November Sales Engineering Braintrust

Trusted Advisors, we’re still reeling from the incredible few days we spent with you at Special Forces in Dallas. We’re ready to keep the momentum going with you so we can close the year strong and continue hustling into 2027! 

In this month’s Sales Engineering Braintrust, we’re highlighting three cybersecurity blogs, two Pathfinder enhancements, three new vendors, some TA testimonials, and dropping a fun Q&A with our very own Landon Clark. 

Here’s what’s featured:

• Sales Engineering Content

• Pathfinder Enhancements

• New Vendors
  

• Trusted Advisor Testimonials

• Sales Engineering Spotlight

Sales Engineering Content

We returned from Special Forces Summit 2026 in Dallas with renewed focus, and our first order of business was addressing the fact that October is Cybersecurity Awareness Month! Check out three blogs we published in the last few weeks with stronger security as the focus: 

• Cybersecurity Refresh: Then & Now 
• Cybersecurity Refresh: Why Security is Your Stickiest Play 
• Cybersecurity Refresh: Five Things to Guide the Conversation 

Pathfinder Enhancements

The Pathfinder team never stops working to improve the platform and help you maintain your unique competitive edge. Here are this month’s noteworthy enhancements: 

• New: AI Matrix – Developed by Dr. Rick Mischa and organized along the seven categories of AVANT’s AI Transformation Compass, this matrix helps Trusted Advisors understand and navigate the emerging AI solution space. 
• Updated: Colocation Matrix – Colocation provides a secure data center environment for IT infrastructure. Providers featured in this matrix offer power, cooling, rack space, bandwidth, ability to support AI deployments, and more. 

New Vendors

CollaborationRoom.ai

Solution type: CX-AI 

Geographic coverage: United States 

What does CollaborationRoom.ai offer? CollaborationRoom.ai is an ideal fit for organizations operating remote or hybrid contact centers that require stronger visibility, engagement, coaching, compliance oversight, and operational accountability. Best fit environments typically include contact centers with 50 to 5,000+ agents across customer service, technical support, healthcare, financial services, BPO, insurance, collections, and regulated industries. 

Key differentiators: 

• Patented real-time streaming visibility into agent video and desktops 
• Ability for supervisors to listen live to calls while observing agent activity 
• Embedded communication tools with PII redaction and private collaboration 
• AI-powered compliance monitoring for unauthorized devices and policy violations 
• AI-powered agent emotion detection and facial recognition capabilities 
• Clean Desk AI enforcement for regulated environments 
• Rapid one-to-two-week implementations 
• No implementation costs and flexible month-to-month contracts 

What kind of client is best for CollaborationRoom.ai? 

• Remote or hybrid contact center operations 
• Compliance-driven organizations 
• Mid-market and enterprise environments 
• Operations seeking stronger coaching visibility 
• Organizations struggling with engagement or attrition 
• Leadership: CEO, COO, CTO, CISO, VP Operations 

 Learn more about CollaborationRoom.ai here. 

CBC Tech International LTD

Solution type: Connectivity and SASE 

Geographic coverage: United States 

What does CBC Tech offer? CBC Tech offers colocation services ranging from single-rack deployments to large multi-megawatt facilities. It provides high-density, AI-ready infrastructure designed to support GPU and HPC workloads, along with edge data center options for low-latency applications. The offering also includes carrier-neutral connectivity, making it easier to integrate with different networks and service providers. In addition, it supports hybrid infrastructure needs and expansion across multiple European countries for scalable growth. 

Key differentiators: 

• Fully licensed to provide DIA, DPL, IEPL, MPLS, SD-WAN and SASE solutions, Data Center and VM in China, as well as other global locations 
• Carrier agnostic with unique low-cost last mile options for high bandwidth requirements 
• Internal R&D development of patented SDWAN fabric and SASE solutions 
• Ecosystem of technology partners in next generation networking, security and cloud networking space (Zscaler, Versa, CloudFlare, Fortinet, HPE Aruba, Cisco, and Palo Alto) 
• Proven track record of helping large enterprises design, build and deploy their next-generation networks into China 
• Over 300 Partner certifications held by bilingual (English/Mandarin) sales and technical personnel 
• 80+ POPs globally 
• The only MSSP for Zscaler in mainland China 
• Licensed to provide connectivity from US to China and to operate in the US 
• ServiceNow enabled for Day 2 support 

What kind of client is best for CBC Tech? 

