Category: Business

  • What You Need to Know About Life After Bankruptcy

    What You Need to Know About Life After Bankruptcy

    Filing for bankruptcy is not the end of the world. On the contrary, it’s an opportunity to step back, take a deep breath, and reevaluate your approach to spending money. It is a chance to make a change for the better, and develop a number of new routines that are going to help you deal better with your resources.

    It is normal to reach a point where you have to start from scratch, but it is important to move on wisely in order to regain your credit capability. I wanted to learn more on how to deal with bankruptcy and here’s what I learned with the help of Law Offices of Mark L. Miller:

    Paying Bills

    It’s all about getting your credit score back. In order to do that you need to think about your expenditures and prioritize things that are going to contribute to a good score. Paying your monthly bills regularly is the first step.

    You need to plan that money, put it aside, and when the time comes pay the bills the moment they arrive. This way you will be sure you’ve paid your due, and can focus the rest of your money on other important things.

    Developing this routine will help you in the long run because you get the sense of responsibility you didn’t have before and teach you how to be more thoughtful about allocating your funds.

    Do You Have a Business Exit Strategy?

    Focus on Restoring Your Credit

    The best way to regain trust of creditors is to show that you are capable of distributing your finances. You need to cover all your monthly obligations, have enough to sustain yourself and, ideally, put something on the side. You can still get a new credit card, but this time around show the lenders that you are able to use it wisely.

    Pay close attention to how much you use it. Write everything down and keep track. You can make a plan ahead at the start of every month to understand how much you can allow yourself to spend. This way you will avoid spending more than you can afford and show that you can restore your credit strength.

    Follow a Budget

    As I already mentioned it is good to create a budget at the start of every month. See how much you need to pay for bills, and use the rest to buy necessary things. This way you will ensure you will spend only on what is really important, like food and clothes. It might sound a bit radical, but now is not the time to think big.

    Focus on small things and try to make a habit of saving money until you are able to use the privileges of credit. If you can’t rely on having a credit card, alternatively you can bring only cash when you go shopping.

    By doing so you will know you can’t spend more than you currently have. These restrictions will allow your credit stability to go back to normal faster.

    Start Saving Money

    We live in a consumerist society and getting out of that loop can be difficult, but in case of bankruptcy it is necessary. When making a budget, take at least 200 dollars from the pile and put it aside. This emergency money will be used for any unexpected occurrence.

    Also, you will avoid relying on paying credit again and potentially burden yourself with another debt you can’t handle. Try to forget about that money and put it in a fund that you will only go to if you have expenses you didn’t plan.

  • How to Find a Reliable Fish ball Supplier in Singapore

    How to Find a Reliable Fish ball Supplier in Singapore

    Do you run a restaurant or street kitchen that serves fish balls as one of the main entrees? If so, you must find a reliable fish ball supplier in Singapore to ensure you don’t lose the momentum of your business.

    As an entrepreneur, sourcing a supplier should be a top priority. While making your own fish balls sounds a clever idea, purchasing ready-to-cook fish balls is a better option as far as time, workers, and other resources are concerned.

    Here’s the good news: finding suppliers to purchase wholesale from is easy—that’s if you know where to find them. In case you’re not sure how to begin your search, carry on reading.

    Where to Begin Your Search

    Google

    Naturally, the Internet is the best place to start. Search engines like Google have become everyone’s go-to tool for searching a wide variety of products, services, and companies online.

    Using Google to search doesn’t require much effort. Just type what you’re interested in finding into Google’s search field, and the browser will take you to the search engine results pages (SERPs).

    However, the key to getting the best results is using the right set of keywords. Make sure to use specific keywords, not only the product itself but also your location. Considering your Asian food business, you should include the keywords fish ball, supplier, and where your business is in—Singapore.

    You could use these keywords interchangeably, add a variety of search terms if you wish, then explore the pages of Google search results.

    Directories

    The web is indeed a handy platform where you can search thousands, if not millions, of things. Guess what? You can also find your soon-to-be fish ball supplier in Singapore on online listings!

    Some of the best manufacturers or suppliers are listed in online directories. Companies put their businesses on local listing sites so that people can easily find them on the web. Below are a few of the verified online directory in Singapore where you can find potential suppliers for your business:

    • Yelp Singapore
    • Yellow Page Singapore
    • Singapore Business Directory
    • GrowBusiness
    • Hot Frog
    • Street Directory Singapore
    • Simapages
    • Times Business Directory
    • Opendi Singapore
    • Tuugo Singapore

    Referrals

    Got no time to search and explore the web? No problem! Why don’t you try asking your families or friends? Believe it or not, the best leads often come from referrals.

