How the Internet of Things (IoT) can help businesses

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The Internet is changing the way we work and live. Yet, beyond our basic Internet service, advancements in technology can make our Internet connections capable of so much more.

At Execulink Telecom, we want to keep you updated on innovations in the tech world, so you have the knowledge to utilize them for your own entertainment or business purposes. There are a lot of exciting developments for you to look forward to as the world of smart technology continues to progress!

What is IoT?

For those who don’t know what IoT is, it’s simply a network of interconnected devices able to collect and exchange data across a wireless network.

IoT can generate and analyze large amounts of data in real time. These insights can be powerful for determining ways to make improvements across processes and experiences. Emerging IoT technology can benefit almost everyone in their day-to-day lives. These intelligent assets can create value across industries by speeding up data connectivity and sharing more information. This is far superior to manual data collection which can be slow and has limitations.

What does IoT mean for businesses?

For businesses, IoT solutions can be a game-changer and evolve the way they operate. Leveraging this technology, organizations can push the envelope of innovation even further to create efficiencies and increase their competitive advantage in the market. It can also offer the opportunity to expand into other types of technologies such as artificial intelligence and machine learning.

By collecting more data, business owners and leaders can make more informed decisions about various aspects of business operations. These devices can solve pressing problems that these organizations have, leading to better business outcomes. The proof is in the pudding: companies that have invested in IoT have seen a return on their investment.

The benefits of IoT for businesses include:

1. Improve Asset Tracking

Having more visibility into equipment and tools can provide important insights for businesses. Do these assets need to be repaired or replaced? What is the health of each asset? Tracking your assets allows you to measure and make improvements. If there are lost, underutilized or stolen pieces of equipment, IoT technology can provide you with this oversight.

2. Support Remote Work

IoT will make it even easier for employees to work remotely. Employees can work collaboratively from any location they choose. IoT combined with the right Internet service provider can be a strong foundation to support remote working environments.

Remote working is becoming more common and this trend is expected to persist. The benefits are evident, not only will companies be able to source talent from a wider pool of talent, but they can save on the overhead costs of expensive office space. Research shows that employees are often happier and more productive in a remote working environment.

For businesses that remain in an office environment, these spaces are transforming and becoming smarter. Employees often use hot desking with their own mobile devices and have adopted more flexible working patterns. Various tools and devices supported by IoT are used to boost collaboration regardless of where employees work.

3. Increase Efficiencies and Productivity

By collecting more data from a business’ supply chain, leaders can work towards creating more operational efficiencies. Meanwhile, processes that have limited productivity or profitability will be improved or eliminated. IoT can offer your business the opportunity for scalability as it supports more processes.

4. Improve Business Security

IoT can improve security in your facility or office space. This can include wireless video cameras with real time viewing on your mobile device and other smart security devices. Ultimately, IoT security implementations can lead to cost savings for businesses as a result of protected assets.

5. Increase Cost Savings

When you can predict more outcomes for your business based on data then you can assume more cost savings. Conducting diagnostics of equipment can give your business insight into maintenance before these become completely out of service and costly to repair or replace. More visibility into your inventory can help improve warehouse efficiencies for shipping orders and moving stock. While, increases in productivity and efficiency mean your employees are getting more work done faster, further boosting your bottom line.

6. Enhanced Customer Experience

IoT can give you a vantage point to how your customers are using your products/services. Utilize the data IoT collects in order to create a better overall user experience. Make it easy for customers to navigate your online or in-person offering.

IoT helps to create a proactive model of customer service versus reactive. Customers can regularly communicate with companies to discuss their experience with the brand. Then using social media or the company’s website, customers can question brands about their products/services. This can increase sales and improve brand loyalty.

Choose Execulink

With over a century of experience in the telecommunications industry, Execulink has been serving Ontario proudly since 1904. Our team is extremely knowledgeable about our products and plans and happy to help in any way we can. We offer several unlimited Internet options that are straightforward and easy to understand.

If you want to try IoT technology to help grow your business, get in touch to see how we can help setup your organization with the right Internet services. Consider trying our Internet service, contact us at 1-877-393-2854 today.

Click here to see Execulink’s Business Internet options

Your Ultimate Guide to Cloud DVR!

Click here to learn more about Link TV!

You may have just signed up for Link TV and now you’re wondering “How do I use the Cloud DVR feature to record my shows?” or maybe “What is Cloud DVR?”  These are common questions sent by customers to our Sales team.  We understand it can be difficult to watch all of your favourite shows live, so having a feature available to record is a necessity.  Cloud DVR makes it easy to record and watch TV according to your schedule.  Using this blog, we want to help you learn about the awesome features you have included with your Link TV service.

