OhioX: The State of AI in Ohio

Artificial intelligence is often described as the next industrial revolution. Across industries and communities, it promises to reshape how we live, work, and create. For the state of Ohio, the AI era presents a chance to lead in this transformation, but it comes with its own set of challenges and uncertainties.

Previous News Articles.

Ascendum accounting services ranked best in Ohio

Ascendum accounting services ranked best in Ohio.

Ascendum Solutions Accounting Services has been honored with the “Best in Business” award for the Accounting/Bookkeeping division by Ohio Business Magazine. This prestigious recognition was based on popular vote across the state, emphasizing Ascendum’s excellence and dedication to empowering accounting firms with their innovative outsourcing services.

The strategic advantage: outsourcing accounting services for U.S. accounting firms

Outsourced accounting: a strategic advantage for modern firms.

In today's rapidly evolving business landscape, U.S. accounting firms face unprecedented challenges, notably a significant shortage of skilled accountants and bookkeepers. This shortage is projected to exceed 300,000 accountants by 2025, with a 19% decline in employed accountants - a trend driven by retirements, declining enrollments in accounting programs, and competitive pressures from other industries.

AI in the Enterprise: Creating an AI CoE - Tips for Success.

AI in the Enterprise: Creating an AI CoE - Tips for Success.

As artificial intelligence continues to evolve, it is becoming a critical component for driving innovation and efficiency within enterprises. Establishing an AI Center of Excellence (CoE) has emerged as a strategic approach for organizations leveraging AI at scale.

AI Agents: Powering the Next Generation of Intelligence.

AI Agents: Powering the Next Generation of Intelligence.

Imagine a future where software can predict market trends, respond to customer inquiries with human-like intuition, or even manage entire business operations seamlessly. This isn't science fiction; it's happening with AI agents, the next generation of artificial intelligence, revolutionizing industries worldwide.

The benefits of utilizing offshore accounting services in the Mortgage industry.

How offshore accounting services benefit mortgage firms in 2024.

In 2024, the mortgage industry continues to navigate complex cycles influenced by economic trends, regulatory updates, and technological advancements. As interest rates fluctuate and lending conditions evolve, mortgage origination volumes respond accordingly.

Ascendum Recognized as CNBC's Top Fintech Company for 2nd Year.

Ascendum Recognized as CNBC's Top Fintech Company for 2nd Year.

We are excited to announce that Ascendum was recognized by CNBC as one of the 2024 World’s Top Fintech Companies in the Business Process Solutions category. The segment includes companies offering finance-related and technology-based products and services to assist in enhancing and automating their processes and financial workflows.

ABP found us to be the perfect partner to help design their AI search solution.

How ABP partnered with Ascendum for digital experience success.

Curio, the dedicated in-house design team at Ascendum, took on an ambitious project in partnership with ABP to enable users to search documents using natural language. Engaged by ABP, a consultancy specializing in business process management and AI-powered automation, our objective was to enhance the user experience of a client’s existing document search solution, originally confined to an Excel spreadsheet.

Ascendum unveils new brand identity and website.

Ascendum is excited to announce the launch of a refreshed brand identity and website. Our new brand character celebrates our growing global footprint and the advancement of thousands of elevated clients achieving their goals through digital innovations and optimized business processes. Ascendum’s teams fuse technology, data engineering, and design thinking to create meaningful real-world solutions.

A Recap of Boomi World 2024

A Recap of Boomi World 2024.

The Boomi World 2024 conference, convened in Denver, Colorado from May 6-9, 2024, marked a significant milestone in the evolution of the integration and automation industry. The conference offered a rich variety of insights, showcasing the latest advancements in advanced integrations and setting the stage for future innovations. Throughout the dynamic three-day event, interactions with Boomi's staff, partners, and clientele illustrated the company's strategic direction and its growing portfolio of offerings.

Ascendum hires Chandra Sekhar as VP of Digital for the Western U.S.

Ascendum hires Chandra Sekhar as VP of Digital for the Western U.S.

Today, we are proud to announce that the company has hired Chandra Sekhar as Vice President of Digital for the Western Region of the United States. Mr. Sekhar brings more than 30 years of leadership experience in sales development, client delivery, business operations, and team management to his role.

Augmented Reality in Enterprise: Exploring Possibilities.

Augmented Reality in Enterprise: Exploring Possibilities.

