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Document automation is revolutionizing how businesses handle their paperwork. It’s all about using technology to create, manage, and store documents, saving time and reducing errors.
In the digital era, its importance is skyrocketing. Why? Because it boosts efficiency and accuracy, especially in handling large volumes of documents.
Document automation is a game changer for small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) and professional services. It allows these entities to compete with larger organizations by streamlining processes and improving productivity.
With AI-driven tools, they can automate routine tasks, focus more on strategic work, and offer better client service. It is vital in a world where speed, efficiency, and accuracy are crucial to success.
Document automation or document assembly employs digital systems to create, collect, store, manipulate, and relay document data. It transforms manual processes into automated ones, replacing physical paper handling with digital workflows.
This technology allows for automatically generating documents based on pre-set templates and rules. It streamlines the creation of customized documents like contracts, reports, and letters.
Traditional methods rely heavily on manual input, which is time-consuming and prone to errors. They involve physical paperwork and manual data entry and often require repetitive tasks. Document automation, on the other hand, minimizes human intervention. It ensures consistency, reduces the likelihood of errors, and significantly speeds up the document creation process.
AI plays a pivotal role in document automation. It enhances the technology by enabling advanced features like natural language processing (NLP), machine learning (ML), and automated decision-making. It can also analyze large volumes of data, learn from patterns, and make context-aware decisions.
It means documents can be more personalized and accurate, adapting to specific user needs and scenarios. For instance, AI can auto-fill fields based on user history, suggest content based on context, and even ensure compliance with regulatory standards. This AI integration streamlines the document creation process and adds a level of intelligence and adaptability that was previously impossible.
The history of document automation is a fascinating journey of technological evolution that mirrors the broader progress in computing and artificial intelligence.
Document automation began in the late 20th century with the advent of word processors and basic computer programs. These tools were primitive by today’s standards, but they introduced the concept of digitizing document creation.
The popularity of personal computers in the 1980s and 1990s marked a significant advancement. Software like Microsoft Word became household names, offering more sophisticated document creation and editing capabilities.
This period saw the introduction of templates and macros. Users could create document templates with predefined formats and automate repetitive tasks using macros, significantly reducing manual effort.
The 2000s introduced workflow automation tools. These systems allowed for more complex document processes, integrating different stages of document management from creation to storage and sharing.
The evolution of cloud computing in the last decade transformed document automation. Cloud-based platforms enabled real-time collaboration, remote access, and storage, making document management more flexible and accessible.
The latest and most transformative phase is the shift towards AI-driven solutions. Users have integrated AI technologies like ML and NLPs into document automation tools. This integration allows advanced capabilities like automatic data extraction, content generation based on context, predictive text, and more sophisticated workflow automation.
Moreover, AI-driven solutions enable businesses to process and analyze large volumes of documents, extract insights, and make data-driven decisions. This shift is particularly significant for industries dealing with massive amounts of paperwork, such as legal, healthcare, and financial services.
The journey of document automation is a clear reflection of technological progress. Each phase has significantly improved efficiency, accuracy, and functionality in document management processes, from essential digitization to AI-enhanced automation. This evolution continues today, with AI-driven solutions leading the charge in transforming how organizations handle documents.
AI technologies such as NLP and ML are essential in modern document automation. NLP allows computers to process and understand human language. It aids in tasks like extracting critical information from documents (e.g., names, dates, clauses) and summarizing or translating texts.
On the other hand, ML, a branch of AI, enhances software applications’ ability to predict outcomes by learning from data sets. It identifies and classifies various document types in document automation, such as invoices and contracts. It also indicates and auto-fills fields in new documents based on learned patterns and historical data.
Collectively, these technologies improve the efficiency and accuracy of automated document processing. Here are examples of AI-driven document automation tools.
These tools use AI to analyze and manage legal contracts. They can extract key terms, identify compliance issues, and even suggest edits based on best practices. They automate the evaluation and analysis of essential information from contracts and other documents.
These tools use AI to extract data from various documents (like invoices and receipts) and input this data into databases or other software systems, reducing the need for manual data entry.
Platforms like Gavel use AI to help generate documents. They generate documents based on identifying variables and suggesting questions to collect necessary intake information based on uploaded documents. This ensures that generated documents are highly relevant and accurate.
In practical scenarios, these documentation automation software significantly reduce the effort and time required to handle documents. They enhance accuracy, offer insights, and allow for personalization in a way that traditional automation tools cannot.
As AI continues to evolve, experts forecast its impact on document automation to grow even further, opening up new advancements for innovation and efficiency.
Document automation presents many advantages for SMBs and various professional services like legal and financial sectors. For SMBs, the benefits are significant:
Professional services reap substantial benefits from document automation in the legal and financial sectors. Compliance and risk management are crucial in these industries, where adhering to regulatory standards is essential and mandatory.