How Does It Work?

Cloud DVR is more than just recording hours.  It also allows you to pause and restart your TV show. Your Link TV package includes 5 hours of recording time so you can easily delete the current recordings and add new ones as you watch the shows.

Check out this handy video that will walk you through how to record and manage the Cloud DVR!  You can also access your recordings from your Virtual Set-Top Box on your phone or tablet.

Useful Situations for Cloud DVR

Award shows and live sporting events are great examples of things that would be perfect to record using your Cloud DVR.  Award shows frequently air late in the evening, so by recording the show you can still get your 8 hours of sleep! If you happen to have plans when the Blue Jays are back playing in the MLB, record the game to watch later!

Another great time to use your Cloud DVR is when you want to binge watch a series of episodes that are airing live, rather than on a streaming service.  If you set the Cloud DVR to record the latest episodes of “Killing Eve” on CTV Drama, you can return to them when you have the time to watch multiple episodes in a row.

What is Cloud Storage?

Our Cloud DVR product is named for its use of the ‘Cloud’ — a buzzword you may be familiar with.  The cloud is pretty much synonymous for the Internet.  Interestingly, the origins of the name come from the days when computer scientists would use flow charts and presentations to represent server infrastructures and the Internet would be included as a puffy cloud. (PCMag).



PCMag

Our Link TV service is IPTV or Internet Protocol television, which means it transfers television data over the internet.  This connection format also allows Cloud DVR to function and use the Internet to store the recordings you want to capture. A key benefit of Cloud DVR is that you can record shows that air at the same time, which is not possible with a DVR that uses hard drive storage.

I Want to Add More Recording Hours!

Are you interested in adding more recording hours to your Link TV service? Good news! You can add 100 extra hours of recording time to your Link TV service for just $7.00/month.  This will give you a total of 105 hours; perfect for creating a lineup of shows to binge over a weekend!

Click here to learn more about Link TV!

Cloud DVR is a great way to keep up with your favourite shows and live TV events.  It is just one piece of the puzzle that makes our Link TV service awesome. Check out our TV page or give our team a call at 1-866-706-1992 to learn about all the other features included.  Get started today and build a channel lineup that’s tailored completely to your needs!

Humans of Execulink: Jonathan Lindsay

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Jonathan Lindsay has been with Execulink Telecom for just over 1 year and brings a plethora of experience and humour to his Sales Engineering position!  He loves finding cutting edge technologies and implementing them for our business customers.  He has a knack for explaining highly complex systems in a way that is easy to understand for those who are not so technically inclined.  If your business is searching for an affordable WiFi solution, then he is the expert for you!

Jonathan posing with our BlueSocket 2030 AP connected to a tripod for testing.

Would you be able to describe your role?

As a Sales Engineer, my goal and role within Execulink is to bridge the gap between product development and supporting the business Sales teams offering these solutions to prospective and existing customers. Specifically, I am responsible for identifying business needs based on feedback loops, and forecasting new service needs as businesses grow and new technologies emerge. Another key responsibility is assisting our Sales teams quote, and structure advanced network topologies using Network Diagrams and Scope of Work tools for our customers.

What projects are you excited about right now?

There are many exciting projects I am working on. Currently, the biggest project I am most excited about is our new Business WiFi solution, which tackles WiFi from concept to future growth and support. Within this project, we’ve launched a new SMB (Small / Medium Business) WiFi Access Point product that is the definition of “big things come in small packages.” We’re able to make incredibly robust wireless solutions with an Access Point that is less expensive than going out for lunch once a month! Also joined at the hip with this Business WiFi solution is our new WiFi Planning service that uses an advance spectrum analysis tool combined with many wireless radios to effectively plan and troubleshoot WiFi deployments. We take a thorough analysis of any building or outdoor space and look for interference or materials that may block WiFi signals. With that, we introduce AI algorithms and predictive models to simulate and build a solution that addresses our customer’s wireless needs.

We’re also in the concept stage of an extra-terrestrial microphone that can pick up sound waves from many galaxies over. Unfortunately met with less than promising results so far. *laughs*

What does providing an awesome customer experience mean for you?

