You have probably heard a lot about blockchain. But maybe you are still unsure about what it is?
Blockchain is the technology behind bitcoins, but it is having an impact that goes way beyond the realm of cryptocurrency. It is important to understand it, but if you are still confused about what it actually is, don’t worry… you are not alone!
This infographic provides you with a summary of how it works.
Technology evolution in digital era is so fast that the greatest challenge is updating business and strategies at the same speed.
Every sector has been disrupted and thus, nothing will remain the same.
In the case of the retail sector, current times have prompted futuristic applications of cloud, physical and virtual space integration, virtual shelves, sensors in stores that enable limited actions, increasingly smarter virtual assistants, all of which to service multi-channel and digital consumers.
What supports this new design are disruptive starts, including the Internet of Things (IoT) artificial intelligence (AI), cloud, Beacon, augmented reality, chatbots, cognitive computing platforms and Analytics. It is interesting to learn more about such recent applications in the e-Book Digital retail, the desire revolution, here on the blog Tudo de TI.
The customer is also a star.
In this scenario, the customer is, or should be, at the core of every digital retail strategy. They are the ones who make the rules. Therefore, whoever delves deeper into behavior study and anticipates the expectations of the customer has a competitive edge.
Moreover, the survey discloses that the customers themselves are more flexible. Approximately 60% of them are willing to share personal data in exchange for a customized or online store and purchase experience. Through this, they hope that companies will use their data intelligently.
Another survey, The Importance of Innovation in the Mobile Customer Journey, performed by Ingenico ePayments, a payment processing service company, reveals that retailers (54%) are planning investments in gamification. Others bet on chatbots to make customer interactions more effective. Everyone is searching within technology for more interaction with the consumer.
By 2020, according to a Salesforce survey, 51% of consumers and 75% of corporate buyers expect that companies will anticipate their needs and make relevant suggestions accordingly. This means that companies will need to offer a full and customized experience through the entire purchase process.
Click below for a short story on how customer experience can be vastly improved with Conversational AI.
You know the drill.
Call a Customer Support number. Wait in a telephone queue. Build up patience to spend a lot of time explaining your situation to an agent. With some luck, you will get your questions answered and your problem solved.
Nobody enjoys this experience.
I had a simple task for my travel insurance provider: to add a destination to my annual policy.
Consumers Want to Chat – Conversation is The New User Interface (UI)
I decided to go to their website and use the chat functionality instead.
After all, we spend 5x longer messaging each other than calling. Also, messaging has surpassed social media in terms of active use and mindshare with consumers. It clearly makes a lot of sense for businesses to address this trend.
A conversation via a messaging platform is the user interface of the modern world!
But I did not have a good experience. And I know I was chatting to a human. Why?
Because the conversation was too robotic! ??
The agent said his name was George
I could sense that George was a very bored person sitting at a desk behind a computer
He asked me some very cold questions, clearly following a script
He would then copy-and-paste some pre-defined (and very long!) text of info that I had already seen in their website
I know I was chatting to a human because the conversation was too robotic.
After some messages back and forth, George’s recommendation was… that I must call their Contact Centre to resolve my query! Monday to Friday, 8am to 6pm.
It wasn’t a helpful exchange. And now I have to take time off my busy diary to do exactly what I was trying to avoid in the first place!
Chatbots to the rescue – Conversational AI platforms
If the travel insurance company had implemented a well-designed bot, powered by Artificial Intelligence, the customer experience would have been much better.
I know, I know. You have also had bad experiences with automated systems and chatbots.
Although they look simple on the outside, businesses should not underestimate the importance of planning, design and development of bots. Engaging with experts in this field is crucial to ensure you get it right.
Here are five ingredients needed in a modern chatbot, built for success:
1) It has a Persona, Integrated with Messaging Platforms
Quite simply, your business must be where your customers are. And the bot will be one of your Sales and Customer representatives. Since 2015, the big four messaging apps (Messenger, WhatsApp, WeChat and Viber) have had more monthly active users than the top four social media apps.
We also tend not to call each other and end up messaging people more often than not.
The takeaway message here is clear: if people are using messaging apps, it should be a no-brainer that brands and services should be present where their customers are.
