According to the International Energy Agency, electricity demand dropped significantly under lockdown, with the dramatic reduction in services and industry over the course of the COVID-19 outbreak only partially offset by a higher residential use. Additionally, across all major regions, the power mix saw a shift towards renewables following lockdown measures due to low operating costs and depressed electricity demand. Natural gas remained the leading source of electricity in the United States, but renewables, coal and nuclear power found themselves trading second place amongst themselves as lockdown measures ebbed and flowed and temperature averages shifted across the country. In general,

For obvious reasons, you’re likely spending more time at home these days. That means you’re also likely spending more on your monthly household utility bills. Thankfully, there are several ways you can reduce your utilities spend – one of them being smart home devices! Smart Devices can be installed in practically any home, and they can greatly increase your energy efficiency by using sensors and automatic adjustments to meet your energy needs and avoid over-consumption. Most of these devices can also be installed in the office to reduce your spend there. Here is a look at some of these devices

A major trend that has stemmed from the pandemic is contactless service. From signing a document to accepting a package, people do not want to touch anything that has been touched by another person. In-store shopping is an area that is harder to make contactless, but using a mobile payment system (MPOS) lets shoppers checkout easier and safer. A mobile payment is a payment made through a portable electronic device, like a smartphone or tablet. It can be used for personal use to send or receive money or in a professional landscape to replace traditional POS systems. Making payments contactless

It is no surprise that over the last few months, e-commerce use has skyrocketed. By mid-March, same-day shipping orders were up by 237 percent, and e-commerce orders in 2020 were up 110 percent over 2019. But this trend is not new. The use of e-commerce has been steadily increasing since 2014, and by 2021 the e-commerce industry is expected to generate 4.5 trillion dollars annually and accounts for 16 percent of retail sales.  E-commerce offers consumers ease, speed and accessibility, but it is not all positive. As consumers switched to online shopping, fraudsters followed. It was estimated that by the

Gone are the days of casually strolling through the mall, sipping a coffee, and window shopping. Now consumers ‘window shop’ online before committing to a purchase. To keep up with consumer habits and turn casual visitors into return shoppers, brands need to upgrade their e-commerce platforms.  A website’s design is an essential component of an e-commerce sale. A well-designed website allows the shopper to easily find what they are looking for without feeling lost or overwhelmed. If a website is poorly designed, shoppers will quickly move on to the next to find what they are looking for.  To help your

As we head into our 10th month of working from home, it is hard to deny the way we work has changed and continues to change as we move through each month. The pandemic is not the only cause of the shift to remote work though. For years, businesses have started to look for the best talent regardless of the distance, and with each technological advancement, an office-space becomes less and less essential. The next big tech trend expected to change the way we work is 5G. 5G stands for “fifth generation” and is the latest generation in a series that

Supply chains are an essential part of most businesses. The ability to get products from point A to point B without delay is pivotal to creating a successful business with a healthy bottom line and happy customers. In 2020, the success of the supply chain was threatened by changing consumer habits and increased restrictions brought on by the pandemic. Supply chain management teams had to work quickly and seamlessly to re-work supply chains, increase resilience, and re-consider current strategies. As a result, supply chains will go through major upgrades in 2021. To help your business prepare for the new year,

2020 saw a boom in eCommerce use as more consumers opted to ditch the brick-and-mortar store and shop online instead. The sudden shift changed not only consumer habits but also the business ecosystem as brands had to quickly pivot their business plans to meet new consumer demands. As we come to the end of 2020 and review current trends, it is hard not to wonder what the 2021 eCommerce playing field might look like. To help get your eCommerce brand ready for 2021, we’ve put together a list of ten notable eCommerce trends expected to grow in 2021. Hopefully after

In the twentieth century, tech brought people to the office — but now it’s sending them home. For decades, employees needed to go to the office to use the fax machines, computers, phones and files they needed to complete their work. A sense of community and easier management were just added benefits. Since the start of the pandemic though, employees and employers alike have realized that shared office space is not as necessary as it once was, and tech is the main reason.  From messaging apps, video conferencing platforms, and shared docs, technology has allowed people to leave the office

The holiday season this year is going to be a little different. Instead of rushing to the mall to find great deals and the perfect presents, consumers will be shopping from their laptops. Criteo, a leader in eCommerce marketing, found that 88 percent of consumers this year plan to shop online this holiday season. To adapt to the changing nature of shopping, businesses will need to pivot their focus to eCommerce and updating infrastructure to ensure they can handle the shift.  Here are three ways for businesses to upgrade their business plan and make it through the holiday season. Improve