#contract automation tools

[pdqdocs]

Streamlining Your Workflow with PDQ Docs: The Future of Document Automation Software

Efficiency and precision are key factors taken into consideration in the current business landscape. Manually handling documents is a time-consuming and monotonous process. This is where Document Automation Software like PDQ Docs comes into play. By automating the process of creating, managing, and storing documents, PDQ Docs allows businesses to streamline operations, save valuable time, and minimize human errors.

What is PDQ Docs?

PDQ Docs is a powerful document automation software designed to simplify and accelerate the way businesses handle paperwork. Whether it's contracts, invoices, proposals, or reports, PDQ Docs automatically generates, customizes, and organizes documents based on pre-defined templates. It allows users to create consistent, high-quality documents at scale, eliminating the need for repetitive manual work.

Time-Saving Benefits of PDQ Docs

The most significant benefit of using Document Automation Software like PDQ Docs is the amount of time it saves. Automating repetitive document-related tasks means employees no longer need to spend hours manually formatting, copying, and editing documents. Instead, they can focus on more critical tasks that require human input, such as client interactions or strategic decision-making.

By reducing the manual effort involved in document creation, PDQ Docs helps businesses operate more efficiently. This time saved translates directly into higher productivity and the ability to respond to clients and partners faster. Moreover, with the automation of routine administrative tasks, businesses can ensure that their employees are working on higher-value projects that contribute to overall business growth.

Accuracy and Consistency in Every Document

Another crucial benefit of PDQ Docs is its ability to ensure accuracy and consistency. In manual document creation, human errors are inevitable. A simple typo or incorrect data entry can lead to costly mistakes, especially when dealing with legal contracts or financial documents. PDQ Docs eliminates these risks by using pre-approved templates and pulling data directly from reliable sources. This automation ensures that every document generated adheres to the same formatting and content guidelines, guaranteeing consistency across all materials.

Improved Compliance and Security

With increasing concerns around data security and regulatory compliance, PDQ Docs also offers robust features to help businesses stay compliant. All documents created through the software are stored securely in the cloud, with encrypted storage and access control measures in place. The software’s automatic updates ensure that businesses are always working with the most current templates and compliance standards, reducing the risk of overlooking regulatory changes.

Conclusion

As businesses continue to rely on technology to optimize their operations, document automation software like PDQ Docs is becoming an essential tool for boosting efficiency, ensuring accuracy, and reducing manual labour. By automating document creation, PDQ Docs not only saves time but also improves consistency, accuracy, and compliance. Embracing this software allows businesses to stay competitive, scale efficiently, and focus on what truly matters: growing and delivering value to their customers. With PDQ Docs, the future of document management is more streamlined and hassle-free than ever.

[simplifyworkforce]

Smart Hiring: How Contingent Workers and VMS Are Redefining Recruitment

In today's dynamic business landscape, agility in workforce planning is essential. Companies are increasingly turning to contingent workers—freelancers, contractors, and temporary staff—to stay flexible and competitive. But hiring and managing this flexible talent requires a smart strategy. That’s where a Vendor Management System (VMS) and efficient sourcing in recruitment play a critical role.

What is a Contingent Worker?

A contingent worker is someone hired on a temporary or contract basis, not as a full-time employee. This workforce includes freelancers, independent contractors, and agency-supplied talent. They offer organizations a cost-effective way to fill skill gaps, manage workloads, or execute short-term projects without long-term commitments.

Why the Shift Toward Contingent Talent?

Flexibility: Companies can scale teams up or down based on project demands.

Specialized Skills: Access to niche talent for short-term needs.

Cost Efficiency: Reduced overhead compared to full-time hires.

The Role of a Vendor Management System (VMS)

A Vendor Management System is a cloud-based platform that helps organizations manage external workforce procurement—from sourcing to onboarding and performance tracking.

Key Benefits of a VMS:

Centralized Talent Pool: Streamlines interactions with multiple staffing vendors.

Real-Time Insights: Monitor performance, costs, and compliance.

Automation: Speeds up vendor onboarding and payment cycles.

Compliance & Risk Management: Ensure all contractors meet legal and policy standards.

Smart Sourcing in Recruitment

Recruiters must now focus on sourcing both permanent and contingent talent. With competition for top-tier contract workers increasing, smart sourcing means:

Using AI-powered tools to screen and shortlist candidates quickly.

Leveraging talent pools and referrals for specialized roles.

Partnering with staffing agencies through your VMS to access quality talent fast.

Bringing It All Together

An effective contingent workforce strategy combines:

A scalable talent sourcing plan

A robust VMS to streamline processes

Clear policies for onboarding and compliance

When executed well, this approach reduces time-to-hire, controls costs, and keeps businesses agile in a changing market.

Conclusion

As the nature of work evolves, so must recruitment strategies. Leveraging contingent workers through a vendor management system enables smarter sourcing in recruitment, empowering businesses to respond to market demands efficiently and strategically.

[sciativesolution]

Stop Losing Money: How Revenue Management Systems Prevent Revenue Leakage

Revenue leakage is a silent profit killer that many businesses overlook, but it can cost companies up to 9% of their annual revenue. Whether you're in hospitality, travel, retail, or SaaS, even small pricing errors or missed invoices can lead to massive financial losses over time.

In a world where profit margins are thin and competition is fierce, preventing revenue leakage is not optional—it's essential.