Document automation tools are designed to comply with specific regulations, significantly reducing non-compliance risks. It ensures that businesses in these sectors can confidently operate, knowing their documentation meets legal standards.
Additionally, document automation greatly enhances client service. It enables faster response times for document-related queries and processes, increasing client satisfaction and improving service quality.
Automation tools can deliver quick and accurate insights for sectors that require document and data analysis, far surpassing the speed of manual analysis. These systems also provide secure storage and easy document access, safeguarding confidential client information. Professional services streamline their operations by adopting document automation and securing a competitive market advantage.
Implementing document automation in your business can be a game-changer, especially with a structured approach. Here’s a step-by-step guide for successful integration:
Clear communication is essential to keep everyone informed about the changes and their advantages, managing change more effectively. Prioritizing user experience is also crucial. A user-friendly system encourages faster adoption.
It’s also essential to set realistic expectations, understand that the transition might present challenges, and be ready to address them. Additionally, encouraging employee feedback is vital for ongoing improvements.
Ultimately, successful implementation hinges on selecting the right tool, ensuring comprehensive training, and maintaining a solid support system. These are key to seamlessly incorporating document automation into your business processes.
The user experience (UX) in document automation tools is critical for ensuring their effective adoption and use. Good UX design makes these tools more intuitive and easier to use, directly impacting productivity and efficiency.
Document automation tools with an easy-to-navigate interface can dramatically lessen the need for extensive training, flattening the learning curve. This accessibility boosts user adoption rates, as users are likelier to embrace a tool that doesn’t require lengthy and complex training sessions.
The straightforwardness of the tool’s design directly influences its ease of integration into daily workflows. It encourages more widespread and efficient use across the organization.
Furthermore, a well-crafted UX in document automation tools is essential for enhancing efficiency and user satisfaction. By simplifying and streamlining complex processes, a thoughtfully designed UX allows users to complete tasks more quickly and accurately.
This efficiency boosts productivity and contributes to a more enjoyable and stress-free interaction with the tool. Consequently, a positive user experience can increase user engagement and lower resistance to adopting new technologies, fostering a more technologically agile and responsive workplace.
An intuitive layout is a cornerstone of effective design in document automation tools. By organizing features clearly and logically, users can navigate the system effortlessly and quickly, locating the necessary functions.
This streamlined approach allows users to focus on their work rather than figuring out how to use the tool. A well-thought-out layout speeds up document processing and enhances the overall user experience, making daily tasks more manageable and less time-consuming.
Accessibility in design is equally crucial, ensuring that document automation tools are usable by everyone, including individuals with disabilities. Incorporating features like keyboard shortcuts, screen reader compatibility, and precise color contrasts make these tools more inclusive.
It broadens their usability and ensures compliance with accessibility standards. Additionally, in today’s mobile-centric world, responsive design is vital. It guarantees that document automation tools work seamlessly across different devices, allowing users to manage documents effectively, regardless of their device. This adaptability to various screen sizes and platforms is essential for meeting the needs of a modern mobile workforce.
Adopting a user-centric approach in designing document automation tools is fundamental. The design process should start and end with the user in mind, focusing on their actual needs and preferences.
Gathering user feedback, often through usability testing, is vital to understanding these needs. This approach ensures the product meets and exceeds user expectations, offering a practical, user-friendly solution. It leads to an intuitive design that aligns closely with the user’s workflow, enhancing the overall user experience and adoption rates.
Minimalism in design enhances the usability of document automation tools. By employing clutter-free interfaces that display only the essential elements, such tools can significantly reduce cognitive load for the user.
This simplicity in design helps users concentrate better and navigate the tool easily, making managing documents more efficient and less overwhelming. Moreover, maintaining consistency across the tool’s design ensures that users can easily navigate the rest of the program.
Consistency in design elements like menus, buttons, and workflows means users don’t have to relearn using different features. It creates a more seamless and comfortable user experience.
Effective design in document automation tools is in solutions like Gavel, which exemplifies simplifying complex processes. With its intuitive interface, Gavel has streamlined workflows, transforming these often cumbersome tasks into straightforward, user-friendly methods. This simplification saves time and enhances the user experience, making document management a more efficient and less daunting task.
Another aspect of compelling design is the provision of customization options. This feature allows users to tailor templates and brand elements to their needs, offering high flexibility.
Additionally, incorporating interactive elements like drag-and-drop functionality further enhances usability. These interactive features, often found in various document automation tools, make complex tasks like form building more engaging and manageable. It reduces the intimidation factor often associated with intricate document processes.
Integrating AI-driven document automation into existing business systems can significantly boost efficiency and accuracy. These tools can seamlessly blend with business systems, facilitating the sharing and utilization of data across different platforms.
