Tips to Choose the Best Steel Bar Gratings

If you are going to purchase bar gratings, you may be finding it hard to opt for the right gratings, which is normal. Given below are a few tips that can help you choose the best steel bar gratings to meet your needs.

1. Press-Locked or Welded Gratings

Although they look similar, there is a difference between them. The difference is related to the production mode. We have discussed the two common types below.

Press-Locked Type

Press-locked bar gratings are pressed together using a high-pressure manufacturing method. So, the end product has a two-directional flush surface, which results in a firm connection and appealing look.

Welded Steel Type

Welded-steel type is the best type of steel bar grating as it offers high strength and ease of installation. This grating is usually resistance welded in order to make a one-piece, rugged construction panel.

The two gratings offer similar features. Hence, you can opt for one based on your taste.

2. Selection of Materials

Based on your needs, you can opt for the right materials. For instance, you may need gratings to work on walkways or shelves. Actually, the idea is to make sure the grating is strong enough to do the job.

If the product is not strong enough, it may not be able to give you the desired results. So, this is important to keep in mind when buying one.

3. The Selection of Mesh Size

After the material, another important point that you should keep in mind when buying steel bar gratings is the size. The common width of a standard panel is 2 or 3 feet and the length is 20 to 24 feet.

Based on the application method, use, place, load and customer requirement, you can divide the grating mesh.

Customer: The optical perception of it is determined by the size and shape of the mesh.

Use: For more light, the bigger mesh can work better. On the other hand, the smaller mesh can help prevent things from falling off.

Load: the benefit of a smaller mesh is that it allows higher load capacity.

4. Surface Protection

You can find steel gratings in black. They are not coated with a zinc protection layer. In other words, their surface doesn't go through any type of treatment.

However, the gratings are so strong that they can easily last 40 years. Corrosion won't have any impact on it.

If you need additional protection, we suggest that you opt for a grating that is painted or powder coated.

5. Types of the Surface Shape

Normally, you can find gratings that come in two types of surface shapes: smooth and serrated. If you want the anti-slip to perform better, we suggest that you opt for one that is serrated.

Long story short, if you are looking for a steel bar grating for a specific purpose, we suggest that you follow the tips given in this article. These 5 tips will help you avoid choosing the wrong type. Opting for the right type is essential if you want the best results.

If you are looking for China steel bar grating manufacturer, you can check out Royce Grating Supplier. They can meet the needs of your metal grating factory.

Amazon Isn't Killing Your Business, You Are

A few days ago, I went to the store to pick up a few items after work, which was the peak time in retail. When I went to pay, I looked at two registers with cashiers and very long lines. I then chose to contend with self-service, and when I got stuck in the particular sequence I was supposed to do to pay, the human who in the earlier days of self-service stood around helping people become familiar with the payment machine was nowhere to be found.

As someone who had worked in retail for years, I was in disbelief of the managers who acted as if people were not frustrated and annoyed at having this terrible experience at a store. What happened to service? When did that become a thing of the past? When did it become acceptable for businesses to disregard the time and experience of their customers?

As an entrepreneur, I have many conversations with small business owners about how online companies and retailers are killing their profits, and they have no choice but to keep things lean and mean.

Amazon is a favorite business killer.

But, when I go to retail stores, I see long lines, which I'd much rather avoid by tapping a few things into a digital retail platform and then receive my products usually within a few hours of ordering in the comfort of my home. Who wants to go to a store to have an experience that is not pleasant when I can sit in my house and get what I need in a fraction of the time?

Here's my take on the big, bad Amazon and other global retailers destroying small businesses: No, they are not.

While there are pros and cons about Amazon and other global businesses, such as paying competitive and fair wages, as well as working conditions for their employees, it's easy to think about online retailers as the enemy because it gives business owners someone else to blame but themselves.

If you have a business and you're not adapting to the changes that are happening, and you think you're adjusting by destroying the customer experience, then you've got no one else to blame but yourself. You're losing your profits because of you, not Amazon.

I have a question for you.

Have you ever thought of competing against Amazon and other big online retailers?

If the answer is no, why not?

If you say that it's because your business can't possibly compete against a trillion-dollar company and if it does, then it has to shaft the customer, you're wrong. Yes, you can compete against Amazon and other global giants, and you can get more customers. Here's how:

Change your mindset: First things first. You have to look at yourself in the mirror and stop excusing the failure of your company to be innovative and to adapt on anyone else but you. It's essential to do this because if you think right from the outset that you've lost, then you might as well close up shop. You have to believe that your company can stand out.
Stay in your lane: I'm an entrepreneur and have more than seven brands. One of the most important things we do is stay in our path. We're not all things to all people. We picked niches for the brands, and we are relentless in being the market leader. Amazon has thousands of products and keeps moving into new industries, such as publishing, retail, and now healthcare and even education. Want to beat Amazon? Focus like a laser on a niche.
Develop a purpose: If you search Amazon, it often has hundreds of thousands of similar products, such as shoes. No one is going to go through that, but if you're a shoe retailer and figure out a specific value to your customers for buying shoes from you (e.g., a higher purpose), people will patronize your store. Amazon isn't looking to create a consumer story for making a positive impact. However, other brands have overlaid making a difference in their products, and that's a competitive advantage your business would have over a behemoth like Amazon.
Customer service:A competitive advantage of my brands over my competitors is exceptional customer service. You can crush even Amazon if you provide something that seems to have gone out of style-- extraordinary and live customer service where people can speak to another human who cares about their customer experience. If you want consumers to get into your store, then think about how you can cater to them and treat each person as a unique individual.
Experience: This goes along with the earlier point. Think about the experience you want to give your customers. Do you want them standing in line at your store (not going to happen with many people), or entering into a fresh, modern (including lots of tech) and fun experience? Think of the customer experience from the moment they consumers see your brand, to the point of sale and beyond. Customer experience is why Amazon is a global giant; they are fanatical about knowing their customers.
If you want to continue to claim that your business can't compete against Amazon or other online retailers, then close up shop. You are correct. However, if you want to get out of your way and operate your business successfully in the 21stCentury, then get to work. There's plenty of ocean, and even small fish swim alongside the giant whales. You can't be afraid of it.

Big Data's Role in the Craft Brewing Process

The use of what is commonly called "Big Data" can play a key role in the operation of any craft brewing company.

How that data is gathered, analyzed and implemented can make a large difference in the efficiencies and profitability of any sized brewer, from new startup to the established multi-state operation.

Nearly all brewers realize that attention to detail is a hallmark of the industry. It can make the difference between success and failure. This includes execution of a daily routine that ensures ingredients are mixed and formulated properly, then properly processed through a kegging and bottling system, and, in the end, results in the replication of a high quality product. This must be accomplished with a production output necessary to sustain profitability.

The overall brewing process must be completed with as little waste as possible. Any variation, large or small, can slow down the operation, impede production, and compromise taste. The end result can be a slowdown in delivery times, loss of customers, and a large increase in overall costs.

In order to maintain consistency, many in the industry are now turning to data gathering systems. These systems can include software that can be automated to accumulate hundreds of pages of information. However the challenge for most becomes not only the collection of the data itself but also how to sift through it, decipher it and put it to use to improve business operations.

Fortunately new data gathering software has been created specifically for the craft brewing industry. Not only can the software be utilized to eliminate the mountains of data which may be pertinent to other types of businesses but not to brewers, but it can also monitor key areas of operation impacting the brewer's' specific brewing process.

This software can be customized to monitor and even improve mashing-plato (balling), temperature (conversion) and raise times. It can provide information on Lauter tun-first wort plato, lost Hansel plato, number of bed cuts, runoff time total and grain out time. Items such as brewkettle-kettle full plato, wort cooling, fermentation, time from fill to attemporation, centrifuge turbidity, yeast brink, filter and CIP can also be tagged as needed.

The software can help the brewer with full system monitoring, setup alerts based on production and performance, watch output comparisons by day and time, and track inventory and materials.

Some of the automated software can also provide cloud based reporting for 24/7/365 access on a PC, laptop or mobile device. It can work with all servers and workstations, and multiple devices. The software may also be compatible with any PLC including Siemens and Allen-Bradley devices.

The newer software can be adjusted to provide only the most crucial reports and information. Instead of continuously polling and storing data, it can focus on specific program triggers and collect specific data at specific points in time, at specific process conditions. This provides a detailed comparison from one day's operation to the next, enabling the brewer to make adjustments as necessary.

A brewer can also find programs that provide a full system back-up, support and updates. Some systems are fully customizable to meet the needs of the individual brewery.

Corporations and multi-national beer producers have used various forms of big data processes for many years. Big data has helped them not only monitor and improve the manufacturing process but also with pricing and marketing.

Now craft brewers, of all sizes, can enjoy the benefits of data gathering and analyzation. The development of new software programming, combined with the ease of cloud based reporting, can help the brewer greatly improve business operations while greatly increasing profits.

David Moye is a Principal with Forensic IT, a firm providing big data solutions to companies nationwide. David helped found Forensic IT and DataSnare software, and has some 25 plus years of experience as a software engineer and solution architect. Along with at least a half a dozen core programming languages, he is a certified DBA in Oracle and Sybase and has spent years working with MS-SQL and MySql.

8 Invoicing Mistakes Small Businesses Must Avoid

 

Invoicing is often dismissed as a mundane task that need not be done with full attention. That is true, but it is an important part of the business that is essential to maintain a positive cash flow. As a business owner, you must realize that your duty does not end with just sending an invoice.

Automation of various tasks with the usage of online accounting software will take a load of your back and help you manage invoices in the most productive way.

To make sure you get your money on time, here are a few things that must be avoided.

1. Procrastination

As a business owner, it can get awfully difficult to manage so many various tasks on time. It is not uncommon for a small task such as invoicing to slip your mind, or you may think that a regular client or customer will make the payment anyway and push the task ahead.