This is where an AI-powered Revenue Management System (RMS) like ZettaPrice comes in. From dynamic pricing to automated invoicing, RMS software can seal the leaks and boost your bottom line. In this blog, we’ll explore how a robust revenue management solution can transform financial performance across industries.

✅ What Is Revenue Leakage?

Revenue leakage refers to the unnoticed loss of potential revenue due to inefficiencies, manual errors, or poor pricing strategies. Common causes include:

Incorrect or inconsistent pricing

Contract non-compliance

Billing inefficiencies or missed invoices

Mismanaged discounts and promotions

Poor data visibility and tracking

🔍 Revenue leakage affects 42% of companies—costing businesses an average of 9% of total sales annually. The worst part? It often goes undetected until the damage is done.

🧠 What Is a Revenue Management System (RMS)?

A Revenue Management System is a data-driven, AI-powered software solution that helps businesses:

Optimize pricing based on market demand and competition

Forecast demand and adjust inventory or services accordingly

Automate critical revenue processes (e.g., invoicing, contract compliance, and discount approvals)

Detect and plug revenue gaps before they escalate

Popular in hotels, airlines, retail, and subscription-based businesses, an RMS ensures you’re not leaving money on the table.

🔐 How to Prevent Revenue Leakage Using Revenue Management Software

Here’s how an advanced revenue optimization software like ZettaPrice RMS helps businesses detect, prevent, and eliminate revenue leakage:

1. AI-Powered Dynamic Pricing

Adjust prices in real time based on market trends, competitor pricing, and demand.

Prevent underpricing or over-discounting that erodes profit margins.

Maximize revenue during high-demand periods without sacrificing customer satisfaction.

2. Contract and Compliance Monitoring

Automatically track contract terms, service-level agreements, and payment cycles.

Flag discrepancies, missed invoices, or unapproved discounts.

Ensure full revenue recognition from every agreement.

3. Demand Forecasting and Inventory Optimization

Use predictive analytics to forecast customer demand with high accuracy.

Minimize stockouts and overstocking—both major causes of revenue loss.

Optimize resource allocation and reduce holding costs.

4. Identifying Revenue Gaps and Errors

Real-time dashboards highlight where revenue is leaking and why.

Actionable insights help you fix issues proactively instead of reacting later.

Improve financial reporting and transparency.

🚀 Benefits of Implementing a Revenue Management System

1. Increased Profitability

With smart pricing strategies, businesses can ensure they’re charging the right price at the right time. This boosts revenue without alienating customers.

📌 Example: Hotels using RMS increase RevPAR (Revenue per Available Room) by adjusting room prices during peak and off-peak seasons.

2. Improved Operational Efficiency

Manual revenue tracking and billing are prone to errors. Automation through RMS helps:

Save time and reduce human errors

Standardize pricing and billing processes

Ensure regulatory compliance

📌 Example: Airlines use RMS to automate fare updates, reducing fare leakage due to outdated pricing.

3. Enhanced Customer Experience

Personalize pricing and promotions using customer data.

Improve conversion rates and brand loyalty.

Deliver better value to different customer segments.

📌 Example: E-commerce retailers apply dynamic discounts based on browsing behavior and purchase history.

4. Competitive Advantage

Stay one step ahead by responding to market changes in real time. With RMS:

React instantly to competitor pricing

Maintain market share without sacrificing margin

Improve price transparency and customer trust

5. Smarter, Data-Driven Decisions

Access to real-time analytics empowers your teams to:

Identify new revenue opportunities

Predict churn in subscription models

Avoid pricing blind spots and inefficiencies

📌 Example: SaaS platforms use RMS data to prevent downgrades and maximize lifetime customer value.

🧩 Why Choose ZettaPrice RMS to Prevent Revenue Leakage?

ZettaPrice Revenue Management System is a cutting-edge solution designed to plug revenue gaps and increase profitability. It helps your business:

✅ Dynamically optimize pricing using AI & machine learning ✅ Eliminate revenue loss from underpricing or outdated rates ✅ Automate invoicing, billing, and discount tracking ✅ Monitor contracts and ensure compliance ✅ Uncover hidden revenue opportunities using data analytics

ZettaPrice RMS is ideal for industries like:

Hotels and Resorts

Online Travel Agencies (OTAs)

Retail Chains & E-commerce

SaaS and Subscription Services

With ZettaPrice, you don’t just stop revenue leakage—you unlock long-term financial stability and growth.

🏁 Conclusion: Seal the Leaks Before It’s Too Late

Revenue leakage is preventable—but only if you have the right tools. In today’s data-driven world, investing in a revenue management system is no longer a luxury but a necessity. With AI-powered software like ZettaPrice RMS, you can:

Prevent revenue losses

Improve operational efficiency

Gain a competitive advantage

Maximize profitability

Don’t wait until your profits vanish through cracks you can’t see.

👉 Start your journey to leak-free revenue with ZettaPrice RMS today!

[signcare]

SignCare is an all-in-one document automation platform tailored for the needs of modern businesses. By leveraging cutting-edge technology, we provide innovative solutions that simplify and elevate your document workflows, enabling your organization to operate more efficiently and effectively. Our platform seamlessly integrates essential processes-whether it's streamlining customer eKYC, enhancing digital onboarding, enabling secure digital stamping, managing contracts, or supporting legally binding eSignatures. With SignCare, you can reduce costs, save time, and increase productivity while ensuring top-tier security and compliance.

