TBtech October Issue

tbtech publication £9.99 tbtech.co STORIES INSPIRED BY MODERN LIVING. OCTOBER 2022

Flying high.

TBTECH EXPLORES THE ADVANCES IN TECH GADGETS

Those responsible for the deployment of EV infrastructure need to understand their user’s needs, which should inform long-term roll-outs, and design procurement processes that incentivise charging point providers to deliver quality long-term deployments.

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EditorialSomethings you just can’t live without.

What are modern gadgets? They are described as mechanical or electronic devices with a practical use but often thought of as a novelty. Consumers own a variety of gadgets but the mobile phone rules them all. Eighty-five percent of adults have one.

Modern devices can help to enhance our lives. Toddlers and preschoolers learn by listening to music or watching programs on handheld gadgets. The visual representation helps to stimulate their senses.

Some people are having shallow and meaningless relationships due to the influence of technology. People are neglecting to engage personally, uninhibited by phones and devices and even when actually in the presence of others. They are becoming more reliant on communicating with friends and family through technology.

Welcome to the 21st century of living. Your modern life interacts daily with gadgets.

The importance of language translation technology in business.

Communicating with people that speak a different language is always going to present challenges. But, in business, overcoming language barriers at work has become a necessity. This is more relevant than ever as the UK faces a skills shortage across all industries, teamed with an increase in remote working. Over the past two years there has been a seismic shift in the way businesses operate, communicate and recruit and breaking down language barriers plays a crucial role in that.

By Joe Miller, General Manager of the Americas and Europe. Pocketalk.

The importance of language translation technology in business.

WORKING REMOTELY BUT STAYING CLOSE

More than half (54%) of businesses in the information and communication industry said they were using, or intended to use, increased homeworking as part of a permanent business model in early April 2022. This, coupled with the fact that one in four workers in the UK information and communication industry were born outside of the UK, and have English as an additional language, will present issues around communication – particularly when it’s conducted over video.

Outside of the typical connectivity issues and muted, unmuted Zoom call problems, communicating with remote teams and colleagues is made even more difficult without effective language translation technology support.

Likewise, in face-to-face situations there is a real need for interpreters and technological solutions to ensure all workers understand their briefs day-to-day, their job

roles and have proper access to training, health and safety and promotional opportunities. For businesses to be as effective, diverse and inclusive as they can be, language translation technology must be an investment consideration. The issue isn’t going to change as the superdiversity of the school system here shows. With around 20% of pupils - the next generation of talent - speaking English as an additional language this is only going to become a greater challenge so businesses must act now.

THE LOST IN TRANSLATION EFFECT

At Pocketalk we understand the challenges that come with communication barriers and the effect it can have on a business’ output and an employees’ wellbeing. We’ve worked with organisations in a variety of different sectors including healthcare, education, logistics and manufacturing.

From our experience, we understand that for many, not being able to communicate in the

same language can lead to a lack of confidence, difficulty building rapport with colleagues, customers and other stakeholders while also increasing health and safety risks if processes aren’t properly understood.

Cultural differences can also play a key role in how we communicate. For example some cultures are known for punctuality whereas others may take a more relaxed approach to timekeeping. It’s important to manage that and extinguish and potential conflicts in the workplace. It’s worth doing some research on the cultures of staff and stakeholders and recognise and react to them in the business environment.

ADDRESSING THE SKILLS SHORTAGE

Introducing language translation technological solutions can also help UK businesses address the skills shortage.

This is relevant across all industries but in the IT sector, there is currently a large variety of roles that are included in the

UK government’s ‘skilled worker shortage occupation’ list. Highdemand roles include IT business analysts, architects and systems designers, programmers and software developers, plus web designers and developers.

To overcome the shortage, the roles are being made eligible for UK working visas as the IT industry needs to attract more high-skilled foreign workers, who already make up a large chunk of the workforce.

The issue with this is, many current and future IT professionals don’t speak English as their first language and as already mentioned earlier, the effect of language barriers in the workplace can contribute significantly to inefficiency, stifle collaboration and lower productivity. Also, of all industries, IT and telecoms professionals are most likely to work from home fulltime, which again presents those issues for remote workers feeling frustrated and isolated. Greater adoption of digital technology to overcome these language barriers must be considered. On

the flip side, of course, the cost of doing that can’t be ignored. Implementing certain tools can be costly and take time – which businesses don’t necessarily have.

INVESTING IN LANGUAGE TRANSLATION TECHNOLOGY – CAN YOU AFFORD NOT TO?

Being able to conduct meetings and converse in multiple languages is a huge advantage for business in the UK. Many rely on free translation software apps or other text translators, but these just don’t support the natural flow of a conversation. The other option is drafting in a colleague who can translate but this can take up precious time and you’re often limited as to what languages can be spoken. Using technological support such as an audio language translator like Pocketalk, participants can speak directly into the translator and it repeats the phrase in your chosen language, making it ideal for video and conference calls.

When selecting an audio translator choose one that offers

a high-quality noise cancelling microphone and powerful speakers as it helps minimise any sound or technical issues. It’s also crucial that it can do multiple languages, ours can do 82, which means that it offers more inclusivity for minorities.

In an ideal world both parties would have an audio translator to speed up the conversation however it still works well if just one person has one.

THE TECHNOLOGYBASED SOLUTIONS FOR CONSIDERATION

There are various technologybased translation solutions available that help to overcome language barriers, each with their own pros and cons. Here are three of the most common:

· Free translation software apps: offers instant translation but there are issues with the accuracy. It doesn’t offer a high standard across all languages and it’s often those who speak minority languages that are most impacted by the disconnect. Also, they often

don’t always consider regional dialects and slang.

· LanguageLine: an American company headquartered in California. This service offers phone translations, however, waiting for a translator to answer the call when consumer facing can take time and come with a hefty cost, neither of which may be practical for many businesses as they build back from the past two years.

· Digital translation devices: Pocketalk can instantly translate 82 languages both in audio and text making it clear for the users what is being asked or said. These stand-alone devices harness software that allows for greater accuracy and covers more regional differences too. These devices improve communication and reduce the need for human interpreter costs. Anyone can use these devices, which fosters better inter-team conversations and customer relationships.

There is no ‘one size fits all’ solution to language translation in business, but it is something that must be considered for all businesses. It will be hugely encouraging for overseas workers to understand that UK businesses are open and looking for solutions to help them thrive and succeed.

Meet your tbtech team.

JOE ALLEN

Joe has vast experience and knowledge accumulated and honed as a New Business Development Manager and Relationship Manager. Responsible for generating new business opportunities, looking after the growth of the company and strategy, sourcing new ventures and managing the company.

LUKE CONRAD

Luke is Digital Editor at TBTech and has history working closely with the worlds biggest tech brands to deliver campaigns. Luke is an advocate of tech across business and commercial applications.

PAUL WHITTALL

Paul stops at nothing to innovate and create value for our customers. His mission is help those we work with to win in their markets. Passionate about delivering customer success and have had the pleasure of supporting many of the world’s leading technology brands for over 15 years.

We have been working behind-the-scenes to elevate the readers experience.

ERIN LANAHAN

Erin’s love for advertising and design has led her to Tbtech as a Media Marketing Apprentice. As a new member of the team, she is looking forward to exploring new skills and learning more about the tech sector .

Driven by storytelling, Jessie’s writer-designer duo allows her to combine the power of synergy across different mediums. She believes a strong marketing strategy begins with understanding the brands mission and audience, together with the market, in order to position yourself as a leading brand, speaking directly to your clients and customers desires.

WILLIAM MOORE

William’s passion starts and ends with design, timeless aesthetic and creative solutions. Having worked on numerous creative campaigns ranging from car manufacturers, leading tech companies, property investors as well as local artisans, the goal is to create the ultimate brand experience between the client and the consumer.

MATT ROBERTS

Matt is Operations Manager at TBTech, he has spent the last 15 years working with multinational IT companies building campaigns, GTM strategies, leading both Sales and Marketing teams to achieve organisational goals.

With a love of computer science, history, and psychology he is an advocate for change, operational efficiency and automation.

Value across the business for all our customers.

JESSIE PETHRUS

Featured gadgets

Google Pixel 6A

TEAC turntable

Leica D-Lux 7

camera

The Google Pixel has always been renowned for its camera.

Step forward the Pixel 6A, a new handset that actually allows you to disappear photo bombers, background bozos and just about anything that might threaten your perfectly curated vibe through its ‘Magic Eraser’ and ‘Camouflage’ tools. The 6A – which is the budget version of the brand’s Pixel 6 and 6 Pro models – boasts plenty of sizeable upgrades and new features elsewhere, too, from adaptable wallpapers to improved battery life.

The vinyl resurgence shows no sign of stopping. It’s clear that people are interested in owning things again – specifically, a well-curated collection of LPs. But the next step is to find a record player that looks as good as it sounds. Opt for the Seventies-style design in walnut, a 2-speed belt drive turntable that features built in Bluetooth.

Stand out from the crowd with a camouflage Leica camera.

The lightweight D-Lux 7 is a compact picture-taking powerhouse, perfect for people who want to take their photography to the next level. This collab, which comes with A Bathing Ape and Stash logos engraved on the camera body and embossed rope strap, is limited to only 1,850 models worldwide.

Beoplay portal

Bang & Olufsen are doing things a little differently.

The audio giant’s new wireless Beoplay Portal matches understated design with four separate mics for impeccably crisp communication, surround sound with Dolby Atmos and active noise cancellation.

Sky Glass

Sky’s new all-in-one entertainment system does things a little differently.

Available in three sizes and five colours, the idea is that you pick one of several pricing plans on a 24-or-48-month basis, rather than buy the screen outright, plus a Sky TV streaming subscription. Then you’re away, free to enjoy the device’s impressive Dolby Vision HDR and Atmos sound systems, voice capabilities and plethora of streaming options and apps.

TBtech explores the advances in tech gadgets.

Featured gadgets

Nothing phone

Fashion is being dragged back to the early 2000s, so it was only a matter of time before the tech world followed suit.

Like the case designs ot the iMac G3s, tech brand Nothing’s new mid-range smartphone lives up to its name: the USP being that it’s a see-through device, crafted with sturdy Gorilla Glass, that allows you to look at the machine’s inner workings. The display is vivid, the dual-camera impressive and the battery-charge fast, with a Android interface.

Smart writing

An ingenious piece of tech that allows you to take down notes on a classic Moleskine notebook.

An actual (smart) pen, on actual paper (embedded with fine mesh), without any need for a rubbertipped stylus or screen – and reproduce them on your computer, tablet or smart phone. Charge the pen, download the accompanying Moleskine app (available on iOs & Android), connect the two and you’re away.

Logitech

Litra Glow

Logitech’s Litra Glow clips to the top of your laptop.

Emitting a wide and soft glow, and while it’s technically designed for streamers who would benefit from some flattering lighting – it’ll more than do the job for everyday work meetings.

Angell eBike

Deceptively light and packed with useful tech.

The Angell is up there with the very best e-bikes. Its classic clean lines were concocted French designer Oraito and developer Marc Simoncini hopes to make it the ‘iPhone’ of the electric bike market.

Fitbit charge 5

The fifth iteration of the Fitbit Charge is less angular than its predecessor, and has introduced a stainlesssteel case Beyond that, it’s added plenty of cool health apps like the electrodermal activity (EDA) sensor, which reports levels of stress, as well as the electrocardiogram (ECG) app, which checks for irregular heart rhythm

TBtech explores the advances in tech gadgets.

On location

Mission to the dataverse.

TBtech went exploring at the UK’s leading data and analytics event. Big Data LDN (London) is the UK’s leading free to attend data & analytics conference and exhibition, hosting leading data and analytics experts, ready to arm you with the tools to deliver your most effective data-driven strategy.

We met face-to-face with tech providers and consultants to find solutions to solve data challenges, viewed the latest product releases and demo software to enhance your data capabilities.

Big Data LDN attendees obtained practical information on where to start their data projects, what works and what other organisations are doing. A rapidly increasing market that shows the latest solutions and offers advice to best harvest, meld, mine and govern your data to become a Data-Driven business.

Is reinforcement (machine) learning overhyped?

Imagine you are about to sit down to play a game with a friend.

But this isn’t just any friend - it’s a computer program that doesn’t know the rules of the game. It does, however, understand that it has a goal, and that goal is to win

Because this friend doesn’t know the rules, it starts by making random moves. Some of them make absolutely no sense, and winning for you is easy. But let’s just say you enjoy playing with this friend so much that you decide to devote the rest of your life (and future lives if you believe in that idea) to exclusively playing this game.

By Aleksandras Šulženko, Product Owner at Oxylabs.io

Is reinforcement (machine) learning overhyped?

