UBCNews - Business

Is your business in the 9% of companies that don’t use a customer relationship management system? Don’t make life harder for yourself when there are amazing software solutions out there that can halve your workload, increase your profits, and increase customer satisfaction.

On today's episode, Advantis Business Group gives us the skinny on CRM salvation for small and medium-sized enterprises.

Using an all-in-one software solution that combines SMS and email communications, invoicing and payments, and automation from a single, unified interface saves you so much time and helps you deliver better customer experiences at every stage of the buyer journey.

Using multiple software products for various business tasks can slow enterprise operations and create communication issues between different departments. Advantis Business Group recommends CRM systems because they streamline workflows for business teams, simplify day-to-day operations, enhance your productivity, and drive long-term growth with an easily scalable software solution.

With the right CRM software, you can process all invoices, subscriptions, and payments in one location. Track and manage transactions within a single window and monitor inventory in real-time.

Advantis highlights how automation features mean outstanding accounts and invoices can be automatically followed up with chasers and reminders. In addition, automation allows you to send follow-up communications to nurture prospects and build stronger connections with customers.

CRM platforms like Advantis Business Group’s Hub One make it easy to schedule and manage meetings for in-house teams or sales. Schedule an unlimited number of events and they’ll pop up in the CRM calendar. You can check availability for each user to make scheduling meetings easier and avoid booking errors. Meeting reminders and follow-ups are also possible with automation features.

CRM systems will also have contact management tabs which display all information within a single view. You can see conversation timelines, payment information, and bookings, and add custom fields as desired.

Advantis recommends looking for software that comes with dedicated support. For example, they appoint an account manager to help users make the most out of their software. These appointees get to know the ins and outs of your business so they can provide tailored support to help you reach your goals.

Isn’t it time you gave your business a boost? With an all-in-one CRM operating system that’s secure, simple, and designed to help you grow, you’ll wonder how you ever managed without it!

Advantis says, “Effortlessly manage clients, bookings, leads, and workflows while integrating with thousands of powerful solutions.”

From the macro to the micro - see the full picture of your business with CRM software.

Click the link in the description for more details.

Pickleball might be the fastest-growing sport in the U.S., but for many curious onlookers, it’s still a mystery. The idea of jumping into a game that seems to require quick reflexes, solid footwork, and a grasp of unfamiliar rules can feel a bit daunting. That hesitation is one reason why, despite the sport’s rising popularity, some people are still sitting on the sidelines.

Game experts Mastering Pickleball Basics, creators of a new course covering the sport, say aspiring players can quickly gain the skills and knowledge they need by either researching Pickleball online, enrolling in a beginner's course like the one they've designed, or taking a few private lessons.

No matter which path you choose, there are a few fundamentals every beginner will need to understand before they feel confident out on the court. First, it’s important to get a handle on the rules, the scoring system, and the sport's terminology. Terms like “dillball,” “avoiding the kitchen,” and “flapjack” can be confusing at first, but they’re key to understanding game play and staying out of trouble during a match.

For example, did you know that when a team scores zero points in the game, they’re said to be ‘pickled’? Or that when a person is about to serve and wants to alert others, they shout “pickle!” It’s the little things like these that can quickly reveal a novice player to others, which can then impact the psychology of the game.

When you’re just starting out in any sport, mechanics matter. In pickleball, you’ll need to know how to serve, volley, and position yourself strategically. Being in the right place at the right time is key, and this comes from learning how the game flows and anticipating where the ball is headed.

Having the right gear is also important. Paddles vary in weight and grip, and you’ll need to select your equipment based on your comfort level and your intended goals. Proper shoes are also important for preventing slips and injuries, especially as movement becomes quicker and more precise. Court-friendly attire starts you off ‘on the right foot,’ a great advantage if you’re a little shaky on other aspects of the game.

As with any sport, you can’t ignore fitness and recovery time. As a new player, warming up before the game and warming down afterwards are equally important. You’ll also benefit greatly from developing your stamina, your footwork, your agility, and your balance in tricky situations. Shot accuracy and even your mindset can all impact your performance on the court. Regular drills and small adjustments in technique will lead to noticeable improvements in just a few sessions. But it can’t happen unless you lace up the shoes, pick up the paddle, and take that first step.

