S03E12 Cybersecurity: Current Trends & What’s To Come

Nick Verkroost, CEO at Canopy, talks about the current state of the procurement software industry and his predictions for what’s next in this space


The Guest – Nick Verkroost, CEO at Canopy:

Nick Verkroost is the CEO at Canopy, an innovative supplier relationship management platform that gives procurement teams complete visibility of their supplier data and eliminates manual administration. With over 10 years of experience setting up and growing B2B technology companies, Nick has worked with organisations of all sizes to assess blind spots in their operational execution and organisational growth. 

The Strategic Significance of Procurement Tech in Modern Business:

In the modern business landscape, technology procurement plays a pivotal role in enabling organisations to effectively acquire the necessary tools and resources to support their operations. While the market was once dominated by a handful of major players, the landscape has shifted dramatically over the last decade, giving rise to the rise of a new industry - Procurement Tech. These emerging entities are dedicated to addressing specific challenges within procurement processes, such as supplier relationship management and administrative automation.

The spotlight on Procurement Tech is intensifying, with a growing emphasis on data-driven solutions and the transformative potential of AI. This paradigm shift heralds a new era in procurement, where advanced analytics and AI algorithms promise to revolutionise operational efficiency and decision-making processes.

Some of the highlights in this episode include:

• Common challenges faced in procurement
• The evolving landscape of Procurement Tech
• Why companies need procurement software 
• The use of AI in the Procurement Tech 

Listen to the Story of Software on any podcast platform of your choice. The Story of Software Podcast is produced by Zartis, a software services company. We hope you enjoy listening to this tech podcast and feel free to share any feedback with us: podcast@zartis.com

 Laura Tacho, CTO at DX, talks about successful cross functionality between engineering and product teams, including roadmapping and identifying value for your business. 
 

The Guest - Laura Tacho, CTO at DX:

Laura Tacho is the CTO at DX, a developer insights platform built specifically for leaders of internal developer productivity and/or platform teams. Laura is also an engineering leadership coach, partnering with software engineering leaders to level up their leadership skills.

Understanding Software Teams to Achieve Smooth Collaboration:

Integrating engineering and product roadmaps is crucial to avoid misalignment and competition between engineering priorities and business objectives. A unified approach ensures that both engineering issues and business priorities are evaluated by the same criteria, facilitating decision-making that benefits the overall business.

A big part of this equation is developer productivity, but measuring it effectively is a  challenging task. Traditional productivity metrics are no longer cutting it, and it is important for companies to prioritise developers' voices and experiences, moving beyond conventional metrics like lines of code, or number of commits, which can be misleading. By involving developers in the structuring of metrics, companies can enable Improved workforce happiness, retention, and a culture of self-improvement. 

Some of the highlights in this episode include:

• The intersection of engineering and product teams 
• The importance of developer productivity
• Strategies and metrics for assessing developer productivity

Listen to the Story of Software on any podcast platform of your choice. The Story of Software Podcast is produced by Zartis, a software services company. We hope you enjoy listening to this tech podcast and feel free to share any feedback with us: podcast@zartis.com

István Kovács, CTO at Recart, talks about the role of AI in text marketing, and how companies change their marketing strategies in the lead up to Black Friday.

The Guest - István Kovács, CTO at Recart:
István Kovács is the CTO at Recart, a Budapest-based text marketing company that manages your SMS marketing through the use of AI. István has over 15 years of experience working in software development and leading teams in various domains, including e-commerce, banking, insurance, and airlines. 

AI SMS Marketing and More:

Imagine you're walking through the bustling streets of Budapest, your phone pings with a perfectly timed, personalised text message about a sale on those sneakers you've been eyeing. This isn't just a coincidence; it's the result of sophisticated AI-driven text marketing, a rapidly evolving field that's changing the way businesses connect with customers.

From the humble beginnings of simple email tools to the cutting-edge use of SMS and AI, István's insights offer a rare glimpse into the future of e-commerce marketing. Tune in as we explore how personalised messaging is not just about selling products, but creating meaningful connections in our digital age.