    Make use of your social media accounts and ask suggestions from your social followers if they know a trustworthy fish ball supplier in Singapore. Word-of-mouth spreads fast as lighting, which means you can get a wealth of recommendations in no time.

    Once you have a list of suppliers, research the company and check whether it can point you in the right direction. Keep on reading to learn how to approach them effectively and see if they’re the best fit for you.

    Bonus Tip: Request a Quote

    The most important question you should ask your prospective supplier is “how much?” This query entails other critical questions, including:

    1. What is your minimum order quantity?
    2. What is your sample pricing?
    3. What is your production pricing?
    4. What is your turnaround time?
    5. What are your payment terms?

    When you reach out to the supplier, be clear about your intention and keep your email short and sweet. Avoid saying too much about your entrepreneurial story, and stick to asking the details that you need.

    Final Thoughts

    The fact that fish balls are a hit in many parts of Southeast Asia, including Singapore, China, Taiwan, the Philippines, and more, means that finding the right supplier for your business could be easy. All you need is resourcefulness and excellent research skills.

  • Tips to Start a Small Business – Tagging Guns and More

    Tips to Start a Small Business – Tagging Guns and More

    Starting a small business is easy. Making it successful is not. Small businesses have about a 50/50 chance of being around in 5 years. But after reading this article your chances will probably improve to about 90/10 in favor of long-term existence. All you have to do is be determined and follow protocol.

    1. Business Plan: Having a business plan is a great way to make sure that you know what you want, and have a basic idea of how to reach it financially. A financial statement helps you understand when peak times of the year will be if you run a specialty shop. The Census Bureau can clarify certain figures for you, making it easier to project success.

    2. Desire: You have to want to succeed in this business. That means pouring yourself unfailingly into the store and working extra hard in the beginning years to get it off the ground.

    3. Know the product: The better you know your project business opportunities, the more likely you will be to attract and keep customers. A well-run business, if it’s in the right market, will bring in business based on the quality of the service, products, and ambiance.

    4. Location: choose a location that is customer-friendly, without another competing industry in the immediate area, and make sure it complies with zoning laws.

    5. Finance: Government-backed loans, grants, and venture capital can help you get started. Having good credit helps business opportunities

    6. Legal Structure: Your options are many: a sole proprietorship, partnership, LLC, corporation, cooperative. Tax considerations may affect your choice. If your business is going to be doing risky things, like trading stocks, or opening people’s backs, you probably want an LLC, which provides personal liability protection, shielding personal assets from business claims. A corporation is another option here. These are more expensive to create and involve state fees and taxes but are necessary depending on your market.

    7. Register: Tell the state government the name of your new business. Then talk to the IRS and state revenue agency about a tax ID number, workers’ compensation, unemployment, and disability insurance. Obtaining permits from the federal, state, and local governments will make you ready to open shop.

    8. Manage: Hiring employees can be tricky. Take resumes and interview everyone personally.

    9. Supplies: Finding a reliable wholesaler is a great way to save costs. Items like pricing labels, tagging guns (the Monarch 1131, specifically), and Garvey labels can help you keep track of what’s in your store.

    10. Competition: You want to be the best in the market, so look at how other successful businesses operate. This will give you ideas about how to surpass and build what they already have.

    Read This Article To Know: How Social Media Will Help Your Business

    These tips should make you think again about the seriousness of opening a small business. It isn’t for the faint of heart and should be taken very seriously – your savings are at stake! If you still feel confident, look for mentors and websites that can help you develop a business plan, which is arguably the most important part of beginning your idea. Good Luck!

  • How Does Premium Packaging Help to Elevate The Appeal of a Product?

    How Does Premium Packaging Help to Elevate The Appeal of a Product?

    Contrary to the popular metaphor “Don’t judge a book by its cover”, most shoppers do judge which items to buy based on its packaging.

    According to a survey conducted in 2019, the average shopper spends approximately half a minute making a decision on what to buy in a particular aisle or section based on the item’s visual appeal. In order for business to be successful it is extremely important to catch the attention of the potential customers. Brands that give importance to the quality and design of the packaging focus on “premium packaging” that offers a bold, customer-facing ad right on the shelves.

