January 2024

Prolifics expert implementing IBM watsonx Generative AI solutions

How Does watsonx Supercharge Your Digital Transformation?

By Michael J. Hester, Master Data Architect – Information Management & Analytics 

IBM watsonx is transforming the way organizations approach digital transformation, enabling faster decisions, automation, and measurable business value. Generative Artificial Intelligence is playing an increasingly important role in how forward-thinking organizations conduct their business. From improved customer interactions, to exploring and analyzing vast amounts of data (and much more), Generative AI makes it possible for organizations to move faster and act more decisively, ultimately enabling them to unlock an unprecedented amount of opportunity. This is exactly why it’s mission-critical for teams across every sector and industry to tap into the benefits that Generative AI can offer. 

IBM watsonx (watsonx) is an industry-defining, cloud-based Generative AI platform. It’s a customizable solution for companies looking to launch or refine any number of tasks and processes, from content generation to data access and software automation. watsonx is trusted by leading organizations around the world to help them extract as much value as possible out of their data. 

At Prolifics, we have a dedicated team of experts who are committed to delivering best-in-class Generative AI solutions to our global customers. As a Master Data Architect with decades of experience leveraging IBM technologies to amplify customer outcomes, I’ve gained a wealth of knowledge that I apply daily to my work with watsonx. 

In this article, I’m reviewing three key ways that Prolifics + watsonx is uniquely positioned to support your team’s AI journey, and ensure that you get the most from this incredible technology. 

Elevate your approach to Generative AI with a trusted partner

1. Unparalleled experience:

Prolifics is an IBM North American, European and APAC Platinum business partner, and we’ve worked to optimize IBM solutions for decades. When IBM developed watsonx, Prolifics was chosen as an original beta customer, and many members of my team played a role in evaluating the platform and providing feedback to IBM’s internal team. 

While the term ‘Generative AI’ has only recently become part of the public’s everyday vocabulary, specialists like me have been working to understand this game-changing technology for years, and we have comprehensive experience helping teams from a wide range of sectors to implement and leverage this groundbreaking platform. 

2. Unprecedented customization:

As with any aspect of a digital transformation journey, the implementation of Generative AI within your organization must have a clear purpose: Before deploying such a robust tool, we always ask our customers: “What is your picture of success with Generative AI?” 

Different businesses, markets, industries, and sectors all have unique answers to this question. And to achieve these specific results, you’ll need to target your application of Generative AI towards specific use cases, processes, and tasks. Doing that requires a customizable platform, and a well-versed partner that fully understands how to leverage Generative AI to drive certain outcomes. 

3. Unmatched speed-to-value:

It’s no secret that AI is developing fast. I believe that it will be the organizations who move quickly to understand and implement this technology that stand to most meaningfully benefit from everything it can offer. But success with Generative AI isn’t as easy as simply choosing a platform and waiting for the results to roll in. Your teams must have vision, purpose, and the right support in order to truly see impressive results. 

In my day-to-day role, I work with customers to refine their objectives and help them identify clear, achievable ways to reach their goals. Through this exercise, we’re able to quickly build the necessary foundations that enable them to deploy watsonx in the most productive ways possible. By uncovering our customers’ goals and ambitions early on, the path toward implementation becomes much clearer and faster to navigate.

Start getting more from your data, tomorrow.

Prolifics’ “Power of 1” pledge is purpose-built to help ensure that teams get as much as possible from every aspect of their digital transformation journey, including their investments in Generative AI. All teams at Prolifics, including mine, are committed to leveraging our vast resources and deep expertise to ensure the fastest possible delivery of the best possible results for your business. 

In just one day, we’ll generate impactful ideas that will lend clarity to your projects and give shape to your goals. In just one week, we’ll provide you with proof of value to demonstrate exactly what Generative AI will mean for your organization and customers. In one month, we’ll build and deliver an MVP (Minimum Viable Product) that will go beyond validating your needs and demonstrate tangible business value. And in one year, we’ll scale your deliverables to deliver 10x ROI. 

Harnessing the unparalleled power of Generative AI is a massive undertaking that requires clear goal-setting, reliable roadmapping, and strong support. 

Prolifics + watsonx continues to offer savvy, innovation-led organizations the partnership required to get the most from the incredible opportunities offered by this landscape-changing technology. 

To learn more about how Prolifics + watsonx can transform your approach to Generative AI, just get in touch with a member of our expert team. We’ll be happy to help however we can. 