The digital friend will eventually win because it gradually learns the winning moves required to beat you. This scenario may seem far-fetched, but it should give you a basic idea of how reinforcement learning (RL) - an area of machine learning (ML) - roughly works.

JUST HOW INTELLIGENT IS REINFORCEMENT LEARNING?

Human intelligence encompasses many characteristics, including the attainment of knowledge, a desire to expand intellectual capacity, and intuitive thinking. Our capacity for intelligence, however, was largely questioned when Garry Kasparov, a champion chess player, lost to an IBM computer named Deep Blue. Besides capturing the attention of the public, doomsday scenarios depicting a world where robots rule humans took hold of mainstream consciousness.

Deep Blue, however, was not an average opponent. Playing with this program is analogous to a match with a thousand-year-old human that devoted their entire life to continuously playing chess. Accordingly, Deep Blue was skilled in playing a specific game - not in other intellectual pursuits like playing an instrument, writing a book, conducting a scientific experiment, raising a child, or fixing a car.

In no way am I attempting to downplay the achievement of the creation of Deep Blue. Instead, I am simply suggesting that the idea that computers can surpass us in intellectual capability requires careful examination, starting with a breakdown of RL mechanics.

HOW REINFORCEMENT LEARNING WORKS

As mentioned previously, RL is a subset of ML concerned with how intelligent agents should act in an environment to maximize the notion of cumulative reward.

In plain terms, RL robot agents are trained on a reward and punishment mechanism where they are rewarded for correct moves and punished for the wrong ones. RL Robots don’t “think” about the best actions to make - they just make all the moves possible in order to maximize chances of success.

DRAWBACKS OF REINFORCEMENT LEARNING

The main drawback of reinforcement learning is the exorbitant amount of resources it requires to achieve its goal. This is illustrated by the success of RL in another game called GO - a popular 2-player game where the goal is to use playing pieces (called stones) to maximize territory on a board while avoiding the loss of stones.

AlphaGo Master, a computer program that defeated human players in Go, required a massive investment that included many engineers, thousands of years worth of game-playing experience, and an astonishing 256 GPUs and 128,000 CPU cores. That’s a lot of energy to use in learning to win a game. This then begs the question of whether it is rational to design AI that cannot think intuitively. Shouldn’t AI research attempt to mimic human intelligence? One argument favoring RL is that we should not expect AI agents to behave like humans, and its use to solve complex problems warrants further development. On the other hand, an argument against RL is that AI research should focus on enabling machines to do things that only humans and animals are presently capable of doing. When viewed in that light, AI’s comparison to human intelligence is appropriate.

QUANTUM REINFORCEMENT LEARNING

There’s an emerging field of reinforcement learning that purportedly solves some of the problems outlined above. Quantum reinforcement learning (QRL) has been studied as a way to speed up calculations.

Primarily, QRL should speed up learning by optimizing the exploration (finding strategies) and exploitation (picking the best strategy) phases. Some of the current applications and proposed quantum calculations improve database search, factoring large numbers into primes, and much more. While QRL still hasn’t arrived in a groundbreaking fashion, there’s an expectation that it may resolve some of the great challenges for regular reinforcement learning.

BUSINESS CASES FOR RL

As I mentioned before, in no way do I want to undermine the importance of RL research and development. In fact, at Oxylabs, we have been working on RL models that will optimize web scraping resource allocation.

With that said, here is just a sample of some real-life uses for RL derived from a McKinsey report highlighting current use cases across a wide range of industries:

1. Optimizing silicon and chip design, optimizing manufacturing processes, and improving yields for the semiconductor industry

2. Increasing yields, optimizing logistics to reduce waste and costs, and improving margins in agriculture

3. Reducing time to market for new systems in the aerospace and defense industries

4. Optimizing design processes and increasing manufacturing yields for the automotive industries

5. Increasing revenue through real-time trading and pricing strategies, improving the customer experience, and delivering advanced personalization to clients in financial services

6. Optimizing mine design, managing power generation and applying holistic logistics scheduling to optimize operations, reduce costs and increase yields in mining

7. Increasing yields through realtime monitoring and precision drilling, optimizing tanker routing and enabling predictive maintenance to prevent equipment failure and outages in the oil and gas industry

8. Facilitating drug discovery, optimizing research processes, automating production and optimizing biologic methods for the pharmaceutical industry

9. Optimizing supply chains, implementing advanced inventory modeling and delivering advanced personalizations for customers in the retail sector

10. Optimizing and managing networks and applying customer personalization in the telecom industry

11. Optimizing routing, network planning, warehouse operations in transport and logistics

12. Extracting data from websites with the use of next-generation proxies

RETHINKING REINFORCEMENT LEARNING

Reinforcement learning may be limited, but it’s hardly overrated. Moreover, as research and development into RL increases, so do potential use cases across almost every sector of the economy. Wide-scale adoption depends on several factors, including optimizing the design of algorithms, configuring learning environments, and the availability of computing power.

How eSIMs are empowering enterprise IoT.

As wireless earphones became more ubiquitous, thanks to improvements in Bluetooth connections and cheaper audio devices, Apple did away with the audio jack in its iPhones, freeing up internal space for larger or additional components.

The new iPhone 14 is set to remove another feature, but this time, the removal is far more significant than just a response to consumer behaviour. In the US, the iPhone no longer comes with a SIM tray. Instead, Apple is using eSIMs –software that runs on an eUICC (Embedded Universal Integrated Circuit Card) chip.

By Sam Colley, CEO, Pod Group.

How eSIMs are empowering enterprise IoT.

This allows users to choose whichever network and data package they want, including the ability to switch networks for travel where a local network deal will be kinder on their wallets. And thanks to the eSIM, travellers will no longer have to purchase a local SIM.

Now, over half of all phones in the US are iPhones, so the general public is about to become far more aware of eSIMs. But they’ve been around for quite some time. And while no longer having to find the special pin tool to open the SIM tray will be a ‘nice to have,’ eSIMs offer businesses – and the IoT (Internet of Things) in particular – far more significant benefits.

At Pod Group, as part of Giesecke+Devrient, the company that invented the SIM card and eSIM management, we have been using eSIMs since their inception. We work with enterprises running IoT systems requiring robust and reliable connections to communicate and send data. Furthermore, the connected devices are often vital to critical national and international

infrastructures, such as energyproducing wind turbines or delivery and logistics networks.

In our world, one of the benefits of eSIM is its ability to switch between networks. Take wind turbines, for example. If a turbine were connected to a single network and it went down, the machine-to-machine (M2M) communication that enables maintenance schedules could no longer take place. This may result in less efficient energy production, prolonged downtime, and could even result in total failure.

Of course, single network connections are not standard, and even on physical SIM cards, multiple network connections have been possible for quite some time. As we’ve been running IoT networks since 1999, we made good use of Multi-IMSI SIMs (Multiple International Mobile Subscriber Identities), which also provide the ability to connect to multiple networks. In fact, this is still a big area for us since it can be used in combination with eSIM.

However, eSIMs are theoretically limitless in how many networks they may connect to. In contrast, a multi-IMSI SIM has a limit to the number of networks it can provide and generally relies on roaming agreements instead of local connectivity. This makes the uptime guarantee of eSIM even more robust, especially when used along with Multi-IMSI, taking 99% to multiple decimals of reliable connectivity.

Better maintenance, which can be delivered as and when needed (as informed by the data being sent via networks on eSIMs) rather than via regular physical checks, reduces running costs. In turn, this makes wind energy cheaper – which, as we know, benefits everyone. Suddenly eSIMs seem a lot bigger than removing the hassle of finding the pin for a phone’s SIM tray.

Another benefit of eSIMs in enterprise IoT relates to the remote nature of many IoT-enabled systems. But, again, let us stick with the example of turbines. Wind farms are placed in remote locations, such as in the mountains

or out at sea. Imagine needing to switch out the SIM in something so remote, tall, and inaccessible. It requires a lot of heavy lifting and, more importantly, cost.

eSIMs allow for this to happen remotely. This means an energy company could change IoT providers as easily as consumers change networks. Before, with standard carrier SIMs, the energy company would have had to factor in going to each turbine to swap out the SIM physically in order to optimise performance. Here again, using eSIMs reduces costs, which is a factor in why wind is one of the cheapest forms of energy.

This brings us to the latest cuttingedge technology for enterprises, driven by eSIMs and provided by Enterprise Network Operators (ENO). The introduction of the eSIM is accelerating the adoption of Private Networks for enterprise by enabling users to roam seamlessly between public and private infrastructure, which is essential given the now readily available supply of unlicensed spectrum. This has made

ownership of cellular networks by enterprises possible via a single IP infrastructure and management platform.

An ENO is a new class of connectivity service provider in the IoT market. In short, an ENO is an enabler for the infrastructure and related services that enterprises need to own and control their IoT networks. Historically, enterprises would need to work with MNOs (Mobile Network Operator) or MVNOs (Mobile Virtual Network Operator), but with an ENO, they retain full ownership over the network.

There are a lot of benefits that come with this. Through ENOs, enterprises have greater visibility of the status of their connected devices, more flexibility and control over the network configuration, quality of service (QoS) and security policies of their IoT network, and the ability to quickly scale globally and reduce connectivity costs.

eSIMs have played a pivotal role in enabling ENOs, thanks to their ability to connect to multiple

networks via a single SKU (Stock Keeping Unit). Enterprises that operate globally and outside the bounds of a single carrier would otherwise have to contract and manage numerous different MNO relationships around the world, without the flexibility of being able to future-proof their network as market conditions such as pricing and coverage change.

Furthermore, by using eSIMs in combination with a private network, enterprises operating their own network can also chop and change the public networks they connect to, based on coverage or price and seamlessly manage their connections across both public and private networks.

So, while the average consumer may only be aware that there is no longer a SIM tray on their iPhone, this technology is making a massive and far more significant impact on the world of enterprise IoT.

How sports teams can harness digital technology.

How businesses view the online domain is changing as advances in digital technology have opened up new ways to interact with customers. The dawn of Web3 is upon us, and this iteration of the internet has the potential to change the way brands function both in the real and virtual worlds. Emerging technologies like non fungible tokens (NFTs), blockchain gaming, and digital fashion are becoming increasingly intriguing to consumers interested in exploring the metaverse.

BySteve Mason, Commercial VP GM, at Embelex.

How sports teams can harness digital technology.

Sports teams are beginning to explore this new space for consumer interactions, and are devising creative ways to deepen fan engagement. For example, the advent of digitally wearable merchandise2 that can be adorned by metaverse avatars, is a particularly exciting innovation.

Using unique digital IDs, it’s now possible to produce a digital twin of physical garments purchased by customers in the real world, enabling them to also be worn online.

The metaverse, while still young, is already redefining the idea of identity as people can recreate or develop entirely new versions of themselves online. When we consider team sports, a sense of belonging and community is powerful and something many fans have come to rely on. Now sports brands are keen to take this one step further and amplify those same principles in the metaverse too.

Aside from digital fashion, sports brands are also embracing gamification by teaming up with game developers to offer new ways for fans to continue the immersive experience when the match action in the stadium pauses.

I’d like to explore some of the exciting changes we are seeing as sports brands start to embrace the metaverse. The growing pool of available technologies is already vast and it’s thrilling to think about what will come next.

WHAT IS THE METAVERSE AND WHAT DOES IT MEAN FOR APPAREL?

Some enthusiasts believe the metaverse is the next big thingrivalling the birth of the internet. It’s a new shiny toy for many industries and it’s predicted to grow in years to come. A report by McKinsey & Company3 estimates the metaverse could generate up to $5 trillion in impact by 2030. For some, it could be a virtual retail hub, while others see it as a portal to digital experiences.

What started as microtransactions in the gaming industry now allows people to enhance an online experience in an interconnected digital environment, sometimes for a small cost. For sports brands, this is an opportunity to build on the connectivity among fans and boost consumer excitement by providing additional ways to engage with sports.

SPORTS BRANDS ARE CAPITALISING ON METAVERSE INNOVATIONS

Particularly by using NFTs, the metaverse is opening up opportunities for sports teams to engage new and existing fans and create brand new revenue streams. We recently saw Fifa announce its digital platform Fifa+ Collect4, where it will sell digital assets that depict notable moments, art and imagery. Reminiscent of sports trading cards, this digital treasure hunt provides a novel experience for football fans while boosting the football federation’s income.

