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☆ Southwest Meltdown Shows Airlines Need Tighter Software Integration
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-02 | by ( Belle Lin | ) www.wsj.com time to read: +6 min

Southwest’s software wasn’t designed to solve problems of that scale, Chief Operating Officer Andrew Watterson said Thursday, forcing the airline to revert to manual scheduling. Unlike some large rivals with hub-and-spoke networks, Southwest planes hopscotch from city to city, which may have been another complicating factor. Mr. Alamzad said the most serious IT challenge airlines face stems from the applications developed in silos by vendors or the airlines themselves. Southwest recently completed an upgrade of its new reservation system and had been working through multiyear upgrades to systems used in its operations. Other carriers have given priority to upgrading customer-facing reservations platforms and flier loyalty programs over operations systems, Mr. Alamzad said.

☆ CIO 2023 Priorities: Speed and Agility
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-30 | by ( Belle Lin | ) www.wsj.com time to read: +4 min

Technology executives in a recent CIO Journal end-of-year survey shared their priorities for 2023. In addition to delivering on a company’s technology goals, business technology executives have been navigating tricky waters over the past year as a result of rising interest rates, a tumultuous geopolitical landscape and stubborn inflation. Newsletter Sign-up WSJ | CIO Journal The Morning Download delivers daily insights and news on business technology from the CIO Journal team. Alessandro Ventura, Unilever North America’s CIO and vice president of analytics and business services. “Nobody has a crystal ball,” Mr. Ventura said.

☆ CIO 2023 Priorities: Always Be Modernizing
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-28 | by ( Belle Lin | ) www.wsj.com time to read: +2 min

Technology executives in a recent CIO Journal end-of-year survey shared their priorities for 2023. Newsletter Sign-up WSJ | CIO Journal The Morning Download delivers daily insights and news on business technology from the CIO Journal team. “And this year we are doubling down to maximize the potential of our [over] 500 petabytes of data.”Ramon Richards, CIO, Fannie Mae Photo: Cade Martin PhotographyAt mortgage finance giant Fannie Mae, CIO Ramon Richards said one of his 2023 technology priorities includes continued cloud adoption. “We’ve built a strong foundation and are reaching maturity on many aspects of our digital transformation, which allows us to allocate more capacity to deliver on Fannie Mae business priorities next year,” Mr. Richards said. David Vidoni, vice president of information technology at Pegasystems Inc., said the top technology priority in 2023 is to continue modernizing its business systems.

☆ Companies like Airbnb can ban customers based on a criminal background check: Here's how to dispute it if you think yours is in error
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-27 | by ( Sarah Belle Lin | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

Companies like Airbnb say they use background checks to help protect the community. Background checks have proliferated but there are common flaws in the system, experts say. Here's what criminal justice experts say about inaccurate background checks and how to file appeals. "They're not really looking at potential risk in terms of public safety, per se," Stewart told Insider. "I think part of it is companies being able to determine their own criteria," Stewart told Insider.

☆ Corporate Tech Leaders Untangle Their Cybersecurity Roles
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-22 | by ( Belle Lin | ) www.wsj.com time to read: +6 min

Information technology and cybersecurity chiefs grew closer than ever in 2022, a dynamic allowing for more comprehensive threat mitigation, but raising new questions over responsibilities. About 50% of the company’s threat planning simulations, in which IT plays an active role, involve ransomware scenarios, according to Ms. Smart. Ms. Allison is retiring at the end of the year, the company said, and will be succeeded by Gary Harbison. Photo: Adobe Inc.Prasad Ramakrishnan, the CIO and former CISO of software maker Freshworks Inc., said IT and security have shared roles in evaluating the cybersecurity resiliency of corporate software purchases. And in securing a hybrid work environment, his joint cybersecurity and IT roles included adding a new cybersecurity layer on top of cloud-based software on company laptops.

☆ Cybersecurity Firms Cut Staff as Fears About Economy, Funding Mount
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-21 | by ( Belle Lin | James Rundle | ) www.wsj.com time to read: +5 min

Cybersecurity companies have laid off hundreds of workers in recent months, as concerns mount that an economic downturn will delay funding rounds, and squeeze the amounts investors are willing to commit. But cybersecurity companies often run through cash at high rates, analysts say. Newsletter Sign-up WSJ Pro Cybersecurity Cybersecurity news, analysis and insights from WSJ's global team of reporters and editors. In August, email security firm Malwarebytes Inc. laid off around 125 people, or roughly 14% of its global workforce, a spokesperson confirmed. SHARE YOUR THOUGHTS How would a layoff at one of your cybersecurity providers affect your security strategy?

