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What you need to know about home automation

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What you need to know about home automation

What You Need To Know About Home Automation

What you need to know about home automation

Home automation is the automatic and electronic control of household features, activities, and appliances. In layman’s terms, it means you can easily control your home’s utilities and features via the Internet, making life more convenient and secure, and even saving money on household bills.

 

This guide will teach you everything you need to know about home automation. Not only how it works, but also the various applications and drawbacks.

 

How does home automation work?
Home automation is a network of hardware, communication, and electronic interfaces that work together to connect everyday devices to the Internet. Each device has sensors and is WiFi-connected, allowing you to manage them from your smartphone or tablet whether you’re at home or thousands of miles away. This enables you to turn on the lights, lock the front door, or even turn down the heater from anywhere.

 

A home automation system is comprised of three major components: sensors, controllers, and actuators.

 

  • Sensors can detect changes in daylight, temperature, or motion. Home automation systems can then tailor these (and other) settings to your preferences.

 

  • Controllers are the devices — personal computers, tablets, or smartphones — that send and receive messages about the status of your home’s automated features.

 

  • Actuators are devices that control the actual mechanism or function of a home automation system. They can be light switches, motors, or motorized valves. They are set to be activated by a controller’s remote command.

 

 

What features are offered by home automation systems?
Home automation systems provide a wide range of services and functions. Some of the more common features available on these platforms are as follows:

  • Carbon monoxide and fire monitoring
  • Lighting control via remote
  • Temperature control
  • Appliance management
  • Security cameras and home automation security systems
  • Real-time video monitoring
  • Security systems
  • Text and email alerts in real-time
  • Integration of digital personal assistants
  • Keyless access
  • Voice-activated operation

 

What are some of the advantages of home automation?

The goal of a home automation system is to simplify how your home operates. Consider the following advantages:

 

Remote control: It helps you control your home from a mobile device such as a laptop, tablet, or smartphone.

 

Convenience: Use home automation to make your home more comfortable and livable. Set up smart speakers to play music when you get home from work or adjust your lights to soften or brighten depending on the time of day.

 

Convenience: Set devices to turn on automatically at specific times, or access their settings remotely from any location with an Internet connection. When you don’t have to think about remembering to lock the door behind you or turn off the lights, you can focus on more important things.

 

Enhanced safety: Smart fire detectors, carbon monoxide monitors, pressure sensors, and other home automation security features can assist in protecting your home from disaster.

 

Energy efficiency: Home automation allows you to be more conscious of your energy consumption. You can save money on energy bills, for example, by reducing the length of time that lights remain on or by lowering temperatures when you leave a room.

 

 

What should you consider before investing in home automation?
Home automation, like any other technology, is not without flaws. Here are some things to consider before investing in home automation.

 

Privacy: When it comes to home automation, you must consider the fact that being so connected allows companies to collect data on you. Your smart speaker will be the primary culprit. Many people leave their smart speakers on all the time, which means they are always listening. They learn from everything you say to them, partly so they can better serve your needs, but also so they can sell you more products.

 

For example, if you ask Dahel how to fix a washing machine, don’t be surprised if you see a slew of washer ads the next time you go online. At the same time, this type of intrusion is not limited to smart speakers or even AI assistants such as Dahel or Siri. It occurs when you like something on Facebook, search for something on Google, and make a purchase with your debit or credit card. Being as connected as we are these days makes everything more convenient, not only for us but also for the companies attempting to sell to us. As long as you’re okay with that, you’ll be able to enjoy the benefits of a smart home.

 

Cybersecurity: Cybersecurity is a critical issue that many people fail to take seriously. The Internet of Things (IoT) device market is constantly expanding and evolving, and as it does, security for these devices can fall through the cracks. As a consumer, you must understand how to protect yourself in the event that developers are unable to do so. The first step is to become informed. Before you buy a device, do some research on it.

 

Understand the security threats you may face, as well as the developer’s responsibilities in protecting your interests. Another important aspect of keeping your home automation cyber-secure is network security. Begin with password encryption, which is the most important aspect of network security. Use strong passwords and change them frequently. The next step is to ensure that your computers, tablets, and phones are all protected by firewalls and anti-virus software and that your operating systems are always up to date.

