Carolyn and Seth talk about CompTIA's latest data around SMB tech adoption. The SMB segment is the largest part of the economy, but they have not always been leaders in technology adoption. While the pandemic drove SMBs even more towards core IT infrastructure, the mindset around strategic IT may not have shifted dramatically. Moving forward, the focus will be on how SMB needs are changing and whether they fill those needs in-house or through outside partners.

CompTIA Volley

Episode 127: SMB Tech Trends

Carolyn and Seth talk about CompTIA's latest data around IT automation. Automation is certainly not a new concept, but it is growing in importance as companies use technology strategically and systems become more complex. The discussion covers the perception of automation as a benefit vs. a threat, the challenges in connected a variety of systems, and the skills needed to help businesses achieve automated processes.   Trends in Automation charts: https://www.slideshare.net/comptia/trends-in-automation-2021

Episode 126: Trends in Automation

Carolyn and Seth talk with Kelly Lyndgaard, CEO of Unshattered, about the ways that technology can help a nonprofit. Unshattered offers women in recovery opportunities to develop professional skills and find a sense of community by creating and selling custom handbags. Kelly talks about how technology provided a foundation for their previous efforts and how technology became more strategically important as a result of the pandemic. As a nonprofit, Unshattered needs to make sure that technology helps connect all their audiences and drive their ecommerce strategy.

Episode 125: Tech and Nonprofits

Carolyn and Seth celebrate 5 years of the Volley podcast and welcome their new producer Andrea McMillian. They they dive into CompTIA's latest data on the state of the IT channel, discussing the general sentiment among solution providers, the growing imperative around partner experience, and the opportunities and challenges of exploring new verticals. CompTIA's 9th State of the channel will be available mid-July at https://connect.comptia.org/ Business Model blog post: https://connect.comptia.org/blog/tech-business-models

Episode 124: State of the Channel

Carolyn and Seth welcome back Nancy Hammervik, CompTIA's EVP of Industry Relations and newly appointed CEO of CompTIA Tech Academy, to talk about her new role and the mission of CTCA. The academy is the evolution of CompTIA's IT Ready program, offering technical training and business skills to candidates seeking an IT position. Nancy talks about the steps the academy is taking toward accreditation, the lessons learned from reaching students during the pandemic, and the possibilities for the academy to offer technical training to a more diverse pool of job seekers. CompTIA Tech Career Academy: https://www.comptiatech.org/

Episode 123: CompTIA Tech Career Academy

Carolyn and Seth welcome Diana Deibel and Rebecca Evanhoe, authors of Conversations with Things. The field of user experience has become more critical as expectations change around technology, and natural language interfaces require many new considerations. Diana and Rebecca share insights from their book, including the questions companies should ask as they think about building conversational technology and the wide range of skills required for success. Conversations with Things website: https://rosenfeldmedia.com/books/conversations-with-things/details/faq/ Use discount code CWTTALK0521 for 20% off the book!

Episode 122: Conversations with Things

Carolyn and Seth talk about CompTIA's latest data on emerging technology. With emerging technology most commonly showing up embedded in broader solutions, the best place to start the discussion is around the foundations that companies are building with their IT operations. Companies are investing in a very balanced way across infrastructure, software, cybersecurity, and data. These investments include the basic components needed for modern IT architecture along with training for new skills. With this foundation in place, emerging tech adoption is moving forward in a measured way as organizations explore the complexities of technology-based business solutions.

Episode 121: IT Ops and Emerging Tech

Carolyn and Seth welcome back Dave Sobel, host of the Business of Tech podcast. The three talk about technology topics that are flying under the radar but could have big implications ahead. First, they discuss the digital divide within the tech industry--how the issues that make headlines from the tech giants are not always the issues being faced by the average tech firm, and how the seemingly simple solutions often require massive resources. Second, they cover the non-technical skills needed for success in technology today. As technology continues to have significant influence on other industries, there is more of a need for roles such as legal expertise or ethical considerations. Finally, they wrap the conversation with a discussion on tech weariness. As society comes out of the pandemic where technology has been heavily utilized, there is some desire to lessen tech usage and make sure that technology use is balanced rather than simply assuming that more is better.

Episode 120: Under the Radar

Carolyn and Seth take a look at the ways that technology has changed the field of journalism. Using the recent legislation passed in Australia as a starting point, they discuss how legislation in this area needs to understand internet economics and properly address market dynamics. Then they move into a broader discussion on how technology and social media have changed journalism for better and for worse before wrapping up with a discussion on consumer practices ultimately driving business models.

Episode 119: Tech and Journalism

Carolyn and Seth talk about CompTIA's latest data around the help desk function. A significant number of companies want to make technology a core competency, and that includes robust technical support. Most of the skills needed are still the traditional technical skills that have been in place for years, but the level of knowledge needs to expand. In addition, the customer experience is becoming a key metric for ensuring productivity of the tech-enabled workforce. Finally, companies are finding that help desk roles are good preparation for a wide variety of IT careers. CompTIA's Trends in Help Desk data: https://www.slideshare.net/comptia/help-desk-trends

Episode 118: Help Desk Trends

Carolyn and Seth talk with Steve Petryschuk, Technology Advocate at Auvik, about some of the latest trends in network management based on data from Auvik's Network Field Report 2021. Steve talks about the importance of network visibility, especially as companies move to more remote work, and he also discusses the need for network engineers to communicate, especially as applications encounter downtime beyond their control. He also discusses the balance of proactive and reactive work and how companies can utilize third parties to find the correct balance.   Auvik's Network Field Report 2021: auvik.com/networkfield21 

Episode 117: Network Management

Carolyn and Seth welcome Kelly Stone, CompTIA's senior director of digital strategy, for a discussion on how social media has evolved. The conversation starts at a high level, touching on the different parts of social media that have been underestimated, then moves into best practices for businesses. Rather than treating social media as a separate initiative, companies should be sure that their social efforts are integrated with overall marketing and content plans. For more, check out Kelly's post on the CompTIA World blog: https://connect.comptia.org/blog

Episode 116: The State of Social Media

Carolyn and Seth start the show with a lightning round covering the GameStop stock saga, Jeff Bezos stepping down as CEO of Amazon, and the Apple-Facebook feud over privacy. Then they turn their attention to CompTIA's latest data on managed services. While most MSPs seem to have heave weathered the COVID storm successfully, there have been changes to pricing model and a shift to higher-level services. MSPs are also getting more serious about their own cybersecurity so that they do not become an entry point for hackers to access all their clients.

Episode 115: Trends in Managed Services

Carolyn and Seth start the show with a lightning round covering the GameStop stock saga, Jeff Bezos stepping down as CEO of Amazon, and the Apple-Facebook feud over privacy. Then they turn their attention to CompTIA's latest data on managed services. While most MSPs seem to have weathered the COVID storm successfully, there have been changes to pricing model and a shift to higher-level services. MSPs are also getting more serious about their own cybersecurity so that they do not become an entry point for hackers to access all their clients.

Carolyn and Seth talk with Mark Brigman, founder and CEO of Partnernomics, about building successful partner programs. As the value of partnering has shifted away from pure distribution of physical products, there are new considerations that must go into growing through partnerships. From finding partners to aligning goals, Mark talks about the different aspects of partnering in a digital environment.   Partnernomics: https://partnernomics.com/

Episode 114: Partner Programs

Volley is a podcast about technology, channel business, and random things happening in the world that may or may not be related to the first two topics. Carolyn April and Seth Robinson from CompTIA's research team toss the latest topics back and forth, sometimes with the help of market data and sometimes with guest appearances.

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CompTIA Volley

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