CC&B - Chris' Chat & Babble

In this episode of Chris's Chat and Babble, host Chris welcomes special guest Rajani Kanth to discuss Oracle's suite of e-health products. They delve into the customization process and the transformation of OHMPI (Oracle Master Person Index) into a structured MDM (Master Data Management) product for healthcare data. They also explore the challenges of making sense of data and the importance of investing in IHMPI skills. Join Chris and Rajani for an insightful conversation about Oracle's role in the healthcare industry. Tune in for an insightful conversation filled with personal anecdotes and thought-provoking discussions. Timestamps [00:02:25] Personalized recruitment approach.[00:08:05] Data analysis for healthcare.[00:09:26] Oracle BI usability.[00:16:41] Antics in the industry.[00:19:26] Lack of investment in skills.[00:23:19] Shiny new technology trends. Keywords podcast episode, Chris's Chat and Babble, Oracle, e-health, Rajani Kannath,customers, skills, valuable, original project, age-old implementations, OHMP, data profiling, data cleansing, ETL work, integration components, master database, single best record, front end side, downstream systems, patient, hospitals, register, EUID, Enterprise Unique Identifier, duplicates, merge, resolve, management, MIS reports, inflow of patients, efficiency of staff, hospitals, health groups, common trends, customer reports, high level picture, built-in reports.,clients, database, MIS report, audit reports, graphs and charts, statistics, master data, mining the data, presenting, user interface, web application, data analysts, filtering, parameters, data analysis, managing the data, Oracle BI, analytics, database structure, granularity,car, modify, paint, tires, product, utilities, telco, Oracle, data, paralysis, analysis paralysis, industries, health, cloud, SaaS, OHMPI, standalone, legacy system, focus, implementation, Cerner, hospital sites, shifting, pain, upside, IPMs, data sources, x-ray report, downstream system, statewide, cellular systems, in-house, cloud, difficult situation, here and now, future, concentrate,maximizing, health, challenger bank, full stack development, technologies, COBOL skills, pyramids, museum, automated, OHMPI, opportunities,clients, implementations, OHMPI, experience, struggling,database, manage, data, companies, extract,solar power, wind power, water, turbines, electrici

In this episode of Chris's Chat and Babble, Chris welcomes special guest Alexandra Gillies, who made a significant impact on the organization during her time as a lead architect. They discuss conquering fears, the reliance on technology, and the ever-changing landscape of recruitment. They also discuss the importance of investing in employees and the success of the Green Bean program, which provided training and mentorship to new recruits. Alexandra also shares her passion for mentoring and her involvement in the Dublin Business School's mentoring program. The conversation then shifts to Alexandra's Africa and her desire to make a difference in South Africa by offering educational and sustainable tourism experiences. Tune in for an insightful conversation filled with personal anecdotes and thought-provoking discussions. Timestamps 00:00:09 - Introduction to the podcast episode 00:00:40 - Discussing South Africa as Alexandra's home 00:02:11 - Recruiting Alexandra and the boot camp training 00:05:09 - The importance of training and mentoring in career development 00:07:59 - The success of the Green Bean program 00:11:38 - The long-term investment of implementing a program like Green Bean 00:14:22 - The value of maintaining relationships and networks in the industry 00:15:05 - Interruption due to load shedding in South Africa 00:17:18 - Jumping off a balcony incident 00:18:51 - The importance of investing in people and mentoring 00:21:09 - The reliance on technology and the impact of power outages 00:23:05 - The evolution of technology and its impact on business 00:24:46 - The challenges of implementing long-term investment programs in companies focused on short-term gains 00:26:08 - Alexandra's involvement in mentoring programs 00:29:17 - The emergence of Alexandra's Africa and the motivation behind it 00:32:39 - The impact of mentoring and giving back to the community 00:34:34 - The passion for Alexandra's Africa and its focus on sustainability 00:41:59 - The impact of Alexandra's Africa in educating and inspiring travelers 00:43:51 - The importance of giving back and making a difference 00:44:15 - Toastmastering sessions and the value of public speaking skills 00:46:06 - Overcoming fears and taking the next step 00:47:35 - Conclusion and gratitude for the conversation Keywords CC&B, Oracle, lead architect

In this episode of Chris' Chat & Babble, host ⁠⁠Chris Weatherill⁠⁠ welcomes Dali Beaver and Megan Kok to discuss all things recruitment at AxiaMetrics. Keywords CC&B, Oracle, Utilities, recruitment

In this episode of Digital Leadership Chat, Nigel Griffiths interviews Tim Wheeldon, the Chief Operating Officer and co-founder of Fluent Money. Fluent Money is the UK's largest secured loan and mortgage broker, with over 450 employees and an impressive 4.8 rating on Trustpilot. Tim shares the journey of starting the business in 2008, highlighting the motivation behind it and the challenges they faced during the credit crunch. Tune in to learn more about Tim's entrepreneurial journey and the growth of Fluent Money. Here are the top three takeaways from this episode: 1️⃣ The importance of using technology to drive efficiency and improve customer experience: Tim discusses how technology played a crucial role in driving efficiency and reducing friction in Fluent Money's business operations. By leveraging technology, they were able to streamline processes, enhance transparency, and provide a better customer journey. 2️⃣ The role of data analytics in decision-making: Tim highlights the significance of data analytics in guiding business decisions. By analyzing data at a transactional level, Fluent Money was able to identify areas for improvement, such as task completion times, and make informed decisions to optimize their operations. 3️⃣ The value of fostering collaboration between the business and IT teams: Tim emphasizes the importance of creating an environment where the business and IT teams can collaborate effectively. By encouraging open communication and involving the managing directors in the development process, Fluent Money was able to align technology solutions with business goals and priorities, leading to more efficient development and decision-making processes. Timestamps [00:03:25] Efficiency drive during Credit Crunch. [00:05:07] Driving technology into the business. [00:09:31] Transparency and openness. [00:12:07] AI and its limitations. [00:16:05] AI and efficiency in business. [00:19:35] Tech development and collaboration. [00:21:55] Collaborative prioritization in development. [00:26:42] Successful recruitment and retention. [00:29:22] Remote work during the pandemic. [00:34:05] Disaster recovery scenario. [00:38:07] BI team improves task efficiency. [00:40:03] Revolutionizing the NHS. Keywords Fluent Money, Tim Wheeldon, Credit, Mortgage, Trading

