Podcasts about robotic process automation rpa

In this episode of Corporate Treasury 101, we sit down with Philip Costa Hibberd and Jan-Willem Attevelt from Automation Boutique to explore how Robotic Process Automation (RPA) and Artificial Intelligence (AI) are transforming treasury and finance teams. From eliminating manual workflows to building scalable automation ecosystems, Philip and Jan-Willem explain how modern tech can unlock efficiency and empower treasury teams to focus on value-driving activities. Whether you're new to automation or considering a rollout in your organization, this is a treasury-forward deep dive worth tuning into.Philip Costa Hibberd is the founder of Automation Boutique and a seasoned automation manager specializing in finance and treasury. Jan-Willem Attevelt is a technical expert in RPA, APIs, and AI, and brings extensive treasury experience to his work. Together, they help global organizations streamline operations through practical, no-nonsense automation strategies.What You'll Learn in This EpisodeWhat RPA is and how it fits into broader treasury automation effortsWhy attended vs unattended bots matter—and where AI fits into the mixPractical use cases: from FX rate retrieval to multi-bank PDF parsingWhy RPA is “macros on steroids”—and what it can do that Excel can'tThe risks of automating broken processes and why simplicity winsEpisode Breakdown & Timestamps [00:00] – Introduction and AFP partnership ($100 off CTP certification) [01:29] – Meet Philip and Jan-Willem from Automation Boutique [03:02] – What is automation in Treasury, and why does it matter [06:02] – What is RPA and how it works in a Treasury context [08:04] – Security, attended vs unattended bots, and credential handling [11:25] – How RPA and AI can work together in automation flows [15:23] – Simple RPA use case: extracting data from PDF confirmations [19:52] – Why RPA isn't always the best solution – when to say no [24:17] – RPA vs Excel macros: key differences and advantages [30:22] – How bots interact with applications and system UIs [36:05] – Is RPA suitable for small businesses? Cost and scalability [39:40] – Using Excel and Power Query as a starting point for automation [43:48] – Skills needed to start with RPA (free training and tools) [46:53] – How to maintain RPA implementations without deep tech skills [51:19] – Drawbacks of RPA: automating messy processes creates bigger problems [54:41] – Common Treasury RPA use cases: reporting & master data uploads [56:51] – Real success story: automating bank deal confirmation processing [01:09:13] – Future of Treasury: combining RPA with AI for decision-making [01:10:51] – Where to learn more: UiPath, Microsoft, and Automation BoutiqueFollow Philip Costa Hibberd & Jan-Willem AtteveltWebsite: https://www.automationboutique.com/Philip Costa Hibberd on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/philip-costa-hibberd/ Jan-Willem Attevelt on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/attevelt/ Follow Corporate Treasury 101:Website:

Agentic AI has the potential to revolutionize healthcare operations by automating tasks, predicting challenges, and optimizing workflows. In this episode, Harpaul Sambhi, founder and CEO of Magical, explores how AI employees are transforming the workplace and addressing inefficiencies in healthcare. He highlights the burden of tedious tasks and technology integration challenges that shift focus away from patient-centric care. Harpaul contrasts the adaptability of Agentic AI, exemplified by Magical's AI employee earning an HFMA certification, with the limitations of Robotic Process Automation (RPA). He emphasizes that RCM leaders are embracing Agentic AI for its intelligence and scalability while advising healthcare executives to prioritize clarity, collaboration, and adaptability in digital transformation. Join us and discover how Agentic AI can provide a competitive advantage and transform healthcare operations! Resources: Connect with and follow Harpaul Sambhi on LinkedIn. Learn more about Magical on their LinkedIn and website.

In this episode of The Systematic Leader, I sat down with Jason Bryll of Parable Associates to dive deep into how businesses can leverage structured learning, automation, and data-driven decision-making to improve efficiency and drive growth. 1. Why Systems-Driven Learning Matters Most businesses focus on execution, but structured learning opportunities create long-term success. Jason shared how his company builds intentional learning structures to empower employees and improve client outcomes: Monthly Learning Days – Employees dedicate time to learning skills like SQL or Python.Onboarding Checklists & Training Videos – New hires ramp up faster with customized learning paths.Internal Knowledge Sharing – "Show and Tell" sessions encourage employees to share insights from client projects. Key Takeaway: A culture of learning creates a smarter, more adaptable workforce. 2. Automating the Repetitive: The Power of RPA We also discussed Robotic Process Automation (RPA)—a game-changer for businesses drowning in repetitive tasks. Example: Jason's team automated insurance claim follow-ups for healthcare practices, reducing manual work and freeing up staff for higher-value tasks. 3. Data-Driven Decision-Making Smart leaders don't just collect data—they use it. Jason shared how Parable Associates builds feedback loops to refine their systems: Monthly Executive Leadership Committee (ELC) Meetings – Full-day strategic planning powered by data. Asana for Tracking Agenda Items – Ensures important issues are discussed. Employee Pulse Surveys – Five quick questions every month to gauge team sentiment. Key Takeaway: Reviewing data consistently leads to smarter business decisions. 4. Content as a System: Turning Knowledge into Assets Another key topic? Using structured content marketing to improve client engagement and training. Custom training videos – Used for internal learning and as a value-add for clients. Monthly blog performance reviews – Analyzing read counts and engagement to refine content strategy. Exploring a YouTube channel – Jason is considering a healthcare operations and data management content hub. Key Takeaway: Content isn't just marketing—it's a business asset. Learn more about Jason Bryll over at Parable Associates. You can also connect with him on LinkedIn.  You can get the Magnetic Systems Method (and other systems guides) to find issues before they become expensive problems. As always, if you have any questions or want to submit an amazing guest for the podcast, just reach out to me on the Systematic Leader website, and I'll do my best to get them on. If you enjoy the interview, please take 30 seconds to rate the Systematic Leader podcast on your favorite platform. Thanks!

