Best Local Ai Deployment Podcasts (2025)

1
Bridging Gaps and Breaking Silos - How IT Drives Growth with Jon Harding of Conair and Lauren Livak Gilbert of DSI 28:50

1d ago28:50

28:50

Welcome to our first cross over podcast with eCommerce Braintrust. I joined Jordan Ripley & Julie Spear from Acadia as we chatted with Jon Harding, CIO of Conair about the latest DSI research report. We dug into how IT and the rest of the business need to collaborate to see success in 2025!By Digital Shelf Institute

1
The Coalition of the Willing, with Heather Campain, VP, CPG Integrated Go-to-Market Strategy at Epsilon 39:29

8d ago39:29

39:29

1
Strategies for Winning the MegaSales, with Sunava Dutta, Chief Product Officer at Pacvue 34:25

15d ago34:25

34:25

The MegaSales of the big retailers represent both risk and opportunity, and the size of both are constantly changing. Today’s guest, Sunava Dutta, Chief Product Officer at Pacvue, brings a ton of insights around overall strategic organizational and process best practices and a dive into the data and what it portends for this season of the Prime Day…

1
“How Can We Get More Product Content to the PDP Faster”?, with Carolan Di Fiore, Digital Content Deployment Manager at Hershey 42:36

22d ago42:36

42:36

“How Can We Get More Product Content to the PDP Faster”? That question is top of mind every day for Carolan Di Fiore, Digital Content Deployment Manager at Hershey. Drawing from her prior experience in Ecommerce and digital roles at other global companies like Bimbo Bakeries, Carolan hit the ground running at Hershey a year and a half ago, and join…

1
It’s Our 300th Episode - What Have We Learned?, with co-hosts Peter Crosby, Lauren Livak Gilbert, and Rob Gonzalez 44:05

29d ago44:05

44:05

Three hundred freakin’ episodes of Unpacking the Digital Shelf! We celebrate by bringing together the 3 co-hosts to squeeze out the lessons learned from our generous and brilliant guests, and highlight where we think you’ll want to put your energies to make sure you, and your organization, are ready for the opportunities to come.…

1
Understanding Microsoft's AI Strategy 33:00

1M ago33:00

33:00

Microsoft's repositioning of itself as an AI company has major implications for customers in terms of how you plan, buy, license and manage Microsoft products. Directions analyst Barry Briggs discusses with Mary Jo Foley what enterprises really need to know about Microsoft's AI strategy.By Mary Jo Foley

1
The Power of Love: Lean Into Loyalty, with Chris Perry, Chief Learning Officer at firstmovr 37:55

1M ago37:55

37:55

Loyalty is one of the most important components of love. It can also be one of the greatest drivers of your competitive advantage and growth in financially challenging times. Chris Perry, Chief Learning Officer at firstmovr and our own Lauren Livak Gilbert teamed up to dig into the best new practices of loyalty and describe them in a new research r…

1
Are You a Leader or a Laggard in Your Retail Media Operation?, with Russ Dieringer, founder and CEO of Stratably 38:36

1M ago38:36

38:36

Retail media has been around long enough now for some clear trends to develop in terms of the best practices that lead to the best outcomes from your investment. Russ Dieringer, founder and CEO of Stratably, has returned with a refresh to their “How Brands Do Retail Media” report, which uses both quantitative and qualitative data from more than 70 …

1
The Growing Risks of Staying On-Premises 22:00

2M ago22:00

22:00

While some customers just cannot let go of their on-premises Microsoft products -- for legitimate and not-so-valid reasons -- the risks of running software on-prem are growing. Directions analyst Andrew Snodgrass talks with Mary Jo Foley about on-premises realities and provides some recommendations.By Mary Jo Foley

