World’s Top 10 Advanced High-Tech Materials Supplier January2023

VOL: 01 ISSUE: 06 2023

Inclusive Insights

The Taccs Enhancing the Operaons of Supply Management

Global Insights

Top 5 High-tech Soluons Transforming the Business Arena

Leveraging Modern Technology, Facilitang

Key Industry Sectors Globally

N O T E

Enhancing the Global Prominence

Amethodofachievingunmatchedsolutionsfor

variousapplicationsmaybetodevelopmultimaterialcomponentsthatcanaddressahighlevel ofmulti-functionalitybasedonvariousmaterials'intrinsic properties.New3Dmulti-materialsolutionsformedical implants,aerospacecomponents,investmentcasting, accessories,collectioncoins,andmanyotherapplications canbedevelopedbyutilizingthepotentialofadditive manufacturing.

Thenewcomponentshavebeencomingforth,adheringto theglobaltrendsthatimplicatetherenovationofglobal communitiesandbusinesses.Therevelationshavealways beenahelpinghandinenhancingthein-houseoperationsto resultinbetterofferings.

Moderntechnologyisreliantoncutting-edgematerials. Withoutthehighlyspecializedknowledgedevelopedasa resultofthe20thCentury'sextensivescientificresearch, lifeasweknowitwouldbevirtuallyimpossible.

TheLatestEditionofInsightsSuccessbringsforththe High-tech,AdvancedMaterialTungstenfusionwithmultiindustrialenhancements.Apromisingcandidatematerial forplasma-facingmaterialsinthefusionreactorofthe futureistungsten,arefractorymetalwiththehighest meltingpointofallmetals.Asophisticatedtungsten materialwithafinegrainanddensemicrostructureis

neededforthefusionengineeringapplicationandhasbeen developed.

IncollaborationwithaleadingintegratedsupplierofHightechsupplier-MASANHigh-Tech,itismandatedto foreseeasustainablefuturewithinnovativesolutions.

HaveaProductiveRead!

- Prashik D. Bombarde Bombarde

Prashik Bombarde Managing Editor

,, ,,

A Business Transformation Reveals the Quality and Offerings, But a Great Business Relevation is Through The Innovations Brought on Table

Editor-in-Chief Merry D'Souza

Anish Miller Senior Editor

Managing Editor

Assisting

Prashik Bombarde

Pooja, Sheyasi

Visualiser David King

Art & Design Head

Co-designer

Art & Design Assistant

Business Development Manager

Rohil Shinganapurkar

Paul Belin

Sonia Raizada

Shruti Tikotkar

Marketing Manager Joseph D'souza

Kelly, David Business Development Executives

Mark,

Technical Head Jacob Smile

Assistant Technical Head

Prachi Mokashi

Technical Consultants Prashant, Rajeshwari

Digital Marketing Manager Alina Sege

Assistant Digital Marketing Manager Renuka Kulkarni

SME-SMO Executive Gemson

Research Analyst Eric Smith

Circulation Manager Tanaji Fartade

sales@insightssuccess.com

January, 2023

MASAN HIGH-TECH MATERIALS’ GLOBAL AMBITIONS ARE EVIDENT AS IT MAKES STRATEGIC COLLABORATIONS WITH GIANTS SUCH AS MITSUBISHI MATERIALS CORPORATION WITH THE OBJECTIVE OF DEVELOPING A LEADING, HIGH-TECH TUNGSTEN MATERIALS PLATFORM.

OOneoftheimperativequestionsthatcrossesthe

mindofmanyyoungentrepreneursis,“Whatdoes ittaketosucceedintheindustrythattheyareabout toventureinto?”Ifonegoestofindtheanswertothat question,theywillfindtonnesofinformationoutthereon theinternetorwillgetallsortsofadvicefromdifferent peoplepromisingasure-shotsolution.Thesolutionsfrom thesedifferentsourcescanbehelpful,especiallythe technicalonesbutbelieveitornot,theonefactorthat decidesyourtruedestinyisyourambition.

