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How Businesses Can Safely Harness the Power of Artificial Intelligence

How Businesses Can Safely Harness the Power of Artificial Intelligence

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AI is transforming the way we work, but it’s also creating confusion. From ChatGPT to “agents,” the AI landscape can seem like an alphabet soup of technologies that promise everything from instant insights to fully automated workflows. 

In a recent conversation between CCG’s Mike Stute, resident AI and machine learning expert, and Tyler Dool, an AI power user and client partner, the two explored what’s really behind terms like Chat AI and Agentic AI, how they differ, and how organizations can use them safely and effectively.

Chat AI: Your Digital Research Assistant

When most people think of AI today, they’re thinking of Chat AI, tools like ChatGPT, Claude, or Gemini. These are built on large language models (LLMs) that have been pre-trained on massive amounts of text data to predict and generate human-like language.

But Chat AI can do more than just “chat.” When properly used, it can:

  • Summarize lengthy documents or research papers
  • Draft content and client communications
    Analyze meeting transcripts or contracts
  • Generate quick insights from unstructured data

As Mike explained, Chat AI becomes truly powerful when combined with three key elements:

  1. Data: What information the model has access to.
  2. Model Selection: Choosing the right LLM for the job.
  3. Prompting: The art of asking the right question for the right output.

Tyler and our CCG team use Chat AI models privately, within secure environments, to create dedicated “workspaces” for clients. Each workspace acts as a knowledge hub where project data, notes, and transcripts are stored safely and can be queried on demand. The result: faster analysis, better memory, and more accurate client deliverables without exposing sensitive information.

Agentic AI: Your Workflow Automator

If Chat AI is like a digital analyst, Agentic AI is more like a digital employee.

Agentic AI systems go beyond answering questions, they perform multi-step workflows. These agents can make decisions, interact with software, and execute tasks based on changing conditions.

Mike described it this way: Chat AI helps understand and summarize data, while Agentic AI helps act on it.

Examples include:

  • Automating HR onboarding and offboarding processes
  • Managing logistics, like assigning truck routes based on cargo type and conditions
  • Processing customer requests through AI-driven ticketing or service systems

Unlike traditional automation (which depends on rigid “if/then” rules), agentic systems use reasoning and natural language understanding to adapt. For instance, an AI can interpret a driver saying, “I can’t see because of snow,” the same as “Visibility is bad due to a blizzard,” and act accordingly.

Public vs. Private AI

With all this potential comes risk. Many users don’t realize that when they upload data into public LLMs (like free ChatGPT or Gemini accounts), that information could be used to further train those models.

That’s why we developed a private AI environment, an internal AI server running smaller, specialized models. This setup gives their team:

  • Full data privacy (no information sent to public servers)
  • Control over model behavior and updates
  • Flexibility to fine-tune models for specific clients or workflows

Mike also outlined the three tiers of AI deployment:

  1. Public models: Inexpensive but risky; limited control and potential data exposure.
  2. Intermediate models: Managed by third parties that act as a compliance filter between you and the LLM.
  3. Private models: Fully self-hosted, secure, and customizable. The best option for organizations prioritizing data security and consistency.

Tyler emphasized the real-world importance: IT leaders don’t want to block innovation, but they also can’t risk sensitive data leaking. Segmenting access by role or data sensitivity lets teams safely use both public and private models under one roof.

The Future of AI in Business

When asked which industries can benefit from AI, Tyler’s answer was simple: all of them.

From marketing and sales to construction and logistics, AI is already finding its way into every corner of business. One example he shared involved a construction firm whose field staff use AI-powered mobile tools to record spoken site updates. The AI automatically organizes their comments, photos, and videos into clean reports, saving hours of manual note-taking and reducing errors.

As younger, tech-native generations enter the workforce, the expectation to use AI tools will only increase. Businesses that ignore AI risk falling behind, not because the tech replaces humans, but because it amplifies what humans can do.

Safe Adoption Starts with Strategy

Mike and Tyler agreed on a few best practices:

  • Start with defined use cases: Don’t deploy AI for its own sake, use it where it saves time or improves accuracy.
  • Build a governance model: Determine which data can go to public tools and which must stay private.
  • Invest in education: Train employees not just to use AI, but to understand its limitations and risks.
  • Fine-tune for your business: Smaller, customized models can outperform generic ones when focused on your organization’s data.

Learn more about how CCG can help your business harness AI responsibly and be sure to watch the full video here!

