Category: Blog

We are currently in the digital age, retail and business as a whole, are bringing their operations forward to take advantage of all the tools that are now at their disposal to grow their businesses and their brands.

With this advancement in the digital age, customers are more and more able to get what they want, when they want it. Instant gratification, multi-platform accessibility, a seamless or unified shopping experience, whether they're shopping online from a desktop, mobile device, or offline in a brick-and-mortar store.

Customers can simultaneously use different channels in their shopping process, which means they can start their search in one channel and finish the purchase in another. They are given chances to create their own preferable shopping routines, which appears to be more attractive to a new generation of consumers in the digital age.

Immersive Experiences

Though being everywhere seems to be the best way to serve your customers, it�s obvious that a business can�t really be everywhere. The best thing a business can do to provide the experiences customers require is to create the illusion of being everywhere. This is usually done by creating a network of concentrated and overlapping outlets for advertising, public relations and SEO efforts.

In this digital age, customers frequently have screens in front of them, no matter where they are. These screens are the perfect medium by which to show them brands and products they�ll want and need. In utilizing these media, the following steps should be considered:

? The first step to consider when constructing this illusion of omnipresence is to increase your visibility in the places people discover new brands and content. The trick when creating this illusion is that it�s not just about reaching the most people possible through individual channels. It�s about understanding where your target market is paying attention. Be it through twitter influencers, online news, blogs, YouTube channels, Instagram influencers, podcasts, or TV shows and inputting your brand at the intersections of those media properties.

? The second step is retargeting the customers that are already aware of your brand but haven�t purchased anything. According to research, 99% of people that visit the first time don�t make any purchase which means something must have gotten their attention to click but not enough for them to purchase.

Smooth Omni-Channel Shopping Experience

Omni-channel retailing is an all-channel approach to sales that seeks to provide customers with everything they need to achieve the seamless shopping experience that research shows they prefer when shopping for products they need.

In order to understand what omni-channel retailing is, let�s consider some of these following:

? Omni-channel retailing is a strategy that allows your customers to access products or services seamlessly and receive a consistent experience wherever or whenever they prefer to connect, with ease of use in mind.

? Omni-channel retailers have an offline (physical) and online (digital) presence

? The prefix �omni� means �all, every, the whole, of every kind,� which gives the impression of being everywhere, not just one instance of being online and being available offline.

We could see from the above, that this strategy allows customers to start their search in one channel and finish the purchase in another. This allows a customer to see products and deals from their mobile devices and ship things for in-store pick up, ship them to their homes and even process returns or exchanges for previously-purchased items. This is what we mean by a seamless experience.

Today, the average shopping voyage utilizes various channels whereby a consumer may look for a coffee machine on your website, order the item via mobile while on his commute home, and finally choose to pick up his purchase in-store the next day. According to research from Google, 98% of Americans use multiple devices daily to research information on products and to make purchases.

In short, a customer wants full access to your products and brands, ease of purchase from any one of several different platforms or media, and instant satisfaction gratification of their needs. 

DUBTEL is building the next generation point-of-sale solutions for retail, cafe, restaurant and bar. Request a demo today!

STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) fields are essential to the advancement of society and of life. These fields are responsible for a large percentage of modern comforts, advancements in quality of life, advancements in medicine, and so much more that is vital. STEM encompasses so many fields like agriculture, architecture, health studies, biology, psychology, civil engineering and so much more that is intricately woven throughout modern life.

More and more schools and communities are encouraging students to take interest in STEM and are fostering environments in which these fields can be studied. As more students take interest in STEM, more jobs are filled in those fields and more advancements are coming from them.

Dr. Sarah Rugheimer, an astronomer and astrobiologist, is a shining example of women in STEM who are paving the way for other women. She is a Glasstone Postdoctoral Research Fellow at Oxford College, as well as a High Price Fellow at Jesus College. Her research interests are modelling the atmosphere and climate of extrasolar planets with a particular focus on atmospheric biosignatures in Earth-like planets, as well as modeling early Earth conditions.

She has a website dedicated to her work and to Women in STEM Resources that outlines research into the things that women face in the workforce, with a focus on STEM. She highlights her experiences and input from others that she has personally received throughout her career and education, as well as her research into the subjects listed above. More information on this astronomical powerhouse can be found here

Mallory Kessen, a teacher at Walnut Hills High School here in Cincinnati, runs the local chapter of an after-school program called Girls Who Code. Mallory graduated from Ohio University with a Bachelor�s in English Education and a Master�s in Computers and Education Technology. Her personal mission is to inspire more young women to take an interest in coding with a practical application that benefits them, and also fits with a career path they�d like to take.