[sharedocsdms]

Understanding Finance Automation: Enhancing Efficiency and Decision-Making

Finance automation leverages technology to streamline financial operations, reducing manual efforts and improving efficiency. By automating routine tasks, finance professionals can focus on strategic decision-making and business growth. Advanced solutions such as reg tech solution, financial services automation, and dms software development are revolutionizing financial workflows, ensuring accuracy and compliance.

The Role of Automation in Finance

Financial teams must optimize efficiency while ensuring compliance and accuracy. Automation tools, powered by AI and machine learning, enhance financial services automation, improving forecasting and fraud detection. Reg tech solutions assist in managing financial regulations, reducing risks, and ensuring transparency.

Chief Financial Officers (CFOs) must collaborate with IT teams to integrate finance automation into digital transformation strategies. This ensures effective resource management, enhanced decision-making, and reduced operational costs.

Key Benefits of Financial Automation

Enhanced Efficiency – Automates repetitive tasks like invoice processing, payroll, and auditing, reducing human errors.

Regulatory Compliance – Reg tech solutions streamline compliance reporting and fraud detection.

Cost Optimization – Automation reduces overhead costs by minimizing manual intervention.

Data Security – AI-powered monitoring enhances cybersecurity, protecting sensitive financial data.

Types of Finance Automation

Business Process Automation (BPA) – Streamlines financial workflows such as payroll and tax filings.

Robotic Process Automation (RPA) – Uses bots for tasks like invoice reconciliation and transaction processing.

Intelligent Automation – AI-driven insights enhance forecasting and fraud prevention.

Financial Automation Use Cases

Contract Management – Contract management tools automate legal and financial agreements.

Expense & Budgeting – AI-powered dms software development enhances tracking and reporting.

Investment Strategies – AI-driven models optimize asset allocation and risk assessment.

Challenges in Finance Automation

Employee Upskilling – Organizations must train teams to adapt to automated workflows.

Data Security Risks – Cybersecurity measures must be robust to prevent financial fraud.

Initial Setup Costs – High implementation costs can be a barrier for smaller firms.

Conclusion

Finance automation is transforming financial operations, improving accuracy, compliance, and efficiency. Leveraging reg tech solutions, financial services automation, and contract management tools ensures businesses remain competitive. As technology evolves, organizations must embrace automation to enhance decision-making and operational efficiency.

[flowrocket2025]

https://flowrocket.com/finance

[inextcrm]

Easy Meeting Scheduler Tool for Better Team Coordination

With automated reminders and real-time updates, never miss a meeting or double-book again. Whether you're managing a remote team or collaborating across time zones, InNextCRM's meeting scheduling tool is your key to boosting productivity and fostering collaboration. Start simplifying your scheduling process today and make every meeting count.

[femmefatalevibe]

Femme Fatale Guide: Products & Services Worth The Splurge

Fashion:

A great couple of bras in black/nude (your best skin-toned shade)

Comfortable, breathable, and seamless underwear

Outerwear (Coats, jackets, blazers)

The perfect pair of jeans

An LBD that works from day to night

Comfortable, sturdy, sleek, and timeless footwear (a versatile black boot, a black heel, white sneaker, and a black flat/loafer/sandal)

A timeless and versatile crossbody or shoulder bag (a larger one for the daytime/work or school and a smaller one for nighttime/events)

One or two well-made classic jewelry item(s)

A conversation-starting item or accessory

Beauty:

Sunscreen

Any skincare/skin cosmetic products that are game-changers for you

A quality hair brush, comb, and hair towel

Your signature scent

A quality razor/hair removal product

Vitamin C/Retinol serums

Reliable hair tools and sturdy nail tools

A quality hair heat protectant/scalp cleansing or conditioning spray

Makeup brushes and beauty tool cleaners

Home:

Lamps/lighting

Couch/desk chair

Everything for your bed: Bed frame, mattress/sheets/pillows, etc.

Knives

Dishwasher-safe and microwave-safe dishes & cups you love

A full-length mirror

Vacuum

Storage solutions/cedar blocks or moth balls

Quality holders for everything: Paper towels, shower storage, hooks, mailbox/key bowls

Name brand paper products/household cleaners

Electric toothbrush & Waterpik

Sound-proof headphones/Airpods

MacBook Air

Health & Wellness:

High-quality lettuce and/or sprouts

Organic frozen fruits and vegetables (if fresh is too pricey)

BPA-free canned goods

Potassium bromate & glyphosate-free grain products

Snacks free of artificial colors

Quality coffee

An at-home massage tool/heating pad

Fur products for skin/hair removal

Vitamin C/Retinol serums

Quality running shoes

Anything that goes near your vulva or into the vagina: Sex toys, lube, condoms, toy cleaners, pads/tampons/menstrual cups, cleansing wipes, etc.

A yoga mat, resistance band, and a pair of small ankle weights

Spotify subscription

Books and audiobooks

Services:

Therapy

A top-tier haircut

House cleaning (even if it's only once every couple of months)

Top-tier hair removal/brow maintenance services of your choice

Best doctors, dentists, OB/GYN, and dermatologists you can get

At least one personal training/styling session in your life

Professional/Social:

Ownership of the domain for your full legal/professional name and/or business name

A CPA/bookkeeper/fiduciary financial advisor

Automation workflow/content management system software

A lawyer for contract review/LLC services

Personalized stationery/"Thank You" cards

Memorable client gifting for the holidays/milestone successes

Niche skill-based certifications (Google, AWS, Hubspot, etc.) or courses made by trusted professionals in your field

Subscriptions in world-leading and industry-authority digital publications

[marlynnofmany]

Confidential Human Questions

I was walking past the door to the cockpit quietly because I heard Captain Sunlight on a video call with a client, but then I heard, “Was that a human? Call them back; I have a question.”

