The New Automation Mindset: AI + Automation + Integration

Steve Lindsey, CTO and co-founder of LiveView Technologies, shares insights on the evolution of physical security systems. He discusses the innovative D3 system, which leverages IoT, AI, and cloud technology for real-time threat detection. Lindsey highlights the shift from traditional methods to more agile, cloud-based solutions, emphasizing the importance of event-driven architectures in bridging IT and business. He also explores the complexities of integration and how modernization is vital in addressing contemporary security challenges.

In a fascinating discussion, Suresh Jaganathan, a seasoned enterprise integration leader at Roche, delves into the transformative federated delivery model he championed at Unilever and Roche. He outlines how this approach enhances scalability and compliance while fostering innovation. Suresh emphasizes the importance of treating APIs as products, encouraging a culture of reuse through central marketplaces, and empowering teams to collaborate effectively. His insights on integrating API-led and event-driven architectures offer valuable guidance for enterprises seeking rapid, impactful delivery.

Angela Stewart, Vice President of Corporate Systems at Nasdaq, shares her journey from Wall Street CRM projects to leading enterprise digital transformation. She discusses Nasdaq's evolution into a tech provider and the strategic role of tools like Workato in automation. Key insights include the importance of clean data for AI and building cross-functional teams for effective implementation. Angela also highlights GenAI applications like email drafting and call summarization, showcasing how businesses can enhance productivity with AI-driven solutions.

Dirk Didascalou, CTO of Siemens Digital Industries, shares his extensive expertise in factory automation and cloud integration. He discusses the evolution from traditional automation to data-driven orchestration, emphasizing the importance of low-code solutions for enhancing productivity. Dirk highlights how cloud connectivity revolutionizes manufacturing by merging physical and digital realms. He also examines the role of AI in optimizing processes and foresees a future where software-defined automation transforms industry practices, boosting efficiency and sustainability.

Stephen Franchetti, CIO of Samsara, draws from his extensive experience at Slack and Workday to discuss the evolution of IT towards innovative business practices. He emphasizes the importance of robust architecture for scaling businesses and the shift from project-based work to a product mindset. Stephen highlights the transformative role of AI and automation in driving efficiency and how cultural changes, like fostering a growth mindset and embracing experimentation, are crucial for successful integration. He shares impactful customer success stories, demonstrating the practical benefits of adopting these technologies.

Before we launched The New Automation Mindset podcast last year, we really wondered how far would a podcast about Enterprise IT really go? After two seasons, 32 amazing guests, and 120,000 listeners, we're definitely not done yet. In Season Three, we'll tackle really tough questions IT leaders are facing today. You'll hear all about business processes, organizing team members, change management, culture, Gen AI, agentic workflows, and more.

Markus Zirn, a leader focused on collaborative strategies for global data integrity, joins Tembi Holmes, a tech-savvy leader at Arup with a rich background in financial services. They dive into the importance of data integrity for sustainable solutions and the challenges of managing extensive data ecosystems. Tembi shares her passion for data and the necessity of hands-on experience. The duo also discusses how generative AI can enhance productivity in engineering, emphasizing the need for standardizing processes across global teams.

In this episode, Markus Zirn and Stanley Toh discuss how Broadcom is leveraging automation and AI to stay ahead of the curve. Stanley shares his journey from teaching COBOL to leading major automation projects at Broadcom. They talk about Broadcom's dynamic growth through significant acquisitions, the power of simplifying processes, and the company's cloud-first strategy. Stanley reveals how automation has transformed processes like IT service provisioning and employee onboarding. They also delve into the exciting potential of generative AI and LLMs in enhancing automation. Stanley's insights highlight the importance of embracing future technologies and their transformative impact on business efficiency and scalability.Timestamps*(00:00) Episode Start*(02:05) Stanley's career journey*(06:05) What is Broadcom?*(10:58) How to leverage technology effectively*(15:38) Importance of fast implementation with cloud-first technologies*(18:30) Workato's impact at Broadcom*(32:45) COBOL vs. Workato: Changes, constants, and advice*(38:50) Areas of opportunity with Workato and the impact of GenAI*(42:16) Impact of LLMs on automation*(45:12) Leveraging Workato for cost-effective automation and integration*(48:25) Stanley's takeaway from 'The New Automation Mindset' bookEpisode Key TakeawaysAdopt a cloud-first strategy: Emphasize the adoption of cloud-first technologies to ensure quick and scalable solutions that can accommodate rapid growth and change. This approach will speed up how you roll out new ideas and scale them up.The importance of a process mindset: Before diving into any automation or coding, take the time to map out your processes and workflows. This will not only clarify what needs to be done but also highlight areas for simplification and efficiency gains.Embrace future technologies: Acknowledge the inevitability of change and keep an open mind to emerging technologies such as AI and automation tools. Consider how they can be integrated into your operations to enhance efficiency, scalability, and user experience.Leverage automation and AI for efficiency: Use automation and AI to streamline repetitive tasks, scale operations effectively, and manage complex challenges with greater precision. Explore how these technologies can be applied to your specific challenges to drive substantial improvements.Top Quote“Embrace the future. You cannot stop technology. It's coming, no matter what you do. You have to embrace this, and this is the new way of operations. Times are changing. People are looking at speed and efficiency and scalability. And there's no way you can stop it, Markus. So, the idea of embracing this. And you can actually do extraordinary things with it if you embrace the technology.”

