Cloud Wars Live with Bob Evans

Episode 50 | Securing the Digital FrontierThe Big Themes:Multi-cloud complexity & AI: The adoption of multi-cloud environments presents significant management challenges for IT teams, including complexities in configuration, monitoring, and integration. Simultaneously, there is increasing interest in harnessing AI to enhance cybersecurity, with discussions centering on automating tasks and responses for more effective threat management.Need for proactive cybersecurity measures: Proactive cybersecurity measures are to be preferred over reactive ones. It suggests that organizations should invest in tools and strategies that predict and prevent security threats rather than just responding to them.Adaptability and skill development: In the face of technological advancements and changing job requirements, adaptability and continuous skill development are crucial. You want a workforce that can adapt to new technologies and think critically about their applications in the business context.The Big Quote: “When a company gets breached. . . somebody always wrote a memo that went 'Doesn't that look funny to you?'. . . imagine if we had a tool that kept watch that listened, that learned, that advised and maybe even got shrill. An email isn't going to go 'Hey, man, read me now.' But the right AI tool might very well be programmed to say, 'I'm going to keep texting that CIO until they listen to me.'"

Episode 39 | The Shifting Tech LandscapeThe Big Themes:Significant M&A activities: After a quiet period last quarter, there's been a notable trend of merger and acquisition (M&A) in the HR technology space. Specifically, Bonnie outlines key acquisitions by major players like Ceridian, Workday, ServiceNow, and Cornerstone, emphasizing the strategic moves to enhance product offerings and stay competitive.Evaluating M&A impact: Bonnie advises customers to carefully assess the impact of M&A on their contracts, pricing, and support levels. Changes are inevitable but may vary depending on the acquiring company's integration strategy. Customers need to scrutinize initial contracts and understand potential changes in service quality and pricing structures.Customer success and satisfaction: The importance of customer feedback and satisfaction emerges as a key theme, with Bonnie advocating for customer-centric approaches and the use of reviews to gauge vendor performance and customer sentiment in the midst of industry transformations.The Big Quote: “You want to be aware that when . . . a consulting party gets acquired, the culture is going to change drastically, and you want to make sure that what you had in the past —those great relationships and all of that knowledge, and partnership that was built — that isn't going to change in a new sort of model. And be aware that it very likely could."

Note: this episode contains explicit language.Episode 33 | Entrepreneurial InsightsThe Big Themes:A "radical experiment in self-governance": Chris shares his experience becoming a U.S. citizen and talks about the country's immense opportunities for individuals. The U.S., he says, is a beacon of democracy and freedom. He stresses the importance of recognizing and preserving its unique experiment in self-governance.Today's tech startups: Two innovative startups, WellCapped and DUDE Wipes, give unique answers to everyday problems. WellCapped, founded by Shante Frazier, disrupts the beauty industry with a Rent the Runway model for wigs and weaves. Meanwhile, Sean Riley's DUDE Wipes addresses the need for convenient and hygienic personal care products for men. These startups exemplify the entrepreneurial spirit.Lessons from history: Historical events such as the fall of the Berlin Wall and the rise of hiphop music demonstrate the impact of visionary individuals who challenge the status quo. By studying history and learning from past successes and failures, entrepreneurs can gain valuable insights to inform their own endeavors.The Big Quote: “Here's the secret of life . . . you figure out you're different. Some people call it being self-actualized . . . can you connect your uniqueness, your difference, your .1% difference to creating value for others in a way that makes a difference?"

Telecom SaaS EvolutionThe Big Themes:Telecom SaaS defined: Telecom SaaS refers to a set of cloud-native services delivering business outcomes. Networks are evolving from traditional connectivity-focused structures to dynamic, capability-driven ecosystems. Telecom SaaS signals a transition from conventional telecommunication models to a more agile, business-focused paradigm.Security concerns: Nokia and its cloud partners have taken robust measures to address security concerns. Their approach includes stringent security reviews and privacy management, ensuring multiple layers of security for Telecom Saas. Nokia also undergoes accreditations and independent analysis. These steps help instill confidence in customers regarding software security.Shift to OpX model: In the Telecom SaaS transition, there's a shift from a CapEx to an OpEx model. This represents a significant change for an industry traditionally dominated by hardware-centric and CapEx-driven approaches. There are potential advantages to embracing an OpEx model, like lower total cost of ownership (TCO). But Nokia also has options to capitalize, if that's what the customer needs.The Big Quote: " . . . software-as-a-service demand is starting to move closer to the network in areas like security, the security applications . . . and then just network management. All of those types of applications have already started to move, as an extension of IT software-as-a-service, to be closer to the network and become what we've been referring to as Telecom SaaS . . . "

Episode 38 | IT Project MasteryThe Big Themes:Handling turnover: Partners should recognize turnover as an inherent facet of dynamic IT projects. It's important to obtain commitment, preferably in written statements within the project's scope to ensure the assigned team's stability. Such statements can offer a safeguard against abrupt team changes and provide a foundation for trust between partners and clients.Role of a "releader": The term "releader" is introduced. It refers to individuals inheriting a project or leadership role. They navigate pre-existing frameworks and dynamics. Successful releaders need qualities such as patience, people management skills, and the ability to problem-solve inherited issues. Author Jon Casteen introduced the concept in his book ReLeader: How to Fix What You Don't Break.Strategic vision: Project leaders should cast a clear vision for change and address reasons behind project scope or timeline modifications. Open communication gains team buy-in. Simultaneously, leaders are urged to avoid overly aggressive changes. They must strike a delicate balance between promptly addressing critical issues and preventing unnecessary disruptions during the ongoing project.The Big Quote: “Typically, you have to fix the plane while the plane is in flight. And so, you want to minimize the feeling of disruption, internally, while still being clear that the vision and goals are going to be realized within time."

