Windows 7 Support: How Companies Go To The Cloud After The End

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Windows 7 Support This Is How Companies Go To The Cloud After The End

Why do companies with the end of Windows 7 support often already have one foot in the cloud? On January 14th, the time has come: Microsoft ends Windows 7 support. But many computers and applications still use this operating system – according to Net Applications, it still had a market share of 27 per cent. Unpatched Windows 7 quickly becomes a risk because criminals exploit known security gaps: theft of passwords and data or even extortion through the encryption of entire systems can have costly consequences.

For companies, the end of support means sooner or later that they will have to switch to a new operating system if they have not already done so. For most companies, this doesn’t just mean getting used to it for the employees. The effort to migrate to a new system is enormous. It is, therefore, no wonder that the companies affected do not want to think about an additional cloud migration at the moment.

The path to the cloud is preprogrammed for everyone. Because most users of the newer Microsoft operating systems have long been using the advantages of the cloud. At least since the spread of Office 365 and the associated possibility of accessing your familiar environment anywhere, the cloud has been part of everyday work. Used correctly, it boosts the productivity of companies. But there are a few basic rules to be observed so that the high-altitude flight into the cloud does not turn into a crash landing.

Windows 7 Support: Analysis Of The Current State

Whether sales, marketing or product development – the cloud affects many areas of the company. A status analysis of the currently available IT applications used in the company is essential if you want to migrate to the cloud. In addition to a general overview, you can check whether the company applications, such as the CRM system, Office or time recording, are generally cloud-capable. But the question of whether its full scope can be used in the cloud is also of enormous importance. After moving to the cloud, realizing that the costs can only bring a fraction of the expected benefit because the full functionality in the cloud is not guaranteed is a disaster for most companies.

Windows 7 Support: A Strategy For The Cloud

It is imperative to have a cross-business plan for cloud migration right from the start. This sets the framework for the implementation. Even if not every detail can be planned, essential questions have to be answered: What are the goals of the cloud implementation? How does the cloud fit into the other digitization of the company? Which KPIs can measure the success of the project? The results of the as-is analysis naturally flow into the strategy.

Infrastructure Plans During The Changeover

In addition to the general questions that a migration to the cloud entails, one subject area is particularly explosive: Infrastructure during the changeover. Migration to the cloud doesn’t happen instantly. How much downtime can the company survive without any problems? What if there are problems and the rest lasts longer than expected? Is there an emergency plan, or do you even use two redundant systems in the transition period? Anyone who is prepared for the worst here cannot be surprised by much.

Windows 7 Support: With Solid Partners In The Cloud

Of course, a company may lack the in-house know-how to carry out a cloud migration successfully and, above all, smoothly – but this is also not a must. A strong partner who helps with the migration with their experience saves nerves and saves money if complications arise.

DNS Ensures User Experience And Security

The Domain Name System, or DNS for short, ensures that information from the Internet reaches users. Without DNS, hardly anything would work in a company – especially not cloud solutions such as Microsoft Office 365, which rely on the Internet. The DNS architecture is essential for the optimal user experience of such applications. Companies should rely on local DNS servers that are centrally managed.

At the same time, the domain name system can also secure cloud applications because DNS does not work on the data level but the control level and can therefore be used in a scalable manner. Regardless of whether it is about known attack vectors or 0-day attacks. Protection can be implemented technically and is also easy to implement with an eye on the budget.

Companies are already using the cloud in many application areas. At the latest, with the end of support for Windows 7, you have to admit that. A strategic approach helps to use budgets sensibly. Only in this way will cloud applications become an essential part of the digitization of companies. Protection against possible cyber-attacks should not be forgotten.

ALSO READ: Customer Churn: Why Identification Is Important To Automotive Industry

Customer Churn: Why Identification Is Important To Automotive Industry

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Customer Churn Why Identification Is So Important To The Automotive Industry

Customer Churn: The automotive industry is currently not experiencing a tailwind: Disruption and Diesel gate are whirling up the industry, which is used to success. With developments in the automotive industry, the relevance of existing customers increases, especially since, according to the Harvard Business Review, it is between five and twenty-five times more expensive to acquire a new customer than to keep an existing one. The management consultancy Iskandar Business Partner (IBP) has developed a tool for customer churn in the automotive industry, with the help of which churn probabilities can be identified quickly and pragmatically.

Counter Customer Churn Through Stronger Brand Loyalty

At the center of IBP’s customer-centered approach is the premise that responding to individual wishes and emotions binds customers closer to a company and its brand. Companies need to determine which phase of the product life cycle (postcode) the customer decides to no longer commit to this brand.

To find out, Iskandar Business Partner has developed an adaptable, Excel-based model with a dashboard for the automotive industry. This makes it possible to identify factors that harm customer loyalty, so-called churn risks. This approach is particularly useful for companies that have so far only dealt with the topic in an unstructured manner or not at all.

