In today’s hybrid-work environments, individuals work from a variety of spaces, and in nearly every workspace, noise and poor sound quality can negatively affect collaboration and productivity. A recent Equipping Your Employees for Hybrid Work study found that 85% of work-from-home users struggle with audio issues, whether it’s from background noise from other participants or poor sound quality through computer speakers. The same study found that hybrid workforces aren’t properly equipped with modern collaboration tools, such as quality headsets.

“Zone Wireless 2 is Logitech’s top-of-the-line headset for skilled professionals who need technology with a high degree of control, precision and innovation,” says Prakash Arunkundrum, chief operating officer at Logitech. “We built Zone Wireless 2 with advanced technology for uncompromising performance at a lower carbon footprint.”

Zone Wireless 2 Features

Per a statement, the headset notably allows the user to suppress ambient noise from the other person’s side of the call, even if that person is not wearing a noise-canceling headset. The Advanced Call Clarity feature, activated through Logi Tune, uses AI to separate the other caller’s voice from their background. Noise-canceling mics suppress distracting sounds and near conversations through advanced beamforming technology that captures the user’s voice, thus creating a two-way noise suppression system.

Hybrid Active Noise Cancellation (ANC)

Hybrid active noise cancellation (ANC) blocks out ambient noise around employee workspaces such as keyboard clicks, nearby talkers and HVAC noises; and transparency mode, which helps users stay aware of their surroundings while wearing the headset, the company states. Upon setup on Logi Tune, users can use the Personal EQ feature to customize the headset to fit their individual hearing range through a self-administered hearing test.

Bluetooth and Smart Enumeration

As professionals transition through different scenarios in their workday, they can stay connected with multipoint Bluetooth and smart enumeration. According to the company, the patent-pending feature solves the problem users often experience when they leave their computer, lose connection, then return to a setup that appears to be audio-connected but isn’t. Smart enumeration is the result of communication among headset, USB-C receiver and the operating system to intelligently switch between headset and computer audio without the user having to manually toggle among audio sources or remove a dongle, says Logitech.

Battery Life

To power up professional busy work schedules, Zone Wireless 2 provides up to 40 hours of battery life, with talk time and listening time varying based on whether ANC is on or off. A quick five-minute charge provides up to one hour of talk time, says Logitech.

The headset include breathable earcups, available in graphite, off-white and rose colorways to suit professionals’ personality and style. While enjoying immersive sound, style, and comfort, professionals can tap or swipe on the ear cup to control media and volume using smart touch controls or enable on-ear detection in Logi Tune to automatically play or pause media when wearing or removing the headset.

IT Management

According to Logitech, IT teams can deploy Zone Wireless 2 to their workforce — the headset is certified for Microsoft Teams with a microphone for open office, Zoom, Google Meet, Google Voice, and Fast Pair. Integration with Sync, Logitech’s device management platform, provides a secure and scalable approach to remotely manage Logitech devices. Sync allows IT admins to update firmware and troubleshoot Zone Wireless 2, whether the headset is used remotely or in the office, from a single, cloud-based interface.

Zone Wireless 2 Sustainability Features

Sustainability is core to every design decision from the moment raw materials are sourced to the end-of-life of Logitech’s products, says Logitech. Zone Wireless 2 is designed to give users the ability to extend the life of their device by including interchangeable earpads and a replaceable battery, keeping more headsets on heads and extending the life of the headset.

According to the company, the plastic parts in Zone Wireless 2 include 20% certified post-consumer recycled plastic to give a second life to end-of-life plastic from old consumer electronics, and the aluminum in Zone Wireless 2’s decoration ring and temple extension are made by a process that uses renewable energy instead of traditional fossil-fuel energy.

The paper packaging of Zone Wireless 2 comes from FSCTM-certified forests and other controlled sources. Logitech says it is committed to creating a climate positive world by actively working to reduce our carbon impact. Zone Wireless 2 is certified carbon neutral. The carbon impact of the product and packaging has been reduced to zero due to Logitech’s investment in carbon offsetting and removal projects.

Zone Wireless 2 Pricing & Availability

Per a statement, the Zone Wireless 2 is available globally on logitech.com and through authorized resellers. The suggested price for the headset is $299 USD. To purchase through retail channels, Zone 950 is available in the U.S. and Canada (graphite only).