Building Custom Automations: Crawl → Walk → Run Framework

Building Custom Automations: Crawl → Walk → Run Framework

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Why Crawl, Walk and Run?

Businesses today are under increasing pressure to adopt AI and automation. Leaders see the potential for faster operations, smarter workflows, and better customer experiences. However, many initiatives fail because they are rushed, unstructured, or lack a solid foundation.

Employees often experiment with “shadow AI” tools that introduce compliance and security risks. IT teams struggle to keep up with the demand for AI while ensuring governance and protection of sensitive data. Leadership, eager for results, may invest in large-scale automation before the groundwork is in place, which leads to low adoption and wasted resources.

The “Crawl → Walk → Run” framework provides a phased roadmap for adopting automation responsibly. Each stage builds on the last: Crawl focuses on laying the foundation, Walk on streamlining processes, and Run on scaling with custom builds.

Crawl: Establishing the Foundation

The objective is to build trust, introduce AI safely, and eliminate shadow AI within the organization. By introducing a company AI assistant, employees gain access to a sanctioned, user-friendly tool that supports everyday tasks such as summarizing documents, drafting responses, and answering company FAQs. This approach delivers immediate value without requiring deep integrations or extensive technical effort. Compliance and visibility are built in, every interaction is logged to create a clear audit trail, and all sensitive information remains within approved environments to ensure data protection!

In addressing the risk of shadow AI, employees no longer need to rely on external tools like ChatGPT or other consumer-grade assistants. Centralizing AI access mitigates data leakage risks and ensures consistent guardrails. Beyond security, the initiative fosters cultural benefits: employees develop confidence and AI literacy in a safe setting, while leaders gain visibility into AI usage patterns and emerging needs. Ultimately, this establishes a secure, trusted foundation for AI adoption, achieving early wins, reducing risk, and gathering valuable insights for future opportunities.

Walk: Automating Processes

The purpose of this stage is to expand beyond individual productivity and begin streamlining team and organizational workflows. This marks a shift in focus, from supporting specific employees to removing bottlenecks that slow down cross-departmental work. Here, automation evolves from being a convenience to becoming an operational necessity! 

Practical use cases span functions. Within HR, it can automate onboarding, document collection, and answering employee questions. In the Finance sector, it can help handle invoice approvals, expense processing, and regulatory reporting. In Operations, streamlining ticket routing, inventory tracking, and scheduling; and at Customer Support, managing first-line inquiries, ticket triage, and maintaining the knowledge base. The benefits are clear that repetitive, rules-based tasks are consistently managed at scale, freeing employees to focus on strategic work. 

As a result, workflows become faster, more predictable, and less prone to error. The business impact is tangible, productivity gains are measurable, cost savings are realized, and both customers and employees experience faster, more reliable service. Ultimately, AI becomes embedded into daily business operations, proving its ROI and building momentum for more advanced initiatives.

Run: Scaling with Custom Builds

The goal at this third stage is to move beyond operational efficiency and begin creating true business differentiation through AI. While off-the-shelf automation tools can deliver immediate value, they rarely provide a lasting competitive edge. Real advantage comes from custom AI solutions, built around an organization’s unique systems, data, and goals, that unlock innovation competitors cannot easily replicate. 

In this “Run” phase, companies develop bespoke AI workflows, models, and applications that integrate deeply into enterprise systems such as CRMs, ERPs, and data warehouses. AI is customized to meet specific compliance, regulatory, and customer requirements, and specialized models are trained using proprietary company data. Examples of such custom builds include a bank deploying real-time fraud detection powered by AI-driven signals, a retailer offering personalized promotions based on individual customer histories, or a logistics company predicting supply chain disruptions and automatically rerouting shipments. 

To scale effectively, organizations must establish strong governance and monitoring frameworks to maintain compliance, while continuously refining models based on real-world performance. Training and change management are equally vital to ensure adoption across the enterprise. The outcome is a transformation of automation from a support function into a strategic differentiator, one that fuels growth, strengthens resilience, and drives long-term innovation.

The Roadmap to Responsible Automation with CCG by Your Side

Moving too fast invites risk and moving too slowly risks being left behind! A phased, structured approach unlocks compounding value at every stage while keeping governance, security, and adoption in check.

