All posts by Awfis Editorial

Tracing The Practicality Of A Shared Office Space

Tracing The Practicality Of A Shared Office Space

Business How To’s, , , , , ,

It is not unheard of for start-ups to be working out of odd spaces such as garages. With coffee shops not providing the conducive atmosphere needed to boost professionalism, start-ups find their options being limited.

Also, with realty prices becoming dearer annually, it makes more sense for such start-ups to work out of shared office spaces, till they gain the resources to lease or buy a space of their own.

  • Easier Access To Better IT Assets

The world has truly become a smaller place owing to the growth and reach of the World Wide Web, helping people across the globe connect in real-time. By working out of a shared office space, start-ups as well as mobile executives get to access and use better IT resources such as video conferencing tools, better connectivity to connect multiple devices, and the latest versions of business software. Security infrastructures put in place helps keep all these business data confidential.

  • Flexibility To Scale

Start-ups can often grow at a speed faster than they had anticipated. Instead of hunting for a new space every month, and working out of odd rooms, a shared office space makes more sense. Start-ups have the flexibility to occupy as many or as few places as they would like. Whether you have twelve new joiners next month or have to let go of a few team members, with a shared office space, you can do so with ease.

  • Cost-Optimisation

Start-ups are mostly looking for ways to optimize their capital expenditures. With IT expenses and real estate costs being two of the major avenues that require the most expenses, both of these can be tackled and reduced with the help of a shared office space. With access to state of the art IT facilities and modern office set-ups, shared office spaces are truly supportive towards business growth.

  • Customized Set-Ups Each Day

From client meetings to investment hunting, ideation sessions to pitches, there are several jobs that require a different and dedicated space to be carried out efficiently. Shared office spaces offer the flexibility for each of these set-ups. With a wide variety of options such as hot desks, fixed places, conference rooms with projectors and screens, ideating labs with whiteboards, shared office spaces are ideal for individuals and teams to work out of.

  • Proximity As Varied Locations And Areas

Mobile executives are left with no option but to conduct professional meetings in unprofessional set-ups such as coffee shops and bistros. Instead, they can rent a shared office space and conduct their meetings in a set-up that comes equipped with all the resources conducive to the requirement. Proximity and the convenience of previous bookings make them a more sensible choice.

Awfis currently offers 19 centres across 7 cities, so finding a shared office space near you is easy as ever.

6 Tips To Use Competition Effectively - Featured Img

Competition At Work Can Be Healthy: 6 Tips To Use Competition Effectively

Business How To’s, , , , , , ,

Building healthy competition within your organisation is a certain way to foster innovation, improve efficiency and enhance the overall productivity of the organisation. When you pit employees against each other, the resultant engagement is higher and propels the company faster.

However, there is a thin line between healthy competition and cut-throat rivalry. With a little care, you should be able to promote healthy, team-lead competition.

#1 Hire The Right People

You need to pick people with the right attitude. Every position will have tens of applicants, each qualified. But your choice has to be the person with the right competitive streak; someone who will put the team first.

6-Tips-To-Use-Competition-Effectively

Image Courtesy: Elegantthemes

#2 Establish Shared Goals

It is a good thing to challenge employees, but it should be done in the spirit of a ‘team first’ approach.

Establish concrete common goals that must be achieved. Conduct monthly meetings to praise and reward those employees who have shown exemplary performance.

 

6-Tips-To-Use-Competition-Effectively

Image Courtesy: blog.fitzii.com

#3 Honour Individuality

Although nurturing shared goals, you do not want to undermine individuality. You should learn to value personal goals as well. A different approach will encourage intellectual diversity and therefore innovation. Recognize these thinkers and give them the environment to thrive.

6-Tips-To-Use-Competition-Effectively

Image Courtesy: cdn2.hubspot.net

#4 Facilitate Feedback

Keep channels of communication and feedback open. Look for employees who can handle and even look forward to constructive criticism.

At the same time, as an organisation, you should be willing to receive feedback from your employees as well. A sign of a good manager is one who can listen to feedback, demonstrate the collaborative spirit and cultivate better employees.

