Thomas Helfrich

There's a good chance that you've read an AI-generated copy in the past but couldn't spot the difference. Artificial intelligence and machine learning are making tremendous impacts in every sector, and content creation is no exception.

Companies that don't keep pace with consumers' expectations will fall short and lose market share.

Amid rapidly changing technology, many people still associate artificial intelligence (AI) with science-fiction dystopias. But in reality, AI has become an integral part of our daily lives. We now rely on search-engine algorithms and digital assistants like Alexa and Siri for almost everything, including ordering a taxi or finding out how many calories there are in a 10-inch Margherita… Show more

Companies that don't keep pace with consumers' expectations will fall short and lose market share.

Amid rapidly changing technology, many people still associate artificial intelligence (AI) with science-fiction dystopias. But in reality, AI has become an integral part of our daily lives. We now rely on search-engine algorithms and digital assistants like Alexa and Siri for almost everything, including ordering a taxi or finding out how many calories there are in a 10-inch Margherita pizza. The potential of this technology goes beyond its household use. AI is making great strides in the business world, and creativity may be its ultimate moonshot. About 200 years ago, scientists believed that machines could not create anything new; they could only follow set instructions to perform tasks. But recently, we've seen AI creating original paintings, music and poetry. Show less

There is always a salient role for an effective content writer, but AI tools can make the copy generation process significantly easier, particularly for small businesses.

With the embers of the outgoing year fizzling out, businesses are already gearing up and getting ready to take 2022 by storm. The need to seek out alternatives to standard-issue messaging — to stay relevant — is not an option, but a lifeline.

Whether a tech company is building a new product for a specific group of users or the general public, the team is hoping to make a positive impact for the target audience. But how can developers be certain what they’re creating is what’s really needed or wanted or that the target audience will find the interface smooth and easy to use?

The pandemic may have made its name stuck with us for all the wrong reasons, but one term that's not going to relinquish the first position any time soon as the most used term is "leadership."

If there was a bogeyman of the corporate world that can't be ignored, then leadership takes the pole position. Sometimes, it's for all the right reasons, and other times, it's for all the wrong reasons imaginable. With the conversation around leadership never going away, perhaps it's about time you… Show more

The pandemic may have made its name stuck with us for all the wrong reasons, but one term that's not going to relinquish the first position any time soon as the most used term is "leadership."

If there was a bogeyman of the corporate world that can't be ignored, then leadership takes the pole position. Sometimes, it's for all the right reasons, and other times, it's for all the wrong reasons imaginable. With the conversation around leadership never going away, perhaps it's about time you found out what attributes make you a great leader as you climb through the career ladder.

Are You A Leader?

What’s your response if someone asked you this short but heavy question: "Are you a leader?"

A simple question, you may say, but one thing that is not simple is the response that is expected to follow. So, the one question waiting to be answered is, who, then, is a leader?

The definition of a leader will undoubtedly vary from one person to another and from one context to the other. Still, one common component that is guaranteed to be in any of the definitions you'll find is "the ability to lead others."

A leader is someone who has been charged with the responsibility to lead a set of people to achieve a desired result. Having the ability to influence your followers and inspire their passion, causing them to achieve a common goal, is a vital attribute of a leader. Show less

What will AI mean for marketers in 2022? From chatbots and other virtual assistants to generating the content, enhancing user experiences and more, AI is already making major changes to the digital marketing landscape. While it may be difficult to predict the future, it's easy to see that AI will continue to progress and play an increasingly central role in digital marketing.

If your mom was anything like mine when I was growing up, you must have a torrid time sieving through multiple errands and chores, accompanied by other follow up questions waiting to be answered.

Phewww, I’ll never know how they do that!

Imagine that artificial intelligence was that complex. Would we have gotten as nearly as close to where we are now?
Artificial intelligence technology plays a salient role in society to help us navigate the complexity of our everyday lives, but… Show more

If your mom was anything like mine when I was growing up, you must have a torrid time sieving through multiple errands and chores, accompanied by other follow up questions waiting to be answered.

Phewww, I’ll never know how they do that!

Imagine that artificial intelligence was that complex. Would we have gotten as nearly as close to where we are now?
Artificial intelligence technology plays a salient role in society to help us navigate the complexity of our everyday lives, but the question is, are we conscious enough to see it? Show less

Although companies have adopted technology to automate roles, maximize productivity and add more intelligence to their work, we’re still missing a piece of the puzzle. Sprinkle diversity and inclusion on that, and the result is “diverse intelligence,” which fosters innovation and creativity and skyrockets the company’s profitability.

If culture, as they say, is a way of life, then artificial intelligence has changed the narrative. Our way of life has improved since artificial intelligence technology became a part of our culture. The world as we knew it is no longer the same as the application of AI keeps making things easier, helping us humans get more tasks done in less time with a higher success rate.

From the healthcare sector to evolving trends in the education sector, even autonomous vehicles in the… Show more

If culture, as they say, is a way of life, then artificial intelligence has changed the narrative. Our way of life has improved since artificial intelligence technology became a part of our culture. The world as we knew it is no longer the same as the application of AI keeps making things easier, helping us humans get more tasks done in less time with a higher success rate.

From the healthcare sector to evolving trends in the education sector, even autonomous vehicles in the transportation industry have become a reality. All these and more are possible because of the pivotal role artificial intelligence plays in all of it. But the question remains, can they really be trusted? Show less

Culture, as they say, is a way of life, but even our way of life has long changed. The pandemic has left us in its wake, and businesses are still getting used to the new normal. Who says the pandemic is the only thing that has changed our way of life?

The meteoric rise of conversations around inclusion and diversity has also gotten our attention. You might want to fasten your seatbelt as it is one conversation that won't be losing its position on the menu any time soon.

However… Show more

Culture, as they say, is a way of life, but even our way of life has long changed. The pandemic has left us in its wake, and businesses are still getting used to the new normal. Who says the pandemic is the only thing that has changed our way of life?

The meteoric rise of conversations around inclusion and diversity has also gotten our attention. You might want to fasten your seatbelt as it is one conversation that won't be losing its position on the menu any time soon.

However, have you had to ponder diversity and how it plays a role in the business world? If you haven't, perhaps it's time to turn your gaze to the big-picture perspective around diversity and your business. Show less

When launching a new tech project, every seasoned tech leader will ensure they have a well-defined scope, budget and roadmap. Even so, occasionally the budget or person-hours for a tech project get out of control—and in those cases, it’s essential for the leader overseeing the project to pinpoint where things have gone off track and stop the bleeding.

As they grow in their roles, tech leaders quickly learn to identify problems in ongoing projects and, better still, lay the proper… Show more

When launching a new tech project, every seasoned tech leader will ensure they have a well-defined scope, budget and roadmap. Even so, occasionally the budget or person-hours for a tech project get out of control—and in those cases, it’s essential for the leader overseeing the project to pinpoint where things have gone off track and stop the bleeding.

As they grow in their roles, tech leaders quickly learn to identify problems in ongoing projects and, better still, lay the proper groundwork to minimize the risk of budget-busting issues in the first place. Below, 11 industry experts from Forbes Technology Council share effective ways to prepare for and manage a development project to ensure that the unneeded burning of resources is kept to a minimum. Show less

Business intelligence and machine learning can be powerful tools for companies—and even more powerful when they’re combined. They are, indeed, an ideal pairing: The data analysis that is the foundation of business intelligence can be streamlined and sped up through the ever-improving processes of machine learning, giving companies valuable insights and information faster than ever before.

Together, this blend of processes and technology can help companies improve across a range of areas,… Show more

Business intelligence and machine learning can be powerful tools for companies—and even more powerful when they’re combined. They are, indeed, an ideal pairing: The data analysis that is the foundation of business intelligence can be streamlined and sped up through the ever-improving processes of machine learning, giving companies valuable insights and information faster than ever before.

Together, this blend of processes and technology can help companies improve across a range of areas, from customer service to cybersecurity. Below, 13 industry experts from Forbes Technology Council share creative ways a company can leverage a combination of BI and ML. Show less

According to research conducted by Accenture, AI technology can improve business productivity by 40% and can double economic growth rates by the year 2035. That could be linked to the 84% of global business organizations believing that AI can give them a competitive advantage—the conclusion to Statista’s 2017 AI study.