Augmented Reality (AR) and Mixed Reality (MR) technologies have exploded onto the scene in recent years, with companies from all industries eyeing more interactive and immersive experiences than traditional methods of communication.

Accelerating digital transformation utilizing digital pods

Accelerating digital transformation utilizing digital pods.

As we navigate deeper into the digital era, the call for businesses to adapt and innovate has never been more pressing. The digital revolution is accelerating at an unprecedented pace, reshaping traditional business landscapes, and dictating new market norms.

Ascendum recognized as a 2023 CNBC World’s Top Fintech Company

Ascendum recognized as a 2023 CNBC World’s Top Fintech Company.

Ascendum Solutions was recognized by CNBC and Statista as one of the 2023 World’s Top Fintech Companies in the Digital Business Solutions category. The segment includes companies offering finance-related and technology-based products and solutions to help businesses improve and automate their processes.

Bookkeeping Services: How RPA is Revolutionizing Accounting.

Bookkeeping Services: How RPA is Revolutionizing Accounting.

RPA has undoubtedly arrived, and the decision to adopt the technology is becoming paramount for business leaders in any enterprise. Many organizations have already begun their transition to an automated workforce by integrating digital solutions using RPA, artificial intelligence (AI), or both.

Crafting user experience and user interface for maximum impact

Crafting user experience and user interface for maximum impact.

User experience (UX) and user interface (UI) play an essential role in the development of digital products, as they are essential components of applications that users will love and keep using. For an application to be successful, it must not only function well but also be easy to use, intuitive, efficient, and visually appealing.

Safeguarding Your Firm's Data: SOC 2 Compliance & Secure Practices.

Safeguarding Your Firm's Data: SOC 2 Compliance & Secure Practices.

In today's digital age, where data is the lifeblood of businesses, maintaining robust security measures has become an utmost priority. This holds true for CPA and accounting firms that deal with sensitive financial information.

How to Optimize Your Accounting for Efficiency and Profit

How to Optimize Your Accounting for Efficiency and Profit

In the world of business, accounting is a crucial practice that can determine the success or failure of any organization. Efficient accounting practices ensure that businesses can monitor their cash flows, track expenses and revenue, and make informed decisions about their financial future.

Outsource Accounting and Bookkeeping - Financial Process Automation.

Outsource Accounting and Bookkeeping - Financial Process Automation.

Outsourcing has become a popular trend in the business world. From customer service to product manufacturing, companies are turning to outsourcing as a way to cut costs and improve efficiency. One area that businesses should consider outsourcing is their accounting services.

Ascendum 2023 Winner of Ohio Business Magazine's Best Workplaces.

Ascendum 2023 Winner of Ohio Business Magazine's Best Workplaces.

We are proud to announce that Ascendum Solutions was recognized as a 2023 winner of Ohio Business Magazine’s Best Workplaces in Ohio in the Companies with more than 200 employees category. The winners were announced in the Summer Edition of the magazine published on May 24, 2023.

Top 10 Tips to Secure Leadership Buy-In for Automating Business.

Top 10 Tips to Secure Leadership Buy-In for Automating Business.

According to a 2022 McKinsey & Company report The Imperatives for Automation Success, about 66% of businesses have automated at least one business process, 80% are speeding up process automation, and 50% are planning to automate all repetitive tasks. Gartner predicts 69% of routine work currently completed by managers will be fully automated by 2024.

Understanding machine learning and the potential for your business

Understanding machine learning and the potential for your business.

In the ever-evolving world of technology, machine learning (ML) has rightfully taken center stage as a vital tool for businesses. If companies want to stay ahead and capitalize on cutting-edge technologies, they need to dive deep into the potential benefits of machine learning.

Ascendum featured at first Web3 conference in India

Ascendum featured at first Web3 conference in India.

Ascendum's talented UX Designer Bhawana Yadav was a featured panelist at the inaugural Web3 conference in India, which drew over 2,500 digital enthusiasts, including 70% of the industry's top executives.

The changing role of UX designers in a hyperconnected world

The changing role of UX designers in a hyperconnected world.

As technology continues to evolve and grow ever more complex, the role of UX designers is changing in a hyperconnected world. No longer confined to creating user interfaces and accessing data on desktop computers, today’s UX designers must be capable of designing for a variety of connected devices—from phones to wearables to virtual reality headsets.

10 steps for launching a successful enterprise integration project

10 steps for launching a successful enterprise integration project.

A survey by Dataversity revealed that 77% of respondents cited improved data accuracy as their biggest motivation for investing in an enterprise data integration solution. 56% indicated privacy compliance was also a major driver for adoption. Gartner estimates that around 85% of companies will be using at least two different Integration Platforms as a Service (iPaaS) tools by 2024.

Ascendum Partners with Boomi for Enterprise Connectivity Leadership.

Ascendum Partners with Boomi for Enterprise Connectivity Leadership.

Ascendum Solutions announced today that it has become a Registered Boomi Partner to help companies improve efficiencies while reducing costs and creating new business opportunities. As a global software as a service (SaaS) company, Boomi specializes in integration platform as a service (iPaaS), including API management, master data management, workflow automation, and data cataloging and preparation.

Top sleep tech for sweeter dreams

Top sleep tech for sweeter dreams.

A good night’s sleep can make or break your day. While it comes so easy to some, others struggle nightly with falling and staying asleep. There are over 80 different sleep disorders and it is estimated that roughly 50 million Americans suffer from at least one of them.

The benefits of implementing an enterprise integration strategy

Key reasons to implement an enterprise integration strategy today.

Taking an agile approach to enterprise integration can open numerous possibilities for organizations. With the right focus, you will be able to improve efficiency while reducing costs and creating new business opportunities all with a phased rollout of your strategy.

Ascendum 2022 year in review

Ascendum 2022 year in review: Highlights from an impactful year.

Happy New Year! As a gift to our global employees, our in-house design team Curio created a brief video (below) that reflects on some of Ascendum’s achievements and milestones in 2022. We thought our blog visitors might enjoy watching it as well.

Suresh Ramakrishnan on mitigating margin compression

Suresh Ramakrishnan on mitigating margin compression.

2023 has been an extremely challenging year for the mortgage industry. Coming off a record year in 2021 and a declining market in 2022, the general expectation was for rates to rise gradually through the year with the 30-year fixed getting to around 6% by year end.

8 steps to develop a successful custom software solution

8 steps to develop a successful custom software solution.

After extraordinary uncertainty and challenges during the ongoing global pandemic, technology and business leaders are dramatically accelerating their digital transformation initiatives. Developing custom software solutions to adapt to the new normal and rapidly changing consumer behaviors has become a necessity for companies of all sizes to stay relevant in the digital-first world.

NMP Magazine gives Ascendum top honor

NMP Magazine gives Ascendum top honor.

We are honored to announce that Ascendum KPS (Knowledge Processing Services), a division of Ascendum, received the Gold Award as 2022’s Most Loved Employers by National Mortgage Professional (NMP) Magazine in the Mortgage Service Providers category.

Mahendra Vora and Ascendum win The Circuits' Enterprise Innovation Award

Ascendum wins innovation award from The Circuit under Mahendra Vora.

We are honored to announce that Ascendum Solutions, along with our Chairman and Managing Director Mahendra Vora, as the recipients of the Circuit’s Innovation Enterprise Award. The winners were announced at the Hard Rock Casino during the Best in Tech Awards ceremony.

Ascendum Named to Fast Company’s Best Workplaces.

Ascendum Named to Fast Company’s Best Workplaces.

We are excited to announce that Ascendum Solutions was recognized in the 2022 Fast Company’s 4th annual list of the Best Workplaces for Innovators in the Enterprise Products and Services category. This is the second year in a row that Ascendum has received this recognition from the global media brand.

How retail became the newest NFT partnership

Nft Marketing: How retail became the newest NFT partnership.

It has been made clear that 2022 is the year that NFTs make their way into retail. With so many brands taking the plunge into NFTs and the metaverse, it’s helpful to look at how each brand is using them and what are the benefits to doing so.

Vidhya Anand on merging creativity with business

Vidhya Anand on merging creativity with business.

Product Manager, Vidhya, has used her background and passion for writing to enhance her business skills. With a background in journalism and writing, her creativity fuels the decisions she makes about each product. There are stories everywhere if you know how to look for them, and Vidhya definitely does.

NFT Commerce: Using NFTs to build community and brand loyalty.

We are sure you’ve heard of NFTs, most people have. We are also certain you have a decent grasp on what they are - a non-fungible token, a unique piece of code that lives on a blockchain. Currently, most NFTs are artworks from digital artists, but innovators are just beginning to see the possible use for these tokens.

