Cloud Computing: StackZone Strengthens Security, Addresses Skills Gap

NY Weekly Staff on January 26, 2023

The Covid19 pandemic forced everyone to radically increase their reliance on computers, mobile phones, apps and the cloud. As a result, millions migrated from the office to home-working, with remote and hybrid scenarios remaining in place today, long after the initial crest of the most significant health crisis in generations. 

Before the pandemic, there was a skills shortage in the cog of the virtual wheel—cloud administration, a highly complex, massively time-consuming field driven by security, where the skills learning curve is similar to graduating from university.

“The pandemic galvanized the shortage of cloud management resources because it disrupted the way people work,” said Michelle Findlay, Growth Marketing Manager of StackZone, a company that drives cloud management capabilities through AWS optimization, automation, cloud ops, security and compliance.

“Everyone works on collaborative apps now. We work from anywhere, bringing our work culture with us. Most business communication is achieved on phones, tablet devices and laptops. We tether to Wi-Fi networks and mobile hotspots, working off apps to enable our collaboration.

“Most apps are hosted in a cloud environment, so they need the correct level of access controls and layers of security and compliance. Cloud-based apps are typically complex and resource hungry. They need skillfully managed IT architecture to perform seamlessly. Robust cloud management requires highly-skilled cloud managers.”

StackZone is a self-service cloud management platform for AWS. It simplifies cloud management, reduces AWS running costs and automates the adoption of security and compliance best practices. In addition, Stackzone’s automated configuration rules reduce the time and skill required to administer the cloud securely. 

StackZone is a secure, cost-efficient cloud governance solution for multi-account AWS environments. It enables AWS cloud services to be designed, deployed, configured and managed automatically.

By providing cloud expertise and AWS consultancy bundled into a software package, StackZone addresses the cloud administration skills shortage. 

Globally IT developer skills shortage rages on, with roles unfilled for lengthy periods and a dramatic escalation of salary costs. IT leaders who test cloud management skills before hiring developers will be shocked by up to 95% of prospective applicants failing. There are even whisperings of developers who convincingly turn up to two-to-three “full-time” developer jobs. The rapid escalation in global cyber attacks also means a market-wide void in experienced cybersecurity personnel, pushing higher wage costs. 

In a market where IT skills are at a premium, StackZone’s cloud automations enable IT leaders to up their game as they struggle to navigate the steep learning curve of cloud administration. 

Initially focused on AWS users, StackZone is gearing to implement a bold strategy targeting Microsoft Azure and Google Cloud Platform organizations, too.

Under development for the past two years, StackZone grew through the pandemic as organizations pivoted to remote work and the global reliance on cloud computing escalated, according to Gaston Silbestein, the company’s co-founder and CRO. 

StackZone emerged from a cloud consultancy team that developed a refined strategy to streamline, centralize and simplify the management of cloud environments. As automation increased during the pandemic, StackZone’s vision took shape. Through June 2022, the startup raised $1.9 million in seed funds and continues to scale its innovative platform. 

StackZone is ISO 27001 compliant. They had to adopt the highest security standards for IT processes to achieve this. As avid security evangelists, they advocate their high-security standards. StackZone doesn’t require clients to share account access credentials. The team has the need to rely on Administration credentials from client accounts because the system doesn’t store any sensitive data.

StackZone’s emphasis on security drives cloud compliance levels, and it could not be more timely. 

According to Statista, the average cost of a 2022 data breach in the U.S. was $9.44 million, up from $9.05 million in 2021. 

In the healthcare field alone:

The number of people affected by data breaches more than tripled from 14 million in 2018 to 45 million in 2021.
The average cost of a data breach in healthcare increased by nearly USD 1 million to reach USD 10.10 million.
The average cost of a mega data breach, which involves 50-60 million healthcare records, was a whopping $387 million.

All this unfolds in a cloud marketplace where the stakes could not be higher for cloud providers, administrators and their clients. 

Technology leaders need help to keep up with the staggering pace of change within cloud computing. StackZone’s innovative approach is leveling the playing field for firms anxious to avoid falling prey to the increasing number of cyber attacks.

An estimated 55 percent of enterprise workloads in the cloud, and 88 percent of cloud breaches are caused by human error. StackZone’s self-remediations significantly strengthen security and compliance levels within hours of deployment. This enables StackZone users to reduce their risk of a data breach or infringement of industry compliance regulations.

An essential feature of StackZone is its deployment speed. It realigns compliance and security settings with best practices within just a few hours, potentially saving months of config management. In addition, its built-in “blueprints” enable you to apply compliance recommendations tailored to your particular industry. Cloud managers can also apply pre-configured regulatory standards for healthcare, (HIPAA), finance, (PCI, DSS) cybersecurity (SOC) and Machine Learning (ML) compliance standards in minutes.