1
The New Face of Shadow IT: A Directions on Microsoft Brainstorm 48:00

2M ago48:00

48:00

Whether you appreciate it, tolerate it, or want to stamp it out, Shadow IT is not going anywhere. Is this necessarily a bad thing? Directions analysts Barry Briggs, Greg DeMichillie and Rob Sanfilippo share with Mary Jo Foley their ideas for managing and channeling Shadow IT in this roundtable discussion.…

1
How to Save Money with Azure Reservations 18:00

2M ago18:00

18:00

Azure Reservations is one of the best ways enterprises can save money on their Microsoft contracts. But, as Directions' Wes Miller explains to Mary Jo Foley, you need to know the gotchas before you jump in.By Mary Jo Foley

1
From SEO to GEO - How to Win the Battle for the AI Agent’s Attention, with Max Sinclair, Founder & CEO at Ecomtent 36:36

2M ago36:36

36:36

In the 2024 holiday shopping season, use of AI chatbot shopping rose 6,000% over the prior year, according to Adobe. Those are searches driven by the intent of the shopper, and many never even make it to a product page. Winning your place in those shopping journeys will require mastering the new capabilities of generative engine optimization, or GE…

1
Riding the Waves of AI Innovation, with Brian Yamada, Chief Innovation Officer at VML 27:43

2M ago27:43

27:43

Brian Yamada, Chief Innovation Officer at VML, says this era of AI innovation could be best described using the title of the Oscar Winner for Best Picture at the 2023: Everything, Everywhere All at Once. So Brian joined the podcast to take some of the craziness out of it all by digging into the 3 waves of AI innovation - content, experience, and ag…

1
Creating A Global Approach to Omnichannel Execution Excellence with Local Control, with Vivian Valks, Global Ecommerce Acceleration Manager at Arla Foods 33:23

2M ago33:23

33:23

After a decade of rapid growth and experimentation, ecommerce for many is moving into a more mature phase, while of course still being incredibly dynamic. Many companies are finding that the new opportunities for category growth lie in establishing the best practices for omnichannel execution and then scaling those capabilities while adapting it to…

1
35 Years of Leading Transformation at a Global CPG Powerhouse, with Angela Mangiapane, President, Mars Global Services 50:52

2M ago50:52

50:52

During her 35 years at Mars, Angela Mangiapane has been a leader in the front office, the middle office, and the back office, most recently as President of Mars Global Services for the last 9 years.. She has been a witness to, and a driver of, the digital era. And from those experiences come great wisdom and principles that should be guides to the …

1
Microsoft Support: You've Got More Options Than You Think 29:00

2M ago29:00

29:00

Microsoft's Unified Support plan is not beloved by many enterprises. US Cloud VP Mike Jones provides the latest on the plan, plus some support tips and tricks in this conversation with Directions' Mary Jo Foley.By Mary Jo Foley

1
Azure Local: What's New, What's Next 24:00

2M ago24:00

24:00

Microsoft's Azure Local falls in the uncanny valley between on-prem and cloud. Our newest analyst Greg DeMichillie shares his recommendations with Mary Jo Foley on what customers should (and shouldn't yet) do with this technology.By Mary Jo Foley

1
Limiting Beliefs Holding Back? You Can S.N.A.P. Out of It, with Erica Anderson Rooney, author of Glass Ceilings and Sticky Floors 42:47

3M ago42:47

42:47

I’m assuming all of you listening are human, so I also assume all of you, like me, struggle with beliefs about ourselves and our capabilities that hold us back from our full potential. If you’re not human, please connect up with me on LinkedIn, because I have questions. In the meantime, though, for us humans, and because of systemic barriers, parti…

1
That Social Commerce Thing is Really Going to Happen This Time, with Andrew Criezis, President at NIQ 27:52

3M ago27:52

27:52

When it comes to the promise of Social Commerce, we have the Social part down, but the Commerce part is still very much a work in progress. We have news on that front. Andrew Criezis, President at NIQ, recently returned from a trip to China with insights, data, and experiences that foretell new social commerce experiences and formats that might jus…

