#How to start a saas company

[lightyaoigami]

☁︎｡⋆｡ ﾟ☾ ﾟ｡⋆ how to resume ⋆｡ﾟ☾｡⋆｡ ﾟ☁︎ ﾟ

after 10 years & 6 jobs in corporate america, i would like to share how to game the system. we all want the biggest payoff for the least amount of work, right?

know thine enemy: beating the robots

i see a lot of misinformation about how AI is used to scrape resumes. i can't speak for every company but most corporations use what is called applicant tracking software (ATS).

no respectable company is using chatgpt to sort applications. i don't know how you'd even write the prompt to get a consumer-facing product to do this. i guarantee that target, walmart, bank of america, whatever, they are all using B2B SaaS enterprise solutions. there is not one hiring manager plinking away at at a large language model.

ATS scans your resume in comparison to the job posting, parses which resumes contain key words, and presents the recruiter and/or hiring manager with resumes with a high "score." the goal of writing your resume is to get your "score" as high as possible.

but tumblr user lightyaoigami, how do i beat the robots?

great question, y/n. you will want to seek out an ATS resume checker. i have personally found success with jobscan, which is not free, but works extremely well. there is a free trial period, and other ATS scanners are in fact free. some of these tools are so sophisticated that they can actually help build your resume from scratch with your input. i wrote my own resume and used jobscan to compare it to the applications i was finishing.

do not use chatgpt to write your resume or cover letter. it is painfully obvious. here is a tutorial on how to use jobscan. for the zillionth time i do not work for jobscan nor am i a #jobscanpartner i am just a person who used this tool to land a job at a challenging time.

the resume checkers will tell you what words and/or phrases you need to shoehorn into your bullet points - i.e., if you are applying for a job that requires you to be a strong collaborator, the resume checker might suggest you include the phrase "cross-functional teams." you can easily re-word your bullets to include this with a little noodling.

don't i need a cover letter?

it depends on the job. after you have about 5 years of experience, i would say that they are largely unnecessary. while i was laid off, i applied to about 100 jobs in a three-month period (#blessed to have been hired quickly). i did not submit a cover letter for any of them, and i had a solid rate of phone screens/interviews after submission despite not having a cover letter. if you are absolutely required to write one, do not have chatgpt do it for you. use a guide from a human being who knows what they are talking about, like ask a manager or betterup.

but i don't even know where to start!

i know it's hard, but you have to have a bit of entrepreneurial spirit here. google duckduckgo is your friend. don't pull any bean soup what-about-me-isms. if you truly don't know where to start, look for an ATS-optimized resume template.

a word about neurodivergence and job applications

i, like many of you, am autistic. i am intimately familiar with how painful it is to expend limited energy on this demoralizing task only to have your "reward" be an equally, if not more so, demoralizing work experience. i don't have a lot of advice for this beyond craft your worksona like you're making a d&d character (or a fursona or a sim or an OC or whatever made up blorbo generator you personally enjoy).

and, remember, while a lot of office work is really uncomfortable and involves stuff like "talking in meetings" and "answering the phone," these things are not an inherent risk. discomfort is not tantamount to danger, and we all have to do uncomfortable things in order to thrive. there are a lot of ways to do this and there is no one-size-fits-all answer. not everyone can mask for extended periods, so be your own judge of what you can or can't do.

i like to think of work as a drag show where i perform this other personality in exchange for money. it is much easier to do this than to fight tooth and nail to be unmasked at work, which can be a risk to your livelihood and peace of mind. i don't think it's a good thing that we have to mask at work, but it's an important survival skill.

⋆｡ﾟ☁︎｡⋆｡ ﾟ☾ ﾟ｡⋆ good luck ⋆｡ﾟ☾｡⋆｡ ﾟ☁︎ ﾟ｡⋆

[apothecaryscript]

New Year’s Special Video / お正月ビジュアルスペシャル動画

Please note that English lines are just my translation.

猫猫「壬氏様、ハッピーニューイヤー。今年もよろしくお願いします」

Maomao “Jinshi-sama, Happī nyū iyā. Kotoshimo yoroshiku onegai-shimasu.”

Maomao “Master Jinshi, Happy New Year. I look forward to working with you again this year.”

今年もよろしくお願いします = 今年も(ことしも/Kotoshi-mo): this year too ＋ よろしく(Yoroshiku): well, in good way ＋ お願いします(おねがいします/Onegai-shimasu): I would like to ask you for…

This is a typical Japanese phrase used in addition to New Year’s greetings.

“Happy New Year” is 「あけましておめでとう（ございます）/Ake-mashite omedeto(gozai-masu)」 in Japanese, just for your information.

壬氏「お、おう…。薬屋、ハッピーニューイヤー……お前から話しかけてくるなんて、悪い物でも食ったのか！？飲み過ぎてないか？」

Jinshi “O, Ou… Kusuriya, Happī nyū iyā. …Omae-kara hanashi-kakete-kuru-nante, warui mono-demo kutta-noka!? Nomi-sugite-naika?”

Jinshi “Oh, yeah… Happy New Year, Apothecary… I can’t believe it’s you who’s talking to me… Did you eat something bad? Or are you drinking too much?”

猫猫（コイツは新年早々失礼な…）「新年の挨拶はきちんとした方がいいと、水蓮様からも言われましたので。それにしても、このような着物に、お節と言う特別な食べ物…お正月の迎え方は、地域によって異なるのですね」

Maomao (Koitsuwa shin-nen-soso shitsureina…) “Shin-nen-no aisatsuwa kichinto shita-hoga iito, Suiren-sama-karamo iware-mashita-node. Soreni-shitemo, kono-yona kimononi, osechi-to-iu tokubetsuna tabemono… Oshogatsuno mukae-katawa, chiikini-yotte kotonaruno-desune.”

Maomao (How rude of him so early in the New Year…) “Lady Suiren told me that I should give a proper New Year’s greeting. But still, wearing a kimono like this, and eating special foods called “Osechi”… The way we celebrate the New Year differs from region to region.”

お節料理(おせちりょうり/Osechi-ryori): Special dishes eaten during New Year’s in Japan

お正月(おしょうがつ/Oshogatsu): New Year’s days (In Japan, it depends but Jan.1 – 3 are called Oshogatsu and almost all companies and schools are on New Year holidays.)

壬氏「ああ。後宮の皆にも、いろんな物に触れてほしくてな。そうだ、もう一つ、正月らしいことをやらないか？この板で羽根を打ち合う、羽子板という遊びらしい」

Jinshi “Aa. Kokyuno mina-nimo, ironna mononi furete-hoshikute-na. Soda, mo-hitotsu, shogatsu-rashii koto’o yara-naika? Kono itade hane’o uchi-au, hagoita-to-iu asobi rashii.”

Jinshi “Yeah. I want everyone in the rear palace to have the opportunity to touch and interact with all kinds of things. Oh, how about we do one more thing that’s fitting for the New Year? It’s a game called “Hagoita,” where we hit shuttlecocks with this board.”

羽子板(はごいた/Hagoita): One of the old girls’ games. The winner writes something on the cheek of the loser.

猫猫（げっ。こういう遊びは得意ではないんだよなぁ。適当に理由を付けて断るか）

Maomao (Ge. Ko-iu asobiwa tokui-dewa nain-dayonaa. Tekitoni riyu’o tsukete kotowaruka.)

Maomao (Ugh. I’m not good at this kind of play. I’ll just make up an excuse and decline.)

猫猫「私なんかでは相手にならないかと。馬閃様とやられてはいかがですか？」

Maomao “Watashi-nanka-dewa aiteni naranai-kato. Basen-samato yararetewa ikaga desuka?”

Maomao “I don’t think I’m a match for you. How about you take on Master Basen?”

壬氏「いいのか？もしお前が勝ったら、褒美に……ほれ、この酒をやろう」

Jinshi “Ii-noka? Moshi omaega kattara, hobini… Hore, kono sake’o yaro.”

Jinshi “Are you sure? If you win, as a reward… here, I’ll give you this drink.”

猫猫「…フッ、フフフフ、ハハハハハ！壬氏様、どんな結果になっても恨みっこなしですからね！いざ尋常に！勝負です！」

Maomao “Fu, fufufufu, hahahahaha! Jinshi-sama, donna kekkani nattemo uramikko-nashi desu-karane! Iza jinjoni! Shobu desu!”

Maomao “…Huff, heh heh heh, hahahahahaha! Master Jinshi, no matter what the outcome, no hard feelings, right? Now, let’s have a fair fight!”

いざ尋常に勝負（いざじんじょうにしょうぶ/Iza jinjoni shobu）: stock phrase when starting a serious match in old samurai battles

猫猫「ぐうう……負けた……私の酒ぇ～…」

Maomao “Guuu……Maketa……Watashino sakeeee…”

Maomao “Grrr… I lost… My booze…”

壬氏「フッフッフッ……あ～…動いて少し疲れたな～、…さぁ、休憩でも取るとするか…薬屋、お前も付き合うか？ほれ」

Jinshi “Fuffuffu……Aaa…Ugoite sukoshi tsukareta-naaa, …Saa, kyukei-demo toruto suruka… Kusuriya, omaemo tsukiauka? Hore.”

Jinshi “Hehehe, ah, I’m a bit tired from all the moving around. I think I’ll take a break. Apothecary, do you want to join me? Come on.”

猫猫「はぁぁ…！さすが壬氏様！いつも本当に素敵です！理想の上司！」

Maomao “Haaa…! Sasuga Jinshi-sama! Itsumo hontoni suteki-desu! Risono joshi!”

Maomao “Ahh…! As expected of Master Jinshi! You’re always so wonderful! You’re the ideal boss!”

理想(りそう/Riso): ideal

上司(じょうし/Joshi): boss

壬氏「はぁ、…現金な奴め」

Jinshi “Haa, …Genkinna yatsume.”

Jinshi “Hmmm… what a calculating person.”