Indicators Of Higher Customer Loyalty

Since customers can migrate during the entire postcode from the first purchase to the user to the sale, churn indicators are identified using hypotheses for each of these phases. For example, the number of product complaints or the cost of workshop visits can play a role. The respective indicators must be determined jointly via hypotheses in the context of workshops. The higher the respective indicator, the higher the churn probability.

On the other hand, there are loyalty indicators, which reduce the likelihood that a customer will decide against the make of car used in the future. This may include discounts on the list price, close dealer support during the purchase phase, goodwill repairs or the use of on-top services. All indicators are then weighted and thus result in a customer-specific churn score.

Customer Churn: Create Catalogues Of Measures

Continuous validation employing data collection can be used to identify patterns of migration over time. “This makes churn risks identifiable. This is the basis for measures with which companies can effectively combat customer churn,”. “With our methodology, we give companies a measurable overview of how things are going with their customer relationships in the shortest possible time.”

The churn indicators are assigned to the affected customers using algorithms and hypotheses, and corresponding catalogues of measures are derived. Measures include, for example, actions for customers who had to take their vehicle to the workshop unscheduled – such as a free car wash – and should give customers the feeling of attentive care.

Customer Churn: Implement Data-Driven Churn Control

Depending on the level of the churn score, more extensive service or compensation services are also conceivable. In terms of process, the effectiveness of such actions must be checked and evaluated afterwards. If a company succeeds in giving customers a feeling of appreciation again, that is often enough to win them over to the brand over the long term. “The Churn Prediction Tool is the first step towards fully data-driven churn control,”. “Ideally, a self-learning control AI software will evaluate all available data in real-time and automatically start and control customer-specific campaigns.”

companies that use data analytics strategies generate 126 per cent more profits. At the same time, a positive customer experience acts as a driver for stronger brand loyalty. Even small decreases in customer churn rates mean additional profits in the millions. All good reasons to take a close look at churn prediction – this is the only way the industry can soon regain tailwind.

ALSO READ: Data Protection: Correct Handling Of Applicant And Employee Data

Data Protection: Correct Handling Of Applicant And Employee Data

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Data Protection Correct Handling Of Applicant And Employee Data

Data Protection: Since the GDPR came into force, companies have had special rules regarding the type, duration and scope of storage. Since the GDPR came into force, companies have had to comply with special rules concerning the type, duration, and scope of applicant and employee data storage and retention. Small and medium-sized companies are also affected. In principle, the personal data of employees may be collected and processed following data protection.

“From many conversations with my customers, I got the impression that it is still not clear to all companies how long they have to keep applicant data and which employee data they are allowed to collect, develop and store,”.

“The principle applies that personal data of employees may be collected, processed or used for the employment relationship following employee data protection. This includes certain data such as name, tax identification number, data on social security as well as information on occupation, qualifications and employability”,.

Data Protection: Storage Of Employee Data

The data without which a legally compliant employment relationship would not come about or without which a company would not guarantee its regular operation. By the way: The employer does not need any special consent from his employees to store this data – and only for this. By the way, employee data protection also includes applicant data. Most companies also store applicants’ data when they are no longer needed because they have chosen a candidate.

“Here, however, you are walking on thin ice because here, too, retention periods are regulated. Application documents may be kept for a maximum of six months. By then at the latest, applicant data must be destroyed in compliance with data protection regulations,”. This means that personal data must be made unrecognizable and may no longer exist after being deleted. “The email must not be forgotten. There, too, cover letters, curriculum vitae, certificates and other documents that may have been submitted must be deleted. “

Comply With GDPR Requirements

With Office Manager, the requirements of the GDPR and retention periods can be complied with: DMS users can enter deadlines that are accurate to the day and start running from the document date. You can use an input mask to specify the retention period in years or days and with “unlimited” or “none”. The end of the period is shown in the properties dialogue of the individual documents.

“This is a huge relief when it comes to the short-term archiving of application documents because HR administrators have a precise overview of the day on which they have to delete the data,”. By the way, deadlines for the sample archives are included in the software installation package. “To prevent misuse or manipulation, changes require administrator rights. Even if the editing of selection lists has been approved,”.

Note Retention And Deletion Periods

For the storage of employees’ data – in connection with attendance times or accounting data – specific retention and deletion periods apply. “If an employee leaves the company, their personnel files should be kept for at least three years. Only then make claims from the employment relationship expire, such as the demand for a job reference or a claim for damages, “:” But be careful: the deadline always only applies from the end of the respective year in which the employment contract ends, regardless of when the time of termination was. “

However, a distinction must be made between tax law and social security documents: A retention period of six years according to tax law applies to income tax cards, pay slips and receipts for an income tax deduction. If they are used to determine the company’s profit, they must be kept for ten years. Proof of wages for hours worked and evidence of remuneration paid must be kept for five years, and documents relating to company pension schemes for six years.

