Friday, 5 January 2018

AI Agents vs Chatbots: Understanding the Key Differences, Business Benefits, and Real-World Applications

Meta Title: AI Agents vs Chatbots | Key Differences, Benefits & Enterprise Use Cases

Meta Description: Learn the differences between AI Agents and chatbots. Discover how AI Agents outperform traditional chatbots with planning, reasoning, memory, tool usage, and enterprise automation.

Focus Keyword: AI Agents vs Chatbots

Secondary Keywords:

AI Agent vs Chatbot
AI Agents Explained
Enterprise AI
AI Automation
AI Agent Development
Generative AI Course
ChatGPT Training
Claude AI Training
AI Training in India

AI Agents vs Chatbots: Which One Is Right for Your Business?

For many years, businesses have used chatbots to answer customer questions, automate support, and improve response times. While traditional chatbots remain useful for handling straightforward interactions, Artificial Intelligence has evolved significantly with the emergence of AI Agents.

Unlike conventional chatbots that mainly respond to user queries, AI Agents can understand goals, create execution plans, interact with software applications, retrieve enterprise knowledge, and complete multi-step business workflows.

This shift represents one of the biggest advancements in enterprise AI. Organizations are increasingly adopting AI Agents to automate complex business processes, enhance employee productivity, and improve customer experiences.

In this article, we'll compare AI Agents and chatbots, examine their capabilities, and help you determine which solution best fits your organization's needs.

What Is a Chatbot?

A chatbot is a software application that interacts with users through text or voice conversations.

Traditional chatbots typically:

Answer frequently asked questions
Provide predefined responses
Guide users through simple workflows
Collect information
Redirect users to human agents when necessary

Most chatbots operate within a limited scope and follow predefined conversation flows.

What Is an AI Agent?

An AI Agent is an intelligent software system capable of understanding objectives, planning tasks, retrieving information, using external tools, making decisions, and executing workflows with minimal human intervention.

AI Agents can:

Understand complex instructions
Plan multiple steps
Access enterprise systems
Retrieve company knowledge
Analyze information
Use APIs
Complete business processes
Learn from feedback

Instead of simply answering questions, AI Agents focus on achieving outcomes.

AI Agents vs Chatbots: Feature Comparison

Feature	Traditional Chatbot	AI Agent
Answers questions	✅	✅
Understands goals	Limited	✅
Multi-step planning	❌	✅
Uses external tools	Limited	✅
API integration	Basic	Advanced
Enterprise software integration	Limited	Extensive
Memory	Minimal	Advanced
Decision-making	Rule-based	Context-aware
Workflow automation	Basic	Comprehensive
Learns from interactions	Limited	More adaptive
Knowledge retrieval (RAG)	Rare	Common
Enterprise automation	Limited	Extensive

How Chatbots Work

Traditional chatbots generally follow this process:

Receive user input.
Match the request to predefined intents or use an LLM.
Generate a response.
End the interaction.

Example:

Customer:

"What are your business hours?"

Chatbot:

"We are open Monday to Friday from 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM."

The interaction is straightforward and usually does not involve additional actions.

How AI Agents Work

AI Agents perform more sophisticated workflows.

Example:

User:

"Generate last month's sales report and email it to the regional managers."

The AI Agent may:

Retrieve sales data from the ERP system
Calculate KPIs
Generate charts
Write an executive summary
Create a PDF report
Email stakeholders
Log the completed task

This is a complete business workflow rather than a simple conversation.

Business Use Cases for Chatbots

Traditional chatbots are well suited for:

Customer FAQs

Answering common questions about products, services, or business hours.

Appointment Booking

Helping users schedule meetings or appointments.

Lead Capture

Collecting customer contact information.

Order Status

Providing shipment or order tracking updates.

Basic Technical Support

Resolving frequently encountered issues using predefined knowledge.

Business Use Cases for AI Agents

AI Agents support far more advanced scenarios.