現金な（げんきんな/Genkinna）: calculating, mercenary, self-serving (It’s not a compliment, but not such a bad word. It’s a word used lightly to describe someone who suddenly becomes motivated as soon as they learn of the reward.)

ーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーー

Following picture shows a typical Japanese New Year's day. We eat special foods like Osechi and Ozoni. Ozoni is a soup with "mochi"(rice cake), and what goes into soup varies considerably depending on the region and each family.

皆さん、あけましておめでとうございます！いよいよ10日からシーズン2が始まりますね。一緒に楽しみましょう！

Happy New Year, everyone! Season 2 finally starts on 10 Jan., so let's have fun together!

[surprisebitch]

really grateful to be working in a company that values work life balance. i enjoy the work i do. the perks are amazing. i really went from graduating during the start of the white collar recession, 100+ applications, multiple series of interviews to two offers and got the best. like if you followed me since last year, you'd have seen how i struggled that i even made a personaltwt just to vent my hardships. like i'm really blessed and happy that my first fulltime job after grad aligns with my interests and strengths like i actually enjoy my weekdays

im glad i went against my family's wishes to pursue finance or accounting. im also glad i did all those coffee chats with consultants and investment bankers to later realize it wasnt for me. i'd really have been miserable. b2b saas marketing is really the right job for me. i'm glad i was courageous to pursue my career aspirations

[saasyobm]

SaaSy OBM High Level Training

Highlevel Training: The SaaS-y OBM Advantage

In the fast-paced world of SaaS businesses, staying on top of tasks and delivering exceptional client experiences requires a strategic approach. That’s where a SaaS-savvy Online Business Manager (OBM) shines. With Highlevel training as a cornerstone, these professionals become indispensable partners in scaling operations and optimizing workflows. They achieve this by setting up robust automation systems, creating efficient sales funnels, and leveraging data analytics to make informed decisions that support sustainable growth.

What is Highlevel Training?

Highlevel training equips OBMs with the skills to master GoHighLevel, a powerful SaaS platform designed for agencies and businesses. GoHighLevel provides tools for managing client relationships, automating workflows, and streamlining marketing efforts, making it an essential platform for efficiency and growth. GoHighLevel offers an all-in-one solution to manage client relationships, marketing, sales funnels, and automation. For OBMs, learning to navigate and leverage this platform means streamlining operations and delivering results efficiently.

Why OBMs Need Highlevel Training

The role of an OBM goes beyond basic task management. A SaaS-savvy OBM oversees systems, implements automation, and ensures seamless team collaboration. Highlevel training amplifies these abilities, enabling OBMs to:

Set Up Automated Workflows: Save hours by creating workflows for recurring tasks like client onboarding and email follow-ups.

Optimize Funnels: Build, test, and refine sales funnels to boost conversion rates.

Enhance CRM Efficiency: Use GoHighLevel’s CRM tools to track leads, nurture relationships, and improve client retention.

Streamline Communication: Integrate messaging systems that keep teams and clients on the same page.

The SaaS-y Edge

OBMs trained in Highlevel bring a competitive advantage to SaaS businesses. For example, a recent survey revealed that businesses leveraging GoHighLevel automation saw a 30% reduction in operational costs. This advantage stems from their ability to integrate technology with strategic planning, ensuring both efficiency and scalability. They align technology with business goals, making operations more agile and results-driven. This alignment ensures that businesses can scale without stumbling over inefficiencies or missed opportunities.

Real-Life Applications of Highlevel Training

Client Onboarding: A SaaS company faced challenges in onboarding new clients efficiently. An OBM with Highlevel training revamped the process by automating welcome emails, task assignments, and follow-up reminders, reducing onboarding time by 40%.

Marketing Campaigns: An agency struggled with tracking the performance of multiple campaigns. Using GoHighLevel, their OBM consolidated all campaign data into one dashboard, enabling real-time insights and faster adjustments.

Team Collaboration: By integrating communication tools within GoHighLevel, an OBM eliminated scattered emails and miscommunications, improving project delivery timelines.

How to Get Started with Highlevel Training

For aspiring SaaS OBMs or those looking to enhance their skill set, Highlevel training is a must. It provides the foundational knowledge needed to effectively manage complex systems, automate tasks, and deliver seamless client experiences, which are critical for success in the SaaS industry. Here’s how you can dive in:

Enroll in Online Courses: Platforms like Udemy and Skillshare offer beginner to advanced courses tailored to GoHighLevel.

Attend Webinars: GoHighLevel frequently hosts live sessions to showcase new features and best practices.

Leverage Community Resources: Join GoHighLevel user groups or forums to exchange tips and learn from seasoned professionals.

Practice Hands-On: The best way to master the platform is through real-world application. Offer free trials of your services or work on personal projects to build confidence.

Benefits of Hiring a Highlevel-Trained OBM

If you’re a SaaS entrepreneur or agency owner, partnering with an OBM proficient in Highlevel is a game-changer. Here’s why:

Time Savings: Delegate complex tasks and focus on growth.

Cost Efficiency: Streamlined operations mean reduced overhead costs.

Improved Client Satisfaction: Automation ensures timely responses and consistent service.

Scalability: With systems in place, scaling becomes a breeze.

Final Thoughts

Highlevel training transforms OBMs into powerhouse professionals who drive efficiency and growth for SaaS businesses. Whether you’re an OBM looking to upskill or a business owner seeking operational excellence, investing in this training pays dividends. With the right expertise, you can turn your SaaS dreams into a thriving reality.

Take the leap into the future of business management with Highlevel training. Explore online courses, join user communities, and practice hands-on to unlock your SaaS-y success story!

[klapollo]

is copywriting a good job to look into as a writer? im job hunting and i see quite a few openings online but im worried the work will be extremely dreary

i didnt set out to be a copywriter -- frankly when i graduated i had no idea what i wanted to do. i spent about three and a half years freelancing and doing gig work and i'd make like 140 bucks a month on a good year. i happened to apply for a copywriting job among a sea of other entry level things -- social media coordinator, communications associate etc. and i feel SOOOOO fucking blessed that i fell into copywriting

in terms of money: copywriting is very lucrative if you get the experience for it and stay the course. my very first position with no prior copywriting experience (just freelance writing experience) paid me 35/hr. starting off you'll probably make about 50k but moving up the hierarchy can pay a LOT. with four years of experience, during my job hunt i would say the vast majority of the positions i interviewed were within a six figure salary band. moving up the hierarchy, lots of senior copywriters make six figs, and some associate creative directors make over 200k. you can definitely live comfortably as a career copywriter if you play your cards right.

in terms of work: personally i love copywriting, but it's an arm of marketing. if you cant stomach writing marketing materials or learning how marketing works, it might not be for you, but i kinda make it into a game in my head. there's a lot of different kinds of copy -- short form (landing pages, social media blurbs, headlines, emails, product descriptions etc) and long form (white papers, SEO articles/blog posts, ebooks). i would aim to find a copywriting position that will have a wide scope of copy types, because that helps cultivate a well-rounded resume (i.e. shoot for a job that'll have you writing landing pages, emails and blog posts etc over one that's just headlines and captions).

there is also B2C (business to customer, as in marketing a consumer product to individuals) and B2B (business to business, as in marketing a product like mailchimp to a business). i mostly do B2C, but I also do B2B now. it's fine to start with just one, but i'd say right now demand is very high for B2B

the good thing about copywriting is that basically any industry requires it in some capacity. i've worked predominantly in entertainment and digital media, but right now i'd say the biggest demand is in healthcare, fintech and SaaS (software). i freelance for a telehealth company right now in part because i want to make my portfolio more well-rounded. but as i said, nearly any industry can need one -- hospitality, beauty, fashion, retail, nonprofits, anything that is a business that needs to be advertised. when i started, i worked in television, which meant my days largely consisted of watching shows before air and writing episode descriptions. i had a lot of fun!

personally, i dont find my work dreary. sometimes it can be a LITTLE tedious if i'm writing something more technical/internal, but the whole point of copywriting is to figure out how to entice someone to check something out, which means puzzling out how to write something fun and engaging. if you want something less marketing-focused, i would look into getting into technical writing. this is basically writing informational texts and guides for technology and similar things. it pays VERY well and is usually in high demand, but i will say it's definitely more tedious than copywriting.

in short: yes i love copywriting and you can be very financially stable in it! i'd argue it's one of the most financially comfortable day jobs for someone with writing experience. happy hunting anon!!!! i hope u get what ur after

[blockchainbusinesstalk]

The Rise of Blockchain Payment Gateways: How They Are Changing Transactions

In recent years, cryptocurrency has gone from being a tech experiment to a practical tool for everyday use. One of the most exciting developments in this space is the rise of blockchain payment gateways. These platforms are giving businesses a way to accept payments in digital currencies like Bitcoin, Ethereum, and stablecoins. But what exactly makes blockchain payment gateways so special, and how can they benefit businesses? Let’s break it down.

What Is a Blockchain Payment Gateway?

Think of a blockchain payment gateway as the bridge between your business and customers who want to pay with cryptocurrency. Instead of relying on traditional banks or payment processors, these gateways use blockchain technology to send and receive payments. Transactions are quick, secure, and work without needing a middleman.

What Makes Them Different?

Direct Transactions: With blockchain, payments go directly from the customer to the business. No middle layers. No unnecessary waiting.

Global Payments Without Borders: Cryptocurrencies don’t care about borders or bank restrictions. A customer from New York can pay a shop in Tokyo just as easily as a local.

Security You Can Trust: Blockchain’s design makes it tamper-proof. Each transaction is recorded on a public ledger, ensuring transparency and preventing fraud.

Lower Fees: Businesses save money because blockchain payments skip the usual banking fees and currency conversion costs.

Privacy for Everyone: Customers don’t need to share personal banking details, which makes transactions safer for them and simpler for businesses.

Why Should Businesses Care?

