Latest news with #distributed
Coin Geek
23-06-2025
- Coin Geek
OverNode is a 'Sneakernet' for the digital world
Getting your Trinity Audio player ready... We're looking forward to the first release of OverNode. Developed by long-time blockchain developer Stephan February, it's a Swiss Army knife of social, news, and commerce functions where everything is peer-to-peer. February sat down with 1Sat Ordinals' David Case for a Q&A and explanation of how to make all these networking functions work in a distributed way without any centralized servers. It's not simple! OverNode's first mobile app features a wallet, marketplace, news feed, contacts list, private messaging, microblogging and audio spaces, and a timestamp archive. Yes, other apps already do all these things, but they all have centralized servers coordinating all this activity behind the scenes. Basing it on a true P2P, distributed network between individual devices is not an easy task. February recently discussed OverNode and its features with Kurt Wuckert, Jr. on the CoinGeek Weekly Livestream. This Q&A with Case dives deeper into the technical details of how it works. What's a Sneakernet, and what are the challenges? 'Sneakernet' means transferring information (digital or otherwise) by physically transporting it from one location or device to another. Though it's an information-age term that usually refers to copying data onto portable media and carrying it around, the concept is also similar to physical mail services. Sending, delivering, and receiving the information are three separate processes that may occur at different times, and there is no central function monitoring everything. Building a Sneakernet (or 'store-and-forward' service) for digital devices isn't an easy problem to solve, February says. Even in the physical world, there are issues: a message can get lost or delayed before it reaches its destination; it could be delivered to the wrong place; or the receiver may not notice it. There's no 100% guarantee a sent message will get through. He says this challenge of building a digital, delay-tolerant network inspired him to build OverNode. 'What can I do today, not only to make Sneakernet viable, but also to solve a problem I've seen persistently happen with distributed systems in general (not just P2P), which is the problem of altruistic nodes operating on the network.' But what's actually happening, i.e., how exactly do you make a store-and-forward service work? Case asks. Direct messaging is one thing, but if you have a news/chat group similar to Signal or Telegram, how do you ensure all group members can see a post intended for them? Essentially, nodes on the network have specialized functions while remaining P2P nodes and not acting as centralized servers. One of these is simply called 'store-and-forward,' there are also bootstrap services with distributed hash tables (DHT), which are a way to discover other peers, note their addresses, and help establish connections between them. Once a user starts their mobile app, their device announces its presence to the bootstrap service, and its live status is 'gossiped' to others on the network. This announcement doesn't go to the entire network, but a subset of it—maybe other devices nearby, using a nearest-neighbor algorithmic technique like Chord. February says he's been using Kademlia DHTs—the idea is to have a key-value store, the state of which is distributed and replicated automatically among several different peers. The information stored on the DHT could be your device's IP and perhaps a long-term stable moniker, e.g., your personal handle, that would identify someone joining the network and be used to announce its status. The bootstrap service can determine the 'closeness' of other nodes, which doesn't refer to physical distance but the mathematical equivalent using consistent hashing. Everyone's hash table will, therefore, be different, and the system can find the most efficient other nodes that may have the information an individual node is looking for. February describes it as a form of Six Degrees of Separation, but in practice, it happens very quickly, with everyone's table updated with the relevant information. BitTorrent uses similar techniques for large file-sharing. By the way, OverNode's interface also looks nice! If you're interested in hearing all the technical details, the Case/February video has a lot of other interesting points. Case also talks about the similar challenges involved in BSV's Overlay Networks, keeping track of massive amounts of data on a distributed network and being able to trust the information you're receiving. The two also dive into the economic model behind OverNode and similar networks, as well as how SPV payments can be layered into the services. The purpose of the social network-style app February is building now is mainly to prove OverNode's concept of the distributed 'data plane.' If it works, it'll have far wider-reaching use cases and consequences. Watch: New token protocol and Ordinals with Stephan February title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen="">