1
The ENDCAPS: Celebrating Best-in-Class Digital Merchandising and PDP Activation 38:14

3M ago38:14

38:14

The best part of being in the digital commerce community is how we are all continuously sharing with, and learning from, each other. It’s especially helpful when an independent, unbiased organization like say, firstmovr, creates an opportunity to find the best and turn it into best practices. And then share freely. That’s why firstmovr’s Chief Lear…

1
NRF 2025 Recap: Retail Innovation and the Trends Shaping 2025 29:45

3M ago29:45

29:45

Digital shelf talkers, virtual try-ons, AI warehouse robots - these were just some of the technology that Andrea K.Leigh and I saw at NRF 2025 last week. We are at a critical time in our industry where technology can fundamentally change how we do business and enhance the consumer experience. Tune in to hear how brands and retailers are using techn…

1
Microsoft Roadmap: What Was Hot in 2024 and Will Matter in 2025 1:05:00

3M ago1:05:00

1:05:00

Our panel of Directions on Microsoft analysts talk about the biggest Microsoft enterprise pain points for 2024 and predict what will be top-of-mind in 2025 in this recording of our annual update webinar.By Mary Jo Foley

1
Microsoft Ignite 2024: What You Missed (and Didn't) 30:00

3M ago30:00

30:00

Microsoft's Ignite 2024 conference focused heavily on all things AI. But that wasn't all. Directions analyst Wes Miller grills Mary Jo Foley about the announcements and non-announcements from Chicago.By Wes Miller

1
Behind Microsoft's AI Curtain 35:00

3M ago35:00

35:00

Microsoft's intense focus on all things AI has resulted in noticeable security, quality and delivery issues with some of its key enterprise products and services. Directions analysts Jim Gaynor and Wes Miller share with Mary Jo Foley their insights on how Microsoft's new priorities have affected and may continue to impact its commercial customers.…

1
Deploying Windows — You've Got Choices: A Directions on Microsoft Brainstorm 55:00

3M ago55:00

55:00

There's one year left before Microsoft ends support for Windows 10. Directions analysts Michael Cherry, Jim Gaynor, and Wes Miller talk with Mary Jo Foley about the best paths forward for enterprises who want to stay safe and up-to-date.By Mary Jo Foley

1
What's Top of Mind for CxOs? 34:00

3M ago34:00

34:00

CxOs are juggling more than just AI ROI these days. Security, cloud-computing costs, governance and more all are vying for attention and budgets. Directions analyst Barry Briggs and Mary Jo Foley talk about the latest technologies on which CxOs need to focus.By Mary Jo Foley

1
Microsoft Picks Up the Premium Pace With Dynamics 365 24:00

3M ago24:00

24:00

Microsoft is making more and more Dynamics 365 features available exclusively as part of pricey premium subscriptions. Directions analyst Andrew Snodgrass and Mary Jo Foley talk through the implications of this shift for customers both now and in the longer term.By Mary Jo Foley

1
Cutting Through Copilot Complexity 35:00

3M ago35:00

35:00

As Microsoft commences its 'Wave 2' Copilot push, it's becoming more challenging than ever to find clear answers about features, pricing and licensing. Fortunately, Directions analyst Wes Miller and Mary Jo Foley have you covered with tips and resources to help with your evaluation of the growing family of Microsoft Copilots.…

1
Diving Into the Data: A Directions on Microsoft Brainstorm 51:00

3M ago51:00

51:00

When it comes to databases, Microsoft offers almost too many options for storing and analyzing all kinds of data. Directions analysts Barry Briggs, Rob Sanfilippo and Andrew Snodgrass talk with Mary Jo Foley about how customers can keep up with the growing set of Microsoft on-premises and cloud database offerings and figure out which solution best …