Dr. Khwaja Moinuddin grew up in India with what he calls a “normal childhood”. He attended high school and then received his bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering in his home town. With some convincing and soul searching he then came to the United States and attended Texas Tech university where he obtained his Master's degree and began working toward obtaining a PhD. Khwaja tells us about his time at Texas Tech including how, when funding grew hard to get, he overcame his fears and adversity and found a job that helped him stay in school. Even so, while working on his Doctorate degree he secured a job with 3M and, as he tells us, he learned a lot and even today he is grateful for the opportunities he had at this company. Eventually, however, under the advice of others he did finish his PhD, but not in Mechanical Engineering as such.   Khwaja began learning about organizations, how they worked, why often they didn't work well and he developed ways to help people at all levels of organizations learn how to stop being so resistive to change and thus develop more positive attitudes and constructive methods of accomplishing tasks.   We get to hear much wisdom from Khwaja on leadership, resistance to change and how to better accomplish tasks by being more open to new ideas. This episode is a MUST for everyone if you are at all open to learning some new ideas and growing to be better in whatever you do at work, in life and at play.       About the Guest:   Dr. Khwaja Moinuddin is a renowned leader in Continuous Improvement, Change Management, and Business Transformation, with over 22 years of hands-on experience driving measurable impact across diverse industries. His mission is clear: to help organizations embed a culture of excellence, resilience, and continuous learning - not as a temporary initiative, but as a way of working. Whether leading large-scale change programs, coaching executives, or transforming operational models, he has built a reputation for delivering tangible business results and lasting cultural shifts. With deep expertise in Continuous Improvement, Change Leadership, and Robotic Process Automation (RPA), Dr. Moinuddin partners with organizations to challenge the status quo, eliminate inefficiencies, and create high-performing teams. He has worked across multiple industries, functions, and global markets, collaborating with executive leaders, middle managers, and frontline employees to break down silos and drive sustainable transformation. His holistic approach ensures that strategy, execution, and people engagement work in tandem, because real change happens when employees at every level take ownership of improvement. A passionate thought leader and author, Dr. Moinuddin has distilled his years of experience into two books that serve as practical guides for transformation:   "I.N.S.P.I.R.E. - An Adaptive Change Excellence Model and Guide of the people, for the people, by the people" – A framework for leading people-centered, high-impact change initiatives. "Are You (Really) Listening?: Decoding the Secrets of Unheard Conversations" – A deep dive into the power of listening as a critical leadership and change management skill.   Dr. Moinuddin's philosophy is simple: transformation is not about tools, it's about people, mindset, and discipline. If your organization is struggling with change fatigue, leadership misalignment, or resistance to new ways of working, he can help you turn obstacles into opportunities and create a culture where excellence thrives. Let's connect and explore how we can drive real, measurable business impact, together!     Dr. Khwaja Moinuddin's journey is a testament to the power of perseverance, continuous learning, and an unstoppable mindset. Born and raised in a simple middle-class family in Pondicherry, India, a former French colony - he completed his schooling and earned a Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering before moving to the U.S. to pursue his Master's in Industrial Engineering. At Texas Tech University, he excelled academically, achieving a 4.0/4.0 GPA in his major (Manufacturing) and an overall GPA of 3.83/4.0. While pursuing his degree, he also worked as an intern for Rhodia Inc., a chemicals manufacturing company, gaining valuable hands-on industry experience. Khwaja began his career as an Industrial Engineer with 3M, where he learned the foundations for his expertise in Continuous Improvement (CI) and Change Leadership. Over the years, he obtained multiple professional certifications, including Lean Six Sigma Master Black Belt, Certified Change Practitioner, Certified Prince2 Practitioner and Certified Scrum Master. His career took him across the globe, leading large-scale transformation initiatives in world-renowned organizations such as Ocean Spray Cranberries, Shell, Maersk, GARMCO, HSBC, and PDO (Petroleum Development Oman). Despite a demanding global career, Khwaja pursued his passion for learning, earning a Doctorate in Management Studies and a second Master's degree in Psychology while working full-time. His belief "To Learn is to Breathe" has shaped his leadership philosophy, helping organizations embrace change, embed a culture of excellence, and achieve breakthrough results. Beyond his professional accomplishments, Khwaja is a devoted husband and father. He fell in love with and married his wife, Sangeetha, while in the U.S., and together they have a 15-year-old son, Tanish. They now reside in Chennai, India. Dr. Khwaja travels frequently for his consulting work, and he continues to inspire businesses, leaders, and professionals to transform their organizations, and themselves - with an unstoppable mindset.   Ways to connect with Dr. Khwaja:   https://www.processexcellencenetwork.com/contributor/khwaja-moinuddin https://www.journeytowardsexcellence.com/ https://www.khwajamoinuddin.com/ https://www.journeytowardsexcellence.com/ https://www.khwajamoinuddin.com/     About the Host:   Michael Hingson is a New York Times best-selling author, international lecturer, and Chief Vision Officer for accessiBe. Michael, blind since birth, survived the 9/11 attacks with the help of his guide dog Roselle. This story is the subject of his best-selling book, Thunder Dog.   Michael gives over 100 presentations around the world each year speaking to influential groups such as Exxon Mobile, AT&T, Federal Express, Scripps College, Rutgers University, Children's Hospital, and the American Red Cross just to name a few. He is Ambassador for the National Braille Literacy Campaign for the National Federation of the Blind and also serves as Ambassador for the American Humane Association's 2012 Hero Dog Awards.   https://michaelhingson.com https://www.facebook.com/michael.hingson.author.speaker/ https://twitter.com/mhingson https://www.youtube.com/user/mhingson https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaelhingson/   accessiBe Links https://accessibe.com/ https://www.youtube.com/c/accessiBe https://www.linkedin.com/company/accessibe/mycompany/   https://www.facebook.com/accessibe/       Thanks for listening!   Thanks so much for listening to our podcast! If you enjoyed this episode and think that others could benefit from listening, please share it using the social media buttons on this page. Do you have some feedback or questions about this episode? Leave a comment in the section below!   Subscribe to the podcast   If you would like to get automatic updates of new podcast episodes, you can subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts or Stitcher. You can subscribe in your favorite podcast app. You can also support our podcast through our tip jar https://tips.pinecast.com/jar/unstoppable-mindset .   Leave us an Apple Podcasts review   Ratings and reviews from our listeners are extremely valuable to us and greatly appreciated. They help our podcast rank higher on Apple Podcasts, which exposes our show to more awesome listeners like you. If you have a minute, please leave an honest review on Apple Podcasts.       Transcription Notes:   Michael Hingson ** 00:00 Access Cast and accessiBe Initiative presents Unstoppable Mindset. The podcast where inclusion, diversity and the unexpected meet. Hi, I'm Michael Hingson, Chief Vision Officer for accessiBe and the author of the number one New York Times bestselling book, Thunder dog, the story of a blind man, his guide dog and the triumph of trust. Thanks for joining me on my podcast as we explore our own blinding fears of inclusion unacceptance and our resistance to change. We will discover the idea that no matter the situation, or the people we encounter, our own fears, and prejudices often are our strongest barriers to moving forward. The unstoppable mindset podcast is sponsored by accessiBe, that's a c c e s s i capital B e. Visit www.accessibe.com to learn how you can make your website accessible for persons with disabilities. And to help make the internet fully inclusive by the year 2025. Glad you dropped by we're happy to meet you and to have you here with us.   Michael Hingson ** 01:20 Well, hello again, everyone. I am your host once again. Michael hingson, and you are listening to unstoppable mindset. We're really glad you're with us, wherever you happen to be in the world, and wherever we happen to be talking in the world. And today we're actually talking to Dr Khwaja Moinuddin from India. So it's a long distance boy signals travel a lot faster today than they did when we used covered wagons or Coney pony expresses. So I'm really grateful for the fact that we get to use Zoom and computers and do things in such a meaningful way. So anyway, here we are. Kwaja has written two books, and I know he's going to tell us about those, so I'm not going to give a lot of that away. He has been a transformational leader. He also has a background in mechanical engineering, and that fascinates me, because it seems to me, it's interesting going from mechanical engineering to being a transformational subject matter expert and expert by any standard. So I'm going to be curious to hear about that. But anyway, meanwhile, Khwaja, I want to welcome you to unstoppable mindset, and thank you for being here.   Dr Khwaja Moinuddin ** 02:28 Thank you. Thank you, Michael, it's, it's indeed an honor to be on your podcast. And you know, as as we have been discussing, I'm no expert by any means. I have just gathered years and years of experience, 22 plus years of experience, and I'm still learning and continuous improvement, transformation. It's an ocean. So the more you know I learn, the more I feel like I don't know much. Yes, there is to learn, yes.   Michael Hingson ** 03:05 Well, I know exactly what you're saying. I think if we stop learning, then we have really let ourselves down and let the world down. We need to continue to learn. And I very much enjoy doing this podcast, because I get to learn so much from so many people. It's really a lot of fun. So I want to again, thank you for being here and looking forward to all that we get to talk about today. So let's get to it. I'd like to learn a little bit about maybe the early Khwaja Growing up and so on. Tell us a little bit about you growing up in India and so on.   Dr Khwaja Moinuddin ** 03:38 Yep, I'm from a very small town in Pondicherry called Pondicherry in in India, the closest big city is Chennai. It's about 160 kilometers south of Chennai. It used to be a former French colony. Now the place has been changed. I mean, the name has been changed from Pondicherry to Puducherry. But growing up, I'm the youngest of two kids. I have a brother. He's four years older than me, and my parents were typical middle class, lower middle class, both working parents. They worked really, really hard to put me and my brother through to school. They took care of us, they protected us. So I'm really grateful for my parents, my mom, my dad and my brother also could be quite me, you know, when I was young. So I'm really grateful to my family, because we were just the four of us in our family. Growing up, I went to a public school, initially, I went to a private school, and. Uh, but then my parents couldn't afford the fees, so we moved to public school, and I did all my schooling and my bachelor's in mechanical engineering in Pondicherry. So born and brought up in Pondicherry, which was a small fishing village, didn't know much about the real world until, you know, I graduated and stepped out of India for the very first time to go to the US to do my master's degree. My childhood was, was, was normal, you know, on a living on a on a coast. So I really enjoyed living near the beach. We didn't live very far away from the beach, just maybe, you know, maybe 100, 200 meters away from the beach. Growing up, I had a lot of friends, so we would be, would take our bicycles and and, you know, ride all over the town because it, you know, it wasn't as crazy as it is now with all the traffic and stuff, it was less congested. And the good thing about Pondicherry, an interesting fact is, because it was designed by the French, all the streets in Pondicherry are at right angles to each other. So you would never get lost if you are in Pondicherry, in the middle of the Pondicherry, because wherever you go, if you take a right turn and another right turn and another right turn, you will end up at the same place. So you will never get lost. That's an interesting fact in Pondicherry. How about Pondicherry?   Michael Hingson ** 06:39 So it certainly is a whole lot easier to travel around pontichery than it is to travel around Washington DC by any standard, I think. So yes, there's a lot of Angular streets and streets that go in different directions in Washington. So yeah, I think I'd like pot of cherry that's pretty good. So did you learn to fish?   Dr Khwaja Moinuddin ** 07:03 Not, not, yeah. I mean, I did learn how to fish, but more swimming. Used to go to the ocean almost every day. You know, I think I practically spent a lot of time on the beach with my friends and in the playgrounds. Our playgrounds used to be huge growing up, unlike now, they have become so small and condensed with all the, you know, development, the real estate that's growing in India, in Pondicherry and in India in general. But, but yeah, I did learn how to fish, you know, not using, like a fishing rod in the in the US, but using, you know, the the fishing, the the thread, you know, the nylon wire, fishing net, yeah, yeah. Not, not the net, but the wire, just was the single wire,   Michael Hingson ** 07:58 well, so you what, what got you into mechanical engineering?   Dr Khwaja Moinuddin ** 08:05 Well, you know, as, as all of my fellow Indians would say, in India, you are either an engineer or a doctor first. So, so I really had no choice. I had to become an engineer or a doctor. I didn't score enough to become a doctor, so I naturally became an engineer. But since I have to become an engineer, I was looking at, you know, all the different fields of engineering. What fascinated me was, you know, the field of mechanical engineering, because I heard from several of my friends and colleagues that mechanical engineering is an evergreen field, and typically, mechanical engineers can fit anywhere. And they were really, really they were, they were 100% correct. And I'm glad I chose mechanical engineering and I really liked my subject, because that what I am today would not be if I hadn't learned about mechanical engineering. Well.   Michael Hingson ** 09:07 So you, you got your bachelor's degree, but then you, as you said, you stepped out and you, you actually came to the United States and went to Texas Tech to do your advanced degree. What made you do that? That's moving a long way from home, yep.   Dr Khwaja Moinuddin ** 09:23 So some of my my my friends and my seniors, also, when I was doing my mechanical engineering, they were talking about something called as a GRE or a TOEFL. It sounded Greek, like Greek and Latin to me. I didn't know what it was. I had no intention of going to the US initially. My intention was to get a job and earn a lot of money and and I was almost done studying at that point of time, you know, learning subjects like thermodynamics and lot of advanced mechanics. Engineering stuff for four years really wears you out. But my my seniors and and my cousin also, and my uncles and a lot of my relatives, they said, you know, if you don't do your masters now, and if you go straight away to work, you may not have the inclination to learn more. So they really, they really prompted me or nudged me to do my Masters also, and and my mom, of course, she has been a great, great, great driving force behind me. She She encouraged me to always, always, always learn. She herself has, you know, so many degrees I cannot, I don't even know how many degrees she has. She has master's degrees and Bachelor's degrees in in, you know, all sorts of areas. And to this day, you know, she she keeps learning, and she has been a teacher for about 45 years now. So so my mom, along with my relatives and my friends. They said, You know, you need to study more so. So, you know, I had actually got a job, you know, in my fourth year. And I got a job through on campus interviews, you know, like a career fair in the in the US, similar to a career fair in the US. So I gave up that job and I wrote GRE and TOEFL. I worked hard. Got I did not get like flying colors, but I got, I got good grades in GRE and TOEFL, and then I applied to universities. Initially I was going to be an aerospace engineer, but then my friends also told me that maybe that's a difficult field to get a job in in future, because it requires, you know, us, security clearance and stuff. So you're you're better off doing something which is related to mechanical engineering, or even mechanical engineering. I didn't want to go too much into technical stuff, so I explored industrial engineering, and I found, you know, the courses and all that stuff were really to my liking and to my interest. So, so then I chose industrial engineering and Texas Tech specifically because of the industrial engineering program they had. So then and, and that's one, one thing led to another. And then I landed in Texas Tech University.   Michael Hingson ** 12:26 Well, that must have been fun. So you had lots of new experiences. You learned about football and all sorts of other things in addition to your academic studies. Yes,   Dr Khwaja Moinuddin ** 12:36 yes. Red Raiders. Go Red Raiders. Yeah, right.   Michael Hingson ** 12:40 Well, and I, I went to UC Irvine. I don't know, I still don't know if we have a much of a football team today. We have a good basketball team, but go anteaters anyway. So it's, it is interesting how our lives change and how we end up, how God gives us different opportunities? And then, of course, the issue really is us taking those opportunities and moving forward with them. When you You certainly did. You stepped out and you moved to the United States, you went to Texas Tech, you got your bachelor's, and where did you get your PhD?   Dr Khwaja Moinuddin ** 13:19 So I got my master's from Texas Tech, and I was, I also started to do my PhD in industrial engineering in Texas Tech, but unfortunately, I didn't finish, because the the department ran out of funding, and I had to search for a job. So I started to, I got my job in 3m as an industrial engineer. But I also did an internship in another company called Rodia, which is a chemicals manufacturing company. But then, you know, while I was doing, while I was, you know, still pursuing my full time job, I really wanted to go back to Texas Tech and complete my PhD, because I had completed all my coursework, except for the which was the dissertation which was pending. And you know, at that time, one of the professors told me, quadra, try and complete your PhD, otherwise you will regret it. I still remember his words to this day. I should have, you know, looking back, I should have stayed back in Texas Tech and finished my PhD. I should have, you know, borrowed some more money and finished my PhD in industrial engineering in Texas Tech. But nevertheless, what I did is I did my doctorate, professional doctorate in management studies in Indian School of Business Management. So slightly different. But, you know, I didn't, I didn't actually want to go for an MBA. So I want I did the doctorate in management studies because I was more interested in organizational behavior, operations. Management in that field. So I got it in 2012   Michael Hingson ** 15:07 Wow. So you, you, you did complete it, even though, again, it went in a slightly different direction. But what was your interest that that took you into a little bit more of a business oriented environment, because you had clearly been in mechanical engineering and in that discipline for most of your studies.   Dr Khwaja Moinuddin ** 15:25 Yes, yes. So, you know, when I was doing my master's degree in Industrial Engineering, you know, and I got interested in continuous improvement, lean, Six Sigma, transformation, change management in that field, more as I was doing my masters in industrial engineering. And then when I got my first job in in 3m 3m is a great company, as you know, you know, I learned all the basics of my lean, Six Sigma change management, you know, hands on in 3m and I'm still grateful to this day that my very first job was in 3am actually, it's a funny story, because, you know, I got the job in 3m on the same day I was interviewed. So the I was very lucky. I think the the line manager really liked me, and he said, kwaja, I'm going to hire you on the spot. So I was, I was really, really, you know, ecstatic on that day, and I still remember that feeling to this day, yes. So what interested me to coming back to your question was when I was working in 3m they have a good mentorship program. So they asked me, you know, how do you want your career to be? You know, where do you see yourself in five years? In 10 years? In 15 years? How do you see yourself growing? And I said, I want to grow in the technical field. I want to become like a subject matter expert in Lean, Six Sigma, Black Belt, Master, Black Belt. And I want to grow in the technical field. And I remember the mentor, she told me, kwaja, while that's a good thought, but you will not grow much if you are purely technical, you will grow more if you combine your technical expertise with management, how to lead people, how to manage people, how to do change management with people so she actually, you know, planted the seed in me to do more of, you know, people management role. And for that, she prompted me to do more courses in people management, leading teams, how to work and collaborate with, you know, cross functional teams. And that interested me, and I started to search for courses that would give me that exposure. And then, you know, given the fact that also I took some courses in my master's, or when I was doing my PhD in industrial engineering, it prompted me more to move away from technical rather than getting a PhD in industrial engineering, to do adopt rate in management studies. And hence I, you know, slightly moved into the people management, operations management, into the softer stuff of managing people and getting stuff done through people, through others.   Michael Hingson ** 18:14 Well, nothing, nothing wrong with that. I know my background was in physics. But along the way, there came a time that I was confronted with an opportunity to take a job that wasn't directly related to physics, and I chose to do it. But out of that, I ended up being put in a situation once where I had to make a choice to either go find a new job or change from doing kind of human factors studies and other things related to a product going in instead into sales, and I chose to go into sales, but my reasoning was, It's difficult enough for blind people to get jobs. Finding a new job would be really a challenge, whereas an opportunity was being offered, and it was a good opportunity, so I accepted it. So again, I know that many times we do find that there is a an opportunity that comes along that maybe we don't expect, and if we take it, it's the right way to go.   Dr Khwaja Moinuddin ** 19:14 Yes indeed. And your story has been fascinating, Michael, to be honest with you, it has been, you know, it's very inspirational. Your story, me and my wife, we were sharing, you know, how you how you overcame adversity, that's really, really, really inspirational.   Michael Hingson ** 19:33 Well, thank you. And I, I appreciate that. And you know, to me, it's just how we live life, and we sometimes we're presented with challenges and and we have to deal with those challenges, which is, of course, our role, and if we don't, then we're the losers for doing it. Well, in your case, did you ever have a defining moment or a situation where, if, since we call this unstoppable mindset, where. Kind of a mindset really affected you and to help you through it.   Dr Khwaja Moinuddin ** 20:05 Yeah. I mean, many, many, many, many situations, there's never a dull day in continuous improvement, so it's full of challenges. Always, always. You know, in every organization I have worked for, there have been challenges in terms of, you know, how to deploy continuous improvement, how to take people with you in the journey of continuous improvement. But one of the things you know early on, when I was doing my my master's degree, is, you know, I think that that laid the foundation also for me to become more resilient and more adaptable. You know, when, when my department said they didn't have funding I wanted to, and this was, you know, when, when I was doing my master's degree, not, not, you know, when I went into my PhD, when I was doing my master's degree, after a semester, they said they didn't have enough funding. So a lot of my colleagues, you know, those who are in engineering, whether mechanical or industrial or or chemical or petroleum engineering, they would they were searching for jobs. I think it was the summer of 2001 and since it was summer, a lot of professors were on were on vacation, and I went door to door, knocking on every professor's, you know, Office, Office door. And almost everybody you know, kind of, you know, either shoot me away or said, you know, we don't have funding. Or, you know, their doors were closed because they were on vacation. So one of the, one of the things I did, you know, you know, I was very, very frustrated. I couldn't sleep. So I thought, What am I doing? What am I doing? What am I doing wrong here? Why am I not getting the funding. Why am I not getting a research assistantship? So as I was laying on my on my bed that that night, one evening, I thought to myself, and an idea came to me, why don't I go into Texas Tech University's Health Sciences Center, which is slightly far away. It's, you know, we have to walk, like, at least half an hour to get to the Texas Tech University's Health Sciences Center. And it's predominantly, you know, biology, Health Sciences Center. So nobody, none of my colleagues, had gone there to look for a job. So I thought, why not go there? Maybe I will find some luck. So initially, you know, I was told, No, you know, you don't have a biology background or, you know, we don't have jobs here. But on the third day, one professor, you know, as I was, I thought, you know, my day, on that day also is going to be a disappointment. Around five o'clock that evening, when I was about to go home and I noticed one professor's door was open. His name is branch Schneider, so if he's, if he's watching, you know, I'm grateful to him also for this brand Schneider. He is the professor in oncology department in Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center. So I approached him, his door was open, and I told him, I'm searching for a job. Any job? Would you be able to give me a job? He thought, he thought about it, and without hesitation, you know, he said, I do have a job, but you may not like it. And he said, You know, it's it involves washing dishes, bakers. Are you comfortable in doing it? I said, I thought about it, and I said, I can do it if it helps me to get in state tuition. And he also thought about it, and he said, Yeah, I think that should not be a problem. And once I agreed to do that, then he said, I don't want you to just do that. I want to use your engineering skills to help me with research. You know, doing some reports, research, reports and analysis using your engineering skills. Would you be able to do that? I said, That's my specialty. I would be glad to do that. So, you know, one thing led to another, and then, you know, he gave me the research assistantship, and you know, I was able to continue with my with my master's degree without, you know, burdening my parents. Because, you know, I had got a huge loan to go to the US, as you know, going to the US during those times is not, is not cheap. It's very expensive. So, you know, I think that's what, that's what laid the foundation. So I thought, you know, nothing is impossible. So if I can do that, I think I can convince people to do change management, at least my change management skills, and, you know, my Lean Six Sigma skills to do the continuous improvement in organizations. So I think that one moment, I think, was, you know, when, when I got that. I didn't realize that, you know, when I got back to my room and I told my friends that, you know, I had got this job, everybody's jaw dropped. They said, You have done something impossible. So they said, you know, we are now going to go to Health Sciences Center also. So I think a lot of our engineering guys went and knocked doors in Health Sciences Center, and they began to get jobs there. I   Michael Hingson ** 25:24 remember once, one of the first jobs my brother ever got. He was, I think, in high school. He had gotten to high school, and he went to apply at a restaurant for a job, just to earn some money. And the owner said, Well, you know, let me think about it. Would you go outside and we got some weeds out in the in the area around the restaurant, would you just pull the weeds? And my brother said, Sure, why not? I don't have anything else to do. So he went out on like, in a half hour, he had, excuse me, he had pulled all the weeds. The manager came out and was just absolutely amazed that he had had done all of that. And he said, Well, okay, and I thought about it, I'll give you a job. And of course, he was really being tested. Would he go out and do whatever he was asked to do? Which Which he did do? And when he came home and told my parents, and I was there at the time about that, they said, you understand that this guy was just testing you to see whether you would do whatever needed to be done to help the restaurant. And you passed, and he got the job. We never know where things are going to come from. And indeed, yes, we should be open and be willing to explore. It's always a good thing when we do that. I haven't thought about that in years, but you just reminded me of that story, and it's a great story, and for me, it was a lesson that you've got to do sometimes different things, and when, when you're really asking for someone's assistance, you also need to look at what they're asking you to do, and you need to do what they're asking   Dr Khwaja Moinuddin ** 27:01 yes, unless it's to shoot No, I'm not going to go out and   Michael Hingson ** 27:07 shoot someone. But that's a different story. But well, that's great. Well, now, while you were in the United States, you also went off and got married, huh?   Dr Khwaja Moinuddin ** 27:18 Yes, I did.   Michael Hingson ** 27:21 Well, that was a that was a good thing. That's another good reason to have come to the US. Yes, now, is your wife from India or the US?   Dr Khwaja Moinuddin ** 27:33 Well, it's a, it's an interesting story. Once again, we she, she is. She's two years younger to me, and, you know, we met at a birthday party, and in, you know, at a professor's daughter's birthday party. And I initially thought I knew her from somewhere, so I was very, very shy to to approach her. But then some of her, some of her friends, or, I think some of my friends who knew her, they asked me if you know I would be okay to drop them to their house. So when I was, when I was driving, I looked at her through the, you know, the rear view mirror, yeah, and I, I liked her a lot, so, but I didn't know whether she was looking at me at that time or not. But then later, I told her that I was looking at you when I was driving. And then, you know, one thing led to another, and you know, we dated. She's from India, so she was also doing her master's degree. When, when, you know, at the time, you know, I was doing an internship in in a chemicals manufacturing company in Vernon, Texas, which is in the middle of nowhere. And I used to drive three hours from Vernon to Lubbock because I thought Lubbock was in the middle of nowhere. But then, when I was when I was working in Vernon, which is just no like a small town of 10,000 people, then when I used to drive back to Lubbock, it was like heaven, Paradise. I could see many people in Lubbock. So when I was driving back and forth. And I was in, I met her in this, in this party, and then we started to date. And then, you know, we got, we got married in the US in 2000 we were dating for a very long time. We lived together also for for a long time, we got to know each other. And then we got married in 2008   Michael Hingson ** 29:42 Ah, well, that's great. Congratulations. How long have you been married now? Thank you.   Dr Khwaja Moinuddin ** 29:48 Well. We have known each other now for 21 years since 2004 Yes, and we have been married since 2008 so 17 years. Wow. Congratulations. Thank you, thank you. And we have a son, 15 years old. And yeah, we, we are still, you know, happily married to each other, and she, you know, she has been a great support for me, not only in times of happiness, but but especially, you know, when I get frustrated, when when I'm not in such a good mood, or when I feel dejected, she has supported me tremendously, and she's still supporting me tremendously, but   Michael Hingson ** 30:30 I bet that goes both ways.   30:33 Yes,   Michael Hingson ** 30:35 you have to be more stable than you.   Dr Khwaja Moinuddin ** 30:41 Yes, well, I think she's more emotionally matured also. Then I don't want to tell her that, but she may know after this podcast   Michael Hingson ** 30:52 well. So you do a lot of work in working with people involved in resistance and change and continuous improvement, and you deal with people with resistance and change. How do you push back? And how do you push beyond that? How do you get people who are so resistive to change to to agreeing to change? You know, the reason I ask is that we all we all hear people talk all the time about how change is important. Changes is necessary, but none of us really want to change. How do you deal with that?   Dr Khwaja Moinuddin ** 31:26 Yes, so, you know, over the years, this is what, this is what I have learned also. And you know, I, I did my masters, my second masters in psychology, and that helped me a great deal. Also, I've always been, you know, fascinated with the psychology of human behavior. So I always wondered, you know, even when working in 3m or in my first company as an intern, I always wondered, you know, why? You know, even if a change is good, why are people resisting? And years and years passed by, I always, I always thought that, you know, we can, we can always convince people with rational, logical stuff, with data. But then I found out, you know, through through trial and error, I don't get convinced using logic. I have my own ways to resist. So when I learned about how I am resisting, I thought that's natural. Then how people, other people would resist. Because, you know my girlfriend at that time, who is my wife. Now, when she used to suggest something I would resist, that. She would say, quarter, you're not organized, you know, let's, let's get the house organized. And I would resist it because, you know, getting organized is a good thing, but then I had my own way of doing stuff. So, you know, to this day, I still resist, by the way, and she's still trying to convince me to get organized, but you know, I know why I resist. You know why I'm resisting. I know how I resist. So you know that, that you know early on, helped me, that, you know, people resist because we are trying to change them. It's not the change, but it's we are trying to change them into something that they don't want to so, for example, you know, one of the one of the line managers, or one of the leaders in a company that I worked for, he was completely against continuous improvement. He was telling me, I have been doing continuous improvement quadra, for 20 years, I don't need you to come and tell me how to do my job and how to improve it. And he was very open about it. I'm so glad he was. He was so open about it. Because, you know, I have also seen people who resist very covertly. They would say yes in front of you, and then, you know, go back and do their own stuff, or, you know, they won't do anything at all. So I wanted to understand him, why he felt that way. And, you know, I went on, you know, plant walks with him, and he was very proud when we were when we were walking around the plant, he showed me all the improvements that he did. So I told him, Bill, his name is Bill, what you're doing is continuous improvement. Bill, so I'm not trying to tell you to do your job. I'm here to tell you how to I'm here to help you how to do your job in a more structured way. And that's what CI is all about. So when I said that, immediately, he said, you know, guaja, I wish somebody you know, in your place, had told me that earlier, because people who had before you, who came before you, they were all about tools and templates. And I hate to use tools and templates. I'm more of a practical guy. So then that was a learning for me, also that, you know, that was an aha moment for me, that people, you know, certain people, have. Certain way of learning, and certain people have certain way of improving, but we all want to improve. So if we guide people in the right direction, and we talk their language, you know, we use their frame of reference, we use their language and and we see what are their pain points, and we try to help them overcome those pain points, then people would naturally, you know, you know, get the we would get the buy in for for the change, and people would not resist so much. So at the end, you know, what happened is Bill became a huge supporter of CI, not only a huge supporter of CI, he passed my green belt exam. Also, I coached him, and he passed my green belt exam. And he was, he was very happy. Initially, he was, he was, he was reluctant to even attend my course. But then, you know, after he went through the course, and then, you know, after we built the rapport. And then I, and then I told him, I'm not trying to replace you or, or I'm not trying to steal your job or, or I'm not telling trying to, you know, tell you how to do your job, because that's not what I'm here for. I'm here to help you. And continuous improvement is a more structured way of doing things, because you may be doing in trial and error, and by doing trial and error, you know, you may be making some costly mistakes, but when we apply it in a structured way, we can avoid 19 99% of errors, most of the time. So he really liked that approach. And he liked my approach of making things very, very practical, not speaking, you know, in heavy technical terms, not using the jargon and explaining it to him, you know, in his own language. That's what helped, you know, reduce the resistance. And over the years, what I have done is also, you know, adapt my way of how I'm approaching resistance. One of the courses which I took, and it was a certification course, also was, you know, instead of waiting for resistance to happen to you, we should approach resistance proactively. You know, when we announce a change, we should naturally expect resistance, and when we have resistance, it's a good thing. I have never, I never heard about it before, before I attended the course. I thought always resistance is bad. I thought resistance is something that we need to fight. We need to convince people, and those people who resist, they don't know what they're talking about. I used to see them as, you know, almost like enemies at workplace. This guy is against CI, why doesn't he or she gets CI, why are they, you know, resisting so much. Why are they criticizing me so much? I used to take it personally also. Later, I learned, you know, not to take things personally as well. So what I what I found, was that we should surface resistance proactively, whether you know it is in work life or in personal life, you know, when we are trying to do something out of the ordinary. When we are trying to improve something, we should expect resistance. And if there is no resistance, then that means either the resistance has gone underground, right, which has gone into COVID stage, or people have not understood the why. You know, what is this change? What is this? How is this going to affect me, people have not understood what you're talking about. So when we explain things, we should naturally expect resistance, and resistance helps in improving, you know, what is whatever we are trying to implement, you know, whether it is like a ERP implementation or, you know, Lean Six Sigma, or a transformation project, digital transformation, anything that we are trying to do, if people are resisting or if people are expressing concerns, it's a good thing. That's what I have learned over the years. Yeah,   Michael Hingson ** 38:50 at least, at least then they're open and they're talking to you about it, which is important. So how do you deal with the person who says, you know, like, like, Bill, I've been involved in continuous improvement, and maybe they really have, but you're talking about change, but in reality, what we have is working, and I'm not convinced that changing it is really going to make a difference. And you know, how do you deal with that?   Dr Khwaja Moinuddin ** 39:21 Yep, again, you know, over the years, I have so many stories this. This story, again, is some of the organizations I have worked in this. This particular person was, was saying the same thing. You know, it was one of the TETRA pack manufacturing lines, you have seen the TETRA pack, right? So the the TETRA pack where juice is packed, or milk is packed, or any beverage is packed, right? So these Tetra packs, when they were producing those Tetra packs of juice, they had. An issue of the juice packs being either overweight or underweight. So they had this continuous issue on the line, not just one line, but I think three or four of the lines, so consistently, it would be either overweight or underweight. And if you are consistent, if you are having the overweight or underweight, you would be audited, and you would get into all sorts of trouble. And moreover, you know, you're losing money if you if the pack is overweight and if the pack is underweight, somebody can, can, you know, file a claim. Customer complaints would increase. So this, this particular line manager, he said, you know he was, he was avoiding me. And I know that he would, he would avoid me so, but he, you know, at that point of time, he had no choice. So he said, kwaja, I have a few ideas, you know, I don't before, you know, you come and tell me, you know, continuous improvement, blah, blah, blah. I have a few ideas. I want to test them. And he gave me, he gave me, you know, the his thought process, and he wanted to try that before, you know, he before he agreed to listen to me. So I said, Bob, I'm all for it, please. Please, go ahead and let's see whether you know what you're trying to do. Works or not. So basically, in, you know, in our language, what we call it as as an experiment in continuous improvement terminology, we call it as an experiment. He was trying to do, you know, an experiment with one factor at a time, meaning that, you know, he would try to change one variable, and he would try to see whether that has any impact on, you know, the over overfilled packs or under filled packs. So he wanted to change one variable at a time, and there were three, four variables at that time, which he thought were, you know, suspects. So he wanted to change those variables and see what the impact would be. So I told him, Bob, yeah, let's, let's, let's try that. And I told him, you know, very politely, if that doesn't work, would you be willing to try what I am asking you to do? Because I have an idea. Also, he said, Yeah, let's, let's, let's do that. So I worked with him. I worked with him on the line, with his supervisors also. And he tried, you know, one factor at a time. He trained. He changed this, he changed that. It didn't work. So reluctantly. But then the good thing was, he was open minded also, reluctantly, he said, Okay, let's, let's sit in my office and let's talk. So I told him about a concept called Design of Experiments, DOE, in that, in that me using that you know, methodology, you can basically, you can basically have three, four factors which you can vary them simultaneously, and then see the impact on over packing and under packing. So when I explained to him, when I when I taught him about the concept him and his supervisors and the line operators, he said, Yeah, let's let's try. Let's see if this works. And at the end of the day, we were both trying to improve the process. We were both trying to get rid of this problem, sure, so we should be rolling. And then it worked within, within a few days, the problem got resolved. So what I learned from that is, sometimes, you know, you need to let people you know hit the wall before you offer them a solution. So that's something that I have learned. But of course, you know, in this case, it was not such a costly mistake. It was not, it was not like a disaster, but it was the controlled disaster. So, so what   Michael Hingson ** 43:28 was the actual change? What what change was made that fixed the problem? Or what was your idea that fixed the problem because he was changing variable at a time, but that was one example   Dr Khwaja Moinuddin ** 43:39 at a time. Yep. So we had to do the root cause analysis. And through the root cause analysis, whatever variables that he was going after were not the root causes because he was not using a structured methodology. Okay, when we use the structured methodology, we went into root cause analysis. We did a structured like a fish bone diagram. I don't want to go into the technical details, but we did the in depth root cause analysis, and then we did something called as a design of experiment, where we chose three factors and we varied it simultaneous, so it is a controlled experiment which we did, and immediately, you know, it's not that you know you would do that, and you would get result. One month later, you would get results immediately, you would see the result immediately when you do that experiment versus what he did, it involved a certain bit of time. It would take one week for us to see a change. So when I showed him this and this versus this, he was really impressed. And from that day onwards, he became a huge supporter of CI, in fact, you know, the plant in which I was working in, you know, with the support of, you know, one of the plant managers, Tim, his name, I'm I'm still, you know, in touch with him, and you know we share thoughts with each other. I see him as a huge mentor. Also, you know, we got plant of the Year Award for a plant to talk. About to be shut down, back in 2009 so that's, that's, you know, how we were able to, you know, build the, get the buy in from all the line managers and, you know, get started on the continuous improvement journey. Because the the the management had told that if you don't improve within a few months, you would be shut down. So we all work together, and we did experiments like this, and we were able to turn around a plant, of course, you know, not just me, so I just played one small role in that we did as a team. It was a team effort,   Michael Hingson ** 45:34 and that's how you really overcome resistance to change when, when people see that you bring something to the table that works, then they're probably more apt to want to listen to you.   Dr Khwaja Moinuddin ** 45:49 Yep, indeed. We need to know what we're talking about. You know that that builds trust? Definitely.   Michael Hingson ** 45:54 Yeah. And then the issue is that you what you're talking about is is, in a sense, different than what they understand, and it's a matter of establishing credibility. Yes, which is, which is pretty cool. Well, so tell me about your books. You've written two books, and you've written I n, s, p, i R, E, and you've, you've written another book, tell us about those.   Dr Khwaja Moinuddin ** 46:25 Yes, so I, you know, I have always wanted to share my knowledge, and I have always been sharing my knowledge, you know, through training, through coaching, I have conducted so many training sessions, so many and I have learned also, you know, from from shop floor employees, frontline employees, from middle managers. I have learned so much from them. And also executives, top executives, you know, leaders from various industries. You know whether it is manufacturing or logistics or, you know, back offices, banking, you know, pure manufacturing or logistics container, container shipping business, or aluminum rolling business. So I wanted to write this book to share my knowledge, because when I see that change management or change is being implemented very poorly, that really frustrates me. So I wanted to share this, and I have seen, you know, numerous books being written on this. You know, numerous frameworks, also, you name it. You know, there are so many books out there. What I wanted to do is give a simple framework, which is, I, N, s, p, i, R, E, which is, you know, if you have to implement change you need to inspire employees. There are no two ways about it. If we can talk about logic, we can talk about change management, we can talk about what's in it. For me, everything, but in my experience, if anyone is, if any employee or if any individual is not inspired by the change, the change is not going to go anywhere. They may do out of compliance, but we will not really get their hearts in it. And that's why I, you know, came up with this framework called Inspire, which is I basically is inspired the need for change in employees. N is navigate the organization and build a coalition. And stands for that. S is to surface resistance proactively, meaning, as we discussed, don't wait for resistance to hit you. You know when you least expect it, and then, and then, you know the change goes nowhere. Surface resistance proactively. And P is plan, your implementation. You know, when I say plan, not just, you know, like a, like a 20 step bullet point, there are so many plans that need, that need to come together, like a communication plan, resistance management plan, a training plan. There are so many plans that need to work together. And again, depending on the complexity of the change, you know, I never advocate, you know, over complicating stuff. And then you have, I, which is implementation When, when, you know, this is where rubber meets the road, if we don't implement the change in a structured way, you know, leaders are not role modeling on the shop floor. Leaders are just, you know, we call it as EMR. And this is, again, from another framework called Aim. Aim, you know, basically what we what we mean here is you can express. Leaders can express about the change, role model the change and reinforce the change. EMR, so if leaders are just expressing the change, it will lead to one times the improvement, but if leaders are role modeling the change, it will lead to three. Times the change acceleration. And if leaders are reinforcing the change, it will lead to 10 times accelerating the change. So that's what I talk about, in terms of implementation, you know, experimentation and stuff, which is i, and then you have reinforce and sustain, which is r, and then E stands for evaluating and learning. You know, after we close a change initiative, after we signed off on a change initiative, have what have we learned from it? What have we learned from it, and what, what if we had a, if we had a chance to make a do over, what would we do differently? What have we learned from it? And what would we do differently, and if we were to do implement another change, what are the learnings that we can take from this change that we have implemented and apply the learnings in our next change? And also, you know when, when leadership transitions, many, many changes, what? What happens? And you know this is what I have experienced, and this frustrates me a lot as well. Is, you know, when leadership changes, the change gets, you know, messed up. I want to say fucked up, but you know, and I don't know if I'm allowed to say that. You know, every leader, every leader, wants to come in and you know, right or wrong? You know, I'm not blaming a leader wants to leave their mark in the organization, which is good, but what they what they inadvertently do, is undo the change which their predecessors have done. And then people get confused, you know, they say it as a flavor of the month. Or they say, Okay, let's wait until this leader moves on, so that, you know, we can, we can, you know, just wait until this change passes away and it leads to, you know, production of morale and lots of issues. So this is what I talk about in my book, as well, how to avoid these, these situations. So it's like a practical framework where you know which anybody can take and apply to any change of any complexity, and you know if, even if it is very, very simple change which is going to take maybe 10 days or five days only, they can quickly go through the Inspire framework and see, you know, what are the gaps and whether we have, whether we are implementing the change in a proper, structured way. And these are in this is just a framework, you know, and you know, we don't have to use all the tools that I have mentioned in the book. We can pick and choose the tools which are relevant for the change that we are trying to implement.   Michael Hingson ** 52:38 What is the the key to making change sustainable when maybe leadership changes or the company environment shifts,   Dr Khwaja Moinuddin ** 52:48 yes. So, you know, as Dr Deming said, constancy of purpose, right? So, so if I'm a leader, Mike, and you know, if I'm changing my role, and if I'm going to, you know another function or another department, whether in the same organization or in a different organization, and let's say that you know, Mike, you are taking over my role. What is the constancy of purpose? You know? Are we? Does the organization, you know, it starts from our organization level. Does the organization have a constancy of purpose, and is it aligned with the vision and mission and whatever I have, whatever changes I have implemented, have I communicated them to you? Is there a smooth handover between me and you, so that you understand what are the changes I have done, what are the improvements I have done, and you know how you can take it forward and continuously improve upon it. So one thing is completely undoing and the other thing is continuously improving upon it. So that, you know, people see it as a natural, continuous improvement, rather than continue, rather than, you know, abruptly undoing something and then, and then, you know, starting from, you know, scratch, starting from scratch, and saying that, Oh, no, no, no, no, whatever this person did is total crap. And now we are going to change or revolutionize the whole organization where, which, you know, nine out of 10 times is, is, you know, you're just rehashing what this person has done into something new, into, you know, a different framework or a different bottle, however you want to frame it. So the there has to be a smooth hand over. So that's, that's, you know, point number one, and point number two is the the employees, the middle managers have the middle managers and the in the whole leadership team. They have an obligation. They have a accountability to make sure that, you know, they are aligned, to make sure that if one of their leadership team members is moving on, whenever a new leadership team member comes on board, to onboard them in a structured way, not to leave them, you know, hanging, not to, you know, not to let that person. Know, implement his or her own way completely. You know, let on board them and let them know what has happened in the organization. How they can, you know, continuously improve upon it. I'm not saying that, you know, revolutionary change is not required all. I'm saying that there are times when a revolution is required, but most of the times, continuous improvement is good enough. You know, when, when we, when we continuously improve. It keeps the continuity going. And people don't see it as you know, change after change after change. You know, we don't, we don't induce change fatigue in the organizations if we, if we do it as a continuum   Michael Hingson ** 55:40 makes sense, and it's all about and it's all about communication, yep,   Dr Khwaja Moinuddin ** 55:44 indeed. And that's where, you know, that's why I have written my second book, which is, which is about active listening. You know, I'm a bad listener, I have to be honest. So I used to be a very, very bad listener. Now I'm just a bad listener. So I have continuously improved on my listening skills, and at least I know now that you know, I'm aware of my how I need to improve my listening skills. So over the years, I have done, I have I have learned the techniques of how to listen and when and when I say listen, it is not to many people, many of us, you know, even even now. Also sometimes I catch myself, you know, trying to listen to reply or listen to respond. So when I catch myself doing that, I consciously, you know, try to listen to the person. So again, in this book, I have shared, you know, the the techniques which would help anybody to become a better listener, which, you know, one is one of the requirements for being a great leader, how to listen to people and how to listen to people, truly, truly listen to people. So I talk about simple, simple techniques in the book. You know, for example, paraphrasing, remembering, listening without judgment, right? Or suspending judgment, as I say so. You know, I rank these techniques in increasing order of complexity, suspending judgment being the most difficult, you know when, when someone starts speaking, or, you know, even if, even when we see someone immediately, in the first five seconds, we judge that person. And, you know, right or wrong, we judge that we and in this book, also, I talk about, you know, why we are prone to judging people, and why we have such a such a difficult time in suspending judgment. So if we are aware that you know, let's say that you know when I'm talking to you, Mike, if I catch myself judging you right, so at least I know that I'm Judging You right. So at least I can I know that I'm judging you, and I should not do that. I should listen to you, and I should try to understand where you are coming from, instead of saying, instead of just thinking in my mind, oh, whatever Mike is saying is it doesn't make any sense. So maybe initially it may not make sense. But you know, when we open our ears, we have two years, and that's for a reason, and only one mouth. So we need to listen, and we need to completely understand where the other person is coming from, whether you know it is in personal life or in work life. You know, when we, if we don't listen to the teams whom we are managing, and if we just say, you know, do as I say, it's my way or the highway, people will do because you know you are their line manager. But it won't last long. No, the minute you, you know, change your team, or the minute you go out, people will, people will be, you know, good riddance. So, so that's what they'll be thinking. So how to listen to people, and also it will help the leader to grow. You know, over the years, when I listen to my wife, I have understood my own shortcomings, and if I had listened to her 20 years back, maybe I would have been a different person. Maybe, maybe I would have been a more mature person. So this is what, you know, I talk about in the in the book as well. How can we truly, truly listen? And some techniques like paraphrasing. You know, when, when our mind wanders, you know, it will be good to paraphrase the person to whom you're you're speaking so that you know you you remember, so remembering, paraphrasing, empathy, for example, you know, not just talking about KPI, KPI KPIs to the team members. Understand how they're doing. You know, are they having any personal issues? How is their family? You know, work is not, you know what, what? Work is a part of our life. But you know, we spend eight to 10 hours at at a workplace. So we need to know the team members whom we are managing, and we need to listen to them. If somebody is, you know, performing badly, right? It's very easy to give them a negative feedback. But. So if we listen to them, and if they feel heard, maybe they are going through something, or maybe they are not getting enough support. If we listen to them, and if we create that environment of active listening in the whole team, suspending judgment and listening actively, then we create a more stronger bond, and the team would would become like a world class team. This has been my experience. So this is what I have shared in my, in my in my second book,   Michael Hingson ** 1:00:29 and certainly words to to remember. Well, we have been doing this an hour now, and I think it's probably time that we we end it for the day. But if people want to reach out to you. How can they do that?   Dr Khwaja Moinuddin ** 1:00:43 Well, I am there on on LinkedIn, and people can reach me through email, and I'll be more than happy to, you know, respond to anything they need. And I'm I know if people want to reach out to me to conduct any training sessions, my website is also their journey towards excellence. You know where I have my offerings. So   Michael Hingson ** 1:01:04 what is the website? What is the website called, again, journey towards excellence. Journey towards excellence.com, okay, and your email address, khwaja.moinuddin@gmail.com and spell that, if you would   Dr Khwaja Moinuddin ** 1:01:21 Yes, please. K, H, W, A, j, A, dot, M, O, I n, u, d, d, I n@gmail.com,   Michael Hingson ** 1:01:32 great. Well, I hope people will reach out. I think you've offered a lot of great insights and inspiration for people. I appreciate hearing all that you had to say, and I knew I was going to learn a lot today and have and I always tell people, if I'm not learning at least as much as everyone else, I'm not doing my job right. So I really appreciate your time, and it's now getting late where you are, so we're going to let you go. But I want to thank you again for being here, and I do want to thank everyone who is listening and watching us today. We really appreciate it. If you would, I'd love it. If you'd give us a five star review. Wherever you're watching us and listening to us, if you'd like to talk to me or email me about the episode and give us your thoughts, feel free to do so. At Michael H, I m, I C, H, A, E, L, H i at accessibe, A, C, C, E, S, S, I, B, e.com, or go to our podcast page. Michael Hinkson, that's m, I, C, H, A, E, L, H, I N, G, s, o, n.com/podcast, love to hear from you if any of you have any thoughts as to someone else who might make a good podcast guest. And quad you as well. Would love it if you let us know we're always looking for more people to come on and be guests on the show. But again, kwaja, I want to thank you for being here. This has been wonderful.   Dr Khwaja Moinuddin ** 1:02:47 Thank you. Thank you so much, Mike, and it's been a real pleasure talking to you, and it's an honor to be part of your podcast. I wish I had met you earlier and learned I would have learned so much from you, I would definitely, definitely, definitely, you know, reach out to you to learn more. And you know, thank you for the opportunity. Thank you definitely for the opportunity.   **Michael Hingson ** 1:03:15   You have been listening to the Unstoppable Mindset podcast. Thanks for dropping by. I hope that you'll join us again next week, and in future weeks for upcoming episodes. To subscribe to our podcast and to learn about upcoming episodes, please visit www dot Michael hingson.com slash podcast. Michael Hingson is spelled m i c h a e l h i n g s o n. While you're on the site., please use the form there to recommend people who we ought to inter

