Month: December 2017

The big Crypt-ture

I’m not quite sure if anyone has given some careful thought, whilst in the heat of this Crypto mania, to the actual ramifications of the blockchain and its impact on the global economy. So, this is an attempt to perform a calculated prophecy, based on the conversations had with like-minded visionaries. An introspection into this much talked about technology has led to endless possibilities and here is how:

Presently, every Tom, Anastasia, and Patel are pursuing short-term gains. Relentlessly investigating ways in which they too can “cash in” on the new digital currency from an investment point of view. This is mainly driven by how the altcoin is performing in value. But the real appeal for each digital “currency” comes from the security, speed and of the transactions it permits, as well as the fact that it is decentralized, free from additional admin charges and commissions.

Also, let’s not forget the anonymity it affords one – great for criminals, money launderers. Because of the increased risk, monetary authorities and regulatory bodies will definitely make a case for the tighter controls or the outright banning of this new currency altogether.

Retail and commercial banks, are currently entrusted with the movement of funds (electronic transfers) and are governed by economic monetary policy set up by the watchful eye of their big brothers – the Reserve Banks. These are the “primary targets” so to say of the blockchain, and were, therefore, the first to react by investing or attempting to start up their own blockchains. Such projects, however, prove to be expensive and still risky ventures given that no-one knows the source and destination of the blockchain.

Banks are nevertheless having to either make quick decisions as to whether they get on board (some are partnering with developers of Cryptos such as Ripple), or get left in the dust when it comes to adopting a disruptor that clearly works better than what they are currently using or offering to their clients.

But we also must look beyond banks towards institutions such as credit lending facilities and money transfer institutions, who also are in partnerships with the banks. They stand to get wiped out by the blockchain if you think about it. I mean, who will want to cough up a 10% commission or a transfer fee on money sent abroad to your family when you can use something like IOTA which, by the way, is as a Crypto hovering around 3-5 USD per unit. It is capable of transacting very quickly (even more so than the known altcoins as it uses a different technology altogether) and securely with no transaction fees. And how so you may ask? Those details are listed clearly on their respective websites. This begs the question – what does that then mean for companies like Visa, Mastercard or even PayPal?

You can also imagine the implications for investment banks and its traders if markets such as the very volatile foreign exchange (Forex) are completely abandoned and substituted by Cryptos. There are now many an exchange for Cryptos in the appearing monthly.

So, you will be able to switch or trade Bitcoin for Ethereum, Litecoin, IOTA or Ripple if you need them for a specific transaction, country or product/service that only deals in that digital currency.

While most people are understandably looking at it solely from an investment point of view – as greed never sleeps – its purpose is actually about changing the way we transact and pay for goods and services. The aim is to make it a currency not only accessible to attain but also if you have the resources to “mine “and own them, can be an alternative income generator alleviating the need for job creation – or a substitute for those who are perhaps made redundant by Automation and AI. So, once you mine the currency (provided you have the infrastructure and pay the overheads), you can use it to get the things you need or must pay for. e.g. your electricity bill can be processed and paid for directly from an IOTA-holding wallet.

And speaking of electricity, I came across a very insightful article (referenced in the resource section) focusing on the impact energy consumption that global rampant mining will cause the price of electricity and the environment. Coupled with the switch to electric cars this could surely force us to invest in better ways to generate electricity if we are to maintain sensible levels of sustainability.

Whether the price of electricity goes up or down will be determined by how quickly energy providers globally will be able to meet this surging demand. We can surely be in a position to observe the upcoming impact on electricity consumption from next year as more and more of the global population begin to mine altcoins for themselves.

I also believe that the initial plan for Cryptos’ was to enable anyone to have access to a shared (decentralized) peer-to-peer type service which allows for secure transacting. One can look at the blockchain working in the same manner as BitTorrent or E-Mule (for those who remember that far back). In the way, that data, albeit mostly bootlegged music, videos, and software, was distributed and downloaded on the web.

