GOVERNMENT BUSINESS
Yext | November 15, 2021
Yext, Inc. , the AI Search Company, today announced a suite of AI search solutions designed to help government agencies modernize and streamline digital experiences across channels.
Recent mandates like the 21st Century Integrated Digital Experience Act (IDEA) have required government agencies to improve the customer experience on their websites. A recent Yext study* about consumers' interactions with government agencies online supports the case for these investments: when a government agency provides an excellent overall experience on their website, constituents are more likely to seek official information or advice from that agency in the future (54%), speak well of the agency (42%), and comply with the agency's directives (36%).
"The signing of the 21st Century IDEA put the public sector's need for improved digital experiences into full view. Now more than ever, government agencies are looking for technology that will quickly and easily set them up to serve constituents more effectively online. Our growing team is so excited to show them the potential they can unlock with Yext's powerful Public Sector AI search solution set, a one-stop shop for all of their CX needs."
Laurie "LC" Cook, Vice President of Public Sector at Yext
Yext's public sector solutions incorporate the same powerful Answers AI search technology in the COVID-19 info hubs that the company implemented for the World Health Organization (WHO), U.S. State Department, and the States of New Jersey and Alabama earlier in the pandemic. The solution set includes:
Self-Service Portal: Overwhelmingly, when people have questions or customer service issues related to a civil or government topic, they prefer to find information on their own (78%)* — and with Yext's Support Answers self-service portal, they can. This AI-powered control center supports a one-click experience that allows constituents to self-serve with direct answers to their customer service questions.
Site Search: If people fail to find information on their own when searching on a government agency's website, they typically choose another more labor- or cost-intensive channel (48%),* like calling or emailing the agency's customer service department. Agencies can bypass unnecessary support costs and empower constituents to find the information they're looking for on their website with Yext's Marketing Answers site search solution, which applies the most advanced natural language processing (NLP) to understand and answer questions with an agency's own FAQs, guides, videos, ebooks, and more.
Reputation Management: Constituent reviews are one the best benchmarks for government agencies to gauge progress for improving their digital customer experience. With Yext's reputation management solution, agencies can optimize their online reputation by monitoring, responding, and generating reviews across platforms from one centralized location.
SEO: A majority of people (57%)* prefer search engines like Google or Bing when searching for information to help them understand or resolve civil- or government-related issues, which makes it that much more critical for government agencies to make sure their information is appearing on third-party sites (and accurately so). Yext's SEO-optimized FAQ pages are designed to surface in search results, enabling agencies to extend their customer experience and answer constituent questions before they even reach their website.
While expanding its public sector product offering, Yext has also been building out its public sector sales organization under Laurie "LC" Cook, the company's Vice President of Public Sector. Cook's team now includes the following new hires:
Geoffrey Glaser as Senior Director of Federal, State & Local Government and Education (SLED), and Healthcare
Vernon Aldershoff as Senior Director of Public Sector Sales
Christina Day as Director of Public Sector Sales
David Hernandez as Director of Federal Sales
About Yext
Yext is the AI Search Company and is on a mission to transform the enterprise with AI search.
With the explosion of information and data online, search has never been more important. However, while the world of consumer search has innovated over time, enterprise search has not. In fact, the majority of enterprise search is powered by outdated keyword search technology that only scans for keywords and delivers a list of hyperlinks rather than actually answering questions.
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GOVERNMENT BUSINESS
Octo | December 16, 2020
Octo, a chief supplier of arising innovation and IT modernization administrations for the Federal Government, reported today its mix with secretly held, Fairfax-based Sevatec, a main supplier of strategic programming advancement arrangements and computerized modernization administrations to the Federal Government. The blend of Octo and Sevatec makes an exceptionally deft accomplice to government clients that can address complex innovation challenges with development, high-contact administration, and generous specialized and operational assets.
The joined association has developed each year since initiation and today creates almost $300 million in income and utilizes around 1,100 talented workers committed to addressing specialized difficulties for government clients across the Defense, Intelligence, National Security, Federal Health, and Civilian commercial centers.