1
Stuck in a VMware Squeeze? You've Got Microsoft Options 35:00

3M ago35:00

35:00

Broadcom's purchase of VMware late last year has left many customers in the lurch. Microsoft is making a play for the disenfranchised. Directions analysts Jim Gaynor and Wes Miller provide guidance with host Mary Jo Foley to help you navigate the potential technology and licensing minefields.By Mary Jo Foley

1
Like It Or Not, The New Outlook Is Coming Soon 37:00

3M ago37:00

37:00

Microsoft's new Outlook (and the on-premises Exchange Server SE release) are marching ahead. What do customers need to do now to prepare? Directions' Rob Helm, Jim Gaynor, and Mary Jo Foley share the very latest info and their insights on what's happening with these two key new products.By Mary Jo Foley

1
Onboarding AI With ROI: A Directions on Microsoft Brainstorm 50:00

3M ago50:00

50:00

What should companies be doing to on-board AI in ways that generate a positive return on investment? Directions analysts Barry Briggs, Michael Cherry, and Rob Sanfilippo tackle some of the biggest AI-related compliance, legal, and implementation questions that we're getting from customers.By Mary Jo Foley

1
Microsoft Customers: Your Security Strategy Needs an Overhaul, Too 26:00

3M ago26:00

26:00

After the U.S. Cyber Safety Board gave Microsoft a terrible report card, Microsoft reiterated its plans for a company-wide security overhaul. But what should its customers be doing? Directions analyst Michael Cherry and Mary Jo Foley offer guidance on steps organizations should take in light of Microsoft's recent security missteps.…

1
Bootcamp and Build Debrief 30:30

3M ago30:30

30:30

Directions on Microsoft's latest licensing bootcamp AND Microsoft's Build 2024 developer conference? analyst Wes Miller and Mary Jo Foley have you covered. We talk about the highs, lows and lessons learned from both events.By Mary Jo Foley

1
Understanding Microsoft's Edge-Computing Strategy 20:00

3M ago20:00

20:00

Microsoft's edge-computing strategy has been shifting in some subtle and not-so-subtle ways. In the evolving AI era, edge computing will become even more central for customers, partners and Microsoft itself. Directions analyst Barry Briggs and Mary Jo Foley dissect Microsoft's evolving edge-computing plans and tactics in this episode.…

1
More Microsoft End-of-Life Meteors Appear on the Horizon 30:30

3M ago30:30

30:30

There's a new wave of end-of-life Microsoft product meteors coming for your organization. Directions on Microsoft analyst Joshua Trupin talks with Mary Jo Foley about what to watch out for in 2025 and beyond, including new, pricey, Pay As You Go options -- and how customers can try to blunt the impact.…

1
Windows Server 2025: What you need to know 30:00

3M ago30:00

30:00

Windows Server is back! Directions on Microsoft analyst Jim Gaynor and Mary Jo Foley delve into the new features and capabilities coming with Windows Server 2025 worth knowing about, including new Active Directory and security features, GPU partitioning for Hyper-V, hotpatching – and the Azure services you need to use them.…

1
Microsoft Licensing Boot Camp Lessons Learned 26:00

3M ago26:00

26:00

Mary Jo Foley interviews veteran Directions analyst Wes Miller, who shares surprising insights gained teaching customers how to navigate the Microsoft licensing maze for more than a decade. From over-licensing and under-licensing to underestimating Microsoft's revenue drive, you’ll learn the important do’s and don’ts of effective Microsoft licensin…

1
Cloud Repatriation! A Directions on Microsoft Brainstorm 56:00

3M ago56:00

56:00

Directions analysts Jim Gaynor, Rob Sanfilippo and Andrew Snodgrass debate when, how, and why customers might want to move some (or even all) of their workloads and apps from the cloud back to on-premises.By Andrew Snodgrass