ALSO READ: 7 logotypes: which logo suits whom?

7 logotypes: which logo suits whom?

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The 7 logotypes which logo suits whom

7 logotypes: A logo is not just a logo! Choosing a logo shouldn’t be random: there are certain logos. A logo is not just a logo! The selection of a logo should not be made by chance: Specific requirements favor some logo designs or exclude them from the outset. The design experts at 99designs, an online marketplace for graphic design, explain which logotype suits which company.

7 logotypes: Monogram Logos (Lettercards)

7 logotypes: IBM, HBO and RTL are just a few examples of companies that have taken advantage of the abbreviation of a long company name by using it for brand identification. Since only a few letters stand for an entire company, it is essential to choose a font that presents the company and is also very legible at the same time – even if it is significantly reduced in size for a business card, for example. As a young company whose name is still largely unknown, one should write the full name under the abbreviation to promote the branding.

Company Logotype (Wordmarks)

In this case, the complete company name serves as the logo. Companies with short phrases such as Google or Visa prefer this type of presentation. You benefit from the fact that the name is easy to remember with the target group. If typography optimally conveys the company’s core message, the perfect basis for high recognition is given.

Logo Symbols (Figurative Marks)

Figurative marks are what you first think of when you hear the term logo: a symbol or a graphic-based design. Examples of this are, for example, the “bitten” Apple apple or the twittering Twitter bird – these symbols represent the company. One look is enough to be able to assign the respective picture to a company. A real figurative mark should also work without explanatory lettering, making it a problematic logotype, especially for young companies. If you still have the courage, you should think of the broader meaning of the picture: Should you play with your name ? Should a deeper meaning be conveyed ? Should emotion be evoked ?

Abstract Logos

Abstract logos are a particular form of symbolic mark. The striped Adidas flower, the split Pepsi circle or the star-shaped BP logo are among the most prominent examples in this category. In contrast to the classic figurative mark, you can create something unique that becomes a symbol for the brand. Cultural meanings or influences are irrelevant. Just as a young company can be charged with its ideas and ideals, a logo can be created in the same way.

Mascot

The mascot is usually a brightly clouded funny character that becomes a brand ambassador. A famous example is Colonel Harland D. Sanders, who smiles at fast-food fans from the KFC logo. This logotype is mainly used when companies create a pleasant atmosphere and families and children belong to the target group.

The Combination Logo

As the name suggests, this combination of a wordmark or lettercard logo and a figurative mark, abstract logo or mascot—text and image work together, strengthening the brand. Advantageously, the word and the symbolic mark can be used separately as the company becomes more well-known without impairing recognizability. For example, the crocodile on a polo shirt can be assigned to the Lacoste brand without the name appearing underneath. In addition, combinations can be better protected because together, they represent a unique picture.

The Emblem

Badges, seals and coats of arms are classic examples of an emblem. What they all have in common is that they consist of a symbol with images and text. In this way, they give a traditional impression and are often the first choice for schools, authorities and organizations. Despite the classic style, companies like Starbucks or Harley-Davidson manage to give their emblems a contemporary look. If an emblem is chosen as the corporate logo, one should be aware that it may not be suitable for all branding materials: On business cards, it could be too small and therefore illegible. An emblem may also be lost on hats or shirts, which is why you should pay particular attention to simplicity in the design to achieve a clear, meaningful look.

ALSO READ: Composable Infrastructure: More Agility For IT

Composable Infrastructure: More Agility For IT

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Composable Infrastructure More Agility For IT

Composable Infrastructure: IT technology changing & with how infrastructures are set up. The areas of responsibility of data centers to grow. On the one hand, this is due to technological progress, which offers increasingly efficient IT solutions in all company areas. At the same time, the changed market conditions, which are largely determined by digitization, play a central role.

In addition to cost-efficient IT infrastructures, this second trend requires a much higher degree of flexibility. This development can be seen in the 2020 IT trends, in which cloud computing and hybrid IT play a special role. They are not just one of the most important technologies in terms of a company’s staffing needs. They also represent the progressive break with traditional IT solutions.

Composable Infrastructure: Two IT Environments, Two Areas Of Responsibility

One of the reasons why traditional infrastructures are being abandoned more and more is their lack of flexibility. It is based on silos and hardware designed for specific workloads – it is primarily intended to ensure that complex processes function stably.

But that is no longer the only or primary task of modern IT infrastructures. Rather, it should create the basis for far-reaching flexibility and more agility, which can be converted into competitive advantages in an entrepreneurial sense. The IT thus takes on two functions:

  • It manages the existing Infrastructure and helps to provide applications that are critical for operational stability: data processing, data analysis, supply chain and similar processes, therefore often run over traditional infrastructures.
  • On the other hand, the IT infrastructure can play a more active part in corporate development through cloud applications. Modern infrastructures allow greater agility and are therefore the basis for quickly implementing new applications and services – and making them available on the move.