RaceTrac and Workday | A Unified PlatformSponsored by Workday The Big Themes:Workday's impact: The adoption of Workday's unified platform, encompassing both HCM and financials, has played a pivotal role in RaceTrac's ability to streamline processes, reduce post-processing time, and enhance overall efficiency.Cultural shift: Implementation has not only brought technological benefits but also triggered a cultural shift within RaceTrac. Employees are now more comfortable engaging with data, seeking information, and collaborating with the accounting team, fostering a more collaborative, informed decision-making environment.Quick adaptability: The adaptable nature of Workday's platform allows RaceTrac to swiftly adapt to changing business needs. The company can integrate new data, work with different modules, and implement changes in as little as a month, providing a nimble response to evolving requirements.The Big Quote: " I think that the fact that we have a single source of truth, and a digestible, understandable product ... [where] I can really understand the flow of data — where it's coming from, the nuts and bolts of it — really helps me sleep better at night."

Episode 49 | AI RealitiesThe Big Themes:SaaS and AI terminology clarification: Wayne discusses the need to distinguish between various technology terms. He points out the common misuse of terms like SaaS and AI. He cautions against the trend of "SaaS-washing" and "AI-washing," where everything is labeled one or the other to generate excitement.SaaS and IT consumption: SaaS has brought about a paradigm shift in how IT is consumed. Unlike traditional software releases that could lead to delays and technical debt, SaaS allows for continuous updates, which means users can benefit from new features promptly. Wayne talks about the efficiency and scalability achieved by running software in a single instance in the cloud.Generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) prices: Companies should prepare for potential "sticker shock" in the GenAI space. Users might be initially enticed by low prices only to face higher costs later. He advises CIOs to carefully evaluate the actual cost of GenAI queries before making investments.The Big Quote: “Well, first of all, when you look at somebody's revenue jump, bear in mind, that doesn't mean everybody's getting long-term value out of it. It means it's hyped up, and therefore everybody's trying. So, if Microsoft is charging for their Copilot, a $20 a month fee, and everybody signed up for the $20 times 100 million users, that's a revenue bump. That does not mean that over the longterm, everybody's getting their $20 value. It means we're all excited about it — we all want to try this shiny new object."

Digital MindsThe Big Themes:d'Skills' mission and focus: d'Skills is addressing a significant problem in the current education system. The obsolete education model fails to prepare students for the modern workforce. d'Skills aims to bridge the gap between traditional education and the demands of the future job market, with a focus on giving "native digitals" (Gen Z) the necessary skills to thrive in the age of AI.The state of education: The education system focuses on preparing students for standardized tests rather than cultivating essential life skills. AI's ascent is reshaping industries, and the traditional educational model is struggling to keep up. Hannah emphasizes that schools are banning AI even as it becomes a crucial aspect of the workforce.Native digitals' potential and perspective: Native digitals approach work, thinking, and playing from a foundation in the digital realm, extending into the physical realm, distinguishing them from previous generations. They possess a unique outlook that, when combined with AI tools, leads to innovative solutions.The Big Quote: "Right now, parents are investing significant amounts of money in college readiness and test prep, and yet the degrees their kids are going to get are going to be irrelevant when they graduate."

Episode 37 | Lessons from 500 ReviewsThe Big Themes:GenAI feedback: Despite being a central 2023 technology discussion theme, GenAI did not substantially transform software implementation outcomes, as indicated by data from over 500 reviews. Bonnie says the feedback she received was more about project fundamentals, such as data quality, project plans, and teams. Looking ahead to 2024, Bonnie anticipates a greater impact from generative AI, especially in terms of efficiency and speed.Turnover impact: Project team turnover, both within the client organization and among consulting teams, is a significant factor influencing project satisfaction, requiring careful management to avoid negative impacts.Realistic expectations: Setting realistic expectations for time and cost in software implementation is crucial, with the rapid selling of implementations leading to challenges when expectations don't align with actual outcomes. Vendors must set accurate expectations for customers to allocate sufficient time and resources for change management and training.The Big Quote: "[Make] sure that integrations are being cared for, and that there's enough thought process and a plan around integrations, not 'Oh, well, it's a standard integration,' and just assume[ing] that things are going to automatically connect with one another, because it's always a lot more complicated than you think."

Co-operators, Deloitte, and SAP: Digital Trends in Insurance SalesSponsored: SAP The Big Themes:A pivotal shift: The insurance industry is shifting towards digitization and GenAI to enhance digital transformation and sales performance management. Experts stress a holistic approach, prioritizing interconnected ecosystems for maximum benefits from modern cloud platforms. The need to provide end-to-end experiences for customers, agents, and employees emerges as a key focus.Generational dynamics: Ongoing studies reveal a slower adoption of life insurance among millennials compared to preceding generations. This evolving landscape presents challenges for the industry in terms of both enticing and retaining agents.GenAI, a major factor: GenAI is a force within the insurance sector, influencing every facet from the front-end customer interactions to the middle and back-office operations. It can provide personalized insights that enhance both customer and agent experiences. This technology can assist in addressing persistent industry challenges.The Big Quote: "But when you don't have that interconnected ecosystem where you're looking at it holistically and moving the whole thing in the direction forward, you're not going to get the full benefit of . . . these modern cloud platforms. You're going to just get that basic table stakes, efficiency gains, and things like that. But that end-to-end experience that you want to provide your customers, your employees, and your agents, it's not going to come together if you don't try to prioritize and manage all of these things at the same time and not lose focus on all the different areas that you're doing business in."