1
What's on the Azure Roadmap 28:12

3M ago28:12

28:12

Directions on Microsoft analyst Rob Sanfilippo talks with Mary Jo Foley about how the Directions' twice-yearly Azure roadmap comes together. The two compare notes on the latest Azure trends and hot buttons. Plus, Rob takes the Azure codename challenge (and loses).By Mary Jo Foley

1
Subscriptions! A Directions on Microsoft Brainstorm 52:05

3M ago52:05

52:05

Directions analysts Michael Cherry, Jim Gaynor, and Wes Miller dive into how subscriptions have transformed Microsoft business model and what it means for Microsoft customers, both now and in the future.By Wes Miller

1
Thinking about Data 39:54

3M ago39:54

39:54

Directions analysts Barry Briggs and Andrew Snodgrass talk with Mary Jo about the hype and the reality surrounding database systems this episode of the Directions podcast. Are organizations any closer to harnessing the power of data now than before? What works and what doesn't when it comes to data-management strategies?…

1
Copilots! A Directions on Microsoft Brainstorm 55:18

3M ago55:18

55:18

In our first Brainstorm episode, Mary Jo Foley, Andy Snodgrass, Rob Sanfilippo, and Barry Briggs discuss the avalanche of Copilots announced by Microsoft, whether they’ll live up to the marketing hype, and what they mean to enterprises and to enterprise users.By Rob Sanfilippo

1
Microsoft EA Negotiation Podcast – Levers 21:32

3M ago21:32

21:32

In the last episode of the Directions on Microsoft EA podcast series, Mary Jo Foley quizzes former Microsoft negotiator Dean Bedwell about common Microsoft negotiation traps customers should avoid and the negotiation levers they can apply to optimize their EA renewal outcomes.By Mary Jo Foley

1
Microsoft Roadmap: What was hot in 2023 and will matter in 2024 1:10:41

3M ago1:10:41

1:10:41

Our panel of Directions on Microsoft analysts talk enterprise product and licensing hot buttons for 2023 and what will be top-of-mind in 2024 -- and answer customer questions.By Mary Jo Foley

1
Executive Focus: Microsoft's Seismic Shift to AI 30:46

3M ago30:46

30:46

After years of promoting "Cloud, Cloud, Cloud," Microsoft has shifted to "AI, AI, AI." Mary Jo and former Microsoft CTO Barry Briggs put Microsoft’s big bet on AI into perspective by comparing it to its other strategic initiatives – past, present, and future.By Mary Jo Foley

1
Microsoft EA Negotiation Podcast Series – Discounts and Concessions 26:13

3M ago26:13

26:13

In episode five of the Directions on Microsoft EA Negotiation podcast series, Mary Jo Foley talks with former Microsoft negotiator Dean Bedwell about the top pricing, business, and legal concessions every Microsoft customer should ask for and the best way to negotiate for them.By Mary Jo Foley

1
Keeping Up with Teams Phone 25:14

3M ago25:14

25:14

Think you know all about Microsoft's telephony services in Teams? In this episode, Directions analyst Jim Gaynor talks with Mary Jo Foley about the Teams Phone use cases, licensing requirements and more. Whether you're replacing your organization's phone system or looking for the best way to dial into a Teams meeting, Jim has you covered.…

1
Microsoft EA Negotiation Podcast Series – Negotiation 27:23

3M ago27:23

27:23

In this fourth installment of a series covering Microsoft Enterprise Agreements (EAs), Directions on Microsoft's director of advisory services and former Microsoft negotiator Dean Bedwell shares his top tips and tricks for a successful EA negotiation.By Dean Bedwell

1
Fourteen Years of Microsoft Licensing Rule Changes: Looking Back and Forward 38:30

3M ago38:30

38:30

Directions analysts Rob Horwitz and Wes Miller talk with Mary Jo Foley about what they've learned about Microsoft licensing after delivering more than one hundred Licensing Boot Camps over the past fourteen years. You learn what’s changed – and what never seems to change – about Microsoft licensing programs and rules. You’ll also find out about upc…

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