StackZone’s 56 self-healing remediation rules automatically activate control policies that improve security and align organizations to cloud best practices. In addition, clients can monitor their compliance by activating over 200 policy rules and launching compliant workloads from StackZone’s service catalog portfolios. This has reduced cloud operational costs considerably for many organizations using StackZone.

Visit www.stackzone.com to learn more.

The Small Device Making Big Waves: How the Joan 6 Pro Revitalizes the Workplace

NY Weekly Staff on January 26, 2023

Image Commercially Licensed From: Unsplash

One of the biggest challenges for organizations is meeting scheduling and meeting room management. The hybrid work environment makes it even more difficult for workplaces to integrate calendars and spaces. However, the award-winning Joan 6 Pro is a small device making big waves in overcoming these issues.

The advanced meeting scheduler allows the smooth management of 100+ meeting rooms and revitalizes the workplace. So much so that it caught the attention of the jury who honored the Joan 6 Pro with the highly-esteemed German Design Award.

Meeting the Goals of Sustainable Transformation

One of the most pressing questions the German Design Council seeks to answer through its awards is how a product meets sustainable transformation. Some things that indicate how a product is meeting the challenges of our time include using new materials, innovative economic models, and an original way of thinking.

The Joan 6 Pro met with the judges’ approval thanks to its groundbreaking design, abilities, and the significant impact the tiny device has made on organizations. The Joan 6 Pro stood out in a spectacular setting during product presentations, guided tours, and talk rounds. It impressed thanks to its groundbreaking design, overall sustainability, and functionality.

Thinking in Circular Models

“It has become increasingly important for us at Visionect to meet the challenges of our time,” says its co-founder Rok Zalar. He continues, “The Joan 6 Pro meeting room scheduler design closely embraces circular economy principles. These are zero waste, reusable materials, energy sustainability, and consumer awareness of the importance of reuse.”

The device uses ePaper technology that provides the meeting room scheduler with an ultra-low-power touch screen. A USB C cable is needed to charge the device. One single overnight charge gives the meeting room scheduler enough power for months. That equates to 99% less energy than an LCD screen. The energy needed to use the Joan for a year amounts to the energy required to make a cup of coffee, meaning it leaves a minimal carbon footprint.

However, that is not the only way the Joan 6 Pro meets the mark of ensuring a greener future. The device is built with sustainable materials. Its glass screen uses non-polluting and water-efficient materials. The body of the device is made from infinitely recyclable aluminum, and the packaging with paperless cardboard. Much thought has gone into every detail to create an environmentally-friendly device that improves the flexible workspace and remains user-friendly.

Creating Design of Actions

Defining problems and offering solutions remain essential when creating any design. Incorporating clarity and innovative simplicity, the Joan 6 Pro is tailored to meet the needs of the new hybrid workplace.

It provides a simple onboarding process and fast installation with a magnetic mount that fits on any level and firm surface. The meeting room scheduler integrates with existing office management tools, allowing a smooth flow of productivity in a hybrid office environment. The Joan 6 Pro’s design minimizes workflow friction and maximizes efficiency, even in offices with dislocated teams.

Data security is another impressive feature. The Joan 6 Pro has advanced encryption for communication between the device and servers. The meeting room scheduler temporarily stores data when required for meetings, but once the meeting ends, it has no access to credentials. Even if a device gets lost, no one can access the data the moment it’s deauthorized.

Creating a Huge Design Impact

With a design simplicity that creates a minimalist look yet combines functionality means that the Joan 6 Pro provides an unmatched product experience. Gone are the days when a meeting room had to have a flashy screen indicating its availability. Instead, the sleek and elegant device provides a stylish yet functional solution that complements every setting.

The Smart Magnet mount carries the information for each room and automatically displays it when the Joan 6 Pro is attached. For hybrid office spaces that prefer ethernet communication, the specially designed PoE wall mount is an added accessory that includes a display of meeting room occupancy status.

Last Words

The Joan 6 Pro proves that a small device can make big waves. The design and sustainability of the meeting room scheduler captured the German Design Council’s interest because it answers the challenges faced by hybrid workspaces today and revitalizes the workplace with its design, functions, and sustainability.

ProServeIT — Unlock Your Digital Future

NY Weekly Staff on January 25, 2023

ProServeIT is the ultimate business enabler. This company — a Microsoft Gold Partner that has won multiple awards — specializes in helping businesses leverage technology to grow and develop. The outcome is increased efficiency and accountability, leading to ever-higher levels of success.

“At ProServeIT, we want to help our customers become technology businesses,” said Eric Sugar, President of ProServeIT. “We are democratizing access to high-quality IT services and products, making cutting-edge technology more approachable for a wider range of companies.”

Services ProServeIT offers

No other company is quite like ProServeIT. Based in Canada, the 20-year-old enterprise provides a wide range of services to businesses including software development, technology consulting, and managed services. No matter what IT problems a business might face, ProServeIT offers the right solutions. They successfully transform businesses of all sizes and in all sectors to maximize their potential.