Today, there is more demand for informative and unique content. The good news is, there are new tools available to generate it without compromising the quality. With AI… Show more

According to research conducted by Accenture, AI technology can improve business productivity by 40% and can double economic growth rates by the year 2035. That could be linked to the 84% of global business organizations believing that AI can give them a competitive advantage—the conclusion to Statista’s 2017 AI study.

Today, there is more demand for informative and unique content. The good news is, there are new tools available to generate it without compromising the quality. With AI tools, marketers can take advantage of predictive analytics, automate content initiatives, improve personalization and targeted content, and more.

AI technology is quickly changing the way marketers create content. While there are still some kinks to work out, AI-generated marketing strategies have already proven more efficient – and in some cases may be more effective – than human-driven ones. Read further to know more about the AI tools used in content creation and the benefits they bring. Show less

The last 20 years have brought a rollercoaster of changes in the business world, but the concept of entrepreneurship has stayed relatively the same. While its definition varies, entrepreneurship still retains that aura of setting up a business to add value and solve a problem.

While that may sound as sweet as honey, is it always as good as it sounds? Entrepreneurship may be the new gold attracting innovative minds to its mines, but it is demanding and filled with ups, downs… Show more

The last 20 years have brought a rollercoaster of changes in the business world, but the concept of entrepreneurship has stayed relatively the same. While its definition varies, entrepreneurship still retains that aura of setting up a business to add value and solve a problem.

While that may sound as sweet as honey, is it always as good as it sounds? Entrepreneurship may be the new gold attracting innovative minds to its mines, but it is demanding and filled with ups, downs, uncertainties, and the part most entrepreneurs dread — failure.

While some have found their breakthrough by leaving their corporate job to become successful entrepreneurs, many haven't been successful, and countless others will join that ever-growing list because they joined for the wrong reasons. Show less

Small businesses do lots of work with limited resources, making tech solutions particularly valuable for them. However, many small-business owners may disregard certain tech out of hand because they think it’s unaffordable or not applicable to their business. In many cases, they couldn’t be more wrong—including when it comes to machine learning.

According to the industry experts of Forbes Technology Council, there are plenty of tangible benefits small businesses can receive from… Show more

Small businesses do lots of work with limited resources, making tech solutions particularly valuable for them. However, many small-business owners may disregard certain tech out of hand because they think it’s unaffordable or not applicable to their business. In many cases, they couldn’t be more wrong—including when it comes to machine learning.

According to the industry experts of Forbes Technology Council, there are plenty of tangible benefits small businesses can receive from leveraging the latest ML tools—in many cases with minimal cost and effort. If you’re looking for smart ways to use adaptive technology to help build your small business, read on for a list of just a few of the benefits ML can bring.

"Intelligent document processing is an “absolute must” technology for small businesses. It is cloud-ready and AI-powered, and you pay only for each document that is processed digitally. Previously, this tech was available on-premises only and was largely not affordable. However, the times have changed, and now you can have your essential documents—including invoices, claim forms and mortgage documents—processed digitally" Show less

Small businesses do lots of work with limited resources, making tech solutions particularly valuable for them. However, many small-business owners may disregard certain tech out of hand because they think it’s unaffordable or not applicable to their business. In many cases, they couldn’t be more wrong—including when it comes to machine learning.

According to the industry experts of Forbes Technology Council, there are plenty of tangible benefits small businesses can receive from… Show more

Small businesses do lots of work with limited resources, making tech solutions particularly valuable for them. However, many small-business owners may disregard certain tech out of hand because they think it’s unaffordable or not applicable to their business. In many cases, they couldn’t be more wrong—including when it comes to machine learning.

According to the industry experts of Forbes Technology Council, there are plenty of tangible benefits small businesses can receive from leveraging the latest ML tools—in many cases with minimal cost and effort. If you’re looking for smart ways to use adaptive technology to help build your small business, read on for a list of just a few of the benefits ML can bring. Show less

Business as we know it is no longer as usual. Thank you, pandemic.

No one saw it coming, nor had any sort of contingency plan in place. It was only a matter of time before business owners and companies began to realize that revenue had taken a hit. Businesses have scrambled to find the new normal.