For example, client information can be automatically populated in documents, saving time and reducing errors. Additionally, these tools can be aligned with existing workflows, automating processes like approval sequences or data entry. This integration streamlines the entire document handling workflow, enhancing overall business efficiency.
However, the integration process has challenges. A primary concern is ensuring system compatibility. The new AI tools must integrate smoothly with the existing IT infrastructure. It requires careful planning and testing to avoid disruptions in business operations.
Another significant challenge is maintaining data security and privacy. Introducing new tools, especially those handling sensitive information, necessitates stringent security measures to protect data integrity and comply with privacy laws.
You can employ several strategies to overcome these challenges. It’s crucial to conduct a thorough compatibility assessment before integrating new tools. Ensuring that data security protocols are robust and in line with current standards is imperative to protect sensitive information.
A gradual implementation approach can also be beneficial, starting with integrating the AI tools into minimal processes before a wider rollout. With comprehensive training and employee support, this approach can ease the transition and reduce resistance to the new system. Establishing feedback mechanisms is also essential to promptly identify and address issues, ensuring a smooth integration process.
Measuring the return on investment (ROI) of AI-driven document automation tools is crucial to understanding their value to your business. Here’s a guide to calculating ROI, key performance metrics to track, and insights on interpreting this data.
The initial investment is critical when assessing the ROI of document automation tools. It includes the cost of the software itself and the expenses related to its implementation.
These costs encompass employee training, adjustments or upgrades to existing systems, and the time spent integrating the tool into current workflows. Understanding these upfront costs provides a baseline against which the tool’s financial benefits can be measured.
Consider the operational cost savings after the tool’s implementation to calculate the ROI. It includes reductions in manual labor, which leads to cost and time savings associated with physical document storage.
Additionally, improved accuracy and lower error rates can contribute to cost savings. Then, consider any increases in revenue resulting from the tool’s use. It could stem from faster document processing times, enhanced customer satisfaction, and the capacity to handle more work without additional resources.
Measuring time savings is a crucial metric in evaluating the impact of document automation tools. It involves quantifying the reduction in the time required to create, process, and manage documents.
Businesses can clearly understand the efficiency gains by comparing the time spent on these tasks before and after implementing the automation tool. This time reduction indicates improved process efficiency and frees up resources you can redirect to other high-value jobs.
Another important metric is the tracking of error rates. Document automation tools minimize human errors in document creation and handling. Monitoring the frequency of errors or the need for document corrections can gauge the tool’s effectiveness in enhancing accuracy.
Additionally, tracking changes in employee productivity and efficiency can provide insights into the tool’s impact on workflow. Measuring customer satisfaction through surveys or feedback mechanisms is also crucial. It helps understand whether the processes translate into a better client experience, indicating the tool’s success and overall impact on the business.
Trend analysis plays a crucial role in evaluating the success of document automation tools. Businesses can identify patterns and trends that speak to the tool’s effectiveness by examining data over time.
An increasing ROI or steady improvements in key performance metrics, such as time savings or error reduction, are clear indicators of successful implementation. Monitoring these trends provides valuable insights into how well the tool functions and whether it’s delivering the expected benefits.
In addition to internal analysis, benchmarking against industry standards or similar businesses offers an external perspective on the tool’s performance. This approach helps you understand where your business stands with peers and industry norms.
Complementing this with qualitative feedback from employees and customers adds depth to the understanding. Their insights and experiences provide context to the quantitative data, uncovering potential areas for improvement.
Finally, organizations must address the importance of continuous monitoring. Regularly reviewing and analyzing these metrics allows for timely adjustments in strategy. It ensures that the business continues to optimize document automation tools and maximize their benefits.
Addressing cost and implementation challenges in document automation and choosing the right tools requires a strategic approach.
The initial investment in document automation tools often represents a significant financial commitment for businesses. This cost encompasses more than just the purchase price of the software.
It also includes associated expenses such as integrating the tool into existing systems, training employees, and potential upgrades for current systems. These costs can add up, making the decision to invest in document automation a substantial one.
Businesses must seek scalable solutions with flexible pricing models to address these financial concerns. Options such as tiered pricing or subscription-based models can be particularly advantageous. They allow businesses to pay only for the needed features and capacities, avoiding unnecessary expenses.
Additionally, calculating these tools’ long-term ROI is a crucial step. Businesses can better understand and justify the initial expenditure by projecting the potential savings and efficiencies gained over time.
Integrating new document automation software into a company’s existing systems presents a significant challenge. This process can often be complex, demanding careful coordination and technical expertise to ensure the new and old systems work seamlessly together. The complexity of this integration process varies depending on the existing IT infrastructure and the specific requirements of the latest software.
