Information Week

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“ESM | Going Beyond IT – Service Management for HR, Facilities and More“ Brought to you by TeamDynamix Embrace a unified approach for managing all your organization’s transactional requests with Enterprise Service Management (ESM) software. Originating from IT Service Management (ITSM), ESM extends its capabilities beyond IT, transforming processes across departments such as HR, marketing, facilities, and legal.Discover the evolution and benefits of ESM:-Centralized Platform: Streamline operations by using a single platform across various departments to handle all service requests efficiently.-Advanced ITSM Foundations: Built on decades of ITSM practices, ESM incorporates asset management, change management, and ITIL standards, ensuring best practices and reliability.-Service Request Efficiency: Simplify request management from basic IT tasks like password resets to complex issues such as performance troubleshooting, all managed through an intuitive ticketing system.-Enhanced Self-Service Portals: Empower end-users with a rich service catalog and comprehensive Knowledge Base, promoting self-directed solutions and reducing the burden on support teams.-Integrated Project Portfolio Management (PPM): With solutions like TeamDynamix, monitor all transactional and project work in a single view, enabling efficient resource planning and workload balance. Transition seamlessly from ITSM to ESM and harness the power of this versatile framework across your organization. Download our whitepaper to explore the essential elements for a successful ESM implementation. Download this whitepaper to understand the key building blocks for going from ITSM to ESM. Offered Free by: TeamDynamix See All Resources from: TeamDynamix source

Many businesses are now at the stage of their artificial intelligence journey where they’re working toward implementing the technology at scale. The foremost step for these executive teams is to appoint a chief AI officer (CAIO), so it’s not surprising that the number of CAIOs has almost tripled in the past five years, according to LinkedIn.  Certainly, CAIOs bring superior domain expertise and a deep understanding of opportunities and risks, which is invaluable for the successful deployment of AI technologies. Yet, for the entire organization to truly realize its benefits, implementation should never be done in isolation, but rather in collaboration.   In fact, collaboration shouldn’t kick-start once you want to implement a project. A healthy open dialogue to understand the goals and aims of stakeholders is essential. The CAIO needs broader buy-in to be successful, and this isn’t just from a courtesy perspective. Involving colleagues at the board level will ensure that there is greater investment in a project’s success from those who feel equally responsible for it — and excited by what it can achieve.   Implementation Starts With a Solid Foundation  The fact is, responsibly and reliably incorporating AI throughout a company is not a one-person job, or even a one-team job. Due to the complexities involved with AI adoption, success depends on the CAIO teaming up with almost everyone across the C-suite.   Related:2024 InformationWeek US IT Salary Report: Profits, Layoffs, and the Continued Rise of AI Starting at the foundational level, a project of this significance requires a concerted effort to address and assuage the key concerns and hopes of executives. Looking at the boardroom, this would include:  The chief information officer (CIO): Implementing AI at scale requires an in-depth knowledge of the infrastructure that will be required for a seamless integration. This means working together with the CIO to effectively integrate AI tools with existing systems and databases.  The chief data officer (CDO): Infrastructure needs extend to high-quality data,   which is critical for training AI models. Aligning with the CDO will be essential, not only to ensure good data is available, but also to establish governance processes that protect the integrity and quality of the data.   The chief financial officer (CFO) and chief operating officer (COO): Any large-scale initiative requires considerable capital investment and operational discipline to track returns on a multimillion dollar spend. So, engaging with the CFO and COO is vital when assessing the business case for the technologies and evaluating whether the technologies are addressing the right problems given the organization’s overall strategy.   Related:Curtail Cloud Spend With These Strategies Humans at the Center  People are fundamental to every transformation, including AI-powered transformation. In fact, research by the EY organization and the University of Oxford’s Saïd Business School highlights that by placing humans at the center of a transformation, the likelihood of success increases more than 2.5 times, from 28% to 73%.   This is where the chief people officer comes in, fostering excitement about change, engaging talent with the transformation strategy and organizing critical training that will equip people with the skills they’ll need. They can also give insights into how the new technologies will affect workplace culture.   Additionally, the CAIO should engage with the chief diversity officer to involve diverse talents with the deployment of new AI systems. It’s essential to minimize the risk of bias and discrimination being embedded within these systems and make sure that everyone in the organization has an opportunity to participate equitably in driving innovation.   Understanding the Impact on Your Clients   External audiences are equally important to consider as many organizations are investing in AI to improve their customer experience. So, the CAIO can team with the chief marketing officer to create more personalized and memorable brand experiences that enable the organization to build deeper and longer-lasting relationships with its customers.   Related:Forrester Speaker Sneak Peek: Analyst Jayesh Chaurasia to Talk AI Data Readiness If the organization has a chief ethics officer, the CAIO can work with them to draw up and apply ethical guidelines for AI development. This is critical since companies that demonstrate transparency, fairness, and good governance on AI will build confidence and resilience, positioning themselves favorably with consumers and regulators alike.  Tone at the Top  Perhaps the most consequential is the chief executive officer (CEO), who will have final say on the overall business strategy, investment decisions, and where AI will fit in. They set the tone at the top around AI deployment and can talk candidly about the challenges and opportunities that exist.  As EY research highlights, almost all (99%) of global CEOs said they planned to make significant investments in GenAI, with 69% reallocating capital from other investment projects to fund these investments. This level of commitment will help to instill confidence among employees and other stakeholders, encouraging them to buy into the role of AI in the future workplace.   At EY, AI is baked into all aspects of our new global strategy, All in, and this is intended to shape our client’s future with confidence. Businesses looking to follow a similar path need their CAIO to be the crucial enabler of AI-powered transformation across the organization. Translating the technical capabilities of AI into actionable business strategies for different functions is the table stakes. True success only happens if the rest of the executive team gets on board.   source