My goal every day is simply to surpass expectations. At work, if we have a challenge brought on by a customer’s unique network, or a product / solution that we’ve found to be important to our customers, I strive to exceed expectations every time. That philosophy is able to help carry our products by their own merits. When COVID-19 hit, we suddenly had a new obstacle that was “work from home.” We didn’t want to just do the minimum, we created the flexible workspace which allows you to seamlessly bring your hosted phone extension home with you, and use it the exact same way you would at work. We tirelessly migrated many customers to VPN solutions so they could allow their employees to connect to their networks from home. Very shortly we hope to introduce an awesome video conferencing platform allowing our customers to work together until and after they are ready to return back to the office!  With these solutions, we plan to exceed expectations, and provide our customers with the awesome experience they deserve!

What drew you to being interested in the telecommunications industry?

I started off as a field technician for another ISP in Canada, installing phone lines, Internet and TV services. I enjoyed being out climbing poles, building infrastructure, and frequently traveling to very remote areas in Ontario for extensive periods of time providing phone lines to indigenous groups. This particular industry changes very rapidly which is something I love.  Every day is a new experience! The Sales Engineer role is perfect as not only do we deal with new technologies, we are forecasting them, and that is what drives my interests.

Do you have any favourite TV channels?

I enjoy Food Network, Nat Geo, Adult Swim and I’m embarrassed to admit to watching TLC shows like 90 Day Fiancé, and whatever spinoff that show creates. Up until recently, my TV was perpetually on TSN or Sportsnet!

Click here to see Execulink’s Business Internet options

What a great opportunity to learn about how to become a Sales Engineer and what the job entails.  Jonathan works hard to deliver optimal solutions for our Business customers and he is a great asset to our team!  If you want to explore Execulink’s Internet, TV and Phone options for your business, check out our page here, give our Sales team a call at 1-866-706-1992 or email us at sales@execulinktelecom.ca!

4 Tips to Add Tech to Your Deck!

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Given the current global circumstances, finding a way to create the perfect backyard oasis is top-of-mind for many people! The market is shifting as we all look to purchase new gadgets and toys to keep busy at home.  We thought it would be fun to share some tips for adding technology to your deck.  Spending time outside while still staying connected is a best of both worlds scenario.

1. Adding a TV to Your Deck

This is a dream for many people who have the ability to shelter their TV from the elements.  You could add your TV just for the summer months and then move it back inside once the weather starts cooling down. If you prefer, you can purchase weatherproof shells such as this one from an Australian company called Seal TV. They provide some tips on their blog for installing an outdoor TV including installing it in the shade or have it face the south.

We recommend consulting with an electrician to ensure the outdoor outlet is safe for your TV and other devices you wish to connect, such as your Set Top Box with your Link TV service!

If you are looking to purchase a new TV check out Best Buy to see all the weather proof TVs available for your home. They are a bit costly but they have many features in their display that make them better suited for outdoor use.  If you own a restaurant, setting up some outdoor TVs on your patio may be something to consider!

2. Get Groovy with Outdoor Speakers

If you are looking to have some socially distant gatherings this summer at your place, having some background music will certainly improve the ambiance.  Getting speakers set up in your deck is the best way to create a surround sound experience.

Check out this article in the New York Times explores the best outdoor speakers on the market!  They recommend the  OSD Audio AP650 because it “delivers an even mix of bass, mid range and treble than other speakers”.  There are many different speakers available from Best Buy, sometimes you can get them disguised as garden objects like rocks.

Finding a simple Bluetooth speaker or even Alexa or Google, is another way to quickly improve your deck gathering. Just remember to bring them back inside if they’re not water proof!  Something to consider when setting your expectations for an outdoor speaker purchase is that they rarely sound better than indoor speakers due to the different materials and construction.

3. Heat Things Up

Spending time on your deck in the evening is an alluring prospect but as the weather cools down when the sun disappears, it can be uncomfortable. Getting a patio heater is the solution! It will also extend the time you can spend on your deck into the fall.  When considering your patio heater think about where people will gather and how the seating will be arranged.

Some heaters use propane and others use electricity.  If you choose an electrical heater, consider the cord clutter that could develop with many different devices depending on where your outlets exist.

4. Lighting

Landscape lighting is a great way to elevate your backyard’s look!  If you are redesigning your backyard consulting with an electrician is very important, they can sync the backyard lighting you install to your home’s electrical panel or create a separate transformer for outside. There are also solar powered systems available to make use of a natural resource, sustainable choices are always appealing!   These solar lights from Neloodony, available on Amazon, have nearly a 5-stars and are reasonably priced!

Choosing the right locations for the backyard lights is important, consider lighting paths or steps to prioritize safety.

Click here to learn more about Complete Wi-Fi

Many of us will be spending more time at home than usual during the summer, so creating a better backyard ambiance is a good alternative to travel.  Consider these tips when adding tech to your deck! To keep your entire home connected check out our awesome Internet packages perfect for your needs!

