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AI Can Help CIOs Reclaim Capacity as 83% of IT Spend and 66% of Staff Time Go Toward Keeping the Lights On, Says Info-Tech Research Group

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IT teams are expected to drive innovation, strengthen resilience, and support growth while most of their time and budget remain committed to maintaining existing systems and services. Info-Tech Research Group’s recent blueprint, Harness AI to Reduce the Cost and Effort of KTLO in IT Operations, helps CIOs identify where targeted AI investments can reduce the KTLO burden, reclaim capacity for higher-value work, and build practical AI skills.

ARLINGTON, Va., Sept. 4, 2026 /CNW/ — Routine IT operations and maintenance consume 82.6% of IT spend and 66% of IT teams’ time and effort, according to Info-Tech Research Group’s IT Spend & Staffing Benchmarking data. That allocation leaves only a fraction of IT capacity available for new technology initiatives, operational improvements, and transformation.

To help organizations address this imbalance, Info-Tech has published its Harness AI to Reduce the Cost and Effort of KTLO in IT Operations blueprint. The resource helps CIOs identify AI-enabled opportunities to reduce the cost and effort of keeping the lights on (KTLO), quantify their potential value, assess organizational readiness and risk, and build a portfolio of initiatives for launch.

“KTLO has always been treated as an unavoidable tax on IT, but that mindset is outdated,” says Fred Chagnon, principal research director at Info-Tech Research Group. “Targeted AI investments can help CIOs reduce low-value manual work, reclaim budget and staff time, and reinvest both in innovation. The result is an IT organization that runs smarter and has more capacity to deliver value.”

Info-Tech cautions that common cost-cutting responses can deepen the KTLO problem. Running hardware and software beyond end of life can increase technical debt and security risk; using outsourcing primarily as a cost-reduction strategy can overlook its value in reclaiming capacity and accessing specialized expertise; and eliminating growth or transformation initiatives can starve the business of future value.

Five AI Tactics for Reducing KTLO Cost and Effort
Info-Tech’s research identifies five AI-enabled tactics that IT leaders can assess based on their operational priorities, technology environment, and organizational readiness:

Intelligent incident management and AIOps: Detect anomalies, correlate events across operational silos, support predictive maintenance, and automate common remediation activities.Autonomous patch and vulnerability management: Automate patch prioritization, deployment, and verification to reduce manual effort and support more consistent compliance.Smart data classification, cleaning, and curation: Reduce duplicate and outdated data, storage bloat, and manual data management while strengthening the governed data foundation required for AI.Generative AI service desk and conversational self-service: Deflect routine Tier 1 requests, improve access to support, and free service desk staff to focus on more complex work.AI-assisted script, documentation, and code generation: Accelerate scripting and documentation, preserve knowledge about legacy systems, and reduce the effort required to maintain them.

Info-Tech’s Four-Step Framework for AI-Enabled KTLO Reduction
Identifying a potential use case is only the starting point. CIOs also need to understand its expected value, implementation requirements, and organizational risks before committing resources. To guide that evaluation, the Harness AI to Reduce the Cost and Effort of KTLO in IT Operations blueprint applies a four-step assessment process across all five tactics:

Uncover opportunities. Identify manual, repetitive, and resource-intensive KTLO activities that could benefit from AI and automation.Quantify the value. Estimate the labor time and costs associated with each activity, then project potential cost reductions, reclaimed effort, and time to value.Assess readiness and risk. Evaluate organizational constraints such as data quality, integration requirements, process maturity, skills, change readiness, and implementation risk.Blueprint for launch. Define viable initiatives, accountable teams, expected outcomes, and actionable milestones, then consolidate them into a Quantified KTLO Reduction Initiative Portfolio.

KTLO reduction can also serve as a workforce development opportunity. Applying AIOps, automation, and generative AI to familiar, measurable processes gives IT teams practical experience in a controlled environment and prepares them to lead broader AI initiatives across the organization.

