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In this episode, the hosts of Command Control Power discuss their personal lives and tech experiences, including outdoor activities and everyday tech issues. They delve into a peculiar issue one encountered with a MacBook Pro during an update, which turned out to be related to Dell Display Manager. The conversation also covers Backblaze backup anomalies, Apple's migration assistant quirks, and problematic customer service interactions with vendors like Microsoft and RingCentral. To wrap up, the team reflects on the importance of considering user behavior in quality assurance for tech products and services. 00:00 Introduction and Catching Up 00:54 Unexpected MacBook Pro Issue 03:33 Dell Display Manager Mystery 05:27 Annoying Software Bugs 08:48 Client Troubleshooting Story 17:55 Apple Watch Repair Misunderstanding 23:48 Backblaze Exclusions and Concerns 25:13 MacBook Air Story and Backup Issues 26:32 Backblaze Deduplication and Support 28:15 Trust Issues with Backblaze 30:48 Considering Alternative Backup Solutions 33:53 Client Concerns and Backup Costs 41:48 RingCentral and Phone Services 49:39 Quality Assurance in Tech 52:18 Concluding Thoughts and Listener Invitation
Cloud Connections 2025 Podcast Interview with Jon Arnold, Principal, J. Arnold & Associates ST. PETERSBURG, FL - Jon Arnold, Principal of J. Arnold & Associates, delivered a clear message to managed service providers (MSPs) at Cloud Connections 2025: it's time to evolve beyond UCaaS commoditization and begin leveraging AI not just as a buzzword, but as a strategic offering. In a podcast conversation with Technology Reseller News, Arnold reflected on insights shared during two panels at the conference—one on market outlook and another focused on UCaaS. “UCaaS, CCaaS, CPaaS—they're all mature, well-understood offerings,” said Arnold. “But AI is where the next frontier lies. Most customers know they need it, but they don't know how to use it—and that's where MSPs have a real opportunity.” Arnold emphasized that MSPs, trusted for their delivery of cloud and voice services, are in a prime position to elevate their value by integrating AI into business operations—both internally and in customer-facing applications. The key, he said, lies in viewing voice as data, a concept that aligns with AI's data-driven architecture. “If you're not capturing the data from voice, you're missing one of the most powerful communication channels businesses rely on,” Arnold explained. “MSPs already understand voice. That's their credibility. Now it's about helping customers harness that voice data to power AI.” On the second panel, Arnold addressed a recurring challenge: UCaaS as a commodity. As major players like Microsoft Teams, Zoom, and RingCentral dominate the landscape, differentiation has become more difficult. “If all MSPs are selling the same thing, they risk becoming arms dealers—no value, no margin,” he said. Arnold encouraged MSPs to think beyond unified communications and adopt a more holistic, strategic view, where AI is integrated across workflows, departments, and functions—far beyond the contact center. “AI isn't waiting for you to catch up. It's creating new ways of working,” he said. “There's a real risk of being left behind if MSPs don't evolve. A new generation of AI-centric MSPs will emerge—those who know how to sell it, implement it, and build strategy around it.” Reflecting on his first time attending the CCA's Cloud Connections event, Arnold noted the strong value of its focused community. “It's big enough to meet new people, but small enough to build real relationships,” he said. “It's not a trade show—it's a learning and collaboration environment.” Learn more about Jon Arnold and J. Arnold & Associates at: www.jarnoldassociates.com
Podcast with Steve Allcock, Customer Solution CTO, BT Group Enterprise Connect 2025 – Orlando “We're reaching a point where the network is now the computer,” said Steve Allcock, Customer Solution CTO at BT Group, in a revealing podcast recorded live at Enterprise Connect 2025. Speaking with Doug Green of Technology Reseller News, Allcock explained how BT's new Global Fabric platform is redefining how enterprises, carriers, and cloud players build, scale, and secure their digital operations. From Infrastructure to Intelligence BT's Global Fabric—a global, software-defined, as-a-service network architecture—has quietly gone live, already spanning the majority of the world's cloud-native facilities. Built over the past two years with significant investment, Global Fabric connects cities and sites worldwide in minutes with 100Gbps pipes, delivering agility, automation, and orchestration at unprecedented scale. “In a time when many telecoms are scaling back, we're doubling down on innovation,” said Allcock. “This is the foundation for growth—not just for BT, but for any enterprise with global ambitions.” Designed for the AI Era Global Fabric isn't just about high-speed links. It's been purpose-built for AI. “Our customers need infrastructure that can support the power, responsiveness, and regulatory complexities of AI deployments,” Allcock emphasized. He explained how the explosive growth of large language models (LLMs), retrieval-augmented generation (RAG), and inference at the edge is putting extraordinary strain on networks and data centers—prompting unprecedented CapEx from hyperscalers. In fact, some global firms are tearing down newly built data centers just to rebuild them with liquid cooling to meet AI's intense power demands. CPaaS, Agentic AI, and Global Reach Allcock also spotlighted BT's work with the CPaaS Acceleration Alliance and global collaboration platforms like RingCentral and Zoom. By partnering with CPaaS innovators and offering BT's network APIs to intelligent agents and AI workflows, BT is paving the way for a more automated, AI-aware communications landscape. “We're entering the era of the human user interface—where instead of clicking, you just tell the system what you want,” said Allcock. “BT's Global Fabric is ready for that world.” Want to Learn More? Visit bt.com/globalfabric or contact steve.allcock@bt.com to explore how Global Fabric can future-proof your AI and connectivity strategies.
Tech leaders from RingCentral, Zoom and AWS discuss how generative AI is transforming business communications while balancing challenges & regulatory concerns in this rapidly evolving landscape.Topics Include:Introduction of panel on generative AI's impact on businesses.How to transition AI from prototypes to production.Understanding value creation for customers through AI.Introduction of Khurram Tajji from RingCentral.Introduction of Brendan Ittleson from Zoom.How generative AI fits into Zoom's product offerings.Zoom's AI companion available to all paid customers.Zoom's federated approach to AI model selection.RingCentral's new AI Receptionist (AIR) launch.How AIR routes calls using generative AI capabilities.AI improving customer experience through sentiment analysis.The disproportionate value of real-time AI assistance.Economics of delivering real-time AI capabilities.Real-time AI compliance monitoring in banking.Value of preventing regulatory fines through AI.Voice cloning detection through AI security.Democratizing AI access across Zoom's platform.Monetizing specialized AI solutions for business value.Challenges in taking AI prototypes to production.Importance of selecting the right AI models.Privacy considerations when training AI models.Maintaining quality without using customer data for training.Co-innovation with customers during product development.Scaling challenges for AI businesses.Case study of AI in legal case assessment.Ensuring unit economics work before scaling AI applications.Zoom's approach to scaling AI across products.Importance of centralizing but federating AI capabilities.Breaking down data silos for effective AI context.Navigating evolving regulations around AI.EU AI Act restrictions on emotion inference.Balancing regulations with customer experience needs.Future of AI agents interacting with other agents.How AI enhances human connection by handling routine tasks.Impact of AI on company valuations and M&A activity.Participants:Khurram Tajji – Group CMO & Partnerships, RingCentralBrendan Ittleson – Chief Ecosystem Officer, ZoomSirish Chandrasekaran – VP of Analytics, AWSSee how Amazon Web Services gives you the freedom to migrate, innovate, and scale your software company at https://aws.amazon/isv/
Scaling Your Insurance Business: Strategies and ToolsIn the latest episode of the Insurance Business Babes podcast, hosts Kathe Kline and Joanna Wyckoff explore the crucial topic of scaling an insurance business. They share insights and practical advice on how to efficiently manage and grow a client base without sacrificing time or resources.Joanna and Kathe emphasize the importance of leveraging technology to enhance business operations. A prime example they discuss is the use of VOIP phone systems, like RingCentral or Dialpad, that not only record calls but also provide AI-generated summaries. This feature allows agents to quickly access details from previous conversations, ensuring they maintain strong client relationships and efficiently resolve issues without relistening to entire calls.The episode also highlights the necessity of being strategic with client services. Joanna shares the example of Benelink, a subcontractor for carriers that assists clients with renewing Medicare Savings Programs. By directing clients to such services, agents can focus on tasks that directly contribute to business growth rather than spending time on non-revenue-generating activities. This approach not only saves time but also reduces liability risks.Kathe discusses the benefits of flexible compensation models, especially when onboarding new agents or partners. This model can attract part-time agents who bring additional experience and networks to the business, ultimately aiding in its growth.Joanna explains the advantages of using Sunfire over Connexure for quoting and applications, primarily due to its comprehensive features like verifying client information, checking Medicaid levels, and providing a seamless application process. Having the right tool can drastically reduce errors and increase efficiency, which is essential for scaling an insurance business.As their conversation reveals, scaling an insurance business requires a combination of strategic client management, the right technological tools, and flexible operational structures. By adopting these practices, insurance agents can effectively grow their businesses while maintaining high standards of client service.This episode is sponsored by CertifiedMedicareAgents.com
