#frontline business center

[emilybeemartin]

Hey! Hey, would you like to be a park ranger?

USA Jobs just posted a bunch of national park ranger positions for summer 2024--everything from small historic sites to the big flagship parks like Yellowstone and Yosemite. These are seasonal positions specifically for interpretive rangers, which means you begin around May-ish and end around September-October-ish. Interpretation is the branch of the NPS that does educational programming and frontline visitor services, like working in the visitor centers, leading guided walks and talks, and just generally interacting with the public in a friendly, helpful way.

If you have a four-year college degree in just about any subject (honestly, I've worked with people with degrees ranging from theater to business to geoscience), or 12 months' relevant work experience (customer service, retail, education, camp counseling, etc), or a combination of the two, you're eligible to apply. All you need is a resume and transcripts if you're using education to qualify.

Just go to USAJobs.gov and search for "park ranger interpretation" in the search bar. The key things you're looking for in the results are listings from the National Park Service, the code GS 5 (which is the entry level for this position), and the phrase Not to Exceed 1039 hours (which indicates it's a seasonal position).

Some tips!

>Each application requires you to answer a questionnaire about your experience with things like customer service, preparing educational programs, researching scientific topics, etc. Be generous with yourself on these, because other folks will be. Even if you don't think you're an "expert" in something, consider your past work creatively. Have you presented research projects in class? Have you worked retail? Can you keep up a professional demeanor when somebody's upset? You have the qualifications. Rate yourself as such.

>Be thorough and specific in your resume. The NPS isn't a one-pager resume organization. They need to see evidence that you have the qualifications you say you do. The best way to ensure this is to copy, word for word, the phrases in the above questionnaire and insert them in the relevant places in your resume. So if the questionnaire says "Can you research, prepare, and present scientific information to a lay public," go to the appropriate place in your resume and write "I researched, prepared, and presented scientific information to my peers" or something similar. I kid you not, my current resume is ten pages long.

>Cover letters are optional but helpful! There are lots of templates online to help you write one; be sure to be professional. Mine is around 250 words and has three short paragraphs:

1- Position I'm applying for

2- Quick summary of most relevant work/education experience

3- Additional skills/rizz that makes me stand out (for me it's writing/illustrating, which helps me create visitor programs)

>Two things the NPS loves that will boost you are foreign language skills and being a US military veteran. Highlight these elements if you have them.

>Are you a schoolteacher? Check out the Teacher-Ranger-Teacher program.

>The big flashy parks are posted as standalone listings, but most of the others are bundled into "Multiple Locations" that are based on region. Consider applying for many of these smaller monuments and historic sites---they get far fewer applicants and are easier to secure. And many are absolutely beautiful. Want to work at Arches? Also apply to Natural Bridges. Want to work in Yellowstone? Also try Lassen Volcanic. Prefer history over science? You have dozens of amazing options from every facet of American history.

>Apply today! Apply now! Many of these parks cap their applicants because they get so many, and the rest will close after a week or so. A glance at the ones that were posted today and yesterday show them either closing on October 15 or 22. Some regions haven't posted yet, so keep checking the website in the next few weeks.

I love my work as a park ranger---it's such a rewarding way to spend a summer (or two, or ten), and it can open doors to other things. You won't get rich, but you will make great friends and great memories, add a killer section to your resume, and spend four months immersed with smart, passionate people in some of the coolest places in the US.

Plus you get a SICK HAT

[jmdbjk]

My head is spinning...

Let's spend the next two weeks (or however long) arguing about who, what, when, where, when we could be enjoying content or music.

Yes, it's all over the news media and social media: RM, V, Jimin and Jungkook will enlist December 11 and 12.

Buzzwords being used: companion enlistment and battalion, company, barracks, training center... etc.

The more information is reposted and quoted, the more it gets twisted because words get left out, translations aren't clear and people generally misinterpret what they are reading because most social media posts are not complete sentences (omg the internet is ruining language writing and reading comprehension skills).

The initial report was RM and V would be going to a training center together (or at least at the same time/same date) in the "rear" and Jimin and Jungkook were going to one on the "front" and this base is organized so that it is considered on the "frontline." The initial report implied all 4 would be at the same location, 2 going to the front training center, 2 going to the rear training center.

Then reports began to surface that Jimin and Jungkook had chosen "companion enlistment." Which is a thing and they very well could have done. Siblings, relatives, friends, can request this but only for those whose birthday is 1995 or after.

After all of that, somehow, now we have Jimin and Jungkook going to the training center where Jin is located. Which may or may not be true.

You might even start seeing stuff about men with tattoos that are visible if they wore a singlet (tank top) or short pants are not eligible for training instructor assistant positions and therefore that's why they chose companion enlistment. (??!! eh?) That one is all over the place, I'm not sure what the accurate explanation is.

It's a frenzy of confusion. We don't know for sure. We won't know for sure until the day of, when I'm POSITIVE the media will be camped out along the roads into those military boot camp facilities with their cameras set up on tripods waiting for the black KIA Carnivals to show up.

Just me typing this and posting it will add to the never-ending confusion. I would rather talk about Jungkook explaining how the buttons failed him onstage during Fake Love or the quantity of naked Jimin we've seen in the last few days...

One thing I will say with conviction is that they were committed to this plan. They tried to tell us that. They did their best to remind us that 2025 was the target. Yes, they had some things to wrap up, some important things to finalize this year and some stuff that was hard to pin down. But in their minds and on paper, they had the general plan.

And I will also say that when they are all discharged, they will hit the ground running. They didn't do all of this extensive planning to be discharged and sit on their ass for a while to get used to being a civilian again. They're gonna kick ass as soon as they land, shoot some footage for an MV and get the show on the road.

Next year (which is a month away) there will be a ramp up when its time for Jin to be back with us, then Hobi, and then we'll be on the downhill side of all of this enlistment business and the wheels will start turning to get us all whipped up again. Stadiums will have been booked years in advance (as we speak they are being booked). They've got this plan in motion already.

All that being said, I hope our men do well, stay healthy, safe and without drama until June 2025 when they will be discharged from active military duty.

[niqhtlord01]

Humans are weird: Humans are weird: Privateers for Hire: Part 2

( Don’t forget to come see my on my new patreon and support me for early access to stories and personal story requests :D https://www.patreon.com/NiqhtLord ) The doors to the command center opened and the final member of central command walked through.

“Hemlock Grieve, you are late.”

Grieve bowed towards the speaker. “My humble apologies; my shuttle was caught in an ion storm that forced us into standby mode until it passed.”

Viceroy Cartage listened to Grieve’s explanation but said nothing. As the silence drifted on the Viceroy eventually nodded as if accepting the reason and motioned the Hemlock to take his seat.

Gathered at the table were seven of the twelve Hemlock’s of the Hash’tu Conglomerate; each one overseeing large swathes of territory with full authority over both civilian and military assets within the borders of their territory. The remaining five Hemlock’s were either in the midst of the day to day running’s of the Conglomerate or were continuing the war effort with the humans. Regardless, the seven present were enough for what Cartage had to say.

As Grieve took his seat Cartage activated the holographic projector at the center of the table. The lights surrounding the room went dim as the projector came to life showing a map of the Hash’tu Conglomerate. Cartage pointed to a rash of red icons that appeared along the border territories and slowly crept inwards like a crack in glass.

“I have gathered you all here to address the recent increase in attacks on our shipping routes.” Cartage began. “At first these attacks were limited to isolated merchant vessels and convoys, but now they have escalated to attacks on military assets enroute to the front lines.”

“With respect Viceroy,” one of the Hemlock’s spoke up, “even with these attacks we have only seen minor reductions in both material and profits.”

“Oh?” The Viceroy casually entered in several keys and a portion of the frontline increased in magnification for the hologram. “So the thirteenth column was not forced to halt their advance due to fuel shortages?”

“Well-“the Hemlock began but the Viceroy cut him off as he continued. A new section of the front line highlighted itself for the hologram showing several human and Hash’tu fleets.

“And do you mean to tell me that your own war fleets were forced to retreat from Federation forces as they lacked sufficient numbers after you dispatched several vessels to escort convoys?”

The Hemlock who had spoken up looked awkwardly at the table and said nothing.

“In the grand scheme of things Hemlock Gro you would be correct that isolated acts of sabotage are beneath our notice,” the Viceroy continued as the hologram expanded outward again, “but they have been left unchecked for too long and now have grown from an annoyance to a threat; and we do not tolerate threats to our plans.”

“Are we entirely sure that these attacks are related to the war with the Cosmic Federation?” Hemlock Grieve spoke up. “It is true that several vessels were carrying supplies to the war front, but from the reports I have read the majority have been against our merchant fleets conducting business.”

He pointed to a cluster of red icons far separated by several systems to the war front with the Federation. “These here for instance were against vessels hauling nothing more than exotic silks and expensive wares to the inner core worlds.”

“And your point?” the Viceroy inquired.

Grieve shrugged. “These attacks, while a hindrance to our war, may be nothing more than pirates seeing an opportunity to strike us while we are distracted for profits.”

The Viceroy frowned at Grieve as if he was stating the obvious. “Once again you all are missing the point.” He berated the gathering collectively. “These attacks must stop, regardless of who is carrying them out; and that is what we are here to discuss.”

Each Hemlock sat in silence as they collected their thoughts. Their positions were in jeopardy should they speak next without a clear answer to the problem at hand.

“We may be able to lessen the risk by reducing the number of convoy runs we make.” Hemlock Marklin pitched. “If we condense the smaller fleets into one or two larger fleets we allow ourselves concentrate our escort capacity.”

“That would mean further slowdowns along the front lines.” Go added begrudgingly. “But Marklin is correct that with such defenses protecting the merchants these pirates would be foolish to attack.”

As the Viceroy was about to speak he was cut off by several sirens blaring out in the room; red lights descending from the ceiling showering the room in warning lights.

Annoyed the Viceroy opened the communication line built into the desk and contacted the station master. “What is happening?” the Viceroy demanded.

“Apologies Viceroy,” the station master replied nervously over the comms, “but we have just received a communication from a nearby merchant ship that they are under attack by unknown ships.”

“Impossible!” Hemlock Marklin all but shouted. “We are in core space above a military garrison world; who would be stupid enough to strike here?!”

“Show me.” The Viceroy commanded, ignoring the outburst of Hemlock Marklin.

The hologram changed to reflect the system they were in now, highlighting the grade five station orbiting Dirithy Prime. There were long trains of blue icons showing the standard trade lanes in and out of the system. It took only a moment to find the one merchant ship under attack. It was approaching the station between the trade lanes while at least three red icons were right behind it.

“How did they get past our sensor grid?” the Viceroy asked as he observed the situation.

“The pirates hid in the trade lanes and snuck through the sensors.” The station master replied, his communication filled with background voices. “We’ve already dispatched patrol ships to intercept the attackers.”

“What is that ship carrying?” Hemlock Grieve interjected.

“Excuse me?” The station master sounded confused over the question given the miniature war unfolding just outside his station.

“These attackers are not stupid, what is on that merchant ship?” Grieve asked again.

“We must save our ship first!” Marklin cut in before the station master could reply. To their surprise it was the Viceroy that spoke next.

“Hemlock Grieve is correct; these attackers would not attack so deep into our territory unless the prize was worth the risk.”

“One moment while I verify.” The line went silent as the station master left to speak with one of his staff. “The ship is the Radiant Star and is carrying twelve kilotons of spice grain.”

“Spice grain?”

Perplexed the Viceroy clasped his hands as the contact icons drew closer to the station.

“The Radiant Star is requesting docking permissions.” The station master announced. “They’re under heavy fire and need the station shields for protection.”

“Let them in and train all station guns on the attackers.” Hemlock Gro ordered. “We’ll wipe them out in one fell swoop.”

“It just doesn’t make sense.” Grieve said softly as he watched the shields surrounding the station lower as the merchant ship came in. No sooner had the Radiant Star passed under the shields did Grieve notice that the enemy ships had suddenly broken off….and that the Radiant Star had not slowed down.

“Oh no…..” -------------------

‘Not too close Mr. Fig.” Captain Amelia laughed as an energy burst nearly tore through one of the engines of the Radiant Star. “That ship was a pain to capture intact and we want this little piggy to come home.”

The Predatorian grumbled and had the firing crews adjust their aim. She knew this cat and mouse game they played was beneath Mr. Fig, but the prize they were after required such subterfuge.

“If we don’t at least graze them they won’t believe this.” Mr. Fig said as another barrage from their guns missed their target. “Hash’tu are mindful, not stupid.”

From her command throne Captain Amelia could not help but understand his reasoning. Three pirate ships chasing down a lone merchant and not landing a single hit? Even she would not take those odds.

“Have the next shot take out their communications relay.” Amelia reluctantly obliged. She turned to her third in command who was buried deep into his terminal.

“Mr. Tipples, send off a request for docking with the station; making it sound urgent with a hint of desperation.”

“Aye, aye; captain.”

The tiny alien quickly sent a coded message via his remote control terminal which was then relayed through the Radiant Star to the station. No sooner had the message had been sent did the next volley indeed disable the ships communications relay.

“You could have waited for me to confirm the message was sent.” Mr. Tipples snarked at a smirking Mr. Fig. Before the situation devolved into another shouting match between the two pirates Amelia cut in.

“All ships break off and get ready for the fireworks.”

With her command all three of the pirate ships broke away from their attack as the station cannons finally lined up and began firing at them. The Radiant Sun was now within the shields and safely protected from any further attacks from the pirates ships against it or the cargo it was hauling.

All twelve kilotons of military grade explosives…..

Still running at full speed from, the Radiant Star crashed straight into the docks of the Hash’tu space station and set off the deadly cargo it held within.

Captain Amelia watched as the massive explosion ripped the station in half. The hull cracking and tearing as if it was made of paper while secondary explosions dotted across the surface sending additional fireballs into space. Several nearby Hash’tu ships had not even powered up their engines and were caught in the debris cloud from the station adding to the carnage as Captain Amelia watched with delighted glee.

“It was a shite plan to begin with, and I’m still impressed you pulled it off captain.” Mr. Fig said as he walked over to his captain. “Using one of their own ships to sneak in? That’s down right devious.”

“You can thank the Greeks for that, Mr. Fig.” she remarked with a smile as the explosions slowly died down. “They may know jack about an economy, but by the gods did they know how to be sneaky.”

Not knowing how to respond to the captain’s human outbursts many just nodded and chuckled sympathetically.

“Ah, Captain.” Mr. Tipples spoke up to break the mood, “I don’t mean to kill the mood but it appears what’s left of the station is caught in the gravity well of the planet.”

The smile from Amelia’s face faded as Mr. Tipples continued. “We underestimated the force of the explosion would have, and it appears that as a result it was pushed deeper into the well then we first anticipated.”

“And what does that mean?” Mr. Fig replied dismissively. Mr. Tipples took a glance at his monitor again to confirm the readings.

“Within Four hours what is left of the station will impact the planet’s northern continent, with enough force to shatter said continent and trigger devastating natural disasters across the entire planet.”

The bridge was silent. You could hear a bead of sweat running down a face as the crew even stopped breathing at the news. None of them had expected to be the harbingers of planetary destruction when they took on this job. They’d expected one hell of a pay day from the Federation for sacking Hash’tu ships and their space station, but no one had said anything about killing a planet.

“Are you telling me,” Captain Amelia said softly and directly to Mr. Tipples, “that we may have just killed a planet?”

“Not may have, captain,” Mr. Tipples corrected, “we have killed this planet; it’s only a matter of time now.”

Hearing this news the pirate queen sat back in her chair and watched portions of the space station already starting to ignite as they touched the atmosphere.

“We should have asked our Federation friend how much they’d be willing to pay for one of those.” She remarked as the devilish grin returned.

[timesofinnovation]

In the realm of digital transformation, Unily is stepping up with its latest offering, the Insight Center, a platform meticulously designed to facilitate the integration of artificial intelligence (AI) within large enterprises. This innovative solution is a game-changer, providing businesses with a streamlined approach to managing digital assistants and language models, enhancing operational efficiency across various functions, including HR and customer service. The Insight Center stands out by consolidating multiple AI tools into a single access point. Businesses often struggle with the deployment of different AI solutions, which can lead to inefficiencies and miscommunication. With the Insight Center, organizations can centralize their AI strategy, ensuring consistent governance and user management. This makes it easier for teams to harness the power of AI, ultimately fostering better collaboration and improved service delivery. For instance, in many organizations, the HR department utilizes chatbots for recruitment processes, while customer service teams may employ different AI models to handle inquiries. Without an integrated system, these tools can operate in silos, leading to fragmented responses and a lack of cohesive strategy. The Insight Center mitigates these issues by ensuring all AI applications are managed under one roof, significantly enhancing the user experience. Moreover, the platform emphasizes simplicity in design, making it accessible for users at all levels of technical expertise. Intuitive interfaces are vital as they facilitate quicker adoption among employees who might be hesitant to engage with complex technologies. Enhanced user experience can directly correlate with increased productivity, as employees spend less time navigating complicated systems and more time focusing on their core tasks. At its annual Unite 24 event, Unily unveiled another exciting initiative titled ‘Unily Go,’ a mobile app specifically created to bolster communication for frontline workers. These employees, often without access to desktop setups, require mobile solutions to stay connected and informed. Unily Go incorporates AI-driven features, providing secure messaging capabilities that ensure teams remain engaged, regardless of their physical location. This focus on frontline workers is particularly significant in industries like retail and manufacturing, where effective communication directly impacts operational efficiency. For example, a retail store manager can utilize Unily Go to quickly disseminate information about inventory updates or seasonal promotions to staff in real-time, ensuring everyone is aligned and informed without delay. Unily's strategic partnerships with industry leaders such as Microsoft and Workgrid enhance the reliability and scope of their offerings. By integrating with established technologies, Unily can provide organizations with a secure and comprehensive method of utilizing digital assistants tailored to their needs. This combination of innovative solutions and deep industry collaboration positions Unily as a frontrunner in the competitive landscape of enterprise software. Looking ahead, both the Insight Center and Unily Go are set to be integrated into the broader Unily employee experience platform by 2025. This move reflects Unily's commitment to evolving its offerings to meet the changing demands of the workforce. With customizable white-label options, companies will have the ability to align these tools with their corporate branding, ensuring a consistent look and feel across their digital resources. The increasing reliance on AI in the workplace drives the necessity for such robust platforms. As organizations prioritize digital transformation, tools like the Insight Center will not only streamline AI integration but also support strategic decision-making by providing insights derived from AI analytics. These actionable data points can help executives identify trends, oversee performance, and refine their operational strategies accordingly.

In conclusion, Unily’s Insight Center and Unily Go represent pivotal advancements in the integration of AI within enterprise environments. By addressing the critical needs of businesses—such as streamlined processes, enhanced communication, and user-friendly interfaces—Unily is paving the way for organizations to thrive in an increasingly digital world. The promise of a more connected, efficient, and user-centric workplace is on the horizon, and with the right tools in hand, companies can better navigate the complexities of modern business.

[unboundtravels]

‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐓𝐢𝐦𝐞 𝐖𝐚𝐫. Ravaging the cosmos like a plague, tearing apart the cosmos atom by atom in an unending flame. It had started like a thundering storm, ripping apart planets and galaxies like powerful rods of lightning piercing through the cosmos. Now, those tears had bled into nightmarish hordes of insanity as The War dragged on. While each side claimed it was getting closer and closer and closer to victory, the eternity-long year stalemate that had shown no sign of stopping was beginning to bleed across more than just Time and space... but across The Multiverse. The War was like a virus, spreading itself across all conceivable reality like a plague. It had consumed everything. Nothing could escape it. Not even 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗗𝗼𝗰𝘁𝗼𝗿

‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ So 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐃𝐨𝐜𝐭𝐨𝐫 was 𝐍𝐨 𝐌𝐨𝐫𝐞.

‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ At least, that's what he told himself. Choosing to abandon the name, The Renegade standing in the bleak empty halls was known by many as The Doctor of War, The Oncoming Storm, and The Butcher of Skull Moon. Slowly but surely, his actions in the war were leaving a stain upon his soul that he could only cope with by abandoning his titles. Choosing to assume a whole new identity altogether. A lone soldier roaming the battlefield. A heavy, tattered brown U-boat jacket rested over a pink dress shirt and a velvet red waistcoat, a pink scarf wrapped around the neck, shoved into the coat. a heavy bandolier... tattered pants, gaiters, and muddy boots. Tied up grey hair and heavy brown eyes, a bandaid over the bridge of the nose. A Soldier.

‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ 𝙏𝒉𝙚 𝙒𝒂𝙧 𝘿𝒐𝙘𝒕𝙤𝒓 crossed into a hallway of steel and darkness. He'd infiltrated this complex when he'd intercepted transmissions in his TARDIS. Familiar codewords sent a shiver up his spine. A figure in the war he'd not encountered for quite some time. When last he met her, he'd been wearing a different face... trying to run from the war, to avoid it. Now, fighting on the frontlines, he'd only encountered this psychopath through their inventions deployed upon the front lines of The War. However, for once, he believes he might have finally gotten the element of surprise. An opportunity to sneak in on The Timelord Science Division, see what they're so busy working on... and compare it to what The Daleks are working on themselves.

‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ Finally making his way toward a huge bulkhead door, The War Doctor reached for his Sonic Screwdriver within his bandolier. A cylindrical steel device with a capacitor on the bottom and a red light on the end. He began to tune it toward a frequency that could open a vault door he only assumed led straight into the top-secret research centers. The very heart of this research station.

‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ However, just as he was about to activate his Screwdriver, lights in the hallway blasted onto their full power— Soldiers crammed the hallways with their rifles aimed right at him. He could only huff out a sigh of defeat and raise his hands in surrender. A gruff and raspy war-torn voice spoke in frustrated defeat. "You know... I was just beginning to convince myself that this wasn't a trap." He looked past the crowd of soldiers.

‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ "Good afternoon, Doctor Beckett."

@fractise

[naukricyber]

SOC Success Stories: Lessons from Cybersecurity Frontlines

Introduction to SOC (Security Operations Center)

Welcome to the thrilling world of cybersecurity! In an era where digital threats loom large, organizations are arming themselves with powerful tools and strategies to safeguard their sensitive information. One such weapon in their arsenal is the Security Operations Center (SOC), a formidable force that stands as a beacon of protection against cyber attacks. But what exactly is SOC? Well, SOC stands for Security Operations Center - a centralized unit within an organization tasked with monitoring, detecting, and responding to security incidents. Think of it as the nerve center, where skilled analysts work tirelessly round the clock to keep your data safe from malicious actors. In this blog post, we will explore the importance of having a SOC in today's digitized landscape. We'll dive into real-life success stories that highlight how these teams have thwarted sophisticated attacks and saved countless organizations from potential devastation. So buckle up and get ready for some edge-of-your-seat tales from the cybersecurity frontlines!

Importance of a SOC for Organizations

In today's digital world, the importance of cybersecurity cannot be overstated. With cyber threats becoming increasingly sophisticated and widespread, organizations need to have robust measures in place to protect their sensitive data and systems. This is where a Security Operations Center (SOC) comes into play. A SOC is a dedicated team within an organization that focuses on monitoring, detecting, analyzing, and responding to security incidents. It serves as the central nervous system for an organization's cybersecurity efforts. The primary role of a SOC is to keep a constant watch over the network infrastructure, applications, and endpoints to identify any potential security breaches or suspicious activities. By having a SOC in place, organizations can proactively defend against cyber attacks rather than being caught off guard and reactive when an incident occurs. A well-functioning SOC helps minimize downtime by swiftly identifying and mitigating threats before they can cause significant damage. Moreover, a SOC plays a crucial role in ensuring compliance with industry regulations such as GDPR or PCI DSS requirements. By monitoring network traffic and conducting regular vulnerability assessments, the SOC helps organizations meet regulatory standards while maintaining data integrity and confidentiality. Another key aspect of the importance of a SOC lies in its ability to provide valuable insights through threat intelligence analysis. By continuously collecting information about emerging threats from various sources like dark web monitoring or threat feeds from vendors, the SOC can stay one step ahead of potential attackers. Additionally, having an internal team responsible for managing cybersecurity allows for better coordination between different departments within an organization. The communication channels established within the SOC enable faster response times during incidents and facilitate collaboration among IT teams across different locations or business units.

Real-life Examples of SOC Success Stories

1. Foiling a Sophisticated Phishing Attack One success story involves a Security Operations Center (SOC) team that successfully prevented a sophisticated phishing attack on a large financial institution. The SOC analysts detected anomalous network traffic and quickly identified the malicious email campaign targeting employees. By promptly alerting the organization's IT department, they were able to take immediate action to block the malicious links and prevent potential data breaches. 2. Unraveling an Insider Threat In another instance, a manufacturing company faced an insider threat from one of its disgruntled employees who intended to sabotage critical systems. Through continuous monitoring and analysis of user behavior within the network, the SOC team noticed unusual activity associated with this employee's account. They swiftly intervened, disabling the account before any damage could occur. 3. Swift Response to Ransomware Attack A healthcare provider was hit by a ransomware attack that encrypted vital patient records across their network infrastructure. Thanks to their well-prepared SOC team, they were able to respond swiftly and effectively mitigate the impact of the attack. The SOC analysts isolated affected systems, restored data from secure backups, and implemented additional security measures to prevent future incidents. These real-life examples highlight how Security Operations Centers play a crucial role in safeguarding organizations against various cyber threats by employing proactive monitoring techniques, advanced analytics tools, and skilled personnel capable of rapid response when incidents occur.

Collaboration and Communication within the SOC

Collaboration and communication are the lifeblood of a successful Security Operations Center (SOC). In an environment where threats can evolve rapidly, SOC teams must work together seamlessly to detect, respond to, and mitigate cyber incidents. Within the SOC, analysts from different specialties come together to form a cohesive team. This diversity of skills and perspectives allows them to tackle complex security challenges from various angles. Whether it's network monitoring, threat intelligence analysis, or incident response, each member plays a vital role in safeguarding the organization's assets. Effective collaboration within the SOC involves constant information sharing. Analysts must communicate findings, share insights, and update their colleagues on ongoing investigations. This real-time exchange of knowledge helps identify patterns and trends that might otherwise go unnoticed. Furthermore, collaboration extends beyond just internal teamwork within the SOC. It also entails close cooperation with other departments such as IT support or legal teams. By fostering strong relationships with these stakeholders across the organization, SOC analysts can gain valuable context about potential risks and vulnerabilities specific to different business units. Communication channels within the SOC should be streamlined yet flexible. Regular meetings or huddles provide opportunities for analysts to discuss emerging threats or brainstorm solutions collectively. Additionally, technology tools like chat platforms enable instant messaging for quick updates during critical incidents. Collaboration and communication lie at the heart of every successful SOC operation. By working closely together and sharing information effectively both internally and externally with other departments in an agile manner; organizations can enhance their overall cybersecurity posture while staying ahead of ever-evolving threats.

Conclusion

In today's ever-evolving digital landscape, organizations face constant threats to their cybersecurity. To protect themselves from these risks, many organizations have implemented Security Operations Centers (SOCs). These centralized hubs of expertise and technology play a vital role in defending against cyber attacks and ensuring the overall security posture of an organization. Throughout this article, we have explored the importance of SOC for organizations and shared real-life success stories that highlight the effectiveness of these centers. From preventing major data breaches to detecting advanced persistent threats, SOCs have proven time and again their value in safeguarding sensitive information. One key factor contributing to the success of SOCs is collaboration and communication within the team. The seamless exchange of information between analysts, incident responders, threat intelligence experts, and other stakeholders enables faster response times and more effective incident handling. This teamwork ensures that all relevant insights are considered when making critical decisions during a security incident. While there is no one-size-fits-all approach to building a successful SOC, these success stories provide valuable insights into what works best in different scenarios. Organizations can learn from these examples by adopting similar strategies such as leveraging automation tools, investing in continuous training for SOC analysts, conducting regular threat-hunting exercises, and fostering strong partnerships with external entities like law enforcement agencies or industry peers.

[bitterfates]

FFXIV WRITE 2023; PROMPT 3: FREE WRITE // SNOW

The two soldiers sent to her had crisp presentations, she’d give them that. Their uniforms were all pressed to standard and free of any snowfall from outside, hats firmly secure above their…unseemly horns. Their salutes were at perfect angles, despite how hard it must be to get into proper positioning with scales all over their bodies. She would have been impressed, if she could have tolerated looking at them for longer than necessary.

It was no secret that most Garleans harbored suspicions about the nature of the conscripted soldiers and annexed people brought into the Empire, and Hanne was no exception. She was only slightly mollified by knowing that even though she held only a minor public official rank, she could have these beasts deferring to her as they would a superior military officer. Oh, she was sure it angered them — especially the Auri male with the light-colored horns who hadn’t stopped glaring at her the moment he entered the office space — but there was etiquette to observe for these particular situations, and she would gleefully follow it.

So it was with a tiny smirk that she merely nodded her head at their salute, before smugly asking, “I trust you have the documents I need? Optio Ulfila wouldn’t have sent you all this way empty-handed when he knows how busy we’ve been lately. I thought this would be a task even a child could handle quickly, but you’ve been even slower than I expected, and I expected very little from you to start.”

“...Yes, my lady. Here they are. We apologize for the delay.” It was the pale-skinned one with night-black scales that answered her in his composed and accented manner; a wise decision, to be sure. Hanne had the perception that had his companion responded, she would not have heard anything so carefully courteous. She had heard about these two before in passing gossip, something about how they were always together and worked as efficiently as any machine unit, but she didn’t trouble herself with any specific details about the pair. As far as she was concerned, the less she saw of these foreigners, the better.

The one who spoke held out the requested papers to her, but all she did was stare at his hand for several long seconds; it took that long for him to realize his “mistake” — it was considered distasteful to most to have direct contact between citizens and non-citizens. When he understood, he moved forward to lay the forms down in the center of the desk Hanne was sitting behind. He gave her a polite smile before stepping back into his original spot beside the other man.

She made a show of picking up the documents and combing through them slowly, reading each page as if they contained highly-classified state government secrets and not the usual weekly report on ordered rations and personal letters from home. Hanne did not so much as look up at them during this entire performance; she would be willing to bet that the more aggressive one would break the silence if she waited long enough.

“...Is that all? Can we leave? This is taking too long.” The much rougher voice was quieter than she expected it would be, as it clearly was not meant for her to overhear. There was a swift shushing sound after that, followed by a hurried and low conversation between the two that she could not quite make out words to, but could guess the contents of. She had to quickly hide her face behind the papers in her hands so that she could laugh. Savages were so predictable. 

“Is there anything more important than contributing to the prosperity of our great nation? You should be more grateful for the chance to prove your loyalty. One day the rest of your kind will come to view you as role models, if all goes well on the frontlines and we can show them the peace and freedom to be found when you join with Garlemald.” Though there was a tease to her voice, projected purposely louder to make it clear that she was responding to the whisper, there was also a bite to it; a warning she did not need to emphasize with more blatant threats.

For a moment, Hanne thought that the larger Au ra would leap across her desk and attack her, so primed for a violent outburst to her taunt as he appeared to be, but he was held back by a tight grip on a forearm by his peer. No one moved then, all three sets of eyes locked on each other, waiting for the first sign that the tension would break one way or the other.

Well, let no one say she couldn’t be gracious to even the lowest among them every once in a while.

With an affected sigh, she lazily reclined back in her seat and flicked a wrist in the air, as if brushing them aside. “You may leave. Tell your commander that I want my reports delivered to my desk before the work day begins next time. If it means standing outside and waiting to be let in, then so be it; at least I know I’ll have what I need on time. Oh, and tell him I want you both to do it. You can tell him I am…interested in seeing your growth. He’ll understand, I’m sure.”

The men turned their heads to one another and shared a long look, communicating everything they needed to say through that alone. Quicker than when she had made them wait, they simultaneously faced her and smartly saluted her again, and with practiced emotion exclaimed, “Glory be to Garlemald!”

It would not do to appear to meet their apparent passion with less fervor, so she rose from her chair and echoed the same phrase and salute, wry grin spreading on her face.

Glory be to Garlemald, indeed.

[saigeofseasons]

i've been taking a break from commanding frontlines and have been training on a different data center and

i really forgot what it was like to have fun and lose yourself in the chaos of 72 people instead of getting wrapped up in community drama/expectations

I'll be back in a few weeks! life is very busy for me rn and honestly i'm having too much fun

[healthcare-domain]

Infertility Treatment Market Scope of Current and Future, Key Players Analysis by 2026

According to the new market research report "Infertility Treatment Market by Product (Equipment, Media, Accessories), Procedure (ART (IVF,ICSI, Surrogate), Insemination, Laparoscopy, Hysteroscopy, Patient Type (Female, Male), End User (Fertility Clinics, Hospitals, Research) - Global Forecast to 2026", published by MarketsandMarkets™, the global Infertility Treatment Market size is projected to reach USD 2.2 billion by 2026 from USD 1.5 billion in 2021, at a CAGR of 8.1% during the forecast period.

Browse in-depth TOC on "Infertility Treatment Market"

215 – Tables 40 – Figures 255 – Pages

Download PDF Brochure: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/pdfdownloadNew.asp?id=43497112

The decline in the fertility rate, increase awareness about the availability of infertility treatment procedures, rising number of fertility clinics, increasing public & private investments and growing technological advancements are expected to drive market growth in the coming years

The infertility treatment market include major Tier I and II suppliers of infertility treatment equipment, media & consumables are The Cooper Companies Inc. (US), Cook Group (US), Vitrolife (Sweden), Thermo Fisher Scientific, Inc. (US), Esco Micro Pte. Ltd. (Singapore), Genea Biomedx (Australia), IVFtech ApS (Denmark), FUJIFILM Irvine Scientific (US), The Baker Company, Inc. (US), Kitazato Corporation (Japan), Rocket Medical plc (UK), IHMedical A/S (Denmark), Hamilton Thorne Ltd. (US), ZEISS Group (Germany), MedGyn Products, Inc. (US), DxNow, Inc. (US), Nidacon International AB (Sweden), Gynotec B.V. (Netherlands), SAR Healthline Pvt. Ltd. (India), and InVitroCare Inc. (US). These suppliers have their manufacturing facilities spread across regions such as North America, Europe, Asia Pacific.

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COVID-19 has impacted their businesses as well. Logistical issues, managing patients with the disease, prioritizing patients with comorbidities and pre-existing conditions, and protecting public & hospital frontline workers from exposure to the COVID-19 infection are the major challenges faced by healthcare systems across the globe. One in six reproductive-aged couples experiences infertility, and many turn to treatments such as intrauterine insemination (IUI) and in vitro fertilization (IVF), which require in-person appointments to complete.

The fertility rate worldwide is declining steadily owing to various factors, such as the growing trend of late marriages and increasing age-related infertility. Global fertility rates are projected to decline to 2.4 children per woman by 2030 and 2.2 children per woman by 2050. This declining fertility rate has led to a significant increase in the demand for infertility treatment products that determine the fertility window in males and females.

The rise in number of fertility clinics to support the market growth during the forecast period.

Significant rise in number of fertility clinics, coupled with the decline in the fertility rate across the globe. Along with this growing focus of players and government towards the launching and acquiring new fertility centers across the globe is likely to contribute towards the growth of the segment. The expansion of fertility clinics equipped with advanced technology is anticipated to increase the accessibility of infertility treatment devices among infertile couples.

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Asia Pacific likely to emerge as the fastest-growing infertility treatment market, globally

Geographically, the emerging Asian countries, such as China, India, Japan and Singapore, are offering high-growth opportunities for market players. The Asia Pacific point of care market is projected to grow at the highest CAGR of 9.1% from 2021 to 2026. Expansion of healthcare infrastructure and increase in disposable personal income, rising medical tourism in Asian countries, increasing healthcare expenditure, and growing awareness among people about infertility are supporting the growth of the infertility treatment market in the region.

Prominent players in this market are The Cooper Companies Inc. (US), Cook Group (US), Vitrolife (Sweden), Thermo Fisher Scientific, Inc. (US), FUJIFILM Irvine Scientific (US), Kitazato Corporation (Japan), and Hamilton Thorne Ltd. (US), among others

[internerdionality]

Every time a customer is like “I’ll never purchase another [redacted] again!” and we’re all like…

Coz like the thing is, we actually don’t mark up our product that much. The profit margin on our cheapest model is like $400, and even on the most expensive model it’s only a couple grand. And I get paid like $35 bucks an hour for tech/escalations support, right? So if you’re going to be that entitled customer who is gonna demand hours of my time trying to teach you 3D design from scratch and shit to try or give you gift cards and loads of emotional labor to make up for your imagined slights, it’s *genuinely cheaper* for the company to just break up with you early.

Like, I had this customer the other day, they dropped like two grand for our cheapest model and expect gold star service. Oh and they didn’t even buy it from US they bought it from like a Best Buy but the warranty is through us as the manufacturer so I still have to deal with them, cause as it happens one part of their system arrived broken, right? Okay, no big, right? We order them a new one and they Karen at the frontline tech who had the misfortune of dealing with them enough that he decides to give them an exception and ship it in advance instead of waiting for them to ship back the broken part first.

(This isn’t a huge deal, we just have to put a hold on their credit card and then manually release the replacement order rather than tying it to the returning order but it takes more staff time so we’re not supposed to do it very often)

Anyway, they apparently get the idea that this exception means they’re gonna get the replacement like, the next day.

(Which, I have this whole other rant about how Amazon is screwing things over for other companies by using the incredibly abusive labor practices that they do, because customers now expect that they’re gonna get things tout de suite and it shouldn’t cost them anything but even Amazon bleeds money on shipping, it’s just that the monopoly it gives them makes up for it. But no other company can do that without hemorrhaging money cause we have to pay fulfillment center and shipping companies that aren’t literally killing their employees. And people who run small business, like most of our customers, don’t understand that when they’re paying us for shipping, they’re paying for the warehouse staff we contract with to get the right thing off the shelf and pack it and put the right label on it, not just whatever FedEx or UPS are charging for shipping, because they don’t consider that labor when they doing their own budgeting).

But ANYWAY so they call in like 19 times (not exaggerating even a little) in the two days after this all goes down, wanting the tracking number for their part. And it turns out that whoops! the tech who diagnosed the problem made the exception to ship in advance but the service rep who processed the order was kinda operating on autopilot and forgot to manually release it.

At which point they go absolutely apeshit and the whole thing becomes my problem.

And they’re just Karening and Karening in my ear about how they’ve had to spend so much of their time working to fix this, and they made commitments to their customers based on the tech rep telling them it would definitely ship the next day (he didn’t, and I listened to their entire 40-minute call to prove it) and are now out thousands of dollars (why the hell would you commit to making “thousands of dollars” of product with a machine you JUST bought, that you only spent two grand on? This is our lowest model, we don’t even market it as a business tool! Sorry dude, your bad business plan is not my problem) and I have to “prove” to them that we’re going to stand by our product or they won’t further invest in our company, and oh by the way, they have friends who have millions of followers on social media, and I should know what that means, so I better really try hard to win back their trust…

And I’m just like….

Please, dude. Please go fuck yourself and never spend another dime with our company. You’ve *already* blown through our entire profit margin on the machine you bought by sucking up so many hours of staff time. You are literally more trouble than you’re worth. PLEASE just go away so I never have to hear from you again.

"i won't be coming back here" is the funniest possible thing you can say to a customer service worker. you're at your place of work and someone comes in, acts like a jerk, ruins your day, and then, paradoxically, finishes up by reassuring you that this interaction is now over and you'll never have to see or hear from them again

[jcmarchi]

Ashish Nagar, CEO & Founder of Level AI – Interview Series

New Post has been published on https://thedigitalinsider.com/ashish-nagar-ceo-founder-of-level-ai-interview-series/

Ashish Nagar, CEO & Founder of Level AI – Interview Series

Ashish Nagar is the CEO and founder of Level AI, taking his experience at Amazon on the Alexa team to use artificial intelligence to transform contact center operations. With a strong background in technology and entrepreneurship, Ashish has been instrumental in driving the company’s mission to enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of customer service interactions through advanced AI solutions. Under his leadership, Level AI has become a key player in the AI-driven contact center space, known for its cutting-edge products and superior implementation of artificial intelligence.

What inspired you to leave Amazon and start Level AI? Can you share the specific pain points in customer service that you aimed to address with your technology?

My background is building products at the intersection of technology and business. Although I have an undergrad degree in Applied Physics, my work has consistently focused on product roles and setting up, launching, and building new businesses. My passion for technology and business led me to AI.

I started working in AI in 2014, when we were building a next-generation mobile search company called Rel C, which was similar to what Perplexity AI is today. That experience sparked my journey into AI software, and eventually, that company was acquired by Amazon. At Amazon, I was a product leader on the Alexa team, continuously seeking opportunities to tackle more complex AI problems.

In my last year at Amazon, in 2018,I worked on a project we referred to as the “Star Trek computer,” inspired by the famous sci-fi franchise. The goal was to develop a computer that could understand and respond to any question you asked it. This project became known as the Alexa Prize, aiming to enable anyone to hold a 20-minute conversation with Alexa on any social topic. I led a team of about 10 scientists, and we launched this as a worldwide AI challenge. I worked closely with leading minds from institutions like MIT, CMU, Stanford, and Oxford. One thing became clear: at that time, no one could fully solve the problem.

Even then, I could sense a wave of innovation coming that would make this possible. Fast forward to 2024, and technologies like ChatGPT are now doing much of what we envisioned. There were rapid advancements in natural language processing with companies like Amazon, Google, OpenAI, and Microsoft building large models and the underlying infrastructure. But they were not necessarily tackling end-to-end workflows. We recognized this gap and wanted to address it.

Our first product wasn’t a customer service solution; it was a voice assistant for frontline workers, such as technicians and retail store employees. We raised $2 million in seed funding and showed the product to potential customers. They overwhelmingly requested that we adapt the technology for contact centers, where they already had voice and data streams but lacked the modern generative AI architecture. This led us to realize that existing companies in this space were stuck in the past, grappling with the classic innovator’s dilemma of whether to overhaul their legacy systems or build something new. We started from a blank slate and built the first native large language model (LLM) customer experience intelligence and service automation platform. 

My deep interest in the complexities of human language and how challenging it is to solve these problems from a computer engineering perspective, played a significant role in our approach. AI’s ability to understand human speech is crucial, particularly for the contact center industry. For example, using Siri often reveals how difficult it is for AI to understand intent and context in human language. Even simple queries can trip up AI, which struggles to interpret what you’re asking.

AI struggles with understanding intent, maintaining context over long conversations, and possessing relevant knowledge of the world. Even ChatGPT has limitations in these areas. For instance, it might not know the latest news or understand shifting topics within a conversation. These challenges are directly relevant to customer service, where conversations often involve multiple topics and require the AI to understand specific, domain-related knowledge. We’re addressing these challenges in our platform, which is designed to handle the complexities of human language in a customer service environment. 

Level AI’s NLU technology goes beyond basic keyword matching. Can you explain how your AI understands deeper customer intent and the benefits this brings to customer service? How does Level AI ensure the accuracy and reliability of its AI systems, especially in understanding nuanced customer interactions?

We have six or seven different AI pipelines tailored to specific tasks, depending on the job at hand. For example, one workflow might involve identifying call drivers and understanding the issues customers have with a product or service, which we call the “voice of the customer.” Another could be the automated scoring of quality scorecards to evaluate agent performance. Each workflow or service has its own AI pipeline, but the underlying technology remains the same.

To draw an analogy, the technology we use is based on LLMs similar to the technology behind ChatGPT and other generative AI tools. However, we use customer service-specific LLMs that we have trained in-house for these specialized workflows. This allows us to achieve over 85% accuracy within just a few days of onboarding new customers, resulting in faster time to value, minimal professional services, and unmatched accuracy, security, and trust.

Our models have deep, specific expertise in customer service. The old paradigm involved analyzing conversations by picking out keywords or phrases like “cancel my account” or “I’m not happy.” But our solution doesn’t rely on capturing all possible variations of phrases. Instead, it applies AI to understand the intent behind the question, making it much quicker and more efficient.

For example, if someone says, “I want to cancel my account,” there are countless ways they might express that, like “I’m done with you guys” or “I’m moving on to someone else.” Our AI understands the question’s intent and ties it back to the context, which is why our software is faster and more accurate.

A helpful analogy is that old AI was like a rule book—you’d build these rigid rule books, with if-then-else statements, which were inflexible and constantly needed maintenance. The new AI, on the other hand, is like a dynamic brain or a learning system. With just a few pointers, it dynamically learns context and intent, continually improving on the fly. A rule book has a limited scope and breaks easily when something doesn’t fit the predefined rules, while a dynamic learning system keeps expanding, growing, and has a much broader impact.

A great example from a customer perspective is a large ecommerce brand. They have thousands of products, and it’s impossible to keep up with constant updates. Our AI, however, can understand the context, like whether you’re talking about a specific couch, without needing to constantly update a scorecard or rubric with every new product.

What are the key challenges in integrating Level AI’s technology with existing customer service systems, and how do you address them?

Level AI is a customer experience intelligence and service automation platform. As such, we integrate with most CX software in the industry, whether it’s a CRM, CCaaS, survey, or tooling solution. This makes us the central hub, collecting data from all these sources and serving as the intelligence layer on top.

However, the challenge is that some of these systems are based on non-cloud, on-premise technology, or even cloud technology that lacks APIs or clean data integrations. We work closely with our customers to address this, though 80% of our integrations are now cloud-based or API-native, allowing us to integrate quickly.

How does Level AI provide real-time intelligence and actionable insights for customer service agents? Can you share some examples of how this has improved customer interactions?

There are three kinds of real-time intelligence and actionable insights we provide our customers:

Automation of Manual Workflows: Service reps often have limited time (6 to 9 minutes) and multiple manual tasks. Level AI automates tedious tasks like note-taking during and after conversations, generating customized summaries for each customer. This has saved our customers 10 to 25% in call handling time, leading to more efficiency.

CX Copilot for Service Reps: Service reps face high churn and onboarding challenges. Imagine being dropped into a contact center without knowing the company’s policies. Level AI acts as an expert AI sitting beside the rep, listening to conversations, and offering real-time guidance. This includes handling objections, providing knowledge, and offering smart transcription. This capability has helped our customers onboard and train service reps 30 to 50% faster.

Manager Copilot: This unique feature gives managers real-time visibility into how their team is performing. Level AI provides second-by-second insights into conversations, allowing managers to intervene, detect sentiment and intent, and support reps in real-time. This has improved agent productivity by 10 to 15% and increased agent satisfaction, which is crucial for reducing costs. For example, if a customer starts cursing at a rep, the system flags it, and the manager can either take over the call or whisper guidance to the rep. This kind of real-time intervention would be impossible without this technology.

Can you elaborate on how Level AI’s sentiment analysis works and how it helps agents respond more effectively to customers?

Our sentiment analysis detects seven different emotions, ranging from extreme frustration to elation, allowing us to measure varying degrees of emotions that contribute to our overall sentiment score. This analysis considers both the spoken words and the tonality of the conversation. However, we’ve found through our experiments that the spoken word plays a much more significant role than tone. You can say the meanest things in a flat tone or very nice things in a strange tone.

We provide a sentiment score on a scale from 1 to 10, with 1 indicating very negative sentiment and 10 indicating a highly positive sentiment. We analyze 100% of our customers’ conversations, offering a deep insight into customer interactions.

Contextual understanding is also critical. For example, if a call starts with very negative sentiment but ends positively, even if 80% of the call was negative, the overall interaction is considered positive. This is because the customer started upset, the agent resolved the issue, and the customer left satisfied. On the other hand, if the call begins positively but ends negatively, that’s a different story, despite the fact that 80% of the call might have been positive.

This analysis helps both the rep and the manager identify areas for training, focusing on actions that correlate with positive sentiment, such as greeting the customer, acknowledging their concerns, and showing empathy—elements that are crucial to successful interactions.

How does Level AI address data privacy and security concerns, especially given the sensitive nature of customer interactions?

From day one, we have prioritized security and privacy. We’ve built our system with enterprise-level security and privacy as core principles. We don’t outsource any of our generative AI capabilities to third-party vendors. Everything is developed in-house, allowing us to train customer-specific AI models without sharing data outside our environment. We also offer extensive customization, enabling customers to have their own AI models without any data sharing across different parts of our data pipeline.

To address a current industry concern, our data is not used by external models for training. We don’t allow our models to be influenced by AI-generated data from other sources. This approach prevents the issues some AI models are facing, where being trained on AI-generated data causes them to lose accuracy. At Level AI, everything is first-party, and we don’t share or pull data externally.

With the recent $39.4 million Series C funding, what are your plans for expanding Level AI’s platform and reaching new customer segments?

The Series C investment will fuel our strategic growth and innovation initiatives in critical areas, including advancing product development, engineering enhancements, and rigorous research and development efforts. We aim to recruit top-tier talent across all levels of the organization, enabling us to continue pioneering industry-leading technologies that surpass client expectations and meet dynamic market demands. 

How do you see the role of AI in transforming customer service over the next decade? 

While the general focus is often on the automation aspect—predicting a future where bots handle all customer service—our view is more nuanced. The extent of automation varies by vertical. For example, in banking or finance, automation might be lower, while in other sectors, it could be higher. On average, we believe that achieving more than 40% automation across all verticals is challenging. This is because service reps do more than just answer questions—they act as troubleshooters, sales advisors, and more, roles that can’t be fully replicated by AI.

There is also significant potential in workflow automation, which Level AI focuses on. This includes back-office tasks like quality assurance, ticket triaging, and screen monitoring. Here, automation can exceed 80% using generative AI. Intelligence and data insights are crucial. We are unique in using generative AI to gain insights from unstructured data. This approach can vastly improve the quality of insights, reducing the need for professional services by 90% and accelerating time to value by 90%.

Another important consideration is whether the face of your organization should be a bot or a person. Beyond the basic functions they perform, a human connection with your customers is crucial. Our approach is to remove the excess tasks from a person’s workload, allowing them to focus on meaningful interactions.

We believe that humans are best suited for direct communication and should continue to be in that role. However, they’re not ideal for tasks like note-taking, transcribing interactions, or screen recording. By handling these tasks for them, we free up their time to engage with customers more effectively.

Thank you for the great interview, readers who wish to learn more should visit Level AI.

[4rartsandcrafts]

Logistics Management Courses in Calicut, Kochi, Malappuram, Kerala

In an increasingly globalized economy, the importance of logistics management cannot be overstated. As businesses expand and seek to optimize their supply chains, the demand for skilled logistics professionals is on the rise. For individuals looking to enhance their career prospects in this field, enrolling in logistics management courses in Calicut, Kochi, Malappuram, Kerala is an excellent opportunity. Frontline Academy offers a comprehensive suite of courses designed to provide students with the essential knowledge and skills needed to excel in logistics management.

Frontline Academy is a leading institution in the region, known for its commitment to high-quality education tailored to the logistics industry. Their logistics management courses cover a wide range of vital topics, including supply chain management, transportation logistics, inventory control, and warehouse operations. The curriculum is designed to integrate theoretical concepts with practical applications, ensuring that students are well-equipped to tackle real-world challenges in the logistics sector.

By enrolling in logistics management courses in Calicut, Kochi, Malappuram, Kerala, students gain access to a wealth of career opportunities in a rapidly expanding field. These cities are significant commercial centers in Kerala, offering numerous job prospects in logistics and supply chain management. Frontline Academy’s strategic location allows students to connect with local industries, participate in internships, and gain hands-on experience that enhances their employability.

The faculty at Frontline Academy comprises seasoned industry experts who bring valuable insights into the classroom. Their mentorship and guidance provide students with the support they need to succeed academically and professionally. By combining academic learning with practical training, students develop critical thinking and problem-solving skills that are essential for thriving in the logistics industry.

As the logistics sector continues to evolve, investing in logistics management courses in Calicut, Kochi, Malappuram, Kerala is a smart decision for anyone seeking to advance their career. Frontline Academy is dedicated to empowering students with the education and resources they need to succeed in this essential industry.

Take the first step toward a fulfilling career in logistics by enrolling in Frontline Academy today. With their comprehensive logistics management courses and expert faculty, you will gain the skills and confidence necessary to excel in the dynamic world of logistics and supply chain management.

[govindhtech]

BigQuery And Spanner With External Datasets Boosts Insights

BigQuery and Spanner work better together by extending operational insights with external datasets.

Analyzing data from several databases has always been difficult for data analysts. They must employ ETL procedures to transfer data from transactional databases into analytical data storage due to data silos. If you have data in both Spanner and BigQuery, BigQuery has made the issue somewhat simpler to tackle.

You might use federated queries to wrap your Spanner query and integrate the results set with BigQuery using a TVF by using the EXTERNAL_QUERY table-valued function (TVF). Although effective, this method had drawbacks, including restricted query monitoring and query optimization insights, and added complexity by having the analyst to create intricate SQL when integrating data from two sources.

Google Cloud to provides today public preview of BigQuery external datasets for Spanner, which represents a significant advancement. Data analysts can browse, analyze, and query Spanner tables just as they would native BigQuery tables with to this productivity-boosting innovation that connects Spanner schema to BigQuery datasets. BigQuery and Spanner tables may be used with well-known GoogleSQL to create analytics pipelines and dashboards without the need for additional data migration or complicated ETL procedures.

Using Spanner external datasets to get operational insights

Gathering operational insights that were previously impossible without transferring data is made simple by spanner external databases.

Operational dashboards: A service provider uses BigQuery for historical analytics and Spanner for real-time transaction data. This enables them to develop thorough real-time dashboards that assist frontline employees in carrying out daily service duties while providing them with direct access to the vital business indicators that gauge the effectiveness of the company.

Customer 360: By combining extensive analytical insights on customer loyalty from purchase history in their data lake with in-store transaction data, a retail company gives contact center employees a comprehensive picture of its top consumers.

Threat intelligence: Information security businesses’ Security Operations (SecOps) personnel must use AI models based on long-term data stored in their analytical data store to assess real-time streaming data entering their operations data store. To compare incoming threats with pre-established threat patterns, SecOps staff must be able to query historical and real-time data using familiar SQL via a single interface.

Leading commerce data SaaS firm Attain was among the first to integrate BigQuery external datasets and claims that it has increased data analysts’ productivity.

Advantages of Spanner external datasets

The following advantages are offered by Spanner and BigQuery working together for data analysts seeking operational insights on their transactions and analytical data:

Simplified query writing: Eliminate the need for laborious federated queries by working directly with data in Spanner as if it were already in BigQuery.

Unified transaction analytics: Combine data from BigQuery and Spanner to create integrated dashboards and reports.

Real-time insights: BigQuery continuously asks Spanner for the most recent data, giving reliable, current insights without affecting production Spanner workloads or requiring intricate synchronization procedures.

Low-latency performance: BigQuery speeds up queries against Spanner by using parallelism and Spanner Data Boost features, which produces results more quickly.

How it operates

Suppose you want to include new e-commerce transactions from a Spanner database into your BigQuery searches.

All of your previous transactions are stored in BigQuery, and your analytical dashboards are constructed using this data. But sometimes, you may need to examine the combined view of recent and previous transactions. At that point, you may use BigQuery to generate an external datasets that replicates your Spanner database.

Assume that you have a project called “myproject” in Spanner, along with an instance called “myinstance” and a database called “ecommerce,” where you keep track of the transactions that are currently occurring on your e-commerce website. With the inclusion of the “Link to an external database” option, you may Create an external datasets in BigQuery exactly like any other dataset:Image Credit To Google Cloud

Browse a Spanner external dataset

A chosen Spanner database may also be seen as an external datasets via the Google Cloud console’s BigQuery Studio. You may see all of your Spanner tables by selecting this dataset and expanding it:Image Credit To Google Cloud

Sample queries

You can now run any query you choose on the tables in your external datasets actually, your Spanner database.

Let’s look at today’s transactions using customer segments that BigQuery calculates and stores, for instance:

SELECT o.id, o.customer_id, o.total_value, s.segment_name FROM current_transactions.ecommerce_order o left join crm_dataset.customer_segments s on o.customer_id=s.customer_id WHERE o.order_date = ‘2024-09-01’

Observe that current_transactions is an external datasets that refers to a Spanner database, whereas crm_dataset is a standard BigQuery dataset.

An additional example would be a single view of every transaction a client has ever made, both past and present:

SELECT id, customer_id, total_value FROM current_transactions.ecommerce_order o union transactions_history th

Once again, transactions_history is stored in BigQuery, but current_transactions is an external datasets.

Note that you don’t need to manually transfer the data using any ETL procedures since it is retrieved live from Spanner!

You may see the query plan when the query is finished. You can see how the ecommerce_order table was utilized in a query and how many entries were read from a particular database by selecting the EXECUTION GRAPH tab.

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Top Call Center Practices to Enhance Customer Satisfaction Levels

In today’s fast-paced business environment, customer satisfaction is more critical than ever. Call centers serve as the frontline for customer interactions, making their role vital in shaping customer experiences. Implementing effective practices can significantly enhance customer satisfaction levels, leading to increased loyalty and positive word-of-mouth. Here are some top call center practices to consider:

1. Invest in Training and Development

The foundation of a successful call center lies in its team. Comprehensive training programs equip agents with the necessary skills to handle customer inquiries effectively. Focus on:

Product Knowledge: Ensure agents understand the products or services thoroughly to provide accurate information.

Communication Skills: Train agents in active listening, empathy, and clear communication to create a more personalized experience.

Problem-Solving Techniques: Encourage agents to think critically and resolve issues efficiently, which boosts customer confidence and satisfaction.

2. Utilize Advanced Technology

Incorporating advanced technology can streamline operations and improve customer interactions. Key tools include:

Customer Relationship Management (CRM) Systems: These systems help agents access customer histories and preferences, enabling personalized service.

Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Chatbots: AI can assist in handling basic queries, freeing agents to focus on more complex issues while providing immediate assistance to customers.

Omni-Channel Support: Enable customers to connect through their preferred channels, whether it’s phone, email, live chat, or social media, ensuring a seamless experience.

3. Monitor Performance Metrics

Tracking key performance indicators (KPIs) is essential for understanding customer satisfaction levels. Important metrics include:

First Call Resolution (FCR): A high FCR rate indicates that customers’ issues are being resolved on the first contact, leading to higher satisfaction.

Average Handle Time (AHT): Balancing AHT with quality is crucial; while shorter times can be efficient, they shouldn’t compromise the service quality.

Customer Satisfaction Score (CSAT): Regularly gather feedback through surveys after interactions to assess satisfaction and identify areas for improvement.

4. Foster a Positive Work Environment

A motivated and happy workforce translates into better customer service. To foster a positive environment:

Recognize and Reward Performance: Acknowledge agents for their hard work and achievements, which boosts morale and encourages a customer-centric approach.

Encourage Open Communication: Create channels for agents to voice concerns and suggestions, leading to improvements in processes and practices.

Promote Work-Life Balance: Support agents in maintaining a healthy work-life balance to reduce burnout and enhance productivity.

5. Create Customer-Centric Policies

Policies should prioritize customer needs and streamline the resolution process. Consider the following:

Flexible Policies: Allow agents the flexibility to resolve issues creatively, such as offering refunds or discounts when appropriate.

Clear Escalation Processes: Ensure agents know how to escalate issues when necessary, providing customers with quick access to higher-level support.

Follow-Up Procedures: Implement follow-up protocols to check on customers after an issue has been resolved, demonstrating care and commitment to their satisfaction.

6. Gather and Analyze Customer Feedback

Regularly collecting customer feedback is crucial for continuous improvement. Utilize:

Surveys and Feedback Forms: After interactions, ask customers to rate their experiences and provide comments on what can be improved.

Social Media Monitoring: Pay attention to customer sentiments expressed on social media platforms to identify trends and areas needing attention.

Focus Groups: Engage with customers in focus groups to gain deeper insights into their experiences and expectations.

7. Emphasize Continuous Improvement

Customer satisfaction is not a one-time achievement but a continuous journey. To maintain high satisfaction levels:

Regular Training Updates: Keep training programs current, incorporating new products, services, and best practices.

Review and Adapt Strategies: Regularly assess policies, procedures, and technologies to adapt to changing customer expectations and industry trends.

Benchmark Against Competitors: Stay informed about competitors’ practices and customer feedback to identify potential areas for enhancement.

Conclusion

Enhancing customer satisfaction levels in call centers requires a combination of trained staff, advanced technology, clear policies, and a commitment to continuous improvement. By focusing on these best practices, call centers can create a more positive customer experience, fostering loyalty and driving business success. Remember, satisfied customers are the best advocates for your brand!

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Crafting an Effective Compliance Strategy with Risk-Specific Microlearning

In today's dynamic and highly regulated business landscape, compliance has emerged as a non-negotiable aspect of organizational success. Compliance failures can lead to disastrous consequences, including hefty fines, legal liabilities, and severe damage to a company’s reputation. This is why organizations are continuously searching for ways to ensure their compliance programs are robust, effective, and aligned with the needs of their employees. One of the most efficient approaches to achieving this goal is through microlearning.

Microlearning offers a personalized, flexible, and effective way to deliver training that is focused on individual learners. When applied to compliance training, microlearning helps ensure that employees receive information that is relevant to their specific job roles and risk exposure. A well-structured microlearning program can empower organizations to proactively prevent compliance lapses and losses. It achieves this by targeting the right people with the right content, delivered at the right intervals.

The Power of Microlearning: Centered Around the Learner

Microlearning stands apart from traditional training methods by being highly personalized and learner-centric. Instead of bombarding employees with hours-long sessions filled with general information, microlearning breaks down complex concepts into short, digestible lessons. These lessons are tailored to suit the specific needs of individual learners, making the training more relevant and engaging.

This learner-centered approach is especially critical in compliance training, where the challenges and risks employees face vary significantly depending on their department, hierarchy, and job responsibilities. For example, the compliance concerns for a sales team will be different from those of an IT department or executive management. A one-size-fits-all training program often fails to address the unique risks faced by different groups within an organization, leading to disengagement and compliance failures.

By embracing microlearning, businesses can address this gap by designing training modules that cater to the specific needs of each group. Tailoring content based on experience levels, department functions, and hierarchy ensures that the training resonates with every employee. This personalized approach not only increases engagement but also ensures that learners can apply the knowledge in their daily operations, making compliance practices more ingrained in the company culture.

Tailoring Compliance Lessons to Hierarchy, Departments, and Experience Levels

The flexibility of microlearning makes it easy to customize training based on hierarchy, department, and experience level, which is crucial for compliance training. Employees at different levels within the organization interact with compliance rules in distinct ways. For instance, a senior executive's responsibility in compliance may involve strategic decision-making and overseeing policies, while a junior employee may need training focused on adhering to daily operational protocols.

A well-planned microlearning approach accounts for these variations and provides targeted lessons for each learner's unique needs. Here’s how compliance microlearning can be tailored to various segments within an organization:

Executives and Senior Management: Executives often need training focused on risk management, strategic compliance decisions, and the overall impact of regulatory issues on the business. Microlearning for this group might involve brief, data-driven lessons about industry regulations, case studies about compliance failures, and guidelines for fostering an ethical workplace culture. The training would focus on decision-making and leadership, empowering executives to lead by example and prioritize compliance as a strategic imperative.

Middle Management: Managers often serve as the link between frontline employees and senior executives, so their training should encompass both operational compliance and leadership. Microlearning for managers can focus on enforcing company policies, ensuring their teams comply with regulations, and addressing compliance violations promptly. Lessons might also emphasize communication skills, equipping managers to effectively communicate the importance of compliance to their teams.

Frontline Employees: Frontline employees are often the ones implementing day-to-day operations, making it crucial that they are well-versed in the specific compliance rules that govern their roles. For this group, microlearning modules should focus on practical, scenario-based lessons that demonstrate how to adhere to compliance standards in real-world situations. For instance, a lesson for a customer service representative may include data privacy compliance, while a lesson for an HR employee might emphasize anti-discrimination policies.

By tailoring compliance lessons according to each group’s responsibilities, microlearning ensures that every employee receives training that is directly relevant to their role. This not only increases the likelihood of engagement but also enhances the application of compliance principles in daily tasks.

The Importance of a Risk-Specific Training Agenda

One of the most critical aspects of compliance training is its ability to mitigate risks that are specific to the organization. A risk-specific training agenda focuses on delivering content that addresses the unique risks each employee or department is exposed to. This type of training targets compliance issues before they arise, making the organization more proactive in preventing lapses rather than reacting to them after they occur.

For example, employees in a financial services company may need in-depth training on anti-money laundering (AML) regulations, while employees in a healthcare organization may need a more focused curriculum on patient privacy and data protection. A risk-specific microlearning program allows businesses to cater training to these unique needs, ensuring that employees receive the right exposure to the right content.

Microlearning’s flexibility also allows organizations to deliver this training at the right intervals. Compliance is not static—it evolves with regulatory changes, industry developments, and emerging threats. Microlearning’s ability to provide short, focused bursts of information ensures that training can be updated and distributed as frequently as necessary, keeping employees informed about the latest compliance requirements.

Relevance and Applicability: Aligning Compliance Training with Job Roles

To make compliance training effective, it must be directly relevant to the employee’s job role. Training employees on irrelevant topics not only wastes time but also dilutes the focus on the compliance issues that truly matter for their role. Microlearning enables businesses to create highly relevant and applicable training by aligning content with the specific responsibilities of each learner.

For instance, a compliance lesson on workplace safety would be irrelevant to a marketing professional, but highly relevant to someone working in manufacturing or operations. Microlearning allows organizations to create role-specific lessons that address the real-world challenges employees face. This ensures that employees are equipped with the knowledge they need to confidently identify and manage compliance issues.

Additionally, microlearning’s modular approach allows for easy updates and scalability. As job roles evolve and compliance regulations change, microlearning content can be updated quickly, ensuring that training remains relevant and applicable over time. This adaptability is essential for industries that face frequent regulatory updates, such as finance, healthcare, and technology.

The Right People with the Right Content at the Right Time

The success of any compliance training program depends on its ability to reach the right people with the right content at the right time. Microlearning excels in this regard, offering a delivery method that is both efficient and effective. Instead of overwhelming employees with lengthy training sessions that cover a wide range of topics, microlearning delivers targeted content in a timely manner.

For compliance training, this means that employees receive information that is directly relevant to their job role and risk exposure, delivered at intervals that reinforce learning. Whether it’s a short lesson on a new regulatory requirement or a refresher course on company policies, microlearning ensures that employees are always up to date and ready to act in compliance with the latest standards.

Moreover, microlearning’s mobile-friendly design allows employees to access training anytime, anywhere. This flexibility is especially beneficial for organizations with distributed workforces or employees who work remotely. By making compliance training accessible and convenient, microlearning ensures that employees can engage with the content when it’s most convenient for them, leading to better retention and application of the material.

Conclusion: Strengthening Compliance with Microlearning

Compliance and ethics training are critical components of any organization’s success. By integrating microlearning into the overall compliance training initiative, businesses can create a more resilient, informed, and proactive workforce. Microlearning’s learner-centered approach, combined with its ability to deliver risk-specific, role-relevant content, ensures that compliance training reaches each employee in the most efficient and effective way possible.

With microlearning, organizations can prevent compliance lapses, reduce the risk of regulatory penalties, and foster a culture of accountability and ethical behavior. By delivering the right content to the right people at the right time, microlearning empowers employees across all levels to confidently manage compliance and ethics matters, helping the organization stay ahead in an increasingly complex regulatory environment.