Thisparticularqualityiswhatyouwillfindcommonin mostsuccessfulpeopleandorganizations.Anundying passionandstrongambitiontoreachzeniths.Ambitionis thetruezeitgeistofsuccess.Oneofthefamousleaders provingthispointonaglobalplatformisaVietnam-based company,MasanHigh-TechMaterials.Withitsconsistent andrapidgrowth,theleadingproduceroftungsten materialshastimeandtimeagainredefinedthespiritof successthroughoutits12yearsofoperation.

TheMakingofaGlobalLeader

MasanHigh-TechMaterialsstartedoutin2010asafirm focusedonminingandresourcesextractionactivitiesunder thenameMasanResourcesCorporation(MSR)asapartof theMasanGroup.Itwasn’tuntil2014thatthecompany starteditscommercialproductionofTungstenconcentrate, Copperconcentrate,Fluorsparconcentrate,andBismuth concentrate.

ToadvanceitsTungstenchemicalfactoryinVietnam,the firmestablishedMasanTungstenManufacturingLLC (NHTCM)in2014–ajointventurewithH.C.Starck TungstenGmbH,holdinga51%stake;then,in2018,the firmacquireda49%stakeinNHTCMandchangedits nametoMasanTungstenLimitedLiabilityCompany (MTC.)

ThecompanyrecentlyacquiredH.C.StarckTungsten GmbHin2020,whichputitontheglobalminingmapasa high-techmaterialsmanufacturingcompanychangingits namefromMasanResourcesCorporationtoMasanHighTechMaterialsCorporation.Thisacquisitionhasenabled verticalintegrationwithMasanHigh-TechMaterials’ existingassets-’NuiPhaoMiningCompanyandMasan TungstenCompanyproductsstreams.

Theexpansionofthefirmcontinuesindifferentaspects,be itthetechnicalabilityorthegeographicalreach,asit integratesthebusinesses.MasanHigh-TechMaterials’

Globalambitionsareevidentasitmakesstrategic collaborationswithcompaniessuchasMitsubishiMaterials Corporationwiththeobjectiveofdevelopingaleadings high-techtungstenmaterialsplatform.

MasanHigh-TechMaterialscontinuestotransformintoa leadingverticallyintegratedadvancedhigh-techmaterials developmentplatformwithafocusonsustainability, innovation,andcustomizedsolutionstodelivergreater valuestoitscustomersandstakeholders.

TheVisionaryPerson-in-focus

CraigBradshaw,thevisionaryCEObehindtheexemplary successofMasanHigh-TechMaterials,isaseasoned professionalwithademonstratedhistoryworkinginthe miningandmetalsindustry.Craig’sjourneycommencedin theminingindustrywhenhelandedajobatamining companycalledMountIsaMines;thisgavehiman amazingopportunitytoworkandgetexposedtoallmining operations,everythingfromcoppersmeltingtothesaleof non-coreassets.Hisearlyexposuretoalltheoperations gavehimahead-startintheindustry

Fromthere,Craigwenttoabunchofdifferentplacesto exploremoreminingandalsosteppedhigheronthe corporateladderashegainedmoreandmoreexperiencein differentoperations.WhileworkingasaGeneralManager atAlexMillOperations,Craiggotaphonecallanda proposaltocomeworkinVietnamandsetupanew companyasagreenfield.ThiswasthestartofMasanHighTechMaterials.

Startingfromscratch,Craigandhispartnerworked togethertobuildateamofpeoplewhowouldtaketheidea ofMasanHigh-TechMaterialstoitscommercialreality Thededicatedteamworkedtogethertosetanew benchmarkandbringthefirsttungstenmineinto developmentinthewesternworldin15years.

Pushingthroughallthecomplexitiesanddifficulties,Masan High-TechMaterialstodayhasextensiveplanstodevelop andextendbusinessbeyondthetungsten,fluorspar, bismuth,copper,andcobaltthatitdoesintoothermaterials.