CCG is the right partner to guide organizations through every stage of their AI and automation journey. With deep strategic and technical solutions, we provide the strategic guidance and technology advisory needed to navigate the complexities of infrastructure, integrations, and vendor selection, ensuring every automation initiative is both technically feasible and aligned with business goals. 

First, assess where your organization currently resides in the “Crawl → Walk → Run” continuum. Then, engage with CCG to map out the right next steps, whether that’s selecting your first AI assistant, designing process automations, or building bespoke models. Together, we can begin or accelerate the journey toward structured, scalable automation. Contact us today to unlock value at each phase while maintaining control, compliance, and alignment to business needs!

What Are Small Language Models (SLMs) and Why Enterprises Need Them

What Are Small Language Models (SLMs) and Why Enterprises Need Them

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Enterprises are quickly realizing that large language models (LLMs) aren’t always the best fit for every task. While powerful, they’re often expensive, resource-intensive, and difficult to control.

This is where small language models (SLMs) come in. These models are designed to be lighter, faster, and easier to deploy, making them highly practical for enterprise use cases. As AI adoption matures, SLMs are becoming a strategic tool for companies that want both efficiency and performance without the high costs of LLMs!

What Are SLMs?

SLMs are compact AI models designed to handle language-based tasks with fewer parameters than LLMs. Instead of aiming for broad, general intelligence, they focus on doing specific jobs well. They require less computing power, deliver faster responses, and can often be run on standard enterprise infrastructure. This makes them more accessible for businesses that don’t want to rely solely on heavy cloud setups.

How SLMs Differ From LLMs

LLMs often need clusters of GPUs and massive cloud spend, while SLMs can run efficiently on local servers or private cloud environments. Additionally, LLMs shine in open-ended, creative scenarios, but SLMs excel at speed, focus, and precision: qualities that matter most in enterprise operations. Models like Microsoft’s Phi, Mistral, and Meta’s LLaMA variants showcase how the AI landscape is shifting toward smaller, more specialized options.

SLMs vs. LLMs: Choosing the Right Model

LLMs should be used in broad, creative, and open-ended tasks where general knowledge is needed. SLMs should be used in predictable, structured, or compliance-heavy workflows where speed, security, and cost matter most. Many enterprises find value in combining the two by using LLMs for exploration and SLMs for execution.

Why Enterprises Need SLMs

SLMs offer clear advantages when it comes to cost efficiency and scalability. Their smaller size significantly reduces infrastructure and cloud costs, making it possible to scale AI across multiple teams or locations without ballooning budgets. They also deliver greater speed and agility. Faster response times are crucial for real-time applications like customer support, and because SLMs are easier to fine-tune, they can be quickly adapted for niche use cases within an industry.

Data security and privacy are another strength. SLMs can be deployed on-premises or in private clouds, giving enterprises full control over sensitive data. This approach also reduces dependence on third-party APIs that may expose information to external providers. When it comes to high performance on specific tasks, SLMs often outperform LLMs in narrow, domain-focused work. They excel in areas such as compliance reviews, automated internal support, or industry-specific workflows where accuracy matters more than creativity.

Finally, SLMs are far more energy efficient and sustainable. With smaller compute needs, they consume much less energy than their larger counterparts. This not only lowers costs but also helps companies meet sustainability goals and ESG commitments.

Enterprise Use Cases for SLMs

SLMs have a wide range of enterprise use cases. They can automate customer service chatbots with faster, more reliable responses, ensuring smoother interactions and are valuable for reviewing compliance and risk-related documents at scale, helping organizations handle large volumes of critical information more efficiently.

Another application is in building knowledge management and search tools that improve employee productivity by making information easier to access and use. SLMs can also power edge AI in IoT devices, retail kiosks, or field operations where resources are limited, making them practical in environments that demand lightweight solutions. They support everyday tasks like summarization, drafting, and workflow automation, all of which contribute to greater efficiency across teams.

How CCG Can Help Enterprises Leverage SLMs

We specialize in building and optimizing cloud, hybrid, and on-premises environments which is exactly the kind of setups where SLMs thrive. They help enterprises right-size infrastructure to balance performance and cost. With partnerships across major providers, we can help organizations navigate the crowded AI ecosystem to select the right mix of SLMs, LLMs, and supporting platforms. Our deep focus on security ensures that enterprises deploying SLMs in regulated industries (finance, healthcare, government) can maintain compliance while keeping sensitive data protected. Beyond deployment, we can guide enterprises to build governance frameworks to ensure AI is accurate, ethical, and aligned with business goals

From initial proof-of-concept projects to full enterprise-wide adoption, CCG guides companies through every stage of integrating SLMs into business operations. AI isn’t set-and-forget! Contact us today for ongoing support, monitoring, and optimization to ensure enterprises like yours continue to see ROI as AI models evolve!

