Let’s face it — nobody likes doing taxes. And staying on top of changing codes, rates, and regulations can be a time-consuming endeavor for companies. Avalara is a tax compliance automation platform that’s making tax solutions easier for businesses all around the world. Avalara’s EVP of Engineering and CTO Danny Fields joins us to discuss the wide scale of innovation required to deliver fast and accurate tax computations globally, and why companies still using manual methods should make the switch to automation now.

Tune in to learn:

• What is Avalara and what does it do? (01:09)
• How Avalara keeps track of constant changes in the tax code (10:45)
• What it was like moving Avalara toward automation (16:39)
• Why some companies are slow to adopt tax automation (27:03)

IT Visionaries is brought to you by Salesforce. With Salesforce’s low-code app dev tools, you can be more efficient, more productive and save money by reducing development time by up to 90%. Get Salesforce’s Low-Code Playbook and increase time to value for your team and your customers. Download the free playbook today.

Mission.org is a media studio producing content for world-class clients. Learn more at mission.org.

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This episode of IT Visionaries is brought to you by Meter - the company building better networks. Businesses today are frustrated with outdated providers, rigid pricing, and fragmented tools. Meter changes that with a single integrated solution that covers everything wired, wireless, and even cellular networking. They design the hardware, write the firmware, build the software, and manage it all so your team doesn't have to.

That means you get fast, secure, and scalable connectivity without the complexity of juggling multiple providers. Thanks to meter for sponsoring. Go to meter.com/itv to book a demo.

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IT Visionaries is made by the team at Mission.org. Learn more about our media studio and network of podcasts at mission.org.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Business processes get faster and more convenient everyday as we automate tedious busywork. That said, how much further can automation efforts take us? Chris Byers, CEO of Formstack, discusses the wide ranging industries that would benefit from additional digital automation and how Formstack empowers non-technical employees to solve process-problems.

Tune in to learn:

• How has Formstack simplified the user experience over time? (02:52)
• The rise of automating office work (15:40)
• Who is driving innovation in organizations? (17:40)
• How far are we from a paperless future? (24:00)

IT Visionaries is brought to you by Salesforce. With Salesforce’s low-code app dev tools, you can be more efficient, more productive and save money by reducing development time by up to 90%. Get Salesforce’s Low-Code Playbook and increase time to value for your team and your customers. Download the free playbook today.

Mission.org is a media studio producing content for world-class clients. Learn more at mission.org.

-- 

This episode of IT Visionaries is brought to you by Meter - the company building better networks. Businesses today are frustrated with outdated providers, rigid pricing, and fragmented tools. Meter changes that with a single integrated solution that covers everything wired, wireless, and even cellular networking. They design the hardware, write the firmware, build the software, and manage it all so your team doesn't have to.

That means you get fast, secure, and scalable connectivity without the complexity of juggling multiple providers. Thanks to meter for sponsoring. Go to meter.com/itv to book a demo.

---

IT Visionaries is made by the team at Mission.org. Learn more about our media studio and network of podcasts at mission.org.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

With the holiday shopping season in full swing, how are businesses handling the busiest commerce period of the year? On this special crossover episode, the hosts from Mission.org podcasts, Up Next in Commerce, Marketing Trends and IT Visionaries join forces for the first time ever to discuss all things retail. Tune in to hear Stephanie, Jeremy, and Albert share their thoughts and expertise about the latest shopping technology, holiday cyber threats, and whether shifting consumer attitudes will make Black Friday a thing of the past.

Tune in to learn:

• Has in-store Black Friday shopping become a thing of the past? (04:21)
• Cybersecurity’s role in Black Friday and Cyber Monday (13:51)
• Is there consumer optimism in today’s uncertain market? (19:02)
• End capping its evolution into ad-buying (29:15)
• The Mission hosts share about their podcasts (42:52)

Mentions:

• “Bringing Build-A-Bear Alive in New Ways With Jenn Kretchmar, Chief Digital and Merchandising Officer of Build-A-Bear Workshop” (Marketing Trends podcast; Episode 359)
• “How The Simple P&L Statement Can Be Key To Long-Term Success” (Up Next In Commerce podcast; Episode 33)
• “Not Dumbing It Down: DECIEM and the Art of Straightforward Marketing with Jordanne Dyck” (Up Next In Commerce podcast; Episode 197)
• “Flipping Ecommerce on its Head” (Up Next In Commerce podcast; Episode 90)
• Common Thread Collective
• “Where ‘Credit’ Is Due with Randy Kern, CTO, Marqeta” (IT Visionaries podcast; Episode 417)
• Stephan Pretorius - Chief Technology Officer - WPP
• “Smart TV and Smarter TV Marketing With Jordan Rost, Head of Ad Marketing, Roku, Inc.” (Marketing Trends podcast; Episode 341)
• American Giant: American Made Clothing & Activewear
• Danny Fields - EVP Engineering and Chief Technology Officer -  Avalara
• “Why Liquid Death Didn’t Water Down Its Marketing Strategy” (Up Next In Commerce podcast; Episode 262)

Mission.org is a media studio producing content for world-class clients. Learn more at http://www.mission.org.

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This episode of IT Visionaries is brought to you by Meter - the company building better networks. Businesses today are frustrated with outdated providers, rigid pricing, and fragmented tools. Meter changes that with a single integrated solution that covers everything wired, wireless, and even cellular networking. They design the hardware, write the firmware, build the software, and manage it all so your team doesn't have to.

That means you get fast, secure, and scalable connectivity without the complexity of juggling multiple providers. Thanks to meter for sponsoring. Go to meter.com/itv to book a demo.

---

IT Visionaries is made by the team at Mission.org. Learn more about our media studio and network of podcasts at mission.org.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

With so many options provided by different platforms, how can a company ensure it is choosing the best option? Boris Lokschin, Co-founder and CEO of Spryker Systems, has nearly 20 years’ experience building commerce technologies, and claims it’s best to create a tech stack that provides options for the customer rather than relying on preset models. Listen to hear more about Spryker Systems and how the company created stability for sophisticated transactional business models in today’s ever-changing market. 

Tune in to learn:

• How digital transformation has changed the industry (04:38) 
• Why Spryker’s buyers started to change (11:42) 
• About the evolution of commerce engines  (17:25) 
• What happens when the market flips (31:47) 

IT Visionaries is brought to you by Salesforce Platform. If you love the thought leadership on this podcast, Salesforce has even more meaty IT thoughts to chew on. Take your company to the next level with in-depth research and trends right in your inbox. Subscribe to a newsletter tailored to your role at Salesforce.com/newsletter.

Mission.org is a media studio producing content for world-class clients. Learn more at mission.org.

-- 

This episode of IT Visionaries is brought to you by Meter - the company building better networks. Businesses today are frustrated with outdated providers, rigid pricing, and fragmented tools. Meter changes that with a single integrated solution that covers everything wired, wireless, and even cellular networking. They design the hardware, write the firmware, build the software, and manage it all so your team doesn't have to.

That means you get fast, secure, and scalable connectivity without the complexity of juggling multiple providers. Thanks to meter for sponsoring. Go to meter.com/itv to book a demo.

---

IT Visionaries is made by the team at Mission.org. Learn more about our media studio and network of podcasts at mission.org.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Not only are cybersecurity threats rapidly evolving and increasing in number, but the market for solutions is almost equally complicated. Ian McShane, Field CTO and VP of Strategy at Arctic Wolf, explains how they guide companies through these challenges, sharing his thoughts on the cybersecurity industry and offering words of wisdom for business leaders. 

Tune in to learn:

• What is unique about Arctic Wolf (01:10)
• Ian’s observations about the industry (4:40)
• How the cybersecurity industry has changed over the last 10+ years (9:47)
• The shortage in cybersecurity professionals (22:30)
• Technologies and skills business leaders should invest in (25:55)

Mentions:

• NIST Cybersecurity Framework
• Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA)
• Minority Report (Science Fiction Movie)
• The Bombpops (Band)

IT Visionaries is brought to you by Salesforce Platform. If you love the thought leadership on this podcast, Salesforce has even more meaty IT thoughts to chew on. Take your company to the next level with in-depth research and trends right in your inbox. Subscribe to a newsletter tailored to your role at Salesforce.com/newsletter.

Mission.org is a media studio producing content for world-class clients. Learn more at mission.org.