Another version of this article originally appeared on our sister-site Commercial Integrator on October 16, 2023. It has since been updated for My TechDecisions’ audience.

The post Logitech Introduces Zone Wireless 2 AI-Powered Headset for Hybrid Work appeared first on My TechDecisions.

To effectively navigate the digital transformation journey, there are several key topics that manufacturing companies should consider. Enterprise Resource Planning software and manufacturing solutions offer a broad spectrum of manufacturing planning, execution, and integration, making them great models to consider for digital transformation.

1. Change management enables teams to thrive in change

Efficient change management is necessary to ensure a smooth transition to new ways of working, manage supply chain disruptions and implement new business models, and support employees to thrive with change and navigate ongoing uncertainty.

Change management has become more critical since COVID-19 because the pandemic has significantly transformed how businesses operate, and companies have had to adapt quickly. All operations are in the hands of humans, and no matter how good technology is, execution will fail if individuals do not work as a team to support the company’s mission.

Manufacturing companies can best manage organizational change by setting up and managing a change management program and a change management organization. Specific methodologies to develop, deploy, and build a change management program are integral components in the digital transformation project for the respective project, and system integrators are helping with best practices and deploying them.

2. Business process management is key to digital transformation

Effective process management and a business process management organization as an endpoint for digital transformation are crucial because it enables organizations to optimize their business processes, improve efficiency, and achieve better outcomes.

Process management involves mapping and analyzing business processes, identifying areas of inefficiency or waste, and implementing process improvements. Organizations can reduce costs, improve quality, and increase productivity by optimizing business processes.

Related: Sustainability is the Key 2023 IT Trend

3. Sustainability – A new perspective for manufacturing

Sustainability is the third area of focus, driving digital transformation from both ends. It has emerged as a new initiative, pushing digital transformation forward. As a beneficiary of digital transformation, it gives manufacturing companies an entirely new world of data to measure sustainability goals such as carbon footprints or product lifecycle analysis to assess the impacts of products and what can be done.

Digital transformation to support sustainability for manufacturing is fundamental, considering the potential environmental effects of manufacturing processes, potential cost savings, reputation and branding, compliance, and innovation by adopting sustainable manufacturing practices.

Sustainability is still relatively new for most players in the general ERP space. However, the demand has never been higher than today. Managing sustainability goals can be challenging, requiring data availability, data quality, standards, frameworks, resources, investments to implement, and agreement on stakeholder expectations.

However, as with other areas in digital transformation, specific methods, and best practices are applicable.

4. The cloud is here to stay

The manufacturing industry may have been hesitant to adopt cloud computing due to concerns about data security, privacy and potential disruption to existing systems. However, as the benefits of cloud computing are more apparent, more and more manufacturers are beginning to adopt cloud-based solutions.

Security and privacy are a big concern for many; however, unless the manufacturing applications are entirely sealed off, the industry consensus is that security and privacy are a matter of managing policies rather than actual physical access issues. If done right, the cloud gives customers more control over privacy and security than traditional on-premises solutions.

Manufacturers today face a critical challenge – ensuring round-the-clock manufacturing operations with zero interruptions. Any potential disruption can have significant consequences with ramp-up and ramp-down processes requiring uninterrupted functions. However, manufacturers already offer cloud solutions with substantial development in this regard.

5. Cybersecurity challenges in manufacturing companies

In the age of digital transformation, cybersecurity is a critical concern for manufacturing companies. With increased reliance on interconnected systems, IoT devices, and cloud computing, the risk of cyber threats and data breaches is higher than ever.

Manufacturers must prioritize robust network security protocols, regular vulnerability assessment, and secure access controls to protect valuable assets. Implementing advanced intrusion detection and prevention systems, real-time monitoring, and incident response capabilities is essential for prompt threat identification and mitigation. Employee awareness and training programs also play a crucial role in preventing cyber-attacks.

By addressing these challenges, manufacturing companies can maintain operational integrity, protect sensitive information, and build customer trust. Cybersecurity must be fundamental to their digital transformation strategy for a secure future.

