How Enterprise Search Engines Have Evolved to Cater to Business Challenges

For individuals, the word ‘search’ is synonymous to web search, or to be more precise, platforms like Google and Yahoo. These platforms primarily rely on a keyword based approach which involves fetching results that contain the keyword entered by the user. This approach mostly works great for the Web as the content of the Web is optimized.

However, when it comes to the unorganized, non-optimized and unstructured enterprise data, the keyword based approach falls flat. This is where the need for an advanced tool comes in, which can analyze unstructured data and derive information hidden within. Every business today faces challenges of dealing with unstructured data and the new age enterprise search engines are the solution we need.

Enterprise search engine is a tool used for the purpose of helping enterprises analyze data and these tools have come a long way in the last few years to evolve into the new age tools that we have today. Platforms like 3RDi Search, Coveo and Commvault offer navigation, relevant information discovery and advanced search capabilities.

Gaining relevant insights from unstructured data is of the highest importance for insightful business growth strategies, and today’s enterprise search engines have evolved to cater to this need.

For starters, enterprise search today is all about getting the most relevant results in the shortest time. The introduction of semantic technology has made it possible to fetch the most accurate results, through synonym search and also through understanding the user intent behind the query. It increases the scope yet cuts down the noise.

Customization is another feature that makes the new age platforms more evolved than their earlier counterparts. The tools available today can be customized to cater to the needs of every business, big or small. This makes them the best solution for even the most advanced business requirements and at the same time, they can be used for basic purposes as well.

What really makes the new age enterprise search engines stand out is an intuitive user interface that makes it easy for anyone to learn to use the tool in no time. The short learning curve of these tools makes it easy for organizations to implement enterprise search without spending too much time and effort in training. The simple user interface makes it easy for the employees to witness its benefits faster, which leads to greater acceptance.

Businesses grow and with the large volumes of data, it can get really difficult to upgrade to a new system to keep up with the changing needs of a business. The enterprise search engines we have today offer easy scalability to resolve the issue. The tools can be scaled up or down to accommodate the change in business needs. So, businesses need to make a one-time investment in a tool and can rest assured that it will serve the purpose even years down the line.

Search logs hold huge volumes of information that can be tapped into for useful insights to learn about user behavior, search patterns and more. The analytics feature is what businesses need to gain the relevant insights to frame business strategies.

So, you see that there are many ways in which the modern enterprise search engines are designed to cater to the evolving needs of the modern businesses. No wonder, every business out there is investing in enterprise search platforms to experience the multi-faceted benefits.

HCJB Global Becomes Reach Beyond a New Name and a New Call to Christians Worldwide

HCJB Global announced Monday (Jan. 27, 2014) that the 82-year-old ministry, founded in Quito, Ecuador, is changing its name to Reach Beyond. The new name and the release of the Reach Beyond Mission Manifesto are intended to encourage and challenge Christians worldwide to reach beyond their comfort zones and perceived limitations to share the love of Jesus in places where the gospel has seldom, if ever, been heard.

The mission is defined by the tagline, “The Voice and Hands of Jesus. Together.” Through its “voice” ministries, the mission works with partners to use radio and modern media to make the gospel accessible in places where it typically isn’t available.

The “hands” ministries of the mission provide much-needed healthcare service in places where even common medical help isn’t readily available. Reach Beyond “hands” ministries takes many forms, including mobile community healthcare clinics, counseling centers in war-torn areas, clean water projects and general hygiene training, all with an emphasis on demonstrating the love of Jesus to recipients of the care.

Reach Beyond also values partnership with local Christians, churches and ministry partners as its core way of operating, signified by the word “together” in its tagline.

“For more than 80 years our missionaries and partners have boldly been going to places where people have never had the opportunity to experience the love of God,” said Wayne Pederson, president and CEO of Reach Beyond. “But now is the time to accelerate and multiply those efforts. Through the use of modern media and healthcare, we work arm in arm with partners to show people that a relationship with Jesus Christ can change their lives forever.”

The “Reach Beyond Manifesto” challenges believers to reach beyond borders and their own comfort level in an effort to accomplish the “great commission.” It serves as a declaration for how the renamed Reach Beyond wants to invest its time and efforts in making Christ known to the ends of the earth. It’s also a call – and a challenge – for other Christians to recommit themselves to the same effort.

“With all the technology, knowledge and experience available to us today, there is no reason why we can’t make Christ known to everyone on the planet,” said Pederson. “We hope the ‘Reach Beyond Manifesto’ causes all like-minded Christians to renew their commitment to demonstrate God’s love as His ‘voice’ and ‘hands.’”

