Stratecon Tech Advisors

NEC partners and customers were notified this week that NEC will be exiting the premise-based PBX business outside of Japan. This raises a lot of questions for existing NEC customers, but we're here to help! Message us to start a conversation about a migration plan. https://lnkd.in/dzSWMhM4

Leveraging AI for data analysis helps level the playing field between SMBs and their larger competitors. With AI, SMBs can optimize operations, enhance customer experiences, and personalize marketing strategies more effectively than ever before. #dataanalytics #artificialintelligence #businessintelligence #businessoptimization https://lnkd.in/dvpcXiTg

"Hotel chain giant Omni Hotels & Resorts has confirmed cybercriminals stole the personal information of its customers in an apparent ransomware attack last month. In an update on its website posted on Sunday, Omni said the stolen data includes customer names, email addresses and postal addresses, as well as guest loyalty program information." https://lnkd.in/g-fKF7Kp #cyberawareness #cyberriskassessment #cybersecurity

In a recent survey by Buffer, 98% of the respondents indicated they would like to work from home at least part of the time. Most large companies have figured out how to support a work-from-home model securely and affordably, but many small to medium businesses are still struggling with this key issue that directly impacts the labor force they are able to attract and retain. Checkout our blog post for the key considerations when building a remote/hybrid work model. As always, if you have questions, we're here to help! #remotework #hybridwork #collaboration #communications https://lnkd.in/gUZHCq2n

It's been interesting to see the major CX vendors explore the build vs. buy vs. partner approaches to quality management and workforce management. While giant corporations have vast resources, the history of the tech. industry has shown that independent startups are often more nimble, innovative, and customer-responsive, but, of course, there are always exceptions. Which strategy will win? Only time will tell, but it's exciting to see innovations in AI and ML that help improve the quality of customer experience (CX) while providing vital data for agent coaching and training. https://lnkd.in/gzQJFuQH #ccaas #customerexperience #qualitymanagement #workforceoptimization #cx #digitalexperience

An important first step in protecting your business from cyber attacks is assessing your current cyber risk. This helps identify the gaps that need to be addressed, so you can develop strategies to make your business more secure. Checkout our blog post about the importance of regular cyber risk audits, including a link to a free self-assessment to get you started. #cybersecurity #smalltomediumbusiness #securityaudits #cyberrisk #cyberprotection https://lnkd.in/gWVcgvtf

Earlier this week, technology industry analyst Dave Michels called out this NYC use case for the dangers of utilizing LLMs in customer-facing applications (particularly unsupervised). This is reminiscent of the recent Air Canada lawsuit, where an AI chatbot also gave incorrect responses, and although the airline tried to deny responsibility for the answers, the courts didn't agree. This raises a lot of appropriate questions about where and when AI should (not just could) be utilized in organizations, and what steps should be taken to monitor and audit responses for accuracy. When technology develops faster than policies and controls, unintended consequences can occur. The good news is there are methodical approaches that can be taken to responsibly evaluate if, where, and how AI should be utilized in a business, and to develop your AI Use Policy that aligns with your business strategy. If you'd like help formulating your AI strategy, please reach out to us to start a conversation. #artificialintelligence #responsibleai #datagovernance #customerexperience https://lnkd.in/gFUtFqXA

Researchers unlock fiber optic connection 1.2 million times faster than broadband. "What’s particularly impressive and promising about the team’s achievement is that they didn’t need new, high-tech fiber optic lines to reach such blindingly fast speeds. Most existing optical cables have always technically been capable of reaching E- and S-bands, but lacked the equipment infrastructure to do so. With further refinement and scaling, internet providers could ramp up standard speeds without overhauling current fiber optic infrastructures." #futuretech #techjobs https://lnkd.in/gTQ7HVWX

AI can be a powerful tool for enhancing customer experiences, but sometimes small to medium businesses, in particular, struggle with where to get started. Checkout our blog post for recommendations and some great examples for enhancing customer experiences with AI acting as a "co-pilot" with your human customer experience agents. https://lnkd.in/g9FMEb54

AT&T said on Saturday "that a dataset found on the 'dark web' contains information such as Social Security numbers for about 7.6 million current AT&T account holders and 65.4 million former account holders." Unfortunately, it's a matter of if, not when, your credentials will be stolen from companies with which you may have done business. Using multi-factor authentication (MFA) and a password manager to maintain unique, complex passwords for every account are two key tools to protect yourself. https://lnkd.in/gP58yzTU #cybersecurity #identitytheft #passwordmanagement #multifactorauthentication #databreach