Telaid Tech Connect

In this episode of Telaid Tech Connect, host Beth Bergmann is joined by Martyn Jones, Chief Commercial Officer at VoCoVo. Martyn explores the power of voice communications to elevate operations and customer service and expounds on use cases in retail and the results VoCoVo customers have already seen.   IN THIS EPISODE:    [3:25] What challenges did you see in the marketplace that inspired VoCoVo to reinvent the way retail teams communicate on the floor?  [6:11] How can VocoVo streamline operations? What are some before and after examples of VoCoVo deployments?  [9:17] Can you provide an example of an innovative use case of VoCoVo in stores? [10:25] What are other integration examples that amplify the power of VoCoVo? [14:02] Why is the retail environment different than the office environment when it comes to voice communications? [15:10] Are there any use cases in other areas like safety or loss prevention? [19:40] Where do you see this kind of technology five years from now?    KEY TAKEAWAYS:    As humans, the primary communication we have is voice. But in retail environments, associates are all over the store, disconnected from others. VoCoVo allows associates to put on a headset and tap into every other individual on a specific “conference.”  With VoCoVo, if a customer approaches an associate and asks a question, they can retrieve the answer quickly, reducing wait times. If a customer is standing at a counter with locked merchandise, they can push a button and instantly connect with an associate in the store rather than waiting or wandering around the store in search of help. All of this improves the customer experience and reduces cart abandonment. One retailer has integrated VoCoVo with their in-store cameras and people-counting systems combined with AI. The system notifies associates how many more registers they need to open in how many minutes to accommodate traffic currently in the store.  VoCoVo is API-driven, so there's a lot of flexibility to connect with other systems. We've seen retailers connect it to their workforce management systems to assign tasks to associates on the floor, or with CRM systems to notify associates when a particular customer walks in the store.  VoCoVo can help deter crime and loss. Associates feel connected with the headsets. Our headsets can have a panic function put into them, which can dial into a police or monitoring center.  The next generation of headsets will have a new set of features including app integration. This is important because we see lots of apps becoming voice enabled. Voice communications are becoming increasingly seamless.   LINKS MENTIONED    LinkedIn – Martyn Jones   VoCoVo   BIO: Martyn is Chief Commercial Officer (CCO) at VoCoVo where he is responsible for growing the company's partnerships, alliances and customer base, as well as expanding its presence across core markets in the UK, EMEA and North America. Martyn joined VoCoVo in October 2018 and has been instrumental in the growth of the business and the acquisition of its impressive portfolio of clients including Tesco, ASDA Walmart, Primark, Co-op, Morrisons and B&Q. A sales and marketing expert with a proven track record of helping brands formulate and implement international growth plans, Martyn has previously worked as a freelance business consultant working with both large corporates and early-stage start-ups. He has also held a number of Head of Sales, Marketing and Product roles within the technology and industry sectors.

In this episode of Telaid Tech Connect, host Beth Bergmann is joined by Thom Schmitt, VP of Sales at ComplianceMate. They explore the value of IoT for complying with food safety regulations as well as achieving greater operational efficiency and reducing shrink.     IN THIS EPISODE:     [1:48] What major problems were foodservice operators facing?   [2:28] What are some environmental or sustainability challenges?  [3:25] How do all these technologies come together to help mitigate loss and support food safety and sustainability goals?  [5:55] What is the operational role of IoT sensors?   [7:25] What are some successful use cases?  [8:35] What are some applications in c-stores?   [9:51] What are some key points that we can arm operational leaders with to bring the solution to their executive teams?  [15:15] What does food safety tech look like in next 5 years?    KEY TAKEAWAYS:     Operators need to ensure they are complying with food safety regulations, while also reducing waste.   We have temperature monitors that monitor temperature 24/7, automatically generating notifications if the temperature has fallen outside the specified range. The tool also digitizes any type of checklist that goes on within an operation to ensure employees are doing what they are supposed to be doing, when they are supposed to be doing it.   IoT is not new – the biggest things measured are temp and humidity, but IoT ecosystem offer the opportunity to expand into measurement of many more elements.  IoT devices also provide data over time, so when the health department comes in, the operator can present them with documentation that shows them temperatures in coolers over time.   ROI on this solution is very quick because operators keep thousands of dollars of product in coolers and if one breaks, all the food is lost. Coolers are mechanical devices, and they break down about once every 60 months.   In the future, we'll see sensor technology measuring elements we have not yet considered as well as advancement through the development of AI and predictive analytics.     LINKS MENTIONED     LinkedIn – Thom Schmitt    www.compliancemate.com     BIO:   Thom Schmitt serves as Vice President of Sales at ComplianceMate, bringing over 30 years of experience directing sales of SaaS Solutions as well as consumer/industrial electronics. Thom joined CM Systems, LLC in 2011 having previously worked for over 20 years at Hitachi Electronic Devices USA. Over the course of his career, Thom has forged longstanding relationships with his customers, including Five Guys Burgers and Fries, Chick-fil-A, and several other nationally known restaurant concepts. Thom has also worked with several leading retailers and grocers including Hy Vee and Roche Brothers. Thom holds a BA from the University of Iowa. 

