With the FTC investigation into Facebook’s privacy practices, it’s clear that privacy directives must be carefully adhered to whenever a business might have access to customer Personally Identifiable Information (PII). As companies scramble to maintain trust with their target audiences, one of the challenges for marketers is gaining clarity on how the six primary directives will impact marketing efforts. 

Although business leaders understand the need for digital transformation, the nuance of how to achieve it is more elusive. According to a study from global advertising consortium Wunderman, 68 percent of global brand decision makers still struggle to bring data, creative and technology together.

EX Squared Solutions invites you to visit us at the South by Southwest (SXSW) Interactive Festival -- we’ll be at trade show Booth 420 (two aisles from the NextStage). This annual gathering of new ideas and educational panels highlights the world’s newest emerging technologies, and gives industry professionals an opportunity to network and build relationships. Located in the heart of downtown, SXSW Interactive transforms the Austin Convention Center into a marketplace of technology ideas for visitors from across the globe, showcasing what’s next in the tech industry. We’re joining the festival once again to showcase our expertise creating state-of-the-art technology solutions to transform your business.

During the last 10 years, much has been written about digital enterprises, digital strategies and digital technologies. One term that is frequently used — digital transformation — is actually a bit of a misnomer. The term implies that a digital transformation has an ending point, but in reality, it is a never-ending journey.

The topic of digital transformation has been very much in the news recently. During the past year, a great deal of the attention has been focused on Microsoft Dynamics 365 and the various ways that it can help drive transformations and empower digital enterprises. Microsoft continues to enhance Dynamics 365 to make it even more powerful, and the Dynamics 365 for Talent is just one example of Microsoft's vision to deliver innovative, useful products. Because Dynamics 365 for Talent is relatively new, it might be helpful to review how an organization named Chemonics is using this product for finding and developing talent.

It is no secret that an increasing number of businesses are taking steps to become a digital enterprise. Customers are expecting more than ever and demanding to be meaningfully engaged across channels. Fierce competition means that organizations are looking for ways to increase sales and turn one-time shoppers into loyal customers. Businesses are trying to enhance productivity and operate more efficiently. To complicate matters, the line between the digital and physical worlds keeps shifting and becoming increasingly blurred. Customers interact with businesses across both worlds, and employees need the ability to do the same. However, although most companies recognize the need for a digital transformation, many of them are not certain of the tools that they need. Microsoft Dynamics 365 can provide the tools that you need to make substantial progress on your transformation journey.

In recent years, innovative technologies have made it possible for companies to transform their business models and find new ways to interact with their customers. However, as an increasing number of businesses climb aboard the bandwagon for the latest technology, some analysts are beginning to question whether people are driving technology or being driven by it. In other words, are companies using technology to transform their businesses, or are they adopting technology just because it exists?

Tools Must Provide Actual Help

Throughout history, technology has led to numerous transformations in the buying and selling process. Prior to the Industrial Revolution, manufacturing was typically a cottage industry; rural families would produce goods in their homes or a small shop with hand tools or simple machines. Advances in technology and a shifting consumer base led to the factory system. During the early 20th century, another technological advance — the automobile — again transformed the retail industry. Stores no longer had to be clustered along trolley lines or located in residential neighborhoods. Instead, retailers could place their stores in shopping centers or malls where they could sell their goods to customers from all neighborhoods. The internet brought yet another transformation, opening the door to the world of online sales. However, the retail industry is now undergoing a transformation that is more sweeping than any since the Industrial Revolution — and it is being driven by Millennials and their attachment to the digital world.

Big data, mobile, the Internet of Things, cloud computing and other innovative technologies have given companies more ways to connect with their customers than ever before. Businesses looking to maintain or grow their market share have embraced the concept of a digital transformation to help them use new technology efficiently. However, digital transformation has driven an atmosphere of continuous delivery in which the time from concept to market must be kept to a minimum if the effort is to be successful. At the same time, security cannot be ignored. Unfortunately, many companies remain mired in traditional approaches to security, severely hampering their efforts to be the first to market.