Whether you're looking to join a local league or just want to understand what’s going on out there, the learning curve for pickleball doesn’t have to be steep. A little instruction goes a long way in helping you build confidence and enjoy the game. And with expert insights more accessible than ever, now might be the perfect time to exchange ambivalence for action.

Concourse Benefits is transforming how business organizations, like chambers of commerce and trade associations, can deliver more value to their members. Today, the company announced its investor proposal and valuation analysis, highlighting a funding round to accelerate platform development and rapid market expansion.

Concourse Benefits has pioneered an all-in-one, network-based benefits solutions platform that manages relationships among vendors, associations, employers, and employees. By harnessing the collective buying power of thousands of small and mid-sized businesses, Concourse Benefits secures exclusive deals with new non-dues revenue streams for associations, automating everything from vendor procurement to payment processing and revenue share disbursement. Early proof-of-concept with Functional Providers Network has validated the platform’s ability to lower member acquisition costs, increase member benefits and drive new business growth.

Market Opportunity: An untapped market of thousands of associations and millions of SMB employees with a high demand for non-dues revenue and member engagement.

Innovative Model: No-cost, no-hassle revenue-share for association partners, with a highly scalable network approach and data-driven engagement.

Technology Roadmap: Investment will fund a robust network management system, automated communications, reporting, analytics, broker/partner integration, and seamless payment distribution.

“Concourse Benefits is positioned to become the de facto affinity benefits network for business organizations, delivering immediate and lasting value to all stakeholders,” said Marcie O’Dwyer, one of the 5 Co-Founders. “Our model empowers even the smallest businesses to access Fortune 500-level benefits, while associations gain new revenue streams with zero administrative burden.”

With early traction and a first-mover advantage, Concourse Benefits is poised to capture network effects and become a dominant, defensible platform in the business benefits ecosystem.

Concourse Benefits is a reimagined affinity network platform that transforms how business organizations deliver value to their members. By centrally managing relationships between vendors, associations, employers, and their employees, the platform unlocks the collective buying power of these networks to secure better deals and generate non-dues revenue. Concourse Benefits seamlessly automates the entire process from vendor procurement and marketing to payment processing and revenue sharing, eliminating manual effort for chambers and associations.

Concourse Benefits - Simplifying Benefits. Strengthening Networks.

About Web Summit

Web Summit is a technology events company, bringing together a global community of founders, entrepreneurs, business leaders, and investors to connect and exchange ideas about the technology and trends shaping the world. Web Summit events, including Web Summit in Lisbon, Web Summit Rio in South America, Web Summit Vancouver in North America, Web Summit Qatar in the Middle East, and RISE in Asia, have gathered nearly one million people since Web Summitʼs beginnings as a 150-person conference in Dublin in 2009. Its newest event, Web Summit Vancouver, is taking place May 28th-30th, 2025, at the Vancouver Convention Centre, where thousands of international entrepreneurs, investors, media outlets, and leaders will attend.

You can meet the Concourse Benefits Team at Web Summit Vancouver from May 28th to May 30th or visit them at booth A 308 all day Friday in the ALPHA Web Summit area.

AI Software Systems has announced the official launch of a new, in-depth educational initiative aimed at empowering small and midsize businesses (SMBs) to integrate artificial intelligence into their daily operations. With a clear focus on practicality and accessibility, the newly released AI Guide for Small Businesses provides a roadmap to intelligent automation that doesn’t require technical expertise or a large upfront investment.

This release comes at a critical time. As digital transformation accelerates across every industry, many small businesses are under increased pressure to operate more efficiently while meeting growing customer expectations. Yet, the rapid pace of innovation can make it challenging for non-technical business owners to keep up—let alone implement—advanced solutions like AI. AI Software Systems is addressing this challenge head-on.