6-Tips-To-Use-Competition-Effectively

Image Courtesy: Happyoffice

#5 Create A Culture Of Ownership 

Encourage employees to think like an owner and let them believe the company is theirs. When they bring their personal touch to their actions, the ideas can be revolutionary. There is no limiting ‘project only’ thinking. The ideas can extend beyond the scope of daily work and embrace other areas for improvement too.

6-Tips-To-Use-Competition-Effectively

Image Courtesy: Traineeblog

#6 Have Fun

 Lastly, never forget to have fun! Encourage team sports and activities outside of work. These team-building exercises will help foster a spirit of collaboration and bring employees closer.

It is a great idea to encourage competition, but ensure it is friendly and doesn’t turn into fierce rivalry. Keep these points in mind and you can use this team spirit and collaboration to drive your business even further.

6-Tips-To-Use-Competition-Effectively

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Top 5 Management Takeaways from Bahubali

Top 5 Management Takeaways from Baahubali

Inspiring Stories, , , , , , ,

Top 5 Management Takeaways from Bahubali

Image Courtesy: Indian Express

1. Preparedness To Tackle Sudden Business Problems

Devasena’s first screen appearance in a curtained palanquin makes her look like a demure princess. Even before she can step out of the palanquin, a gang of bandits attacks her kingdom. Devasena immediately steps out of her veiled confines, rises to the situation and takes the bandits head-on.

Management Lesson: Businesses cannot be well prepared for sudden business challenges. A smart business is always well equipped to tackle every situation as and when it arises.

Top 5 Management Takeaways from Bahubali

Image Courtesy: bollywoodlife

2. Smart Foresight Never Goes In Vain

While the bandits fight a losing battle with Devasena, Amarendra Bahubali predicts the possibility of a hideout where more bandits may be waiting to strike. He, along with his uncle, Katappa, proceeds towards the predicted hideout and overpowers them.

Management Lesson: Predict where obstacles may arise from, and thwart the possibility of them escalating into major business problems.

3. No Competitor Is Too Big To Win Over

Amarendra Bahubali’s son, Mahendra Bahubali, is about to attack the kingdom of Mahishmati to claim his position as the rightful heir to the throne. His army, which is no comparison to that of Bhallala Deva’s, shares their apprehensions of not being as equipped as their opposition’s in terms of their strength and artillery. Bahubali motivates them saying that their hardened hands can live up to the might of the opposition.

Management Lesson: Confidence is one of the key factors while strategising on a business plan and executing it effectively. The lack of sufficient resources to match up to the competitor’s magnitude cannot serve as a deterrent. Making the most out of the available resources and not become demotivated as a result of the competitors’ advanced business processes is the only way forward.

Top 5 Management Takeaways from Bahubali

Image Courtesy: Indian Express

4. Presence Of Mind Is A Wise Man’s Workshop

Mahendra Bahubali rescues his mother, Devasena, but Bhallala Deva captures her yet again. She is chained and taken into the palace by Bhallala Deva on his chariot before Bahubali can put up a fight. Katappa advises him to follow his father’s wisdom of using the presence of mind, rather than simply using his physical strength to enter the palace. Bahubali uses the coconut trees outside the palace to catapult his army onto the palace rooftop.

Management Lesson: The strength to drive a business project lies in exercising presence of mind and think out of the box, then rely solely on the available resources.

5. Perseverance Has No Substitute

During the 25 long years that Devasena was held captive at Bhallala Deva’s kingdom, she had never lost sight of the future. She had been accumulating wooden pieces and twigs that can become the funeral pyre for Bhallala Deva when her son returns to Mahishmati to rescue her.

Management Lesson: Smart businesses win projects with astute planning and impeccable execution, never losing sight of the desired end-result.
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Top 5 Management Takeaways from Bahubali

Image Courtesy: Indian Express

Business Travel Done Right For A Smart Work-Life Balance

Work Life Balance, , , ,

A hectic business travel schedule that keeps an employee away from home causes a work-life imbalance and this has a significant impact on the productivity of the employee. Maintaining consistent performance for business travellers becomes demanding and stressful. Therefore, it’s important to plan your business travel effectively.

A study published by the Association of Corporate Travel Executives (ACTE) and American Express Global Business Travel reveals that improving work-life balance is one of the top priorities of modern business travellers. Moreover, another report stated that 46% of managers have witnessed an increase in the number of enquiries about smart ways to enhance the work-life balance from frequent travellers.