In this episode of Telaid Tech Connect, Eric Dalton, Operations Leader at Walmart joins Beth Bergmann to discuss Walmart's IoT dashboard initiative in the deli and bakery departments. Eric explores the growing use cases for IoT and automation in facilities management and beyond.       IN THIS EPISODE:     [2:05] What was the genesis of this IoT dashboard project at Walmart and what were some of the challenges the different departments were facing?   [7:07] What is the vision for the “smart store” and how does it work?  [8:40] What is the role of IoT in energy conservation?  [9:37] What challenges have you encountered with this project?  [12:04] What KPIs are you tracking to assess the success of this project?   [15:09] Are there any unanticipated use cases you've come across along the way?   [17:30] What technologies do you see revolutionizing retail in the next 5 years?    KEY TAKEAWAYS:     The start of this IoT initiative goes back to facilities management. We were seeking ways to deliver maintenance at a lower cost, respond more quickly to maintenance requests and send the right responder to the right place with the right part to resolve the problem quickly. We found associates in the deli and bakery reporting “my oven does not work,” but there was no additional detail available, so the technician generally made one trip to troubleshoot and then another trip to repair. We knew embedded IoT could provide information about the reasons for failure, as well as the make and model of the equipment so the technician could take the right part.   We realized along the way that there was also valuable operational data available that could help associates increase efficiency and better serve customers.   Our vision for the smart store is that we leverage IoT wherever we can to pull disparate data into one place and make decisions on systems as a whole.  IoT is a powerful tool for energy management because there are so many systems operating at once and synthesized data provides context. So if a door is left open and it notifies you but it's not a priority, but then you notice the HVAC system kicks on, you know to go close the door to stop wasting energy.   The IoT dashboard project was bigger than expected. We want to have all data in one place to better operate the building as a system. Connectivity and scalability were two of the major challenges we faced.   To evaluate the success of the project, we will be looking at KPIs like increased uptime, the number of work orders, and sales increases connected with decreased downtime.     LINKS MENTIONED     LinkedIn – Eric Dalton    BIO:   Currently serving as Senior Director, Facilities Management at Walmart, Eric Dalton is an operations, global facilities and supply chain management leader. He has a passion for strengthening operations through vision, strategy and technology and is currently responsible for building a team and processes dedicated to supporting the growing number of robotics, automation, and IoT systems and technology solutions at Walmart.     Prior to joining Walmart, Eric worked with other Fortune 500 companies including FedEx, where he provided technology support for FedEx's shipping solutions. Eric's career began in the US Navy where he developed a global perspective and developed team leadership skills as a nuclear power technician.     Focused on building organizational capability and excellence in execution, Eric continues to spearhead new automation initiatives. 