Today’s infrastructure solutions are therefore required to perform very different tasks. You should

  1. drive the optimization of all applications and services in the company
  2. Accelerate the delivery of these applications and services
  3. ensure cost efficiency and less work
  4. enable more productivity and control in all processes

To perform all of these tasks equally, an infrastructure must be created that can connect different IT environments.

IT Infrastructures For Modern Business Workloads

Technologically, there are different answers to the demand on IT infrastructures to offer stable processes with the greatest possible flexibility. The path has consequently led away from the traditional architecture of the data centers. Their connection of hardware, software and containers with a strong focus on the physical components is no longer state-of-the-art for various reasons.

The silo formation of the various areas is one of these reasons, but the laborious hardware and software administration is probably the most serious. Flexible applications and services are impossible; their integration into the entire Infrastructure could not be achieved with the required speed.

Convergent Infrastructures

With convergent infrastructures, a significant simplification is possible compared to traditional data centers. This takes place initially on the hardware level, in the form of a uniform overall solution: The physical elements of the Infrastructure come as a unit. This also reduces the administrative burden.

The corresponding software can merge the administration of the respective areas. The lower complexity in handling, therefore, promotes productivity. Because the hardware is the decisive factor despite everything, the rigid silo structure can only be broken open to a limited extent. Even if computing, storage and network environments no longer have to be managed separately in converged Infrastructure, this can still be the case for different workload types.

Hyper-Converged Infrastructures

Hyper-converged infrastructures, therefore, take the next step and combine servers, storage, network and connected virtualization platforms into a single system. This form of Infrastructure is moving away from the hardware and towards a software-based solution. However, this only allows virtualization; physical servers are not provided for with the HCI.

Composable Infrastructure As A Solution?

As a result, hyper-convergence sometimes offers less scope for the individual configuration of resources. What is possible in traditional infrastructures – albeit with great effort – is largely unavailable in fully virtualized IT environments. Disaggregated HCI, therefore, separates computing and storage resources, which allows more control over the respective services.

To give users even more control, Composable Infrastructures is the next step. The concept is by no means entirely new. For example, Hewlett Packard Enterprise (HPE) and Microsoft have been dealing with the topic for several years, not least as a basis for flexible hybrid cloud solutions.

Basically, at the center of this approach is the initial question of how two different IT environments and their objectives can be combined: Securing stable systems with simultaneous agility to adapt applications and services immediately to new business conditions.

A composable infrastructure combines different approaches:

  • The resources for computing, storage and network services are virtualized, for example, in hyper-converged environments.
  • A software-based interface enables configuration, just like in a traditional data centre architecture.
  • In this way, both “physical” resources can be controlled, and cloud applications can be used flexibly.

This allows companies, for example, to adapt their applications and services better and faster to changing peak times – independently of one another. Similar to disaggregated variants of the HCI, the different resources can be scaled separately with the composable Infrastructure. Because hardware and software are also designed as a unit in this solution, the complexity is reduced compared to other approaches.

More Workload Support With Composable Infrastructure

The flexible resource pool also opens up various options for integrating various physical, virtual and container-based workloads on a single platform. It works so easily because all components in the composable Infrastructure, from computing, network, and storage to applications, are stateless.

They are all treated as stateless resources and are therefore particularly easy to configure. They can be combined and moved as required. This gives companies access to a wide variety of workloads:

  • So-called bare metal applications, which run directly on the hardware without virtualization, software level and operating system, can also continue to be used in a “composite” IT environment. This gives companies the advantages of “dedicated servers”, such as the sole and free availability of their resources or the fixed IP address. This form of workload remains very popular, especially for business-critical applications.
  • Container solutions can also be integrated without difficulty and thus offer a possibility for the fast provision and easy monitoring of applications – because all the necessary components, from files to system libraries, are completely contained in the respective containers. This ensures, on the one hand, that the execution is always the same regardless of the environment, while on the other hand, sharing is made easier.

These different workloads no longer exist separately from one another in a composable infrastructure. The virtual workloads, which now make up the largest share thanks to cloud computing, are all managed together within the same environment.

Management can be simplified even further if companies use the virtualization tools that employees are already familiar with – with the high proportion of virtualized workloads, no long transition is necessary.

No Efficient Infrastructure Without Sufficient Know-How

Overall, a composable infrastructure brings numerous advantages for companies, especially concerning adapting to change technological and economic framework conditions. However, the prerequisite for skimming off these advantages and converting them into corporate success is not only on the side of technology.

While the technologies are increasingly oriented towards the requirements of economic competition and therefore enable more agility, the requirements for personnel are changing simultaneously. Surveys show that the new technologies continue to increase the need for qualified IT personnel. Without a corresponding level of know-how in the company, the potential of modern IT infrastructures can therefore hardly be accessed.

