TOKYO — Chinese electric vehicle startup, Xpeng Motors, has become the first automaker to adopt an artificial intelligence microchip for autonomous driving developed by U.S. tech company Nvidia, putting it ahead of industry giants such as Toyota Motor and Volvo Cars.

Guangzhou-based Xpeng Motors, often referred to as China’s “Tesla killer,” late last month started deliveries of a new electric sedan, the P7. The car uses Nvidia’s in-vehicle computer, the DRIVE AGX Xavier, that controls the autonomous driving function.

“Xpeng is helping usher in this new era of transportation with the AI-powered P7,” Danny Shapiro, Nvidia senior director who heads the automotive division, wrote in a blog.

The tie-up between Xpeng and Nvidia points to a changing order in the automobile industry. In the past, the newest technologies were always adopted first by European automakers before their Chinese counterparts would follow. Now, those cutting-edge technologies are being introduced in China first.

There are several reasons for such a change. For one, Chinese consumers have become more demanding and want to enjoy the newest functions, said a local executive at a Japanese automaker. The executive said Chinese consumers show a strong interest in new technologies, including self-driving functions and connectivity.

The Chinese government is also keen to nurture the development of such technologies. Beijing has helped to develop cars with “Level 3” self-driving functions and had hoped to commercialize such cars by 2020. It has already approved road-testing for these vehicles. Self-driving technologies are ranked on five levels. Level 3 refers to longer self-driving capability than lower levels but these cars still require a driver onboard.

Nvidia’s in-vehicle computer used in the P7 sedan claims to be able to perform 30 trillion operations per second but yet only consumes 30 watts of power. (Photo courtesy of Xpeng Motors)
The government said in May that commercialization of those vehicles was now pushed back by five years due to the coronavirus outbreak, but it remains committed to promoting self-driving cars.

Another reason for the change in the global industry is that Chinese automakers are focusing more on developing overseas markets. Chinese electric vehicle startups, in particular, are eager to challenge competitors such as Tesla on the world stage.

“We don’t intend to expand our business by depending [only] on domestic demand in China,” said the chief executive of a Chinese EV maker. “We will grow in the global market while contesting head-on with Tesla.”

Such industry changes were already happening in 2017 when NIO, a Chinese EV startup, became the first in the world to adopt Israeli company Mobileye’s EyeQ4 vision processor for autonomous driving and advanced driver assistance systems. Until then, Mobileye had provided its products to European automakers first.

For Xpeng Motors, Nvidia’s DRIVE AGX Xavier will allow its cars to record and process more information. The car employs 14 cameras, five millimeter-wave radars and 12 ultrasonic sensors to ensure that it knows its surroundings.

“DRIVE AGX Xavier, which has a high processing capacity, was needed for the car to process large amounts of sensor data,” said an engineer in charge of development at Xpeng Motors.

Nvidia’s in-vehicle computer used in the P7 sedan claims to be able to perform 30 trillion operations per second but yet only consumes 30 watts of power. It is also able to update software wirelessly.

While mass production of the P7 at its plant in Zhaoqing, Guangdong Province, has begun, Xpeng Motors is already “developing a next-generation EV with higher autonomous driving functions in collaboration with Nvidia,” said Wu Xinzhou, vice president of autonomous driving.

Xpeng Motors has not revealed details of that vehicle, but it is likely to use Nvidia’s next-generation in-vehicle computer, DRIVE AGX Orin, as the brain for self-driving functions. That computer will have processing performance seven times higher than that of Xavier, according to Nvidia’s Shapiro.

Nvidia plans to start shipping Orin samples in 2021. Shapiro said Orin would be installed in vehicles from around end-2022 at the earliest. Given close ties between the two companies, it would not be surprising if Xpeng Motors becomes the world’s first company to adopt Orin.

Yet, such collaboration could abruptly be broken off by worsening relations between the the U.S. and China. U.S. policymakers could demand that American technologies be reserved for domestic manufacturers.

Nvidia’s reliance on Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., the world’s largest contract chipmaker, could also throw a spanner in the works. Like China’s Huawei Technologies, which has been sanctioned by the U.S., Nvidia has entrusted the production of its microchips to TSMC. It plans to use TSMC’s 7-nanometer processing capabilities for its Orin.

TSMC has announced plans to build a new factory in the U.S., but production there will only begin in 2024, too late for the planned mass manufacture of Orin.

Courtesty Nikkei xTECH/Nikkei Automotive

5G technology is now here, we can finally see the first phones using the new tech. This is a huge moment for technology. Are you ready for the changes? Many have wondered which first phones will be using the tech, well we’re going to delve a bit deeper into 5G technology and the smartphones we can expect to take advantage of it.

5G technology, for the uninformed, is the next step in wireless connections. If you remember back when 3G was phased out in favor of 4G LTE, you’re familiar with what this process looks like. Originally, 4G was only available in large metro areas and only on the newest and best smartphones.