The core offering, AI Automation Services for SMBs, delivers a high-level overview of how automation works, why it matters, and what businesses can do today to start reaping the benefits. It breaks down key AI use cases such as customer support, task management, and operations optimization, with real-world examples showing measurable outcomes. From freeing up employee time to reducing human error, the guide emphasizes both immediate and long-term gains.

Complementing the core article are two specialized resources:

AI Voice Agents for Business: This guide focuses on how voice-enabled AI agents are being used to transform customer service, manage appointment scheduling, answer FAQs, and support multi-channel communications. It explores the growing demand for AI voice agents in small business contexts and offers tips for choosing and integrating the right tools.

AI Agent as a Service: This article introduces a managed service model that allows SMBs to adopt AI agents without handling the technical backend. It outlines benefits such as on-demand scalability, reduced overhead, and increased operational flexibility.

Each article is written in straightforward language and backed by real-life scenarios that demystify the technology. Rather than presenting AI as an abstract concept, AI Software Systems presents it as a practical, high-impact tool that can enhance everyday business operations.

According to a recent report by McKinsey & Company, small businesses that implement even basic AI tools see an average productivity increase of 15-30%. Yet adoption rates remain low, largely due to uncertainty around cost, complexity, and ROI. AI Software Systems aims to reverse this trend by lowering the barrier to entry.

“Artificial intelligence is no longer the domain of tech giants,” a spokesperson from AI Software Systems stated. “We created this guide to show small businesses that AI is not only within reach—it’s essential for survival in today’s fast-moving market. Whether it’s responding to customer inquiries more efficiently, automating repetitive admin tasks, or gaining insights from data, the benefits are real and immediate.”

Beyond educational content, AI Software Systems is also developing onboarding materials and potential free tools to help SMBs evaluate their automation readiness. These efforts reflect the company’s broader mission: to democratize advanced technologies and make intelligent automation accessible to all.

The timing of the guide’s release aligns with a sharp uptick in AI adoption interest among small business owners, particularly in sectors like retail, real estate, healthcare, and professional services. With rising labor costs and heightened customer service demands, automation is becoming a key competitive advantage—not a luxury.

The guide also offers guidance on how to balance automation with human oversight. AI Software Systems emphasizes that automation is not about replacing people but empowering them to focus on higher-value tasks. This balanced approach helps business owners navigate change responsibly and sustainably.

For business owners unfamiliar with AI or hesitant to dive in, the guide serves as both a starting point and a long-term reference. Each section is designed to build confidence and deliver tangible, immediate value—whether through better time management, cost reduction, or improved customer engagement.

Small business owners, decision-makers, and digital transformation consultants can explore the complete guide and supporting resources at https://aisoftwaresystems.com. The company encourages readers to start small, apply what resonates, and scale their efforts over time.

We’ve all had moments where we’ve completely blown our tops and flew into a rage that left us regretting everything we did and said during our episode. But if that happens regularly, that’s a sign of something more severe - something like a mental disorder. In fact, rage disorders, such as intermittent explosive disorder, affect an estimated 16 million Americans, but like any mental condition, these can be treated. In fact, professional mental health providers like Mission Connection know how to help anyone who struggles with uncontrollable anger, and they’re happy to share their insights.

Rage disorders are a family of poorly understood mental conditions that typically begin in adolescence but can persist into adulthood if not properly addressed. Mission Connection defines them as any disorder that causes a person to regularly respond to situations with disproportionate anger.

While not a diagnosable condition by itself, it is often associated with other mental disorders, such as intermittent explosive disorder, narcissistic personality disorder, PTSD, and various mood disorders.

Although many people with rage disorders can function in society, their condition becomes apparent during outbursts.

Emotional and mental signs include feelings of intense anger, low tolerance for frustration, and dissociation.

There are also physical symptoms, with some examples being racing heartbeat, tightness in the chest, muscle tension, and headaches. These may eventually lead to a loss of control over thoughts and actions, resulting in physical and verbal aggression or violent impulses to damage or destroy property.