How to drive digital transformation

The points above highlighted the various aspects of digital transformation. However, the question that arises is how to tailor it to support the organization’s progress. The digital transformation process can be complex as it integrates new technologies, processes and data throughout the organization.

Adopting a strategic approach that aligns technology with business goals is necessary to prioritize digital transformation in the manufacturing industry. This can be achieved by following these key steps:

• Define business objectives: Identify the critical business objectives that digital transformation can help achieve.
• Evaluate current capabilities: Assess the current state of technology, processes, and data across the organization to identify areas of improvement and potential opportunities.
• Develop a roadmap: Chart a digital transformation roadmap, detailing the steps to achieve the identified business objectives
• Prioritize investments: Prioritize technology investments based on their potential impact on the business objectives identified in step one.
• Foster a culture of innovation: Encourage employees to experiment with new technologies and processes, thereby cultivating a culture of innovation.

Alexander Paulus is a Senior SAP Professional and SAP Project Manager with 15+ years of experience in various project roles, mainly in global ERP Implementation projects and Solution Architecture and Delivery & Operations Management. He is Managing Director at CNT Management Consulting Inc. and one of the key digitalization subject matter experts.

The post Five Key Topics for Digital Transformation in Manufacturing Companies appeared first on My TechDecisions.

“The need to deliver provable value to the organization at scale is driving these trends in D&A,” said Gareth Herschel, VP Analyst at Gartner, in a statement. “Chief data and analytics officers (CDAOs) and D&A leaders must engage with their organizations’ stakeholders to understand the best approach to drive D&A adoption. This means more and better analysis and insights, taking human psychology and values into account.”

Gartner analysts presented the top 10 D&A trends that business and IT leaders must engage and incorporate into their D&A strategy at the 2023 Gartner Data & Analytics Summit.

Trend 1: Value Optimization

Most D&A leaders struggle to articulate the value they deliver for the organization in business terms. To achieve value optimization from an organization’s data and artificial intelligence (AI) portfolio, specific competencies such as value storytelling, value stream analysis, investment ranking and measuring business outcomes are required. D&A leaders should build clear links between their projects and the organization’s mission-critical priorities.

Trend 2: Managing AI Risk

The growing use of AI has exposed companies to new risks such as ethical risks. Managing AI risks is not only about being compliant with regulations. Effective AI governance and responsible AI practices are also critical to building trust among stakeholders and catalyzing AI adoption and use.

Trend 3: Observability

Observability is a characteristic that allows the D&A system’s behavior to be understood and allows questions about their behavior to be answered.

“Observability enables organizations to reduce the time it takes to identify the root cause of performance-impacting problems and make timely, cost-effective business decisions using reliable and accurate data,” said Herschel. “D&A leaders need to evaluate data observability tools to understand the needs of the primary users and determine how the tools fit into the overall enterprise ecosystem.”

Trend 4: Data Sharing Is Essential

Data sharing includes sharing data both internally (between or among departments or across subsidiaries) and externally (between or among parties outside the ownership and control of your organization). Organizations can create “data as a product,” where D&A assets are prepared as a deliverable or shared product.

“Data sharing collaborations, including those external to an organization, increase data sharing value by adding reusable, previously created data assets,” said Kevin Gabbard, senior director, analyst at Gartner, in a statement. “Adopt a data fabric design to enable a single architecture for data sharing across heterogeneous internal and external data sources.”

Trend 5: D&A Sustainability

According to Gartner, it is not enough for D&A leaders to provide analysis and insights for enterprise ESG (environmental, social, and governance) projects. D&A leaders must optimize their own processes for sustainability improvement. D&A and AI practitioners are becoming more aware of their growing energy footprint. As a result, a variety of practices are emerging, such as the use of renewable energy by (cloud) data centers, the use of more energy-efficient hardware, and the usage of small data and other machine learning (ML) techniques.

Trend 6: Practical Data Fabric

Trend 7: Emergent AI

ChatGPT and generative AI are the vanguard of the coming emergent AI trend. Emergent AI will change how most companies operate in terms of scalability, versatility and adaptability. The next wave of AI will enable organizations to apply AI in situations where it is not feasible today, making AI ever more pervasive and valuable.