    Between offering an appealing appearance and practicality, premium packaging can influence the choice of a customer. A potential customer looks for items that can be better alternatives, and even worth buying despite a higher price – which may be critical to a brand’s efforts to increase sales of their products in an extremely competitive market.

    How Does Premium Packaging Add to Product Appeal Through Its Usefulness And Convenience? 

    Packaging serves two main roles: to hold and protect the product from damage and to catch the customer’s eye on the aisles. When the manufacturers provide additional features – specifically in terms of convenience – to their item packaging, the final product appears special or “premium”.

    Customers prefer packaging with designs that has convenience and other features like the functionality, size, shape, weight and colour scheme that adds to the appeal of a product. The premium look to the customer is the first step to make customer stop and look at your product.

    In recent years, many food brands have introduced convenience innovation to their product packaging such as reseal able containers to keep the food/drink fresh and pocket-size packets which make carrying snacks around easier.

    Such means of premium packaging adds value to the products’ appeal by showing customers how they make daily life easier and more convenient, especially with the fast-paced lives we live today.

    How Does Premium Packaging Add to Product Appeal Through Attractive Package Design? 

    While convenience and functionality ARE important, for most customers the most appealing aspect of premium packaging is the visual appearance.

    The design of an item’s outer cover plays an important role in increasing product appeal, probably even more important than the role of advertising.

    There are 4 Primary Cues Associated With the Visual Aspect of Premium Packaging:

    • A unique container/package to communicate brand identity and make the product stand out from the rest.
    • Appealing to other senses apart from sight, like touch, sound, and scent, thereby connecting on a sensory level. Packages that successfully stimulate the majority of the senses will be more appealing to the customer.
    • Specialty completes the connection between tactile sensation and importance.
    • The ability of the packaging to be minimalistic and still evoke a sense of refinement and elegance, implying with premium packaging.

    Today’s customers are ready to pay more for certain products, so long as it has the right packaging attributes i.e. it is convenient, customizable, and innovative. Premium packaging, if done carefully and strategically, allows manufacturers to charge a higher price for the item and increase product sales.

    Conclusion

    Simply put, it can enable a product to be valued more and customers will be willing to pay for it as long as the qualities of the products are adhered to. Remember that a product’s packaging aims to express what a brand stands for, both to its customers and its competitors. Brands can leave a lasting and appealing impression on the shelves of stores and in the minds of their customers by employing premium packaging.

  • 5 Tips For Getting Pulled Over

    5 Tips For Getting Pulled Over

    If you get pulled over, here are 5 tips for getting pulled over. Getting pulled over is never an enjoyable experience, and sometimes it leads to even more significant troubles for a person depending on why they are getting pulled over. However, just use your common sense when it comes to things, and you should do just fine when it comes to this.

    Tip #1: Look Where You Are Pulling Over Before Doing So

    Before you pull over for the police officer, check out the current area where you are getting pulled over in. A large number of police officers die each year from traffic accidents, many of which are caused by people pulling over in unsafe areas for them. Do not cause another traffic accident by failing to find a good place to pull over in.

    Put on your blinker or your traffic hazard lights to let the police officer know that you are finding a place to pull over and are not trying to escape them. You do not want to take too long to find a safe place to pull over, but the police officer will appreciate that more than being run over by a car after pulling you over.

    Tip #2: Make Sure That You Are Fully Visible

    When you get pulled over, make sure that you are making yourself fully visible inside your car to the officer who is pulling you over. Police officers know the dangers of pulling people over, and if you make yourself visible to them, you will be able to make them feel more at ease, making the entire situation go more smoothly.

    Tip #3: Roll Down Your Windows Before The Police Officer Arrives

    You will have to roll your window down for the police officer regardless, so it is smarter to roll it down before they even reach your car. This makes communication between you and the officer easier and will help prevent unnecessary communication issues. If you can not roll down the window, do not open the door but let the police officer know about this issue when they arrive.

    Tip #4: Never Reach For Anything Unless Told To

    One of the most important tips that can be stressed enough when it comes to getting pulled over is not reaching for anything in your vehicle. An officer has no way of knowing what you are reaching for, and this is a good way to escalate things quickly for no reason. Keeps your hands on the steering wheel unless you are asked to grab something, and make sure you keep all your movements slow and calm.