“Blockchain is essentially a quick peer-to-peer transaction of digital currency”

So, while the value of Cryptocurrencies is now driven by a demand in terms of how well it works as a system, we must also look more closely at the added value it can offer society from a functional, practical, convenient and of course, cost-saving perspective.

As we head into the festive season and bonuses are being paid out, be responsible for how you splash out. Do your research first – even if it means waiting a year to see how it all plays out.

22 December 2017
The Big ‘Crypture’

I’m not quite sure if anyone has given some careful thought – in the heat of this ‘Crypto mania’. More specifically, have you ever considered the ramifications of the blockchain and its impact on the global economy?

This is an attempt to perform a calculated prophecy, based on the conversations we’ve had with like-minded visionaries.

An introspection into this ‘much-talked-about technology’ has led to endless possibilities.

Presently, every Tom, Anastasia, and Patel are pursuing short-term gains. You are all probably investigating ways in which they too can “cash in” by investing in new digital currencies.

This frenzy is mainly driven by how some of the altcoins are performing in value. Some digital coins are rising as much as 1000% in a ‘Crypto bull-run’. But the real appeal for digital “currencies” comes from the security, speed, and cost of transactions they facilitate.

A case for Cryptos

Most of you are understandably looking at it solely from an investment point of view – after all, greed never sleeps.

Also, let’s not forget the anonymity it affords one – great for criminals and money launderers. Because of the increased risk, monetary authorities and regulatory bodies will make a case for tighter controls.

They may even push for the outright banning of this new currency altogether.

Retail banks, are currently entrusted with the movement of your funds (electronic transfers) and are governed by economic monetary policy. This happens under the watchful eye of big brother – the Reserve Bank.

These commercial banks are the “primary targets” so to say of the blockchain. They were, therefore, the first to react by investing or attempting to start up their own blockchains.

Such projects, however, prove to be expensive and still risky ventures given that no-one knows the source and destination of the blockchain.

Banks are nevertheless having to either make quick decisions about whether they get on board or partner with developers of Cryptos such as Ripple).

We also look at other financial institutions such as credit lending facilities and money transfer institutions. They are also are naturally in partnerships with the banks. They, however, stand to get wiped out by the blockchain if you think about it.

Really, who would want to cough up a 10% commission or a transfer fee for money sent abroad to your family? You could simply use something like IOTA which, by the way, is as a Crypto hovering around 3-5 USD (at time of publishing) per unit.

It is capable of transacting very quickly and securely with no transaction fees!

And how so you may ask? Those details are listed clearly on their respective websites.

Peer review functionality

It is the belief that the plan for Cryptos’ was to enable anyone to have access to a shared (decentralized) peer-to-peer type service that enables the secure transacting of literally – anything!

You can look at the blockchain working in the same manner as BitTorrent or E-Mule (for those who remember that far back). In the way, that data, albeit mostly bootlegged music, videos, and software, was distributed and downloaded on the web.

“Blockchain is essentially a quick peer-to-peer transaction of digital currency”

The value of Cryptocurrencies is now driven by how well it works as a system. You must look more closely at the added value it can offer society from a functional, practical, convenient, and of course, cost-saving perspective.

A real threat?

So, what does that then mean for companies like Visa, Mastercard, or even a digital banking app like PayPal?

You can also imagine the implications for investment banks and their traders. That is if markets such as the very volatile foreign exchange (Forex) are completely abandoned and substituted by Cryptos.

There are now many an exchange for Cryptos in the appearing monthly.
You will be able to switch or trade Bitcoin for Ethereum, Litecoin, IOTA, or Ripple.

Handy if you need them quickly for a specific transaction, country, or product that accepts digital currency.

More practical uses of Crypto

The purpose of ‘Cryptos’ running on the blockchain is, therefore, to change the way we transact and pay for goods and services.

