Artificial Intelligence has been able to revolutionize a variety of areas like healthcare, e-commerce, manufacturing, and medicine. However, it does not stop there as more sectors seem to transition every day. Here are four more areas AI is revolutionizing:

Finance

Audit firms are coming up with a robust set of AI tools that utilize predictive analytics properties for their non-audit and audit customers. These tools allow the firms to assess, interrogate, and contest the predictions that underpin asset valuation of the customers’ balance sheets. Audit and accounting firms are also using cognitive software that goes through thousands of pages of agreements or contracts and makes a summary almost immediately by set criteria about what is and is not needed. Research indicates that 80% of accounting and finance tasks will be carried out with automation in the foreseeable future.

Robotic Process Automation (RPA)

RPA is an upcoming business process automation technology. Its heavily relies on the idea of AI or software robots. This system develops an action list that needs automation through watching the performance of the task by the user in the GUI of the application. The system then repeats the tasks directly in the graphical user interface. Robotic process automation technology uses artificial intelligence to execute repetitive, rules-based, and back-end tasking that programmers or workers don’t want to do, or couldn’t do as fast as the RPA system. An example of an RPA tool is one that receives an email comprising an invoice, extracts the information, and then types it into the bookkeeping system.

Security

IT companies are offering services and products that proactively curb, as opposed to reactively detecting, the execution of persistent and advanced malware and threats. Companies are also using SAP’s machine learning solutions and cloud platform in the management of their databases of collected information like customer details or sales transactions, apps, relational databases, and other sources. According to research, 44% of companies are using AI to detect and prevent security intrusions.

Education

Companies are using AI to make customized educational content. Deep learning is being used to absorb and make an analysis of existing course materials, syllabi, and textbooks. The technology comes up with customized learning materials that include multiple choice tests, chapter summaries, and textbooks. Additionally, AI is also being used to reduce the time used in the grading of school assignments. Students upload their assignments to a school platform that has incorporated AI. Multiple assignments get graded at once. The software then offers instructors with an analysis of where the students got wrong and right.

As you can now see, finance, robotic process automation, security, and education are four more areas that AI is revolutionizing. Who knows what other exciting advancements will occur in other areas in the near future?

Here’s another article we think you’ll enjoy. It discusses different ways that technology is reducing operation costs in many industries. Give it a read!

Roofing technologies have come a long way from the times our ancestors used thatched roofing. Over the years, people have created stronger and better roofing for home and commercial use. A roof is not only used as a defense against unwanted intrusion and foul weather, but it is also important in enhancing aesthetic appeal and heat efficiency.

Recently, we have witnessed an increase in the number of innovative roofing technologies. Many of these futuristic roofing technologies provide solutions such as generating electricity, dealing with roof degradation, or lowering the carbon print from a building. Here are some futuristic roofing technologies that are coming to a building near you.

Solar Panel Roofing

Solar panel roofing uses solar shingles or photovoltaic shingles. These shingles look like your conventional roofing material such as a slate. In addition to performing the roofing function, they also produce electricity. This electricity generating solution is called building integrated photovoltaics (BIPV).

The solar panels come in a variety of formats. There are semi-rigid designs that contain several solar cells put together in a shingle-like structure. Others have solar cells put together in a strip-like format. There is also another technology of thin-film solar cells that are more flexible than the conventional roof shingles. A silicon solar cell roofing can reach as much as 100 watts DC per shingle.

Metal Roofing

A metal roofing system is made of metal tiles or pieces made from copper, zinc, or steel alloys. This roofing material is known for its impermeability, longevity, and high resistance to bad weather conditions. Unlike the asphalt roofs, metal roofs reflect the heat away from the building during the summer season. It lowers the heat island effect and can reduce the energy cost by as much as 40 percent when the insulation is done right.

The standing seam metal roofing is the most durable type of metal roofing. The standing seam is made when adjacent seams are crimped together and sealed into one joint. The roof is installed in a sequence for aesthetic value and good drainage.

Green Roofing

A green roof is also called a living roof. A conventional roof is covered with growing vegetation growing from a medium placed on top of the room. Green roofing is usually an extension of the existing roofing. A waterproof membrane is placed on top of the existing roof then layers of root barriers, irrigation systems, and drainage added on top.

Green roofs are known for their aesthetic appeal and help reduce the carbon footprint of a building. The roofs also mitigate the heat island effect in cities thereby lowering the urban air temperatures.

