What inspires you to give back?

There’s no shortage of reasons to contribute to charitable endeavors like Exela’s corporate philanthropy program, #ExelaGivesBack. But when it comes down to it, a lot of us become most passionate about causes that have somehow touched our own lives. For example, when our Mount Vernon, Kentucky team went all out in raising funds for cancer research in 2019, one of our most prolific fundraisers noted, “We’re passionate about this cause because we have all been affected by cancer in some shape or form.”

As the COVID-19 pandemic continues, its impact is being felt by nearly everyone on the planet in one way or another. Here at Exela, many of our employees have found inspiration to give of themselves to help others in these trying times, whether it’s a loved one’s battle with the virus, a community’s group effort to stop the spread, or solidarity for our onsite workers keeping vital businesses operating each and every day.

Here’s how Exela supports its many onsite employees and how we hope other businesses are doing so too.

Exela Team Members Inspire Us

Today, we’d like to focus on some of our employees who have gone out of their way to ensure that our onsite team has protective face masks.

For example, Terri Vassey, from our Rochelle Park, New Jersey location, was inspired to make masks and share them with employees on the West Coast when she heard they were having trouble purchasing them locally. As an avid quilter, Terri had the materials and the skillset to help out and did not waste any time. She’s created over 200 masks and counting!

Lori McLoughlin from our Troy, Michigan location, has been sewing masks and distributing them to local businesses and hospitals. Lori was inspired to help because Michigan has been particularly hard hit by the pandemic.

Peggy Fisher began making masks for drivers who worked out of our Carson, California location, and then ramped up her mask production for other employees deemed essential, who had to return to work.

Laurette Nyambu has been sewing bright and colorful masks not only to keep her coworkers safe, but also to “bring joy” to them as they support the company and our customers.

Inspiration Through Adversity

These kinds of good deeds are not only inspiring; according to our Human Resources team, they’re also encouraging teamwork and camaraderie. Although these times are unprecedented and difficult for many, our employees have found the silver lining. More stories of mask-makers are rolling in every day, as are other stories of good deeds and acts of kindness. We hope to share these stories and inspire those around us.

As you work through these challenging times, we hope you’ll find this glossary of COVID-19 terms helpful, as well as our special edition of PluggedIN, COVID-19: A Tipping Point for Remote Work. If there is any way you think we can assist you, please do not hesitate to contact us at covidresponse@exelatech.com.

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It is imperative to stay up to date on all COVID-19 news, but this has become increasingly difficult due to the deluge of false information flooding our news and social feeds. So how can you tell the difference between fake news and real? The following are some best practices:

Consider who is sharing the news
Many people on your social media feeds share news without having considered its validity; in fact, many share news without even having read it first. That means it’s up to you to vet the information before you assume it’s true (we’ve got more on that below) and certainly, before you share it.

Consider who published the news being shared
As a general rule, news outlets will be more reliable sources of news than bloggers and other citizen journalists. But there are many exceptions. So, whenever you read a news story, first thing to ask yourself is whether the outlet/journalist is a trusted, respected source. Next, it’s helpful to consider the outlet’s bias using a tool like AllSides. In the case of citizen journalists, you’ll want to ask yourself whether and how this person is qualified to speak on the topic. For example, an M.D. is more likely to be qualified to speak about medical topics, but you’ll also want to consider the particular M.D.’s biases, including their professional affiliations.

READ the news - more than just the headline
Make sure the story, itself, matches the headline. If it doesn’t, it’s called “clickbait.” Please don’t take the “bait” by forwarding it around to your contacts.

Verify the sources cited by the news being shared
Trustworthy journalists cite their source material. Primary sources (e.g., research reports, studies, first-hand quotes) are generally more reliable than secondary sources (i.e., news and commentary about research reports, studies, and quotes). Beware of vague references that you can’t easily qualify or confirm.

Can the info be verified? If the information is legitimate, you should be able to read it on other legitimate websites. Library databases are a great resource for confirming the credibility of information. It’s always a good idea to verify facts using trusted sources such as the CDC, WHO, your state Department of Public Health and of course, your own doctor.

Here is the best remedy for COVID-19, according to the CDC.