Finance

Budget analysis
Financial reporting
Invoice processing
Expense auditing

Human Resources

Employee onboarding
HR policy assistance
Leave management
Recruitment support

Sales

Proposal generation
CRM updates
Lead qualification
Sales forecasting

Marketing

SEO content generation
Campaign planning
Social media management
Market research

Software Development

Code generation
Code reviews
Test creation
Documentation
Debugging assistance

Supply Chain

Procurement analysis
Inventory optimization
Vendor evaluation
Shipment tracking

Why Businesses Are Moving Toward AI Agents

Organizations increasingly choose AI Agents because they offer:

Better Productivity

Employees spend less time on repetitive work.

Intelligent Automation

AI completes tasks instead of only providing information.

Enterprise Integration

AI connects with ERP, CRM, HRMS, databases, cloud storage, and productivity platforms.

Improved Decision Support

AI analyzes business data before making recommendations.

Better Customer Experience

Customers receive faster, more personalized assistance.

Technologies Behind AI Agents

Modern AI Agents typically combine:

Large Language Models (LLMs)

Provide language understanding and reasoning.

Prompt Engineering

Guides AI behavior and workflow execution.

Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG)

Retrieves trusted organizational knowledge.

Model Context Protocol (MCP)

Connects AI with enterprise applications and external tools.

APIs

Enable communication with software systems.

Vector Databases

Support semantic search and knowledge retrieval.

Challenges of AI Agents

Despite their advantages, organizations should address:

Security
Privacy
Governance
AI hallucinations
Regulatory compliance
Human oversight
Integration complexity
Cost of implementation

A thoughtful deployment strategy helps maximize benefits while reducing risks.

When Should You Use a Chatbot?

Choose a chatbot if your goal is to:

Answer FAQs
Provide basic customer support
Capture leads
Offer simple self-service
Reduce call center volume

These use cases generally require limited reasoning and minimal system integration.

When Should You Use an AI Agent?

Choose an AI Agent if you need to:

Automate business workflows
Integrate with enterprise software
Analyze business data
Generate reports
Coordinate multiple systems
Perform multi-step tasks
Support employee productivity
Deliver intelligent decision support

AI Agents are better suited for organizations seeking end-to-end process automation.

Future Outlook

The future of enterprise AI is likely to include both technologies.

Traditional chatbots will continue to handle simple interactions efficiently, while AI Agents will increasingly manage complex workflows and business processes.

Many organizations are expected to deploy hybrid solutions where a chatbot handles initial conversations and transfers more sophisticated requests to an AI Agent.

Learn AI Agent Development with Palium Skills

Palium Skills offers an industry-focused AI Agent Development Course in India designed for software developers, IT professionals, business analysts, consultants, and enterprise teams.

The curriculum includes:

Artificial Intelligence Fundamentals
Generative AI
ChatGPT
Claude AI
Large Language Models (LLMs)
Prompt Engineering
AI Agent Architecture
Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG)
Model Context Protocol (MCP)
Python Programming
APIs
Vector Databases
AI Automation
Enterprise AI Projects
Responsible AI

Training is available through classroom sessions in Kolkata and live online classes across India. Learners build production-ready AI Agents that integrate with enterprise systems, automate business workflows, and solve real-world organizational challenges.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can an AI Agent replace a chatbot?

In some scenarios, yes. AI Agents can perform many chatbot functions while also supporting advanced reasoning, planning, and workflow automation. However, simple chatbots remain a practical choice for straightforward interactions.

Are AI Agents more expensive?

AI Agent implementations may involve additional integration and infrastructure costs, but they can also deliver greater automation and productivity gains for complex business processes.

Can AI Agents access company data?

Yes, when securely integrated through APIs, Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG), or Model Context Protocol (MCP), AI Agents can access authorized enterprise knowledge and systems.

Which is better for customer support?

For answering common questions, chatbots are often sufficient. For resolving complex issues, accessing enterprise systems, or completing multi-step requests, AI Agents generally provide more advanced capabilities.

Conclusion

While chatbots continue to play an important role in customer engagement and self-service, AI Agents represent the next generation of enterprise AI. By combining reasoning, planning, memory, knowledge retrieval, and enterprise integrations, AI Agents can automate sophisticated workflows that traditional chatbots cannot.

Organizations looking to improve productivity, automate business operations, and enhance decision-making should consider how AI Agents can complement or extend their existing chatbot solutions.

If you're interested in learning how to design and build enterprise AI solutions, Palium Skills offers hands-on training in AI Agents, ChatGPT, Claude AI, Prompt Engineering, RAG, MCP, Python, APIs, AI Automation, and Enterprise AI.

