Promotional Codes

Promotional codes are nothing new. The mainstream retail industry has been pushing out promotions in this form since the dawn of the internet and e-commerce. They are essentially the 21st Centuries answer to redeemable vouchers and collectable tickets, now instantly usable over the web.

The recent surge in voucher code websites has again seen a rush in the discount revolution. It is now seen as a sin to pay full price for items that have redeemable codes offering further value. The retail giants are no stranger to these sites, with their codes and offers receiving updates daily. Customers enjoy the benefits of saving millions of pounds each year, with retailers further enjoying the enormous swell in revenue this can bring to the table.

Newer industries have slowly crept into this aspect of business promotion. It is now perfectly normal to find Tesco voucher codes alongside codes redeemable on various hotel booking pages and even car hire firms. The diversification seen in this area of the web has now allowed for spread into the online services market, with many large players in the industry offering up promotional codes on such sites. Some organisations may choose to promote their codes alone, however the directory sites do offer access to a far broader market.

Netwise Hosting are again at the forefront of this movement, with a new range of promotional codes now available for your enjoyment. Visit our new Offers page for more information and regular code updates. We can also be found on VoucherHub and RetailMeNot.

Remember to follow our Twitter feed for immediate code updates, as well as our regular news updates.

Google and Net-Neutrality

The ongoing debate surrounding all things 'net-neutrality' has been raging for quite some time now. Internet Service Providers became the catalyst for the arguments, with their initial attempts to capitalise more effectively on ever-increasing network speeds and bandwidth availability. Many stood up against this call for action, however it has slowly found its way into our everyday interactions with the internet.

Tarif providers for the iPhone/other smart phones have recently announced plans to remove their unlimited data plans and replace them with bandwidth usage charges. A number of ISP's now also cap data allowances and charge/throttle back speeds once an agreed limit has been met. The argument on the providers side is that users are now too data-hungry, and are stressing conventional networks to breaking point. The riposte from internet users across the globe is an argument of net-neutrality; essentially the notion that the internet should be free from the boundaries incurred throughout many other activities in society. Of course, this comes within reason, but the basic premise is that people should have a free reign on the internet, and that all users have equal opportunities in accessing the web.

Naturally, this is not always the case. The 'level playing field' idea never stands true in the real world, as there are already a number of options when it comes to internet access depending on location and budgetary constraints. Yet recent discussions between a number of key players in the industry could soon push such limitations too far.

The idea drawn up between Google and Verizon is that of a two-tiered internet. This would allow ISP's to place priorities on traffic and how it is routed to end users, thus removing any idea of a neutral and unbiased level of access to the net. Protests have been underway outside the Google offices in California, voicing the opinions of internet users as a whole.

Google have released a post on their blog with more information regarding where they officially stand on the matter - seen here.

So what does all this mean for users of the internet? Well, not much at this time. It could all be thrown out by Congress regardless of what the corporations have to say, yet the power and leverage of both Google and Verizon could prove effective in pushing this newly proposed legislation through. Yet people do need to step back and realise that a consequence of living in a free-market economy is that total net-neutrality is not possible. Access is already tiered by speed depending on your connection type and payment plan. The danger here is that a 'pay-to-play' plan is pushed through, and global network traffic is managed, sorted and even restricted depending on who you are and how you are accessing the internet. This could well lead to massive inequallities across the board - a backward step in anyones book.

Netwise Hosting continue to support the idea of net-neutrality, and will always maintain our networks as equally across the board as is possible.

Outsourcing Your IT Requirements

Outsourcing is a method of business operation undertaken by many of the most successful company's in the world today. In fact, some organisations employ a 100% outsourcing policy. Nike are one such brand - effectively meaning Nike do not actually make any shoes or clothing. All production is outsourced to factories across the globe. Even aspects of design are outsourced. Nike own the famous 'swoosh', and so also own the rights to any material containing their brand identity. This is a highly efficient form of operation, as Nike do not have to worry about the ownership and/or operation of any production facilities.

Of course this form of 100% outsourcing does not benefit all businesses, particularly those with a keen interest in the provision of services. McDonalds, for example, outsource much of there food production to localised farms and processing plants. However, products are manufactured to strict guidelines, with McDonalds then taking control of every further aspect of operation from logistics and preparation right through to sales.

It is highly unlikely that McDonalds would be as large and successful as they are today without reliance on farmers and farming experts to produce the livestock required to fulfill the demand created by its customers. Without outsourcing such areas of production, McDonalds would have to invest billions of dollars in its own farms, as well as the training and resources required to run said farms. It is far more efficient to outsource this aspect of their supply chain to those businesses already proving a success in the field. Even if you are not a fan of McDonalds as a brand, and/or its products, you should well appreciate how effectively they make use of outsourcing in their own success.

How does this translate to the rest of the business world? Well, its very important to look at the benefits gained from outsourcing certain operations. Although handing away total control can seem daunting, it can have enormous cost-saving prowess, as well as the ability to build a better product/service on the back of another parties expertise.

Almost every firm today utilises some form of information technology, be that a single computer right up to entire comms' rooms full of servers. Yet the truth of the matter is that many business do not have the required knowledge to make the most of this technology. This will often lead to the formation of an IT department within the organisation, which drastically increases staff costs and can make the running of this technology spiral into an expensive financial blackhole.

Many businesses now outsource all of their IT needs, generally with a central IT firm who manage the needs of a number of businesses. This works to a certain degree, but with the technology still housed on the businesses own premised, lead times on remedies can be unacceptable. Distancing the technology from those in posession of the right knowledge regarding how it is operated can prove inefficient.

An entire IT outsourcing plan is likely the best option, especially in todays world of high-speed online connectivity. Dedicated servers and colocation services allow firms to move their business-critical technology out to experts with all the tools and knowledge required to ensure it is running smoothly 24x7. It has never been easier to make this switch, with many affordable solutions on offer here in the UK; with the ever progressing speed of the internet meaning remote access from your business is just as simple as having the machines in-house.

Netwise Hosting offer a range of highly competitive dedicated server packages, colocation services and online backup solutions, perfect for starting your technology outsourcing strategy today. Work with a member of the Netwise Hosting team for a truely tailored solution, and enjoy complete peace of mind - concentrating your efforts on more important core activities. Contact us for a free comprehensive information pack.