Strike a smart work-life balance while travelling for work with these 6 tips:

  1. Confirm Meetings Before Leaving:

Confirm the date and time of meeting that you have mutually decided with your partners/clients/vendors before you prepare for your business trip. This reduces the possibility of a futile business trip and saves unnecessary business expenses. For today’s young workforce who are constantly running against time, time is the new currency.

  1. Select The Quickest Route:

Business Travel Done Right!

 Photo Courtesy: Pexels

As technology progresses, an increasing number of travellers are relying on digital technology to navigate with the help of GPS, find cabs, find alternate routes and more. As a smart traveller, compare between the available routes and opt for the quickest one and make travel plans accordingly. Traffic could make the shortest routes the longest, beware!

  1. Effective Planning and Flexible Working:

Returning home late from work does not necessarily mean you are working round-the-clock. Plan your workday judiciously. For instance, if you have a business meeting in the evening in another city and have a late night flight back home, you can enjoy your ‘me time’ in the morning, attend the business meeting at the agreed time and work on important tasks during your journey. It’s all about striking the right balance!

  1. Smart Time Management:

Why waste the time that you spend travelling for your business meetings when you can utilise it wisely? Think about the amount of time that we spend stuck at seemingly unending traffic jams, and listlessly observing people around us. Effective planning plays an important role in using time optimally to maximise work productivity. This way business travel, especially those that take up time during business work hours, does not prevent professionals from meeting crucial work deadlines.

  1. Embrace Digital Meetings:

Owing to digital advancements today, the world is digitally connected. Smart entrepreneurs must make the most of advancing technology and encourage digital meetings, which are not only convenient, but are also cost-effective.

Business Travel Done Right!

Photo Courtesy: Pexels

inspiring stories, coworking

Inspiring Story: Can’t go to vote, then vote on the go – Right2Vote

Inspiring Stories, , , ,

#Inspiringstories@Awfis is an initiative by Awfis Editorial Team to showcase the brilliant business ideas and the journey of our startup member community.

Neeraj Gutgutia believes in doing what is right, whether at work, or in his personal life.

Right2Vote, shared work space
Team Right2Vote

It was in the 2014 Lok Sabha elections, while working with Prashant Kishore, a political strategist, that he realised the many limitations people face when asked to cast their vote. Even the most responsible among his friends faced hurdles and obstacles that prevented them from being a responsible citizen.

The reasons varied from the mundane like unable to take time off from work, the distance and being unwell, to the more serious issues like lack of a voter id card, being registered in a different city, or worse, finding out that someone has already voted in their name.

An entrepreneur by heart, Neeraj gave much thought to the problem, and eventually came to the conclusion that the physical voting booth was central to the issue. Instead of bringing the voter to the booth, why not bring the booth, albeit, a virtual one, to the voter?

This was the idea and the foundation upon which Right2Vote came into existence.

With his experience of 14 years in a corporate set-up with leading corporates like Reliance Industries, ICICI Bank, Hiranandani Group, Neeraj, a Chartered Accountant and MBA from IIM Indore by qualification, decided to take this plunge. He, along with his 12-member team had already forayed into banking authentication, security and transactions, and realised that the best practises from banking industry can easily be replicated on to Right2Vote, which is today the world’s first mobile verified voting platform.

Interestingly, this platform need not be limited to political elections, and can also be deployed by large corporates to help come to decisions which involve the whole company. Top management, which doesn’t always know ground reality, can unknowingly take flawed decisions that are rarely countered by juniors. With this platform, corporate decision-making gets simplified. This platform can also be used for professional body election, college election, housing society election among others.

Neeraj asks, “If everything has moved to the mobile today – shopping, banking, bill payment – then why not voting?” Fair thought, we say.

Right2Vote is a B2B2C company where people pay to hold their election on this platform and for the required election management. Voters have to pay nothing, and instead, they get the ease and convenience of voting from wherever they are.

Customers can save up to 90% of their cost, time and effort, while enjoying greater voter participation, 10x better verification and 10x better security. The payment procedure is simple. Billing is on a PAAS (Platform As A Service) model, where customers pay as per features used and the number of people invited to vote.
To give an example, a high-end poll with Aadhar-based verification and high-end encryption, the platform costs just Rs 10 per voter. Now compare that to Rs 1000 plus  per voter in booth-based voting!

