NorthStar Solutions Group

There is no occupation more important in this world than being a mother. On this #MothersDay, we hope that all mothers & grandmothers in our community experience a day of relaxation, gratitude, joy & love from their families & friends. Please join us in celebrating all mothers & grandmothers around the world!... #MothersDay2021

Now more than ever, our Earth deserves our collective focus every day. On this #EarthDay2021, it is important that our nation & our world pause and reflect on actions within our daily lives that we can all do to support our shared home. Please join us in celebrating #EarthDay!

Another employee showcase! Even in this challenging period of disruption with #COVID19 & #RemoteWork, NorthStar’s team of experts continue to deliver critical projects for our clients. Glenn Cunningham led the #Transformation of reporting for our Fortune 50 Telecommunications client, from many vendors managing individual reports to a cohesive, cost-efficient and focused report managed in-house. Through Glenn’s leadership of the effort, our client realized increased productiv...ity & cost savings. Read the full case study called Creating, generating, and delivering in-house reports in the Results of Our Work section here: https://northstarsg.com/solutions/execution-delivery/ Thank you, Glenn, for your continued hard work & for reflecting the values of NorthStar Solutions Group! #StrategyExecution #Reporting #VendorManagement #DataTransformation

As #Ramadan begins, we wish everyone who is observing experiences a season filled with peace, joy, charity & family. #RamadanMubarak! #Ramadan2021

Another week, another employee showcase! This week, we're highlighting Ken Moritz, our ETL Developer who recently helped our Fortune 50 Telecommunications client gain access to crucial & timely #CallCenter data. Ken's work reduced #Data latency in reporting so that operational leaders across our client's organization were able to make crucial decisions based on near real-time insights. ... Take a look at the section called "Results of Our Work" to read more on this case study: Generating Reports from Near Real-Time Contact Center Data: https://northstarsg.com/solutions/data-analytics/ Thank you, Ken, for your outstanding service to NorthStar and our clients! Wherever you are on your data journey, we would like to help. Reach out to us today to get started! #StrategyExecution #Analytics #DataAndAnalytics #Insights #Operations #ContactCenter #EnterpriseInformationManagement

Our #AgileSolutions team, led by Shane McDougal, collaborated with our #SocialMediaIntelligence team to use Talkwalker to analyze the real-time #socialmedia conversation around the #SAFeSummit #virtualevent by Scaled Agile. A key takeaway that trended was from Scaled Agile’s Dean Leffingwell: When we asked 81 SAFe customers whether SAFe has helped them navigate the challenges of #COVID19, they said the longer they'd been doing SAFe, the more significant it was in their respo...nse. We agree. The longer you have executed in a SAFe Framework, the better equipped you are to respond to change. SAFe fosters many #Agile principles, but when you foster an autonomous #TeamCulture, built on trust, 'where' your team works doesn't matter. The #NewNormal is going to require more trust and commitment from leaders and teams. We can help with your SAFe adoption so that you can execute effectively. Get started by earning your SAFe certifications: https://northstarsg.com//scale-agile-framework-safe-certi/ #StrategyExecution #ScaledAgile

First responders are important every day. But this year’s National First Responders Day takes on a particular significance, given the tumultuous year 2020 has been. Please join us in thanking the first responders in our community and throughout our country. #NationalFirstRespondersDay #ThankYouHeroes

Our Data Science practice lead, John Clem, attended today's #virtual Story by Data #DATAcated Conference, hosted by Kate Strachnyi via LinkedIn Live. One of the sessions touched on dealing with inherited #data. Data Science practitioners not only need to understand their datasets, but the origins thereof. However, many datasets are generated by other entities or organizations. Without #datagovernance best practices and a thorough validation of the #dataquality (including the... underlying assumptions of the dataset’s origination), a business may lose confidence in the #insights drawn from the data (or may gather no insights at all). John & his #DataScience & #MachineLearning team can help assess your current data situation (from governance to organizational #dataliteracy) and apply modeling & implementation techniques to deliver significant value to your business. For more on how we can help you identify #actionableinsights that allow you to #execute on your business strategy: https://northstarsg.com/solu/data-science-machine-learning/ #StrategyExecution #DataAnalytics #Analytics

