Tech Unboxed

If you’ve felt the pressure to “go agentic” or bolt RAG onto everything, this conversation is a deep breath and a better plan. We dig into the real decision points behind modern AI: when a clean prompt solves the problem, when retrieval is worth the effort, and when an agentic system adds cost without adding value. Along the way, we call out how vibe coding accelerates learning but can sabotage maintainability when teams don’t understand the code they ship.We get practical about data. More isn’t better—better is better. You’ll hear how RAG actually raises the bar for data hygiene, why outdated or messy documents produce confident wrong answers, and how to build retrieval steps that respect source structure and change cadence. From noisy transcripts to multilingual contexts, we map the preprocessing and governance moves that prevent hallucinations and keep answers grounded.Then we unpack agentic AI as a network of specialists: models and tools with clear roles, routed by a coordinator that chooses the right path, including non-LLM components for math or structured queries. It’s powerful, but not a default. We weigh costs, reliability, and the risk of overengineering when classic ML, search, or a database would do. The through-line is human judgment: engineers stay in the driver’s seat, setting constraints, validating reasoning, and designing systems that can be supported over time.If you care about building AI that lasts—clean prompts over cargo-cult pipelines, data quality over dashboards, agents where they fit—this one’s for you. Subscribe, share with a teammate who needs a sanity check, and leave a review with your biggest AI misconception so we can tackle it next.

Lucky Nkosi, head of of BBD's ATC team shares insights on AI's evolution from closed research to public accessibility, exploring how we've moved past the peak of the AI hype cycle into the trough of disillusionment.• OpenAI's release of ChatGPT marked a pivotal moment in AI adoption, reaching millions of users while validating their models• Microsoft's billion-dollar investment in OpenAI was strategic, with the money returning to Microsoft through compute costs on Azure• We're now past the peak of the AI hype cycle, with studies showing 93% of enterprise AI projects failing completely• Heading into the "trough of disillusionment" means many AI investments will prove fruitless, requiring more responsible approaches• The "time filter" framework helps identify valuable AI applications by asking: Do I need to do this task? Can I automate it? Can I delegate it?• AI technologies are non-deterministic by nature, making them challenging to integrate with deterministic systems like financial services• Hardware remains the ultimate frontier for AI impact, as "what truly matters is what you can impact in the physical world"• BBD helps companies navigate AI by filtering through the noise and conducting rapid R&D to identify practical solutions

Platform engineering is transforming how organizations manage infrastructure by creating standardized "golden paths" that enable developers to self-service their infrastructure needs through a single API.• Platform engineering emerged as organizations outgrew traditional DevOps approaches• Kubernetes serves as a universal and extensible cloud-native API, not just a container orchestrator• Crossplane acts as middleware between developers and cloud providers, enforcing security and governance• Using the restaurant analogy: developers order from a menu (API) while platform engineers handle the kitchen (infrastructure)• Compositions in Crossplane are like recipes that combine infrastructure ingredients• Standardization is crucial for successful platform engineering implementations• The API-first approach is essential for building scalable internal developer platforms• Larger organizations with hundreds of engineers benefit most from platform engineering investmentsCheck out our website to learn more about BBD Cool and how our platform engineering services can help your organization create efficient, standardized infrastructure that empowers your developers.00:25 Introduction01:38 What is Platform Engineering? 04:40 What does Kubernetes involve?06:00Where does Crossplane fit in? 08:00 Is there too much flexibility in Crossplane? 10:10 What are compositions in Crossplane? 13:00 Top pros and cons of using Crossplane17:00 Final tips for aspiring Platform Engineers20:03 Closing thoughts

David from BBD explains the concept of ride-shoring, a strategic approach combining nearshoring, offshoring, and onsite resources to create optimal software development teams. This flexible partnership model focuses on finding the best quality people in the right locations to create customized solutions that balance costs, quality requirements, and regulatory needs.• Ride-shoring originated in manufacturing as moving business operations to optimal locations for maximizing profits and lowering costs• Quality issues in outsourcing typically arise when companies abdicate responsibility rather than forming true partnerships• Successful partnerships require shared roadmaps and vision between companies and their technology vendors• Three key considerations for team distribution: required on-site presence, data access regulations, and time zone alignment• BBD operates in Portugal, UK, Netherlands, South Africa, and India, customizing team distribution based on client requirements• South Africa's strong work ethic and "city of gold" heritage influences BBD's 40-year focus on delivery and client satisfactionStay tuned for more Tech Talks coming soon.

Tech is moving FAST – and we’ve got the inside scoop. In this episode, we sit down with Lucky Nkosi, Head of ATC and Stefan de Jager, software engineer to unpack what’s really going on in the world of tech and software engineering right now.From AI hype and controversial dev tools to bold predictions and hot takes – we’re diving into it all. Tune in now and stay ahead of the curve!

Misconceptions about cloud computing are everywhere these days. Despite rumors that businesses are retreating from cloud services due to disillusionment, the reality is quite different. In this enlightening conversation with cloud experts Werner de Jager and Tristan Little from BBD, we dive into what's actually happening in the cloud space and why strategic implementation matters more than ever.The perceived "trough of disillusionment" with cloud stems primarily from poorly executed migrations. The experts explain that simply moving existing systems to the cloud without modernizing them—the infamous "lift and shift" approach—invariably leads to higher costs without corresponding benefits. True value emerges when organizations architect specifically for cloud environments and leverage native services like serverless computing.Financial management stands at the center of successful cloud strategies. The conversation explores how FinOps (Financial Operations) provides essential frameworks for cost optimization, monitoring, and governance. BBD's recently achieved Cloud Operations competency demonstrates their capability to implement these crucial operational components for clients of all sizes.The podcast introduces the concept of "rehoming"—strategically placing workloads where they operate most effectively across multi-cloud and hybrid environments. This mature approach recognizes that different applications have different requirements, with some better suited to specific cloud providers or even remaining on-premises.Looking toward emerging trends, artificial intelligence presents both exciting opportunities and implementation challenges. The experts discuss how BBD is exploring AIOps to predict and prevent system failures before they impact business operations, while maintaining their commitment to human expertise in managed services.Whether you're just beginning your cloud journey or seeking to optimize existing implementations, this conversation offers valuable insights into achieving maximum value from cloud technologies through strategic planning, continuous modernization, and robust operational frameworks. Visit cloudbbdsoftware.com to learn how BBD can support your organization's evolving cloud needs.

Akshay, BBD Software Services executive for testing services, reveals how quality assurance has transformed from specialized roles with limited tools to a multifaceted discipline powered by AI and advanced automation capabilities.• Dramatic shift in testing tools has enabled QA engineers to handle manual testing, automation, and performance testing simultaneously• Testing should begin at the requirement-gathering stage rather than waiting for completed development• Companies should implement early testing in the development lifecycle to identify issues sooner• Performance testing becomes critical when scaling, as demonstrated by BBD's work with an e-commerce client expanding globally• BBD utilizes "automation accelerators" – proven frameworks customized for specific client needs• Modern testing approaches balance technical tools with the human element• Resources at BBD are versatile, handling both functional and non-functional testing areas• The Return to Work program helps women with career gaps re-enter the technology industry through mentorship and structured learningLearn more about BBD's testing services and explore their Return to Work program that has already helped 25 women restart their technology careers after breaks of 2-4 years.