Google has officially confirmed its acquisition of cloud security firm Wiz for a staggering $32 billion, marking the largest deal in the company's history. This strategic move aims to bolster Google Cloud's security and multi-cloud capabilities, especially as the demand for cloud security intensifies. Wiz, founded in 2020, has quickly gained traction, serving nearly half of the Fortune 100 companies and projecting a significant increase in annual recurring revenue. However, the acquisition comes with risks, including potential regulatory scrutiny and a substantial reverse termination fee, reflecting the challenges Google may face in integrating Wiz into its existing cloud infrastructure.In a related development, the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) is working to contact over 130 former employees after a federal court ruled their layoffs were unlawful. This decision is part of a broader legal challenge against workforce cuts made during the Trump administration. The reinstated employees will receive full pay and benefits while on administrative leave, but the agency has already lost a significant portion of its workforce, raising concerns about its ability to combat cyber threats effectively. The situation highlights the ongoing challenges faced by CISA in maintaining a capable workforce amid increasing cyberattacks.Cloudflare has launched a new threat events platform called Cloudforce One, designed to enhance real-time intelligence on cyberattacks. This platform leverages Cloudflare's extensive global network, which has blocked billions of cyber threats daily. Additionally, Logic Monitor has partnered with Amazon Web Services to facilitate the migration of VMware workloads to AWS, aiming to optimize cloud performance for global enterprises. Meanwhile, RingCentral has introduced several AI features to improve business communications, including a virtual assistant for managing inbound calls and tools for real-time knowledge retrieval.Lastly, a London court held a secret hearing regarding Apple's appeal against a UK government order to create a backdoor in its encrypted cloud storage systems. This case raises significant concerns about government surveillance, encryption, and data privacy, with potential global implications for cloud security and regulatory compliance. Civil rights organizations have criticized the secrecy of the proceedings, emphasizing the importance of strong encryption in protecting individuals from harassment and oppression. The outcome of this case could have far-reaching effects on the balance between security and privacy in the digital age. Four things to know today 00:00 Google's Biggest Deal Ever: $32B on Wiz to Secure the Cloud. Will It Work?03:25 CISA Scrambles to Contact Wrongfully Laid-Off Employees Amid Cybersecurity Workforce Strain05:27 Cloudflare, AWS, and RingCentral Drop Major Updates07:39 UK Court Holds Secret Hearing on Apple's Encryption Backdoor Supported by: https://cometbackup.com/?utm_source=mspradio&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=sponsorshiphttps://www.huntress.com/mspradio/ Event: : https://www.nerdiocon.com/ All our Sponsors: https://businessof.tech/sponsors/ Do you want the show on your podcast app or the written versions of the stories? Subscribe to the Business of Tech: https://www.businessof.tech/subscribe/Looking for a link from the stories? The entire script of the show, with links to articles, are posted in each story on https://www.businessof.tech/ Support the show on Patreon: https://patreon.com/mspradio/ Want to be a guest on Business of Tech: Daily 10-Minute IT Services Insights? Send Dave Sobel a message on PodMatch, here: https://www.podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/businessoftech Want our stuff? Cool Merch? Wear “Why Do We Care?” - Visit https://mspradio.myspreadshop.com Follow us on:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/28908079/YouTube: https://youtube.com/mspradio/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mspradionews/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mspradio/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@businessoftechBluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/businessof.tech
At Enterprise Connect 2025, John Finch, VP of Product Marketing, Customer Engagement at RingCentral, joined Doug Green, publisher of Technology Reseller News, to discuss RingCentral's latest AI-driven advancements that are reshaping business communications and customer engagement. Introducing AI Receptionist (AIR): The Future of Call Handling The highlight of the day? RingCentral's AI Receptionist (AIR)—an AI-powered virtual assistant designed to handle inbound calls, provide information, and route callers efficiently while delivering a human-like customer experience without requiring a live receptionist. “This is our foray into agentic AI,” said Finch. “It's intuitive, simple to set up, and integrates seamlessly with existing knowledge bases, ensuring businesses can enhance their call-handling capabilities effortlessly.” The Rise of Agentic AI in Business Communications Agentic AI is revolutionizing enterprise communications by eliminating outdated IVR systems and rigid DTMF touch-tone menus. With AI-powered automation, businesses can now facilitate natural, real-time conversations that streamline call handling and reduce customer frustration. RingCX: Expanding AI-Powered Customer Engagement RingCentral's RingCX—its native cloud contact center platform—has grown significantly, now serving 700+ companies. The platform seamlessly integrates UCaaS and CCaaS, enabling cross-team collaboration and improving overall customer experiences. “RingCX is built for simplicity, ease of use, and deep AI integration,” said Finch. “We're automating quality management, improving agent performance, and enhancing customer interactions in ways that traditional systems never could.” Main Stage Presentation & The AI Evolution During Enterprise Connect's main stage keynote, RingCentral's President and COO, Kira Macagon, will discuss how businesses can harness AI-driven insights to capture and leverage every customer interaction, ensuring more effective communication strategies. Three More AI Innovations for Enhanced CX In addition to AI Receptionist (AIR), RingCentral also unveiled: AI Agent Assist: Real-time knowledge retrieval, allowing agents to automatically surface answers from company knowledge bases while handling live customer calls. AI Supervisor Assist: Live call monitoring and sentiment analysis, providing supervisors with real-time alerts to intervene when customer interactions require guidance. AI Interaction Analytics & Predictive CSAT: AI-driven customer satisfaction (CSAT) scoring, ensuring businesses receive continuous customer feedback without relying solely on traditional post-call surveys. RingCentral's AI-Powered Future With RingSense AI at the core of its EX and CX offerings, RingCentral is ensuring that AI-powered innovations enhance unified communications, contact centers, and enterprise collaboration tools. For those attending Enterprise Connect 2025, RingCentral's booth (1000) features live demos of AI-powered solutions. For others, visit RingCentral's website to explore how AI is transforming business communications.
Southwest Airlines has long been synonymous with customer-friendly policies, but a recent shift in its business model has ignited controversy. The airline, once known for its no-change fees, free checked bags, and approachable customer service, has begun implementing policies that put its brand loyalty to the test. The changes—including assigned seating and new baggage fees—have left frequent travelers and industry watchers questioning whether Southwest is abandoning the very principles that built its loyal fan base.This raises a crucial question: How important is brand equity in maintaining customer loyalty, especially in a business landscape where commoditization threatens to erase differentiation?Welcome to Pro AV Today. In the latest episode, host Ben Thomas sits down with Jeffrey Boggess, Senior Product Marketing Manager at Checkr, and David Venus, Western Regional Manager for Commercial Audio & Nexo at Yamaha Corporation of America. The discussion explores Southwest's evolving identity and the broader implications for brand trust, customer retention, and community engagement in the B2B world.Key takeaways from the conversation…Brand Equity vs. Short-Term Gains – Southwest's recent moves resemble a departure from its “customer-first” philosophy, prompting discussions on how companies can balance profitability with maintaining a strong, loyal customer base.The Role of Community in Business – Just as Southwest had a cult-like following among frequent travelers, brands in the B2B space must recognize the power of community-driven loyalty.Lessons for B2B Marketers – The conversation highlights the importance of customer trust, clear brand positioning, and the long-term value of maintaining a strong relationship with loyal customers.Jeffrey Boggess is a seasoned product marketing leader with expertise in brand strategy, customer loyalty, and go-to-market execution. With experience at Checkr, Avocor, and RingCentral, he has successfully launched multiple products, forged high-impact partnerships with industry giants like Microsoft and Google, and built marketing frameworks that drove revenue growth. Known for his creative storytelling and customer-centric approach, he has a track record of elevating brand equity and enhancing user engagement across the B2B technology space.David Venus is a seasoned sales and marketing leader specializing in pro audio and commercial AV solutions, currently serving as Western Regional Manager for Commercial Audio & Nexo at Yamaha. With a strong background in brand management, sales process development, and multichannel marketing, he has successfully driven regional growth, exceeding sales targets and earning multiple Presidents Club Awards. A graduate of Belmont University, he has extensive experience in lead generation, content marketing, and strategic partnerships, helping brands expand market share and strengthen customer engagement.
Employers in the technology industry are preparing for monumental changes in immigration enforcement under the new presidential administration, from increased ICE site visits to I-9 audits. Chapters 00:00 Introduction to Workplace Immigration Challenges 01:33 Concerns Over Enhanced Visa Vetting 04:42 Executive Orders and Their Implications 10:21 Anticipating Changes in Immigration Policies 14:20 Preparing for Immigration Enforcement 19:10 I-9 Compliance and Best Practices
In this UC Today News Panel, David Dungay and Kieran Devlin are joined by a powerhouse lineup of experts to unpack the latest game-changing shifts in UC and CX. From AWS Chime shutting down to Avaya's strategic pivot, the conversation gets deep into industry consolidation, AI's growing influence, and the future of unified communications.Join Blair Pleasant, Craig Durr, Evan Kirstel, Dominic Black, John Arnold, and Faye Bennett as they explore what these big moves mean for service providers, enterprises, and the UC market at large.Main Description:AWS Chime's Demise & UC ConsolidationIs UC commoditization inevitable? With AWS Chime shutting down, following Verizon BlueJeans and Meta Workplace, what does this mean for Zoom, Teams, and Webex?Avaya's Controversial Contact Center ExitAvaya is cutting support for contact centers with less than 200 seats—but is this a strategic refocus or another sign of decline? Our experts weigh in.RingCentral's AI Play & CX EvolutionWith AI-powered receptionist services and a booming CX portfolio, is RingCentral leading the next wave of UC innovation?MWC, Cavell Summit & Enterprise Connect: What to ExpectThe biggest events in UC, CX, and telecom are around the corner. What will be the key trends and announcements shaping the industry in 2025?Thanks for watching, if you'd like more content like this, don't forget to SUBSCRIBE to our YouTube channel.You can also join in the conversation on our X and LinkedIn pages.