Accelerating Business Transformation with Dialpad on the Google Cloud Marketplace

Accelerating Business Transformation with Dialpad on the Google Cloud Marketplace

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For today’s business leaders, digital transformation isn’t optional, it’s essential. The challenge? Driving efficiency, reducing costs, and scaling collaboration while staying agile. That’s why Cloud Communications Group (CCG) partners with Dialpad on the Google Cloud Marketplace: to help executives modernize communications faster, smarter, and more cost-effectively.

CCG is a leading IT advisory and expense management firm, guiding enterprises of all sizes in modernizing technology strategies without overspending. Our vendor-agnostic approach ensures we recommend solutions based solely on what delivers measurable impact for your business. One of our most powerful partnerships is with Dialpad, whose AI-powered communications platform transforms how teams connect, collaborate, and serve customers.

Why the Google Cloud Marketplace is a Game-Changer

Purchasing Dialpad through the Google Cloud Marketplace isn’t just about convenience, it unlocks strategic advantages that traditional procurement processes can’t match.

Commit Drawdown Advantage

If your organization already has a committed Google Cloud spend, CCG ensures your Dialpad purchase counts toward that commitment. This means you can modernize communications while meeting contractual spend obligations.

Flexible Procurement

Every organization’s procurement process is different. CCG enables clients to purchase through the Marketplace or our trusted partner network, managing coordination between procurement, finance, and IT. This reduces administrative overhead and keeps your focus on business outcomes.

Trusted & Recognized

Dialpad is a proven leader in cloud communications, validated by top Google certifications:

  • Google Cloud Tech ISV Partner of the Year – Productivity & Collaboration (2023)
  • Chrome Enterprise Recommended
  • Google Workspace Recommended

These designations confirm Dialpad’s performance, reliability, and seamless integration with Google Cloud solutions.

Business Benefits of Dialpad on Google Cloud Marketplace

Faster Procurement

Organizations can speed up acquisition by as much as 45% through the Marketplace. With CCG managing the process, approvals move quickly and bottlenecks are minimized, ensuring teams begin using Dialpad sooner.

Faster Deployment

Deployment cycles are up to 50% faster because Dialpad integrates seamlessly with Google Workspace. CCG handles setup, migration, and user training, ensuring teams adopt the platform smoothly and efficiently.

Lower Software Costs

Dialpad consolidates multiple communication tools into a single platform, reducing third-party software costs by up to 21%. CCG amplifies these savings by identifying and eliminating redundant technology, maximizing your technology investment.

Increased Productivity for Finance Teams

Finance teams experience a 25% productivity boost thanks to simplified billing and reduced technical disruptions. Consolidated invoices and CCG’s guidance in tracking ROI free up time for higher-value financial tasks.

Maximizing Dialpad’s Value

Purchasing Dialpad is only the first step. True value comes from how it’s implemented, optimized, and supported. CCG evaluates whether Dialpad is the right fit for your communications strategy, considering your existing tech stack, business goals, and budget. Our end-to-end project management ensures a seamless experience from Marketplace purchase to full user onboarding, while cost optimization strategies align your Dialpad investment with Google Cloud commit drawdowns for maximum savings.

We also provide strategic technology roadmapping to ensure Dialpad supports your long-term vision for unified communications, AI integration, and scalable growth. For example, one of our clients onboarded 7,500 users in under 60 days, simultaneously reducing overlapping software spend by 18%—a clear demonstration of how CCG turns software purchases into enterprise-wide transformation wins.

Let’s Transform Your Communications

If you’re ready to accelerate collaboration, cut costs, and modernize your communication tools, Dialpad on the Google Cloud Marketplace is a smart, future-ready choice. Schedule a strategic conversation with CCG today to explore how we can help you purchase, deploy, and optimize Dialpad for maximum business impact.

How CCG and Five9 Are Powering the Next Era of Agentic CX with Intelligent AI Agents

How CCG and Five9 Are Powering the Next Era of Agentic CX with Intelligent AI Agents

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Customer expectations are evolving fast. People want intelligent, frictionless service that’s both immediate and deeply personalized. Traditional automation and scripted chatbots can’t keep up. That’s why Five9 recently unveiled a major leap forward in customer experience (CX): the launch of AI Agents and a robust AI Trust & Governance framework, designed to enable what they call Agentic CX.

