Category: Articles

Digital transformation in retail, enhancing customer experience, is the primary ecommerce market growth factor. In 2022, global retail sales reached $27.34 trillion, among which $5.76 trillion accounted for ecommerce retail sales.

It doesn’t matter if your business operates with a few staff from a small premise or employs a large workforce over several sites, millions of businesses are looking for ways to budget and cut down their energy consumption amid soaring energy prices.

"General artificial intelligence" refers to systems that can self-learn from experience with "humanlike breadth" and do tasks better than people. While the prospect of general trading and AI presents serious philosophical questions, this technology is still decades away.

No matter what business you ‘re in, software is becoming increasingly integral to your success. Brands that fail to capitalise on the ease, convenience and sheer utility of the solutions software have to offer are going to struggle in today's modern and highly digital era.

The fast-growing developed technology has made it evident that the metaverse is no longer a far-fetched prospect. It’s necessary to remember how other advanced technologies, like GPT (Generative Pre-trained Transformer), may be used to enhance and mould the metaverse expertise as ChatGPT and metaverse are the new big things to shape the modern world.   

The most notable advantage of blockchain technology is the increased transparency it brings to all kinds of industries, from supply chain management and manufacturing to travel booking. It's crucial to be transparent and be able to trace the history of an item back to its exact beginnings.

The NHS has found itself at the centre of another media storm, as staff take landmark industrial action in the name of fair pay and funding from the government. The strikes come after the government’s Health Secretary failed to actively negotiate a fair deal for workers, including a fairer deal for patients.

Many motorists and car enthusiasts dream of investing in classic cars to own some of the most beautiful and influential vehicles of all time, but what about from a financial standpoint? Classic cars can be a smart investment for anyone looking to grow their wealth over the long term and could be an effective way to diversify your investment portfolio, which is a wise strategy, especially during uncertain times.

Online shopping has become the new norm for all ages. Everyone has adapted to the internet to order groceries, electronics, clothing, and more.

“Going green” is something that we’ve heard about increasingly over the past few decades. But what does it mean? In basic terms, going green means that you’re opting for the more environmentally friendly option.

Long gone are the days when supply chains were managed using manual, paper-based processes. With the advent of the digital era, technology has become the backbone of modern supply chain management. Blockchain technology is an excellent example of the latest innovations that can be used to improve supply chain processes. Blockchain is a distributed digital […]

Forthcoming tax increases, rising interest rates and the cost of living crisis mean many business owners are feeling the pressure on their profits. Here, Donna McCreadie at Perrys Chartered Accountants provides her top tips for making sure your business is running as tax efficiently as possible.

The financial side of running a trade business can be challenging and complicated, but it’s important to get it right otherwise you could end up losing money.

As the UK jumps from disaster to disaster, the expression out of the frying pan and into the wok springs into mind. From the tail end of a horrendous pandemic, to the tumultuous political landscape of three Prime Ministers in a matter of months, to the current situation of a potentially crippling recession.

A good product or service needs visibility and outreach that extends beyond the realms of its existing operations. Word of mouth, customer experience, and online reviews impact the scalability of the business in many ways.

When the economy experiences a recession, people are starting to feel less secure in their jobs and the future of their companies. The days of layoffs and firings increase during such volatile periods.

There are so many things that affect food prices and the overall food supply chain. One element of the supply chain can be disrupted, and it can cause effects everywhere else.

When looking for which stocks would be most enticing as we begin a new year, Maxim Manturov, Head of Investment Research at Freedom Finance Europe, has prioritised stability. Well established companies that hold a large market share in their respective sectors are the companies that will ensure steady growth throughout the year.

New research from leading card payments provider takepayments shows that 75% of UK sole traders are unsure of the current tax thresholds that apply to them — and it could be costing them.

Investors in the United Kingdom have a wide variety of financial vehicles to choose from. However, the choice strictly depends on several factors, including the budget available, monthly needs and income and, of course, the goals. Some of the types of investments particularly popular with UK citizens are government-provided schemes, while others are classic types of investment available to anyone, including non-residents.

When you think of business financing, you might naturally envision a traditional business loan that involves applying through a bank and paying back the money, with interest, over time.

The end of 2022 is almost upon us, and for businesses, this means laying the groundwork to ensure that the upcoming year is a successful one. It goes without saying that the past few years have been turbulent for businesses, from COVID-19 to the economic crisis, 2023 seems like a fresh new beginning for most businesses.

Advertising is always a huge part of any business, and the decisions you make on this front can make or break how the finances look come the end of the year. But what if finances are tight? How can you do things on a budget? After all, we can’t all have the advertising spend of the likes of McDonald’s or Coca-Cola.

One of the most exciting things about cloud computing is the ability to leverage resources to give you more control over your infrastructure and operations. This means that you can use virtualisation to run multiple workloads simultaneously and scale up and down as needed.

Under normal circumstances, financial planning is critical in securing your long-term well-being. But when you’re faced with a divorce, the need for financial planning may become even more essential.

So, you want to start saving for something big? Maybe you are planning a holiday at the end of the year (or another major purchase), but your monthly budget is tight.

As an investor, you’re always looking for the next big opportunity. While the markets provide the most straightforward path to achieving financial success, making a dollar on a cent is easier said than done. Generally speaking, it takes many years before you see a substantial return on investment.