Trend 8: Converged and Composable Ecosystems

Converged D&A ecosystems design and deploy the D&A platform to operate and function cohesively through seamless integrations, governance and technical interoperability. An ecosystem’s composability is delivered by architecting, assembling and deploying configurable applications and services.

With the right architecture D&A systems can be more modular, adaptable and flexible to scale dynamically and be more streamlined to meet the growing and changing business needs and enable evolution as the business and operating environment inevitably change.

Trend 9: Consumers Become Creators

The percentage of time users spend in predefined dashboards will be replaced by conversational, dynamic and embedded user experiences that address specific content consumers’ point-in-time needs.

Organizations can expand the adoption and impact of analytics by giving content consumers easy to use automated and embedded insights and conversational experiences they need to become content creators.

Trend 10: Humans Remain the Key Decision Makers

Not every decision can or should be automated. D&A groups are explicitly addressing decision support and the human role in automated and augmented decision making.

“Efforts to drive decision automation without considering the human role in decisions will result in a data-driven organization without conscience or consistent purpose,” said Herschel. “Organizations’ data literacy programs need to emphasize combining data and analytics with human decision-making.”

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Insight Way Design

“The moment someone enters this building, they are surrounded by innovative technologies,” says Matt Skaff, Insight’s director of IT. “From the rotating displays and touch screen tables in the lobby to the digital smart boards found in various meeting spaces, the building’s design offers everything needed for efficient meetings and communication, while also displaying our own systems design knowledge. One of the most unique ideas is the three Boulevards, which are hallway installations that feature multiple LG 88-inch UltraStretch displays that brighten when approached.”

The main Boulevard is an entrance hallway just past the lobby, making it one of the most high-traffic areas in the entire building. Knowing this, the company decided it would be an ideal space to highlight employee stories, company successes, value statements and messages welcoming honored guests.

The LG Display Solution

All three Boulevard hallways feature vertically mounted LG UltraStretch displays (model 88BH7G-B) that are angled slightly off the wall in a custom cabinet solution Insight calls a Prism, giving the space a professional aesthetic. The Prisms are designed to mimic the letter I in Insight’s logo to further the feeling of a branded environment.

Each Prism unit includes a motion sensor that detects a viewer’s distance, enabling automatic adjustment of the screen’s brightness and contrast to optimize visibility when viewers approach. This special feature ensures the displays aren’t overly distracting to those who pass by, while providing meaningful experiences for anyone who approaches to learn more. For content reproduction, a picture-by-picture feature can divide the screen into four sub-screens, each with its own individual video input, allowing Insight to display multiple different messages at one time.

As an added benefit, the auto-brightness function can also reduce total energy costs and extend the working life of the displays. LG’s Stretch ultra-wide or ultra-tall HD displays can be installed in any orientation to turn columns, doorway overhangs and other non-standard locations into attractive and profitable digital signage endpoints. The displays’ 32:9 aspect ratio and 700 nits of brightness help deliver eye-catching moments in each of the three hallways.

“These installations are in view all day, every day, so it is critical that we utilize reliable digital displays that will last for years and can be tied in with content systems for easy, rapid content delivery,” Skaff adds. “The new drag-and-drop content system we set up is vastly more efficient than prior office signage solutions, and the technologies have advanced so far that we now have hundreds of displays throughout the building with different sizes, tied into a single content system.”

Skaff notes that when new internal teams or clients visit the office for the first time, they consistently rave about the architecture and the technology, including the ‘wow’ factor experienced when walking by the Prism displays.

LG Displays for a variety of collaborative spaces at Insight Way

Insight Way emphasizes “collaborative” zones, including formal meeting spaces ranging from small-group focus rooms to the Crown Room auditorium and training areas that accommodate up to 300 people. Rooms are adorned with digital smartboards to accommodate hybrid meetings, “writeable” walls and ad hoc conference booking, and there is ample individual “hotel” workspace for visiting remote workers.

According to Tom Carroll, director, commercial displays at LG Business Solutions USA, Insight’s use of technology demonstrates the exciting possibilities that can be achieved by designing creative and unique experiences in virtually any setting.