In this episode, Andy Leonard and Frank La Vigne are thrilled to be joined by Trevor Schulze, the Chief Information Officer at Alteryx. Trevor brings an unparalleled perspective on digital transformation, drawing from his impressive tenure at industry giants such as Micron, Cisco, and RingCentral.Time stamps00:00 "Data Driven: AI & CIO Insights"04:32 CIO's Role in AI Evolution06:50 CIO's Evolving Role with AI11:43 "Embracing Data Democratization"16:24 Democratizing Data Access19:33 "AI Investment and Optimization Cycle"20:55 AI Enhances Tool Configuration Guidance24:42 Breaking Free from Vendor Lock-In27:41 "Unleashing Shadow AI and Technical Debt"31:53 Digital Performance Essential for All Industries34:01 Data Privacy Concerns in AI Use37:30 AI Democratization Challenges for Enterprises42:15 AI Transforming Business Processes43:55 Data-Driven Career Journey47:13 "Building Trust in Data Analytics"52:34 Building Trust in Future Tech
GTM Disrupted host Mike Smart grabs a few minutes with Nishant Taneja, a GTM and product marketing expert and thought leader to discuss how B2B SaaS leaders can align to drive profitable growth. Nishant shares his insights based on previous go-to-market experience with public and PE-owned companies like Barracuda, Wrike, Tata, and RingCentral. Nishant and Mike dive into a crucial but overlooked factor: The companies that will win aren't just adopting AI—they're building learning organizations. Key Takeaways from this Episode Include: AI levels the playing field – human expertise is the differentiator Retention & expansion are more valuable than new logos Leaders must invest in upskilling their teams About Nishant Taneja Nishant is a Senior Marketing Executive with 12+ years of experience in B2B tech, specializing in cutting-edge cloud, SaaS, and AI solutions across cybersecurity, communications, and collaboration space. He has a proven track record of defining and executing GTM strategies and driving growth for startups, public and PE-owned companies like Barracuda, Wrike, Tata, and RingCentral. Nishant also advises Silicon Valley and Bengaluru-based tech startups on GTM and product marketing. To learn more about Nishant to go - https://www.linkedin.com/in/nishant/
In this episode of The Enterprise Apps Podcast, Melody Brue and Robert Kramer discuss key takeaways from recent industry events, emerging trends in enterprise technology, and the evolving role of AI in business operations. Topics include insights from Zoho Day 2025, SAP's Business Data Cloud, Snowflake's Cortex Agents, and RingCentral's AI Receptionist. Here's what they covered:
How Much Revenue Do You Need to IPO in 2024?The IPO bar has risen—big time. In the 2010s, companies like RingCentral and Etsy went public with $100M-$250M in revenue. But today? You likely need $500M+ just to get a shot.We'll break down how IPOs evolved from the SaaS boom to the 2021 mega-deals (think Coinbase, Snowflake, and Airbnb), the 2022-23 freeze, and why 2024's IPO class—Reddit, Klaviyo, Instacart—looks different.Plus, we'll preview 2025's biggest potential IPOs, including Stripe, Databricks, and Deel. What's the new rule? If you want to IPO, bring half a billion in revenue—or a damn good reason why you deserve to be public.Visit mostlymetrics.com for more analysis like this Get full access to Mostly metrics at www.mostlymetrics.com/subscribe
What would happen to your business if your customer service operations went down right now? Do you have the tools and strategies in place to handle a sudden crisis, or would your contact center be scrambling to meet demand? Today, we're discussing how AI and cloud-based solutions can help organizations manage crises and enhance customer service operations with John Finch at RingCentral. We'll explore key strategies for building resilience in customer service, particularly in response to recent IT outages. John Finch leads product marketing at RingCentral for the customer engagement portfolio, which includes RingCX and RingSense AI, as RingCentral scales and expands its global customer engagement reach. He has held product marketing leadership roles at Zendesk, Dialpad, Serenova (LiveOps), and Genesys, launching Enterprise SaaS contact center solutions into the market. RESOURCES RingCentral: https://www.ringcentral.com RingCentral's 2025 Trends Report: https://www.ringcentral.com/us/en/blog/the-state-of-ai-in-business-communications-key-insights-from-ringcentrals-2025-trends-report/ Don't miss Medallia Experience 2025, March 24-26 in Las Vegas: Registration is now available: https://cvent.me/AmO1k0 Use code MEDEXP25 for $200 off registration Register now for HumanX 2025. This AI-focused event which brings some of the most forward-thinking minds in technology together. Register now with the code "HX25p_tab" for $250 off the regular price. Connect with Greg on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gregkihlstrom Don't miss a thing: get the latest episodes, sign up for our newsletter and more: https://www.theagilebrand.show Check out The Agile Brand Guide website with articles, insights, and Martechipedia, the wiki for marketing technology: https://www.agilebrandguide.com The Agile Brand podcast is brought to you by TEKsystems. Learn more here: https://www.teksystems.com/versionnextnow The Agile Brand is produced by Missing Link—a Latina-owned strategy-driven, creatively fueled production co-op. From ideation to creation, they craft human connections through intelligent, engaging and informative content. https://www.missinglink.company
What would happen to your business if your customer service operations went down right now? Do you have the tools and strategies in place to handle a sudden crisis, or would your contact center be scrambling to meet demand? Today, we're discussing how AI and cloud-based solutions can help organizations manage crises and enhance customer service operations with John Finch at RingCentral. We'll explore key strategies for building resilience in customer service, particularly in response to recent IT outages. John Finch leads product marketing at RingCentral for the customer engagement portfolio, which includes RingCX and RingSense AI, as RingCentral scales and expands its global customer engagement reach. He has held product marketing leadership roles at Zendesk, Dialpad, Serenova (LiveOps), and Genesys, launching Enterprise SaaS contact center solutions into the market. RESOURCES RingCentral: https://www.ringcentral.com RingCentral's 2025 Trends Report: https://www.ringcentral.com/us/en/blog/the-state-of-ai-in-business-communications-key-insights-from-ringcentrals-2025-trends-report/ Don't miss Medallia Experience 2025, March 24-26 in Las Vegas: Registration is now available: https://cvent.me/AmO1k0 Use code MEDEXP25 for $200 off registration Register now for HumanX 2025. This AI-focused event which brings some of the most forward-thinking minds in technology together. Register now with the code "HX25p_tab" for $250 off the regular price. Connect with Greg on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gregkihlstrom Don't miss a thing: get the latest episodes, sign up for our newsletter and more: https://www.theagilebrand.show Check out The Agile Brand Guide website with articles, insights, and Martechipedia, the wiki for marketing technology: https://www.agilebrandguide.com The Agile Brand podcast is brought to you by TEKsystems. Learn more here: https://www.teksystems.com/versionnextnow The Agile Brand is produced by Missing Link—a Latina-owned strategy-driven, creatively fueled production co-op. From ideation to creation, they craft human connections through intelligent, engaging and informative content. https://www.missinglink.company
In this episode of "Insurance Business Babes," Joanna Wyckoff shares a challenging incident where a client was unwilling to engage with her assistant due to racial bias. This underscores the ongoing issues of discrimination that persist even in professional settings. Joanna emphasizes the importance of her office process, where clients must communicate with her assistant for scheduling—allowing her to focus on more critical insurance matters. Kathe Kline suggests tools like Calendly for online scheduling, yet Joanna points out that some clients still prefer or are unaware of these digital methods. Kathe's alternative approach to managing her workload includes not working on Wednesdays, reserving these mid-week breaks for personal and administrative tasks. This practice helps her maintain work-life balance, ensuring she never disrupts personal time unless absolutely necessary. The hosts discuss the benefits of consolidating multiple appointments in a single day rather than spreading them across the week. Kathe's extensive experience building and selling businesses gives her unique insights on client retention, particularly during challenging times like the COVID-19 pandemic. Highlighting the importance of owning communication systems, Kathe prefers using VoIP services to avoid complications when changing firms. Owning one's client data is crucial in the insurance industry, notes Joanna, who has faced difficulties in data export during company switches. Regulations require keeping call recordings for ten years; therefore, effective data management tools like RingCentral and Dialpad ensure compliance while managing workload efficiently. As the hosts discuss the Annual Enrollment Period (AEP), Joanna recommends transforming thoughts and tasks into checklists to stay organized. Both hosts rely on digital calendars to manage their schedules, ensuring priority tasks are completed first. They also address client needs proactively, from reviewing Medigap before or after AEP to considering additional coverage options. Networking remains a cornerstone of business growth for Kathe, who initially invested in groups like BNI (Business Network International). The BNI model teaches effective networking and the importance of referrals. Kathe advises continually seeking new referral partners, as current partners may leave or change careers. Finally, Kathe emphasizes the necessity of self-care to avoid burnout during intense periods like AEP. Setting work limits and ensuring breaks for meal times can significantly increase productivity. Both hosts stress the importance of retaining existing clients, highlighting that it's easier and often more valuable than acquiring new ones. “Insurance Business Babes” reminds insurance professionals of the importance of balancing professional responsibilities with personal well-being, the efficiency of managing client interactions, and the continual pursuit of networking opportunities. Stay tuned for more insights and practical advice from Kathe Kline and Joanna Wyckoff! Stay tuned for new episodes to continue enhancing your insurance business acumen with Kathe Kline and Joanna Wyckoff. This episode is sponsored by CertifiedMedicareAgents.com