Top 5 Reasons Mortgage Lenders Should Outsource Leading Practices

Top 5 Reasons Mortgage Lenders Should Outsource Leading Practices

In the fiscal year 2022, we've observed a substantial decline in mortgage origination loan volume, marking a notable 35% decrease compared to the preceding year of 2021. Furthermore, the demand for refinancing has experienced a significant 62% reduction, as reported by CNBC.

Ascendum Honors Military Appreciation Month with Rich Kurz.

Ascendum Honors Military Appreciation Month with Rich Kurz.

The month of May is Military Appreciation Month. It is a special month for both those in and out of the military. Not only do we pause on Memorial Day to remember the sacrifice and service of those who gave all, but the month also holds several other military anniversaries and events, including Military Spouse Appreciation Day, Armed Forces Day, Loyalty Day, VE Day, and Children of Fallen Patriots day.

The possibilites for NFTs in a retail market

Exploring NFT potential in retail: A new era of digital commerce.

When NFTs first made news, it was for the exorbitant price people were willing to pay to be on the cutting edge of something new. Digital images were selling for thousands, sometimes millions, of dollars, and the term NFT was just beginning to sink into our collective vocabulary.

Ten ways to celebrate Earth Day

Ten ways to celebrate Earth Day.

Earth Day has been celebrated since 1969, before it was officially a nationally recognized day. It began as a call to action from Senator Gaylord Nelson of Wisconsin and used young activists to spread the message. These activists organized “teach-ins,” where they could help educate people about the dangers of pollution.

Riikka Mercer: Exploring the Beauty of Technology and Community.

Riikka Mercer: Exploring the Beauty of Technology and Community.

Most people may think that building community within a workplace is the job of the managers or HR. They may wish there were more committees supporting them and their coworkers but lament that said committees haven't been created. Riikka isn't one of these people.

Harini Chakravarthy: Succeeding in Data Science.

Harini Chakravarthy: Succeeding in Data Science.

Balance is often hard to achieve. People tend to be either too analytical or too emotional, too career-driven, or too family orientated. Harini Chakravarthy, Manager and Data Scientist at Ascendum, seems to have cracked the code, though. She took some time to talk to us about her career path, her going back for her Master's as a mother, and why finding time for herself is an important part of having it all.

Proud to support three outstanding charities

Proud to support three outstanding charities.

Ascendum is proud to support three outstanding charities for our annual holiday charitable contribution. Each year, we select three charities are selected to receive charitable contributions. Each charity was selected by our internal teams and clients. Learn more about their missions, visit their websites, and please consider offering your support as well.

Top tech trends of 2022

Top tech trends of 2022.

Our design team over at Curio has been busy researching and conceptualizing the way the tech and business industries will change this year. From augmented reality (AR) to renewable energy, here are a few of the changes we expect to see this year.

Ascendum 2021 year in review

Ascendum Review: Ascendum 2021 year in review.

2021 has been a demanding but wonderful year of accomplishments at Ascendum Solutions. We greatly thank our outstanding global team of tech strategists, designers, developers, and data engineers who continually improve and evolve our clients’ digital transformation strategies during these challenging times.

Happily supporting Animals in Need

Happily supporting Animals in Need.

Ascendum is proud to support Hope For Paws Animal Rescue today. Hope for Paws is a 501 C-3 non-profit animal rescue organization that rescues dogs, cats and other types of animals suffering on the streets or neglected in the wild.

Mahendra Vora Win John F. Barrett Entrepreneur Vision Awards

Mahendra Vora Win John F. Barrett Entrepreneur Vision Awards

Vora Ventures founder Mahendra Vora and Ascendum won two 2021 John F. Barrett Entrepreneur Vision Awards on November 10 during a formal ceremony at the Lytle Park Hotel in downtown Cincinnati. Ascendum won in the category of Entrepreneurship in the Enterprise Business and Chairman Mahendra Vora won the top Entrepreneurial Vision leadership award for the evening.

The art of branding with Jon Plumb

The art of branding with Jon Plumb.

Jon Plumb is our Director of Branding at Ascendum. During the last two years, he helped launch Curio, our in-house design studio. With an extensive background in branding, Jon helps bring stories to life for both our clients and products.

Why are MVPs important for software development projects?

Why are MVPs important for software development projects?.