Being a teacher that influences young minds puts Mallory in the perfect position to inspire young women to leap into fields that need their help. Learning coding languages and ways to apply them properly is a skill that can take one very far, so having teachers who care and are willing to impart their knowledge is invaluable.

DUBTEL, a tech company that is local to the Greater Cincinnati area, is one of the companies that offers jobs, internships and opportunities within a STEM field. As a company that is committed to technology and solutions that drive us forward, our focus is just as much on our impact, as it is on the clients who depend on us.

According to a survey by the National Science Foundation, women make up about 43% of scientists and engineers under the age of 75. For members of the workforce who are under 29 years of age, women comprise 56% of STEM. This shows us that efforts by schools and communities to interest students in these fields are successful and that young women are taking to more of the fields that make up STEM.

It is theorized that boys are encouraged more in play and in learning, to work with their hands and to do things that require building. Tests show that when this same encouragement is given to girls, they take to the tasks just as well as their male peers. This shows us that neither gender is more inclined to pick up traits that are helpful in STEM than the other.

So why�with something as broadly-sweeping as STEM�would it be important to have an adequate representation of women on board? Well, since STEM encompasses fields that are so integral to our lives, it�s important to have people from many walks of life represented so that advancements made in those fields aren�t tailored to any one prevailing class, race, gender, etc. The people who work in STEM are the movers and the shakers behind the visions that we have for a brighter future.

As part of its commitments to the forward motion of society, diversity, small business, technology and everything it touches, DUBTEL is proud of the women in the driver�s seats throughout the industry. By putting women in positions of leadership throughout the company and vital projects, DUBTEL has made it clear that women are a welcome and integral part of everything we do.

March is National Women�s History Month, and DUBTEL wanted to take the time to celebrate some of the woman who work most closely with the team.

Diana Taylor is a Prosci Certified Change Management Agent and Business Analyst with more than 15 years of experience in large corporate Information Technology, specialized in the healthcare industry. Diana graduated from Morehead State University with a Bachelor�s degree in Computer Information Systems and is currently pursuing her MBA in Data Analytics. Diana�s specialized skill set has been quite an asset to the team and to every client she�s helped. You can connect with Diana here

Sage Conger, one of our Software Engineering Managers, helps DUBTEL to manage engineering staff as well as overseeing technology management for the team. Sage graduated from Capital University with a bachelor�s degree in Computer Science and is currently pursuing her Master�s in History from University of Cincinnati. She possesses excellent team-building skills that have helped to bring members of our team to higher levels of performance, which have boosted customer satisfaction. You can connect with Sage here

Robyn Florentz is our resident Social Media Manager, blog-writer and office management specialist. Through social media management and blog-writing, she has helped DUBTEL to promote its products nationwide. Her skills in promoting business, organizing intraoffice matters and social media management have helped DUBTEL to continue to grow, expand, learn and bring others on board. You can connect with Robyn here

With the help of women in STEM, DUBTEL is building the next generation point-of-sale solutions for retail, cafe, restaurant and bar. Request a demo today!

Who is Nationwide Equipment Control?

Nationwide Equipment Control (NEC) was launched in 1984 by Berne Eggers in a small shop in Commerce City, Colorado. Having an extensive background in the trucking industry, Bernie was well aware of the need for a tracking system that could guide trucking equipment and cargo from point A to B and beyond.

Partnered with Troy Eggers, Bernie was determined to deliver a new level of service to trucking companies by enabling them to better manage their trailer pools and make their operations more efficient. They formed relationships with trucking companies and trailer manufacturers, acted as a liaison between them, and produced benefits and efficiency for all parties involved.

In short, NEC sought out to revolutionize the trucking industry.

DUBTEL�s Relationship with NEC

In February of 2017, DUBTEL took on a project for NEC to help them to put their dream into practice. NEC had been established for 23 years and had been operating on systems that required many aspects of their operations to be conducted manually.

Relying nearly completely on their email system and looking to bring their revolution into the 21st century, they sought out the help of DUBTEL to automate many of those processes.

At the outset of the relationship between DUBTEL and NEC, the following was addressed:

> Several weeks of documentation on their current system, writing requirements for the client, and gathering information on current projects

> Moving operations tracking out of email correspondence and into an automated tracking system built specifically for NEC by DUBTEL

> Building an online tracker for leads, sales, revenue and invoices that was fully interactive

Prior to DUBTEL�s involvement with NEC, all operations were conducted and relayed via email correspondence and any attempt to have an overview of ongoing projects, revenue or sales leads were a dead end.

Building an Application That Was Up to the Task

Since the beginning of this project, the application built for NEC has grown, evolved, and been fine-tuned so that its functionality is all and more of what NEC needs to continue to grow and reshape the trucking industry.

NEC gave DUBTEL a wishlist for this project and, on that list, was an interactive map with color-coded markers that their clients could log into and manipulate to fit their needs in the equipment-tracking process. While this was not a type of projects that DUBTEL had previously executed, we were able to deliver an interactive map that contained geofencing and distance calculations. No matter where in the world someone is, tracking equipment is a breeze on this system.

According to the client, this was the first interactive map with as many functionalities that they had ever seen in their industry. Now NEC, with the help of DUBTEL, was really making waves in their industry.

Providing an interactive mapping dashboard which allows NEC�s clients and vendors to manipulate orders in real-time was a huge benefit, this enables NEC�s customers to advertise their availabilities globally. For a client looking to increase trackability, profitability and overall efficiency, working on the NEC Portal is too good to be refuse!

All the Bells and Whistles

Sales tracking was another large aspect that required attention and an increase in efficiency. DUBTEL was able to automate the sales tracking process and integrate it with QuickBooks Online so that manual invoicing is a thing of the past.

With QuickBooks integration, you no longer have to worry about going through receipts, recent emails, and ledgers to get an accurate picture of where you stand with vendors, clients and Profit & Loss. You can generate up to 20 different kinds of reports with countless modifications to your liking, through QuickBooks.

Lead tracking was overhauled with automated notifications to potential leads in each step of the lead process, right up until they go into the sales tracking system. Leads are never lost and sales are increased.

Active orders and requests can now be tracked and viewed online in this application, by staff at NEC and by customers. Each step of the request and order processes are monitored and logged automatically and effortlessly communicated to all parties.

Another significant aspect to this application is an integrated chat feature, which allows customers to reach out to NEC and vice versa, no matter what they need. this increased accessibility serves to strengthen communication and improve operations and customer service.

The Benefits of a System Overhaul

At every stage of this project, benefits abound for DUBTEL�s client. Operations across the board have been optimized, waste has been eliminated, efficiency has been increased�innovation has been the name of the game.

All aspects of the customer�s work is now completely integrated into one application, so keeping everything uniform and sustained. There aren�t any communication lags or gaps, because it�s all one system.

There was a significant decrease in the number of operations carried out solely on strings of email responses, cutting down on missed connections, dropped communication or lost leads.

NEC can now interact with their application to place orders, track orders, view reports and obtain historical details all in one location, without ever having to involve their customers. All of NEC�s customers also gain that same benefit of being able to log into this application and view all of their relevant data in one place, seeing real-time updates as they do so.

Now that they have a system that is not only automated, but integrated with QuickBooks, revenue is much more easily managed. With QuickBooks giving such a comprehensive understanding of their books at a glance and with automated invoicing, man hours are severely reduced and productivity is increased!

Heartland Payment Systems was created by the acquisition of industry-proven products developed with decades of experience, providing solutions to retailers and restaurateurs. They provide credit card processing to some of the region�s largest franchises like Skyline Chilli.

Heartland Payment Systems, Inc., is a Fortune 1000 payment processing and technology provider that is based in the United States. Since its launch in 1997, Heartland has generated more than $2 billion in revenue, has overseen the installation of over 30,000 card-processing terminals, and has clients who have served millions of customers like Kangol, Normandy Farms, Rupena�s Fine Foods and more.

What it Means to be Certified

In order for the DUBTEL point-of-sale system to be able to process credit card transactions for merchant, the POS has to communicate with a credit card processing firm�like Heartland�to move the funds from the customer�s credit card, into your business. In order to do this, the point-of-sale system must be certified by the processor.

Ideally, your point-of-sale would be networked with the best processor for the best possible rate. This means more of your funds can go back into your business, instead of going to fees. DUBTEL is committed to finding the best processor for your business and getting you the best rate possible.