A critical factor in overcoming these challenges is the selection of document automation tools renowned for their ease of integration. Tools with comprehensive support and training resources can significantly smooth the transition.
Moreover, prioritizing software with user-friendly interfaces is critical for fostering employee adoption. Many employees may resist new technology due to unfamiliarity or fear of change.
Implementing change management strategies can be highly effective in addressing this. These strategies include training, setting clear expectations, and actively involving employees in the transition process. It reduces resistance and eases the shift to the new system.
Before committing to a document automation tool, businesses must conduct an in-depth analysis of their needs. It involves identifying the processes within the company that would benefit from automation and determining the features necessary to meet these requirements.
Understanding these needs ensures the selected tool aligns with the business’s current operations and addresses its unique challenges and goals. It makes the investment more valuable and effective.
When selecting a document automation tool vendor, two key factors are the vendor’s market reputation and the level of customer support.
A vendor with a strong reputation will likely offer a reliable, high-quality product. Equally important is the vendor’s customer support, which plays a crucial role during both the implementation phase and post-implementation.
This support is vital for resolving issues and ensuring a smooth transition to the new system. Security and compliance should not be overlooked, especially for businesses dealing with sensitive information. Ensuring the chosen tool adheres to industry data security and privacy standards is imperative to protecting the company and its clients.
When selecting a document automation tool, it’s crucial to consider its scalability. Your document automation needs will likely change as your business grows and evolves. The ideal tool should be able to scale up to meet increasing demands without requiring a complete system overhaul.
Look for solutions that offer flexibility in adding more users, handling larger volumes of documents, or integrating additional features as your business expands. This foresight ensures the tool remains a valuable asset in the short and long term.
Customization is another critical aspect to consider. Every business has unique workflows and processes, so there may be more effective choices than a one-size-fits-all tool. A tool that allows customization to suit your specific business needs can significantly enhance its utility.
It ensures that the program aligns perfectly with your existing processes, improving efficiency. Additionally, taking advantage of trial periods or requesting demos is wise. It gives you practical, hands-on experience with the tool, helping you make an informed decision before committing financially. Trials and demos can reveal insights into the tool’s usability, features, and overall fit with your business requirements.
Using AI in document automation brings several legal and ethical considerations, particularly around data privacy and compliance.
In AI-driven document automation, adherence to data protection laws is paramount, especially when handling personal or sensitive data. Policies like the California Consumer Privacy Act in the U.S. and the General Data Protection Regulation in Europe set guidelines for processing personal data.
These laws protect individuals’ privacy rights and impose heavy penalties for non-compliance. Businesses utilizing AI for document automation must ensure their systems comply with these legal frameworks, safeguarding personal data against unauthorized access and misuse.
Another critical legal aspect involves intellectual property rights, particularly relevant when AI is employed to generate or modify content within documents. Businesses must confirm they possess the rights to use, modify, and distribute the content created by AI. It avoids potential infringement of intellectual property rights, which can lead to legal complications.
Additionally, the issue of liability and accountability in AI-driven systems is a complex area. When decisions made by AI result in legal disputes or damages, pinpointing liability can be challenging.
Businesses must establish clear accountability protocols for AI decisions to navigate this legal landscape effectively. These measures are crucial in maintaining trust and ensuring that the use of AI aligns with legal and ethical standards.
AI systems, particularly in document automation, have the potential to perpetuate biases that exist in their training data. It can result in discriminatory or unfair outcomes, which is especially problematic in applications in legal or financial contexts.
To mitigate this risk, conducting regular audits of the AI systems is crucial to identify and correct any biases in automated processes. These audits help ensure that outcomes are fair and equitable, maintaining the integrity of the computerized systems and fostering trust among users.
Another critical consideration in the use of AI for document automation is transparency. Users need to understand how these systems make decisions. It is imperative in high-stakes areas like legal and financial document automation, where decisions can have significant consequences.
Alongside this, maintaining data privacy is essential. The confidentiality and security of the data processed by AI systems must be a top priority. It involves implementing strong security measures, such as robust encryption and strict access controls. These efforts protect sensitive information from unauthorized access and breaches, ensuring compliance with privacy regulations and maintaining user trust.
Following data protection and privacy laws is fundamental to using AI in document automation. Businesses must remain vigilant and current with evolving data protection regulations within their jurisdiction. This adherence is not just a legal requirement but also a crucial part of maintaining user trust.
Additionally, establishing clear data governance policies is imperative. These policies should detail how data is collected, used, and stored, ensuring that data handling is transparent and complies with legal standards. This structured approach to data management safeguards against misuse and maintains the integrity of the data handling processes.
On another front, conducting regular impact assessments is essential to understanding and mitigating the risks of using AI in document automation. These assessments help identify potential issues and ensure that AI systems operate within ethical boundaries.
