Spork Digital Ltd

We've all read about the potential AI holds for organisations across the business landscape. But is your business ready?

"More than four in 10 IT leaders surveyed globally (42%) believe their existing IT infrastructure is not fully prepared for the demands of artificial intelligence (AI) technology, despite its widespread adoption across industries."

Concerns over lack of AI-ready infrastructure Survey shows while 85% of global businesses pursue the benefits of AI, building the infrastructure to support it remains a priority.

Think digital transformation is solely an exercise in deploying new tech? Think again.

This piece from Financier Worldwide offers valuable insights about the relationship between employees and the technology they work with - insights worth reading for any business making significant changes to their ways of working, not just those in the financial services sector.

“Change initiatives can be challenging as people are used to a certain way of doing things and fear the unknown. This is especially true when the pace at which technology is evolving is dizzying.”

Of course, you need the right tech for digital transformation success - but you also need employee buy-in, good communications, and strong collaboration.

Future of work: the human-machine interface — Financier Worldwide Conceptualising what the workplace of tomorrow will look like is a regular pastime among futurists. Such projections are continually reframed by rapidly advancing technologies and turbocharged by the pandemic-driven digital transformation of working practices in recent years.

Are you wondering whether now is the time to tackle your legacy systems? Are you waiting for them to actually break first?

Systems don't have to be broken to kneecap operational performance, undermine resiliency & create security risks. All they have to be is outdated.

And this isn't a problem in one or two sectors. From retail to healthcare, charities to professional and financial services, organisations face a daunting legacy system challenge, and no one can afford to take a 'if it ain't broke don't fix it' approach.

https://www.itpro.com/business/business-strategy/why-legacy-tech-is-stifling-cios-dreams-of-global-growth

Why legacy tech is stifling CIOs’ dreams of global growth The biggest opportunity for growth is in Western Europe followed by North America, but many factors are getting in the way

We all know that AI is a big topic across many industry sectors, but a recent LinkedIn report has revealed that professional services are talking about AI more than the tech sector and education sectors combined!

https://www.cpapracticeadvisor.com/2023/11/30/professional-services-firms-cant-stop-talking-about-ai/98718/

Professional Services Firms Just Can’t Stop Talking About AI In the professional services sector, chatter about generative AI nearly doubles that of the tech crowd, according to a LinkedIn report.

"Can the smaller consultancies compete with the bigger firms? Absolutely, if they have the right core infrastructure and next-generation technologies to reinforce their specialist competitive advantage."

If you're in the professional services sector and looking to take advantage of opportunities that the downsizing of the big firms presents, you'll need the right tech stack - one that does its job while letting you get on with yours, one that supports your business and doesn't get in the way.

And if that's what you need, you also need a technology partner who takes the time to really understand what your business does, what your clients want, and what you need to do to grow.

We do that. Ready to start? We're ready to help.

Sector slowdown offers opportunities to specialist consultancies With growth slowing across the professional services sector, many large firms have found themselves downsizing their headcount while scrambling to preserve their profit margins.

According to the latest Charity Digital Skills Report, the vast majority of charities agree that AI is relevant to their organisation and has the ability to transform it.

However, "73% of those polled said they did not feel prepared to respond to the opportunities and challenges the technology brings, and 48% said they were worried about the consequences of AI."

That's a lot of uncertainty across the nonprofit landscape. And with so much coverage of AI focused on commercial applications, it's not always easy for charitable organisations to find information and examples of how it is being used in their own sector.

So, it's great to see real-world examples of how some of the best-known charities in the UK are navigating these opportunities and challenges.

How are charities using AI in service delivery? We explore the charities leading the way in using AI to deliver their services, and highlight some key steps every charity should take before embracing the technology

"... sustainability has historically been widely viewed as an afterthought to any given process, not just in IT. It needs to be more integrated than that. In the IT sector, sustainability must be built into processes and systems from the start."

Yes, technology is central to reaching sustainability goals, but you need a sustainable technology strategy as well. One that delivers greener operations to ensure your technology solutions aren't pushing those goals further out of reach.

When you’re ready to start, we’re ready to help.

How green can a digital transformation be? Organisations worldwide are grappling with the challenge of ensuring that their digital transformations are sustainable. There are compelling ethical and commercial reasons why their leaders must understand the ESG implications of cloud data storage. With these issues in mind, Raconteur hosted a ro...