“In many ways, Insight’s new global headquarters resets standard expectations to include novel technology interactions and a variety of collaborative spaces equipped with remote communications technologies,” Carroll says. “The custom-designed Prisms are both a proof-of-concept and an advertising mechanism that we can easily envision hanging on the walls of corporate HQs, retail spaces, transportation hubs and other high-traffic pedestrian locations. We’re thrilled that our displays are part of this forward-thinking project and are excited to see what Insight will do next.”

Insight Way Sustainable Technologies

Insight Way was designed to achieve Gold LEED certification and utilizes sustainable technologies to reduce impact, including solar panels, sensor-based automatic window shutters, an HVAC ionization system, and smart temperature and lighting control. The building also features an abundance of natural lighting and 800 indoor trees and plants to improve air quality and reduce teammate fatigue.

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These Philips Tableaux displays mark the introduction of a brand new product category into its ever-evolving portfolio of professional displays, says PPDS. This includes digital signage, interactive displays, direct view LED and professional TVs.

The new series are thus part of a relentless focus and deepening commitment to bringing high impact, highly sustainable and more eco-friendly solutions to market. According to PPDS, the new Tableaux displays from PPDS are the world’s first 60,000 colour (including blue) ePaper signage solutions. It aims to deliver an array of new opportunities – including cost and energy savings – for customers operating in a variety of verticals. These verticals comprise retail, corporate, hospitality, public spaces and transportation.

Energy-Efficient Solution

Available in 25 inches and 16:9 format, as well as 28 inches and 32:9 stretched variants at launch, Philips Tableaux displays are a suitable energy-saving solution for businesses across sectors looking to digitize their paper-based signage offerings. Some examples include store opening hours, timetables, and menus or promotions and offers. The series is also suitable for those looking to swap out current digital models (where features may far exceed day-to-day requirements, adding unnecessary running costs) with colorful, power-free, easily updatable Android SoC displays.

PPDS adds that the Tableaux range is ideal for any environment, including in spaces with limited or no access to power sources. Moreover, it will show content without even being plugged in or using power at all. It is also light enough so users can move it around easily when required. In addition, the displays only require connection to an electricity source when content is being updated. They then immediately revert to zero power upon completion.

Users can manage content updates manually, or entirely remotely. To do so, they can use PPDS’ in-house or third-party professional display control and management platforms. The Philips Tableaux Series will also soon be compatible with the PPDS Wave cloud-based fleet management platform, designed and built exclusively for Philips professional displays.

Cost-Saving Benefits

PPDS states that it has already received significant interest and orders from around the world. It now has attention of customers in the retail, corporate, hospitality, food and beverage, public spaces, transportation and healthcare sectors, following a global pre-launch at its Global Access: Future Tech showcase ahead of ISE 2023. The company adds that it will release further Philips Tableaux display sizes in the coming months for customers.

Martijn van der Woude, VP of global marketing and business development at PPDS comments on the Tableaux series. He notes, “There are very many instances where digital signage is used only display still images, which may change only once a day, and sometimes even less. For these, you do not need a solution that offers a refresh rate of 60fps or invest in a technology that far exceeds the capabilities required to achieve the desired impact. With the Philips Tableaux Series from PPDS, businesses can achieve their aims and ambitions at a fraction of the running cost; bringing immediate savings for themselves and for the environment.

He continues, “Sustainability is a top priority for many businesses….At PPDS, we feel it is our duty to lead the industry with this challenge, bringing products that deliver on energy and environmental savings, without compromising customers’ digital-display objectives.”

Commitment to Sustainability

PPDS observes that it has cultivated its commitment to sustainability over many years.  And the company continues to embed this aspect as a key pillar in its strategy and future plans. PPDS states that it is taking a leadership role in developing technology to significantly reduce power consumption, carbon footprint and resources. At the same time, it aims to do so without compromising the quality of performance of its display solutions.

Franck Racape, VP of global commercial at PPDS adds, “At PPDS our mindset is to listen to the market and lead from the front in delivering the solutions customers need, when they need them. Sustainability and energy consumption are both becoming an increasing part of the conversation and this is something we have focused heavily on in the past 12 to 18 months.”