Cryptocurrency adoption is growing fast. By accepting crypto payments, businesses can:

Reach New Customers: Crypto users are a growing audience. Adding this option could bring in customers who wouldn’t otherwise buy.

Prevent Payment Issues: Traditional systems often have chargebacks, where a customer disputes a payment and the money is reversed. Blockchain payments are final—once made, they can’t be undone.

Stay Ahead of the Curve: Digital currencies are becoming mainstream. Adopting blockchain payments now can put businesses ahead of competitors.

Where Can This Be Used?

E-commerce: Online stores can give customers an easy way to pay with crypto.

Subscriptions: Services like streaming platforms or SaaS companies can use blockchain to handle recurring payments.

Freelancers: Blockchain allows individuals to get paid faster and without high transfer fees, no matter where the client is.

How to Start Using Blockchain Payments

Getting started with a blockchain payment gateway is easier than you might think. Platforms like OxaPay provide tools that help businesses quickly integrate crypto payments. These gateways often include:

Simple setup tools, like plugins for popular platforms like WooCommerce.

Options to accept multiple cryptocurrencies, so customers can pay with their preferred coin.

Features like fixed payment addresses or automated notifications to keep things organized.

Why Blockchain Payments Are the Future

At its core, blockchain is about efficiency and fairness. It simplifies payments, lowers costs, and opens up opportunities for businesses to connect with a global audience. Whether you're running a small shop or a large company, embracing blockchain payment gateways can give you an edge in today’s competitive market.

The shift to digital currency is already happening. The only question is: will your business be part of it?

For more straightforward tips on using blockchain in your business, explore other posts on Blockchain Business Talk. We’re here to help you take the next step with confidence.

[makuojinanwa]

How To Create A Content Marketing Strategy For Your SaaS Business

Whether you're starting conversations that engage your target audience, sharing information that positions your SaaS business as an industry leader, or simply drumming up business for your SaaS product, you need an effective SaaS content marketing strategy.

Why you may ask?

Because 63% of customers cite web pages during their evaluation process. And on the average, companies that blog receive 434% more indexed pages. If, on an industry-wide scale, you have nearly 10 times more leads from long form blog posts than short ones, then content marketing is a priority if you want to grow your SaaS business long term.

In this guide, we'll discuss SaaS content marketing strategy. And by the end, you'll know what content strategy is, why you need one and when to apply it. Then you'll get a step-by-step process of creating a content strategy unique to your SaaS business.

Defining SaaS Content Strategy

If you don't understand content strategy, we'll explain what it is before we get to the why and when.

So what is content strategy?

Content strategy is simply all the content processes a business employs to get prospects to buy their product or service. There's

#Audience Research

#Business Model

#Content Ideation

#Media Platforms

#Content Creation

#Distribution &

#Evaluation

And as a SaaS business owner, SaaS content strategy is simply a content strategy that accounts for your SaaS business model.

SaaS companies like Canva, Buffer and HubSpot have executed robust content marketing strategies that have scaled their lead generation and subscription efforts.

Specifically, Grammarly has a blog that educates their readers on writing styles and technique. Their blog has over 100,000 subscribers and their content has over 5 million views.

These readers get freemium access to their editing tool. They number 30 million users. And a good number of these readers end up paying for their editing software.

As a SaaS business owner, you can aim for similar success, cheap and exponential business growth, with an effective SaaS content strategy.

Benefit Of SaaS Content Strategy

Focus stands out amongst content strategy benefits like exponential growth and cheap lead generation. Joe Pulizzi stressed the importance of content strategy and expanded on focus as a SaaS content strategy benefit when he said this…

"We need to create a business strategy for our content. That means saying no to many channels and content types, and focus on where we can build an asset, an audience, overtime."

- Joe Pulizzi

A good SaaS content strategy saves time and energy that would otherwise be spent talking to the void. Strategy quickly gets you closer to what works. By studying your target market, you discover not just what to say, but where and when to say it.

Let's take HubSpot for instance here.

HubSpot's blog posts are comprehensive guides to unlock business growth via sales and marketing. Their blog content has a strong bias towards explaining theories and practices. But on their Instagram page, we observe something different. Content is more conversational and personable. Learning takes a back seat to experience and entertainment.

Their blog readers and Instagram followers are different. And even when these audiences overlap, we see different attitudes for different platforms. And in this case, the same lead is in a different mindset depending on which platform they consume HubSpot's content.

We can see that HubSpot's approach to content creation and distribution considers platform culture when talking about the same topics. These content strategy insights come from studying market behavior on search engines and different social media platforms.

So now they don't have to work mindlessly. They have knowledge and a plan on how to use relevant content to generate leads and sales.

This is the process of creating a content strategy and you can do the same for your SaaS business.

When To Use SaaS Content Strategy

From time to time, I find founders and aspiring entrepreneurs asking when to use content strategy in their business.

My answer?

Start as soon as you can. In fact, you should have started yesterday even if you don't have a product or market. Surprised? Let me explain.

Early Stage SaaS Companies

You see, a content strategy is valuable because of what it makes you do. You can't have a strategy to engage a market if you first don't know your core service or product, and who would need your offer.

Say you're a digital marketer helping e-commerce stores increase website traffic. And you hope to sell software services to e-commerce store owners in the future. You could use a content strategy where you document your process of helping e-commerce websites grow their traffic.

Now you're engaging your market while figuring out other problems they may have that would be worth a SaaS tool. Before UberSuggest, Neil Patel ran his digital marketing blog for many years. He offered educational content to digital marketers and online entrepreneurs on how to grow their businesses. Now his SaaS tool, UberSuggest, helps entrepreneurs with keywords for their content marketing efforts.

Established SaaS Companies

On the other hand, established SaaS businesses can improve the value of their business by having another option to generate leads and sales. Outbound processes like cold calling and emailing can be effective and sustainable. But adding inbound processes like content marketing to the mix increase lead gen options and strengthens outbound processes too.

Regardless of where you are in your SaaS journey, creating a good SaaS content strategy keeps you in touch with your product and market.

Now having understood what a SaaS content strategy is and can do, let's get into the weeds of creating one.

Defining Your Market

All effective SaaS content strategy starts out with a defined market. As a SaaS business owner, ask yourself these questions…

Who needs what you sell?

Why do they have this need?

What would they feel like when said need is satisfied?

What else do they do outside finding said satisfaction?

These questions give you an opportunity to understand your market. Say you sell business software to freelance writers and content creators. Freelance writers and content creators need high paying clients and commercial success with their audience respectively.

But is that all?

It isn't. Dig deeper.

For a freelance writer, higher paying clients mean

Reduced Anxiety

Meaningful Work &

Time Freedom

And for the content creator, a profitable product they own means

Income Stability

Creative Freedom &

Work Satisfaction

As an owner of your business software, you now know what your editing or invoice software actually means to your market. You know their needs and what they'll feel like when satisfied.

So it's time to find them.

SaaS Content Strategy Platforms

We've answered the above questions for your hypothetical software business except for what content creators and freelance writers do outside their core jobs.

Answering the last question brings up more questions…

Do they consume business content from online gurus?

Do they take courses from fellow writers and bloggers?

What about search and social groups where they interact with fellow content creators and freelancers?

Remember, we're trying to find out their hangout spots online. So wherever they spend their time online is a potential content strategy platform. Content strategy platforms are places that shape your tone and approach to creating engaging content that converts prospects.

You can speak with your customers to get an idea of how they spend their online hours when they're not working. Of course you can't go around asking awkward questions like

'Where do you spend your time online?'.

Instead, you can say something like

'What's your most inspiring piece of educational content in the last 2 months?'

'Who's making content that gets you excited?'

'What obstacles do you face that often hinder your productivity?' (By the way, whoever is offering courses or creating content to solve that problem is a potential content strategy platform.)

Get a list of these content strategy platforms and go to work studying your market. You'll find yourself in reddit channels, comment sections of Instagram accounts and YouTube channels. You'll pick up Twitter trends and read blog comments.

Before long, the picture of your market becomes clear. You'll be full of content and distribution ideas for your content marketing campaign. Your SEO keyword search would be much more robust instead of staring at keyword software charts with frustration.

Back to our hypothetical software business. Your market research would take you to content strategy platforms like Ali Abdaal, Dan Koe, Zulie Rane, Gary Vee and Roberto Blake. These creators serve the typical content creator and freelance writer. Observe how they talk and what they talk about in the comment sections of these influencer accounts.

Now you know exactly what your market wants and you know how to create content for them.

It's time to engage and convert.

Engaging And Converting Your Audience

Many SaaS companies get it right up to this point but skid off track at this crucial bend. They lose because they want to engage their prospects on the company's terms. Don't make that mistake.

Remember our earlier conversation about HubSpot's approach to their blog and Instagram accounts?

Good.

They observed that business owners on search engines such as Google, have search intent to learn about new information and products to solve business problems. So HubSpot's blog attracts them with big prominent blog titles and small author bylines.

Blog Titles

Picture of HubSpot's SERP

Blog Titles and Author Bylines

Picture of HubSpot's Blog Post

You get the sense that it's ideas first before people. On the other hand, business owners and professionals who want to unwind while being social on Instagram, dictate HubSpot's Instagram approach to content creation. Here, social interaction and entertainment are priority over ideas and education.

Personality Over Theory

Picture of HubSpot's Instagram account

It's not enough to create content, you have to do so native to each platform. This is where strategy bleeds into tactics. Let's talk team building.

Building A Content Team

Having understood what it takes to create a practical SaaS content strategy, it's time to roll up your sleeves and get to tactics. You could start solo but at some point, you'd need to build a team.

We'll examine 4 factors that determine the success of your team. They're

Vision

Roles

Collaboration &

Accountability

We'll begin with vision.

Vision

Your vision is volume and creativity. You have a SaaS content strategy and ideas to engage your prospects. But to get results, you need to create and distribute as much content as possible.