    PRO TIP: If you are pulled over for DWI, you’ll want to learn about what type of lawyer to hire.  The Barkemeyer Law Firm blog has a great article you can read on this subject.

    Tip #5: Use Common Decency Towards The Officers

    The officer pulling you over is just doing their job, so there is no need not to be polite to them. Just comply with what they ask of you, and you will be on your merry way before too long as long as you are polite and do not do anything stupid with them.

    Conclusion:

    Remember to be smart about getting pulled over and try to obey the law in the first place. Then you will not have to worry about what to do if you get pulled over. However, in case you need them, you now know 5 tips for getting pulled over.

  • Paving the Road to Electrification – are we there yet?

    Paving the Road to Electrification – are we there yet?

    If you are like many automotive consumers, you have probably wondered when electric vehicles (EVs) will garner widespread adoption and finally replace their petroleum-powered counterparts once and for all. We know the technology is there – check. We see the interest is there – check. Realistically though, we still have many miles to go before the infrastructure to power them is viable. Automotive public relations expert Michael Szudarek from Marx Layne & Company offers some perspective on the matter.

    EV demand

    According to IHS Markit, a world leader in information, analytics and solutions, EV sales reached nearly 2.5 million globally in 2020 and are predicted to rise by 70 percent in 2021, with China and Europe leading market share, followed by the United States. EV sales are forecasted to exceed 3.5 million annually, with about 18.7 million available by 2030. BloombergNEF predicts that by 2040, nearly 60 percent of passenger vehicles sold worldwide will be electric. As EVs – both battery-electric (BEVs) and plug-in hybrids (PHEVs) grow in popularity, so must the infrastructure that supports them.

    Infrastructure EVolution

    Last year, public charging stations surpassed the one million mark globally, while General Motors announced plans to build a nationwide EV charging network to align with their BEV market strategy. Then there is Electrify America, a Volkswagen subsidiary, which recently completed an ultra-fast, cross-country charging network for all brands and EVgo, the nation’s largest public EV fast-charging network powered by 100% renewable energy. More recently, Szudarek discussed the EV outlook under the new Biden Administration, noting the president’s ambitious pledge to deploy charging stations at scale by the end of 2030. Even though we see an upsurge in charging ports, there are still enormous challenges facing electrical infrastructure development across the country.

    The power grid paradigm

    With the upcoming wave of EVs expected to skyrocket, more people will depend on electricity to power their vehicles, which could challenge grid capacity. Utility companies will be a significant player in supporting the future growth of charging networks and safeguarding their potential strain on the electrical grid.

    Will the increased demand for electricity tax the system? The short answer is no. Over time, the power grid has evolved and can handle the added load. Believe it or not, there is enough spare capacity to accommodate the influx of EVs. According to fueleconomy.gov, an average EV requires only 30 kWh per 100 miles traveled – similar to the daily average electricity consumption for an American home (877 kWh / 30 days.) By 2040, EVs are expected to increase electricity demand by just 5.2 percent or 1,964 TWh globally.

    Smart solutions

    Of course, energy consumption fluctuates throughout the day, especially during peak charging hours. Suppose every EV owner decides to plug in at the same time. In that case, there is a possibility – albeit small – that the grid could crash or force utility companies to deliver more electricity than they can produce. To mitigate this risk, utility companies are exploring many options like smart charging programs, time of use rates, and vehicle-to-grid technology, supporting renewable energy goals.

    Rural area networks

    EV infrastructure is not just for sprawling metropolises. Utility companies, policymakers, charging station developers, and other stakeholders need to invest network dollars in more rural areas. Electrify America has already invested $2 million in solar EV chargers in rural California – further supporting renewable energy initiatives as these charging stations will not depend on the electrical grid. These solar chargers not only address the lack of existing electrical infrastructure typical in many remote locations, but they are mobile. They do not require the same construction that other charging infrastructures require, hence reducing costs.

    Yet, as rural areas gear up for more charging station deployment, there are other concerns, though.

    Many would-be consumers still have trepidations over EV range and the lack of available charging stations in general, especially drivers who travel longer distances indicative of rural area living.  While increasing the number of rural EV charging stations could help alleviate these fears, finding locations where drivers can wait for their vehicles to charge, e.g., shopping centers and restaurants, could pose additional adoption barriers.

