Wondering how your competition seems to have all the working capital financing they need and you don’t – the key to that answer might just be asset based lenders and the asset based lines of credit they offer to Canadian businesses such as yours.Let’s examine how this relatively new and unique method of business financing can totally alter your business financing success.The acronym for this type of financing is A B L; simply speaking its daily cash flow provide against your current, and sometimes now so current assets. What do we mean by that? Simply that this facility allows you to margin your receivables, inventory, and in most cases, should you choose, fixed assets and real estate. You are probably saying to yourself that you could arrange financing on your own re those fixed assets and real estate – but we are talking about using those assets as collateral for your daily revolving line of credit. So you aren’t borrowing, you are not bringing debt on to your balance sheet, you are just leveraging your ‘ assets ‘ (that’s the ‘A’ in ABL!) for daily cash flow and working capital.And why are we claiming that this type of working capital financing just might be your key to business success. Simply because you have probably found it has been challenging to get the full amount of business credit you need. In some cases you might have discovered its been a challenge to get business lines of credit of any manner.So if your competitors are using this type of financing today, who exactly is eligible for it, and is your firm a candidate. The answer is simply that if your firm has a combination of 250k in working capital assets you are immediately eligible for asset based lines of credit. We would add that firms with smaller asset sizes can still monetize those receivables via invoice financing or discounting, but that’s not our key focus for today’s information exchange.So now you now the offering are out there. But why should you consider it. Simply because your firm might be in one of a number of special situations – that includes issues such as your need for increased daily operating cash, you wish to merge with or finance an acquisition, you have been unable to obtain inventory financing elsewhere, you are growing to quickly for traditional Canadian chartered banking financing, etc! We are pretty sure you get the picture now!The benefits to this type of business financing must by now be pretty obvious. It’s all about access to working capital financing and cash flow that you couldn’t access before. Assets that couldn’t be financed are now financeable, and inventory financing, previously limited or unavailable now looms on your growth horizon.Who are these asset based lenders, and what is the cost of this financing? We’ll leave that one for another day, but if you want to investigate asset based lines of credit for your firm ( remember, your competitor probably already has ) then speak to a trusted, credible, and experienced Canadian business financing advisor who will assist you with identifying benefits and the best solution for your current strained needs in business finance.

The age of modern day learning has arrived. It is no longer a matter of whether we want to integrate technology and education; it is a necessity. The reality poses an immense problem and threat to the longstanding educational institutions that have for the most part remained unchanged for nearly a century. Who would have imagined that the alphabet’s letter “E” would forever transform the face of education to E-Ducation?Technology in education has progressed from basic tools such as the abacus, pencil, ruler, paper and calculator to computers, laptops, iPads, tablets, software and apps. The technological advancements alone are forcing the manner in which teachers teach, how students learn, the ways schools are structured and breaking the barriers between home and school life. At its core, technology is impacting the very essence of the future of humanity.Digital Natives: A Generation Dedicated to Learning with TechnologyThe prominence and rise of technology in the world applies to all aspects of life including how we learn. It appears that the days of “open your textbook, read the following pages and answer the questions” will be for the most part a thing of the past.As educational institutions resist and make attempts to adapt, it is crucial to keep in mind the learning needs of today’s digital natives. The digital natives are those that were born during or thereafter the inception and introduction of digital technology.This generation is not only accustomed to technological advancements and devices they expect it. As such, drastic measures will have to be implemented to meet the student’s expectations for learning. The key will be to adapt to an uncertain, modern, changing and dynamic global world.Pivotal Technologies and Learning PortalsTechnological advancements will allow education to be universally accessible, customized, individualized and highly adaptive. In essence, learning with technology is propelling independent learning to the forefront.Now more than ever, students will have the opportunity to individualize and navigate the knowledge portals through pivotal technologies such as the Internet, Open Sources, Virtual Learning Environments and Mobile Learning Devices. Open Sources includes MOOCs and Web 2.0.Massive Open Online Courses will allow students the autonomy and flexibility to choose what they want to learn independently. The Web 2.0 is simply the way new web pages are designed and used. Students will have a multitude of options by virtue of using Open Sources through a variety of Mobile Learning Devices.Virtual Learning Environments will only enhance the learning experience by making it fun and interactive. Students will have a wide selection of learning mediums to complete assignments and receive feedback. Hence, the learning would be more interactive and engaging.Individualized Learning and Bring Your Own Device (BYOD)The role of the teacher would alter to monitor and provide feedback at an unparalleled level. Technology would of course also help the teacher with the many independent learning assignments, projects, presentations etc. of the student’s through the use of Learning Analytics. Learning Analytics is the accumulated of created data to continually evaluate and precisely guide student learning.The digital natives are choosing their own devices to learn in a world that has cloud computing and the Internet. They are living in a digital information literacy online world. Their reality encompasses learning through educational games and virtual learning platforms. They are living in a world where the physical and virtual have amalgamated.Learning with Technology from Students’ PerspectivesAs such, what do kids think about technology and learning? How often do we really ask for their thoughts and opinions? Do we really take into consideration how and what they want to learn? Should what they have to say really matter how we as educators make decisions? Personally, I do believe that they do bring value to the decision-making table.My sister in law is an eighth grade social studies teacher at a middle school. In a conversation with her, she mentioned to me the various ways she integrates technology in the learning. What I found especially of import was her comment on how the students use technology as easily as breathing.She explained to me that now only do students expect it but that they demand it. She further informed me that it is a necessity and it brings lots of fun to the learning. As an educator, I firmly believe that learning should be continuous, fun, engaging, inquisitive, and ongoing.Students are Right at Home with TechnologyHumanity should be learning something new each and every day. It should be viewed from a window looking out into the horizon of each new day. It seems logical to catch a glimpse of learning through the eyes of children.I often reflect on how my 7 year old niece sees the world and how through her eyes I learn something new every day. As Digital Natives do, she carries an iPad with her and frequently shares videos, cartoons, games, songs, etc. with me. I can literally say that I am learning things that a 7 year old child is learning.Wow, the whole idea seems to put me in awe. What she has learned through the use of technology can be only termed as amazing. The ease, comfort and curiosity that impel her to learn independently without her parents or teachers imposing “because you have to” are truly remarkable.Learning with Technology: A NecessityNever in the history of our world has the trajectory of technology education been a certainty to create a better global society where one and all will have the opportunity and accessibility to be literate.A view from a student’s perspective about learning with technology as mentioned above is a 6 part series that will include technology and students, learning with technology, student’s and iPads, learning with games and virtual learning. Stay tuned to next week’s blog article on students learning with technology.