Monday Morning Impact – June 17

Report: Business Use of Artificial Intelligence Posting Limited Gains

Opportunities for businesses to improve internal processes and enhance customer experiences through the use of artificial intelligence have been slow to take hold due to confusion about the technology, according to a new report from CompTIA, a technology trade association based in suburban Chicago.

According to the association’s “Emerging Business Opportunities in AI” report, 29 percent of surveyed companies are making regular use of artificial intelligence, compared to 24 percent measured through the same survey two years ago.

“Artificial intelligence represents a new way of thinking about software,” said Seth Robinson, senior director of technology analysis at CompTIA. “We’re no longer asking computers to produce a defined result every time, but to produce an undefined result based on general rules. Understanding this difference can be challenging, especially when most businesses are not actively developing their own AI algorithms.”

Only 19 percent of companies say that they have expert knowledge around AI, while another 29 percent classify their knowledge as moderately high.

One inhibiting factor appears to be the institution of strong practices around the management of data. Just 18 percent of companies say they are exactly where they want to be with regard to their data practices.

Asked to identify potential uses for AI, companies focused on improving workflows (52 percent of respondents), analyzing large datasets (51 percent), enhancing the customer experience (48 percent) and in security monitoring and detection (47 percent).

The desire for cost reduction leads the list of anticipated benefits, but Robinson believes this approach fails to reflect the true payoff of AI.

“AI can help with cost savings, but the greater potential lies in opening new doors,” he said. “Companies that are approaching AI as an IT activity should consider its far-reaching implications and move towards a more collaborative model. AI is a topic that should involve the entire organization.”

CompTIA’s “Emerging Business Opportunities in AI” report is based on an online survey of 500 U.S. business and technology professionals conducted in March and April 2019.

Channel Impact^®
AI will force the market to look differently at compute power. As time goes on, AI is likely to gain momentum, as the true benefits of this capability become more widely known.

ReFirm Labs Launches Security Partner Program for MSSPs and Resellers

ReFirm Labs, a Maryland-based company that offers IoT and firmware security solutions, has launched a global certified partner program to support its flagship product that vets, validates and monitors the security of the firmware that runs billions of IoT devices, consumer electronics and other connected enterprise machines.

The new program provides partners with revenue share tiers and various incentive programs, including specialized training, sales support and access to IoT and firmware security experts within the vendor.

“As a highly scalable, cloud-based platform, our Centrifuge Platform is ideally suited for organizations that serve large multinational customers and their extended supply chains,” said Robbie Robbins, vice president of sales and business development for ReFirm Labs. “There is certainly no shortage of opportunities for improving IoT and firmware security.”

Partner benefits, which vary based on the specific tier, include custom sales incentive programs, sales and technical training, a leads program, demand generation campaigns, and customized support for any issues or technical resource requests.

The platform enables companies to analyze their firmware for hidden dangers and respond immediately to potential weak spots, identifying and reporting potential zero-day vulnerabilities, hidden crypto keys, backdoor passwords and known vulnerabilities in IoT devices, without needing access to source code. It is sold as an annual subscription.

Channel Impact^®
The rapid adoption of connected devices has raised the stakes for the IT security sector. This platform is intended to help answer that call, and the newly announced channel program will likely help MSSPs and resellers to get engaged with the opportunity.

NetObjex Launches Partner Program Supporting IoT, AI and Blockchain

NetObjex, Inc., an Irvine, California-based company specializing in automation for Smart Cities and Connected Enterprises, has kicked off a new, three-tiered partner program intended to support digital transformation through IoT, AI and Blockchain.

The NetObjex Intelligent Automation Platform supports a variety of capabilities including supply chain tracking and tracing, preventative maintenance and monitoring, customer engagement, and inter-device transactions. The platform leverages IoT for data acquisition and dissemination, blockchain for device discovery, authentication, communication and transaction, and AI for anomaly detection and optimization.

“This is a comprehensive initiative and will provide Integrators with the tools, training and technical knowhow,” said Georgey Jacob, Director of Growth at NetObjex.  “We have structured this program to be mutually beneficial, in that it would provide systems Integrators with the competitive advantage that they seek, while providing NetObjex with greater reach among enterprises across multiple verticals.”

The company anticipates an upcoming technology refresh cycle that will boost sales and overall market opportunity in the enterprise space.

Channel Impact^®
Systems integrators are potentially facing a key opportunity as early adopters pursue competitive advantages through the use of cutting-edge emerging technologies.