We're talking 20-30 social media posts daily with at least 3-10 social engagements per post. Write blog posts, record podcasts and YouTube videos on a daily basis. Repurpose your long form posts for social. You want to find what sticks.

This is hard work but that's the real secret to content marketing success.

Especially at the beginning, you have to find out what actually works. So volume and creativity is the vision when hiring a content marketing team. At such volume, in 3-5 years, you'll evaluate content activity and do more of what engages your market. And consistent sales roll in.

There are no shortcuts to this game. It's not a sprint or a marathon, it's both. The long hard road is the easiest and shortest one. Get to work. As entrepreneurs, we instinctively understand that outbound processes like cold calling are a numbers game but we don't apply it to content marketing.

There are so many intangible content marketing skills that can only be mastered via the fire hose approach. So when building your content marketing team, your overarching vision is that big is better.

Roles

You want big and better, so it's time to get you a content marketing team who can achieve your goals. I'd say that there are 3 major content marketing roles.

Director

Manager &

Creative

When you were creating your content marketing strategy for your hypothetical SaaS company, you played the director role. In addition to setting the vision for content strategy, a director of content analyses and adjusts content efforts to achieve customer and company goals.

The manager is in charge of content production and adjacent processes. They hire creatives, supervise them and build systems that guarantee the right flow of content creation and distribution.

Creatives create content assets, engage with professionals within your business and prospects via content strategy platforms. They also collaborate with both manager and director to improve their creative processes.

Collaboration

Team collaboration with each other and the larger organization decides success. On the director level, they have to find a balance between customer satisfaction and company goals.

When creating a content strategy, these 2 criteria guide the content strategy process. Many times, the director is the link between C-suite and the content marketing branch of the company.

The manager, in many ways, is the middleman. They make strategy, from the director, and tactics from creatives, align. Giving strategy legs, and tactics direction, leads to a successful conveyor belt of content assets and development of customer-company relationships.

Creatives who collaborate effectively with their managers, get to do meaningful and result-driven work.

Accountability

Accountability is probably the only way to see through projects. We'll look at 3 ways to hold both you and the team accountable for your roles.

I. Set Realistic Goals

At the beginning you want the team to start with small achievable goals. A social media content creator who hasn't done more than 5 posts a day shouldn't start their first day on the job creating 30 social media posts daily.

II. Set General Guidelines And Standards

Something as simple as adequate communication during work hours should be basic. Team chats and emails shouldn't be left unattended for 3 days without prior notification of a new development. Team members should attend meetings.

III. Assign Specific Tasks To Individual

A good example here would be creatives being in charge of content creation and distribution. They're not responsible for engagement results. That's the responsibility of the manager and director.

Conclusion

As we draw this guide to a close, it's important to note that content marketing strategy will always be worth its business results. And since ever-changing markets affect business results, you'll always have to evaluate your tactics and strategy.

At the beginning of your content marketing efforts, a strategy, content schedule and distribution map, should be the goal. It isn't about the number of views as it's about the number of content pieces you create. And that's why volume is important.

A year or 2 into this flurry of activity, all content strategy platforms would show noticeable patterns of engagement. Some content pieces would have more engagement than others. This is where evaluation comes in.

Ditch what doesn't work and do more of what does. Scaling what works at this point would grow views and traffic. Just as we discussed, content marketing strategy is the first in a series of steps to generate leads and sales for your business.

If you have further questions about SaaS content strategy or content marketing in general, leave a comment below and it'll be addressed.

[wolfliving]

Internet of dead bikes, etc

*Stacey Higginbotham:

Plan for death at the start of building your connected device

This week brings us the tale of yet another connected device that may become a useless chunk of scrap because its maker is going out of business. In this case, the affected product is the VanMoof e-bike, which cost buyers $5,000 and requires a working app for many of the bike's functions.

VanMoof has gone into the Dutch version of bankruptcy, and owners of the product have been told that if the servers shut down, users will have no way to get a security key needed to operate many of the bike's features. For buyers of connected products ranging from home hubs to sous vide cookers, the end of a connected device company often means the end of a functioning product.

But it doesn't have to be this awful for consumers. By planning for failure, startups (and large companies like Amazon or Facebook) can kill their products better.

— VanMoof promises users that their connected bikes will get "better and better" through software updates. What they don't advertise is that without their servers, the bike may not even work. 

In the case of VanMoof, a rival connected e-bike company has created an app that will purportedly unlock the VanMoof bikes and provide some functionality. But relying on a competitor to hack together some software to control a device made by another vendor and hoping that, as a user, you can download your security key from the VanMoof servers, before those servers are shut down, is not an ideal scenario.

It's the equivalent of rushing through your home as a fire burns, trying to grab people, pets, important papers, and heirlooms while the walls crumble. Folks with go bags or even a sense of what to take first are in a far better position if the worst happens. And by now, every company building a connected device needs the equivalent of a go bag or at the very least, a checklist.

Design your business model and device differently

It starts with the design. When designing the physical product, designers need to think about graceful degradation. Put physical buttons on the device. Make sure the product functions as a bike, a juicer, an oven, or whatever else even if the additional software-based or connected features fail. When it comes to making decisions about the chips and services used in the hardware, consider ongoing maintenance costs and how long that hardware will get necessary security updates.

I've seen startups run into issues after they chose a hardware platform that required monthly payments that increase based on the device usage. One of the services was associated with keeping the product secure, so the device makers had the best goals in mind but realized too late that the initial design decision obligated the company to make annual payments that would rise as more people purchased and then used their devices.

Understanding the cloud architecture costs and decisions made when designing a connected device's software and apps also matters. Unlike with dumb physical hardware, where calculating the cost of any good sold ends once the device ships, connected devices have a continued ongoing cost more commonly associated with software.

Software gets around the ongoing cost issue by charging a licensing fee or charging for the product as a service. Hardware providers are trying to offset these ongoing costs with additional subscriptions, or in some cases by offering a SaaS model and throwing in hardware as part of a monthly fee.

Escrow funds, not source code

Any company selling a connected device should understand the monthly cost of supporting their servers and apps, and set aside the appropriate dollar amount to ensure that service providers get paid — even if the company runs into trouble. This means any product must have an escrow account with six months or a year of ongoing device upkeep fees allocated.

This means if a startup goes out of business, it has the funds to notify people that the connected device they spent money on will stop working after a set time as opposed to it just going dark on a random April night (hello, Insteon). Bigger companies may not need an escrow fund, but they, too, should kill underperforming devices with long lead times, discounts, and perhaps even refunds. Those strategies should be part of any initial planning for a new connected device.

We often hear of users demanding that companies put the source code for connected devices into escrow, so that users can run the code on their own servers and keep their devices operational. This strategy has three flaws.

The first is that the source code may not be enough to keep a device running, especially as elements like secure keys and certificate subscriptions are now part of connected device designs.

The second flaw is that not every device is suited for some side-loaded open source code. Meta is dealing with this as it pulls back from its connected video calling device, the Portal. Because the Portal has mics and cameras that a hacker might want to use to spy on users, Meta doesn't want to let people load software onto the product to keep it working; it represents too much risk. Instead, it would rather shut the devices down entirely.

Third, opening up the source code may make it easy for a select few to run a device, but it's not something the average consumer can or will do. So when thinking about escrow, think funds, not source code.

Learn from Amazon and others

There are examples of device deaths done right. Amazon actually provided a good example this year when it announced the end of its Halo wellness devices. Amazon made the announcement in April, and told consumers that 96 days later, the devices would stop working.

This was a relatively short amount of time, but Amazon promised full refunds to anyone who had purchased any of the devices within the prior 12 months, and immediately stopped charging subscription fees associated with Halo devices. It also refunded any unused prepaid Halo subscription fees and said it would delete all data associated with Halo devices without requiring the consumer to take any additional steps.

The ease of refunding customers was only available to Amazon because it was the sole retailer of the Halo devices, which isn't the case for every connected product, but it was clear that Amazon wanted to get out of the Halo business quickly and with minimum consumer fuss. So it made it incredibly easy.

Finally, Amazon asked consumers to ship the devices back for recycling and made doing so free, going far beyond what most companies are doing with dead devices.

Amazon isn't the only company that has ended its products' lives early. The German company behind the Neato vacuum, Vorwerk, shut down the vacuum division this year. But it also said it would maintain a staff of 14 people for the next five years to ensure the security and functioning of the vacuum’s cloud software and app. Vorwerk further said that it would provide replacement parts for up to five years.

I've seen other companies kill their devices with discounts for replacement gear and long lead times. That's the bare minimum, but it can still be frustrating for consumers. For example, I own a set of Arlo connected video cameras I purchased in the summer of 2017. In January of this year Arlo said it would classify my cameras as end of life as of April 2023, which means they would lose several features including free 7-day video storage, firmware updates, and email notifications.  

Since the reason I chose those cameras in the first place was that I got a 7-day window to see my videos before they were deleted without paying for a subscription, I was nonplussed about the short notice but frustrated that my cameras were going to die after only six years. After user outrage, Arlo said that it would continue with 7-day video storage until July 2024 before the devices would lose security updates and that functionality. For me, this means the cameras I paid $220 for in 2017 would work for seven years.

Expiration dates for smart devices

Had I know all of that when buying my cameras, I probably would have been fine with the cost/benefits tradeoff. But others may not have. And this is why in today's day and age, every single device should come with a guarantee that the device will work for a set number of years.  

Companies can go beyond this date, but they need to establish minimums that get displayed on the box and for devices sold online, at the point of sale. This includes how long the device will get new features and essential security updates. The UK has already enshrined this idea in regulations that will take effect in April next year.

Additionally, knowing the device expiration date can help companies figure out how much money they should set aside in the escrow accounts. It also ensures that when another company buys a connected device maker, they can't simply shut it down. Connected devices have been around long enough that we understand the challenges they pose for business models and the challenges that result when those companies fail.