“ State of ITSM in Hospitality“ An InformationWeek Report | Sponsored by TeamDynamix The hospitality industry is embracing digitization across a diverse array of businesses, from hotels and restaurants to theme parks and casinos. With operations often spread across various regions and cultures, significant challenges arise. Explore InformationWeek’s insights from the State of ITSM in Hospitality survey, and learn how IT Service Management platforms and strategies can propel you beyond mere operational maintenance to real business enhancement. -Diverse Operations: Support a wide range of technologies across multiple locations and business functions.-24/7 Operations: Ensure seamless service at all times, even outside standard business hours.-ITSM Leverage: Utilize ITSM platforms to transform operations and improve overall business performance. Download the full survey report to gain invaluable insights into optimizing IT functions for superior hospitality services. Offered Free by: TeamDynamix See All Resources from: TeamDynamix Thank you This download should complete shortly. If the resource doesn’t automatically download, please, click here. source

When much of human activity moved online during the height of the pandemic, tech companies were thriving. Call it the COVID tech bubble. Now we’ve hit the COVID tech bust. By the second half of 2022, tech companies had initiated significant layoffs — something that had followed an extended period of frenzied tech hiring and attention to employee experience. Standard explanations for the cuts were that companies hired too many during the pandemic and they were looking at the specter of a recession in the months ahead. It sounds a lot like the dot-com boom and bust of yore. Not all companies are impacted equally. It’s the ones that hired at an accelerated rate during the boom that seem to be hitting the brakes right now. At the same time, IT pros with cybersecurity, cloud, and data analytics/machine learning skills have remained in high demand so far. In this space, InformationWeek will document some of the more significant layoffs, updated regularly. Be sure to check back. Here’s a look at the biggest tech layoffs so far: Related:2023 IT Salary Report: Pay Increases Despite Economic Pressures October 2024 Tech Layoffs Kyte, October 25, 2024 announcement. Layoff of 40% of workforce. Amid an ongoing effort to survive after exploring a sale earlier this year, the rental car startup is exiting almost all of its major markets in the US and has cut between 40% and 50% of its workforce, according to TechCrunch. Engineering, consumer, and growth product teams were impacted most. Kyte is reducing its operations to focus only on San Francisco and New York City (including Jersey City) as it works to reach profitability in the next 18 months, CEO Nikolaus Volk said to TechCrunch. Other major markets that Kyte has been pulling out of reportedly include Atlanta, Chicago, Boston, Washington, D.C., Philadelphia, and Seattle. “In a capital-constrained environment, where capital is super expensive, we have to focus on our strongest markets,” Volk said. Upwork, October 23, 2024 announcement. Layoff of 21% of workforce. To maintain profitable growth, “increase efficiency, and accelerate innovation for its customers,” Upwork is reducing its total workforce by 21%, according to a company news release. The cuts are expected to generate approximately $60 million in annualized cost savings. “We are making ourselves a more streamlined and efficient organization, continuing our successful focus on durable, profitable growth and delivering value for our customers and shareholders,” said Hayden Brown, president and CEO, Upwork. According to the release, Upwork plans to flatten the structures of its teams as it leverages more automation and third-party services to simplify processes and operate more efficiently at scale. Venminder, October 21, 2024 announcement. Layoff of 100 people. Just seven weeks after announcing that it had been acquired by Ncontracts, the Kentucky-based tech company is laying off 100 employees due to redundancies, according to The Business Journals. The cuts were confirmed in a WARN notice filed by Venminder and are expected to begin on December 15, 2024. CapWay, October 17, 2024 announcement. Layoff of entire workforce. Founder Sheena Allen announced operations at Capway have been shut down in a LinkedIn post on Wednesday, according to TechCrunch. The Y Combinator-backed fintech reportedly sought to bring financial services to those in banking deserts, which are people in communities, often rural, that have no nearby physical bank branch to obtain a checking account. The term also applies to people who have difficulty going to a bank, such as lower-income, older, or disabled individuals. Allen told TechCrunch the company started to wind down last year and waited this long to announce after a possible acquisition fell through. Allen reportedly cited the fact that the fintech industry took a huge reputational hit after the hacking of Evolve Bank & Trust and the collapse of Synapse. Hundreds of millions of dollars of consumer funds were frozen as a result of the Synapse’s collapse. In response, many banks that looked to partner with fintechs, required the fintech to have a certain amount of money in the bank. During this time period, CapWay struggled to adjust and find a banking partner. The company also struggled to raise more money to meet potential partners’ money-on-hand requirements. “I am proud of the work we were able to accomplish, but honestly disappointed that we couldn’t complete the mission,” Allen wrote on LinkedIn. “I feel strongly that there is still much work to be done in the financial inclusion space, so it won’t be the last you hear of me in regard to fighting for economic equality.”  Meta, October 16, 2024 announcement. Layoff total TBA. Employees across various departments, including WhatsApp, Instagram, and Reality Labs are reportedly being laid off at Meta, according to The Verge. Meta opted against mass, companywide layoffs to initiate smaller cuts that seem to align with the restructuring of specific departments. According to the report, some Meta employees have started posting on social media saying they’ve been laid off. “Today, a few teams at Meta are making changes to ensure resources are aligned with their long-term strategic goals and location strategy,” company spokesperson Dave Arnold said in a statement shared with The Verge. “This includes moving some teams to different locations, and moving some employees to different roles. In situations like this when a role is eliminated, we work hard to find other opportunities for impacted employees.” Stay tuned. Gigamon, October 15, 2024 announcement. Layoff of 69 people. Starting on New Year’s Eve, the cloud computing company will layoff 69 employees from its Santa Clara headquarters, according to SFGate. The cuts were announced in a WARN filing with the state on Thursday, which is required in the event of mass layoffs. According to the report, several engineers, directors, managers, and a few analysts and accountants will be impacted by the restructuring. In addition, the WARN document breaks down Gigamon’s restructuring plan: 34 workers will permanently lose their jobs on Dec. 31, followed by 17, eight, and 10 at the close of the next three months. ByteDance, October 11, 2024 announcement. Layoff of 500 people.