According to Mission Connection’s guide, rage disorders can be caused by genetics, childhood environment, and structural and chemical abnormalities in the brain, and if left untreated, they can have severe long-term consequences on an individual’s overall mental well-being.

After all, anger takes a lot of energy, so constant episodes are bound to be exhausting. People also tend to avoid anyone with a rage disorder for fear of triggering them, leaving them socially isolated.

However, the right treatment can help a patient foster positive, long-lasting changes in their brain, reducing the impact of the condition on their lives.

If you or someone you know struggles with a rage disorder, there are several treatment options that have all been proven to be effective. Studies suggest that one of the best treatments is cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), which can help the patient identify triggers and predict how they will think, feel, and act during episodes.

Similarly, dialectical behavior therapy and emotion-focused therapy can teach patients emotional regulation, communication, and conflict resolution skills.

Trauma-focused therapy is also an option, as it will help address any unresolved trauma that may be contributing to anger issues.

Additionally, a mental health professional may teach the patient various coping strategies, such as mindfulness and rapid relaxation techniques. With enough practice, an individual will be able to use these techniques to manage their emotions outside of treatment.

It’s important to recognize that you have a problem, but it’s also equally important to know that it’s not your fault. Past experiences, the environment, and brain structure play a huge role in how we react to things and how well we control our emotions, but it’s never too late to foster positive, long-term changes within yourself. If you want to learn more about rage disorders and the treatment options available, Mission Connection is happy to answer any of your questions. Visit the link in the description to connect with an expert.

If you are worried that your teenage son or daughter is being negatively impacted by upheavals in your family, whether from a divorce, a loss of a loved one, or financial instability, the truth is, adolescent depression is linked to family conflict.

Thankfully, there are lots of mental health experts who are addressing this issue. Like, Mission Prep, who has authored a new guide called ‘Family Issues Causing Teen Depression: How Family Problems Can Lead to Depression in Teenagers’.

If you have noticed that your teen’s mental health is falling, and wonder if it may be in connection to issues or conflicts within your family unit, keep reading.

Sadly, there are many issues facing families today that can impact the mental health of teenagers, including financial problems brought about by the rising cost of living, as well as divorce, which affects around 40-50% of first-time marriages. Moreover, teens can easily be affected by other factors like the loss of a grandparent or loved one, family illness, or needing to relocate.

While, as a parent, you cannot control many of these issues and conflicts, there are ways to alleviate and minimize their impact on vulnerable teens.

For example, some of the advice Mission Prep offers families in their new guide includes:

If you have tried some of the above tools, but nothing seems to be helping, it could be time to get the help of a mental health provider.

Mission Prep recommends that you look for a center that can offer your teen a myriad of treatment options and modalities, ranging from residential care to intensive outpatient care to regularly programmed individual treatment sessions.

They also recommend centers that offer both individual therapy sessions for teens and family-based interpersonal therapy, which they believe is essential if family conflict has worsened your teen’s mental health.

As one of their staff psychologists, Jemma Strain, B.S. Psychology, explained, “Interpersonal therapy can help teens and their families work through problems with communication and boundaries to figure out how to manage conflict for better mental health.”

Mission Prep also advocates for mental health providers that make use of several evidence-based psychotherapy methods, including cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) and transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS).

Ms. Strain added, “Mission Prep’s team of trained professionals understand the impact that family issues can have on teen mental health. We offer depression treatment programs in various locations, supporting teenagers in seeing that they are not to blame and that they have a bright and hopeful future ahead.”

If you’re looking for knowledgeable and understanding support and advice, Mission Prep is always happy to provide it - visit the link in the description for more!

If you're looking to take your career in tech or IT to the next level, now might be the perfect time to consider the Philippines. This is because the tech industry in the Philippines is on track to reach $51.55 billion by 2030, and employers across the country are actively hiring to keep up with rapid demand.

Whether you’re just starting out or looking to move into a more specialized role, T-TEC, a global technology BPO company with offices throughout the country, says opportunities abound across all areas of tech and IT in the Philippines. You just need to decide where your passions lie.

