Analytics: The best and most free tool when it comes to analytics. Given by Google, it will show you the complete traffic details, their behavior, real-time data, keywords, kind of traffic and much more. It is a must have tool and must trusted analytics tool that you must have.

Internet Marketing

Could Experiential Marketing Be the Medium You Are Missing Out On?

By Ashutosh Jha → Saturday, November 4, 2023

Whenever it comes to promoting your brand, your aims are often simple enough. Get your name known, get the product seen and then see the sales flow. How you do that though is the hard part. How can you cultivate your brand promotion and its offerings so that it becomes a respected name in its field, and something instantly recognised, and remembered?

One solution is to engage in experiential marketing. For some, it may sound like a buzzword but a report from Forbes explained that 77% of marketers are using experiential marketing as part of their advertising strategy. But what is it though and why would you begin opting for this method of helping establish your brand?

What is experiential marketing?

Let’s start with the basics. Explaining what it is and how it works. Experiential marketing is all about the experience. Creating a memorable experience that an audience can interact and engage with. It’s something that involves the people the brand wants to resonate with, it’s something that showcases products but instils belief. A belief not only in the product being shown but the brand as a whole and the values it stands for.

Experiential marketing can be in the form of live events, interactive displays, product testing, and so much more. If it involves the customer attending, interacting, or sampling, it's experiential! Experiential marketing helps put the brand in the hands of the consumers so that they can truly get a feel for what the brand is doing. It allows a customer to see, taste, smell, touch and hear. With these senses attended to, brands create something memorable for their target audience, something that drives engagement, sales and brand loyalty.

Are you part of the 23% that has never engaged in using experiential marketing, or are you part of the 77% that does but has not yet seen the results?

It could be time to consult an experiential marketing agency London based company to help you get the results you deserve.

What benefits does experiential marketing bring to a business?

Using experiential marketing is a brilliant way for your business to tap into new markets, build your brand awareness or showcase a new product, and the benefits are plentiful when it's implemented correctly. 

Commonly, there are five key benefits of opting for experiential marketing, but you could find that many others become noticeable throughout the length of your campaign. Whilst commercial business goals are perhaps among your main aims, you could find that you achieve others you hadn’t considered. You may find potential new team members; you may network with other businesses that can provide you with valuable connections and collaborations. The interactive and engaging nature of experiential marketing campaigns means that the opportunities can be truly wide-ranging.

The five benefits of experiential marketing most often referred to are:

• Lead generation: Your interactive display or immersive experience can be used to capture valuable data that can then open the doors to you finding new customers. Some businesses do this via QR codes on screens, others provide a fully interactive service where a potential prize or reward is granted for engaging with the experience, the reward only being granted when data is submitted.

• Brand awareness: Perhaps one of the most important of the five benefits, brand awareness through creative brand activations can resonate with multiple audiences. Directly engaging with an audience through live events that showcase a brand, and its products can live long in the memory of captivated consumers and as a result, see word of mouth and social media sharing help build the brand even further.

• Brand loyalty: When a consumer feels something positive from an experience with a brand, they are likely to be more loyal to it. Experiential marketing creates memories, fuels emotions, and drives positivity. Through the clever production put together by your chosen agency, you’ll be building a new band of customers and enhancing the belief in the brand your existing ones hold.

• Product demonstrations: You may see an advert on TV, a flyer on a counter or a sponsored ad on social media but none of them gives a consumer the chance to feel, to sense, to enjoy or to taste the product. Experiential marketing allows all of these to happen. This gives those attending, or viewing your marketing efforts the chance to fully “get” your product and your brand.

• Engagement: Whatever way you decide to promote your product or brand, you can reach more than those who just attend the event, see the display, or test the product. Fun activities, photo booths, social media challenges and more will all lead to attendees and participants sharing their achievements, their fun and their experiences to their social accounts. Especially if you encourage the use of a hashtag with those doing so standing the chance to win a prize for sharing.

Examples of experiential marketing

London-based experiential marketing agency Smyle has helped countless brands reach new audiences through developing engaging campaigns. Campaigns where brands have not only reached those attending events but also those taking part virtually.

One such example is when telecoms experts BT wanted an event to showcase the launch of their new 5G network and enhance their brand reputation as a global player in the world of tech innovation. Working closely alongside BT, Smyle was able to create a world record-breaking live event featuring 160 drones! With celebrities on stage performing and local school children being involved to add to the sense of community, the spectacular event hosted at Wembley Arena was witnessed by thousands in attendance as well as countless numbers across the live YouTube broadcast.

Other examples include the work Smyle completed with Samsung. The mobile phone pioneers and tech giants wanted an innovative launch for the newest range of connected products from its ‘Life Unstoppable’ series. 

Its aim? 

To engage people through a visually spectacular experience that fuses the shopping and entertainment elements. The result was a studio-shot video that allowed consumers to see just how these smart products would fit into their daily lives. With the video cleverly portraying a family at home the story was stitched together with a series of vignettes that demonstrated the innovation Samsung is so famous for. With entertaining narratives and engaging content, consumers were not only entertained but influenced and reassured.

So successful was this campaign that it won several awards for brand experience and video content.

What would an experiential marketing agency do for you?

If you want to push your brand to a new level and tap into larger audiences, experiential marketing is perhaps - in this tech-dominated world – the best way to keep your brand relevant, seen, heard, and understood. It can't all be done in-house though. Many marketing teams don’t have the resources or the contacts to elevate the brand in such creative ways. That is why an agency is often a welcome expense to a business looking to create a memorable impact.

When you use an experiential marketing agency, you will see a dedicated team execute, among many other things, the following tasks:

• A carefully curated campaign that will not only increase brand awareness but will also introduce opportunities for interaction with the public and create an enhanced and positive brand perception.