But you need to remember, that invoicing is your responsibility. One must make it a priority and send an invoice as soon as the job is complete. According to a survey, when you invoice on the same day of the work completion, you are 1.5 times more likely to get paid on time.

2. Pending Invoices

Now that you have made a priority to send invoices, it is also very much possible that the client misses their due date, misplaces the invoice, or simply forgets about it. You and your team have to take responsibility to get paid on time, so be proactive in sending reminders and contact the client immediately if they miss their payment date.

In a rare case where you are dealing with a terribly unresponsive client, extreme measures can be taken. A case can be filed in small claims court, or if matters get worse, you can hire a collection agency to get your payment.

3. Undefined Terms

Business dealings must always have clearly specified conditions which come in use, in case of any discrepancies. Never use vague language in an invoice, specify your terms and resulting consequences if those terms aren't met. But do not define lengthy and unrealistic terms that can hamper business relations.

To create an ideal situation, sign a simple contract with your clients that will protect the interests of both parties. Bring this into practice and you will ease up a lot of your workload. Ask your lawyers to record your agreement and make it official.

4. Details that Matter

Precise attention must be given to details so that small mistakes are avoided. Check with your client on whom to send the invoice and draft the mail accordingly. Billing a different individual or department can create a lot of miscommunication and waste your precious time.

An invoice must always contain these details:

Legal company name, office address and contact number
Client name and address
Invoice number and date
Payment due date
Tax number or license numbers, as per government demands
Terms of payment
List of products or services
Total amount to be paid?
5. Data Backups

In this age of technology, it seems unwise not to take advantage of it. Create regular backups of your receipts on the cloud, so that you have a soft copy to refer to, even if you lose the hard copy. Use applications like Quickbooks cloud to keep track of your data and enable remote access to your finance reports.

6. Branding and Format

Research has shown that invoices are 3 times more likely to get paid if there are a proper company logo and name mentioned. These small things show that you are professionals and it creates your executive image over the others.

Also, the same goes with poor editing and format of the invoice. Spelling mistakes, incorrect amount, incomprehensible fonts, all these mistakes must not be made. Double check your invoices before sending them.

7. Flexibility and Payments

You have set up your payment terms, well done. But being a businessman does not mean that you need to be harsh over rules. Sticking to them is important, but every now and then, you can offer a bit of wiggle room, on client's request.

In terms of payments, you must offer options for safe payment methods for the convenience of your client, and efficient workflow for both you and them.

8. Manners

Being polite is the most important thing to run a successful business. Adding a 'please' and 'thank you' to your tone, emails, and even invoices can increase your chances of getting paid by 5 percent. This will also boost your brand image.

With the rapid technological advances and its integration in the accounting industry, usage of sophisticated application like cloud-based QuickBooks helps profusely. It streamlines the workflow and helps keep track of incoming and outgoing cash. Keep these points in mind to get your payment on time from clients.

Tina Smith is an accountant with SageNext Infotech. She is having expertise in project management, accounting operations. With SageNext, she consults the client accountants about the benefits of QuickBooks Hosting. SageNext is a leading tax and accounting application hosting provider like cloud based QuickBooks

3 Tips When Choosing a Food Courier

Nothing beats the taste of homemade food and it is when you are in a foreign land that you certainly appreciate your native cuisine. Do you know that you can courier your food items from India to any part of the world? In this article, we will be looking at 3 tips when it comes to choosing an international food courier.

Simplicity

First of all, you want to consider the ease of use of the service. You would want a courier service that will make documentation as well as customs clearing as easy as possible. Foods are highly perishable items and you would want the items to reach their destination quickly. Choose a courier service that provides online tracking so that you can monitor your shipment. Some courier service will require a lot of paperwork while others will take care of the documentation procedures for you. This is where a service such as Translink Express might come in handy as they take care of all documentation and guarantee a door to door delivery.

International service

When choosing an international food courier you would want to choose a service that provides a wide range of destination. This will allow you to get your homemade dishes couriered to you wherever you are located in the world. A service such as Translink Express offers a wide variety of destination such as UK, USA, Canada, Dubai and many parts of the world. Moreover, they have some good experience of the customs regulations of these destinations guaranteeing you a fast and effective customs clearance.

Packing service

When it comes to courier food items it is important that you pay attention to the packing. Indeed food can easily get spoiled during transit and only a courier service that is specialized in the transportation of food items can guarantee you a hassle-free service. Also, inquire whether you will be given an insurance on your shipment to protect your food items. A courier service such as Translink Express will provide you with free packing service as well as a money back guarantee in case they cannot deliver your items.

Nowadays if you are working or studying abroad there is no reason why you should miss any of your homemade dishes. With the numerous international food courier service that exists it is easy to get your favorite homemade items to your doorstep. We hope that the tips given above will help you in choose the right courier service for your foodstuffs.

Do you want to use an experienced food courier service? Head to our website to find out how you can courier food items in the best possible condition.