Epica Awards 2024 - Am Judging Again

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This is a bit out of the norm, but very fun. Am back for a third year as a jury member to judge the 2024 Epica Awards. The program is Paris-based, so the range of entries is very global - a much different look and feel from a US-based awards program.

There is a wide range of categories for all the entries, with a healthy mix of consumer and B2B brands. As a marketing guy at heart - and a creative person - I really enjoy reviewing these entries, and while most of this is outside my everyday analyst focus, I take inspiration for how many of these brands take a fresh, out-of-the-box approach to get their message across. Not just for consumer brands, btw, but also for some of the tougher issues, like education, climate change, and societal inclusion.

Nothing here about CX, meetings or Gen AI, but a lot of clever use of technology to create images and video that grabs your attention. Another thing that I love is how most entries are very grounded in digital technologies, and the really good ones have figured out ways to break through the clutter we all have with advertisers trying to get our attention. One way or another, I’ll find ways to apply this to my work and it helps bring fresh thinking to my clients.

New Month - Time for November Newsletter and Podcast

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It’s a new month, and the latest editions of both my newsletter and podcast are out now - JAA’s Communications and Collaboration Review, and my Watch This Space podcast, now in its 7th season.

If you’re not a subscriber, signing up to my newsletter is easy - JAA’s Communications and Collaboration Review - the signup page is here.

For my Watch This Space podcast, you can subscribe on all the major platforms, or listen to any episode directly here on my website, or here on the dedicated WTS website.

This month’s episode is mainly a recap of current industry events Chris and I have attended or were about to - namely Verint, British Telecom, UC Expo, NICE, Cisco WebexOne, Zoomtopia, VON/vCon and WorkTech. It’s a busy time, and lots to talk about - you can check out the November podcast here.

Future of Work Expo Updates - Feb. 11-13, 2025

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I’m overdue for an update on the 2025 edition of Future of Work Expo, so here’s the news.

If the event is new to you, this is my 7th year as Chair, and my main role is to develop the program and roster of speakers for the sessions. You also need to know that Future of Work Expo is co-located - along with other speciality events - with ITExpo, TMC’s long-running communications show in Ft. Lauderdale. So, aside from getting a deep dive on FOW topics, attendees also get the broader ITExpo experience, which draws over 8,000 people, along with a show floor with hundreds of vendors.

I’ve got two updates to share, and I hope this tweaks your interest to attend, as well as speak or even sponsor. First is the website for the event, where you can review things in detail, including the Agenda, which just went live yesterday. Next is the latest e-newsletter blurb, which TMC sends out to its email list, and gives a nice overview of the event experience.

Finally, my Watch This Space podcast has a strong focus on future of work topics, so it’s quite complementary to the event. To reinforce that, TMC is now a media partner, and giving the podcast broader exposure on their various websites. If you don’t follow my podcast, it’s another way to stay current with the event, along with other topics we explore on a monthly basis. Hope to see you there!

Roundtable in NYC About Sales Automation, Oct. 10 - Interested?

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I’m going to be in NYC next week with Vidyard, a company I’ve been working with recently. We’re doing a roundtable session that I’m moderating on the topic of using AI and automation to make the sales process more effective. There is no shortage of challenges for a set of needs that all businesses struggle with, and in response, there are new solutions that need consideration.

The panel is largely in place, but we do have room for a couple more attendees. If you happen to be in NYC next Thursday - or really, really want to get there on your own to join us, here’s the link to register. For anyone who plans to come, we’ll see you there!

October - New Leaf, New Podcast and Newsletter

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It’s a new month - the latest editions of both my newsletter and podcast are out now - JAA’s Communications and Collaboration Review, and my Watch This Space podcast, now in its 7th season.

If you’re not a subscriber, signing up to my newsletter is easy - JAA’s Communications and Collaboration Review - the signup page is here.

For my Watch This Space podcast, you can subscribe on all the major platforms, or listen to any episode directly here on my website, or here on the dedicated WTS website.

October starts the busy season for industry events, so Chris and I covered where our travels have been - and will be - taking us. Lots to discuss, but we also covered the usual gamut of interesting things like why 8-Track was a superior technology in its day, why mandating return-to-office is risky business, and reviewing our latest updates for the podcast. Hope you check it out, and subscribe to my newsletter.

Glenn Goldberg's Parallel Universe Podcast - My Guest Spot

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You know it’s going to be a fun podcast when I get to quote one of my favorite lines from Seinfeld - “It’s not a lie… if you believe it.” As Homer would say, it’s funny because it’s true. If that’s your vibe, then I think you’ll really enjoy this podcast - my first guest spot on Glenn Goldberg’s Parallel Universe podcast.

We could go on all day long about tech, sports, music and all kinds of other things. Maybe we’ll go further on those threads next time, but right now, you should just check it out. Here’s the link for viewing it on Telecom Reseller, inclulding the transcript, or you can watch it here on YouTube.

