Latest news with #businessDevelopment
Forbes
07-07-2025
- Business
- Forbes
Generative AI Is Booming, But Execution Gaps Remain
Gregorio Patiño Zabala, Co-Founder & Head of Business Development - FSI unit at Pragma. The explosive rise of generative AI (GenAI) is fueled by breakthroughs in cloud computing, smarter algorithms and scalable data storage—making the technology both innovative and accessible for businesses. Yet many organizations overlook key technical hurdles that limit their ability to fully harness GenAI's potential. Here are five proven ways to avoid common mistakes and maximize the value of this transformative trend. 1. Identify And Prioritize A Use Case The first step in any GenAI strategy is to identify a well-defined, high-impact business problem that the technology can address. Start by studying relevant pain points that could be solved through automation or advanced data processing. From experience, I recommend holding discovery sessions to align stakeholder needs with feasible technology solutions. Once potential use cases are identified, prioritize them using two main criteria: business value and implementation feasibility. Remember: Not every challenge needs GenAI. In some cases, traditional machine learning or other analytics techniques may be more effective and cost-efficient. 2. Prepare Your Data And Assess Project Feasibility GenAI is only as strong as the data it's built on. Without a solid, evolving knowledge base, any initiative risks producing vague or inaccurate outcomes. Building a dynamic data infrastructure that grows with your business is essential. One example: In a project we led for the insurance division of a financial group in the Dominican Republic, we helped create a conversational AI agent backed by a secure, up-to-date knowledge base. Given the constantly changing nature of insurance offerings, this empowered advisors to deliver real-time, accurate responses. How? By querying data, extracting customer insights, generating personalized documents and ensuring strong data governance. Today, the solution supports more than a dozen core functions for the business. 3. Embrace An Iterative Approach Implementing GenAI isn't a one-time deployment—it's a continuous process. Start with a focused pilot, adjust based on real-world feedback and scale gradually. This approach ensures reduced risk while staying aligned with business needs. In the earlier-mentioned example, what began as a proof of concept evolved into a full solution with eight core features—from real-time data queries to pricing assistants. Each function was added incrementally based on value and feasibility. The takeaway? Start small, iterate fast and scale wisely. 4. Build A Multidisciplinary Team For Scale And Security To build a scalable, secure GenAI solution, companies must assemble a multidisciplinary team with each function contributing to success: • Backend and frontend developers who ensure technical integrity and user experience • QA engineers who test for reliability and performance • Solution architects who align the system with business goals • Data analysts who refine information and boost model accuracy To reduce risk, begin by following security standards like the Open Web Application Security Project (OWASP) Top 10 for large language model applications. While many tools exist to streamline implementation, success comes from combining technical skill, domain knowledge and governance. 5. Adopt New GenAI Advances With Intention GenAI is still an emerging technology and continues to evolve quickly. Vendors regularly announce breakthroughs, making it hard to keep up. That's why it's essential to research, evaluate and test each advancement carefully. Organizations can adopt generative AI advances more effectively if they follow these steps: • Establish a dedicated interdisciplinary team to evaluate new tools. • Assess how each advancement aligns with business goals. • Integrate human insight throughout the development process. The goal is not to chase novelty but to adopt what creates real value—at the right time. Bonus: Preparing For The Next Frontier—MCP And A2A The next leap in GenAI lies in agent-to-agent (A2A) communication. Instead of standalone tools, AI systems are beginning to talk to each other, coordinate tasks and make shared decisions. Imagine this: A virtual assistant helping with a customer return automatically checks inventory and schedules a pickup—all handled through intelligent collaboration between two AI agents. Making this possible are new standards like the Model Context Protocol (MCP), which allow data systems and AI tools to operate together seamlessly. The real opportunity lies in building secure, flexible solutions ready to grow and evolve with your business. When your systems can talk to each other intelligently, that's when AI becomes a true partner—not just another tool. Forbes Technology Council is an invitation-only community for world-class CIOs, CTOs and technology executives. Do I qualify?
Forbes
03-07-2025
- Business
- Forbes
The Role Of SOPs In Building A Systemized Business
Andrey Shelokovskiy of Nomad Painting is an experienced business development leader and sales professional in the coatings industry. In fast-growing companies, chaos often masquerades as hustle. Everyone's moving fast and working hard. But without clear systems, that momentum eventually halts under miscommunication, burnout and avoidable errors. One of the most powerful ways to bring order to that chaos is by implementing standard operating procedures (SOPs). SOPs are more than just documents. They're the backbone of scalable operations, and they're essential for building a business that doesn't rely on constant supervision or memory. Whether you're leading a team of five or 50, well-defined SOPs allow you to deliver consistent results, reduce turnover and create a culture of clarity and accountability. SOPs Prevent Operational Chaos When I started my painting business in 2022, we had no SOPs and no clear guidelines for how to handle day-to-day operations. Every decision, every customer situation, every jobsite question came back to me. At some point, it became easier to just do the work myself. And that's how most small business owners stay trapped in the owner-operator role and eventually burn out. Without documented processes, businesses become bottlenecked by the founder. Mistakes multiply, decisions stall and no one can move forward without your input. SOPs change that by transforming guesswork into repeatable systems. When everyone understands the 'how' behind each recurring task, from prepping a home for painting to communicating with a customer, the entire operation becomes more efficient and independent. SOPs Reduce Turnover By Empowering Teams High turnover often stems from confusion, frustration and a lack of support. When new hires are thrown into roles without clear instructions, it's not just overwhelming, it's demoralizing. That was our experience early on. New team members would shadow others or ask questions constantly, but there was no structure behind the onboarding. Once we began building SOPs, training became far easier and more consistent. Processes didn't have to be reinvented with every new hire, and employees gained confidence more quickly. Even simple procedures, like jobsite setup checklists or daily communication protocols, made a huge difference. Teams that feel equipped are more likely to succeed and stay. SOPs Shape A Stronger, Healthier Company Culture Culture isn't about slogans on a wall—it's how people feel when they show up to work. Do they know what's expected? Do they feel supported? Are standards clear and fair? SOPs contribute directly to a healthy culture by aligning expectations and eliminating ambiguity. When roles and responsibilities are clearly defined, there's less finger-pointing and more problem-solving. And when team members follow the same playbook, collaboration and accountability improve. SOPs Are The Foundation For Scale Most founders eventually face the same dilemma: Growth becomes limited by how much they can personally oversee. SOPs are the bridge from owner-dependence to true scalability. In our case, documenting systems allowed us to delegate more confidently, expand our team and maintain quality as we grew. SOPs made the business easier to manage and far more valuable in the long run. If you're not sure where to begin, start simple. Record the issues that come up most frequently, then turn each one into a basic process your team can follow. Over time, those small systems will add up to a fully operational framework that runs with or without you. Final Takeaway If your company still relies on verbal instructions or 'just ask [name]' as your operating model, you're not alone—but you are vulnerable. SOPs don't just reduce chaos; they unlock clarity. And with clarity comes consistency, efficiency and long-term sustainability. In short, SOPs are the infrastructure behind every business built to last. Forbes Business Council is the foremost growth and networking organization for business owners and leaders. Do I qualify?
Forbes
27-06-2025
- Business
- Forbes
Why Whole-Life Carbon Is The Next Big Investment Trend
Kathleen Abbott leads Arcadis global business development, running strategy on key clients, sector priorities and city programs. Businesses have an opportunity to align financial performance with sustainability objectives by adopting a whole-life carbon strategy. This process assesses an asset's carbon impact across its lifecycle—from construction to operation and decommissioning. While transitioning to low-carbon practices involves upfront costs and challenges, the long-term benefits—including energy efficiency, regulatory compliance and enhanced reputation—make it a compelling investment. AI data centers, as energy-intensive facilities, are a key focus for improvement through measures like renewable energy use and sustainable construction. Success requires overcoming barriers, such as initial costs and carbon accounting complexities, while leveraging collaboration, regulatory support and strategic integration. Though financial returns will yield over time, this approach positions businesses to thrive in a future that prioritizes low-carbon investments. The Holistic Impact Of Whole-Life Carbon Investment What if the data centers powering our digital world could also lead the charge against climate change? With 95% to 98% of their emissions coming from operational energy use, the opportunity to reduce carbon is as massive as the industry itself, a market poised to grow to $774 billion by 2032. Compelling client examples across the industry illustrate how major players are investing in the development of lower-carbon data centers: Google is slashing up to 25% of energy consumption in data centers by harnessing the power of machine learning to optimize cooling systems. With a record-breaking Power Usage Effectiveness (PUE) of 1.1, Google's use of sustainable innovation proves that cutting-edge AI isn't just smart but green. In San Jose, California, Microsoft is leveraging renewable natural gas and a 60-megawatt backup generator at its data center. This move is a leap toward the company's audacious goal of becoming carbon-negative by 2030. Terra Ventures is also setting new standards for sustainable data center design in San Jose. Ditching traditional backup generators entirely, this facility (which our company is helping support) will transform exhaust heat from waste fuel cells into chilled water using state-of-the-art absorption chillers. The result? A more than 50% estimated reduction in cooling energy demand and a significant cut in CO2 emissions. Shell is making waves in the data center world with 864 immersion-cooled servers powered by advanced processors. By eliminating traditional cooling methods, Shell has significantly reduced energy demand while boosting efficiency. The Broader Benefits Of Sustainable Data Centers Capacity constraints are an increasing concern as we rush to satisfy our growing demand for data infrastructure. In response, sustainable strategies are not only eco-friendly imperatives but also sound business decisions. Energy-efficient whole-system designs minimize energy consumption, lower operating costs and can downsize critical backup power systems. Additionally, optimizing infrastructure can increase ultimate data processing capacity within the same energy footprint. Sustainable construction practices, including sourcing sustainable and proximity-based building materials, off-site modularized construction and building information modeling (BIM), reduce supply chain limitations and accelerate project timelines. Investing in sustainability also unlocks financial incentives. Companies pursuing low-carbon projects can access low-interest loans, sustainability-linked investment funds and streamlined permitting processes, accelerating project timelines and reducing upfront costs. Low-carbon, sustainable facilities can also help win the war for talent. Today's employees are seeking workplaces that demonstrate a commitment to responsible practices and long-term impact. Challenges In Achieving Low-Carbon Data Centers Despite the advantages, achieving low-carbon data centers requires overcoming the same key challenges the industry faces. Energy sourcing remains critical due to the facilities' massive power demands. However, advancements in renewable energy infrastructure and innovative storage solutions are helping bridge the gap. Investment in microgrids and hybrid energy models makes balancing sustainable sources with reliability increasingly feasible. The construction supply chain, particularly in sourcing materials, low-carbon or otherwise, persists as a challenge. While procurement complexities exist, manufacturers drive innovation in sustainable materials, reducing embodied carbon while utilizing feedstocks that enhance the supply chain instead of competing with it. Companies can dramatically reduce carbon use by leveraging emerging materials such as low-carbon concrete, mass timber and bio-based materials. The industry's current emphasis on speed and standardization in construction can often lead to over-design and inefficiencies. Designs that overlook site-specific conditions may waste valuable resources, miss out on optimization, such as harnessing free cooling, and ultimately lead to higher costs and environmental impacts. Striking the right balance between rapid deployment and thoughtful, location-sensitive design is essential for building more efficient and resilient infrastructure. Finally, cooperation across multiple stakeholders—designers, suppliers, communities and policymakers—is a concern, but rallying around a more streamlined, energy-efficient, cost-effective, sustainable investment strategy could unlock levels of teamwork to achieve more with less. Transformation For A Resilient Future As demand for digital infrastructure grows, adopting a whole-life carbon approach offers a clear, future-ready and profitable pathway to the future. Collaboration across the value chain, investment in durable materials and operational efficiency will reduce data centers' environmental impact while maintaining business viability. The demand for low-carbon infrastructure isn't just a trend—it's a transformation. By embracing whole-life carbon strategies, businesses can lead the way into a thriving, profitable future. The question is: Are you ready to invest tomorrow? Forbes Business Development Council is an invitation-only community for sales and biz dev executives. Do I qualify?
Yahoo
18-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Reward Funding targets regional growth with Jaxon Stevens
Alternative lender Reward Funding is gearing up for further expansion in London and the South East with the appointment of Jaxon Stevens as its new Business Development Director. With a career spanning over 25 years, Stevens will be tasked with growing Reward's loan book by working closely with SMEs, property investors, and entrepreneurs. He will also collaborate with the lender's network of introducers and commercial finance brokers. Speaking about his new role, Stevens noted that Reward has been on a 'rapid growth trajectory' since its London launch four years ago. 'The business has played a key role in making funding accessible to a wide range of ambitious SMEs,' he said, adding that he's looking forward to 'unlocking opportunities' for more businesses in today's 'challenging economic climate.' Stevens will work alongside Simon Adcock, Regional Director for London and the South East, who described the appointment as a strategic move. 'Jaxon brings extensive financial experience, expertise and knowledge to the role,' Adcock said. 'He'll be pivotal in helping us fill the gap left by banks and traditional lenders.' Adcock also highlighted Stevens' strong industry network: 'Having spent much of his career in business development, Jaxon has established valuable connections with brokers, SMEs and property professionals—relationships that will be invaluable to Reward and our clients.' "Reward Funding targets regional growth with Jaxon Stevens" was originally created and published by Leasing Life, a GlobalData owned brand. The information on this site has been included in good faith for general informational purposes only. It is not intended to amount to advice on which you should rely, and we give no representation, warranty or guarantee, whether express or implied as to its accuracy or completeness. You must obtain professional or specialist advice before taking, or refraining from, any action on the basis of the content on our site.
Yahoo
08-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Public and Private Meet at the Africa CEO Forum
The Africa CEO Forum 2025 took place in Abidjan, Ivory Coast, and saw 2,000 business leaders, investors and policy makers take part in two days of conferences, debates and high-level meetings dedicated to highlighting the driving role of the private sector in the development of the continent. We hear from Ghanaian President John Mahama and discuss the biggest takeaways from the gathering.