    EVs overseas

    Now cross the ocean to Africa, whose economy is predominantly agricultural and subsistence farming. As the leading continent in terms of global urbanization, there is a massive opportunity and dire need for Sub-Saharan African countries to invest in alternative transportation solutions, like EVs, to combat petroleum dependency and help curb the impact vehicle emissions have on air pollution, health and climate. Many African countries also need a power solution to help leverage their abundant renewable resources, and EVs could be the answer.

    EV infrastructure viability in Sub-Saharan African countries needs more research. A reliable power supply and low electricity prices are paramount and could pose issues since blackouts are commonplace and electricity prices are twice that of the US and China. There are also environmental concerns around battery production and disposal.

    The truth is: the internal combustion engine (ICE) is not disappearing any time soon. So, when will ICEs phase-out, and EVs become the new norm?  No one knows as the global pandemic keeps the industry in suspense.

    Source: https://marxlayne.com/the-road-to-electrification/

  • StradVision Delivering Cutting-Edge Vision Technology for Autonomous Vehicles in 2021

    StradVision Delivering Cutting-Edge Vision Technology for Autonomous Vehicles in 2021

    The Future of Autonomous Driving Remains Promising

    In 2020, the global COVID-19 pandemic impacted many industries based on traditional business structures and infrastructure, including the automotive industry. According to a market study published in November by ‘Strategy Analytics,’ the global automobile production volume in 2020 was estimated at 74.1 million units, a significant decrease of 16.7% compared to 89 million units in 2019.

    However, despite the overall downturn of the automotive market, the potential of ADAS and autonomous driving vehicle markets remains high. In particular, the production of vehicles equipped with Level 2 and Level 3 autonomous driving technology is expected to increase sharply to about 30 million units by 2025.

    New Innovative Features for SVNet

    StradVision’s 2020 was a year of significant achievements that further increased the maturity of technology, product and business capability. Since last year, StradVision focused on improving the performance of SVNet, its object recognition software, with implementation of more innovative features leveraging higher resolution videos and more cameras.

    At the NVIDIA GTC 2020 and AutoSens 2020 events held in October and November 2020, we unveiled our solution for Surround View Monitoring (SVM), which has begun to attract a lot of attention in the automotive industry. This technology combines wide-angle images collected by multiple cameras, mounted along the side of the vehicle, to recognize objects and situations in all directions, 360 degrees.

    StradVision also introduced a unique technology called Animal Detection in 2020. This new feature of SVNet was developed to prepare for the road environment in some countries where wild animals and livestock frequently appear, and reflects StradVision’s corporate value for the safety of not only humans, but also all living things.

    StradVision’s Expansion of Global Business Network

    In terms of business, Stradvision invested in closer support of our customers in different countries. One significant move was the opening of a new office in Munich, Germany, where many of our automotive Tier 1 and OEM customers are located. We also appointed Dr. Andreas Vom Felde — who has extensive industry experience in the field of automotive technologies — as general manager for our operations in the European Union. StradVision’s global reach includes local branches in Germany, Japan, China, and the United States.

    We also extended collaborative relationships with partners in the autonomous driving fields. In August 2020, StradVision signed a collaboration agreement with Socionext Inc., a major system-on-chip (SoC) solution company, to increase the supply of SVNet to the Japanese market. And we signed another agreement with BlackBerry to utilize its QNX software development platform for SVNet to create more business opportunity in the Korean automotive market.

    In addition, StradVision was selected for the Proactive Partner Program of the R-Car Consortium of Renesas, and as the Premier Partner of the NVIDIA Inception program, in recognition of its competitiveness in ADAS and autonomous driving technology.

    Through active new technology development and rapid business expansion in multiple countries, Stradvision has signed cumulative software supply contracts of 8.8 million units, and brought in a total of $41 million, including series B funding.

    Implementing Improved Performance and Cutting-edge Features to SVNet

    Stradvision aims to achieve two goals, in terms of business and technology, in 2021.

    Stradvision’s top priority is advancement of the Front-facing Camera (FFC) recognition performance, adding innovative improvements to our existing object recognition technology. By enabling the same level of object recognition capability as dual front cameras while using only a single camera, StradVision will maximize the unique advantages of SVNet, which delivers high-efficiency for both hardware utilization and costs.