OvercomingAdversities

Toacquirethelegacyofa100-year-oldcompanyisnotan easyjobwhenyou’reafairlynewcandidateinthemarket yourself,butMasanHigh-TechMaterials,withitsrich culture,wasabletodosoquiteefficiently WhenMasan

High-TechMaterialstookoverH.CStarck’sglobaltungsten powderbusiness,itscustomerbasewentfrombeing30to having350customersworldwide,andthatjumpcamewith itsownsetofchallenges.

Totopitalloff,thismassiveacquisitiontookplacein duringthepandemic,whichmadeitallthewaymore challengingtointeractwithateamofpeoplecomingfrom differentculturalbackgrounds.It’sdifficultenoughto completelypivottoonlineplatformstosetupmeetings withyourteamwhenyou’reusedtohavingtheminperson, butit’sawholenewlevelofchallengewhenyoudothat withanewteam.

Pushingthroughalloftheseadversities,Masanconducted townhallmeetingsononlineplatformswith100new membershangingoffattheendofitsscreensglobally.This methoddidcomewithsomecompromise,butitstillkept theoperationsrunning.Talkingofthesame,Craigexplains, “The team working around or through overcoming the challenges of COVID-19 and distance. I think that the reason it got done is that we had very good plans. We sat down and explained to people where we’re going, whys we’re going there.”

THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A POOR COMPANY A GOOD COMPANY AND A GREAT COMPANY IS THE QUALITY OF THE PEOPLE THAT YOU GET AND HOW WELL YOU SCAFFOLD THOSE PEOPLE FOR SUCCESS.

Craig Bradshaw CEO

Masan High-Tech Materials

Theintegrationoftwolargefirmsmeansseveralhundred activitiestakingplaceatonce.Buttheexecutiveteamat Masanunderstoodthat80%ofthevaluecomesfromthose tenreallycrucialthings.So,thisiswhatthefirmdid, focusedonthetenthingsthatbroughtinmajorvaluethat gotpeopleinquisitiveandonboard.

Craigrecognizesthevalueoflettingpeoplegetexposedto havingdiscussionsontheirownaboutvariousaspectsof theirbusinessthatwillmakeitmoreinteresting.He expresses, “I want the job to be interesting for those people. I want those people to get up in the morning. They’re excited about getting out of bed and going to work and doing their eight hours or ten hours or 20 hours, depending on the nature of the job they’re in, and go home proud of what they’ve done, proudly to talk to their family and have dinner with their kids. And that’s the top organization we want to be.”

ReducingtheCarbonFootprint

Organizationsallovertheglobeareawakeningtothefact thatourclimateemergencyisaveryrealone.Itisessential tocutdownonyourharmfulemissionstoreduceyour carbonfootprint.Puttingsincereeffortsintotheexactcause, MasanHigh-TechMaterialsusesrenewableenergyfortheir production,whichisexpensivebutalsowhatitscustomers demand.ThisiswhatMasanGroup’sChairman’sviewsare whenitcomestosustainability “If you are not positioning yourself for sustainability and actively participating to ensure that you are sustainable, your organization won’t survive.”

Thisisthephilosophythattheyhaveadoptedwithinthe MHTorganization.MasanHigh-TechMaterialsrecycles almost70%-74%ofwateratitsNuiPhaooperation, significantlyloweringitswaterconsumptioncost.The organizationisrelentlesslytryingtofindnewavenuesto producethesameusinglessenergy.

ImpartingtheKeystoExcellence

Beinganexperiencedindustryprofessional,Craigsharesa fewimportantpointerstotakenoteofwhilemoving forwardintheindustryforaspiringenthusiastsand entrepreneurswhowishtomakeanameforthemselves. Craigbelievesit’simportanttobuildapersonalrelationship withindustryleadersoutsideofwork.Hebelievessucha relationshipcannotbemanufactured,butyoufinda connectionandthenmeetpeopleapartfromworkinghours

MASAN HIGH-TECH MATERIALS CONTINUESTO TRANSFORM INTOA LEADING VERTICALLY INTEGRATED ADVANCED HIGHTECH MATERIALS DEVELOPMENT PLATFORM WITHA FOCUS ON SUSTAINABILITY, INNOVATION,AND CUSTOMIZED SOLUTIONS.

togainimportantindustryinsightsandbuildamentormenteerelationship.