The roll-out of 5G tech is likely to track quite similarly. Much like 4G LTE, 5G is a huge step up in terms of speed and accuracy. It will likely first be rolled out to primarily large cities where it can service the largest numbers of users. Over time, it will be rolled out nationwide.

5G Smartphones

Most phones that are on the market today will not have 5G compatibility, so this likely won’t even affect you until you upgrade. You won’t need to upgrade for a bit unless you’re living in an early-access area like New York or LA, though.

If you’re interested in future-proofing, you can pick up one of these 5G-enabled phones in the coming months as they become available.

Samsung Galaxy S10 5G

Samsung come out of the gate strong with a 5G version of their Galaxy S10. What can we say about the Galaxy S10 that hasn’t already been said? It’s a great phone with a great suite of useful features, a beautiful display and a stellar processor. Add lightning-fast 5G speeds to that and you’ve got a real winner.

iPhone 12

We know what you’re thinking: iPhone 12? They just released the 11! Well, Apple did not roll out 5G integration on this year’s upgrade. Given the slow roll-out of 5G nationally, Apple’s focus won’t be on that tech until 2020, with the eventual launch of the iPhone 12.

Huawei Mate X

If you don’t mind importing, or dealing with a somewhat shady company, the Huawei Mate X will be releasing later this year. This folding, 5G-ready phone looks like a sci-fi device. The Chinese smartphone maker Huawei has been in hot water recently over some scandals, but they still make great phones.

Looking for the best combination in HR Management and the latest technology breakthrough? How much does this software cost and what do you need to look for? What are the pros and cons? We have the scoop! We’ve cut your search time in half by compiling a list of the best and most affordable state-of-the-art HR software available today.

Whether you’re a Fortune 500 company or a start-up looking to make your first hire, modern-day HR solutions have never been more vital to businesses as they are now. In the last decade we’ve seen HR software take great strides in practically reinventing itself.

In fact, in the past couple of years we have seen features that we never knew we needed become indispensable for recruiters and businesses alike. But don’t sweat it, we know why you’re really here – what are those features and most importantly, what’s it going to cost you?

Before we dive into pricing, lets take a look at what some of your basic goals are and how investing in HR software can transform your business:

Size

How many employees does your business currently have and how many are you projected to hire in the near future? This is an important aspect to take into consideration since most HR Software companies offer rates based on how many employees you have. For example, a company that runs payroll for 20 employees will have a greatly different pricing structure to work with in comparison to a company that runs payroll for 2,000 employees.

Functions

HR managements falls under a huge umbrella that covers a bunch of different essential features. What exactly are you looking for within your unique business structure? Most industries outsource tasks such as payroll, hiring, performance reviews, time off tracking, etc.

While it can be tempting to outsource all aspect of your business with HR Software, it may not always be really necessary. You should especially take this into consideration when pricing comes into play. Not all HR Software companies offer a complete package at one price. For example, Bamboo HR ups their prices for companies that run payroll with them by $4 per employee and $25 per month.

Budget

But what’s this going to really cost you? Let’s dive in. There is no getting around the fact that HR Software pricing greatly varies from one provider to the other. How much should you spend on HR Software and is it really worth the price tag that comes with it?

Typically, when licensing HR Software on a monthly basis, prices range anywhere from $50 – $1,000 each month. Subsequently, this will to depend on the factors mentioned above such as size and functionality of your unique business model.

Most HR Software providers offer a trial month for you to try out their product, without dishing out a single penny. Win-win! As a business, you should take advantage of this. Take some time to go through the trial and error process before committing. This will not only help you compare different HR Software, but will also give you a concrete answer on what it’s going to cost you.

Here is a list of the top-rated HR Software companies for you to try out:
1. BambooHR
2. Zoho People
3. Dayforce HCM
4. SAP SucessFactors
5. Deputy
6. Gusto
7. Zenefits
8. CakeHR
9. ADP Workforce Now

An applicant tracking system (ATS) is a software application that enables the electronic handling of recruitment needs. An ATS can be implemented or accessed online on an enterprise or small business level, depending on the needs of the company and there is also free and open source ATS software available. 

When you apply for a job online, your resume isn’t typically going directly to a recruiter or hiring manager. It’s first being processed by an ATS. Whether that human recruiter ever sees your resume could depend on how well your resume is optimized for ATS algorithms.

Why employers use applicant tracking systems

Top employers hire for several jobs at a time and receive hundreds of resumes for any given opening. Because applying for a job online is easier than ever, many of these applicants are unqualified and figured “it was worth a try.”

Applicant tracking systems keep all these resumes in one place, helping recruiters and hiring managers stay organized as well as EEOC compliant. In theory, these systems also save time by automatically surfacing and highlighting top candidates. In reality, ATS do help hiring professionals narrow their applicant pool, but top candidates slip through the cracks.

