Tom Grooms

Many customers in the Federal space have complex disparate data across focus areas. Decisions are driven based on combining data sources, and making those decisions at the data level can help drive faster and more accurate answers for downstream applications and LLMs. In this blog post, Seth M. explores how "data gravity"—the increasing difficulty and cost of moving large datasets—exacerbates challenges, where applying complex business rules often leads to latency and infrastructure strain. To counter this, the Seth highlights an integrated approach using Corticon.js for decision authoring and MarkLogic as a data hub. Corticon.js empowers business analysts to build decision logic via intuitive tools like Corticon.js Studio: defining vocabularies from schemas, crafting rulesheets for conditional logic, sequencing via ruleflows, and validating with ruletests. This compiles into portable JavaScript for seamless deployment. MarkLogic complements this by ingesting data through Flux and triggering inline evaluations on document arrival, enriching records with decisions, audit messages, and traces—without any data movement. This preserves lineage, boosts throughput, and ensures a single source of truth. Key benefits include transparent, auditable decisions for compliance; reduced costs from eliminating data transfers; and enhanced efficiency for sectors like public programs (e.g., automating eligibility and claims). For LLMs and apps, an explainability dashboard visualizes policies and traces, while an AI-in-the-loop chatbot leverages Retrieval-Augmented Generation from MarkLogic to deliver grounded, context-rich responses. Check out the blog post here: https://lnkd.in/eEkHUZ7K #DataGravity #DecisionIntelligence #FederalIT #DataManagement #MarkLogic #Corticon #BusinessRules #GovTech #DataHub #RAG #AIinGovernment #Compliance #LowCode #PublicSector

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As we are seeing a regular cadence of questions around AI in our client base, its important for us to stay current. I attended the AI Freedom Alliance event on 2/25. The event was well worth the time. Great insight from the speakers and those in attendance. AI is a challenging concept for organizations. How does they use it? What is the ROI? What is the impact to the workforce? Light was shed on the questions above. I look forward to continued participation with this group. Thank you to all who planned and participated in the event. One speaker said, "AI isn't a project, its a change in how we conduct business". My take aways are: - Humans need to be involved to create the final output. - AI is a tool to address time consuming task, so that we can work on higher value activities. - Guardrails and governance are critical to define how AI tools should be used be used.

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Microsoft's newest, most powerful AI datacenter is being constructed in southern Wisconsin. This will be the first Microsoft datacenter within the entire state and expected to be online early 2026. Wisconsin's support for datacenters is fascinating to see as a state primarily dominated by industrial manufacturing. Logically, the construction makes a lot of sense. Milwaukee nearby, energy and land availability, as well as Lake Michigan for supplemental cooling. For locals, a great way to get involved in this opportunity is by taking courses at Gateway Technical who provide datacenter academies. https://lnkd.in/gqQmq3uu

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I was banned from Claude for scaffolding a Claude.md file? So the robots are fighting back... or just aggressively enforcing their Terms of Service. Whatever. In the Marines, we had a simple rule for this: "Inspect what you expect". Seems Anthropic is finding out that delegation without oversight, even to AI, gets you... unexpected results. The article points out that many orgs seem to think AI is going to magically fix their customer service issues, when often the "easy" problems are already solvable with existing tech. This reminds me of companies I've seen pour money into "AI-powered chatbots" while their knowledge base is a disorganized mess. You're not fixing a customer experience, you're just adding a layer of expensive confusion. Honestly, upper middle management being replaced before customer support is not a bad thing, but focus is more important. If you're a CX leader, audit your existing processes before you budget another dollar for AI. Are you truly leveraging the tools you already have? If not, fix THAT first. Maybe then you won't get banned from your AI overlords. AI #CustomerExperience #Leadership #Automation #Marines

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In this short video, ZOLL Medical Corporation shares why they selected Apps Associates as their partner for an Oracle Cloud ERP transformation, including an Agile to PLM upgrade. What stands out here is the emphasis on cultural fit, trust, and the ability to design solutions that work across workstreams — critical factors in complex PLM and ERP programs. These are the kinds of fundamentals that ultimately enable scale, data control, and long-term value from Oracle Cloud. https://lnkd.in/eCeV_Vg8 #OracleCloud #ERP #PLM #Agile #EnterpriseTransformation

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Yesterday, Microsoft, alongside Governor Tony Evers, Brad Smith (Vice Chair and President of Microsoft), Noelle Walsh (President of Microsoft Cloud Operations and Innovation), and leaders from Racine and Kenosha counties, announced a deeper investment in Wisconsin’s state-of-the-art data center — including the building of the most powerful supercomputer in the world. Following this historic announcement, our Women in Technology Wisconsin (WiT) Southeast Region, in partnership with Microsoft, is launching an “AI in Motion” five-part series in the Racine/Kenosha region. The series will focus on advancing AI skilling, innovation, and adoption to accelerate economic opportunity. It’s designed to meet people where they are in their AI journey — and help them discover how to advance AI within their organizations. 📅 The series will kick off with a half-day program on November 19 at Gateway Technical College. The event will feature panel discussions, networking booths, and a hands-on Copilot workshop. 👉 Registration link: https://lnkd.in/gw_M6AH9 #ArtificialIntelligence #AIInnovation #EconomicOpportunity #WisconsinTech #FutureOfWork #DigitalTransformation #Microsoft #DataCenters #Supercomputing #TechCommunity #AIAdoption #Upskilling #WIT #WomenInTech

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1 in 5 projects still fail completely and over 40% miss schedule or budget goals. We continue to see organizations struggle with the basics of delivery governance: 🔹 Change Management - What’s changing? 🔹 Program Fundamentals - Are we really on track? 🔹 How are benefits being tracked and realized? Technology itself isn’t the root cause — discipline of Project Management (PMP certifications are not the answer), lack of change clarity, benefit ownership, and business alignment are. That’s where strong program leadership and transformation governance make the difference. Learn more: www.plexlane.com Contact: connect@plexlane.com #ProjectManagement #DigitalTransformation #ChangeManagement #ITLeadership #Plexlane

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Hardik Desai, TekStream Solutions, has seen the same seven Oracle pitfalls derail budgets for more than 10 years. From virtualization exposure to option mismanagement to cloud licensing confusion, the risks stack up fast. Hardik's new post explains where organizations slip—and how to stay in control. https://lnkd.in/eSdzS6Dt

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