Picking Up the Pieces

The need for brands to stay afloat became necessary, leading to more innovative alternatives to be adopted. With online presence increasing by huge margins… Show more

Business as we know it is no longer as usual. Thank you, pandemic.

No one saw it coming, nor had any sort of contingency plan in place. It was only a matter of time before business owners and companies began to realize that revenue had taken a hit. Businesses have scrambled to find the new normal.

Picking Up the Pieces

The need for brands to stay afloat became necessary, leading to more innovative alternatives to be adopted. With online presence increasing by huge margins on social media platforms since the pandemic, content became a staple as online was where people gathered since the lockdown restricted physical presence. Show less

Business as we know it is no longer as usual. Thank you, pandemic.

No one saw it coming, nor had any sort of contingency plan in place. It was only a matter of time before business owners and companies began to realize that revenue had taken a hit. Businesses have scrambled to find the new normal.

Picking Up the Pieces

The need for brands to stay afloat became necessary, leading to more innovative alternatives to be adopted. With online presence increasing by huge margins… Show more

Business as we know it is no longer as usual. Thank you, pandemic.

No one saw it coming, nor had any sort of contingency plan in place. It was only a matter of time before business owners and companies began to realize that revenue had taken a hit. Businesses have scrambled to find the new normal.

Picking Up the Pieces

The need for brands to stay afloat became necessary, leading to more innovative alternatives to be adopted. With online presence increasing by huge margins on social media platforms since the pandemic, content became a staple as online was where people gathered since the lockdown restricted physical presence.

Brands didn’t take long to join the bandwagon to stamp their online presence through social marketing, reminding followers of their social media handles on the need to stay safe. It was an intelligent approach to remain relevant and also show care and concern toward their customers and prospects. Show less

Driverless cars may be in their infancy, but they’re certainly generating a lot of interest. Most major car companies, as well as several startups, have autonomous vehicle projects in the works. While most current designs blend sensor- and AI-enabled navigation with the ability for the human operator to take over, most companies building autonomous vehicles envision a future in which the automobile itself handles all the driving.

While truly “driverless” cars may not be widely available… Show more

Driverless cars may be in their infancy, but they’re certainly generating a lot of interest. Most major car companies, as well as several startups, have autonomous vehicle projects in the works. While most current designs blend sensor- and AI-enabled navigation with the ability for the human operator to take over, most companies building autonomous vehicles envision a future in which the automobile itself handles all the driving.

While truly “driverless” cars may not be widely available for some time to come, there is potential for the autonomous vehicles of the future to do a lot more than just take passengers from point A to point B. Below, 14 industry experts from Forbes Technology Council share their predictions for features future driverless will offer their passengers. Show less

14. Hybrid Road And Air Capabilities

The driverless cars of the future will feature drone-like capabilities of flight, leveraging both road and air travel. Once the airspace regulations and infrastructure are updated to enable this type of hybrid model, autonomous vehicle fleets at scale could be realized, because they would not be interacting with human-driven machines while in transit. - Thomas Helfrich, System Soft Technologies

In a tech company, big problems can arise when the sales and IT teams are working in silos. If the sales staff members don’t have a firm grasp of the IT team’s processes and capabilities, they may oversell or undersell their products or services—leading to frustration for both clients and the IT team. Similarly, if IT doesn’t listen to feedback from sales representatives, they won’t know what their customers truly need.

When a company’s sales and IT departments don’t work together to… Show more

In a tech company, big problems can arise when the sales and IT teams are working in silos. If the sales staff members don’t have a firm grasp of the IT team’s processes and capabilities, they may oversell or undersell their products or services—leading to frustration for both clients and the IT team. Similarly, if IT doesn’t listen to feedback from sales representatives, they won’t know what their customers truly need.

When a company’s sales and IT departments don’t work together to serve customers and the business, it can lead to delays, lost revenue and even adversarial relationships between team members. That’s why it’s essential for leadership to set up processes that create a true symbiosis between the two groups. Below, 16 industry leaders from Forbes Technology Council share smart strategies for keeping IT and sales teams on the same page. Show less

Have you ever thought that, eventually, business would go back to normal and everything would be “business as usual”?