As a strategic Five9 partner, CCG is helping organizations harness these innovations with speed, strategy, and full control – turning advanced AI into real, measurable outcomes.

What Is Agentic CX and Why It Matters

Agentic CX is the next step in AI-powered service. Instead of bots that follow fixed rules or static workflows, Agentic CX uses AI that can reason, decide, and act on its own. These AI Agents understand intent, use contextual knowledge, and adapt to different scenarios in real time. It’s not just automation, it’s intelligent orchestration of customer journeys.

At the core of this new approach is the Five9 Agentic Experience Engine, which takes customer inputs and turns them into intelligent actions. Whether that means answering a billing question, booking a service, or routing to the right live agent, the system makes real-time decisions while preserving a natural, human-like flow.

Smarter Self-Service with AI Agents

Five9’s new AI Agents are designed to deliver natural, hyper-personalized self-service at scale. They combine generative AI, intent detection, and enterprise knowledge integration to provide real-time answers, execute tasks, and escalate seamlessly when human support is needed.

Conversational and Context-Aware AI supports voice and digital channels, including multilingual text-to-speech and voice biometrics and handles both simple questions and complex workflows using natural language. Built in the low-code/no-code AI Agent Studio, they offer fast deployment with industry-specific templates that reduce development time and cost.

Advanced capabilities include intent detection and entity extraction using LLMs, the Knowledge Node for real-time contextual answers, the AI Summary Node for automatic interaction summaries, and Code Crafter for rapid JavaScript generation. Their omnichannel design ensures consistent experiences across preferred customer channels while enabling smooth, context-rich handoffs to live agents without losing history. With these features, businesses gain greater automation coverage, faster time-to-value, and a better overall customer experience.

Built-In AI Governance: Trust, Control, and Safety

Powerful AI needs powerful guardrails. Five9’s AI Trust & Governance layer ensures that businesses can scale AI securely, with full transparency and control.

Why does governance matter? Generative AI introduces risk: erratic outputs, compliance violations, data exposure. Five9’s AI Trust & Governance toolkit embeds safety and oversight across every AI layer.

Key Governance features include Granular Guardrails, which define autonomy, tone, and permissions by task, team, or channel. 

  • Prompt Monitoring tracks and optimizes prompt performance and completeness. 
  • Hallucination Detection flags and corrects false or off-brand outputs in real time. 
  • Threat Detection identifies risks such as prompt injection or data misuse before they escalate. 

FlexLM for Long-Term Flexibility lets teams choose or change LLM providers per use case without added security audits and future-proofs AI investments while supporting evolving enterprise needs. Together, these features give your team real-time observability, safe scalability, and confidence in every AI interaction.

How Companies Are Succeeding with Five9 AI

The impact of Five9’s AI Agents and governance tools isn’t theoretical, it’s happening now.

At Exact Sciences, AI Agents delivered a 45% self-service containment rate for carrier pickup calls and reduced handling time by 60%, boosting both agent productivity and customer satisfaction. Teladoc Health used AI Agent Assist to enable HIPAA-compliant, real-time call guidance, achieving 97% customer satisfaction and 99% uptime while empowering agents to respond faster, stay compliant, and provide higher-quality care. 

These real-world examples prove that when implemented thoughtfully, AI-powered CX can drive both operational efficiency and exceptional customer experiences!




CCG Presents at CTO Roundtable Unlocking Business Value with AI & Data in Montana

CCG Presents at CTO Roundtable Unlocking Business Value with AI & Data in Montana

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On August 20th, Cloud Communications Group (CCG) hosted a roundtable in Montana, bringing business and technology leaders together to explore how AI is transforming organizations today.

The session, led by CCG’s Keith Hatley, Chris Moffett, and Mike Stute, traced the rapid evolution of AI and its move from experimentation to real business impact.

From Potential to Practical

The conversation began with the history of AI’s exponential growth and how its adoption has accelerated as tools become embedded in the platforms companies already use. While early exploration often focused on “what’s possible,” today’s leaders are asking: How do we drive measurable results?