• To do this, they will carry out detailed market research to find out what your audience will connect with. By finessing the campaign to resonate with a specific audience, costs are managed and not wasted as the marketing team drills down into the core aspects of what an audience will want.

• They will create live, in-person or virtual events that help the business fully engage with its customer base.

• Logistics will all be taken care of as the agency takes on full management of your event leaving you to focus on your business.

• Results are important in any business and an experiential marketing agency will have a host of tools to ensure that all KPIs are monitored, recorded and reported on so you have full clarity on the success of the campaign.

• An experiential agency will also make sure it works alongside you every step of the way and even outsource to third parties where necessary to ensure your show, demo, or display creates exactly the impact the brand warrants. Working alongside your marketing teams, everyone remains on the same page at all times.

• You are never alone either when working with an agency. It may be your live event or virtual experience but they stay with you throughout, travelling to the venue to ensure a seamless and perfect spectacular is enjoyed by all in attendance.

In today's world of instant sharing, instant likes, instant shopping and instant demand, experiential marketing puts you at the forefront of your industry. Try it!

Online Security

The 3 Ways That The IoT Has Revolutionized Business Security

By Ashutosh Jha → Wednesday, November 1, 2023

When you are trying to protect the security of your business, you need to make sure that you have the latest advancements to get the most bang for your buck.The biggest breakthrough happened with the advent of the Internet of Things (IoT). The IoT refers to the vast network of devices that are connected to the internet.

These aren't just your computers or smartphones. They include everyday items like refrigerators, cars, and even light bulbs. When it comes to business it can help improve parking lot security and even the security of the building. In this article, we will go over several ways that the IoT has helped businesses stay safe and secure.

1 - Real time monitoring

Unlike traditional security setups where a guard might miss something or a camera might only record without active monitoring, IoT systems are always on the watch. Video goes right to a device anywhere in the world. Instead of needing to constantly monitor a CCTV, an alert is sent if there is motion detected or other types of triggers.

Let's say a door is opened at an unusual hour or a suspicious activity is detected in the server room. With IoT, the moment such an event occurs, alerts can be sent directly to security personnel, management, or even local law enforcement.

These alerts ensure that any potential breaches, whether they are physical break-ins or cyber-attacks, can be addressed right away.

2 - More access control

The traditional key and lock system has its limitations. It can't tell you who entered a room at what time, and it can’t restrict access at specific times of day. With the rise of IoT, access control has taken a leap into the future. Devices like smart locks and biometric systems have become increasingly popular, allowing businesses to have better security.

Smart locks, powered by IoT, do more than just lock and unlock doors. They can be programmed to allow access at certain times, and they keep logs of every entry and exit. This means businesses can not only control who enters but also have a detailed record of it.

Biometric systems take things a step further. It's much harder to fake a fingerprint than it is to copy a key, making biometric systems a reliable choice for areas that need extra security.

3 - Device integration

IoT's advantage isn't just limited to stand-alone devices as it can be integrated with other systems within a business.

Take lighting, for instance. An IoT-integrated security system can be set up to automatically switch on lights when a motion sensor detects movement during off-hours. This not only startles potential intruders but also provides clearer visuals for surveillance cameras, improving their effectiveness.

But IoT integration really comes alive with automated responses. Consider a situation where a security breach is detected in a particular section of a building. The system could simultaneously dim the lights to disorient the intruder, lock all exit doors to contain the situation, and send real-time alerts to security personnel and management.

Business

The 3 Common Inventory Management Mistakes To Avoid

By Ashutosh Jha → Monday, October 30, 2023

Inventory management is like the foundation of a successful business. When done right, it helps businesses run smoothly and profitably. But when mistakes happen, it can lead to big problems like wasted money and unhappy customers. This is why understanding inventory management is so important.


Inventory management is not always as simple as it sounds. Even minor mistakes can lead to big disruptions, resulting in wasted resources and unhappy customers. In this article, we will go over some common mistakes to avoid. If you want more tips and tricks, you should try to listen to some Sippin' and Shippin' 3PL podcasts.

1 - Not automating your systems

The traditional way of managing inventory has always been manual. Even when using technology, it was usually done without any type of automation. These days there are loads of software systems that use the Internet of Things to automate just about every part of the process but many businesses are ignoring it.

Manual inventory control is straightforward and might seem like the easiest option, especially for smaller businesses. However, ignoring automation is setting you up to fall behind the competition.

Automated inventory control is like having a smart assistant that not only keeps track of what's in the store but also predicts what you'll need in the coming weeks or months. This system updates inventory levels in real-time and can place orders when stock is low.

2 - Not forecasting accurately

One key part of managing inventory is predicting how much of a product you'll sell in the future. This is called forecasting demand. To do this well, you have to look at your past sales data.

Doing so helps in determining patterns and understanding when you need to order more stock and when you should hold back. However, just using the past to guide your future is not the only piece of the puzzle.

You should also pay attention to market trends, which may contradict what your forecast has determined based on past sales.

Companies that don’t forecast well fall into two traps. They are overstocking and understocking. Overstocking means having too much of a product. This can be a waste of money, especially if these items don't sell and just take up space. Understocking, on the other hand, means not having enough of a product which can frustrate customers.

3 - Lack of staff training

The people working in your warehouse or managing the inventory are the keys to the entire process. Those that are not properly trained will struggle to create an efficient process which will result in a lot of headaches.

In inventory management, when staff aren't trained well, they might not fully understand the systems in place or what their role is. This lack of knowledge can lead to miscommunications. In this scenario, a warehouse worker might restock an item in the wrong place, making it harder for sales staff to locate. Or a clerk might misunderstand a product code, leading to incorrect data entry.