Ob Robotic Process Automation, strategische Fusionen oder nachhaltige Energiekonzepte – für ihre innovativen Ideen wurden drei SHK-Handwerksunternehmer auf der ISH ausgezeichnet. Die Si – Das Fachmedium für SHK-Unternehmer verlieh zum 27. Mal seinen begehrten Branchenpreis „Best of SHK Award 2025“ an das SHK-Fachhandwerk. Ausgezeichnet wurden in diesem Jahr: - Jürgen Hohnen (Jürgen Hohnen GmbH). der mit einem eigenen Pellet-LKW seinen Kunden ein Rundum-sorglos-Paket anbieten kann - Lukas Kopp (Dietenmeier + Harsch), der Robotic Process Automation (RPA) gezielt in Unternehmensbereichen einsetzt - Lino Ferda (Heeet), der zwei Traditionsbetriebe zu einer Marke geformt hat. Direkt nach der Preisverleihung hatte Moderator Max Herrmannsdörfer die drei Gewinner vor dem Mikrofon. Außerdem hört ihr in dieser Folge Stefan Weber, Vertriebsleiter bei Buderus. Er erklärt, warum sich Buderus seit vielen Jahren als Sponsor beim Best of SHK-Award beteiligt. Werbung: Diese Folge der SHK-SHOW wird präsentiert von Buderus und dem Stiftung Warentest Wärmepumpen-Testsieger Logatherm WLW186i AR E