Craigsaysthathisyearsofexperiencehavetaughthimto buildrelationshipswithpeoplefromalllevelsofthe organizationandunderstandtheirculturetomarchinthe directionofsuccess.Inapodcastinterview,Craigsaid, “The difference between a poor company, a good company, and a great company is going to be the quality of the people that you get and how well you scaffold those people for success.”

LookingintotheFutureofMasanHigh-TechMaterials

Investmentisamustwhenitcomestoexpandingand sustainingabusiness,andMasanHigh-TechMaterials believesinthesamephilosophy.Thefirmisinvestingin settingupaplatformtoovercomethedemand-supply challengeandserveitscustomersbetter

MasanHigh-Techenvisionsitselftobeatop-notch corporationthatnotonlyemphasizesonenhancing recyclingcapabilitieswithstrategicdirectionsofpromoting acirculareconomybutalsolooksforwardtogrowinga globalconsumergoodsbusinesswithitstungsten-based batterytechnologies.

ElaboratingonthisCraigemphasizes,“Wewantto implementmoretungstenrecyclingfacilitiesinVietnam. We'regoingtobringthetechnologythatwe'vegotin GermanytoVietnam.By2024,wewillbedoingalotmore recyclinginVietnambymanufacturingwastesintonew materials.Wewanttoexpandourproductlinesowewant toexpandbeyondtungsten,tankloan,niobium,cobalt.We wanttoexpandintootherpowders,othercarbides,and providemoreoptionsforcustomersintermsofvalue-added products.Wewillbepartneringupwithdifferentcompanies inproducingdifferentbatterymaterials.”

“Wehavenewproductsthatwe’rebringingtomarket, especiallybrandedproducts,startingwiththechargefor batteries,footprintfor3Dprintingandadditive manufacturing.Specifically,wetargetadvancedmaterials foruniqueapplications.Thesearenewproductsthatwe havedevelopedinourresearchanddevelopmenthubin Germanyandexpectedtogotomarketoverthenexttwo years.Moreandmore,wearedevelopingnewproducts tailoredtocustomerneedsandweseethatasagrowing industry.

MASAN HIGH-TECH MATERIALSTODAY HAS EXTENSIVE PLANSTO DEVELOP AND EXTEND BUSINESS BEYOND THETUNGSTEN, FLUORSPAR, BISMUTH, COPPER, AND COBALTTHATIT DOES INTO OTHER MATERIALS.

We’reseeingstrongdemandinaerospace,we’reseeing strongdemandindefence,we'reseeingstrongdemandin miningconstruction,we'reseeingstrongdemandin automotive,strongdemandinrenewablesforourproducts. Globaleconomieswillgoupandgodownbutaslongas there'sdemandforourproducts,thefutureforourcompany isgood.”

MASAN HIGH-TECH ENVISIONS ITSELFTO BEATOP-NOTCH CORPORATIONTHAT NOTONLY EMPHASIZES ON ENHANCING RECYCLING CAPABILITIES WITH STRATEGIC DIRECTIONS OF PROMOTINGA CIRCULAR ECONOMY.

