"Guides" Archives - Learn More on Startups, Business & Tech - 91探花 http://techround.co.uk/category/guides/ Startup News UK and Tech News UK Wed, 03 Jun 2026 18:01:23 +0000 en-GB hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=7.0 /wp-content/uploads/2023/04/cropped-techround-logo-alt-1-32x32.png "Guides" Archives - Learn More on Startups, Business & Tech - 91探花 http://techround.co.uk/category/guides/ 32 32 Startup Growth 101: Understanding The Role Of Keywords In SEO /guides/startup-growth-understanding-role-keywords-seo/ Mon, 01 Jun 2026 10:03:37 +0000 http://techround.co.uk/?p=152592 New businesses face steep competition when launching a digital presence online. Attracting early customers requires a clear strategy to appear...

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New businesses face steep competition when launching a digital presence online. Attracting early customers requires a clear strategy to appear on major search engines. Many founders overlook the basic mechanics of how search engines index pages

A solid foundation helps a brand gain early visibility without spending thousands on paid ads. Knowing how search terms guide your future customers is the first step toward long-term organic traffic. Developing a clear plan saves time and prevents wasted marketing effort.

Connecting With Your Future Target Audience

Building an online storefront means you need to speak the exact language of your buyers. Founders struggle to realise in SEO when planning their initial website layout. Mapping out search phrases early prevents future rebranding headaches. This simple step aligns your product solutions with real consumer struggles.

Select matching terms on your site to answer real buyer needs. Search tools help you discover hidden opportunities in your specific market niche. Use the correct terms to bridge the gap between your store and eager purchasers. Modern consumers look for clear solutions rather than generic marketing buzzwords.

The Reality Of Search Engine Rankings

Securing a spot on search results pages is still a highly competitive race. The top 3 spots capture more than 50% of all user clicks. The data showed that 30% of the remaining listings on the first page receive zero engagement. Failing to secure a top position severely limits your online growth.

New businesses cannot afford to miss out on these valuable clicks. Spending weeks writing text that nobody discovers wastes precious company resources. Target specific search terms to bypass the steep competition of crowded industries. Niche phrases can result in much higher conversion rates.

Organic traffic provides long-term sustainability for small budgets. Paid advertisements disappear the moment your funding runs dry. High rankings deliver a steady stream of prospects day and night. Investing in solid content creation builds an enduring asset for your brand.

Driving Traffic To Your New Business Platform

Visibility dictates whether an online venture survives its first year. 95% of search traffic stays on the very first page of results. Missing out on page 1 means your target audience will likely never discover your brand. Ranking on the second page leaves your site virtually invisible to the public.

Review a few actionable items to boost your presence:

  • Track specific phrases that consumers type into search boxes
  • Create detailed answers to the frequent questions your buyers ask
  • Monitor how competitors rank for high-value search phrases

Growth relies on making your site accessible to . Clear phrasing tells algorithms exactly what your business provides. Proper indexing positions your startup as a trusted source of information. Sharing accurate details improves your reputation among industry peers.

Maximising Your Clicks With High Value Terms

Reaching the absolute peak of search rankings changes your business trajectory. An SEO consultancy report pointed out that the number 1 result is 10 times more likely to get a click compared to the 10th spot. Small improvements in your search rank will generate massive gains in user visits. Capturing that top spot dramatically accelerates your lead generation efforts.

Consistent optimisation diverts your platform from a hidden page to an active digital asset, a change that rewards patience. Track low competition terms to climb the ladder faster. High rankings yield immediate benefits for small-budget startups. Targeting long tail phrases creates an easier path to the top.

Monitoring your progress lets you adjust to shifts in user behavior. Remaining flexible keeps your brand relevant. Regular updates prevent your top-performing pages from slipping down the rankings.

Small businesses that grasp search engine basics establish a major advantage. Focus on user intent to connect your offerings with motivated buyers. Start small, track your performance, and watch your platform expand. Consistent effort transforms your website into a powerful customer acquisition tool.

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Islamic Finance: A Complete Guide To What It Is And How It Works /guides/islamic-finance-a-complete-guide-to-what-it-is-and-how-it-works/ Fri, 29 May 2026 09:45:04 +0000 http://techround.co.uk/?p=152027 Investor appetite is soaring across the MENA region, triggering a massive surge in investment and rapidly accelerating Shariah-compliant funding rounds...

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Investor appetite is soaring across the , triggering a massive surge in investment and rapidly accelerating Shariah-compliant funding rounds for Islamic fintech startups. But most of the global tech and business audience has only a surface-level understanding of what Islamic finance actually is 鈥 and how it differs from conventional financial services at a structural level.

This guide covers the essentials: the principles, the key products, the market scale and the practical differences that matter for anyone building or investing in this space.

What Is Islamic Finance And Where Did It Come From?

Islamic finance is a system for saving, investing, lending and risk transfer that is grounded in Islamic commercial law (Shariah). Its core rules derive from the Quran and the Hadith, the recorded teachings of the Prophet Muhammad, and have been interpreted and applied by Islamic scholars over centuries of commercial practice.

The modern emerged in the 1960s and 1970s, as Muslim-majority countries developed formal banking institutions that could serve populations who wanted faith-aligned financial products. The first Islamic banks were established in Egypt and Malaysia during this period, and the industry has since grown into a global market spanning banking, capital markets, insurance-like structures and fintech.

Islamic finance defines money as a medium of exchange rather than an asset that grows on its own. This fundamental rule shapes every product in the category. According to the Bank of England, which has published guidance on Islamic finance for UK consumers and institutions, the system ties finance more closely to real assets and shared risk rather than pure debt transactions.

The Core Principles: What Makes Finance 鈥業slamic鈥?

There are three principles that .

The first is the prohibition of riba, usually translated as interest or usury. In practice this means a lender can鈥檛 earn money from money through a fixed interest charge. This is the most widely understood aspect of Islamic finance and the one with the most direct product implications 鈥 mortgages, loans and credit facilities all need to be restructured to comply with it.

The second is risk sharing. Islamic finance favours arrangements where the capital provider and the entrepreneur share profits and losses together rather than the lender locking in a guaranteed return regardless of the outcome. This is why partnership structures are so central to the product category 鈥 both parties have skin in the game.

The third is ethical and socially responsible investing. Investments must avoid haram (prohibited) sectors including alcohol, tobacco, gambling and weapons. Beyond prohibition, Islamic finance is expected to support productive economic activity rather than financial speculation detached from real-world value creation. Charitable mechanisms 鈥 Zakat, the obligation to give a portion of wealth, and Waqf, charitable endowments 鈥 are integral to Islamic financial practice rather than optional add-ons.

The Key Products: Murabaha, Sukuk, Takaful And Musharakah Explained

Understanding the products is the fastest way to understand how the principles work in practice.

Murabaha is a cost-plus sale structure used widely for financing purchases. Rather than lending money at interest, a financier buys an asset and sells it to the customer at a marked-up price, often with deferred payment. Operating much like a traditional loan, this Islamic finance structure frames the transaction as a trade rather than debt, making it one of the most widely used models in the industry.