ALSO READ: Digital Workplace: Five Characteristics That Employees Value

Digital Workplace: Five Characteristics That Employees Value

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Digital Workplace Five Characteristics That Employees Value

When people talk about the digital workplace, the images appear to some people. With the entry of digital natives into the labor market, the digital workplace will play a decisive role in the competition for qualified employees. The so-called Generation Z presupposes that their workplace has technologies that can be operated intuitively and can be used to communicate with others, network and obtain information without any problems. Intra Find, the enterprise search solutions and natural language processing provider, defines five aspects that define the digital workplace.

Digital Workplace- Central Working Platform Bundles The Programs

The ideal digital workplace is a central information and work platform that gathers data from all software systems used. With additional applications – for example, for project management or the simple processing of vacation requests – the platform can be adapted to the company’s requirements.

At the same time, every employee receives a personalized dashboard to find all relevant functions and their daily tasks. He does the work directly from the dashboard. There is no need to switch between programs. So that employees do not have to search each source separately when actively searching for information. Enterprise search solutions enable all connected applications and data sources to be searched via a portal.

Digital Workplace Enables More Efficient Collaboration

The digital workplace focuses on the collaboration of people in teams, projects or groups in virtual space. Social collaboration tools ensure that communication is structured and organized. Documents can also be shared with authorized colleagues here. However, this is not just about the technical platform but how employees can best work together. Successful pilot projects, automated help systems or explanatory videos, for example, help to overcome reservations. In addition, the management has to exemplify the change and serve as a role model for the employees.

Results Are More Important Than Physical Presence

The Digital Workplace supports flexible working methods such as the home office by centralizing the required information. In this way, employees can work where they feel comfortable and are productive. This increases both satisfaction and motivation so that companies benefit from the advantages in the competition for the most promising talent and the increased efficiency and productivity of their employees. The digital workplace thus focuses on the result of the work instead of the physical presence.

Artificial Intelligence Supports The Employee

Artificial intelligence takes on routine tasks in the digital workplace by reading information from documents, messages and other sources and processing it independently, for example, by forwarding incoming emails from a collective mailbox to the responsible colleague. It learns from the behavior and decisions of the employees and reacts automatically in the event of repetition.

Employees are relieved and can focus more on their actual work. For example, Enterprise search applications also use Natural Language Processing (NLP) to automatically enrich the search results with additional information or organize the hit list based on usage-based relevance.

Data Security Is Essential

A holistic security concept is essential in the digital workplace. For example, with an enterprise search solution, employees can only see the information to which they have access rights by checking their rights.

In addition, solutions such as Identity and Access Management (IAM) solutions help manage access rights to data so that you can understand who is accessing which information and when. They also have to encrypt the data on the server itself and also during transport. Furthermore, container solutions, for example, ensure security on mobile devices. This approach protects companies from data leaks or willful data theft.

“Intelligent tools make it possible to find information from different data silos in the Digital Workplace and relate them to one another,”.

“Enterprise search solutions as a central knowledge infrastructure in the backend also enrich existing processes, for example, by analyzing the digitized incoming mail, forwarding support tickets to the responsible helpdesk staff, or automatically recognizing confidential information or deletion periods. This relieves the employees and allows them to concentrate on more important tasks. “

ALSO READ: Tibco Presents Cloud-Native Solutions Based On Artificial Intelligence

Tibco Presents Cloud-Native Solutions Based On Artificial Intelligence

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Tibco Presents Cloud-Native Solutions

Tibco Presents Software has introduced new products, features, and integration functions that make agile innovations so easy. The improvements to the Tibco Connected Intelligence platform enable even shorter response times. This enables users to innovate faster and more sustainably and convert their ideas and investments into business added value more efficiently. The functionality can be used profitably in a wide variety of scenarios by allowing companies to concentrate on their added value and their pace of innovation. The API management software Tibco Cloud Masher and a whole range of cloud-native technologies offer first-class user support for native deployments in public and private clouds and on-premises.

Tibco Presents Integrated Cloud-Native Technologies

In line with this cloud-first and cloud-native approach, Tibco is now making the Masher Local Developer Portal available as a fully cloud-native deployment, supporting both private cloud and on-premise models. With this step, users can switch to cloud-native architecture platforms such as Kubernetes even more easily. Companies struggling with the increasing complexity of legally compliant metadata management can take part in the beta program for Tibco Cloud Metadata, a new cloud-native service for managing metadata in companies based on Tibco EBX and completely on the Connected Intelligence Cloud platform.

Tibco Presents “At a time when digital connectivity is becoming the norm, our customers are facing a real explosion of data that is mostly unstructured and highly complex,”. “Most companies are not yet using the potential of this data to make critical decisions and to back them up with facts. They could have done this long ago because fundamental technologies such as the cloud, flexible, open platforms, and AI can be used to convert data into innovations and effective action. Our vision for these companies is to use Tibco as their data foundation to interact with and use their data seamlessly. “

Messaging Components Integrated Into Apache Kafka

Because users are increasingly using open-source programs and software sharing in addition to proprietary commercial applications and tools, Tibco is increasingly incorporating open source components into its product mix. The Messaging Manager 1.0.0 with the comprehensive Apache Kafka Management Toolkit offers an intelligent, predictive command line with automatic completion that simplifies the setup and management of Apache Kafka.

