Cloud evolution

My name is venkatasubramanian and I’m Nexgen CEO. I want to share some of the observations and conclusions that I made during this year, as well as talk about the prospects for further development of the cloud computing industry in Chennai.

We are talking about a real cloud - a distributed computing environment and scalable storage, designed to ensure the operation of applications and storage of their data. This is not exactly the same as virtual machines, which in their functionality are no different from physical servers, but in many ways surpass them, because they are more reliable and at the same time easy to maintain. We, the operators, are accustomed to be proud of this full functionality, but is this always what we need to solve the customer’s problem?

Nexgen provides services

Nexgen has been providing cloud computing services since 2012. But, recalling this fact, I must say that in that distant year we only had our first customers. And the understanding that this area has certain prospects in the Chennai market came to us even earlier, in 2011. This was the reason for the active work to create the first products and their promotion on the market.

I remember quite clearly how, 8 years ago, we got in touch with the first potential customers, who could not understand what kind of clouds they were talking about and why they needed them. One of the IT managers at the agricultural holding didn’t even realize right away that it wasn’t about clouds hanging above the ground and pouring rain on endless fields of corn. :-)

It was a very long time ago, cloud computing has not only “not become mainstream”: very few people in Chennai even imagined what it was and what it was for. The IT infrastructure of most enterprises, as a rule, consisted of physical servers installed in the pressurized zone of the data center or server rooms in the offices of the enterprise. Especially fast, the guys kept such servers in rented apartments, where from time to time there were power outages or some other poltergeist appeared in the form of the spirit of the late great-great-grandfather, who disables pairs in RAID arrays. However, cloud computing was not interesting to them then: “What kind of clouds are these? Everything is fine with us, they say. ”

Cloud market: briefly on the main trends

And, you know, now, too, everyone is doing well. Allegedly.

And when all is well and there is no demand for some new services, it seems, the operators can only brag about the number of certificates, petabytes of capacities and market shares. New services are not, because service providers do not see a demand for them.

I must say right away: I believe that virtual machines, especially machines running in a reliable cloud, are a great tool. Our company has been using them for more than 10 years to solve various problems, and I can quite say that I am a fan of virtual machines. Fortunately, we no longer need to talk about their advantages in 2019, so let's talk about some ... if not disadvantages, then, correctly speaking, features.

How is thin client works?

Thin client is an excellent solution for virtualization of workplaces in the office. The client communicates with the server through terminal access, in the same way receives all the data for work. A typical example of a thin client can be a computer with a browser that works with remote applications.

For the most part, a thin, low-power computer without a hard disk that runs on specialized versions of the operating system (for example, Linux WTWare) is used as a thin client. The rest of the thin client is not much different from a standard workstation - there is a system unit, a display, input devices, network access (via LAN or using a modem).

The principle of operation of the thin client provides for a continuous terminal connection with a special server on which not only the working data of each user is stored, but also the working programs are launched, with which the client interacts. Downloading the client is possible using external media (for example, CD or Flash-drives), as well as through a LAN network, if the network card supports the Bottom option.

Options for the implementation of thin clients in the office

More often than not, a thin client is a computer truncated in functionality - without a hard drive or other drive. Such workstations can be purchased ready-made or assembled independently. To start, you also need to equip a terminal server - it is the clients that will be connected to it, and it will perform basic calculations, as well as store data. Previously, in offices they preferred to install a physical terminal server, today, with the development of cloud technologies, they are increasingly taking it to the cloud. A terminal server can be a separate powerful computer with the appropriate OS and running application programs, or a whole cluster if the requirements for processing information are great, as well as the number of simultaneous connections.

To equip the office on the basis of thin clients, it is necessary to achieve uninterrupted access to the network, because without direct communication between working machines and a terminal computer, work will be completely impossible - autonomously thin clients are most often inoperative. A high-quality, high-uptime cloud provider usually completely solves this problem.

Key Benefits of Terminal Access

Initially, the principle of terminal access and thin clients was developed with one single goal - to save money. Such an infrastructure model can significantly save on equipment - the cost of workstations is much lower compared to full-fledged PCs for work. In addition, there is an opportunity to save on software - there is no need to buy licenses for each workplace, you can buy one license and install it on the server. The cost of system administration is also reduced, since maintenance is mainly required only by the terminal server.

Over time, with the development of technology and the decentralization of work, other advantages of this solution became apparent:

1. the ability to work remotely from anywhere in the world with an Internet connection;
2. simplicity and scalability - the configuration of the working environment can be easily changed without affecting the performance;
3. storing all data in one place guarantees their safety and availability for each employee;
4. security and data protection - in most thin client implementations, the user does not have the ability to save locally or copy work files and data. To this can be added traffic encryption and the ability to completely disable the server if necessary.

There are practically no drawbacks to this solution. The only thing is the requirement for a constantly working and working network connection, but today this is not a difficulty.

Where thin clients are used

The simplicity and convenience provided by terminal access quickly won a significant number of fans in various fields of activity:

1. increased security and closeness of the system has been actively used in the banking sector - for example, working with ERP systems, online banking;
2. the convenience of teamwork, the preservation of labor results and the speed of access to software have made thin clients indispensable in large offices - terminal interaction with office suites, 1C accounting system, various additional programs, Internet access, corporate mail, etc.
3. in the educational environment, terminal clients are also used - they allow you to effectively organize the educational process, reduce the cost of computer lab equipment, simplify remote education, testing;
4. there was a use of technology in medicine - safe data storage on the clinic’s servers and convenient access to the database allows you to quickly resolve issues and make management more efficient;
5. warehouses and especially large warehouse complexes are increasingly being transferred to terminal access with the unloading of management and accounting programs into the cloud. 