Most large corporations utilize applicant tracking systems. Jobscan research found that 98% of Fortune 500 companies use ATS while a Kelly OCG survey estimated 66% of large companies and 35% of small organizations rely on recruitment software. If you’re applying to a large organization, chances are you’ll face an ATS. If you’re applying through any online form, you’re applying through an ATS. Even job sites like Indeed and LinkedIn have their own built in ATS.

Viewing Applications

Some recruiters still choose to glance at every job application that comes through their applicant tracking system. In this case, most take a quick glance at the applicant’s past highlights, job titles, and companies. They can make a determination about whether they want to learn more in about 6 seconds. It’s important to make sure your top skills and qualifications are easily identifiable.

Automatic Rankings

Some applicant tracking systems can automatically compare your resume to the job description. For example, Taleo calls this feature “Req Rank,” which ranks each applicant based on how well their resume scores based on the job description. A common way recruiters filter resumes in an applicant tracking system is by searching for key skills and titles. For example, if a recruiter is hiring for an Administrative Assistant position out of 400 resumes, their first step will probably be a search for “Administrative Assistant.” This will isolate candidates that have done the exact job before. Anyone that doesn’t have that exact term in their resume is out of luck. A search can contain multiple terms. For example, they might perform a complex search that contains a combination of titles and skills important for the job:

Administrative Assistant AND data entry AND payroll …

Candidates who can predict the correct resume keywords will have the greatest chance of being included in recruiter search results. The best way figure out which skills and keywords to include is by analyzing the job description. Jobs can automates this process by analyzing your resume against the job description to show the top skills and keywords missing from your resume.

Our Top 3
#3. Homebase

Homebase makes hourly work easier for the whole team. With free online tools and mobile apps for managers and employees, Homebase eliminates the paperwork and headaches of scheduling, payroll, hiring and team communication. Start saving 4+ hours every week by visiting joinhomebase.com. Used by over 100,000 businesses of all sizes across the US.

#2. BambooHR

BambooHR offers easy, integrated applicant tracking (ATS) as part of our award-winning cloud-based HR platform. Onboarding tools, e-signatures, time-off tracking, performance management, plus easy reporting and a convenient mobile app set you free to do great work. Released from the data management spiral, HR professionals become more effective, more efficient, and more human. Visit bamboohr.com or give us a call to see a demo and start a free trial.

#1. Breezy HR

The most highly rated ATS on Capterra, Breezy streamlines your entire hiring process; giving you more time to connect with candidates by automating tasks like advertising on 40+ job boards, screening, interview scheduling & follow-ups. We include all the tools your team needs to hire more efficiently, from referrals & sourcing tools for LinkedIn and dozens of others to custom scorecards & interview guides. With Breezy, you’ll be making better, hiring decisions in less time. It’s GDPR compliant.

If you own a business and found this article helpful, you might like our article about the top cloud services of 2018.

Has 2020 shaken your companies thoughts on work from home?

Your employees like it and their productivity is high. Offering work from home as a staple of your company opens up your ability to recruit anywhere in the world and save a ton on monthly office spaces… but, you’re really not sure that you can effectively manage their work and keep it secure.

This is where cloud computing, along with mobile technology, provides your customers’ employees the ability to work from any location that has internet access, via a virtual desktop or remote infrastructure.

Cloud computing provides flexibility

Cloud technology is what enables employees to work from any location, giving them access via a virtual environment to the same information that they’d have access to from the office. Collaboration and communication tools ensure that your customers’ employees can use the latest techniques and complete work at the same level as they would be able to from their office desktop.

Employees can access documents and data that they need by using specific credentials to maintain security at the same time as giving them flexibility to work from home or any other location. This can be useful when your customers have multiple office locations, such as if they have a primary central office and smaller remote offices from additional locations. Cloud technology provides a greater level of flexibility and shared access to information centrally accessible via a single server.

Increasing security for remote working

Despite concerns your customers might have about security, cloud computing can actually work towards increasing their overall security levels as a business. Security measures can be put in place, such as user-specific passwords and encryption of files when there are attempts to open these by unauthorized users. Additional security measures can be implemented in the event of mobile devices or laptops being lost or stolen to prevent a security breach, so your customers need not worry about cloud computing compromising high levels of security in favour of remote working capabilities.

Scalability for growing businesses – in the office and remotely

Cloud computing also enables your customers to accommodate a large increase in a remote workforce very quickly, since employees can use their own mobile devices and laptops without incurring additional hardware costs. They can also access internal information via the cloud wherever they choose to work, and on any device. As long as each user is provided with access details, new employees can easily be granted access to all of the information that they will need, without them ever having to visit the office at all. This is ideal when there is restricted physical office space to scale up, and there is no restriction on the number of remote workers.

Cloud computing and the future

Cloud computing can offer a greater level of flexibility, security and scalability to your clients by enabling remote working. Find a specialist