Does it pass the “smell test”?
If someone is making a health recommendation that doesn’t sound quite right, then there’s a good chance it isn’t. If “news” sounds like opinion, it probably is. If news is conveyed using emotional words and/or an emotional tone, you should be suspicious.

When was this news written /published?
COVID-19 information changes minute by minute. In order to have the most accurate data you should check to make sure the information you are reading has been updated recently.

Consult a professional fact-checking service Make use of fact-checking websites and services such as FactCheck.org, International Fact-Checking Network, PolitiFact.com, or Snopes.com. They’re the pros at vetting news and they do it all day every day.
The bottom line is we’ve all seen fake news go viral. It happens fast, and it’s self-perpetuating because people spread it without verifying it.

Here at the Exela Blog, we’re doing our part to vet the news and share only what we can be certain is true. We hope you’ll do the same. As you work through these challenging times, we hope you’ll find this glossary of COVID-19 terms helpful, as well as our special edition of PluggedIN, COVID-19: A Tipping Point For Remote Work. If there is any way you think we can assist you, please do not hesitate to contact us at covidresponse@exelatech.com.

As of April 2, 2020, COVID-19 has infected 956,588 people and killed 48,320^[1]. Hoping to contain the spread, the World Health Organization declared a “pandemic,” leading myriad companies to institute remote work. Many companies were unprepared. Even those with existing remote infrastructure were not necessarily ready for a scenario in which literally no one is in the office.

Nevertheless, Exela remains optimistic this great remote-work experiment will succeed. That’s because solutions ensuring business continuity even with no one in the office already exist. In fact, they’re integral to Exela’s Smart Office suite of solutions, which many of our customers had already been using prior to the pandemic. Smart Office automates a variety of office processes, enhancing efficiency, productivity, and security and setting the scene for seamless remote work. Exela’s Smart Office is comprised of a selection of data-driven solutions--some front-office, some back-office, all of which are aimed at creating and supporting a more efficient, productive, and sustainable workplace. These include, among others:

• Digital Mailroom, which transforms paper mail into digital format, securely routing it to its intended recipient(s) anywhere with an internet connection.
• PrintShop, which prints and copies documents remotely on-demand and securely routes them to their intended recipients.
• Intelligent Lobby, which eliminates the need for staffed reception spaces and allows office access without unnecessary, and risky, interaction.

Over the next several days and weeks to come, we will be addressing these and other Exela Smart Office solutions and how they can help your office retain business continuity in these uncertain times. As you work through the current global crisis, please be aware that the best remedy currently known for COVID-19 is prevention. Here are the CDC’s best practices for prevention. And please do not hesitate to contact us at covidresponse@exelatech.com, and let us know if we can assist you in any way.

[1]  https://coronavirus.jhu.edu/map.html

“Customers will never love a company until the employees love it first,” business visionary Simon Sinek Tweeted in 2014, and for a moment there, a hush fell over the “business Twitter” community. With all due respect to Sinek, it’s not as if this was anything everyone didn’t already know. However, for many, this truism brought up a disquieting question: How? How, exactly, does a company engender engagement, let alone, positivity, among its employees?

Exela’s President, Suresh Yannamani, recently spoke about how company culture can and should be shaped (assuming you care about long-term success, which we assume you do). “Whatever the age of your company, your culture emanates from the top — so leadership must take steps to mold it,” Suresh writes. Here are some of the steps he has found particularly useful in his decades of experience:

Start off with a celebratory/welcome meal

“When a new employee starts, take them out to dinner,” Suresh suggests. “I’ve found this helps to unify the working group and make every new team member feel valued,” especially when senior managers or C-suite members are able to participate. That one meal is, in the big picture, a very small gesture, but Suresh has found it has a large impact. “It can really send a positive message about each employee’s value, regardless of rank.”

Cultivate a management style that’s accessible

Some employees do a good job because that’s just “how they do.” Some are less about the intrinsic rewards and more about recognition. It’s important for leaders to recognize this, and it’s good practice to recognize good work, as opposed to regarding it as “part of the job.” Let’s assume for the moment you’re in a management position, and one of your reports knocks it out of the park with regard to a particular project. How do you feel? Happy? Proud? Let your employee know, Suresh suggests. Validation is a big deal, and it’s not to be underestimated.

