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How Chatbot Can Improve Organization Efficiency

A chatbot is a computer program that simulates human conversation through voice commands or text chats or both. Chatbot, short for chatterbot, is an Artificial Intelligence (AI) feature that can be embedded and used through any major messaging applications. There are a number of synonyms for chatbot, including “talkbot,” “bot,” “IM bot,” “interactive agent” or “artificial conversation entity.”

Understanding Chatbot

The progressive advance of technology has seen an increase in businesses moving from traditional to digital platforms to transact with consumers. Convenience through technology is being carried out by businesses by implementing Artificial Intelligence (AI) techniques on their digital platforms. One AI technique that is growing in its application and use is chatbots. Some examples of chatbot technology are virtual assistants like Collect.chat.

A chatbot is an automated program that interacts with customers like a human would and cost little to nothing to engage with. Chatbots attend to customers at all times of the day and week and are not limited by time or a physical location. This makes its implementation appealing to a lot of businesses that may not have the manpower or financial resources to keep employees working around the clock.

A chatbot works in a couple of ways: set guidelines and machine learning. A chatbot that functions with a set of guidelines in place is limited in its conversation. It can only respond to a set number of requests and vocabulary and is only as intelligent as its programming code. An example of a limited bot is an automated banking bot that asks the caller some questions to understand what the caller wants to be done. The bot would make a command like “Please tell me what I can do for you by saying account balances, account transfer, or bill payment.” If the customer responds with “credit card balance,” the bot would not understand the request and would proceed to either repeat the command or transfer the caller to a human assistant.

How Chatbots Function

A chatbot that functions through machine learning has an artificial neural network inspired by the neural nodes of the human brain. The bot is programmed to self-learn as it is introduced to new dialogues and words. In effect, as a chatbot receives new voice or textual dialogues, the number of inquiries that it can reply and the accuracy of each response it gives increases.

Chatbots are used in a variety of sectors and built for different purposes. There are retail bots designed to pick and order groceries, weather bots that give you weather forecasts of the day or week, and simply friendly bots that just talk to people in need of a friend.

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The Earned Recognition Scheme and How it Can Make Haulage Jobs Safer

News of the new DVSA (Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency) Earned Recognition Scheme is rapidly spreading within the industry and, with confidence in the scheme high, if you consider yourself a responsible vehicle operator it’s definitely worth getting involved.
What is it?

The scheme is a way to support and maintain a safe road transport industry. The DVSA, alongside enforcement agencies, has been targeting hazardous and irresponsible HGV drivers in order to limit the amount of accidents that occur. High-risk drivers, if caught out, may have their licences withdrawn, consequently making our roads safer for anyone out there doing haulage jobs.

The IT based system monitors your driving to check whether you’re meeting a prescribed set of KPI’s (Key Performance Indicators). Every month the system reports back to the DVSA, and if any KPI’s have been missed, you are invited to work on what needs improving.

The Benefits

If you have a HGV and want to prove that you meet compliance standards, the ER scheme is a brilliant way to show you’re a safe and reliable operator. Plus, you will earn the creditable recognition marque, which you can use on your website.

The scheme is also extremely useful if you’re looking to gain new contracts, as it acts as an official sign that you have a higher level of compliance. Working closely with the DVSA also suggests that you, as a business, are committed to improving the standards of your drivers and vehicles; again firm evidence of a reputable company.

Not only this, but as an Earned Recognition operator you will be less likely to be stopped at the roadside for vehicle inspections, and also less likely to have enforcement staff from the DVSA visit your premises. This will save you both time and money in the long run, as your drivers will be able to carry out their haulage jobs and related work uninterrupted.

Are You Eligible?

To apply for Earned Recognition you must have held a licence for a HGV or PSV (Public Service Vehicle) for at least two years. In addition, you must not have had any regulatory action taken on any of your operator licences (besides a formal warning).

As well as this, you will only be eligible if you have digital management systems for both vehicle maintenance and drivers’ hours. This is so that KPIs can be tracked and monitored by the DVSA.

Extra Information

• There is no application fee • You can apply for recognition status at any time • You can monitor your own performance via the IT system • You will be alerted if you miss a KPI • You can leave the scheme at any time

Overall, the ER scheme is a great way to get your business noticed. By earning the recognition you will also be gaining the respect of traffic commissioners, regulators and fellow drivers. Not only that, but you will be helping to keep the roads free of high-risk drivers, and your haulage jobs will become quicker and safer.

Author Plate

Norman Dulwich is a Correspondent for Haulage Exchange, the leading online trade network for the road transport industry. Connecting logistics professionals across the UK and Europe through their website, Haulage Exchange provides services for matching haulage jobs with available drivers. Over 5,400 member companies are networked together through the Exchange to fill empty capacity, get new clients and form long-lasting business relationships.

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GST Rate on Building Materials like Cement, Roofing Sheets, and Pipes

As we know, the Construction Sectors have shifted out of their developing platforms. For the preceding few decades, both governments play a crucial role in every sector like the construction of highways, schools, buildings, and companies etc. Also, it ensures to bring employment to the workers. In this article, we will talk about the GST Rate on Building Materials like Cement, Roofing Sheets, and Pipes.
Understand About GST

GST is an ultimate Indirect Tax that has imposed on sale, production, and consumption of goods and aid over the nation. It is a separate tax proper for the supply of goods from the operator to the user. GST is acceptable only on purpose extension at each stage. Although, GST registration is essential for registering the businesses.

Advantages of GST Registration

GST excludes the cascading effect of tax

GST is a comprehensive indirect tax that has the design to bring indirect taxation under one umbrella. More importantly, it is running to eliminate the cascading effect of tax that was evident earlier.

The simple and easy online procedure

The entire method of GST Registration has made online, and it is super easy. This has been beneficial for start-ups particularly, as they do not have to run from pillar to post to get several registrations such as VAT, excise, and service tax.

Composition scheme for small businesses

Under GST, small businesses (with a turnover of Rs 20 to 75 lakh) can serve as it gives an option to lower taxes by utilizing the Composition scheme. This move has taken down the tax and compliance burden on several small businesses. GST Rate on Building Materials: GST Rate on Cement Cement is subjected to GST at a rate of 28%. Such a high rate of tax is importantly responsible for raising the cost of the infrastructure sector. GST Rate on Pipes Pipes are subjected to GST at a rate of 12%. Such a high rate of tax is considerably accountable for improving the cost of the infrastructure sector. Know more about GST Rate on Building Materials like Cement, Roofing Sheets, and Pipes.

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