COVID-19 Updates: Keeping you Informed!

Click here to see Execulink’s Home Internet options

As the world continues to adjust to new practices and standards, we want to keep you updated on what’s happening for you and for our employees at Execulink Telecom.

We’re opening our store fronts to the public on July 6th. This includes our brand new Tillsonburg office, located at 161 Broadway! You can visit our Tillsonburg, Port Dover, and Woodstock offices while resting assured that our employees are working hard to keep you safe. Our Thedford office will also be open on Thursdays and Fridays beginning July 9th. Thorough cleaning practices, hand washing and hand sanitizer, and masks are some of the ways that we’re working hard to provide you with the excellent, safe customer service you deserve. We’re looking forward to seeing you face-to-face!

We’re installing using safe physical distancing practices. That’s right, we’re installing inside homes again! We’re handling all installations and service calls in the order they were received and have increased our install teams to ensure we’re able to get to everyone in as timely a manner as possible. Please note that the health and safety of you and of our employees is paramount, so there are some extra precautions we’re taking to keep everyone safe. You’ll receive an email prior to your service or installation date with more information so that we’re all on the same page and in this together.

We’re supporting youth pursuing further education. Every year, Execulink awards three deserving students who have graduated from high school and are commencing their first year of post-secondary studies with a $500 scholarship. Applications for the Execulink scholarship program will be accepted starting July 2, 2020. You can read more about our scholarship program here.

We’re continuing to work from home. All of our employees who are able to work from home have been doing so since March 16, 2020, so please excuse any meows, woofs, or calls of “MUUUUM” or “DAAAAD” you may hear. We’re continuing to work hard to make sure you can stay connected.

We’re still connecting you with free previews on many of our TV channels to help entertain and educate you during this time. You can enjoy free previews right now on Animal Planet, Silver Screen Classics, Rewind, CP24, CTV News Network, CTV Comedy, and Hollywood Suite, with more free preview channels being added all the time.

We’re encouraging you to take advantage of our unlimited Internet plans. As of July 1st, overage fees will begin once more. If you’re not sure which unlimited plan is best for you, please contact us and we’ll help you choose the best package for your needs!

There are many safe, contactless ways for you to view and pay your bills. You can visit MyExeculink, make payments through your personal online banking, or contact our Customer Care Team to pay with your credit or debit credit card and/or set up pre-authorized payments. We also recommend e-billing as an eco-friendly solution that prevents unnecessary face-to-face contact for you and our postal workers.

We’re still here for you 24/7. Our Customer Care Team is available via phone at 1 (866) 706-1994, chat, and email to support you.

If you have any questions or concerns, please reach out to our Customer Care Team. In the meantime, stay safe, stay connected, and be well.

Ian Stevens, CEO

Click here to see Execulink’s Home Internet options

How is 5G different than 4G?

Click here to learn more about Execulink’s Mobility services

The Internet has come a long way since it was invented in 1989.  It has helped to change the lives of people around the world and it just keeps getting better. Every day we rely on the Internet for entertainment, business, and more. For most people, the faster the Internet, the better the experience. People don’t want to wait for their favourite TV show to load or have reduced productivity due to a slow network.

At Execulink Telecom, we want to keep you updated on the future of technology. The rise of 5G has the potential to dramatically improve your online experience. Discover how to leverage this technology in your own life.

The Next Generation of Wireless Technology

Over the years there have been promising advancements in the world of wireless network technology with updated generations. From 3G we advanced to 4G, and now we have 5G technology to explore.

This generation is expected to transform the way we work, live and play. Overall, more data per hertz will be able to be transmitted over the network at faster speeds. On a larger scale it will increase the interconnectivity of our world to create smart cities. There is also the potential to use 5G to revolutionize and innovate across every industry.

There are exciting aspects that 5G brings to the table which will help to increase adoption rates of this new generation of tech. Yet, this hasn’t been rolled out to the mass consumer market yet. Select service providers are offering 5G to their customers starting with densely populated cities, however, there’s still a long way to go before we use 5G to its full societal capabilities.

Here are key differences between 4G and 5G technology:

Speed

5G has been making waves as people believe that at its maximum speed, it could be up to 100 times faster than 4G technology. To highlight this progress, it’s important to know that 4G was 500 times faster than 3G. As it has evolved, 4G has offered us never before seen video streaming and calling on the go. People have embraced these innovations so much so that the demand has been challenging to support on the network.  Enter 5G with speeds that will go well beyond the fastest broadband connection available today.