What it Means for You

As a customer of DUBTEL, we can ensure that you will receive impeccable customer service, the best possible rates, and the processing speed you need in order to keep your business running smoothly. No matter who the customer, what the order, and how large the transaction, DUBTEL is working hard to ensure that you get the very best from your payment processing for your specific industry�DUBTEL is launching a Retail, Cafe, Restaurant and Bar POS.

A Local Business with You in Mind

Our knowledgeable, local staff here at DUBTEL is connected to Heartland Payment Systems, so that no matter what your question is, local support staff can get answers to questions about your business, transactions, financials, processing and more within just 24 hours.
If you need support for your DUBTEL system, please call:

DUBTEL Support at 1-866-229-1605, ext. 1.

DUBTEL is building the next generation point-of-sale solutions for retail, cafe, restaurant and bar. Request a demo today!

DUBTEL, the innovative, fully integrated point-of-sale solution that is built specifically to throw the profits of small businesses into overdrive. The all-inclusive package offered by DUBTEL provides a completely integrated, personalized and comprehensive solution right out of the box.

Not only does DUBTEL manage every aspect of your inventory, sales, coupons, customer records and more, but every detail managed by DUBTEL is dropped right into your QuickBooks software every fifteen minutes, so every part of your well-oiled machine glides perfectly in-time, never losing details in between.

Among the numerous benefits of this system, you�ll find a fully-trained support staff who is local and able to answer customer questions with ease, a customizable system, and even full integration of this system with your QuickBooks account.

In order to bring this innovation to retail and hospitality businesses, DUBTEL is offering a sales bonus as an incentive to bring as many new customers through our doors as possible in the month of March. Our goal is to get fifty new sign-ups each month and we are counting on people like you to help us to reach that lofty goal.

Our Sales Partners

We are pleased to announce that we are welcoming our sales partners at North American BanCard, Heartland Payments, and Clearent to participate in our latest sales incentive program, which offers competitive bonuses for each sale, in addition to further bonuses per month you sell with us.

To show you that we�re serious about having you on our team, we�re offering a further 50% commission bonus for the first month selling this point-of-sale powerhouse. If you make sales in the months of April and May, you will earn a 25% commission bonus, on top of the commission already promised for each sale of this solution.

How many sales can you make in your first month with DUBTEL? We�re putting you to the test!

Tools at Your Disposal

DUBTEL has many tools you can use to make the sales process a breeze.

We have blog posts, online brochures that detail every aspect of our innovative system, a YouTube channel with descriptive videos, and any documents that you could possibly need to take your lead all the way through the sales cycle, to closing.

Please visit www.dubtel.com and www.youtube.com/user/dubtel for more information on our product!

For Sales Support
[email protected]
1-866-229-1605, ext. 2

For Customer Support
For questions regarding the system itself, please feel free to contact:
DUBTEL Support
[email protected]
1-866-229-1605, ext. 1

 Who is StartupCincy

�A community of entrepreneurs, BigCos, educators, investors, creatives and enthusiasts. Our mission is to build a sustainable, tech-based economy for our city, our region and the entire Midwest. Collectively, we are Greater Cincinnati�s startup community and we're here to create a new future. We are StartupCincy.�

StartupCincy is a network of entrepreneurs, enthusiasts, investors and businessmen in the Greater Cincinnati area that strive to help small businesses and startups in the area to start, learn, grow and thrive by hosting events, providing networking opportunities, and learning experiences to give business owners the tools they need for unbridled success.

In keeping with StartupCincy�s mission in this area, one of the events that they host is the NITRO! Bootcamp, which is an exciting opportunity for small businesses in the Greater Cincinnati area.

What is NITRO Bootcamp

To quote the website at www.startupcincy.com/nitro/, �NITRO! Bootcamp is a free first-of-its-kind event set to power up minority and women-owned small businesses by providing access and training on today�s top business technologies. We know managing a business is no small feat��there isn�t a lot of spare time to go around. That�s why we�ve talked to the experts and discovered the best tech for empowering small businesses to grow and succeed.�

NITRO! Bootcamp is an excellent opportunity for small businesses that were started and are run by minorities in the Greater Cincinnati area to meet and to get acquainted with tools that can give them the upper hand in today�s market.