About the Author:

Mike Hester is a Senior Data Architect at Prolifics with 36 years of experience in information technology, specializing in DSS/Data Warehousing. He has worked in various roles such as project manager, system analyst, technical architect, and developer, delivering information management solutions in industries like government, engineering, and ERP. Mike is familiar with operating systems like Mainframe, UNIX, VMS, and Windows, and has worked with databases including Teradata, Oracle, SQL Server, DB2 UDB, DB2 DPF, and Netezza.

Data Governance strategy with Prolifics

9 Companies Who “Got it Right” with Data Governance 

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Staying on top of data governance isn’t easy, but reading up on the current trends will help. In this blog, we’ll look at some of the top companies who “got it right” with data governance, so you know what’s possible.  

Business Challenges or Initiatives: 

Data Privacy and Compliance 

You can gain trust by protecting personal data. Data privacy remains a top priority for businesses amidst evolving regulations. With increased reliance on digital technologies, the volume and sensitivity of collected data have surged. Non-compliance can lead to severe penalties, reputational damage, and loss of customer trust. Fortunately, these folks are staying ahead by taking a closer look at their data privacy program. Check it out!  

  • A world’s leading ship classification needed to find out which data privacy laws apply to them and how to follow them. They took steps to comply by updating applications, breaking down data silos, and creating a solid data governance plan. With 200 upgraded office locations, they found and fixed issues, processes, and technologies that could lead to noncompliance. They now have a comprehensive data governance program that reduces risk and keeps them compliant. 
  • A prominent health insurance provider needed a centralized data system for accounting, regulations, and decision-making, while grappling with quality issues. A tailored data governance solution was implemented, defining roles and data lifecycle rules to ensure successful adoption. The result? Trust in data, compliance assurance, and informed decision-making. 
  • A large-scale transportation company needed to line up their data practices with CCPA rules. They put in strong data privacy processes, made data management better, and smoothly achieved CCPA compliance. This showed everyone they’re serious about keeping data private and following the rules. The payoff? They achieved compliance, built customer trust, and streamlined operations.  

Data insights and customer experience 

You can use (and trust) your data to improve the customer experience and make smart business decisions. Data can tell us a lot about our customers and our business, but if it’s outdated and hard to access, it can block us from making informed business decisions that drive value. Let’s explore how some companies leverage their data for intelligent business decisions that benefit both their operations and customers! 

  • A health insurance payer, serving more than 3.5 million members, needed faster insights into their patient populations. To efficiently manage the vast amount of data involved, they undertook an end-to-end data migration and established a single data warehouse. The result? On-demand access to healthcare data, a significant reduction in operating costs, and a 40 percent decrease in data processing time. 
  • A global airline company needed to address data quality issues to improve traveler experience. To address this, the company implemented a data quality framework and software tools. The outcome? Improved data integrity, optimized operational efficiency, enhanced customer experiences, and strengthened regulatory compliance. 
  • A post-secondary institution needed to manage student data at scale and reduce costs. To effectively handle the data processing, reporting, and overall management of their student populations, they migrated to a single, cloud-based solution. The outcome is a streamlined process that facilitates the delivery of student success at scale.  

Data management and modernization

You can save time and money with modern data solutions. Sometimes systems are slow, time-consuming, costly and don’t give you the information you need. Storing data in a modern environment is the key to overcoming these barriers, offering improvements and adaptations to meet today’s needs. Explore how companies have embraced data modernization for quicker, more accurate insights! 

  • A payment solutions provider needed to increase customer subscriptions and decrease costs. How? They implemented modern data management tools to support data pipelines, governance, and analytics. Since then, they’ve witnessed a 20 percent decrease in operation costs and a 10 percent increase in customer subscriptions because of these modern data solutions. 
  • A leading national bank needed distinct and accurate records of their customers. In other words, they wanted to increase their customer “uniqueness.” In response, the bank transitioned its CRM platforms onto a modernized data management platform. This move streamlined customer profile entry, eliminated 7,000 duplicates, and eradicated 100 percent of free text. Customer uniqueness skyrocketed from 23 percent to an impressive 95 percent. 
  • A West Pacific bank needed one place to manage and access their data. To get there, they developed a strategy to modernize their data management and data operation platform to realize immediate results and long-term success. The bank’s data now exists on a single platform with the ability to run anywhere. Plus, they are more equipped to use AI to drive business value.  

