Named Entity Recognition (NER) is a subset of Natural Language Processing (NLP) that helps machines understand human language by identifying and categorizing specific entities such as names, locations, and organizations. NER works by combining calculations on word features with machine learning algorithms to improve accuracy over time. There are four types of NER systems: dictionary-based, rule-based, machine learning-based, and deep learning-based, each with its strengths and limitations. NER has numerous applications in business, including real-time agent coaching, customer support, human resources, compliance and moderation, search and indexing, live captions and meeting notes, and can automate speech and text recognition, saving thousands of hours of manual processing while enabling data-driven decisions.