On February 23^rd, the team at Cintrifuse�headed by Maurice Coffey, Executive-in-Residence (from Proctor & Gamble) and assisted by Dani Clark of Untold Content�ran this event for the community of StartupCincy. In so doing, they hosted a full day of training sessions on different aspects of running a business, like accounting, communication & organization, billing, payments, inventory & shipping, document cloud storage, project management, and freelancer creative services. This sort of high-intensity curriculum is the perfect battery to get a small business into gear to build and to surpass all expectations in business.

Each year 25 companies are selected to participate in this event and are given the opportunities to network, learn, grow, and establish more business in the coming year.

Why DUBTEL Was Chosen

DUBTEL�a small tech company in West Chester, Ohio�was founded by John Opoku who is originally from Ghana.

DUBTEL has grown considerably in just the last 2 years with projects and ideas in the pipeline to help small businesses grow and thrive all over the country.

With the software development, consulting, and hardware solutions that DUBTEL provides, other businesses can make their visions a reality. Keeping other small businesses going and thriving is part of what DUBTEL does, so taking part in StartupCincy�s NITRO! Bootcamp is part and parcel to its mission.

Having the input and tools offered by NITRO! and its many partners gave DUBTEL a direct look into how we can help small businesses streamline their processes, track accounting transactions and communicate more effectively. Understanding these technologies and business tools helps us not only to improve and drive our own success, but to help our peers to do the same.

Opening Statements for Saturday�s Event

Attendees were greeted with opening statements from high-profile guests such as State Representative for District 33, Sedrick Denson and Ohio State Senator Cecil Thomas. The message was clear: Ohio is calling, pushing, and providing for technology as a solution for accelerated growth and kickstarting of minority-owned businesses in the Greater Cincinnati area.

True to that vision, NITRO! Has worked tirelessly to address this need and to close the gap between small businesses and the technologies that will throw their growth into overdrive. All sponsors, Tech Partners, Steering Committee members and associated outfits are committed to this purpose and are working together to create a united front as a means to that end.

The Tech Partners and Steering Committe

Thanks to all of the partners involved, 2019�s NITRO! Bootcamp was able to provide attendees with a veritable powerhouse of business acumen.

Part of the break-out training to those in attendance on February 23^rd, Tech Partners of the program gave talks on business tech that can give small businesses the leg up they need to really kickstart their success. This year�s partners included Google Suites, Xero, Fuze, Gusto, Primary Hosting and StartBlox; each partner had an experienced, knowledgeable representative in attendance to give a comprehensive look at what each partner could do for small businesses.

Among the numerous benefits of attending this event is that it is the perfect platform on which to network with local business and with local reps for national businesses who steer and support the event. NITRO! Bootcamp was steered this year by companies like J.P. Morgan Chase & Co., Cintrifuse, The Greater Cincinnati Foundation, Greater Cincinnati Urban League and several other businesses and outfits.

One of the members who spoke on Saturday was Shelly Bell of Google Suites. The bio provided by NITRO! states �[she] is a system disruptor and business strategists who moves ideas to profit while empowering people to live more authentically. Google recognized Shelly�s ability to engage an audience and as a result, she serves as one of eight Google Digital Coaches working to bridge the digital divide for Black & Latinx business owners. Shelly Bell has been covered by Forbes, Entrepreneur.com, NewsOne, Adweek, the Washington Business Journal and more. Her magnetic energy attaches an undeniable movement of social impact to any initiative she�s a part of and makes her motto ring true in every interaction � �Resist the Urge to be Average!��

Shelly used all her experience and talents to help this group to understand how Google Suites could send their business into a whole new bracket of success and left a lasting impression on those who heard her speak on Saturday. Thank you for your input and your support, Shelly!

A Lasting Impression

All the businesses, partners, coalitions and individuals that were represented or that were in attendance at the 2019 NITRO! Bootcamp were able to show what they know about small business, technologies, business tools and management technology and to take in more of the same.

Each speaker made an impression on everyone in attendance and got every one of the chosen participants thinking with these technologies and tools that will help foster growth within their companies and their affiliates.

With events such as these, businesses like DUBTEL, Verb Digital Media, Wealth-Minded Women and others who were in attendance, are given a platform on which to succeed and tools with which to bolster their efforts and the efforts of other minority-owned businesses in the Greater Cincinnati area.

What is CSOC?

County Sheriffs of Colorado is an association of County Sheriffs that works toward continuing education and professional training of sheriffs, deputies, and other law enforcement agencies. The main aim of the more than 120 lectures and training programs CSOC offers, is to educate the law enforcement personnel as to how they can better serve their community.