This ought to be good, I thought as I spun on my heel.

Captain Sunlight was just calling my name as I reached the doorway. “Ah yes, thank you. Would you mind answering a human-related question?” She stood in the middle of the room, yellow scales bright in the good lighting. She managed to look up to my height without making it seem awkward.

“Sure,” I said. “What’s the question?” I stayed in the doorway. The room was a little crowded, with Wio in one pilot’s chair, tentacles manipulating many controls at once, and Kavlae doing something to fix her own chair with a hand tool. Judging by the way her head frills were flaring with frustration, she wasn’t done yet.

The client on the big screen curled his own tentacles. “I’m concerned about my ship’s human,” he said, turning his pointy squid head to make sure he wasn’t overheard. He lowered his voice and spoke closely to the screen. “We only have the one, you see, and I don’t want to ask any awkward questions directly.”

“I understand,” I said with a nod. Captain Sunlight ushered me into the room, then stepped out to talk to Zhee about something. I heard the distinctive click of his bug feet.

The client was still talking, with agitated twists of his pebbly gray tentacles. “We don’t have a medic onboard, just an automated medical suite. The human will be going home soon — limited time work contract, you know — but I’m honestly worried about infection spreading there, since I think this human caught it by meeting up with another. I gather that this other is on good terms with ours, and may be going to the same place either way, but I don’t want to contribute any contagion from my ship.”

“What kind of symptoms are we talking about?” I asked, mentally going over the short list of diseases that I knew of which could jump between species. This might be worth consulting our own medic. “No one else onboard is affected?”

“No, just the human,” he said, making vague loops with his tentacles. “There’s a malignant-looking growth, along with fatigue and gastrointestinal distress. The human has been acting a little… unpredictable.” He looked behind himself again. “I very much don’t want to cause an incident by prying, especially if this is something she knows to be terminal.”

I opened my mouth then closed it, choosing my questions with care. “Is the growth about here?” I pantomimed a roundness at my own stomach. “How long since she met with the other human?”

“Yes, exactly there! It’s been approximately half a standard orbit. What is it? Do you know?”

He was so sincere and worried that I had to smile. “Good news! In my opinion as a professional human, that’s not a disease at all. Your human is going to be a parent.”

Instead of relaxing, he looked confused. “Humans gestate eggs for that long? Shouldn’t she have laid them by now? She looks awfully uncomfortable. Oh no, are they stuck?” Now he was getting alarmed. “I had a relative who got eggbound once, and it was dire!”

I raised my hands in a calming gesture that I hoped he understood. “No, no eggs. Humans give live birth.”

“Live what?”

“Just — we lay the babies, already hatched.” I looked to my various crewmates for support, and found four different sets of eyes watching in curiosity. “All of you lay eggs, don’t you?”

Several nods answered me, along with, “Well not personally,” from Zhee. “But yes.”

I sighed and turned back to the screen. “It’s extremely normal on my planet. Just think of it as carrying the nest around internally. There are pros and cons to the whole thing, but yeah. At any rate, it sounds like she’s planning to join up with her mate at home, and raise their offspring together.”

The client looked fascinated. “Is there anything I should do? Or not do? I can make sure my crew is informed.”

“I understand it’s an uncomfortable process. Just be gentle, and encourage rest,” I said. “Oh, and have other crewmembers handle anything that involves bending over or moving heavy things.”

By the swift tentacle motions offscreen, he was typing notes.

Another thought occurred to me. “I don’t know how long until you reach her home, but if things take too long, you’d better hope your medical suite is up to overseeing a childbirth. They’re very painful, sometimes dangerous. And messy.”

He stopped typing, eyes wide. “I need to check with someone about changing our schedule. Thank you, goodbye!” The screen went blank.

I looked to the captain. “Were you done talking with him, I hope?”

She nodded. “Yes, business is concluded. Which is good, since I don’t fancy having to track him down because he forgot to pay us.”

“Yeah, me neither,” I said with a glance back at the screen. “I didn’t even get to tell him how loud human newborns are, or how often they cry. I doubt there’s a crib onboard.”

Zhee made a disparaging hiss and wandered off in a cloud of opinions about species without the good sense to hatch at a properly capable stage of development.

Wio snorted. “Judging by the speed they just took off at, I don’t think they’re going to need one.” She pointed a blue-ringed tentacle at a display that showed the other ship departing in an all-fired hurry.