The aim was to make it a ‘form of exchange’ but also to provide the resources for you to “mine” and own them. This can be an alternative income generator alleviating the need for job creation. It can also be a substitute vocation for those you who were perhaps made redundant by automation and AI.

So, once you mine the currency (provided you have the infrastructure and pay the overheads), you can use it to get the things you need or must pay for.
Your electricity bill, for example, can then be processed and paid for directly from an IOTA-holding wallet.

Speaking of electricity, we came across a very insightful article (referenced in the resource section) focusing on the impact of energy consumption that global rampant mining will cause the price of electricity and the environment.

Coupled with the switch to electric cars this could surely force you to invest in better ways to generate electricity. That is if we are to maintain sensible levels of sustainability.

Whether the price of electricity goes up or down will be determined by how quickly energy providers globally will be able to meet this surging demand.

We can surely be in a position to observe the upcoming impact on electricity consumption from next year.

More and more of the global population are beginning to mine altcoins for themselves.

As we head into the festive season and bonuses are being paid out, be responsible for how you splash out. Do your research first – even if it means waiting a year to see how it all plays out.

22 December 2017
Run your business on cruise control

Are you running your business as you did in the eighties, nineties? If so, you are probably working like a donkey and for the same kind of income – if you are even making any!

Business automation has developed albeit quite slowly, over decades. It was accelerated significantly via the “www “. And now even more so with the Internet of Things (IoT).

Ways of doing business

Let’s begin looking at communication – a key pillar in running any successful venture. Getting in touch with your clients can now occur in numerous ways.

We have come a long way from shouting on street corners to invading people’s places of comfort with door-to-door sales visits.

We can now get in touch physically via phone, Skype, Emails, online chatting, video-conferencing, and social media.

And though it may sound like overkill, using these tools can actually help save you time and target your products effectively.

This makes them efficient and worth every penny you spend on them.
Hosting your email nowadays does not require the expertise of IT professionals.

Likewise, IT pros are now discovering they have more time to perform administrative work (productivity reports).

As an IT expert, you must hate having to walk from PC to PC to install software. Such ‘excursions’ can consume hours during the day and, probably gets on the nerves of people trying to get work done.

Hands-free IT

As an IT pro, you can now administer and carry out IT-related tasks from the comfort of your office. You can even do it remotely from your, laptop, or your smartphone!

So now, your emails can now be hosted with a few clicks. You can then receive them instantaneously on your desktops, mobile phones with a syncing feature. This is made possible by a newer mail protocol known as Simple Mail Transfer Protocol (SMTP).

You can now synchronize your emails, calendars, and events, and contacts on your devices using Microsoft Exchange Online services.

These are strenuous tasks that you would have had to manually create using special scripted rules. Tools like PowerShell, patches, domain routers would have to be applied to a physical server to enable such functionality.

The cloud has made this all possible. We will not get into the intricacies and workings of the cloud but we have seen a massive uptake of it.

Companies of all sizes, countries, and industries are moving to the cloud.
This uptake of cloud services is happening on a regular basis as old servers are being made redundant and getting subjected to creative destruction.

Software for hire

Software as a Service (SaaS), is basically the hiring of software rather than owning it and leaving the maintenance to the software provider.

Major cloud players such as Microsoft Azure, and Google Business, offer you the software just as a front-end and user-friendly application.

They take care of the ‘back-end’ operations such as backups, updates, and upgrades, security, and compliance. All that for an annual or monthly fee.

You can liken this to hire-purchase or the car leasing services that the automobile industry offers its clients.

Our car servicing and maintenance are performed timeously by the manufacturer. You just drive it and pay for your own fuel on top of the monthly leasing fees. Such a service can even be monetized using Cryptos such as IOTA.

Great collaboration tools

Another daunting yet integral task in running a business is the act of hosting meetings. Business meetings are often rescheduled as easily as procrastinating a spring cleaning exercise.

Tools that facilitate online meetings like Skype for Business or Google’s Meet, allow you to schedule meetings from your calendar. This will send you and your meeting participants a reminder. With a click of a button, you can join, host or participate in an HD video or audio conference call.