Real-World Use Cases

To answer that, the roundtable highlighted tangible examples of AI in action:

  • Logistics & Dispatching: Optimizing Routes with AI

In the roundtable, the team shared how AI is transforming logistics by helping drivers quickly match loads to their truck capacity, location, and destination. Instead of filling out complex forms or waiting on slow systems, a driver can simply ask, “I’m in Missoula heading to Nebraska, what loads are available?” The AI then pulls real-time data from GPS, load boards, and company databases to recommend the best options and most efficient route. This shift reduces wasted time, improves resource allocation, and allows drivers to focus on the road rather than navigating cumbersome processes.

  • Financial Reconciliation & Compliance: Automating Accuracy

During the roundtable, the team explained how AI can tackle one of the toughest back-office challenges: reconciling financial records across messy, inconsistent data. For example, “ABC Company” might appear in systems as ABC, A.B.C., or ABC Inc., a nightmare for traditional reconciliation software. AI quickly recognizes these as the same entity, cleans the data, and then matches incoming receivables with payments across divisions, sales teams, or regions. The result is faster, more accurate reconciliations, reduced manual effort, and stronger compliance oversight. By automating these repetitive reviews, organizations save significant time while improving confidence in their financial reporting.

These examples underscored how AI isn’t just a theoretical tool but a driver of efficiency and better decision-making in data-heavy industries.

What Executives Need to Know

Another recurring theme was the responsibility of leadership teams. Executives must understand both the opportunities and risks of AI in order to guide their organizations forward, balancing innovation with governance, compliance, and trust.

A Space for Connection

Beyond strategy, the event offered a chance for leaders to step away from daily demands, connect with peers, and share candid perspectives. The setting fostered collaboration, helping participants not only exchange insights but also build relationships that extend beyond the session itself.

Continuing the Conversation

CCG is proud to facilitate these discussions and remains committed to helping organizations embrace AI with confidence.

Watch the full roundtable discussion here: Unlocking Business Value with AI & Data

Cloud Communications Group Ranks No. 4069 on the 2025 Inc. 5000

Cloud Communications Group Ranks No. 4069 on the 2025 Inc. 5000

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Inc. 5000 Logo
CCG Logo (1)

 

For the 3rd Time, Cloud Communications Group Makes The Inc. 5000, at No. 4069 in 2025, With Four-Year Revenue Growth of 88% Percent

 

NEW YORK, August 12, 2025 – Inc., the leading media brand and playbook for the entrepreneurs and business leaders shaping our future, today announced that Cloud Communications Group is No. 4069 on the annual Inc. 5000 list, the most prestigious ranking of the fastest-growing private companies in America. The list provides a data-driven snapshot of the most successful companies within the economy’s most dynamic segment—its independent, entrepreneurial businesses. Past honorees include companies such as Microsoft, Meta, Chobani, Under Armour, Timberland, Oracle, and Patagonia. 

“Being honored in the Inc. 5000 for 2025 is both an honor and a reflection of the impact we strive to make for our clients every day. In the rapidly evolving technology landscape, having a trusted advisor to help organizations evaluate and implement the right solutions has never been more important. Many of our clients don’t have the time or resources to navigate the complexities of technology on their own, and that’s where Cloud Communications Group steps in. Our experienced team delivers unbiased guidance, tailored solutions, and end-to-end support, from strategic planning through implementation and lifecycle management. This recognition is a testament to our unwavering commitment to putting our clients’ needs first, driving innovation, and helping them achieve meaningful business outcomes in an increasingly complex IT environment.” Keith Hatley, Co-Founder & Partner

This year’s Inc. 5000 honorees have demonstrated exceptional growth while navigating economic uncertainty, inflationary pressure, and a fluctuating labor market. Among the top 500 companies on the list, the median three-year revenue growth rate reached 1,552 percent, and those companies have collectively added more than 48,678 jobs to the U.S. economy over the past three years.  

For the full list, company profiles, and a searchable database by industry and location, visit: www.inc.com/inc5000.  

“Making the Inc. 5000 is always a remarkable achievement, but earning a spot this year speaks volumes about a company’s tenacity and clarity of vision,” says Mike Hofman, editor-in-chief of Inc. “These businesses have thrived amid rising costs, shifting global dynamics, and constant change. They didn’t just weather the storm—they grew through it, and their stories are a powerful reminder that the entrepreneurial spirit is the engine of the U.S. economy.” 

Inc. will celebrate the honorees at the 2025 Inc. 5000 Conference & Gala, taking place October 22–24 in Phoenix, and the top 500 will be listed in the Fall issue of Inc. magazine. 