Cerficate of “Top 100 Largest Public Companies in Vietnam” for Masan High-Tech Materials by Forbes Vietnam

Cerficate of “Top 500 Largest Enterprises in Vietnam” for Masan High-Tech Materials by Vietnam Report JSC

Cerficate for Nui Phao Mining to be “Top 100 Vietnam Golden Star Award 2018” by Vietnam Young Entrepreneurs Associaon

Cerficate of “Top 50 Excellent Enterprises in Vietnam” for Masan High-Tech Materials by Forbes Vietnam

Cerficate of “Top 50 Vietnam Best Growth” for Masan High-Tech Materials by Vietnam Report JSC

Cerficate of “Top 50 Sustainable Development Enterprises in Vietnam” for Masan High-Tech Materials by The Vietnam Business Council for Sustainable Development - Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VBCSD-VCCI)

Compleon of the evaluaon for Assured Responsible Mining of Tungsten against 2017 standards by The Iniave of Responsible Mining (RMI)

TheTactics Enhancing the Operations of SUPPLY Management

Inclusive Insights

Theprocessofplanning,implementingand controllingtheflowofgoods,servicesand informationfromsupplierstocustomersisknown assupplychainmanagement.Itincludesallactivities relatedtoobtainingrawmaterialsandcomponents, manufacturing,anddeliveringproductstocustomers.

Supplychainmanagementoperationscanbedividedinto severalcategorieslikeleanmanufacturing,supplychain visibility,collaborativeplanning,sustainability,automation, andsomuchmore.

Let'sdiveinandlearnmoreabouttacticsenhancing operationsinsupplymanagement!

AdoptaDemandDrivenPlanningModelonRealTime Demand

Theaccurateprediction/contingencyplanningtoolswill ensureacompletepictureandaneffectiveresponsetorisks suchassupplierfailure,naturaldisasters,etc.Companies thenadjusttheirpricingandpromotionalstrategiestoshape demandeffectively,moveadditionalproductsquickly,drive revenuegrowth,andexpandmarginsforahigh-demand productwithalimitedmarketsupply.

BuildanAdaptiveandAgileSupplyChain

Manufacturingfacilities'secondstrategywascreatingan adaptiveandagilesupplychain.Onceexecutives understandhowtoshapedemandandrisk,theymustadapt theirsupplychainstochangingmarketopportunitiesand events.

Toensureresponsiveagilitytochangingdemand, manufacturingfacilitiesmustdeploydynamicplanning capabilitiesandcontinuouslyoverseeoperations. Companiesthatusedtheoldmodelfellbehindduringthe recession,whilecompaniesthatusedcontinuous,dynamic supplychainadjustmentstorespondtopotentialmarket changessurvived.

OptimizeProductDesignsandManagementto AccelerateProfitableInnovation

Onestepaheadofthecompetitionrequiresinnovation,but innovationdoesnotexistinavacuum.Productsmustbe manufacturedatthecorrectcost,locationandtimetobe successful.

Decisionsmadeearlyintheproductdevelopmentcyclecan makeorbreaktheproduct.Supply,manufacturabilityand

supplychainoperationsmustallbeoptimizedindesigns. Allactualcostsmustbecapturedandanalyzedtomaintain balanceacrossyourentiresupplychain.

AligningSupplyChainwithBusinessGoals

Onestrategythatstoodoutwasintegratingthesupplychain throughsalesandoperationswithcorporatebusiness planning.Whilesalesandoperationsplanningprocesses coordinatesales,manufacturinganddistribution,thereare stillgapsinvariouscompanies'financeandoperations.

Onemethodforfillingthesegapsisthroughintegrated businessplanning,whichinvolvesacompany'speople, processesandtechnology.Eventually,thisprocesswill integratefinancialstrategicbudgetingandforecasting systemswithoperationsplanning.

IntegratingSustainabilityandSupplyChain

Today,sustainabilityisasignificantconcerninmodern manufacturing.Manystudieshavefoundthatcompanies thatstriveforsocialandenvironmentalsustainabilitygaina competitiveadvantage,particularlyinproductionefficiency andemployeeattractiveness.

AdvancedSchedulingandPlanningSoftware

Duetocustomerdemandforincreasedproductmixand quickdelivery,combinedwithdownwardcostpressures, advancedplanningandscheduling(APS)softwarehas becomeamust-haveformodern-daymanufacturing operations.APScanbequicklyintegratedwithERP/MRP softwaretofillgapsinplanning,schedulingflexibilityand accuracywherethesesystemsfallshort.