The programs also give a platform for and advocates unity among sheriffs in differing counties so they can better understand one another�s problems and work toward progressive solutions. CSOC is the perfect platform for law enforcement officers across the State of Colorado to allow them to achieve professional excellence and to serve the people in the best ways possible.

What Challenges CSOC Faced

The nature of CSOC�s business requires that they keep extensive records on membership, course attendance, dues, and more for the law enforcement officers who participate with them. With the system they had at their disposal prior to their connection with DUBTEL, was not conducive to updating those records in such a way that they were secure, complete and correct.

The technology used to create the system which they used was severely outdated and hindered them from making forward strides and growing without exceeding the capabilities of their current administration tools.

In order for an outfit of CSOC�s type and size to succeed, they would need an entirely new system with the ability to update records of all types across the entire system in real time.

How DUBTEL Was Contacted

DUBTEL maintains working partnerships with many companies across the United States and continues to grow and help its partners grow through that network of partnerships. One of DUBTEL�s partners�machineLOGIC�shared a business relationship with CSOC. When technicians at machineLOGIC saw and heard all the problems in the existing system for CSOC, machineLOGIC called DUBTEL and set up a meeting to get their needs addressed.

Once DUBTEL was put in contact with CSOC to help them to overhaul their system and optimize their operations, the real work began for this law enforcement training outfit.

What DUBTEL Did for CSOC

One of the main things that is crucial to the operation of CSOC is to make sure that the records of all these conferences, meetings and training sessions is kept safe and is updated regularly. They also must keep a track of all the people that have attended these training sessions, or any other program hosted by CSOC. In order to make a more workable system that provided a higher quality of user experience to associates and members, CSOC needed the ability to update and edit their records in real time. By doing this all the operations would be streamlined, significantly increasing the efficiency of the organization. But how do you make that happen? The obvious answer to that given by DUBTEL was to move these records, files and system to cloud.

Among all the benefits that you get from a cloud-based system the one that was most significant to a client like CSOC is the security that comes with it. Files uploaded on a cloud-based system are much more secure than other file storage means. The companies hosting cloud servers can afford to have far better security systems as compared to any local system. By uploading the files on cloud server CSOC safeguarded them from any hacking attempt from cybercriminals. The next major advantage that this update gave to CSOC is the ability of cloud data to be updated in real time across all terminals. The best part is that the data can be updated remotely. As CSOC works across the State of Colorado this feature allowed them to easily update the data from where ever the law enforcement training is being held. The data uploaded from any location across any terminal would be automatically updated in the central database.

The New & Improved CSOC System

The CSOC team now does not have to spend hours of their time only on data entry as the process has become very easy and streamlined. The time that they save from data entry can be spent on more involved operations to help the organization grow and to continue to assist law enforcement officers across the State of Colorado.

They can now invest this time in improving the quality of their services and coursework and grow their association in order to reach more people. This integration has allowed them to thrive on a financial level as well, now that they are able to keep records of and invoice fees, dues, and payments effortlessly.

Another benefit that CSOC got from this integration is that their website is now fully updated according to the data available on the cloud server, in real time. This makes sure that all the members of this organization are now always fully updated regarding important statistics of the organization or any other changes or announcements that are important to them and their members.

New features were implemented in their system such as the Waitlist Feature, which allows law enforcement officers to be sure they never miss a single class with CSOC. The Revised Certification Management allows law enforcement officers to access their training certifications at any time, from any location. These features work in tandem with the Real-Time Reporting system enhancement to ensure that everyone is operating on the most current, up-to-date information and no one skips a beat.

Find out how DUBTEL can help your business reach its full potential. Request a Demo today.

Who is StartUpCincy
�A community of entrepreneurs, BigCos, educators, investors, creatives and enthusiasts. Our mission is to build a sustainable, tech-based economy for our city, our region and the entire Midwest. Collectively, we are Greater Cincinnati�s startup community and we're here to create a new future. We are StartupCincy.�

StartUpCincy is a network of entrepreneurs, enthusiasts, investors and businessmen in the Greater Cincinnati area that strive to help small businesses and startups in the area to start, learn, grow and thrive by hosting events, providing networking opportunities, and learning experiences to give business owners the tools they need for unbridled success.

