If you’re one of the millions of companies worldwide gathering data like a chipmunk gathers nuts, you’re not alone. Big data holds big promise for nearly every industry. And yet, many companies are currently finding themselves with huge pools of data that provide very little actual value. While the term “data lake” conjures up images of beautiful, pristine, life-affirming waters, …
IoT and AI: Improving Customer Satisfaction
True—the Internet of Things (IoT) and artificial intelligence (AI) hold huge promise in helping us better engage and satisfy our customers. But that promise still depends heavily on our ability to process and act on the data we’re gathering in a way that is meaningful and positive for our customer base. Research shows that within a few years, 89 percent …
Continued Evolution of Enterprise Mobility
A few months ago, I discussed how enterprise mobility is part of the modern business evolution. Revolution might be more like it. In 2016, we saw record numbers of companies changing how they function in the new mobile environment—increasingly working from mobile-only apps and providing only mobile devices to new employees. As the technology grows and expands, it has the …
Virtualization Security: The Line of Defense Your Cloud Needs
It used to be that companies used Clouds merely to back up their physical systems. Now, as many businesses are increasingly adopting Clouds and virtual machines (VMs) as an alternative to their physical infrastructure, the question remains: How to keep their virtual data, software, and systems secure? Just as technology is changing how and where we work, it is also …
Data as a Service: The Big Opportunity for Business
Big data is imperative to business—and the amount of data in circulation and storage needed increases daily. Most forward-thinking businesses recognize the value of this data and leverage it as a decision-making factor for business strategy, but they don’t use it to its full potential. Unfortunately, most big data exists in silos that bog down its effectiveness. Break Down Data …
Overcoming Hurdles of Data Usage
Big Data is many things, but easy is not one of them. While companies the world over have raced to jump aboard the Big Data train, few have seen tangible results from their efforts. A recent Experian report showed that although 95 percent of CIOs believe data is changing how their organizations are doing business, nearly two-thirds of those also …
Crowded Collaboration Space: Can New Entrants Meet Demands?
If you’ve ever tried to get your team on a conference call—on time—while sharing documents or chatting with colleagues online—you know how challenging it can be. Perhaps that’s why so many new players are popping up like weeds in the unified communications (UC) market, providing hope and accessibility to comm-addicted companies worldwide. Despite the growing number of providers—or perhaps because …
Creating a Culture that Embraces Tech Change
Technology holds the key to prosperity and growth for many businesses. That said, you’ll need a culture of change and adaptability if you want to make the most of it. Even more than size and budget, culture is a huge predictor of a company’s ability to succeed in today’s digital age. The good news: you can build a culture that …
Time for Chatbots to Get Smart
When you imagine the ideal chatbot, what do you picture? The bot in your mind’s eye may resemble something along the lines of blockbuster movie favorites like Baymax from “Big Hero 6,” “Wall-E’s” EVE, or my personal hero, C-3PO. You probably didn’t imagine a small tower that lives on your shelf, like Alexa; a virtual being that resides in the …
Choosing the Right Cloud Platform for Your Startup
Cloud platforms aren’t an option for businesses, they are a must. I’d be hard-pressed without one for personal use. But for those who are new to cloud technology, finding the best solution for your startup in the crowded cloud market can be challenging. The good news is, options abound. Assess Your Cloud Needs The first step is determining if your business …