This can be done from wherever you are on the globe as long as you have a good enough broadband connection.

The kicker with this tool is the ability to present your full (hopefully clean and avoid any embarrassing items) desktop, to all participants.

So, you can present an Excel spreadsheet of financial data, discuss the design of a brochure or flyer for marketing, or run a PowerPoint presentation. The apps come even complete with an infrared pointer!

For more solutions, have a look at the previous blog on sales software and CRM systems. This will help you understand a bit more about how SaaS can help grow revenue for your business.

Good broadband is key

Again, these services obviously require great Internet connectivity. This might also be the only stumbling block deterring many smaller companies and some big data-sensitive firms from taking on the cloud.

But as Internet Service Providers (ISPs) and local governments are now actively getting involved in making broadband a necessity for us.

There are endless possibilities that the cloud and good software, in general, can offer your business.

No one wants to spend hours in traffic leading to stress at work or home. You also wouldn’t want to spend large budgets on unnecessary travel, marketing, and communication tools that are not effective.

We are not fully in favour of substituting your human interactions with technology. It will, nevertheless, help you to find ways to bridge the gap when you find that personal contact is not possible.

Allow software automation to help you!

17 December 2017
Out with the old school…

Creative destruction has become our new favourite buzzword. It also aptly describes this new wave or phenomenon of Crypto-mania driven by the blockchain and its shining star – the Bitcoin.

Suddenly, people who normally would not bat an eye at trading are now asking how to invest in Crypto.

We must note that anything that goes up very abruptly and abnormally – eventually comes tumbling down. The same way the big dot.com bubble burst and left many in dire straits after they over-indulged in overvalued tech companies.

Turbulent history

Bitcoin will eventually find its peak and there will be a mass sell-out and a ‘crash’ at some point.

We even had the likes of an ironical skeptic – the dubious Ponzi-scammer dubbed ‘the Wolf of Wall Street’ Joel Belmont. He attempted to pre-empt a crash of Bitcoin.

The funny thing is, however, most of the critics are people who have not invested themselves. Perhaps they suffer from a case of ‘sour grapes’ or they simply don’t understand how it works to even get involved.

Doubt is prompted by fear of an unknown. Most investors themselves don’t understand the complex algorithms that went into designing the blockchain. However, it is proving to be resilient and gaining intrinsic value by the day.

A new industry borne

Bitcoin (at the time of writing), which was hovering around $17000 after breaking its latest resistance level, and poised to reach the $20000-mark.

Creative destruction does not result in the reinventing of the wheel. It does, however, make the previous version look ancient very quickly. So while Bitcoins may not even last long, it has brought about its add-ons or spill-over effects.

There are now hundreds of cryptocurrencies. While not all and most will not experience huge price surges like that of Bitcoin, Ethereum, or recently Dash, they are still in circulation.

One of the spill-over effect includes the creation of jobs for new entrepreneurs, gamers, and developers across the globe.

Though it might be too late for investors to delve into the above-mentioned ‘big boys of crypto’, institutions are constantly developing blockchain solutions.

The fact of the matter is that the use and process of a blockchain makes sense and will, and is in the process of removing the old currency system.

Now, this may take a while before it completely phases out fiat money. This will also hopefully, much to the delight of governments and fiscal authorities, help eradicate the scourge of counterfeiting.

Applications of blockchain

Think about the big picture, the blockchain technology will allow you or any institution smart enough to copy or modify a part of the anonymously written code. Blockchain is open-source, so anyone smart enough can create their own.

We can now have Crypto for shopping, for buying cars; getting your salary paid by a multi-national company irrespective of where you are based; or paying for using Internet services (IoT).

The latter already exists and is called IOTA – read more about it on the resources page.

This technology can enable one to find creative ways to monetize a cryptocurrency to serve any purpose. This while providing a secure and lightning-quick means to transfer funds.