-- 

This episode of IT Visionaries is brought to you by Meter - the company building better networks. Businesses today are frustrated with outdated providers, rigid pricing, and fragmented tools. Meter changes that with a single integrated solution that covers everything wired, wireless, and even cellular networking. They design the hardware, write the firmware, build the software, and manage it all so your team doesn't have to.

That means you get fast, secure, and scalable connectivity without the complexity of juggling multiple providers. Thanks to meter for sponsoring. Go to meter.com/itv to book a demo.

---

IT Visionaries is made by the team at Mission.org. Learn more about our media studio and network of podcasts at mission.org.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

How can brands best utilize today’s technology to make the biggest possible impact on consumers? Our guest today is Stephan Pretorius, Chief Technology Officer at WPP, the world’s largest marketing services organization. Poised at the forefront of advertising innovation, Stephan discusses how marketers can effectively target consumers without impinging on their privacy, and shares how some of WPP’s most groundbreaking ad campaigns came to fruition.

Tune in to learn:

• What is WPP and what is Stephan’s role there? (01:10)
• How does WPP navigate the changing marketing landscape? (16:40)
• Deepfakes and the future of likeness licensing in advertising (28:10)
• Stephan’s tech journey and his advice for aspiring tech leaders (35:55)

Mentions:

• Cadbury Celebrations | Not Just A Cadbury Ad
• Toxic Influence: A Dove Film | Dove Self-Esteem Project

IT Visionaries is brought to you by Salesforce Platform. If you love the thought leadership on this podcast, Salesforce has even more meaty IT thoughts to chew on. Take your company to the next level with in-depth research and trends right in your inbox. Subscribe to a newsletter tailored to your role at Salesforce.com/newsletter.

Mission.org is a media studio producing content for world-class clients. Learn more at mission.org.

-- 

This episode of IT Visionaries is brought to you by Meter - the company building better networks. Businesses today are frustrated with outdated providers, rigid pricing, and fragmented tools. Meter changes that with a single integrated solution that covers everything wired, wireless, and even cellular networking. They design the hardware, write the firmware, build the software, and manage it all so your team doesn't have to.

That means you get fast, secure, and scalable connectivity without the complexity of juggling multiple providers. Thanks to meter for sponsoring. Go to meter.com/itv to book a demo.

---

IT Visionaries is made by the team at Mission.org. Learn more about our media studio and network of podcasts at mission.org.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

A staggering 1.5 billion people all over the world are actively trying to learn English as an additional language, which can be difficult without access to a regular conversation partner. Enter Sameer Shariff, Co-founder and CEO of Cambly, a networking platform that allows students from around the globe to interact with English-speaking tutors. Hear Sameer describe the innovative technology behind the app and how its simple, fun design positions students for success.

Tune in to learn:

• What is Cambly and what inspired its formation? (02:11)
• How Cambly built its community of tutors (8:20)
• Comparing Cambly with other language apps (18:40)
• Why Cambly is going “all in” on English learning (27:00)

IT Visionaries is brought to you by Salesforce Platform. If you love the thought leadership on this podcast, Salesforce has even more meaty IT thoughts to chew on. Take your company to the next level with in-depth research and trends right in your inbox. Subscribe to a newsletter tailored to your role at Salesforce.com/newsletter.

Mission.org is a media studio producing content for world-class clients. Learn more at mission.org.

-- 

This episode of IT Visionaries is brought to you by Meter - the company building better networks. Businesses today are frustrated with outdated providers, rigid pricing, and fragmented tools. Meter changes that with a single integrated solution that covers everything wired, wireless, and even cellular networking. They design the hardware, write the firmware, build the software, and manage it all so your team doesn't have to.

That means you get fast, secure, and scalable connectivity without the complexity of juggling multiple providers. Thanks to meter for sponsoring. Go to meter.com/itv to book a demo.

---

IT Visionaries is made by the team at Mission.org. Learn more about our media studio and network of podcasts at mission.org.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Starting a new creative endeavor can often seem like a major gamble, but what if there existed a tool that helped creators minimize their entrepreneurial risk? Mahesh Guruswamy is the CTO of Kajabi, a multifaceted online business platform designed to help entrepreneurs, experts and influencers succeed. Tune in to learn the approach to innovation at the company, and how Mahesh and his engineering team have effectively scaled the platform during a time of major growth.