September Writing Roundup

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Lots in play during September, and almost all of it was doing podcast and video spots. For the bigger picture, all of this is covered in my newsletter, but in short, there was just one public writeup for September, and it was on my blog. More to come this month, though!

Verint Engage 2024 - Quick Pix and Top Takeaways, my blog, Sept. 27

Next Stop - London, for BT Analyst Event and UC Expo

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I don’t travel overseas much, but on Monday I’m flying to London for two events. First is Focus 2024, British Telecom’s analyst event, then back again for UC Expo at the Excel Center. Will definitely be a full week, and I’ll share updates on LinkedIn as time allows.

For UC Expo, I’ll be speaking on three sessions - one is invite-only, and links are here for the other two:

Thursday at 1pm - a fireside chat on tech-driven inclusivity in the workplace

Thursday at 1:35 - Ask the Analyst panel session

If you’re attending, and want to meet up, please drop me a line. Also, the event hashtag is #UCX24.

Expanded Reach for Watch This Space Podcast - now on EM360

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I’ve been a long-time contributor to UK-based EM360, and you can see more about that here on my profile page. While you’re there, I encourage you to explore their website, which has just gone through a big refresh.

My followers will know about my Watch This Space podcast, which can be picked up here on my website, along with a dedicated WTS website. While my reach is mainly North America, I now have more exposure for the EU market via EM360. Last week marked the start of them now carrying WTS on their site, and I have two links to share for that:

Finally, to help promote this update to EM360 followers, Watch This Space was featured in the current issue of their LinkedIn-based newsletter, Contributors Corner. That would be Edition 15 from September 6, and here’s the link. If you check this out, you’ll see that two forms of my work have been featured here; the other being a re-posting of a guest post I recently wrote for a client’s blog.

September - Time for New Podcast and Newsletter

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The latest editions of both my newsletter and podcast are out now - JAA’s Communications and Collaboration Review, and my Watch This Space podcast, now in its 7th season.

If you’re not a subscriber, signing up to my newsletter is easy - JAA’s Communications and Collaboration Review - the signup page is here.

For my Watch This Space podcast, you can subscribe on all the major platforms, or listen to any episode directly here on my website, or here on the dedicated WTS website.

This month, Chris and I reviewed how streaming has really come into its own with the Olympics, and similarly how event platforms are finding broader use cases, both in the public and private sectors. I also provided a recap of the NCEC Technologies Conference that I spoke at last month, around how conversational AI is helping utilities improve customer service.

New Webinar with Zoom - The AI-Driven Workplace

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I recently recorded another on-demand webinar for VentureBeat, this time in conversation with Gary Sorrentino from Zoom. Moderated by Thom Langford, we discussed how today’s “workplace” has been evolving, and the impact AI is having both for workers and organizations in general. AI is more than just technology, and we touched on related issues such as generational change, hybrid work models, and what constitutes productivity in today’s workplace.

The webinar has been posted now by VentureBeat, and here’s the registration link. I hope you give it a listen, and happy to hear your thoughts as well.

August Editions Out Now - my Newsletter and Podcast

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The latest editions of both my newsletter and podcast are out now - JAA’s Communications and Collaboration Review, and my Watch This Space podcast, now in its 7th season.

If you’re not a subscriber, signing up to my newsletter is easy - JAA’s Communications and Collaboration Review - the signup page is here.

For my Watch This Space podcast, you can subscribe on all the major platforms, or listen to any episode directly here on my website, or here on the dedicated WTS website.

This month, Chris and I further explored the topic of “workplace strategy”, which draws from my recent No Jitter article (both newsletter and podcast include the link), and why I see this as an opportunity for both UCaaS and CCaaS vendors.

We also talked about how recent missteps from CrowdStrike, Patagonia and Ticketmaster reflect concerns about Big Tech that we regularly voice on Watch This Space. To give it a listen, here’s the link, and would love your feedback any time.

July Writing Roundup

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There was no travel during July, but I kept busy on many fronts, including writing. As per below, I only had two articles with my byline, but three others were published last month that I wrote, but sans my byline. You might be surprised by the variety of ways we indie analysts ply our trade - and I’d be happy to tell you more about that any time!

No Jitter - my latest article, AI in the Enterprise - Are We Missing the Best Use Case of All?, July 17

Aizan Blog - my latest guest post: Communications Tech Events to Attend - an Analyst’s Take, June 28 (did not run in time to be included in my June writing roundup)

Catching up on July Activity

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Regular followers will have noticed I’ve been blogging less frequently, and am not really sure if this is a blip or a real change. As you know, I’m pretty old school, and I don’t know too many people who have been blogging continuously as long as I have - going back to 2005.

The reality is that most of my activity is tracked on LinkedIn, along with my newsletter and podcast. I continue to blog, however, as this is the entry point for many people who learn about my capabilities and offerings once they find my website.