Sukuk are often described as Islamic bonds, but that shorthand doesn鈥檛 quite hold. Rather than representing a debt claim, Sukuk represent ownership interests in an asset, project or cash-flow stream. Investors earn returns from the performance of the underlying asset rather than from interest. The Gulf region is the largest Sukuk market globally, with Saudi Arabia, UAE and Malaysia as the primary issuers.

Takaful is the Islamic alternative to conventional insurance, built on mutual assistance and risk pooling rather than a commercial contract between a customer and an insurer seeking profit. Participants contribute to a shared fund, and claims are paid from that pool. Any surplus is returned to participants rather than retained as insurer profit.

Musharakah is a partnership structure where two or more parties contribute capital and share profits according to an agreed ratio, while losses are shared in proportion to capital contribution. It鈥檚 one of the clearest expressions of the risk-sharing principle and is used in everything from property financing to business investment.


How Big Is The Islamic Finance Market Globally?

Far from being a niche product, Islamic finance is a powerful, multibillion-dollar global market serving a diverse demographic. The global Islamic finance industry is valued at over $2 trillion, and the Islamic fintech segment is growing fast. Industry reports project global Islamic fintech transaction volumes to grow from $138 billion in 2022/23 to $306 billion by 2027, according to analysis cited by international law firm King and Spalding in a review of MENA fintech trends.

The addressable population is substantial 鈥 there are approximately 1.8 billion Muslims globally, with around 400 million in MENA alone. Islamic finance has traditionally been strongest in , the Gulf Cooperation Council countries and parts of South and Southeast Asia. However, the UK is also a significant market 鈥 it鈥檚 the largest Islamic finance centre outside the Muslim world, with a regulatory framework that accommodates Shariah-compliant products and several dedicated Islamic banks operating in the country.

Islamic Banking vs Conventional Banking: The Practical Differences

The simplest way to understand the difference is this: conventional finance is debt-first, while Islamic finance is asset-based or partnership-based. A conventional mortgage lends you money and charges interest on the outstanding balance. An Islamic mortgage typically uses a Murabaha or Diminishing Musharakah structure 鈥 the bank buys the property and either sells it to you at a marked-up price or enters a co-ownership arrangement where you gradually buy out the bank鈥檚 share.

That doesn鈥檛 mean Islamic finance is 鈥渇ree money鈥 or that the economics are dramatically different for the customer 鈥 the total cost of financing is often comparable to conventional alternatives. What changes is the legal and contractual architecture underneath, and the risk relationship between the parties. In Islamic finance, the financier retains some exposure to the underlying asset rather than simply transferring all risk to the borrower through an interest obligation.

These practical differences shape how businesses structure working capital, secure funding and manage risk. A company raising capital through Musharakah is entering a profit-sharing partnership rather than taking on debt. A corporate issuing Sukuk is selling asset-backed certificates rather than conventional bonds.

Why Islamic Fintech Is The Next Frontier

Technology can make Shariah-compliant products cheaper, faster and more scalable in ways that traditional Islamic banking couldn鈥檛 achieve. Digital distribution helps solve old pain points around access, transparency, onboarding and product standardisation. A Murabaha financing product that once required a branch visit and extensive documentation can now be offered through a mobile app with automated Shariah compliance checks and real-time settlement.

The categories attracting the most attention from are cross-border payments, SME financing, halal wealth management, digital Takaful insurance and Zakat and Waqf management platforms. Each addresses a legitimate access gap: Muslims who want faith-aligned alternatives to conventional financial products and currently have few digital options beyond traditional banks.

The regulatory environment is forming to support this 鈥 Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Qatar are all developing dedicated frameworks for Shariah-compliant fintech, including crowdfunding rules, digital challenger bank licensing and fintech sandboxes. Malaysia, which is one of the most advanced Islamic finance markets globally, has had a mature regulatory framework for Islamic fintech for several years.

Navigating The MENA Business Landscape

The key insight for anyone building in this space is that building for this market isn鈥檛 simply a matter of adding a compliance layer to an existing product.

Islamic finance requires a fundamentally different product architecture, from revenue models to risk structures to the certification process. Shariah scholars must certify products, and that certification has to be maintained as the product evolves. The barriers to entry are real 鈥 which is also why the founders who clear them face less competition than the market size would normally attract.

The main draw for investors is a high-growth, underserved sector supported by strong demographic fundamentals. The Muslim-majority markets of the Gulf, Southeast Asia and parts of Africa represent hundreds of millions of consumers who are actively seeking digital financial products aligned with their faith and finding relatively few options. The infrastructure layer 鈥 custody, settlement, compliance tooling, identity verification for Shariah-compliant onboarding 鈥 is still being built, and the companies building it are operating in a category with strong structural tailwinds.

Islamic finance is best understood as a different architecture for financial intermediation: one that prioritises asset backing, ethical screens and shared risk over interest-bearing debt. For anyone building or investing in MENA鈥檚 fast-growing , understanding that architecture is no longer optional.

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The Technophobe鈥檚 Guide To The Landline Switch-Off /guides/technophobes-guide-landline-switch-off/ Thu, 28 May 2026 15:14:52 +0000 http://techround.co.uk/?p=151965 By Emma Lewis, bOnline The UK鈥檚 landline shutdown coming in January 2027 has been on the cards for years. But...

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By Emma Lewis, bOnline

The coming in January 2027 has been on the cards for years. But for many small business owners, it still feels vague, overly technical, or just one more can to kick down the road.

Part of the problem is the language surrounding it. The phrase 鈥渓andline switch-off鈥 sounds abrupt and disruptive, as though businesses are about to lose their phones overnight, when in reality the process is far less dramatic. The UK鈥檚 old analogue phone network is gradually being retired and replaced with digital technology, which means phone calls will move from copper-wire infrastructure to internet-based systems.

Even with that explanation, the idea of changing business phones can still feel unnecessarily stressful when the existing setup already works well enough.

For most SMEs, phones are tied into almost every part of the working day. They handle customer enquiries, bookings, supplier conversations, deliveries, support calls and all the routine communication that keeps a business running smoothly. Introducing a new system into that environment can easily feel like creating disruption where none previously existed.

That hesitation is understandable because most business owners are not looking to become telecoms specialists. They just want reliable phones that staff can use comfortably, customers can reach easily, and nobody has to spend days troubleshooting.

What The Landline Switch-Off Actually Means

The transition itself is generally much simpler than many business owners think.

The UK鈥檚 traditional Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN), which has powered phone calls for decades, is being phased out because the infrastructure is ageing and increasingly expensive to maintain. Instead, businesses are moving to VoIP technology, or Voice over Internet Protocol, which allows calls to run through a broadband connection rather than a traditional phone socket.

In practical terms, the day-to-day experience remains largely the same. Businesses can usually keep their existing phone numbers, customers still make calls in the normal way, and staff can continue transferring calls, answering enquiries, and managing conversations without having to completely relearn how the system works.

For most businesses, the biggest changes happen behind the scenes rather than in daily operations.

Why Are Businesses Moving To VoIP?

One reason digital phone systems have become more widely adopted is that traditional landlines were often restrictive, particularly for smaller businesses trying to adapt to more flexible ways of working.

Adding new lines could involve lengthy setup times and additional costs, while features such as remote access, call menus, or voicemail management were often more complicated than they needed to be. Businesses operating across multiple locations or allowing staff to work remotely frequently found older systems difficult to manage efficiently.

Modern VoIP systems tend to be far more flexible. Many can be installed remotely without replacing every handset or carrying out major office work, and businesses can often keep both their existing numbers and much of their current equipment. The process is usually far less disruptive than people imagine, despite the common assumption that switching to digital phones involves engineers, extensive rewiring, and several days of downtime.

In reality, many newer systems are specifically designed to be straightforward to install and easy to manage without requiring specialist technical knowledge.

Why Digital Phone Systems Suit Small Businesses Better

The move towards internet-based communication also reflects how businesses have changed over the last ten to fifteen years.

Many companies no longer work entirely from one office with every employee sitting at the same desk five days a week. Staff work remotely, split time between locations, travel regularly, or rely on mobile devices throughout the day, and traditional landlines were never particularly well-suited to that level of flexibility.

Digital systems make those arrangements much easier to manage because calls can be routed across locations and devices far more smoothly. Features such as mobile forwarding, remote access, hold music, and cloud-based call management are often built into modern systems rather than treated as expensive add-ons.

For SMEs especially, that flexibility has become increasingly important, which is one of the main reasons the UK is retiring the old network in the first place. The PSTN infrastructure simply was not designed around modern communication habits or business requirements.

Choosing A Provider Without The Jargon

Despite that, many businesses are still cautious about changing providers, and not without reason.

Telecoms companies have not always made the process easy to understand. Technical jargon, overcomplicated sales language, and confusing contracts have left plenty of SME owners wary of upgrading systems that already function reasonably well.

Most businesses are not searching for a 鈥渇ully integrated communications ecosystem鈥 or a long list of features they may never use. They want clear answers to practical questions about reliability, ease of use, disruption, and cost.

They want to know whether customers will still reach them easily, whether staff can use the system without extensive training, whether existing numbers can be retained, and whether the transition will interfere with normal operations. Those concerns are far more important to most SMEs than the underlying technology itself.

The best digital phone systems tend to succeed because they鈥檙e very intuitive and easy to set up and use online. Many, like bOnline鈥檚, simply involve signing up for a monthly package and managing everything through an online dashboard. No engineers, techie knowledge or superfluous hardware needed.

The Future Of Business Phone Systems

A few years ago, internet-based business communication still felt unfamiliar to many companies, particularly smaller organisations that relied heavily on traditional office setups. Now, it has become normal.

Customers are generally unconcerned with whether a business uses analogue lines or cloud-based phone systems because what matters to them is whether calls are answered promptly, routed correctly and handled professionally.

That is why the landline switch-off is less of a major technological upheaval than it initially sounds. For many businesses, it is simply a transition towards systems that are better suited to how modern companies already operate.

Importantly, making that transition does not require becoming a telecoms engineer or spending weeks learning technical terminology.

For most SMEs, the process is considerably more straightforward than expected, and the biggest surprise is often how little disruption the switch actually causes once it has been completed.

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Top Alternatives To Payoneer For Digital Transactions /guides/top-alternatives-payoneer/ Thu, 28 May 2026 12:09:54 +0000 http://techround.co.uk/?p=151945 International payment platforms are starting to accommodate worker in countries where it was previously hard to accept global payments. Faster...

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International are starting to accommodate worker in countries where it was previously hard to accept global payments. Faster payout cycles and easier access to earnings have become a priority for freelancers working with overseas clients. Financial infrastructure that moves money between countries has become more important in online work ecosystems.

Payoneer and Upwork extended a 15 year agreement the other day that keeps Payoneer as a main payout channel for freelancers using Upwork in regions such as Africa, Asia Pacific, Europe, Latin America and the Middle East. The agreement also introduces exploration of stablecoin enabled payouts for faster access to earnings in selected markets.

Ya Wen, Senior Vice President of Global Marketplaces at Payoneer, said, 鈥淥ur long-standing partnership with Upwork shows what鈥檚 possible when deep technical and operational alignment, regulatory strength, and global reach come together to simplify cross-border payments for global talent.鈥

Payoneer reported reach into 190 countries and territories, supported through nearly 100 banks and payment service providers. The company said demand is rising for faster international transfers from freelancers and small businesses working with overseas clients.

What Are Companies Saying About International Payments And Uncertainty?

Research from Barclays showed international payments went down in early 2026 when compared to early 2025. Outbound payments went down 5.0% while inbound payments went down 3.6%, and this is all based on data from more than 900,000 small and medium enterprises and a survey of 1,000 decision makers.

Matt Hammerstein, Chief Executive of Barclays UK Corporate Bank, said, 鈥淯ncertainty is the norm for , but we can see just how geopolitical instability and sustained increases in costs are directly influencing cashflows, borrowing decisions and investment plans.鈥

The same research showed 52% of businesses reported productivity improvements from artificial intelligence use, while 68% planned higher cybersecurity spending over the next 12 months as digital systems take a stronger position in daily operations.

International payment flows, freelance income routes and online service trade now move through fintech networks that support faster settlement between countries, with companies adjusting how money moves through digital systems catering to remote work and service exports.

There are so many other platforms similar to Payoneer, and some of which are familiar favourites that have actually been used for years now.

Alternatives To Payoneer

Rapyd

Rapyd started out in mobile payments before moving into global financial infrastructure. The company says it struggled to find one system that could handle international payments, payouts and financial services without endless integrations and licensing headaches. That experience led Rapyd to build its own platform.

Today, businesses use Rapyd to accept card payments, local payment methods and stablecoin transactions from one system. Companies can also send payouts and manage multi currency without rebuilding payment tools every time they enter a new country. Rapyd says its technology was built to make international commerce less fragmented and less time consuming for businesses selling globally.

Airwallex

Airwallex markets itself as a financial platform for companies handling international payments and expenses. The company says businesses can open local currency accounts in more than 20 currencies and send transfers to more than 200 countries at interbank rates. Airwallex also says it processes more than $235B in global payments every year.

The platform lets companies accept payments locally in 180+ countries and issue multi currency corporate cards instantly. Airwallex also connects with accounting software to automate reconciliation and bookkeeping tasks. The company presents its system as a way for businesses to manage international payments and finance tasks without dealing with disconnected banking software.

Tipalti

Tipalti was founded in 2010 after its team noticed how outdated business payment systems had become. The company now sells finance automation software that handles accounts payable, procurement and international payments from one platform. Tipalti says it processes more than $85B in annual payments and has received $700M in funding.

Companies like Ubisoft, Wix and Indeed use the system. Tipalti also talks a lot about integrations, with connections for ERP software, HR systems, accounting tools and marketing platforms. AI tools are a main part of the platform, helping , approval flows and payment processing without spending hours on manual finance tasks.

Grey

Grey launched in 2020 after its founders noticed how difficult international payments had become for remote workers in Africa and other developing regions. The company mainly targets freelancers, creators and digital nomads working for employers outside their home countries.

Grey says users can open foreign bank accounts, receive salaries in foreign currencies and convert funds into local currency without worrying about transfer fees or poor exchange rates. The company also talks openly about financial inclusion and remote work opportunities for people outside traditional banking systems. Grey says it has already helped hundreds of users receive international payments and access foreign banking services more easily.

PayPal

Perhaps the most famous of this group. PayPal has spent more than 25 years building one of the biggest online payment systems in the world. The company says it operates in around 200 markets and helps businesses send money, shop online and accept digital payments internationally.

PayPal became popular through ecommerce and online marketplaces, especially for people wanting quick payments without entering banking details every time they shop online. The company also handles international money transfers for freelancers, businesses and consumers sending payments to family or clients overseas. PayPal describes its service as a secure and convenient way for people and businesses to take part in global online commerce.

Skrill

Skrill centres its business around online money transfers and digital wallet services. One of its better known tools lets users send money directly to an email address without needing the recipient鈥檚 bank account information.

Skrill says transfers can be made in 40 currencies and Skrill to Skrill transfers become available instantly. The company also promotes its 鈥淭rue Skriller鈥 programme, which gives verified users lower transfer fees and better exchange rates. Skrill positions itself as a flexible option for people making international transfers, paying online or sending money to friends and family living in different countries.

GoCardless

GoCardless is perfect for businesses collecting bank payments from customers in different countries. The company says businesses in places such as South Africa, the UK, Germany, Australia and the US can use the platform to collect payments in currencies like GBP, EUR, USD and CAD.

The system works through local bank debit networks such as Bacs in the UK, SEPA in Europe and ACH in the US. GoCardless says more than 100,000 businesses already use the platform, including Tripadvisor, DocuSign and The Guardian. The company also says it connects users to more than 2,300 banks through open banking services in the UK and Europe. The overall experience feels built for businesses that want fewer payment admin headaches and quicker access to customer bank payments.

Wise

Wise has built a reputation around low fee international transfers and exchange rate transparency. The company says more than 14.8 million people use the platform to send money internationally. Wise also says fees can start from 0.1% for larger transfers.

On a sample transfer from euros to rand, Wise listed total fees of 鈧170.79 for a 鈧30,000 transfer. The company says customers can also lock exchange rates for a limited amount of time before completing a transfer. Security plays a big part in the platform鈥檚 messaging too. Wise says it carries out millions of fraud checks daily and employs more than 1,000 anti fraud specialists. The app feels popular with freelancers, travellers and remote workers who regularly move money between countries.

Revolut

Revolut started out as a travel spending app and has since turned into a much larger digital banking platform. The company says it now has more than 75 million customers worldwide, including 13 million in the UK. International payments sit near the top of the platform鈥檚 marketing, especially for customers spending or transferring money in multiple currencies.

The company says customers can send money overseas through its free Standard plan, while paid plans unlock higher spending limits and unlimited currency exchange. Revolut also markets itself as an all in one financial app. Customers can save money, buy stocks and earn rewards through debit card spending. Revolut says its Ultra plan offers savings rates of up to 4% AER. The app feels designed for customers who want travel spending, banking and international payments handled in one place.

Noda

Noda markets itself as an online payments platform built around open banking and instant bank payments. The company offers payment links, QR code payments, AI generated checkout pages and bank payout services for merchants handling digital sales.

The platform is aimed towards online businesses wanting quicker checkout experiences without adding extra payment friction for customers. Noda also promotes tools linked to financial insights and forecasting using the platform. Customers can even sign in using their bank credentials instead of creating separate account details. The service feels geared towards ecommerce businesses wanting fewer payment delays and a more direct connection between customer bank accounts and merchant payouts.

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What Is An Intranet And Does Your Team Actually Need One? /guides/what-is-an-intranet-and-does-your-team-actually-need-one/ Fri, 22 May 2026 11:00:41 +0000 http://techround.co.uk/?p=151125 Most organisations, at some point, hit a wall. Not a crisis-level wall but more of a slow, creeping one. Where...

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Most organisations, at some point, hit a wall. Not a crisis-level wall but more of a slow, creeping one. Where information gets harder to find, documents pile up on different platforms designed for 鈥渆asy collaboration鈥 and new hires struggle to get up to speed.

It鈥檚 not a sign that means something has gone terribly wrong. It鈥檚 natural for teams to expand and processes to become more complicated 鈥 expected almost, because it means growth, right? It just means that tools that once worked for a smaller team no longer fit.

For a lot of companies, the answer to solve that issue is something called an intranet. Think of it as the Internet鈥檚 quieter, more organised cousin. Sure, it鈥檚 not as flashy as some of out there or even AI but it solves a very real problem. It gives people one reliable place to go.

What Is An Intranet?

An intranet is a private, internal network that belongs solely to your organisation. It鈥檚 like the Internet but just for your company. Nobody outside of the organisation can access it 鈥 that is, assuming your IT department is doing their job correctly.

Essentially, it鈥檚 a secure digital space that holds all kinds of policies, procedures, training, internal news 鈥 you name it. Instead of that information living in multiple Google drives or inboxes, it stays in one place for everyone to access.

How Does It Differ From The Internet And The Extranet?

This is where it gets only mildly confusing. The Internet is public and that means anyone can access it if they have a connection and a browser. That鈥檚 for catching up on the news, doing some or falling down a YouTube video hole while procrastinating 鈥 we鈥檝e all been there.

Intranets, on the other hand, are completely private and accessible to employees only. In order to access it, you usually need to log in with valid credentials and once you鈥檙e in, all the company鈥檚 internal news is available to you.

Extranets typically sit somewhere in between. It鈥檚 like an extended version of an intranet which allows limited access to outsiders. So if you needed specific clients or suppliers to collaborate with but they aren鈥檛 your employees, you would use an extranet to share information with them.

Who Are Intranets Best Suited To?

There鈥檚 no hard and fast rule here but any organisation of a reasonable size could benefit from using an intranet. From large corporates to and universities, if a group of people need to work together and share information securely 鈥 it makes sense.

Smaller companies may not feel that it鈥檚 entirely necessary and that they can get by on Google Drive. It works for a time but as teams grow and processes become more complex, the pain points will multiply quickly.

The general rule of thumb is that if you wish you had one place to find and store everything, it may be time to test out an intranet.

Why Intranets Are Valuable To Teams

The earlier versions of the technology were fairly basic but today, they are much more than just a digital filing cabinet. A well-built one touches almost every part of how a company communicates and keeps people informed.

It Becomes Your Organisation鈥檚 Single Source Of Truth

You can say goodbye to random documents floating around the office and the days where you were left wondering which version of a document was the most up-to-date one.

With an intranet, all documentation and policies become centralised so if anyone needs to find something, they know exactly where it will be.

It Keeps Everyone In The Loop

In bigger organisations, communication can get a bit tricky from time to time. Sometimes announcements get buried in inboxes or team members are missing from .

Fortunately, intranets give leadership a reliable way to share updates and information with the entire company 鈥 and employees have somewhere to go to read them.

Onboarding And Training Becomes Much Smoother

For new hires, an intranet is a place to find everything that they need in one place, especially in those first few weeks which can be daunting. From company values to how to submit annual leave, a good intranet can get new team members up to speed much more efficiently.

It Connects Remote And Hybrid Teams

Companies have embraced global teams and it鈥檚 not uncommon to see companies with employees scattered all over the world in different countries. When that happens, it鈥檚 usually quite difficult to maintain a sense of company culture but an intranet brings everyone together.

It also ensures that all employees have access to the same information at the same time, regardless of their country or time zone.

So, What Makes A Good Intranet?

As with broadband or , not all intranets are the same. Some are definitely outdated to say the least with clunky technology that is nearly impossible to navigate.

If an intranet is well-designed, it probably has some 鈥 or all 鈥 of these things going for it.

Easy to search: If finding something on it takes longer than just asking a colleague, the intranet has failed spectacularly.

Mobile-friendly: People aren鈥檛 always at their desks but a decent intranet should work just as well on a mobile device.

Reflects the company鈥檚 culture: Intranets shouldn鈥檛 feel like another piece of technology or software that could belong to anyone. It should feel personalised and part of the company itself.

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7 Best Databases For Research Collaboration /guides/databases-for-research-collaboration/ Thu, 21 May 2026 05:27:53 +0000 http://techround.co.uk/?p=151661 鈥91探花 does not recommend or endorse any financial, investment, trading or other advice, practices, companies or operators. All articles are...

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鈥91探花 does not recommend or endorse any financial, investment, trading or other advice, practices, companies or operators. All articles are purely informational鈥

In today鈥檚 data-rich landscape, managing and collaborating on complex research projects can be challenging. Simply staying up to date with scientific literature requires considerable effort. To facilitate teamwork and accelerate discovery, researchers need to use databases built for research collaboration.

Dimensions

As the world鈥檚 largest linked research database, provides the most comprehensive choice for research collaboration. Connecting previously siloed clinical trials, publications and grants, this analytical platform delivers a complete view of the research landscape.

The database contains 938,000 clinical trials, 170 million patents, 280 million online citations, 164 million publications, 42 million datasets, 8.1 million grants and 2.5 million policy documents. This interlinked data helps users understand what research exists and trace its connections to funding sources and real-world applications.

Visualisations, purpose-built applications and integrated artificial intelligence technology work together to accelerate interpretation. Those with specific requirements can integrate their own data or work with in-house data science experts to build custom solutions.

ScienceDirect

ScienceDirect offers one of the largest collections of scientific, technical and medical research resources. Peer-reviewed journal articles and book chapters span numerous disciplines on this platform.

It provides approximately 3.3 million open-access articles, making them freely available for download. Its research-grade AI tool LeapSpace allows users to search literature using natural language rather than complex Boolean strings. For added reliability, it cites sources.

Semantic Scholar

Semantic Scholar operates as a free, AI-powered research tool for scientific literature. Data providers, web crawls and publisher partnerships supply the platform with roughly 235 million papers from all fields of science.

Over 50 direct partnerships with data providers, aggregators and publishers enable access to content from over 500 academic journals, scholarly societies and university presses. Researchers can filter results, scan super-short summaries and identify highly influential citations to evaluate papers quickly.

Its state-of-the-art AI models are developed in-house to process and classify papers in its pipeline, keeping the database up to date with scientific literature. Thanks to features like these, millions of scholars visit this database each month.

Zotero

While Zotero isn鈥檛 technically a database, it functions like one for research management and collaboration. This free tool helps users collect, organise, annotate, cite and share research materials.

As users browse the web, the platform automatically senses research and organises items with collections, tags and keywords. It can generate references and bibliographies within seconds, with support for over 9,000 citation styles. It supports multiple text editors, including Microsoft Word, Google Docs and LibreOffice.

Collections synchronise information across devices automatically, keeping files, notes and bibliographic records current. Any number of collaborators can access a shared library at no cost. An independent nonprofit organisation developed this open-source platform.

SciSpace

SciSpace is an AI-powered literature review assistant that allows researchers to search over 280 million papers using plain-language queries. Journal articles and conference papers from mathematics, social sciences, biomedicine, physics, computer science and engineering populate the platform.

Research teams can use the algorithm to generate diagrams, methodologies, outlines, abstracts and presentations based on content. Questions about uploaded PDFs receive citation-backed answers in seconds. Support extends across 75 languages.

Crunchbase

Crunchbase functions as a predictive market intelligence platform tracking funding rounds, investment trends and market activity for over 4 million companies. The system processes thousands of new funding rounds, tens of thousands of insights and millions of predictions each month.

With 80 million users, the platform demonstrates significant value for business and market research. News and blogs contextualise raw data. Select data remains freely viewable, while premium features like predictions and custom lists require paid accounts.

Zenodo

Zenodo functions as a general-purpose open repository for research and academic papers from all disciplines and locations worldwide. CERN and OpenAIRE operate the platform, providing institutional backing for long-term preservation.

Without requirements on format, size, licence or access restrictions, all researchers can share work freely. Closed and restricted content is stored safely in the repository until publication, ensuring nothing goes missing when materials are later made openly available.

A digital object identifier (DOI) accompanies every upload to make items citable and trackable. Published uploads appear online immediately, and DOI registration completes within seconds. Dataset versioning maintains citation continuity while allowing updates.

What Makes A Good Research Collaboration Platform?

AI-powered search capabilities, interlinked data types, and built-in sharing or citation tools form the key factors that make databases effective for research collaboration. Teams can discover relevant research quickly, understand connections between different outputs and seamlessly share findings with these capabilities.

Processing natural language queries eliminates barriers for researchers unfamiliar with complex search syntax. AI models surface relevant papers, generate summaries and identify hidden connections, accelerating literature review and helping teams stay current with dynamic fields.

Just as important is the ability to link different research artifacts together. When databases connect publications to funding sources, related patents and clinical applications, they provide richer context than isolated journal articles. Research teams can understand the full impact of scientific work through this comprehensive view.

The Top Research Databases At A Glance

Each platform on this list serves distinct research needs, from academic literature review to business intelligence.听Some teams may benefit from using multiple databases together, particularly when projects span academic research and commercial applications. The comparison below helps identify which platform aligns best with specific collaboration requirements.

Database Primary Focus Key Feature Best For
Dimensions Grants, patents, clinical trials and publications Interlinks publications, grants, patents and clinical trials Corporate R&D, academic institutions and government funders
ScienceDirect Scientific, technical and medical literature Provides access to 3.3 million articles Researchers needing peer-reviewed journal content
Semantic Scholar Scientific literature Provides access to 235 million papers Individual researchers and scholars
Zotero Various fields and disciplines Supports data aggregation, annotation, citation and sharing Co-writers and students creating collaborative bibliographies
SciSpace Various fields and disciplines Generates AI-generated diagrams and multilingual support International research teams
Crunchbase Business and market intelligence Tracks over 4 million companies Corporate researchers and market analysts
Zenodo Scientific literature Provides access to articles and research artifacts Researchers sharing datasets and preprints

Finding The Best Platform For Your Research Needs

Citation-backed output and context-rich insights define what makes databases valuable for research collaboration. Whether professionals co-write papers, teach courses or build collaborative bibliographies, these tools facilitate efficient knowledge discovery and sharing across research teams.

鈥91探花 does not recommend or endorse any financial, investment, trading or other advice, practices, companies or operators. All articles are purely informational鈥

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Why Startups Should Use Private APNs For Mobile Broadband /guides/why-startups-use-private-apns-mobile-broadband/ Tue, 19 May 2026 05:18:34 +0000 http://techround.co.uk/?p=150983 When launching a startup, connectivity choices usually get left out of the strategic plans. You鈥檙e dealing with customers, products and...

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When launching a startup, connectivity choices usually get left out of the strategic plans. You鈥檙e dealing with customers, products and often just figuring out how to stay afloat.

However, if your business comprises mobile devices, IoT hardware, field workers or any connected infrastructure, your choice of network is important and making the wrong choice can have real consequences. Private APNs are the kind of infrastructure decisions that are ignored by most early-stage businesses until something bad happens.

Lauren Davies from bOnline comments: 鈥淲hether APN or VPN, as we move into the technological future, consumers and businesses have so many more things to consider. However, something that is appealing is that a lot of the infrastructure once upgraded, should serve both individuals and businesses of all sizes much better than old, outdated and legacy infrastructure.鈥

What Is A Private APN?

An Access Point Name (APN) is how a and other separate networks, including the public Internet, connect. A real-life example is whenever your SIM is sending or receiving data on a 4G or 5G network, it is using an APN to facilitate that.

Most devices use a public APN by default, which means your data travels across shared carrier infrastructure and out onto the open internet before reaching your systems.

How Do Private APNs Work?

A private APN fundamentally changes what happens to your data. Rather than sending data to the public network, a private APN creates an encryptable IPsec tunnel, allowing mobile devices to connect directly to your private infrastructure. The data can be routed through your controlled network infrastructure rather than the public internet.

Why Security Matters Early For Startups

Most founders think a fund are things to think about later when funding comes or when the business has expanded, however, beginning your startup with a strong security foundation means less work later on. Modifying security architecture later on after hundreds of devices are deployed is almost always a very costly and risky organisational move.

If you build secure connectivity from the beginning, you can:

  • Scale faster
  • Reduce security risks
  • Avoid costly redesigns
  • Simplify device deployment
  • Meet enterprise customer expectations
  • Build trust with investors and partners

Why Startups Are Exposed on Public Networks

, as they are often high-targets for cyber criminals due to the low security measures that are often accompanied. Startups using听IoT equipment should know that it is extremely difficult to protect.

From devices such as听sensors, trackers, monitors, routers, connected equipment all are notoriously difficult to secure. Most IoT devices come with factory settings which include default passwords. Sometimes they even sit without any updates for extremely lengthy periods, with no consideration towards security.

APN Or VPN For Startups?

Startups implementing VPNs for remote access integration offers value, however, when it comes to protecting mobile and IoT traffic, a private APN offers a higher level of protection. Generally, . A private APN never reaches the public internet in the first place.

The isolation is at the carrier level, not the application level, which makes it significantly harder to intercept or compromise.

Simplifying Compliance

Startups in healthcare, fintech, logistics, or any other heavily regulated industry, have both legal and compliance requirements for data protection and privacy. A private APN represents control, documentation and place for data traffic that is encrypted and isolated.

Reliable Connectivity

The public internet was never designed for guaranteed consistency.听Traffic moving across public networks can be affected by congestion, , packet loss and routing changes, all of which are outside your control.听For startups building products that rely on real-time connectivity, such as remote monitoring, live telemetry, smart devices or connected hardware, this unpredictability can directly affect product performance and customer experience.

A private APN routes your traffic through dedicated carrier infrastructure rather than shared public pathways. This creates more stable, predictable connectivity with fewer interruptions.听In practical terms, that means your devices stay connected more consistently, your data arrives faster and your customers experience a more reliable product.

Are APNs Affordable For Startups?

Until recently, private APN infrastructure was meant to be used only for large enterprises; it was very expensive, complicated and used by very few businesses, however, things have changed.

Many private APN service providers have now geared their services towards post-paid businesses and large IoT (Internet of Things) deployments with more flexible and transparent solution and pricing frameworks. The initial investment for such a service is affordable, especially comparing it to the potential , service outages and the loss of customers.

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The Three Documents Every New CISO Needs (That Nobody Hands You) /guides/the-three-documents-every-new-ciso-needs-that-nobody-hands-you/ Mon, 18 May 2026 08:05:02 +0000 http://techround.co.uk/?p=151425 Authoured by Kayne McGladrey 听 A new Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) often arrives with a mandate to secure their...

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Authoured by Kayne McGladrey

A new Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) often arrives with a mandate to secure their organisation, but in practice, they walk headfirst into the fog of war without the facts. While security leaders may ultimately be held accountable for risk decisions, they normally don鈥檛 have the business data to support their decisions. Unless you like Enron-inspired math, you can鈥檛 calculate the cost of a breach if you don鈥檛 know which systems generate revenue, or how much time the business can survive without that revenue. This helps explain why CISOs have a normal tenure of 18 鈥 24 months.

For CISOs with a technical background, the most frequent action is to start by assessing technical controls, often against one or more control frameworks. This is pointless without an understanding of what those controls are supposed to protect. A CISO might have their team spend weeks scanning the environment for technical vulnerabilities, but when that team can鈥檛 tell the difference between an internal support tool and a payment gateway that lacks a documented recovery plan, the resulting data are of limited use.

Before managing risk, a new leader must establish three basic documents and secure agreements with the other business leaders to write down their decisions. These documents help connect technology directly to revenue streams and operational continuity, and make cybersecurity a business function grounded in reality. Sample document templates are included with this article for readers to adapt for their own needs.

The Discovery Phase

A CISO shouldn鈥檛 sound like an auditor hoping for findings, so identifying these gaps requires a shift in conversation tone from day one. The CISO should pose questions that are reasonable for a new business leader to ask. Asking 鈥淲hich process generates the most revenue per hour?鈥 or 鈥淚f that system went down tomorrow, who owns the recovery?鈥 can produce meaningful answers.

If other executives pause while answering or give conflicting responses, this shows historically misaligned expectations. When executives can鈥檛 name the owner of a critical process or estimate the financial impact of downtime, the organisation is flying partially blind. Executives who claim that 鈥渢he new CISO鈥檚 responsible鈥 are more troubling. In both cases, it shows that risk management is based on assumptions rather than facts.

By listening to the uncertainty in other executives鈥 voices, the CISO gathers intelligence needed to justify the creation of new documentation. The goal isn鈥檛 to assign blame for missing data but to highlight the need to have a clearer picture of the business. This approach builds trust, and establishes the need for the collaborative work required to document processes, systems, and dependencies. As an added bonus, if your organisation needed to comply with DORA, you already likely have most of these facts. Finally, much this is work that the CISO and other business leaders will delegate to their teams for further investigation.