Established in 2003, Sevatec drives progressions in innovation, open-source tooling, business best practices in human-focused plan, Agile conveyance, DevSecOps, start to finish security, cloud administration joining, information designing, and computerization. With nearly $400 million in late prime Digital Modernization contract wins, exceptionally essential agreement vehicles, and separating advancements, for example, ShiftUp™, Sevatec has strong force in key business sectors and makes reciprocal extension open doors for the consolidated business to seek after.
Sonny Kakar, Founder and CEO of Sevatec, said, “I have known Mehul for years and have admired deeply what Octo has been able to achieve. Octo was the only company we considered for such a transaction because of our shared values and cultural alignment. While the industrial logic of the merger resonated tremendously with us both, it also became evident that it would create significant growth opportunities for our employees and allow the combined business to compete at scale and solve some of the most pressing challenges facing our customers. In a market full of multi-billion-dollar organizations that provide a wide variety of traditional products and services, customers are seeking highly specialized, mid-sized technology partners with deep experience in digital modernization, which is exactly what the combination of Octo and Sevatec offers.”
Sevatec’s core leadership team will play leadership roles in the combined business. As part of the transaction, Sonny Kakar will serve as Vice Chair of the Board and Head of Strategy while Tim May, Sevatec’s Chief Growth Officer, will serve as the Chief Growth Officer for the combined organization, a position that was previously unfilled at Octo. Furthermore, Chuck Schefer, EVP at Sevatec, will serve as EVP managing programs in the GSA, DHS, and USPTO markets, among others. Mehul Sanghani will continue to serve as the combined firm’s CEO.
The consolidated firm will incorporate market-driving exclusive arrangements and marked protected innovation covering the full modernization range from DevSecOps (ShiftUp™) to Agile Software Engineering (Javana) to Open Source Software Development (Octo CX), to Artificial Intelligence and Blockchain arrangements, all oversaw and improved inside Octo's oLabs™ R&D office.
The joined firm will likewise incorporate an unrivaled profundity of enormous scope modernization capabilities and experience across the whole federal space with establishment positions in a few organizations. Organizations profiting by the consolidated organizations' endeavors incorporate significant modernization programs inside the Intelligence Community at the National Geospatial Intelligence Agency (NGA); inside National Security on groundbreaking projects across the Department of Homeland Security (DHS); and at present day programming industrial facilities being stood up inside the DoD, for example, the Air Force's Kessel Run program. Octo and Sevatec additionally have significant parts at Health and Human Services (HHS) on activities across the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and significant modernization programs at Civilian offices like the General Services Administration (GSA), Department of Transportation (DoT), and Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).
“With this transaction, I firmly believe we have created a unique, market-shaping organization that is unmatched in terms of its collective ability to be a pure-play modernization and technology solutions provider to the Federal Government and its wide-ranging missions,” said Mehul Sanghani, Octo’s Founder and CEO. “I truly believe no other firm in the federal market can boast a combined culture of innovation and a combined talent base of high-end engineers with expertise in Agile/DevSecOps, open-source software development, cloud engineering, cyber, and artificial intelligence. More importantly, very few federal technology providers can cite large scale modernization success across the end-to-end breadth of mission systems we do collectively – from the Intelligence Community to Health Care Agencies to Defense Systems to National Security and Civilian missions, our breadth of modernization support covers the gamut.”
“Over the years, we have teamed with Sevatec – and competed against them – and through it all there has always been a mutual respect between us that laid the groundwork for today’s announcement,” Sanghani continued. “I have long admired the company Sonny has built, and I am elated that we were able to find a partner in Sevatec that complements Octo in so many ways, one that also shares our unwavering commitment to our employees, customers, and the community.”
“Individually these two companies are extremely well-managed and consistently deliver for their customers, while also caring for their employees. You see that reflected in their continuous growth through the years,” said Michael Lustbader, Managing Partner at Arlington Capital Partners. “We have admired Sevatec for some time, and we felt this would be a fantastic combination. Arlington is really excited to see what can be accomplished together.”
Octo, founded by Mehul Sanghani in 2006, partnered with Arlington Capital in April 2019 and subsequently acquired Phoenix-based Connexta, LLC, a provider of open-source software to the DoD and Intelligence Community.