Making quality investment decisions comes down to striking when the iron is hot. Jumping the gun or waiting too long to act can prove to be a major mistake. Unfortunately, making the right investment moves at the right moments is easier said than done. If it were simple and straightforward, everyone would be doing it. Accurately predicting the next Apple or Facebook is on an order of difficulty that eludes even the savviest of investors. However, putting your money into up-and-coming industries and sectors - or those primed for a comeback - is something that even the casual investor can do with enough insight and experience. With this in mind, let's take a look at the best business investment opportunities heading into 2023: Third-Party Logistics More products are being bought and sold online than ever before. It won’t be long until e-commerce takes over the majority of retail purchases. With this in mind, investors should consider investing in third-party logistics providers (3PL). From logistics optimization to freight audit software, these services specialize in helping retailers improve their supply chain management. What’s more, they help drive down shipping costs for companies operating with slim margins. Given the rate at which online retail is becoming the primary method of buying and selling products, investing in 3PL today is likely to generate significant returns tomorrow. Home Improvement The last few years saw a surge in homeownership. Given this trend, it doesn’t take a genius to see the profit potential that comes with investing in home improvement services. From companies specializing in repair and remodelling to material suppliers to stores selling these products, there are many entities involved in the home improvement process that can be seen as potential investment opportunities heading into 2023. Digital Marketing More eyeballs on more screens mean less attention paid to traditional forms of advertising. As a result, the value of digital marketing is destined to increase as the world becomes increasingly digital. Those looking for a worthwhile investment opportunity should consider putting their money behind one or more digital marketing agencies. Demand for these services is set to increase significantly over the course of the decade, giving investors a reliable roadmap to respectable returns. Food Delivery Chances are you ordered food delivery at least once within the last three months. That’s because more people are finding themselves unable or unwilling to devote the time needed to prepare their own meals. If you can recall the premium you paid for the luxury of having other people make and bring you your sustenance, then you know there’s tremendous profit potential in food delivery service. While the current food delivery landscape is especially competitive due to oversaturation, there will come a time when struggling operations are forced to sell to their more capable competitors. If you can accurately gauge when that will occur and which businesses are involved, you can buy low and sell high. Cleaning Services The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has led to increased attention paid to cleanliness and hygiene. The result is an uptick in demand for professional cleaning services, especially those tasked with sanitizing brick-and-mortar locations that see hundreds of people entering and exiting in a given week. Those investing in cleaning services now will reap the financial benefits later. Auto Repair In case you hadn’t noticed, the cost of a new vehicle has risen dramatically in recent years. Even a used car costs hundreds if not thousands more than it did previously. As a result, more people are holding onto their older, high-mileage vehicles than ever before. Auto repair companies - both locally-owned chains and those spread out nationally or multi-nationally - are set to see unprecedented demand in coming years. The same goes for aftermarket parts manufacturers and suppliers. It all adds up to auto repair being a viable opportunity for those looking to invest in profitable businesses. Making the right investment moves at the right time isn’t easy. It’s no surprise the best investors stick to slow but steady returns based on equally secure investments. With that said, disruptive industries and growing demand for existing services make for reasonably safe and secure investment opportunities for those able and willing to go after them. Good luck!

Starting your own company and taking the reins as CEO can be a daunting prospect but it's also an incredibly rewarding experience. To become a successful CEO, you need to have certain skills and qualities that go beyond simply having a great idea or managing day-to-day operations. Here are five essential skills required to be the CEO of your own company.

Financial technology, or fintech, has been a success story for the ages in the last few years. Considerable leaps in technological capability have enabled new financial products – both B2C and B2B – to disrupt the market, resulting in a bumper year for fintech investors in 2021.

In older times, people built wealth by working hard, cutting down on expenses, and saving cash. In modern times, people have realised that even though it is possible to save cash by working hard and reducing expenses, the value of the saved cash reduces over time due to various geo-political factors.

Barristers are highly trained professionals, so when a person requires legal advice, often it is easy to assume that a barrister will conduct their role thoroughly due to their expertise and status. However, barristers can make mistakes, the consequences of which can be widespread and devastating including financial loss, the loss of something that the client was to benefit or along with a range of other detriments.

Inflation is an economic phenomenon that occurs when prices of goods and services rise over a period of time. It affects the purchasing power of consumers, as their money does not have the same buying power it once did. Consumers end up spending the same amount of money on fewer items than they did in the past. Inflation can also reduce the value of savings as prices rise faster than interest rates. For this reason, inflation is an issue that requires close monitoring by consumers and economists alike.

As with all types of real estate investments, there is no quick and easy answer to this question. Whether or not it is worth purchasing a fire-damaged property means conducting the same due diligence as when purchasing any other property in need of repair.

For millions of Brits, Christmas and the new year is a time to relax alongside friends and family and enjoy a break from the stresses of work. Yet it can also be one of the most lucrative times of the year for cyber criminals, as they benefit from people letting their guard down online.

The success of a business start-up depends largely on the creativity and originality of the founder’s idea, as well as their willingness to take risks to make it a reality. Many new entrepreneurs can think outside the box and develop something that has never been seen before.