“We approach technology from a holistic view with our own Modern Technology House Framework,” Sugar explained. “As opposed to approaching IT from a fragmented view, we provide a comprehensive framework and strategy to make sure clients receive a true return on investment.”

Sugar uses the metaphor of a house to explain the importance of keeping current with technology: “What happens if you don’t invest in the maintenance of your house?” he asked rhetorically. “You’re going to have plumbing issues or electrical issues. You’re going to develop cracks in your foundation. Digital transformation is the maintenance of your business. Just like the maintenance for your house, if you don’t invest in your business, you’re going to have problems at some point in time.”

The ProServeIT advantage: people first

ProServeIT offers a unique mindset that leads to a positive client experience. The company’s first core value is “People Matter.” As their website explains, “At ProServeIT, we put people first, treating people the way that we ourselves would like to be treated. No matter which member of our team you interact with, our guarantee is that you’re always going to be met with compassion, understanding, and a genuine desire to assist you in getting to the solutions you need to be successful.”

The team at ProServeIT understands that different customers have different needs. They meet individuals where they are and provide them with the most effective personalized support at all times.

“Whether it’s refraining from ‘tech talk’ when the situation requires a more business-minded approach or the courteous and helpful way we respond to your service request, we’ve made an art out of making sure that everyone we encounter is treated with dignity and respect,” their website states.  

Flexible, innovative people

ProServeIT’s next core value may seem surprising: “Be Like Gumby.” For those who don’t know, Gumby is a green, super-malleable clay-animation character who starred in two television series and a feature-length movie. The company’s willingness to embrace such an offbeat role model reflects its authentic, fun, and imaginative approach.

“Like the versatile and supple character from the ’50s and ’60s, flexibility is our middle name,” the company’s website explains. “When you work with ProServeIT’s skilled and talented employees, you’ll be working with flexible, workable, innovative, and adaptable people.”

It’s refreshing to encounter a B2B business that understands the importance of going beyond reason and logic to find the best way to address an individual business’s needs. 

“Like Gumby, we love stretching our imaginations to come up with solutions that fit your unique needs and requirements,” their website says.

The first time is a charm

ProServeIT’s third core value is “Do It Right.” This means that clients can rest assured of a smooth process from start to finish. “From our Professional Services, to Software Development, to Managed Services, to our Sales & Marketing team, when you’re working with anyone here at ProServeIT, you’re going to get our best. Because we want to do it right — the first time!” the website says.

According to the website, each member also embraces an ethos of excellent customer service: “Regardless of their role in the company, every employee at ProServeIT wants to do the right thing for our customers.”

An award-winning team

ProServeIT has won many awards for its unprecedented technology development and consulting services.

“We are one of the leading employers in Canada,” said Sugar. “We’ve won awards multiple times for being a top employer. This is not only due to the culture we have as a business and how we treat our employees, but also how we represent ourselves to our clients.”

Microsoft has also recognized ProServeIT for its accomplishments. “We’ve tied for Microsoft Partner of the Year specifically for technology that has a social impact,” Sugar said. “We help nonprofits become better at using and deploying technology.”

ProServeIT is committed to giving back to the community. One of their annual give-back initiatives is the #Empower conference, a complimentary virtual conference they co-host with Microsoft every January to democratize technology knowledge and empower nonprofits and charities to amplify their missions more efficiently. 

ProServeIT’s clients have also won awards from Microsoft for “modern work.” “This involves their excellent use of Office 365 productivity platforms,” Sugar explained. “We helped these businesses use those very broad platform products, better migrate to them, and get the most value from them.”

An easy, seamless process

ProServeIT helps companies undergo digital transformations and embrace new technology. While some might fear that changing software or adopting new technologies could cause problems and be stressful, ProServeIT’s team works hard to make the transition easy.

“No one likes change,” Sugar explained, “but any expense, pain, hassle, or inconvenience is mainly tied to not understanding where you’re going and not understanding where the landing zone is. If you’re trying to land a plane without a runway, you’re going to miss every time. At ProServeIT, we help you see where you’re aimed, as well as the landing pad. We help you take every step until you’ve successfully reached your goals.”

ProServeIT makes incorporating the latest in technology easier and more practical than ever. Moreover, given the competitive nature of business, few companies can afford to neglect technology upgrades. 

“In most industries, businesses are constantly looking at how they can use technology to be better and faster,” said Sugar. “They are always finding new ways to disrupt and lead the industry.”

With ProServeIT’s help, your business can stake out its rightful position at the forefront of your field.

The Importance of Reducing Carbon Emissions and What Eugenie.ai Is Doing to Help

NY Weekly Staff on January 25, 2023

Image Commercially Licensed From: Unsplash

Dr. Soudip Roy Chowdhury, Founder and CEO of Eugenie.ai, believes now is the time for industrial corporations to prioritize improving sustainability by reducing carbon emissions.