Similarly, Zetly, a block-chain based sports platform, has partnered5 with Haste Arcade’s gaming platform to create new experiences where people can play games and earn additional rewards through micropayments in real-time. It doesn’t stop there. Metaverse use cases for sports brands also extend to apparel. For instance, people can visit ‘Nikeland’6 on Roblox, or the digital world of ZEPETO7, adorning avatars with stylish digital garments similar to real-

world merchandise. It’s no secret people care about their online appearance, with social media profiles being an extension of users’ offline identities. Digital avatars are no exception. Digital apparel is a new concept that allows people to express themselves, establishing an online identity where they can also show admiration for their favourite sports teams and brands. From a commercial standpoint, the metaverse is not just an online game – it’s a space for brands to showcase their products and new experiences.

THE POWER OF CUSTOMISATION

Tailoring apparel, like sports kits, to individuals takes the experience of purchasing and owning a garment to a deeper level. Sports fans are imbued with a sense of identity when wearing custom apparel, using the opportunity to celebrate their chosen team, and they are willing to pay. Bayern Munich topped the football kit sales charts in 2021, with 3.25 million8 shirts sold, showing how much customer support there is

for football teams. Looking at the bigger picture, the global sportswear market is predicted to reach $261 billion by 20289.

If this market is integrated into the budding metaverse, sports brands and teams could see a real boost in revenue. Avery Dennison’s external embellishments division, Embelex, is playing a leading role in this transition by embedding digital triggers into Premier League football shirts that can lead fans to exclusive online content. We have also recently partnered with the San Franciso 49ers to introduce digital connectivity to their merchandise.

WHAT’S NEXT FOR SPORTS BRANDS?

The evolution of the metaverse is challenging brands to think differently about how they market products and what opportunities are available to further consumer engagement. It has also opened up questions about how to monetise these activities online. Selling digitally-wearable shorts for £2 is very different to a £20 pair in the real world, and the

commercial applications are still being assessed. The metaverse is changing how fashion is viewed, and the shifting paradigm will bring new challenges to the sports apparel industry.

As we travel further into the metaverse, and the lines between the real and digital world become increasingly blurred, we could see people putting increasing value on digital assets such as NFTs. Sports brands will need to be aware of the different opportunities at their disposal to keep up in this quickly-changing landscape. It’s early days for the metaverse, as the finite definition of what it is and means for consumers is clarified, but brands are experimenting, and certainly, for sports teams, there will be plenty of opportunities to integrate technology in the future.

Time’s up for weak authentication this Cybersecurity Awareness Month.

This Cybersecurity Awareness Month, Niall McConachie, regional director (UK & Ireland) at Yubico, addresses the overreliance on passwords and legacy forms of two-factor authentication, making the case for more effective options such as hardware-based security keys.

Passwords have long been the default security method for protecting all manner of accounts, both professional and personal. Although better than having no protection at all, passwords have been proven to fall susceptible to today’s most common cyberattacks and are prone to common credential

stealing scams such as phishing, password spraying, and man in the middle (MitM) attacks. They are undoubtedly the least effective method of securing online data.

By Niall McConachie, regional director (UK & Ireland) at Yubico.

Time’s up for weak authentication this Cybersecurity Awareness Month.

As a result, we’re seeing more and more organisations (and individuals) moving towards passwordless authentication whereby accounts are secured with alternate methods to the traditional username and password combination.

Organisations looking to steer their cybersecurity in this direction are strongly advised to consider opting for strong multi- or twofactor authentication (MFA/2FA) solutions to integrate into their overall cybersecurity strategy. Both MFA and 2FA authentication solutions require a user to present two or more forms of identity verification as an added layer of security to permit user access.

However, not all multi/two-factor authentication is created equal. For example, one-time passcodes (OTPs) sent by SMS and mobile authentication apps are the most popular forms of 2FA. And while any form of 2FA offers better security than just a username and password combination, they are vulnerable to phishing, MitM attacks, SIM swapping and account takeovers. What’s more, on the usability side, keying in an OTP may seem relatively easy, but multiply that by the number of logins and apps used each day, and friction soon stacks up. Added to which, it relies on the user’s device being charged and having a signal at a precise moment in time.

Delivering strong security without compromising usability has never been more important than in the era of remote working. Driven largely by the pandemic, hybrid working practices are here to stay, and businesses must ensure that their security strategies are fit for purpose. Our 2021 research into ‘cybersecurity in the work from anywhere era’ found that 42% feel more vulnerable to cyber threats

while working from home, with 39% feeling unsupported by IT, while 62% reported not having completed cybersecurity training for remote work.

Despite the seismic shift in working practices that we’ve witnessed over the last two years, even some of the world’s largest companies continue to struggle with passwords and legacy MFA solutions such as OTPs. Many are also now experiencing successful attacks against employees’ use of push notification systems. Authentication schemes that rely on the use of symmetric secrets (e.g. passwords and one time passwords) and systems that are susceptible to accidental acknowledgement (in the case of push notifications) are among the most serious and fundamental security problems faced today. However, they are in continued use around the world and we are simply not seeing the same focused approach to solving this issue as we’ve seen in other areas of information security.

As a ‘quick-fix’ solution, organisations often implement approaches to mitigate incremental changes to the attacker’s approach. For example, this can include increasing password length, regular mandatory resetting of passwords, requirements around character combinations, and using technology to compare passwords against known breached passwords. These approaches are fundamentally flawed, however, and continue to delay the introduction of authentication systems. In order to make meaningful progress toward stopping the increasing level of attacks of these legacy mechanisms, it is important that we stop trying to fix them and start considering them as vulnerabilities, just as we’ve done with other legacy solutions (e.g., MD5, SSL, and telnet).

For example, FIDO2, an open authentication standard hosted by the FIDO Alliance, offers expanded modern authentication options including strong single factor (passwordless), strong two factor, and multi-factor

authentication. FIDO is a set of authentication protocols specifically aimed at providing secure authentication, protecting users’ privacy, and reinforcing existing password-based login processes. FIDO2 reflects the newest set of digital authentication standards and is a key element in addressing issues surrounding traditional authentication and eliminating the global use of passwords. It allows users to easily authenticate via devices with builtin security tools – like fingerprint readers, smartphone cameras, or hardware-based security keys – to access their digital information.

Phishing-resistant protocols implemented within a physical security key, which are FIDO2enabled, are considered best of breed solutions to stop sophisticated cyberattacks like phishing in their tracks. More and more corporations are now opting for MFA solutions and FIDO2 protocols also supported by global organisations, OS platforms, and online browsers including Apple, Salesforce, Twitter, Google, Microsoft, and the US Government.

The road to passwordless is not always smooth or linear. However, organisations can make the journey easier for themselves by making sure to factor their users in at every stage, and by focussing on interoperability. Hardwarebased security keys provide strong authentication while at the same time reducing friction at login, compared with other multistage authentication protocols. Ultimately, the right passwordless solutions should make life easier and more secure for all users: a win-win for everyone this Cybersecurity Awareness Month.

Wising up to bot attacks.

Cybersecurity is often described in terms of an arms race. On one side are the hackers, forever looking for new vulnerabilities, trying to trick people with new phishing attempts, and so on. On the other side are the security experts, also looking for vulnerabilities, but instead racing to roll out new patches and ensuring businesses are safe from attack. But there’s a new arms race starting up— between businesses and their customers.

By Cyril Noel-Tagoe, Principal Security Researcher, Netacea.

Wising up to bot attacks.

NEW SECURIT THREATS

Businesses are slowly waking up to the threat of bot attacks. Our research has found that their understanding of where attacks are coming from, who is behind them and how to mitigate them has improved, albeit slowly. Unfortunately, there are others who are also gaining a better understanding of bot attacks, and are taking advantage: everyday consumers.

Bots are no longer only used by the tech-savvy. Until relatively recently, if bots were being used to buy up limited edition goods such as consoles or sneakers, a retailer could assume that those operating the bots cared little for the goods they were buying, as long as they could flip them for a profit. Those who genuinely wanted the goods would have to pay a premium. Now, genuine fans who just want to be first in the queue, frustrated at constantly losing out to bots, are getting in on the act.

There are three trends that are driving this change:

1. Bots are no longer only available on the dark web. Downloading the right browser and navigating the dark web was a barrier to operating a bot, but there are now forums and marketplaces on the clear web that make it possible to purchase or rent bots to operate.

2. Bots are easier to operate. Bot creators are increasingly operating like consumer-focused businesses and making their bots user friendly, with better and more intuitive user experiences and comprehensive guides that anyone can follow.

●3. Bots-as-a-service. Don’t want the hassle of operating a bot yourself? That’s no problem, simply get an expert to do it for you. Some bot operators are offering their services for a fee, meaning anyone, no matter their level of tech savvy, can benefit from a bot.

More and more, the businesses that offer bot services look just like the businesses they target. They have professional websites, responsive customer support, and advertise their services just like any other organisation. Their products are under constant development, and are designed to appeal to those who may have never used a bot before.

A BATTLE OF AWARENESS

Our research has shown that businesses, in general, are more aware of the threat of bots. But the growth in awareness is slow, and there are many pervasive myths around bots.

For example, around threequarters of businesses think that Web Application Firewalls (WAFs) and DDoS protection are effective against bots. In fact, while a WAF will stop some forms of attack, and DDoS protection safeguards against attacks from botnets, neither is an effective tool against bots looking to buy up limited goods or crack accounts.

One particularly worrying statistic from our research is that businesses can take up to 16 weeks to identify a bot attack, meaning bots can run wild for almost four months before businesses introduce countermeasures.

Meanwhile, high profile bot use means consumers are more aware than ever of their use. Mainstream publications and broadcasters have reported on bots being partly responsible for shortages of consoles and graphics cards. Consumers now know what bots are and how they can be used. If they want something with limited availability, there’s a much higher chance that they will at least consider and research the use of bots. With bot operators focusing on the customer experience and improving their marketing, there’s a much higher chance they will find what they are looking for.

This is the new arms race between businesses and their consumers. Savvy consumers are skipping the middlemen and using bots to buy limited edition goods rather than pay a markup to a third party. This means two groups are pushing to the front of the queue: the bot operators looking to make a profit, and a small subset of customers. The rest are even more likely to miss out. Is this a problem if goods are being sold regardless? If consumers find that they are not being treated fairly and missing out on limited goods, this will damage loyalty and lead them to look elsewhere for other purchases. Plus, this is a vicious cycle—today’s disgruntled customers are tomorrow’s bot users. The only way forward is for more businesses to better understand the threat that they are facing, and how, unlike other security threats, their customers will actually become part of the problem if it is not addressed.

The role sharing has in the apps we keep on our mobile phones.

As sharing became fundamental during the pandemic, filesharing apps such as SHAREit, which has ‘sharing’ at the very heart of its culture, became integrated into mobile users’ routines when sharing files, videos and games. The team have consequently explored the phenomenon of sharing culture and how we commonly experience it - through our mobile phones.

By Arunabh Madhur, Regional VP & Head Business EMEA at SHAREit Group.

The role sharing has in the apps we keep on our mobile phones.

The ‘grandfather’ of marketing Ernest Dichter, learned through extensive research that sharing is the communication of valuable messages that do two thingsgrow our relationships and help us define ourselves. Obviously, this is no more relevant than on social media platforms where sharing quite literally adds to a person’s ‘status.’ The content shared becomes valuable collateral as it releases happy hormones in a person and increases feelings of well-being and belonging. This is why we become addicted to seeking likes, shares and engagements.

But, the act of sharing has different significance depending on our needs in that moment of time. Sharing is present in all aspects of our lives, from banking, gaming and even dating. And due to digital and mobile technology, sharing is becoming ever more democratic.

BUILDING COMMUNITIES WITH GAMING

The gaming world is built on a sense of community as gamers across the globe are connected through the common interest in video games. This has been the case since the birth of the first ‘Magnavox’ gaming console in 1972.

Experts found that it is not only shared interests and love of the sport that keeps gamers hooked, but also a shared sense of achievement. Total immersion in an alternative reality is another shared experience that unites gamers. From Super Mario’ to the Legend of Zelda, using a character/avatar to live in these sensory and vibrant worlds creates the experience of freedom and exploration in a group. Fran C. Blumberg, PhD went as far as to say that: “Games are not ‘good’ or ‘bad,’ but are powerful educational tools and have many effects we might not have expected they could.”

Games are being shared at greater speeds than ever before! SHAREit has found that over 24 million apps are being shared daily through its platform, and that gaming apps are frequently the most shared file over the course of a month. Escapism is perhaps another reason for the success of this, as players are immersed in a world different from their own.

SHAREit is innovating in this area by allowing users to easily share all the ‘skin’ files needed to transfer games to friends and family.

SHARING THE LOVE ONLINE

Dating apps have increased in popularity in recent years due to their success rate in facilitating connections between people, that might not otherwise be achieved in person. In fact, 10.3% of UK adults use dating apps as a way of meeting potential partners. It almost goes without saying that when to ‘share’ and ‘how much to share’ about yourself are delicate decisions in the tender stages of a relationship.

