TTIMES WORLD: Today's News Report

Thursday, March 28, 2024
Washington, DC, USA


Name
 

Technology and Consumer Engagement
Latest Trend To Watch

Image/Video
NASHVILLE, TN In Partnership with the Nashville Health Care Council

This fall, experience the nexus of consumer satisfaction and targeted technology. During AHIP’s Consumer Experience & Digital Health Forum, in partnership with the Nashville Health Care Council, discover how smart technology and consumer-focused strategies can advance affordability, value, and customer satisfaction.

You’ll take home timely ideas, partnership prospects, and digital tools that can optimize your organization’s collaboration and connectivity.

Next Generation Trends are:

Next Generation Consumer Engagement and Branding
Leveraging Data Analytics and Insights
Technologies and Tools for Connected and Collaborative Care
Infrastructure and Business Model Innovation
Reaching Consumers at Work: Transformation of Employer Health Benefits
The conference also includes a 50+ company exhibit hall showcasing the latest products and services that are helping health plans succeed.

In Partnership with the Nashville Health Care Council

Getting the Technology Edge
What works Best

Image/Video

Legal teams in the Technology, Media & Entertainment and Telecommunications (TMT) sectors can set an example for the rest of the business to follow.

In brief
  • By incorporating new technologies legal teams can move faster and become more agile.
  • Outsourcing routine work to managed-service providers can save money and improve speed and consistency.

How EY can help

Legal Managed Services

Legal departments under growing pressure are re-thinking how work is done and by whom. The EY legal managed services team customizes and supports technology and data-driven processes designed to control costs, better mitigate risk, and deliver value to the business.

Read more

Competing in the TMT sector requires speed. New products and services must be brought to market rapidly, technology must be developed and deployed with urgency and relationships with partners and suppliers must be forged with haste.

Legal teams, unfortunately, are not renowned for their dynamism and agility. Sales teams are known to grumble about a perceived lack of urgency when legal is reviewing a contract and product teams complain that their innovation is stifled by bureaucratic compliance procedures. Moreover, those trying to drive expansion into new markets fear getting bogged down by local regulations.

In their defense, for many years, legal departments have been asked to do more with less. This has meant that simply getting the job done has taken precedence over speed and innovation. According to the EY report Why the legal function must be reimagined for the digital age, the majority of legal teams reported a large or moderate increase in demand placed on them over the past five years. In parallel, 72% of TMT companies planned to reduce legal-function costs over the next 24 months ‒ and that was before COVID-19 struck. The economic fallout of the pandemic is likely to put even more pressure on legal departments to control costs, while the volume of work will likely remain high.

But despite these circumstances, these is a perception across many TMT businesses that their legal teams could act faster. Here are four ways that legal teams can shed this reputation, and instead be viewed as beacons of dynamism.

Do more. Spend less.

00%

of TMT companies planned to reduce legal-function costs over the next 24 months.

1

Chapter 1

Deploy new technology

Enhance your efficiency and effectiveness through strategic use of technology solutions.

By utilizing new technology, and effectively integrating it into workflows, legal teams can move faster. Take the example of reviewing and generating contracts. By deploying sophisticated automation and contract-management and analytics technology, contracts can be created and reviewed faster and more accurately than they can by lawyers. It can also flag potential anomalies for supervisors to scrutinize.

But technology by itself is not enough. Strict governance around how the technology is used must be established to maximize the benefits. The technology must also integrate with wider workflows, such as how the legal team receives instructions from the business.

Get this right and technology can deliver tremendous benefits. For example, by installing and heavily customizing a legal technology platform, a telecoms company that the EY organization worked with managed to reduce average contracting time from 45 to 31 days, customer churn by 7% and bad debt by a third because it was better able to enforce its contractual positions.

Speed and accuracy aside, this technology lowers costs and frees up lawyers’ time for more complex, high-value and ultimately fulfilling work. These benefits should not be overlooked. The majority of TMT legal departments face challenges in attracting and retaining top talent.1 This is, in part, because around a quarter of lawyers’ time is spent conducting routine compliance and low-value tasks. Automating these tasks can therefore go some way to overcoming legal departments’ talent challenges.

Many general counsels (GC) are already aware of the tremendous improvements that technologies like this can deliver, but they have not yet fully deployed them. Indeed, 63% of TMT businesses say that the legal function has not benefited from innovation as much as other functions.2

Budgetary concerns can be a major obstacle to technology investment. It is therefore up to the GC to make the case to senior leadership that technology can deliver significant value for the entire business.