It's past time we start doing something about it.

[jcmarchi]

Generative AI, innovation, creativity & what the future might hold - CyberTalk

New Post has been published on https://thedigitalinsider.com/generative-ai-innovation-creativity-what-the-future-might-hold-cybertalk/

Generative AI, innovation, creativity & what the future might hold - CyberTalk

Stephen M. Walker II is CEO and Co-founder of Klu, an LLM App Platform. Prior to founding Klu, Stephen held product leadership roles Productboard, Amazon, and Capital One.

Are you excited about empowering organizations to leverage AI for innovative endeavors? So is Stephen M. Walker II, CEO and Co-Founder of the company Klu, whose cutting-edge LLM platform empowers users to customize generative AI systems in accordance with unique organizational needs, resulting in transformative opportunities and potential.

In this interview, Stephen not only discusses his innovative vertical SaaS platform, but also addresses artificial intelligence, generative AI, innovation, creativity and culture more broadly. Want to see where generative AI is headed? Get perspectives that can inform your viewpoint, and help you pave the way for a successful 2024. Stay current. Keep reading.

Please share a bit about the Klu story:

We started Klu after seeing how capable the early versions of OpenAI’s GPT-3 were when it came to common busy-work tasks related to HR and project management. We began building a vertical SaaS product, but needed tools to launch new AI-powered features, experiment with them, track changes, and optimize the functionality as new models became available. Today, Klu is actually our internal tools turned into an app platform for anyone building their own generative features.

What kinds of challenges can Klu help solve for users?

Building an AI-powered feature that connects to an API is pretty easy, but maintaining that over time and understanding what’s working for your users takes months of extra functionality to build out. We make it possible for our users to build their own version of ChatGPT, built on their internal documents or data, in minutes.

What is your vision for the company?

The founding insight that we have is that there’s a lot of busy work that happens in companies and software today. I believe that over the next few years, you will see each company form AI teams, responsible for the internal and external features that automate this busy work away.

I’ll give you a good example for managers: Today, if you’re a senior manager or director, you likely have two layers of employees. During performance management cycles, you have to read feedback for each employee and piece together their strengths and areas for improvement. What if, instead, you received a briefing for each employee with these already synthesized and direct quotes from their peers? Now think about all of the other tasks in business that take several hours and that most people dread. We are building the tools for every company to easily solve this and bring AI into their organization.

Please share a bit about the technology behind the product:

In many ways, Klu is not that different from most other modern digital products. We’re built on cloud providers, use open source frameworks like Nextjs for our app, and have a mix of Typescript and Python services. But with AI, what’s unique is the need to lower latency, manage vector data, and connect to different AI models for different tasks. We built on Supabase using Pgvector to build our own vector storage solution. We support all major LLM providers, but we partnered with Microsoft Azure to build a global network of embedding models (Ada) and generative models (GPT-4), and use Cloudflare edge workers to deliver the fastest experience.

What innovative features or approaches have you introduced to improve user experiences/address industry challenges?

One of the biggest challenges in building AI apps is managing changes to your LLM prompts over time. The smallest changes might break for some users or introduce new and problematic edge cases. We’ve created a system similar to Git in order to track version changes, and we use proprietary AI models to review the changes and alert our customers if they’re making breaking changes. This concept isn’t novel for traditional developers, but I believe we’re the first to bring these concepts to AI engineers.

How does Klu strive to keep LLMs secure?

Cyber security is paramount at Klu. From day one, we created our policies and system monitoring for SOC2 auditors. It’s crucial for us to be a trusted partner for our customers, but it’s also top of mind for many enterprise customers. We also have a data privacy agreement with Azure, which allows us to offer GDPR-compliant versions of the OpenAI models to our customers. And finally, we offer customers the ability to redact PII from prompts so that this data is never sent to third-party models.

Internally we have pentest hackathons to understand where things break and to proactively understand potential threats. We use classic tools like Metasploit and Nmap, but the most interesting results have been finding ways to mitigate unintentional denial of service attacks. We proactively test what happens when we hit endpoints with hundreds of parallel requests per second.

What are your perspectives on the future of LLMs (predictions for 2024)?

This (2024) will be the year for multi-modal frontier models. A frontier model is just a foundational model that is leading the state of the art for what is possible. OpenAI will roll out GPT-4 Vision API access later this year and we anticipate this exploding in usage next year, along with competitive offerings from other leading AI labs. If you want to preview what will be possible, ChatGPT Pro and Enterprise customers have access to this feature in the app today.

Early this year, I heard leaders worried about hallucinations, privacy, and cost. At Klu and across the LLM industry, we found solutions for this and we continue to see a trend of LLMs becoming cheaper and more capable each year. I always talk to our customers about not letting these stop your innovation today. Start small, and find the value you can bring to your customers. Find out if you have hallucination issues, and if you do, work on prompt engineering, retrieval, and fine-tuning with your data to reduce this. You can test these new innovations with engaged customers that are ok with beta features, but will greatly benefit from what you are offering them. Once you have found market fit, you have many options for improving privacy and reducing costs at scale – but I would not worry about that in the beginning, it’s premature optimization.

LLMs introduce a new capability into the product portfolio, but it’s also an additional system to manage, monitor, and secure. Unlike other software in your portfolio, LLMs are not deterministic, and this is a mindset shift for everyone. The most important thing for CSOs is to have a strategy for enabling their organization’s innovation. Just like any other software system, we are starting to see the equivalent of buffer exploits, and expect that these systems will need to be monitored and secured if connected to data that is more important than help documentation.

Your thoughts on LLMs, AI and creativity?

Personally, I’ve had so much fun with GenAI, including image, video, and audio models. I think the best way to think about this is that the models are better than the average person. For me, I’m below average at drawing or creating animations, but I’m above average when it comes to writing. This means I can have creative ideas for an image, the model will bring these to life in seconds, and I am very impressed. But for writing, I’m often frustrated with the boring ideas, although it helps me find blind spots in my overall narrative. The reason for this is that LLMs are just bundles of math finding the most probable answer to the prompt. Human creativity —from the arts, to business, to science— typically comes from the novel combinations of ideas, something that is very difficult for LLMs to do today. I believe the best way to think about this is that the employees who adopt AI will be more productive and creative— the LLM removes their potential weaknesses, and works like a sparring partner when brainstorming.

You and Sam Altman agree on the idea of rethinking the global economy. Say more?

Generative AI greatly changes worker productivity, including the full automation of many tasks that you would typically hire more people to handle as a business scales. The easiest way to think about this is to look at what tasks or jobs a company currently outsources to agencies or vendors, especially ones in developing nations where skill requirements and costs are lower. Over this coming decade you will see work that used to be outsourced to global labor markets move to AI and move under the supervision of employees at an organization’s HQ.

As the models improve, workers will become more productive, meaning that businesses will need fewer employees performing the same tasks. Solo entrepreneurs and small businesses have the most to gain from these technologies, as they will enable them to stay smaller and leaner for longer, while still growing revenue. For large, white-collar organizations, the idea of measuring management impact by the number of employees under a manager’s span of control will quickly become outdated.

While I remain optimistic about these changes and the new opportunities that generative AI will unlock, it does represent a large change to the global economy. Klu met with UK officials last week to discuss AI Safety and I believe the countries investing in education, immigration, and infrastructure policy today will be best suited to contend with these coming changes. This won’t happen overnight, but if we face these changes head on, we can help transition the economy smoothly.

Is there anything else that you would like to share with the CyberTalk.org audience?

Expect to see more security news regarding LLMs. These systems are like any other software and I anticipate both poorly built software and bad actors who want to exploit these systems. The two exploits that I track closely are very similar to buffer overflows. One enables an attacker to potentially bypass and hijack that prompt sent to an LLM, the other bypasses the model’s alignment tuning, which prevents it from answering questions like, “how can I build a bomb?” We’ve also seen projects like GPT4All leak API keys to give people free access to paid LLM APIs. These leaks typically come from the keys being stored in the front-end or local cache, which is a security risk completely unrelated to AI or LLMs.

[govindhtech]

IBM Maximo AWS Deployment Strategies

The Business Value of IBM Maximo, a recent IDC report that surveyed 9 companies with an average of 8,500 employees, found that adopting IBM Maximo resulted in a business benefit of USD 14.6 million per year per organization, 43% less unplanned downtime, and USD 8.6 million in total equipment cost avoidances.

One comprehensive, cloud-based application platform for asset monitoring, management, predictive maintenance, and reliability planning is IBM Maximo Application Suite (MAS). Maximo optimizes performance, extends asset lifecycles, and reduces downtime and costs for high-value assets using AI and analytics. Hosting Maximo on a scalable infrastructure maximizes performance, hence the current tendency is to shift it to the cloud. In this trip, MAS migration and deployment on AWS Cloud are gaining popularity.

The growing demand for Maximo AWS Cloud migration

Migrating to cloud helps enterprises improve operational resilience and dependability while updating software with minimal effort and infrastructure constraints. Due to the growing demand for data-driven asset management, firms must aggregate data from diverse departments to identify trends, generate predictions, and make better asset management decisions.

Last April, IBM said Maximo 7.6 and add-on support would stop in September 2025. All Maximo EAM customers must upgrade to the latest cloud-based MAS. Maximo migration and modernization are become increasingly significant to clients.

IBM has released new containerized versions of Maximo Application Suite as a Service (MAS SaaS) on AWS Marketplace with Bring Your Own License (BYOL) to assist Maximo migration to AWS. MAS SaaS on AWS is another milestone in Maximo’s integration of Monitor, Health, and Visual Inspection into a unified suite.

What makes MAS SaaS distinct

IBM Site Reliability Engineering (SRE) specialists use best practices to continuously maintain and administer MAS SaaS, a subscription-based AWS service. This partnership gives customers an industry-leading IBM asset management system underpinned by AWS’s size, agility, and cost-efficiency.