Not sure where you’re at with data governance? That’s okay! We’re here to answer any questions you may have. Click below to submit your questions!

Double exposure of engineer in safety helmet with oil plant. Generative AI

Oil & Gas Company Fuels the Future with Digital Twins

Client:

Our client, a global leader in the oil and gas industry (OGC), operating across 80 countries, plays a vital role in supplying fuel, energy, retail services, and petrochemical products. 

Challenge:

The oil and gas industry embraces advanced technologies like AI, IoT, Big Data, and cloud computing. The emergence of ‘Digital Twins’ offers unparalleled insights into operations—a dynamic, virtual representation of physical assets or systems created using real-time data. Despite recognizing its potential, OGC faces challenges in bridging the gap between digital replicas and reality due to complex manual data processing. 

In the ideal scenario, OGC envisions capturing facilities using a high-resolution 3D system and importing them into a comprehensive application platform as the ultimate single source of truth. However, manual processes hinder reaching this state, involving navigating through various source documents and applications, making the alignment of digital information a challenge. 

Action:  

Enter the autonomous pipeline—a system developed by Prolifics using AI to automate manual activities. While full autonomy is a long-term goal, the current approach involves leveraging AI to autonomously perform most process steps, reducing reliance on extensive human resources, expediting reconciliation, and paving the way for future enhancements. 

Prolifics actively engages in: 

  • Proof-of-Concept (POC): Utilizing AI accelerators as reconciliation tools for visual digital twins. 
  • Incremental Feature Development: Enhancing AI tools for specific requirements within OGC’s operations. 
  • Limited Iterations: Testing and refining in two phases, focusing on specific facilities and a restricted scope of assets. 
  • Scaling Efforts: Aiming to extend autonomous efforts across all OGC’s assets and digital sources. 
  • Comprehensive Support: Providing assistance in data integration, real-time connectivity, user training, scalability planning, and cybersecurity. 

Results:

The tangible results include immediate hard savings in time and money, empowering better planning, improved worker experiences, precise simulations, enhanced failure predictions, and more efficient cost reduction. Achieving a single source of truth aligns with OGC’s sustainability goals, enabling efficient facility planning and anticipation through simulation. The technology’s versatility contributes to unlocking various use cases, potentially saving hundreds of millions of dollars for OGC. 

Related Resources:

GenAI self-assessment

Take Our Gen AI Short Self-Assessment

You’ve no doubt heard about the benefits of Gen AI – and maybe you’re already reaping some of these benefits yourself. But where does your organization really stand on Gen AI? Take our Gen AI short self-assessment. Find out where you stand and what your next steps should be. 

Futuristic hyperloop station in urban environment. Sleek hyperloop train in a futuristic station, representing cutting-edge transportation technology in a modern urban environment.

All Aboard! Don’t Let AI and AI Governance Leave You Behind.

So, you want to know what AI and generative AI can do for your business, but there are whispers in the office (okay – over Zoom) about AI getting out of control. Well, IBM has you covered on both sides. IBM’s watsonx.ai is “a next generation enterprise studio…for AI builders to train, test, tune, and deploy both traditional machine learning and new generative AI capabilities.” Meanwhile, IBM’s watsonx.governance is “a next-generation enterprise toolkit designed to automate and accelerate workloads across the AI lifecycle while providing risk management and facilitating regulatory compliance.” Simply, one does AI and the other watches AI. Let’s look at different use cases in various industries and see how each IBM product could play out. As you read this, think about all the potential use cases in your own organization. Let’s go – 

 

Banking – Building better compliance and higher customer trust

This financial institution uses an AI model to assess loan applications – analyzing an applicant’s financial data to predict potential defaults. However, there are concerns that there could be bias in the AI model – denying loans to certain demographic groups and creating regulatory compliance issues. 

The bank integrates its AI loan approval model with watsonx.governance. It’s configured to monitor the model for signs of bias against protected classes, such as race, gender and age. It assesses whether the model treats all applicants fairly and provides clear explanations for why a particular person was approved or denied.  

The governance system alerts the bank if potential non-compliance issues are detected. watsonx.governance maintains detailed logs and reports of the model’s decisions, which are needed for internal audits and regulatory reviews. It also generates a feedback loop to continuously improve the model, ensuring it remains fair, accurate, and compliant over time. Ultimately, this transparency is crucial for regulatory compliance and – perhaps more importantly – maintaining customer trust. 