2

Chapter 2

Find the right person (or machine) for the right job

Ensure that your talent is deployed in ways that is rewarding for them and your company.

As mentioned earlier, around a quarter of legal teams’ time is devoted to routine activities that are way below the pay grade of highly qualified lawyers. In addition to automation, these lower-value activities can be outsourced to alternative legal-service providers or contract specialists who are experts in this area. This type of work can also be consolidated into a shared or managed-services delivery model. In addition to saving money, these approaches can improve speed and consistency.

The EY organization has recently helped a telecoms company do exactly this. The business was experiencing frequent bottlenecks in finalizing sales and procurement contracts because many were bespoke. They also lacked a structured contract-review process, which added complexity, inconsistency and, ultimately, delays that led to a loss of business. After learning about the client’s business requirements, we helped redesign and simplify the contracting process before going on to serve as the point of contact for internal business stakeholders. Over time, we’ve further customized the process and undertaken similar work for other types of contracts.

The result? Through outsourcing this type of work, the client reduced average time to contract to one day for nondisclosure agreements and three to five days for more complex contracts. It also cut costs associated with this process by 65%.  

3

Chapter 3

Unlock the hidden value in contract data

Deploy intelligent analytics to uncover the rich insights that help drive growth.

Many GCs would be content if they managed to improve speed, enhance accuracy and cut costs by using technology and outsourcing in the ways described above. But they can go a step further. Genuinely pioneering legal leaders have realized that there is tremendous value to the business in the data that are stored in sales, supply and other contracts that are at the legal team’s disposal – and are exploring ways to extract it. The TMT sector in particular is replete with complex business-to-business contracts with significant revenue under contract, so having on-demand insight into contractual obligations and opportunities is critical for driving business value.

For providers of cloud services, for example, contract analytics on service-level agreement provisions can provide legal and business stakeholders with insights into service-quality obligations and incentives, including the financial risks and rewards associated with their performance across their customer base in real time. In the event of an outage, a capability like this allows for rapid assessment of the financial impact to the company in the form of rebates or service credits, an exercise that might otherwise take days or weeks of manual effort.

Mature processes and robust technology can also enable legal teams to spot patterns in their contract negotiations and identify opportunities to remove friction from the deal process. If a template position rarely makes it into a final contract intact or its negotiation is shown to be consistently slowing down deals, it may signal a need to revisit the starting position or align more closely with the business on pre-contracting go-to-market activities.

By utilizing data that they already have, these legal teams are not only accelerating contracting speed, but also adding value to the business in previously unimagined ways.

4

Chapter 4

Choose the right international partner

Pick a partner with the expertise to empower your global expansion.

Many TMT companies are aggressively expanding into new markets, acquiring new businesses and divesting non-core assets. In order to seize these opportunities, legal teams need to move quickly. This means working with partners that have expertise in a number of key regions.

Not doing so can result in local laws being overlooked (e.g., data-privacy regulations, which slow down the pace at which companies can begin operating in a new market). A lack of local knowledge could also lead to revenue leakage or increased risk exposure if change-of-control implications in consumer or supplier contracts are overlooked following a merger and acquisition event.

It’s also beneficial to work with partners that have a broad range of skill sets, especially covering legal and tax. For instance, some TMT businesses are shifting the location of their intellectual property in response to heightened geopolitical tensions. There are important tax and legal implications in doing this that need to be considered carefully.

“MTN HOME” To Offer Affordable Internet Services To Customers
MTN Ghana has launched a home internet service dubbed MTN HOME to offer affordable internet services to Customers in their homes.

Image/Video

MTN Home is an unparalleled broadband service that provides high-speed internet access, facilitating live streaming, video- on-Demand, and home internet automation services ensuring that subscribers truly receive the benefits of a connected world.

MTN Home offers cheaper data, video and voice services to families. The service is currently available to customers nationwide.

Commenting on the MTN Home Service, the Chief Marketing Officer for MTN Mr. Noel Kojo- Ganson said, “the COVID- 19 pandemic has facilitated Work -from- Home, Online Schooling, Webinars and E-Commerce and it takes access to fast and reliable internet service to make these possible”.



“As a network that is working towards leading the delivery of a bold new digital world for customers, we believe that every home and office deserves to experience the benefit of a modern connected life and that is the driving force behind MTN Home service”. We continue to invest in technology solutions that will enable our Customers enjoy the best value propositions”, he added.

Data offers on the MTN HOME service can be accessed by dialing *5057#. Customers can check the availability of the MTN Home service in their locality by visiting the MTN Ghana website on www.mtn.com or calling 0244308111.