Tune in to learn:

• About Kajabi and what makes it special (02:30)
• Kajabi’s various product domains (08:20)
• The Kajabi playbook of scale, speed and reliability (21:55)
• How Kajabi decides which new features to bet on (32:05)

Mentions:

• Kajabi Edge (podcast)

IT Visionaries is brought to you by Salesforce Platform. If you love the thought leadership on this podcast, Salesforce has even more meaty IT thoughts to chew on. Take your company to the next level with in-depth research and trends right in your inbox. Subscribe to a newsletter tailored to your role at Salesforce.com/newsletter.

Mission.org is a media studio producing content for world-class clients. Learn more at mission.org.

-- 

This episode of IT Visionaries is brought to you by Meter - the company building better networks. Businesses today are frustrated with outdated providers, rigid pricing, and fragmented tools. Meter changes that with a single integrated solution that covers everything wired, wireless, and even cellular networking. They design the hardware, write the firmware, build the software, and manage it all so your team doesn't have to.

That means you get fast, secure, and scalable connectivity without the complexity of juggling multiple providers. Thanks to meter for sponsoring. Go to meter.com/itv to book a demo.

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IT Visionaries is made by the team at Mission.org. Learn more about our media studio and network of podcasts at mission.org.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

According to a 2018 survey, 40% of first-time homebuyers considered purchasing a home to be the most stressful event in modern life. But does it have to be that way? Regis Hadiaris is the VP of Product Strategy at Rocket Central, a hub of companies that includes America’s largest mortgage lender, Rocket Mortgage. Tune in to hear how his team is using data-driven innovation to try to make the home buying process as fast, simple, and stress-free as possible.

Tune in to learn:

• Rocket Central’s emphasis on simplicity (2:40)
• The outdated model of some of Rocket’s competitors (10:35)
• The long-term vision at Rocket Central (19:43)
• The UI design process at Rocket Central (24:55)

Did you know, Salesforce is one of the founding members of World Economic Forum's Cybersecurity Learning Hub ?

The learning hub democratizes access to cybersecurity skills by providing free and career-oriented modules that give people a route towards in-demand roles. 

Visit Trailhead to skill up for the future and learn in-demand skills that lead to top jobs.Mission.org is a media studio producing content for world-class clients. Learn more at mission.org.

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This episode of IT Visionaries is brought to you by Meter - the company building better networks. Businesses today are frustrated with outdated providers, rigid pricing, and fragmented tools. Meter changes that with a single integrated solution that covers everything wired, wireless, and even cellular networking. They design the hardware, write the firmware, build the software, and manage it all so your team doesn't have to.

That means you get fast, secure, and scalable connectivity without the complexity of juggling multiple providers. Thanks to meter for sponsoring. Go to meter.com/itv to book a demo.

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IT Visionaries is made by the team at Mission.org. Learn more about our media studio and network of podcasts at mission.org.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

How can small businesses find success with funding? Prashant Fuloria, CEO of Fundbox, shares his insights on how short periods of reliable funding can boost capital and keep small business owners focused on their crafts. Tune in to learn more about Fundbox’s data innovation and how building customer relationships can help customer retention.

Tune in to learn:

• What Fundbox is and how it helps small businesses (1:40)
• How Fundbox creates strategies to help solve funding problems (15:20)
• About Fundbox’s unique customer loyalty strategy (28:10)

IT Visionaries is powered by Salesforce Platform and Dreamforce. Did you know all the very best Dreamforce sessions are available free on salesforce.com/plus ? We recommend watching the Platform and MuleSoft keynote to get the down-low on doing more with less and increasing efficiencies with automation.

Mission.org is a media studio producing content for world-class clients. Learn more at mission.org.

-- 

This episode of IT Visionaries is brought to you by Meter - the company building better networks. Businesses today are frustrated with outdated providers, rigid pricing, and fragmented tools. Meter changes that with a single integrated solution that covers everything wired, wireless, and even cellular networking. They design the hardware, write the firmware, build the software, and manage it all so your team doesn't have to.

That means you get fast, secure, and scalable connectivity without the complexity of juggling multiple providers. Thanks to meter for sponsoring. Go to meter.com/itv to book a demo.

---

IT Visionaries is made by the team at Mission.org. Learn more about our media studio and network of podcasts at mission.org.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.