If so, it’s time to rethink what “as usual” actually means. The business world keeps evolving, and brands continuously keep adopting new ways to meet the demands of their target audience. The needs of customers are never constant, as they vary from one person to the other.

However, a brand has the responsibility to ensure they meet every consumer’s needs, as it is… Show more

Have you ever thought that, eventually, business would go back to normal and everything would be “business as usual”?

If so, it’s time to rethink what “as usual” actually means. The business world keeps evolving, and brands continuously keep adopting new ways to meet the demands of their target audience. The needs of customers are never constant, as they vary from one person to the other.

However, a brand has the responsibility to ensure they meet every consumer’s needs, as it is how they add value. But with customer behavior changing and their needs always on the rise, the need to adopt artificial intelligence becomes necessary. This solution will make you the go-to brand when they need a product or service. Show less

The world can work remotely—that has just been tested and proved at scale. How does that change the consumer market? It opens up a world of resources at all sorts of price points and capabilities. The gig economy will distribute opportunity and wealth to areas of the world we would never have considered a few years ago.

The narrative of business is continuously evolving. After the events of last year, we no longer have business as usual. However, regardless of the twist in the story, the concept remains the same.

While your brand is charged with helping its customers solve pain points through its services on the front end, the main objective is still generating revenue on the back end. Identifying the challenges your target audience is having and providing a service to help solve them is only the first… Show more

The narrative of business is continuously evolving. After the events of last year, we no longer have business as usual. However, regardless of the twist in the story, the concept remains the same.

While your brand is charged with helping its customers solve pain points through its services on the front end, the main objective is still generating revenue on the back end. Identifying the challenges your target audience is having and providing a service to help solve them is only the first step.

Brands still want to ensure that they are meeting the needs of their customers. This is attained through the sales of its product or services. Sales are the central nervous system of your business, and sometimes a mix of the basics alongside some new technology is just the adjustment needed to grow. Show less

AI-powered content creation has changed my professional trajectory. The technology has rapidly advanced and really enables a professional to voice their thoughts, ideas, and experiences. It frees you from creating and enables you to engage. However, you still need a human in the loop to create compelling content worthy of the label “thought leadership.” - Thomas Helfrich, System Soft Technologies

Tech experts love tech. However, other professionals — many of whom may be using it more widely in the new remote work world — may not see all the upsides, especially if they’re regularly running into issues such as crashes, slow performance and tech that just doesn’t seem to do what they need it to.

For non-specialists, tech can be confusing — even intimidating — and the learning curve can take time away from tasks they’re more skilled in. Business leaders may have been swayed in the… Show more

Tech experts love tech. However, other professionals — many of whom may be using it more widely in the new remote work world — may not see all the upsides, especially if they’re regularly running into issues such as crashes, slow performance and tech that just doesn’t seem to do what they need it to.

For non-specialists, tech can be confusing — even intimidating — and the learning curve can take time away from tasks they’re more skilled in. Business leaders may have been swayed in the past by sales pitches and purchased tech tools that ended up bringing little to no benefit, making them leery of trying something new.

If this describes you or your company, you may be wondering if investing money and time in anything beyond a basic word processor is even worth it. In today’s world, though, a business that doesn’t wisely leverage tech will not be able to compete. Further, today’s tech tools can streamline work and boost productivity in ways you may not even have thought of.

Fortunately, the experts from Forbes Technology Council know there are strategies that can help almost anyone learn to love tech. Below, they share tips to help your business — and you — reap the benefits while avoiding the pitfalls of a tech-first world. Show less

The use of technology by businesses and the general public has been growing for decades. For the most part, development and adoption were largely driven by demand—companies and consumers added new tech tools to their processes when they became interested or felt they were ready. 2020 changed all that, as the Covid-19 pandemic swept across the globe and mandated social distancing measures necessitated the use of technology for everything from remote work to buying groceries.

While… Show more

The use of technology by businesses and the general public has been growing for decades. For the most part, development and adoption were largely driven by demand—companies and consumers added new tech tools to their processes when they became interested or felt they were ready. 2020 changed all that, as the Covid-19 pandemic swept across the globe and mandated social distancing measures necessitated the use of technology for everything from remote work to buying groceries.

While businesses and consumers may have been initially caught off guard by the sweeping additions of technology to everyday living, many quickly came to prefer digital solutions and intend to continue with their tech-forward “new normal.” Those who have been lagging in adopting new tech tools need to be aware of the changes that are here to stay. To that end, 14 experts from Forbes Technology Council share the tech trends that emerged in recent months that are very likely to become permanent. Show less

The narrative of business is continuously evolving. After the events of last year, we no longer have business as usual. However, regardless of the twist in the story, the concept remains the same.

While your brand is charged with helping its customers solve pain points through its services on the front end, the main objective is still generating revenue on the back end. Identifying the challenges your target audience is having and providing a service to help solve them is only the first… Show more

The narrative of business is continuously evolving. After the events of last year, we no longer have business as usual. However, regardless of the twist in the story, the concept remains the same.

While your brand is charged with helping its customers solve pain points through its services on the front end, the main objective is still generating revenue on the back end. Identifying the challenges your target audience is having and providing a service to help solve them is only the first step.

Brands still want to ensure that they are meeting the needs of their customers. This is attained through the sales of its product or services. Sales are the central nervous system of your business, and sometimes a mix of the basics alongside some new technology is just the adjustment needed to grow. Show less

There is always this surge of expectation when there is something new on the horizon. You anticipate it, wait patiently, imagine the possibilities of what it can do, and just about anything you can think of.

It’s not any different with technology. The dependence on technology has been on the rise over the past decade but has skyrocketed since the onset of the pandemic. If there was ever any doubt about the future of work, it’s all in the past now because the last few months have shown… Show more

There is always this surge of expectation when there is something new on the horizon. You anticipate it, wait patiently, imagine the possibilities of what it can do, and just about anything you can think of.

It’s not any different with technology. The dependence on technology has been on the rise over the past decade but has skyrocketed since the onset of the pandemic. If there was ever any doubt about the future of work, it’s all in the past now because the last few months have shown how technology is an enabler. It's gotten us to where we are today and will get us to where the future is headed.

Not all technology trends lived up to the hype generated around the tech itself. In this article, let’s look at some technology products that have gained importance and those that bit the dust. Interestingly, most of the technology that bit the dust gave rise to some of the technology we are enjoying today. Show less

There is always this surge of expectation when there is something new on the horizon. You anticipate it, wait patiently, imagine the possibilities of what it can do, and just about anything you can think of.

It’s not any different with technology. The dependence on technology has been on the rise over the past decade but has skyrocketed since the onset of the pandemic. If there was ever any doubt about the future of work, it’s all in the past now because the last few months have shown… Show more

There is always this surge of expectation when there is something new on the horizon. You anticipate it, wait patiently, imagine the possibilities of what it can do, and just about anything you can think of.

It’s not any different with technology. The dependence on technology has been on the rise over the past decade but has skyrocketed since the onset of the pandemic. If there was ever any doubt about the future of work, it’s all in the past now because the last few months have shown how technology is an enabler. It's gotten us to where we are today and will get us to where the future is headed.

Not all technology trends lived up to the hype generated around the tech itself. In this article, let’s look at some technology products that have gained importance and those that bit the dust. Interestingly, most of the technology that bit the dust gave rise to some of the technology we are enjoying today. Show less

Language translation earbuds are still nascent but show some great promise. Imagine having the ability to understand almost everyone. This would make travel a great deal more enjoyable—it will be fun to be able to communicate natively with others from a different culture.

As people who read about, access and build new technology every day, tech leaders aren’t impressed by just anything. When a new technology makes a tech leader sit up and take notice, even non-experts know it must be a game-changer.

So what newer technologies have made tech leaders say, “Wow!”? Below, 16 industry leaders from Forbes Technology Council share the tech advancements they’ve been most impressed by over the last three years.

Have you ever thought that, eventually, business would go back to normal and everything would be “business as usual”?
If so, it’s time to rethink what “as usual” actually means. The business world keeps evolving, and brands continuously keep adopting new ways to meet the demands of their target audience. The needs of customers are never constant, as they vary from one person to the other.