TECHtonic: Trends in Technology and Services

Are we finally moving past the AI hype and into its real-world impact? In this episode of TECHtonic, Thomas Lah, Executive Director and EVP of TSIA, sits down with Ron Green, Co-founder and CTO of KUNGFU.AI, to explore the critical questions shaping AI adoption today. Together, they uncover why AI is no longer just a buzzword but an essential tool for transforming companies right now.

From groundbreaking use cases like predicting breast cancer risk years in advance to practical applications like automating revenue forecasting and customer support, this conversation dives into the successes and pitfalls of deploying AI. Whether you're an executive grappling with ethical questions, or a business leader wondering where to begin, this episode provides actionable insights on accelerating ROI, building AI strategies, and understanding why this revolution is here to stay.

Stay tuned for an engaging, no-hype conversation that will help you cut through the noise and take your first—or next—step into the AI-driven future.

Host Thomas Lah engages with Chris Mele, Managing Partner at Software Pricing Partners, to explore the shifting paradigms of software pricing models. As AI and automation redefine the technological landscape, traditional user-based pricing is under scrutiny. Chris shares his extensive experience on why it's time to rethink legacy pricing strategies and how companies can optimize for profitability in today's market.

They discuss the three pillars of effective monetization—licensing, packaging, and pricing—and discuss the importance of aligning these with sales strategies and customer value perception. The conversation also tackles the challenges posed by AI, the pitfalls of discounting, and the need for data-driven, sophisticated pricing models.

Listen in to discover actionable insights on transforming your pricing approach to not only survive but thrive in the evolving tech industry. Are your current pricing models optimized to maximize profitability? Find out in this insightful conversation.

Join us for a live, insightful keynote session from TSIA World Envision with Thomas Lah, Executive Director and Executive Vice President of TSIA.

Thomas explores the transformative power of AI in revenue generation. Discover how cutting-edge AI use cases can supercharge your workflows, driving revenue growth and enhancing customer experiences. Learn how to leverage AI to improve lead qualifications, manage renewal risks, and position your offers more effectively.

Don't miss this opportunity to stay informed on the latest breakthroughs, insights, and innovative solutions that could transform your business. Join us to discover how AI can dramatically enhance your revenue workflows and redefine your approach to revenue generation.

Thomas sits down with Dan Balcauski, an expert in pricing strategy for enterprise software and the Founder of Product Tranquilty. Together, they examine the shifting landscape of B2B software pricing, particularly as traditional per-user models face new challenges due to the rise of AI and a growing emphasis on profitability.

Dan shares his insights on how long-standing pricing models are being disrupted, and why businesses need to reconsider how they charge for their products. He discusses the evolving role of pricing metrics, offering alternatives that better reflect the value delivered to customers. From adapting pricing structures to understanding how to align costs with real customer outcomes, this conversation provides a deep dive into the strategic shifts necessary for companies to stay competitive in today’s AI-driven market.

If you are looking to future-proof your pricing strategy and stay ahead in the rapidly changing technology AI-landscape, this episode is full of practical insights and forward-thinking advice. Join us for a thorough discussion on key strategies to consider for optimizing your pricing in the AI B2B software world.

During this episode of TECHtonic, host Thomas Lah has a compelling conversation with Kelley Jarrett, SVP of Revenue Strategy, Operations, and Enablement at ThoughtSpot—an AI-powered analytics platform. They discuss how AI is transforming revenue generation workflows and operational efficiency within organizations.

Kelly shares her unique insights on leveraging AI for quick, data-driven decision-making, highlighting real-world use cases across industries like retail, healthcare, and aviation. She discusses ThoughtSpot's journey from an on-premise solution to a SaaS model embracing AI, and how this evolution is enabling businesses to unlock unprecedented value from their data.

Listen in to discover how AI can be a game-changer in reducing costs, accelerating growth, and driving revenue excellence.

In this episode, Thomas finally finds the person he’s been searching for: Mike Fouts, Chief Business Officer at ShareFile, who speaks to how AI and data are revolutionizing the sales function in technology companies. Mike shares his hands-on experience leading a digital-first, data-driven transformation at ShareFile, including detailing how AI is being used to predict renewals, drive customer engagement, and reshape the traditional go-to-market model.

From verticalizing sales strategies to automating customer interactions and leveraging data to predict churn and expansion opportunities, Mike explains how the integration of AI is making sales teams smarter and more efficient. With insights on evolving sales roles, data modeling, and the future of B2B transactions, this episode is packed with actionable takeaways for revenue leaders looking to stay ahead in a rapidly changing market.

Listen in to learn how your company can embrace AI and data to innovate its sales strategy and drive revenue growth!

Are you effectively leveraging AI in your workflows? As Thomas continues the AI research journey, AI Use Cases for Generating Revenue, he reveals the power of AI in revenue generation. With TSIA’s latest paper, The Emerging 20, highlighting critical AI use cases, Thomas is on a mission to show how AI is a game-changer for businesses today.

Joining his conversation are Seth Halpern and Derek Butts, co-founders and co-CEOs of Embrace.ai, an innovative AI startup that is transforming how companies accelerate go-to-market workflows. Seth and Derek share their journey of building Embrace from the ground up, discussing how their platform is enabling companies to streamline sales, marketing, and customer success processes. They reveal the tangible benefits of AI in reducing costs, speeding up go-to-market strategies, and significantly improving customer satisfaction.

They also discuss in detail the practicalities of implementing AI, including how to curate content, train AI models to speak in your company’s voice, and empower sales teams with real-time insights. Using real-world applications, this episode provides a detailed look at how AI is reshaping business models and why companies must adopt these technologies now to stay competitive.

In this episode of TECHtonic, Thomas Lah welcomes Dr. Jessica Kriegel, Chief Scientist of Workplace Culture at Culture Partners. In light of today’s rapid shifts in technology business models, the conversation addresses head-on the challenges of change management. Jessica shares her insights on why traditional approaches fail, the importance of continuous change, and how to cultivate a culture where employees not only embrace change but thrive in it. Drawing from her experience in the technology industry and beyond, she discusses how to build accountability, shift beliefs, and gain alignment within leadership teams. Join us as we explore strategies to navigate and lead through the constant transformation in today's technology landscape.

Then catch Jessica in person at TSIA World ENVISION this October 21 - 23! In her inspiring keynote, How To Get People To Give A Sh*t, she will motivate your team to step into accountability and take an active role in growing your business impact.

The transformative potential of AI in the technology industry is driving companies focus on growth without significantly increasing their sales and marketing spend. Thomas speaks with Brent Grimes, CEO of Reef.ai, about how to efficiently drive revenue growth by introducing AI into the process.

Brent shares the journey of Reef.ai and its aim to predictively unlock customer value, helping companies transition from gut-feel decisions to data-driven strategies. This allows for optimized resource allocation and significantly improves revenue retention and expansion, all through a robust AI-powered approach.

They discuss the importance of leveraging machine generated and process consistent data to create powerful predictive models, including the critical role of continuous improvement and feedback loops in refining these models for optimal performance.

Listeners will walk away with valuable insights into the practical applications of AI, such as enhancing churn prediction, mitigating risk, and driving customer engagement. Join Thomas and Brent for a real conversation as they demystify AI's role in transforming technology business models by removing the guess work from revenue growth.

On this episode of TECHtonic, Thomas asks hard questions about the shifting landscape of customer success with Nick Mehta, CEO of Gainsight. Inspired by a provocative chapter in Frank Slootman's "Amp It Up" that questions the necessity of customer success, Thomas and Nick explore the current debates and future directions of this critical business function.

Nick shares his insights on why customer success is more vital than ever, especially as technology companies face increasing pressure to prove their business value. From the historical context of customer success a decade ago to today's innovative strategies, Nick discusses the integration of AI, the importance of verticalization, and the evolving roles within customer success organizations.

Listeners will gain valuable perspectives on how to leverage AI for better customer experiences, early warning systems, and productivity enhancements. Nick and Thomas also tackle the challenge of balancing cost efficiency with maintaining the core capabilities of customer success teams and the necessity of adopting a beginner’s mind in the face of seismic industry shifts.

Tune in to receive actionable advice and discover how you can stay ahead in the debate on the value of customer success and prepare your organization for the future.