I shook my head. “Best of luck to all involved!”

~~~

These are the ongoing backstory adventures of the main character from this book.

Shared early on Patreon! There’s even a free tier to get them on the same day as the rest of the world.

The sequel novel is in progress (and will include characters from these stories. I hadn’t thought all of them up when I wrote the first book, but they’re too much fun to leave out of the second).

[pdqdocs]

Streamlining Business Operations with PDQ Docs: The Ideal Document Generation Software for Small Business

As a small business owner, one of the key challenges you face is balancing productivity with efficiency. Time spent on repetitive tasks like document creation can take away from more strategic efforts, potentially stalling growth. That's where document generation software for small business becomes a game-changer. PDQ Docs is designed to help small business owners streamline document creation, ensuring that they can focus on scaling their businesses instead of getting bogged down in administrative tasks.

Why Small Businesses Need Document Generation Software

Small businesses often operate with limited resources, meaning time and efficiency are precious. Document creation tasks, such as drafting contracts, invoices, reports, and proposals, can be incredibly time-consuming, especially when done manually. These documents also need to be accurate, professional, and consistent to build credibility with clients, customers, and partners. Without the right tools, managing these tasks can lead to errors, delays, and missed opportunities.

By using document generation software for small business, such as PDQ Docs, you can automate much of the document creation process, freeing up time for more important tasks. The software provides an efficient way to generate professional documents quickly and accurately, all while maintaining high standards of quality.

How PDQ Docs Simplifies Document Creation

PDQ Docs is a highly intuitive and user-friendly document generation software for small business owners. It removes the complexity traditionally associated with creating business documents. Whether you’re drafting an invoice, creating a business proposal, or preparing legal contracts, PDQ Docs makes it easy to produce polished, professional documents in just a few clicks.

The software is equipped with pre-designed templates that cater to a wide variety of business needs. These templates are fully customizable, allowing you to add your business details and tailor the document to your specific requirements. This reduces the time spent formatting and ensures that every document is consistent with your business’s branding.

Collaboration Made Easy

For small businesses with a team, collaboration on documents can sometimes be a logistical challenge. With PDQ Docs, teams can easily collaborate on document creation in real time. Multiple users can edit a document simultaneously, ensuring that everyone has access to the most up-to-date version. The software automatically tracks changes, making it easy to see what has been added or altered, which is crucial when finalizing important documents.

This feature is particularly helpful when creating complex documents like contracts or proposals that require input from various team members. The ability to collaborate seamlessly reduces errors, speeds up the process, and ensures that no detail is overlooked.

Conclusion

PDQ Docs is an essential document generation software for small business owners who want to save time, reduce errors, and improve the overall efficiency of their operations. With its easy-to-use interface, customizable templates, collaboration features, and cost-effectiveness, PDQ Docs empowers small businesses to generate professional-quality documents quickly and easily. By using this software, small business owners can focus more on driving growth and less on administrative tasks. Try PDQ Docs today and experience the future of document creation for small businesses.

[simplifyworkforce]

Optimizing Workforce Management with VMS, Contingent Workforce, and Direct Sourcing

Businesses today need agile and cost-effective workforce solutions to stay competitive. A Vendor Management System (VMS), contingent workforce strategies, and direct sourcing help organizations streamline hiring, improve vendor collaboration, and reduce costs.

VMS: The Backbone of Workforce Optimization

A Vendor Management System (VMS) automates and centralizes vendor selection, compliance tracking, and workforce analytics. Key benefits include: ✅ Better visibility into contingent workforce spending ✅ Automated invoicing, reporting, and vendor performance tracking ✅ Improved compliance and risk management

With a VMS, businesses can manage their workforce efficiently while cutting administrative overhead.

Contingent Workforce: The Flexible Hiring Approach

A contingent workforce includes freelancers, contractors, and temporary staff who help businesses scale as needed. Advantages include: ✅ Cost savings by reducing long-term employment expenses ✅ Access to specialized talent on demand ✅ Agility to adapt to changing business needs

When integrated with a VMS contingent workforce management becomes seamless and more efficient.

Direct Sourcing: Faster, Smarter Hiring

Direct sourcing allows businesses to build a talent pool of pre-vetted candidates without relying solely on staffing agencies. Benefits include: ✅ Faster hiring with reduced recruitment costs ✅ Improved employer branding and candidate engagement ✅ More control over workforce quality and retention

A VMS-powered direct sourcing strategy ensures businesses attract top talent efficiently.

Conclusion: A Holistic Workforce Strategy

By combining a VMS, contingent workforce strategies, and direct sourcing, businesses can: ✔ Enhance hiring efficiency and workforce visibility ✔ Reduce costs while improving vendor and talent management ✔ Adapt quickly to market demands with a flexible workforce

A smart, technology-driven workforce strategy ensures business continuity, scalability, and long-term success.

How to Create a Vendor Risk Management Policy: A Step-by-Step Guide

Vendor Onboarding Software: A Comprehensive Guide

7 Tips for Choosing a Contingent Performance Management Software

[yesornopolls]

The article under the cut

Allies of Elon Musk stationed within the Education Department are considering replacing some contract workers who interact with millions of students and parents annually with an artificial intelligence chat bot, according to internal department documents and communications.

The proposal is part of President Trump’s broader effort to shrink the federal work force, and would mark a major change in how the agency interacts with the public. The Education Department’s biggest job is managing billions of dollars in student aid, and it routinely fields complex questions from borrowers.

The department currently uses both call centers and a rudimentary A.I. bot to answer questions. The proposal would introduce generative A.I., a more sophisticated version of artificial intelligence that could replace many of those human agents.

The call centers employ 1,600 people who field over 15,000 questions per day from student borrowers.