Upgrades and migrations to MAS 8 are possible with MAS SaaS. The data update is similar to prior upgrades, but ROSA and other dependencies require architecture changes. The migration is comparable to how clients transitioned from on-premise to Maximo EAM SaaS Flex, but with MAS changes. Perpetual on-premises customers would stop paying Service & Support (S&S) and purchase a SaaS subscription, on-premises Subscription License customers would start a new subscription, and existing MAS Flex and MAS Managed Service customers would start a new subscription to migrate to MAS SaaS.

Our IBM Consulting Cloud Accelerator (ICCA) technology lets firms plan migration and upgrade strategies before investing.

Maximo migration strategy of a global energy firm

IBM worked closely with an energy company confronting the following challenges:

Infrastructure needed for latest Maximo version takes longer.

WebSphere, Maximo’s core, experienced high-availability and performance difficulties.

Lack of data fabric and integration layer hinders cross-application data interchange.

Complex setup, failures, and security with manual end-to-end deployment.

Since Maximo Application Suite 8 (MAS8) tackles industry issues like failure risk, escalating maintenance costs, sustainability, and compliance laws, the customer chose it. The client chose AWS Cloud for its deployment flexibility, scalability, high availability, and secure architecture. 

Approach to solution

This is how IBM accelerated the energy company’s Maximo move to AWS:

Used Infra as a code to upgrade Maximo from 7.6.0.9 to 7.6.1.2.

IaC allowed instance spin-up for auto scaling. This automation reduces the time to spin up and execute the new environment and addresses multi-AWS availability zone deployment latency.

Used AWS DMS for data migration and schema conversion.

IaC spun the DR environment on demand to reduce database replication (DR) infrastructure and expense. DR capabilities update data in availability zone and DR area.

Achieved data exchange across applications using IBM Cloud Pak for Data and standardized integration using IBM Cloud Pak for Integration components.

Solution components

Maximum Enterprise Application Management (EAM) has a 3-tier design with these components:

HTTP/Web Tier and Application Tier using IBM WebSphere and HIS installed EC2 instance under private subnet for application security.

Database Tier uses AWS Oracle RDS with replication for DR under private subnet.

AWS best practices were used to configure VPC with public and private subnets.

Application servers and deployment manager were autoscaled by Auto Scaling Group. 

Maximum web-based UI resolution for external access using AWS Route 53.

WAF was the initial line of defense against web exploits.

Integration of Terraform and CFT IaC scripts provided autoscaling architecture.

AWS Reference Architecture

Max on RedHat OpenShift Service on AWS (ROSA) helps clients

Containerized MAS 8.0 runs on RedHat OpenShift. AWS, IBM, and RedHat developed an IBM MAS on ROSA reference architecture to help customers inexperienced with production containerization. ROSA, a fully managed, turnkey application platform, supports IBM MAS configuration and offloads cluster lifecycle management to RedHat and AWS, allowing organizations to focus on application deployment and innovation. This means IBM MAS clients don’t need to develop, administer, or maintain RedHat OpenShift clusters.

Operating Model and Maximo Migration

Top 3 Maximo AWS migration accelerators

Clients can migrate to the cloud using three IBM MAS deployment methods on AWS Cloud:

ROSA-powered MAS SaaS on AWS

ROSA-powered AWS MAS

Customer-hosted ROSA

Why use customer-hosted ROSA

The customer-hosted ROSA option for hosting IBM MAS in a customer’s VPC with ROSA is powerful. ROSA is perfect for MAS deployments because it seamlessly deploys, scales, and manages containerized applications.

The benefits of this choice are enormous. Full control over the infrastructure while still subject to the organization’s monitoring, controls, and governance standards allows businesses to customize and adjust the environment to their needs. This control includes adding MAS integrations and enforcing cloud security and governance requirements. ROSA charges are combined into one AWS bill and drawn from any AWS enterprise agreement, simplifying financial management.

AWS enterprise agreements and Compute Savings Plans offer infrastructure savings for MAS implementations. Because the ROSA cluster operates under the customer’s AWS account, customers can buy upfront ROSA contracts and get a one-year or three-year ROSA service charge discount.

Why IBM for Maximo AWS migration?

Any modernization effort must include cloud migration. Cloud migration is not a one-size-fits-all method, and each organization faces unique cloud adoption difficulties.

IBM Consulting’s Application Modernization offering helps clients migrate and modernize AWS applications faster, cheaper, and more efficiently, reducing technical debt and accelerating digital initiatives while minimizing business risk and improving business agility.

IBM offers unique cloud migration services to accelerate customer application migration to AWS:

Cloud migration factory capabilities including proven frameworks and processes, automation, migrating templates, security policies, and AWS-specific migration squads speed up delivery.

IBM Garage Methodology, IBM’s cloud services delivery capabilities, ROSA, and AWS Migration tools and accelerators accelerate migration and cloud adoption.

ICCA, IBM’s proprietary framework for migration and modernization, reduces risk. ICCA for AWS Cloud automates various modernization procedures, simplifying and speeding up company agility. Before investing, businesses can plan migration and modernization strategies. Discover IBM Consulting Cloud Accelerator for AWS Cloud.

Our well-defined pattern-based migration methodology includes re-factor, re-platform, and containerization using AWS managed services and industry-leading tools to remove and optimize technical debt.

Finally, IBM offers customizable t-shirt-sized price models for small, medium, and large migration sizes, ensuring clients’ migration scope is obvious.

IBM helps clients migrate applications, like Maximo to AWS Cloud

In conclusion, clients seek IBM’s expertise to:

1.Upgrade Maximo 7.6x (expiring 2025) to MAS 8. 

2.On-premise workload to AWS Cloud for elastic, scalable, and highly available infrastructure and runtime

IBM Consulting can help

AWS Premier Partner IBM Consulting accelerates hybrid cloud journeys on the AWS Cloud by leveraging business and IT transformation skills, processes, and tools from many industries. On AWS Cloud, IBM’s security, enterprise scalability, and open innovation with Red Hat OpenShift enable enterprises grow swiftly.

BM Consulting develops cloud-native apps in AWS Cloud with 21,000+ AWS-certified cloud practitioners, 17 validated SDD programs, and 16 AWS competencies. IBM Consulting is the best AWS partner due to acquisitions like Nordcloud and Taos, advancements at IBM Research, and co-development with AWS.

Read more on Govindhtech.com

[neitzarr]

12 Steps to Create a Successful Consulting Plan

Are you ready to take the plunge and start a successful consulting business? Writing a good consulting business plan is essential for success. Here are 12 simple steps you can take to get started.

1.Draft Your Ideas

. The first step in creating a successful consulting plan is to get your ideas down on paper.

Don't worry about grammar, structure, or neatness. Just jot down your thoughts and ideas to help you organize them and create a plan of action.

2.Research the Market

. Before you can start your consulting business, it's important to understand the industry you are entering and the three fundamental components of your business plan. Take some time to research your competitors and download a template to get started.

3.Leverage Your Experience

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When customers are looking for a consultant, they often choose the professional with more experience in their industry. Consider how many years of experience you have and how it can benefit your clients.

4.Identify Your Niche

. A niche is a specific subset of people that you could serve in SaaS companies, manufacturers, pharmaceuticals, etc. Use the niche scoring method to determine which niche is right for you.

5.Create an Attention-Grabbing Message

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To stand out from the competition, create an engaging message that captures potential customers' attention. Explain why they should choose you over other consultants.

6.Establish Your Sales Channel

. Your sales channel organizes all the potential customers that come into contact with you. This could include social media, email campaigns, or word-of-mouth referrals.

7.Design a Satisfying Lifestyle

.

Your consulting business should enrich your life and create a satisfying lifestyle for you and your family. Consider how much time and money you need to make this happen.

8.Outline Your Hiring Options

. Once you've outlined your three hiring options and a discovery offer, you're ready to launch your offerings to the market.

9.Build Relationships

. Start creating a list of contacts to contact when you are ready to launch and attract new customers.

This could include former colleagues, industry experts, or potential clients.

10. Consider a Hybrid Model

. Once you master one of these models, the hybrid model will help you add new products and services to generate more revenue.

11. Plan Ahead

. Planning ahead may seem unnecessary when your consulting business hasn't yet taken off, but it will help ensure success in the long run.

12. Show Tangible Results

.

To show potential clients how your consulting services can have a tangible impact on their business, tell your own story or provide case studies from past clients. Once you have taken these steps, it's time to start looking for clients! Research potential clients in your industry and find out what they are looking for in a consultant. Collect quotes from as many consultants as possible to get an idea of what customers are willing to pay based on experience and reputation. Finally, determine who you will consult in the case of Annie - Studio Potter's research consultants who serve the same audience.

Read more here https://www.smb.management/how-do-i-create-a-consulting-plan

[novalabs]

Wix Vs WordPress

Both Wix and WordPress offer fantastic features, regardless of whether you think a free website builder should host your blog or build an e-commerce website for selling your handcrafted items. If a feature isn't native to one platform or the other, there are programs or plugins to help you expand the functionality of your site. Your needs and goals, which you will discuss with your website application development business, will determine the best option for you.

The Difference Between WordPress and Wix in 2023

Comprehensive solutions, including WordPress and Wix*-based content management systems, are offered by seasoned website creation companies like Novalabs. Ask our specialists how to utilize the free website builder.  

What is Wix?

With Wix, you can create your own website without needing to know how to code. It's a "software-as-a-service" (SaaS) tool, meaning you pay a monthly price to utilize it rather than own the product. 

What is WordPress?

In 2003, Matt Mullenweg and Mike Little founded WordPress as a platform for blogging. Since then, it has evolved into a totally free website builder.

By the year 2022, it will be widely known. According to BuiltWith.com, the platform is currently used by about 36.5 million live websites. 