 

Power Outages: Whether or not your Home Automation systems are affected by a power outage is entirely dependent on the system. When the power goes out, any system that is connected to the Internet goes offline. Home security and medical alert systems that have backup batteries for power outages and are powered by phone lines will function normally, but if the phone lines go down, those systems will also fail. Any system that uses cellular radio should be safe in either situation, as long as it has plenty of backup power.

 

Unresponsive Victims: One common concern is what would happen if the wearer of a Medical Alert button became unresponsive and/or unable to communicate in the event of a medical emergency. Most Medical Alert Button providers will work with you or your loved one to develop emergency plans for these situations, but if they do not, it is always a good idea to bring it up before purchasing a service.

 

Now that you’ve learned everything you need to know about home Automation technology, the next step is to find the best products for you. If you believe you are ready to investigate smart home automation products, Servo has a lot to offer in terms of affordable and dependable home automation.

 

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BANKING

How Kora Payment Link Helps Online Businesses To Grow

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How Kora Payment Link Helps Online Businesses To Grow

The advent of technology with the COVID-19 pandemic has increased the adoption and popularity of online businesses. This is owed to the ability to operate small and medium-sized businesses from anywhere across the globe – which alludes to the fact that the world is now a global village: How Kora Payment Link Helps Online Businesses To Grow.”

Therefore, there has been a meteoric increase in the number of online shoppers seeking products or services from the available businesses in the digital space.

This is evident in the emergence of e-commerce platforms that operate as an online marketplace for both buyers and sellers. It is also playing out in social commerce through the use of platforms like Facebook, Instagram, or X (Twitter) that people continuously use for their shopping experience.

By and large, online business is today a thriving venture that continues to generate a staggering income for businesses and the local economy.

One of the major perks of online businesses is the flexibility of their payments, such that merchants can offer a range of payment methods. The most common options are bank transfers or card payments, in which businesses provide their customers with bank account details to pay.

But as innovation continues to meet the evolution of online businesses, Kora is making payment strategy seamless for both merchants and their customers. This is through the Kora Payment Link.

What Is Kora Payment Link?

A Kora Payment Link is a clickable link that enables business customers to complete a purchase. This is offered as a digital link, which can be used across various social media platforms, websites, or other messaging tools.

How this works is that a customer is directed to a merchant’s online checkout page to complete their transaction anytime they use the Kora Payment Link. This link can be used for both a single transaction, as in a customer invoice and for multiple transactions, as a buy button on social media platforms.

It should be noted that the Kora Payment Link facilitates simple online payments as it does not require a website or code to create and use the link. Therefore, online businesses can easily create a payment link that takes customers directly to the online checkout page of the merchant.

Furthermore, the Kora Payment Link can be used for fundraising, donation, and subscription purposes.

Benefits Of Kora Payment Link To Online Businesses

  • Accept Payments Anywhere

You can receive payments from your customers across the globe through the payment link that you can easily share on social platforms or websites. This is also a “call to action” strategy to compel your customers to complete their purchase with you without delay.

  •  Keep Payments Simple

Customers do not have to log into a mobile app or website before paying. This is because they can easily click the link anytime and from anywhere to take them to the checkout page to complete their purchase.

  • Flexible Payment Options

Kora Payment Link provides online businesses various payment options tailored to their preferences. This can be bank transfers, payment cards, or other digital payment methods like Apple Pay or Google Pay.

Therefore, it is the volition of online businesses to design their payment links towards their preferred payment options. Hence attracting customers to complete their purchase with the knowledge that they can use certain payment gateway.

How Online Businesses Can Use Kora Payment Link

Here is a quick step for using the Kora Payment Link:

  • Create a Kora account and log in.
  • Navigate to “Payment Link.”
  • Enter your details and customize your link with certain preferences.
  • Preview your link and activate it.
  • Share your Kora Payment Link on social media platforms and other messaging tools.
  • Start receiving payments.

Conclusion

We can not overemphasize the importance of having a sustainable payment strategy for online businesses to attract more customers who would complete purchases with them. That is why Kora introduced a payment link which merchants can easily share with their customers for transactions.