Saturday, 9 December 2017

Standing upto Bosses

We receive numerous forward messages on Whatsapp and email. Most of them can be ignored but once in a while one receives a message which sets you thinking. Here is one such article which struck a chord within me and left me admiring Mr. R. K. Talwar.
Frankly, I had not heard about him before this message. Hence, it is being shared as it shows what a fine example of Chairman he was - standing up for his conviction and also standing upto his political bosses. We hardly hear of such people these days ... Read on
*The Talwar Amendment*
by Mr. N. Vaghul
R.K. Talwar was a highly respected banker who was the Chairman of State Bank of India from 1959 to 1974. He was removed from his office for his principled stand against an unjust and unethical interference by the Government in the functioning of the Bank. The government had to amend the laws in the parliament in order to get rid of Talwar, which became well known in banking circles as the "Talwar Amendment." In this article, a close confidant of Talwar describes the episode, which can be an inspiring example of professional courage to young people.
There was no doubt whatsoever that the Amendment was introduced with a single purpose of removing Talwar from the office of the Chairman, even though the bill was clothed in general terms and included several other provisions which were not quite significant. What did Talwar do to merit this extreme measure?
The problem in one sense was relatively simple and possibly an everyday occurrence in a banker's life. One of the borrowers of the Bank, a cement company, became sick with mounting losses and approached the Bank for restructuring assistance. The economy was undoubtedly passing through a difficult phase at that time. The 1971 war with Pakistan on the issue of Bangladesh had left many scars and several marginal companies were facing considerable difficulties. The State Bank of India, being the largest Bank was involved with most such enterprises and was always ready and willing to give a helping hand to rescue these companies. What made the problem difficult with respect to this specific company was the strong assessment by the Bank that much of the difficulties of the company were brought about due to gross mismanagement, and given this assessment, the Bank insisted that as a condition precedent to implementing the restructuring package, the Chairman of the company who was also the CEO should step down from the management and a professional management should take over the Company's management.
This was a standard prescription by the Bank in similar circumstances, and it was invariably resisted by the promoters till they reached a stage when it was difficult for them to carry on without the Bank's help. In this specific case also the promoter strongly resisted any attempt to dislodge him from the management position but the Bank held its ground.
But then this promoter turned out to be different. He was a friend of Sanjay Gandhi, son of then Prime Minister of India, Mrs. Indira Gandhi and decided to take his case directly to him. To Sanjay Gandhi who was grappling with more serious affairs of the country, this turned out to be a minor irritant. He called the Finance Minister and asked him to direct the Bank to waive this requirement. As far as he was concerned he had given his decision and that should have seen the end of the matter. But the problem was the Government was dealing with a different person, Talwar who was not used to taking orders from the Government.
The Finance Minister telephoned Talwar and asked him not to insist on a change in management as a condition precedent to restructuring. Talwar called for the details from the department and having satisfied himself with the merits of the case, informed the Finance Minister that it would be difficult for the Bank to waive the requirement of change in management. The Finance Minister sent for Talwar and told him that he had received instructions from "the highest authority" in the country who expected him to carry out the orders without demur. Talwar stood his ground and told the Finance Minister in no uncertain terms that there was no way for him to waive this requirement and the Bank's position would remain unchanged. When this was communicated to Sanjay Gandhi, he must have been quite amused. During the period of about a little more than a year since the Emergency was declared, he had never met anybody who either disagreed with him or refused to carry out his orders. He decided to send for Talwar to personally talk to him and was shocked to hear from his intermediaries that Talwar refused to come and see him on the ground that he held no constitutional authority and he was accountable only to the Finance Minister. Sanjay Gandhi's response was swift and clear. He told the Finance Minister to sack Talwar.
But the Finance Minister faced two sets of problems. Talwar, during the seven years he was the Chairman of the Bank, had achieved a high sense of personal reputation and his removal from the office for what could be called a trivial issue would send shock waves in the industry.
The Finance Minister could, however, manage this, because this was a period of emergency and what could have caused a stir in the normal times, would pass off as not unusual in the extraordinary circumstances prevailing in the country. The second problem was much more intractable. When the matter was referred to the Legal department, the Legal department pointed out to the specific provision in the State Bank of India Act which guaranteed the Chairman the special protection against removal without sufficient cause. The Finance Minister, therefore, felt that a better course of action would be to offer Talwar a different assignment or seek his resignation. He sent for Talwar again and told him that the Government was planning to set up a Banking Commission to make recommendations with regard to the restructuring of the functioning of the banking system and whether he would be willing to accept the Chairmanship of the Commission.