There are two distinct WordPress configurations to take into account: 

Web-based WordPress

Similar to Wix, hosted WordPress is a software-as-a-service (SaaS) platform for creating and managing websites that can be accessed at wordpress.com. 

Although it started out as a blogging service, it is now a fully functional website builder. You pay a regular charge to use it, and in exchange, you get access to a wide range of components that help you build a website. 

WordPress Self-Hosted

You can download and install the self-hosted WordPress program from wordpress.org on your own web server. This suggests that you should get hosting so that your website has a location. Currently, WordPress is open-source, which means that the code that powers it is easily available and modifiable. 

Wix vs. WordPress: Points to consider

1. Usability

One of the simplest website builders to use to create a website is Wix. Why? You can change everything in your program without installing any additional software. Their user interface is quite simple and intuitive, especially for total beginners. They also have an Application Market where you can add features with a single click if you ever want to add more functionality. 

However, compared to WordPress, Wix requires far more work to construct a website. WordPress is also well-known for its modules and plugins. However, installing or performing them is typically not that simple. To establish a site, the software as a whole basically needs a little bit of specialized training or at the very least some development experience. 

2. Design and adaptability

There are roughly 1,000 (yes, 1,000!) free templates in Wix's layout library. They are organized into classes (websites, cafés, photographers, etc.) and are slick and modern.

Whatever the case, you can undoubtedly relax because Wix offers a perspective that is entirely transportable. Although this is totally acceptable for Google (more on this later), you might need to re-arrange a few features (using intuitive) to properly serve your site on mobile devices. 

With Wix versus WordPress, you can get the exact you need if you know CSS and HTML or, on the other hand, if you wouldn't mind investing a few hours figuring out how to update your layout's code.

3. Plugins and Apps

There are many methods to expand your industry-specific site on Wix, and you can choose from 300 free and paid applications in the application market. There are incredible apps for things like lodging reservation systems, artist picture displays, or invoice generation, for instance. The fact that some of these applications are created by Wix itself is actually extremely significant. 

WordPress is renowned for its plugins, which include those for virtual entertainment, contact management, website design improvement, and more. WordPress serves as a good example of this since there is actually a plugin for everything. Although Wix's applications are much easier to set up and maintain, your choice is subject to some restrictions. 

Conclusion

It implies that the best free website builder depends on the type of site you want to create. Hiring a WordPress website development business is perhaps the best option if you require a solid solution that will scale over time. 

However, Wix is helpful for smaller, more modest sites that take less work and have an adequate design. The choice you make in the end will rely on what you really want from your website.

[1256986]

From Code to Creation: How Software Development is Shaping the Future

 Modern software development stands as the fundamental element for innovation because of the surge in the instant world. Software operates invisibly to advance human progress through mobile apps as well as business system applications across major global corporations. What exact software development methods are shaping the upcoming years? This article examines how code brings revolutionary changes to both industries and economies and daily activities.

 1. The Rise of Digital Transformation

Both the digitalisation transformation and the global businesses require software development to be their fundamental component. The competitive edge of companies depends on their deployment of customised software that improves operational performance and delivers better customer service. The process functions as a result of software development, which enables automation and remote work and builds better user experiences.

 For example, cloud-based platforms and SaaS (Software as a Service) models have revolutionized how businesses operate, offering scalability, flexibility, and cost-efficiency. The future belongs to organisations that embrace software-driven strategies to adapt and thrive in an ever-changing landscape.

 2. Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning

Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) are no longer science fiction—they're now here and changing industries. From predictive analytics to natural language processing, software developers are building smart systems that learn, adapt, and decide.

 Consider how the customer service is being revolutionised with the help of the chatbots based on the AI or how the supply chain is becoming smarter with the help of the ML algorithms. All of these are impossible without the application software that corresponds to them. With the help of AI, software development shall be at the helm in the realisation of this potential.

 3. The Internet of Things (IoT) and Connected Ecosystems

The Industrial IoT is connecting the objects in ways that have not been thought possible: smart homes, smart cities, and smart industries. Every smart device has enabling hardware that provides for its operational communication, data acquisition, and control functions.

 For example, smart thermostats learn when to turn on and off depending on the lifestyle of the inhabitants, while wearable health monitoring devices record one’s vital signs in real time. It is software that drives all these technologies, making it possible to have integration and interconnectivity of the devices. This has a long-drawn implication that as adoptions increase, there will be a higher demand for quality developers.

 4. Agile Development and Faster Innovation

Today’s development cycles cannot be compared to these kinds of programs, as they have changed. With the increasing application of Agile methods and approaches, the process of software development has been enhanced to deliver quality products in a short time. By providing development in small portions, these changes can be executed, feedback can be incorporated, and the growth and improvement can be as fast as lightning.

 This approach not only accelerates time-to-market but also ensures that software solutions are aligned with user needs. In a world where technology evolves daily, agility is key to staying ahead.

 5. Empowering Startups and Entrepreneurs

Through technological advancement, much has been accomplished to make the development of software to an extent of supporting the start-ups. Even small development tools, libraries, cloud services, and teams are free to create cost-effective, flexible, and innovative solutions for a period.

For example, Fintech companies that impact traditional banking or online marketplaces that transform the retail industry, software development is giving a reality to businessmen’s ideas. The future will see greater start-ups relying on software to address complex issues and providing real value in their findings.

 6. Sustainability and Green Tech

 Just as the global environment is growing to be a major challenge, software development helps to construct it. It is interesting to know that developers are coming up with energy-efficient results, efficient use of resources, and platforms that promote green projects.

For example, software is enabling smart grids to manage energy consumption or helping companies track and reduce their carbon footprint. By integrating sustainability into software design, developers are contributing to a greener, more sustainable future.

 7. The Future of Work: Remote Collaboration and Automation

 The emergence of the modern work culture: remote collaboration and automation. COVID-19 brought the change of distant work, and software created it. Popular group coordination tools, which include Slack, Zoom, and Trello, are now crucial to many organisations and businesses. On the other hand, automation tools are keeping manual work aside as much as possible, and the employees are able to do more value-added work.

However, there are moments that software development will revolutionise the way people work and communicate in future as the hybrid model becomes the new normal. Office design in the future will be characterised by enhanced connections, productivity, and flexibility due to software factors.

 Conclusion: The Limitless Potential of Software Development

For instance, the health care system, education, industry right from the finance sector to sciences and engineering disciplines are either being impacted by software development or in the process of being developed. Frankly speaking, the title is not only about coding, but it’s more about solving problems, introducing innovations, and even improving the world.

The use of application software in the execution of organisational tasks is continually growing, hence explaining the need for software developers in society. Whether you are a leader of a company or simply an individual who observes the world of business and technology development, one thing is evident – the future is being elaborated in the language of code.

 What’s Next?

If you’re ready to harness the power of software development for your business or project, now is the time to start. The future is here, and it’s being shaped by the code we write today. Visit Eloiacs for more!

[marketingbusines]

A Guide to the Best Startup Companies in Chennai

Chennai, a bustling metropolitan city known for its rich culture, education, and industrial history, has quickly become a prominent hub for innovation and entrepreneurship. Over the past decade, the city has seen an explosion of startup companies in Chennai across various sectors such as technology, health, e-commerce, and finance. With a rapidly growing ecosystem supported by investors, mentors, and an increasingly talented workforce, Chennai has transformed into one of India’s key players in the startup landscape. 

Best Startup Companies in Chennai

1. Zoho Corporation

One of the most notable names among startup companies in Chennai, Zoho is a testament to the power of innovation. Founded in 1996 by Sridhar Vembu, Zoho started as a small IT startup but has since evolved into a global software company offering cloud-based business tools. Today, Zoho provides over 45 SaaS (Software as a Service) applications for businesses of all sizes. With its headquarters in Chennai and offices worldwide, Zoho is a shining example of how a startup can scale and compete on the global stage. The company remains privately owned, which is a rare feat among tech giants.

2. Freshworks

Freshworks, another success story from Chennai’s thriving tech scene, is a leading provider of customer support software. Founded in 2010 by Girish Mathrubootham and Shan Krishnasamy, Freshworks has become a global brand offering tools for customer engagement, including CRM (Customer Relationship Management), marketing automation, and helpdesk services. The company raised its IPO in 2021, making a successful debut on the Nasdaq stock exchange. Freshworks' journey is a clear indication of how a Chennai-based startup can scale internationally and become a household name.

3. Fynd

Fynd, a retail-tech startup, has garnered significant attention for its innovative approach to e-commerce. Founded in 2012, Fynd enables retailers to offer a seamless omni-channel shopping experience. By integrating physical stores with online platforms, Fynd allows customers to browse, shop, and pick up products in real time across a network of retailers. With backing from companies like Google and other prominent investors, Fynd continues to expand its reach across the Indian market and is set to transform how people shop in the digital age.

4. Open

Open is an exciting fintech startup that is making waves in the banking and financial services sector. Founded in 2017 by Anish Achuthan and Raghuraman K, Open offers an innovative business banking platform that helps small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) manage their finances effortlessly. The platform combines banking services with powerful tools for accounting, payments, and business analytics, all in one app. Open’s focus on the SME sector has resonated with many businesses, making it one of the standout startup companies in Chennai.

5. Uniphore

Uniphore is another Chennai-based startup that has gained international recognition, particularly in the field of artificial intelligence (AI) and speech analytics. Founded in 2008 by Umesh Sachdev and Ravi Saraogi, Uniphore is focused on transforming customer service through AI-driven voice technologies. Their platform enables businesses to engage with customers using voice assistants, chatbots, and AI-powered analytics. Uniphore’s rapid growth and partnerships with global brands demonstrate Chennai’s capacity to foster groundbreaking tech innovations.

6. Bluestone

Bluestone is a prime example of how a Chennai startup can disrupt traditional industries. Established in 2011, Bluestone is an online jewelry retailer that offers high-quality, customizable jewelry at competitive prices. By using technology to revolutionize the way jewelry is bought and sold, Bluestone has become one of the leading e-commerce players in the industry. Their user-friendly platform, vast collection, and focus on customer satisfaction have earned the brand a loyal customer base, and they continue to expand across India.