Enterprise Connect 2025 Offers Vendor Neutral Learning, Experiencing and Exploring, Podcast, New Impact Summits, Case Studies Offered, "You're going to hear all sides, and you have a chance to talk to all sides" “That's what attendees and our enterprise friends tell us constantly that's the biggest value of all for them is that I can meet all my vendors in one go just by hitting this event,” says Erik Krapf, General Manager and Program Co-Chair, Enterprise Connect Publisher. “The information, going to get is going to be vendor-neutral. I'm not going to get a story that you must buy from this person, or that only this company has the right technology to solve this problem. You're going to hear all sides, and you have a chance to talk to all sides.” In this podcast, Eric discusses the upcoming Enterprise Connect 2025, in Orlando's Gaylord Palms, Orlando, Florida, March 17-20, 2025. Insights Mike Massimino, Former NASA Astronaut, NY Times Bestselling Author, and Columbia University Professor is a keynoting. Featured speakers include Ilya Bukshteyn, Microsoft, VP, Microsoft Teams Calling, Devices and Premium Experiences, Pasquale DeMaio, AWS, Vice President, Customer Experience Services, Anurag Dhingra, Cisco, SVP & GM, Smita Hashim, Zoom, Chief Product Officer, Duncan Lennox, Google, VP and GM of Applied AI, and Kira Makagon, Ring Central, Chief Innovation Officer. Impact Summits Erik discusses a new feature called Impact Summits. As we learn, these special sessions are designed to give attendees a complete view of Customer Engagement, AV & Video for True Collaboration and Case Studies in Communications Strategy. Enterprise users face the challenges of making long-term investments and performing smooth migrations while keeping everything secure. A vendor-neutral environment, real-world case studies, and front-line people who have direct experience with these challenges. “We've got an AI track that's got several sessions on it that deal a lot with the kind of, you know, where's the technology going. AI is also going to be a major component of some of the other tracks, contact centers where we know AI is seeing its early use cases… We've got several sessions, including a case study with Fannie Mae, the mortgage finance company, and how they're rolling out their AI assistant and some really good real-world stories from some great speakers there.” www.enterpriseconnect.com
UC Today's David Dungay hosts Aahad Khalid, UC & CC Product Lead, Vodafone Business UK, and Phil Doherty, AVP Sales Engineering for International Global Strategic Providers at RingCentral.In this session, we cover:The role of Telcos in UC and CCThe best performance gains from businesses using an integrated UC and CC platformHow to bring existing UC & CC services together or opt for an entirely new fully integrated provider
GTM Disrupted host Mike Smart and Rod Cherkas, author and CEO of HelloCCO explore how customer success has evolved into a key driver of growth in SaaS businesses. Rod draws on his extensive experience as a customer success leader at companies like RingCentral, Marketo, and Gainsight to inform the discussion. He shares insights from his new book, REACH, and explains how SaaS companies implement this framework to fuel top-line growth and generate expansion revenue. Key Takeaways from this Episode Include: Leveraging Customer Success as a Growth Engine Adopting the REACH Framework Utilizing AI as a Transformational Tool for Customer Success About Rod Cherkas Rod Cherkas is a highly regarded consultant to CEOs, CCOs, CROs, and their customer-facing leaders. He has held post-sale executive roles at several customer-centric organizations, including Intuit, RingCentral, Marketo, and Gainsight. Currently, he is the Founder and CEO of HelloCCO, a strategy consulting firm that collaborates with innovative companies across various industries to develop, execute, and scale strategies for their customer-facing functions. Rod's work focuses on improving customer retention, increasing profitability, and optimizing productivity. He is the author of the bestselling books, "The Chief Customer Officer Playbook" and "REACH: A Framework for Driving Revenue Growth from Your Existing Customers." To learn more about Rod to go - https://www.linkedin.com/in/rodcherkas/ or https://rodcherkas.com/
David Galán, responsable de renta variable en Bolsa General, repasa los títulos de Meliá Hotels, Hilton, RingCentral, John Deere, Alphabet, Colonial, Bankinter o AMD, entre otros
David Galán, de Bolsa General, repasa los títulos de Meliá Hotels, Hilton, RingCentral, John Deere, Alphabet, Colonial, Bankinter o AMD, entre otros
Register here for AWS re:Invent 2024, Dec 2-6, Las Vegas, NV-------Richard Borstein of RingCentral and Richard Sonnenblick of Planview discuss how AI-driven innovations enhance customer and employee experiences, and unlock organizational growth through cutting-edge tools and strategies.Topics Include:Importance of integrated communication tools for businesses.Challenges caused by disconnected communication platforms.Role of data in enhancing business operations.How RingCentral addresses communication and data integration issues.Benefits of real-time conversational intelligence in organizations.Leveraging AI to transform communication into actionable insights.Unlocking customer and employee voices through AI.How AI identifies patterns in customer interactions.Overview of RingSense for Sales AI tool.Real-world success story with RingSense for Sales.Streamlining customer interactions using AI-powered analysis.Enhancing employee productivity with AI-driven tools.AI solutions for faster, accurate information searches.Overview of RingCentral's Ring CX contact center solution.Improving customer satisfaction through AI-powered call analysis.Case study: Success with Ring CX at Worldwide Express.Features and benefits of RingCentral Events platform.Integrating event tech with existing customer workflows.Personalizing events with branding and engagement tools.PlanView's use of AWS to drive innovation.Solving governance challenges with PlanView's solutions.How generative AI accelerates productivity and decision-making.Making every user a power user with AI.Practical examples of generative AI in project management.Unlocking growth with next-gen AI-driven business tools.Participants:Richard Bornstein - Chief Business Development Officer, RingCentralRichard Sonnenblick Ph.D – Chief Data Scientist, PlanviewSee how Amazon Web Services gives you the freedom to migrate, innovate, and scale your software company at https://aws.amazon/isv/
### Overcoming Bias in Client Interactions In this episode of "Insurance Business Babes," Joanna Wyckoff shares a challenging incident where a client was unwilling to engage with her assistant due to racial bias. This underscores the ongoing issues of discrimination that persist even in professional settings. Joanna emphasizes the importance of her office process, where clients must communicate with her assistant for scheduling—allowing her to focus on more critical insurance matters. ### Leveraging Technology for Scheduling and Retention Kathe suggests tools like Calendly for online scheduling, yet Joanna points out that some clients still prefer or are unaware of these digital methods. Kathe's alternative approach to managing her workload includes reserving these mid-week breaks for personal and administrative tasks. This practice helps her maintain work-life balance, ensuring she never disrupts personal time unless absolutely necessary. ### Managing Appointments Efficiently The hosts discuss the benefits of consolidating multiple appointments in a single day rather than spreading them across the week. Kathe's extensive experience building and selling businesses gives her unique insights on client retention, particularly during challenging times like the COVID-19 pandemic. Highlighting the importance of owning communication systems, Kathe prefers owning her own VoIP services to avoid complications when changing firms. ### Tackling the Data Management Challenge Owning one's client data in your CRM is crucial in the insurance industry, notes Joanna, who has faced difficulties in data export during company switches. Regulations require keeping call recordings for ten years; therefore, effective data management tools like RingCentral and Dialpad ensure compliance while managing workload efficiently. ### Prioritizing Tasks During AEP As the hosts discuss the Annual Enrollment Period (AEP), Joanna recommends transforming thoughts and tasks into checklists to stay organized. Both hosts rely on digital calendars to manage their schedules, ensuring priority tasks are completed first. They also address client needs proactively, from reviewing Medigap before or after AEP to considering additional coverage options. ### Consistent Referrals and Networking Networking remains a cornerstone of business growth for Kathe, who initially invested in groups like BNI (Business Network International). The BNI model teaches effective networking and the importance of referrals. Kathe advises continually seeking new referral partners, as current partners may leave or change careers. ### Self-Care and Avoiding Burnout Finally, Kathe emphasizes the necessity of self-care to avoid burnout during intense periods like AEP. Setting work limits and ensuring breaks for meal times can significantly increase productivity. Both hosts stress the importance of retaining existing clients, highlighting that it's easier and often more valuable than acquiring new ones. ### Conclusion “Insurance Business Babes” reminds insurance professionals of the importance of balancing professional responsibilities with personal well-being, the efficiency of managing client interactions, and the continual pursuit of networking opportunities. This episode is hosted by CertifedMedicareAgents.com
My guest today is Sarah Gross, VP of Global Enablement at RingCentral. Sarah and I go way back, and most recently she became a new mom which has given her new perspectives about women and work. Sarah is also a top sales enablement professional who helps design process and support for sales teams like the ones at RingCentral. When Sarah and I first met, she was with Gartner, and has also worked at Procore and Vorsight in addition to others. Sarah calls enablement the "octopus" of an organization because it is the only department that touches every other department. Follow Sarah on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarahfricke/ Follow Women Sales Pros on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/women-sales-pros/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/womensalespros/ 2x month newsletter on all things women in sales: signup: https://bit.ly/thewspnews Contribute: https://forms.gle/v9rRiPDUtgGqKaXA6 Past Issues: bit.ly/past_news_issues