Fragestellungen aus der Unterhaltung mit Gunther Verleger: Was sind typische Einsatzfälle von Robotic Process Automation (RPA)? Welche Voraussetzungen müssen dabei beachtet werden? Wie unterscheidet sich der Einsatz in Kleinbetrieben? Warum bilden Steuerbüros/Steuerkanzleien eine Ausnahme beim Einsatz von RPA? Welchen Nutzen ziehen Steuerbüros aus dem Einsatz von RPA? Welche Rolle kommt den Menschen dann (noch) zu? Was lässt sich vom RPA-Einsatz in Steuerbüros auf "normale" Unternehmen übertragen? Welche Möglichkeiten ergeben sich aus RPA-Einsatz noch? Wie wird sich RPA ggf. durch den Einsatz von KI weiterentwickeln?

Nel panorama assicurativo italiano, la trasformazione digitale si sta configurando non come una rivoluzione radicale, ma come un acceleratore di efficienza e penetrazione di mercato. Gerardo Di Francesco, vicepresidente dell’Italian Insuretech Association, ai microfoni di #RadioNext evidenzia come la tecnologia non debba essere interpretata come un sostituto degli intermediari tradizionali - broker e agenti - ma come uno strumento per potenziarne il ruolo. La sfida, in un settore storicamente legato a processi manuali e alla gestione di eccezioni, risiede nel bilanciare innovazione e complessità normativa.Uno dei temi centrali riguarda l’evoluzione delle polizze parametriche, basate su parametri oggettivi come eventi meteorologici, che richiedono un allineamento tra framework normativo e capacità tecniche per garantire equità nel risarcimento. Sebbene queste soluzioni promettano maggiore rapidità, il legame tra parametri e danno effettivo rimane un nodo critico, soprattutto in contesti geograficamente eterogenei come l’Italia.Sul fronte operativo, l’adozione di tecnologie come la Robotic Process Automation (RPA) e i Large Language Model (LLM) potrebbe rappresentare un salto quantico. Questi strumenti, capaci di interpretare documenti e automatizzare processi non lineari, offrono opportunità per snellire fasi come la liquidazione dei sinistri, tradizionalmente vincolate a valutazioni umane. Tuttavia, la resistenza al cambiamento deriva dalla natura stessa del settore, strutturato su eccezioni e casi particolari.Dal punto di vista del mercato, non emergono attori in grado di scalzare gli incumbent, ma piuttosto partnership tra player consolidati e startup. L’obiettivo è ampliare l’offerta attraverso servizi B2B2C, sfruttando la tecnologia per raggiungere un pubblico più ampio in un Paese ancora sottoassicurato. La concentrazione del mercato e l’ingresso di operatori esteri suggeriscono dinamiche competitive in evoluzione, dove l’eccellenza operativa e l’integrazione tecnologica diventeranno fattori chiave per differenziarsi.I prossimi mesi vedranno un focus su ricerche congiunte con università e società di consulenza per misurare l’impatto della trasformazione digitale lungo l’intera value chain, dalla sottoscrizione alla gestione dei sinistri, confermando una tendenza verso un’innovazione sistemica e collaborativa.

Intelligent automation is transforming industries by tackling messy, unstructured workflows that traditional Robotic Process Automation (RPA) couldn't handle. In this episode, a16z partner Kimberly Tan discusses the shift from rigid RPA systems to AI-powered agents and why this evolution unlocks massive opportunities in legacy markets.Drawing on her article "RIP to RPA: The Rise of Intelligent Automation," Kimberly shares real-world examples of companies revolutionizing referral management, and highlights how startups can build impactful solutions in this space.Resources:Find Kimberly on X: https://x.com/kimberlywtanRead Kimberly's article: https://a16z.com/rip-to-rpa-the-rise-of-intelligent-automation/Stay Updated: Let us know what you think: https://ratethispodcast.com/a16zFind a16z on Twitter: https://twitter.com/a16zFind a16z on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/a16zSubscribe on your favorite podcast app: https://a16z.simplecast.com/Follow our host: https://twitter.com/stephsmithioPlease note that the content here is for informational purposes only; should NOT be taken as legal, business, tax, or investment advice or be used to evaluate any investment or security; and is not directed at any investors or potential investors in any a16z fund. a16z and its affiliates may maintain investments in the companies discussed. For more details please see a16z.com/disclosures.

This week I sat down with one of my oldest clients and friends, Barry Dawson, the Senior Vice President of Finance at Aimbridge Hospitality EMEA, to explore the intriguing world of finance in the hospitality industry. Amidst the humour and light-hearted banter, they uncover some serious gems about how technology and automation are revolutionising hospitality and finance.What You'll Hear in This Episode:An Unexpected Journey:Discover how Barry stumbled into the world of finance during a university placement, proving that sometimes the best career paths are the ones we don't plan.The tale of how covering for a sick colleague led Barry to a fulfilling career in hospitality finance.Tech Integration with a Dash of Humour:The fascinating role of Robotic Process Automation (RPA) in transforming finance operations, sprinkled with Barry's entertaining anecdotes.How Aimbridge's finance team went from managing a couple of hundred statements to around 10-12,000, like financial superheroes on a caffeine high!Leadership Lessons and Chuckles:Barry's reflections on leadership, mentorship, and the importance of being open to new opportunities—served with a side of humour.Stories about the larger-than-life characters he's encountered in his journey, and how the dynamic has changed over time.Adapting to Global Crises:Insights into navigating business challenges during the credit crunch and COVID-19, while keeping morale high with a bit of laughter.Barry's perspective on the importance of resilience, leadership, and humour, especially during tough times.Finance Roles in Stereovision:Barry demystifies the perception of finance being dull, highlighting the charm and character within the field.Amusing comparisons between finance roles and iconic scenes from "Toy Story," bringing a quirky spin to otherwise mundane tasks.Barry's Pessimistic Optimism:A candid look at Barry's unique approach to pessimism: starting from the worst-case scenario and being pleasantly surprised by positive outcomes.The importance of thoroughness and detail in finance, with humorous stories about past mistakes and lessons learned.The Future of Hospitality Finance:A look at how technology will continue to shape hospitality finance roles, making them more dynamic and engaging.Phil and Barry's predictions on the evolving work-life balance within the industry post-COVID-19Tune in to hear Phil and Barry's engaging conversation that's sure to leave you with a smile and newfound respect for the unsung heroes of hospitality finance.Subscribe and Share:If you enjoyed this episode, don't forget to subscribe and share it with your friends and colleagues. Leave us a review and let us know what you think!The GuestBarry Dawson is the Senior Vice President of Finance for Aimbridge Hospitality. My role is responsible for the Corporate finance function of Aimbridge as well as overall responsibility for the hotel finance function and business performancehttps://www.linkedin.com/in/barry-dawson-27bba53/Headline SponsorRotaCloud is the people management platform for shift-based teams.RotaCloud lets managers create and share rotas,...

What trends shaped the healthcare supply chain industry this year, and what's heading our way in 2025? In this Season 12 finale episode, our Power Supply hosts Justin Poulin, Hays Waldrop, and Garry Skinner come together to explore a year of transformation and innovation. From software optimization to Robotic Process Automation (RPA), our hosts reflect on the emerging technologies reshaping supply chain operations. Whether you're interested in workforce optimization strategies or the benefits of AI implementation, this episode offers valuable perspectives on the forces driving our industry forward. Tune in today to wrap up 2024 and look ahead to what's next for healthcare supply chain! Once you complete the interview, jump on over to the link below to take a short quiz and download your CEC certificate for .5 CECs! – https://www.flexiquiz.com/SC/N/ps12-08 #PowerSupply #Podcast #AHRMM #HealthcareSupplyChain #Innovation #SupplyChainTrends #YearInReview

In today's episode, you will learn a series of vocabulary words that are connected to a specific topic. This lesson will help you improve your ability to speak English fluently about a specific topic. It will also help you feel more confident in your English abilities.5 Vocabulary WordsPersonal Assistant (noun): An AI-driven tool or application designed to help manage tasks, schedule appointments, and provide information, often through voice commands. Example Sentences: Virtual personal assistants like Siri and Alexa help users with tasks such as setting reminders and answering questions.She relies on her personal assistant app to organize her daily schedule and send reminders for important events.The personal assistant's voice recognition capabilities make it easy to interact with and manage various tasks hands-free.Predictive Analytics (noun): The use of statistical algorithms and machine learning techniques to analyze historical data and predict future outcomes or trends.Example Sentences: Predictive analytics helps businesses forecast sales and optimize inventory management based on past data.The app uses predictive analytics to recommend products that you are likely to buy based on your purchase history.By employing predictive analytics, the healthcare system can anticipate patient needs and improve care delivery.Natural Language Processing (NLP) (noun): A field of AI that focuses on the interaction between computers and human language, enabling machines to understand, interpret, and respond to text or speech.Example Sentences: Natural Language Processing is used in translation services to convert text from one language to another.The voice-activated assistant relies on NLP to understand and respond to user commands effectively.Advances in NLP have improved the accuracy of sentiment analysis in customer feedback and social media.Facial Recognition (noun): A biometric technology that uses AI to identify or verify individuals by analyzing facial features and patterns.Example Sentences: Facial recognition technology is commonly used in smartphones to provide secure and convenient access to devices.The security system employs facial recognition to monitor and manage access to restricted areas.Facial recognition can enhance customer service by personalizing interactions based on recognized individuals.Robotic Process Automation (RPA) (noun): The use of AI and software robots to automate repetitive, rule-based tasks typically performed by humans in business processes. Example Sentences: Robotic Process Automation has transformed financial services by automating tasks like data entry and processing transactions.The company implemented RPA to streamline administrative tasks, reducing the time and effort required for manual work.RPA tools can handle routine tasks efficiently, allowing employees to focus on more strategic and creative activities.A Paragraph using the 5 vocabulary wordsArtificial intelligence has seamlessly integrated into our daily lives, transforming how we interact with technology. From personal assistants like Siri and Alexa facilitating our routines to facial recognition unlocking smartphones, AI is pervasive. Behind the scenes, robotic process automation streamlines tasks, while predictive analytics powers personalized recommendations on everything from movies to shopping. Natural language processing

In dieser Folge begrüßt Sandrina Lorenz Benjamin Schock, den Chief Digital Officer der Hamburger Bezirksämter, der uns spannende Einblicke in die Digitalstrategie und Zukunftspläne der Verwaltung auf Bezirksebene gibt. Unter dem Motto „Digitalisierung mit Herz, Hand und Verstand“ verfolgen die Bezirksämter Hamburgs das Ziel, durch neue Technologien und optimierte Prozesse den Service für Bürger:innen moderner und bürgerfreundlicher zu gestalten. Benjamin Schock erklärt seine Rolle als CDO und beschreibt, wie die Bezirksämter durch gezielte Projekte und Innovationen, wie Künstliche Intelligenz und Robotic Process Automation (RPA), die Effizienz in der Verwaltung steigern. Dabei sind Datenschutz und Barrierefreiheit wichtige Pfeiler, die sicherstellen, dass digitale Lösungen nicht nur funktional, sondern auch bürgerfreundlich und sicher sind. Zu guterletzt gibt Benjamin Schock einen Ausblick in die Zukunft und spricht über aktuelle Trends und Innovationen, die für die Bezirksämter relevant werden könnten. Bei Fragen, Anregungen oder Themenvorschläge freuen wir uns über Nachrichten an blickpunkt@personalamt.hamburg.de

In this episode, ⁠Krish Palaniappan⁠ interviews ⁠Benjamin Bresington⁠, CEO of ⁠Automate Boring⁠, about the transformative power of automation and AI in business. They discuss the challenges of scaling a company, the intricacies of Robotic Process Automation (RPA), and real-world applications that demonstrate how automation can streamline processes and enhance productivity. Ben shares insights into the technology stack used for automation, the importance of understanding client needs, and the potential for automating course creation processes. Ben discusses the transformative impact of AI and automation on course creation, software development, and business processes. Ben emphasizes the importance of integrating AI into existing platforms, scaling operations through automation, and the necessity of documenting processes for effective onboarding. The discussion also covers the evolution of software development practices, the optimization of code reviews with AI, and the cultural shifts required in engineering teams to embrace new tools and methodologies. Ben shares insights on achieving efficiency and flexibility in development, highlighting the potential for significant improvements in productivity and profitability through innovative approaches. Takeaways • Automation can significantly boost productivity and efficiency. • Robotic Process Automation (RPA) goes beyond simple automation tools. • AI agents can be created without coding experience. • Identifying repetitive tasks is key to implementing automation. • Automation can uncover hidden revenue opportunities. • The automation process involves understanding client workflows. • Maintaining security and compliance is crucial in automation. • Automation can be tailored to specific business needs. • Pre-built components can speed up the automation process. • Continuous maintenance and updates are essential for automation success. • AI can generate course materials better than humans. • Scaling through automation can lead to significant revenue growth. • Documenting processes is crucial for effective onboarding and automation. • AI agents can optimize code reviews and improve development efficiency. • Embracing new tools is essential for modern software development. • Efficiency in development teams can be dramatically increased with automation. • Cultural shifts are necessary for successful software engineering practices. • Challenge yourself to find automation opportunities in your work. • New solutions can scale effectively without the constraints of traditional methods. • Investing in R&D and mastering tools is key to staying competitive. Chapters 00:00 Introduction to Automation and AI 05:00 Understanding Robotic Process Automation (RPA) 09:58 Real-World Applications of Automation 18:00 The Automation Process Explained 25:01 Technology Stack and Tools for Automation 30:06 Exploring Course Creation Automation 31:42 AI-Driven Course Creation and Automation 34:20 Integrating AI with Existing Platforms 37:36 Scaling Through Automation 39:14 Onboarding and Process Standardization 41:04 The Importance of Documenting Processes 42:54 Optimizing Code Review with AI 46:15 The Evolution of Software Development 51:00 Efficiency in Development Teams 56:19 Cultural Shifts in Software Engineering