“Tools and Technologies for Managing Cyber Risk in 2024“ An InformationWeek Report | Sponsored by SailPoint As cyber threats constantly evolve, organizations need to adopt a proactive and holistic approach to managing risk. Designed for cybersecurity professionals seeking to fortify their defenses, this report highlights the most critical cybersecurity tools and trends of today and tomorrow. You’ll find expert advice on new and proven technologies for risk mitigation, including: Secure AI Deployment Threat Intelligence Sharing Identity Security Downtime Cost Mitigation By proactively addressing these key areas, organizations can enhance their cyber resilience posture and better manage their risk in the face of escalating cyber threats. Download now to stay informed and prepared to tackle the challenges of today’s digital security landscape. Offered Free by: SailPoint See All Resources from: SailPoint Thank you This download should complete shortly. If the resource doesn’t automatically download, please, click here. Thank you This download should complete shortly. If the resource doesn’t automatically download, please, click here. Thank you This download should complete shortly. If the resource doesn’t automatically download, please, click here. source

“Addressing Rising Power Densities in the Data Center Starts with an Integrated Cabinet Foundation“ Optimizing Data Center Efficiency: Addressing the Challenges of Rising Power Densities with Advanced Cabinet Solutions. The white paper “Power Densities & Data Center Cabinets” delves into the evolving landscape of data centers, focusing on the increasing power densities within modern IT equipment. It highlights the challenges posed by these higher power densities, such as thermal management, energy efficiency, and space utilization. The document provides insights into advanced cabinet solutions designed to accommodate these demands, emphasizing the importance of proper airflow management and cooling strategies. By addressing these critical factors, the white paper offers a comprehensive guide for optimizing data center performance and ensuring reliable, efficient operations in high-density environments. Download this whitepaper to learn more. Offered Free by: Chatsworth Products, Inc. See All Resources from: Chatsworth Products, Inc. Thank you This download should complete shortly. If the resource doesn’t automatically download, please, click here. Thank you This download should complete shortly. If the resource doesn’t automatically download, please, click here. Thank you This download should complete shortly. If the resource doesn’t automatically download, please, click here. source

Think of a logistics company struggling to keep pace with its larger competitors. Inventory mismatches, delayed deliveries, and inefficient routing plaguing its operations. But everything changes when the company integrates artificial intelligence and machine learning (ML) algorithms into its supply chain processes.   These AI solutions enable real-time inventory tracking, optimized delivery routes, and reduced operational costs. Suddenly, this logistics firm is not only thriving but competing against industry giants.    AI is redefining the rules of competition. No longer just a tool for tech-savvy giants, AI is leveling the playing field, empowering even smaller companies to compete with agility and innovation. It has also become integral to the modern workplace. About 75% of knowledge workers globally are using AI at work in 2024, with significant increases in adoption over the past six months alone, according to Microsoft and LinkedIn.   The same AI technologies that enable companies to outperform their competitors are also being harnessed to address some of the world’s most pressing challenges, from improving healthcare outcomes to reducing carbon footprints.   This dual potential — driving business growth while advancing societal goals — is what makes AI a game-changing enabler.  Related:IT Pros Love, Fear, and Revere AI: The 2024 State of AI Report  AI for Competitive Advantage and Social Good  Maintaining a competitive edge requires more than just cutting-edge products or superior customer service. It demands agility, innovation and the ability to leverage data in real time. AI provides the tools to achieve these objectives. For businesses looking to enhance productivity, streamline operations, or provide personalized customer experiences, AI offers transformative capabilities. By integrating AI into their core processes, companies today are optimizing their operations, making data-driven decisions, and responding to market changes quickly.  AI adoption isn’t just about automation, it’s about amplification. It amplifies the capabilities of every employee, enhances the effectiveness of every business process, and opens new avenues for innovation. Whether it’s through predictive analytics, AI-powered customer service, or personalized marketing strategies, companies can leverage AI to redefine how they engage with customers and operate more efficiently.   Beyond business efficiency, AI’s transformative power extends to addressing societal and environmental challenges. As the world grapples with issues such as climate change, healthcare accessibility, and economic inequality, AI presents a powerful tool for change. Nearly one in four social innovators today are deploying AI to advance the United Nations’ sustainable development goals (SDGs), according to the World Economic Foundation. The aim is to address multiple challenges with AI, including within the area of healthcare. AI-driven analytics are also being used to monitor deforestation rates, optimize energy usage in cities, and provide personalized education solutions to underserved communities.  Related:Keynote Sneak Peek: Forrester Analyst Details Align by Design and AI Explainability  AI-Powered Solutions and Operational Optimization  Operational efficiency is crucial for maximizing resources and delivering high-quality services. AI streamlines operations, automates tasks, and cuts costs. For instance, a patient services company used AI to enhance patient adherence and streamline drug program rollouts. By implementing a conversational agent assist system, they extracted precise information from a vast repository of documents, providing timely and accurate data to patients, providers, and sales analysts. This not only improved patient support but also enabled faster, more effective responses to requests for proposals, demonstrating how AI can transform complex processes into efficient, agile systems.  Related:Sidney Madison Prescott Discusses GenAI’s Potential to Transform Enterprise Operations  AI’s Role in Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR)  In CSR, AI has emerged as a transformative tool, enabling companies to create more substantial social impact through innovative, technology-driven strategies. Studies indicate that companies have shifted from traditional philanthropic efforts to leveraging AI for smarter, more adaptive CSR initiatives, post the COVID-19 pandemic.   