The power of sharing your favorite videos, music or content you have created should not be underestimated due to the impact this has on personal relationships. This simple act allows another person insight into what makes us tick, and inspires us, often offering a special window into our cultural or family background.

Sharing those popular ‘couple photos’ online now represents a significant social milestone – a way of announcing the quality and feel of your relationship to family, friends and following, with

control over how much details of the relationship are shared. How a couple fits into a wider community can feature in these.

SHARING IN THE WORLD OF FINTECH

Concern for protecting our planet is growing, alongside the world of social enterprise, and specifically - fintech. It may seem as though banking is unable to have a role in this directive, yet the birth of ethical investing via ESGs and company green targets has put some banks and investment funds on the sustainable map.

The world of banking is becoming more community-minded as it has more involvement in ESG targets. For example, the concept of sharing is a fundamental part of the evolution of ethical finance, with an increasing number of companies offering voting rights on how shareholders’ funds are invested, often in social causes such as animal rights or sustainability. The user-experience of mobile-banking allows individuals and groups to share currency instantly, while on the

move, and more frequently, with digital banks providing special ‘spaces’ for shared accounts. This unlocks users of online banking and fintech platform’s financial potential by giving them more control over their assets and how they control them.

Acts of mobile-friendly sharing amplify our sense of intimacy with friends, family or simply, our fellow man. Consumers rely on SHAREit as the airdrop of the Android ecosystem that enables and productizes users to expand the social habit of sharing, which plays such an important role in wellbeing and relationship building. Mobile app technology in life, work and play has the potential to help strengthen the quality, frequency, and nature of how we share while helping us discover the content we most enjoy!

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The era of software-defined everything is pushing the pace of innovation and transforming market segments ranging from aerospace to industrial, defense to medical, and networking to automotive.

The adoption of AI in physical operations is gathering pace.

Mention artificial intelligence (AI) in the same sentence as lorries and other commercial machinery and people automatically think you’re referring to driverless vehicles. And while there’s plenty of development work going on in this area, we’re unlikely to see drivers replaced by AI-powered autonomous trucks any time soon.

While AI may not be at the wheel — yet — it is already playing a key role in these industries powering systems that are helping to improve the efficiency, safety and management of businesses.

Industries that have been historically underserved by technology are starting to embrace smart systems to help cut costs, reduce waste, improve fuel efficiency, and become more efficient organizations. Data insights are helping to influence management decisions that have a direct impact on the profitability of businesses.

By Philip van der Wilt, VP & General Manager, EMEA, Samsara.

The adoption of AI in physical operations is gathering pace.

AI-powered tech is helping to plan more efficient routes and improve the safety of their frontline workers.

And AI-augmented dash cams are being installed into vehicles not just to record incidents, but to help prevent them from happening in the first place.

AI DASH CAMS IMPROVE SAFETY

For instance, AI-cameras can monitor driving behavior such as harsh braking or erratic driving and alert drivers — much like a co-driver — if they need a nudge to concentrate on the road ahead.

What’s more, this technology can also be wirelessly connected so that video footage and alerts can be simultaneously uploaded to the cloud and shared with officebased fleet managers — taking driver safety to a whole new level.

This connected approach provides a complete overview of how the vehicle is performing and how the driver is behaving. A constant feed of data and information funneled into a dedicated training platform helps managers and drivers understand how accidents are caused, and what they can do to prevent them. And when accidents do occur, there’s video evidence to show what really happened which can also be used to prevent similar crashes from happening in the future.

Using data-backed video footage to underpin a companywide safety initiative can help to incentivize safer driving and provide accurate real-time data that can be used to improve driver coaching.

According to Tony Draper, Head of Safety, Health, Environment and Quality (SHEQ) Manager at UK-based M Group Services Plant & Fleet Solutions, using such technology is a game changer.

“The problem was, we didn’t have the visibility to understand what was causing accidents,” said Tony, “such as the context of the incident, how were other road users behaving at the time of the event…environmental and weather conditions, and if drivers were tired, distracted or looking at their mobile phone.

“This meant we didn’t have the information to stop any problems before they happened.

“At the same time, our systems were not able to tell us whether or not our drivers were at fault. That meant they risked getting the blame, even when they were innocent, and potentially facing disciplinary action.

“And our bottom line was taken a hit with bills for insurance premiums rising with every accident,” he said.

And M Group Services is not alone.

AI-INSPIRED DATA LEADS TO NEW BUSINESS INSIGHTS

In fact, aggregated anonymized data from 400 Samsara customers — which have collectively traveled more than 793 million miles in the last 12 months — detected a 47% reduction in vehicle crashes.

More importantly, fleet operators that used both vehicle telematics and video-based safety solutions saw a 63% drop in crashes within the first year of adoption.

Such safety programmes have also had an impact on cost. By encouraging better driving, engine idling is reduced — which can be pinpointed to individual vehicles and drivers in combination with telematics. In many cases customers saw a 40% reduction over the last 12 months. Assuming a price of $5 per gallon of fuel, that’s equivalent to a saving of roughly $2,500 per vehicle per year — of half a million dollars for a 100-strong fleet.

In addition, because managers have sight of every vehicle or piece of machinery in the fleet, businesses reported a 20% improvement in vehicle use, thereby maximizing investment and minimizing waste.

Wherever you look, businesses in the physical operations sector are embracing AI.

According to Samsara’s State of Connected Operations Report published earlier this year, 90% of operations leaders have implemented AI and automation technologies or plan to by 2023.

Make no mistake. The adoption of AI within physical operations is happening. And at pace.

RFID and Digital Twins: What’s in it for retail?

According to IBM, a digital twin is a virtual representation of an object or system that spans its lifecycle, is updated from real-time data, and uses simulation, machine learning and reasoning to help decision-making. When translated into a retail landscape, digital twins can give a real-time view of what is happening in a retailer’s estate, for example with product flows and inventory positions, and can help retailers to get even better insights from their supply chains.

By Tom Vieweger, RFID specialist at Nedap Retail.

RFID and Digital Twins: What’s in it for retail?

WHAT IS A DIGITAL TWIN?

Although digital twins have been around for a few years, the concept dates back to the first digital technology projects. A good example is NASA’s space exploration mission of the 1960s when each voyaging spacecraft was exactly replicated in an earthbound version.

In terms of more everyday practical examples, these include the digitization of machines for supporting maintenance and buildings becoming digitized to improve the efficiency of energy consumption. In healthcare, a digital twin of a patient or an organ allows surgeons and health professionals to practice procedures in a simulated environment.

Digital twins are also used for simulations for the driver and the car team in Formula 1 so that adjustments can be made to improve performance. However, for retailers, RFID data from products in-store is used to analyze purchase behavior and simulate the optimal placement of products.

RFID IS (JUST) THE CARRIER

These days, product labels in the apparel, sports and footwear industry can go beyond just sharing the likes of washing temperatures or cleaning instructions and can be enriched with an individual digital identity via a QR code or a chip. If products carry a unique identity, you can consider this a digital replica of a physical object. For example, it is like the product having its own digital passport.

A unique digital identifier has to be attached to an individual item to connect the physical with the digital world. If the digital identity is stored in an RFID chip, it is possible to track and trace products seamlessly. If an article is equipped with an RFID tag, it is easy to register it on its journey through the supply chain. RFID read-points gather data from the physical world and send it to (cloud-based) systems, where they are processed and used for additional data analysis.

From a wider perspective, physical things can be equipped with an additional sensor that generates even more data. These sensors can produce data on temperature, humidity or pressure. Simply put, anyone looking at the digital twin can now see crucial information about how the physical item is doing in the real world. This data can then be relayed to a processing system and applied to the digital copy.

WHAT’S IN IT FOR RETAIL

On the item level, stock visibility is a key driver to a retailer’s success yet remains a top challenge. Still, stock information remains in silos, sometimes even just in emails or spreadsheets. Digital twins help retailers identify stock shortages and demand curves in seconds. Based on these insights, they can replenish stock, re-adjust placements of products and create targeted ads to minimize waste.

With the growing number of supply chain partners, regions and sales channels, it becomes critical for retailers to create a ‘single point of truth’. Unique identity should ideally be an EPC so that it’s possible to use the EPCIS standard. EPCIS (the Electronic Product Code Information Service) enables a standard to create and share visibility on stock positions in the supply chain or a value network. Global standards and open formats enable the partners to share provenance and transparency information with each other easily and securely.

ADVANCED SUPPLY CHAIN INSIGHTS

By definition, ‘supply chain management’ means the cooperation between suppliers, customers, and other partners. As such, sharing data and insights among those partners is crucial to operating efficiently and the foundation to build trust. Tracking stock movements and status changes in real-time is especially important within complex supply chain structures, where products are regularly shipped and transferred between partners, warehouses, distribution centers and stores. Cloud-hosted data from each product’s digital twin can share real-time data on its provenance, material contents and journey through the supply chain. As a result, it is possible to create visibility where products come from, where they are and where they need to go.

DIGITAL TWINS ENABLE NEW LEVELS OF VISIBILITY

While RFID is by no means new, the disruption of the supply chains throughout the pandemic and the rise in sustainability demands has led to its use picking up momentum in the retail space. Something that will only continue.

Recent studies reveal that the RFID adoption in retail has strongly grown in response to COVID-19, with 16.9 billion RFID UHF labels being consumed in 2021 by retail apparel and shoes. The reason for this is that data-driven brands and retailers need actionable insights to ensure products are always available to shoppers.

Product labels with a unique identity – or a digital twin –have the potential to become the new normal with a variety of related benefits such as carbon accounting, supply chain transparency, and customer interaction. Digital identities, RFID technology, and an EPCIS repository are creating true and comprehensive stock visibility enabling demand-driven allocations, provenance insights, predictive replenishment and stock transfers to the location where products are really needed. This is only set to accelerate and advance, and will be invaluable to the retail industry both now and in the future.

Exploring tech advances in healthcare.

Creating technology that makes a meaningful difference in people’s lives is the ultimate goal for the majority of innovative minds in the industry. When considering this through the lens of healthcare, it becomes an increasingly important goal and despite digital health coming on leaps and bounds in recent decades, there is still room for improvement.

Remote monitoring and other telemedicine advancements are revolutionising the healthcare industry — supplementing the efforts of healthcare professionals across the globe who are under increasing pressure as life expectancy continues to rise.

Artificial intelligence (AI) is set to play an ever growing role in future, and its ability to analyse and interpret vast amounts of health data provides a fitting catalyst for a shift toward what we like to call ‘smart care’ at AI Nexus Healthcare.

By Faramarz Farhoodi, CEO of AI Nexus Healthcare.

Exploring tech advances in healthcare.

HOW IMPORTANT WILL AI BE IN THE FUTURE OF HEALTHCARE?

AI is one of the most powerful yet underutilised technologies that can benefit healthcare. Healthtech developers have been focusing on machine learning, in particular deep learning, as the go to tool for building their applications. The primary reason for this focus on machine learning has been the general availability of educational material, courses and off the shelf code libraries.

Machine learning is an important subfield of AI. Deep learning as a subfield of machine learning offers powerful tools for recognising and classifying patterns in data – for example images, sound, and time series data. However, recognition is not cognition! Deep learning algorithms and applications are blackboxes that are incapable of explaining the justification or explanation of how they arrive at their results

For critical application domains such as healthcare, explainability is a prerequisite in helping clinicians have confidence in the recommendations of an AI system. Furthermore, building deep learning models requires high quality labelled data which is difficult to obtain in healthcare due to practical and regulatory reasons. Patterns identified by deep learning applications still need to be interpreted in a given context –and knowledge and experience are required for interpretation and to produce actionable advice in healthcare applications. Medical doctors spend decades specialising and learning to combine the art and science of medicine. Medical expertise is essential for the interpretation of deep learning results and to produce actionable recommendations for each patient. But, by focusing on deep learning, developers have been trying to code doctors out. So it’s not surprising that AI as machine learning or deep learning has had limited success and adoption in healthcare to date.

To better leverage the benefits of AI in healthcare, we effectively need to code doctors into our applications. If we can achieve this, AI can have a truly transformative impact on healthcare. Developers, then, must look beyond simple pattern recognition and data collection.