He then continues, “[The Tableaux series] provide incredible opportunities, allowing businesses to digitize their business communications and messaging in ways they never thought possible. [It] is the perfect, complementary solution to our wider range of incredible Philips professional displays; providing customers with a full portfolio of choice and opportunity to fit their everyday – and extraordinary – needs.”

Another version of this article originally appeared on our sister-site Commercial Integrator on February 15, 2023. It has since been updated for My TechDecisions’ audience.

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By 2023, the company’s product packaging will be 75% recyclable and/or made of renewable materials. In addition, Shure says its also improving packaging sustainability by:

• Committing to source a greater portion of  its paper and fiber-based packaging from suppliers that are certified by sustainable forestry organizations such as FSC, SFI and/or PEFC, with the intention to eliminate noncertified packaging by 2030.
• Optimizing packaging for efficient distribution and logistics (creating packaging that better fits onto pallets and shipping containers to maximize space, which reduces transportation fuel and emissions produced by excess shipments)
• Ensuring that existing product packaging is using greener methods. The company is working to replace plastic inserts with molded pulp wherever possible.

Shure says it will continue to take several steps to increase its focus on sustainability in packaging, balancing the need to protect sensitive, high-performance electronic equipment being shipped worldwide with being more environmentally responsible.

The company recently joined the Sustainable Packaging Coalition and conducted an audit to assess sustainability of more than 1,500 different packaging components.

Shure has also implemented software solutions to help improve packaging design and distribution efficiency. Environmental impact assessments have been added to other environmental requirements as part of Shure’s standard process.

Shure’s Continued Commitment to Greener Packaging

Prior to Shure’s current sustainable product packaging efforts, Shure was implementing greener packaging in the 1980s. It changed the packaging for mixers by eliminating the use of Styrofoam, switched from white (bleached) cardboard to a natural brown color and used a soy based ink for the printing on the cardboard box. All the packaging could be recycled, except for the plastic bag that covered the mixer inside the cardboard container.

The company says it will continue its commitment to improving the sustainability of its packaging as it works to exceed targets set by current regulations and prepare for those that will come in the future.

This article originally appeared on MyTechDecisions’ sister-site CommercialIntegrator.com.

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In the face of economic turbulence, Gartner is calling on organizations to look beyond simple cost savings efforts and continue down their digital transformation journey to help the company become more efficient.

The trends are also impacted by environmental, social and governance expectations and regulations,  which translate into the shared responsibility to apply sustainable technologies, says David Groombridge, distinguished VP analyst at Gartner.

“Every technology investment will need to be set off against its impact on the environment, keeping future generations in mind. ‘Sustainable by default’ as an objective requires sustainable technology,” Groombridge says.

To that end, Gartner identified sustainability as a trend that traverses all three key themes. Citing a recent survey, the firm says executives reported that environmental and social changes are now a top-three priority for investors, forcing organizations to invest more in solutions designed to address those shifts and meet sustainability goals.

That requires a new sustainable technology framework to increase the efficiency of IT services, enable enterprise sustainability through technologies like traceability, analytics, renewable energy and AI. In addition, sustainable technology should be deployed to help customers achieve their own sustainability goals, Gartner says.

Under the “pioneer” theme, Gartner lists the metaverse, superapps and adaptive AI as key trends for 2023.

According to Gartner, a complete metaverse will be device-independent and won’t be owned by a single vendor. It will have a virtual economy of itself, enabled by digital currencies and non-fungible tokens (NFTs). By 2027, Gartner predicts that over 40% of large organizations worldwide will use a combination of Web3, AR cloud and digital twins in metaverse-based projects aimed at increasing revenue.

The firm says superapps — a combination of an app, platform and ecosystem in one application—will be used by more than 50% of the global population by 2027.

Also under the pioneer theme is adaptive AI, which Gartner says will continuously retrain models and learn within runtime and development environments based on new data to adapt quickly to real-world changes in organizations that need to be able to pivot quickly.

Under the “optimize” theme, Gartner lists digital immune system, applied observability and AI trust, risk and security management.

According to Gartner, a digital immune system can provide a roadmap to help CIOs and their teams deliver high business value, mitigate risk and increase customer satisfaction. These systems combine data-drive insights, automated and extreme testing, automated incident resolution, software engineering within IT operations and security in the application supply chain. By 2025, organizations that invest in this will reduce system downtime by up to 80%, Gartner predicts.