The launch of MTN Home adds to the catalogue of other products and services designed by MTN to offer fast and reliable broadband services to Customers.

About MTN Ghana
MTN Ghana is the market leader in the increasingly competitive mobile telecommunications industry in Ghana, offering subscribers a range of exciting options under Pay Monthly and Pay As You Go Services and Mobile Financial Services.


The company has committed itself to delivering reliable and innovative services that provide value for subscribers in Ghana’s telecommunications market. Since its entry into Ghana in 2006, MTN has continuously invested in expanding and modernizing its network in order to offer superior services to a broad expanse of the nation.

Send your news stories to newsghana101@gmail.com and via WhatsApp on +233 244244807

How To Chose the Best Medical Alert System
What the Top Providers Share

Image/Video

How We Chose the Best Medical Alert Systems

One of the challenges of selecting the best medical alert companies is that, particularly on the surface, many of the deals appear similar. To get past this confusion, we identified several traits that the top providers share.

Monitoring Plans

Nearly all companies offer customers the choice of landline or cellular service for in-home monitoring as well as mobile devices equipped with GPS location tracking. Across the industry, it was common to see surcharges for fall detection, wellness calls and other premium features. If you’re interested in these services, be sure to add $5-$10 to the monthly fee per item when comparing plans.

Response Times

Comparing response times is one of the most effective ways to evaluate service quality. Some providers answered help calls in less than 20 seconds while others took as long as seven minutes. When determining service quality, we looked for companies with multiple U.S.-based call centers and professional operators who have received specialized training.

Reviews and Qualifications

Subscriber satisfaction is another important consideration. We cut one provider from our list because customers had trouble getting their money back after trying the service. Industry certifications from organizations such as Underwriters Laboratories and The Monitoring Association also gave us insight into the provider’s service quality.

Equipment Features

While many providers use nearly identical base units and pendants, we noticed some differences in the product’s battery life and signal range. We also considered the system’s audio quality, weight and appearance while giving preference to devices that were easy to use and maintain.

Ethics

Deceptive pricing schemes and hidden charges booted several companies off our list of contenders. Nearly all of our top picks have monthly service agreements with no long-term commitment, and many offer a 30-day money-back guarantee that gives customers an opportunity to try the service.

In addition to using the above criteria to select the top medical alert companies, we ranked the top twenty providers based on thirty different factors. Each company was awarded a star rating based on this analysis. For more information on our ranking process and the metrics used, read “A Full Explanation of Our Ranking Methodology.”

The Future
Of Energy

Image/Video
The Future Of Energy By Faith Oyeniyi

The future of renewable energy is expected to be both promising and transformative. Here are some aspects of the future of renewable energy:

1.  Technological Advancements: Advances in renewable energy technologies, such as solar panels, wind turbines, and energy storage systems, continue to improve efficiency and lower costs. These advancements make renewable energy sources more accessible and cost-effective.

2.  Energy Storage: The development of better energy storage solutions, including batteries and other storage technologies, is crucial for the integration of intermittent renewable sources like solar and wind into the grid. Energy storage systems are becoming more affordable and efficient.

3. Grid Integration: Smart grid technologies and grid infrastructure improvements are essential for accommodating the variability of renewable energy sources. Enhanced grid management and interconnection allow for better utilization of renewable energy and grid stability.

4.  Decentralization: The rise of distributed energy systems, such as rooftop solar panels and small-scale wind turbines, is leading to more decentralized energy production. This empowers individuals and communities to generate their electricity.

5.  Electrification of Sectors: Efforts to decarbonize various sectors, including transportation and heating, are driving the adoption of electric vehicles and heat pumps, which can be powered by renewable electricity.

The future of renewable energy is intertwined with the global transition to a more sustainable and environmentally friendly energy system. It plays a vital role in mitigating climate change, reducing carbon emissions, and ensuring a cleaner and more resilient energy future. It's important to note that developments in this field are ongoing, and the pace of change is influenced by numerous factors, including technological breakthroughs, economic considerations, and government policies

Top Gaming
In Franchises

Image/Video
Top Gaming In Franchises By Faith Oyeniyi

Determining the "best" gaming franchises can be subjective as different people have different preferences and opinions. However, there are several gaming franchises that have consistently received critical acclaim, and commercial success, and have left a significant impact on the industry. Here are some of them (in no particular order):

1. Super Mario: Created by Nintendo, the Super Mario franchise has been a cornerstone of gaming since its inception. The series features iconic characters, innovative gameplay mechanics, and a wide variety of genres within its games.