Engage employees by joining together to engage with the community

People feel good when they do good. So it stands to reason employees will feel good about a company that encourages them to do good. That’s how we roll at Exela. “At my company, we don’t just work together — we run together,” Suresh says, referring to the many charity races in which the company participates in various locales each year. It’s a great way to “build camaraderie outside of the office and do some good in the process.”

Of course, companies looking to execute a successful charitable program such as #ExelaGivesBack should be aware it’s a bit of a balancing act. “Fun” can’t be forced. Nor can giving. “Ideally, the company covers the costs,” Suresh explains.

“Show us your X”

Well, that’s how we do it here at Exela. Chances are, once you onboard at Exela, it’s not long before you're first introduced to the “sign of the X”-- forearms held out in front of the body in the shape of an “X.” Whenever there’s a photo opportunity at Exela, it’s an opportunity to “show us your X.” “These images help reinforce our united mentality and bring our diverse global teams together as a unified whole,” notes Suresh. It engenders a feeling of “we’re in this together,” not unlike that feeling you get when you see a stranger wearing a hat with your team’s or your school’s name on it. “Anything that contributes to a feeling of pride and privilege to be part of the team can work,” Suresh adds, as long as it feels natural and isn’t “forced.”

Is getting employees to feel the company love a challenge? Of course. Is it even more challenging when you’re a global company with employees from wildly different backgrounds scattered throughout the world? Obviously. That’s how it is with Exela. However, as Suresh concludes, “by having some fun outside of work, giving back to our communities together, and reinforcing our unity as a global family, we’re able to build a culture that works for us. Doing the same in your organization will go a long way toward creating valuable connections and inspiring unity.”

In our increasingly connected world, is the internet poised to keep up with demand? Don’t assume that to be the case, warns Mark Fairchild, Exela’s Smart Office President in a recent article for Read/Write. Regular readers of the Exela Blog may already know that Exela’s Smart Office is a collection of solutions designed to build a better, more efficient workplace by driving productivity and optimizing customer experience and employee satisfaction. Many of Exela’s Smart Office offerings incorporate various iterations of the Internet of Things, which, as we discussed here, relies on collecting data in digital form from all the “things” that are connected to the Internet that are not necessarily your computer.

According to Statista, it’s expected there will be 75 billion “things” connected by the year 2025,[1] and, Mark points out technological advances will enable them to perform within a range that’s four times greater, twice the speed, and eight times the bandwidth of current connected devices. Now, add to that the fact that more and more businesses are not only jumping on the “smart office” bandwagon but also entering data so-collected into business processes to take them from manual to automated. But all of this will require increasingly fast and consistent data transfer, to meet the increased demand for connectivity and automation. Currently, it appears the U.S., which is ranked way down at tenth in the world for fixed broadband speeds, has quite a way to go in that regard.

Why is the US falling behind in internet speed?

Mark suggests it’s the current infrastructure, which he believes will need to be upgraded to keep up with the expected demand. “Only so much data can be crammed through coaxial cables and copper wires,” he writes. Unfortunately, the oligopolized structure of the U.S. internet service provider (ISP) market disincentivizes upgrades.

“In a more open market, heightened competition might push ISPs to offer the latest innovations in data transmissions (such as fiber optic networks) in order to maintain a healthy market share,” writes Mark. That’s why he suggests it could be advantageous to open the market to more providers and put more competitors in the space. But opening the market requires repeal and/or revision of those laws that made monopolies possible in the first place. Even then, opening the market comes with built-in challenges, including the enormous investment that entering the ISP space entails--the time and money involved in gaining access to public rights of way for the purpose of placing broadband wires.

Three possible solutions

One alternative Mark puts forth is for ISPs and governments to form public-private partnerships to create a new entry into the market (essentially, a publicly funded but privately run organization). Another option would be classifying internet service as a public utility. “Utilities can be strictly regulated for quality and cost controls because these services are considered too important to leave entirely up to market forces,” Mark points out. Ideally, this would open up internet access to more people as well, including the marginalized. A third option would be eschewing land-based internet infrastructure altogether and moving to space instead.