This episode is brought to you by Retail Insight.   In this episode of Telaid Tech Connect, host Beth Bergmann sits down with store and fulfillment automation leader in retail and grocery, Corrie Martin, to discuss the challenges retailers and grocers face when it comes to automation projects. They explore common challenges and important considerations when going through the automation planning and implementation process.     IN THIS EPISODE:     [1:30] What are the key processes retailers seek to automate and why?   [2:12] What are the key steps or phases when developing an automation strategy and advancing to rollout?  [4:45] Who are some of the external stakeholders that you need to have aligned with your automation vision and goals?    [7:32] What are some common pitfalls that retailers are facing as they approach automation projects?  [9:53] What should the automation team look like?   [11:40] How do you drive customer adoption?   [14:02] What will automation look like in five years?    KEY TAKEAWAYS:     Key areas for automation in grocery stores include the storefront, back-of-the-store and distribution and deployment centers. Anywhere that you want to see more throughput, reduced labor and increased profitability is a candidate.  Think of an end-to-end strategy and make sure you have your end goal in mind. Consider what you intend to accomplish through automation. Who are the key players you need to sync up with internally or externally? It's important to think beyond the obvious; consider issues like compliance, legal and the customer experience.   Look for vendors who can scale and who can help drive the price down over the long term. You want a vendor who is willing to work with others.  One of the most common pitfalls is the financial expectations for these kinds of projects. Typically, when investing in hardware assets in a retail setting, retailers want an ROI of two or three years. It's important to set realistic expectations for large-scale automation projects. ROI can take longer than expected. Another common pitfall is failure to think through issues like compliance, regulatory and legal, and fire safety.   The automation team needs to include engineers, but it's also important to have a strong project management organization supporting you. Product teams are also important.   Some customers feel like automation technologies are being shoved down their throats, but the more exposure they get, the more easily they will adopt it. It's important to communicate the value and give them opportunities to explore the technologies firsthand. Over time, this drives adoption.   I think there's going to be growing use of AI and machine learning to provide intelligence that will drive customer and associate behavior. Personalized automation is also going to be a growing trend over the next few years.      LINKS MENTIONED     LinkedIn – Corrie Martin -https://www.linkedin.com/in/corriemartin/   BIO: Corrie Martin is the Sales Director for strategic North American partnerships at Retail Insight. A go-to-market executive with expertise in Automation and Robotics, Store and eCommerce Operations, Data Analytics, and Loss Prevention. Corrie spent six years at Walmart helping them re-invent their store operations and customer experience by launching new Online Grocery Pickup and Delivery fulfillment services. Her passion for cutting-edge technology and innovation has propelled her into the product and technology ecosystem space even further, where today she inspires executives in retail, grocery, and supply chain to think differently about how they can leverage their own data to drive profitability and increase product sell-through with an on-shelf availability algorithm.

In this episode of Telaid Tech Connect, host Beth Bergmann has a conversation with Susan Sly, co-founder of Radius AI, about human-centric AI and the future for AI in retail. They explore use cases for AI as well as what the technology looks like today versus what it may look like in the future.   IN THIS EPISODE:    [2:57] What is AI and what isn't it? [6:39] What is human-centric AI?   [12:45] What does the art of AI mean to Radius AI and to the industry?  [16:23] What is the potential for sentient AI in the future?  [17:50] How are the savviest retailers who are deploying AI looking at the big picture? What differentiates the first movers in the industry? [24:14] What do the next few years have in store for AI in retail?    KEY TAKEAWAYS:    There are three key types of AI right now: Text AI – Can process documentation faster than humans Language AI – Can process auditory language like Siri or Alexa Computer vision – Can process visual data, able to filter video and point humans to the relevant portions Human-centric AI is AI that is designed to empower humans. Some things people do better than AI, for example, understanding the context for why someone might be on the ground. AI does a better job of flagging the fact that someone is now on the ground. AI and humans working together experience optimal results.  Sentient AI can “think for itself.” However, that AI has to receive training from somewhere. Many of the beneficial applications for sentient AI coming in the near future may be companion care, whether for pets or the elderly. An AI-based companion may be able to provide early diagnosis of a parent with Alzheimer's, for example.  