    Along with the Front-facing Camera (FFC) solutions, StradVision is also activating new business areas based on emerging technologies including Surround View Monitoring (SVM) and AR-HUD (Augmented Reality Head-Up Display). As Surround View Monitoring (SVM) continues to earn a significant amount of attention in the automotive industry, SVNet provides cutting-edge features such as Advanced Parking Assistance (APA), to assist in parking with or without driver’s intervention, and Automatic Valet Parking (AVP), which provides complete valet parking service and a vehicle driving itself to the parking space and coming back when summoned.

    StradVision plans to collaborate with various OEMs in Europe, US, Japan, China and Korea, automotive parts suppliers and system-on-chip manufacturers to bring Surround View Monitoring (SVM) and AR-HUD technologies into day-to-day driving lives for everyone, leading the latest industry trends.

    About StradVision

    Founded in 2014, StradVision is an automotive industry pioneer in AI-based vision processing technology for Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS). The company is accelerating the advent of fully autonomous vehicles by making ADAS features available at a fraction of the market cost compared with competitors. StradVision’s software is being deployed in 8.8 million vehicles worldwide and is serviced by their over 140 employees in Seoul, San Jose, Tokyo, and Munich. The company received the 2020 Autonomous Vehicle Technology ACES Award in Autonomy (Software Category). StradVision’s software is certified to the ISO 9001:2015 international standard.

  • 4 Ways to Improve Your Local SEO

    4 Ways to Improve Your Local SEO

    Although the goal to make a large global company is worthwhile, you have to build up from something.  People want to support local businesses, and their proximity to you will help push them to visit your physical store or your website.  Although using search engine optimization for gaming the system is a time-honored tradition; many don’t know how to handle it when aiming closer to home.

    Here are the top ways to use local SEO services to get more people into your shop and buy your product!

    Optimize for Voice Search

    As of 2020, around a quarter of households have a smart speaker to talk to and connect to Google or Bing.  These assistants, Google Home and Amazon Alexa, can answer simple questions by reading articles or pinpointing where the best local shop for gnome figurines is based on your answer.  You should optimize your site for voice search so that when they ask a pertinent question, their speaker will read the top article and have it be yours.  Ensure to say your brand by name since the speaker won’t read out links.

    Figure Out Local Keywords

    What buzzwords are prevalent in your area?  Do you live in a city with a famous nickname like H-Town for Houston or Actionville for Jacksonville?  Think about a way you can tie in local keywords with your content advertisements so that it’ll come up quickly in the searches.  This option can also work if you mention local areas in passing as a famous gazebo people visit or a church that strikes as a local landmark that people care about and want to read about.  Ensure that you mention your city by name, so it gets noticed.

    Content Advertising Through Local News

    If you like content advertising, use local events as your topics to make locals want to come and read.  Once someone starts reading up on the hot local drama, they won’t notice what site they go on or what links they end up clicking.  Keep their attention by offering articles that are similarly close together on your website or by linking to other items that contain information about your company while still offering that entertainment factor.  Although you shouldn’t take part in any lowbrow drama and beware of slander accusations, you should know that most local news that gets a lot of attention is the dramatic type.

    Ask For Reviews From Local Customers

    Ask your local customers to review your product!  Whether they type up something quick for Facebook, or they tweet about it to their friends- ask that they tag your business and possibly the location as well.  You don’t generate these reviews, but you can push them into happening by offering discounts for future orders for any customers who tag you and leave a review.  This plan will give them an incentive to come back and buy again and hopefully use their connection to the surrounding area to gather more locals into knowing about your brand.

  • Automated Commercial Vehicles Are On The Fast Track As Result Of Billions In Investments

    Automated Commercial Vehicles Are On The Fast Track As Result Of Billions In Investments

    We recently caught up with Mike Szudarek of Marx Layne Public Relations to discuss the future of automated commercial vehicles. Here’s what he had to say.

    There has been a lot of talk in recent years about when we’ll all be passengers in our self-driving cars and give up control of the wheel on a daily basis. But while progress is being made in that area, it’s still many years away.

    What’s likely to become a reality more quickly is the automation of the commercial vehicle industry (trucks, robo-taxis, buses, etc.), which is seeing billions of dollars invested, according to the Autonomous Commercial Vehicle Industry Report, 2019-2020.

    For example, in 2019, TuSimple — which claims to be the largest and most advanced self-driving truck company — raised more than $200 million.