The Harness AI to Reduce the Cost and Effort of KTLO in IT Operations blueprint and its supporting Quantified KTLO Reduction Initiative Portfolio provide CIOs with practical guidance for turning assessed opportunities into executive-level investment proposals. By connecting projected cost and effort reductions with readiness, risk, time to value, and implementation milestones, the research helps leaders move KTLO discussions from short-term cost cutting to measurable reinvestment in innovation.

For exclusive and timely commentary from Info-Tech’s experts, including Fred Chagnon, and access to the complete Harness AI to Reduce the Cost and Effort of KTLO in IT Operations blueprint, please contact pr@infotech.com.

About Info-Tech Research Group
Info-Tech Research Group is the “get things done” partner for over 30,000 IT, HR, and marketing leaders worldwide. The fastest growing research and advisory firm, Info-Tech enables leaders to make well-informed decisions and transform their organizations through AI, strategic foresight, step-by-step methodologies, practical tools, industry-leading advisory, and training programs. For nearly 30 years, tens of thousands of private and public organizations have trusted Info-Tech to lead their most important initiatives through periods of change and deliver outcomes that truly matter.

To learn more about Info-Tech’s HR research and advisory services, visit McLean & Company, and for data-driven software buying insights and vendor evaluations, visit the firm’s SoftwareReviews platform.

Media professionals can register for unrestricted access to research across IT, HR, and software, and hundreds of industry analysts through the firm’s Media Insiders program. To gain access, contact pr@infotech.com.

For information about Info-Tech Research Group or to access the latest research, visit infotech.com and connect via LinkedIn and X.

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SOURCE Info-Tech Research Group

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ToolDance Unveils X1 Smart Desktop CNC Mill at IFA 2026

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September 5, 2026

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BERLIN, Sept. 4, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — ToolDance, a technology company focused on intelligent desktop CNC solutions, officially unveiled its flagship product ToolDance X1 Smart Desktop CNC Mill at IFA 2026 in Berlin, Germany.

On the first day of the exhibition, ToolDance attracted significant attention from professional users, makers, and industry audiences with live demonstrations showcasing the complete workflow from preparation to finished parts. Learn more about the X1 Smart Desktop CNC Mill.

“What has been especially encouraging at IFA is seeing people watch the X1 turn raw material into a finished part and immediately start thinking about how they could use it in their own work,” said Will Wang, Founder and CEO of ToolDance. “Our goal is to bring professional CNC capabilities to makers, engineers, and small businesses in a more accessible desktop format, while retaining the performance required for real manufacturing tasks.”

ToolDance’s participation in IFA 2026 reflects the company’s commitment to making industrial-grade manufacturing capabilities more accessible in personal workspaces.

The X1 features a 1,500W permanent magnet synchronous motor (PMSM) spindle that maintains strong torque at lower spindle speeds for demanding roughing operations and reaches speeds of up to 24,000rpm for precise finishing. It delivers positioning repeatability of ±0.01mm.

Its three-axis work envelope measures 400 × 265 × 180mm, providing room for functional parts such as fixtures, molds, machine plates, and housings, as well as multi-part production in a single setup. Support for tool shanks up to 10mm expands the range of cutters available for heavier material removal and larger tools.

The X1 supports both dry machining and flood-coolant machining across a range of metals, wood, and engineering plastics. Continuous coolant flow helps control heat, clear chips, and support stable cutting in demanding metal applications. Its cast aluminum-alloy frame is reinforced along critical load paths to increase rigidity and reduce vibration, supporting stable machining, consistent accuracy, and clean surface finishes.

On the software side, ToolDance Studio, developed in-house by ToolDance, is designed to lower the barrier to CNC machining through a streamlined three-step workflow from model to finished part.

Its Design for Manufacturability (DFM) analysis checks geometry, tool access, stock, and machining constraints to help users identify potential issues before cutting begins. The Workholding Guidance System recommends workholding setups for each operation based on part geometry and machining parameters, with step-by-step visual guidance. Its image-to-model feature can also generate editable geometry from photographs or reference images.

A nine-tool automatic tool changer (ATC) automates tool changes across operations ranging from roughing and drilling to finishing, chamfering, threading, and engraving, reducing the need for manual tool changes during multi-operation jobs.