“We are at a pivotal moment in history, in which human activities have resulted in the worst climate scenario our planet has seen in the last 2,000 years,” Dr. Roy Chowdhury warns. “At Eugenie.ai, we wish to make people aware of the urgency of the climate change issue, especially those in the industrial sector. We must realize that we are at a decisive moment where our actions will determine the quality of life of future generations.”

Dr. Soudip and the team at Eugenie.ai are world leaders in the development of solutions for increasing sustainability in the industrial sector. Their Eugenie.ai platform provides end-to-end emission intelligence, such as emission monitoring, diagnostics, and reduction that empowers organizations to optimize their operations for sustainability.

“As the world moves toward a net-zero future, in which decarbonization is the priority, industrial companies will need to evaluate their own environmental footprint and consider how best to reduce emissions across different operations,” Dr. Soudip says. “With the current technological advancements and the availability of robust solutions like those provided by Eugenie.ai, it has become possible for organizations to make a viable and smooth transition to sustainability.”

The industrial sector’s role in climate change

Greenhouse gases are gases that accumulate in the earth’s atmosphere and trap the sun’s heat, resulting in dangerous increases in the earth’s temperature levels. Carbon dioxide, which is released when fossil fuels are burned, is one of the primary greenhouse gases contributing to the current climate crisis

“In 1986, the atmospheric composition of carbon dioxide surpassed 360 parts per million (ppm), which is the safe limit for preserving a significant portion of our planet’s biodiversity,” explains Dr. Soudip. “Today, the level is 400 ppm and increasing rapidly. It’s obvious that the transition to sustainability is long overdue — by two decades, at least.”

Over 50 percent of today’s greenhouse gas emissions come from the industrial sector, and that percentage is growing. This makes heavy manufacturing industries like mining, oil, gas, and steel the focal point of global decarbonization efforts. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) has recommended coordinated efforts by those industries to reduce emissions by 20 to 25 percent through the use of advanced technology.

The solutions Eugenie.ai provides for reducing carbon emissions

Efforts to reduce carbon emissions must start with identifying a baseline for those emissions, which depends on organizations having sufficient data readiness and sensorization. Once a baseline is established, organizations can identify excess emissions by assessing deviations from the baseline. When excess emissions are detected, they must be traced back to the exact assets or processes responsible for creating them. The cause of the deviation must then be determined and a real-time, actionable solution to rectify it must be identified.

The Eugenie.ai platform identifies and addresses excess emissions added due to the inefficiencies in industrial operations with the type of advanced technological solutions that the IPCC recommends. By using digital twins to replicate an organization’s operations, Eugenie.ai is able to get a holistic view of complex industrial systems. As excess emissions are detected (using Eugenie’s satellite data based emission pattern detection module), the digital twin can trace the problem to its source and develop recommendations for eliminating it.

“From a business standpoint, the capacity to build digital twins is revolutionary,” Dr. Roy Chowdhury explains. “Beyond showing the virtual representation of their physical counterparts, digital twins enable simulations, the forecasting of potential outcomes determined by critical decisions, and the comparison of probable scenarios. Well-designed digital twin solutions can offer a wide range of benefits ranging from improved product quality to improved sustainability impact. Be it maintenance schedules, process optimization, or emissions tracking, digital twins deliver prolific possibilities for the industrial world.”

Traditionally, AI-based digital twins operate in black boxes, meaning that they provide insights without traceability and their algorithms populate recommendations without providing transparency related to how they were derived. Eugenie.ai’s model for digital twins takes a different approach to traceability that leverages machine data, satellite data, and physics-based models to deliver deeper and more actionable insights.

The growing pressure to improve sustainability

In the past, sustainability was an issue studied by scientists and debated by scholars. Today, it is a topic in which all of a corporation’s stakeholders have taken an interest. 

Industries that fail to acknowledge and address the need for sustainability could easily find themselves suffering from the negative attention of consumers, investors, and regulators. In the area of excess carbon emissions, a failure to pursue sustainability could soon result in businesses facing excess taxation.

“On top of all the scientific evidence that has been presented during the past two decades regarding the need for serious sustainability initiatives, businesses must know that carbon taxation is coming,” says Dr. Soudip. “With draft bills being evaluated in the European Union, parts of Asia, and the US, organizations responsible for disproportionate industrial emissions may soon find themselves penalized for their role.”

How to Improve Collaboration While Working with a Remote Team

NY Weekly Staff on January 25, 2023

Image commercially licensed from : Unsplash

 

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, about 17.9% of people in the country have been working from home since September of last year. This is triple the number of people working remotely before the pandemic started. 

If you are managing a team of remote workers, it can be difficult to collaborate with them on the projects or campaigns you have planned. Fortunately, several techniques can help you work more closely despite the distances. 