Some of the topics covered in this episode include:

• Industries that leverage SMS marketing the most
• Customer targeting and benchmarking for outreach
• The power of personalisation in SMS marketing
• How AI can enhance SMS marketing technologies

Listen to the Story of Software on any podcast platform of your choice. The Story of Software Podcast is produced by Zartis, a software services company. We hope you enjoy listening to this tech podcast and feel free to share any feedback with us: podcast@zartis.com

 Brit Myers, VP of Engineering at System Initiative, talks about her experiences in improving business outcomes through DevOps practices.

The Guest - Brit Myers, VP of Engineering, System Initiative:

Brit Myers is the VP of Engineering at System Initiative, a collaborative power tool designed to remove the paper cuts from DevOps work. Brit is a technology leader with over a decade of experience leading and scaling global engineering teams, and is passionate about implementing powerful DevOps strategies to improve software teams and business outcomes.

How DevOps Can Make or Break Your Team:

Implementing a successful DevOps strategy can unlock the true potential of a software team and help companies adapt to agile ways of working. However, many companies, regardless of their size or status, fall into common traps when it comes to incorporating DevOps principles into daily practices. These include, but are not limited to, slow feedback loops, difficulties in collaboration due to abstractions and handoffs, and the struggle to balance automation with necessary control. Therefore, it is of utmost importance to understand risk tolerances within an organisation to facilitate change and to take a more experimental and iterative approach in adopting DevOps principles.

Some of the topics covered in this episode include:

• Strategies and best practices for adopting DevOps
• Challenges in DevOps practices across different organisation sizes.
• System Initiative's innovative approach to improving DevOps.
• The potential impact of AI on software teams

Listen to the Story of Software on any podcast platform of your choice. The Story of Software Podcast is produced by Zartis, a software services company. We hope you enjoy listening to this tech podcast and feel free to share any feedback with us: podcast@zartis.com

David Lush, an experienced CTO with 19 years of experience, talks about two pivotal areas in scaling teams: attracting and retaining tech talent.  

The Guest - David Lush, CTO:

David Lush has held leadership roles in the software space for over 19 years, and he specialises in scaling software teams. Having worked with international market giants such as Visa, as well as technology startups, David has experience enabling teams of all sizes to thrive and grow.

How To Attract and Retain Engineering Talent:

In the ever-evolving world of technology, the challenge of attracting and retaining top talent is more critical than ever. Companies are not just competing for skills; they're vying for individuals who can drive innovation and adapt to rapidly changing environments.

So, today, attracting the right talent goes beyond offering competitive salaries. It's about understanding what motivates individuals, their career aspirations, and their fit within the company culture. Similarly, retention is as much about the environment as it is about the role. It's crucial to create a workplace that offers growth, challenges, and a sense of purpose. For tech professionals, opportunities to work on interesting projects, continuous learning, and a flexible work environment can be more appealing than traditional incentives.

Some of the topics covered in this episode include:

• The current state of the tech labour market
• Strategies for hiring at different stages of a business
• Key factors for employee retention
• Enabling career growth for your employees

Listen to the Story of Software on any podcast platform of your choice. The Story of Software Podcast is produced by Zartis, a software services company. We hope you enjoy listening to this tech podcast and feel free to share any feedback with us: podcast@zartis.com

Alexander Safonov, CTO at Visualfabriq talks about his experience in scaling the company, and the complex process of revenue forecasting using Artificial Intelligence.

Alexander Safonov is the CTO of Visualfabriq, an innovative company providing revenue forecasting and optimisation software to its customers in the consumer-packaged goods industry. Alexander is an experienced CTO with a proven track record of 20+ years in engineering high-tech solutions within security and fintech domains. He specialises in leading diverse cross-functional teams across product, technology, and innovation fronts. 

Scaling A Company and Maturing an AI Product:

AI is a pivotal tool in software development, offering automation and efficiency at every stage – from idea generation to user communication. Companies that leverage AI successfully, and incorporate AI functionalities into their products and services stand to benefit from increased customer satisfaction and high growth. 

With their innovative approach to revenue forecasting that leverages AI to analyse customer data, sales history, and financial information, Visualfabriq is a great example of such companies. 

Some of the main topics covered in this episode include:

• Lessons learned in scaling a tech company 
• Strategies for scaling a technology product
• The growing role of AI in software engineering 
• Applications of AI in data processing and forecasting

Listen to the Story of Software on any podcast platform of your choice. The Story of Software Podcast is produced by Zartis, a software services company. We hope you enjoy listening to this tech podcast and feel free to share any feedback with us: podcast@zartis.com

Lisa Schnettler, an experienced CPO with 15+ years of experience, talks about her career in product management, and the lessons learned while leading teams through significant transformations.