AdvancedPlanningandScheduling(APS)savestimewhile increasingagilityinupdatingever-changingpriorities, productionschedules,andinventoryplans.Implementing AdvancedPlanningandScheduling(APS)softwarewill takeyourmanufacturingoperationstothenextefficiency level,leveragingoperationaldataalreadystoredinyour ERP

In a nutshell,

Finally,supplychainmanagementisacomplexprocessthat involvesplanning,implementing,andcontrollingtheflow ofgoods,services,andinformationfromsuppliersto customers.Supplychainmanagementaimstoincrease efficiency,lowercostsandboostoverallperformance.

Itiscriticaltounderstandthatsupplychainmanagementis acontinuousprocessthatnecessitatesregularmonitoring, evaluationandadjustment.Becausethemarketand technologiesareconstantlychanging,businessesmustbe proactiveinidentifyingpotentialchangesanddeveloping planstoadapttothem.

- Shreyasi Shelke

Publictrustingovernmenthasbeensteadilyeroding

sinceearly2000.Today,onlyoneinfiveAmericans trustthegovernment“Todotherightthingjust aboutalwaysormostofthetime.”Andastrustin governmentcontinuestodiminish,peoplearestartingto turntobusinessestofillthegap,lookingtothemtofocus on“doinggood”aswellassupportingthemindifficult times.

Patagonia,famedforitssustainableclothingandgreen ethos,recentlyannouncedthatallofthebusiness’sprofits willgotoorganizationsthatarefightingtheclimatecrisis. Aboldmovebythebrandthathasmadeitsnameasa supporteroftheenvironment–in2018,statingitwas“In businesstosaveourhomeplanet.”Thatistheultimate displayof“Doinggood.”Butnotallbusinessesareinthe positiontomakesuchaboldmove.

Sothen,

whatis“Doinggood”whenitcomestobusiness?

Howcancompaniesdefineandquantifytheimpactoftheir businessoperationsintermsofsustainability,allthewhile ensuringthefutureoftheirbusinessintimesofeconomic stress?

TheBCorpPlaybook

BCorps,forexample,arealreadyonapaththatcansupport abusinessduringachallengingperiod–amoveawayfrom the“boomandbust”modelandapivottowardsonethatis sustainableineverysenseofthewordforclients,partners,

andemployees.DrivenbythesecertifiedBCorps(Suchas aforementionedPatagonia),theBEconomyfocusesonthe ‘triple-bottom-line’ofbusiness,socialandenvironmental sustainability

Sustainable growth liesattheheartofthis‘triple-bottomline’strategy,whichfocusesonachievingprofitability whileremainingcognizantoftheneedsofone’sownpeople –andhumanityatlarge–aswellastheenvironmentalcost ofdoingbusiness.

Asabonus,suchcompaniesalsofindthemselvesmore capableofnavigatingtheturbulentwatersbroughtonby negativemacroeconomicfactors.Bytheirverynature,B Corpspossessabusinessplanthatcansupportthe organizationduringchallengingtimes–asignificant differencefromthe‘boomandbust’modelofyesteryear.B Corpspossessesarulebookthatfocusesonresilient, sustainablerevenuestreams,coupledwithempathetic leadershipandcarefortheplanet.This,inturn,leadsto greater confidence and trust from your team andaclear indicationthatyouarelookingto“Dogood.”

BuildingResilienceandTrustatHome

It’sawell-establishedfactthatyouremployeesandpeople areyourbestambassadors.It’spointlesssettingabout makinganESG(environmental,social,governance) rulebookifitdoesn’tbeginathome.Thisisespeciallysoin tougheconomictimeswhenpeoplelooktotheiremployers forstability.Forbusinesses,stabilitymeansmaintaining resilientrevenuestreamsandfocusingonthe‘now’to prepareforpressureonthebottomline.Thismeansbeing superclearonwhatisimportantinthepresentwhilenot losingsightofinvestmentforthefuture.