The X1 is also designed as an expandable platform. With the optional simultaneous four or five-axis module, it can machine complex parts, curved surfaces, and fine details in a single setup, reducing re-clamping while maintaining alignment and accuracy.

The ToolDance X1 will remain on display at Hall 17, Booth H17-205 at Messe Berlin from Sept. 4–8, 2026, with live machining demonstrations taking place throughout the event. The product is scheduled to launch on Kickstarter in October 2026.

For more information, visit: https://www.tooldance.ai

About ToolDance

ToolDance is a technology company focused on  smart desktop CNC solutions. With the vision of “Your Personal Factory,” ToolDance integrates hardware, software, and automation to make industrial-grade manufacturing capabilities more accessible, helping makers, engineers, professionals, and small businesses turn ideas into physical products more efficiently.

Note: Please translate the content first and provide a preview. The photos will be provided on Sept. 4.

Media Contact: info@tooldance.ai

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SOURCE ToolDance

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Amwell Receives Frost & Sullivan’s 2026 United States Technology Innovation Leadership Recognition for Technology-Enabled Care Platforms

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September 5, 2026

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Amwell® is transforming virtual care delivery through its unified Amwell Platform, combining interoperability, clinical integration, and intelligent orchestration to improve access, efficiency, and outcomes.

SAN ANTONIO, Sept. 5, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — As healthcare organizations move beyond fragmented telehealth solutions toward connected virtual care models, Amwell is helping redefine how digital care is delivered at scale. Frost & Sullivan is pleased to recognize Amwell with the 2026 United States Technology Innovation Leadership Recognition in the Technology-Enabled Care Platforms industry for its ability to address healthcare fragmentation through a unified platform that connects patients, health plan members, clinicians, and partner ecosystems across the care continuum.

Frost & Sullivan evaluates companies through a rigorous benchmarking process across two core dimensions: strategy effectiveness and strategy execution. Amwell excelled in both, demonstrating its ability to align strategic initiatives with evolving healthcare needs while executing with flexibility, scalability, and measurable customer impact. “The combination of reliability, flexibility, and clinically integrated workflows positions the Amwell Platform as a strategic enabler for organizations seeking to reduce fragmentation, improve member engagement with covered programs, expand access to care, and create more connected healthcare experiences,” said Sagar Mukhekar, Industry Analyst, Frost & Sullivan.

Guided by a strategy centered on connected care, interoperability, and continuous, digital innovation, Amwell has positioned the Amwell Platform as an operating layer for next-generation healthcare delivery. Rather than relying on disconnected point solutions, the platform integrates technology, services, and clinical intelligence to orchestrate personalized care experiences across virtual primary care, urgent care, behavioral health, chronic condition management, and specialized digital programs.

Backed by 20 years of technology-enabled care innovation, more than 90 million covered lives, and over 38.7 million virtual visits, Amwell continues to help health plans and healthcare organizations modernize digital care delivery at scale.

“As healthcare becomes more digital, it risks becoming more fragmented. Health plans need more than point solutions. They need enterprise infrastructure, clinical integration, and an open platform that brings partners and programs together. Our vision at Amwell is that technology creates value when it improves access, engagement, quality, and efficiency, and produces measurable clinical and business outcomes. We’re honored by this recognition from Frost & Sullivan,” said Dan Zamansky, Chief Product and Technology Officer at Amwell.

Amwell’s enterprise scale includes supporting the digital transformation of the Defense Health Agency’s Military Health System, serving approximately 9.6 million beneficiaries. The company’s commitment to measurable outcomes is also reflected in a landmark National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)-funded study, published in Nature Human Behaviour and among the largest studies of its kind. The study found that students offered SilverCloud® by Amwell® engaged in mental healthcare at more than double the rate of traditional care, experienced lower rates of mental health disorders, and generated an estimated $1.18 million in avoided costs for the study population.

The company further differentiates its platform through intelligent orchestration and navigation, helping guide members to appropriate programs while giving clinicians visibility across care plans. Amwell also evaluates integrated third-party programs for clinical effectiveness, scalability, and enterprise readiness.