Software development projects can take several thousands of hours to complete. They involve significant investments of both time and money from investors and skilled programmers. Naturally, technology leaders need these investments to pay off in the end. The only way to know if an application will succeed is to have end users try it out before it gets mass-produced and utilized in the primary marketplace.

Gary Howe on Curio, design and remaining curious

Gary Howe on Curio, design and remaining curious.

Curio, Ascendum’s new internal design studio, was a labor of love created by Gary Howe, our Head of Design. Noticing the visual direction many companies are taking, he rebranded Ascendum’s London-based design department, which is focused on UX design, branding, motion, and UI.

Behind our digital department with Chris Ransdell

Behind our digital department with Chris Ransdell.

Rising through Ascendum from Architect to VP of Technology, Chris Ransdell has been an integral part of our Digital team. Our Digital team continues to grow rapidly, as we Develop Beyond and bring creative and innovative ideas to life. We talked to Chris about his career, where the team is headed, and the secret ingredient that makes our digital team so awesome.

Loran Williams accepted to Cincinnati Chamber's We Lead program

Loran Williams accepted to Cincinnati Chamber's We Lead program.

Congratulations to our Senior Director of Recruiting and Talent Management Loran Williams who was recently accepted to the Cincinnati Chamber WE Lead program. WE Lead is a leadership development program for high potential, goal-oriented women looking to advance their careers and elevate their leadership capabilities.

Global Indian of the Year: Mahendra Vora, Leadership & Tech Visionary

Global Indian of the Year: Mahendra Vora, Leadership & Tech Visionary

The entire Vora Ventures family of companies and its employees congratulate Vora Ventures Founder and Executive Chairman Mahendra Vora, who was named the 2020-2021 AsiaOne Global Indian of the Year in the Technology Leadership category.

Ascendum women reflect on equality and Women's Equality Day

Ascendum women reflect on equality and Women's Equality Day.

On August 26th, 1970, women marched in most major cities across the US to commemorate the anniversary of the 19th Amendment’s ratification and to continue the fight for equality. They held sit-in’s, hung banners from the Statue of Liberty, and picketed.

Ascendum supports NewPath to give children a brighter future

Ascendum supports NewPath to give children a brighter future.

NewPath Child & Family Solutions is a comprehensive behavioral health and educational treatment agency that helps children and their families on the road to recovery and success. They care for nearly 5,000 children and families a year who are struggling with mental health and behavioral concerns.

Ascendum named Best Place To Work for a second year

Ascendum named Best Place To Work for the second year in a row.

Ascendum Solutions was named a finalist of the Cincinnati Business Courier’s 2021 Best Places to Work (BPTW) for the second year in a row. In 2020, Ascendum Solutions was a grand winner of the Business Courier’s Best Places to Work for businesses with 200 or more employees.

Ascendum proudly supports Crayons to Computers

Ascendum proudly supports Crayons to Computers.

The Ascendum Culture Club held a special happy hour on Friday, August 7 in support of our fundraiser benefitting Crayons to Computers. All donations go toward leveling the playing field in the classroom by providing teachers and their students with the tools they need to succeed.

Fast Company names Ascendum a Best Workplace for Innovators

Fast Company names Ascendum a Best Workplace for Innovators.

We are excited to announce that Ascendum Solutions was recognized in the 2021 Fast Company’s Best Workplaces for Innovators. The annual list celebrates companies that empower employees at all levels to improve processes, create new products, or invent new ways of doing business.

Ascendum is proud to sponsor CincyDeliver 2021

Ascendum is proud to sponsor CincyDeliver 2021.

Ascendum is sponsoring the 2021 CincyDeliver live event on Friday, July 30. The event is hosted by Agile Conferences, a non-profit organization dedicated to bringing together cross functional software teams for a day of sharing, learning, and networking.

Ascendum proud to sponsor and speak at WitCon 2021

Ascendum proud to sponsor and speak at WitCon 2021.

Ascendum Senior Director of Recruiting and Talent Management Loran Williams and Senior HR Business Partner Lynsey Gaca are both speaking at the 2021 Virtual WITcon event on Friday, July 23. WITcon is a conference to celebrate women in technology in Cincinnati. Ascendum is a sponsor of the event.

Five mental health startups to watch

Five mental health startups to watch.

According to Forbes, over the past few years, venture funding for mental health has reached an all-time high. Investors poured $1.5 Billion into the industry in 2020 alone. There are no shortage of apps and companies creating innovative ways to make mental health care more affordable, accessible, and easier to use.