What if the world thought of networking as a utility?

In episode 21 of the Bits and Bites podcast, the hosts welcome guests Adam Kingery, SLED master and Xan Stevenson, Head of Partner Sales at Meter, to discuss how networking has evolved and why it’s being treated as a “fourth utility” that businesses can’t operate without.

They contrast traditional networking—complex bills of materials, large upfront CapEx, multi-vendor tools, licensing tiers, and unpredictable refresh cycles—with Meter’s vertically integrated, outcome-based approach that focuses on uptime, predictable costs, lifecycle management, and simpler procurement.

The conversation highlights challenges in public sector environments like K-12 growth, security camera expansion, bandwidth demands, redundancy, and staffing retirements. They also explore Meter Command, a proactive support and AI-driven interface designed to help manage, troubleshoot, and potentially automate network operations while allowing customers varying levels of control through co-management models.

00:00 Welcome and Guests
00:36 Why Networks Matter
02:22 How Networking Evolved
04:32 Zan’s Meraki to Meter
07:17 Public Sector Network Reality
08:11 BOM Complexity and Costs
09:56 Budgeting and Future Proofing
11:30 Meter Outcome Model
15:34 Co-Managed Operations
20:07 Proactive Support and Integration
22:48 Command and Autonomous Networks
26:11 Unified Network Visibility
26:39 User Experience Troubleshooting
27:30 Autonomy Without Job Loss
28:58 IT Talent Shift Ahead
33:49 Why Meter Is Different
34:39 Vertical Integration Benefits
36:47 Apple Style Subscription Analogy
39:36 All In Pricing Simplicity
43:49 Proving Scale and Credibility
45:35 Traditional Renewal Pain Points
50:07 Right Fit and Wrap Up

In this episode of the Bits and Bytes podcast, hosts Matthew P. Scott and Joey Wenzler are joined by Adam Kingery and Jeremiah Plaskett from Byteworks to discuss the impact of AI agents on customer experience.

They explore the evolution of AI from simple chatbots to advanced autonomous agents that can handle complex tasks across multiple channels, such as answering FAQs, managing bus schedules for schools, and performing IT support functions like MFA resets.

The discussion also touches on AI's potential to transform contact centers from cost centers to revenue centers while emphasizing the importance of responsible AI deployment.

Tune in to learn how AI can streamline operations and enhance customer interactions across various industries.

Have a question for the show? Email us: podcast@byteworks.com

To a pitch-free podcast,

Matt & Joey

00:00 Introduction and Episode Kickoff

00:25 Meet the Hosts and Guests

00:41 Discussing WebEx Agents

01:10 AI in Education: Real-World Applications

02:12 Evolution of Chatbots to AI Agents

02:53 Omnichannel Customer Experience

04:48 AI Agents in Schools: A Case Study

07:00 Benefits of AI Agents for Schools

09:39 AI Agents Enhancing Customer Service

17:56 Future of AI in Customer Experience

21:23 The Future of AI in Households

22:11 Revolutionizing School Districts with AI

22:59 Addressing IT Challenges with AI

23:29 Personal Experience with MFA Reset

25:43 AI in Customer Service and Contact Centers

32:47 Implementing AI Responsibly

36:03 Steps to Integrate AI in Your Business

40:40 Conclusion and Future Prospects

Discover how a resilient and dependable network is more than just uptime - it's about enabling innovation, agility, and speed.

In this episode, hear from two IT professionals working at the intersection of infrastructure and application development, and how their collaboration ensures performance, productivity, and trust in the systems they support.

We welcome Jeff Monson, IT Director, Endpoint Clinical

&

Michael Moir, Principal Engineer, Autodesk

Thank you for subscribing to our channel on YouTube (@byteworks01)
Following us on LinkedIn @byteworks
And checking out our site: www.Byteworks.com

Have a question for the show?
Please email us: Podcast @ byteworks.com

To a Pitch-Free Podcast,
Matt & Joey
Hosts of Bits and Bytes by Byteworks

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