Butalongsidemaintainingbusinessstabilityanddoingyour bestasanorganizationtooffsettheenvironmentalimpact ofdoingbusiness,itisessentialthatyoualsolookinwards toensureyourorganization’svaluesaredeeplyembedded onaculturallevel.ThismeansyourCorporateSocial Responsibilitymustfirstandforemostbeginwith your own people

Measureyourorganization’seconomicresponsibility, whichentailsmakingfinancialdecisionsthatprioritize doinggood,notjustmakingmoremoney.Italsomeans measuringjobsadded,localhiringpractices,andpromotion structures.Also,try,insofaraspossible,toalignyour businessobjectiveswithyourpeople’svalues.Keepingin mindthevaluesofyourpeople– andinturn,your

organization–whentakingonnewbusinessorprojects demonstratestangibleconvictions.Communicationiskey Andwiththatopenandtransparentcommunicationcomes trust.

RethinkingYourDataMindset

Outsideofaligningwithpeople’svalues,youneedto ensurethatyouaremakingthe‘rightdecisions’foryour business.Thisiswherebetteruseofdatacanmakeallthe difference,andthereisnobettertimetoinvestinyourdata strategy.Acoherentstrategycanprovideinsightsthat dramaticallyreducetimetogatheractionableinsightsand, asaresult,makebetter,fasterandfewerdecisionsas businesses.

Thisstrategymeanstreatingdatanotasaprojectbutasa productthatisaccessible,discernibleandusablefor everyone,nomattertheirdiscipline.Inshort,rethinking howyourorganizationlooksatthevalueofdataand adoptingadata-as-a-product(DaaP)mindset-makingit availabletoanyonewithaspecificproblemtosolve. Andbymakingthisdataandinsightavailabletoeveryone, youareweavingend-to-endintotheveryfabricofyour companyculture.TheProductOwners,whoarecreating

thesedataleadproducts,arecaringabouttheoutcomesfor all datausersandcarryarequestthroughtothefinal producttoachievethem.Before,thiswasjustthedomainof thedatateamsandthedigitalnativeswithinbusinesses. Companiesthatcutinnovationduringadownturnwilltake longertobounceback.Butbythesametoken,not everybodycanbeaPatagonia.However,lookingto“Do good”atatimeofeconomicaldifficulty,businessesnot onlycreateasenseoftrustamongsttheworkforcebutalso withcustomers.Inturn,thatwillleadtoloyaltyand retention-bringinginvitalrevenue.Itallcomesdownto creatingtherightculture,investingintheright technologies,andhavingtransparentconversations.Getthat right,andnotonlywillyoubeabletonavigatedifficult economicwaters,butdosowhileretainingthetrustofyour people.

Kelly Manthey Global CEO Kin + Carta

T O P 5

High-tech Soluons Transforming the Business Arena

Businesstransformationiscalledtheprocessof

makingsignificantchangestoacompany'sstrategy, operations,organizationalstructure,ortechnology systemstoimproveefficiency,competitiveness,andoverall performance.

Itcanincludestreamliningprocesses,implementingnew technologies,changingthecompany'sbusinessmodel,or enteringnewmarkets.Businesstransformationfrequently entailsasignificantshiftinhowthecompanyoperatesand canbeacomplexandchallengingprocessthatnecessitates carefulplanningandexecution.

Theuseofadvancedtechnologytosolvecomplexproblems orimprovebusinessoperationsisreferredtoashigh-tech solutions.Thesesolutionscantakemanydifferentforms.

Let's delve into it and learn more about high-tech solutions in the business world!