The vision could be a model for other federal agencies, in which human beings are replaced by technology, and behemoth contracts with outside companies are shed or reduced in favor of more automated solutions. In some cases, that technology was developed by players from the private sector who are now working inside or with the Trump administration.

Mr. Musk has significant interest in A.I. He founded a generative A.I. company, and is also seeking to gain control of OpenAI, one of the biggest players in the industry. At other agencies, workers from the newly created Department of Government Efficiency, headed by Mr. Musk, have told federal employees that A.I. would be a significant part of the administration’s cost-cutting plans.

A year after the Education Department oversaw a disastrous rollout of a new federal student aid application, longtime department officials say they are open to the idea of seeking greater efficiencies, as have leaders in other federal agencies. Many are partnering with the efficiency initiative.

But Department of Education staff have also found that a 38 percent reduction in funding for call center operations could contribute to a “severe degradation” in services for “students, borrowers and schools,” according to one internal document obtained by The Times.

The Musk associates working inside the Education Department include former executives from education technology and venture capital firms. Over the past several years, those industries have invested heavily in creating A.I. education tools and marketing them to schools, educators and students.

The Musk team at the department has focused, in part, on a help line that is currently operated on a contract basis by Accenture, a consulting firm, according to the documents reviewed by The Times. The call center assists students who have questions about applying for federal Pell grants and other forms of tuition aid, or about loan repayment.

The contract that includes this work has sent more than $700 million to Accenture since 2019, but is set to expire next week.

“The department is open to using tools and systems that would enhance the customer service, security and transparency of data for students and parents,” said Madi Biedermann, the department’s deputy assistant secretary for communications. “We are evaluating all contracts to assess effectiveness relative to costs.”

Accenture did not respond to interview requests. A September report from the Education Department describes 1,625 agents answering 462,000 calls in one month. The agents also handled 118,000 typed chats.

In addition to the call line, Accenture provides a broad range of other services to the student aid system. One of those is Aidan, a more rudimentary virtual assistant that answers basic questions about student aid. It was launched in 2019, during Mr. Trump’s first term.

Accenture reported in 2021 that Aidan fielded 2.2 million messages in one year. But its capabilities fall far short of what Mr. Musk’s associates envision building using generative A.I., according to the internal documents.

Both Mr. Trump and former President Joseph R. Biden Jr. directed federal agencies to look for opportunities to use A.I. to better serve the public.

The proposal to revamp the communication system follows a meltdown in the rollout of the new Free Application for Federal Student Aid, or FAFSA, last year under Mr. Biden. As FAFSA problems caused mass confusion for students applying for financial aid, several major contractors, including Accenture, were criticized for breakdowns in the infrastructure available to students and parents seeking answers and help.

From January through May last year, roughly three-quarters of the 5.4 million calls to the department’s help lines went unanswered, according to a report by the Government Accountability Office.

More than 500 workers have since been added to the call centers, and wait times were significantly reduced, according to the September Department of Education report.

But transitioning into using generative A.I. for student aid help, as a replacement for some or all human call center workers, is likely to raise questions around privacy, accuracy and equal access to devices, according to technology experts.

Generative A.I. systems still sometimes share information that is false.

Given how quickly A.I. capabilities are advancing, those challenges are potentially surmountable, but should be approached methodically, without rushing, said John Bailey, a fellow at the American Enterprise Institute and former director of educational technology at the Education Department under President George W. Bush.

Mr. Bailey has since become an expert on the uses of A.I. in education.

“Any big modernization effort needs to be rolled out slowly for testing, to see what works and doesn’t work,” he said, pointing to the botched introduction of the new FAFSA form as a cautionary tale.

“We still have kids not in college because of that,” he said.

In recent weeks, the Education Department has absorbed a number of DOGE workers, according to two people familiar with the process, who requested anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the department’s security procedures and feared for their jobs.

One of the people involved in the DOGE efforts at the Education Department is Brooks Morgan, who until recently was the chief executive of Podium Education, an Austin-based start-up, and has also worked for a venture capital firm focused on education technology, according to the two people.

Another new staffer working at the agency is Alexandra Beynon, the former head of engineering at Mindbloom, a company that sells ketamine, according to those sources and an internal document.

And a third is Adam Ramada, who formerly worked at a Miami venture capital firm, Spring Tide Capital, which invests in health technology, according to an affidavit in a lawsuit filed against the Department of Government Efficiency.

None of those staffers responded to interview requests.

[solselah]

SPIRITUAL

CLEANSING TOOLS

✨

ALL WHITE CLEANSE :

For this pile I channeled an all white cleanse as your effective mode of cleansing!! That revolves around wearing all white for a specific amount of time ! For example 5-7 days etc! Honestly however many days you feel drawn to!! This cleanse for you will help awaken your crown chakra & Help you to lean softly into awakening your spirit in totality (think of what caffeine does to the body). This method of cleansing will Suck out all of the shadow energy that has been trapped in your auric field & body!!! It may bring fourth heavy and vivid dreams along with remembering certain things from the past & past LIVES ! You may use this cleansing method when things do not seem clear to you …. When things are literally unknown and you truly can’t figure out what to do next it may be necessary to clothe yourself in all white to connect with your YANG ! At this specific time I believe there is some unresolved anger needing to come to the surface and Dissipate!! It’s time to move on from an angry space to a space where growth and Purity are present!! Wearing all white is your armor , it will help your spiritual connections way more than you actually think. Your white clothing act as an Antenna it will help you to strengthen the connection with whomever and whatever you’re planning to connect with !! CLARITY ✨

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SPIRITUAL BATH :