Ensuring transparency in the AI decision-making process is equally essential. Users should understand how their data is used and how the AI makes decisions. Investing in robust cybersecurity measures is also critical to protect against cyberattacks and safeguard sensitive information from cyber threats.
Lastly, regular training for staff on legal and ethical issues and conducting routine audits is vital for maintaining compliance and addressing emerging concerns. This continuous education and evaluation play a key role in upholding the ethical use of AI in document automation.
The landscape of technology is constantly shifting, with innovations and improvements emerging regularly. These advancements can significantly benefit efficiency, accuracy, and cost savings. Therefore, businesses must keep pace with these changes to leverage the latest tools and methodologies effectively.
Delve into recent studies, attend industry webinars, and participate in relevant forums. Engaging with these resources will deepen your understanding and spark new ideas for applying these technologies in your business. Remember, the journey of technological adaptation is continuous. By embracing this journey, you open your business to a world of possibilities that can drive growth, innovation, and long-term success.
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The post Efficiency Unleashed: How Document Automation Software is Transforming Business Operations in a Post-AI World appeared first on Due.
Tesla (NASDAQ: TSLA) has navigated complex operational and environmental challenges in the past few months. These challenges have led to a 13% drop in Tesla’s stock price over the last thirty days. This combination of factors, ranging from supply chain disruptions to strategic pricing changes and technological obstacles in extreme weather conditions, has raised concerns about the company’s growth trajectory and has drawn the attention of investors and analysts. Tesla’s upcoming Q4 earnings report and FY2024 guidance are eagerly awaited, as they are crucial in assessing Tesla’s future in the fast-changing electric vehicle industry.
The recent challenges placing Tesla in the headlines, including operational disruptions, strategic market adjustments, and technological limitations in cold weather, have impacted its stock price, contributing to a 13% decline in the past thirty days. Tesla’s analysts are concerned about business growth, which has shown signs of deterioration in recent quarters. This, combined with the company’s high valuation, makes some analysts cautious about Tesla’s stock in the medium term.
Despite these concerns, Tesla’s diverse business operations beyond just manufacturing cars offer some optimism. Its advancements in other areas, like energy solutions and technology innovations, provide potential growth avenues. However, the company’s core focus on car manufacturing is subject to market cyclicality, which currently does not favor bullish sentiments.
Investors eagerly anticipate the release of the Q4 earnings report and guidance for the fiscal year 2024, as it will impact the company’s stock valuation. Manufacturing efficiency and the number of vehicles manufactured are pivotal in influencing investors’ interest. While some investors maintain a positive outlook based on potential long-term growth, Tesla’s overall sentiment is a mix of optimism and caution. Some investors and Tesla stock analysts have adopted a bearish stance due to the company’s prevailing challenges and market dynamics.
Tesla’s Berlin gigafactory is pivotal to its European market growth. The Berlin gigafactory has recently halted operations due to supply chain issues linked to the Red Sea blockade. This crucial maritime channel is integral to global trade, and its disruption has had a domino effect, underlining the vulnerability of global manufacturing networks to geopolitical strife. The Berlin factory, known for its state-of-the-art production capabilities, now faces uncertainties that concern investors, particularly regarding potential delays in vehicle production and distribution. This halt impacts Tesla’s operational efficiency and places added pressure on its stock value as the market reacts to these unforeseen challenges and the possible implications for Tesla’s European market performance and overall global supply chain efficiency.
In response to intensifying competition in China and Europe, Tesla has strategically reduced prices for select models in these key markets. This price adjustment is calculated to strengthen Tesla’s standing, especially in China, where the demand for affordable electric vehicles is rapidly expanding. While this strategy could potentially increase Tesla’s market share in the short term, it raises crucial questions about its long-term effects on its profitability and financial health. These concerns are particularly pertinent for investors as they weigh the implications of Tesla’s pricing strategy on its future revenue streams and overall market sustainability.
Tesla’s Shanghai factory is taking a scheduled break for the Lunar New Year, aligning with regional traditions. This closure, while routine, gains significance as it aligns with a time when Tesla’s operational choices are under close observation. The temporary halt, typical in the context of local customs, introduces a new dimension to Tesla’s efforts to satisfy global demand and rebuild investor confidence. The pause at this key manufacturing site, essential for Tesla’s market presence in Asia, is a reminder of the balance the company must maintain between respecting local practices and ensuring steady production flow.
CEO Elon Musk’s intention to augment his voting control of the company to around 25% has sparked a debate on Tesla’s corporate governance and strategic direction. This move could centralize decision-making and influence Tesla’s future trajectory, an aspect closely monitored by investors and market analysts. Increased control by Musk may bring about decisive leadership but also raises questions about the balance of power within the company. This development, coupled with the current challenges, plays a significant role in shaping investor perceptions and the company’s stock performance.