Now that one sounds intriguing, no? If not to you then at least to Elon Musk, who is already on the project. His SpaceX is in the process of constructing a constellation of satellites — Starlink — to provide space-based internet access. In fact, late last year, Fortune reported Musk was able to send a Tweet through space, using Starlink.

Is the future now?

It’s possible Starlink’s space-based broadband will become widely available in the U.S. as early as this year. We’ll stay tuned and keep you updated. In the meantime, find out why Exela’s Smart Office isn’t just good for business; it’s also good for the planet.

[1] https://www.statista.com/statistics/471264/iot-number-of-connected-devices-worldwide/

When it comes to climate and sustainability issues, cities are a paradox. On the one hand, cities consume as much as 80 percent of energy production worldwide and account for a roughly equal share of global greenhouse gas emissions. As a result, cities are under increasing scrutiny over their impact on climate change.[1]

On the other hand, cities are well-positioned to tackle sustainability issues on a large scale.  As Exela’s President of Americas and APAC, Srini Murali, points out, with so many people living in cities (i.e., half of the global population), change can happen much faster than in rural locales.[2] Indeed, cities everywhere are embracing their role in sustainability, with many finding technology, and in particular, automation and digital transformation, to be a powerful ally. Here are a few examples:

Connecting data silos for efficiency

Certain life events--like a birth or a death in the family, a move from one address to another, or leaving a job--require us to fill out multiple forms that ask us for the same information, over and over. It’s a time suck, and it’s infuriating, especially when various forms are all meant to end up in the same office, as so often happens with governmental forms, and it’s a terrible waste of paper, printing, postage, and/or fuel. When city governments embrace digital transformation and automation initiatives, information disclosed on, say, an application for unemployment benefits, will also be available for use by the government department in charge of reviewing public healthcare assistance and benefits.

Here’s why data silos aren’t the real enemy in digital transformation.

Letting predictive cognitive automation predict future requirements

“What if you could predict the general area where crime is likely to occur and deploy police officers as a precaution?” Murali asks in the article he wrote for Smart Cities Dive. “What if you could predict where a roadway would need to be repaired and send a crew out before the damage gets out of hand? Digital transformation initiatives hold the promise of using current and historical data to model and predict future events with enough accuracy that it becomes possible to nip problems in the bud before they can even manifest as problems”. For example, Exela’s Data Aggregation and Data Visualization solutions can help city governments to mine raw data for patterns for the purpose of generating actionable insight.

Learn how office automation, including predictive facilities management, can improve your business’s bottom line.

Digital portals for more efficient workflows

Cities send out a large amount of paper mail each month for such things as tax bills, license renewal notices, and reminders from various departments. But why does it have to be paper? And for such simple communications, why does a human have to be involved at all? Finally, wouldn’t rote tasks of this kind be more trustworthy if executed by a programmed machine? Those are just some of the reasons for adopting digital user platforms.

Learn where “user interface” fits into the seven layers of digital transformation.

Moving beyond Alexa

The Internet of Things has been shaping up to make life much easier. We can vacuum our bedroom while we’re in a meeting at the office. While sitting at our desk in the office, we can bring a filet mignon to precisely the temperature we wish for it to be in our kitchen at home.  But the Internet of Things isn’t just for leisure time. It’s already at work in offices everywhere, adjusting the brightness of overhead lights, setting the thermostat, and smart-tracking shipments, to name a few. At the same time, it’s collecting valuable data about your workforce and your workspace--data you can leverage to your advantage using advanced data analytics tools such as those underpinning Exela’s Concierge and Corporate Hospitality Solutions.

In short, even though cities are a major source of emissions, they’re also ripe for digital transformation and automation initiatives. Moreover, the concentrated population of cities means that more people will become part of the change sooner than in rural areas.