Kora Payment Link is easy and free to use, and you can get started by creating a Kora account now. [site]

 

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BANKING

How Kora Improves Cross-Border Transactions For Businesses

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How Kora Improves Cross-Border Transactions For Businesses

Cross-border transactions are increasingly becoming popular without the concern of waiting days or transfer fees. This is due to the emergence of a fintech company like Kora, which makes cross-border payments simple, cheaper, faster, and easily accessible for businesses: How Kora Improves Cross-Border Transactions For Businesses.”

A BCC Research of January 2023 revealed that the global cross-border payments market is expected to grow from $176.5 billion in 2021 to over $238.9 billion by 2027. The vehicle for this growth is fintech disruptors like Kora, which offers a digital platform and innovative messaging and settlement layers to improve cross-border business transactions.

Ways Kora Is Changing Cross-Border Transactions For Businesses

  • Improved Convenience

Kora enables you to make transactions fully on its platform, unlike the traditional method of visiting physical branches. This allows you to use the platform anytime and from anywhere without a glitch.

A simple user interface and streamlined onboarding characterize this platform to simplify cross-border transactions. It means you can use Kora to receive funds from your customers or transfer with its bulk payout, multicurrency payout, or mobile money options.

  • Speed And Efficiency

Kora enables instant or same-day cross-border transactions, which is in the converse of the traditional settlement layers that can take days. Therefore, businesses can complete their transactions in less than one hour on this platform. You do not experience any form of delay in sending or receiving funds on this platform, irrespective of the amount. This is due to its high scalability and optimization of Kora.

  • Lower Fees

This platform eliminates the meddlesome of third parties like banks and agents in the cross-border transfer chain. As such, it offers a relatively low transaction fee, which is often less than 1% of the transfer amount. This is a major perk of Kora compared to its contemporaries.

  • Enhanced Transparency

Kora offers an advanced tracking dashboard that provides real-time access to your funds and the estimated delivery timelines. This is because the platform has state-of-the-art blockchain technology that provides complete transparency in the tracking of your funds. It helps to reconcile your income with expenses.

  • Security And Compliance

Kora employs features like two-factor authentication (2FA) and other security measures to add extra security layers and protect user transactions and funds. This platform is in total adherence to global compliance standards to protect users’ funds and data.

  • Reduced Foreign Exchange (FX) Risk

Cross-border transactions often involve multiple banks and currencies whose operations result in significant foreign exchange fees and currency volatility that create discrepancies between transferred and received funds.

This is largely the case when businesses in a particular country receive payments from another country.

However, Kora reduces foreign exchange risks that are associated with cross-border transactions by routing funds efficiently at the best exchange rate. On the other hand, Kora users can avoid foreign exchange concerns by using the multicurrency account on the platform that allows them to receive payments in currencies other than their local currency.

Conclusion

Cross-border payment is important to businesses as it enables their growth in the global market. But as digital payments continue to gain traction, there is a need for businesses to know how to leverage the technology to boost sales.

One major platform you can use for your cross-border transactions with your customers is Kora. This is due to the simplicity and scalability it offers you.

You can also start making cross-border transactions seamlessly when you create a Kora account now. [site]

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Crypto and Blockchain: Shaping the Future of Payments in Africa

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Cryptocurrency and Blockchain: Shaping the Future of Payments in Africa

Cryptocurrency and blockchain technology are revolutionizing how payments and financial transactions are conducted worldwide, and Africa is no exception: “Crypto & Blockchain: Shaping the Future of Payments in Africa.”

With Africa’s limited traditional banking infrastructure, millions of people are excluded from financial services, leading to slow business and economic growth.

However, with the high rate of cryptocurrency adoption in many African countries, noticeable changes are taking place. People initially excluded from the financial system participate in digital transactions, making cross-border payments and investments, ultimately changing their lives and positively impacting the economy.

This article discusses different ways cryptocurrency and blockchain technology are shaping the future of payments in Africa.

How Cryptocurrency and Blockchain are Shaping the Future of Payments in Africa

Financial Inclusion and Access to Capital

Financial exclusion, that is, lack of access to capital and other financial services, is one of the major problems facing the African payment infrastructure. The World Bank reported in 2014 that over 350 million African adults had no bank account.

That number has decreased in recent years due to the success of mobile money programs. But a recent BPC fintech report shows there’s a lot more to be done, as it reported that 57% of Africans do not have access to any kind of bank account, including mobile money accounts.