Tesla’s recent encounter with extreme cold weather in the United States has exposed a significant challenge, as several Tesla vehicle models could not charge or experienced very slow charging under these harsh conditions.
Extreme cold temperatures can significantly impact the performance of electric vehicle (EV) batteries. In harsh conditions, EVs may struggle to charge efficiently or, in more severe cases, might be unable to charge. This is partly because batteries need to be at a certain temperature to function optimally, and extreme cold can hinder their ability to store and use energy effectively. Additionally, the cold weather can affect the infrastructure, like the electric vehicle charging stations, leading to further complications in charging EVs efficiently.
This issue, which is not exclusive to Tesla but prevalent among electric vehicles (EVs), has brought to light the technological limitations that EVs face in extreme climates. This problem has sparked concerns among consumers and has caught the attention of regulators, leading to scrutiny of Tesla’s claims regarding vehicle performance in cold weather. Such developments have contributed to a lack of confidence among investors, adding further strain on Tesla’s stock in an already challenging period. This situation illustrates the ongoing need for technological advancements in EVs to ensure reliability and performance in all weather conditions.
As Tesla faces multiple operational, market, and environmental hurdles, its path forward is marked by challenges and opportunities. The 13% dip in stock price over the last month reflects the complex landscape the company navigates, from supply chain disruptions and pricing strategy, shifts to having to cope with the impact of extreme weather on electric vehicle technology. The anticipation around Tesla’s Q4 earnings report and FY2024 guidance is high, holding potential insights into the company’s strategy to address these complex issues. Investors and analysts actively watch how Tesla adapts and innovates in response to these challenges, balancing short-term pressures with long-term growth prospects.
A TikToker is going viral after secretly recording herself getting remotely laid off from computer and network security company, Cloudflare.
Brittany Pietsch recorded the nine-minute-long clip on January 12 after about four months with the company and said she knew that the layoff was most likely coming, which prompted her to start recording.
But instead of gracefully accepting her fate, Pietsch was ready to fight back.
@brittanypeachhh Original creator reposting: brittany peach cloudflare layoff. When you know you’re about to get laid off so you film it 🙂 this was traumatizing honestly lmao #cloudflare #techlayoffs #tech #layoff ♬ original sound – Brittany Pietsch
“I got let go by two people I didn’t know: a woman from HR and a director man I’ve never heard of,” Pietsch wrote. “I wanted to stand up for myself because what did I have to lose?”
The HR team explained that her performance was not up to par and that many people were being let go, including her. But Pietsch told the people on the call (an HR rep and a director) that she had the “highest activity” amongst her team and that “things have been going really, really well” for her. She then questioned why her manager, or someone she had at least met, was not on the call.
Related: Barbara Corcoran Shares What to Do If You’ve Been Laid Off
“I disagree that I haven’t met performance expectations. I really need an answer and an explanation as to why Brittany Pietsch is getting let go, not why Cloudflare decided to hire too many people then are now actually realizing that they can’t afford this many people and they’re letting them go,” she said bluntly — and in the third person.
Pietsch continued to push back and ask for direct answers about why she was really being let go, but HR didn’t budge.
“I’ll be honest with you, there’s nothing that we’re going to say in this call and the time that we have, that’s going to undo the way that you feel right in this moment,” the unidentified person said. “I personally, I will do everything that I can to give you as much specific information as I can, after this call, I can’t make any promises.”
Still, Pietsch asked for answers, to no avail.
“Despite constant positive praise from my manager, great meetings that I’m having, the amount of activity that I have has all been positive, I have not received any negative inclination, I have not been put on a performance improvement plan,” she said in frustration. “It just doesn’t make any sense that you guys have still not been able to give me a reason why I’m being let go.”
Pietsch’s video garnered mixed reviews from commenters, with many praising her for asking for justice and explanation when most are afraid to speak up.
“You handled this so well,” one person wrote. “They tried to gaslight you into it being based on your performance and not their company issues.”
Related: How Do Companies Decide Who to Lay Off?
“Good for you speaking up and being so composed with such little time to prepare,” another said.
Others were not as impressed with Pietsch’s attitude.
“The company just didn’t make money and if it’s sales you just didn’t make enough money to justify them keeping [you]. It’s business,” one person wrote.
“The points she made were valid, but it’s a bad career move to post this online,” another said.
The now-viral video, which has been viewed over 1.37 million times on TikTok, prompted a response from Cloudflare CEO Matthew Prince, who wrote on social media platform X that the company laid off roughly 40 out of 1,500 workers in Pietsch’s round.
He also noted that the company doesn’t always “hire perfectly,” and said that the company can usually tell within three months of a hire whether or not the employee is going to be successful or not.