Here are a few tips to help you and your team accomplish collaborative goals virtually:

Establish clear objectives and expectations from the start, you need to let your team members know about your expectations in this type of work arrangement. Because of the limited opportunities for real-time interactions, each member will be working with minimal oversight and supervision. 

Setting clear objectives will allow them to focus on key tasks and perform within your set of standards and benchmarks. By giving a clear direction, you give your remote team a sense of purpose, encourage communication among members, and provide enough support to prevent burnout. 

  • Use the right collaboration tools

Working remotely is made easy by using the right software. Platforms like Slack and Trello come with a wide array of features such as file-sharing and virtual project management for tracking work progress and preventing repetitive work. 

When choosing a collaboration tool, check if the features are in line with the specific needs of your team. For instance, if you’re running a small digital marketing agency, consider using Monday.com. The platform works great for virtual brainstorming sessions and workflow development. 

  • Organize regular meetings

Progress meetings are critical to any remote team. The best way to hold them is through video conferencing. Regular virtual meetings allow your team members to suggest new ideas in real-time and make collective decisions instantly. These interactions also provide an opportunity to motivate your team members and offer insights into issues they cannot handle on their own. 

It’s only a matter of documenting your online meetings so everyone will be on the right page once they work on their respective tasks. However, you will need to limit your virtual meetings since having too many in a week could interfere with productivity. Aim to have just one major meeting per week, with smaller one-on-ones as necessary. 

  • Share resources

Because of the lack of real-time interactions, the members of your remote team could face a dead-end in which they are unsure what to do next. With that being said, it’s important to provide them with the knowledge and the tools they need to perform effectively without your oversight. 

If you are managing a remote sales team, send them resources, including scripts and sample recordings, that let them know how to deal with difficult prospects. You can also use a zoom call transcription service that allows you to monitor how your sales representatives handle objections and understand the needs of prospects more thoroughly. 

  • Encourage open communication

Open communication is vital for maintaining a strong sense of collaboration among remote team members. Encourage your team members to share their thoughts, ideas, and concerns freely and openly. Make sure that everyone knows that their input is valuable and that their voices will be heard.

To encourage open communication, you can use a variety of methods, such as setting up a dedicated team chat channel, sending out regular team updates, and holding virtual office hours where team members can drop in and ask questions or share feedback.

  • Promote flexibility

Remote work requires a high level of flexibility. Encourage your team members to be flexible in terms of their work schedule and location. For example, some team members may prefer to work early in the morning, while others may prefer to work late at night. By promoting flexibility, you can help your team members achieve a better work-life balance and work more effectively. 

Managing a remote team can be challenging, but by implementing clear objectives, using the right collaboration tools, organizing regular meetings, sharing resources, promoting open communication, fostering a sense of community, and promoting flexibility, you can improve collaboration and productivity among your team members. It will only be smooth sailing from there.

Meet Cyber Security Expert Kelly Kercher

NY Weekly Staff on January 12, 2023

IT security is a major challenge for businesses of all sizes in this digital age. However, the stakes are even higher for medium to large companies that have more sensitive data to protect and larger cyber-attack risks. Kelly Kercher, Founder and President of K3 Technology in Denver, knows this better than anyone. 

Kercher studied Computer Information Systems and Business at Colorado Mesa University. Afterward, he began his career as a network engineer. Kercher’s passion for solving problems and helping others led him to start K3 Technology, and it was rewarding. After several trial-and-error experiences, Kercher recruited and developed a great team of motivated and eager-to-learn individuals, and K3 Technology was launched.

K3 Technology offers customized cloud hosting, managed storage, cybersecurity, data backup and system migrations and integrations for businesses of all sizes. Additionally, our experienced team of professionals provides custom software development and integrated support services such as system monitoring and maintenance. We understand how important it is to safeguard your data while also boosting performance. Our proven methodology and advanced technology ensure that we guarantee a secure environment while optimizing your business operations. 

In today’s digital landscape, IT security threats are growing rapidly, and businesses of all sizes are increasingly becoming vulnerable to malicious attacks. Medium to large-sized companies must be extra vigilant when it comes to safeguarding their data as well as the data of their customers. 

Kelly leads his team in helping medium to large businesses protect their data from the top threats including ransomware attacks, phishing scams, and data breaches. For businesses that want to ensure their IT security needs are met effectively and securely, Kelly Kercher provides invaluable knowledge and experience in tackling these challenges head-on.

Here are some of the most common IT security threats that companies should be aware of and steps they can take to protect themselves: 

  1. Phishing Attacks: Phishing attacks involve criminals masquerading as legitimate sources to gain access to sensitive information. To combat this threat, businesses should use multi-factor authentication for logging into accounts and websites with sensitive information. They should also regularly update security patches on their systems and educate employees about how to recognize phishing emails. 
  2. Malware: Malware is malicious software designed to infiltrate computer systems without the users’ knowledge or consent. Businesses can protect themselves from malware by using firewalls, antivirus software, and other security tools that can detect and prevent malicious activity on their networks. 
  3. Data Breaches: Data breaches involve unauthorized individuals accessing data stored on a company’s servers or databases. Companies can mitigate this risk by encrypting any sensitive data they store and ensuring that you are enforcing strong identity access management policies to include strong MFA methods. They should also regularly audit their systems for suspicious activity and have procedures in place for dealing with data breaches if they occur. 