☆ Werner CIO Looks to Outfit Company Trucks With AI-Enabled Tech
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-15 | by ( Belle Lin | ) www.wsj.com time to read: +4 min

Mr. Mahon was hired in 2020 to help the 66-year-old trucking and logistics company modernize its technology—much of it built on legacy systems. Nearly 50% of Werner’s systems, data and applications have already been moved to the cloud from its data centers, Mr. Mahon said. Newsletter Sign-up WSJ | CIO Journal The Morning Download delivers daily insights and news on business technology from the CIO Journal team. While Werner is putting its costs “under the microscope heading into next year,” Mr. Mahon said technology is still an area of investment given its priority for company executives. “They understand that if we want to get to that stated goal of $5 billion in the next few years, and beyond that, we have to improve and increase our spend in technology,” Mr. Mahon said.

☆ Amazon’s Security Chief Keeps Focus on Recruiting and Retaining Talent
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-12 | by ( Belle Lin | ) www.wsj.com time to read: +5 min

The cybersecurity talent gap grew by 26.2% over the past year to around 3.4 million unfilled jobs worldwide, according to professional group (ISC)2. Amazon recently announced a companywide hiring pause and expects to lay off up to 10,000 workers, but Mr. Schmidt said he plans to boost Amazon’s security team. He oversees information security, personnel security and physical security, and was previously chief information security officer of Amazon’s cloud unit Amazon Web Services. Amazon’s customer-service department serves as a “great feeder” for cybersecurity talent, Mr. Schmidt said, because those individuals have an existing focus on solving customer needs. He declined to name the size of Amazon’s security team, but estimated 25% of its staff are internal hires it has trained.

☆ Redis Names Former Five9 CEO to Head Database Startup
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-05 | by ( Belle Lin | ) www.wsj.com time to read: +4 min

Database startup Redis Ltd. has named Rowan Trollope its new chief executive officer, effective Feb. 1. Mr. Trollope was CEO of the cloud-based customer-service software firm Five9 Inc. until Nov. 28, and had served in the role since 2018. After Mr. Trollope’s departure, former Five9 CEO Mike Burkland returned to his previous post. At Redis, Mr. Trollope will succeed Ofer Bengal, who co-founded the startup with Yiftach Shoolman in 2011 and has served as CEO since its founding. Mr. Trollope led Five9 through its plans to merge with Zoom Video Communications Inc. in September of last year.

☆ I visited the flagship stores of Nike and Adidas in NYC to compare the shopping experiences and it was clear which store was more popular
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-04 | by ( Sarah Belle Lin | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

I visited the flagship stores of two of the world's largest athletic brands, Nike and Adidas, to see which shopping experience was better. Adidas' flagship store was soccer heaven and paid homage to the FIFA World Cup. Nike's store took me to an otherworldly space and wowed me with its Sneakerlab collection. Loading Something is loading. With that in mind I felt it was worth visiting both flagship locations to compare the shopping experience.

☆ Oracle CIO Jae Evans on Reshaping the Company’s IT Department
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-29 | by ( Belle Lin | ) www.wsj.com time to read: +5 min

Jae Evans joined Oracle Corp. as its chief information officer in April 2020, just as the company was navigating myriad uncertainties and office closures due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Newsletter Sign-up WSJ | CIO Journal The Morning Download delivers daily insights and news on business technology from the CIO Journal team. PREVIEWMs. Evans reports to Oracle Cloud Infrastructure Executive Vice President Clay Magouyrk. What does your own internal cloud transformation look like? Integrating the shadow teams was addressed by developing common practices and tools including the [Oracle cloud] operations and security [standard], creating measurable [key performance indicators] and applying a “you build it you own it” mind-set.

☆ New CIO Wants Cisco to Be a Model for Hybrid Work
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-23 | by ( Belle Lin | ) www.wsj.com time to read: +4 min

Fletcher Previn, Cisco Systems Inc.’s new chief information officer, said he is working to help position the networking-equipment maker as a leader in hybrid work. Mr. Previn joined Cisco in 2021 as chief digital officer from International Business Machines Corp., where he was CIO. Newsletter Sign-up WSJ | CIO Journal The Morning Download delivers daily insights and news on business technology from the CIO Journal team. Cisco CIO Fletcher Previn Photo: Cisco Systems Inc.An IBM veteran of more than a decade, Mr. Previn was named that company’s CIO in 2017. Enabling hybrid work should be a priority for CIOs because it can cut office costs while improving employee productivity, said Bobby Cameron, a principal analyst at Forrester Research Inc.“Priorities for the hybrid work environment continue to be digital tools for meetings and active collaboration,” Mr. Cameron said.

