agenda

Think Tank

Increase the Speed & Agility of Data Analytics

Technologies for big data analytics can deliver tremendous business value, and at a lower cost than traditional data management approaches, but early adopters have encountered challenges and learned lessons over the past few years.  

Think Tank

Accelerating Application Development

The growth of advanced algorithms and AI has allowed for streamlined application development. As these technologies evolve, productivity is expected to increase and shorten time-to-deliver as a whole. This will reduce the need for human application developers, but open new positions in data science and QA.  

Think Tank

Enhancing Your Edge

Edge computing is computing topology in which the content collection and delivery are placed closer to their endpoints. The goal of edge computing is to keep the traffic and processing local to eliminate delays and reduce traffic. Currently, edge computing is being driven by IoT and requires processing to be close to the end rather than on a centralized cloud server. However, rather than creating brand new architecture, cloud computing and edge computing will evolve into centralized service executing on centralized servers, on-premise servers and on the edge devices themselves. 

Think Tank

New Data Infrastructure Solutions

Edge cloud, blockchain, and other innovations are changing the way data is handled, tracked, and stored. All come with advantages as well as limitations compared to the centralized data infrastructure solution. Firms who embrace technological innovation too early might be hindered by the technical difficulties associated with new technology. 

Think Tank

The Future of the CIO in the Coming Digital Economy 

As more businesses undergo a digital transformation, and as those digital transformations become more ingrained into organizational culture, "Digital" becomes not something unique and different from the business, but a core component of every aspect of the business. As this shift occurs, IT itself faces the very real possibility of no longer being something unique from the business, but instead a component of every aspect of the business. In this world, what role then exists for the CIO? Two clear paths are presenting themselves - one leads to a focus on infrastructure and integration, to keeping the lights on for the digital innovators, while the other leads to information and innovation itself. Knowing which path to choose, how to choose it, and how to see it through will be one of the greatest challenges CIOs of this era will face.    

Takeaways:  

1. Change is, if not already here, certainly coming and CIOs who don't prepare for the change may not like the results when it arrives  
2. Digital transformation is all about connecting enterprise systems to information technology to drive productivity and performance improvements  
3. Be prepared to tackle the tasks that no-one wants to do, but everyone needs done; establish relevance to cultivate importance

Think Tank

Artificial Intelligence and the Rise of Advanced Machine Learning

Often times, the terms "Artificial Intelligence" and "Advanced Machine Learning" are thought of interchangeably and while there is a relationship between AI and AML, to say they are the same thing is an oversimplification and misclassification. Rather the one begets the other with AI being the basic principle upon which AML is developed. As AI begins to mature and migrate away from purely advanced mathematical operations into decision making paradigms, AML steps forward as the predictive ability of machines to process vast quantities of data for the purposes of making decisions in ways that first mimic, but ultimately surpass (in terms of speed at the very least) those of humans. As data and analytics becomes foundational to the way every business operates, AI and AML will become foundational capabilities.

Think Tank

Exploring Innovation in Distributed Cloud Architecture

New innovations to the distributed cloud network, as Edge Cloud, run different value-added services that are managed close to clients and users. This cloud architecture relies on small to medium datacenters located at the beginning of ISP networks that are currently under-utilized. 

 Takeaways: 

1. Are the design costs of edge cloud architecture economically viable  
2. Is cloud computing more energy efficient? 
3.  Utilizing home gateways to provide services and impact on business

Think Tank

Emerging Technologies: Adopting Blockchain, Imagine the Possibilities!

Blockchain is an exciting new technology that is slowly proving to be a radical innovation since Internet that triggered previous industrial revolutions. Blockchain technology features like disintermediation, improved transparency, and increase auditability can significantly reduce transaction costs, introduce efficiency into existing value chains, challenge revenue models, and open new markets. It's potential to disrupt existing economic and business models through productivity gains to multiple industries has been very promising. It's data provenance features and trusted interactions could change how data is controlled, shared and governed. Although big technological hurdles remain, innovative data management opportunities are emerging. It's time for data and analytics leaders to start experimenting!

Think Tank

Augmented Analytics

Augmented Analytics is a growing field pertaining to the automation of data preparation, analysis, forecasting, and interpretation. Since full automation is years away, the new AI and machine learning tools serve to augment data scientists with processing larger quantities of data in a shorter amount of time. As the algorithms grow more complex, businesses will be able to identify opportunities for growth and expansion in ways never imagined. The use of machine learning automation will lead to an increase in analytical workflow and more relevant conclusions. Is augmented analytics the next big disrupter in business intelligence?  

Think Tank

Business Process Automation: Digital Labor vs. Labor Arbitrage

Robotic Process Automation's (RPA) potential to replace human labor has put the technology on a collision course with labor arbitrage. While the actual labor savings stemming from RPA depends on the nature of a given process, the technology is thought to deliver greater cost reduction. Businesses are looking for IT to deliver business outcomes â?" more output, better quality, lower costs, revenue growth or an increase in market share. These outcomes can only be achieved as quickly as the business and market demands with the help of automation.

Think Tank

Data Matters! Attaining Transformation Through Data & Analytics

If digital transformation is a journey, then data is the fuel that will transport your company from here to there. Comprehending and creating insight from data is transformational. Being able to gather and analyze data to generate a competitive edge, creates new opportunities, and promotes innovation. However, to support a pipeline of up-to-date and competitive modern data and analytics, a sound foundation and architecture must be constructed in order to deliver it.