(This column originally appeared in Forbes)
Here are five things in tech that happened this week and how they affect your business. Did you miss them?
1 – Google wants you to ditch passwords as it turns passkeys into the new standard.
Logging in with a password is coming to an end on the Google network. The company is switching over to passkeys – a technology that utilize biometrics (facial/print recognition) and PIN numbers – to simplify and speed up the sign-in process. (Source: TechRadar)
Why this is important for your business:
Passkeys are phishing-proof and more secure in that they use cryptographics (coded information) that makes the hacker’s job much more difficult. Google has started the process with a brief overview of why they will eventually replace password sign-ins with passkeys. They also noted passkeys are a welcome alternative and “spare people the headache of remembering all those numbers and special characters in passwords.” Microsoft and other tech companies are doing the same. Which means we’ll all be doing the same very soon.
2 – The best webcams for 2023.
Valentina Palladino of Engadget reported on the best webcams for 2023. Her pick for best overall is the Logitech Brio 500 for its wide field of vision, auto-light correction and mic array, to name just a few. It’s available on Amazon for $130 dollars. With the proliferation of YouTube channels and work-from-home set-ups, Palladino details a comprehensive list of things to consider before choosing the best webcam. Click the source link to see the others that made her list. (Source: Engadget)
Why this is important for your business:
Quality and affordable webcams are growing in importance for businesses because leaders that care about their brands don’t want their employees talking to clients using technology that makes them look like Wayne’s World.
3 – Massive Microsoft Office lifetime license deal drops it to the cheapest price of the year.
Microsoft Office is among the essential software tools for businesses. One the best deals yet for Office has surfaced on StackSocial – a lifetime license for just $30 dollars (limited time offer). StackSocial is one of the go-to websites to find product deals (computers, software, gadgets and more). (Source: Android Police)
Why this is important for your business:
Typically, users of Microsoft Office pay a one-time purchase price or a monthly subscription fee. But according to the Android Policy report, by taking advantage of such a low price point, subscription-based users save hundreds of dollars. Also, for those who only use Word and Excel then find they have a need for PowerPoint, they pay extra to download additional applications. If you plan to seize this cost-efficient offer, it will include the complete Office suite but excludes access to cloud storage.
4 – Zoho ramps up communication platform Cliq to take on Slack and Zoom.
Tech company Zoho announced on Monday several updates to its communication app Zoho Cliq that “centralizes the workspace” for teams that work remotely. Features include a collaboration dashboard, productivity tools, and instant messaging.. The new features will be available in November. (Source: Moneycontrol)
Why this is important for your business:
Full disclosure: my company is a Zoho partner. I include this news because it not only impacts Zoho users – most are small/mid-sized businesses – but users of other CRM products like it because Zoho is not the only platform introducing new communication and collaboration tools to rival Slack and Zoom. Be sure to ask your vendor what their response is to this news.
5 – Here’s where more than half of organizations are piloting generative AI.
A recent Gartner poll cited 45 percent of organizations are in the piloting phase of generative AI while 10 percent are focusing the technology on production. The company noted these numbers are a “significant increase” from those found in their April 2023 poll (15 percent and 4 percent respectively). For this most recent survey, Gartner collected feedback from 1400 executives and found more than half (55 percent) have increased their investment into generative AI. Forty-five percent of those surveyed said they are scaling genAI investments across multiple business functions, and nearly half of those (22 percent) are deploying the tech across multiple functions. Software development, marketing, and customer service (chatbots) are the areas seeing the highest rate of genAI adoption or investment. (Source: Computerworld)
Why this is important for your business:
Generative AI means generating a response to a question, so it makes sense that this technology is being most used for marketing, development and customer service. These are the areas where you should be focusing your efforts around AI as well.