Founded in 1931 as World Radio Missionary Fellowship Inc., Reach Beyond has focused on making disciples of Christ around the world. With ministries in more than 100 countries, Reach Beyond equips partners to air Christian content in more than 120 languages and dialects. The name change also reflects the ministry’s ongoing international focus and commitment to reach areas where less than 2 percent of the population is Christian.

“Adaptability has always been a strength of the mission,” said Curt Cole, executive vice president of international ministries. “When the best model was to own a large hospital or broadcast over shortwave radio, the mission leveraged those strengths. Today, technology and the world are changing, and we are adapting. That’s why we place such a high premium on partnerships with local Christians. They know their own culture and needs far better than we do. If the need is for a small, community healthcare clinic or a local FM radio station, we’re committed to equipping the people with all the resources they need to reach their own people in their own culture.”

HCJB Global’s “Beyond the Call” radio program, on more than 1,000 stations around the U.S., will now be called “Reach Beyond.”

“The new name is much more than a brand change,” Pederson said. “Reach Beyond is a reflection of our ministry DNA. It’s about doing whatever is necessary to reach those who have never heard the name of Jesus. In essence, it’s a call to Christians to reach beyond their comfort zones and challenges them to actively participate in making Christ known among the nations.”

To read and sign the “Manifesto,” visit www.reachbeyond.org.

The organization hopes the “Reach Beyond Manifesto” will serve as a call to action for Christians to focus their attention and efforts on those areas of the world where Christ has yet to be proclaimed.

“We hear it every generation, but perhaps it’s more true now than ever,” Pederson said. “We are at a pivotal time in our history. We have the means and ability to spread the message of Jesus to everyone who is alive today. We can accomplish this by renewing our commitment and reorganizing our priorities. Reach Beyond wants to be on the forefront of this new gospel era and encourage others to join us in making Christ known in every country, city, village and community around the globe.”

What is the Deal with Bad Credit and Auto Loan Rates?

The interest rate for bad credit car buyers will always be higher than a good credit individual. The primary reason being that a lender is taking a risk by lending money to someone who has difficulty in repaying the money or maintaining a healthy credit score. Before you step into a dealership to check out car models, you should check your credit score. It is the key element in deciding the amount of interest rate that you will have to pay for your car. Bad credit buyers should think one step ahead and ascertain the average interest rate according to their credit score in order to avoid any surprises later.

Bad Credit Score and Auto Loan Rates: How Bad is Really Bad?

Any credit score above 620 is considered to be decent and will attract reasonable interest rates. However, for people who have a credit score of 620 or lower, the credit score is considered to be poor. According to nerdwallet.com, a subprime credit score, which ranges from 501 to 600, will give you an interest rate of 16.14% for a used car and 11.89% for a new car.

While a deep subprime credit score of 300-500 gives you an interest rate of 19.98% for a used car and 14.41% for a new car. For credit challenged people, it is ideal that you build your credit score and bring it close to 601-660 so that you can achieve a lower interest rate on the purchase of your car.

Bad Credit Auto Financing Tips that Will Save You Dollars!

1. Check & Improve your Score

Before you start thinking about the details of your car, it is wise to check your credit score. Knowledge about your credit score will give you an estimated idea about the interest rate. If you have time before you apply for your auto loan, always take actions that will boost your score and help you to negotiate lower interest rates. Display a strong payment history by clearing your debt. Pay off credit card balances and keep them low. You should also avoid taking any new credit until the auto loan is approved.

2. Short Loan Term is Favorable

If you have suffered from bad credit history, do not go for a long-term auto loan. A term of 72 months or more will force you to shell out more money in the long run. It is because you will have to pay a higher amount towards the interest. Alternatively, choose a shorter term to reduce your financial charges significantly. An ideal term period is close to 60 months. However, bad credit auto buyers can even go for 48 month or 36 months to get a competitive interest rate.

3. The New Vs. Used Debate

The difference between a new car and a used car can be felt in the pricing as well as the auto financing rates. One may argue that new car loans come with lower interest rates and so it is wise to choose a brand-new model. However, the high cost of new cars can cause trouble. Individuals with bad credit should opt for used cars as the pricing is affordable and approvals are easy to obtain on pre-owned cars. Bad credit will hike up your interest rates than normal. Choose to go for a new car only if you are ready to make significant down payment.

Improve Credit Score to Decrease Auto Loan Rates

While an interest rate is decided on multiple factors such as the amount of the auto loan, term period and down payment, the most important factor is your credit score. Always make an effort to keep a consistently good credit score. Once you improve your credit score, your interest rates will automatically decrease and you can move forward to purchase your favorite car.