Send me a Text Message hereFULL SHOW NOTES https://podcast.nz365guy.com/622 Agnius Bartninkas, a Microsoft MVP and the dynamic COO of Definra, takes center stage in this episode as we explore his intriguing journey from tech to the tantalizing world of mixology. Curious about how an expert in Power Automate Desktop crafts the perfect Mai Tai? Or why a Baby Guinness shot became a significant discovery? Agnius shares personal anecdotes of cocktail adventures, revealing a newfound passion that blends his technical precision with creative flair. Get ready to be inspired by stories of crafting cocktails that capture the essence of far-off places like Waikiki, Hawaii.The conversation deepens as we navigate Agnius' path into Robotic Process Automation (RPA), a venture that started with humble beginnings in programming. Learn how opportunities in an international manufacturing company led him to the forefront of process automation. With insights into the impact of Microsoft's acquisition of Softomotive and the strategic role of Power Automate, Agnius recounts the growth of his family-run business, Robo Virgin, a testament to self-learning, adaptability, and the power of collaboration. This is not just about automation; it's about the relentless pursuit of innovation and the creation of meaningful solutions.As we look to the future, discover the possibilities of AI in email management and the potential for AI-powered co-pilot tools. Agnius shares his journey to becoming a Microsoft MVP, highlighting the integral role of community engagement and content creation on LinkedIn and Discord. Agnius joins us to offer her expertise on business applications, industry trends, and best practices. This episode is a rich tapestry of professional wisdom and personal enthusiasm, perfect for those passionate about technology, creativity, and the exciting prospects of AI.OTHER RESOURCES: Microsoft MVP YouTube Series - How to Become a Microsoft MVP  90 Day Mentoring Challenge 10% off code use MBAP at checkout https://ako.nz365guy.comSupport the showIf you want to get in touch with me, you can message me here on Linkedin.Thanks for listening

In this podcast episode, Dr. Jonathan H. Westover talks with Ryan Tamminga about how human resources can leverage automation to drive employee engagement. Ryan Tamminga is the SVP, Product and Services, at Alchemer. Ryan has over 15 years of experience in both industry and consulting roles with Fortune 100 companies across products, media, resources and healthcare sectors. He has a proven track record for improving core operations performance, providing thought leadership and driving results through strategy development, operating model design, processes excellence, and implementation of enabling technologies. He has deep expertise in Customer Experience (CX), Employee Experience (EX), finance, SAP, Robotic Process Automation (RPA), Zero Based Budgeting and analytics. Ryan is passionate about architecting complex business transformations as well as cultivating people and business growth. Check out all of the podcasts in the HCI Podcast Network!

Video - https://youtu.be/Jy7M9iaUI7E Imagine a world where robots silently handle all the mind-numbing tasks we dread – from data entry to endless paperwork – freeing humans to focus on creativity and strategy. Robotic Process Automation (RPA) is doing exactly that, transforming industries without the need for sci-fi robots or massive IT overhauls. In this video, discover how RPA is quietly reshaping the workforce, enhancing efficiency, and paving the way for a future where technology empowers, not replaces, human effort. Dive in to see why RPA might just be the future of work as we know it! I used ChatGPT-4o, ZOOM Clips, VLC, ScreenPal, and Pictory.ai to put this information together. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/norbert-gostischa/support

In dieser Folge beleuchtet Daniel Winkler das Konzept des Fast Close und zeigt Wege auf, wie Unternehmen ihre Abschlussprozesse beschleunigen können, um zeitnah auf wichtige Finanzinformationen zugreifen zu können. Durch eine effiziente Finanzorganisation, das gezielte Erkennen und Bearbeiten von Engpässen sowie die Automatisierung manueller Prozesse können Unternehmen die Dauer für Monats- und Quartalsabschlüsse verkürzen. Besonders betont wird dabei, dass nur wesentliche Informationen den Abschlussprozess beeinflussen dürfen. Der Zehn-Punkte-Plan dient als Leitfaden, um von einem stressigen, langen Abschluss hin zu einem optimalen und schnellen Prozess zu gelangen.Key Takeaways:Effiziente Finanzorganisation: Aufbau eines strukturierten und stabilen Finance-Teams, das unabhängig voneinander arbeiten kann und so Engpässe vermeidet.Engpässe erkennen und beseitigen: Analyse von Prozessengpässen in der Finanzabteilung, um zeitraubende Hürden zu identifizieren und zu lösen.Automatisierung und RPA nutzen: Ersetzen manueller Aufgaben durch Tools und Robotic Process Automation (RPA), um Zeit zu sparen und Fehlerquellen zu minimieren.Relevanz- und Wesentlichkeitsprinzip anwenden: Nur wesentliche Daten und Informationen sollen den Abschlussprozess beeinflussen, um Zeit und Ressourcen zu sparen.Schnellere Prozesse mit Abgrenzungen: Rückstellungen und Schätzwerte gezielt einsetzen, um den Monats- oder Quartalsabschluss nicht von Kleinigkeiten aufhalten zu lassen.Frühzeitige Planung und Entzerrung: Prozesse optimieren, indem frühere Datenerhebung und Prozessschritte zeitlich entzerrt werden, sodass Aufgaben rechtzeitig und entspannt bearbeitet werden können.Weiterführende LinksFAST CLOSE – Ihr 10 Schritte-Plan Zum Schnellen Monats- und Jahresabschluss! DAWICONKontakt zu Daniel WinklerDaniel Winkler | LinkedIn Links zur DAWICON

Evelyn Oberleitner, Mitgründerin und Geschäftsführerin von ProcessOne, erklärt in dieser Folge, unseres #glaubandich Podcasts wie ihr Unternehmen Routineaufgaben in Unternehmen automatisiert und so Zeit für strategisch wichtige Themen schafft. Sie spricht über Robotic Process Automation (RPA) und wie ProcessOne Prozesse optimiert, ohne eine eigene Software zu entwickeln. Im Gespräch mit Startrampe Leiter Johannes gibt sie Antworten auf die Fragen - Wie Automatisierung Unternehmen hilft, den Fachkräftemangel zu bewältigen? - Was der Unterschied zwischen Digitalisierung und Automatisierung ist? - Warum keine Arbeitsplätze abgebaut, sondern diese nur sinnvoll umstrukturiert werden? Außerdem gibt Evelyn einen Einblick in ihre Gründungsgeschichte und den Werdegang von ProcessOne. Mehr Infos zu ProcessOne https://www.processone.com

Hey there, Joe Fier here from Hustle and Flowchart! I'm excited to share some highlights from our latest podcast episode featuring Roland Frasier. We dove deep into the world of AI and how it's shaping business efficiency and creativity. Roland is a pro at leveraging AI to boost productivity and streamline various business processes. This episode is loaded with practical insights and useful tips that you can apply to your work or business right away. Let's get into it! What This Podcast Episode is About In this episode, Roland Frasier shares his innovative approach to enhancing creativity and productivity using AI. We discuss several key topics, including the concept of a "satellite brain," AI tools for business, optimizing work for happiness, and the role of technology in today's business landscape. Roland also offers practical examples and strategies that he uses in his own businesses to stay ahead of the curve. Satellite Brain: Enhancing Creativity and Productivity Roland Frasier introduces the concept of a "satellite brain," which is a structured AI creativity workflow. AI simulates think tanks or focus groups by involving various stakeholders in a company project. For example, when creating an insurance product, AI can summarize vast amounts of information quickly, making research more efficient. Roland mentions using AI during consultations to deliver better insights. He highlights tools like Perplexity and Grok, and an AI aggregator that queries multiple AIs at once. AI Tools and Their Applications AI tools play a crucial role in summarizing information and enhancing business processes. Roland discusses several AI tools he uses, like Perplexity and Grok, to gather and synthesize data. Joe Fier emphasizes the importance of embracing smart tools and technology. Roland also mentions a tool called "chat.gg," an AI aggregator that queries multiple AIs, saving significant time in data collection and analysis. Joe shares a tip for summarizing and saving research prompts for future use. Optimizing for Happiness Roland talks about optimizing for happiness by automating repetitive tasks. Instead of making numerous personalized videos himself, he leverages digital twin technology, where salespeople input data, and the system creates videos. This setup reduces Roland's workload significantly. AI tools also helped him create voice clones tailored to different message contexts, providing more workflow choices. Roland's approach keeps him from being a bottleneck, ensuring tasks get done efficiently without compromising quality. Theory of Constraints and ICE Framework Roland follows the Theory of Constraints to identify and eliminate bottlenecks in business processes. He uses the ICE (Impact, Confidence, Ease) framework to prioritize tasks. By running curiosity-driven experiments, Roland continually tests new tools and techniques, sharing his findings through an email newsletter. Workflow management techniques such as split test calendars, sprints, and Kanban boards help him stay organized and effective. Customer Service Challenges and AI Solutions Customer service is a significant choke point for many businesses. Rapid response times enhance customer satisfaction and boost net promoter scores (NPS). Delays impact referrals and testimonials, highlighting the need for efficient service. AI solutions can automate responses, manage routine tasks, and optimize customer service operations. AI can route calls, solve common issues, and provide real-time updates, enhancing overall service quality. AI in Accounting and Democratizing Access Roland talks about the challenges facing the accounting workforce, with many older accountants retiring. AI and Robotic Process Automation (RPA) can handle routine tasks such as tax preparations efficiently. These technologies democratize access to quality services, making professional accounting and legal services more affordable and available to a broader audience. Balancing Artisans and AI Technology The episode explores the rise of handmade, artisan products versus mass-produced items. Roland mentions companies like Shein and how specialized artisans thrive despite technological advances. He shares his preference for older, handcrafted musical equipment over new, advanced versions, showing the value placed on handmade items. There's a lucrative market for repairing vintage items, providing significant income opportunities. Time Management and Virtual Companions Roland suggests conducting time studies to identify tasks that don't bring joy or are not the best use of time. Outsourcing or automating these tasks can enhance personal happiness and efficiency. The conversation shifts to the topic of loneliness and the potential role of virtual companions. While there's debate on whether virtual connections help or harm societal bonds, Roland and Joe emphasize that individuals should choose what suits them without societal constraints. Virtual environments like VR can also help people connect beyond geographical and social boundaries. Useful Resources Mentioned Listen to Roland's Podcast "Business Lunch" Follow Roland on LinkedIn or Instagram See the latest AI stuff from Roland at the Epic Network Perplexity Grok chat.gg Conclusion This episode with Roland Frasier is packed with insights on how AI and technology can revolutionize your business processes and personal productivity. From enhancing creativity with satellite brains to tackling customer service challenges with AI, Roland's strategies offer valuable takeaways for anyone looking to optimize their efficiency and embrace technological advancements. Remember, staying open to change and continuously experimenting with new tools can lead to significant improvements in both work and life. Thanks for tuning in, and I hope you found these insights as valuable as I did! Don't forget to check out the resources mentioned and keep experimenting with new tools to stay ahead in your field. Two Other Episodes You Should Check Out Building a Media Empire with AI: Insights from Matt Wolfe Triple Your Teams Productivity by Mastering AI with Mike Koenigs Resources From Episode What if you could have a FREE personal mentor on-demand?! With Joe's Hustle & Flowchart AI clone, you can tap into the knowledge from over 600 episodes any time! Whether you need advice on scaling, marketing, or productivity, my AI clone is here to help. Hubspot has launched a whole new suite of AI Tools, check them on the Hubspot Spotlight Check out other podcasts on the HubSpot Podcast Network Grab a 30-Day Trial of Kartra We want to hear from you. Send us the One Thing you want to hear on the show. Connect with Joe on LinkedIn and Instagram Subscribe to the YouTube Channel Contact Joe: joe@hustleandflowchart.com Thanks for tuning into this episode of the Hustle & Flowchart Podcast! If the information in these conversations and interviews have helped you in your business journey, please head over to iTunes (or wherever you listen), subscribe to the show, and leave me an honest review. Your reviews and feedback will not only help me continue to deliver great, helpful content, but it will also help me reach even more amazing entrepreneurs just like you!

Video - https://youtu.be/ekENxQfIYxs Automating repetitive tasks.. Discover how Robotic Process Automation (RPA) is transforming the workplace by automating repetitive tasks and freeing up your time for more important things. Learn how RPA works, its impact on different industries, and how it can revolutionize your daily workflow—whether you're in a small business or a global enterprise. Ready to join the automation revolution? Watch and find out how RPA can make your work life easier, faster, and smarter! I used ChatGPT-4o and Pictory.ai to put this information together. If you're interested in trying Pictory.ai please use the following link. https://pictory.ai?ref=t015o --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/norbert-gostischa/support

Transitioning from a manual software process to an automated process can be challenging. However, when automation software is implemented correctly, it creates a better experience for both residents and the property management team by enabling staff to focus on increasing retention rates and improving ROI.Mo Hussein of Balanced Asset Solutions joins the podcast to discuss how to effectively scale your business through the use of technology; the challenges of establishing processes and procedures, and standardizing them within the company; and the importance of creating change at the executive level so staff can fully adopt and leverage new technology.Mo also identifies three key areas impacted by automation software—the leasing process, maintenance management, and accounting procedures. Further, he discusses how artificial intelligence (AI) products—such as Robotic Process Automation (RPA)—can streamline routine tasks. Finally, Mo explains the importance of partnering with an automation software provider that has experience in operations, technology, accounting, and compliance.Explore additional Beyond Rent episodes by connecting with us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, LinkedIn, and YouTube.You can learn more about Mo Hussein on LinkedIn, and Balanced Asset Solutions on the company's website.Visit RentManager.com/Podcast to submit an idea for an upcoming episode of Beyond Rent and discover more about the program.Learn more about Rent Manager's industry-leading accounting, reporting, maintenance, and communication features at RentManager.com, or connect with us on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and Twitter.