In keeping with StartUpCincy�s mission in this area, one of the events that they host is the NITRO! Bootcamp, which is an exciting opportunity for small businesses in the Greater Cincinnati area.

What is NITRO Bootcamp
To quote the website at, �NITRO! Bootcamp is a free first-of-its-kind event set to power up minority and women-owned small businesses by providing access and training on today�s top business technologies. We know managing a business is no small feat��there isn�t a lot of spare time to go around. That�s why we�ve talked to the experts and discovered the best tech for empowering small businesses to grow and succeed.�
NITRO! Bootcamp is an excellent opportunity for small businesses that were started and are run by minorities in the Greater Cincinnati area to meet and to get acquainted with tools that can give them the leg up they need to succeed in business.
This bootcamp hosts a full day of training sessions on different aspects of running a business, like: accounting, communication & organization, billing, payments, inventory & shipping, document cloud storage, project management, and freelancer creative services. This sort of high-intensity curriculum is the perfect battery to get a small business into gear to build and to surpass all expectations in business.
Each year 25 companies are selected to participate in this event and are given the opportunities to network, learn, grow, and establish more business in the coming year.

Why DUBTEL Was Chosen
DUBTEL�a small tech company in West Chester, Ohio�was founded by John Opoku who is originally from Ghana.
DUBTEL has grown considerably in just the last 2 years with projects in the pipeline to help small businesses grow and thrive all over the country.
With the software development, consulting, and hardware solutions that DUBTEL provides, other businesses can make their visions a reality and bring their projects to a done. Keeping other small businesses going and thriving is part of what DUBTEL does, so taking part in StartUpCincy�s NITRO! Bootcamp is part and parcel to its mission.
Why February 23rd is Significant
The 2019 NITRO! Bootcamp will be held on the 151st birthday of W. E. B. Du Bois. He was the first African American man to earn a Ph. D. from Harvard University and he was the co-founder of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) in 1909.
Du Bois wrote extensively on the subject of, and was the best-known spokesperson and advocate for, African-American rights in the first half of the 20th century.
For this event that is predicated on helping businesses founded and run by minorities, it is a perfect way to honor the late, great W. E. B. Du Bois!

Find out how DUBTEL can help your business reach its full potential. Request a Demo today.

Omni-channel retailing is an all-channel approach to sales that seeks to provide customers with a seamless or unified shopping experience, whether they're shopping online from a desktop, mobile device, or offline in a brick-and-mortar store.

Taking an omni-channel approach begins with a customer. In marketing realms, it means putting a message across to a customer anywhere the customer might be looking, listening, etc.

Customers can simultaneously use different channels in their shopping process, which means they can start their search in one channel and finish the purchase in another. They are given chances to create their own preferable shopping routines, which appears to be more attractive to a new generation of consumers in the 21st century.

According to research by the Aberdeen Group, companies with extremely strong omni-channel customer engagement see a 9.5% year-over-year increase in annual revenue, compared to 3.4% for weak omni-channel companies. Similarly, strong omni-channel companies see a 7.5% year-over-year decrease in cost per contact, compared to a 0.2% year-over-year decrease for weak companies.

This reveals that customers easily relate with companies with strong omni-channel strategy. In other to understand the nitty-gritty of omni-channel retailing, we must understand the following topics.

• What Is Omni-Channel Retailing?
• How Omni-Channel Shopping Could Be
• What�s the Opportunity in Multiple Channels?
• Why Is Everywhere Commerce So Valuable?
• How to Create Immersive Experiences
• What Omni-Channel Shopping Feels Like
• What�s next for Omni-Channel Retailers?

What Is Omni-Channel Retailing

In order to understand what omni-channel retailing is, let�s consider some of these following:

• Omni-channel retailing is a strategy that allows your customers to access your product or service seamlessly and receive a consistent experience wherever or whenever they prefer to connect, with ease of use in mind.
• Omni-channel retailers have an offline (physical) and online (digital) presence
• Omni-channel marketing is a strategy that is based on choices consumers typically make when engaging with a brand, so you can utilize that data for a more effective marketing campaign

We could see from all of the above, that this strategy allows customers to start their search in one channel and finish the purchase in another. This allows a customer to see products and deals from their mobile devices and ship things for in-store pick up, ship them to their homes and even process returns or exchanges for previously-purchased items. This is what we mean by a seamless experience.

These definitions are valid but don�t quite explain the weight of the word �omni� meaning "all, every, the whole, of every kind," which implies �being everywhere,� not just offline and online.