A recent study indicated that 54% of AI pilots go to production, up from 8% in recent years. Retailers can increase that number by aligning with qualified partners who have vetted providers and who can help them pilot projects prior to large scale rollout.  AI enablement for customer experience may include something like customers opting into facial recognition so when they show up in a store to shop, an associate can bring them their favorite beverage or they can receive a notification that there are new items from their favorite brand in store and here's a map to locate those items. The retailers who experiment early and pioneer new use cases are going to be the winners.    LINKS MENTIONED    Radius AI   LinkedIn – Susan Sly   BIO:    Susan Sly is a tech investor, co-founder, best-selling author, keynote speaker, entrepreneur and podcast host of Raw and Real Entrepreneurship. Susan holds an Advanced Certificate for Executives in Management, Innovation, and Technology from MIT and is the author of 7 books. As a highly acclaimed keynote speaker, Susan has spoken for MIT, NVIDIA, Intel, Lenovo, and shared the stage with Tony Robbins, Jack Canfield, Robert Kiosaki, and more. And she has been a featured guest speaker for the National Restaurant Association, Executives Next Practices Institute, Forbes Roundtable, Corenet Global and the Edge AI Summit. In 2022 Susan was honored to receive the Rosalind Franklin Society Award in Science and a nomination for the Rising Star in AI from Venture Beat. Susan is the Co-CEO, and Co-founder, of RadiusAI – an award-winning artificial intelligence company with offices on three continents.

In this episode of Telaid Tech Connect, host Beth Bergmann sits down with seasoned asset protection professional, Brand Elverston. Based on his 22-year career with Walmart and subsequent work with LP/AP retail teams and vendors, Brand shares insights on how disruptive retail technologies both challenge and empower risk mitigation efforts in retail.    IN THIS EPISODE:    [2:38] How do you think technology is fundamentally changing retail? [5:04] What are the most formidable challenges LP/AP teams face today?  [09:28] What does disruptive technology integration really mean?  [12:55] How have customer and employee needs changed since the COVID-19 pandemic?   [18:23] What do the next five years look like? [24:00] What is the value of RFID in risk mitigation?   KEY TAKEAWAYS:    If there was a silver lining to the pandemic, it was that it helped stress test the technologies that are going to work and those that are ahead of their time. It accelerated automation and changed store operations. However, store operations and LP/AP operate in parallel universes and LP/AP teams were not necessarily prepared for the new risks and loss opportunities introduced with new technologies like self-checkout.  LP/AP has changed from being seen as the group that runs down shoplifters to the group focused on solving broader business problems than just theft. The key to success is focusing on how solutions solve broader business problems and then getting a seat at the table with other stakeholders to be part of the decision-making.  Some retailers were surprised by the fact that once the dust settled after the pandemic, consumers actually wanted to get out of the house and return in-person to the store. There was some miscalculation that traffic to brick-and-mortar stores would never return, but it did. And when shoppers do return, they want people there. People are still critical to the retail experience. Whether it's helping mitigate risk and reducing theft or delivering an enhanced customer experience, associates play an important role in retail. I expect that in the not-too-distant future, key retailers will differentiate with their “good old fashioned customer service” in stores. There is a place for fully automated and frictionless, but it's not in every store. In the future, RFID is going to be a competitive imperative for understanding inventory location and quantities. Accuracy is critical in today's omnichannel environment. AI is also going to be used more and more to help mitigate risk.    LINKS MENTIONED    Brand Elverston Consulting   LinkedIn – Brand Elverston   BIO:    Brand joined Walmart in 1995 after serving over eleven years as a Field Artillery Officer in the United States Army. He began his retail career with the field Asset Protection (AP) team but quickly transitioned to the home office AP staff serving in several key positions including Merchandise/Systems Coordinator, Director of AP Operations, and Director of AP Strategic Initiatives with primary scope over all research and development efforts, strategic systems integration, and new technology pursuits. For the last 14 months of his nearly 22-year career with Walmart, Brand was appointed the Director of the newly created Operational Execution team with responsibilities of evaluating the execution and effectiveness of key, strategic company programs at store level. Brand retired from Walmart in March of 2017 and is currently the Founder/Principal of Elverston, LLC., providing senior advisory services to risk mitigation technology providers and retailers alike.