With their common management plug-in and interface, the Tibco messaging components simplify ongoing integration and deployment tasks. The Messaging Manager extends Tibco’s 24/7 support for Apache Kafka and enables users of the Connected Intelligence Cloud platform to benefit from the innovative Kafka functions for integration, event processing, and real-time messaging with historical context.

IoT-Based Machine-To-Machine Communication

In addition, Tibco now also supports IoT-based machine-to-machine communication via the OPC Foundation Unified Architecture in the Tibco streaming software. As part of its commitment to the open-source project Flog, the provider also announces the Project Flog Streaming User Interface. This is embedded in existing solutions and enables developers to create resource-efficient, smarter apps for real-time processing of streaming data at the edge or in the cloud, thereby improving the productivity of IT expert resources. Last but not least, Tibco is underpinning its commitment to the open-source community by publishing Catalyst. This open-source specification can record data transformations and process ML artifacts in real-time applications with high throughput.

Tibco Continues To Develop Solutions Based On Artificial Intelligence

Artificial intelligence is the basis for the further development of the entire Tibco portfolio because only with AI can real innovation arise. It has never been easier to deploy ML-based models and couple them with data feeds to make faster and smarter real-time decisions. With this in mind, the developers included artificial intelligence as a core capacity in their products from the start. An example of this approach is the Atom extension for the data science software, enabling the rapid development and selection of AI workflows using Tibco Labs. In addition, new functions for process mining make it possible to read process behavior from event logs and optimize and predict it.

Further measures to strengthen the AI ​​foundation include an interactive AI function in Tibco Spotfire and calling runner programs from Spotfire to test data science models. The innovation package is rounded off by streaming data science functionality within the new Intelligent Equipment Accelerator, which can call up ML models for real-time streaming data. 

ALSO READ: AI Projects: 5 Tips On How Companies Can Make Better Use Of AI 

AI Projects: 5 Tips On How Companies Can Make Better Use Of AI

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AI Projects 5 Tips On How Companies

AI Projects: The use of artificial intelligence brings many advantages for companies. However, we will only reach their full potential. Artificial intelligence in companies and machine learning (ML)? In April 2019, IDC examined the current status of this technology in the study “Artificial Intelligence in 2019”. 

AI Projects: Five Recommendations For Successful AI Projects In Companies

Algorithms, robots, and digital assistants have long since found their way into companies – and will be used even more frequently in the future. A good 40 percent of companies have already worked with artificial intelligence (AI), and 88 percent plan to do so in the next twelve months. These are the results of the IDC study “Artificial Intelligence in 2019”, in which decision-makers from 305 companies were surveyed in April 2019.

With the help of AI, the companies want to automate processes in IT (34 percent) as well as in sales and marketing (31 percent) and optimize personnel deployment (30 percent). They named these three business goals the most frequently. Companies use AI primarily for process optimization – and thus do not fully exploit their potential. Because not even a third of the respondents stated that they wanted to drive innovations with AI projects. Every company has it in its own hands to use the algorithms for its entrepreneurial advantage. You can do this if you adhere to the following five recommendations:

Define Realistic Business Cases For AI Projects

If companies want to tackle AI projects successfully, they should be clearly defined and achieve a clear business benefit. However, 47 percent of the companies surveyed find it difficult to define suitable use cases for themselves. It is also particularly challenging for more than half of the respondents to introduce an AI model and qualify the necessary data. Companies master these challenges when they compare the technical requirements with the technological possibilities in the company. For users with little experience, it is advisable to start with simple and non-critical projects and, if necessary, to call in external help. Then AI can be used in various ways, for example, for tests and simulations in production.

Artificial Intelligence In Companies: Optimize Data Quality And Evaluate A Data Platform

AI analyzes existing data and enables companies to optimize existing processes and create new ones. In addition, the collected data can be used to gain comprehensive insights into the markets, products, and customers. The selection of the relevant data and high data quality is crucial for the success of AI initiatives. The management of the information should be automated as much as possible. Because manual administration is complex, time-consuming, and not very clear. However, companies still have a lot of catching up to do here: According to the IDC study, only 17 percent have automated processes for data provision so far. You gain efficiency and transparency with a data management platform. This should be able to process different data and formats,

Start AI Projects With Application Scenarios

Which AI project will be implemented first? Companies are often faced with this question. Projects based on pattern recognition or process automation can be implemented quickly and lead to results quickly. Robotic Process Automation (RPA), for example, has proven to be a good start. This technology makes processes in the