“The key to staying ahead of the latest IT security threats is to take a proactive, holistic approach that considers all aspects of your systems, data and business functions. Understanding the various types of IT security threats that medium to large companies face today is essential to ensure their networks are secure and their data remains safe from malicious actors.” – Kelly Kercher, CEO, K3 Technology.

Kelly Kercher’s expertise and commitment to excellence has enabled K3 Technology to remain competitive in the ever-evolving industry of IT services & security solutions. Our comprehensive suite of services ensures we provide our clients with the best IT and security solutions tailored to their individual needs so they can stay ahead of the competition by leveraging latest technologies at affordable prices. With K3 Technology’s help, you can rest assured that your data is protected, while also finding a good balance to ensure productivity and efficiency in business processes.

Remote Sales That Scale: How Cole Gordon and Closers.io are Leading the Industry in Building Professional, Successful, and Profitable Sales Teams for Clients

NY Weekly Staff on January 6, 2023

Building a committed, trustworthy, and productive sales team is one of the most difficult aspects of scaling a business. To assist companies in creating and scaling high-performing sales teams, Cole Gordon founded Closers.io. “We help clients build a remote sales team that basically runs on autopilot,” said Gordon.

Top-tier sales professionals are vetted, hired, and trained by Closers.io to excel in their roles. Closers.io has a pipeline of more than 13,000 experienced sales professionals that they place inside their clients’ sales teams. 

Closers.io helps sales representatives perform better, eliminate inconsistency, and close more deals (leading to more profit for their clients).

Gordon, who has made as much as $400K a month in his own sales career, excels at the process of training sales reps and placing them with sales teams looking to employ. He now shows customers and salespeople how to do the same.

Who is Cole Gordon

When it comes to successfully developing, constructing, and scaling top-tier sales teams and reps, Gordon is the industry thought leader to follow. Gordon has a large social media following of over 600,000 people, including 500K on Instagram and 12K on YouTube. He started Closers.io because he was confident he could teach other salespeople to perform at a higher level, close more deals, and create a positive impact.

“The easiest way to encapsulate why we started the company is because, as a high-performing sales rep myself, I was always asked where companies can find good sales reps,” Gordon said. 

“Good salespeople know other good salespeople. That’s a fact. That is also the key to recruiting good salespeople too. You leverage them, their network and find referrals.”

Closers.io provides its clients with an exclusive accelerator program that helps them to manage a team of high-performing sales reps.

Closers.io Sales Team Accelerator™

Sales Team Accelerator (STA) is a branch of Closers.io that helps coaches, consultants, and agency owners to build and scale their sales team past seven figures. STA teaches clients a proven framework for leveraging remote sales professionals to scale their business. 

Sales Team Accelerator is laid on the foundation of four pillars of education: 

  1. Assets and Economics 
  2. Recruiting and Hiring 
  3. Accelerated Training and 
  4. Systems and Management

According to Gordon, the majority of organizations make the error of attempting to establish a sales staff without a solid foundation (without this, sales reps will inevitably fail). Assets can include things like a verified offer and a repeatable sales process. Economics refers to a scalable compensation structure (where the sales rep and the company have aligned incentives). Top-tier sales reps are drawn to companies with both of these in place.

Gordon advises hiring from a place of abundance to prevent having a high turnover rate. Because of this, the organization develops sales teams by screening and rating candidates for clients prior to interviews. This technique aids Closers.io in creating a strong candidate pipeline.

The amount of time it takes for a closer to go from zero to meeting key performance indicators (KPI’s) is known as ‘ramp time’. This trial period usually takes 50-100+ calls and costs the business owner thousands of dollars, (without knowing whether the sales rep will ultimately reach the target). By comparison, Closers.io has found they can shorten this ‘ramp up’ process by as much as 50%, simply by implementing Gordon’s methods that led him to $400K per month in sales, and empower the business owner to collect more profit from every new hire.

The last of the four educational pillars that customers receive aids professionals in making data-driven decisions, building a culture that sales representatives want to be a part of, and finally growing their enterprises to a potential 7-8 figure level.

“We do not outsource talent, but rather help companies build internal sales teams that essentially run themselves,” stated Gordon. “Let’s face it, the last thing any entrepreneur wants is for an outsourced sales team to leave the company. That’s why we recruit, hire and train Top 1% sales reps instead.”