In this episode of Telaid Tech Connect, Alex Siskos, Senior VP of Strategy at Everseen, explores the accelerating pace of AI rollouts and how AI and computer vision combine to deliver new and powerful insights to retailers. In this episode, we explore growing use cases and deployment pitfalls.     IN THIS EPISODE:     [2:18] Why did Everseen start with AI solutions at the self-checkout?  [6:10] What are some opportunities you see for AI beyond the self-checkout experience?    [10:49] How did Everseen start to “lift and shift” technology?   [12:39] How do retailers avoid the deployment of AI as a point solution, instead building an AI platform that consolidates and collectively solves key business problems?    [20:08] What are some hurdles you see when it comes to AI deployments?   [23:51] What hurdles have you seen when adopting computer vision?     KEY TAKEAWAYS:     When Everseen set out, the founder's lifelong mission was to reengineer critical business processes in retail to make them more efficient, save money and/or reduce threats. As retailers transitioned from staffed checkout lanes to self-checkout, they could not see what inventory was lost, how, why, or by whom. By fusing AI and computer vision, we could give retailers actionable information in the moment.  AI/computer vision also turns friction into moments of self-correction. If the system determines that someone has missed an item or can't find the scan code, it can show them how, allowing for self-correction and prevention of an unintentional loss.  The amount of data is increasing with every store deploying this technology. Across 50,000 AI edge points Everseen has installed, which capture video every single day, there are now about 200 years of video that we are ingesting and analyzing. This video includes about 15 million transactions with 220 million SKUs involved in those transactions. Keeping eyes on all of that and providing context is where Everseen adds value, breaking that video into smaller, more manageable pieces.   With point-deployments, retailers run the risk of having several ISVs internally that don't talk to one another. This creates overlap, confusion and leaves departments fighting over camera use.  Retailer is coming out of a pandemic and going back to “normal.” But the new “normal” is riddled with inflation, crazy macroeconomic situations, international wars, supply chain disruptions and other problems. This means a marathon-like effort to adopt new technologies is occurring at a sprint pace.     LINKS MENTIONED     Everseen    LinkedIn – Alex Siskos    BIO:     Alex joined Everseen in 2017, bringing more than 25 years' experience in retail strategy and analytics. He previously served in leadership positions at Walgreens, led the entry of Blue Yonder into North America, which was later acquired by JDA. He also held business process strategy, market development and analytics roles at Accenture, Nielsen and Crossmark. Alex leads market analysis and corporate strategy for Everseen, helping to drive the company's growth across the retail sector as well as its expansion into a variety of other market segments. 

In this episode of Telaid Tech Connect, Josh King and Shannon Lightsey of Lexicon Technologies explore the importance of proactive technology maintenance planning. Businesses should understand - not only the cost of technology devices - but the cost of a device's downtime. That information can inform more strategic decision-making about the replacement and repair of those devices.    IN THIS EPISODE:     [2:10] What are two approaches to device management?  [3:40] What are some steps enterprises can take to be purposeful with their device management plan?   [4:35] Are there shifts in how devices are being rolled out and manufactured today that impact the repair side?   [6:00] Are there changes in the types of devices being deployed?   [12:25] What is some other wisdom about device repair?    KEY TAKEAWAYS:     In most cases, technology devices are not the core of the business, but increasingly every type of business relies on technology devices to operate. When devices fail, it typically has a revenue loss associated with it. As a result, having a plan for the maintenance and repair of devices is critical.    The best IT managers have a good understanding of how a device impacts the business – what does failed equipment mean in terms of lost sales? What resources should be applied to ensure a reduction in downtime?   In the past, devices were more rugged and constructed for long-term use. In the past several years, we've shifted to more consumable devices that are not ruggedized and built to be replaced after a few years.  Business leaders need to assess if they are going to buy the latest devices or tap someone who can help them extend the life of existing devices. This is another avenue for efficiency and business intelligence.     LINKS MENTIONED     LexiconTech    LinkedIn – Josh King    LinkedIn – Shannon Lightsey    BIO:     Josh King  Joshua King has 15 years of experience working alongside and guiding C-level executives through critical management, financial, operational, and strategic decision-making processes. He is the CEO of Atlanta-based Lexicon Tech Solutions, a company with a 25-year year history of performing large-scale technology repairs and maintenance for businesses and school districts nationwide.     Shannon Lightsey  Shannon Lightsey has 20+ years of experience in customer service management and sales. She is a senior account executive at Lexicon Tech Solutions where she helps customers ranging from mom-and-pop stores to Fortune 500 companies with their repair, maintenance, and new equipment needs. 