In addition, systems for the interaction of power with the population (“electronic government”, housing and communal services, online document management, etc.) serve as potential directions for the development of thin clients.

3 lessons on better utilizing digital signage

Digital signage is a well-known tool, but it is still highly complex and often difficult to manage. There are many moving parts with digital signage, and consistently managing and maintaining those parts can be a major hassle.

Luckily, multiple stories on Digital Signage Today provide some key tips to both help you better handle your digital signage and to better utilize it to its full effectiveness.
Pick a partner, not a supplier

One major problem with many suppliers is that they are only interested in making a sale. Once they sell you the display, media player or software, they leave you to handle the details. This is why end users should look for someone to partner with them, not just supply them with a product, according to a story recently posted on Digital Signage Today.

A vendor who acts as partner will help end users strategize on the best spots to deploy digital signage for maximum effectiveness. They will also help their customers develop strategies for how to manage and update content as well as provide training for employees who need to interact with the displays regularly.

A good way to tell the difference between a supplier and a partner is to talk with their previous customers. Did they work with the customers directly and help them with all their needs or did they sell and run?
Learn from the Burger King

Burger King is well known for innovative products such as its Impossible Whopper, a vegetarian alternative to the Whopper that is supposed to mimic the taste of beef. However, the QSR has also utilized digital signage in a simple, yet effective way that many end users can learn from.

Digital signage does not need to be horribly complicated to be effective, all it needs to do is to deliver content that catches the audience's attention. Burger King does this by using simple unintrusive displays which offer content on the newest products, job offerings, movie trailers, loyalty programs and dynamic temperature and weather updates.

These displays mostly keep the volume down pretty low, only raising the volume during movie trailers, which naturally draw in customer's attention. A display does not have to be loud and in a customer's face all the time to be effective, it just needs to be able to attract their attention at the right time.

2 reasons why digital signage will revolutionize the cannabis industry

Cannabis is rapidly becoming the hottest trend in America, as 11 states have made it fully legal and 22 states have legalized it for medicinal uses. Even in states where cannabis is illegal, the Cannabidiol market, which consists of various oils, gummies and other products without the large amounts of THC, has exploded.

Both CBD and marijuana dispensaries have to handle a large amount of customers every day. While this legal industry is fairly young in the states, digital signage can help it grow up quickly with innovative solutions that will revolutionize the entire industry.
Crafting experiences

Cannabis still has a bit of a seedy reputation due to its questionable legal status, but digital signage can help change that by crafting truly relaxing and immersive environments.

For example, dispensaries can use digital signage to play informative videos talking about the risks and benefits of cannabis products, or to showcase entertaining videos on how to cook with cannabis. A few other examples include:

    Delivering interactive kiosks with games customers can play while they wait.
    Playing relaxing music videos.
    Featuring digital art from local artists.
    Offering instructions on the best ways to use products.

By crafting these immersive environments, cannabis dispensaries can help improve the overall status and "brand image" of the cannabis industry.
Delivering a smoother purchase

The second way digital signage can improve the cannabis industry is by creating a far smoother path to purchase. For example, dispensaries can use menu boards which clearly state the various products, the prices and other nutritional information for the customer.

Since these menu boards are brighter and more engaging than traditional static menus, customers can more quickly scan the menu board to see what they would like to purchase, which can in turn improve wait times.

Cannabis dispensaries can also integrate the menu boards with their other systems, such as their point-of-sale and mobile apps. By integrating their systems, the menu board can automatically update if a product goes out of stock or a new product comes in. This can help prevent an awkward customer service situation where a customer wants a product off the menu board, but the product is no longer in stock.

By using menu boards, cannabis dispensaries can also in turn improve the prestige of their business, by presenting themselves as a bonified technologically savvy industry, rather than a seedy joint.

These are just a few ways dispensaries can use digital signage technology, and as laws loosen, they may be able to use it in other ways, such as interactive DOOH campaigns. Technology has the potential to transform fledgling industries into true powerhouses.

GST Billing Software: ClearTax GST Pro vs Zoho Books vs Tally.ERP 9

Tally.ERP 9 Release 6

The software developed by Tally Solutions, one of the most popular accounting software company in India. Tally is apparently easy to install and learn. The GST module within Tally helps in invoicing as well as return filing. The company claims that you can make your business accounting GST compliant with Tally just in 5 steps.

To reach out to the Tally team for a free demo, click here.


Zoho Books

Zoho Books is a GST-ready accounting software that allows business owners to send invoices, reconcile bank transactions, track inventory, generate reports, and file GST returns effortlessly. It is a cloud based system and the pricing is super affordable. For a single company Zoho charges INR 2499/company per year. The company also gives you a free trial period of 2 weeks.

Clear Tax GST Pro

This is a software created by Cleartax, a site whose business till now was focused on helping individuals file tax online. The software is ready to use and is easily compatible with Tally’s accounting software. The company has made the deal attractive by including a complete e-learning training package with the module. Users can constantly learn about GST and also take small tests to test their understanding. Priced at INR 10,000/year the company claims to ensure 100% accuracy with a comprehensive tax validation engine. There is a 50 percent discount on the price for anybody who opts for it before September 2017. You can learn more about ClearTax GST Pro by clicking here.