About Cloud Communications Group 

For more than fourteen years, Cloud Communications Group has been at the forefront of helping organizations modernize their technology strategies and achieve stronger business outcomes. CCG’s work spans from advising on complex cloud and IT decisions to designing and deploying cutting-edge AI language model solutions that give clients a competitive advantage. Acting as an extension of the organizations’ teams, CCG’s trusted advisors expertly navigate the complexities of technology transformation projects while maintaining a vendor-agnostic approach to ensure recommendations are always aligned with our clients’ best interests. CCG’s broad portfolio includes Cloud Services such as UCaaS, CCaaS, SaaS, and IaaS, along with Communications Services like broadband, MPLS, SD-WAN, VoIP, and Mobility. By staying independent of vendors, we ensure every recommendation is shaped by the clients’ best interests.

Methodology  

Companies on the 2025 Inc. 5000 are ranked according to percentage revenue growth from 2021 to 2024. To qualify, companies must have been founded and generating revenue by March 31, 2021. They must be U.S.-based, privately held, for-profit, and independent—not subsidiaries or divisions of other companies—as of December 31, 2024. (Since then, some on the list may have gone public or been acquired.) The minimum revenue required for 2021 is $100,000; the minimum for 2024 is $2 million. As always, Inc. reserves the right to decline applicants for subjective reasons.

About Inc.  

Inc. is the leading media brand and playbook for the entrepreneurs and business leaders shaping our future. Through its journalism, Inc. aims to inform, educate, and elevate the profile of its community: the risk-takers, the innovators, and the ultra-driven go-getters who are creating the future of business. Inc. is published by Mansueto Ventures LLC, along with fellow leading business publication Fast Company. For more information, visit www.inc.com.

Beyond the Sale: The Future of Channel Advising in a Crowded, AI-Powered Market

Beyond the Sale: The Future of Channel Advising in a Crowded, AI-Powered Market

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In today’s channel ecosystem, success isn’t about having all the answers. It’s about knowing how to ask the right questions, at the right time, with the right people at the table.

That was the heartbeat of our most recent conversation on Coffee with Craig and James, where we sat down with Dave and Keith to unpack the realities of navigating vendor saturation, delivering sustained client value, and adapting to the AI-powered future of advisory services.

Complexity Is the New Normal

What used to be a linear sales process has evolved into a complex matrix of decision-makers, internal politics, and competing KPIs. Opportunities today often involve six to twelve stakeholders, each with their agenda. In that environment, the advisor’s role evolves from seller to orchestrator – guiding consensus, surfacing hidden friction, and anchoring teams around real, measurable outcomes.

The True Cost of Inaction

Many clients initiate an evaluation process but fail to act, often paralyzed by indecision or the illusion that inaction is neutral. But inaction has a cost. The best advisors don’t just present options; they help clients commit to progress by challenging assumptions and clarifying the risks of standing still.

What Sets Great Advisors Apart?

It’s not just technical knowledge. It’s context. It’s proximity. It’s knowing not just what a vendor does but how they deliver and whether they’ve outgrown their ability to do it well.

At CCG, we’ve long believed that insight is earned, not aggregated. Real understanding comes from conversations, not data sheets. Peer networks, field experience, and continuous learning remain the cornerstones of trusted advisory services. As Keith put it, “It’s not just about having good tech; it’s first about understanding business drivers and having a perspective that goes beyond a singular solution. Then, it goes to operationalizing the solution and being able to implement on time, in scope, and in budget in order to deliver an appropriate client experience.”

AI Is Here – But It’s Not Everything

There’s no denying the rising tide of AI in our space. We’re already seeing transformative applications in contact centers, from automating appointment confirmations to full-scale operational overlays. But the real unlock isn’t in the tools; it’s in the strategy. Advisors who can frame use cases, guide readiness, and integrate AI into broader business goals will lead the next era of value delivery.

Vendor Saturation Requires Discipline

With hundreds of suppliers in the market, staying focused is more complex than ever. Yet, those who define their target markets and double down on strategic alignment tend to grow faster, not slower. It’s counterintuitive, but clarity breeds momentum. By understanding your client’s environment and knowing which two to three vendors consistently deliver, you position yourself as both efficient and indispensable.

Final Thought: Activity Over Perfection

Relationships still win. Proximity still matters. And nothing substitutes for consistent, visible activity in the circles that count.