About Cole Gordon and Closers.io

Cole Gordon is the CEO of Closers.io, the leading sales and marketing education and training company that fulfills companies’ needs for talented sales teams. Gordon is an 8-figure entrepreneur, investor, and sales trainer who has sold millions worth of online coaching, consulting, and agency services. For more information about Gordon, please visit https://www.instagram.com/colethomasgordon/ and for more about Closers.io, visit https://closers.io/

With Entrepreneur Brandon Miller, California-based Primo Roasting Equipment Enters its Second Life

NY Weekly Staff on January 5, 2023

The global coffee roaster market was valued at US$ 330.95 million in 2021, and the total revenue is expected to grow at a rate of 4.24 percent through 2022 and 2029, reaching nearly US$ 461.36 million, says a report published by Maximize Market Research. The data speaks for itself about the love people share for coffee and how this beverage continues to rule the market.

Amidst these, the founder of the ranch-to-table meat distribution company Buy Ranch Direct and coffee roasting company Dynamize Coffee, Brandon Miller, happened to acquire Primo Roasting Equipment, being its frequent customer. Initially founded in 1993 by Dion Humphreys, the company has recently developed a new line of XR series and launched a new roaster turn-in programme that enables consumers to trade in their used equipment for a new one.

Primo’s new offering assures that coffee shops can provide the best drinking experience to their consumers by utilizing the most cutting-edge technology available. The company’s rebranding and technology upgrade under the supervision of Miller are said to offer commercial roasters for coffee houses and cafés at a more affordable price.

Primo’s range of premium coffee equipment includes Genesis-Xr3, Raven-Xr15, Sentinel-Xr20, Warden-Xr30, and Ranger-Xr5. Customers can also design and build their own coffee roasters to suit their specific roasting requirements and aesthetic preferences, resulting in a finished product that perfectly matches the feel of their coffee business.

Primo Roasting Equipment has been in the market for more than thirty years now, providing roasting equipment to coffee shops, cafés, and small businesses. Coffee roasters manufactured by Primo range from three to thirty kilos, and the facility caters to more than 36 countries across the globe. Each machine is hand-built by experienced and trained professionals and is individually tested to ensure the safety of the clients.

Primo uses high-quality American steel to ensure the reliability and long operating life of the roaster. While the roaster’s automatic air flows enable easy and reliable production, its two-stage temperature controllers allow for maximum control of the roasting material. Moreover, the product can be operated by anyone without any prior technical knowledge.

Primo roasters can be used to roast cacao, barley, hemp, grapeseed, millet, noodles, and wood chips in addition to coffee. So get roasting with Primo Roasting Equipment to experience your love for coffee beans and their aromatic charm!

How Izesan! is Using ML & AI to Translate Speech in African Languages

NY Weekly Staff on January 4, 2023

Image Commercially Licensed From: Unsplash

Divided into six language families, the African continent has up to 2,000 languages, of which 75 have more than one million speakers. This diversity has proven to be resilient despite colonial efforts to suppress it, with many languages flourishing.

However, with the rise of globalization, there has been an active trend towards a few dominant lingua franca (ex., English, French, Portuguese and Spanish) which has begun to threaten the diversity of languages on the African continent.

The chronic lack of investment in educational resources online and offline has meant that many languages have failed to keep up with the changing digital landscape and retain relevance for younger generations. This is where Izesan! comes in.

How Izesan! uses technology to expand the reach of African languages

Founded in Nigeria with an African outlook, the app has harnessed artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) to fill a gap left by larger apps concerning African languages. A prime example of this gap is that Hausa is spoken by approximately 48.3 million people, and Igbo is spoken by roughly 27 million people, yet neither has a course on Duolingo, whilst the Star Trek language of Klingon does.

According to Anthony Otaigbe, founder of Izesan!, “the fact that a ‘mythical’ language is more accessible to members of the international community than African ones highlight the importance of using technology to allow more people to experience the numerous languages that Africa has to offer – languages which represent unique cultures across the continent.”

There is a need for more online resources for African languages, not only to facilitate speakers of global languages learning African languages but for intra-African discourse to happen as well.

If you cannot find Hausa and Igbo on Duolingo, then it only makes sense that you find them on Izesan!, an app formulated by Africans, for Africans. African languages do not need to be left behind in digital spaces but can rather be celebrated through language. Izesan! provides a way to keep African languages relevant for newer generations by making African languages accessible.

This is why it’s important

It is not only larger African languages that deserve to be uplifted through technological innovation but also smaller ones. These smaller languages are at a greater risk for extinction, with the UN predicting that half of all languages spoken today will be extinct by 2050.

Each language that goes extinct is a door closed on the shared history of a people and their nuances, especially on a continent that has a deep value for oral history. Izesan! combats this by producing educational resources for African languages of all sizes whilst facilitating the ease of access to them.

Izesan! utilizes AI and ML to map out African languages even when they are uncommon or rare. This means that languages that have not benefited from extensive funding and research still have the opportunity to be learned.

Copyright: Izesan!

