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The technology used to create the system which they used was severely outdated and hindered them from making forward strides and growing without exceeding the capabilities of their current administration tools.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