 

Healthcare – Generating better patient outcomes

A large hospital wants to improve patient care, reduce diagnosis times, and enhance the overall efficiency of its medical services. They decide to integrate watsonx.ai into their system. Watsonx.ai can cross-reference medical literature and similar cases to generate personalized, patient-specific diagnoses and treatment plans. Watsonx.ai interfaces with the hospital’s electronic health records, and by analyzing patient data, medical histories, and clinical notes, it helps physicians diagnose complex cases.  

The watsonx.ai system also undertakes predictive analytics for preventive healthcare – such as identifying patients at risk for chronic diseases and outlining preventive measures. This proactive approach will not only improve patient outcomes, but also reduce long-term costs. 

In addition to patient care, watsonx.ai can assist with medical research and drug discovery through large dataset analysis. It also serves as a personalized educational tool for the medical staff, keeping them updated with the latest medical news in their fields or specialties. Overall, watsonx.ai will help generate better diagnostics, personalized treatment plans, and preventative measures, all resulting in better patient outcomes. 

 

Legal – Increasing output to service clients quicker

This small firm creates custom immigration visa plans ​by extracting information from source documents and populating a template to create a tailored report. They are only able to generate one plan per day. The client has heard that generative AI (Gen AI) increases productivity, but the client’s process is too complex for current Gen AI “token limits’ – how much language a Gen AI platform can handle in a prompt.​ 

The solution is a custom combination of IBM Database and watsonx to overcome the Gen AI token limits. The solution uses Gen AI to orchestrate steps and pull items together to create new content. This produces value way beyond how the client would have been able to use basic prompt-and-response Gen AI previously.​ 

The firm can produce at least 10 plans a day, versus one before. Greater immigration plan through-put will mean that individuals will get placed with the host businesses more quickly, meaning greater productivity for those businesses and, in turn, better service for their customers. 

 

Technology – Creating the “Intelligent Assistant” to support IT

This global financial technology company wants to integrate Gen AI within Microsoft Teams to create an interactive group resource for on-demand insights. The goal is facilitating chat interactions about current work in its IT operations department.​ 

The solution is an “Intelligent Assistant” with an incorporated “listener” that seamlessly integrates into Teams chat, complemented by an orchestrator, a UI (user interface), and a database with a LLM (large language model) hosted on watsonx. The solution actively monitors Teams chats and extracts and stores information.​ 

​The company will experience major productivity gains, including quicker identification of issues and problems; more accurate and efficient time and project tracking; instant access to information; and on-demand real-time content creation such as reports, steps for issue resolution, and more.​ 

 

Retail – Personalizing experiences while protecting privacy 

A large retail chain wants to enhance their customer experience and manage inventory more efficiently using AI. However, they want to ensure the ethical use of AI to keep their good reputation. They decide to implement watsonx.ai for advanced analytics and watsonx.governance for managing AI ethics and compliance. 

Watsonx.ai improves customer engagement and satisfaction by using customer data, purchase histories, and preferences to offer personalized shopping recommendations and predictions on shopping trends.  It also helps inventory management by forecasting demand, reducing the likelihood of being over or short with stock. 

At the same time, watsonx.governance ensures customer recommendations are unbiased and equitable, by monitoring AI applications for fairness. It also helps with compliance around data protection and privacy regulations, both essential for customer trust. 

The combination of watsonx.ai and watsonx.governance will lead to increased sales, reduced costs, and a strong ethical reputation in the market, along with – most importantly – customer loyalty. 

 

Let us help you do more together – Prolifics and watsonx

Are you ready for the bandwagon? Take our latest short self-assessment and see where you stand. 

When it’s time, bring any AI or generative AI use case to our virtual Prolifics Innovation Center. We’ll help you understand the best solutions. We’ll prototype quickly, create a minimal viable product, then build an end-to-end solution with our own development accelerators. We’ll help ensure data and AI governance from day one. Talk to us! 

Data Governance checklist

How Established is Your Data Governance Strategy?

No matter where you are in your data governance journey, understanding and improving your practices is essential. Data governance is like the compass for your business data—it ensures it’s accurate, secure, and trustworthy. So, where does your organization stand on data governance? Take our short self-assessment to find out!  

data privacy guide for 2024

Prolifics’ 2024 Data Privacy Guide

Data is a valuable asset, enabling personalization, effective marketing, and data-driven decisions that boost loyalty and revenue. However, with great data comes great responsibility. Customers are more concerned about their data privacy than ever before. 