☆ Duke Energy Enters Into Amazon Cloud Deal
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-22 | by ( Belle Lin | ) www.wsj.com time to read: +3 min

Duke Energy Corp. said it has signed a three-year deal with Amazon. com Inc.’s cloud-computing unit as the electric power and natural gas holding company aims to advance its power grid improvements and clean energy goals. Charlotte, N.C.-based Duke will use Amazon Web Services to run applications that predict electricity needs on its power grid, and where and how the grid should be updated to meet those needs. Ms. Titone oversees an information-technology department of more than 2,000 people, with about 400 focused on accelerating Duke’s cloud transition. There are certainly things that we need to house and maintain in our own data center,” Ms. Titone said.

☆ Gen Z and millennials are driving growth in the luxury-goods market, study shows
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-17 | by ( Sarah Belle Lin | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Gen Z and millennials are the largest drivers of the luxury-goods market, per Bain & Co.Gen Zers purchase luxury items three to five years earlier than millennials, the study found. The luxury-goods market is valued at more than a trillion dollars and is expected to withstand a recession. The luxury-goods market is forecast to be "recession-proof" in 2023, in part because of millennial and Gen Z consumers, who accounted for the growth of the market in 2022, the report found. Gen Zers are buying luxury goods earlier than past generations, and Gen Alpha is expected to follow suit. The luxury industry is more "customer-centric" and "multi-touchpoint" meaning there are more ways to access the luxury market, including digital and virtual shopping experiences.

☆ Pacific Life Insurance Names New Tech Chief From USAA
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-16 | by ( Belle Lin | ) www.wsj.com time to read: +3 min

She replaces Mike Shadler, who has served as CIO since 2018 and plans to retire at the end of the year, a spokesperson for the life insurance company said. She will report directly to Pacific Life Chief Executive Darryl Button. Still, many life insurers aren’t meeting customer expectations in terms of speed of service and method of communication, said Ted Epps, Global Life Insurance Technology Leader at Ernst & Young. Insurance technology is “the convergence of modern digital experiences and advice with proven products,” Mr. Epps said. Prudential Financial Inc. is using more digital and cloud-based tools for managing expenses and financial planning, chief financial officer Ken Tanji told The Wall Street Journal in February.

☆ Investors Cool on Internet-of-Things Startups, a Tech Conduit for Retailers
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-15 | by ( Angus Loten | ) www.wsj.com time to read: +5 min

Slumping markets have investors pulling back from funding startups that make internet-connected devices for retailers, threatening to choke an innovation pipeline for emerging tools like smart shopping carts and inventory management robots. Total venture-capital funding for startups developing IoT technology specifically for retailers is on pace to drop 65.1% from 2021 to $188.2 million by the end of the year—one of the hardest hit subsectors in the IoT market, the firm said. Like most commercial software applications, connected devices in recent years have become an integral part of retailers’ day-to-day operations. He said the company would continue to invest in these and other tech tools that help customers, despite tougher economic conditions. IoT technology is critical for the food company, Mr. Basu said, because it also enables Goya to implement cybersecurity projects in its plants.

☆ Why corporate leaders like Mark Zuckerberg, Jack Dorsey, and Evan Spiegel are all apologizing for the massive layoffs at their companies
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-15 | by ( Sarah Belle Lin | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +10 min

Since the pandemic, the largest tech layoffs have been at Meta, Getir, Booking.com, Twitter, Uber, Better.com., Peloton, and Groupon, Layoffs.fyi data show. Now companies in tech are reversing some of the huge hiring that they did in the past couple of years, Lee said. Mark Zuckerberg, MetaFacebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg speaks about "News Tab" at the Paley Center, in New York on October 25, 2019. In the memo he wrote: "Many people predicted this would be a permanent acceleration that would continue even after the pandemic ended. Jack Dorsey, ex-CEO TwitterTwitter CEO Jack Dorsey testifies before the House Energy and Commerce Committee in Washington, DC, in 2018.

☆ Airbnb Details Road Map to Lower Cloud Costs
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-07 | by ( Belle Lin | ) www.wsj.com time to read: +4 min

PREVIEWMany companies that have shifted their enterprise-technology tools to the cloud in recent years are similarly seeking to reduce their cloud costs, especially in the market downturn. Corporate cloud spending will moderate from recent highs, analysts say, as companies seek more discipline in that spending. “That reduced a significant amount of our storage costs right off the bat,” Mr. Nagle said. Airbnb, one of Amazon’s largest cloud customers according to Amazon, also worked with the cloud provider to figure out what it was overpaying for. By putting its spending toward lower-cost cloud services it uses more often, Airbnb is allocating its cloud budget “in a smarter way,” Mr. Bala said.