"#COVID19 has literally changed the definition of project management. With #COVID driving this much change, why would we NOT use this as an opportunity to rethink the way we work? Just 'digitizing’ our formerly in-person processes isn’t going to transform our work for the new reality. These were some of the trending attendee quotes from #SmartsheetENGAGE, the #virtualevent by one of our PPM partners, Smartsheet. Our Program & Project Management lead, Shelly Lewis attended,... while our #SocialMediaIntelligence team analyzed conversation in Talkwalker. These attendees are right. The #pandemic has changed the way businesses operate. Those holding onto traditional processes may struggle, while those embracing the #OperateFromAnywhere mentality are positioned to thrive in the #NewNormal. Our #ProgramManagers are leading this #transformation in #projectmanagement, #changemanagement & #processmanagement. We design, execute & implement custom solutions that leverage the right technology & expertise organizations need to achieve success. We can assess your current programs & implement custom plans that will drive #results in the #WorkFromAnywhere future: https://northstarsg.com//program-project-management-soluti #StrategyExecution #ProgramManagement #Operations

Our #Ecommerce & #Digital #Operations lead, Mike Grinnan, wrapped up a great week at Shoptalk Meetup, while our #SocialMediaIntelligence team analyzed social conversation in Talkwalker. The most important insight we took away is the ability to execute in the #NewNormal to meet shopper expectation. #Retailers recognize that their 3-5 year roadmaps are now 12-18 month roadmaps. #Technologies that were considered ‘nice-to-have’s’ are now being considered by consumers as ‘must-ha...ve’s’ in order to compete. Throughout #COVID19, retailers have had to work with limited resources and scale back, meaning some will struggle to #execute on these new #technology-driven must-have’s. That’s where we come in. Whether you are looking to drive #loyalty, assess the best use of your #retail store footprint, or prepare your operations for the new #FutureOfRetail, our E-Commerce & Digital Operations team can help you design, implement & execute a customized strategy that will allow you to not just maintain, but thrive in the future. Let's get started: https://northstarsg.com/solu/e-commerce-digital-operations/ #StrategyExecution #ShopTalk #ShopTalkMeetup

That’s a wrap! The final day of Shoptalk Meetup is complete, with our #Ecommerce & #Digital #Operations lead, Mike Grinnan, having 16 ‘speed-dates’ with #retailers and other thought leaders in the #retail industry over the last 3 days! Today’s food-for-thought: We know that the biggest change in consumer behavior this year was due to #COVID19, with consumers dramatically shifting to #curbsidepickup, buy-online-pickup-in-store #BOPIS) and other e-commerce options.... E-commerce sales growth in September was up 43% YoY (and that’s even before Amazon Prime Day happened in October), via Adobe Analytics. 89% of shoppers indicate they plan to continue using e-commerce as their primary source of spending through November, via CommerceHub. But, once #COVID is over.will this trend continue? If this is the #NewNormal, how do #brickandmorter stores attract shoppers back into their stores, even after the #pandemic is behind us? We think the answer is #loyalty, driven by unique experiences and true #omnichannel engagement. Here’s how we can help: https://northstarsg.com//store-systems-ecommerce-integrat/ #StrategyExecution #ShopTalk #ShopTalkMeetup #ExperientialMarketing

It was another great day at ShopTalk Meetup! Here’s today’s insight from our #Ecommerce & #Digital #Operations lead, Mike Grinnan: Instead of closing your store, rethink the footprint & inventory of its layout. Does it need to be high-touch or low-touch?... How do we reimagine the #retail store footprint in the #NewNormal? Do #retailers continue to dedicate 80% of their footprint to visual display, with a small backroom for limited inventory? Or, should they reconfigure the store to be boutique-oriented with knowledgeable salespeople & a unique experience? It probably depends on the type of store, product & brand. Some stores, such as luxury clothing & accessories, electronics, or high-end sporting goods, could continue to operate with the footprint they have, because the experience of going to that store is desired. Other stores, such as commodities, QSRs or non-luxury clothing, may need to change their footprint structure because there isn’t a need to carry every option. Still others may need a mix, such as grocery, appliance or hardware stores, based on profitability. No matter where you fall on the spectrum, we can help: https://northstarsg.com//e-commerce/store-direct-consumer/ #StrategyExecution #ShopTalk #ShopTalkMeetup