When asked about the viability of the service, Neeraj is confident that the idea will pick up. “It is not a question of whether it will happen or not. It is only a matter of when.” Mobile voting is the future and when customers see advantages like a 90% fall in voter drop-out rate, 90% saving in cost, time and effort, as well as greater security, they are bound to see the merit in shifting from a traditional booth-based voting model to the mobile app.

Neeraj and his team hope to help conduct the 2019 Lok Sabha elections on this platform. When he crunched the number for us, this is what we saw: $5 billion, 2 months and the physical effort of over 1 crore people go into a successful Lok Sabha election. With this platform, the team guarantees to bring it down to less than 1/10th the cost, 1/30th the time and 1/1,00,00,000 the human effort.

Talking about his vision Neeraj said, “Our vision is to ‘Make Democracy Real’. Right now, a substantial percentage of the population is denied its voting right due to booth-based voting and then voters are blamed for not voting. By providing voters the facility to cast their vote from a secure mobile device, the accessibility problem will end.”

Right2Vote is an essential service that is strongly rooted in an existing need. Neeraj’s heart is in the right place, and his and his team’s experience and passion to make voting through smartphones a reality will see them achieve success very soon.

We at Awfis think Right2Vote is solving a real world problem with an innovative approach and it is awesome to have such inspiring ideas brewing within our Pro-working centres. We wish Right2Vote luck in their journey.

Functionality or Aesthetics: What Powers A Smart Workspace?

Business Innovations,

A smart workplace enhances productivity, wellness, and health – one that breathes life into the workspace without compromising on infrastructure. While functionality scores hands down over every other factor, the secret sauce is to strike the right balance between aesthetics and functionality. An effective blend of convenience and motivation is the winning combination.

Here’s what you need to consider while setting up your workplace:

Light It Up Bright

Cafeteria

Recall the days when power cuts were a daily feature in our lives? We all remember how everything, be it at home or at the workplace, would come to a standstill until electricity would be restored.Not only is light an essential component for ensuring productivity at work, but so is its type and placement.For instance, overhead lighting is the smart way to go. A light installed behind the head acts as an impediment for sufficient light on the computer screen, compelling you to strain your eyes. Excessive lighting and overly lit office workspaces does not contribute to either functionality or aesthetics as it causes unnecessary glare that is harmful to the eyesight. The icing on the cake is when a workspace offers natural light – what better than that to illuminate your workplace!

Furniture That Comforts

Flexi seats

Articles that talk about back pains and injuries are not rare. These are not a fallout of spending long hours before the computer screen at one stretch. The inclination of our chairs and body posture plays a vital role in these contemporary lifestyle diseases. The angle in which chairs are reclined, the size, and their height vis-a-vis the height of the desk determines whether they adversely affect our posture. Adjustable chairs enable us to get the size of the chair as per one’s height and the desk height.

Colour It Right

PAB

Colours define the personality of an organisation, and holds the power to evoke emotions and impact human psychology. Painting the walls with hues that is subtly reflective of the personality of the organisation sets the tone for the workspace. Cool colours like pale blue and green is appropriate for the corporate where bright hues are distracting. Moreover, neutral colours like white, cream and beige reflect light, exuberating calmness. Warm colours like red, orange and yellow are well suited for organisations that prefer an energetic and vibrant ambiance and inspire them to innovate with ideas.

To Wall Art, Or Not To

PAB_2282

Wall art can range from ideas as varied as paintings, motivational quotes and abstract graphics. This acts as a visual stimulus and contributes to the mental well-being of the employees. However, like the use of colours for walls, the elements that are appropriate for paintings and wall art are guided by the organisation, its personality and sensibilities. While a clutter-free and minimalistic painting will be suitable for a professional environment, kitssch is the way to go for organisations that want to tread off the beaten track. There is a significant difference between doing it right and overdoing it. Again, the secret lies in striking the right balance.

startup strategy, business model

6 Speed Breakers That Indian Start-Ups Have To Face

Business How To’s, , , , , ,

India today is a hotbed for start-ups and entrepreneurs. The scale of economic liberation that the country is witnessing is astounding.

However, and this is a big however, India is also a tough market to do business in. There are numerous cultural, political and infrastructural aspects that can result in more failures than successes. What makes India lag behind other countries in business innovation?

