ARO to join Scotland's leading resilience community at the upcoming Scottish Continuity Annual Conference 2026. ARO is gearing up to take part in the Scottish Continuity Annual Conference (SCAC) 2026, where resilience, continuity and risk specialists from across Scotland and the wider UK will gather. Hosted at the renowned Dynamic Earth venue in Edinburgh, the conference will explore the future of organisational resilience. The programme focuses on four interconnected dimensions: Human, Community, Business and Cyber, offering a comprehensive view of modern risk, response and preparedness, and aligning closely with ARO's commitment to helping organisations build secure, scalable and sustainable technology environments capable of withstanding today's complex challenges. Delegates attending SCAC 2026 can expect insights from some of the UK's most respected voices in continuity and emergency management, including: * John Frost Hon.MBCI - Former Head of Business Continuity at Marks & Spencer * Lucy Easthope - Renowned UK authority on emergency planning and disaster recovery * Gaven Smith - Former Director General for Technology and CTO at GCHQ These speakers will bring real-world experience and strategic foresight to the stage. What attendees can expect at the ARO stand. Visitors to the ARO exhibition space will have the opportunity to: * Discover how ARO's technologies help organisations anticipate and recover from disruption * Discuss cyber security, operational resilience and continuity challenges with industry specialists * Explore integrated cloud, cyber security, collaboration, and data centre solutions * Learn more about sustainability-driven IT strategies * Speak with the ARO team about long-term resilience planning and partnership opportunities These conversations form part of ARO's ongoing mission to support organisations in Scotland and beyond as they adapt to new risks and technological shifts. A valuable platform for knowledge, insight and networking. The conference programme includes practical sessions, case-based learning, and opportunities to understand emerging risks and innovations across the resilience landscape. Delegates will benefit from: * Immediately actionable strategies * Real-world examples of continuity best practice * Professional development and peer learning * Networking with resilience leaders, practitioners, and technology specialists Looking ahead. ARO is proud to participate in SCAC 2026 and contribute to advancing resilience across Scotland's public and private sectors. The event promises to be a key moment for knowledge-sharing, strategic insight and forward-thinking discussion. ARO looks forward to meeting delegates on the 24th of February and engaging in conversations that help shape the future of organisational resilience.

ARO and BMET transform student support with AI-powered contact centre. Birmingham Metropolitan College (BMET) partnered with ARO to modernise its student and staff support services through the deployment of an AI-powered contact centre. Faced with rising call volumes and an outdated communications platform, BMET sought a scalable, cloud-based solution to improve service delivery and operational efficiency. ARO implemented the Talkdesk Contact Centre platform, fully integrated with Microsoft Teams, serving around 800 users across four campuses. The system includes five dedicated contact centre seats, with the flexibility to scale up to 15 during peak periods such as enrolment. This future-ready infrastructure enables BMET to manage demand dynamically while maintaining high service standards. * AI-powered call routing and self-service FAQs * Real-time analytics and reporting for staffing and performance * Seamless integration with Microsoft Teams for unified communications * Knowledge management tools to empower student self-service The rollout was rapid and collaborative, with ARO and Talkdesk ensuring minimal disruption. The AI-driven features have significantly reduced wait times and improved query resolution, allowing staff to focus on more complex support needs. Students now benefit from faster, more accurate assistance, while managers gain real-time visibility into contact centre performance. "This project was a true partnership," said David Phillips, Head of Technical Sales at ARO. "Working closely with BMET, we delivered a flexible, AI-powered solution that not only meets their current needs but also scales with demand. The result is a smarter, more responsive support system that enhances the student experience and empowers staff with real-time insights." This case study showcases how AI-powered contact centres can drive meaningful change in the education sector, offering scalable, data-driven solutions that enhance both operational performance and user satisfaction. Read the full case study here > https://aro.tech/insights/case-study/ai-powered-contact-centre-solution/