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Christophe and Johannes explain how the global war for talent and the great resignation is affecting the manufacturing sector with many businesses struggling to attract and retain skilled workers. Digital signage is one way to help inform and engage workers on the shop floor who don’t have traditional access to email or laptops. With over 50,000 licenses in over 50 countries, Telelogos share examples of how some of their customers have been using digital signage to support their workforce.

Alex and Justin talk to Tom about the global education crisis that is affecting many of our young people, globally. We are currently experiencing the largest refugee population since WW2, including over 5m displaced Ukrainian children. It’s predicted that by 2030 50% of the world’s youth will not have the skills needed for gainful employment. Against the backdrop of the skills shortage and the resulting impact on GDP, its time that governments and businesses take action.

With omnichannel retail here to stay this is a problem that retailers really need to fix. Returns and particularly bracketing (where consumers order multiple sizes in order to find the best fit) is costing retailers huge sums of money, not to mention the impact on sustainability. Shefali discusses her idea for a “digital dressing room” where consumers can see how they look in a item, whether that be in a smart mirror in store, or at home on their digital devices.

Florian and Tom discuss how new legal requirements across the EU and beyond are also requiring manufacturers to have full visibility of their supply chains to ensure compliance with labor laws and fair pay in addition to the need to be able to calculate the carbon footprint of their products. Florian shares how manufacturers can mitigate risks by collaborating with suppliers earlier in their design processes and also explains how risks can be identified and flagged early to avoid disruption.

During the discussion Tom finds out more about how a digital sizing approach will help customers find the right fit for their favorite brands. Buying shoes online is never going to be easy, but by using Footprint to take a scan of their feet, the customer can order accurate sizes, and in turn avoid contributing to the mountain of returned goods that end up in a landfill each year. Tune in!

Themes such as hyper personalization driven by a single view of the customer and delivered across multiple platforms are not new but it’s become ever more important with the addition of new channels such as TikTok. The Metaverse presents an incredible opportunity for retailers that can harness the technology to showcase their products in a virtual world. The key is simply making customers feel special no matter how they choose to interact. Tune in to this fascinating discussion about the future of retail experience.

During the discussion Tom finds out more about how digitization is impacting the Life Sciences industry. Pharmaceutical companies have been primarily paper-based and digitization can potentially speed up drug creation. By connecting all the various systems like digital threads, the entire process will be more conducive to streamlining clinical phases.

During the discussion Tom finds out more about how Inspectorio was founded, where its going and how brands and retailers can benefit. David tells Tom that Inspectorio now have over 8000 customers and are now helping some of the world’s largest retailers, giving them actionable insights into quality, compliance and production. During these uncertain times, these insights have been invaluable, allowing brands and retailers to focus only on current or predicted risks, keeping production on track.

In this fascinating podcast, Sindhu explains that it’s easy to change technology, but much harder to bring people on the journey with you. Empowered users can be the key to success for any digital transformation project and ultimately no project can be successful if end users find it difficult to adopt. Sindhu shares with Tom some key strategies and tools organizations can adopt to help address gaps and support users where they are in their journey.

Stuart explains that many organizations are now looking to adopt science-based targets, linked to the reduction in total carbon emissions required to limit global warming to 1.5c. There are many strategies businesses can employ to help limit their emissions, from waste, to building management to sourcing and distribution. Ultimately businesses and governments need to adopt a societal approach, ensuring equity and carbon reductions go hand in hand. Listen today.

CPG companies are being hit by increased costs of ingredients, labor, energy, and the cost of transforming operations to become more sustainable. Whilst many companies will have fixed prices for some of their costs, there may be no better time than now to increase prices. Gabe and Andreas share with Tom how the sector is starting to digitally transform to better understand and predict consumer preferences, helping to inform promotions and respond more flexibly to changing market conditions

Samer explains how Telus has a strong focus on connecting people to drive meaningful change. With the advent of 5G, Telus have been able to connect ambulances out in the field with doctors and technicians back in the hospital, providing invaluable support in critical life-saving situations. They have also been able to provide vulnerable citizens with connected devices that allow them to stay in touch with family and friends via 5G, regardless of location and wifi connection.