In Episode 146 of the Transform Sales Podcast: Sales Software Review Series, Eddie Bello interviews Craig Klein, CEO of SalesNexus, a CRM and marketing automation platform designed to help B2B businesses accelerate their sales growth. Craig explains how SalesNexus targets B2B companies with sales teams driving revenue growth, particularly businesses with $5 million to $50 million in revenue. He highlights SalesNexus's ability to streamline sales processes by automating tasks like lead nurturing, email campaigns, and follow-ups. The conversation delves into SalesNexus's customizable interface, powerful data enrichment feature, and competitive pricing, starting at $45/month. Craig also touches on seamless integrations with tools like RingCentral and the ease of migrating from other CRMs, including Salesforce and HubSpot. Try SalesNexus here: https://getcloudtask.com/SalesNexus #TransformSales #salessoftware #cloudtask
@Dave Michel, TalkingPointz, Special for TR “AI is not going to replace people, humans, it's empowering humans,” says Filipe Leitão of RingCentral. “That's our narrative because that's what we see happening.” Dave Michel, of TalkingPointz shares with TR readers, RingCentral's ideas on AI. Recorded at the recent UC EXPO, we learn how RingCentral looks at AI as a critical, and enabling, tool for the contact center and for across the enterprise. “I think in one or two years from now, we're not going to be talking about AI because it's going to be part, an integral part of the product, whatever product we're talking about.” Get more TalkingPointz Learn about RingCentral Learn about CCA
Creating engaging and memorable events is more challenging than ever. Event organizers must attract and engage their audience while delivering experiences that feel seamless and on-brand. But with the right tools, it’s possible to design events that captivate attendees and deliver strong results for your business. RingCentral Events RingCentral Events, formerly known as Hopin, is …
AI's Growing Impact on Employee and Customer Experience Shep Hyken interviews Jim Payne, Director of Product Marketing, Customer Engagement at RingCentral. He talks about how AI is transforming both customer and employee interactions by enhancing productivity and efficiency. This episode of Amazing Business Radio with Shep Hyken answers the following questions and more: How is AI transforming both employee and customer experiences? Can AI be utilized effectively in smaller companies with limited budgets? How does AI improve efficiency and productivity for customer service teams? What is the impact of AI on employee retention? What are the challenges related to integrating AI into existing customer service systems? Top Takeaways: Artificial Intelligence is significantly impacting both customer and employee experiences. The latest research by RingCentral and Metrigy has uncovered that over 80% of companies are using or planning to use AI to enhance customer and employee interactions this year. The cost of using AI for business has dramatically decreased. In the past, deploying AI would mean a considerable investment needing data scientists and experts to implement. Today, it has become more accessible to even small and medium-sized businesses. The benefits of AI, such as increased productivity and efficiency, are no longer exclusive to large organizations. AI will not replace human employees. Instead, it will augment their capabilities, make their jobs easier, and empower them to serve more customers. By automating repetitive, mundane tasks, AI allows employees to focus on more meaningful work. In customer support, AI can manage routine inquiries and free agents to tackle more complex issues that need human-to-human interaction. This boosts productivity and reduces stress and burnout, leading to a happier workforce. Inconsistent experiences with digital tools may cause customers to hesitate to choose self-service options. Companies must ensure their AI systems are reliable and user-friendly to encourage more customers to embrace them. AI creates seamless experiences for both customers and employees. Whether a customer is talking to a chatbot or a human agent, all relevant information can be retained and accessible. This prevents customers from having to repeat themselves. It also empowers employees with the information they need to resolve issues quickly. By integrating AI solutions, businesses can enhance their existing workforce. AI helps shorten the time an agent needs to solve problems. In their recent study, RingCentral and Metrigy found that AI helps reduce the time to complete a call by 39% on average. This allows contact centers to handle higher volumes of inquiries with fewer agents, bridging staffing gaps and improving the overall service quality. Plus, Shep and Jim share innovative ways AI is being used to support customer service agents. Tune in! Quote: "AI supercharges people. It doesn't replace human-to-human interaction. It just makes everything better, faster, and easier." About: Jim Payne is the Director of Product Marketing, Customer Engagement at RingCentral. He specializes in Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning and how they can be applied to improve customer experiences. Shep Hyken is a customer service and experience expert, New York Times bestselling author, award-winning keynote speaker, and host of Amazing Business Radio. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
This week on The Modern Customer Podcast, John Finch, Global VP of Product Marketing for Customer Experience at RingCentral, shares insider knowledge on how AI is reshaping the future of contact centers, tackling the toughest challenges in customer experience today. We dive into the complexities of bringing AI products to market, the importance of simplifying customer experience, and how RingCentral is revolutionizing the way businesses serve their customers with innovative solutions like RingCX. Plus, hear firsthand about the power of AI-driven agent assist, intelligent virtual agents (IVAs), and automation in delivering faster, smarter, and effortless customer service. Blake Morgan is a customer experience futurist, keynote speaker, and author of three books on customer experience. Her new book is called The 8 Laws of Customer-Focused Leadership: The New Rules for Building A Business Around Today's Customer.
Do This, NOT That: Marketing Tips with Jay Schwedelson l Presented By Marigold
In this episode, host Jay Schwedelson sits down with Kristen Koenig from RingCentral to dive into the evolving landscape of event technology and marketing strategies.=================================================================Best Moments:(00:49)Kristen's role at RingCentral and her journey in the event tech industry(04:31) Explore how journey mapping can provide deeper insights into attendee behavior(07:46) Diving into more granular data for better event outcomes(09:22) Why seamless integrations in event technology platforms are critical(12:39) Kristen shares her predictions on where event tech is headed(14:57) Challenges and opportunities in creating lasting event communities(16:17) A personal glimpse into Kristen's background in singing and performances=================================================================Guest Bio:Kristen Koenig is a seasoned event technology professional currently at RingCentral. She has extensive experience in nonprofit events and a passion for community building, having previously worked with Cvent and various agencies. Kristen is also known for her insights on LinkedIn and her enthusiasm for music and singing.=================================================================PARTNER WITH JAY AND GURU Media Hub HERE:www.GuruMediaHub.comPartner with Jay or have Jay on YOUR podcast:www.JaySchwedelson.comJay's Agency:www.OutcomeMedia.com=================================================================MASSIVE thank you to our Sponsor, Marigold!!Marigold is a relationship marketing platform designed to help you acquire new customers and turn them into superfans with their best-in-class loyalty solutions. Don't take my word for it though, American Airlines, Honeybaked Ham, Title Boxing, and Notre Dame University are also customers!Regardless of your size, check out Marigold today to get the solution you need to grow your business!Check out this free content from marigold that Jay has loved digesting, 5 Steps For Selecting The Right Email Marketing Platform.
Jerry and Sam discuss issues with Zoom's SMS campaign requirements and RingCentral's lack of shared SMS functionality. Jerry also shares his frustration with RingCentral's call handling limitations and the need for an unused extension to utilize advanced features. For Joe, clients bypass Smith.ai by pressing extensions, leading to increased costs. Apple Intelligence may help manage notifications upon returning from being off the grid. The hosts discuss the need for digital detox and features in Apple's notification system. They also share their experiences with managing notifications and the potential benefits of AI-driven prioritization. Sam has had an initially successful rollout of pricing emails to clients and he talks about the positive response he has received. Jerry shares frustration with clients ignoring service recommendations despite positive feedback. After some input from Joe and Sam, he considers personalizing emails and including recommendations in newsletters to improve response rates. Joe also mentions the importance of using a personal email address instead of a bulk email service to avoid being filtered out as spam. A customer's easy acceptance of a significant rate increase led to a discussion about the importance of maintaining a consistent network stack. Despite the challenges, we discuss the value of following established procedures to ensure successful outcomes. Joe wonders if Mercury being in retrograde has had any affect on clients being able to follow simple instructions. Joe brings up the dangers of deep fake audio and how to protect against it. He even brings up a story of how Ferrari thwarted a deepfake attempt. They suggest using context knowledge or a safe word to identify potential scammers. Join us on YouTube to listen to us live or catch up on past episodes! Thank you to our Patreon sponsors!
We're in a new era where AI is reshaping every customer interaction, transforming business models, and redefining customer experience. Companies harnessing AI now will forge unbreakable customer bonds, while those lagging behind risk obsolescence. What does this mean for your business? How can you turn AI from a buzzword into a CX superpower? Join Stacy Sherman and Jim Payne as they unpack the intersection of CX and AI. Discover actionable strategies to thrive in this AI-driven landscape and drive unprecedented growth. Episode sponsored by RingCentral - A leading provider of AI-driven cloud business communications, contact center, video, and hybrid event solutions.