In addition to machine learning or deep learning, AI has other powerful techniques and tools it can offer developers. These techniques include knowledge representation and reasoning –that is tools that can capture and emulate cognition – as well as other types of machine learning. This goes well beyond rule engines which represent basic examples of AI that is not machine learning. Cognitive AI is not an algorithm. It involves a variety of tools and techniques and many years of application development experience in different domains to acquire the necessary skills to build complex healthcare applications. The full potential of AI in healthcare can be realised by a hybrid approach that combines the best of machine learning and Cognitive AI. This hybrid approach enables

developers to build end-to-end solutions, from pattern recognition from any type of data all the way to diagnosis and actionable recommendations.

‘Hybrid AI’ is a concept that essentially strives to combine recognition with cognition and it underpins everything we do at AI Nexus Healthcare. The term centres on identifying trends in data such as heart rate, blood pressure and oxygen saturation and converting this into actionable advice. What we’re suggesting here is a technology that can look to replicate the same diagnostic approach as a qualified clinician. Now it would be an overly ambitious and frankly undesirable claim to say that AI will replace the need for medical professionals in the future. However, it’s a much more realistic claim to suggest that AI could help provide informed advice that will serve not only to assist professionals in their role, but also act as a ‘check engine’ light for the average consumer, who may be considering a trip to the doctor or just want to gain a greater insight into their own body. Using technology as a

supplementary tool is the key to achieving ‘smart care’ and a digital overview of the body can inform the decisions of both users and clinicians. The elderly population is growing exponentially and with advances in technology resulting in people leading longer lives, it is likely to carry on doing so. This is the fundamental reason why AI and other health technologies will play a vital role in the future of the industry.

PREVENTION OVER CURE

I’m always taken aback and motivated by the fact that 80% of chronic diseases are preventable. Given this, spotting early warning signs will become so important in limiting the strain on healthcare services. Detecting health issues at earlier stages of the disease cycle can significantly increase the scope for recovery and treatment. AI can offer insight into an individual’s overall health and encourage them to take action as soon as anomalies in data occur, which in turn will alleviate avoidable pressure on the health system. And not only will it mean better health and wellbeing for individuals, it will also save

on treatment and care costs. By studying an abundance of health data, patterns can be recognised (recognition) and then translated into functional medical advice (cognition), which can be used to inform medical professionals or encourage consumers to visit them if they are at perceived risk.

A great example of this is falls prevention among the elderly. This technology allows for the identification of people’s fall risk through tracking data such as heart block, sleep quality, walking gait and other biometrics. This data is then processed, rationalised and presented as functional advice for carers to act upon, which in many cases could be life-saving advice. Beyond this, facial scans have the capability of predicting strokes, whilst the antecedent signs of diabetes can also be recognised through blood sugar analysis. The opportunities are endless and are a simple result of advanced hybrid AI — arguably the future of digital health.

WHY IS IT SO IMPORTANT TO MAKE THIS TECHNOLOGY ACCESSIBLE?

It may come as a surprise to some that despite its complexity and years of development, the end game of AI and other digital health technology is more often than not to present a simple platform for users. For example, smart home speakers which are a common feature of 21st-century households are highly complex yet extremely simple to use. The same applies to telemedicine. With leading minds in the industry working tirelessly to create innovative solutions, the ultimate goal is to produce something that has genuine use within society, so localising an abundance of complex neural networks into an appealing user interface is challenging, yet paramount. Smartphone integration is undoubtedly one of the most important aspects to consider and given the digital age we are currently living in, collecting data by simply scanning your face or fingertip through an app is a great way to reach the masses. Of course, there is the issue of pricing. Making this technology

unaffordable is not only limiting its prospective interest but also its potential, so it’s about striking the right balance in line with the market — with an underlying appreciation for the bigger picture. Essentially, ‘mass care’ is self care as, by helping people on a wider scale, it broadens the impact of what’s achievable. Making it affordable then, deepens its effectiveness. As much as digital health is an enterprise, it is truly about making a genuine difference in people’s lives and using the wonderful capabilities of technology to support and improve an industry that we have all come to rely on in our lifetime. Significant steps have already been made and the work we are doing at AI Nexus Healthcare is a standout example of that. We are creating a platform that is offering something nobody has seen before, and that’s what it’s all about – being on the sharp end of innovation. The future of digital health is an exciting one, and as we learn more about the human body alongside our technological capabilities this meeting of minds could truly spell a new age of ‘smart care’.

Don’t let automation be a legal minefield for you.

Developments in smart technology and automation have made vast leaps in recent years and they are set to contribute $15 trillion to the global economy by 2030. Advanced systems increase production efficiencies enormously whilst slashing lead times, creating goods and making services far quicker. They also let staff focus on adding value where they may not have had time to before, in sectors such as customer relations.

However, you must remember that any new IT has far-reaching legal implications for people and processes. So, if you’re looking to take advantage of robot tech you must understand the responsibilities and liabilities it brings.

While the “Factory of the Future” offers much greater capacity, improved data collection and fewer errors, businesses must lay proper foundations by nailing vital considerations from the start.

By James Crayton, Head of Commercial, Walker Morris.

Don’t let automation be a legal minefield for you.

WHO OWNS THE CLEVER DATA?

IP in AI is a burning issue, but what is AI? Most frequently applied to robotics and automation, artificial intelligence (‘AI’) is simulated human intelligence in machines that are programmed to think like real people. Its soaring use has huge data protection implications. A crucial, complex question is who’s responsible for the protection of users and the stored details of individuals – the AI supplier or their client?

Automated systems often capture and store information about employees, suppliers, customers (e.g., by cameras, microphones or sensors). However, much of it is likely to be personal data.

If you’re the tech user (or client) it’s critical you understand what information is being captured. You must put in place meaningful protections to remain compliant with data protection law, which you should make yourself aware of. You need to ensure that personal data captured by automation isn’t passed back to its supplier without the permission of everyone involved. Strict legislation on ‘data protection principles’ demands that personal information be held securely and used fairly, lawfully and transparently. These GDPR laws come with eye-watering fines for breaches that run into the tens of millions. It means that responsibility for compliance must be agreed upfront and known by all parties.

And the law’s relationship with AI is set to become an even hotter topic. The government recently published its proposed approach to regulating technology, with a full white paper expected later this year. Among six core compliance principles is a requirement for legal accountability for all AI tools to rest with a nominated person or company.

LICENSING

Licensing is another key complex concern. It boils down to whether a user fully owns a system or just has the right to use it. While the robot might be yours, the ‘AIpowering software’ is usually provided by a vendor under licence. This allows you to run it, but only on specified terms, with the supplier retaining overall ownership. The question of who owns the tech is critical. Many customers think they do, then fall foul of an IP infringement claim when they sell it on or offer it as a service.

There is an understandable conflict here. You will want to pay for a unique breakthrough that will give you massive competitive advantage, not one that might also be offered to your competitors. And you certainly don’t want them to have a version that has been refined and improved following your early adoption.

Meanwhile, the vendor naturally wants to market its innovation as widely as possible. They’re justifiably unwilling to devise bespoke one-offs they can only sell once. If they did, the price would be through the roof, while a multi-use application would be affordable. And systems that are widely employed can bring a host of advantages to an entire sector much quicker, boosting outcomes for all.

So, there must be upfront agreement on whether software will be developed, priced and supplied as a custom platform. If not, what constitutes the core software and what bespoke tweaks the customer has the exclusivity on must be defined.

Ensure you understand the legal basis by which you’re using all tech and how this is dealt with in every contract. Take the time to read the small print, ensure you know the terms exactly, how they will impact your business and for what it’s responsible.

HEALTH & SAFETY

Health & Safety is a great concern. Putting robots among your people brings risks and understandable staff fears.

Human operators unfamiliar with the systems and their safety procedures and mechanical errors can trigger prohibited, dangerous behaviour, which may cause death or serious injury if not managed properly. Rushed or careless set-up and power surges can also cause accidents and lethal electric shocks. Recent changes to UK sentencing guidelines have pegged penalties for serious health and safety breaches at more than £10m in some cases. You must be guided by your H&S advisers on safe, compliant installation and operation of all robotic systems and document that you have done. Beyond that, ensure that all staff and visitors know the safety policies and procedures in place.

If you have any concerns about automation or don’t understand it fully, you must get support and advice quickly – whether it’s legal guidance, technical support or both. Working with specialists before problems emerge is far better, cheaper and less stressful than enlisting them to sort out disputes and disasters.

Automation’s fast-accelerating rise offers businesses of all types possibly limitless opportunities. However, everyone must know the dangers and duties it brings and how to protect themselves.

Overcoming the barriers of decryption and data visibility.

The rollout of next generation network connectivity is always a source of excitement for businesses and users alike, introducing us to heighted capabilities and conveniences. 3G technology brought us new levels of connectivity when on the move, then 4G arrived to greatly improve our connection speeds. Now we have 5G, and 6G is already being discussed

5G is set to provide even more opportunities for users through enhanced mobile broadband offerings, the reality of massive Machine Type Communications (mMTC) and ultra-reliable low latency communications.

This offers a breadth of new possibilities from industrial automation to self-driving vehicles and connecting a network of IoT devices with ease.

By Rob Pocock, Technical Director, Red Helix.

Overcoming the barriers of decryption and data visibility.

However, for businesses and users to reap the true benefits of 5G, operators and those delivering the service have some fundamental challenges to overcome. 5G rollouts are already behind where they need to be, due to delays caused by the pandemic, skills shortages, and a lack of resources, such as silicon chips, causing extended delivery times –not to mention the phasing out of Huawei.

These delays are now being exacerbated by the fact that control plane data in the 5G core requires higher levels of encryption due to new security risks brought about by the growth in use cases for 5G. Legislation requires that data be encrypted on the control plane using the latest version of transport layer security _ TLS1.3. However, this is harder to decrypt, meaning operators have to either sacrifice visibility or commit to testing using unencrypted data – with many holding back on introducing this strong new encryption standard.

On top of this, capacity remains largely untested, as the expansion and adaptation of new devices that could use 5G hasn’t existed before. This means there is no model to follow, leaving operators in the dark when it comes to knowing how robust and reliable their network really is. Instead of offering customers untold opportunities to scale through 5G and beyond, they could leave them with ineffective solutions and highly vulnerable to cyberattack.

THE IMPACT OF 5G DELAYS

5G is set to revolutionise the way we connect. Not only is it faster, with speeds projected to be upwards of 100 times quicker than that of 4G, but it also offers low latency and high bandwidths, allowing applications and communications running on 5G networks to share data in near real-time – holding huge potential for the Internet of Things (IoT) and automation, and acting as a driving force for the Fourth Industrial Revolution.

Yet, with such prominent implications, delays to the implementation of 5G hold severe consequences. In a report from the Centre for Policy Studies (CPS) it was found that a potential £34.1bn of additional economic output could be created if the government delivers its 5G target of covering the majority of the population by 2027. But the key to achieving this is speed, with networks built faster leading to higher regional gains, and there are concerns around whether the UK will be able to meet these deadlines.

If these targets aren’t met, not only do we face the potential of missing out on this huge economic boost, but we also risk dampening the UK’s position as a world leader in connectivity. A large part of those concerns came from delays caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, which of course had huge ramifications for numerous industries across the board and was responsible for a great deal of disruption.

On top of this, while trying to make their recovery, network operators are now being faced with new challenges posed by legislation around the security of data exchanged across the network. With various missioncritical use cases, security for 5G needs to be tighter, leading to a global mandate for the 5G core to use the newest and highest level of control plane encryption and privacy, TLS 1.3.

What TLS 1.3 means for network operators TLS 1.3 and PFS (perfect forward secrecy) is a major improvement on its predecessor, TLS 1.2, offering increased performance and security. It brings about faster handshakes between client and server, improved latency times, and removes several security vulnerabilities found in the previous version. The issue for network operators, however, is that TLS 1.3 also poses several new decryption challenges.

Due to its high-speed, low-latency infrastructure, inline passive devices can no longer be used to efficiently decrypt network traffic visibility at the control plane. Additionally, with the higher levels of encryption and PFS, passive inspection monitoring is no longer a viable option for TLS 1.3. This has meant that network operators are left with limited options, to either down-rev the TLS 1.3 standard protocol to allow for network visibility but expose the network to security risks, or to implement TLS 1.3 encryption but sacrifice the ability to inspect and monitor traffic. Alternatively, they can implement complex measures into the service mesh, but this brings its own complications and security issues.

To be able to keep up with demand and achieve the targets set by the UK government, network operators need a more robust solution that will enable

acceptance of modern TLS 1.3 encryption, yet still grants the carrier visibility over their network for security, inspection, and monitoring purposes.

