Today’s blog is our Archives at SafeSourcing.

Don’t miss out! This post is from a few years back and it was spot on, so it might be time to invest again.

If you had invested $1,000 dollars in Bitcoin back in 2008, you’d have a WOW amount today. Bitcoin is based on the blockchain protocol. What is blockchain you ask? Blockchain is a digital ledger in which transactions made in bitcoin or another cryptocurrency are recorded chronologically and publicly “we can actually have a look at the blockchain and see evidence of what’s going on.” Blockchain originated in the technology space, which explains slow adoption rooted in its techno-babble jargon.

Marketing and business strategist, Clay Hebert (founder of Crowdfunding Hack), sees a familiar story playing out differently this time compared to how many companies were late to the party when social media emerged. People were very apprehensive about social media, putting your business or yourself out there for the world to see. But it worked, businesses were booming after starting a Facebook or Twitter page. People new about you and everything went viral. “In the mid-to-late 2000’s, big companies missed the social media train. They couldn’t see how Twitter or Facebook would immediately impact their business, so they were slow to adopt these technologies. They don’t want to play catch-up again.” Quoted by CEO of Bitcoin.

This is the same about Bitcoin. People all over are talking about how bad it is or what a scam it is. As Hebert (founder of Crowdfunding Hack) suggests too, we’re already starting to see wider understanding and adoption in blockchain technology from companies big and small. For example:

• Large consulting firms like Accenture and Deloitte are building out entire blockchain practice areas and developing key alliances in the space.
• IBM recently forged blockchain collaboration with Nestlé, Walmart, Costco and others to improve global food supply chain safety.
• Some realtors have begun to differentiate themselves by accepting Bitcoin for real estate transactions (CNBC).
• The hurdles won’t be overcome overnight. Similar to the Internet itself and social media, blockchain will enable new digital transactions that will disrupt traditional businesses like document authentication and title searches.

Smart companies will build skills around blockchain technology to ensure they are the ones doing the disrupting rather than the ones being disrupted.

Bitcoin is becoming bigger by the day and I say we all get on board fast. The Companies are drastically starting to use it around the world. And it’s a matter of time before its being used everywhere and in every aspect of our financial world.

For more information on how SafeSourcing can help your procurement efforts, or on our Risk Free trial program, please contact a SafeSourcing Customer Service representative. We have an entire team ready to assist you today.

Today’s post is by Troy Lowe; Vice President of Development at SafeSourcing.

With winter here, the days getting shorter and temperatures dropping you may think that it is a good idea to start your car and let it idle for a while before you get in and drive to your destination.  If you are like me this is something that we did all of the time when the temperatures were extremely cold.  This was common practice back in the day when most cars had carburetors.  The carburetors regulated the fuel/air mixture within the engine and were not very accurate when adjusting the air to fuel ratio in the cold weather.  In colder temperatures the carburetors could not vaporize all of the fuel that it let into the engine and some of that fuel was not vaporized would cause the vehicle to stall out.  For this reason it was common for people to start their cars and let them sit for about 5 minutes before getting in and driving.  According to the manufacturers this is no longer necessary because the cars now days have electric fuel injection systems that help maintain the correct fuel/air mixture needed for combustion despite the outside temperatures.  With this type of fuel injection system, vehicles can be driven immediately after being started and no longer need to be warmed up.  It is recommended by the EPA and DOE that you not let your car idle more than 30 seconds before you start your driving during the winter.  Letting it run any longer is just a waste of fuel and emissions.  Not only is idling your car not needed it can also cause damage to your vehicle by stripping oil from parts of the engine that help the engine run smoothly.   Below are some other reasons not to let your car idle this winter.

• Engine Takes Longer to Warm Up
• Fumes are Very Unhealthy
• Prohibited by Law in Areas
• Theft
• Wastes Fuel
• Bad for the Environment

Interested in learning how SafeSourcing can help your company save money maintaining your fleet. If you would like more information on how SafeSourcing can help you, please contact a SafeSourcing Customer Service representative.  We have an entire team ready to assist you today.

Today’s post is by Ronald D. Southard, CEO at SafeSourcing Inc

That’s not so good. However, it is avoidable if businesses hold their supplier accountable to what their prices should rightfully be and then pass those savings on to their customers or at least share them. That would be a win/win

So, how do you do that. It’s simple. Reach out to me. Tell me you have a category you would like to have alternative sources of supply for, improved service levels at a lower cost. If I can’t do that for you, don’t pay me. If I can let’s do some more work together and improve your margins, earnings, and shareholder value. I can prove it to you in less than three weeks start to finish.

So, give us a call.  And ask us about our e-Procurement solutions and associated white glove services and our SafeSourceIt™ Global Supplier Database that includes over 557,000 vendor/suppliers. We can get you better pricing on about any category of product or service.

To learn more, please contact a SafeSourcing customer services associate.