Day 1 of Shoptalk Meetup is in the books! Here’s our #Ecommerce & #Digital #Operations lead, Mike Grinnan, with his real-time insight from Day 1: There's no longer a difference between stores, E-commerce, #multichannel & #omnichannel. It's just commerce. Customers don’t care about channels. Customers consider what is most important to them: the best possible price, or the best possible way to get the product? ... Ultimately, the customer is in charge. It may be cheaper to buy online, but they’ll wait a week to get the product. Or, they can save on shipping costs, go pick up the product in-store or curbside, and possibly pay a little more for the convenience. In the #NewNormal, it's the same customer expectation no matter what: same price, same quality experience, etc. The #retail industry needs to think like customers do. Whether they realize it or not, customers are evaluating price vs. convenience vs. loyalty, in real-time. The question iswhat value do you bring? Seamlessly providing all channel options to the customer is tablestakes. How are you driving #Loyalty within this new customer expectation? How we can help: https://northstarsg.com//e-commer/digital-curbside-pickup/ #StrategyExecution #ShopTalk #ShopTalkMeetup

It’s officially #ShopTalk week! We’re so excited that our #Ecommerce & Digital Operations lead, Mike Grinnan, will be attending Shoptalk Meetup, meeting and networking with great #Retail companies and E-commerce solutions providers to discuss the #NewNormal and #NewNext. At the same time, our #SocialMediaIntelligence team will be in Talkwalker analyzing real-time conversation about the event, working with Mike to provide daily insightsso, keep following along all week!... 2020 has forced #retailers and #marketing leaders to reconsider their roadmaps regarding technology. Mike will be discussing emerging technologies, not only how they will improve the #customerexperience, but also how they will grow #brand recognition and #loyalty. If you are attending #ShopTalkMeetup, reach out to Mike to discuss your strategy! In the meantime, you can find more here on how we can design, implement and #execute the best solution to your business #technology strategy that will produce long-lasting #results: https://northstarsg.com/solu/e-commerce-digital-operations/ #StrategyExecution

Our president, Chris Collins, attended Intelisys #ChannelConnect this week, while our #SocialMediaIntelligence team analyzed the (very positive) real-time conversation in Talkwalker. This quote from speaker Seth Mattison resonated: Learning agility means knowing what to do when you don’t know what to do.... We agree. The #FutureOfWork takes #flexibility, #agility & #courage. #COVID has forced businesses to pivot to a #virtual model, causing some to struggle continuing to execute their strategy. We can help. We design, select & #execute comprehensive, holistic and customized #COVID19 response solutions for our clients, leveraging our Intelisys partnership for access to the right technology to meet our clients’ goals. We have operated in a #virtualmodel helping clients execute #transformation strategies like these for 16 years. If you are struggling with workforce #collaboration, #callcenter #communication, #customerexperience or other technical hurdles impeding you from achieving #results in a #OperateFromAnywhere environment, we can help. https://northstarsg.com/solutions/telecom-cloud-solutions/. #StrategyExecution #CloudMigration #UCaaS #CCaaS #VoIP #RemoteDesktop #SDWAN #DaaS #SECaaS #DRaaS

This year, #BackToSchool has a whole new meaning, including lots of videos all the kids (and adults) are watching. Well, we've got our own version: Back to #Agile School with our #AgileSolutions lead, Shane McDougal! Remember in middle school when you learned about the #ScientificMethod? Well, it can be applied to any problem in business when a team is struggling to #execute a strategy. ... Problem: What's the root cause of why we aren't executing well? Hypothesis: What can we try to prevent the problem? Experiment: Let's run an experiment around our hypothesis that will give us data we can analyze. Results: Did we solve or lessen the problem? Let's use empirical, Boolean (true/false) answers to analyze the #results. For more on how Shane & his team apply the Scientific Method to Agile approaches in order to help our clients solve their strategic problems: https://northstarsg.com//agile-solutio/agile-optimization/ #StrategyExecution

October is National Disability Employment Awareness Month, which is in its 75th year. As a Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business and Disability:IN certified SDV-DOBE (Service-Disabled Veteran Disability-Owned Business Enterprise), we recognize the importance of #DisabilityInclusion & #Equality practices that present workplace opportunities for people of all abilities. Join us in supporting disability inclusion in the workplace!... https://disabilityin.org/ #NationalDisabilityEmploymentAwarenessMonth #NDEAM #NDEAM75 #VeteranOwnedBusiness #Veterans #Disability

Today marks the 245th birthday of the U.S. Navy, with this year’s commemorations focused on their #VictoryAtSea efforts in the Pacific Theater of World War II. Today, let us all recognize and honor the brave men and women of the Navy who proudly serve our country! #NavyBirthday #USNavy245 #ForgedByTheSea