• Global MNEs with China/APAC ops needing secure, compliant, high-performance connectivity 
• Enterprises undergoing cloud migration, network modernization, or security transformation across distributed environments 

 Learn more about CBC Tech International LTD here. 

Puzzel

Solution type: CCaaS and CX-AI 

Geographic coverage: EMEA/United Kingdom 

What does Puzzel offer? Puzzel is the leading European provider of cloud contact center solutions, delivering a modular, AI-native CX ecosystem that simplifies complexity and empowers teams. With Scandinavian roots and a strong heritage in innovation, Puzzel combines cutting-edge technology with a people-first approach to customer experience. 

Key Differentiators: 

• True omnichannel 
• Extensive CCaaS platform functionality 
• Faster and simpler implementation 
• European focus and compliance 
• Flexible and adaptable AI that works 
• Better UK/EU product-market fit 

What kind of client is best for this provider? 

• CCaaS Contact Center 
• Virtual Agents 
• Case Management 
• Co-Pilot 
• WFM 
• Conversational Intelligence 

 Learn more about Puzzel here. 

Explore our full vendor portfolio including their offerings and key differentiators by logging into Pathfinder today!

Trusted Advisor Testimonials

What are your peers saying about their experience working with AVANT Sales Engineers? 

“You guys are awesome! The technical and professional support I get from AVANT is stellar.”  – Rick Luttrell, Connect Tech West LLC

“Amazing consultation. Technical knowledge and provider capabilities were discussed. Proper, achievable paths were established. Thanks!”  – Scott McMenimen, Tech Choice LLC 

 

Engineering Spotlight

Name: Landon Clark (aka Lando Cloudrissian)

Title: Cloud Field Sales Engineer 

Areas of Focus: Cloud, Colo, Cloud AI, and Connectivity 

Home Base: Austin, Texas 

What’s one thing a Trusted Advisor can do to get the most out of working with you? 

Bring me into the conversation early and help me understand the story behind the opportunity. What is the customer trying to accomplish? What’s creating pressure? Where do they want the business to go? A big part of my work is connecting those answers to the architecture. A VMware renewal can open a conversation about resilience; an AI initiative can change how we think about where data lives and how it impacts their approach to cloud. Understanding those relationships helps us build a strategy that addresses the immediate need and supports what comes next. You don’t need every technical answer before we connect. Bring your relationship, your curiosity, and what you know about the customer. We’ll work through the complexity together. 

How did you end up in tech? Was it a plan or happy accident? 

My original plan was to become a pediatric cardiac surgeon. I was drawn to science, precision, and the idea of doing meaningful work in service of others. The thought of using knowledge, skill, and calm under pressure to help a child and their family through one of the hardest moments of their lives had a real pull for me. 

My passion for technology grew alongside that ambition. I built my first computer at 15, and turning that passion into a career gave me a way to bring those interests together: using my understanding of complex systems to help people work through challenges that mattered to them. 

That’s why I love being a cloud engineer. We have this incredible opportunity to help customers, large and small, tackle their technology challenges. Sometimes the most valuable thing we can do is take a few steps back together and help them see the bigger picture. Helping someone cut through the noise, see possibilities they hadn’t considered, and make decisions that drive meaningful change for their business is incredibly rewarding. 

What’s the best concert/live event you’ve attended? 

Slipknot. Wicked mosh pit, unreal energy, and watching the percussionists play off each other and the crowd was awesome. There’s something about a live show like that where you get completely caught up in the music and everything happening around you. Fully present, completely immersed. 

Ready to level up your sales game with expert guidance? Our Engineers have your back and are available for you to bring them into your opportunities! Connect with them and get started by filling out an IQA on Pathfinder!