Izesan!: Expanding beyond online language learning

Beyond facilitating the learning of languages Izesan! is creating the space for African languages to be spoken through new ventures such as the Uwa platform, which is modeled as the African answer to Twitter. African languages are spoken extensively in day-to-day life, but there is poverty in diversity on online platforms.

Uwa is the answer to this issue by constructing a space where African language speakers can converse in their language of choice and comfort through the harnessing of AI and ML. Technology has not always benefited African languages, but Izesan! is changing this by telling Africa’s story, one language at a time.

Izesan! is not just a language learning platform but also an active attempt to create space for African people. The online world has often been dominated by western-centric corporations, which have at times excluded African voices. Technology is not meant to be in the hands of a narrow grouping but should be the tool to truly unlock the potential of diversity.

Izesan! is changing the narrative by proudly championing its African roots and striving for excellence. Investing in AI and ML means that there is an African fingerprint on them which will, in the future, help to ensure that these processes can benefit the people of the continent.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JVcnOb7U92o

Final take

In the end, Izesan! is representative of a new wave of African innovation that is not geared towards the needs of the western world but rather towards the continent itself. It is putting its money where its mouth is by not only talking the talk but also walking the walk.

The future of online platforms does not need to be dominated by a few global languages and a narrow set of ideals but rather a diversity of both. Izesan! is an active player in this diverse future and will always be an advocate for African languages and people.

YouTube’s New Policy on AI-Generated Content

NY Weekly Staff 2 on January 3, 2023

In an era marked by technological advancements, YouTube, a subsidiary of Google, is poised to implement a groundbreaking policy update. This initiative mandates creators to provide explicit disclosures when uploading content generated by artificial intelligence (AI) that could potentially mislead viewers. This strategic move by YouTube responds to the growing concerns surrounding the proliferation of realistic AI-generated content, which often blurs the lines between what is authentic and what is artificially generated.

Overview of the YouTube Policy Update:

YouTube’s commitment to maintaining the integrity of its platform is not new. The platform has long prohibited technically manipulated content that poses a substantial risk of harm. Building upon this foundation, the forthcoming policy update will necessitate creators to incorporate labels during the upload process for content that includes “manipulated or synthetic content that is realistic, including using AI tools.” This nuanced approach reflects YouTube’s dedication to keeping pace with evolving digital landscapes.

Significance in Sensitive Topics:

The significance of this policy is accentuated when considering its application to content addressing sensitive topics. The disclosure labels become especially crucial in instances discussing elections, ongoing conflicts, public health crises, or content involving public officials. This strategic move by YouTube seeks to fortify digital information integrity during critical events and discussions that impact society at large.

Industry-wide Response:

YouTube’s proactive stance aligns with industry trends. Other major social media platforms, such as TikTok and Meta (parent company of Facebook and Instagram), have already implemented comparable measures. This collective industry response underscores the shared responsibility to ensure transparency in content creation, especially as AI technologies continue to evolve.

Implementation Details:

The seamless integration of the disclosure option into YouTube’s video upload flow is a testament to the platform’s commitment to user-friendly experiences. Starting early next year, creators will find an additional step in the upload process dedicated to AI-generated content disclosure. While labels will typically appear in videos’ description panels, YouTube acknowledges the need for heightened visibility for certain content related to sensitive topics, where labels will be displayed more prominently within the video player. Additionally, content crafted using YouTube’s proprietary generative AI tools will be clearly labeled, providing users with a transparent understanding of the content’s origin.

Enforcement and Accountability:

Beyond mere policy announcements, YouTube is determined to ensure compliance with the new requirements. Creators failing to use the disclosure label consistently may face penalties, ranging from content removal to suspension from the coveted YouTube Partner Program. This robust enforcement mechanism underscores YouTube’s commitment to maintaining high standards of content transparency. Synthetic or AI-generated content found in violation of community guidelines will face similar restrictions or removals, aligning with YouTube’s broader content governance strategy.

User-Requested Content Removal:

Recognizing the evolving landscape of digital content creation, YouTube introduces a user-centric feature. Users will now have the ability to request the removal of manipulated content that simulates identifiable individuals, including faces or voices. This move is a direct response to concerns surrounding the rise of AI-generated non-consensual content. YouTube’s commitment to consider various factors, such as satire or the involvement of public figures, in the decision-making process reflects a nuanced approach to content governance.

Music Partner Involvement:

YouTube extends the content removal request feature to its music partners. This inclusion empowers music partners to request the removal of AI-generated music that mimics specific artists’ voices. By involving music partners, YouTube acknowledges the diverse landscape of content creation on its platform and strives to provide comprehensive solutions to potential challenges.

Takeaway:

YouTube’s proactive approach to addressing the challenges posed by AI-generated content is a testament to its commitment to transparency, user trust, and responsible content governance. By introducing these disclosure labels and empowering users to request content removal, YouTube takes a significant step toward fostering a digital landscape that balances innovation with ethical considerations.

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