Frost & Sullivan commends Amwell for setting a high standard in competitive strategy, execution, and technological innovation. The company’s unified approach to digital care is helping reduce fragmentation, improve access, strengthen operational efficiency, and support more equitable and sustainable healthcare delivery.

Each year, Frost & Sullivan presents the Technology Innovation Leadership Recognition to a company that demonstrates outstanding strategy development and implementation, resulting in measurable improvements in market share, customer satisfaction, and competitive positioning. The recognition identifies forward-thinking organizations that are reshaping their industries through innovation and growth excellence.

Frost & Sullivan Best Practices Recognition

Frost & Sullivan’s Best Practices Recognitions honor companies across regional and global markets that exhibit exceptional achievement and consistent excellence in areas such as leadership, technological innovation, customer experience, and strategic product development. Each recognition is the result of a rigorous analytical process in which Frost & Sullivan industry experts benchmark performance through comprehensive interviews, deep-dive analysis, and extensive secondary research. The goal is to identify true best-in-class organizations that are driving transformative growth and setting new industry standards.
Contact us: Start the discussion.

Contact:
Ashley Shreve
E: ashley.weinkauf@frost.com 

SOURCE Frost & Sullivan

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MiniTool Released MovieMaker 8.9 with Advanced Keyframe Animation

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September 5, 2026

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VANCOUVER, BC, Sept. 4, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — MiniTool Software Limited has released MiniTool MovieMaker 8.9, a significant update to its video editing software. The latest version focuses on empowering creators with advanced keyframe animation controls, a more streamlined installation experience, and an optimized export button for a smoother experience.

Precise Control with Keyframe Animation

The hallmark of MiniTool MovieMaker 8.9 is the introduction of keyframe animation for video, images, and elements. Users can now set keyframes for position, scale, and rotation at different points. As a result, they can easily generate smooth, cinematic motion effects.

The position parameter supports accurate X- and Y-axis adjustments, allowing flexible horizontal and vertical movement of clips to achieve natural screen scrolling and displacement effects. The scale feature allows for seamless zoom-in and zoom-out transitions, enabling users to zoom in on a clip and highlight key visual elements. Coupled with rotation control, which supports precise angle adjustments, the three tools work together to deliver smooth, dynamic visual effects.

Designed with simplicity and accessibility in mind, this update brings intuitive keyframe animation tools without complex settings. It balances powerful editing capabilities and ease of use, allowing users to easily bring static photos to life and create custom movements for high-quality visual content.

Installation Package Optimization for Faster Setup

MiniTool MovieMaker 8.9 places a strong emphasis on the installation package. In this latest release, the development team has reduced the overall installation package size, enabling a faster, more streamlined download and setup experience. This enhancement not only saves disk space but also improves application launch speeds. As a result, creators can quickly run the software and start working on their projects with minimal delay.

Enhanced Export UI for a Seamless Final Step

The final export stage is crucial to the editing workflow. This time, MiniTool MovieMaker 8.9 brings a new export button with a redesigned interface. This update optimizes the export button and provides intuitive guidance. Therefore, users can quickly locate the button for exporting their projects, whether they are absolute beginners or experienced editors.

About MiniTool MovieMaker

MiniTool MovieMaker is an easy-to-use video editing program designed for beginners, featuring a clean interface and a variety of effects, text templates, stickers, filters, and transitions for quick video creation.

The software offers a flexible multi-track timeline where users can layer and independently manage video tracks and audio tracks to create complex compositions, such as picture-in-picture (PiP) effects and video collages. Users can also place visual elements on different layers and lock tracks to prevent accidental edits.

More importantly, this editing tool can export videos in 1080P or 4K for free and without watermarks, ensuring high-quality, professional-looking results.

About MiniTool® Software Ltd.

MiniTool® Software Ltd. is a software development company specializing in providing software services across multiple fields, including video editing, screen recording, video conversion and compression, video enhancement, as well as disk partition management.

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SOURCE MiniTool® Software Limited

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