A CMO Confidential Interview with Leesa Eichberger, Former CMO of Jenny Craig & Ring Central and Amanda Reierson, former CMO of Avant and Head of Marketing at Thumbtack. We all worked together at Farmers Insurance. Amanda and Leesa discuss tips for evaluating "communication health," what to do in a company that doesn't like bad news, and how to manage a situation where you think your boss is making an error. Key topics include: why you should always have next steps and a solution; understanding and respecting the culture; and why you shouldn't "make stuff up." Tune in to hear some amusing worst practices and why you might want to keep a "head scratcher list."Welcome to CMO Confidential, where you get an insider's perspective on the challenges and triumphs of being a Chief Marketing Officer! In this episode, "What Your Team Hates But Won't Tell You! Secrets from Top CMOs," join host Mike Linton, former CMO of Best Buy, eBay, Farmers Insurance, and Ancestry.com, as he sits down with marketing powerhouses Lisa Eichberger and Amanda Ryerson.Key topics include:- Identifying and addressing communication gaps within your team.- Strategies for conveying bad news effectively.- The importance of building trust and fostering open dialogue.- Real-world examples of managing team dynamics and aligning with company culture.Tune in to hear Lisa, former CMO of Jenny Craig and RingCentral, and Amanda, former CMO at Avant and Chief Growth Officer at Farmers, share their invaluable insights and personal experiences. Whether you're a marketer, advertiser, or just fascinated by the world of marketing, this episode is packed with lessons on leadership and team management.Subscribe to the CMO Confidential Newsletter for exclusive content and stay updated with our latest episodes. Don't forget to like, share, and subscribe. Thanks for listening, and stay safe out there, marketers!#TeamFeedback #ExecutiveCommunication #ManagingRemoteTeams #TeamSuccessStrategies #MarketingInsightsCHAPTERS:00:00 - Intro01:49 - Communication Health Strategies03:45 - Communicating with Your Boss Effectively07:03 - Testing the Waters with a New Boss11:12 - Best and Worst Communication Practices15:25 - Communicating Bad News Effectively18:28 - Addressing Mistakes Made by Your Boss20:20 - Disagreeing and Committing in Conversations22:05 - Handling Team Pushback on Ideas26:10 - Funniest Email Story28:30 - The Importance of Saying "I Don't Know"30:29 - OutroSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Your phone is one of the best tools to keep in touch with clients and follow up on leads. We've gathered a list of applications that make compliant communication through the phone a lot easier. Listen to learn more! Read the text version Contact the Agent Survival Guide Podcast! Email us ASGPodcast@Ritterim.com or call 1-717-562-7211 and leave a voicemail. Phone & VoIP Resources: AgencyBloc: https://www.agencybloc.com/ Phone.com: https://www.phone.com/ RingCentral: https://www.ringcentral.com/ Zoom Phone: https://www.zoom.com/en/products/voip-phone/ Call Recording Application Resources: Agency Bloc's Plus Suite: https://www.agencybloc.com/software-solutions/ Integrity's MedicareCENTER Call Recording Solution: https://integrity.com/MedicareCENTER/ Recordia Telephony Service: https://recordia.net/en/recordia-telephony-service-2-en/ Senior Market Sales CallRecording Solution: https://www.seniormarketsales.com/training-library/videos/phonedotcom TTEC's Mobile Record and Store Now: https://www.ttec.com/industries/healthcare Resources: A Review of the Top Call Recording Applications for Compliant Medicare Business: https://ritterim.com/blog/a-review-of-the-top-call-recording-applications-for-compliant-medicare-business/ CMS' New Definition of Marketing & How It Affects Agents Selling Medicare Plans: https://link.chtbl.com/ASGN20230515B Sales and Communication Practices: https://docs.ritterim.com/compliance/sales-communication-practices/ What Are Agents Responsible for Under HIPAA? https://ritterim.com/blog/what-are-agents-responsible-for-under-hipaa/ Where It All Begins Obtaining Permission to Contact for Medicare Sales: https://ritterim.com/blog/where-it-all-begins-obtaining-permission-to-contact-for-medicare-sales/ References: Tautimes, Mari. “Should Insurance Agents Use Text Messages to Communicate with Clients?” Western Asset Protection Blog, Western Asset Protection, 16 May 2019, info.westernassetprotection.com/blog/should-insurance-agents-use-text-messages-to-communicate-with-clients Dice, Zach. “VoIP vs. Company Cell Phones: Which Is Best for Your Business?” Dice Communications Blog, Dice Communications, 3 Nov. 2022, dicecommunications.com/six-key-differentiators-between-company-cell-phones-and-voip Alder, Steve. “HIPAA Training Requirements.” HIPAA Journal, HIPAA Journal, 21 May 2023, www.hipaajournal.com/hipaa-training-requirements/ “Telephone Consumer Protection Act 47 USC § 227.” Federal Communications Commission, Federal Communications Commission, www.fcc.gov/sites/default/files/tcpa-rules.pdf Accessed 22 July 2024. Alder, Steve. “The Use of Technology and HIPAA Compliance.” HIPAA Journal, HIPAA Journal, 27 Nov. 2023, www.hipaajournal.com/the-use-of-technology-and-hipaa-compliance/ “Worldwide Texting Statistics.” Vermont State Highway Safety Office, State of Vermont, 20 June 2018, shso.vermont.gov/sites/ghsp/files/documents/Worldwide%20Texting%20Statistics.pdf Staff in the Office of Technology. “Can-SPAM Act: A Compliance Guide for Business.” Federal Trade Commission, 17 Jan. 2024, www.ftc.gov/business-guidance/resources/can-spam-act-compliance-guide-business Follow Us on Social! Ritter on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, TikTok, X, and YouTube Sarah on LinkedIn, Instagram, and Threads Tina on LinkedIn
Welcome to REBallers! In this episode, we explore the exciting yet challenging journey of managing a remote business while traveling across 21 cities on two continents. Please visit our website to get more information: https://reballers.com/ After my daughter's glaucoma diagnosis, I decided to make unforgettable memories while keeping my real estate business afloat. Discover the obstacles we faced, the mistakes I made, and the lessons learned. Whether you're curious about balancing work and travel or understanding remote business management, this episode is packed with insights and experiences that could inspire your path to financial freedom.Timeline Summary:[0:00] - Introduction and a brief hiatus explanation.[2:19] - The impetus for the journey: My daughter's glaucoma diagnosis.[3:04] - Traveling to 21 cities and the unforgettable experiences.[4:37] - Challenges of running a business on the move.[6:15] - Mistakes made: Overestimating abilities and underestimating time zones.[7:24] - Importance of preparation: Budgeting, anticipating revenue, and setting up systems.[12:09] - Staying connected: Using tools like RingCentral and local SIM cards.[15:44] - Expecting the unexpected: Handling business emergencies and health scares.[19:17] - Lessons learned and the next steps.
Community is the foundation on which success is built. A strong support network opens opportunities and helps us overcome even the most challenging adversity.In this episode, I'm joined by Sonalee Parekh, Chief Financial Officer of RingCentral, a large software company. Sonalee has held leadership roles at Hewlett Packard, served on several boards and has over a 20-year career on Wall Street.Key Takeaways:(02:29) Growing up in a mixed-race household. (05:32) Visiting India for the first time was a culture shock. (12:30) The influence of her resilient grandmother. (17:17) How her father's forward-thinking nature shaped her. (35:25) Achieving early success in her career.(37:22) The impact moving to London had on her career. (45:47) The importance of stepping outside your comfort zone.(46:10) The value of pushing oneself to be uncomfortable. (47:32) The strategic selection of mentors.(50:59) Feeling at home in the Silicon Valley community.Resources Mentioned:Sonalee Parekh - https://www.linkedin.com/in/sonaleeparekh/RingCentral | LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/ringcentral/Hewlett Packard Enterprise - https://www.hpe.com/us/en/home.htmlRingCentral | Website - https://www.ringcentral.comGoldman Sachs - https://www.goldmansachs.comBarclays Capital - https://home.barclaysThanks for listening to the Indianness podcast. If you enjoyed this episode, hit the subscribe button and never miss another insightful conversation with leaders of Indian origin. And be sure to leave a review to help get the word out about the show. #Indian #IndiaBusiness #India #Indianness
This episode is packed with tips, strategies, and resources on text communication for your insurance business. Listen for HIPAA compliant apps, client scenarios, and so much more! Read text version Contact the Agent Survival Guide Podcast! Email us ASGPodcast@Ritterim.com or call 1-717-562-7211 and leave a voicemail. Text Communication Resources: AgencyBloc: https://www.agencybloc.com/ RingCentral: https://www.ringcentral.com/ Zoom Phone: https://www.zoom.com/en/products/voip-phone/ Resources: 2025 Marketplace Final Rule Changes Agents Should Know: https://ritterim.com/blog/2025-marketplace-final-rule-changes-agents-should-know/ Agent Apps | Free Video Conferencing Apps: https://link.chtbl.com/ASGA20230906 Agent Apps | Apps to Make Your Small Business More Efficient: https://link.chtbl.com/ASGA034 How to Take on an Upset Client in the Insurance Industry: https://link.chtbl.com/ASG567 How to Stay Compliant During All Medicare Sales: https://link.chtbl.com/ASG550 TCPA Compliance Rules: https://docs.ritterim.com/compliance/sales-communication-practices/#tcpa The Ultimate Agent Resource List Pt 1: Market Yourself: https://ritterim.com/blog/the-ultimate-agent-resource-list-pt-1-market-yourself/ What Are Agents Responsible for Under HIPAA? https://ritterim.com/blog/what-are-agents-responsible-for-under-hipaa/ References: HIPAA Training Requirements: https://www.hipaajournal.com/hipaa-training-requirements/ Should Insurance Agents Use Text Messages to Communicate with Clients? https://info.westernassetprotection.com/blog/should-insurance-agents-use-text-messages-to-communicate-with-clients Six Key Differentiators Between Company Cell Phones and VolP: https://dicecommunications.com/six-key-differentiators-between-company-cell-phones-and-voip Worldwide Texting Statistics: https://shso.vermont.gov/sites/ghsp/files/documents/Worldwide%20Texting%20Statistics.pdf Follow Us on Social! Ritter on Facebook, https://www.facebook.com/RitterIM Instagram, https://www.instagram.com/ritter.insurance.marketing/ LinkedIn, https://www.linkedin.com/company/ritter-insurance-marketing TikTok, https://www.tiktok.com/@ritterim X (fka Twitter), https://twitter.com/RitterIM and Youtube, https://www.youtube.com/user/RitterInsurance Sarah on LinkedIn, https://www.linkedin.com/in/sjrueppel/ Instagram, https://www.instagram.com/thesarahjrueppel/ and Threads, https://www.threads.net/@thesarahjrueppel Tina on LinkedIn, https://www.linkedin.com/in/tina-lamoreux-6384b7199/
Here are our recommendations for apps and software to easily connect with your team and clients. Read text version Contact the Agent Survival Guide Podcast! Email us ASGPodcast@Ritterim.com or call 1-717-562-7211 and leave a voicemail. Video Conferencing Resources: Google Meet: https://workspace.google.com/products/meet/ Google Workspace: https://workspace.google.com/ Microsoft Meet: https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-teams/small-medium-business Phone.com: https://www.phone.com/video-meetings/ RingCentral: https://www.ringcentral.com/video.html Zoho Webinar: https://www.zoho.com/webinar/ Zoho Meeting: https://www.zoho.com/meeting/ Zoom Webinars: https://www.zoom.com/en/products/webinars/ Zoom Workplace: https://www.zoom.com/en/products/collaboration-tools/ Resources: Apps for Professional Networking & Events: https://link.chtbl.com/ASGA20230823 Apps to Make Your Small Business More Efficient: https://link.chtbl.com/ASGA034 Agent's Guide to Digital Marketing Resources: https://link.chtbl.com/ASG584 Best Free Video Conferencing Apps: https://link.chtbl.com/ASGA20230906 Keys to Client Retention: Digital Communication: https://link.chtbl.com/ASG577 References: 5 Tips to Stand Out on Zoom: How to Look Best on Video Calls: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4xr4vmPJDE0 8 tips for video conferencing etiquette: https://www.ringcentral.com/us/en/blog/video-conferencing-etiquette-2022/ Best Practices for Effective Video Conferencing: https://uit.stanford.edu/videoconferencing/best-practices Follow Us on Social! Ritter on Facebook, https://www.facebook.com/RitterIM Instagram, https://www.instagram.com/ritter.insurance.marketing/ LinkedIn, https://www.linkedin.com/company/ritter-insurance-marketing TikTok, https://www.tiktok.com/@ritterim X (fka) Twitter, https://twitter.com/RitterIM and Youtube, https://www.youtube.com/user/RitterInsurance Sarah on LinkedIn, https://www.linkedin.com/in/sjrueppel/ Instagram, https://www.instagram.com/thesarahjrueppel/ and Threads, https://www.threads.net/@thesarahjrueppel Tina on LinkedIn, https://www.linkedin.com/in/tina-lamoreux-6384b7199/
In this episode of "Insurance Business Babes," hosts Kathe Kline and Joanna Wyckoff talk about a bunch of different things, but delve into the importance of using CRM systems and technology to streamline client interactions and protect against disputes. They discuss various tools like Applaud AI for recording face-to-face meetings, Dialpad for phone calls, and RingCentral for sales calls, stressing the necessity of keeping detailed records and obtaining consent. The hosts share their experiences in dealing with client billing issues, managing educational events, and leveraging technology like AI and CRM systems to enhance their business operations. Amid personal and professional anecdotes, they also touch on the challenges and benefits of working with IMOs and FMOs, the significance of educational content, and the value of excellent customer service. The episode concludes with reflections on their success, continuous learning, and the importance of thoughtful planning for business events.