There are a few things here

You may be someone in the limelight or center of attention without even trying & people really do evil eye you very often, im talking when you step out the “eye” pops out!!! It’s automated at this rate. Totally not your fault your energy is just powerful and magnetic! Very !! So using a spiritual bath with certain herbs will help you to fully release the energy that has been projected onto you ! Even if you wear a certain necklace or bracelet it’s still a necessary step to submerge your whole entire body in water to spiritually cleanse yourself! It’s almost like you get in the shower everyday to cleanse your physical body so it’s important to keep the same energy spiritually! That’s so needed for you guys in this pile. It’s time for a deep / full reset. You will notice after your spiritual bath I’m talking a day after you will feel light as A FEATHERRR ! You may feel intense energy which may come off as heavy, but it takes just a moment for that baggage to clear out ! (As herbs do have different properties and time that they are effective) For you I would always make sure to add a dash of ground coffee to your bath just a pinch I’m talking a sunflower seed amount !! It will help to add a kick to the cleansing process as far as time is concerned!! When it’s a beneficial time for you in life it’s important to also indulge in a spiritual bath ! It shows you are putting your best foot forward in attempt to grow , to change. You may even receive spiritual gifts by doing spiritual baths routinely!!! That’s specific for the type of energy you carry but for the most part doing this long term is so beneficial!!!

I’m feeling the heaviest of Pisces and Libra energy if this is you please do take this Into consideration. Especially if you have mercury in 5th house :)

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CANDLE WORK :

YOU & candle work go absolutely hand and hand. This could be something you do regardless , I can see that for a select few of you, you may have used candle 🕯️ magic in the past to invoke a soul mate or to manifest love in your life. I do see here that at some point you were successful and came into “a” union with your mate. Creating a bond attached with a contract!! I believe it’s time for you to utilize candle working with cleansing intentions in mind. White candles specifically!!! But In addition, with black candles there is usually some deeper energy to wipe out! I would start with a black candle with intention to burn out certain energies that may be holding you back or crowding over you in a negative way!! Soon after I would purify and cleanse a white candle and ~purify~ my energy!! Think of a washer machine and the process of putting the clothes in , adding your choice of soap & rinsing a few times , and soon after drying. So This could be a longer process of cleansing but for you..it’s very deep and effective!

You could be an Aries or a Virgo !! Also I’m feeling LEO energy !! You like to utilize a FLAME! And for you it works!! And it feels effective to you. Which is a bonus & all that matters!

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SMUDGE :

THEIR IS A VERY CLEAR MESSAGE if you are burning sage currently stop !!! (Unless culturally your practice)

There is a specific Range of herbs you are meant to use to cleanse yourself & I feel for a few of you sage hasn’t been as effective for you personally ! No hate against it it’s just that soul wise you haven’t felt any differences regarding how you feel ! So for those who don’t know what herbs are effective for you to smudge with I’m hearing

Frankincense and myryth & Dragons blood! Along with cloves & Cinnamon !!

I’m seeing bay leaves for some ! So there are a bunch of effective herbs for you to smudge with that will help to be effective for you as per your personal ENERGY! Now I’m not saying the sage won’t do what it’s meant naturally ,it just doesn’t seem to be effective for you personally! You smudging in general helps you to release your fears and your self limitations at that VERY MOMENT !!! Pairing your smudges with song or Chants are super powerful ! So powerful !!! It may even release so much energy for you you’ll encounter an emotional reaction & just start sobbing because of it! In the long run it will help you with rejection you experience / experienced! Helping you to put pieces of you back together !!! It helps , and is effective so don’t get discouraged by one method not doing what you want! Keep trying different herbs that you intuitively feel driven and guided towards !! It Helps to ground you as well. It’s important & imperative that YOU stay grounded.

*I am picking up Capricorn energy along with Cancer & Sagittarius!!*

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Hope you enjoy ✨

IG:@ soleccentric

[gacha-incels]

editorial from the english version of the Hankyoreh

archive link

plain text

Before focusing on my master’s thesis, I worked for a brief period for an organization supporting victims of cyber sex crimes. My job was to put each and every case of illegally filmed footage assigned to me through a search engine and if I found that the images had been uploaded to certain sites, I would beg the operator of that site to take those images down. 

The process of searching and subsequently scrubbing illegally filmed footage probably isn’t what most people would expect. There is no advanced AI that categorizes footage based on the faces of victims, lists the sites the footage is uploaded to, and sends automated requests for the deletion of such posts. Instead, employees and volunteers divide each reported video frame by frame, put each fragmented frame through search engines, organize each site the footage is posted to on a spreadsheet, collate the sites for verification, find the site operator’s email or contact channel, and write a message that read, “This video is illegally filmed footage so we ask that you remove it from your site. If it is not removed, the South Korean government may take action against the site pursuant to relevant laws,” translate it from Korean into English and then send it to the operator.

This happened daily. Sometimes, you would have to go through 100 or 200 cases a day. I’ve assigned a nickname to this procedure: “The Illegally Filmed Footage Removal Protocol that Seems Absurdly Advanced, But Basically Follows the Same Grueling Procedures as a Sweatshop.”

The biggest challenge when fighting digital sex crimes is their overwhelming breadth and scale. It was impossible for us, as we sat in front of our computer screens, to estimate which far-out depths of the internet any of the footage had reached. 

Even if we painstakingly found 20 posts using a particular photo and saw that every post was erased, the next day we would see the photo spring up in 40 different posts. Websites distributing illegally filmed footage make various backup sites with different domains to make sure that sites are up and running even if the main site is taken down. 

Many of the sites in question have servers based abroad, so even if you sent a beseeching email citing South Korean laws, they simply could just pretend that they never saw the email.

The terror of that vast scope goes beyond distribution and duplication. While deepfake pornography has been in the news recently, photoshopping a real person’s face onto a pornographic image has been a crime for some time now.

