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Best Low Cost Laptops for Under $350 in 2020
This article reviews a handful of Windows 10 laptops, all priced under $320, that are well suited for most day-to-day tasks. They include models from Asus, HP, Dell, and Lenovo.
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AI in Finance 2020: Applications & Benefits in Financial Services
This article claims that the aggregate potential cost savings for FIs from AI applications is estimated at $447 billion by 2023. AI in finance encompasses everything from chatbot assistants to fraud detection and task automation.
IBM/Red Hat Open Hybrid-Cloud Application Market
IBM and its Red Hat company have opened up what they call a one-stop-shop for customers looking to build, deploy and manage hybrid-cloud applications on-premises or in multicloud environments. The marketplace is specifically aimed at hybrid-cloud computing customers. There is also a private marketplace option, Red Hat Select, that will be managed by IBM, aimed at companies that want to build customized applications with pre-approved software and services.
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AI Provider Launches Touch-Free Interface for Kiosks, PC Applications
Jungo, a provider of artificial intelligence software, is launching MagiaTouch, an AI software stack enabling a touch-free, interface for embedded devices and PC applications. It uses a camera to understand natural human gestures instead of a touchscreen, keyboard or mouse. The built-in camera (or add-on) analyzes faces, eyes, hands, gestures and voice, and enables control of devices and kiosks by using natural human interaction, without touching screens, according to the company.
AI Helps Keep Cash Machines Replenished
HSBC in Hong Kong is using an AI-based cash withdrawal forecasting tool to make sure that its network of 1200 ATMs don't run out of money. The new tool uses live ATM data and predictive machine-learning algorithms that factor in seasonality, holidays, public events, location and recent withdrawal trends to calculate how much money is needed and where. Its dashboard visualizes live withdrawal patterns, enabling them to respond more precisely to demand and reduce lead times on cash replenishment deliveries from up to 36 hours down to just 15 minutes.
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How 5G Could Usher in 'Fintech 2.0'
Still a long way from availability in the mainstream, 5G theoretically offers access to cellular speeds 1000x faster than 4G. With 5G, latency is expected to be slashed from 50 milliseconds currently offered by 4G to under 1 millisecond which can help make banking staples – like payments and transactions – instant. It will allow for quicker but much more robust security features. Plus the author posits that it will also pave the way for real-time, personalized user experience when interacting with increasingly data-laden apps and services connected by APIs to various other databases.
Mitek Unveils Mobile Banking Deposit Update
Mitek has released Mobile Deposit 4.8, a mobile banking app. Key features from the release include: MICR Special Processing; Blank payee & payor signature detection; Date validation; Enhanced endorsement detection; and Support for Windows Server and SQL 2019.
Contactless Payments: The New Normal and How to Offset the Costs
The author contends that contactless is the name of the game right now and for the foreseeable future, as people avoid germ-heavy cash and touching of payment terminals. She goes on to layout the 3 biggest reasons you should issue contactless cards and offer digital wallet services to your account holders ASAP: 1) Consumer experience; 2) Safety and Security; and 3) Financial benefit.
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(ISC)2 Shares Blueprint for Building Cybersecurity Training Programs
(ISC)² – the world’s largest nonprofit association of certified cybersecurity professionals – has published a new resource, The Enterprise Guide to Establishing a Cybersecurity Training Program, designed to help companies create cybersecurity training plans that can be tailored to an organization’s specific needs. The 20-page guide is a collection of best practices and expert guidance from subject matter experts in the field, and gives organizations a blueprint to develop formal, standards-based cybersecurity training and education programs for employees.
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Social Media Contests Don't Work... Unless You Do This!
The author states that social contests are a huge way for FIs to connect and engage with their audience. She says that it's important to start by setting specific goals for your social channels and then define how these networks will operate in relation to your overall marketing strategy. She goes on to cover some guidelines for creating a successful social contest.
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Online Banking/E-Commerce/Website Design
Digital-First Banking Doesn't Mean Chasing Every Fintech Innovation
Going digital-first means accepting a rate of digital change that moves at a geometric rate, versus a branch experience that changed glacially by comparison. The article states that FIs have to pay close attention to what consumers want to accomplish, not worrying so much about how they would prefer to deliver digital services. Looking at how transactions flow and how new ideas and technology can assist is key. Finally, it warns not to fall in love with tech and design for its own sake.
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Best VoIP Providers in 2020: RingCentral, Vonage, Ooma, and More
VoIP (Voice over IP) solutions allow you to run a PBX in the cloud, and connect employees working from home just as if they were wired into the on-premises phone switch. This article looks at 12 solutions that should help you stay connected.
4 Ways Network Traffic Analysis Benefits Security Teams
Moving workloads to the cloud, pursuing virtualization or SD-WAN projects create network traffic blind spots that can’t easily be monitored using standard security tools. Here are four ways that network data in general and network traffic analysis in particular can benefit your organization: 1. Enabling behavioral-based threat detection; 2. Providing data for security analytics, compliance and forensics; 3. Delivering better network visibility for better security automation; and 4. Decreasing malware dwell time.
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How Voice Analytics Can Improve Service Levels
Voice analytics and speech analytics have the ability to give organizations the ability to adapt to new trends and changes in consumer behavior. Voice analytics give the user the ability to better understand a caller’s perspective through their voice and tone. The pitch, loudness, timbre, speech rate, and pauses in a caller's voice will help to analyze and assess whether a conversation is proving to be a positive or negative experience for them. This will be a two-way conversation, so you can also measure your agent's tone of voice, too. Voice analytics has the potential to take the heat out of a tricky situation, and can also provide data that you and your team can use to reduce call times and repeat calls.
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