Companies are more efficient, error-free, and more transparent. It is ideal for simple and repetitive processes in the IT department, accounting, or customer service, among other things. Half of the companies surveyed already use RPA. Other entry scenarios also include chatbots and solutions for predictive maintenance. Among the AI ​​functionalities used, text pattern, speech, and image recognition are used most frequently 

Check Deployment Models For AI Projects

Users can use AI platforms and services locally as on-premises solutions or in the cloud. According to the IDC study, 43 percent of the companies surveyed prefer the private cloud in their own data center to operate their AI platform. They particularly appreciate this model’s greater flexibility than a purely local solution and the feeling of having more data security than in a public cloud. Overall, more than half of the companies surveyed use cloud-based AI services (61 percent). And for a good reason: Because the cloud offers you an uncomplicated, needs-based provision of IT resources. However, the business case should determine the choice of technology, not the other way around. Because it is also important for companies: AI always requires coordinated hardware and software. Users with little experience should therefore seek external specialist knowledge.

Build Up Knowledge Of Artificial Intelligence

But as much as many companies want to implement AI projects, most of them are confronted with a common problem: the acute shortage of skilled workers. Well over half of them state that a lack of specialist staff is the cause of the failure of AI projects. For example, they lack developers for AI systems or data scientists – a situation that is unlikely to change, at least in the short term. But there are ways and possibilities for companies to build up AI knowledge in-house: For example, they can train their specialists, form AI working groups, or cooperate with universities and start-ups. The following applies: AI projects are most successful when specialist departments and IT cooperate closely with one another from the start.

companies are already making profitable use of artificial intelligence. Go one step further and establish an AI culture in your company. Over the next few years, you can benefit from the developments and opportunities offered by the technology, such as higher computing power, more data, and better algorithms. Because artificial intelligence brings more than just improved business processes: It releases creativity, models ideas, and accelerates innovations.

ALSO READ: Google Cloud – That’s Why It’s So valuable for medium-sized companies

Google Cloud – That’s Why It’s So valuable for medium-sized companies

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Google Cloud - That's Why It's So valuable

Google Cloud – Many employees do not use digital instruments – either they are not adequately trained or the tools. From modernizing infrastructure and applications to significantly improving IT resources – that Google Cloud can make a significant contribution to strengthening the digital competence of medium-sized companies in particular. In an interview, she reveals how that should work.

Google Cloud – What Significance Does The Google Cloud Have For The Economy And Companies?

Cloud solutions have long been a mainstay of industry. 2015 was a significant turning point: for the first time, most companies, 54 per cent, are using some form of cloud computing. Above all, the cloud strengthens the development of industrialization 4.0 – still has room for improvement here. Cloud computing can optimize existing parts of the value chain and create new processes through improved collaboration and artificial intelligence, thanks to its high flexibility. We support all of our customers in taking the necessary steps into a networked future to position as a leading industrial nation. 

Why is the Google Cloud so important for digital transformation, especially in medium-sized companies?

Cloud technology is ideal for those first attempts at digitization. For example, a cloud-based office solution like G Suite enables easy entry into an agile and collaborative working environment. Medium-sized companies in particular often lag behind large companies in terms of digitization. According to our “Digital Atlas”, which we published together with the Institute der Deutschemark Wirtschaft (IW) Cologne in March of this year, only a fifth of SMEs are digitized.

The digital atlas made it clear that more jobs can be created and maintained in medium-sized companies through consistent digitization. Of course, this would also go hand in hand with an increase in sales. Incidentally, in this study, most of the companies surveyed also admit that the lack of digital competence is the greatest obstacle to digital transformation. Many employees do not use digital instruments – either they have not trained accordingly, or the tools are not even made available to employees. 

What Does Google Cloud Offer For Digital Transformation Beyond G Suite?

I am always impressed that Google Cloud allows tailor-made solutions for our customers’ needs – across all industries. This starts with the modernization of infrastructure and applications and extends to significantly improved use of IT resources. The yardstick is always the priority and focuses points with which the respective business of the customer can be supported. It can help with processing large amounts of data to create a better consumer experience. But there are also many possible uses in the enterprise area: Various machine learning solutions help automate processes and simplify them. Entirely new business models can also arise for companies.

What Specific Advantages Do Corporate Customers Have By Using The Google Cloud?

The advantages are very complex: Thanks to cloud solutions, IT departments have to spend less time and money on maintaining and servicing applications than with local solutions. We help our customers to reduce risks and keep an eye on costs. Companies no longer need their servers. A fast internet connection is sufficient to be able to access applications that are in the cloud. As a result, outdated hardware and software systems are no longer used. Our cloud offers constant access to the most modern infrastructure.