The difference is that producing such images used to be time-consuming and technically challenging, requiring the “manual” manipulation of images. But the new tool of AI has made it easy for anyone to instantaneously create deepfakes in a dizzying variety of formats.

Another frightening aspect is that anyone with access to photographs on social media can choose victims at random. And since the images are “fakes” created by AI, the perpetrator can deliberately duck the guilt of harming a real person.

Deepfake creation has spread so rapidly because it gives perpetrators a perverse sense of power over their victims — the ability to create dozens of humiliating images of someone from photographs scraped off Instagram — while also enabling them to ignore victims’ suffering because the images aren’t technically “real.” In short, deepfakes represent a game-changing acceleration of the production cycle of sexually exploitative media.

Those images spread far too fast for the handful of employees at nonprofits to keep up with. Facing such a vast challenge, permanent employees began to drift away, and their positions were once again filled by people on short-term contracts.

Lee Jun-seok, a lawmaker with the Reform Party, said during a meeting of the National Assembly’s Science, ICT, Broadcasting and Communications Committee that the 220,000 members of a deepfake channel on Telegram was an “overblown threat” and estimated that, given the percentage of Korean users on Telegram, only about 726 of the channel members are actually Koreans.

But what does it matter whether there are 220,000 Koreans on the channel or just 726?

Let’s suppose there aren’t even 726, but just 10 people in the group — they could still produce 220,000 deepfakes if they set their mind to it. Those images would then be copied and circulated beyond their point of origin and around the world, perhaps remaining permanently in some dark corners of the Internet without ever being deleted.

That’s the nature of sex crimes in the digital age.

So assuming that the criminal potential of this technology remains the same regardless of whether the channel has 220,000 members, 726 members or even just 10, I can’t help wondering what Lee thinks would be an acceptable number of deepfake purveyors that would not constitute an “overblown threat.”

[whompthatsucker1981]

real actual nonhostile question with a preamble: i think a lot of artists consider NN-generated images as an existential threat to their ability to use art as a tool to survive under capitalism, and it's frequently kind of disheartening to think about what this is going to do to artists who rely on commissions / freelance storyboarding / etc. i don't really care whether or not nn-generated images are "true art" because like, that's not really important or worth pursuing as a philosophical question, but i also don't understand how (under capitalism) the rise of it is anything except a bleak portent for the future of artists

thanks for asking! i feel like it's good addressing the idea of the existential threat, the fears and feelings that artists have as to being replaced are real, but personally i am cynical as to the extent that people make it out to be a threat. and also i wanna say my piece in defense of discussions about art and meaning.

the threat of automation, and implementation of technologies that make certain jobs obsolete is not something new at all in labor history and in art labor history. industrial printing, stock photography, art assets, cgi, digital art programs, etc, are all technologies that have cut down on the number of art jobs that weren't something you could cut corners and labor off at one point. so why do neural networks feel like more of a threat? one thing is that they do what the metaphorical "make an image" button that has been used countless times in arguments on digital art programs does, so if the fake button that was made up to win an argument on the validity of digital art exists, then what will become of digital art? so people panic.

but i think that we need to be realistic as to what neural net image generation does. no matter how insanely huge the data pool they pull from is, the medium is, in the simplest terms, limited as to the arrangement of pixels that are statistically likely to be together given certain keywords, and we only recognize the output as symbols because of pattern recognition. a neural net doesn't know about gestalt, visual appeal, continuity, form, composition, etc. there are whole areas of the art industry that ai art serves especially badly, like sequential arts, scientific illustration, drafting, graphic design, etc. and regardless, neural nets are tools. they need human oversight to work, and to deal with the products generated. and because of the medium's limitations and inherent jankiness, it's less work to hire a human professional to just do a full job than to try and wrangle a neural net.

as to the areas of the art industry that are at risk of losing job opportunities to ai like freelance illustration and concept art, they are seen as replaceable to an industry that already overworks, underpays, and treats them as disposable. with or without ai, artists work in precarized conditions without protections of organized labor, even moreso in case of freelancers. the fault is not of ai in itself, but in how it's yielded as a tool by capital to threaten workers. the current entertainment industry strikes are in part because of this, and if the new wga contract says anything, it's that a favorable outcome is possible. pressure capital to let go of the tools and question everyone who proposes increased copyright enforcement as the solution. intellectual property serves capital and not the working artist.

however, automation and ai implementation is not unique to the art industry. service jobs, manufacturing workers and many others are also at risk at losing out jobs to further automation due to capital's interest in maximizing profits at the cost of human lives, but you don't see as much online outrage because they are seen as unskilled and uncreative. the artist is seen as having a prestige position in society, if creativity is what makes us human, the artist symbolizes this belief - so if automation comes for the artist then people feel like all is lost. but art is an industry like any other and artists are not of more intrinsic value than any manual laborer. the prestige position of artist also makes artists act against class interest by cooperating with corporations and promoting ip law (which is a bad thing. take the shitshow of the music industry for example), and artists feel owed upward social mobility for the perceived merits of creativity and artistic genius.

as an artist and a marxist i say we need to exercise thinking about art, meaning and the role of the artist. the average prompt writer churning out big titty thomas kinkade paintings posting on twitter on how human made art will become obsolete doesnt know how to think about art. art isn't about making pretty pictures, but is about communication. the average fanartist underselling their work doesn't know that either. discussions on art and meaning may look circular and frustrating if you come in bad faith, but it's what exercises critical thinking and nuance.