Sheppard Mullin served as legal advisor to Octo on this transaction. Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman LLP served as legal advisor, and Baird served as exclusive financial advisor to Sevatec on this transaction.
About Octo
Octo challenges the status quo, empowering federal agencies to leap IT hurdles by using emerging technologies to create transformative solutions that enable rapid modernization, enhance citizen engagement, and maximize human impact. We continually explore ways to transform IT, producing results vital to national security, intelligence, health care, and more.
About Sevatec
Sevatec builds the software that powers exceptional government missions. Our Digital Software Supply Chain, ShiftUp™, which brings together commercial best practices and advanced technology tools in Agile delivery, human-centered design, DevSecOps, Cloud, Security, and Data, has helped us modernize several hundred applications across the Federal Government. Founded in 2003 on the concept of “Seva,” meaning “to serve a greater purpose,” we serve the missions of Homeland and Law Enforcement agencies, Department of Defense, General Services Administration, Department of Transportation, and multiple civilian departments and agencies.
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CYBERSECURITY
SuperCom Ltd. | March 10, 2022
SuperCom, a global provider of secured solutions for the e-Government, IoT and Cybersecurity sectors announced that its cyber-security division, a provider of cyber software solutions and cyber consultancy, plans to release a new version of its proven, robust and scalable cybersecurity software technology, with enhanced protection from cyber-attacks.
For over 15 years, SuperCom's cybersecurity division, through its fully owned subsidiaries Safend and Prevision, has been aiding governments and enterprises around the world with their cyber security and cyber defense strategies. SuperCom's cybersecurity software has been deployed in government agencies and public utilities such as water and electricity infrastructures, secured SCADA production zones, and police forces and defense departments. SuperCom's cybersecurity consultancy has designed and implemented strategic security projects for national critical infrastructures including gas, water and power. Services offered include infrastructure penetration testing, cyber intelligence and awareness, cloud security services and risk and compliance assessment.
SuperCom's cyber software and cyber services have been successfully deployed globally in North America, South America, Europe, Asia and Africa.
Given heightened government security needs worldwide, a strong track record and proven technology is critical. For years, our products and services have been approved and deployed globally in various government infrastructure organizations , hardening and protecting critical endpoints from evolving cyber threats and attacks. Our products were developed on the kernel level and designed from their origins to protect government and public sector organization from cyber attacks. We are pleased to aid existing customers and potential new ones through the rapidly evolving cybersecurity landscape of today."
Ordan Trabelsi, SuperCom's President and CEO
About Safend
Safend is a leading developer of information security solutions for organizations that provide extensive protection of sensitive corporate information found in the computers of the organization. Safend's product suite includes encryption of computer drives, removable storage devices, and precise control over the physical and wireless ports and devices connected to them, and control and supervision of the placement and transfer of sensitive content. These capabilities enable customers of Safend to comply with regulatory mandates and to protect their corporate data without sacrificing efficiency and productivity of the organization. Safend has sold more than 3 million licenses for its products to over 3,000 customers worldwide. The company's solutions are embedded in international companies, government agencies, critical infrastructure organizations and many other organizations around the world.
About Prevision
Prevision is an international provider of cutting-edge Cyber Security consultancy services and solutions based on leading methodologies and best practices in information security and cyber doctrine. Prevision specializes in protecting strategic assets for governments, and large enterprises in various domains including critical infrastructure, finance and telecom, with a customer portfolio in Israel, South America, Europe and Asia.
About SuperCom
Since 1988, SuperCom has been a global provider of traditional and digital identity solutions, providing advanced safety, identification and security solutions to governments and organizations, both private and public, throughout the world. Through its proprietary e-Government platforms and innovative solutions for traditional and biometrics enrollment, personalization, issuance and border control services, SuperCom has inspired governments and national agencies to design and issue secure Multi-ID documents and robust digital identity solutions to its citizens and visitors. SuperCom offers a unique all-in-one field-proven RFID & mobile technology and product suite, accompanied by advanced complementary services for various industries including healthcare and homecare, security and safety, community public safety, law enforcement, electronic monitoring, livestock monitoring, and building and access automation.
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