CX Leader Podcast with Steve Walker | A resource for customer experience leaders
We'll bet you've heard this one: you call customer support and encounter an automated system. Despite your best efforts to speak clearly, the voice on the other end of the line can't understand you. Or, how about when you've finally reached someone and they need to transfer you to another agent. After waiting on hold for a while, the second agent finally answers the phone but asks you to explain the problem all over again. That is s a particularly frustrating experience, and you're not alone according to a recent study by RingCentral and Opinium Research. Host Sara Walker welcomes Jim Payne, director of product marketing at RingCentral, a provider of AI-first cloud-based communication and collaboration solutions, for a discussion about the report's findings and how AI can help ease those customer support pain points. You can read more about RingCentral and Opinium Research's report here: https://www.ringcentral.com/us/en/blog/can-ai-fix-bad-customer-service/ Find a transcript for this episode on the show notes page: https://cxleaderpodcast.com/can-ai-save-customer-support/ Listen to more episodes at https://cxleaderpodcast.com/ Learn more about Walker at https://walkerinfo.com/
10X Success Hacks for Startups, Innovations and Ventures (consulting and training tips)
In today's episode of Pitch Cafe, we have someone who can manage work and life outside work with excellence and she spills her beans effortlessly. So much clarity in thinking and execution, only a mom, a sportswoman, an artist and a person who can throw an event for 500-800 attendees every two weeks can do. Shubha Prithvi Raj, President of Kannada Koota Northern California and also the Director, Technical Program Management at RingCentral, with us!
In this episode of "Insurance Business Babes" Kathe Kline and Joanna Wyckoff dive into the world of tech tools that can revolutionize insurance businesses. They explore the DFY platform's automated features, emphasize the importance of owning customer data outside of Facebook, and discuss various CRM options like Agency Block and Medicare Pro, including HIPAA compliance and cost considerations. Kathe and Joanna also share their experience with different VoIP systems, video recording tools, and programs like Canva and Stencil for creating professional content. They highlight the efficiency of TypeDesk in managing repetitive communications and the innovative Contact Wearable bracelet for networking. Furthermore, they talk about the nuances of e-mail marketing with SendFox and Constant Contact, and how tools like Zapier can automate client interactions. Throughout, they remind listeners of affiliate opportunities that support the podcast without extra cost, posting to show notes for further details on the programs covered.
In this episode, Shane Kidwell and Sean Zalmanoff tackle the crucial topic of taking well-deserved breaks and establishing firm boundaries in the demanding arena of commission-based work. They deliver powerful insights on how to seamlessly disconnect, ensuring your team has everything under control, so you can recharge without a hitch. 03:16 - Different Types of Trips and Setting Up for Vacation06:10 - Different Approach for Work Trips09:58 - Setting Up Team and Communication10:26 - Accepting Consequences and Results12:45 - Working on Weekends20:26 - Owning Your Time and Leveraging TechnologyTakeaways:Understand that taking time off isn't just about leaving work; it's about strategically planning so that your absence is as smooth as possible for everyone involved. Before you step away, ensure your team and clients know who to contact and how to handle urgent issues. This planning helps you truly relax and enjoy your time off, knowing everything is under control.Embrace tools and systems that make remote work and communication seamless. Applications like RingCentral for calls or Calendly for scheduling are invaluable. They allow you to maintain a presence and ensure continuity in your work, even when you're not physically available. Keep your clients, team, and partners in the loop about your availability. Clear communication helps manage expectations and reduces the chances of misunderstandings or frustrations during your absence. This proactive approach ensures smoother transitions and maintains trust in your professional relationships.Quotes:"You are entitled to take a vacation. You are a full-fledged adult. You can do that. Everyone else in life takes vacations where they don't work." "Be where your feet are. I don't remember who said it, but it's definitely something in our industry that we can all be more present and do more of." "You can't effectively be two places at once. And I think that's important to understand, be where you're going to be and be effective in that time." "Just set your team up for success. And your team is not just your team. I believe your team are your agents, your referral partners, your pre-approvals."Show Links:Community Platform: www.BecomeNL.com Podcast Partner: https://leadpops.com/mortgage/partners/nextlevel/ Social Media:Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/NextLevelLoanOfficers/ YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCwSyHzkvBri1YWJSH7df1CQ LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/company/next-level-loan-officers/about/
Have you ever hung up after a customer service call, feeling more frustrated than when you dialed in? In today's episode, we delve into customer service, where dissatisfaction seems to be the norm rather than the exception. With a staggering 97% of people reporting poor interactions in recent surveys, it's clear that the pandemic has only intensified these challenges. But what if there was a silver lining amidst these frustrations? Joining us today is John Finch, VP of Product Marketing at RingCentral, who is exploring how technology, specifically Artificial Intelligence (AI), revolutionizes customer service. We'll uncover the transformative power of RingCX, RingCentral's omnichannel customer engagement product, and how it's leveling the playing field for businesses of all sizes by integrating advanced AI capabilities such as sentiment analysis, quality management, and next-best action recommendations. But it's not all about automation. In our conversation, we'll balance leveraging technology and preserving the irreplaceable value of personal human interactions. How does RingCX maintain this equilibrium, and what role do integrations with platforms like Salesforce play in creating a seamless, unified customer experience? Data security, privacy, and the future of AI in customer service are also on the agenda. With RingCentral's commitment to data protection, we'll discuss how businesses can navigate the complexities of utilizing AI while ensuring customer information remains secure. Furthermore, we look ahead to how AI might evolve to enhance customer service further, potentially surpassing human capabilities with advancements in semantic search, machine learning, and natural language processing. Whether you're a business owner, a customer service professional, or simply someone intrigued by AI's potential to solve real-world problems, this episode promises to demystify the technology and showcase its practical value in improving customer experiences.
Superpowers School Podcast - Productivity Future Of Work, Motivation, Entrepreneurs, Agile, Creative
Thanks for reading Superpowers School! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work.Steve Multer, a professional corporate storyteller, talks about how storytelling can help product managers enhance product connection, communication and user engagement. Steve touches on how the human brain processes information, and how this affects marketing practices today. Steve speaks in detail about how product leaders can create differentiation, clear obstacles from a customer's path, and motivate them to take action. Additionally, he shares insights on how product managers at various brands, including John Deere, Apple, Tesla, and Andrex have leveraged storytelling for marketing success.Download Steve's free 5 Paths to Passionate Storytelling eGuide and to sign up for Tuesday Tips & Tricks:https://corporatestorytelling.com/guide code: soldtold2300:00 Introduction and Personal Update00:40 Guest Introduction: Steve Multer01:53 The Superpower of Corporate Storytelling01:57 The Need to Abolish Corporate Speak03:34 The Charm of Chicago: A Personal Perspective06:22 The Power of Books and Reading09:27 The Art of Corporate Storytelling17:25 The Impact of AI on Careers23:19 The Power of AI in Storytelling29:31 The Impact of Technology on Traditional Methods29:44 The Evolution of Animation: From Hand-Drawn to Digital30:38 The Role of AI in Animation and Gaming Industries31:00 The Power of AI in Tech Sphere and Cloud Transition32:28 The Evolution of Human Behavior with Technology32:53 The Changing Landscape of Storytelling33:42 The Impact of Technology on Human Attention Span37:00 The Art of Engaging Audience in Storytelling38:46 The Power of Human Stories in Marketing40:24 The Role of Emotion in Product Differentiation45:45 The Impact of Community Building and Visual Learning51:47 The Power of Experiential Learning in Marketing56:33 Conclusion: The Power of Human Connection in StorytellingThanks for reading Superpowers School! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work.Steve Multer (Corporate Storytelling)Steve Multer has delivered more than 20,000 onstage and on camera presentations to over 2.5 million audience members across the Americas, Europe, and Asia for global brands that include Cisco, Panasonic, Fujifilm, Siemens, AGFA, Volvo, Philips, Xerox, HP, and Bayer. Fortune corporations trust Steve to reveal their core value, passion, and connection to customers, partners, and media analysts. Steve is also a leader in executive presence and winning communication training and speaker coaching. He partners with multinational organizations including Splunk, Spirent, RingCentral, Florida International University, and Lufthansa to uplevel their brand stories, and is recognized by C-Suites and sales teams for personalized, engaging programs that bring out the very best in each presenter, at any level in their career. Steve's new book, Nothing Gets Sold Until the Story Gets Told: Corporate Storytelling for Career Success and Value-Driven Marketing, is available in hardcover, paperback, eBook, and audiobook from Amazon and all retailers. Steve is a Professional member of the National Speakers Association and the Dramatists Guild, an avid foodie, world traveler, travel planning expert, happy husband, lucky dad to two amazing daughters, and proud non-native Chicagoan.