Are you confident that your organization complies with data privacy laws and secures customer trust? Read our eBook to find out.  

In this eBook, you’ll learn: 

  • The evolving landscape of data privacy laws, from HIPAA to GDPR and CCPA. 
  • Expert insights on holistic data governance and customer-centric approaches. 
  • Practical steps for compliance with our data privacy checklist. 
  • Real-world success stories showcasing the impact of data privacy. 

Let’s get started! Protect your organization, empower your customers, and elevate your business. Download our eBook today to discover how data privacy is the key to compliance and safeguarding your customers’ data. 

salesforce

Take Your Salesforce Platform to New Heights in 2024

Salesforce’s Continued Leadership in Sales Force Automation

Salesforce is ranked as a Leader in Gartner’s Magic Quadrant for Sales Force Automation Platforms, maintaining this position for 17 consecutive years.
Gartner also placed Salesforce highest in its Ability to Execute axis — a testament to how effectively the company delivers on commitments and drives market performance.

So, what commitments can we expect from Salesforce in 2024?

Matt Wallock, Chief Revenue Officer for Enable Consulting (a Prolifics company with Salesforce expertise), attended the Salesforce World Tour NYC Winter 2023. Below are his top three takeaways for where Salesforce is headed in 2024.

1. The Einstein 1 Platform: Powering AI and Generative AI Innovation

Salesforce is doubling down on AI with its recently introduced Einstein 1 Platform — described as a trusted AI platform that enables businesses to safely connect any data, build AI-powered apps with low-code, and deliver entirely new CRM experiences.

The company also unveiled a generative AI-powered conversational assistant integrated into every CRM application and customer experience.

“Salesforce is talking about something brand new in the AI space — the ability to build individualized algorithms for AI specific to each business,” said Wallock.
“These models analyze data within a client’s Salesforce environment to make decisions using a generative AI model unique to that organization.”

At Prolifics, Salesforce and AI experts are developing a solution that enhances customer service by combining:

  • Telephony (phone systems)
  • CTI (computer telephony integration)
  • IVR (interactive voice response)
  • Salesforce data
  • AI learning models

This integration enables real-time “next best action” prompts for agents — either displayed on the screen or delivered through a “whispered” suggestion.

The key takeaway: Salesforce is investing heavily in AI, and companies like ours are leveraging this innovation to create next-level, AI-driven customer engagement solutions.

2. Unstructured Data Integration with Data Cloud and MuleSoft

Salesforce continues to expand its data integration capabilities to help customers unlock siloed information.
The Data Cloud — a suite for data integration, management, and analytics — now supports unstructured data alongside structured sources.

According to Salesforce, the Data Cloud will automatically determine how unstructured data should be structured for interoperability with other systems.

Wallock shared:

“This used to be the realm of systems integrators like Prolifics and Enable Consulting. Salesforce is now taking integration deeper with significant product development behind Data Cloud. For complex integrations, MuleSoft and Data Cloud will likely work together.”

He further added that while Salesforce’s ecosystem is evolving, experienced integration partners will continue to play a vital role — especially for heavy-lifting data projects requiring MuleSoft expertise.

Bottom line: Salesforce is redefining how enterprises handle unstructured data, and our integration teams are ready to help organizations unlock its full potential.

3. Industry-Focused Go-to-Market Strategy

Salesforce continues to go to market by industry, offering Industry Clouds — combinations of Sales and Service Clouds with industry-specific data models and advanced capabilities.

“We also go to market by industry and have strong capabilities across multiple sectors,” said Wallock.
“We help companies evaluate their current Salesforce investment versus an Industry Cloud model and determine how to bring it all together effectively.”

This industry-driven strategy ensures that every solution is customized to the unique processes, challenges, and compliance needs of each vertical.

Enable Consulting: A Prolifics Company

At Enable Consulting, our mission is to help you build stronger relationships with your customers through the strategic use of technology.
We bring deep expertise in customer relationship management, sales, service, and marketing automation, supporting your business at every stage of the customer journey.

Read the media release: Prolifics Acquires Enable Consulting | Prolifics

Salesforce Engineering at Prolifics

At Prolifics, we take Salesforce beyond traditional CRM — transforming it into a fully integrated SaaS platform that powers your enterprise end-to-end.
Our differentiation lies in leveraging Salesforce across your application portfolio, maximizing ROI and agility.

Explore our Salesforce Expertise: Visit Salesforce Expertise Webpage

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