"The report found that not only is artificial intelligence expected to be one of the biggest drivers of professional change over the next five years, with 67% saying AI will have a transformational or high impact, but many said they believe that change will have a positive effect on their own careers."

Not surprisingly, the first takeaway is productivity increasing as many manual tasks are automated.

But our attention was caught by the second takeaway - 'the new value exchange' that will allow professionals to focus on providing higher-level advice." It aligns very much with our view of the tech stack's role - doing its job while you get on with yours.

AI and broader digital transformation discussions are well underway across the professional services sector. If your firm is ready to get started, we're ready to help.

With AI, the future of professional services is now: Podcast - Thomson Reuters Institute In the latest TRI Insights podcast, TR CEO Steve Hasker provides his key takeaways from the newly published “Future of Professionals” report.

"A modernization initiative has to happen before there’s a significant breakdown and/or security issue, and it needs to be carefully planned to minimize, as far as possible, productivity disruptions for users."

Systems don't have to be broken to be a problem, just outdated. Outdated systems cost money, slow down productivity, create data silos and create security risks.

Ready to get your systems working for you the way they should? We're ready to help.

Council Post: 20 Tech Experts’ Tips On When (And How) To Update Legacy Tech As a business grows and evolves, it’s highly likely that the technology powering it will become obsolete or no longer sufficient for its needs.

"There are also numerous advantages for clients such as better expense management, automated bookkeeping and immediate insight into how their business is performing.

But are clients ready for this revolution?"

This article, from Accountancy Age brings up a point relevant for most businesses across the professional services sector - client buy-in.

Changes to your ways of working will change some ways you work with clients. Communicating what is happening and why ensures clients understand and are comfortable with the changes they'll see from your digital transformation.

https://www.accountancyage.com/2023/07/17/all-aboard-how-to-bring-clients-on-the-digital-transformation-journey/

All aboard: How to bring clients on the digital transformation journey - Accountancy Age Why is it important for accountants to secure client buy-in when they move to automated ways of working and progress digital transformation?

"The task facing law firms is to teach generative AI platforms with data they have controlled and checked for provenance, to reduce the odds of erroneous output — so-called “hallucinations” — produced by many generally available AI chatbots."

Legal firms often hold confidential or sensitive data, so they're bound to approach these things carefully. But where resources are available and appropriate, the legal sector is as keen to explore and innovate as any other.

And that reflects what we've found working with our clients on legal sector software solutions.

To innovate effectively, the right tech partner is a must. Ready to explore your options? Get in touch. We're ready to help.

Lawyers face conflicting strategies for adopting AI Amid the hype, the real work on making best use of the tech has started

When a company talks about their net zero claims, what are they actually talking about?

• Using biodegradable packaging?
• Installing energy-saving light bulbs?
• Sourcing renewable energy?

Sometimes. But other times, it's more an exercise in accounting.

What companies can do to reduce cloud emissions Cloud emissions are notoriously opaque, but it is everyone's responsibility to reduce them.

👉 Personalised learning paths are faster to develop;
👉 Intelligent content delivery makes complex subjects more accessible;
👉 Feedback is acted on sooner, making it more productive;
👉 Assessing content effectiveness & identifying the learning patterns is quicker with more data-driven insights.

While this piece focuses on workplace learning and development, it's safe to say there is considerable food for thought here for the educational sector as well as the career development offerings of professional membership organisations.

7 Ways AI Will Impact Learning and Development - TechNative In today’s rapidly evolving technological landscape, artificial intelligence (AI) has emerged as a transformative force with the potential to revolutionise various industries. What Is Artificial Intelligence? The term “Artificial Intelligence” (AI) is most often used to refer to systems that o...

How is AI cropping up across professional services?
◾ consultants finding more solutions more quickly;
◾ auditors analysing more data;
◾ legal firms speeding up research & document reviews.

“This isn’t something to be afraid of, this is something to lean into,” says PwC’s [Joe] Atkinson. “Everybody is going to be moving really rapidly, and you don’t want to be standing five miles behind.”

We agree 110%! You don't stay competitive by staying static.

Ready to embrace digital transformation? Get in touch. We’re here to help.