In this episode, we explore Agentic Process Automation (APA), a paradigm that could revolutionize digital automation by harnessing the power of AI agents. The discussion focuses on the ProAgent system as an example of APA. APA introduces a new paradigm where AI-driven agents can analyze, decide, and execute complex tasks with minimal human intervention. We'll unpack the groundbreaking Automation concept which showcases the true potential of AI agents through its innovative approach to workflow construction and execution. Key Topics Covered Introduction to Agentic Process Automation (APA) Comparison between traditional Robotic Process Automation (RPA) and APA ProAgent: A prime example of APA implementation Key innovations of ProAgent: Agentic workflow construction Agentic workflow execution Types of agents in ProAgent: Data agents Control agents Case study: Using ProAgent with Google Sheets for business line management Potential impacts and implications of APA on work and decision-making Future developments and considerations for APA technology This episode was generated using Google Notebook LM, drawing insights from the paper "ProAgent: From Robotic Process Automation to Agentic Process Automation" Stay ahead in your AI journey with Bot Nirvana AI Mastermind. Podcast Transcript All right, everyone. Buckle up, because today's deep dive is going to be a wild ride through the future of automation. We're talking way beyond those basic schedule this kind of tasks. Yeah, we're diving headfirst into the realm where AI takes the wheel and handles the thinking for us. Oh, yeah, the thinking part. Yeah. If you could give your computer a really complex task, something that needs analysis, decision-making, maybe even a dash of creativity, that's what we're talking about. And right now, your typical automation tools, they would hit a wall. Hard. They're great at following those rigid step-by-step instructions. Like robots. Exactly. But when it comes to anything that requires actual brain power. Still got to do it ourselves. Well, that's where this research paper we're diving into today comes in. It's all about something called agentic process automation, or APA for short. And let me tell you, this stuff has the potential to completely change the game. OK, for those of us who haven't dedicated our lives to the art of automation, give us the lowdown. What is APA, and why is it such a big deal? Think about your current automation workhorse RPA, robotic process automation. It's like that super reliable assistant who never complains but needs very specific instructions for every single step. Right. Amazing at those repetitive tasks, but needs you to hold their hand through every decision point. Exactly. Now, imagine that same assistant, but with a secret weapon, an AI sidekick whispering genius solutions in their ear. OK, now you're talking. That's APA in a nutshell. We're giving RPA a massive intelligence boost. So instead of just blindly following pre-programmed rules, we're talking about automation that can actually think. You got it. APA introduces the idea of agents, which are basically AI helpers embedded directly into the workflow. These agents can analyze data, make judgment calls based on that analysis, and even generate things like reports, all without a human meticulously laying out each step. So it's not just about automating tasks anymore. It's about automating the intelligence behind those tasks. You're catching on quickly. And this paper focuses on a system called ProAgent as a prime example of APA in action. All right, lay it on us. What is ProAgent? So ProAgent really highlights the potential of APA with two key innovations-- agentic workflow construction and agentic workflow execution. OK, so those are some pretty hefty terms. Can you break those down for us? Let's start with how ProAgent constructs workflows. What makes it so revolutionary? Well, with your traditional RPA, you're stuck painstakingly designing every single step of the process. It's like writing a super detailed manual for a robot. Right, like you don't want the robot to deviate at all. Exactly. But ProAgent flips the script instead of you having to lay out every tiny detail. I can just, like, figure it out. You give it high level instructions, and the LLM-- that's the AI engine-- actually builds the workflow for you. Wait, so it's like you're telling it what you want to achieve, and it figures out the how to. Think of it like having an AI assistant who understands your goals and can translate those goals into a functional workflow. OK, that is seriously cool. And then, agentic workflow execution-- that's where those agents we talked about come in, right? They're the ones actually doing the heavy lifting. You got it. ProAgent uses two types of agents-- data agents and control agents. They work together like specialized teams within your automated workflow. OK, I'm really curious about these specialist teams now. Let's start with the data agents. What's their area of expertise? Data agents are the masterminds behind complex data processing. We're not talking simple copying and pasting here. Imagine you need a report summarizing key trends from a massive spreadsheet. Yeah, that sounds fun. A data agent can analyze that data, extract the important bits, and generate a report for you all within the automated workflow. OK, so if the data agents are the analysts, are the control agents like the project managers making sure it all comes together? That's a great analogy. Control agents handle the dynamic aspects of the workflow-- those if this, then that-- scenarios. They can assess a situation and choose the best course of action just like a human would. Wow, so they're not just following a predetermined path. They're making decisions on the fly. This is light years beyond basic automation. It really is. And to really illustrate this, the researchers use a really interesting case study with Google Sheets. Imagine you're a manager, and you've got this spreadsheet with hundreds of different business lines. Hundreds of business lines. I can already feel the headache coming on. Right, and each one might have unique needs. Some need detailed reports emailed out. Others might just need a quick update on Slack. Traditionally, you'd need a human to look at each one, figure out the best way to handle it. Oh, for sure. You'd need a whole team just to manage that. But in this case study, ProAgent uses a control agent to do the reading and the decision making. So it's not just matching keywords or something. It's actually understanding the context of each business line. You got it. The control agent can actually analyze the description of a business line and say, OK, this one seems more business to customer, so it needs this kind of report. That's pretty impressive. So the control agent is like the conductor of an orchestra, making sure everything flows smoothly, and each instrument plays its part at the right time. But what about the actual report writing? That's where those data agents step in, right? Exactly. Let's say the control agent flags a business line that requires a super detailed performance report. The data agent swips in, pulls the relevant data points from the spreadsheet, crunches the numbers, and even adds in some insightful summaries. Hold on. It can actually generate insights. Like, it's not just spitting out numbers. It can analyze the data and tell me what's important. That's the really exciting part. This paper shows that ProAgent can tap into the power of LLMs to move beyond just simple reporting. We're talking about identifying trends, comparing performance across different business lines. It could probably even make suggestions based on the data, right? Exactly. This is about real data-driven insights. OK, now I'm really seeing how this could be a game changer. Even for someone like me, who doesn't necessarily geek out over all the automation jargon, this has huge implications. It absolutely does. Think about all those tasks in your work day that could be handled by a system like ProAgent. Those things that eat up your time because they involve, you know, gathering information from different places, making judgment calls. It's like those tasks that, you know, could theoretically be automated, but they require that extra bit of human touch. Precisely. APA has the potential to bridge that gap. Imagine you could be freeing up all this mental bandwidth. All that time you'd normally spend on these tedious tasks, you could be focusing on the strategic stuff, the creative stuff, the work that really needs your unique human perspective. It's like having an army of AI assistants working tirelessly behind the scenes, handling all the heavy lifting so you can focus on the big picture. And it's not just about productivity. It's about reducing that feeling of information overload. APA could help us sift through all the noise, analyze data more effectively, and ultimately make better, more informed decisions. This all sounds incredibly promising, but where do we go from here? What's next for APA and ProAgent? That's the million dollar question. What's so exciting about this research is that it's really just the tip of the iceberg. As LMS continue to evolve, we can expect to see even more sophisticated versions of APA capable of handling increasingly complex tasks. So we could be talking about even more autonomy, even more intelligence, baked into these systems. What kind of impact could that have on the way we work and live? Imagine a world where personalized automation is the norm. Systems like ProAgent could learn your specific preferences, anticipate your needs. Essentially, become an extension of your own expertise. That's amazing. We're talking about a whole new level of human AI collaboration, where technology augments our abilities instead of replacing them. This feels like a pivotal moment in the evolution of automation. It really does. And while the possibilities are incredibly exciting, it also raises some important considerations about the future of work, how we navigate this evolving landscape. Yeah, it's fascinating to think about. As we're unlocking these new levels of automation, it really makes you wonder, what does work even look like in a future where AI can handle so much of what we do today? Yeah, it's a question we'll all be wrestling with in the coming years, for sure. On the one hand, it's incredibly exciting to think about all the possibilities, right? A world with less drudgery, more time to focus on the things that truly inspire us. But like you said, there are always two sides to every coin. Absolutely. As with any really transformative technology, we need to be mindful of the potential challenges. For example, as APA becomes more and more sophisticated, how do we ensure transparency in the decision making? If an AI is calling the shots, how do we understand its reasoning? Oh, that's such a good point. It's one thing to trust an AI with scheduling emails. But when we're talking about tasks that have real world consequences, transparency becomes absolutely crucial. We need to be able to see how these systems are arriving at their conclusions. Exactly. And beyond just transparency, there's a crawl in of accountability. If an AI makes a mistake, who's responsible? Is it the developers who created the system, the users who deployed it? These are some seriously complex questions. It really highlights how we're entering this new era, where ethics and technology are becoming so intertwined. As APA and other AI-driven systems become more prevalent in our lives, it's more important than ever to have open and honest conversations about the implications. 100%. And it's not just about having these conversations among technologists and policymakers. It's about bringing everyone to the table. Exactly. Because at the end of the day, these technologies are going to impact all of us, right? They will. It's about demystifying AI, making these conversations accessible, and deciding together what role we want these technologies to play. It's not about letting AI dictate the future. It's about using these incredible tools to help us build the future that we want. Well said. I couldn't agree more. Well, on that note, for our listeners, I hope this deep dive has sparked your curiosity about agendic process automation and giving you plenty to ponder as we venture into this exciting new frontier of, well, everything. It's been a pleasure exploring these ideas with you. And as always, thank you for joining us on the deep dive. We'll see you next time for another deep dive into the world of cutting-edge technology and its impact on our lives. Thank you for joining the Bot Nirvana podcast. Appreciate if you can leave a review on iTunes or wherever you're consuming your podcast. Catch the show notes on bot nirvana.org. While you are there, feel free to explore more free digital automation resources and more. See you next time.

This week, we're doing something a little different. We're excited to share an episode from another podcast sponsored by N-able: Beyond the Horizon: Future Focused MSP Insights.In this episode, Forward Together: Why Open Ecosystems Drive MSP Growth, David Weeks discusses how open platforms and ecosystems are shaping the future for MSPs, and why collaboration is key to driving growth in this space. It's a must-listen for anyone looking to stay ahead in the evolving world of managed services.After you finish listening, be sure to subscribe to Beyond the Horizon so you don't miss any of their upcoming episodes. We'll be back in two weeks with our conversation with Stephen Riddick.In this episode of Beyond the Horizons, Pete Roythorne is joined by David Weeks, VP of Community at N-able, to delve into the transformative concept of open ecosystems for Managed Service Providers (MSPs). They discuss the evolving role of RMM tools as data aggregators, the importance of integrating diverse software, and the power of AI in enhancing business efficiency. Tune in to explore how MSPs can leverage open ecosystems to drive opportunity, mitigate risks, and ensure scalability. Topics Discussed: 1. Introduction to Open Ecosystems:The significance of open ecosystems for MSPs, and the changing role of RMM as a data aggregator.2. Data Aggregation and Business Insights:Utilizing data from your RMM to build pipelines and identify sales opportunities, and how data aggregation helps MSPs understand customer needs and trends.3. Integration and Interoperability:The necessity of MSPs to use a range of software tools beyond a single vendor's offerings. Challenges and benefits of bi-directional integrations and communication between tools.4. AI and Automation in MSP Operations:The role of AI and Robotic Process Automation (RPA) in managing data and making decisions, plus how AI enhances the scalability and efficiency of MSPs.5. Vendor Relationships and Best-of-Breed Tools:The risk of single-vendor tool stacks and the importance of best-of-breed solutions. Why we should be encouragingGet an in-person rundown on what N-able has to offer including products, insights, networking and more.The N-able Roadshow is visiting more cities than ever before in 2024. Take a look at our first group of locations; we may be in a city near you! -> http://spr.ly/6000RsTOq'Now that's it: Stories of MSP Success,' dives into the journeys of some of the trailblazers in our industry to find out how they used their passion for technology to help turn Managed Services into the thriving sector it is today. Every episode is packed with the valuable insights, practical strategies, and inspiring anecdotes that lead our guests to the transformative moment when they knew….. Now, that's it.This podcast provides educational information about issues that may be relevant to information technology service providers. Nothing in the podcast should be construed as any recommendation or endorsement by N-able, or as legal or any other advice. The views expressed by guests are their own and their appearance on the podcast does not imply an endorsement of them or any entity they represent. Views and opinions expressed by N-able employees are those of the employees and do not necessarily reflect the view of N-able or its officers and directors. The podcast may also contain forward-looking statements regarding future product plans, functionality, or development efforts that should not be interpreted as a commitment from N-able related to any deliverables or timeframe. All content is based on information available at the time of recording, and N-able has no obligation to update any forward-looking statements.

In this episode, we sit down with Stephanie Feigenbaum, a project manager specializing in Robotic Process Automation (RPA) at REdirect Consulting, who's helping to transform the real estate industry by integrating cutting-edge automation technologies. Stephanie shares her journey from a career in sales to becoming a leader in automation, offering deep insights into how RPA can save time, reduce human error, and ultimately allow real estate professionals to focus on high-value tasks.Whether you're a real estate professional curious about the benefits of automation or someone interested in the intersection of technology and real estate, this conversation is packed with valuable insights you won't want to miss.

In this compelling episode of the Legacy Leaders Show, we delve into the unique world of Doxci. This pioneering SaaS platform leverages Artificial Intelligence (AI), Natural Language Processing (NLP), and Robotic Process Automation (RPA) to transform how businesses manage corporate documents. Its standout feature? The ability to process over 100,000 records in just 5 minutes frees valuable time for business leaders to focus on growth. Join us as we interview Austin Ambrozi, the visionary co-founder and managing partner who champions the mantra "Quit Doing Paperwork." Discover how Doxci is an AI employee capable of processing over 100,000 documents in 5 minutes regardless of language. Automating tasks, from compliance documentation and insurance claims processing to handwritten notes and records, allows business leaders to redirect their efforts from tedious paperwork to what truly matters: accelerating business growth. This episode is a must-listen for entrepreneurs, business owners, and innovators who want to scale efficiency and unlock new possibilities in the digital age by automating their paperwork and leading their organizations to success. Tune in to get inspired, informed, and ready to scale with Doxci.ai. Buckle Up, Champ!

The integration of artificial intelligence (AI) into healthcare revenue cycle management is becoming increasingly vital as organizations strive to optimize efficiency, reduce costs, and improve patient outcomes. As AI application in healthcare revenue gains traction, it's crucial to distinguish between genuine AI innovations and surface-level automation. The right technology can significantly impact revenue cycle efficiency and compliance.But how can healthcare organizations discern between genuine AI solutions and those simply leveraging automation?In this special episode of Highway to Health, Nick Tombrella, Senior Vice President of Sales at Waterlabs AI, hosts an enlightening discussion with Kamal Raj, CEO and Founder of Waterlabs AI, and Lauralea Tanner, an Advisory Board Member at the company. Together, they explore the critical role of AI in healthcare revenue cycle management, the challenges of automation, and how Waterlabs AI stands out in the competitive landscape.Key discussion points include:- The distinction between true AI and Robotic Process Automation (RPA) in healthcare applications.- The areas of revenue cycle management most in need of AI-driven automation, such as accounts receivable and coding.- Compliance concerns in integrating AI into healthcare systems and how Waterlabs AI addresses these challenges.Lauralea Tanner is an accomplished executive with extensive experience in healthcare revenue cycle management, sales, and business transformation. Currently serving as an Advisory Board Member at Waterlabs AI, she also leads CHT Holdings LLC as CEO and is a former Chief Growth Officer at Acclara. Throughout her career, she has consistently driven top-line revenue growth, improved operational efficiency, and led successful mergers and acquisitions.Kamal Raj is the founder, President, and CEO of Waterlabs AI, where he leads the development of conversational user interfaces (CUI) for healthcare revenue cycle management. With over 25 years of IT industry experience, he has a strong track record in aligning IT and business strategies, optimizing operational efficiency, and driving value creation. Prior to Waterlabs AI, he was the Associate Vice President at Omega Healthcare, where he played a key role in building the global enterprise tech network for over 25,000 employees.

In this episode, Ernest Lee, Chief Commercial Officer at citizenM, shares how he sees AI impacting hospitality (and his business) in the years ahead and then gets specific on some ways AI-powered technology is already making his teams more efficient and effective today.Listeners will learn:How AI is causing a major platform shift that could level the playing field for independent boutique hotels and small chains (00:51)How citizenM is using Robotic Process Automation (RPA) to automate repetitive manual tasks, such as reconciling guest names with confirmation codes from OTA bookings (02:32)The importance of using data and business intelligence to gain an accurate, timely, and objective perspective on the impact delivered on a day-to-day basis (03:50)More from Ernest:How Robert De Niro in "Casino" Influenced My Career in HospitalityHow I Spend My Time (And What I Focus On) As A Hospitality Leader This episode is brought to you with support from Sojern. Download our latest research report here: Unlocking Revenue - How Hoteliers Build Profitable Guest RelationshipsNew to Hospitality Daily? Start here. Want to get my summary and actionable insights from each episode delivered to your inbox each day? Subscribe here for free.Follow Hospitality Daily and join the conversation on YouTube, LinkedIn, and Instagram.Music by Clay Bassford of Bespoke Sound: Music Identity Design for Hospitality Brands

In this episode of Agency Intelligence podcast, host Jason Cass discusses the integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Robotic Process Automation (RPA) in insurance agencies and how these technologies enhance productivity and efficiency, with real-life examples and practical applications that can transform agency workflows. Key Topics: Understanding the broad applications of AI in insurance agencies The distinction between licensed and unlicensed tasks in agency operations Implementing AI and RPA to enhance operational efficiency Case studies on the financial impact of AI integration in agencies Future predictions for AI and automation in the insurance industry Practical tips for agencies to adopt and adapt AI technologies Overview of upcoming IndieTech and resources for further learning about AI in insurance Reach out to: Jason Cass Visit Website: IndieTech 2024 Agency Intelligence Produced by: PodSquad.fm

This episode of the Identity at the Center podcast, a Sponsor Spotlight, is fully sponsored by Zilla Security. In this episode, hosts Jim McDonald and Jeff Steadman sit down with Deepak Taneja, CEO & Co-founder of Zilla Security. The trio discuss a variety of topics including how Zilla Security differentiates itself in the crowded IAM market, the role of Robotic Process Automation (RPA) in the identity lifecycle, and the various personas within an organization that would use Zilla. Deepak also shares some insights about the onboarding process for new Zilla clients and what the future holds for Zilla Security. Connect with Deepak: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tanejadeepak/ Learn more about Zilla Security: https://zillasecurity.com/ Connect with us on LinkedIn: Jim McDonald: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jimmcdonaldpmp/ Jeff Steadman: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeffsteadman/ Visit the show on the web at idacpodcast.com and follow @IDACPodcast on X/Twitter.

In today's episode, Stories from the River, host Charlie Malouf welcomes the esteemed April Whitener; the 2023 Memory Maker of the Year! April reflects on her personal life, from growing up in Indian Land, South Carolina, balancing work and studies at Belmont Abbey College, to her love for accounting and volunteering at her children's school. She speaks candidly about the cultural shift towards remote work during the pandemic, her positive transition to Broad River Retail, and her preferences for hybrid work for better work-life balance.  She shares insights into the projects and challenges she has managed throughout the year, including the implementation of an automated invoice review system using Robotic Process Automation (RPA) with UiPath and a customized bot that they have named "Rosie" to help with reviewing large amounts of invoices and the transition to a new corporate card platform that enhanced the process for employee reimbursements.  April discusses her journey from starting as an AP specialist to becoming a supervisor, overseeing her effective “dream team”  through a smooth remote work environment. She attributes her successes to her work ethic, support from her team and company, and her weekly planning habits.  The company culture at Broad River, recognized for its supportive environment in stark contrast to the usual numbers-driven corporate world, is also highlighted. Emphasizing annual themes like "Connect" for 2024, April praises the company for fostering a space where Memory Makers feel valued and motivated.  Enjoy this special episode with the 2023 Memory Maker of the Year, April Whitener, and learn why her fellow Memory Makers describe her as kind, gracious, smart, tenacious, and urgent, as well as someone who completes her work with ease, grace, speed, confidence, grit, and determination. Additional Resources:  Robotic Process Automation (RPA) Provider UiPath - https://www.uipath.com   Wells Fargo Expense Manager - https://www.wellsfargo.com/com/treasury-management/payables/commercial-card/wellsone-expense-manager/   This episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/FQunAP_CR6s  Visit https://www.storiesfromtheriver.com for more episodes.  

