Monthly Archives: January 2025

What you need to know about 5G

Fifth Generation (5G) networks can expand data capacity, bandwidth and boost reliability. Read on to learn more about how the expansion of 5G networks can enhance your business telecommunications and improve user experience, and the role cybersecurity plays.

 

The Evolution of 5G Technology

 

Since its release in 2019, the use (and use cases) of fifth generation (5G) cellular networking has experienced remarkable growth and continues to grow. The market has expanded by trillions of dollars, and 5G has applications across numerous industries. At this time, it has superseded all previous generations, from the first in the 1980s powering analog voice communications to the fourth which ushered in mobile broadband. 

 

And how does 5G surpass previous generations? It offers an increase in internet connection speed, along with increased bandwidth (it can function on low, medium and high bands). It has an even greater capacity for data, and offers low latency so data can travel at even higher speeds. Telecommunications applications will function more quickly and reliably. Video conferencing and telephone calls run smoothly, delighting both workers and customers. Files can be shared quickly, helping you serve customers more efficiently, giving you a competitive edge.

 

Private 5G – A More Secure Choice

 

Another trend to watch is the use of private 5G networks. Though similar to public 5G, private 5G offers a personalized experience that fits your company’s needs. For example, access can be limited to a single entity (your company) and you can control the network and protect your data. Since 5G is cloud-native, the provider handles the infrastructure and saves you capital expense. You can deploy and control your own data, an advantage in this age of increasing cybersecurity risks.

 

Considering Cybersecurity

 

With its capabilities, 5G can present cybersecurity challenges. Along with the potential of 5G, your company needs a plan for handling security challenges. First, the increased capacity for data means considering how to store that data. Second, more data is moving from place to place. Third, with more devices connected, the threat surface increases. Vulnerabilities might be introduced by components of previous generations, and these could threaten data security. Future concerns might be present that are as yet unknown. As always, your company needs to thoughtfully consider 5G and what telecommunications use cases fit with business goals. 

 

The latest generation of wireless technology offers both potential and challenges. For further information and guidance, contact your trusted technology advisor today.

From Chatbots to AI Agents: A New Trend for 2025 and Beyond

Chatbots, also termed conversational AI (artificial intelligence), have made AI more popular than ever. They can help with simple tasks, though AI agents have greater power and a wider range of use cases. Read on to learn more about the prospective move from chatbots to AI agents to provide a better user experience as well as save time and money. 

 

Just What Are Chatbots? 

 

Chatbots are automated programs that use artificial intelligence to interact with humans via text, graphics, video or voice. They are programmed to help with simple, routine tasks and questions. They can vary  in sophistication to be digital assistants that can handle requests in a more personalized way as well as process information. The more sophisticated chatbots can use data to be more interactive and personalized. 

 

Chatbots bring value through productivity enhancements. They can augment writing, research and graphics to free up workers for more complex and strategic tasks. Where humans can only perform tasks one at a time, chatbots can handle multiple requests simultaneously, or serve multiple customers. Customer research has shown that messaging applications are becoming the preferred method for some transactions, according to an Oracle article

 

How an AI Agent Differs From a Chatbot

 

A higher level of sophistication is a key difference between agents and chatbots. Chatbots can certainly elevate performance by automating tasks and workflows, as long as tasks aren’t terribly complex. Agents powered by AI can be even more efficient, acting autonomously based on data, natural language programming, and machine learning.  Human workers can equip agents with algorithms, sensory inputs, data sources and even other agents to perform tasks like perceiving context, taking action (through completion), and using this experience in the future. Agents can be taught to learn, as well as tailored to set goals and act on those goals. Unlike chatbots, agents don’t depend on keywords or scripts.

 

Business Benefits of AI Agents

 

Via continuous training, along with more data, agents can even recognize when they don’t have enough information to make a solid decision, and can gather more data. They can work even outside office hours, allowing businesses to get more work done, since they aren’t prone to downtime. They can complete tasks the same way every time, increasing accuracy, like making sales calls and scheduling meetings. Agents can automate processes and save costs, and even find ways to further optimize processes to eliminate possibly costly errors for the company.

 

Return on Investment in AI Agents

 

How will you know if your use of AI agents is paying off? Are you experiencing more conversions and serving more people? How many more? How much revenue are you bringing in as a result of automation? How many minutes per customer interaction are you saving by using the agent? Spending for AI can be justified if it alters the bottom line, increasing it by at least 3% according to some experts. 

Agents and Chatbots Working Together

 

While perhaps it remains to be seen, agents and chatbots could work together, but for different purposes. Perhaps chatbots could take an initial question and answer it, but if the situation becomes more complex, it could be transferred to an AI agent. 

 

The future of artificial intelligence is exciting. Stay tuned, and keep in touch with your trusted technology advisor.