Our focus is to keep our network up to date. In addition, the Google Cloud Platform is in charge of the development and use of artificial intelligence and machine learning. We are powerful in this area. Thousands of kilometers of fiber optic cables also make Google’s network the most advanced in the world. Our customers benefit from our robust infrastructure with high bandwidths and low latency times. Cloud technology for companies is also characterized by its scalability – (almost) infinite computing power can be accessed as required.

What Is Google’s Performance Claim?

20 years of experience and technology in our network on which all our products are based. If we stand for something, it is for technological innovation, collaboration and open-source software. Numerous customers in more than 150 countries are already entrusting Google to modernize their digital infrastructure.

How Secure Is The Data In The Google Cloud? 

As a cloud provider, we meet the highest security standards. As specialists for servers and data, we can ensure security much better than a single company would be able to do itself. Accordingly, we are also certified by independent bodies, and we also develop and implement our standards. We have invested more than 30 billion US dollars in our infrastructure in recent years, including IT security. Ultimately, our customers use the same infrastructure that our services such as Google Search, YouTube or Android rely on. 

What Are The Security Regulations At Google?

On the one hand, we guarantee the highest level of physical security in our data centers, to which only a handful of selected employees have access. We protect our premises, among other things, through biometric identification, metal detection, cameras, vehicle barriers and intrusion detection systems. We also invest in non-physical security. We have our security measures regularly verified by independent parties. For example, we received the particularly comprehensive C5 security certificate for the Google Cloud. The Federal Office developed this standard for Information Security (BSI).

Every Google employee receives security training when they are hired and later further security-specific training. All colleagues undertake to comply with our code of conduct, which underlines the protection of customer data. It is part of our corporate culture: We live and breathe security. 

ALSO READ: Optimal Mobile Services: Seven Measures For It

Optimal Mobile Services: Seven Measures For It

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Optimal Mobile Services Seven Measures For It

Optimal Mobile Services: One of the essential prerequisites for profitable growth is good service. pro ALPHA has put together seven measures. Document here, slip there: Paper still plays an essential role in many processes, whether to digitally capture handwritten notes afterwards or to transfer data to another system. The advantages of mobile applications can be seen most quickly where typing is still done manually today. Anyone who collects all the forms and checklists used will be amazed at the potential!

Experienced hobby gardeners know: A rich harvest requires good preparation, fertile soil and the right amount of fertilizer and water. It is very similar in companies that want to set up their service digitally and mobile. 

Optimal Mobile Services: Mobile Services: Seven Tips For Implementation

  • Target manual processes: Receipt here, slip there: Paper still plays an essential role in many methods, such as recording handwritten notes digitally or transferring data to another system. The advantages of mobile applications can be seen most quickly where typing is still done manually today. Anyone who collects all the forms and checklists used will be amazed at the potential!
  • Map process data exactly: Service models can be designed in very different ways. For example, it is essential to map both time-dependent and runtime-dependent maintenance processes for machines. And, of course, the techniques for support calls should also be covered in addition to regular maintenance. Another point: If additional tasks often only arise on-site, it must also be possible to create service orders on an ad-hoc mobile basis. Relation to context is essential: Employees need access to all necessary data and should also enter new data quickly. Complicated user interfaces and too much information cost valuable time on site.
  • Check the existing infrastructure: Mobile projects usually also require a certain amount of hardware. But not everything always has to be bought new. As part of budgeting, it must be checked whether existing devices also meet the technical requirements. An overview of all available devices often saves money!
  • Editing hidden corners: A robust network connection is the heart of every mobile project. However, there are numerous use cases in which real-time mobile data transmission is impossible due to external circumstances? For example, if the user is in the basement of a building or a high-security area. The ideal case: as soon as the bars on display show the network again, the data that has already been recorded automatically continues to flow. A suitable mobile solution also supports the offline operation.
  • Pay attention to consistency in scheduling: digitization starts with resource planning. Because graphical route and map displays help the dispatcher optimally utilize all resources, taking into account absences and public holidays, knowledge or certification of employees for special activities must also be included. The number of emergency services to be dispatched may not play a role here. If a plan is then “armed”, the information about who has to do what and when must reach the technicians consistently and as quickly as possible.
  • Strengthen integration: A seamless integration between the mobile device and the service module of the ERP system not only provides the field service with all relevant information. The technicians also document their work quickly and easily and report back directly on material consumption and time required for invoicing. But that’s not all: Information from upstream or downstream systems must also flow without media discontinuity. Typical example: working time planning from software for time management.
  • Establish key figures: Digitized service processes not only ensure operational improvements. Because all relevant data is always up-to-date, meaningful, vital statistics can be derived from it. Service management and management receive the necessary, solid basis for further adjustments and strategic decisions.

Mobile services are one of the most lucrative digital transformation scenarios. Those who cultivate this field with care and expertise can look forward to a rich harvest: Not only because this is how companies drive their productivity and growth. But also because it offers the opportunity to grow out of the shadow of the competition.

ALSO READ: G Suite? An Overview Of The Google Applications