[1] https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-49639003

[2] https://www.smartcitiesdive.com/deep-dive/

“Without a robust security framework, you’ve got…nothing.” - Tom Dolan, Exela’s senior information security officer

Remember the time when 77 million PlayStation users got locked out of PlayStation for 23 days because a hacker got into the system? We'll never forget it, and neither should you. Even the most air-tight, buttoned-down, pen-tested systems aren’t invulnerable. Find out why in the Q3 edition of PluggedIN: A Leap into the Breach: Leveraging Cybersecurity to Master Your Domain. Flip the virtual pages to learn all that’s fresh and fascinating about cybersecurity, including:

• 21 staggering statistics you need to know about cybersecurity
• What Achilles, D.B. Cooper, and Watergate have in common with Equifax
• The odds your smartphone’s being hacked right this very minute
• Who the “bad guys” are (hint: look around), and how to stop them in their tracks
• Why HIPAA, FISMA, GDRP and all the rest of those pesky acronyms are your data’s BFF
• How to put security at the top of your digital transformation priorities

PluggedIN is Exela's thought leadership publication, providing fresh insights from the cutting edge every quarter. Subscribe. Plug in. Upgrade your mind.

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We looked at the history of cyber security breaches and identified the eight worst, based on the number of user accounts compromised. Here’s what we found:

In the weeks ahead, we’ll be diving into the rules that govern security and privacy and all the security matters you’ll want to consider when choosing your digital transformation partner.

If you missed the earlier posts in this series on cyber security, you can catch up here on:

• 21 Staggering Security Statistics Every Business Should Consider
• How the Bad Guys Get In: Cyber Attack Vectors
• How to Keep The Bad Guys Out: Best Practices in Cyber Security

Gotta read it all now? You can download the entire series as a flipping-book here:

A Leap Into The Breach: Leveraging
Cybersecurity to Master Your Domain

Source: https://www.csoonline.com/article/2130877/the-biggest-data-breaches-of-the-21st-century.html

Exela Technologies is committed to the planet, all those who dwell here, and all those who will in the future.”

With 22,000 employees in 23 countries, Exela has the wingspan with which to support communities across the globe. Working tirelessly to leverage that wingspan is the Marketing Team's Kathryn "Katie" Beezley. Based in Atlanta, Georgia (and in constant contact with Exela leadership around the world), Katie is the conduit through which Exela's philanthropic efforts flow.

To learn more about Exela's philanthropy program, #ExelaGivesBack, and how Katie positions Exela to "be the change" the company wants to see in the world, we sat down with Katie for a chat. Here's the takeaway:

Exela's philanthropic mission

"As a global corporate citizen," Katie explains, "Exela takes its responsibility seriously to advance causes that make the world a better place." Accordingly, Katie seeks out and identifies causes and related philanthropic initiatives that are meaningful to Exela as a company or to individuals within the company.

To keep her finger on the pulse of what's meaningful, Katie cultivates relationships with Exela employees all over the world and does her best to "really listen" to what they're saying. She then brings her ideas to our leadership team, which determines which organizations to support and how best to do so.

"In each case, we seek to generate interest, engagement, and monetary donations, as well as engaging our employees in the act of "giving back. Whenever possible, we pledge to match all monetary donations by employees, up to a set level."

How Exela leadership decides which organizations to support

We choose organizations that align with our values, which include:

• Respect for the Individual
• Ethics
• Collaboration
• Passion
• Innovation
• Empowerment

How #ExelaGivesBack came to be

Exela and its predecessor companies had always participated in local philanthropic initiatives— from road races and fun runs to benefit local causes to inviting our employees to wear pink during Breast Cancer Awareness Month. When Exela went public in 2017, we saw an amazing opportunity to use our influence and considerable pool of employees to make a difference on a more global level.

How #ExelaGivesBack selects causes to support

"I research nonprofit organizations and charitable events near our largest offices so that we can have as much participation as possible for the event," says Katie. "After meeting with the organizations and learning what they do, we determine which will fit with our core values and mission as a company.

#GetToKnow Katie

Corporate philanthropy was a natural fit for Katie, who has been with Exela (via its predecessor company, SourceHOV) since 2013. "Since I had already been coordinating special events, getting involved in planning philanthropic events and initiatives seemed a natural fit," Katie explains.

What #ExelaGivesBack gives back to Katie

When asked for some of the highlights of her job, Katie reminded us of just how inspiring the Bare Hands event proved to be. "I was lucky enough to participate in person in the Bare Hands event for Earth Day this year in Atlanta. Seeing the community come together to create something beautiful, useful and sustainable out of something that had been overlooked and neglected for years was really incredible," she tells us. "Everyone brought their children and grandchildren to participate which was great to see because we were having an impact on future generations and not just our own."