    Automonomous industry leader Waymo has tested self-driving trucks in California, Georgia, Arizona, New Mexico and Texas, and sees a wide variety of applications for the technology in commercial vehicles.

    Pony.ai, a robotaxi company that has seen investment of $400 million from Toyota and other investors, also remains active in this space. And there’s many more actively exploring this space with big investment dollars.

    The adaptation of faster and more efficient 5G technology will be one key element for the commercial automation process to move forward, and much of the conversation revolves around “truck platooning”, which involves the linking of two or more trucks in a convoy, using connectivity technology and automated driving systems.

    The path to commercial vehicle autonomy is not without obstacles. For example, a platooning test in China in December 2019 found that autonomous driving in tunnels became difficult because the GNSS signal was bad. In addition, winter weather concerns and low temperatures caused problems for the equipment being used.

    Once these issues are addressed, it’s clear that the future of commercial vehicles is an autonomous future. Whether it be robo-taxis and self-driving buses transporting people to their destinations, or autonomous semi-trucks delivering goods, the combination of GPS, Wi-Fi, 5G and Bluetooth technology have made self-driving commercial vehicles a realistic reality in the near future, opening up the controversial debate over staffing needs at trucking and other commercial vehicle companies in this new era.

    While initial deployment of self-driving commercial vehicles may include a human in the vehicle to serve as an emergency backup, in the longer term this human backup will not be needed. In fact, GM is already running its “robot cars” without human backups in San Francisco`. So the future is now. Automated Commercial Vehicles Are on The Fast Track As Result Of Billions In Investments

    Fleet owners who make the leap to autonomy will anticipate fewer fatalities on the roadways with their vehicles, with human error taken out of the equation.

    So next time you’re driving down the highway, if you see a car, taxi, or even a semi, without anyone behind the wheel, don’t be alarmed. It’s the new reality and may soon be commonplace, changing the entire ecosystem of how people travel and how cargo is distributed around the country, shaking up the transportation industry yet again.

  • Reasons Why People Lose Personal Injury Cases

    Reasons Why People Lose Personal Injury Cases

    Do you think you have a slam dunk case when it comes to the injury you’ve suffered?

    That’s great, and in that situation, you really should seek compensation, but you need to do it the right way.

    Many times people who indeed do have a solid case make some elementary mistake that ends up hurting them in the long run.

    If you’re about to go to a trial or start negotiating a settlement, you need to approach the proceedings seriously and not risk anything.

    To help you with that, here are some of the most common reasons why people lose personal injury cases.

    No attorney

    Often, we see people convinced that their case is so clear they don’t need an attorney.

    That’s a big mistake to make because a competent attorney will help you find your way through the system much faster, point out the potential traps that lurk in the fine print and leave quite a different impression in negotiations over a settlement or in court.

    Hire an attorney, preferably one from Optimal Solicitors, and your chances will go up dramatically, not to mention that the whole process will be much easier for you.

    Social media

    Social media are everywhere these days, so it may be hard to resist creating a post about your accident.

    However, try to remember that by doing so you may be hurting your case quite a lot.

    These things ARE admissible in court, but they often don’t tell the whole story, which means they can easily be twisted. Furthermore, they can give away your strategy and give the other side an edge.

    All in all, it’s best not to post anything until the whole thing is over.

    Documentation

    Whatever you claim happened to you has to be backed by some sort of evidence, otherwise, you have no chance of winning anything in court.

    So, do your best to keep a record of everything that happened, from the accident to the end of the treatment.

    Police reports can be exceptionally important, but also receipts and any medical documentation related to the accident.

    Any paper that can help you prove how much you were hurt, be that physically, mentally or financially, is worth saving.

    Not being honest about the injuries

    You may be tempted to look tough and say that you’re not suffering because of the injuries or you may be tempted to emphasize them too much in order to get a higher amount.

    Both approaches are wrong.

    Stick to the truth because the truth is the easiest to back up by evidence. If you act like you don’t care about the injuries the other side will certainly care even less, and if you’re overly dramatic, the judge or the jury can easily lose sympathy for you.

    Waiting too long

    Usually, you have a time frame within which you have to file a suit regarding your accident.

    Once that window is over, it will become extremely difficult, if not flat out impossible to get compensation.

    If you’re not sure whether or not you should proceed, talking to an experienced lawyer can help out a lot.