Document 1: The Business Process Catalogue

serves is the record of what the organisation actually does, who owns what, and the monetary value per unit of time. This document is important because you can鈥檛 mathematically calculate risk impact without knowing revenue at risk. It uplevels the conversation from incomprehensible 鈥渃yber threats鈥 to concrete financial exposure that other executives understand.

Key fields in this catalog include the process name, the designated owner, revenue generated per hour or day, maximum tolerable downtime, and the specific business systems involved. The catalog uses the Responsibility Assignment Matrix principle, which requires every process to have a single accountable owner rather than a committee. This is meant to avoid decision paralysis during times of crisis.

When this data exists, it changes the conversation. A request to patch a server shifts from 鈥淲e need to fix some CVSS 9.2 vulnerability鈥 to 鈥淭his patch protects a process generating $200,000 an hour.鈥 That clarity gets other executives鈥 attention, and justifies resource allocation.

Document 2: The Business Systems Inventory

is a bridge between business processes and the technology that they鈥檙e made out of. While the Process Catalog defines value, the Systems Inventory documents the load-bearing applications and platforms. Relying on the catalog alone doesn鈥檛 work, because it intentionally doesn鈥檛 include technical dependencies or vendor relationships required to maintain or restore operations.

For first-party systems, the inventory must capture operational costs, data classification levels, and recovery objectives.
For third-party systems, fields include vendor contact information, contract location, data flow descriptions, integration dependencies, and emergency support contacts.

The RACI structure carries forward here as well. If the VP of Sales is accountable for the sales process, they鈥檙e also accountable for the CRM system that supports their business function.

This document can be re-used during incident response. When a key system fails at 2 AM on a bank holiday, the IR team needs the vendor鈥檚 phone number. They can鈥檛 waste time searching for the right contact, or wondering which executives need to be briefed.

Document 3: The Component Ledger

decomposes each business system into its piece parts, covering both first-party code and third-party services. Systems are rarely granular enough for operational decision management. A single 鈥淪alesforce integration鈥 might have an API, an identity provider, a data pipeline and an email service. Each of these components has its own vendor, failure mode, and security posture.

First-party components require version numbers, build locations, and enough data to be able to restore services, whether due to a disaster or data breach.

Third-party components require vendor contacts, service level agreements, and exit strategies to manage supply chain risk.

This level of detail is needed because an organisation is only as secure as its weakest component. When a vulnerability is announced in a software library, the Component Ledger allows the security team to quickly see which systems and business processes are affected. This enables defensible, fact-based decisions about patching priorities or risk acceptance decisions.

How the Three Documents Work Together

These three documents function as a cascading framework for ongoing business risk management.

  • The Process Catalog defines business value.
  • The System Inventory maps the supporting technology.
  • The Component Ledger identifies hidden dependencies and risk centralisation.

Every risk calculation is visible because the data lineage is fully documented with sign-offs, which makes the math easy:

  • When a component fails, you can trace it to the business system
  • Then you trace the system to the process
  • Finally, you reach the revenue figure, without hand-waving or guessing

This approach isn鈥檛 a multi-year maturity project or a tool to buy from a vendor, either; it鈥檚 a 100-day stabilisation exercise based on conversations, and focused on supporting revenue.

From Guessing to Governing

The first 100 days are about replacing anxiety with clarity. These three documents give you the basic facts to make decisions, the language to justify budgets, and the credibility to lead alongside other executives. Start with your three highest-revenue processes and build outward. This foundation ensures your future security investments support long-term business goals.

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Ditching Your Landline? Here’s How You Can Set Up VoIP At Home /guides/ditching-your-landline-heres-how-you-can-set-up-voip-at-home/ Fri, 15 May 2026 11:00:06 +0000 http://techround.co.uk/?p=151325 Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) has been slowly adopted by businesses for years, transforming the way they communicate. More recently,...

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has been slowly adopted by businesses for years, transforming the way they communicate. More recently, it鈥檚 been making serious inroads into UK homes. The reason for that is that it was largely seen as a business tool. Something that needed to be installed and monitored by an IT team.

That鈥檚 not the case anymore and modern VoIP is built with regular people in mind. The setup process is remarkably painless, in fact.

There鈥檚 also a more pressing reason causing residents to relook at their existing phone systems. From January 2027, the UK鈥檚 traditional landline network 鈥 the copper wire system 鈥 will be permanently switched off. What most people don鈥檛 realise is that it affects residents just as much as it does businesses.

Taking the time to understand VoIP and how it works now can put you in a better position for the imminent change instead of scrambling last minute when the time comes.

How Does VoIP Work?

VoIP technology allows you to make voice and video calls over the Internet rather than a traditional phone line. Your voice no longer travels through the copper wires but instead gets converted into digital packets of data that travel over an Internet connection.

Typically, VoIP plans are almost always cheaper than the traditional route. This is particularly true for long-distance and international calls, which is why so many businesses have adopted it.

Aside from the price appeal, most VoIP systems come with features from call forwarding to virtual receptionists and virtual numbers that would cost a fortune on standard plans.

The main drawcard is that since it runs on your existing broadband, you鈥檙e not paying for a separate phone line at all. For residents and businesses alike, it鈥檚 a huge plus.

Does The 2027 Switch-Off Really Affect You At Home?

It sounds like one of those things that only applies to businesses, but that鈥檚 not the case. The reality is that most UK households still use a traditional copper line.

The Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN) is the network that鈥檚 being shut off 鈥 and it happens to be the backbone for every analogue home phone line in the country. The reason is that the infrastructure has become too old and costly to maintain, since some of it has been around since the 19th century.

So what does that all mean, practically? After 31 January, your traditional landline will stop working. Landlines aren鈥檛 disappearing entirely, they鈥檙e just becoming digital and will essentially run using VoIP.

What Do You Need To Get Started With VoIP?

Most providers will reach out to customers regarding the migration and handle the upgrade themselves. But you don鈥檛 need to accept whatever your provider offers without question, it鈥檚 worth doing your own research into VoIP.

If you choose your own setup, you can find one with the features and pricing that suits you best.

A Reliable Internet Connection

This is non-negotiable since VoIP relies on the Internet to work. While they don鈥檛 need an enormous amount of bandwidth, they do need a connection that鈥檚 stable. If you have a busy household, a wired ethernet is always an option to consider because they offer consistent call quality.

A VoIP-enabled Device

Here, there are a couple of options to choose from. is one, which looks like a normal desk phone, but connects via an ethernet or Wi-Fi. You could also opt for a standard analogue paired with an Analogue Telephone Adapter or a softphone app installed on your smartphone or laptop.

The softphone app is the route most people go for because it doesn鈥檛 cost anything extra, it鈥檚 just an app that gets downloaded.

A VoIP Service Provider

This will be the company in charge of routing your calls. There are plenty of reliable options on the market that boast different features in different price ranges. For this step, it just takes a bit of research on your part to find the one that suits your household鈥檚 needs.

