Tech Insights

In 2021, Allianz went into live production with a new solution to settle international auto insurance claims involving its 25 subsidiaries in Europe. The blockchain-based solution based on Hyper Ledger Fabric has already settled more than 1 million transactions, automating a process that was painful and slow. In this episode of Tech Insights, Allianz Chief Architect Bob Crozier shares how his team went from an exploratory interest in Ethereum smart contracts to "burning the ships" and retiring their old settlements system to run entirely on an enterprise blockchain platform. Also, hear Bob's thoughts on whether NFTs need insurance. This episode is part of our CIO Priorities 2022 mini-series. 

We recount the discovery of a ransomware attack that’s staged to execute on the network of a mid-sized U.S.-based manufacturer. A day-by-day account of what it’s like to discover ransomware, the severe steps that need to be taken to contain the damage, the cyber-criminal groups looking to profit from the attack, and the lessons learned about security needs in the current threat landscape. Actor Michael Bedford lends a voice to our anonymous CIO in this case study, and Info-Tech’s Senior Director of Security Workshops Sandy Silk provides analysis.

When the pandemic hit, Harvard Business School wanted its students to have an equally rich education experience whether they were physically in the classroom or connecting remotely. To design the technology solution that would make it work, CIO Elizabeth Clark participated in a multi-functional team that put 4K cameras, huge TV screens, and Zoom rooms to work and defined a process that could be repeated in various classrooms. The approach to hybrid collaboration was so successful that Harvard is now adapting their conference rooms so operational staff can see some of the same benefits. Hear how Elizabeth Clark is reducing the friction of a hybrid operating model on this episode, part of our mini-series to highlight Info-Tech's CIO Priorities for 2022. 

During the past year, workers have left their jobs at an unprecedented rate. The mass migration has been dubbed 'The Great Resignation' and it's shone a light on the importance of employee retention. Especially in IT where there is already a shortage of technical talent available on the market, companies should make a serious effort to keep their workers engaged and productive. Jeff Previte, the executive vice-president of IT at CrossCountry Mortgage knows all about that. After joining the company in 2019, he worked to address a high turnover rate. By implementing an employee-first experience, he moved a 60% turnover rate to 10% in just a few years time. On this episode of Tech Insights, he tells us how to set priorities to keep your staff. We're also joined by Info-Tech senior research analyst Nick Kozlo. This episode is part of a mini-series for Info-Tech's CIO Priorities 2022 report.

David Dorman is no stranger to being in the captain’s chair amid a crisis. Previously the CEO at storied telecommunications firm AT&T, Dorman shepherded the firm through the disruption to the industry in the early 2000s. He repositioned the firm in a rapidly modernizing environment and ultimately delivered on selling the firm in 2005 for $16 billion. Today Dorman is the chairman of CVS Health, a firm that owns a network of retail locations within a 10-minute drive of 85% of the U.S. population. The pharmacy has played a crucial role in improving Americans’ collective health during the pandemic, delivering more than 41 million COVID-19 tests and more than 50 million vaccines. In addition to its vaccine delivery program, CVS Health has accelerated its digital initiatives to push out services through mobile apps and websites.  It further integrated Aetna, a health insurance firm it acquired in 2019 and launched a new virtual care platform with the brand. It also furthered its corporate social responsibility strategy, “Transform Health 2030” and took the lead in mandating vaccines for its own frontline staff. A special interview with CVS Health Chairman David Dorman, joined by Info-Tech Research Group Research Fellow Ken McGee.

Can being present for an epic concert define your relationship with your favorite artists? Our Lady Peace singer Raine Maida is kicking off another web3 project with Drrops, an app that allows concert-goers to connect directly with artists and collect unique digital collectibles. Raine helms the company as CEO, and says big things are in store for the platform in 2022. It's his second web3 project targeting musicians after launching NFT platform S!NG earlier this year. We speak with Raine the day after his concert in New York City at Gramercy Theatre to debut the Drrops app. 

We live in the era of the quantified self, awash in different metrics about our health. Yet barriers stand in the way of using health data in research studies because of the privacy requirements around sensitive medical information and the highly technical skills needed to use data science approaches to yield results. Software vendor SAS is looking to supercharge healthcare efforts with its data platform, SAS Viya, and research hospitals are already using it to investigate big questions like the root cause of multiple sclerosis. Special guest Greg Horne, the global principal in health care at SAS and host of The Health Pulse podcast joins us, as does Jennifer Jones, Info-Tech's industry analyst for health care.  Check out The Health Pulse: https://www.sas.com/en_us/explore/health-pulse-podcast-series.html

The pandemic changed the way we work, for better or for worse. At Microsoft, a recently published study in Nature details how remote work created more flexibility for employees, but also created more friction communicating between different groups within the office and hindered innovation. We talk with Jason Brommet, Head of Modern Work and Security Business Group at Microsoft about how Microsoft's first-hand experience during the pandemic led to new product approaches, including new features in Microsoft Teams and the new Microsoft Viva platform for digital employee experience.

Zoho Corp.'s headquarters are Chennai, India and it operates remote offices in the southern rural regions of India as well. The company's flexible approach to work and employee-centric view helped it quickly pivot during the pandemic, and continues to inform the software vendor's approach to its own operating model. In an interview, Chief Strategy Officer Vijay Sundaram shares Zoho's experience through the pandemic and how it's shaping its products to help companies navigate a world that's mixing both remote work and office work. 

Clio describes itself as the operating system for the legal industry. A Software as a Service suite that is packed with all the tools a law office could want, Clio's founders had the foresight to build their company with the capability to expand its usefulness. By using an open API approach, Clio acts as a platform that can integrate with other software products used by its clients. Clio's seen its API adoption - and its client base - expand during the course of the pandemic as legal officers were forced to adapt to remote work conditions. A discussion with Mik Learnout, VP of Product, Clio.