April 2018 Summaries

Box has introduced three significant updates to its Web Application to enhance user experience and collaboration. The first update is an improved navigation sidebar, allowing users to easily access their favorite files and folders by simply dragging them into the sidebar. The second feature extends the Presence functionality from Box Notes to all file types, enabling users to quickly view recent activity on files directly from their preview pages. Lastly, the Access Stats feature now provides an all-time view of file activity and offers the option to export this data for further analysis, catering to needs such as marketing asset assessments or audit trails. These updates aim to streamline content management and are available to all Box users.

The Nonprofit Technology Network's NTC conference in New Orleans brought together 2,300 technologists focused on using technology to amplify positive outcomes, emphasizing a shared mission and inclusivity, as seen in the gender-neutral facilities and a welcoming atmosphere. Collaboration was highlighted through partnerships and shared experiences with notable organizations like Twilio.org and TechSoup, underscoring the importance of vendor relationships in driving cloud initiatives. The event's lively atmosphere was attributed to its people, featuring unique activities such as a ping pong tournament and jazz brunches, fostering a communal spirit of doing good. Box.org played a central role, engaging with numerous nonprofits about how Box's donated and discounted services are enhancing their operations and security, which fuels Box's commitment to expanding its support for nonprofit missions. The conference encouraged ongoing conversations and highlighted Box's commitment to transforming organizations through its services, offering free and discounted resources to help nonprofits maximize their impact.

Following a prompt from Box's CEO, Aaron Levie, the company quickly embraced the #BlackPantherChallenge by organizing an internal fundraiser through Box.org and the Black Excellence Network, facilitated by Thrive. Within two days, Box employees exceeded their donation goal by 250%, which allowed 500 youth from San Mateo County to watch "Black Panther" in local theaters, including Redwood City. Post-screening, approximately 100 participants from local Boys and Girls Clubs were invited to Box's headquarters to discuss the film and contribute to a Black Panther-inspired art installation led by community artist Asya Abdrahman. This initiative highlighted the cultural significance of the film and showcased the community's rapid support, with contributions from Box employees, Thrive, and local organizations.

Laurent Boyadjian, the cloud domain manager for Rémy Martin, a subsidiary of the Rémy Cointreau Group, has been instrumental in transforming the company's approach to IT and collaboration since 2005. By closely working with leadership and business segments, Laurent has implemented cloud-based technology solutions that have significantly enhanced collaboration among over 2,000 employees across more than 50 locations. This shift from relying on email to streamlined cloud solutions, such as Box and O365, has been supported by executive sponsorship and substantial investment in training and change management. The transition has enabled Rémy Cointreau to become more agile and competitive in the luxury market, with projects like "Level Up" focused on maximizing the value of these tools. Laurent remains committed to further innovations that will simplify document management and improve efficiency for all employees.

Businesses are increasingly focusing on transforming their digital workplaces to enhance efficiency and productivity, and Box is responding to this need by introducing the Admin Insights Dashboard and metadata-driven retention features. These new tools enable IT and compliance teams to gain improved visibility into user activities and collaboration patterns, thereby optimizing productivity and maximizing the return on investment in Box. The Admin Insights Dashboard provides valuable data on global access points and popular integrations, simplifying the onboarding and training of new admins while reducing IT efforts. The metadata-driven retention capabilities allow businesses to streamline data governance by retaining unstructured data at the file level, moving away from costly legacy systems, and ensuring compliance with flexible, scalable policies. These enhancements help organizations centralize content-based processes in the cloud, offering a blend of content intelligence, management, and security that simplifies compliance and data protection efforts.

Box World Tour Europe 2018, held on May 24 at De Vere Grand Connaught Rooms in London, is a pivotal event that unites leaders from various technology sectors to explore the future of work and promote the benefits of building a digital-first company. Offering complimentary admission, the conference features insightful discussions led by Box CEO Aaron Levie on the company's product vision, alongside presentations from influential Box customers like John Sullivan of Virgin Trains and Angus McCallum of the Metropolitan Police. Jeetu Patel, Box's Chief Product Officer, will discuss how Box's features can drive business results, while attendees can engage with the Box community for in-depth learning and networking. The event will conclude with a keynote by Mark Stevenson, a renowned futurist and author, who will address global trends and the importance of innovation amidst constant change, challenging businesses to rethink their strategies for a successful future.

Box is a platform that facilitates digital transformation for over 82,000 businesses by providing secure, collaborative, and efficient content management solutions. It enables seamless collaboration among employees and external parties across devices and supports the automation of content-driven business processes while meeting security and compliance requirements. Recognizing the diverse needs of businesses, Box integrates with over 1,400 business applications to enhance productivity and streamline operations. Recent integrations include LumaTouch for video editing, Projectmates for construction management, Unily for intranet platforms, Counselytics for AI-driven data analysis, HelloSign for eSignatures, JotForm for online forms, Everlaw for eDiscovery, SAASPASS for identity management, and STEALTHbits for security auditing. Box also invites developers to join the Box Technology Partner Program to build further integrations.