We fired ~40 sales people out of over 1,500 in our go to market org. That’s a normal quarter. When we’re doing performance management right, we can often tell within 3 months or less of a sales hire, even during the holidays, whether they’re going to be successful or not. Sadly,…
— Matthew Prince ? (@eastdakota) January 12, 2024
“The video is painful for me to watch. Managers should always be involved,” Prince wrote. “Any healthy org needs to get the people who aren’t performing off. That wasn’t the mistake here. The mistake was not being more kind and humane as we did.”
Cloudflare was up over 69% year over year as of Tuesday afternoon.
Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.
With his inspiring journey from a difficult childhood to success in the music industry, Clinton Sparks shared valuable insights and lessons learned along the way.
One of the key takeaways from the interview was the emphasis on relationships and building relationship capital. Clinton Sparks highlighted the significance of investing in people and causes close to him. He stressed the importance of understanding one’s own capabilities and leveraging relationships to achieve success.
Clinton’s story of success in the music industry is a testament to his determination and resilience. Growing up in the hood, he faced numerous challenges and obstacles. However, instead of succumbing to his circumstances, Clinton used his resourcefulness to set up his own DJ equipment at home, even resorting to robbing houses and stealing turntables. This early experience taught him the value of having a plan rather than just an idea.
Related: 4 Principles to Success According to a Former Pastor Turned Business Coach
The interview also shed light on Clinton’s experience of being signed to a major label and then begging to be dropped. This decision was driven by his desire to pursue his own vision and recognize talent in others. Clinton’s ability to combine EDM and hip hop led to his discovery and signing of DJ Snake in 2007. Six years later, he introduced DJ Snake to Jimmy Ivy, resulting in the creation of the hit song “Turn Down For What.” This success story showcases Clinton’s keen eye for talent and his willingness to take risks.
Throughout the interview, Clinton Sparks emphasized the importance of leaving a positive mark wherever one goes. He believes in competing with oneself rather than others, constantly striving for personal growth and improvement. Clinton’s commitment to investing in people and causes close to him is a testament to his character and values.
When challenged by Jeff Fenster to rate himself on a scale of one to ten, Clinton hesitated before eventually giving himself a 9.9. This self-assessment reflects his humility and constant pursuit of excellence.
Related: This Why You Should Align Yourself with the Right People
In conclusion, Clinton Sparks’ interview on the Jeff Fenster Show provided valuable insights into the importance of relationships and building relationship capital. His journey from a difficult childhood to success in the music industry serves as an inspiration to all. Clinton’s emphasis on understanding one’s capabilities, having a plan, and accepting life’s challenges resonates with anyone striving for success. By investing in people and causes close to him, recognizing talent in others, and leaving a positive mark wherever he goes, Clinton Sparks has truly mastered the art of building relationship capital.
Serial entrepreneur Jeff Fenster embarks on an extraordinary journey every week, delving into the stories of exceptional individuals who have defied the norms and blazed their own trails to achieve extraordinary success.
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Java has long been one of the most popular and valued coding languages in the world. Whether you’re trying to bring more work in-house for your business or looking to add a skill set that will make you more hireable, it’s well worth getting familiar with. Plus, the 2024 Java Programming Certification Bundle is on sale for just $24.99 (reg. $420) through January 14th only.
This comprehensive bundle features seven courses and nearly 90 hours of content on the fundamentals of coding with Java. Let’s look at an example.
Fundamentals of Object-Oriented Programming: Java & IntelliJ is a popular course featured in this bundle, which is broken up into 52 lectures that make up 6.5 hours of content. In it, you can learn everything from the history of Java programming to the anatomy of a Java program, using Java syntax for storing and processing data, creating custom libraries, using GitHub to upload project files, and more.
This course and the others in the bundle are taught by instructors from Packt Publishing, which has earned a five-star rating for its online learning experiences designed for working and aspiring IT professionals. Some of the other course focuses in the bundle include Java multithreading, programming for beginners, building modern distributed systems with Java, learning Java’s design patterns, and more.
The 2024 Java Programming Certification Bundle is on sale for just $24.99 (reg. $420) through January 14th at 11:59 p.m. PT only.
Prices subject to change.
Disclosure: Our goal is to feature products and services that we think you’ll find interesting and useful. If you purchase them, Entrepreneur may get a small share of the revenue from the sale from our commerce partners.
Coding with Python might be one of the most versatile and applicable skills an IT professional could have. If you’re looking to add to your skill set in the new year, then consider investing in an affordable educational resource focused on Python development. If that sounds valuable, then you could, for example, get The 2024 Python for Software Engineering Bootcamp Certification Bundle on sale for just $24.99 (reg. $420) through January 14th only.