The Guest - Lisa Schnettler, Chief Product Officer:

Lisa Schnettler is an experienced Chief Product Officer with over 15 years of experience as a technology product development and management leader. Lisa specialises in building diverse teams, transforming organisations, and driving revenue through effective digital technology solutions. Having worked in organisations ranging in size, locations, and culture, Lisa brings extensive insights in how product management works across different organisations.

The Road to Successful Product Transformation:

The complexities of product management and leading a team through a big transformation requires careful planning, transparency, and ethical considerations in the development process - especially when incorporating emerging technologies like AI in today’s world.

There are many factors that can make or break a transformation journey, but among the most important ones is getting your team’s buy-in. And that involves constant communication and getting their buy-in at different steps of the process, as expectations and reality are rarely a perfect match.

Some of the topics covered in this episode include:

• Understanding the reasons behind the need for change
• Key requirements for a successful transformation
• The biggest challenges in product development

Listen to the Story of Software on any podcast platform of your choice. The Story of Software Podcast is produced by Zartis, a software services company. We hope you enjoy listening to this tech podcast and feel free to share any feedback with us: podcast@zartis.com

 Ivar Conradi Østhus, CTO and CPO at Unleash, joins us to talk about his experiences when creating Unleash, and lessons learned on the route to efficient software development.

The Guest - Ivar Conradi Østhus, CTO and CPO at Unleash: 

Ivar Conradi Østhus, is the Chief Technology and Product Officer at Unleash, an open-source feature management software, built with large enterprises in mind. Ivar has 15 years of experience in the software world and has worked in many leading technical roles before creating Unleash.

How to Achieve Efficiency in Software Development:

Efficient software development is a journey still in progress for many organisations. While the transition to DevOps and automation is well underway at a larger market level, many challenges remain, particularly across larger enterprises. A transformation in mindset and processes is essential to achieving efficiency in software development in terms of adopting agile processes. Efficiency in software development revolves around the ability to change and improve software quickly. 

Some of the other topics covered in this episode include:

• How to simplify the SDLC process
• How to accelerate feedback loops and agile cycles
• How to use AI for efficient software development

Resources on Efficient Software Development:

Recommendations by Ivar on valuable resources for those aspiring to enhance their software development knowledge:

• The Phoenix Project: A captivating introduction to DevOps, shedding light on its importance in business success.
• Accelerate: A book that summarises years of DevOps reports, providing insights into metrics and practices for efficient software development.
• Skin in the Game by Nassim Taleb: Emphasising the significance of aligning incentives with outcomes in the software development world.

Listen to the Story of Software on any podcast platform of your choice. The Story of Software Podcast is produced by Zartis, a software services company. We hope you enjoy listening to this tech podcast and feel free to share any feedback with us: podcast@zartis.com

Meet Ricky Hill, Commercial Director at Zartis, who joins the Story of Software as our new co-host!

Ian Brady, Head of Talent Acquisition for EMEA & APAC at Zoom, talks about global market trends, the impact of AI, and the evolving demand for skilled talent in the tech industry.

The Guest - Ian Brady, Head of Talent Acquisition for EMEA & APAC at Zoom:

Ian Brady is the head of talent acquisition for EMEA & APAC at Zoom, the household name for video conferencing. Ian has extensive experience in remotely leading talent acquisition teams within multinational corporations across the globe. 

The Current and Future State of the Tech Labour Market:

Contrary to what the headlines might suggest, the tech industry has weathered many storms, and it's not just surviving; it's thriving. Despite the so-called recession, when we look at the data, job opportunities are still outpacing available talent by a considerable margin. Especially, when we look at the booming sectors within tech such as AI - the demand for engineers is skyrocketing. So, is the tech industry truly recession-proof? What secrets lie behind its resilience during economic downturns? 

Some of the topics covered include: 

• The effects of global economic conditions on the tech labour market
• How certain sectors and regions experience more growth than others
• The increasing demand for AI-related skills

Listen to the Story of Software on any podcast platform of your choice. The Story of Software Podcast is produced by Zartis, a software services company. We hope you enjoy listening to this tech podcast and feel free to share any feedback with us: podcast@zartis.com