BREAKING DOWN THE DECRYPTION BARRIER: INTRODUCING SKI

In order to bypass the additional challenges to 5G rollout brought on by the TLS 1.3 standard protocol, network operators need a pure-play decryption solution that will show complete details of traffic without security risks. In its 2019 workshop on enterprise visibility, the Center for Cybersecurity Policy and Law set a baseline criteria for the acceptability of solutions for visibility challenges. In keeping with these criteria, any proposed solution to the challenges associated with TLS 1.3 must be scalable, relatively easy to implement/deploy, usable in real time and post-packet capture, effective for both security and troubleshooting purposes, and widely available and supported in mainstream commercial products and services.

Such a solution exists in Session Key Intercept (SKI). It builds on the previous concept of Keylogging, the basic idea of getting and using keys to decrypt sessions

and makes it a viable solution for scaled and secure mission-critical use. SKI works by extracting the individual TLS session encryption keys developed during the handshake and using these to bulk decrypt the communication – discarding them after use. Once these keys become accessible, then bulk, fast, and low CPU power decryption is achievable.

The solution plugs into existing tools already in use and works in any environment where TLS encryption is used, providing a plug-and-play style solution to network operators which allows them to bypass the complexities of trying to decrypt traffic using a native service mesh technology.

By implementing SKI, network operators can break down the barriers of TLS 1.3 decryption and keep full visibility over their networks, which will allow them to accelerate the roll out of 5G without sacrificing security or the ability to inspect and monitor traffic.

Innovation and investment in connected vehicles.

Software developers will soon be seen as the new mechanics as car manufacturers are increasingly using artificial intelligence (AI) to create personalised user experiences in connected vehicles. And while the opportunity to make use of this technology is clearly enormous, so too are the potential pit-falls. In a quest to deliver the ultimate user experience for automotive users, vehicle safety and regulation needs to be scrutinised.

An announcement by Google’s Waymo in March of this year revealed driverless ride-hailing services were being offered in San Francisco, highlighting how the entry of the likes of Google, Amazon, Apple, Microsoft, and others to the automotive segment has only precipitated an increase in AI technology use.

By Patrick Shelly, Manager, Solutions Engineering at The Qt Company.

Innovation and investment in connected vehicles.

Across the pond, the UK Government is claiming that driverless cars will be on UK roads by 2025, and the short time-scale raises concerns over the speed of regulation changes, and uncertainties over how autonomous vehicles (AVs) will develop. As consumer expectations for software updates for vehicles evolve to become much like we see with mobile phones today, with ever-increasing demand for new features, there is heightened risk of vehicles becoming vulnerable from their source code. And as seen in 2015, when security researchers shook the automotive industry by hacking into a Jeep being driven by a (consenting) tech journalist.

The pursuit of fast deployment of autonomous vehicles on a global scale, raises fears that security issues along with premature regulation could threaten continued innovation and investment in this sector.

AI IS THE DRIVING FORCE BEHIND CONNECTED VEHICLES

AI is primarily being deployed in vehicles to improve the user experience - making vehicles safer, enhancing speech recognition, and to improve cloudbased navigation, weather and surface conditions. But we also see original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) making use of AI technology outside of the vehicle itself - to improve supply chain management, manufacturing, vehicle design, and testing.

A deeper dive into vehicle testing, reveals the deployment of AI and machine learning (ML) both have a significant impact. Not only is the base software under test, but all variations of the datasets learned during vehicle operation are also in need of testing. And in the case of Waymo’s self-driving vehicle - a complex system which connects enormous datasets from Google, real-time sensors, and external GPS mapping information - this is a meticulous process.

In many application areas for AI today there is not necessarily a safety concern, as they are largely convenience features such as speech recognition and navigation. But even here, a failure in navigation could potentially result in a collision that results in injuries or fatalities. In any case, it is essential to have at least an underlying advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) safety technology to keep the AI/ML systems in check.

CONNECTED VEHICLE SAFETY IS IN THE HANDS OF SOFTWARE DEVELOPERS, STANDARDS AND REGULATIONS

Technological developments around AI in vehicles have historically been outpaced by the regulations. And regulation, has - rather than ensuring this technology is introduced safely and securely - typically prevented the use of AI in vehicles. But consumer demand means this is now changing, with the volume of connected vehicles growing 270% over the last 5 years. And rather than facing challenges over whether AI technology should be used, the conversation has shifted to how code complexity, regulation, and the lifespan of the implemented code are affecting vehicle security. And even with the primary implementation of AI is to improve overall UX, code security must not be overlooked.

Consumer demand for new features has driven demand and increased pressures to implement AI in vehicles. With this, however, there will be a constant need

for software updates, and without complete access to the source code for a developer, areas of weakness, and security concerns can arise. It is of utmost importance to have access to the source code for tools and runtime software used in the development process, and equally important to have visibility into the projects you create for use in the vehicle.

CLOUD-BASED TECHNOLOGIES AND DATA ARE THE FUTURE OF AUTOMOTIVE CYBERSECURITY

Regardless of the deployment of AI/ML technologies, vehicles will continue to be increasingly reliant on cloud-based technologies and data. The cloud-based aspects of autonomous driving enablement are important in the longer term, especially when all vehicles on the road are connected. Of course, local ADAS-like safety mechanisms based on LiDAR, radar and cameras will certainly be required to ensure system safety, from testing, through to deployment.

Consumer expectations for software updates and distribution of extended feature sets in the software-defined vehicles will continue to rise. And while - in light of the aggressive adoption of open-source software - the possibility for local hacking remains. Developers, the mechanics of the future, can prevent this with the correct toolkit and appropriate regulations at their disposal.

Commercially licensed software of an open nature will inevitably be on the rise. For efficiency in product development, it is extremely important to have access to the source code for tools and runtime software used in the development process, and equally important to have visibility into the projects that are created for use in vehicles. Commercial licensing and IP protection is an absolute necessity, while making the underlying source code available to the development community.

Why enterprises must prioritise the customer experience.

It can be overwhelming to think how quickly the customer experience has transformed in the last five years – and how, as a result, it’s easier than ever to lose out to your competition. Long gone are the days of visiting a physical store, local bank branch or travel agent. Instead, you can sort your shopping and banking, or book a holiday, online within a matter of seconds. Yet if the experience on offer isn’t good, then it’s easy to switch to an alternative at the click of a button.

As a business, this one click can be critical. Not only do you face a loss of revenue and reputation with a single disappointed customer, but you also risk losing out on all the future customers that could have come from that one person’s recommendations.

With the competition only ever one click away, it’s imperative you prioritise the customer experience. This means offering not just the best price, but the best of everything to keep consumers engaged and loyal.

By Perry Krug, Director, Shared Services at Couchbase.

Why enterprises must prioritise the customer experience.

BUT WHAT DOES A GOOD CUSTOMER EXPERIENCE LOOK LIKE?

Customers want more than just a bargain. They want brands to become more intuitive. Accenture found that almost three quarters (72%) of consumers now expect businesses to act instinctively when it comes to the customer experience, knowing exactly what it is they want and need. In the same survey, more than half expected more convenience to be offered alongside a seamless journey.

Essentially, a business offering a good customer experience should aim to also provide a complete service. This could include food delivery companies keeping track of what you have previously ordered and suggesting personalised recommendations.

Or it could see an online pharmacy service automatically reminding you to reorder a specific medication or book an appointment. It could even be as simple as offering click and collect, price comparison, or buy now pay later services. Whatever it is, it will demand a holistic approach towards customer service, to ensure all their needs are met.

UNLOCKING THE BIG PICTURE

Doing this requires being able to build a detailed picture of what exactly people expect, as well as their preferences and the channels they’ve used to get to you. In order to create this picture, organisations need to be extremely digitally agile – with the ability to integrate data from multiple systems and applications and build new digital services at will.

The issue remains that many organisations are struggling to achieve this level of agility. In fact, recent research found that 82% of IT decision makers weren’t able to pursue digital transformation projects due to a lack of resources or funds, a lack of skills to deliver projects, or the complexity of implementing technologies. These hurdles will have made it difficult to access data as and when needed – whether because it is siloed away and difficult to access, or because if it is accessible, there’s a lack of skills or resources that make it difficult for organisations to use data with the degree of agility and scalability that modern applications and consumer behaviour demand.

In turn, this makes it much harder for businesses to develop a coherent picture of what people want and expect. And without that, it becomes virtually impossible to provide the best possible customer experience. The trick is to improve data accessibility and implement technology that allows DevOps teams to use their existing skill set and the programming language of their choice to ensure data is being utilised effectively.

For instance, many enterprises have an understandable reliance on legacy technology – which offers a proven capability to perform the tasks the business needs at scale. Even though this technology will have been designed to provide greater agility, switching the reliance from a legacy service can cause complications which prevent data access for businesses.

Enterprises should therefore investigate whether there is technology that can sit alongside – e.g. as a cloud service – that will allow them to easily retrieve whatever data they need from a variety of sources, then use and reuse it however they like seamlessly within different apps and services, all without losing control.

MAKING IMPROVEMENTS

UK fintech company Revolut, is just one example of where the customer experience has been improved thanks to upgrading its approach to technology. The company was able to develop a machine learning-based fraud prevention system, which continuously and autonomously monitors card user transactions to watch for suspicious payments. Any that are spotted are flagged to the user in real-time via a push notification, to keep people alerted of any potential fraud on their account. Another example is UK retailer Tesco. It replaced its older relational database with a modern database that can support

a superior shopping experience for customers. Enabling personal recommendations, running price and promotions as well as the ability to track deliveries, Tesco has been able to revolutionise its customer experience.

Both these cases show how technology is fundamental to improving the customer experience. And already we know that in today’s online world it’s easier than ever for consumers to switch to the opposition within just one click. It’s therefore critical that enterprises ensure they have the level of digital agility required to fully meet customer expectations. This will entail ensuring they can draw data at will without needing to worry about it being siloed; whether it will scale; or whether it can be used in the way they need. Doing this will mean that businesses are setting themselves up to be the winners of the race for clicks.

Technology is the missing piece of the ESG reporting puzzle.

ESG reporting to stakeholders is no longer a ‘nice-to-have’; it has become a business priority. Organizations are under increased scrutiny from stakeholders and prospective investors to see the impact of their environmental, social and governance commitments, and it’s clear they must turn their ESG ambitions into action.

Yet providing clear, consistent, and comparable sustainability data to stakeholders is no easy task and getting the reporting wrong can have negative unintended consequences. The current regulatory landscape can be confusing, especially for businesses operating in multiple markets. This is why the introduction of the International Sustainability Standards Board (ISSB) was a welcomed and necessary step to ensuring accountability and transparency

is achieved. The goal is that businesses will no longer need to navigate the complex web of measurement frameworks, guidance, protocols, rankings, indices, and standards. Instead, the ISSB aims to simplify the reporting process by creating a global baseline of disclosure standards while reinforcing the responsibility placed on reporting teams to hopefully ensure the delivery of truly accurate ESG disclosures – a win-win situation.

By Jill Klindt, CFO at Workiva.

Technology is the missing piece of the ESG reporting puzzle.

Today, it’s up to leaders to make sure there is a smooth transformation of their ESG reporting processes by reassessing current set-ups and existing solutions – where technology can be an enabler. However, the role of technology is a current challenge: one in five (19%) UK-based ESG practitioners in a Workiva study reported that their organization does not employ technology suitable for managing the ESG reporting process and program initiatives.

So why are businesses missing this opportunity and how can leaders ensure the ESG reporting process is streamlined?

UK IS LAGGING BEHIND IN TECHNOLOGY ADOPTION

Given that delivering transparent and accurate data to key stakeholders is becoming increasingly important, it is clear that there is a need for ESG reporting to be streamlined through technology. Yet, according to our research, only 37% of ESG practitioners in the UK state their organization uses technology and data to make decisions in advancing ESG strategy, compared to 65% of US respondents. This is particularly interesting as ESG maturity and understanding has historically been greater on this side of the pond. This discrepancy indicates that there is significant scope to improve efficiencies and performance in this area.

That’s not to say that UK businesses are unaware of the value that the right technology can bring to their reporting. In fact, it’s the opposite as three-quarters (74%) understand that technology adoption will help validate data for accuracy and a further nine in ten (89%) realize that technology enables teams to map disclosures to regulations and framework standards.

However, the lack of technology adoption is concerning given the wave of new regulations that are on the horizon. In the UK, recommendations from the Task Force on ClimateRelated Financial Disclosures (TCFD) are being added to the existing landscape of social and governance reporting requirements. Looking wider, in the EU, organizations will need to adhere to requirements stemming from the new EU Taxonomy and the proposed Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD).

With this sense of urgency, it’s clear that adopting technology is important to streamlining processes and supporting teams, while ensuring reporting is boardready and investor grade. So, what is holding businesses back?