AI has significantly enhanced environmental sustainability by providing real-time monitoring, analysis, and optimization. For instance, AI-driven analytics are being used to track energy consumption across a company’s operations, pinpointing areas where efficiency can be improved without compromising productivity. It’s also being used to optimize logistics and supply chains, reducing fuel consumption and minimizing emissions, thus shrinking the carbon footprint.  In product development, AI is crucial in designing eco-friendly products by analyzing materials and creating sustainable alternatives. AI can also support developing and optimizing renewable energy sources, such as determining the best placement and operation of solar panels and wind turbines.   Beyond environmental initiatives, AI’s capabilities extend to advancing social impact. AI-powered platforms can analyze vast datasets to identify communities that need the most help, allowing organizations to direct their resources effectively. This targeted approach is crucial in addressing global issues, including poverty, hunger, and healthcare access. AI tools can optimize the distribution of resources, ensuring aid reaches those in need more efficiently.   AI also supports educational initiatives, providing personalized learning experiences that adapt to individual needs, a vital contribution to regions with limited access to quality education. By investing in AI-driven educational tools, companies can help bridge the education gap, empowering future generations.   In healthcare, AI technologies have revolutionized patient care and public health initiatives. AI-driven diagnostic tools offer faster, more accurate analyses of medical data, improving early detection and treatment of diseases. In rural and remote areas, AI enables telemedicine services, broadening access to essential healthcare. AI also aids in managing public health efforts, such as tracking disease outbreaks and optimizing vaccination campaigns.   AI’s role in ethical supply chain management is increasingly crucial as consumers demand transparency and sustainability. AI can track and verify the origin of materials, monitor labor practices, ensure compliance with environmental regulations, and build trust with consumers. Actively identifying and mitigating risks in the supply chain promotes ethical practices and environmental stewardship.   Thinking of AI as merely a tool for business efficiency is limiting; it is a catalyst for meaningful social impact. By integrating AI into a company’s CSR strategies, environmental sustainability initiatives, and social impact programs, organizations can address pressing global challenges. The transformative potential of AI demonstrates that profitability and social good can go hand in hand. Now is the time to embrace AI, as it offers the tools required to turn challenges into opportunities,

“A revolution in healthcare IT service management: How automation is driving improvements in a complex environment“ Brought to you by TeamDynamix The demands on IT service desks in healthcare have surged dramatically over the past five years. Modern healthcare facilities require robust IT support to manage a myriad of new technologies, applications, and devices across every department. Meanwhile, IT teams face shrinking resources, headcount, and budgets. To gain insight into the challenges confronting IT leaders and discover the most effective solutions, consider the findings from Becker’s Healthcare. Key Insights: -Increased Application Volume: IT teams now support a growing number of applications, amplifying their workload.-Emerging Technologies: New technologies constantly entering the field require ongoing IT maintenance and adaptation.-Device Diversity: A variety of new devices from all organizational departments necessitate comprehensive IT coverage. Discover how your healthcare institution can enhance IT efficiencies and overcome these challenges by downloading our comprehensive report today. Offered Free by: TeamDynamix See All Resources from: TeamDynamix source

Although transforming customer and employee experiences is a top priority, data from Omdia’s IT Enterprise Insights Survey 2024 reveals that progress remains slow–less than 30% of those surveyed. Overcoming these challenges requires embracing a path of strategic transformation and a conscious shift in mindset. source