Litecoin and Dash boast amazing speeds of under 10 seconds to complete international money transfers.

It would be interesting to observe any bank try and beat that without charging an arm and leg for that type of service!

The motor industry

The critics, who thought Elon Musk was crazy for inventing electrically powered battery motors to run engines and now trucks – are now eating their shorts.

Not only did Tesla´s market capitalization beat that of Ford and recently BMW, but it also outperformed petro/diesel-powered vehicle companies. Outdoing them in speed and performance, attractive looks, and practicality – Tesla is changing the motor industry.

Manufacturers like Volvo, Porsche have now rolled out their own hybrids cars. They are looking to go the route of fully electric motors within a short matter of years.

Such notable paradigm shifts in the way we do things embody the beautiful concept of creative destruction. Those that shun it get left behind.
And while it is not all about the monetary gains, you can own the coins to use for transactions rather than for investment.

It will serve you better, in the long run, to get in the know of what is out there.

Beware of scammers

Be wary and vigilant, as like with money and investment, there are sharks out there (offering deals). The aim is to exploit you and many other unknowing technophobes looking to make a quick buck or two from Crypto.

Mining Cryptocurrencies (is particularly conducive for gaming enthusiasts) and using them to benefit you quickly and securely in the way of a new digitized future.

Some Internet pirates in desperation use anonymous digital currency such as Monero. They now use java-scripted mining devices (hidden behind ads) to drain hash power unsuspecting from your web-page browsers.

The way forward

Everyone is trying to get a piece of the action! There are also legitimate paid commission-based add-ons for trading as well – opening up a new world of digital earning online.

Don’t get left behind. But as with any investment, and a caution to the wise: Cryptocurrencies are highly volatile, and should not substitute any investment portfolio. They should only and always account for a fraction of your overall investment.

13 December 2017
Globalization 2.0

The implementation of globalization has not been without its major flaws. Abolishing it, however, is paramount to anti-socialist behaviour or looking inwards. This concept is against the tendencies of human nature.

If you read up on any definition of globalization, you will see that the intention was always genuine. The need to integrate and collaborate for the mutual benefit of nations.

It can, however, like any product (like knowledge), be exploited out of selfish desires and lead to exploitation.

Of course, it also doesn’t mean that globalization must apply to every sector of your economy. Some inward investment is always healthy. It should, however, not lead to extreme nationalism for a fear of loss of national identity.

Trust issues

The problem, like many others, lies in the hands of politicians who are controlled and dictated to by a handful of large corporations. These ‘corps’ have one and only self-interest – profit, power, and control.

The main concern for sovereign governments is that ‘giving up’ or sharing one’s technological, innovative, or manufacturing secrets to other countries. The premise is that this would make them ‘vulnerable’.

The real issue lies in a lack of trust – leading to the notion: “I will not let you know how I do it because you may use it against me – in trade or war”.

Despite the existence of supposedly ‘compartmentalized’ trading blocs and free trade areas like NAFTA, EU, ECOWAS, SADC, etc, the rate of globalization has sped up significantly in the past decade.

This is due to boundless advances in information technology as accurately predicted by Neoclassical Growth Theory.

Information technology has now given us valuable new tools to identify and engage in economic activity.

Tech provides access to and faster, more informed analysis of information, transfers of assets, and collaboration.

The impact on finance

A globalized world means that with the aid of technology, you can buy and sell shares of an Italian firm from a desktop in Namibia!

You would then only have to deal with the commissions and transaction fees (capital gains tax) locally pertaining to your online trades.

And think about it, on a micro-level. If globalization is entirely a bad concept then no-one should be using Amazon, eating MacDonalds, or watching Netflix in protest. Hard to imagine, isn’t it?

We must praise its positive outcomes and work hard against the negative impacts. The negative ones are also giving rise to a new era of extreme nationalism or populism.

You can only do your bit by promoting and backing policy-makers who can enforce good trade laws. This would force both local and international competitors to play by the same rules.