Applied observability, which feeds digitized artifacts such as logs, traces, API calls, dwell time, downloads and file transfers in a highly orchestrated and integrated approach, will help accelerate organizational decision-making, the analyst firm says.

“Applied observability enables organizations to exploit their data artifacts for competitive advantage,” said Karamouzis “It is powerful because it elevates the strategic importance of the right data at the right time for rapid action based on confirmed stakeholder actions, rather than intentions. When planned strategically and executed successfully, applied observability is the most powerful source of data-driven decision-making.”

With more than 40% of organizations reporting an AI privacy breach or security incident, Gartner says trust, risk and security management in AI will be key to improving their AI project results. Organizations should implement new capabilities to ensure model reliability, trustworthiness, security and data protection.

Under the “scale” theme, Gartner lists industry cloud platforms, platform engineering and wireless value realization.

Industry specific clouds can be leveraged to create unique and differentiating digital business initiatives, provide agility and innovation and lead to a reduced time to market while avoiding lock-in, the firm says. By 2027, 50% of enterprises will us industry cloud platforms, Gartner predicts.

Another trend cited by Gartner is platform engineering, which it defines as is the discipline of building and operating self-service internal developer platforms for software delivery and life cycle management with the goal of optimizing the developer experience and accelerating delivery of customer value. By 2026, Gartner predicts that 80% of software engineering organizations will establish platform teams by and that 75% of those will include developer self-service portals.

With several wireless technologies available, Gartner says enterprises will use a spectrum of wireless solutions to cater for all environments, including Wi-Fi, mobile, low-power services and radio connectivity. By 2025, 60% of enterprises will be using at least five wireless technologies simultaneously. These networks will provide insight using built-in analysis and low-power systems will harvest energy directly from the network, turning the network into a source of direct business value.

The post Sustainability is the Key 2023 IT Trend appeared first on My TechDecisions.

The three companies aim to deliver solutions to help organizations transform operations products, services and value chains to help accelerate the transition to net zero emissions as well as broader ESG goals in the future.

The partnership includes the co-development of systems designed to emit less carbon over their life cycle and advisory services to help business reduce emissions, adopt new energy sources and reduce waste of natural resources.

According to the companies, the partnership is powered by a combination of Accenture’s Sustainability Services, Avanade’s human-centered digital experience and the Microsoft Cloud, as well as each technology company’s data and AI capabilities. The expanded strategic partnership is designed to address both horizontal and industry-specific sustainability challenges, per the press release.

The companies will develop new joint offerings across four areas including digital manufacturing transition, low carbon energy transition, sustainable IT with Azure and green software engineering and ESG measurement, analytics and performance with Microsoft’s Cloud for Sustainability.

For manufacturing organizations, joint offerings are designed to help improve asset utilization and apply digital twin technology to help reduce emissions, waste and the consumption of resources.

Other offerings for a low carbon energy transition aim to assist companies in the transition to a net zero economy by connecting and integrating energy infrastructure to develop carbon intelligence and transform business models to support low carbon energy usage.

Using Microsoft Azure and green software engineering, the companies also look to help organizations shift to the public cloud to reduce their energy usage and cut carbon emissions thanks to new solutions on Azure.

Other joint solutions will give organizations insight into their sustainability and help break siloes and provide data-driven, actionable insights into sustainability issues via Microsoft Cloud for Sustainability.

The joint announcement comes as Microsoft released the general availability of Cloud for Sustainability, a new cloud offering designed to enable organizations to meet their sustainability goals and manage their environmental footprint via centralized data intelligence and more efficient IT infrastructure.

Microsoft Cloud for Sustainability includes the new Microsoft Sustainability Manager, a new tool designed to unify data intelligence from IoT data and devices and services at the edge or in the cloud, to help monitor and measure activities at scale. The tool centralizes previously disparate data and leverages automated data connections to deliver actionable insights, giving organizations a comprehensive view into the environmental impact of their operations, the company says.

Other features include the Emissions Impact Dashboard that gives customers insight into their emissions produced from their use of Microsoft cloud services and devices. Learn more about Microsoft Cloud for Sustainability here.

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