What is a Proxy Server? Meaning, Functions and Goals

Proxy severs have been around for quite a while now. Most likely, the history of proxy servers dates back to the beginnings of networking and the internet itself. Proxy servers were originally developed as a tool for caching frequently accessed Web pages. A proxy server is a server that acts as an intermediary for requests from clients seeking resources from other servers. A client connects to the proxy server, requesting some service, such as a file, connection, web page, or other resource, available from a different server. The proxy server evaluates the request according to its filtering rules. It may filter traffic by Internet Protocol (IP) address or protocol. If the request is validated by the filter, the proxy provides the resource by connecting to the relevant server and requesting the service on behalf of the client. A proxy server may optionally alter the client’s request or the server’s response, Continue reading

Case Study: eBay’s Business Model

Founded on 1995 by Pierre Omidyar, eBay was considered a pioneer in the online auction industry whereby people are brought together on a local, national and international basis to serve the purpose of creating a person-to-person community where ever individual could have an equal access through the same medium which is the Internet. eBay offers wide varieties of products and services for bargain hunters, hobbyists and collectors and sellers, changing the way people engage in trading hence eBay had changed the face of e-commerce from its inception. Today, eBay is continuously the brand preference with over 39 market presence and with $60 billion of the total value of sold items on the site’s trading platform. Basically, eBay introduced several crucial innovations tailor-made for the internet at the business level, a strategy which was conceived to be an improvisation. The online auction business model is where eBay served as the value-added Continue reading

Utilization of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in the Banking

Artificial intelligence (AI) is rapidly transforming the banking industry. Banks are using AI to improve customer service, automate back-office processes, and enhance risk management. AI-powered chatbots and virtual assistants are helping banks provide 24/7 customer service, while AI-powered analytics are enabling banks to analyze vast amounts of data and make better decisions. In this article, we will explore the different ways in which AI is being used in banking and the benefits and challenges associated with its use. AI in Customer Service One of the most visible applications of AI in banking is in customer service. AI-powered chatbots and virtual assistants are becoming increasingly common in the industry. These chatbots and virtual assistants can respond to customer queries, offer personalized recommendations, and help customers with transactions such as account transfers and bill payments. AI-powered chatbots and virtual assistants can provide 24/7 customer service, which is particularly useful for customers who Continue reading

Impact of Digitalization on Business Models

Digitalization has revolutionized the way businesses operate across various industries. With the advent of new technologies, businesses have been able to innovate, improve efficiency, and create new revenue streams. The impact of digitalization on business models has been significant, and in this article, we will explore the different ways in which it has impacted businesses. New Revenue Streams Digitalization has enabled businesses to create new revenue streams by opening up new markets and business models. E-commerce, for example, has allowed businesses to sell their products and services online, reaching a broader customer base than ever before. This has enabled businesses to expand their reach, increase their customer base, and generate more revenue. In addition, businesses can now offer subscription-based services, where customers pay a monthly or annual fee to access a service. This business model has been successful for companies such as Netflix and Spotify, which offer subscription-based streaming services. Continue reading

What is Agile Methodology?

Engineering methodologies required a lot of documentation thereby causing the pace of development to slow down considerably. Agile Methodologies evolved in the 1990s to significantly eliminate this bureaucratic nature of engineering methodology. It was part of developer’s reaction against “heavyweight” methods, who desired to drift away from traditional structured, bureaucratic approaches to software development and move towards more flexible development styles. They were called the ‘Agile’ or ‘Light Weight’ methods and were defined in 1974 by Edmonds in a research paper. Agile methodology is an approach to project management, typically used in software development. It refers to a group of software development methodologies based on iterative development. Requirements and solutions evolve through cooperation between self-organizing cross-functional teams, without concern for any hierarchy or team member roles. It promotes teamwork, collaboration, and process adaptability throughout the project life-cycle with increased face-to-face communication and reduced amount of written documentation. Agile methods break Continue reading

Augmented Reality (AR) – Meaning, Operation and Benefits

Augmented reality refers to the utilization of computers to modify reality, usually in order to provide additional assistance when a human user is interacting with the real environment. The real world around humans provides a wealth of information which the human user must absorb and process through their senses. The most useful and informative of all human senses is the sense of vision and a huge amount of information about the ambiance is required to be sensed as well as processed by the human visual system. Computers are useful because they can provide an overlay of information to assist with the human processing of the information which they perceive through their senses, mostly the visual sense.  As an example, a human who is walking around an urban area can be provided additional information through a head mounted display which superimposes textual information about identification of buildings and other important landmarks Continue reading