#1 The cost of starting is a lot!

We’re not talking about just the financial costs; the time and effort cost of starting a business in India is not for the faint-hearted. It can be disheartening for a young entrepreneur to make way through the myriad rules and regulations that have been put in place to give body to a process.

Did you know that you need to complete 12 different procedures, and spend nearly half your income per capita, just to get off the ground? Plus, it normally takes about a month to get everything in place. Compare that to the world average of just 9-12 days!

#2 We don’t have a fail-safe business culture

India operates on a wholly different plane of relationships and personal rapport. It isn’t enough to rely on facts and numbers alone to project an image of seriousness. You need to build relationships along with your business.

The same cultural outlook can also sometimes put pressure on the entrepreneur. Success is expected immediately, and not everyone views failure as a step closer to achieving one’s goal. In such an environment, start-ups might get compelled to suppress free-thinking and creativity. Swapping innovation for mediocrity could affect an enterprise’s growth. This is why a start-up must apply the lean method.

#3 Talent hunt

On one hand, there is a severe shortage of skilled talent within the country. Candidates are either seeking employment outside, with larger companies or are entrepreneurs themselves.

The other side of the problem is that having, by chance, found the right talent, a start-up cannot match the high salaries that larger companies offer. This means compromising and settling for the second-best.

#4 How do you get funding?

Unless you have an inheritance, chances are you will need capital from an outside source. VCs and private equities do help, but most entrepreneurs are often grappling to raise funds. And it gets tougher when an enterprise is looking to scale up. The market for investing in a start-up is still very small in India.

What about foreign investment? That too has its share of challenges. The government must be convinced and it must allow foreign investments in many sectors.

#5 The infrastructure doesn’t always keep pace

You are raring to go, but the infrastructure has other ideas. This might not always be the case, and not so much in larger cities. But smaller towns still reel under inefficient power supply, inferior roads, delays due to traffic, network connectivity, etc. all of which can prove expensive.

#6 Want to go international? Good luck with that!

If you want your idea to cross international borders, you will need to overcome many challenges to make it happen.

Do not get disheartened. If you have a great idea, India is a great economy to be a start-up today, despite these hurdles.

The government has launched the ‘Start-up India’ initiative that encourages and promotes the culture of entrepreneurship in India. There are benefits such as tax sops, and a special mobile app that will seamlessly connect start-ups, the government and regulatory authorities. The business of starting a business is also being simplified, with most registration processes made simpler and faster through online systems.

Moreover, mentorship programs like NASSCOM 10000, iSpirt and more are actively involved in the entrepreneurial mood of the country.

Yes, being a start-up is challenging and there will be days when nothing seems to be going your way. But it is possible to survive and flourish, provided you are prepared for the challenges that lie ahead.

inspiring stories, coworking

6 Ways In Which Shared Offices Beat The Neighborhood Coffee Shop!

Business How To’s, Inspiring Stories, , ,

coworking versus coffee shops

The neighborhood coffee shop seems cool and convenient to a budding entrepreneur. But when it comes to serious business, its charm loses to the facilities that a shared office space provides. Presenting an interesting creation from Awfis Editorial on coffee shops vs shared workspaces!

Creating Lasting Impressions With Digital Strategies: Aqugen Technologies

Inspiring Stories: Creating Lasting Impressions With Digital Strategies – Aqugen Technologies

Inspiring Stories, ,

#inspiringstories@Awfis is an initiative by Awfis Editorial Team to showcase the brilliant business ideas and the journey of our start-up member community.

Anu Aswal had been working in the digital space for seven years for one of India’s leading digital media conglomerate. However, it was during her last assignment as the Head of Performance Business in Middle-East and North Africa Region that she realized the true growth potential that the industry presented back home in India. Epiphany hit her and she geared up to take the plunge. Bitten by the entrepreneurial bug and her encounters with advertisers and other industry stakeholders, she was convinced of the opportune prospects of starting her own venture. Voila! AquGen Technologies came into being.

AquGen Technologies is a digital marketing company with expertise in desktop and mobile marketing, content and social media services, and that enables brands in driving performance of their digital campaigns. Clients of AquGen Technologies experience quality leads and optimized campaigns owing to AquGen’s global network of publishers across categories.