☆ Peloton co-founder John Foley launches business selling custom rugs directly to consumers
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-07 | by ( Sarah Belle Lin | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Peloton co-founders are starting Ernesta, a direct-to-consumer business selling custom rugs. The business is launching in spring 2023 and entering a global market anticipated to reach $130 billion by 2030. The company will be entering a global carpets and rugs market anticipated to reach $130 billion by 2030. Foley is Ernesta's CEO, with fellow Peloton founders Hisao Kushi serving as chief legal officer and Yony Feng as chief technology officer. He relinquished his executive chairman title in September, following months of controversy and reduced global demand at the beleaguered company.

☆ Starbucks holiday cups are back. See how the designs have changed over the last 25 years.
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-03 | by ( Sarah Belle Lin | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +1 min

Starbucks has released the latest holiday cups. See photos of the last 25 years of Starbucks holiday cup designs – including two purple ones. Starbucks introduced its first holiday cups in 1997 – and they haven't always come in the familiar red. The Starbucks holiday cup has generated its share of controversies here and there. Here's a look at Starbucks holiday designs over the years:

☆ Walmart is offering a half-off deal for its Amazon Prime competitor, Walmart+, and it includes early access to Black Friday deals
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-02 | by ( Sarah Belle Lin | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Shoppers can access early Black Friday deals with a new Walmart+ membership offer. Insider previously reported on the Walmart+ membership in its entirety, including membership perks, and a side-by-side comparison of Amazon Prime and Walmart+. The comprehensive list of Walmart+ benefits are below:Early access to Walmart's online Black Friday deals: Walmart+ members loved getting early access to Walmart's online Black Friday deals last year and this year, Walmart is offering extended shopping hours. Walmart+ members loved getting early access to Walmart's online Black Friday deals last year and this year, Walmart is offering extended shopping hours. Unlimited free delivery : Walmart+ members can select free standard delivery from stores, and free shipping with no order minimum required.

☆ The craziest Airbnb designs that just won $100,000, from a ghost town gondola and acorn treehouse to a salt cave and Koi fish dome-house,
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-30 | by ( Sarah Belle Lin | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +1 min

Airbnb awarded 100 recipients $100,000 each to design out-of-this-world properties. But for those looking to step inside an Airbnb and have their minds blown, there's a specific category for that: the OMG! Judges representing Airbnb chose 100 winners from more than 20 countries to award $100,000 each to bring their designs to life. properties. Common themes submitted included stargazing experiences, musical themes, fruit-, mushroom- and wine-inspired, treehouses, and solar panels to boost sustainable energy.

☆ From Apple AirPods and Squishmallows to 'Encanto' toys, here are some of the most anticipated gifts this holiday season, according to Adobe
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-27 | by ( Sarah Belle Lin | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +9 min

"The shape of the holiday season will look different this year, with early discounting in October," Patrick Brown, Adobe vice president of growth marketing and insights, said in a statement. Here are the toys, gaming devices, games, and other gifts that Adobe predicts will be the most popular items this holiday season. SquishmallowsThe stuffed animals come in all sizes, shapes, and colors and are expected to once again be popular this holiday season. Xbox Series XThe Xbox Series X is the fastest, most powerful Xbox yet, per Microsoft. Apple Watch Series 8/UltraThe new Apple Watch Series 8 comes in eight different colors, with either a 41-millimeter or 45-millimeter case.

☆ Nike likely to see biggest boost in the aftermath of Adidas cutting ties with Kanye West, footwear analyst says
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-27 | by ( Sarah Belle Lin | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

With the Adidas and Yeezy partnership terminated, other shoe brands could see a boost in sales, an expert says. "I think the most obvious beneficiary is Nike," Tom Nikic, senior vice president of equity research at Wedbush Securities, told Insider. Adidas became the latest company to cut ties with Kanye West following antisemitic remarks and controversial behavior. "I think the most obvious beneficiary is Nike," Nikic said. "They either had to take the hit financially or they had to take the public relations hit," Nikic said.

☆ Photos: See inside the San Francisco dog cafe serving seven-course meals with blue spirulina cake and chaga mushroom soup
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-26 | by ( Sarah Belle Lin | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Dogue is a dog-food brand that offers pastries and five- to seven-course meals at its 'pawtisserie' in San Francisco. Rahmi Massarweh, a classically French trained chef opened Dogue (pronounced like "rogu e''), a dog-food brand serving food and meals out of a cafe in San Francisco last month with his wife, Alejandra. "While operating the daycare, we started to get more inquiries about our dog food," Massarweh. "I'll never forget the very first client who asked us to make food for their dog." In 2015, couple started offering small batch, artisanal meals for their clients.

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