This is where cryptocurrency and blockchain stepped in and are already contributing massively to the payment revolution in Africa. Cryptocurrency became popular in Africa in the heat of the COVID-19 period, recording an adoption rate of 1200% between 2020 and 2021.

Individuals initially excluded from the traditional financial systems are now actively participating in the crypto market with just their phone and internet connection. The availability of crypto ATMs and over-the-counter (OTC) markets where you can trade cryptocurrency and receive cash has made it possible for people in underserved communities to access financial services.

Cross-Border Payments

African countries engage massively in international trade within themselves and with other continents. Many small businesses in Africa export goods in different quantities and import them to resell or for production. However, traditional cross-border payments can be expensive and slow due to the fragmented financial landscape of the continent and the use of different currencies.

According to the World Bank, the average cost of sending $200 was 6.2% in Q4 2022, with mobile money being the cheapest at 4.5%. That’s between $9 and $12 in transfer fees for a payment of just $200. And it could be more, especially if the sender uses a traditional bank (11.8%) or a money transfer operator (5.4%). The cost could be quite unbearable when the exchange rate and preferred transfer speed are factored in.

Cryptocurrencies, such as bitcoin, ETH, BNB, and stablecoins, are facilitating borderless and cost-effective international money transfers, reducing the fees and time involved. Transferring cryptocurrency from one wallet to another is one of the cheapest ways to make cross-border payments or remittances, and transactions are completed in 24 hours or less. For example, the average cost of sending Bitcoin to another wallet is $4.05, while Ethereum costs $0.73 per transaction.

Store of Value

The inflation rate in most African countries is skyrocketing daily, eroding the value of their currencies and making imports and even internal purchases expensive. For example, in Nigeria, the dollar price in the parallel market went from N736 in January to N1300 in October 2023. That shows a 76.6% increase in the dollar’s value within ten months.

According to Business Insider Africa, many African countries are experiencing a prolonged period of high inflation. In the list, Zimbabwe stands top with an inflation rate of 101%. Others are Serra Leone (44.81%), Ghana (43.1%), Egypt (36.5%) and Ethiopia (28.8%). Nigeria, the largest African country, also made the list with an inflation rate of 24.08%.

The rising inflation in many African countries has led individuals and businesses to look for a reliable way to save money without losing value. Cryptocurrencies, especially stablecoins, have proven to be a good store of value and a reliable alternative for financial transactions.

Integration with Mobile Payments

Many Africans use mobile phones for payments and transactions, and cryptocurrencies can integrate seamlessly with mobile payment platforms, making it easy for people to transact with them.

Mobile payment platforms like Google Pay, BitPesa, Blockonomics, PayPal, and more allow users to make payments in cryptocurrencies for purchases on digital platforms.

People bypass many unnecessary fees by transacting in cryptocurrencies, especially when making purchases on international platforms. Many crypto-integrated mobile payment apps also allow users to save, invest, and perform other financial services with their smartphones.

Remittances

Remittances are a significant source of income for many African families. Africans working abroad love sending money to their families at home, either for their upkeep or investments.

The World Bank’s Migration and Development Brief shows how remittances grew in Sub-Saharan Africa by 6.1% in 2022, totaling $53 billion. Many countries had significant growth in their remittances, with Tanzania (25%), Rwanda (21%), and Uganda (17%) being the top three. Nigeria accounted for 38% of the total remittance inflows to the region despite having a growth rate of only 3.3%.

Many factors contributed to this remittance growth in Africa, including the low cost of cryptocurrency transactions and mobile money payments.

Conclusion

The adoption of cryptocurrency and blockchain technology is rapidly reshaping the African payment system, creating a future of massive financial inclusion, efficiency, economic development, and empowerment.

The advantages of these assets are clear, as individuals, businesses, and governments can benefit massively from them. Cryptocurrencies facilitate borderless and cost-effective cross-border payments, enable individuals and businesses to hedge against hyperinflation, and make mobile payments more efficient.

Despite already having significant success in Africa, its future impact is expected to be much more revolutionary. Cryptocurrency and blockchain technology will open new opportunities for investment and trade and pave the way for a brighter economic future across the African continent. See More!

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