Penalties for financial misconduct should be a lot greater to deter exploitation. Rather, perpetrators still get the proverbial slap on the wrist.

The creative destruction of the financial system will be brought about by cryptocurrency and its underlying blockchain technology.

Depending on its uptake, and whether the authorities can legitimize its legality, we may see individuals and governments using decentralized currencies.

The Venezuelan president is investigating the concept of a national cryptocurrency dubbed ´Petro´. They would use it to alleviate dependency on (heavily interest-ridden) loans.

10 December 2017
Rise of the machines

As a young man born in and living in Pretoria South Africa, multi-billionaire Elon Musk – better known for pioneering the Tesla battery-operated motor concept – was shunned by the Industrial Development Corporation several times.

His innovative ideas were denied financial backing so he moved to the USA for better support. The rest as we all know is history.

The futuristic thinker, however, took a rather skeptical and worrisome handbrake-turn when it came to the topic of artificial intelligence (AI) and its benefits to society.

When a man like that with so much insight into technology warns of its potentially harming effects, it warrants notice. Musk warned that its use could foster ‘the coming of third world war’. We have to for such reasons, delve a little deeper into the topic.

We have rapidly progressed from longer periods of stone, iron, industrial, to that of space, technological/information ages. The world is now apparently fused between the latter three.

Despite skipping a few ‘crucial’ stages, we have now surged into the age of digital automation. This is while sadly still dealing with the ravages of poverty, disease, and irreversible damage to our environment.

Automation & AI usage

Automation is helping business through software like ERPs that take over traditional back-office finance and operations.

In the IT industry, the Internet of things (IoT), cloud services, and general Software as a Service (SaaS) have simplified things for IT managers. You can now just monitor and attend to more pertinent issues and tasks (hopefully not just stream movies and play games on duty).

While seated comfortably, you will be able to now perform tasks such as deploying new software, installing/removing updates on multiple machines/devices simultaneously. All with a push of a few buttons.

Trading bots

In the high-risk investment scene, automation has given traders more room for better research and analysis Thus relieving you from the known stresses and mundane tasks associated with trading.

For many trading houses and brokers, AI has even completely taken over the mundane task of making and executing trades.

Advert

If you haven’t already, read this great book entitled: The Fear Index (thriller by Robert Harris). Though fiction, it illustrates the use of a machine learning tool using algorithms to help a hedge fund company generate billions for its investors.

The use of AI is not without fault. It can also lead to costly system-generated errors like the trading error a few years at Goldman Sachs cost the firm $100 million and other cases.

Other use cases

It can still, on a ‘micro’ level, help free human capital (individuals) from PC-related issues. So things like having stress, headaches, backaches, and lack of time spent with family and friends can be a thing of the past.

In the industrial and manufacturing sectors, the advent of AI creates even more of a fear and a concern. The number (staffing) of redundancies, may increase when it is introduced.

This would require careful planning to ensure the blue-collars that are ‘replaced’, are compensated. More so, they would need to be incorporated into different areas of businesses.

Limits of robotics

Obviously, not every task need to be automated or performed by robots. We (as humans) are still required to check-up, inspect, and perform quality checks for instance.
We can, as a result, deal with inter-personal jobs that require more empathy like in customer and social service.

Human resources or getting into corporate social responsibility (CSI) projects that reach out to communities.

Embracing it

More importantly, policies by governments will need to focus ever so more on job-creation. Governments must now adopt innovative means of creating jobs or foster and supporting entrepreneurship. Projects like those of Mr. Tesla/Mr. PayPal/Mr. SpaceX has created thousands of new jobs.

As for the use of AI in weaponry and military defense systems, the less said the better. When it comes to privacy and security concerns we can only hope that rogue politicians don’t get unregulated access to such technology. In such a case we would only be able to protest and hope not to feature in a real-life James Cameron sequel to Judgment Day.

3 December 2017

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