This dramatic increase in speed can affect our day-to-day movie and app downloads but can also help larger industries speed up processes.

Yet, don’t count 4G out just yet; over its lifetime 4G speed has become faster, especially with the introduction of LTE. The truth of the matter is speed depends on several factors including the number of devices using the network, your device, your ISP, and more. The same can be said about 5G; considering not all services are created equal, your ISP will be a factor that helps to determine how fast your 5G network will be.

Latency

Where 5G shines in comparison to 4G is in terms of latency rates. Latency is the time it takes for the information sent from the network to reach the receiver’s device. For example, the time it takes from when you send a text to when your friend receives it.

5G is expected to have a much lower latency rate than 4G. The difference could be less than 10 milliseconds versus 20-30 milliseconds.

This can make a difference for online gamers where a few milliseconds in delayed speed can change the outcome of a game. For real-time outcomes, 5G’s reduced latency will make a significant difference.

More Devices

Compared to 4G, 5G provides the opportunity for more devices to be connected to the network. On a day-to-day basis this means when you’re in crowded areas such as shopping centers, airports, concerts, and more, your connection to the network won’t slow down due to the network being at capacity. This has long been a limitation of 4G technology which has difficulties supporting a high number of devices especially during peak hours of usage.  For countries that are densely populated around the world, this can make a difference. 5G is expected to have significantly more capacity than 4G.

This leads to huge advancements on the world scale in various data-driven industries that require many devices to operate in the same area. For instance, self-driving cars and smart home devices can share the network without causing disruptions.

4G and 5G Will Work Together for Now

While 5G offers users enhanced performance beyond 4G networks, the full transition to this upgraded technology won’t happen immediately. Many of us will continue to use 4G networks when 5G is unavailable. Similar to how when 4G isn’t available, we rely on 3G. Don’t think you can forget 4G just yet. When 5G is in the picture, both will work together to provide you with a fast Internet connection.

Click here to learn more about Execulink’s Mobility services

Choose Execulink Telecom

With over a century of experience in the telecommunications industry, Execulink has been serving Ontario proudly since 1904. Our team is extremely knowledgeable about our products and plans and happy to help in any way we can. We offer several unlimited Internet options that are straightforward and easy to understand.

If you’re noticing that your Internet cuts out sometimes, it may be time to upgrade your package or find a new Internet service provider. Consider trying our Internet service, contact us at 1-877-393-2854 today.

Your Complete Summer 2020 TV Guide!

Click here to learn more about Link TV!

Summer is the season to enjoy nice weather and time off from school or work.  This year summer holidays may look a bit different for you and for network TV.  Filming has been delayed for many shows and movies due to COVID-19.  Worry not – there are still some TV shows premiering this summer for you and your family to enjoy.  New shows like “Fire Masters” and “I May Destroy You” are sure to entertain.  We have the ultimate guide right here to help you find the premiere dates and channels where your favourite shows will air.