Without batting an eyelid, Talwar told the Finance Minister that he would indeed be happy to head the Commission and he could carry out this job simultaneous with his existing assignment as Chairman of State Bank. When the Finance Minister looked somewhat uncomfortable with this suggestion, Talwar very calmly looked the Finance Minister in his eyes and told him "Mr. Minister you seem to be very particular that I should not continue as the Chairman of the State Bank of India, is that correct?" The Finance Minister replied. "Yes Mr. Talwar, you know what the problem is. We all have the highest regard for your abilities but unfortunately you do not seem to be very flexible on this one issue which is of great importance to the highest authority in the country. If you do not want to accept any other position, I may have no option but to seek your resignation or in the alternative, to dismiss you from service. This would be extremely painful to me but I would be left with no other option." Talwar replied, "Mr. Minister I have no intention of resigning from my position. It is entirely up to you to decide whether you want to dismiss me. In any case, I have just about a little more than a year left in my second term and I see no reason why you should not allow me to complete it." The Finance Minister looked pained and miserable.
He terminated the interview and hoped that some solution would be found. He reported the matter to Sanjay Gandhi who was infuriated and asked the CBI to investigate Talwar to find out whether there were any grounds on which he could be dismissed in terms of Talwar's personal reputation for honesty and integrity was quite well known and in the normal course it would have been virtually impossible for any investigating agency to charge him with any misconduct. He, however, had two chinks in his armour. One was his almost monthly visits to Pondicherry which attracted widespread attention both within the Bank and in the political circles. His attachment to the Mother and the Aurobindo Ashram was well known and he made it clear to the Government when this issue once came up for discussion that he needed these visits for what he called "recharging his batteries" and that if as a condition of his employment he were to stop these visits, he would as well step down from the Bank. In any case, this could not be construed as a sufficient cause for his dismissal in terms of the Act. The second one was a little more serious. Talwar had sent appeals on behalf of the Ashram to a large number of industrialists, many of whom were clients of the Bank, seeking donations for the Auroville project. Those of us who were close to him, feared that the Central Investigative Agency could focus on this issue and charge him with abuse of authority. While Talwar himself was completely unperturbed by the reported investigation, we came to know from several sources that the Agency was meeting several industrialists who had given donation to the project with a view to taking from them a statement that they were coerced into giving this donation at the instance of Talwar.
At the end of the investigation, two things became very clear to the Agency. One was that not a single industrialist was willing to say that Talwar either spoke to them or in any way tried to persuade them to make the donation. The second was what all Talwar did was to forward to these clients an appeal signed by Prime Minister, Ms. Gandhi and the Secretary General of the United Nations, U Thant commending the Auroville project for support.
The Agency found that under these circumstances, there was no way in which they could charge Talwar with abuse of his position. While the CBI closed the case, as far as the Finance Minister was concerned, it was back to square one and he faced the unpleasant task of reporting back to his political master his failure to carry out his diktat. Sanjay Gandhi lost his patience. He directed the Finance Minister to amend the State Bank of India Act to provide for a summary dismissal of the Chairman.
The Legislation amending the State Bank of India Act was passed in record time and received the assent of the President without any delay. Armed with the new provision in the Act, the finance Minister summoned Talwar once again and told him that if he did not resign from the service, there was no alternative but to remove him in terms of the new provision. But, Talwar was defiant. He told the Finance Minister that he had no intention of resigning and the Finance Minister could take whatever action he deemed appropriate. On the evening of the 4th of August, 1976 Talwar received a fax message from the Finance Minister sanctioning him 13 months leave and asking him to hand over charge to the Managing Director. It is amazing that with all the powers in their hands, the Government could not summon up enough courage to dismiss Talwar, but instead gave him leave preparatory to retirement for as long as 13 months, which he did not ask for!! This was the respect he commanded in the industry.
Talwar left the Bank promptly ‪at 5.30 p.m. which was his usual time of departure. There was hardly anybody to see him off. Everyone was scared even to be seen to be associated with him. I had by then left the Bank service and joined the National Institute of Bank Management.
The residence of the Chairman of the State Bank was just across the road and as soon as I received intimation that he had reached his home, I walked across to meet him. I found him smiling and cheerful. Extending his hand to greet me on my birthday (which by a curious coincidence happened to be 4th August) he said, "Vaghul, look at the Divine will. What a pleasure it is to be gifted with His blessings."
I did not know what to say. I mumbled something to the effect that the Divine always tested His true bhaktasand every such test would only serve to reinforce the faith. He looked me at my eyes and said "How can you call this a test? As far as I am concerned, I am only an instrument of the Divine and His Will is the only thing that is important to me. If you see this as a suffering, it only shows your ignorance. We cannot sit in judgment over the Divine will." I then said, "I agree, Sir that we have to accept the Divine Will with humility." But he was not finished with his lesson. "Where is the question of accepting or not accepting? You have to learn to enjoy all the time the Divine play. The work in the Bank is over. What the Divine has in store for me I do not know. Whatever it is, I will serve the Divine with devotion and always enjoy being His instrument." I could only think of one example when I looked at him – the picture of Rama when he was told by Kaikeyi that he was not to be crowned as the King but had to go to the forest for 14 years. The Tamil poet Kamban says that when he heard this pronouncement from Kaikeyi, Rama's face resembled that of a lotus with a full bloom. He was happy to carry out the behest of his father. In the case of Talwar, it was the behest of the Divine. That was the only difference.
*Narayanan Vaghul*
The author is the Former Chairman of ICICI Bank Limited. He is widely recognized in India for his role in pioneering the concept of the Universal Banking Model that laid the foundation for a new era in Indian Banking. He was mentored by Late Mr. R.K. Talwar during his tenure at State Bank of India and one of the few whom Shri Talwar confided in.

