Over the last few years, AI has become a key word in many sectors, and one of its prominent faces is Dan Banas. As the Head of AI, Strategy, and Analytics at Continuum Global, Dan is more than a mere observer of the fast-changing scene of AI and Generative AI, he is leading how novel technologies should be implemented. In this day and age where change is the only constant, what does this process look like, and how does he ‘keep one step ahead’?
Buckle up — Dan’s journey is about to take you into the future of AI!
Merging Different Worlds
Dan Banas’s career showcases continuous development and a transformative pursuit of improvement. With 15+ years of experience developing and integrating ideas of finance, operations, strategy, and technology, Dan has always welcomed opportunities to combine his broad knowledge of business processes with modern technologies.
Since the beginning of his career, Dan was invited to join executive boardroom meetings with C-Suite executives and the top decision makers, often being the youngest in the room by a wide margin. According to Dan: “I got my start by assessing the financial impact of strategic decisions that executives were discussing, then leading teams to make the overall vision happen. I’m very thankful to have such central roles and to have that much visibility across businesses throughout my career”.
His curiosity and flexibility brought him to the intersection of AI, data analytics, and its application to solve business problems. Nowadays Dan is looking at how organizations engage and interact with their target audiences. “There’s always been a tendency for me to start with the big picture, recognize opportunities, then work with individual business units on optimizing those operations. When it became apparent how powerful AI could be, it was only a matter of bringing together business thinking and technology,” says Banas.
AI: The Business Industry’s Revolutionary Catalyst
Today, AI can be regarded as an engine of change in almost every field— from repetitive business mechanics to the development of unique user-oriented approaches. Dan is at the cutting edge of AI + GenAI model implementations, helping companies better engage and communicate with their end users. From Business Development → Product Development → Operational Efficiency → leading industry relationships, Dan brings it all together as Head of AI, Strategy, and Analytics at Continuum Global
“There are a range of AI + GenAI applications companies can be using, yet the complexity can get confusing. That’s why the market is looking to experts like Continuum Global. Things are changing quickly and some companies are getting left behind,” says Dan. “A great deal of advancement has been made with Generative AI in particular. Companies are no longer relegated to sending out blanket messages and are now able to customize their messaging during the interaction as well as expedite personalized content across users.”
In Dan’s view, this technology is no longer a high-end pursuit reserved exclusively for large companies, but rather an economical necessity for organizations of all sizes to remain competitive in today’s volatile market.
As he states, “It’s now table stakes, the bare minimum, for companies to at least be testing AI. It is a business requirement if an organization is to stay competitive in today’s fast-changing environment.”
It’s now table stakes, the bare minimum, for companies to at least be testing AI. It is a business requirement if an organization is to stay competitive in today’s fast-changing environment.
Scaling AI for Every Business
Dan sees one of his primary challenges as bringing new AI technologies to the market for a broader audience— businesses of different sizes and with varying depths of technical knowledge. Along with Audience Strategy, Business Intelligence Dashboarding, and High Velocity Analytics, Dan’s group at Continuum Global helps companies leverage the latest AI + GenAI technologies
He emphasizes, “It’s about designing and developing holistic AI integrations that work and that are easy to use. It’s more about your approach and the systems you put in place.” These goals underpin the mission of Continuum Global, helping companies leverage powerful end-to-end Engagement Marketing and AI capabilities.
What matters is partnering with the right people, who have the right expertise.
Ethical AI: A Sense of Duty When Inventing
Banas understands that with the growth of technology comes a growing responsibility. While issues such as data security and privacy are crucial, Banas outlines a common goal for the AI solutions being developed at Continuum Global and the ethical frameworks they adhere to.
He states, “Balancing technological innovation with responsible AI development is more important than ever. Working for a global company with global solutions, we are definitely looking at regulation across the world and watching that landscape change. Similarly, I’m hearing companies with a global presence echo sentiments of wanting to partner with the industry’s best and brightest in this space.”
AI-Driven Engagement Marketing: The Next Frontier
Continuum Global specializes in Engagement Marketing, which is when companies have already acquired their audiences and are looking to best engage their customers across channels like email, in-app, push, SMS, social media, etc. Customer engagement is crucial for brands that want to nurture meaningful relationships with consumers, shifting away from ordinary transactional exchanges.
“Being the industry specialists in this space means we can offer more nimble, tailored, and scalable solutions. Luckily, one of AI + Generative AI’s most applicable use-cases is scaling marketing activities. AI has the potential to assist brands in communicating with their customers in ways that never existed before,” explains Banas. “It’s not just about getting their attention. It’s about creating a tailor-made approach for every customer, backed by real-time data and feedback.”
For Banas, the future of marketing is not just automation, but smart automation focused on adding value to the customer’s experience.
Strong Interests in Wearables and Sports Analytics
Outside of work, Dan also has a great enthusiasm for Analytics + AI in the future of smart wearables data and performance analytics.
“I’m enjoying partnering with various universities’ Sports Analytics and AI programs. Seeing a lot more with smart wearables these days and keeping an eye on the industry growth. It was only recently that top-tier health and fitness trackers served up Recovery Scores in real-time! So a couple projects with my research partner are connecting wearables feedback with grip strength and pinch grip data as those measurement devices become more widespread and integrated. Guessing there will be more wearable accessories scaled for use in the best athletic performance departments, everyday consumer usage, and injury prevention across user types.”
The specific focus of Banas’ work in sports analytics is consistent with his wider vision of using the latest technologies for the benefit of the industry and society. All industries, in Banas’s view, are going to start leveraging the efficiencies of AI in one way or another.
Guidance for Future Leaders in AI
Dan’s advice to those just starting their careers or wanting to get into the AI space, “Stay curious. Actually being interested in the work you do and things you research makes it enjoyable. I would urge you to make a project out of something you are interested in.”
Another thing Banas recommends is finding a community of like-minded people you can learn from and grow with together, “One of the best things you can do is start finding the industry leaders for your field of interest. Find out what’s happening across your industry, follow what research is being published, and start connecting with your professional network on a deeper level.”
Looking Toward the Future: The AI Evolution
In the years to come, Banas anticipates that AI will penetrate society even further. He expects the next level in AI development to involve High Velocity Analytics and frameworks that redefine business strategies within organizations.
“I imagine more industries will find either take AI in-house, or if they don’t have a deep bench of skilled AI teams, they’ll partner with experts like Continuum Global”, says Banas. “Across the industry, there will be growth opportunities for those who are optimizing in the right spots of their business. Throughout all the growth and opportunity, companies will need to know and be implementing AI regulations. That, or partner with experts that can reinforce small in-house AI teams.”
At Continuum Global, Dan Banas and his team are excited to explore more possibilities with AI and prepare organizations to thrive in a future dominated by AI integrations.