Sunday

Pets and Vets Sundays – National Geographic – Every Sunday – 9am

Bakugan: Armoured Alliance – Teletoon – 2:30pm

Quiz – AMC – May 31 – 9pm

Perry Mason – HBO – June 21 – 9pm

I May Destroy You – HBO – June 7 – 10:30pm

Monday

Gordon Ramsay: Uncharted – National Geographic – August 31 – Time TBD

B90 Strikes Back – TLC – June 22 – 8pm

Salvage Hunters: Classic Cars – Discovery Velocity – July 6 – 8pm

Barkskins – National Geographic – May 25 – 9pm

Wheeler Dealers: Dream Cars – Discovery Velocity – June 22 – 9pm

Diesel Brothers – Discovery – June 22 – 10pm

Tender Touches – Adult Swim – June 15 – midnight

Tuesday

House Hunters: Comedians on Couches – HGTV – June 2 – 10pm

Iron Resurrection – Discovery Velocity – June 23 – 8pm

Where To I Do? – CTV Life Channel – June 9 – 9pm

Lost on Everest – National Geographic – June 30 – 9pm

Outdaughtered – TLC – June 2 – 9pm

Bridezillas – CTV Life Channel – June 9 – 10pm

Wednesday

Hot Mess House – HGTV – June 24 – 8pm

Graveyard Carz – Discovery Velocity – July 1 – 9pm

Tough As Nails – CBS – Season 1 – July 8

Forged in Fire: Beat the Judges – History – June 3 – 9pm

Counting Cars – History – June 3 – 10pm

Full Frontal with Samantha Bee – CTV Comedy – Ongoing – 10:30pm

Thursday

Coyote Peterson: Brave the Wild – Animal Planet – Ongoing – 8pm

Holmes: Next Generation – CTV Life Channel – June 18 – 9pm

The Stand Up Show with Jon Dore – CTV Comedy – June 18 – 10pm

Crossing Swords – CTV Comedy – June 18 – 10pm

Fire Masters – Food Network – June 18 – 11 pm

Friday

Amy Schumer Learns to Cook – Food Network – July 3 – 4am

Watts on the Grill – CTV Life Channel – Date TBD – 8pm

Amanda to the Rescue – Animal Planet – Date TBD – 9pm

Special TV Events

X–Men Marathon – Showcase – July 31 – August 2

Hallmark Channel’s Summer Nights – W Network –  Starts August 1 – All Day

The 2020 ESPYs – ESPN – June 21 – 9 p.m.

Sherman’s Showcase: Black History Month Spectacular – AMC – June 19 – 10pm

Ongoing Shows

Blues Clues – Treehouse – New episodes coming in August – Weekday mornings 9:30am

Spirit Riding Free – Family Channel – Weekdays – 4pm

The Bureau of Magical Things – Family Channel – Weekdays – 6:30pm

Conan – CTV Comedy – Monday – Thursday – 11:45pm

The Daily Show with Trevor Noah – CTV Comedy – Monday – Thursday – 11pm

So many awesome shows and future TV addictions!  If you happen to be outdoors enjoying the summer weather when your favourite show airs, no need to worry!  Use the Cloud–DVR or the Catch–up feature with Link TV and enjoy TV according to your schedule.  You deserve the best TV! Click here to learn more about LinkTV

Click here to learn more about Link TV!

Work from Home Solutions: Execulink Telecom

Click here to see Execulink’s Business Internet options

In mid-March 2020, Canada faced the threat of COVID-19, an unprecedented global pandemic.  Amidst the chaos and confusion, Execulink Telecom needed to adapt to work from home within a period of days. With over 150 employees across the business working in various roles including – Customer Care, Marketing, Sales, IT, and Operations, the challenge was to ensure all departments had the technology, resources and software to meet and exceed business objectives.

Solution

A two pronged custom solution for remote work was adopted quickly to maintain organizational success. Virtual Private Networks were implemented on a mass scale and our teams were set up on the Hosted Phone Flexible Extension product.

Prior to the pandemic, a select number of Execulink employees used the Virtual Private Networks or VPNs for remote work.  As the pandemic escalated, the IT department was tasked with moving the workforce onto VPNs.  This technology safely connects employees to their business’ private network, avoiding the potential for data theft.  The VPN allowed all departments to access the company intranet, share files and host resources, just like in the office!

As Execulink continues its work-from-home strategy, strong customer relations are maintained using the Flexible Extension product that is part of the Hosted Phone solution.  Flexible Extension is a customizable cloud-based phone service that works on Wi-Fi and cellular data networks. It is quick to provision, easy to deploy and versatile enough to use on a home computer, existing cellphone or forward to a home phone.  This product was particularly useful for the Sales and Customer Care teams.  It allowed Execulink to adapt the existing set up employees had at home while leveraging the call center facilities and tools that existed in the office.

Results

Transitioning to a work from home strategy was a success across the organization! It took 2-3 days to get most of the staff working from home.  As the situation with COVID-19 unfolds, Execulink has seen success beyond expectations for many departments.  The work from home strategy is continuously improving to deliver a more robust, scalable, and consistent experience for employees and customers. This has included having entire classes of new hires onboard remotely – from training to side-by-side mentorship to coaching.

Looking at the numerical proof of Execulink’s triumph, the Marketing team was able to maintain lead numbers and exceed expectations with a cumulative 15% increase over target for March, April and May.  Having access to all the files and resources found on the Intranet through the VPN facilitated this success.

To speak to the success of the Flexible Extension product, as the Sales team adapted to work remotely from March-May, there has been a 16% increase in the number of calls answered compared with the same period last year. Staff members appreciate the new level of freedom that remote work provides. The quality of phone service remains consistent in clarity and volume as more conversations with customers happen using the Flexible Extension product.

Next Steps

To learn more about the suite of Business products available to your business connect with Execulink’s Sales team at sales@execulinktelecom.ca or by phone at 1-877-561-6771.  You can quickly build a custom solution to work remotely and take your company’s success to new heights of productivity and connectivity.