Wednesday, 1 November 2017

Breakfast Conversation in German between Mother & Son

German Language Translation: Breakfast

Sohn: Mama, was gibt es heute zum Frühstück?
Mutter: Ich habe Brötchen, Marmelade, Käse und Eier vorbereitet. Was möchtest du?
Sohn: Kann ich ein Ei haben? Rührei, bitte!
Mutter: Natürlich, ich mache dir gleich eines. Möchtest du noch etwas dazu?
Sohn: Ja, vielleicht ein Brötchen mit Nutella.
Mutter: Okay, aber vergiss nicht, auch etwas Obst zu essen. Wie wäre es mit einem Apfel?
Sohn: Hm, vielleicht später. Ich habe jetzt Lust auf was Süßes.
Mutter: In Ordnung, aber denk dran, ein ausgewogenes Frühstück ist wichtig.

English Translation: Breakfast

Son: Mom, what’s for breakfast today?
Mother: I’ve prepared rolls, jam, cheese, and eggs. What would you like?
Son: Can I have an egg? Scrambled eggs, please!
Mother: Of course, I’ll make you one right away. Would you like anything else with it?
Son: Yes, maybe a roll with Nutella.
Mother: Okay, but don’t forget to eat some fruit too. How about an apple?
Son: Hmm, maybe later. I feel like having something sweet right now.
Mother: Alright, but remember, a balanced breakfast is important.

Thursday, 14 September 2017

How many SAAS Companies are there in the world?

SaaS (Software as a Service) is a cloud-based software delivery model where users access applications over the internet rather than installing them on their local computers or servers. SaaS providers host, manage, and update the software on their infrastructure, allowing users to subscribe to and use the software on a pay-as-you-go basis.

Key Features of SaaS:

Cloud-based: Hosted on remote servers and accessed via the internet.
Subscription Model: Users typically pay monthly or annually instead of buying a one-time license.
Automatic Updates: The provider handles maintenance, security, and updates.
Accessibility: Can be accessed from any device with an internet connection.
Scalability: Easily scalable based on user needs.