Speaking of the website, there are some refreshes coming, and I’m very much aware that some sections aren’t up to date, and I’d like to make the site more engaging - more to come on that.

All that aside, I have been staying busy throughout July, but that’s not reflected here on my blog. So, I’m going to rectify that right now, with a simple tally of things you might want to check out, ICYMI.

Intelligent Thinking AI Summit - was a speaker at this virtual event, July 18

No Jitter - my latest article, AI in the Enterprise - Are We Missing the Best Use Case of All?, July 17

Let’s Do Video Boardroom - finally, my first guest appearance on David Maldow’s long-running interview series: the Future of UC and Contact Centers, July 15

UC Today - was cited as being a UC All-Star, July 11

Big UC News - was part of the panel for the latest edition of this industry news roundup, July 8

Watch This Space Podcast - our July edition: HPE Discover and NICE Interactions - Reflections on Latest Industry Events, July 3

Aizan Blog - my latest guest post: Communications Tech Events to Attend - an Analyst’s Take, June 28

Next Stop - Intelligent Thinking AI Summit

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Well, not an actual stop - this is a virtual event, but one that I’m looking forward to. This one-day event is put on by IoT Marketing, and it’s my first time doing something with them.

I’m doing a fireside session with Tiffani Neilson of IoT Marketing, where she’s interviewing me about AI trends, use cases, opportunities, etc. Should be a lively session, and I hope you can join us next Thursday. Details to register are here, and our chat begins at 11am PST.

July Editions Out Now - My Newsletter and Podcast

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Just in time for the July 4 break! The latest editions of both my newsletter and podcast are out now - JAA’s Communications and Collaboration Review, and my Watch This Space podcast, now in its 7th season.

If you’re not a subscriber, signing up to my newsletter is easy - JAA’s Communications and Collaboration Review - the signup page is here.

For my Watch This Space podcast, you can subscribe on all the major platforms, or listen to any episode directly here on my website, or here on the dedicated WTS website.

This month, Chris and I reviewed recent events each of us attended in Las Vegas - HPE Discover for him, and NICE Interactions for me. LOTS to talk about, and some other sidebars I think you’ll enjoy. To give it a listen, here’s the link, and would love your feedback any time.

June Writing Roundup

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More writing and less spoken word for June - four public writeups, and all were reviews of recent industry events.

Zoom Perspectives - Five Takeaways, June 5, BCStrategies

Verint Analyst Days - Four Takeaways, June 10, BCStrategies

Zoholics 2024: How the Company Models a Different Path to Success, June 21, No Jitter

NICE Interactions 2024: Just CX It - Executing on the Vision, June 21, BCStrategies

Newsletter and Podcast Time - June Editions out Now

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The June editions of both my newsletter and podcast are out now - JAA’s Communications and Collaboration Review, and my Watch This Space podcast, now in its 7th season.

If you’re not a subscriber, signing up to my newsletter is easy - JAA’s Communications and Collaboration Review - the signup page is here.

For my Watch This Space podcast, you can subscribe on all the major platforms, or listen to any episode directly here on my website, or here on the dedicated WTS website.

This month, the podcast reviews two recent analyst events I attended - Zoom and Verint - along with examining the pros and cons for these companies going all-in with AI. To give it a listen, here’s the link, and would love your feedback any time.

May Events - Zoom and Verint - Quick Pix

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Last week I had back-to-back analyst events in the US, and just wanted to share some photos here. First was Zoom Perspectives in NYC, followed by Verint Analyst Days in Dallas. I’ll be doing a written review of these later this week. Not sure where it will run, but stay tuned.

Also, as a heads-up, I discussed takeaways from these events with my partner Chris Fine on our Watch This Space podcast, which will run next Tuesday, along with my June newsletter. I hope you check those out. Until then, here are some quick pix of mine from last week’s events.

First, Zoom Perspectives in NYC. Below - executive team during Q&A session, Gary Sorrentino, Mahesh Ram

More from Zoom - Jeff Smith, Smita Hashim, and our tour of the MLB studios, a high-profile Zoom customer - very cool

Now, on to Verint Analyst Days in Dallas. Below - Dan Bodner, Jaime Merritt, David Singer

More Verint - event sign, the “CX Automation Matrix” discussion, Jaime with the event-themed cocktails

Next Stop - Zoom Perspectives and Verint Analyst Day

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Am finally back to travel for industry events. Since the end of February, Enterprise Connect has been the only business travel for me, but that’s about to change. I was recuperating from foot surgery all of April, and had to pass on five events to manage that. The last two weeks, I was in Israel on a personal trip, but now it’s time to get back to events.

Starting today, I’m flying to NYC for Zoom Perspectives, then to Dallas on Wednesday for Verint Analyst Day. It’s way less flying than Israel, and a lot easier with time zone changes. I’ll be posting on LinkedIn as time allows, and soon after will write up my takeaways.