OVERCOMING THE TECHNOLOGY HURDLES

As the interest in adopting technology to streamline ESG reporting continues to grow, so does the importance of addressing the challenges that come with this investment. It is surprising that despite the benefits that technology will bring, one in five (19%) UK respondents revealed that their organization does not employ technology suitable for managing the ESG reporting process and program initiatives.

This is due to several barriers that businesses are facing including budget constraints (47%), a lack of understanding of the technology that is needed or available (32%) and difficulty using technological solutions (26%). To overcome these hurdles, businesses will need to focus on the value delivered by technology while providing

thorough education across their teams in order to help advance and simplify ESG reporting.

TECHNOLOGY AND TRANSPARENCY WILL FUTUREPROOF OPERATIONS

To truly future-proof operations and achieve trust will require the seamless integration of people, processes and data – this involves the implementation of technology that enables transparency.

Businesses need to make sure everyone involved in the ESG reporting process is aware that a collaborative and centralized approach will keep the data consistent and watertight, therefore keeping stakeholders happy with investor-grade reporting in the long run.

This can be achieved through three areas: collaboration, centralization and automation. First, everyone involved in the reporting process must be able to work across silos and develop effective channels of communication. Gathering and consolidating data from different parties can be a challenge if the

right tools and processes are not in place. Therefore, realtime collaboration will be key. Secondly, data collection will need to involve a centralized platform that integrates work streams and creates consistency and efficiency so organizations can establish a single source of truth. Finally, reducing the risk that comes with manual processes for time-intensive tasks will involve automation. This will help minimize errors and save time so that individuals can focus on valueadded tasks to grow their own skills or analyze the findings.

Ultimately, flawless reporting audits depend on having visibility over the entire reporting process. This means greater accountability, traceability and transparency which is achieved through the right technology.

MISSING PIECE TO THE ESG PUZZLE

Having an intentional approach to technology implementation will help deliver sustainable, long-term value. This will ensure that businesses continue to stay one step ahead with their ESG reporting and will help them to avoid delays, inefficiencies, endemic long-term disruption and bloated operations.

Businesses need to think about how they can achieve transparency and data consistency to make better use of their limited resources. It’s imperative that they are looking at the changes that are arriving now and preparing their operations in advance to build future-proofed foundations for consistent, compliant reporting processes.

The importance of an allencompassing approach for OEMs.

Industry 4.0 - otherwise known as the fourth industrial revolution - has impacted industries around the world, and the automotive sector has been no exception to this rapid growth. To keep up with the pace of change, leading vehicle inspection experts have deployed disruptive hardware and software - such as Artificial Intelligence (AI) powered vehicle inspection booths that increase efficiency in automotive manufacturing and maintenance. AI powered vehicle inspection technology has allowed OEMs to move away from time-consuming manual inspections and turn toward fully automated processes.

By Charlie Shuter, Senior Engineer at DeGould.

The importance of an all-encompassing approach for OEMs.

WHAT IS INDUSTRY 4.0?

Industry 4.0, as you may guess, is the fourth development of the industrial revolution; a process that we are currently living through.

To put this in perspective, Industry 1.0, the first development, came with the advent of mechanization, steam power and water power, the second saw the introduction of electricity into assembly lines for mass production and the third came with line use of IT systems to automate production.

The fourth relates to automation and data exchange in technology and processes on the production line, such as Smart manufacture, Cloud computing, The internet of things and Artificial Intelligence; all of which require collaboration between Information Technology and Operational Technology, enabling smarter business decisions and efficiency gains.

INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY AND OPERATIONAL TECHNOLOGY

Information technology (IT) was introduced to the production line during the third revolution and refers to the use of computers to create, process, store, retrieve and exchange data and information. Operational technology (OT) relates to physical processes carried out by machinery on the production line.

For OEMs to strengthen their position within Industry 4.0, the gap between IT and OT must converge. Part of this convergence means that existing OEM Information Technology systems are in communication with Operations Technology systems, responsible for performing operations on the production line.

NEXT-GEN OPERATIONAL TECHNOLOGY HARDWARE

Today’s hardware technology has paved the way for OEMs to deal with quality issues within their supply chains and minimize downtime. In order to tackle these situations in the long-term, however, OEMs must utilize an allencompassing approach to ensure the efficiency and integration of both their Information Technology and Operational Technology.

A prominent example of modern hardware is the latest state-of-theart AI-powered vehicle inspection booth. These booths are built to increase efficiency in both manufacturing and maintenance in industrial automotive inspection lines, logistics and fleet operations.

Leveraging high-resolution cameras with optimized hardware and lighting equipment, these booths capture dents, cracks, minor scratches, and even missing features on vehicles. The drivethrough booths boost efficiency whilst completing a vehicle inspection with a total process time (TAKT time) of under 6 seconds per vehicle.

Hundreds of images captured within seconds are stored in the cloud. Therefore, modern vehicle inspection booths with ultimate hardware technology enable AI and machine learning to make accurate decisions providing them with high-quality data.

What’s more, OEMs who cannot afford to provide large space for these booths can take advantage of compact hardware vehicle inspection systems. For instance, DeGould’s Auto-Compact booth has ten cameras to capture ultrahigh-resolution images together with six high resolution machine vision cameras to further augment its defect detection capability.

On top of that, the system can be integrated into the IT software to flag any problems to on-call engineers in real time, minimizing manufacturing downtime.

A COMBINED APPROACH TOWARDS HARDWARE AND SOFTWARE

In this digital-first era, OEMs often overlook the importance of operational technology hardware, prioritizing IT software technologies. However, a balance between software and hardware is vital to get the most out of industry 4.0. There is no doubt that next-generation hardware is required to embrace software applications. From the latest sensors to bright lighting and high-resolution mirrorless cameras, hardware technologies are a must to drive efficiency and support software technologies such as AI and Machine Learning to produce powerful results.

Automotive leaders such as Jaguar Land Rover, Ford, Mercedes Benz and Toyota have already started to leverage modern vehicle inspection technology which indicates the rapidly growing nature of the technology in the automotive industry.

The future of automotive technology incorporates a blend of hardware and software technologies that will help professionals boost operational efficiency.

Enhancing ETL by turning to real-time data streaming.

The role of data in today’s organizations is indisputable. Data not only informs decisions across all areas of the business, it is also increasingly used to automate processes, as businesses ‘become software’. That said, the complexity of managing fragmented data is also rising. A recent IDC survey found that 79% of organizations are using more than 100 data sources, and 30% use more than 1000 sources. Many CDO admit

to spending more than a third of their time tackling day-today management of data, as opposed to using data to drive strategy and innovation. As Enterprises with a high level of data maturity generate 250% more business value, it has never been more important to execute data cleansing, enrichment and processing across all types of data; transactional, operational and analytical

By Lyndon Hedderly, Principle Business Value Consultant at Confluent.

Enhancing ETL by turning to real-time data streaming.

Increasing data maturity requires a level of data leadership, which goes hand in hand with digital leadership. Real-time data pipelines have become a necessary standard with businesses expected to drive data-maturity as a prerequisite to using AI and ML. In other words, data transformation is critical to digital transformation. This is why data leadership is so crucial, as it will enable internal teams to address the primary challenge of fragmentation and complexity, and ultimately generate higher levels of business value.

The challenge, however, for those who want to modernise and elevate their services is linking all the data together and making it accessible, in real-time. Traditionally a lengthy threestep process has been used to consolidate data from multiple sources - Extract, Transform and Load (ETL). But this tends to work in batch and hasn’t always delivered the required results. Some solutions have switched the process to ELT - Extract, Load and Transform the data. We are even seeing reverse ETL. Now, with the rise of setting data in motion, we see the industry shifting towards streaming ETL with real-time stream processing.

SETTING DATA IN MOTION

ETL (Extract, Transform and Load) is a three-step process used to consolidate data from multiple sources. At its core, ETL is a standard process where data is collected from various sources (extracted), converted into a desired format (transformed), then stored into its new destination (loaded).

ETL is not a new concept. In fact, it has evolved since the 1970s and ‘80s, where the process was sequential, data was more static, systems were monolithic, and reporting was needed on a weekly or monthly basis.

As customer expectations and backend operations have moved towards a more real-time world, with many business processes set in software we have seen batchprocessed ETL move to streaming ETL. With streaming ETL, data is automatically extracted and transformed, or acted upon, then loaded to any destination, almost as soon as it’s created, which enables businesses to automate processes - removing people from the critical path - and operate with scalability, security, on an optimal infrastructure, which most likely includes the cloud.

STREAMING ETL IN PRACTICE

Real-time data is a key element for both new and high performing legacy brands that rely on consistent flow and streams of data in order to respond to their customers’ continuously evolving expectations.

Rather than letting data sit in a static database, the data itself can trigger an action or analysis in real-time. In many cases, this ‘setting data in motion’ can open up new value opportunities that were not possible with static data in more traditional databases, using request-response type architecture. Technology leaders such as Uber, Ebay, Netflix and Yelp have already adopted a real-time data streaming approach and architected themselves around data-streaming platforms.

Real-time stream processing has also been successfully implemented across a range of more traditional industries. For example in financial services, banks continuously search for ways to become more relevant to today’s customers. Consumers

can no longer imagine banking without real-time push notifications initially brought to the market by challenger banks. Traditional banks are also expected to offer additional intelligence, enabled by data, such as tracking finances and support in budget planning, based on past buying patterns and life objectives.

Or take retail. Businesses want to merge data from website interactions, mobile apps and in-store experiences, so they can offer real-time, contextualised and highly targeted offers. Moreover, with real-time data they can capture post-sale feedback and returns, or further upsell and crosssell products and services.

Ultimately, for a regular customer it’s difficult to imagine what these services would look like if they didn’t leverage the power of real-time stream processing, but there are many more businesses that can tap into data to become digital-first.

A DATA APPROACH TO DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION

While developing a digital transformation strategy that fully leverages the value of data isn’t easy, many businesses are realizing this necessity. Getting this right means companies can use the power of the network effect to drive further data synergies; As more parts of the business consume various data sources, they will also produce more data, which in turn results in more data consumption. And so on.

Traditionally, data was used to serve a product or solution. For instance, with a customer relationship management platform, the data’s main purpose was to serve that platform. However, with the ability to access real-time data, we’re seeing a shift in this relationship. Products or business solutions are now creating data, which can become a product in itself. Therefore, instead of data only serving the solution, the solution serves the data as well.

Real-time stream processing is modernising this old way of working with data. It gives people real-time access to information, as events happen, with ever increasing levels of contextual intelligence. A data streaming platform can also react to events and carry out the task directly, bypassing the human.

Nowadays, data is at the heart of every modern business. Traditional organizations are augmenting their legacy architectures to satisfy real-time requirements and simplify operations, at scale. In order to elevate how data is being used, companies need to create new synergies in order to fully unlock the data potential. Moving from ELT to streaming ETL will enable organizations increase their data maturity and get ahead of the pack.

3 out of 4 of European businesses have invested in AI for CX.

75% of business executives are using artificial intelligence for customer experience (AI for CX), but only 20% of business executives rate their own contact centre as delivering industry leading CX, according to latest research by Davies Hickman for Odigo, a leading global provider of Contact Centre as a Service (CCaaS) solutions. The findings also reveal European executives see investing in cloud and AI as becoming central to CX strategy.

By Jean-Denis Garo, Head of Product Marketing, Odigo.

3 out of 4 of European businesses have invested in AI for CX.

Providing personalised support as part of an excellent CX is more than ever the goal for all companies. With digital channels now critically important, technology is key to remaining forefront of delivering the best CX.

The results come from the third edition of the research, which surveyed 1,035 business executives across five major European markets. The survey highlights the trends and evolution in the market, which will be published across three eBooks, analysing: How AI is changing European contact centres, the Natural Language Processing (NLP) challenges in the contact centre industry, and ways contact centres can improve CX using AI.

Whereas only 20% think they deliver a great customer experience, the study reveals 79% of businesses would like to offer more support to customers (up from 70% in 2021). Three quarters (75%) said efficiency is optimised when AI supports human agents (up from 69% in 2021). Further, 68% see investing in cloud and AI is becoming central to CX strategy, compared to 62% last year.

In the last 12 months, European organisations have acted on the need to increase AI deployment in CX. In 2021, 41% of executives said AI was vital and 48% said it was important to the success of their business. Fast forward to 2022, 75% of businesses have now invested in AI for CX and 9 out of 10 say this investment was a success in improving their customer experience. The biggest adopters are Spain (81%) and the UK (76%).

The survey further reveals leaders see a range of benefits from investing in AI, depending on their organisation’s use of the technology. Although improvements in customer experience ranks number one, decreasing operational costs is an added expected benefit. Of those that have invested in AI for CX, 96% plan on investing more in the next two years, of which 42% label it as ‘business critical and vital to the success of our business’.