AI in law, consulting and professional services Lawyers and accountants charge handsomely for human expertise — but firms have still been embracing the technology

"In fact, of all the industries Bain considered, professional services work was prone to the highest portion of disruption. As much as 41% of labour time could be automated in the sector, ahead of media and administrative services, both on 40%."

Want to stay competitive? Then you can't ignore digital transformation. Ready to get started? Get in touch. We’re ready to help.

Two-fifths of professional services work could be automated with AI Professional services work could see more than 40% of its labour automated with the use of generative AI, according to a new study. The work of management is the area most ripe for automation.

"In a world that is increasingly digital, customers expect companies to adopt the very best online and digital solutions to remain efficient and competitive...

Whether you like it or not, as a business you are in a technology arms race with your competitors."

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You don't stay competitive by staying static. When you're ready for the software strategy & legacy system modernisations you need to grow, get in touch. We're here to help.

Why is digital transformation important for business growth? Why is digital transformation important? Aside from being a buzzword, it makes the difference between business success and failure

"The average organisation deploys 371 SaaS apps—a number that stands at 473 for large enterprises, up from 317 just two years ago… more than half of SaaS licences are unused, the tech is largely ungoverned, and most function on a one-year contract."

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App sprawl costs money, slows down productivity, creates data silos, and creates security risks. Your tech stack is supposed to help get things done - not get in the way.

When you're ready for a streamlined, bespoke software solution that does its job and allows you to get on with yours, we're here to help.

https://hrexecutive.com/how-hr-can-reduce-tech-debt-and-get-more-out-of-your-investments/

How HR can reduce 'tech debt'—and get more out of your investments At HR Tech on Wednesday, IA's Mark Stelzner and Kimberly Carroll shared strategies to help HR leaders maximize their tech investments.

“You need a certain level of expertise to carry out data analytics effectively. And as the quantity of data being analysed increases, it gets more complex and you need far more time to analyse it.”

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Using AI to analyse more data, more quickly means your data-driven decision-making is easier, faster, and more effective. That's good for you, your supporters, and your beneficiaries.

Ready to tap into the technology that'll help you do more without getting in the way? Get in touch. We're here to help.

Exploring AI for data and analytics We look at how data analytics can provide huge benefits for charities when powered by artificial intelligence

- Almost 60% of global internet use is via mobile devices.

- Over 20% of those surveyed in Twilio’s State of Customer Engagement Report prefer giving via digital platforms.

With both those stats likely to climb year after year, the clear takeaway is that success will hinge on mobile-first digital strategies. Ready to meet your audiences where they are? We’re ready to help.

Charities urged to 'respond' as more people reject face-to-face fundraising A survey found 51 per cent of people dislike being approached, with organisations told to make more use of digital giving

Businesses are using AI to improve UX and CX, increasing personalisation and improving audience segmentation for maximum comms impact.

Nonprofits can benefit from AI in similar ways as they seek to reach new donors and new ways to connect with existing donors.

Digital fundraising made things easier for donors to give and to boost the signal for causes they support. AI will make it easier for charities to keep making things easy for their supporters.

Why AI Is a Critical Catalyst for Nonprofit Success Digital fundraising supported by artificial intelligence can be a powerful tool for nonprofit operations.

We know that digital transformation success requires C-suite buy-in. So, we were surprised to read that a recent survey showed that only 47% of COOs & 49% of CFOs see it as 'very important.'

It suggests that key people in the C-suite don't see digital transformation as something aligned with business strategy & they see it as just an IT thing.

Nothing could be further from the truth. Digital transformation IS business transformation.

And if you want a tech partner who takes the time to understand your whole business before developing the right tech solution for you, we're here to help.

How to build digital allies in the C-suite Nothing holds up a digital transformation like a lack of buy-in. That means tech chiefs will need to win over the C-suite

Change can be a frightening term. Digital transformation, a term implying quite a lot of substantial & robust changes can be even scarier.

But you don't stay competitive by staying static, so a digital transformation that has slowed or even stopped must be addressed.

One strategy is to adopt a shift in approach - "turning macro transformation into a series of micro transformations," as this piece describes it - is one way to keep things moving and overcome future obstacles on the back of earlier wins.

Staying ahead by breaking down the barriers to transformation - TechNative If the last decade has taught us anything, it’s that organisations must be able to adapt and respond to disruption, in a timely whilst effective manner. Amid rising costs, as a result of the energy and cost-of-living crisis, margins are being squeezed ever-tighter. Meanwhile, three quarters of UK ...