Flat Roof

Flat roofs have been around for some time. Contrary to the general belief, these roofing systems are not completely flat and come with undetectable pitches that allow rainwater to drain. They have a simplistic but unique design. Again, they can be made of a variety of materials including TPO, PVC, and even concrete.

Homeowners and commercial building owners can have a number of uses for flat roofs. You can use the rooftop as a patio or a deck to enhance the occupants’ quality of life. It can also work as an outdoor recreation space especially in densely populated areas. The flat roof can also support the green roofing concept by supporting irrigation and vegetation.

As new technologies come into being, roofing systems are expected to become more environmentally friendly, highly efficient and durable. Moreover, the cost of quality roofing is expected to go down. Be on the lookout for one of these roofing technologies in the neighborhood near you.

Check out our other posts about other technological home upgrades that you can do to make your life easier and your home more comfortable!

Image source: JMK Roofing

Catching up to modern society can be more difficult than you might now imagine. The IT infrastructure in place is complex and growing daily. The good news is that the changes we’re seeing are making our work around the business office much easier. You can’t benefit from these new standards if your IT system isn’t adapted.

The challenge of IT security is also a central focus for the modern business.

Web technology unites us, but it provides a constant option for criminals also. The new measures in security that emerge deal with blockchain and how an encrypted ledger can ensure that our work continues without exposure to the common hacker. Your office is way behind if you haven’t been thinking about these things. Let’s take a closer look at those areas where you can now improve.

Data Backup and Storage

Businesses have been forced to shut down after fires destroyed all of their files. Vehicles have hit retail outlets, permanently damaging valuable data. Disgruntled employees also play a role as to why you want to integrate back-ups since vengeful individuals sometimes target the agencies they worked for in the past.

Studies find that most small businesses fail to properly store their data and can forget to perform data backups. Database storage technology has been around for ages, yet remains commonly neglected. Lucky for you, it doesn’t take much to get it as part of your routine business cycle—especially if you’re using the right tools. MongoDB is a database storage system that makes it easy to store, index, and sort information. Because of it’s highly readable display, businesses are able to improve performance and boost profits. It’s a tool that makes it easy to stay organized.

Relevant: ObjectRocket | Proven MongoDB Monitoring Tool Suggestions

Cutting Down on Human Error

Artificial intelligence hasn’t become the scary image of machines bent on gaining world power as often portrayed in movies and fiction. The help of AI is emerging through a number of industries, and its most prominent role is in cutting down on human error. This doesn’t mean that AI is replacing human labor. It’s instead improving specific areas of work.

No matter the type of business you operate, the computed analysis of AI is helpful. You can expect common human errors to appear when fact-checking, when submitting financial data and when organizing administrative work. These are all scalable processes for AI.

Cloud Storage

Cloud services differ from actual backup services. The cloud is used to create interactive software that doesn’t need a central place at your location and is, therefore, less likely to be hacked or infiltrated. The most vital purpose of these cloud services is for efficiency and remote capabilities.

Relevant: Straight Edge Technology | 3 Reasons You Need Managed IT Services

Such are powered by the likes of Dropbox and Google Drive. Having a protected account in place gives your business direct access to remote teams while those team members have the same files and updated data as you do. No one will be able to access that data unless given the right login credentials like the password and username.

Project Management Tools

Project management tools are an innovative addition to our service as a software (SaaS) era. This era is one where the workflow of a business uses the same remote features of cloud storage to power projects that have beginnings, middles, and ends. The entire workflow is optimized as your business is given tools to manage the steps.

Relevant: Software Advice | What is SaaS? 10 FAQs About Software as a Service

These systems are a great way of providing guidance to your team members while giving them opportunities to make decisions for a project’s completion. You’re then given notifications about specific assignments and how well they’re coming along.

Wise Words for Technology

Some technology is so prevalent in day-to-day use that we overlook the importance of them. Companies can often streamline processes and save staff time by integrating technology in new and unexpected ways. For example, iPad receptionist software enables companies to manage visitor logs, track data, and simplify the check-in process for both staff and visitors. When companies embrace new technology, they are able to better allocate their human resources and improve their processes.

Relevant: Teem | Visitor Sign-In and iPad Receptionist

Consider the many software solutions available today, and enable them to make your technological transition a reality. There’s little time to waste.