Examples of SaaS Software:

Business & Productivity: Microsoft 365, Google Workspace, Slack, Zoom
Customer Relationship Management (CRM): Salesforce, HubSpot
E-commerce: Shopify, BigCommerce
Project Management: Asana, Trello, Monday.com
Financial & Accounting: QuickBooks Online, FreshBooks

So SaaS is widely used by businesses and individuals due to its flexibility, cost-effectiveness, and ease of deployment.

As of 2024, there are approximately 30,800 Software as a Service (SaaS) companies operating globally. The United States leads with around 17,000 SaaS companies, accounting for about 60% of the global total. Other countries with significant numbers of SaaS companies include the United Kingdom with approximately 2,000, and Canada and Germany each hosting around 1,000. citeturn0search3

The SaaS industry has experienced rapid growth in recent years and is projected to continue expanding. Estimates suggest that the global SaaS market could reach a valuation of $700 billion by 2030, with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 18.3% from 2022 to 2030. citeturn0search1

In terms of market share, no single company dominates the SaaS landscape. As of 2020, the five largest SaaS companies collectively held approximately 30.5% of the market. Salesforce leads with a market share of around 9.3%, followed closely by Microsoft at 8.7%. citeturn0search0

The SaaS sector is characterized by its dynamic nature, with frequent mergers, acquisitions, and new startups continually reshaping the market. This ongoing evolution contributes to the increasing number of SaaS companies worldwide.

Tuesday, 10 January 2017

Top 10 Skills in Demand in 2017

This is a very trying time for IT Companies and as well as for the workforce. A large number of workforce is gradually growing old and finding that their skills are no longer relevant.

Seeing the writing on the wall, some people have quickly moved onto emerging skills that are short of manpower and hence there is growing demand in those skills.

A word of caution is warranted. One needs to understand that these are not based on any methodology and do not have solid numbers to back them up. That is the reason, you will find multiple such lists floating around in the internet. One needs to read them carefully and understand their implications and take an informed decision based on one's own situation and career ambitions.

Below is a reproduction based on 'Economic Times' article. There is another list published by Linkedin which can be found on this site as well.

Skills that will help you stay relevant in the job market

It’s a fact that no one is indispensable. Enterprises and individuals will always find a way to survive and thrive if your services are no longer available. Here's a list of top 10 skills that can help you stay relevant in job market.

1. User Interface (UI) design

JOBS AVAILABLE: User experience designer, user interface designer, user interface designer (computer software applications), creative director
MEDIAN ANNUAL SALARY RANGE: Rs 5-10 Lakh

2. Mobile development

JOBS AVAILABLE: Android and iOS developers, technical architect, lead software engineer, project manager (IT).
MEDIAN ANNUAL SALARY RANGE Rs 4.5-9 Lakh

3. Web architecture & development framework

JOBS AVAILABLE: Web developer, software engineer, programmer, project manager.
MEDIAN ANNUAL SALARY RANGE Rs 3-10 Lakh

4. Automation Testing using tools like Selenium, Appium, JMeter etc.

Testing is a critical function in any application development methodology. Companies are cutting down on costs and one way is to reduce headcount and work using open source tools. But Testing is an area where companies cannot afford to cut back costs. Hence they are adopting Open Source Automation tools like Selenium which have become very popular and are considered hot skills in the market.

JOBS AVAILABLE: Tester, Senior Testing, Testing Architect
MEDIAN ANNUAL SALARY RANGE Rs 4-8 Lakh

5. Cloud Computing

JOBS AVAILABLE: IT architect, cloud software engineer, software architect, technical consultant.
MEDIAN ANNUAL SALARY RANGE Rs 5-20 Lakh.

6. Storage systems and management

JOBS AVAILABLE: IT consultant, principal software engineer, test engineer, system engineer, system administrator.
MEDIAN ANNUAL SALARY RANGE Rs 4.5-10 Lakh.

7. Network and information security

JOBS AVAILABLE BASED: Network security engineer, network security analyst, information security analyst, information security officer
MEDIAN ANNUAL SALARY RANGE Rs 4-10 Lakh.

8. Algorithm design /coding

JOBS AVAILABLE: Software development engineer, lead software engineer, software developer.
MEDIAN ANNUAL SALARY RANGE Rs 6-10 Lakh.