"While it’s true that prioritizing digital transformation in more lean economic seasons can make an organization more resilient, both in the present and in the case of future droughts, sustainability and digital transformation are actually inextricably linked."

Yes, digital transformation & sustainability are distinct challenges, but they're also linked as work done in pursuit of the former often aligns with that needed to achieve the latter. Success - today & in the future - dictates this isn't a question of OR but of AND.

Why sustainability-by-design is now key to digital transformation and business success A survey of CEOs worldwide showed that 97% say a business’s sustainability credentials are either essential or important in buying decisions.

"We see a lot of redundancy, especially in categories like online training, team collaboration, project management, file storage, and sharing. As part of your SaaS management strategy, you need to be asking if you really need 12 project management tools or if one or two would suffice."

- Too many apps,
- Too much time wasted switching from one to the other,
- Too much data siloed in too many places.

All bad enough but add the fact that the average organisation uses only 56% of their SaaS licences, wasting the remaining 44% - and the productivity picture is even worse.

SaaS bloat creates a tech stack that costs too much and gets in your way. You need a software solution that delivers a better, more productive tech stack; one that lets you get on with the job at hand - growing your business.

If you're ready to start, we're here to help. Get in touch.

Underutilized SaaS Apps Costing Businesses Millions SaaS investments continue to grow despite organizations utilizing only half of their SaaS licenses, a new report finds.

Digital transformation was supposed to mean decisions informed by levels and types of data only dreamed of in years past. How’s that working out?

Came across this description in Fast Company that likely hits home for many.

"Cut to where so many leaders are today: They have some great, actionable data in one system, and then more in another system. But they can’t connect the data since the systems don’t talk to each other. So, they try to find a workaround: They export what they need into a spreadsheet but end up stuck manipulating and making sense of it. And when they finally pitch some idea to address problems, nobody trusts the data."

You can't do your job if your technology is getting in the way. Break down data silos, align your systems & get a software stack designed for you. We're here to help.

Digital transformation is dead: Long live digital transformation While digital transformation has failed to live up to its promise for so many businesses, giving up is not really an option.

"Four in ten of 200 CIOs questioned – all from global organizations – cited legacy connectivity and management systems as the biggest limiters to growth right now."

You don't stay competitive by staying static. When you're ready for the software strategy & legacy system modernisations you need to grow, get in touch. We're here to help.

Why legacy tech is stifling CIOs’ dreams of global growth The biggest opportunity for growth is in Western Europe followed by North America, but many factors are getting in the way

"Gaining an informed perspective on the future impacts of emerging technologies can better position leadership teams to focus on the types of investments that accelerate innovation."

Need help making those more informed technical decisions? Get in touch.

Emerging tech: Catch up to your “consumers” Employees are the consumers of emerging tech at work. How well are CIOs and CTOs listening to their wants and needs? Read now.

"Many brands have built their martech stacks piecemeal over time. As a result, the various systems and applications for engaging customers are disparate and siloed..."

And not just marketing's tech stacks, either.

Better tech decisions make for a more effective, more productive tech stack & one that allows you to get on with the job at hand - growing your business.

We help organisations make better technical decisions. If you're ready to start, we're here to help. Get in touch.

Marketing Technology Stack Underutilization Impacts Budgets and Credibility Despite rising investments, organizations use only a third of their martech stack capabilities, putting budgets and reputations at risk.

"Avoid gathering technical debt by becoming smarter about how you pick and use technology…"

Helping organisations make better technical decisions is what we do. Even if you’re an established organisation currently going from success to success you have technology decisions to make. Why?

Because your IT ecosystem is getting older, slowing down, costing more, & complexity is creating data silos. Don't let technical debt hold you back.

Get in touch. We're here to help.

You can’t run away from technical debt Like student loans and credit card balances, technical debt is holding you back or even killing your business. Unfortunately, the cloud can't always save you.

Technology evolves, customer expectations change and that means your systems, while they may not be broken, are no longer serving you and your business as well as they might.

That was the case with Pidgeon Digital. We sorted out their legacy tech problems and we’re ready to help you with yours.

Don't let hold you back. Let's talk.

Pidgeon Digital | Spork Digital Ltd Spork built a custom web application so that Pidgeon Digital could manage their massive archive of architect talks.