Globe and Mail
12-06-2025
- Business
- Globe and Mail
Bitrix24 Redefines HR Automation, Becoming the Preferred Choice for Modern Workplaces Worldwide
Introduction The world of work has changed forever. Remote hiring is the norm. Distributed teams are the backbone of global operations. And HR, once relegated to administrative support, is now a strategic function tasked with talent growth, culture development, and performance forecasting. Yet, while the expectations placed on HR have evolved, many companies still operate with outdated systems, fragmented tools, and overworked HR professionals. Enter Bitrix24 – a platform designed to meet this moment. More than just HR software, Bitrix24 offers an all-in-one digital workspace where recruitment, onboarding, performance tracking, internal communication, and project collaboration happen in sync. Used by over 12 million users worldwide, it's positioned as a powerful force in the future of HR. In this article, we conduct a strategic audit of Bitrix24's HR automation software capabilities using the structured lens from the framework, covering four core areas: functionality, integration/UX, data analytics, and strategic alignment – each with a score, strengths, improvement areas, recommendations, and practical examples. Functional HR Automation Coverage Score: 5/5 – Comprehensive & Scalable Current State Bitrix24's HR suite spans everything from recruitment to retirement. Hiring workflows, automated onboarding, time and leave management, performance reviews, and internal task assignments are all integrated into one interface. The platform caters to small businesses needing plug-and-play functionality and enterprise clients requiring advanced customization. Strengths Visual recruitment pipelines with automated notifications and tracking Onboarding templates to assign tasks, documents, and IT setup Custom performance appraisal cycles with 360° feedback Employee self-service portals for time-off requests, payroll info, and document access Integration of HR into company-wide collaboration tools (chat, video, tasks) Lacks pre-configured workflows for niche industries (e.g. education, healthcare) Some automation features (e.g., custom approvals) require setup expertise No native AI-driven suggestion engine for process optimization yet Launch "Bitrix24 for Healthcare HR" with built-in shift scheduling and credential tracking Setup wizard for onboarding: 'Do you need an IT checklist? Document signature? Assign mentor?' If performance reviews are skipped, system prompts manager with a nudge and template Areas for Improvement Recommendations Implementation Examples Integration & UX Score: 4/5 – Powerful but Needs Simplification Current State Bitrix24 doesn't just automate HR – it integrates it into the wider business. HR leaders collaborate with operations, marketing, and finance without needing multiple platforms. Every HR module lives within the same environment as CRM, tasks, and communications. The downside? Complexity for users who just want HR features. Strengths Centralized dashboard uniting HR, project tools, and communication Role-based permissions to manage access at scale Fully mobile-compatible; ideal for remote teams Real-time presence monitoring and internal messaging embedded into HR workflows Overloaded UI for users interested solely in HR workflows Admin panel setup requires guidance for non-technical users Limited "modular UX" – no toggle to hide irrelevant features HR-only workspace: Remove CRM and project tabs; show only HR widgets Onboarding filters by role: Recruiter vs. HR Director see different features Click a tooltip next to "Leave Tracker" and see a 30-sec explainer pop-up Areas for Improvement Recommendations Implementation Examples Data, Analytics & Compliance Score: 4.5/5 – Secure, with Room for Insight Expansion Current State Bitrix24 meets all modern compliance standards, including GDPR. It offers real-time dashboards on team attendance, vacation balance, and HR activity logs. However, companies seeking strategic forecasting tools or benchmark data may find current reporting limited. Strengths Role-based access, data retention controls, and document audit trails Clock-in/out tracking with location and time capture Leave trends over time help identify burnout or understaffing Surveys and feedback collection via integrated forms No built-in benchmarking against industry or internal trends Predictive analytics like 'flight risk' scoring not yet native Visualization lacks drilldowns, heatmaps, or sentiment overviews Risk scoring: Employees with high PTO, low engagement, and long hours get flagged 'Compared to peers' insight: See if your team takes more sick leave than average Manager pulse heatmap: Track morale by department in a single visualization Areas for Improvement Recommendations Implementation Examples Strategic Business Alignment Score: 5/5 – Messaging Aligned with Market Demand Current State Bitrix24 markets HR as more than just admin – it's the backbone of team success. This is reflected in its content, tone, and continuous innovation. With a growing remote-first customer base, the platform addresses the global, hybrid workplace. Its emphasis on all-in-one collaboration + HR puts it in a unique position to support org-wide digital transformation. Strengths Clear positioning: HR is culture, not just compliance Scales with remote teams and multi-location organizations PR, blog content, and product updates reinforce automation + people-first themes Few data-rich case studies quantifying cost/time saved Little visibility into industry-diverse success stories AI roadmap not always clear to potential enterprise buyers PR Story: 'This logistics firm cut onboarding time by 40% using Bitrix24' Case page: 'HR in Construction: How We Reduced Payroll Processing Time' AI Hub: Real-time updates on what's launching next in HR analytics Areas for Improvement Recommendations Implementation Examples Future Outlook & Innovation Roadmap Score: 4.5/5 – Visionary and Evolving Current State Bitrix24 is rapidly investing in AI, automation, and integrations to stay ahead of the curve. Its roadmap includes deeper analytics, smart recommendations, and new HR-centric tools aimed at increasing personalization, retention, and productivity. Strengths Continuous deployment of product updates Public engagement via webinars, YouTube, and changelogs Growing partner ecosystem for specialized use cases AI features are still new and not yet battle-tested Customers lack visibility into timeline for feature maturity No strategic partnerships yet with learning management systems (LMS) or benefit providers Integration with Coursera or Udemy for learning plans tied to performance Roadmap section: Q3 = AI resume ranking; Q4 = Engagement Scoring PR campaign: '5 Companies Already Using Bitrix24's AI Features in HR' Areas for Improvement Recommendations Implementation Examples Final Scorecard Summary Overall Maturity Score: 4.5 / 5 Bitrix24 shows high maturity, with standout performance in scalability, positioning, and user empowerment. With strategic upgrades to analytics and AI, it could dominate the next wave of HR transformation. Beyond HR: Bitrix24's Value Across the Organization While Bitrix24 excels as an HR automation platform, its real strength lies in its ability to break down departmental silos. Human resources doesn't operate in isolation – it intersects with IT (for onboarding), finance (for payroll and benefits), marketing (for employer branding), and operations (for scheduling and compliance). Bitrix24 enables all these departments to work together seamlessly. For instance, when a new hire is onboarded, Bitrix24 can simultaneously notify IT to set up accounts, finance to activate payroll, and the team lead to assign initial tasks – all without sending a single email. This cross-functional automation reduces friction, ensures accountability, and accelerates time-to-productivity for every employee. Even more compelling is Bitrix24's 'digital HQ' approach – integrating chat, meetings, documents, and calendars with HR processes. This convergence ensures that HR actions – such as performance reviews or team check-ins – don't get lost in disconnected systems. As businesses become more agile and distributed, HR platforms must evolve into holistic ecosystems. Bitrix24 already embodies this vision. And with its focus on modular growth, AI-driven automation, and human-centered design, it's well positioned to not only automate HR – but to redefine how organizations scale culture, capability, and collaboration. Conclusion: Bitrix24 Is Shaping the Future of Strategic HR HR is no longer about forms and filing cabinets. It's about designing employee experiences, scaling trust, and delivering performance at every level of the business. Bitrix24 recognizes this better than most. Through seamless automation, a unified workspace, and a clear investment in innovation, Bitrix24 is turning HR departments from reactive service centers into proactive growth engines. Whether you're a startup hiring your first ten employees or an enterprise managing thousands globally, Bitrix24 offers the tools to build, manage, and retain an exceptional team. For organizations seeking not just digital transformation but human transformation, Bitrix24 is more than software – it's your strategic partner. Media Contact Company Name: Bitrix24 Contact Person: David Smith Email: Send Email Address: Global HQ City: Alexandria State: VA Country: United States Website:
