Hello & welcome to your April edition of Insights!
This month we're covering the human side of cybersecurity (spoiler: your team matters as much as your tech), sharing the highlights from our Retail Connect event at Somerset House, and introducing Aila - the AI answering service making sure no call, and no opportunity, goes unanswered. We've also got the latest from our Microsoft Knowledge Hub and a chance to become a Champion of Change with Focus Foundation. Step this way.
Is your team your biggest risk?
You could have the best technology in place, but it doesn't matter if someone in your business clicks on the wrong link.
In the latest episode of the Elevate podcast, our cyber specialists Kim Roberts and Karl Wakefieldget under the skin of the human side of cybersecurity, covering why awareness, training and process are just as critical as the tools you invest in.
If cyber security sits anywhere near your remit, this is a must listen.
A staggering 85% of UK calls that go unanswered won’t call back, and 45% of SMEs miss inbound calls regularly. Callers simply move on to the next business.
Every missed call could be a new customer, a booking or an urgent enquiry. If no one picks up, they don’t wait around. That’s a significant loss of potential revenue happening consistently.
The answer, quite literally, is Aila. When the phone rings, Aila answers. 24/7. As an AI-powered answering service, Aila makes sure every call is answered instantly, captures every opportunity and turns calls into action.
The Microsoft ecosystem evolves at a rapid pace. Keeping up can be challenging. That's where our free Microsoft Knowledge Hub steps in to support our customers.
Designed for busy businesses, it distils the latest developments across Microsoft 365, Azure and security into clear, actionable insights, so you can focus on what matters most: growing your business.
From Copilot and Teams updates to guidance on SharePoint and Power Platform, each update highlights what's relevant to your business - cutting through the noise.
Ready to maximise ROI from your Microsoft investment?
Retail is at a pivotal moment and last week at Somerset House in London, we explored exactly what that means.
Retail Connect, in partnership with Cisco, brought together industry leaders for an afternoon of conversation around AI, intelligent connectivity and the future of customer experience. From personalised AI-driven experiences to real-time inventory visibility and the connected stores of tomorrow, the agenda covered the full picture.
Hosted by our CEO Neil Hall, and Aine Rogers from Cisco, the event featured a standout lineup - including a keynote from Holly Tucker MBE, founder of NotOnTheHighStreet.com, transformation stories from CeX and Kurt Geiger, and technical sessions on AI-ready retail architecture.
The key takeaways are relevant well beyond retail - check them out here.
At Focus Foundation, we're a small team united by a shared belief in the power of community. From grants and partnerships to fundraising and marketing, each of us brings unique expertise - all driven by one goal: supporting grassroots charities and the people behind them.
We work closely with charities and businesses to turn generosity into lasting local impact.
If you’re looking for a simple way to get involved, become a Champion of Change by joining our philanthropic programme. For a regular monthly donation of your choice, we'll help you build a stronger, more meaningful philanthropic presence.
