Best Business Articles of 2023: Must-Read Trends & Insights

As we dive into the new year, let’s take a few minutes to reflect on what some of the most popular topics of 2023 were. What topics piqued your interest the most? Which articles did you share with others?

Top Business Articles of 2023:

The skills shortages report: Which industries are struggling to bridge the gap?

Imagine a job market where thousands of positions lie vacant, not because they're undesirable, but because there simply isn't enough qualified candidates to fill them. Unfortunately, this is the reality facing many UK industries right now.

As businesses continue to evolve, many have become increasingly digitalised, whether it’s through streamlining processes using business management software or implementing new ways of working. But which industries are being hit the hardest when it comes to skill shortages?

Check out our skills shortages report article to find out.

An Interview with ChatGPT on the Future of ERP, Business Software, AI, and Itself

ChatGPT took the world by storm earlier this year with its proven ability to leverage artificial intelligence (AI) for human-like conversations. So, we took this as an opportunity to put it to the test and interview ChatGPT ourselves. We asked it questions like:

• Does ChatGPT share any capabilities with business enterprise resource planning (ERP) solutions in terms of product business intelligence and assisting executive decision-making?
• Are there any current projects aimed at integrating ChatGPT into ERP software systems?
• In the future, will ChatGPT be an application that can integrate with ERP systems?
• What are some of the potential applications of AI in improving how business intelligence is collected, managed, and applied?

Find out ChatGPT’s answers.

Phishing Vigilance: What your employees must know to identify and stop attacks

Cybersecurity threats lurk around every corner, and one of the most cunning is phishing. These deceptive emails pretend to be from trusted sources, luring unsuspecting employees into divulging sensitive information or clicking malicious links. Recent reports show employees remain the weakest link in cybersecurity.

In our recent article on phishing vigilance, you'll learn tricks phishers use, from misspelled "urgent" emails to fake logos and official-looking threats. You'll also learn the red flags to spot, even when attackers disguise themselves as colleagues or familiar brands.

5 reasons you need an industry-specific ERP

As your business grows and becomes more complex, often, a generic software solution just won’t cut it anymore. Most of our customers find that an industry-specific ERP gives them the capability and insight needed for their unique business.

This article identifies some of the major reasons why purchasing an industry-specific ERP has been one of the best decisions for the businesses we work with. Some examples include:

• Plug-and-play – Often, a general ERP can require extensive customisations to get it to do what you need. This can be a massive undertaking both in terms of costs and time.
• Built-in best practices – When software developers are focused on a specific area, they conduct a lot of research or even apply first-hand experience to create what the industry really needs.
• Industry-specific knowledge – For many industry-specific software providers (especially ECI), team members come from the industries they serve. This unique perspective gives customers a competitive advantage and confidence that the company can understand their needs and help them in a consultative way.

Uncover the last two reasons and so much more!

5 reasons your business is safer in the cloud

Since the pandemic the concept of 'the cloud' is a lot less scary, yet many businesses remain hesitant to make the move. They often think that if they can physically see their server, it is safe. However, that is hardly ever the case. Often these businesses have limited security resources, making them a big target for cybercriminals. Consider this:

• Small businesses are 3x more likely to be targeted by cybercriminals than larger companies.
• It takes 2777 days to detect and contain a data breach caused by substandard encryption.
• By 2031, ransomware will attack a business consumer or device every 2 seconds.

In this article, you'll read more of these shocking stats and learn 5 reasons why having your business in the cloud is safer than on-premise.

Liked this article? Be sure to check out these too:

• Advantages and Disadvantages of Offering a Work-from-Home Option
• Planning your ERP Budget
• Don't Let Misconceptions Derail Your SMB's Cloud Journey