Click here to see Execulink’s Business Internet options

Your Guide to Using TikTok

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TikTok is owned by the Beijing-based Internet company ByteDance.   It’s a social media platform for creating, sharing, and discovering videos.  Their mission is to inspire creativity and bring joy.  On TikTok, people show a different side to life than what might not be displayed on Facebook or Instagram.  The videos can be hilarious, incredibly cringeworthy or both!  If you’ve thought about checking out TikTok, this blog will provide you with a brief introduction.

A Short History

TikTok for the American and Canadian markets was born out of a merger between ByteDance and Musical.ly in August 2018.  Downloads have been steadily rising ever since.  This article in Deseret states that it was the most downloaded app in 2019.  The New York Times reports that amid COVID-19, this popularity has only grown. Since May 2020, former Disney-worker Kevin Mayer has been the CEO of TikTok.  With roots in China, TikTok is called Douyin there instead, but regardless of its name, its worldwide popularity is undeniable.

The Algorithm

One thing you will notice as you begin using TikTok is the videos you watch, comment on, and like will determine the other videos that appear in your “For You” page.  There will be similarities between the videos you see (i.e. dancing, art, baking, sports).  This is the product of the app’s algorithm which differs from other services algorithms, like Netflix and Youtube’s, which generate lists of suggested content. When you use TikTok, your feed is determined by your interests. Before you even open the app it is already making assumptions about what you could want to watch and only learns as you interact with the videos.

You are able to follow friends and creators whose content you enjoy the most, but more time is often spent on the “For You” page.  The endless feed takes the decision making factor out of the question “What should I watch?” that we so often ask ourselves.

How It Works

This algorithm, customized just for you, makes the app very addictive and entertaining. It has generated huge user engagement numbers which is a very valuable currency for social media platforms.

No one but TikTok itself knows how the algorithm works, but there are some theories. The Batch Theory suggests that new videos are shown to a small batch of users and if they engage with it (by liking or sharing) then it will spread to another batch of users, and so on.  High resolution videos are more successful and blurry videos are unlikely to go viral, so some TikTokers choose to purchase ring lights to improve their videos.  There is also an element of geographic targeting as many of the videos you will see are from your area or country.

Becoming TikTok Famous

You can quickly build an audience without having any followers because of the “For You” page. If you post a video that resonates, people will like it and it will be shown to more users.

Tools for Creating Videos

One thing you will notice as you begin to use TikTok is the amazing creativity of the users.  The number of effects and filters allows users to experiment and develop new trends.  The video format is “tall” rather than square, which is popularized on Instagram and you navigate the app by swiping up and down to watch.

As you watch, you can quickly catch on to the latest trends and attempt your own version very easily by taking the audio, the effect, the filter or the dance that you see and superimposing it into your own video.  You can search other videos that use the filter or sound. Hashtags also function to identify challenges and activities found in the video.

It was recently announced that TikTok will now also have a live stream option for creators. This is a great way to deepen connections between users and creators. Live streams do not appear in the “For You” page, but you can see if the user is currently Live on their profile picture as you watch their video. Then simply click on their profile to watch the live stream.

@colescolorNever give up guys 🙂 thought I was going to have to redo this but look how amazing it turned out to be 🙂 ##art ##painting ##canvas ##pendulum♬ My Heart Went Oops – Tiagz

How it Differs from Vine

TikTok is often compared with another video based social media platform: Vine.  There are many similarities between TikTok and this now shuttered app.  Both apps focus on users consuming short videos. With TikTok, the videos can be a maximum of 1-minute-long which differs from Vine, which had a maximum of 6-second-long videos.  With the extra 54 seconds, TikTok can generate more storytelling.

Music and Tik Tok

One notable song that came from TikTok is Lil Nas X’s Old Town Road. Other artists that have gained immense popularity on the platform include: Doja Cat, Ava Max, and Tiagz. Many believe that TikTok is changing the music industry again as people use new artists’ music to participate in trends on the app.  It’s a new way to share and discover songs.

Many artists and actors have joined the platform to engage with their fans and participate in dance challenges. Check out this video of Will Smith participating in the recent “Wipe It Down” challenge!

@willsmithI don’t remember making this…? @chrisashley

♬ Wipe It Down – BMW KENNY

Audience

TikTok currently has 800 million active users worldwide and it’s available in more than 150 countries.  This puts it ahead of sites like LinkedIn, Twitter, Pinterest, and Snapchat.  It is the 9th most popular social networking site!

According to Hootsuite, currently 42% of TikTok users are between the ages of 16 and 24 and the average user spends 46 minutes a day on the app. How this growing audience will impact the other social networking sites will be interesting to see.