This bundle features seven courses and nearly 170 hours of content on coding with Python. It kicks off with a helpful introduction in the form of The Complete Python Course, which is rated 4.6/5 stars on average by verified purchasers. It shows you how to start learning to code with Python even with zero pre-existing knowledge or experience. It breaks down what you can do with Python, like building databases, developing web content, scraping the web, and more.
Some of the other focuses of courses in this bundle include machine learning with Python, concurrent and parallel programming, Python for software engineering, and more.
These courses are all taught by instructors from Packt Publishing, which maintains an impressive 5-star instructor rating for its reliable and informative e-learning experiences geared toward IT specialists and aspiring programmers.
Get The 2024 Python for Software Engineering Bootcamp Certification Bundle on sale for just $24.99 (reg. $420) through January 14th at 11:59 p.m. PT.
Prices subject to change.
Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.
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In the years since pandemic-related restrictions have eased, many workers have returned to the office and resumed their daily commutes.
Although now, commuting takes on a whole new meaning for some people, known as “super-commuters,” who put your 45-minute train ride or hour-long interstate crawl to shame.
And one is going viral after revealing that he commutes to his job in New York City from Columbus, Ohio, every week.
Chip Cutter, a reporter for the Wall Street Journal, has been spending his weeks going back and forth between the two states using credit card points and rewards and frequent-flyer airline miles to make the most of his money.
“Like many, I moved out of the city early in the pandemic, relocating near family in the Midwest. When it came time to return in 2022, I was underwhelmed at the housing options in my price range,” Cutter told the Wall Street Journal. “Using back-of-the-envelope math, I thought I could keep my expenses—rent in Ohio, plus travel costs—at or below the price of a nice New York studio, or roughly $3,200 a month.”
Related: Intern Commutes to Work By Plane Because Cheaper Than Renting
He says he spends three of five working days in the New York City office.
“Costs mounted in the fall, New York’s prime tourist and business-travel season. Friends teased me for embracing a life of chaos,” Cutter said. “They weren’t wrong. Without a refrigerator or stove, late-night dinners often consisted of yogurt and fruit purchased from a 24-hour CVS. Needing to pack light, I stored shoes under my desk and left spare outfits on an office coat rack.”
Cutter said that he’s blown his initial budget by 15% and that while he’s still enjoying “having one foot in the Midwest and one on the East Coast,” he’s not sure how much longer he can keep up the shtick.
According to Zillow, the median rent cost of a one-bedroom apartment in Columbus is $1,425, compared to $3,350 per month in New York City.
“The challenge felt oddly thrilling. If anybody could find a way to subvert high New York real-estate costs, while remaining close to family, I thought it might be me,” Cutter said. “Nerding out about this stuff has allowed me to travel farther and in more rarefied air than I could otherwise afford.”
Amazon laid off “several hundred” employees on Wednesday in the MGM Studios, Prime Video, and Twitch divisions. Employees were let go in an email sent by Senior Vice President Mike Hopkins.
“Throughout the past year, we’ve looked at nearly every aspect of our business with an eye towards improving our ability to deliver even more breakthrough movies, TV shows, and live sports in a personalized, easy to use entertainment experience for our global customers,” Hopkins wrote in the memo that was obtained by CNBC. “As a result, we’ve identified opportunities to reduce or discontinue investments in certain areas while increasing our investment and focus on content and product initiatives that deliver the most impact. As a result of these decisions, we will be eliminating several hundred roles across the Prime Video and Amazon MGM Studios organization.”
Related: Amazon Cuts 27 Out of 30 Private-Label Clothing Brands
Hopkins called the decision to slash staffers “difficult” and noted that the layoffs were global and could take up to one week for all affected employees to be contacted.
“It is hard to say goodbye to talented Amazonians who’ve made meaningful contributions on behalf of our customers, team and business,” he said. “Thank you for your dedication and work.”
Separately, at the live-streaming unit Twitch, which Amazon acquired in 2014, 500 staffers were cut on Wednesday.
Last year, Amazon initiated the largest round of layoffs in company history when CEO Andy Jassy announced that the company would be letting go of 18,000 workers, citing a difficult economic time and rapid hirings in the years prior amid the pandemic.
Related: Amazon CEO Andy Jassy Is on a ‘Cost-Cutting’ Spree
Amazon had a strong Q3 2023 after jumping 13% in revenue amid cost-cutting initiatives.
“We had a strong third quarter as our cost to serve and speed of delivery in our Stores business took another step forward, our AWS growth continued to stabilize, our Advertising revenue grew robustly, and overall operating income and free cash flow rose significantly,” Jassy said at the time.
It’s estimated that the company has laid off 27,000 employees since last fall.
Amazon was up over 61% year over year as of Wednesday afternoon.