Even for those who haven’t yes invested in AI, the road ahead is clear. Six out of ten are convinced AI for customer experience will have an important impact to the success of their business and plan to invest in the next two years.

Jean-Denis Garo, Head of Product Marketing, Odigo comments “AI is now recognised as a key component of any digital transformation strategy, especially in the customer experience sector. It helps to open up the organisation and to reinvent business processes. The Davies Hickman 2022 survey reveals how innovation in AI has become mature, actionable with a proven ROI, assisting and empowering agents to better serve their customers.

“The aim of AI is to improve both customers and agents’ experiences. It puts people back at the centre of all businesses, and we firmly believe that the AI revolution should be embraced, not feared.”

How high-productivity Fintech infrastructure is being used by pet insures.

Digital transformation has always been a nadir of the insurance industry. Most established insurers have been operating for a hundred years, and legacy tech remains an anchor holding back innovation. However, in recent headlines, Admiral Group has announced it has brought its digital pet insurance product in-house with a new offering, powered by FintechOS’ highproductivity fintech infrastructure.

By Mike Hughes VP of Product Marketing FintechOS.

Fintech infrastructure is being used by pet insures.

High-productivity fintech infrastructure allows for the rapid creation of digital financial products that are hyperpersonalized to customer needs. These products can be embedded into any customer journey or platform, either via a third-party or internally. This infrastructure makes it easy for internal teams to launch digital projects without needing significant resources or specialized knowledge.

But, why is pet insurance being targeted by industry players, and why specifically digital pet insurance?

ASSURANCE NOT INSURANCE

With this in mind, it’s no surprise that there’s been a 10% surge in the number of pet insurance products on the market, as insurers compete to enter the space. Market players from Revolut to Lemonade are rushing pet cover products to market in recent months. So, how can providers compete with innovative disruptors to get their share of this sector?

The key is tailored, personalised, digital insurance. Unlike other forms of property-based insurance, pet cover is arranged out of a sense of care. People want to safeguard their dogs as if they were family members, not as a replaceable asset. To persuade pet owners of the value of cover, insurers must show that they care about pets as much as their owners do, and they can only do this with flexible, tailored cover that adds value even between claims.

Take Lassie AB, for example. This Swedish pet insurtech recently raised EUR 2.34 million in seed money by offering an app that provided customised petcare

advice. Those that read the advice and complete quizzes on their petcare habits earn discounts on their premiums. This kind of interactive service provides an important degree of personalisation that can only be offered through digital.

BRINGING PET INSURANCE BACK HOME

Seeing this potential of the market, Admiral wanted to bring its pet insurance offering back in-house. Yet, even such an innovative insurer as Admiral felt the pressure of a tight time-to-market constraint.

Pet insurance has different requirements to home or car, needing to align and embed with the veterinary care market, which could be expensive. Not to mention, any product Admiral releases has to meet the high standard of customer service the brand implies.

BEST-OF-BREED PET INSURANCE SOLUTION, FAST

Considering the available options for creating a pet insurance offering, Admiral realised that there were ways to rapidly create innovative digital products that could be easily connected to any other system. Admiral was able to construct its own digital pet insurance product in just over six months using high-productivity fintech infrastructure, reaching its pet insurance go-live date with time to spare.

Not to mention, the completed solution had all of the features Admiral required to satisfy its high customer service standards while staying under budget. The completed product even included a Multi Pet option and will be embeddable with other Admiral products shortly. This kind of technology platform functions as a digital glue that connects legacy insurance systems with the digital insurtech world, without the kind of rip-and-replace digital transformation that so often fails.

Without digital transformation, insurers are unable to enter the digital markets that are overtaking the industry. By 2040, the eldest members of Gen-Z - a generation that grew up with mobile phone technology - will be in their 40s, and insurers that don’t embrace digital options will find themselves locked out of the market. Yet, digital transformation is complicated and expensive.

According to a BCG survey, 70% of companies fail at digital transformation and receive almost no return on their investment.

As a result, the only way forward is to find a way to enter digital insurance markets without having to go through a full digital transformation. Thankfully, tools exist that allow you to do just that, and innovative insurers like Admiral are already embracing them.

Why SaaS startups are ideally placed to weather the storm.

In business, uncertainty can kill you. This is why any period of ‘economic uncertainty’ has such a chilling effect on business sentiment. We are undoubtedly entering a recession, but the shape, scale and length of it appear to be hard to gauge. As a result, a lot of discussion in the tech industry has been about cutting headcount, scaling back growth plans and lengthening runways. Many commentators have pointed to the tech bubble bursts of 2008 and 2000 as indicators of what might happen over the next year.

By Henrik Grim GM Europe Capchase.

Why SaaS startups are ideally placed to weather the storm.

The mantra at the moment seems to be, ‘prepare for the worst’. However, this position is overly cautious. There is actually a lot we do know that can provide business leaders with the clarity that they need to make better plans for the year ahead.

For tech, we need to look at what has changed in the sector compared to 2008. The short answer is: nearly everything. Fourteen years ago, Europe’s startups focused predominantly on consumer tech: like hospitality and travel platforms or apps, or some small areas of fintech, mostly around cross border transfers and payments. Now, tech is an intrinsic part of every industry. Investment levels and valuations are unrecognisable. For context, in H1 of 2022, European tech companies raised €60 billion across 2,608 deals. In the entirety of 2007, funding hit a record of €7.5 billion: an amount it would not reach again until 2012. The startup community has grown from a niche network of professionals to one of Europe’s largest employers.

All of this is to say that using the 2008 recession to prepare for the 2022 tech downturn is misguided. The tech sector is much deeper and broader. As such, we aren’t going to see the uniform collapse of previous bubble bursts. What we will see is an uneven impact. Some subsectors of tech are going to struggle badly, while others will actually continue to do very well. For founders, this means looking past the messages of doom and gloom to focus on the fundamentals of their own startup and the sector they operate in.

One area where this is particularly true is SaaS.

Capchase recently ran the world’s largest analysis of real time financial data for SaaS startups. We found that SaaS startups are still growing - and fast - averaging 40% ARR growth. Other research into SaaS procurement sentiment at major companies actually found that more businesses planned to adopt new SaaS technology over the next twelve months. The average contract agreement for SaaS tech has also lengthened, adding a lot of financial certainty for these startups.

It’s not hard to see why. Most SaaS technology is geared towards creating efficiencies within businesses, allowing them to do more with less. This is an attractive proposition during a downturn. The certainty of costs via fixed licensing contracts also helps during a high-inflation environment. Better to lock in these known costs with a platform that you know works for your business now rather than risk much higher prices a year from now. The SaaS sector itself is also less impacted by external shocks. There is no fear of supply chain issues impacting the sale of goods or the delivery of components, and their client base generally makes more long term purchasing decisions.

Overhead costs are also naturally lower. With the normalisation of remote and flexible working, many of these outgoings have fallen further as SaaS startups are now better able to decentralise their operations. Scaling a SaaS startup is also, relatively speaking, easier than other sectors. There are fewer logistical considerations, and thanks to recurring revenue, making concrete growth plans has less of the dreaded uncertainty.

The SaaS sector has also not suffered from the same funding ‘hype’ that has hit other tech sectors. Although valuations have been generally higher, there has not been the same dash for VC cash. Compared to crypto, instant delivery, mobility and even fintech, SaaS has attracted less dramatic attention. But with funding levels dropping across the board, SaaS remains a much safer, tried and tested option for investors.

That is not to say that SaaS companies will not find it harder to get VC capital over the next year. With inflation higher and investors generally more cautious, there will be a drop in available funding for every startup. However, SaaS is again well placed thanks to alternative finance options. Unlike in 2008, there is now a large and vibrant alt-finance scene that can plug the funding gap. For startups which have fixed client contracts and easy to identify recurring revenue - which covers the majority of SaaS startups - there are plenty of cost-efficient capital options.

If you are a SaaS business leader, the upcoming recession actually provides a great chance to set up your startup for more future success. There will be a lot of new tech talent available as unviable startups fail and professionals from other industries move to tech. Expansion costs will also fall (notwithstanding the effects of inflation) as talent, office and infrastructure costs lessen in the face of decreased demand. Badly run SaaS companies will still fail: which means there will be good tactical acquisition opportunities.

In short, do not get carried away by negative headlines. For SaaS businesses, and many, many other tech verticals, the future - although a little cloudier - remains bright.

Why organisations must adopt Wi-Fi 6 now.

Organisations have had to undergo a tremendous digital evolution in a short number of years — some quickly, others with greater reluctance. However, the past three years in particular have shown that the pace of change required for everyone has gone into hyperspeed.

No one could have foreseen the global and granular changes to everyday life brought on by the pandemic. Even two-anda-bit years on, it is still difficult to correctly predict the longerterm impact that it will have on everyone’s life and work.

By David Stansfield Product Marketing Manager SonicWall.

Why organisations must adopt Wi-Fi 6 now.

In early 2020, only around 2% of employees worked remotely. Unsurprisingly, that number ballooned in March 2020 when lockdown was initiated in the UK. In April 2020, 46.6% of people in employment did some work at home. Since then, the proportion of employees hybrid working has steadied. Per the ONS, in February 2022, 84% of workers who had to work from home due to the pandemic said they planned to carry out a mix of hybrid work going forward.

This pivot was only possible due to organisations dramatically adjusting their own infrastructure to meet these new working demands.

One of the most important parts was implanting a successful wireless technology solution.

WI-FI’S WILD WEST

The importance of wireless technology goes beyond just enabling remote work. In no uncertain terms, businesses that better adopt wireless capabilities create a significant competitive advantage for themselves. It allows them to not only innovate but increase their agility.

Wireless technology has evolved to affect not just how one works, but how one experiences everyday ventures, including shopping, consuming film and television, and spending time with loved ones both near and far. With this increased reliance on wireless technology comes a greater expectation for it to work.

The faster it becomes, the more people expect it to constantly work and the quicker they become frustrated if that is not the case.

Add in the vast number of existing devices and the ever-growing amount of bandwidth being consumed, and it makes the need for strong wireless technology even greater.

EVOLVING THE WIRELESS ENTERPRISE

Wi-Fi 6 is the next step in ensuring a reality of high-performing and secure wireless technology. But what exactly is it, and what does it do differently? Wi-Fi 6, known formally as 802.11ax, is the successor to 802.11ac Wave 2, or Wi-Fi 5. It is a future-facing upgrade that is designed with the next few years in mind. It ensures that one’s internet speed doesn’t massively slow down in the future, keeping connections faster and more efficient.

It is designed for IoT and complex environments that constantly face the challenge of being simultaneously both secure and open. For example, a university would need to have easy access enabled for students requiring various resources, while the administrative team would need to ensure records are safe and personal information is properly secured. Simply put, larger congregations of people all connecting to a system at the same time require a far stronger wireless technology. That is why

the primary goal of Wi-Fi 6 is to enhance throughput (the amount of material or items passing through a system or process) in such environments.

There are, of course, additional benefits to this, such as improving performance and security. The OFDMA’s multi-user support makes Wi-Fi 6 access points more efficient, resulting in lower latency. Additionally, Wi-Fi 6 uses WPA3, providing stronger general encryption and advancing security features to enable better authentication. Wi-Fi 6 sees less interference and more harmonious service in complex environments, while Target Wake Time (TWT) allows devices to determine how little or often to wake to receive/send data with the goal of improving overall battery life. Lastly, Wi-Fi 6’s MIMO (multi-user, multiple input, multiple output) supports multiple users within a single network environment. Multiple users are then able to upload and download data simultaneously, reducing wait time while keeping network speed at the highest level. While each element on its own is

beneficial, when combined they make an enormous difference to an organisation’s wireless network.

SECURING THE NETWORK

Yet this set of benefits brings a greater point to light. A strong wireless network is no longer “nice to have,” it is a necessity for modern businesses. This need lies primarily with the cybersecurity implications associated with the arrival of Wi-Fi 6: As networks grow, so does the attack surface. This can be mitigated, however, by embracing a Wi-Fi 6 wireless security product line. These provide always-on, alwayssecured connectivity for these newer complex, multi-device environments.

Embracing a product line of this nature will help enable organisations to automatically secure wireless traffic, simplifying connectivity while boosting performance. From threat detection and removal to advanced cyberattack prevention and reduced downtime, implementing a secure product line to Wi-Fi 6 addresses a wide variety of business needs.

While businesses and future thinkers look ahead to the introduction of Wi-Fi 7, they must not get ahead of themselves. The threat landscape evolves at a rapid pace, and a direct emphasis must be placed on extending the performance and life of wireless networks.

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