2. The Legend of Zelda: Another Nintendo creation, this franchise is known for its immersive fantasy worlds, puzzles, and memorable characters. Each entry offers a unique adventure in the land of Hyrule.

3. Pokémon: This franchise by Nintendo and Game Freak revolves around capturing and training creatures known as Pokémon. It includes video games, trading card games, an animated TV series, movies, and more.

4. The Elder Scrolls: Developed by Bethesda Game Studios, this RPG series is known for its vast open worlds, intricate lore, and freedom of choice. Titles like Skyrim have become legendary in the gaming world.

5. Final Fantasy: Created by Square Enix, the Final Fantasy series is famous for its deep storytelling, innovative gameplay mechanics, and breathtaking visuals. Each mainline entry often features a new world and characters.

6. Halo: Developed by Bungie (and later 343 Industries), the Halo franchise revolutionized first-person shooters on consoles. It's known for its compelling sci-fi universe and intense multiplayer modes.

7. Call of Duty: Developed by various studios under Activision, Call of Duty is a highly successful FPS franchise known for its fast-paced multiplayer and impactful single-player campaigns.

8. Mass Effect: Developed by BioWare, this franchise is renowned for its epic space opera storytelling, complex characters, and player-driven narrative choices.

9. Grand Theft Auto: Created by Rockstar Games, the Grand Theft Auto series is known for its open-world design, satirical commentary on society, and engaging stories.

10. Metal Gear: Designed by Hideo Kojima, the Metal Gear series is known for its intricate and often convoluted storyline, stealth gameplay mechanics, and memorable characters.

11. Assassin's Creed: Developed by Ubisoft, this franchise blends historical settings with modern-day conspiracy theories and stealth-action gameplay.

12. **Minecraft**: Created by Markus Persson (Notch) and later developed by Mojang Studios, Minecraft offers players an open world to explore, gather resources, and build structures in various modes.

These are just a few examples of gaming franchises that have had a significant impact on the industry and have garnered a massive following. Keep in mind that new franchises may have emerged since my last knowledge update in September 2021, and opinions on the "best" franchises can vary widely among gamers.

THE WORLD
OF AI

Image/Video
THE WORLD OF AI by Faith Oyeniyi

Are you interested in exploring the world of AI (Artificial Intelligence) in more depth? If yes,  AI is a rapidly evolving field with a wide range of applications, so let's expatiate on the topic by providing some additional information.

1. AI Basics: AI refers to the development of computer systems capable of performing tasks that typically require human intelligence. These tasks include problem-solving, learning, reasoning, perception, language understanding, and more. Machine Learning and Deep Learning are subsets of AI that focus on training machines to learn from data.

2. Applications: AI is used in various domains, including healthcare (diagnosis and treatment planning), finance (fraud detection and trading algorithms), autonomous vehicles (self-driving cars), natural language processing (voice assistants and chatbots), and image recognition (facial recognition and image classification).

3. Ethical Concerns: The rapid advancement of AI raises ethical concerns. These include issues related to privacy, bias in algorithms, the impact on employment, and the responsible use of AI in sensitive applications, such as surveillance.

4. AI in Education: AI is also transforming education. It can provide personalized learning experiences, automate administrative tasks, and assist educators in curriculum development and assessment.

5. AI Research: AI research is ongoing, and organizations, including OpenAI, Google DeepMind, and various universities, are at the forefront of pushing the boundaries of AI capabilities.

6. AI and Creativity: AI is increasingly being used in creative fields, including art, music, and literature generation. This raises questions about the intersection of AI and human creativity.

7. AI in Healthcare: AI has significant potential in healthcare, from medical image analysis to drug discovery. It can accelerate the diagnostic process and improve patient care.

8. AI and Automation: Automation powered by AI is changing the job landscape. While some jobs may be replaced by AI, new roles related to AI development and maintenance are emerging.

9. AI and Future Trends: As AI continues to advance, we can expect developments in quantum computing, robotics, and AI-human interaction. The field will likely have a profound impact on various industries and daily life.

10. AI Regulation: Governments and international organizations are working on regulating AI to ensure its responsible use. These regulations may cover issues like data privacy, accountability, and transparency.

In summary, the world of AI is vast, dynamic, and evolving rapidly. It has far-reaching implications for numerous aspects of society and is likely to continue shaping the future in many ways. Exploring AI further can involve learning about its applications, understanding its ethical considerations, and keeping up with the latest developments in the field.

Copyright © 2021 TTimes. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part without permission is prohibited