In this episode of Telaid Tech Connect, we're speaking with Jack Hogan, who unpacks some of the key drivers of the adoption of AI-enabled self-checkout solutions like Mashgin. He explores benefits to shoppers and keys to a successful deployment.      IN THIS EPISODE:     [1:35] What inspired the founders of Mashgin to create this self-checkout/computer vision technology?  [3:10] What changes in consumer behavior or marketplace trends are driving the need behind this solution?  [4:12] What challenges are industries experiencing that are driving adoption?  [6:10] What is an example of Mashgin implementation: what challenges were the business trying to overcome and how was the solution deployed and what were some of the challenges along the way?  [8:55] When you look at a successful deployment, what are some critical success factors?   [10:35] What do the next 5 years look like for this type of technology?    KEY TAKEAWAYS:     Mashgin is the world's fastest self-checkout and computer vision solution, speeding transaction times to under ten seconds.   Some of the key drivers of the adoption of this technology include consumers not wanting to wait. Lines are also getting worse due to labor shortages. Post-pandemic shoppers are visiting smaller locations to quickly grab a couple of items rather than making major trips to the grocery store.  A very attractive user for this type of solution is the habitual customer that is purchasing the same thing day after day and wants to get in and get out quickly.  Mashgin has expanded from a primary presence in cafeterias and stadiums, to convenience stores and petrol stations. They have added capabilities that consumers demand such as accepting cash, incorporating loyalty programs, and purchasing gas.     LINKS MENTIONED     LinkedIn    Mashgin    BIO: Jack Hogan    Jack Hogan is the Vice President of Strategic Partnerships at Mashgin, an AI-Powered Self-Checkout System for convenience stores, sports stadiums, business dining, and universities. Before Mashgin, Jack built and scaled companies across AI, recruiting, and events. While working in the recruiting space, he also founded the non-profit Neurodiversity Pathways to help train and place adults on the Autism spectrum with jobs at the top Bay Area companies. 

In this episode of Telaid Tech Connect, we're speaking with Jordan Rivchun, Head of Business Development at Hanwha Techwin. We discuss how business leaders can leverage new optical technologies beyond traditional surveillance to reap operational and other business benefits.    IN THIS EPISODE:    [2:20] At the manufacturing level, what has changed that's driving the ability to do more with optical technology? [5:07] Are there specific industries that you think are ready to advance their use of cameras and computer vision? What are the critical use cases?  [8:50] There are so many partners in this space, how do you assess which is the right partner to bring to your client who is trying to solve a particular business challenge? [11:30] Is there anything from the hardware side that is driving the ability to support these next-generation technologies? [15:05] What do the next five years look like for optical technology?    KEY TAKEAWAYS:    Edge-based technology and AI have transformed cameras into sensors and sensors into service providers for the user. Instead of capturing video that you scroll through to find what you need, technologies today proactively and without false alarms, detect events of interest and notify users instantly.  Use cases for video are now expanding far beyond LP/AP. Applications today in retail include labor optimization, floor planning and safety. In QSRs, video can now be used for order verification, traffic analysis and food safety. Non-traditional use cases are constantly emerging as customers bring new business challenges to the table and vendors work together to develop solutions using optical technologies. In the next five years, we're going to see better compression technologies, the mainstreaming of 5G, more dependency on the cloud and more AI.   LINKS MENTIONED    LinkedIn   Hanwha Techwin   BIO: Jordan Rivchun   Jordan Rivchun is the Head of Business for Hanwha Techwin America. Rivchun has 18+ years of physical security technology and retail loss prevention experience. Prior to joining Hanwha in 2018, Rivchun was director of loss prevention with DSW (Designer Shoe Warehouse), where he was responsible for all facets of the Loss Prevention program including physical security, internal investigations, loss prevention systems and data analytics, as well as the field organization. Rivchun was also an active member of RILA's Asset Protection Leaders Council (APLC). Prior to his 8-year career at DSW, he worked for Security Risk Management Consultants, Target, and Nordstrom in both security and asset protection capacities.