In today's episode, Stories from the River, host Charlie Malouf welcomes the esteemed April Whitener; the 2023 Memory Maker of the Year! April reflects on her personal life, from growing up in Indian Land, South Carolina, balancing work and studies at Belmont Abbey College, to her love for accounting and volunteering at her children's school. She speaks candidly about the cultural shift towards remote work during the pandemic, her positive transition to Broad River Retail, and her preferences for hybrid work for better work-life balance.  She shares insights into the projects and challenges she has managed throughout the year, including the implementation of an automated invoice review system using Robotic Process Automation (RPA) with UiPath and a customized bot that they have named "Rosie" to help with reviewing large amounts of invoices and the transition to a new corporate card platform that enhanced the process for employee reimbursements.  April discusses her journey from starting as an AP specialist to becoming a supervisor, overseeing her effective “dream team”  through a smooth remote work environment. She attributes her successes to her work ethic, support from her team and company, and her weekly planning habits.  The company culture at Broad River, recognized for its supportive environment in stark contrast to the usual numbers-driven corporate world, is also highlighted. Emphasizing annual themes like "Connect" for 2024, April praises the company for fostering a space where Memory Makers feel valued and motivated.  Enjoy this special episode with the 2023 Memory Maker of the Year, April Whitener, and learn why her fellow Memory Makers describe her as kind, gracious, smart, tenacious, and urgent, as well as someone who completes her work with ease, grace, speed, confidence, grit, and determination. Additional Resources:  Robotic Process Automation (RPA) Provider UiPath - https://www.uipath.com   Wells Fargo Expense Manager - https://www.wellsfargo.com/com/treasury-management/payables/commercial-card/wellsone-expense-manager/   This episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/FQunAP_CR6s  Visit https://www.storiesfromtheriver.com for more episodes.  

This Week in Startups is brought to you by… OpenPhone. Create business phone numbers for you and your team that work through an app on your smartphone or desktop. TWiST listeners can get an extra 20% off any plan for your first 6 months at openphone.com/twist Scalable Path. Want to speed up your product development without breaking the bank? Since 2010, Scalable Path has helped over 300 companies hire deeply vetted engineers in their time zone. Visit http://scalablepath.com/twist to get 20% off your first month. Uizard.io will help bring your vision to life in minutes, not days with the power of AI. Visit http://uizard.io/twist to get 25% off Uizard Pro for an entire year. * Today's show: Rabbit CEO, Jesse Lyu, joins Jason to discuss the viral launch of the Rabbit R1 AI companion device at CES, covering the ambitious product vision (1:37), iconic design (23:30), revolutionary software (11:30), manufacturing logistics (49:45), and much more! * Timestamps: (00:00) Rabbit's Jesse Lyu joins Jason (1:37) Introduction and Pricing of Rabbit R1, a Pocket AI Device (7:07) Differences between large language models and large action models (10:03) OpenPhone - Get 20% off your first six months at https://openphone.com/twist (11:30) Data collection process for training the Large Action Model (LAM), Neuro-symbolic algorithm vs. traditional Robotic Process Automation (RPA) (16:08) Authentication and access to Rabbit's Web Portal, privacy considerations, and speed and latency of voice interactions (23:30) The role of Teenage Engineering in design inspiration (30:47) Scalable Path - Get 20% off your first month at http://scalablepath.com/twist (32:07) Potential frustrations and limitations with the Rabbit R1 compared to smartphones (41:30) Uizard - Get 25% off Uizard Pro for an entire year at http://uizard.io/twist (42:38) Evaluating the Accuracy of Voice-to-Text Translations (49:45) Product timeline, experimental features, and getting devices to early adopters (1:12:37) Rabbit's early development, Jesse's journey, and future prospects of AI * Subscribe to This Week in Startups on Apple: https://rb.gy/v19fcp * LINKS: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=22wlLy7hKP4 https://teenage.engineering https://www.whathifi.com/news/headphone-30-could-a-computer-in-your-ear-change-headphones-forever https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7iU6K7NccXk * Thanks to our partners: (10:03) OpenPhone - Get 20% off your first six months at https://openphone.com/twist (30:47) Scalable Path - Get 20% off your first month at http://scalablepath.com/twist (41:30) Uizard - Get 25% off Uizard Pro for an entire year at http://uizard.io/twist * Follow Jesse X:  https://twitter.com/jessechenglyu Check out: https://www.rabbit.tech * Follow Jason: X: ⁠https://twitter.com/jason⁠ Instagram: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/jason⁠ LinkedIn: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasoncalacanis * Great 2023 interviews: Steve Huffman, Brian Chesky, Aaron Levie, Sophia Amoruso, Reid Hoffman, Frank Slootman, Billy McFarland * Check out Jason's suite of newsletters: https://substack.com/@calacanis * Follow TWiST: Substack: https://twistartups.substack.com Twitter: https://twitter.com/TWiStartups YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/thisweekin * Subscribe to the Founder University Podcast: https://www.founder.university/podcast

Expleo, a global engineering, technology and consulting service provider, has announced the results of research which found that 97% of business leaders in Ireland plan to make hyperautomation a focus area for their business in the next two years. The survey of 141 business leaders in medium- to large-sized enterprises in Ireland, part of Expleo's Business Transformation Index (BTI) 2023 Ireland Spotlight report, shows that 47% of business decision-makers see hyperautomation being a major focus area over the next two years, while 34% say it will be a moderate focus area and 14% say it will be minor. The findings suggest that businesses are moving beyond automating tasks in isolation. They are progressing towards hyperautomation, a process that involves automating at scale across all business functions and using AI, machine learning and Robotic Process Automation (RPA) to streamline multiple processes. When it comes to the perceived benefits of hyperautomation, 95% of business decision-makers believe that it will enable them to make transformative efficiency gains, whilst the same proportion believe that it will free up staff time and enable them to focus on value-generating activities involving creativity and problem-solving. Additionally, 90% of business leaders say that hyperautomation will help them to cope with supply chain issues. More than half of those surveyed (51%) associate the approach with the improvement of broader business outcomes, such as customer experience and reduced costs. While the interest in hyperautomation is widespread, Expleo's research found the challenges businesses encounter during the implementation process hinder the adoption of new digital transformation initiatives. The main challenge, cited by 80% of business leaders, is a lack of understanding regarding which technologies can deliver their business goals. This is up from 55% the previous year, indicating that business decision-makers may be getting overwhelmed by the availability of new technologies. Rebecca Keenan, Global Head of Intelligent Automation, Expleo, said: "These insights are fascinating because while almost all businesses will be focusing on hyperautomation at some level over the next two years, a key challenge for technology implementation is a lack of understanding of what those technologies will actually deliver. "Technology cannot survive in a vacuum. Business leaders must ensure that they - and their teams - understand the benefits of any significant transformation measures. As they educate their teams on the benefits, business leaders must also ensure they are fostering an organisational culture that favours transformation, while empowering and trusting their IT team and technology partners to embrace the technologies that will define their future." See more stories here.

Guest post by Mike McGrath, Co-Founder and CEO of Kwayga.com Recently at Kwayga.com we hosted our final supermarket buying webinar of 2023 under the theme of "Reducing Supplier Sourcing Times by 40% Using AI + Smart Technology", and we were delighted to gather an audience from 17 European countries to learn about this intriguing topic. We have had lots of enquiries in the past 6 months from pioneering supermarket buyers to understand how next-generation technologies can offer competitive advantages to their stores, so we collated best practices from the industry to share with this avid audience. From the outset, it is important to note that Artificial Intelligence (aka AI) has many supporters and optimists but some pessimists have their concerns too. I am in the AI fan club and I personally believe that if half of the AI claims and promises are true, then AI will transform every aspect of our lives over the next decade. Jeff Bezos has described AI as a renaissance, outlining that "we are at the beginning of a golden age. We're now solving problems with machine learning and artificial intelligence that were in the realm of science fiction in the past and we're only scratching the surface of what's possible". More profoundly, Sundar Pichai at Google has said that "artificial intelligence could be the most profound technology in human history, more profound than fire and electricity". When we speak of AI, we often focus on the future but it is important to remember that AI has been around for 40 years. In the eighties, computers were able to translate languages and speak with humans. In 1997, the first PR stunt from an AI perspective was from IBM's deep blue computer when it beat the world chess champion, Garry Kasparov. That was technology at its best at the time, but AI has enhanced significantly since then. AI research and development have been supercharged by improvements in computer hardware, and it comes down to the old reliable Moore's law, which indicates that the processing speed of computers will double every two years. So on one hand we have this amazingly powerful and intelligent technology, while on the other we have traditional sourcing methods at most supermarket chains. This article will outline how AI is being applied to supplier sourcing and procurement, to save smart buyers time, money and hassle when sourcing, vetting and onboarding great new suppliers. Through Kwayga and similar systems, supermarket buyers are using smart technology to source the right supplier at the right time for every sourcing request. Whether a grocery category has a supply chain issue or a market opportunity, the smartest buyers are now using smart technology to reduce sourcing times from months to minutes. AI Definitions In terms of AI, there is some confusion about the varying descriptions in the market across machine learning, deep learning and RPA. Therefore, from a procurement perspective, any software solution that includes self-learning within the technology and smart algorithms can be considered AI. AI is defined as any algorithm that exhibits any behaviour that is considered intelligent. AI is a branch of computer science and works as an umbrella term for technologies that exhibit human-like behaviour. These include machine learning (ML). ML are algorithms that detect patterns in data and they can automatically improve through experience. Taking this a step further, Deep Learning is a class of machine learning but its methods are much more advanced than ML. They use artificial and neural networks that progressively improve our ability to perform a task. A basic example of this is that regular machine learning is like drawing a stick figure. However, when it comes to deep learning, it's like a full- painting that you see in an art gallery. Deep Learning is significantly more powerful and creative than basic machine learning. Finally, Robotic Process Automation (RPA) has been around for a very long time and RPA's are algorithm...

This Week in Startups is brought to you by… Miro. Working remotely doesn't mean you need to feel disconnected from your team. Miro is an online whiteboard that brings teams together - anytime, anywhere. Go to https://miro.com/startups to sign up for a FREE account with unlimited team members. Northwest Registered Agent. When starting your business, it's important to use a service that will actually help you. Northwest Registered Agent is that service. They'll form your company fast, give you the documents you need to open a business bank account, and even provide you with mail scanning and a business address to keep your personal privacy intact. Visit http://northwestregisteredagent.com/twist to get a 60% discount on your next LLC. Nuts.com is your one stop shop for the highest quality foods for business. They offer delicious office snacks, corporate gifts, and wholesale ingredients. Nuts.com is offering new business customers a free gift with purchase and free shipping on orders of $125 or more at Nuts.com/twist Today's show: Induced AI CEO Aryan Sharma joins Jason to discuss the motivation behind Induced AI (3:20), how the product is being integrated into real-world applications (16:42), strategies for mitigating bad actors (32:16), and more! * Time stamps: (0:00) Induced AI CEO Aryan Sharma joins Jason (3:20) The motivation behind Induced AI (10:06) Miro - Sign up for a free account at https://miro.com/startups (11:24) The role of Robotic Process Automation (RPA) and integration of LLMs (16:42) Aryan demos Induced AI's WorkFlow (28:24) Northwest Registered Agent - Get a 60% discount on your next LLC at http://northwestregisteredagent.com/twist (29:31) The impact on business processing outsourcing (32:16) Strategies for mitigating bad actors (40:30) Nuts.com - Get a free gift with purchase and free shipping on orders of $125 or more at http://nuts.com/twist (44:17) Journey to Induced AI * Links: https://proceedings.mlr.press/v70/shi17a/shi17a.pdfhttps://www.sap.com/products/technology-platform/process-automation/what-is-rpa.html * Check out: https://www.induced.ai/ * Follow Aryan: https://twitter.com/aryxnsharma https://www.linkedin.com/in/aryan-sharma-2628aba2/ * Great 2023 interviews: Steve Huffman, Brian Chesky, Aaron Levie, Sophia Amoruso, Reid Hoffman, Frank Slootman, Billy McFarland Check out Jason's suite of newsletters: https://substack.com/@calacanis * Follow Jason: Twitter: https://twitter.com/jason Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jason LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasoncalacanis * Follow TWiST: Substack: https://twistartups.substack.com Twitter: https://twitter.com/TWiStartups YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/thisweekin * Subscribe to the Founder University Podcast: https://www.founder.university/podcast

In this episode of Tech Talks Daily Podcast, I explore the fascinating intersection of human labor and artificial intelligence with Kit Cox, the Founder and CTO of Enate. Kit's journey is a compelling narrative that many in the tech industry can relate to. After years of working on bespoke automation projects for large-scale enterprises, he reached a pivotal moment in 2017. He realized that the technology he had been developing had matured to a point where it could effectively mimic human actions. This led him to a crossroads: should he continue down the path of custom projects, or pivot to create a platform that could manage a hybrid workforce of both humans and digital workers? Choosing the latter, Kit founded Enate with a straightforward yet ambitious vision—to help businesses navigate the future of work by organizing their operations and maximizing efficiency. Enate is a no-code process orchestration platform that allows work from multiple sources to flow into a single system. It enables teams to build simple workflows and manage hybrid workforces, all while maintaining complete visibility and governance. The result? Businesses that implement Enate's solutions can achieve up to a 20% increase in efficiency. During the podcast, Kit and I delve into the mechanics of service delivery, breaking it down into three essential components: understanding customer requests, gathering the necessary information, and executing the task. Enate serves as a linchpin in this process, automating certain tasks while seamlessly involving human expertise where it's most needed. However, the journey to this point hasn't been without its challenges. Kit opens up about the role of external funding in scaling Enate. Investments from angel investors and venture capitalists have been instrumental in hiring top-tier talent and aligning the company's objectives for rapid growth. He also shares case studies, including one involving TMF, that showcase how Enate has helped major brands globalize their operations across multiple countries. One of the most intriguing parts of our conversation revolves around the challenges of standardizing services across diverse geographies, each with its unique laws and regulations. Kit discusses how Enate employs various automation technologies, such as Robotic Process Automation (RPA), Generative Pre-trained Transformers (GPT), and intelligent document processing, to navigate these complexities. As we look toward the future, Kit and I examine the role of AI in different job functions. We both agree that while AI has enormous potential, the importance of human validation and correction cannot be overstated, especially in service delivery environments. We also touch upon the rapid advancements in AI technology, the inevitable obsolescence of older models, and the shift towards using more general models like GPT for a broad range of applications.

FULL SHOW NOTES https://podcast.nz365guy.com/496 Meet Natalie Leenders, a Power Platform Senior Analyst who has taken an intriguing journey from hairdresser to tech expert. Take a peek beyond the screens into her world as she discusses her passions beyond the tech realm. She shares her love for cooking inspired by her travels, her interest in Argentine tango, and her life with her cat. Natalie's story teaches us that it's never too late to switch gears and embrace a completely new career path. The conversation steers towards her transition from an IT support role to working on Power Platform. Get insights into how she navigates use cases in Power Apps, Power Automate, and Power BI, and how she's assisting in replacing legacy applications in her company. Listen as Natalie talks about her recent Power Automate exam and her rising interest in Robotic Process Automation (RPA). You also won't want to miss Natalie's exciting news about her selection as a speaker at the upcoming Vegas conference. This episode is a treasure chest of inspiration and insights, offering a fresh perspective on tech careers and beyond. OTHER RESOURCES: Microsoft MVP YouTube Series - How to Become a Microsoft MVP  90-Day Mentoring Challenge - https://ako.nz365guy.com/ CodePen - https://codepen.io/Nathalie-Leenders Github - https://github.com/Nathalie-LeendersAgileXRM AgileXRm - The integrated BPM for Microsoft Power PlatformSupport the showIf you want to get in touch with me, you can message me here on Linkedin.Thanks for listening

About George Dunn and CRE8 Independent Consultants: George Dunn President & CEO CRE8 Independent Consultants,, helps organizations improve quality, governance, customer service, and efficiency through operational/process improvement, advanced technology planning, and update of IG records management programs. Assists clients as on-call Chief Process Officer #CPO, Chief Digital Transformation Officer #CDTO, and Senior Independent Consultant. Operational and process improvement work focuses on aligning and improving the way processes and people work together to achieve operational goals. Digital transformation focuses on how to improve the effectiveness and ROI of these technologies through proper planning and design. IG Records Management focuses on the update of policies, procedures, and schedules to better meet regulatory, legal, operational, and best practice requirements. Advanced technology planning includes Digital Transformation, Electronic Content Management (ECM), Digital Workflow, Electronic Forms, Electronic Signature, Robotic Process Automation (RPA), AI, Recognition, Machine Learning, and others. George develops enterprise-wide, department, and workgroup operational improvement plans, IG RM programs, process/workflow maps, software requirements, return on investment analysis, requests for proposals, vendor assessment, and change action plans. Mr. Dunn has over twenty-five years of experience in the above areas, has worked across numerous industries, and has assisted organizations from 25 to 250,000 employees. He has served in executive, management, and staff roles for CRE8 Incorporated, GTE, Wang Labs, ASA, and KPMG. He is certified in Lean/Six Sigma, Business Process Management, Re-engineering, BPM, ECM, Workflow, Management Consulting, EDP Audit, and CPA (former). CRE8 staff are CRM, Agile, and PMP accredited. George has served as an adviser to the Worldwide ECM Workflow Standards Board for AIIM and is a regular speaker at worldwide and regional events. He is a regular panelist, speaker, and author at BWG, AIIM, ARMA, DSF, AMLAW, GLC and other industry forums/discussions. CRE8 INDEPENDENT CONSULTANTS Since 1995, CRE8® Incorporated Independent Consultants have helped organizations plan for Process Improvement, Workflow / ECM Paperless Technologies, Information Governance, and Complex Computer System Replacement. Our services include consulting, workshops, and conferences; provided on-site or through the internet. As independent consultants, we work directly for end users and do not sell or represent any technology solution. This allows us to provide an independent voice to help organizations plan for and evaluate process improvement, advanced technology (workflow/ECM), information governance IG plans, and complex computer system replacement options. To learn more about our services: - Process and Organizational Improvement- ECM, Workflow, ERM And Information Governance Planning- Complex Computer System Replacement Planning- On-Line Education and Certification (Agile, BPM, Project Management PMP, Lean, Six Sigma)- Conferences CRE8 serves national and international organizations in all industry sectors, including Fortune 100, government, and privately held. We conduct process improvement and technology planning projects at the enterprise, department, and workgroup levels for worldwide, national, and local organizations. CRE8 projects are staffed by leading professionals who have extensive experience assisting organizations with planning for process improvement and new technologies. Our consultants provide full knowledge transfer of the tools and techniques that we employ. CRE8 delivers outstanding successes and customer results.

