Businesses have never had more ways to spend a marketing dollar, or more data supposedly proving those dollars are working. SEO agencies report rankings. Digital firms report clicks and conversions. Social teams measure engagement. PR tracks visibility. Paid media produces attribution dashboards. Now companies are adding another layer as they race to optimize for AI-powered … [More]
Why Community Service Matters to Phoenix Business Leaders
Leading a company means being pulled in a million different directions — often at the same time. There is never a shortage of urgent, high-priority projects coming across C-suite desks. So how do corporate leaders find time for community service? And how do they make a lasting, impactful commitment to their communities, giving all the competing priorities? Those are … [More]
As AI Gains Authority, Businesses Face a Management Test
Most businesses still treat AI governance as an afterthought. The technology gets built or bought, tested, rolled out - and only once something goes wrong, or a regulator comes asking, do questions about oversight and accountability get any real attention. That's starting to change, out of necessity more than choice. ResearchCollab Technologies, an AI consultancy that helps … [More]
How Arizona Utilities are Planning for a Future with Less Colorado River Water
With federal cuts reducing Arizona’s Colorado River allocation by 27 percent each year through 2028, many people are coming to us concerned and asking: “Will I still have water?” “Will my tap run dry?” “What should we do?” The short answer is that Arizona faces serious long-term water challenges, but these cuts do not mean customers should expect their taps to suddenly run … [More]
How Digital Wallets Are Modernizing Business Payments
Digital wallets have changed how consumers pay for goods and services, and similar technology is now moving into business payments. For finance and accounts payable (AP) teams, the appeal is clear: digital wallets can make commercial card tools easier to issue and use while helping reduce manual work, improve controls and support faster, safer payments. In a business … [More]
Why Manufacturing’s AI Future Depends on Frontline Adoption
As the shift towards smart manufacturing accelerates, more companies are implementing AI solutions to streamline core manufacturing processes, with AI-powered defect detection standing out as one of the most popular use cases in the industry. Nonetheless, achieving true efficiency of defect detection in smart manufacturing requires more than just installing AI-enabled systems … [More]
The Restaurant-District Model Finds an Unexpected New Market
The approach senior living communities take to dining has fundamentally changed. Where shared cafeteria-style spaces once dominated, today's communities’ providers are embracing a hospitality-first philosophy that mirrors the variety, energy, and identity of a thriving restaurant district. Residents are arriving with higher expectations, and the industry is responding with … [More]
Small Business Confidence Cools despite Above-Average Optimism
The NFIB Small Business Optimism Index dipped in August to 98.7, just 1.1 points below July’s highest level since August 2025, but remaining above the 52-year average of 98.0. The Uncertainty Index fell 2 points to 89, remaining above the historical average of 68. “Uncertainty remains elevated among small business owners as they face a mixed set of challenges with weakened … [More]
Arizona’s Growth Engine is Cooling but Still Outpacing the Nation
Arizona’s economy remains resilient as it navigates evolving conditions, but it is increasingly characterized by mixed labor market conditions and slower growth. The labor market improved from dismal job growth in late-2025, but job gains were concentrated in a few sectors as employers stayed cautious about hiring. Elevated gasoline prices due to conflict in the Middle East … [More]
Phoenix Retail Demand Leads U.S. with 90% of New Space Committed
The Phoenix retail market recorded approximately 1.1 million square feet of net absorption during the first half of 2026, the highest total among major U.S. markets, according to Marcus & Millichap’s third-quarter Phoenix Metro Retail Market Report. The strong absorption reflects continued demand from major retailers, which are leasing newly delivered space and selectively … [More]
Arizona’s Startup Pace Is Surging: Here’s How Entrepreneurs Can Build to Last
Arizona has a thriving entrepreneurial community. According to the U.S. Small Business Administration, the state is home to more than 700,000 small businesses, representing 99.5% of all Arizona businesses. Small businesses also accounted for 85% of the state's net job growth in the SBA's latest reporting period. Those numbers speak to the importance of entrepreneurship to … [More]
Make Your Benefits Investment Count: Close the Employee Knowledge Gap
New research published by the Employee Benefit Research Institute, in collaboration with Lincoln Financial, finds that many benefits-eligible employees remain financially vulnerable to unexpected medical expenses despite having access to at least some employer-sponsored benefits. The research also finds that employees reported markedly greater interest in voluntary benefits … [More]
Four Strategies for Managing Long Sales Cycles
Most people haven’t ever run a marathon. But many salespeople run them every day — the long sales cycle. Salespeople love the quick win — that satisfying moment when a prospect becomes a customer in a matter of days or weeks. Sometimes, it’s even the fabled “one call close.” But what about those industries, or even those times, where the sales cycle stretches into months or … [More]
The ‘Loyalty Payroll’: Why Small Businesses Are Delaying AI
AI may promise lower costs, faster output and leaner teams, but small-business owners are not rushing to replace trusted employees with software. A new study of 3,022 small-business owners by Careerminds, a global workforce solutions provider, found that 67% believe AI could already perform a meaningful portion of the work handled by at least one employee. Applied to estimated … [More]
APS Draws a Line on Arizona’s Data Center Boom: Growth Must Pay for Growth
Arizona Public Service President and CEO Ted Geisler outlined APS’s Pledge for Responsible Energy Growth this week as part of broader remarks shared with Arizona community leaders gathered for the 2026 League of Arizona Cities & Towns Conference. The pledge reaffirms APS’s longstanding principles for protecting customers while serving new companies and industries investing … [More]
Why August Planning Gives Brands an Edge on Holiday Ad Costs
New Billo data shows Meta ad competition rising about 40% and the cost to reach 1,000 impressions climbing roughly 18% between August and the November Black Friday peak. Brands that wait until fall to plan their campaigns enter an auction that is already crowded and expensive, with the outcome largely shaped by creative built weeks earlier. Black Friday and Cyber Monday … [More]
Hiring Disconnect Grows as 44% of Companies Report Unfilled Jobs
The hiring process itself may be getting in the way of filling open jobs, as U.S. companies report more unfilled roles, longer timelines and positions closing without a hire while job seekers say automated systems are making it harder to feel heard, according to a newly released Express Employment Professionals-Harris Poll survey. The disconnect comes as 44% of U.S. hiring … [More]
The Small Business Talent Crunch Is Making Hiring a Global Decision
Small businesses continue to struggle to find qualified workers. In June 2026, 84% of small business owners hiring or trying to hire reported receiving few or no qualified applicants, according to the National Federation of Independent Business. That pressure can make nearby international markets appear to be a quick geographic solution. But choosing a country before defining … [More]