Anu’s partners in this initiative are Tarun Kumar and Jaideep Manchanda. Before starting AquGen, Tarun was working with a global real estate consulting firm and Jaideep was working as Brand Manager with the Times Group. Their team has gone from strength to strength; within two years fifteen people are the faces behind making AquGen a successful venture that caters to leading brands across the BFSI, E-commerce, Education, and Health sector.

Being in the competitive digital industry, the team knew that they would have to get things right from the beginning, and that is why they have developed the expertise to deliver different types of digital campaigns across a diverse pool of digital inventory. They manage a robust network of local and international publishers, who help them execute all their projects with the excellence they promise and are known for.

Business challenges have failed to impede the focus of the team to grow business every day and add to the diversity of their team. Instead of being curbed by challenges, the team course-corrects itself and uses its experience to excel further. With the willingness to learn and the attitude to treat every business challenge as a chance to better their skills, the team continues to further their objectives of growth. Needless to say, the clients at AquGen are the ones who reap the benefits of this perseverance.

The drive that unites the team can be traced back to their leader, Anu. She elaborates, “someone has rightly said ‘First Learn Then Earn’ and that’s the philosophy I inculcate in my team”.

Anu and her team have all eyes forward. In an attempt to expand her company into an agency that is capable of catering to businesses of all sizes, they are banking on the transparency that they offer in terms of quality and quantity of digital inventory used to run the campaigns of their clients.

As they continue to drive digital value for online advertisers, the competitive edge that Anu has her eyes set on is a range of exclusive products and services that will, in future, drive digital value for offline advertisers as well.

She takes a moment to express her amazement at the benefits that accrue in the form of learning and networking by virtue of working out of a co-working space. She adds by saying, “The experience is akin to being in a college where every moment and every interaction is part- fun and part- learning opportunity.”

We, at Awfis, think that Anu, Tarun and Jaideep’s journey is motivational and we are proud to have such inspiring stories building in our centres!

remote hiring, work near home

How Far Would You Go To Hire The Right Employee?

Business How To’s, , ,

What is the one thing about their job that most people don’t like? Barring the boss, of course; there’s no easy solution to avoiding what people do not like about their workplace.

For many, the answer would be the commute. Unless they are one of the lucky few who has found a job that they love within a few kilometers of home, chances are they are struggling to get to work on time and hoping to do the reverse journey just as quickly.

While on this topic, there is another interesting phenomenon that everyone seems to be talking about nowadays: work-life balance.

Are these two connected? Most certainly, they are.

Have you heard of ‘commute time happiness’? This states that a person’s overall health and happiness is directly linked to the amount of time the individual spends in commute. The more people find themselves stuck in traffic, the more they begin to think about what they could be doing instead; the meetings they will be late for; the work that is piling up; the time away from their spouse, their kids, their friends. The sheer waste of time plays on the mind; it would play on anyone’s mind.

Is it any wonder that more and more people are opting for jobs closer to home? These jobs might bring home less bacon, but they get more time to actually enjoy the flavors of life. Closer to home means coming closer to the dream of leading a healthy, meaningful life beyond work. And that is what work-life balance is all about, isn’t it?

For a potential employer, this could be a bit of a problem, especially if they are still holding on to the old ways of working and compromising with your time by accepting an offer for an office 25 kms away!

However, consider this for a moment. With technology on our side it is so much easier, and also so much more efficient, to give employees the flexibility to work from home, or nearer to home, than make the long journey to the office. Stress levels are low, there is tremendous saving, both of time and money, and overall satisfaction levels are much higher.

Suddenly, everyone is a winner. A happy employee means a better employee. And which organization would pass up that opportunity?

On those rare occasions when people do need to get together physically, beyond video conferencing and con-calls, you can quickly turn to shared office spaces. You can book an office, a meeting room or just a desk for your employee(s). It can be for a fixed time every week or just for the required duration of the meeting.

The running cost of maintenance, rent, and utilities is drastically reduced, without compromising on performance and productivity.It makes complete sense from the point-of-view of business and resources to consider allowing employees to work from locations nearer to home. All you need is to place a team within a network of shared office spaces.

So, how far would you be willing to go to hire the right employee? If you have the right infrastructural support, you will never again have to miss out on a potential employee because of the geographical distance.