In this episode, Markus Zirn and Tristan Cox dive deep into the digital and regulatory landscape of aged care in Australia. Tristan shares insights into the formation and evolution of the Royal Commission, driven by significant events and the need for an integrated regulatory approach. He discusses the challenges and transformations within aged care, highlighting the importance of process mapping and technological adaptation in enhancing care quality. They also explore Tristan's remarkable career journey from studying archaeology to leading digital innovation in aged care, underscoring the invaluable role of a growth mindset in government IT leadership. Lastly, they delve into the future of aged care regulation, touching on Tristan's vision for leveraging technology to simplify government processes and make a lasting impact in the sector.Timestamps*(00:00) Episode Start*(02:23) Understanding the Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety in Australia*(05:16) Tristan's career journey*(14:22) Challenges technology leaders face in aged care*(23:30) Tristan's driving forces in his work*(27:18) IT's role in simplifying government processes*(35:50) Key takeaways from ‘The New Automation Mindset' book*(41:22) Improving efficiency with Tristan's 'Operational Digital Toolkit'Episode Key TakeawaysOptimize your workflow with process mapping: Begin by mapping out your workflows to thoroughly understand your processes and pinpoint areas for improvement. This fundamental step is crucial for enhancing efficiency and achieving operational clarity.Boost agility with low-code platforms: Empower your team to adapt quickly with low-code platforms. These user-friendly tools enable rapid development and deployment of solutions, enhancing your organization's agility and responsiveness to change.Future-proof your operations through composability: Design systems and processes to be flexible and adaptable. Embracing modularity ensures easy adjustments to evolving challenges, keeping your operations resilient and ready for the future.Top Quote“Decomposition is right at the center of our enterprise architecture. We want to use best in breed products and connect them together in a smooth transition, an easy connection, so that we can get the data transfer between systems. And actually the Workato product is what we landed on to do that. It has all of these attributes, it has an ability to be used in a very powerful and flexible way. Is it fast? Absolutely. We can develop stuff really quickly in there. Does it have flexibility? Yes. We can do all sorts of things with it that, in fact, we're discovering some things that weren't even in our original intent, but we're playing with those things just to understand the boundaries.” - Tristan Cox

In this episode, Markus Zirn and Jim Williams discuss automation's impact on marketing operations, spotlighting Uptempo's innovative approach. They explore how Utempo uses Workato to streamline data flow between marketing and finance, setting new efficiency standards. They also touch on AI's potential in redefining marketing strategies. This episode offers a glimpse into the future of marketing, emphasizing integration, innovation, and insight.Timestamps*(00:00) Episode Start*(02:50) What is Uptempo?*(04:47) Why automating the back end of marketing matters*(08:34) Workato’s Impact at Uptempo*(14:42) Role of integration in marketing strategies*(17:24) 'The New Automation Mindset' and its impact on the CMO role*(22:30) Turning big data into big marketing operations*(28:29) AI revolution in marketing*(35:50) How to scale through integrationEpisode Key TakeawaysAutomate the back end of marketing: Simplify your marketing processes by automating back-end tasks. Ditch the spreadsheets and embrace efficiency, saving time and reducing errors in planning, budgeting, and execution.Merge your marketing and finance data: Unify marketing and financial data for deeper insights. This will enable your team to track spending, measure effectiveness, and adjust strategies confidently while empowering your CMO to make more informed decisions.Embrace AI in your marketing: Harness AI to enhance marketing efforts. From content creation to campaign planning, AI boosts efficiency and provides valuable insights, keeping you ahead of the curve.Top Quote"Change management in any organization is difficult. But take a global organization that's got 5,000 marketers, and they're organized into different regional groups and each wants to go to market in their own unique way. So that whole idea of the automation mindset is, by integrating these systems and then applying smart automation, smart business practices, you can actually begin to pull this system together into something that gives you the agility you need."