7. Fusioo

Fusioo is a SaaS-based startup offering a collaborative work management platform that enables teams to streamline their workflow. With an easy-to-use interface and real-time data tracking, Fusioo allows companies to manage projects, tasks, and communications all in one place. Founded in 2013, Fusioo has positioned itself as an ideal solution for growing businesses looking for efficient project management tools. The company has gained popularity across multiple industries and continues to innovate in the SaaS space.

8. HealthifyMe

HealthifyMe, one of the top health-tech startups in Chennai, focuses on making healthy living accessible to people around the world. Founded in 2012 by Tushar Vashisht and Sachin Shenoy, HealthifyMe provides a platform that combines personalized fitness coaching with AI-driven health tracking. Users can track their diet, exercise, and sleep, while accessing tailored fitness plans created by professional coaches. As health and wellness trends grow globally, HealthifyMe has positioned itself as a leader in the digital health space, attracting millions of users.

9. Blynk

Blynk, an IoT (Internet of Things) startup, is changing the way devices are connected. Established in 2017, Blynk’s platform allows users to build and manage IoT projects through an easy-to-use interface, making it possible for both professionals and hobbyists to develop smart products. Whether it’s for smart homes, wearables, or industrial IoT, Blynk has created a robust ecosystem that powers innovation across a variety of industries.

10. Paytm Payments Bank

While Paytm is widely known as one of India’s leading digital payment companies, its Payments Bank division, headquartered in Chennai, is a growing force in the fintech space. Launched in 2015, Paytm Payments Bank allows users to create digital bank accounts, make payments, and transfer money seamlessly. As India continues to move towards a cashless economy, Paytm Payments Bank plays a significant role in facilitating digital transactions and financial inclusion.

Conclusion

The startup scene in Chennai is thriving, and the companies mentioned above are just a glimpse into the city's incredible entrepreneurial potential. With a vibrant tech ecosystem, strong investor networks, and a growing pool of skilled professionals, Chennai is becoming an increasingly important player in the global startup landscape.

[duplex-tech]

How React JS Can Improve Your Website’s Performance and User Experience

In today’s digital world, a fast and user-friendly website is essential for business success. If your website takes too long to load or doesn’t offer a seamless experience, users may leave, impacting your business growth. React JS, a powerful JavaScript library developed by Facebook, is an excellent solution for building high-performance web applications. Hiring a React JS development company in Delhi can help you enhance your website’s speed, efficiency, and user experience.

At Duplex Technologies, we specialize in React JS development in Delhi, providing businesses with advanced and scalable web solutions. Here’s how React JS can improve your website’s performance and user experience:

1. Faster Loading Speeds

React JS uses a Virtual DOM (Document Object Model), which significantly improves the rendering speed of web applications. Instead of reloading the entire page, React updates only the necessary components, making your website faster and more responsive. A React development company in Delhi ensures that your website performs efficiently, reducing bounce rates and increasing user engagement.

2. Enhanced User Experience

A well-optimized website ensures smooth navigation and an engaging interface. With React JS, developers can create highly interactive and dynamic user interfaces. A React JS development company in Delhi can help businesses design intuitive and user-friendly web applications that keep visitors engaged and improve conversions.

3. Component-Based Architecture

React JS follows a component-based architecture, allowing developers to build reusable UI components. This speeds up the development process and ensures consistency in design and functionality. Whether you need a business website, eCommerce platform, or SaaS application, React’s modular approach simplifies development and maintenance.

4. SEO-Friendly Web Applications

A well-optimized website is essential for search engine rankings. React JS supports server-side rendering (SSR), which improves page load times and enhances SEO performance. By choosing a React development company in Delhi, businesses can ensure their websites rank higher on search engines, driving more organic traffic.

5. Scalability and Flexibility

React JS allows businesses to scale their applications effortlessly. Whether you are a startup or a large enterprise, React’s flexibility enables developers to expand functionalities without compromising performance. Businesses looking to outsource React JS development in Delhi can benefit from cost-effective and scalable web solutions.

6. Cost-Effective Development

By using React’s reusable components, developers can significantly reduce development time and costs. When you opt for React development services in Delhi, you get high-quality web applications within your budget, ensuring maximum return on investment.

7. Reliable Maintenance and Support

A well-built website needs regular updates and maintenance for optimal performance. A trusted React JS development services in Delhi provider ensures seamless upgrades, bug fixes, and performance improvements, keeping your website up-to-date with the latest technology trends.

Conclusion

Improving website performance and user experience is crucial for business success. By leveraging React JS, businesses can build fast, scalable, and SEO-friendly web applications. If you’re looking for a React JS development company in Delhi, Duplex Technologies is here to help. Whether you want to outsource React JS development in Delhi or need end-to-end React development services in Delhi, our experts deliver top-notch solutions tailored to your business needs. Contact us today to get started!

[technoedu]

How To: Configure Qlik Sense Enterprise SaaS to Use Azure AD as an IdP

Introduction

Establishing Qlik Sense Enterprise SaaS to use Azure Active Directory (Azure AD) as an identity provider (IdP) is key for companies aiming to streamline access control and authentication for users. Integration between Azure AD and Qlik Sense Enterprise SaaS allows organizations to take advantage of single sign-on (SSO), multi-factor Authentication (MFA), enhanced security features that improve user experience while increasing security simultaneously.

This detailed guide will take you step-by-step through the steps to configure Qlik Sense Enterprise SaaS so it authenticates users by using Azure A.

Prerequisites

Before starting, be sure to are:

An active Azure AD subscription

An Qlik Sense Enterprise SaaS account with administrative access

Permissions to sign up an application within Azure AD

A brief introduction of OAuth 2.0 as well as OpenID Connect (OIDC).

Step 1: Register Qlik Sense Enterprise SaaS in Azure AD

1.1 Access Azure AD

Log into the Azure portal (https://portal.azure.com).

Go through Azure Active Directory from the left menu.

Click on App registrations, then Click New registration.

1.2 Create a New Application Registration

Choose a name for the application (e.g., "Qlik Sense SaaS").

Under the account types that are supported choose Accounts in this organization directory only.

Under the Redirect URI section, click Web and type in the URL:

https:// .qlikcloud.com/login/callback

Click Register.

1.3 Copy Application Credentials

After registration Copy and store the data science information for future use:

Application (client) ID

Directory (tenant) ID

Step 2: Configure Client Secret

2.1 Generate a Client Secret

Click on Certificates and Secrets within the Azure AD application.

Under Client secret, select for a new client's secret.

Select a description, and then an expiration date.

Copy the secret value.

Step 3: Configure API Permissions

3.1 Assign API Permissions

Visit API permissions in the account of your Azure AD application.

Add permissions by clicking the Add button. Microsoft Graph - Delegated permissions.

Find and select:

openid

Email

Profile

offline_access

Select Add Permissions, and Grant admin permission.

Step 4: Configure Qlik Sense Enterprise SaaS

4.1 Access Identity Provider Settings

Log into Qlik Sense Enterprise SaaS as an administrator.

Navigate to Management Console - Identity Providers.

Click Create New, then select OIDC.

4.2 Enter Azure AD Configuration Details

Complete the fields required:

Issuer (Discovery URL):

https://login.microsoftonline.com//v2.0

(Replace"tenant_id" with Your Azure Directory ID)

Client ID (Paste your Application ID into Azure AD)

The Client Secret (Paste your generated secret client)

Authentication Method: Choose Authorization Code

Redirect URL:

https:// .qlikcloud.com/login/callback

4.3 Map User Claims

In the section titled User Claims Mapping Section, you can configure:

Sub - User ID

email - email

Name - Display name

Click Save to save the settings.

Step 5: Test and Verify Integration

5.1 Assign Users in Azure AD

Go to Enterprise Applications in Azure AD.

Choose which Qlik Sense SaaS application.

Click Users and Groups to add users and groups. Assign appropriate users.

5.2 Log into Qlik Sense SaaS with Azure AD

Open Qlik Sense Enterprise SaaS within browser.

Click Sign In with Microsoft.

Log in using in your Azure AD credentials and verify your account.

If the login succeeds, Azure AD is successfully set up to be the IdP to QlikSense Enterprise SaaS.

Troubleshooting Common Issues

Issue 1: Authentication Error

Make sure the redirect URI is identical to the one to the settings in Azure AD and Qlik Sense settings.

Verify that the client's ID and secret are accurate.

Issue 2: User Not Found in Qlik Sense

Confirm that the user has been associated with an account in the Azure AD application.

Make sure you check the claim mappings in Qlik Sense.

Issue 3: Invalid Permissions

Make sure Admin Consent is granted In API Permissions.

Verify that email, openid profile and offline_access permissions are granted.

Conclusion

Follow this step-by-step guide to set up Qlik Sense Enterprise SaaS to utilize Azure AD for its identity Provider (IdP). This integration improves the security of users, their management and access control, while simplifying authentication using SSO. (SSO).

The implementation of Azure Active Directory with Qlik Sense SaaS gives users an improved user experience, improves the compliance of users, and simplifies identity management. If problems arise, examining the claim mappings API access rights, and redirect URIs can help you resolve the issue quickly.

Utilizing Azure AD's authentication capabilities companies can enhance both security and efficiency in the Qlik Sense training enterprise SaaS environment.

FAQs

Q1. Do I have the ability to configure the multi-factor authentication (MFA) in Qlik Sense SaaS users?

Yes MFA can be enabled MFA via Azure AD's Conditional Access Policies.

Q2. Does this integration work with user groups?

Sure, however you must to set up group claim mappings within Azure AD as well as Qlik Sense.

Q3. What is the consequence if the secret client expires?

You must create the new client key in Azure AD and update it to the Qlik Sense settings.