Evan Kirstel | April 17, 2018
While CenturyLink is long known for strengthening network connections for enterprise, we recently applied our expertise to help bolster communications for the nationwide nonprofit Boys Town. Each year, Boys Town saves numerous young lives through its phone, IM, email, and online platforms. Year after year, the Boys Town National Hotline intervenes on suicides and responds to contacts by people in need.
As Shakespeare might say if he was still around today, there is “much ado about nothing” when it comes to the Internet of Things (IoT). Companies are eager to talk about how Artificial Intelligence (AI) is transforming IoT by connecting devices, automating tasks and analyzing large chunks of data. But the truth is that while there is a lot of smoke and maybe some sizzle, there’s not a lot of real meat when it comes to significant plans for implementation.
While customer experience gets a lot of lip service these days, few companies have actually closed the gap between talking and doing. Delivering an excellent customer experience requires addressing customer needs and figuring out the best way to do so. This doesn’t happen by accident. You have to listen and learn – and maintain good communication throughout the customer journey.
One click. That’s all it takes to fall victim to a phishing campaign. And since phishing exploits human susceptibility, 59 percent of hackers identify phishing as the best strategy for data exfiltration.
The benefits that come from accelerating down the road to the cloud are clear, ranging from improving agility and increasing flexibility to minimizing large capital expenditures and strengthening security. A new infographic by CenturyLink and VMware illuminates the crossroads of critical decisions facing IT professionals tasked with navigating the twists and turns of their company’s journey toward digital transformation. Among them are choices of location, time to value, cloud security, costs versus efficiency, and finding the right mix of support and expertise. As you see below, key decisions could very well determine whether a company ends up leading the pack, or is left behind in their competitor’s dust.
Raise your eyes from the screen for a moment and look at the light switch on the wall. Can’t get much simpler than that device. One moving part. Every child knows how to use it. And it’s rare that it doesn’t work.
For those who couldn’t make it to Enterprise Connect 2018 this year, the key takeaway is that Unified Communications and Collaboration (UC&C) is at the tipping point. Technologies are starting to come together as customers understand what impact they really want to make. Enterprises that embraced digital disruption are now far enough along on their digital transformation journey that they’re ready to solve specific issues and are beginning to pull ahead of the pack.
“I’m sorry, the system is slow today.” How often have your salespeople or clerks said this phrase when trying to complete a sale or check if something is in stock? Not only does this reflect poorly on your brand, but it can actually cost you sales, turning off potential customers who are waiting for service.
