TECHNOLOGY TIMES READITECH BUSINESS TO BUSINESS PUBLICATION
QUARTER 3—2022
Technology improves communication and safety at Valley City Public Schools With nearly 1,100 students, Valley City Public School District is seen as an educational leader in North Dakota based on students’ success. The school district is dedicated to creating a safe and healthy learning environment for students to grow, learn and thrive. Just as teachers set expectations for classwork and behavior for learning, Valley City Public Schools (VCPS) has clear procedures in place for safety and security to keep students and staff protected in and around the school buildings. Taking a Proactive Approach to Safety with Enhanced Communications & Security To increase security measures and minimize safety issues, Valley City Public Schools (VCPS) Superintendent Josh Johnson and IT Director Bryan Kriewald looked to ReadiTech for an up-to-date communications and real-time security solution for all three of the district’s buildings, including two elementary schools and one junior/senior high school. ReadiTech installed a two-way intercom system with an IP video camera at each school’s
entrance allowing front desk personnel to communicate and easily see who would like to enter the building. ReadiTech’s innovative technology helps VCPS build a safer school environment as part of the multi-layered security efforts. The updated school intercom system sends out announcements and emergency notices to all areas of the school so staff can quickly respond and help keep everyone safe, plus with door access and video surveillance, accountability, monitoring and security are increased. “ReadiTech played a vital role in modernizing our school intercom system and integrating door security. With trends in school violence, the new system allows us to be proactive and prepared. We "We cannot thank cannot thank ReadiTech enough for ReadiTech enough the peace of mind their for the peace of mind their services services and technology and technology have given parents, staff have given parents, and students in making our staff and students schools safe and secure." in making our schools safe and secure,” said VCPS Superintendent Johnson.
School access is regulated and video monitored at Valley City Public Schools with a new door security system that integrates with the school intercom.
VCPS Superintendent Josh Johnson
With the newly installed hardware and network switch upgrade, the district’s security system is accessible at anytime, anywhere so the administrator can monitor all building locations in real time. ReadiTech also updated the wireless network to connect computers, printers and other online devices for a fast, seamless and secure online experience for all network users. “The stability and speed the network upgrade brought has made our staff and student body very happy,” said VCPS IT Director Bryan Kriewald.
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"When reaching out to ReadiTech, we always receive a timely response from the team members we know and trust. Of all the vendors and companies we use, ReadiTech is by far the best." VCPS Superintendent Josh Johnson
Improving Communication and Safety
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Smooth Transition to New Technology Solutions Superintendent Johnson is very pleased with the recent IT improvements made by ReadiTech. From deploying new intercoms and security cameras, to placing new switches, upgrading the wireless network and updating several desktop computers, Kriewald and Johnson describe the transition as a very smooth process. “ReadiTech has always gone above and beyond to ensure the needs of our school district are being met. We know all of them on a first name basis,” said Kriewald.
While several elements need to be in place for educators at VCPS to create a safe and positive learning environment, the ReadiTech team helps ensure the school district is using the most modern and cost-effective IT solutions. From its faster Wi-Fi network to the district’s updated security and intercom system, ReadiTech is proud to support Johnson, Kriewald and the other dedicated staff at VCPS as they provide opportunities for their students to be successful, both academically and in life.
Not only does the school district receive reliable technology products from ReadiTech, they know the ReadiTech team is there to offer expert assistance when they need it. “When reaching out to ReadiTech, we always receive a timely response from the team members we know and trust. Of all the vendors and companies we use, ReadiTech is by far the best,” continued Johnson.
To learn more about ReadiTech’s IT solutions for education and business, including networking, security and hardware, visit readitech.com or call 877-559-4692. Top Photo: Desktop computer upgrades along with updates to the network provides staff and students with a fast, seamless and secure online experience at Valley City Public Schools.
ReadiTech sponsors school streaming channel ReadiTech, A DRN Company, has recently partnered with Valley City Public Schools (VCPS) as premiere sponsor to help bring the school districts’ sports and extra-curricular activities online through the Hi-Liner Activity Network for the 2022-23 school year. “By sponsoring the Hi-Liner Activity Network, we are making a difference for our area youth and helping to build strong and vibrant communities today and for future generations,” said DRN ReadiTech CEO/GM Kent Schimke. Last year, VCPS invested in an automated video recording and streaming system to record all levels of games and practices. The video technology allows the school to live stream high school games and other activities, like music and drama performances so fans and family can watch remotely from anywhere with an Internet connection. For more information about Valley City Public School District or the Hi-Liner Activity Network, visit hiliners.org.
ReadiTech's Travis Anliker, center, presents sponsorship check to Bryan Kriewald, left, and Josh Johnson, right, from Valley City Public Schools.
WEBSITE ANALYTICS for Beginners
M
ore than ever before consumers are researching products, reading reviews and shopping the competition online before stepping foot into a store or contacting a service provider. As the business industry and technology continues to evolve, many businesses are taking advantage of the updated tools and technology available with the goal of reaching more of customers, better engaging with them and persuading them to take action. While many people may have heard of Google Analytics or GA4, Google's newest analytics platform, there are numerous tools on the market like Statcounter, HubSpot, Smartlook and more. As more businesses create an online presence through websites, apps and social media, web analytics services provides business owners with insight into customer information and their other related online behaviors. So, if you’re looking to acquire new customers or expand a segment of your business through your website, ReadiTech shares the basics of website analytics tools and their importance in today’s business environment.
What are web analytics? Online analytics software gathers user data to learn where visitors go on your website. It helps measure the value of your website and shows which parts of your website are performing well and which areas aren't. Then, with this information the website publisher can optimize the content, advertisement and services to improve customer satisfaction and business sales to reach business goals. What are tracking codes? Tracking codes consist of a string of numbers and letters and are the core technology of analytics tools. A tracking code is included in the HTML source code of a website by the developer to measure and analyze the activities of the website visitors.
DID YOU KNOW?
In 2022, globally there are over 33 million live websites using Google Analytics. According to trends.builtwith.com
BASIC TERMS IN WEB ANALYTICS: Bounce Rates — Percentage of visitors who enter the website and do not continue viewing other pages within the same site. This rate measures the effectiveness of a website in encouraging visitors to continue their web visit. Call to Action — Marketing term used requesting the customer to call, click, buy or another action. In Google Analytics, this category of information is measured and reported as "Events." Click Through — A click through occurs when a user follows a hyperlink. It can be on any call to action button, online ad or a product link on your site. Click throughs are important because they show you how many people are taking action and interacting with your website. Search Engine Optimization (SEO) — The art and science of improving your website search engine results to a higher rank in search engines such as Google and Bing. It improves the visibility of your website so more people visit. SEO is organic, meaning the search results are unpaid, unlike paid ads. Traffic Sources — Categorizes your website traffic into three types. Direct traffic is where users type in the URL into the browser or click in bookmarks. Referring traffic describes site visitors who come from direct links on other websites rather than directly from searches or search engine traffic. Search engine traffic is visitors who arrive at your website by clicking search results leading to that particular website. Web Traffic — The amount of data sent and received by visitors on a website. It also refers to the flow of data.
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IN THIS ISSUE: Technology Improves Communication and Safety at Valley City Public Schools Taking a proactive approach to safety with enhanced communications & video surveillance, Valley City School District’s security system is accessible in real time, anytime, anywhere for increased security.
Website Analytics for Beginners Technology continues to evolve and many businesses are taking advantage of the updated tools available to reach more customers, improve customer satisfaction and ultimately grow their business.