Next-GenCellPhones

Third-generation(3G)cellphonenetworksarerisingall overthecountry.Currentreleasesincludeon-demandvideo servicesthatallowyoutowatchstreamingvideoclipson yourphone,built-incamcordersthatrecordvideo,andstill camerastotakephotos.MP3playerstolistentomusic, mini-SDcards,MemorySticks,orMultimediaMemory Cardstosaveandtransferdatabetweendevices.3G Smartphoneshaveminikeyboardstopreventthumb crampingduringlongtextmessagesessions,runWindows MobileOS,andcanbeBluetoothorWi-Fienabled.GPSenabledcellphoneshavealsoonlyrecentlybecome available.Usethemtogetdirectionswhiledrivingorto keeptrackofemployees.

WorkandPlay

Thebignewsatthe2005E3tradeshowwasthepowerful capabilitiesofthenextXboxandPlayStationconsoles, whichwillresemblehomemediacomputersratherthan gamedevices.Withflat-screenmonitorsthatdoubleasTVs andcellphonesthatdoubleasPDAsandMP3players,the convergenceoftechnologyforworkandplaymayreacha tippingpointinthecomingyears.

And,whileamusic-playingcellphonemaybehelpfulin traffic,onethatplaysMP3softhelatestbusinessaudiobook canalsokeepyouinformed.Sodon'tdismissthenewest consumerdevicesashavingnobusinesspotential;witha bitofimagination,youcancombinebusinessandfun.

InventoryGetsSmart

RFIDisatechnologythatembedstinydata-packedradio transceiverchipsintovariousgoodsandcontainers.Likea talkingbarcode,anRFIDchipcancommunicatewitha scannerfromseveralfeetawayandtellitfarmorethana printedlabel,evenfrominsideanunopenedcarton.

Thetechnologyhasbeenaroundfordecades,butitisonly nowthatitisbeingused.RFIDisalreadybeingusedbythe DepartmentofDefenseandWal-Mart.Oncepricing becomesmorereasonableandsomestandardsare established,thetechnologywillspreadtosmallerretailers andbusinesses.

RoamingwithVoIP

Considernothavingtouseyourcellphoneminuteswhen you'retalkingathome,atwork,ornearaWi-Fihotspot. Alternatively,ifyouhavepoormobilecoverageinthe office(orathome),imaginewalkingintoyourofficeand havingyourphoneautomaticallyswitchfromthepoor wirelessconnectiontoyourVoIPnetwork.VoIP-to-mobile serviceisthenextbigthinginphoneservice,anditcould saveentrepreneursalotofmoney.

Whilesomephonemanufacturershavedevelopedorare developingphonesthatcanhandlebothwirelessandVoIP calls,therealityofthisserviceisnotyetherebecausethe technologyisstillgrowing,andprovidersmustdevelop muchinfrastructure.

TheWirelessWaytoGo

DatatravelsthroughtheairatthesameratesasaT1line withWiMax.Itmaynotbeinyourtownyet,and technically,itwon'tbeanywhereuntiltheWiMAXForum beginscertifyingtheinteroperabilityofthistypeof transmissiongearattheendoftheyear.However,preWiMAXservicesarealreadyavailableatlowcostin dozensofcitiesacrossthecountry.Bothnewand establishedwirelessISPsareupgradingtobetterwireless transmittersatarateanalystspredictwillbringWiMAXto America's50largestcitiesandnumerousruralareasbythe endoftheyear

Customersdon'tbuyaccesspointsinWiMAXsothatthey won'tnoticethewatershed.However,standardizationaims toreduceequipmentcosts,andthosesavingsusuallytrickle downtocustomersinopenmarkets.Ultimately,Thompson says,you'llpickupasmallWiMAXmodematBestBuyor CompUSAforWi-Fiprices,thenchoosefromvarious serviceproviders.

To conclude,

Manufacturing,healthcare,retail,logistics,finance,and otherindustriescanallbenefitfromthesesolutions. However,implementingthesesolutionsnecessitatesa significantinvestmentinbothmoneyandtimeanda thoroughunderstandingofthetechnologytoensurethat theyareimplementedcorrectlyandeffectively

- Shreyasi Shelke