A Step-by-Step Guide To Setting Up VoIP At Home

Once you鈥檝e decided on an approach and a provider, you can get to the set up bit. Here鈥檚 how you can get connected as quickly and seamlessly as possible:

Choose a plan:听Most will offer a free trial so you can check the quality of calls before you start paying for them. The provider will give you SIP credentials which include your username, password and server address so keep those handy.

Connect the hardware: Plug your phone or adapter into your router using an ethernet cable. If you鈥檝e gone the software route, simply download the app onto your desired device.

Enter the SIP credentials: You鈥檒l find a settings menu (normally through a web browser on the same network) and enter the details given by your provider. If you鈥檙e using a softphone app, there should be an option to add an account.

Test the line: Make a few calls to check the audio quality. If there鈥檚 any delay or distortions, let your provider know.

What You Should Know Before You Switch

VoIP is an excellent piece of technology but there are some things to be aware of. Unlike traditional phones, VoIP doesn鈥檛 know your location which can make emergency calling tricky. Most providers will let you register a physical address in the event of an emergency situation, so it鈥檚 crucial to do this as soon as possible.

The next thing is power. If your router goes down, so does the VoIP line. What you can do is use your mobile as a backup or invest in a UPS (Uninterrupted Power Supply) for your router.

Lastly, the quality of your calls depends on your network. Try to avoid things like gaming or streaming when you need to make calls, otherwise you may .

On the whole, VoIP could very well be the future of communication 鈥 in both homes and businesses. The landline had a good run, but your Internet connection is more than capable of taking over.

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Where Are the Top Smart Hospitals Around the World? /guides/where-are-the-top-smart-hospitals-around-the-world/ Thu, 07 May 2026 11:00:01 +0000 http://techround.co.uk/?p=150909 The reinvention of healthcare is underway and around the globe, hospitals are beginning to harness the powers of AI, robotics,...

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The reinvention of healthcare is underway and around the globe, , robotics, advanced imaging and real-time analytics. So, what does this mean for the every-day patient? These hospitals are using care as an integral part of medical practice technology for the first time to raise the standard of healthcare to a whole new level.听Every year, Newsweek and Statista collaborate to create a list of the top smart hospitals around the world, across 28 countries.

What is a 鈥楽mart Hospital鈥?

A smart hospital relies on technology as part of the care delivery structure, rather than as a separate addition to a hospital. Statista and Newsweek鈥檚 ranking of hospitals incorporates five main technology differentiators: electronics, remote care, digital image, artificial intelligence and robotics. Hospitals that achieve a level of excellence in each of these categories, with substantiated improvements in outcomes, rise to the top of the rankings.

What Are The Top Ranking Smart Hospitals in the World?

After four consecutive years of Mayo Clinic leading the field, the 2025 Newsweek鈥揝tatista survey now ranks Cleveland Clinic in Ohio as the world鈥檚 top smart hospital.

Cleveland Clinic, Ohio

In the 2025 survey, the Cleveland Clinic, Ohio, ranked first and out ranked the four year running champions, the听Mayo Clinic. This shift is a clear recognition of the Clinic鈥檚 commitment to a long-standing digital strategy. The clinic set the pillars of the strategy: Virtual, Data, AI and Quantum and to further support the strategy, every initiative and investment must survive a check. Cleveland Clinic also operates a 鈥榲irtual command centre,鈥 named Hospital 360. Hospital 360 integrates four real-time, clinic-critical data streams:

  • Bed-occupancy forecasts
  • Patient flow
  • Staff and Nursing Schedules, and;
  • OR Timetabling

Furthermore, the Clinic has partnered with IBM and Meta to form the AI Alliance and is a participant of the US AI Safety Institute.

Mayo Clinic, Rochester

This is the first year Mayo Clinic fell from the top spot, but it is still one of the best hospital systems in the world. Thanks to the extensive global reach of its data network, it is able to connect the dots between clinicians and researchers stationed at different points on the globe. Standardisation of AI and machine Learning for Diagnostic Oncology, Diagnostic Cardiology and the is further evidence of Mayo鈥檚 prominence in the diagnostic space. Mayo Clinic consistently receives the highest volume of peer recommendations in the global survey; a testament to the depth of its reputation among medical professionals worldwide.

The Johns Hopkins Hospital, Massachusetts General and Mount Sinai

Three other US hospitals frequently occupy the top ten position in these surveys. Whether it鈥檚 technology, process or research, The Johns Hopkins Hospital is one of the best in the world. The Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston, part of the Mass General Brigham hospital network, is a leader in AI-driven diagnostics and precision medicine. Mount Sinai Hospital in New York ranked number听one in New York and top five globally in 2024 and has the largest clinical data science program of any hospital system in the world; with integrated within its care pathways.

22 UK Hospitals in the Global Top 350

The United Kingdom contributes 22 hospitals to the Newsweek and Statistica 2025 ranking,听the third-highest national representation globally.听NHS trusts including University College London Hospitals, Imperial College Healthcare and King鈥檚 College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, among others, are represented on this list.

A considerable influence on the UK鈥檚 smart hospitals is the NHS digital transformation program, which has incorporated the establishment of electronic patient records, AI diagnostics and remote monitoring within the health service. The and ambitious data access creates diagnostic datasets that stand among the most comprehensive and longitudinally complete data sets听complete in the world- which is a significant asset for AI development and clinical research.

nhs-painting-on-floor

Charit茅- Universit盲tsmedizin Berlin

Ranked as the largest smart hospital in Europe, the Charit茅 hospital in Berlin is also the largest academic hospital in Europe. With over 100 departments established in 4 different areas, Charit茅 is a gigantic clinical and research institution. Its digital transformation programme spans electronic health records, AI-assisted diagnostics and a collaborative research model that partners with institutions including Sheba Medical Centre in Israel on AI, big data and medical imaging.

Samsung Medical Centre, Seoul

Samsung Medical Centre is South Korea鈥檚 flagship smart hospital and one of the most advanced in the region. Newsweek regularly ranks them in its global rankings, with special mention for both their capabilities in digital imaging and their integration of AI. 听South Korea has one of the most advanced healthcare systems in terms of digital adoption with almost every . Telemedicine is well-structured and the government has funded digital hospital construction.

Singapore General Hospital and National University Hospital

Singapore has an internationally esteemed healthcare model, showing how small, urban health systems can realise great outcomes using technology, integrated care and population health management. Singapore鈥檚 smart hospital program has AI-assisted diagnosis, robotic surgery, predictive patient flow analytics and an advanced telemedicine system. The country鈥檚 approach, where health technology is treated as a national strategic priority rather than an institutional choice, has produced consistently high outcomes on both clinical quality and patient experience metrics.

Sheba Medical Centre

Sheba Medical Centre is Israel鈥檚 largest hospital and its most internationally celebrated and has featured in the Newsweek global top ten for six consecutive years. What distinguishes Sheba is not just the technology it deploys but the model it has built for developing that technology. Through its ARC Innovation Centre (Accelerate, Redesign, Collaborate), Sheba incubates startups within the hospital itself, where clinicians and technologists co-develop solutions in direct response to real clinical problems. Nearly 80 startups currently operate within the Sheba ecosystem, generating close to $1 billion in tech exits in recent years.

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