In one sentence, describe what the following article is about: Take time to consider what could be automated to improve your business operations. Think about labor-intensive work that could be simplified or improved with software. Alternately, consider systems that might need to be backed up (like accounting or personnel records). Ask other business owners what they have automated and how it has affected their operations. You can also read trade publications and industry journals to get computerization ideas. Meet with managers and department heads. Ask them to make a list of all activities that can potentially be computerized. Handwriting payroll checks and envelope labels, manually calculating product totals and sales tax, and outsourcing flier production to printers are just a few examples of tasks that can be done in-house on a computer.  Ask managers to meet with their employees. Include employees at all levels of the business in the conversation to implement a system that benefits everyone. For example, a delivery driver whose main job is to deliver goods may save time from a company investment in a GPS system, rather than writing out directions by hand or consulting a map. The first step many businesses take in computerizing their operations is the use of accounting software. This software allows you to keep track of your accounts, pay your employees, create financial statements, and file your taxes (or may offer some of these options depending on which software you choose). It also may ensure that your financial data is backed up offsite in case you need it. Accounting software can replace keeping physical books that may be disorganized or labor-intensive with any easy-to-access computer version.  Some paid options include QuickBooks and FreshBooks. However, you can also use free accounting software like Wave Accounting. Most small businesses already use email and perhaps computer faxes to carry out business communications. These methods allow for lower cost, easier ways to communicate with and send information to customers and vendors. However, software may also be used for marketing efforts. For example, email might be used to send out a newsletter or details of a new product to existing customers.  More complicated marketing software allows businesses to track customer information, follow leads, and create marketing campaigns.  Examples include Marketo, Sailthru, and Vocus. If your business involved the design and manufacturing of products, software can greatly aid your product creation process. Design software allows you to create virtual models of your product and run tests on it, without even creating a prototype. In addition, this software can be linked to manufacturing programs that control machinery, allowing you to perform the whole creation process on the computer. The type of software used will depend on your industry, product type, and machinery. Search online for design and manufacturing software packages specific to your needs. Inventory software aids in the ordering, receiving, tracking, and shipping of inventory. This software might also work with accounting software and/or electronic inventory management systems to automate your operations. This allows you to more easily control your inventory, reducing inventory shrinkage and improving efficiency. Examples include 3PL Warehouse Manager, BizSlate, and Cin7. Software can also be used to manage part of your employee relationship. For one, HR software packages allow you to pay, onboard, and give leave to your employees. They also might allow you to manage employees benefits or deal with details specific to independent contractors, depending on which software you choose.  Examples include Zenefits, sumHR, and BambooHR. In addition, other software can be used to manage scheduling for hourly workers and/or customer appointments. These programs streamline and improve the scheduling process, reducing possible errors and forgotten appointments. Examples include When I Work, Genbook, and Booker.
Summary: Brainstorm and research areas where computerization could be useful. Consult with all staff members. Consider using accounting software. Use computers for communications and/or marketing. Get specialized design or manufacturing software. Use software to manage inventory. Manage HR and scheduling.

In one sentence, describe what the following article is about: To maximize the life of your photographs, make sure your hands are clean, dry, and free of lotions. You don't want anything transferring from your hands to your pictures as you handle them. If you are working with old prints, it's a good idea to wear powder-free gloves as you handle the photographs to ensure that no oils from your fingers rub off on them. You can get them at most drugstores or medical supply stores. If you want a way to keep your photos handy for sharing with guests or family, a photo album is a great way to keep them accessible and protected. However, make sure to choose an album with acid-free pages because albums with cheaper-quality pages will deteriorate your photos over time.  The cover material of the album won’t affect the pictures, but it’s a good idea to get a sturdy leather or hard-bound album if you think you will handle it a lot over the years. To attach pictures in the album, either choose an album with sleeves that you just drop the photos in or attach the pictures to the pages using sticky photo corners. Do not glue the photos themselves to the album pages because the glue can ruin your photos over time. Regular cardboard boxes sometimes contain chemicals that can break down your photographs. Make sure you choose boxes that are marked acid-free or safe for photographs.  Choose boxes that are big enough that you do not have to bend the photos, but small enough that the photos don’t shift around too much inside the box. For added protection, put dividers or sheets of acid-free paper in between photos to ensure they do not stick together. You can buy specialty photo supplies like acid-free boxes and paper from craft stores or framing shops. Or, you can find them online. Photographs contain gelatin that will melt and become sticky under warm and humid conditions. The best places to store photographs in your home are under your bed or in your closet. If the gelatin gets too warm or humid, it melts and the photos will stick together or deteriorate. Therefore, don’t keep them in the garage, attic, or basement.  If you have very valuable family heirloom photos, consider housing them in a climate-controlled storage facility. This way, you can have peace of mind knowing that temperature, light, and humidity are regulated. Too little humidity can cause the photographs to become brittle and fall apart. To avoid humidity-related problems with your photographs, aim to store them in a location that stays in a 20-60% relative humidity range. Frames are great protection from dust as long as you use acid-free mats in your frames. As temperature and moisture in the room changes, photos in frames without mats can stick to the glass and get ruined. A mat is not only an aesthetically-pleasing option, but it also keeps the photo from direct contact with the glass. Also, try to keep your framed photographs away from prolonged exposure to direct sunlight to avoid fading.
Summary: Handle your photos with clean, dry hands to prevent damage. Choose acid-free magnetic photo albums to organize your photos. Store photos over long periods of time in acid-free boxes. Keep your photos away from excess heat and humidity. Display your favorite photos in frames with acid-free mats.

In one sentence, describe what the following article is about: If the walls and the ceiling will be the same color, you can skip this step. If you choose to use a roller, be sure to get one with a 1 inch (2.54 cm) thick nap to ensure full coverage.  A spray gun can also be used and may save some time but it might be necessary to practice on a different surface first to get a feel for the way the gun handles and how far you should hold the sprayer to the surface for the best coverage.
Summary:
Cover the entire floor and any furnishings with as many drop-cloths or sheets as needed. Set up a ladder or scaffolding that is tall enough to allow you to reach the ceiling without straining. Put on safety glasses to protect your eyes from loose texture and dripping paint. Vacuum the ceiling using a hand-held vacuum cleaner with a soft-bristled attachment, being careful not to damage the texture. Tape around all the wall edges with painters tape if you are painting the ceiling a color that differs from the walls. Decide on your application technique.