If your customers don’t want to call their parents, friends and significant other, why would anyone think they want to call your business?
It is also critical that your chatbot must have a personality. It is key for customer retention and simple “wow factor”. It may be surprising, but people actually want to use chatbots to interact with brands. However, they do not want to feel like they are talking to a robot.
2) Understanding of Context
This is both in terms of the conversation itself and on my history as a customer.
A bot built on a modern Conversational AI Platform must understand that, if I start talking about travel insurance to Belgium but then ask “what about to Australia”, that I am still talking about travel insurance.
It must also allow businesses to personalise the experience. For example, maybe it knows I am from London and can joke about the weather.
It may even know that I was born in Brazil and that the football team has just been kicked out of the World Cup. It may have an effect in my mood. 🙂
3) It Learns With Every Conversation
The more people use it, the more it understands nuances of the subjects it handles. If you are assessing a Conversational platform, Machine Learning is a required functionality.
But don’t assume this is just a feature to switch on and leave it there: “learning” is continuous and needs guidance. It is the case for humans and therefore also for machines.
The platform must provide reports and the team behind the chatbot must be knowledgeable to evaluate changes and provide further training to the bot.
4) It is aligned to Business Processes and Systems
You wouldn’t hire customer services employees and just leave them with no access to your customer database and to the critical data they need to perform their work.
Equally, a well-design bot is integrated with your business processes and tools through APIs.
Don’t just create a “decision-tree chatbot” that then points customers to a contact centre most of the time. Otherwise, you are just creating an annoying text-based “press 1 for sales, 2 for support, etc…”.
Businesses need to create Conversational experiences that are pleasant and natural. Don’t just define a static “decision tree”.
5) It Increases Overall Productivity, But Keeps Humans in The Loop
It just liberates humans to do more fulfilling and productive jobs.
Would you do your accounting with an abacus and pieces of paper? Probably not. And that’s because it is more productive to use calculators, spreadsheet and accountancy software instead.
In the very near future, no-one will have to do boring, repetitive and low-productivity computer-based tasks. Automation will be everywhere.
But fear not, AI is complementary to humans, not a replacement. A good chatbot also knows its own limitations and can connect the customer to a person to take care of more complex requests.
What are your thoughts? Have you ever had a remarkable experience with customer service support? Is your business assessing the implementation of AI and bots?
That the digital universe is expanding, we all already know. But a question can be asked in a business context: who should lead this agenda?
In a 2019 study, were analyzed the scope of the role of CDO – Chief Digital Officer – in the 2,500 largest companies listed on the stock exchange. The survey found that the rate of creation of CDO positions decreased sharply compared to the previous survey, conducted in 2016. Only 54 companies surveyed (2.2%) had created a new and distinct CDO position in 2018, compared to 124 that did so in 2017 and 160 in 2016. As such, the consultancy claims that “2016 was the highest point in hiring CDOs”.
The explanation? “Leaders of many companies now believe that putting a single person in charge of digital transformation may not be the best approach, because it’s a strategic priority intrinsic to the entire business. Agility becomes critical for survival,” the report stated. Another study, this one done by the World Economic Forum, shows that the average term of a CDO is 31 months — the shortest of all “C-Level” positions — and that number is falling. In addition, more than three-quarters of them leave the company immediately after their term as CDO.
That the digital universe is expanding, we all already know. But a question can be asked in a business context: who should lead this agenda within companies? As digital and traditional businesses become just one, will companies need a single leader for the role? If a leader taking responsibility for the digital transformation is an existing executive, do we need to have a centralized name?
There are leaders of companies that think of the true digital opportunity as one that is focused on revenue. That is, the biggest opportunity is to sell existing or new products and services through digital channels, such as the company’s website or mobile app. If that’s the case, it might seem logical to have a company’s customer-centric sales or marketing leader lead the role. But what if we take into account aspects such as tools that include the governance infrastructure and applications responsible for managing data used in digital initiatives?
Customer-centric role leaders may not have the experience or knowledge in the areas needed to influence each one. Analytics areas for this leadership are soon thought of. In another perspective, there are also structures related to traditional technology, with the role of CTOs or CIOs. In contrast, similarly, these roles do not have customer service responsibilities, and this puts them at a disadvantage in suggesting and leading opportunities that should benefit customers.