Has being everywhere really worked out for companies? Yes, but it�s also very risky. The reason for this is that many retailers focus on trying to be everywhere, while they miss opportunities to innovate and jump past competitors.

 How Omni-Channel Shopping Could Be

Omni-channel as a philosophy is about providing customers with a seamless or unified shopping experience, whether they're shopping online from a desktop or mobile device, or offline in a brick-and-mortar store.

Today, the average shopping voyage encourages various channels whereby a consumer may look for a coffee machine on your website, order the item via mobile while on his commute home, and finally choose to pick up his purchase in-store the next day. According to research from Google, 98 percent of Americans use multiple devices daily to research information on products and to make purchases.

What�s the Opportunity in Multiple Channels?

McKinsey Research and Harvard Business Review recently collaborated with a retailer in U.S to learn just how valuable omni-channel retail customers really are. The study included 46,000 customers who were questioned about every aspect of their shopping voyage during a 14-month period between June 2015 to August 2016, focusing on which channels they used and why. They were also asked to evaluate their shopping experience. Of the study participants, only 7% were online-only shoppers and 20% were store-only shoppers. The remaining majority, or 73%, used multiple channels during their shopping journey. It was observed that �Not only did [omni-channel retail customers] use smartphone apps to compare prices, but they were also avid users of in-store digital tools such as an interactive catalog, a price-checker, or a tablet.�

The study also found omni-channel retail customers spent an average of 4% more on every shopping occasion in-store, and 10% more online than single-channel customers. Which also means the more channel a customer is using the more they tend to spend.

Everywhere commerce is so valuable because it is a rapidly-growing consumer outlet that isn�t showing signs of slowing. If you�re selling, and your long-term plan is to continue doing so for the foreseeable future, you will need to pay attention to e-commerce and become an active participant as soon as it�s feasible for your business.

Where a physical store may only be known to passersby, online retailers have greater visibility to a wider audience. Therefore, an e-commerce store can be accessed and viewed by an unlimited number of internet users. Some of the best ways to attract new customers. According to Nielsen�s Total Audience Report, Americans spend an average of 10 hours and 39 minutes of their day in front of a screen.

The world is digitizing in every sector. Therefore, the reason the omni-channel customers are so valuable is because the real omni-channel business attempts to be anywhere their target customer might need or want their products.

How to Create Immersive Experiences

Though the prefix �omni� implies being everywhere, it�s obvious that you can�t really be everywhere. The best thing to do is to create the illusion of being everywhere. Which can be done by creating a network of concentrated and overlapping outlets for advertising, public relations and SEO efforts.

If screens are everywhere, then there must be a place people are looking at to discover new brands. The following steps should be considered:

• The first step to consider when constructing this illusion of omnipresence is to increase your visibility in the places people discover new brands and content. The trick when creating this illusion is that it�s not just about reaching the most people possible through individual channels. It�s about understanding where your target market is paying attention. Be it through twitter influencers, online news, blogs, YouTube channels, Instagram influencers, podcasts, or TV shows and inputting your brand at the intersections of those media properties.
• The second step is re-targeting the customers that are already aware of your brand, but haven�t purchased anything. According to research, 99% of people that visit the first time don�t make any purchase which means something must have gotten their attention to click but not enough for them to purchase.

What Omni-Channel Shopping Feels Like

The following is from Tom Walker, on his experience with Mission Workshop on what omni-channel shopping feels like.

The first day exposes him to more information about the brand and product throughout multiple touch points, without forcing him to visit the website again, and without feeling like Mission Workshop is trying to pressure him into making a purchase.

Second and third day, he was re-targeted by the ads placed on his social media page, which are ads with more information about the item he saw on the first day. These ads allowed him to know more about the item�like how it can be used, other accessories to use with it, and the lifestyle of that particular brand.

On the fourth day, the ads prompted him to consider visiting one of their local partners and try their products on in a store and call to schedule a consultation with one of their stylists.

Therefore, omni-channel shopping ought to be a steady release of non-intrusive information designed to give customers everything they need to feel comfortable buying an item from the company.

What�s next for Omni-Channel Retailers?

The fact is that the philosophy behind omni-channel retailing deepens day by day. We will eventually be in a time single-channel retail, marketing, and merchandising will be as obsolete as the video store and we won�t give it a second thought. The pressure is on and not going to stop as digitization of things increases.