Click here to see Execulink’s Home Internet options

TikTok has definitely captured the attention of the world. A strong Internet connection is necessary to enjoy this awesome app. Check out our Internet page to learn more about the packages available in your area.  If you want to watch TikToks on the go, check out our Mobility options with various data plans made for your needs!

Why Does Internet Cut Out Sometimes?

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For many of us, the Internet is important part of our daily lives. Whether we’re using it for business or entertainment, we rely on a strong connection to help us have a seamless experience online.

However, there are times when we can face technical difficulties or Internet connection problems. If you’re watching a movie online or trying to get a business report complete, the Internet cutting out can be your worst nightmare. Suddenly, you’re unable to complete the task you were working on or fully enjoy your time online. We understand it can be downright frustrating!

Unfortunately, your Internet cutting out can be a common issue if you don’t understand why or how to fix it. At Execulink Telecom, we want to provide you with helpful information to better understand why your Internet may cut out sometimes and the best ways to troubleshoot this issue.  In this blog, we’ll be exploring different factors that can cause your Internet to cut out and ways to fix the issue,

Why does my Internet cut out randomly?

If you’re wondering why your Internet connection cuts out at random times, there are many reasons to explore. Before finding a solution, you must determine what the problem is.

Overloaded Network

If there are too many people using the same Wi-Fi network this can cause your connection to be weak, slow down or cut out completely. Consider how many people in your household use the Internet. If there is a lot of online activity in your home, then your current plan may not have the bandwidth to be able to support it.

If you’re outside of your home and your Internet cuts out, be cognizant of where you are. Are there a lot of people? Are you in a high-traffic area? When you’re at festivals, conferences, and community centers, there may be a lot of people trying to access the same network. This overloads the network and may make it difficult to rely on a stable connection.

Broken or Dying Router or Modem

Older hardware such as a router or modem can cause your Internet connection to cut out. Monitor the functionality of your router, double-check indicator lights to see if they’re working okay, if they’re not blinking it could mean that no data is being transferred from the network to your device. If the lights are off, but you can still connect to the Internet, this may mean that your router may die soon.

If all the wires are plugged in correctly, but your router and modem continue to be unresponsive or you start experiencing sudden slowness this can be another sign that the devices could be on their way out.

Network Outages

If you’re noticing that other devices (modem, router, laptop, etc.) seem to be working fine, then the issue may be with your ISP. There may be times where your ISP is having technical difficulties on their end, which is causing your Internet connection to cut out.  Stay tuned to Execulink’s social media pages like Facebook and Twitter to stay updated on the network status or any outages.

Why does my Internet cut out at night?

When a lot of people are using the Internet at the same time, it can cause problems for your own Internet connection. The amount of traffic fluctuates depending on the day and time you use it.

Like rush hour on the highway, there are prime times for people to want to use the Internet. In the evenings and night there are often many people using their Internet to watch movies, surf the web, or play games. Keep in mind that this can contribute to times where your Internet slows down or cuts out.

How do I fix my Wi-Fi that keeps cutting out?

A) Connect with an Ethernet Cable

If possible, switch to an ethernet cable temporarily until you determine the root of the connectivity issue. This will help you see if having a wired connection will help to strengthen your overall Internet connectivity versus using WIFI.

B) Reset Your Router or Device

At times, all it takes is resetting your router or device (laptop, desktop computer, tablet) to regain Internet connectivity.

C) Move Closer to the Hotspot Source

Consider how much closer you can move to the Wi-Fi router. Being in closer proximity to the source of the hotspot can help strengthen your connection.

D) Discover Wi-Fi Interferences

Determine if there are WIFI interferences. You can use an app to figure out if there are interferences potentially causing your Internet to cut out. To solve this issue, consider where your router is setup or positioned.

E) Upgrade Your Hardware

If your hardware such as your router or modem are outdated/not functional, it may be time to invest in new ones.

F) Get in Touch with your ISP

There may be times where the issue isn’t in your control, get in touch with your ISP to see if your area is having connectivity issues. At Execulink our Customer Care team is committed to efficiently troubleshooting concerns. Our technicians work hard to resolve any outages that may occur.

Click here to see Execulink’s Home Internet options

Choose Execulink

With over a century of experience in the telecommunications industry, Execulink has been serving Ontario proudly since 1904. Our team is extremely knowledgeable about our products and plans and happy to help in any way we can. We offer several unlimited Internet options that are straightforward and easy to understand.

If you’re noticing that your Internet cuts out sometimes, it may be time to upgrade your package or find a new Internet Service Provider. Consider trying our Internet service, contact us at 1-877-393-2854 today.

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