Introduction: Tooba Faroki, an expert in Robotic Process Automation (RPA) and Artificial Intelligence (AI), shares her journey from graduating in Pakistan to her role at Invisible, a leading company in the automation space. Understanding Automation and AI: Automation vs. AI: Automation focuses on making repetitive tasks self-executing through predefined scripts or bots. In contrast, AI mimics human cognitive functions like learning and problem-solving. A couple of years ago, RPA was limited. It primarily required structured inputs and outputs. With advancements like Machine Learning (ML) and NLP models, there's a shift from structured to unstructured processing. Integrated Robotic Process Automation (IRPA) has been gaining traction. It marries the traditional automation with AI capabilities. Tooba's Personal Journey: Tooba kickstarted her career post-graduation by working at a local company in Pakistan. This foundational experience positioned her as an RPA expert by 2018. Her skills and expertise led her to IBM, where she implemented numerous RPA solutions. While ChatGPT was not present during her early career days, RPA's philosophy was clear: "set it and forget it." About Invisible: Unlike traditional BPOs, Invisible is an outsourcing company that understands client processes and refines them for better Return on Investment (ROI). They aim to deliver solutions faster, cheaper, and more efficiently by removing bottlenecks. They rely on both AI and humans for certain tasks. For example, while AI can generate content, humans are essential for quality assurance. At Invisible, there's a synergy between tech and operations. Communication is pivotal. Tooba, as a solution architect, ensures this smooth flow. Real-world AI Implementation: A Fortune 500 company, referred to as SQU, approached Invisible. Their sales weren't meeting expectations. Invisible stepped in to enhance the product's quality. Initially, the process was manual. Over time, they introduced automation and AI for better efficiency and results. The overarching message Tooba conveys is that while AI can be a game-changer, it's essentially about making statistical predictions. Therefore, understanding its potential and limitations is crucial for businesses. Incorporating AI in Business: Companies looking to integrate AI should shift their mindset. While AI can enhance operations, it's essentially about predictions. There's always room for error. However, the aim should be to leverage AI for betterment. Tooba's Insights and Learnings: One of the most intriguing lessons Tooba learned at Invisible is the importance of diversity. Interacting with a diverse range of people has enriched her understanding of human knowledge. There's a stark difference between professional expectations in Pakistan and at Invisible. In Pakistan, a job usually aligns with a fixed role and function. At Invisible, there's room for creativity and leadership. Every individual is encouraged to be the CEO of their department, driving innovation. Closing Remarks: Tooba's journey from Pakistan to Invisible is testament to her determination and expertise. As AI and automation continue to evolve, her insights provide a lens to understand their real-world applications better.

Chris Riley serves as President of Worldwide Field Operations of DataRobot, where he is responsible for accelerating the company's revenue growth and global footprint, bringing DataRobot to organizations across all industries and geographies. Riley previously served as Chief Revenue Officer for Robotic Process Automation (RPA) leader Automation Anywhere, where he led global sales in over 90 countries and managed an ecosystem of over 1,900 partners. Prior to Automation Anywhere, Riley served as President of Global Sales at Dell Technologies, where he was responsible for a multi-billion dollar route to market. Riley also served as Vice President and General Manager for HP's storage business at HPE. Riley lives in Naples, FL with his family.In this conversation with John McMahon, Chris discusses the importance of understanding the culture and processes of a new organization when stepping into a leadership role. He emphasizes the need for leaders to be adaptable and willing to learn from their teams. Chris also highlights the significance of metrics and productivity in managing a sales organization, as well as the importance of hiring the right people and providing them with the necessary training and development. He shares insights on building trust with the sales team, prioritizing pipeline generation, and the role of mentors, coaches, and godfathers in a leader's career.HERE ARE SOME KEY SECTIONS TO CHECK OUT:[00:01:51] Overview of what DataRobot does and its applications[00:15:13] The importance of work ethic, coachability, and aptitude in hiring[00:23:47] Characteristics of successful leaders and the consequences of failure[00:38:48] The most critical step in the sales process and the importance of a champion[00:47:26] Navigating a sluggish economy and advice for salespeople[00:54:15] The importance of hard work, generating pipeline, and following the processHIGHLIGHT QUOTES[00:22:02] "A mentor is somebody you can speak openly without fear of judgment." - Chris Riley[00:36:35] “A good leader builds trust with the team and shows genuine interest in their success.” - Chris RileyLearn more about Chris through this link:https://www.linkedin.com/in/chrisriley3/Check out John McMahon's book here: https://www.amazon.com/Qualified-Sales-Leader-Proven-Lessons/dp/0578895064

In this episode of the AI Today podcast hosts Kathleen Walch and Ron Schmelzer define the terms Robotic Process Automation (RPA), Attended bots, Unattended bots, Low Code, No Code, explain how these terms relate to AI and why it's important to know about them. Show Notes: FREE Intro to CPMAI mini course CPMAI Training and Certification AI Glossary AI Glossary Series – DevOps, Machine Learning Operations (ML Ops) AI Glossary Series – Automated Machine Learning (AutoML) AI Today Podcast: Roadmap Series: Getting Started on the Automation to Intelligence Journey AI Today Podcast Roadmap Series: From Automation to Intelligence – What should we automate and why AI Today Podcast: Automation to Intelligence Roadmap Series – What is a Business Process? Continue reading AI Today Podcast: AI Glossary Series – Robotic Process Automation (RPA), Attended bots, Unattended bots, Low Code, No Code at Cognilytica.

And a big thank you to our brand partners who keep this podcast free to the listener:Nagarro is a leading provider of digital government services, partnering with state, local, and federal clients on some of their most strategic technology projects. Nagarro offers expertise in Digital Services, Legacy Modernization, Case Management, Data & AI, Service Desk, Cyber Security, and more. To learn more, check out www.nagarro.com.In the Public Sector Show by TechTables, Jim Walker, Advisory Board Member & fmr. VP, Public Sector at Roboyo discusses the benefits of Robotic Process Automation (RPA) in the public sector. Examples include Ohio's use of a bot to streamline the process of adding newborns to Medicaid, New York's use of RPA to handle a surge in unemployment claims during the pandemic, and Georgia's use of RPA to automate the renewal process for food stamp recipients. Jim emphasizes the importance of humanizing bots and personalizing them to make them more valuable to employees. He encourages government agencies to embrace automation to serve citizens better - Make America Great by Building Back Better with intelligent automation.Get new episodes directly in your inbox - We send updates every week and bonus content over the weekend. Join the newsletter and show —> https://www.techtables.com/Listen on:

Meet Kelly Hopkins, a data consultant. We talk about what consultancy looks like for her, our mutual and totally unnecessary feelings of inadequacy from different sides of the data science aisle, why making data friends is more powerful than whatever extra certification you're looking to get next, and much more.   Find more at datahumans.club Stuff mentioned in the episode - Black Tides: https://blacktidesdata.com/    Black in Data Week 2023 even (event has passed) by Black Tides: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/black-in-data-week-2023-tickets-516193347197    Robotic Process Automation (RPA): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robotic_process_automation   -- Automation Anywhere: https://www.automationanywhere.com/    -- UI Path: https://www.uipath.com/    -- Blue Prism: https://www.blueprism.com/    -- R-Ladies: https://www.rladies.org/    -- R-Ladies Philly: https://www.meetup.com/rladies-philly   -- SLC R-users group: https://www.meetup.com/slc-rug/    Kelly on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kellyhopkins-data/    -- Kelly's consulting business, Launchpad Analytics, on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/launchpad-analytics/    Music: Savour The Moment by Shane Ivers -   https://www.silvermansound.com

In this episode of Agents Influence podcast, host Jason Cass interviews Jacob Simon, Founder & CEO of Adapt API. Episode Highlights: Jacob explains that Robotic Process Automation (RPA) software automates manual processes like data input, client updates, and email management, freeing up time for more productive work. (4:16) Jacob mentions that insurance agencies can save time by automating operations like claim screening and report organization using bots. (6:45) Jacob explains that Adapt API provides solutions to minimize missed notifications and other issues. (9:50) Jacob explains that Adapt API's service costs depend on the agency's performance, and the return on investment is normally $4-10 dollars for every dollar spent. (12:17)  Jacob shares how their platform can quickly and effectively connect with an agency's workflow, enabling fast access to data with no continuing setup or training in 30 minutes and through email or Zapier. (15:16) Jacob offers loyal listeners 10 free hours (600 minutes) of their agency's time by signing up for their product before the end of March. (17:00) Key Quotes: “If every day you're saying, hey, every morning I wake up and go to my email and then have to like open this folder and then drag something into it, well, you can actually have a software do that for you and then you can go and do better things with your time.” - Jacob Simon  “We basically just charge you for the work that we do on your behalf, right? So you know, if the agency is smaller midsize, you're going to pay less. And for a much larger agency, you're going to pay more, but it's always going to be equal to the amount of work that we're doing for you.” - Jacob Simon  “Implementing new technology can sometimes be weeks long, months long, just like a huge investment. And things fall apart in that time, right? And so, there's a little bit of aversion to trying something new, because you think, hey, it's not gonna get off the ground. But as you mentioned, you know, it's really quick and painless.” - Jacob Simon Resources Mentioned: Jacob Simon LinkedIn Adapt API Reach out to Jason Cass  Agency Intelligence

How to achieve business value from AI? In this episode, we are excited to bring on Chris Surdak to talk about how businesses should tackle the challenges of elusive success with AI. Chris is an award-winning, internationally-recognized transformation expert leveraging leading-edge technologies such as Robotic Process Automation (RPA), AI, Natural Language Processing (NLP) and Blockchain to drive results-oriented digital transformation for organizations of all sizes, industries and regions. Books by Christopher Surdak Chatpocalypse Now https://surdak.com/ https://twitter.com/CSurdak  

If you've been in the power industry workforce for any significant length of time, you may have asked your supervisor at some point “Why am I doing this?” regarding a task that you were assigned, only to have them respond, “We've always done it this way.” That's because the power industry has a reputation for being stuck in its ways of doing things. As long as a process is safe, reliable, and reasonably cost-effective, the feeling is often, “Why change?” But just because something works, doesn't mean its efficient or the best practice. Sometimes you have to step back and consider, “Is there a better way?” And sometimes you have to spend money to make money. The old English saying goes, “Penny-wise and pound-foolish,” which is intended to keep people from being too careful with small amounts of money, while missing out on large windfalls. Implementing new technology typically requires an initial investment, which in many cases can seem substantial. For power companies, that often means justifying the expense to the purse-string holders. “If we think about the focus on operating expense [OpEx] versus capital, within the U.S. sector at least, looking at leveraging cloud or other SaaS [Software-as-a-Service] solutions that may come across as an unwelcome operating expense can definitely hinder the speed of adoption of some of these newer technologies,” Casey Werth, general manager for the Energy industry with IBM Technology, said as a guest on The POWER Podcast. “We work closely with a lot of our clients on how to address these and build out business cases that can show that even if you have an increase in OpEx, for instance, the downstream reduction of OpEx cost far outweighs the OpEx increase of the solution.” Werth offered an example based on IBM's Vegetation Management solution, which he helped a transmission and distribution (T&D) customer implement. “Veg management is a massive operating expense on any T&D operator's budget that can be optimized or improved upon to have a better outcome,” Werth said. IBM's website touts Vegetation Management as an end-to-end solution that leverages artificial intelligence (AI), satellite images, Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR), and more to regularly assess and monitor vegetation. It says the solution helps improve work prioritization and decision-making from planning all the way through work inspection and auditing. Werth said IBM has leveraged “advanced technology to better automate the identification of potential areas of risk due to foliage, and then helping better plan and then audit those veg processes to ensure the best outcome for our clients.” Texas-based Pedernales Electric Cooperative is reportedly a satisfied customer. It expects to reduce the number and severity of vegetation-related outages, improve safety and reliability, and cut overall vegetation management costs by having implemented the solution. Among other ways Werth said technology can improve operations is through “process mining.” The goal of process mining is to gain complete process transparency using data from a business's own software systems, such as ERP (Enterprise Resource Planning) and CRM (Customer Relationship Management) software. Process mining also aims to pinpoint inefficiencies and prioritize automation by impact and expected return on investment to drive continuous process improvements. It does that by triggering corrective actions or generating Robotic Process Automation (RPA) bots. “If we could identify four or five steps of a discrete process that could be either automated or removed, the potential OpEx savings, or just operational efficiency from that process on the other side, has really powerful impacts,” said Werth. “But, if you can't run the tools to find those wins, then that win sort of stays hidden.”

As emerging technology advances, companies are leveraging it to drive efficiency. Learn how Bechtel Corporation used different technologies, including Robotic Process Automation (RPA) to improve efficiency, reduce risk and generate cost savings.   Host Vanda Ayrapetyan, Director, Treasury Sales Officer, Global Transaction Services, Bank of America   Co-hosts Elizabeth Abrams, Treasury Director, Cash Management, Bechtel Corporation Michael Bosacco, Head of GTS Advisory, Global Transaction Services, Bank of America   MAP 5393052 / 1-3-2024

Drayton Wade, with a Clemson undergraduate degree and London School of Economics's (LSE) Master's degree decides to go back to get an MBA at Dartmouth Tuck School of Business. Left UIPath after their IPO The key data point for SAS (Software as Service Companies) – ARR (Annual Recurring Revenue) Drayton realized he enjoyed the chaos of start-ups instead of the structured systems of a public company. This led him to make a leap. Drayton realized he wanted to grow in sales development but also wanted to get an MBA to get more business experience. The lifeblood of all business is sales (8:45) Key to success for young people? “Seek out more responsibility. Add value.” (12:00) Different people are created for different companies AND even different stages of companies. You have to know what your gifting is and where you will thrive. What is the culture and what will be rewarded? (16:00)  To achieve "outsized" success you have to go “all-in.”  Do you know what you want? Do you know how you are designed? (19:00) Smaller college towns do a better job of fostering community and engagement.  Drayton joined Kogintos as Director of Business Development and Operations while he is finishing his MBA. www.Kognitos.com “Kognitos is the world's first automation solution that understands English. This means any business user can create, modify, and maintain automations. Kognitos can automate the many tasks that run your business such as quote generation, invoice processing, credit card payment reconciliation, bills of laden entry, or any other repetitive process.” Much of what you learn at a top-tier MBA program can be learned via www.Coursera.org  Drayton learns about the issues with impact investing and ESG and “greenwashing.” (32:00) Book Recommendations The Power Law – Sebastian Mallaby AI 2041 – Ten Visions for our Future – Kai-Fu Lee  Angel – Jason Calcanis The Firm – Duff McDonald The Terminal List – Jack Carr Amazon Unbound – Jack Stone Meditations – Marcus Aurelius The Daily Stoic  - Ryan Holiday How to use Meditations to control emotions (49:00)  The benefit of "first principle" thinking and removing emotions from a critical decision moment to stay focused on the logic of the issue. You will obtain better results and not make bad decisions. (52:00) Drayton wonders if Gen-Y has over-corrected and is too emotional and vulnerable and taking it to far. Emotions are not built and are not founded in logic.  Kognitos allows you to write in English and create automations for your business. (1:05:30) The story arch of data processing using from using coding languages like Python to Robotic Process Automation (RPA) to Kognitos…the process continues to get better all to help take data and clean it, process it, and give it to the right people so analysis can take place faster and cheaper. What do you look for in a job interview? Drayton asks Bob for the his Tennessee football prediction for the Florida game and 2022 regular season record  9-3 for the regular season  35-21 Vols over Florida (actual score 38-33) “Everything rises and falls on leadership!” John Maxwell

In this episode Thom Singer talks to Carlos Martin from macami.ai. They talk about the future of AI and RPA as well as why Austin, Texas is a great place for business.  This episode is co-produced with the Austin Technology Council. ATC is a 30 year old association focused on promoting and facilitating growth of technology companies in Central Texas. Over the past three decades the business ecosystem in Austin has changed, and ATC is actively changing, too.  Learn more at https://AustinTechnology Council.org. About Carlos Martin: Carlos Martin is the CEO of macami.ai, a company focused in bringing efficiency to the enterprise by leveraging Robotic Process Automation (RPA) and AI. Formerly Director of Strategic Alliances for Brazil for the company Blue Prism, which pioneered the RPA market, and where he worked for 5+ years. Carlos has a degree in Computer Science and a Master's in Technology Commercialization from UT Austin. He has more than 20 years in IT with a solid experience in technology, systems, problem solving, research and business strategy.   Carlos is the author of the upcoming book “The Efficient Enterprise”, which will discuss topics on how to leverage these technologies for bring exponential benefits to business. About macami.ai: macami.ai is an AI consultancy headquartered in Cedar Park, Texas that demystifies the use of artificial intelligence and robotic process automation to make businesses more efficient and allow them to scale effectively. The founders have trained and mentored the top consulting firms on best case use of AI and practices of automation. macami.ai analyzes companies' financials and the cost of business processes with a top down approach to recommend and execute simple financial and software methodologies that incorporate AI and RPA technology. The company will also be providing free trainings online and within local communities on spotting financial scams. https://thomsinger.com/podcast/macami-ai Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices