In today’s rapidly evolving technological environment, midmarket companies grapple with meeting the demands of both internal operations and external customer expectations. From cybersecurity to data integration, the complexity of technology requirements presents significant challenges.

Many organizations turn to outsourcing as a viable solution. But how do they navigate this landscape effectively? What are the critical pain points, and how can they choose the right outsourcing partner?

With the European Parliament’s approval of the European Union (EU) Artificial Intelligence (AI) Act, most companies are not prepared to comply with these sweeping AI regulations. A recent Q&A with Nader Henein, VP Analyst at Gartner, helps to paint a picture of how well-prepared companies are, what they need to do to get ready in the near-term, and how to get started.

IDC's recent report highlights the benefits of implementing shared services in business to boost efficiency, reduce costs, and standardize processes. However, despite its long-standing application, shared services present significant challenges. IDC's survey found that in all industries, the time required to complete tasks should be reduced by 50%.

Consolidating customer success efforts into a dedicated team can result in significant benefits for a company, including improved customer retention rates, additional cross-sell and upsell opportunities, and reduced support calls. A study by Forrester found that a composite $1 billion firm with 5,000 current accounts can expect to accrue a net-present cash flow of over $13.4 million and recover the full investment within three years.

March Madness attracts fans not only for the thrilling games but also for the iconic venues that host them. Maximizing the venue experience is critical for tournament and venue decision-makers. IPTV is rapidly emerging as an important feature at athletic facilities and arenas, playing an increasingly important role in delivering a diverse fan base's desired experience. Attendees at live games during March Madness experience much more than just the games themselves.

A new survey by Protiviti, BoardProspects, and Broadridge Financial Solutions reveals that boards and C-suite leaders do not always agree on how to achieve common goals. Bridging these gaps is crucial as companies face several challenges, including an uncertain macroeconomic environment, a global war for talent, rising geopolitical risks, cyberattacks, and other existential threats.

Political spending is predicted to reach $11.1B in 2024, with traditional advertising still accounting for 70.2% of political ad spend. TV OTA is expected to receive the largest share of political ad dollars at $4.6B, followed by PC/Laptop at $1.3B and Cable TV at $1.1B. Cable TV is the only media channel expected to decrease from 2020, by nearly $183M.

CFOs are prioritizing employee compensation, with 71% planning to increase it in 2024 above the inflation rate. Employee compensation is the second most important area, with 82% of CFOs planning an increase in 2024, although most are planning to give 4% to 9% increases, which is a decrease from last year.

Global spending on video entertainment is up, with 6% YoY growth in 2023, amounting to a $324 billion annual spend. James Duvall, Head of Entertainment at Futuresource Consulting, expects further expansion this year, despite inflationary pressures. The sector achieved 6% YoY growth in 2022 and 2023, with an additional $10 billion expected this year.

New data from Omdia shows that after five years of increasing stacking, the once-dominant model is showing signs of strain. Omdia's analysis revealed that the number of SVOD services per household has declined in some markets for the first time, while free video stacking is still on the rise. YouTube continues to lead in key markets, boosting the sector's lead over paid content. Other social video platforms and FAST services are also growing.

As ML-powered robotics workloads continue to diversify, GenAI technology is emerging as a game-changer. Foundation models are expected to replace or enhance existing ML and deep learning models, leading to more capable and robust robots. This has led to a rise in the global robotics AI chipset market, estimated to reach $866 million by Omdia.

Gartner predicts that by 2028, one-third of GenAI interactions will involve autonomous agents using AI techniques to complete tasks. Autonomous agents are systems that can accomplish specific goals without human intervention and can improve over time. In the future, users could directly interface with autonomous intent-driven agents, enabling a higher degree of autonomy and better alignment with human goals.

Recent findings from IDC report the Ethernet switch market revenue grew by 20.1% to $44.2 billion in 2023. The datacenter segment of the market rose by 13.6%, and ODM direct sales increased by 16.2%. However, the enterprise and service provider router market saw a decline of 0.4% in revenue.

The pandemic caused a surge in video conferencing as remote work increased. Companies had to invest in video conferencing tools to keep operations going. Although some have returned to the office, hybrid work models are still common. As the market becomes more competitive, how are hardware vendors adapting?

A recent study from Parks Associates found that one-third of US households would switch their homeowner’s/renter’s insurance provider to acquire smart home devices. Smart home devices can detect and prevent costly damages, like water and faulty wiring, which can reduce premiums, claims, and payouts. Water damage is the most common home damage, costing an average of $9,633, while flood/weather-related damage costs an average of $8,625.

Companies struggling to bridge the white-collar talent gap in major metropolitan areas would be well advised to understand the role of flexible work arrangements in attracting and retaining women -- an increasingly important pool of labor in an otherwise constrained environment. So says Gwenn Rosener, CEO of FlexProfessionals, a recruiting and staffing agency for professionals that serves the Washington DC and Boston metropolitan areas, in a podcast interview for journalists.

According to new research from KPMG, ESG, and broader sustainability strategies have made their way to the top of board agendas in 2024 despite business leaders facing a bulging inbox of issues and challenges. Almost all respondents reported high ambitions for ESG in their organizations, and half now view sustainability as a strategic issue embedded in core business operations.

According to Saul Judah, VP Analyst at Gartner, a D&A governance program must prioritize business outcomes to be successful. During crises, successful CDAOs quickly pivot their D&A strategies to help their organizations. A strategic approach, positioning D&A as an essential business-centric model, is more effective than a reactive, tactical approach that only focuses on data governance.

The GSMA SGP.31/32 specifications have paved the way for mass adoption of eSIM technology. Enterprises can now enjoy easier device management, wider network coverage, and better commercial terms. Omdia predicts a surge in eSIM technology adoption in IoT from just over 1 billion in 2023 to over 3.6 billion in 2030.

A recent study finds employees who are significantly younger than their managers tend to have lower productivity levels than those who are closer in age. The study cites a lack of collaboration between different generations as the cause of friction and suggests that companies can improve productivity by adopting intergenerationally inclusive work practices.