Whether you’re just entering the channel or evolving into a more consultative role, the path forward is clear:

  • Show up often.
  • Narrow your focus.
  • Stay close to execution.
  • Always align with the client’s real definition of success.

The channel is changing, but the fundamentals of trust, relevance, and adaptability remain as powerful as ever. See the full podcast below and contact us today!

From Fiction to Fact: A Night with CCG on the Future of AI

From Fiction to Fact: A Night with CCG on the Future of AI

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Last week, Cloud Communications Group hosted an exclusive dinner event designed to spark relationships and ideas. Held in an intimate setting, the evening brought together a curated group of executives and IT leaders for good food, great conversation, and an eye-opening presentation on the rapid rise of artificial intelligence.

Accelerating into the Future

Keith Hatley and Mike Stute from CCG led a 25-minute session titled From Fiction to Fact, diving into AI’s historical roots and its exponential rise in the modern business landscape. Their message was clear: the pace of change is no longer linear, it’s exponential. Businesses that don’t plan for that acceleration are already behind.

They shared jaw-dropping projections, including AI’s expected $15.7 trillion impact on global GDP within the next five years. With examples of billion-dollar companies built on exponential tech models, it became clear that artificial intelligence isn’t just a trend, it’s a paradigm shift.

A Journey Through AI’s Origins

Mike took attendees on a fascinating journey through the history of artificial intelligence. From the chess-playing automaton of the 1700s to HAL 9000, Eliza, and Deep Blue. The presentation made one thing clear: while AI may seem like science fiction, it has long been part of humanity’s technological aspirations. Now, that fiction is fast becoming fact.

Looking Ahead

As the evening wrapped, the conversation continued around the table with ideas of future webinars, potential AI roundtables, and even a whiskey-and-cigars night with a recording session already in the works! For CCG, this event was about more than thought leadership, it was about creating lasting partnerships with forward-thinking leaders ready to embrace tomorrow. If you missed this dinner but want to be part of the next conversation, reach out! AI is moving fast and so are we.

How Managed IT Services Drive Innovation in the Healthcare Space

How Managed IT Services Drive Innovation in the Healthcare Space

Managed IT services have become increasingly popular with organizations over the past few years; they allow companies to focus on their core business processes while a remote team of professionals takes care of its IT infrastructure. There are hundreds of providers that offer managed IT services that are tailored to specific industries, and the healthcare industry is one of the many business sectors that has benefited from these services. These platforms aim to streamline digital workflows, enhance employee efficiency, and ultimately help healthcare professionals deliver more personalized and prompt care to their patients. Let’s learn more about how managed IT services can help healthcare organizations grow and thrive.

Patient Data is Secured and Accessible

When you’re handling large amounts of personal information, keeping it secure is paramount. Managed IT services offer healthcare organizations layered security solutions that guarantee a high-level of protection for every patient, keeping their data protected from cyberattacks and leakage. At the same time, these services can allow healthcare professionals to more easily access specific patient info, such as prescription medication info, underlying health conditions, and much more, thus reducing the amount of time it takes to find the info that they need.

IT Support Is Always There, Day or Night

As the name suggests, managed IT services allow healthcare professionals to focus on their core line of work while an external team “manages” the technical aspects of their business. In the healthcare industry, these teams are HIPAA and HITECH certified, ensuring that the support they provide is fully compliant. Plus, these experts are available to provide support around the clock, so if an issue occurs and requires immediate attention, the team is there to quickly resolve the issue.

Digital Processes Are Streamlined for Greater Efficiency

One of the biggest roadblocks to productivity is dealing with outdated processes, and hospitals that rely on outdated technology are missing out on experiencing enhanced efficiency. Managed IT services offer an “all-in-one” technology solution that enhances several aspects of a business’s operations, including their telecom systems, patient outreach, billing processes, and much more. These integrations are tailored specifically for use in healthcare environments, meaning that they are easy for healthcare professionals to use and become accustomed to.

Upgrade Your IT Infrastructure with CCG – We’re Ready to Help!

Finding the time to compare managed IT services from different providers is often easier said than done, but CCG is here to help. Our goal is to offload the hours of technology research that IT leaders are responsible for and recommend solutions that are proven to make an impact, no matter what your long-term goals are. We are partners with over 200 trusted IT providers who design solutions for a variety of industries–including the healthcare industry. Contact CCG today to learn more about how we can help your healthcare organization thrive!

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