In this episode of Chris' Chat & Babble, host ⁠⁠Chris Weatherill⁠⁠ welcomes David McCracken, a Solutions Architect at Bord Gáis Energy with a wealth of CC&B experience. Tune in for an in-depth conversation about the tech and the future. Here are the top three takeaways from this episode: 1) The evolution of the CC&B (Customer Care and Billing) system: The guest, David McCracken, discusses his experience with CC&B and how it has evolved over the years. He highlights the power and flexibility of the system's data model and its ability to adapt to the changing needs of utilities. 2) The trend towards distributed energy and customer-centric focus: David mentions the increasing interest in energy usage and the desire for more information among consumers. He also notes that utilities are becoming more customer-centric, offering a variety of services beyond just electricity and gas, such as solar panels, hot water services, and air conditioning. 3) The integration of Salesforce with CC&B: David shares his experience with integrating Salesforce, a customer relationship management (CRM) platform, with CC&B. He discusses the benefits of combining the marketing and CRM functionality of Salesforce with the billing and metering capabilities of CC&B. He also mentions the challenges of integrating the two systems and the need for a balance between working with the product and meeting specific business requirements. Timestamps 00:05:36 Adaptability is key in life. 00:05:58 Expect the unexpected in energy. 00:13:43 Importance of building in-house teams. 00:21:15 Integration of Salesforce and Oracle can be both easier and more confusing for utilities. 00:23:07 Trend towards best of breed. 00:32:13 Energy generation becoming more distributed. 00:33:07 Transition to micro generation is happening. 00:37:53 Adversity drives technological advancements. 00:43:02 Wide-ranging discussion on various topics. Keywords CC&B, Oracle, Utilities, David McCracken, project management, solution architect

In this episode of Chris' Chat & Babble, host ⁠⁠Chris Weatherill⁠⁠ welcomes Brian Smith, a retired project manager with a wealth of experience. Tune in for an insightful conversation about transitioning into retirement and the need for a project plan. Here are the top three takeaways from this episode: 1️⃣ The importance of proper project planning and the need to start early and have a clear project plan in place before retirement or any major life change. 2️⃣ The challenges of transitioning from a technical role to a project management role, including the need to let go of technical expertise and develop new skills and approaches to effectively manage projects. 3️⃣ The significance of having a strong and cohesive team in project management, as well as the importance of effective communication and decision-making to ensure project success. Timestamps [00:01:05] Retirement planning surprises. [00:06:08] Techie to project manager transition. [00:09:21] Transition of power and attitude. [00:16:56] Managing the techies and customers. [00:18:09] Margin is about 33 percent. [00:21:28] Designing a bloated project. [00:24:37] Importance of the end picture. [00:29:02] The importance of people. [00:35:05] Project paralysis and decision-making. [00:37:13] Taking the customer along. [00:41:02] Mum's undies and birthday parties. [00:45:59] Delivering bad news early. Keywords CC&B, Oracle, Utilities, Brian Smith, project management, product, renewables

In this episode of CC&B, host Chris Weatherill chats with Matt Gleeson, VP at Oracle Energy and Water. They discuss the success of the Customer Edge event in San Diego, which has grown from 20 customers to over 500 attendees. They highlight the importance of customers sharing their experiences and how software can transform businesses. Tune in for an insightful conversation about the future of Oracle and industry trends. Here are the top three takeaways from this episode: 1️⃣ Customer-Centricity at its Best: One of the highlights of the discussion was the power of customers talking to customers. Matt emphasized how valuable it is for customers to share their experiences and how they are leveraging software to their advantage. But it doesn't stop there! What truly matters is how these advancements in technology are transforming businesses and tackling the headwinds faced by the industry. It's all about learning from each other and staying ahead of the game. 2️⃣ Navigating the COVID-19 Impact: Matt and Chris delved into the significant changes brought about by the pandemic. Workforce engagement took center stage as organizations faced the challenges of an aging workforce even before 2020. However, COVID-19 accelerated the need for innovative solutions and strategies to adapt to the new normal. They explored how the industry has responded and how it has evolved over the past few years. 3️⃣ Streamlining Business Structure: They also discussed the recent changes within the energy sector and how Oracle Energy and Water has restructured its business. Matt shared how they have worked towards simplifying the process for utilities and new entrants, ensuring a seamless experience. While it's not easy to have one person tell the entire story of a vast portfolio, they are making progress by improving communication channels and leveraging the expertise of their team. Timestamps [00:02:09] How COVID affected the industry. [00:04:14] The water problem. [00:09:23] Positive effect of PV in Australia. [00:12:35] Y2K and evolving energy markets. [00:18:26] Understanding water usage fluctuations. [00:23:23] Artificial intelligence in the future. [00:27:00] The cost of energy. [00:29:10] The cost of treated water. Keywords CC&B, Oracle, Matt Gleeson, environmental, climate change, renewables, water conservation, energy transition