According to a recent Philippines Labour Market Profile, the IT sector within the country is facing a notable talent shortage. This means more companies are seeking tech and IT professionals who have the proper training and a deep desire to grow within the industry.

To give you a clearer picture of what’s out there, a new report from T-TEC lists the top 10 tech and IT roles companies are hiring for right now, along with the skills you’ll need and the salary ranges you can expect.

The most sought-after tech and IT roles in the Philippines right now include:

Software Developers: professionals who create the applications and systems that we use every day, from mobile apps to complex enterprise solutions. Data Scientists: those who know how to extract value and insights from complex datasets. DevOps Engineers: professionals that bridge the gap between development and operations. Cloud Solutions Architects: specialists in designing and managing cloud infrastructures, and Blockchain Engineer: a burgeoning role where decentralized applications are developed to ensure blockchain systems are secure and efficient.

Depending on the job and your level of experience, annual salaries can range from ₱400,000 to over ₱2.5 million for more senior positions like cloud architecture specialist or blockchain engineer.

Whether you’re focused on software development, data and programming, information security, or cloud-based innovation, the tech industry in the Philippines is growing and hungry for talent.

Check out T-TEC's latest industry report titled "IT & Tech Jobs in the Philippines: Most In-Demand Roles & Salary Expectations" to get a clearer sense of what’s available, what to expect, and how to stand out among your target Filipino employers.

Click on the link in the summary to find out more.

You know, one of the most fascinating trends I've been tracking lately is how the human attention span has actually shrunk to just 47 seconds in 2025. That's down from 75 seconds in 2012. Can you believe that?

Let’s be honest—sometimes that old garden shed, busted grill, or mysterious pile of who-knows-what just refuses to disappear. Maybe it’s staring at you every time you step outside, silently judging your landscaping choices. Or worse, your neighbors have started giving you that “Uh-oh, what’s going on there?” look.

Well, good news: Haul Away Junk Removal is now rolling into Hudson, MA with yard cleanup and junk hauling services that’ll make your outdoor space (and your sanity) feel brand new again.

Here’s the scoop—according to the Environmental Protection Agency, letting junk pile up in your yard isn’t just an eyesore. It’s basically an open invitation for pests, clogged drains, and a very awkward chat with the homeowners’ association. Not to mention, the local squirrels might start throwing wild parties back there.

And don’t forget those big-ticket items—think old hot tubs or pools—that take more than just a good attitude to move. That’s where Haul Away Junk Removal steps in, doing the heavy lifting (literally) so you can focus on what really matters—like binge-watching your favorite show or hosting a neighborhood BBQ without tripping over a pile of broken lawn chairs.

For this company, No Job Is Too Big, Too Small, or Too Weird! And their services aren't just for outside your home! They'll get rid of all your inside junk too. Got a hoarder house situation? Need to clear out the attic before it officially turns into a second home? Or maybe you’re mid-renovation and the dumpster just isn’t cutting it? These folks handle it all with a smile and muscle to spare.

And here’s the kicker—they’re fully licensed, insured, and offer sweet discounts if you’re a senior, military vet, or first responder. Basically, they’re the superheroes of junk removal.

Don’t Just Take Our Word for It.....Manny L., one of their satisfied clients, put it perfectly: “Gianni was fantastic! Prompt, courteous, and an absolute hard worker. I’d recommend HaulAway Junk Removal to anyone needing junk gone ASAP—and I’ll definitely call them again.” Sounds like Manny's on to something!

Ready to Reclaim Your Space? If you’re tired of your yard looking like a scene from a post-apocalyptic movie, check out Haul Away Junk Removal's website at the link in the description. The friendly team offers free quotes and consultations - they will help you make that junk vanish without the drama.

So why wait? Your yard (and your neighbors) will thank you!

Say goodbye to the junk, and hello to fresh, clutter-free vibes!

Hey everyone! Today we're getting into something that's completely transforming how businesses connect with their customers. You know, I was just reading that by 2025, the line between online and offline shopping will basically disappear. Isn't that fascinating?