9. Statistical analysis & data mining

JOBS AVAILABLE: Data scientist, senior business analyst, data analyst, statistician data scientist.
MEDIAN ANNUAL SALARY RANGE Rs 3-7 Lakh.

10. Digital, SEO/SEM marketing

JOBS AVAILABLE: Digital marketing manager, online marketing manager, SEO marketing strategist, SEO manager, SEO analyst
MEDIAN ANNUAL SALARY RANGE Rs 3-6 Lakh.

Saturday, 15 October 2016

Create a Slicer in a Table in Excel

Create a Slicer in a normal Table in Excel is the smart way to create a filter! It can be used while using a Tab, Laptop or a Desktop!

In Excel, Slicers are an interactive way to filter data in PivotTables and Tables (Excel Tables). They provide buttons you can click to filter data, making filtering more intuitive than drop-down lists.

Steps to Create a Slicer in a Normal Table in Excel

Convert Data into an Excel Table
- Select your data range.
- Press Ctrl + T or go to Insert → Table.
- Check the box "My table has headers" and click OK.
Insert a Slicer
- Click anywhere inside the Table.
- Go to Table Design (or Table Tools) → Insert Slicer.
- Select the column(s) you want to filter with the Slicer and click OK.
Use the Slicer
- Click the buttons in the Slicer to filter data instantly.
- Hold Ctrl to select multiple items.
- Use the Clear Filter button in the Slicer to reset the filter.

Why Use a Slicer?

Provides a visual way to filter data.
Works on Touchscreens, Laptops, and Desktops.
Easier to use than drop-down filters.
Allows multiple selections at once.

Now you can quickly filter and analyze your data using Slicers in Excel Tables!

Sunday, 9 October 2016

Value of Certifications - ITIL, Prince2, PMP, Scrum and others

Ask a working professional about the value of certification and most likely he or she will tell you that it is useless. Then the question arises why are top companies paying to get their employees certified?

Let us try to understand the value of certification.

Popular Certifications

The popular certifications in the market are PMP Preparation Training, Prince2, ITIL v3 Foundation, , TOGAF9.1, Devops besides certification from software companies like Microsoft, Oracle , Cisco and many others.

What critics say

Critics often say that certification is only a test of how well one knows a certain set of questions. Ask a certified person any question beyond that set and most likely they will not be able to answer. But a person with real work experience knows the nitty gritty which a certified newbee can never know.

Some other critics say it is only a way of making money for the certifying bodies, training institutes and software companies. Most of these certifications are quite expensive and so these companies and vendors make quite a bit of money on certifications. Naturally they have an interest in promoting certification.

Importance of Certification

But all said and done, certifications do have some value. Infact it is due to the indirect value that companies are investing in their employees. The reason certification is important is that it is a test of an individual on how well he knows the particular subject. Most of these subjects are not taught in any college or university. So how do you ensure basic knowledge is impart against a uniform syllabus and uniform method of evaluation? The answer is through certification. That is the true value of certification and the reason why companies are paying to get their employees certified. This enhances their valuation in the eyes of their customers and helps to pitch them ahead of competition. But then certification really helps professionals with several years of experience under their belt as it shows experience backed by certification.

Besides, it is very important for corporates to deliver the best service to their customers. So one of the ways to deliver good service is to have quality employees serving customers and the best way to have quality and knowledgeable customers is to get them certified. This will ensure that employees and service providers have a minimum level of knowledge on the technology or the service domain. This will enhance the quality of service and drive customer satisfaction.

Another aspect that we need to consider is that these certifications are not like licenses like those for trade skills like Electrician, Plumbers and others. The trade skills are easier to measure and test unlike IT Skills or qualitative skills like PMP or ITIL. Naturally, one has to rely on such certifications to ensure employees have basic skills.

From an employee point of view, it is important because they serve to distinguish them from rest of the crowd. When there are thousands of employees with the same qualification and skills then how do you differentiate yourself? The answer is again through certifications.

Disclaimer:

We provide experienced trainers who can conduct online and classroom training on various certification topics like ITIL v3 Foundation, PMP Preparation Training, TOGAF9.1, Prince2 Certification, OCA, OCP, MCSA, MCSE .

If you have query on any aspect of certification then feel free to send us an email at

palium.skills@gmail.com and we will be happy to respond!