Your product is a life hack. Or maybe it's technically a work hack. Use that to your advantage.Because everyone wants work to be easier, to go more smoothly, to be more efficient. So if you can serve them up a shortcut that feels like a secret and looks pretty too, they'll be easy to convert. That's why we're taking lessons from Stanley and how they unlocked a whole new audience with the release of their life hack: the Quencher. Together with Celigo's Content Director, Leah Westfall, we chat about marketing your product as a lifehack, tapping into the FOMO, and offering aesthetic options.About our guest, Leah WestfallLeah Westfall is Content Director at Celigo, a leading integration platform-as-a-service (iPaaS). She joined the company in August 2024. At Celigo, she is building a team of content strategists and writers, and working to bring their platform to market through full-funnel integrated campaigns. Prior to her current role, she co-founded innovative software platform Moxie. There, she also shaped the go-to-market and content strategies. She has also previously served as Director of Content Marketing at RingCentral and Content Manager at Connect First, Inc.About CeligoCeligo is the leading enterprise-grade integration platform that blends cutting-edge AI with technology, enabling organizations to discover, automate, and optimize every business process. The Celigo platform is called “Integator.io.” About 1000+ customers use it. Celigo's customers use it to set up integrations to and from NetSuite, Salesforce, Hubspot, and 100s of other connectors.About StanleyThe company has been around since 1913. It was founded by William Stanley Jr., who was an inventor. And he created a vacuum-sealed steel bottle that would keep whatever was inside hot or cold, longer. Stanley has become known for making long-lasting functional products. For the longest time, their hammertone green steel thermoses were what your grandfather or dad would take camping or to work. Now, the Stanley Quencher has become really popular among women primarily. It's now less of a purely utilitarian object, and more of a fashion accessory. The Quencher is a steel bottle with a lid and straw. The bottom is tapered so it fits in a cup holder. It comes in different sizes, but it was originally a 40-ounce bottle. And you can get it in tons of different colors, and even customize it with different designs. It retails for $45 dollars and up.The popularity has been credited to various blogs and sites over the past few years. But it's mainly thought that sisters Ashlee LeSueur and Taylor Cannon along with their cousin, Linley Hutchinson who run e-commerce blog The Buy Guide, were the ones responsible for its recent surge in sales. The Quencher was one of the first products featured in 2017.What B2B Companies Can Learn From the Stanley Quencher:Market your product as a life hack. Let your audience into a little secret: Your product will make their lives easier, save them time, and streamline their workflow. Leah says, “People want to do their jobs better, faster, smarter, more efficiently. So are we able to provide a hack or a tool that allows people to go and solve their pain point or solve the thing that's so annoying in their day to day business? It's like, is there a way to do this better?”Tap into the FOMO. Leverage your superfans with a large social audience to evangelize your brand and amplify a sense of FOMO, or likewise, inclusivity. Leah says, “It's like, ‘Oh, I see somebody with this and they look like me. So if they're using that, I should probably use that too,' or like, ‘We're similar because we both appreciate the same things and live this active lifestyle and want to be healthy. So if she has it, I should probably have it also.' Because we buy the same things. We have a similar mindset. We have the same goals. We have the same pain points. So people are drawn to this feeling of inclusivity.” Ian adds that Stanley also creates demand by releasing limited runs of their tumblers. He says, “The constrained nature of the supply and demand aspect is always interesting. Like, that there's a limited number and they would keep selling out. Everybody always wants something that's sold out.”Offer aesthetic options. It could be as simple as letting customers choose their color, or customizing what their product looks like. Ian says, “the colors [of the Stanley Quencher] are really cool, and they do 100 percent stand out. And I think there's just a great marketing lesson here about variety being the spice of life. People like to accessorize. Not just to accessorize their bodies or their appearance, but people just like having options.”Quotes*”A water bottle doesn't have to be just red or blue anymore. You can get matte orchid or ice cream pink. And it's flipping the idea that it has to come in a really outdoorsy kind of color. What use to be red, blue, or green now comes in pale pink. It's like, ‘Oh, that was made for me.' It gives people the option or chance to have their identity tied into your product a little bit.” - Leah Westfall*”One thing that's so important is this idea of the influencer. Finding them and using those channels. Then you need to find a way to accelerate them. Once they're out there and they're doing their thing, the secondary piece is getting your customers in the same room as your prospects. That's a big thing for B2B marketing. Use your influencers, use your key customers, help accelerate their stories, let them tell it in an authentic way, and then put them in virtual rooms or physical rooms, in digital spaces with prospects so that they can then share their stories organically.” - Ian Faison*”We are all consumers by nature. But we can tell when we're being marketed to, and that's such a turnoff, especially to younger generations. So tell that story in a really authentic way, like in a case study or a customer success story, allowing the people to be like, ‘We didn't know what we were doing. We just went out and we had this major problem,' being really honest and raw. That's good marketing and good storytelling because of the authenticity.” - Leah WestfallTime Stamps[0:55] Meet the Content Director at Celigo, Leah Westfall[1:49] Why are we talking about the Stanley Quencher?[3:04] What does Leah's role at Celigo entail?[4:04] Tell me more about Stanley and the Quencher tumbler[12:28] What makes the Stanley Quencher remarkable?[22:26] What marketing lessons can we take from Stanley and the Quencher?[41:42] What's Leah's content strategy?[43:54] What upcoming projects is Leah working on at Celigo?[45:22] What advice would Leah give other marketing professionals?LinksGet a Stanley QuencherConnect with Leah on LinkedInLearn more about CeligoAbout Remarkable!Remarkable! is created by the team at Caspian Studios, the premier B2B Podcast-as-a-Service company. Caspian creates both non-fiction and fiction series for B2B companies. If you want a fiction series check out our new offering - The Business Thriller - Hollywood style storytelling for B2B. Learn more at CaspianStudios.com. In today's episode, you heard from Ian Faison (CEO of Caspian Studios) and Meredith Gooderham (Senior Producer). Remarkable was produced this week by Jess Avellino, mixed by Scott Goodrich, and our theme song is “Solomon” by FALAK. Create something remarkable. Rise above the noise.
In this episode of Agents Influence podcast, host Jason Cass interviews Winston Smith, CEO of Bridge Insure. Key Topics: Winston Smith's background and his transition to running Bridge Insure The evolution of Bridge Insure under Winston's leadership Bridge Insure's role as a comprehensive customer communication management platform The significance of technology and systems in the growth of insurance agencies Winston's perspective on the resilience and future of independent agents The strategic approach behind acquiring and scaling Bridge Insights into Bridge's unique offerings, including substitutes for popular tools like RingCentral, HubSpot, DocuSign, and others The importance of self-awareness and strategic thinking in business success Reach out to: Winston Smith Jason Cass Visit Website: Bridge Insure Agency Intelligence
Finding loads for truckers is one of the most critical tasks for any trucking company. If you have been following this podcast, you know that up to this point we have used a third party dispatching service to help us find loads. About three months ago we started the process of bringing load finding in house. We are taking about 5-6 months to complete the transition. I am up to dispatching 6 of our 11 trucks and will take on 2 more trucks in about a week and the last 3 in the month or two that follow. The last 3 months have been super educational and I plan on sharing a lot of what I have learned with you. I am going to do at least 3, probably many more, episodes around the topic of finding loads. The first one is going to be technical, Craig and I are going to cover all the systems I use to do the job effectively. What To Expect From Episode 144 Finding loads and dispatching trucks is a very fast paced, intense job, whether you are managing 1 truck or 10. It requires lots of different skills, you have to be able to multitask, pay attention to detail, build relationships and stay organized. Having good systems and processes in place is critical to being successful, that is why I am dedicating the first episode on this series to the systems I am using to stay on top of everything that is going on. Here are the different systems I am using, we cover each one in more detail throughout the podcast. I hope this episode is helpful. ComputerTwo monitors, scroll down to see what my computer setup looks like. Email, kind of goes without saying You want any system you use to ideally be able to operate on your phone so you don't have to be by your computer all the time. However, the apps are never as good and there are typically things that are harder to do from your phone. Phone systemA VOIP based phone system, something that records calls and can text. I use my cell to communicate with drivers and my VOIP phone to interact with brokers.Ring Central seems to be the most popular Nextiva A cell phone LoadboardsDATSeems to have more loads The app is not as good as the computer. You can't do multiple searches at the same time. Audible alarm Heat map that shows inbound and outbound volume of loads ITS, truckstop.comCheaper They say they have brokers who either use them exclusively or post to their site before they post on other load boards TMS (Transportation Management System) or an Excel SpreadsheetOne of my favorite things about spreadsheets is they are free or very cheap, Google Docs, Excel I think you can manage 5 trucks okay with a spreadsheet. Once you get over 5, I would definitely recommend using a TMS. You may even want to with 3. ELDMotive A program to digitally sign docs, lots of optionsFor a Microsoft Windows based computer, Adobe Acrobate DC, it's freeComes installed on most computers For Macs, PreviewerComes with the computer Android, Adobe Fill and Sign Mobile App iPhone, you can sign with the native pdf viewer Credit ChecksDATI take this with a grain of salt Factoring companiesTheir systems seem to be the most reliable WeatherNational Weather Service, look at the loop and select weather. State Road Conditions, every state has somethingLook at the cameras WY, I-80 OR WA NE Cloud based share point for document storageAccessible from your phone EvernoteKnowledge is everything. The more you know the better you are going to be. I don't remember everything well, so I take notes and review my notes regularly Free and paid versions