Could it be that, once the first waves of transformation are effectively introduced, with established programs, the title may not be necessary? Can an investment framework for change help ensure that the innovation portfolio (with a focus on revenue/customers or cost savings) is managed more effectively?
Expanding further on what the research at the beginning of this publication says, I extend the “agility” agenda. Focused on skills in roles that make change happen in the tactical and operational layers, receiving directions from the company’s strategic layer. And what are they? These are skills associated with agile development.
Digital transformation requires agile development that focuses on developing projects iteratively. Agile Coachs, Scrum Masters, Product Owners. User Experience are the roles that drive this transformation. Agile Coachs formulate a transformation path based on the so-called “value stream”; Scrum Masters emphasize agendas, reports, and frequent team-wide meetings to map out phases of developments and projects.
Product Owners are responsible for the product being developed. They define the product vision in the short, medium and long term, tracing the development path for delivering value. Finally, User Experience teams act on customer experiences and employees’ experiences, depending on who a particular product or project is aimed.
The digital revolution is coming, and while it may seem like the pace of change is fast now, it’s only going to get faster. And we can all (need) be digital leaders. For this, it is necessary to discuss skills along with traditional roles and positions. These skills combine business disciplines and technical knowledge. And they demand the direction the company wants to follow.
You have probably heard a lot about blockchain. But maybe you are still unsure about what it is?
Blockchain is the technology behind bitcoins, but it is having an impact that goes way beyond the realm of cryptocurrency. It is important to understand it, but if you are still confused about what it actually is, don’t worry… you are not alone!
This infographic provides you with a summary of how it works.
The qualifications the companies look for and need in a professional are not the skills the applicants have to offer
With a rate of unemployment of almost 12 million, Brazil presently has approximately 160,000 workforce vacancies in technology area along. This is an increasingly visible and undeniable reality. After all, the relevant point is that the qualifications the companies look for and need in a professional are not the skills the applicants have to offer. The outcome is that there is no match.
Because of this, it would be easy to discuss the reasons that have led us to the discrepancy within this sector. For instance, considering the state of education and the qualifications of the younger workforce is essential. Nevertheless, more than discussing these issues and the gap between education and work, it is necessary to problem solve this situation. Is it not the time companies invested even more in new professional qualifications?
The advantages of investing in qualification actions are countless. They would surely be fundamental to accelerating the training of a new professional generation across the world. This is due, firstly, to the social function of worker qualification programs and their benefits to the community and the economy in general. As fundamental parts of society, companies have the duty to support people’s transformation in life and in their careers.
Moreover, investing in professional qualification can offer several competitive advantages to organizations. Have you ever imagined, for instance, how much it costs to seek out, select, hire and integrate a professional into your team? Anyone who experiences the day to day routine of company knows that going through these stages requires time, effort and money. This then shows that professional qualification initiatives can be incredibly useful to identifying talent and reducing costs associated with the ongoing process of seeking out experienced workers.
As a technical and professional education program is adopted, companies can address their needs and build a talent profile that will be more assertive and better matched to their operation challenges. This model adds a more attractive cost-benefit ratio, expanding team profitability and efficiency. The synergy between professionals of different graduation levels also represents an opportunity to maximize knowledge, reinforce company image and reduce project costs in a way that previously engaged only senior and fulltime collaborators.
Furthermore, surveys point out that companies who rely on solid qualification programs usually have lower turnover rates than their competitors. It is estimated that this difference can be upwards of 20%, depending on the operation field of each corporation.
It is also worth noting that, according to a DIEESE survey, one of main causes of high turnover rates is a lack of training and qualification – 45% of professionals who leave their jobs state that the lack of opportunities and structured qualification programs to aid them in progressing in their career was a major incentive to leave in search of new professional challenges.
Helping a professional to enter and remain in the job market, offering opportunities to keep the team qualified and within what the market requires is, therefore, an increasingly strategic motion for any company. To accomplish this, it is recommended to establish partnerships with credible educational institutions that attract younger professionals who are interested in building a successful career, and to implement a solid continued qualification program within the organization that focuses on skills required to improve business outcomes and employee satisfaction.
Not only will this result will help to fulfill current open vacancies, it will also enable increased talent retention within organizations. Retention of qualified professionals is already more important than the initial attraction of this talent. This is how companies can overcome the worker gap and create a generation of professionals – in technology and beyond – that are more satisfied.
It is always important to highlight that global organization surveys indicate that there are more than 3 million vacancies across the world in the technology field alone. Many of these vacancies can be fulfilled by younger professionals who still do not have the knowledge required, but who demonstrated passion and will to learn, or by full or senior level professionals who are willing to reach new horizons. These talents can renew company opportunities however, organizations (and their leaders) need to give priority to creating opportunities for this advancement and education.
Today, it is my opinion that creating professional qualification and development strategies is an extremely profitable and efficient path to ensure team stability, and furthermore to improve company business options, paving the way to innovation and ensuring a personnel retention rate of more than 80%. It is time to look at the talent that emerges within the company, bringing younger professionals and new ideas to department routine and seizing the experience and talent of those who have already proven their value.
Nobody is prepared to manage a pandemic of global proportions alone.
Nobody is prepared to manage a pandemic of global proportions alone. We cannot function without leadership. Of all the changes we have experienced recently, including new developments in the pandemic, the main lesson we can learn so far is the following: each one of us has their role, however, it is
fundamental that we have leadership that is capable of organizing decisions and providing a closer and more sustainable environment for people. In the IT field, such leadership has become even more necessary due to the dynamic nature of new technology advancements.
These are clearly not simple times. The COVID-19 outbreak is a matter of public health with unprecedented emotional and financial impacts – surely bigger than anything we have experienced in the 21st century. Thus, apart from the crisis, the pandemic will also highlight a shift in paradigm by changing several work models that were, up to recent times, relevant.
For instance, we are living during a time where empathy and partnerships have become much more relevant in the lives of people. More than predicting outcomes, leaders need to offer a human vision as well as the support required to build confidence in each collaborator on their team.
I think we have to offer alternatives to the upcoming reality of the world. After all, the only certainty is that, sooner or later, the virus will be defeated, and we will have to reestablish the structure of society. Stimulating different ideas and viewpoints is a strategy we had been applying in our companies prior to the COVID-19 outbreak and that will surely be important in rebuilding.
Overall, I believe we have been so set in our routine and familiar with an excess of options that due to the current stoppage caused by the Coronavirus on a global scale, we have fallen in a state of shock. Gaining traction will surely require even more focus and energy – something essential to leaders during these unprecedented times. It will also require a more inclusive approach and, as we have stimulated in our own group, a more collective proposal that is values people and promotes empathy.
Today’s leader must, from my point of view, support their people and their viewpoints and offer by means of emotional intelligence the opportunity for them and the organization to resume their ongoing evolution and improvement.
It is worth noting, however, that this need to value people did not arise from the pandemic. The virus has stressed a demand that was already crucial to any company’s leadership structure. Before COVID-19 came about, surveys already indicated that most organizations needed to review their leadership as well as their collaboration and participation concepts. For the ones who experience the company’s day-by-day and team routine this feeling was already present.
The issues related to the Coronavirus only stressed a need that had been neglected by several companies. As a result, it now seems urgent that leaders approach empathy, emotional intelligence, resilience and collaboration as vital structures within their organization. These soft skills will enable managers to understand their people’s challenges, to search for new perspectives for their teams and to transform business as a whole.
I really believe that the modern leader must seize opportunities to build partnerships, to look at its audience with care, and to establish a maximum level of collaboration among everyone pursuing the same goal. Perhaps the biggest change between the leader of the past and the leader of the future is realizing that, besides promoting confidence, it is also necessary to foster hope.
It is now the time to inspire our teams, to take care of our people and to show how organizations can help the world. Moving forward, it will be necessary to balance forces and engage teams in rebuilding together. This will not be
possible without leaders who are aware of the greatest asset an organization possesses; its people. The professionals who will become stronger through this crisis will be the ones who manage to respond more quickly to market changes and to guide their team and companies to new growth. The challenges we are facing are huge, but the good news is that technology has anticipated this unlikely scenario and it is already possible to accelerate this transformation process by humanizing it.