In this episode of Telaid Tech Connect, we're speaking with Amber Bradley, owner of Calibration Group and host of TalkLP. Amber explores the changes occurring in the loss prevention space and how this is evolving the industry as a whole. Amber dives into the importance of safety in today's environment and how LP teams are working to promote safe environments.     IN THIS EPISODE:     [2:52] What are some common themes or challenges that you're hearing from LP professionals?  [4:40] What security technologies do you see coming to the forefront and impacting day-to-day business?   [7:35] What are the privacy concerns associated with facial recognition and other video technologies?  [10:15] Are LP leaders looking differently at technologies based on integration with other technologies versus siloed use cases?   [14:15] When other departments identify use cases for technologies that were traditional “LP technologies,” how does it impact LP leaders?  [17:00] – Is there any particular technology that you feel will have a big impact on how loss prevention teams are going about their day-to-day?  [24:50] What will LP/AP look like five years from now?     KEY TAKEAWAYS:     LP leaders are laser-focused on safety for customers and employees. In the midst of growing ORC, violence and active shooter incidents, LP has been tasked with really focusing on safety. As a result, these teams are identifying the technologies that can help them and exploring how these technologies integrate with their current ecosystem.   Retailers are looking for technologies that can help separate employees from conflict. One example is carts that automatically lock when pushed out of a back exit door. This stops the push-out incident and associated loss without involving an altercation between an employee and the thief. Another example is face-matching technology, which can identify an active shooter and alert the manager prior to them pulling out a gun in the store.   The life-saving applications for facial recognition technologies have made it a highly desired and important technology in retail. At times, legal pushes back due to privacy concerns, but in many cases, this is based on misinformation.   Technology vendors need to be prepared to work with others to harmonize technologies. LP leaders who are receiving alerts from multiple different systems working independently may quickly become overwhelmed. Users want dashboards and integrated technologies.     LINKS MENTIONED    TalkLP News    Calibration Group.com    LinkedIn    BIO: Amber Bradley    Amber Bradley, the founder of Calibration Group, LLC, is a brand-positioning expert with extensive experience across multiple business disciplines, including marketing and public relations. Amber's proven success in creating multi-tiered, strategic marketing and communication campaigns continues to yield unmatched results for solutions providers, as well as retail loss prevention and operations professionals.    Amber is the owner and host of TalkLP which provides valuable content to loss prevention and asset protection professionals through unscripted interviews about all different types of topics.    Amber also serves as Executive Director for the Restaurant Loss Prevention and Security Association (RLPSA) and is a contributing editor for the D&D Daily, a daily e-news outlet specializing in providing the most relevant news for retail loss prevention, safety, and security professionals. 

Today we're speaking with retail loss prevention industry leader, Joe Davis, who has led LP/AP teams in big box, specialty and other retail organizations. We explore key market trends and technology shifts in retail and their impact on LP/AP teams. Joe explains the potential for AI and data analytics to help combat loss and how LP/AP teams are evolving alongside retail.   IN THIS EPISODE:    [1:50] What are some of the key market trends and technology shifts in retail and their impact on LP/AP teams? [3:30] What are the impacts of these technological advancements on the LP/AP industry? [6:10] How do you assess new technologies and the potential impact they will have on loss? [8:55] What are new types of loss that are occurring due to technologies like self-checkout?  [10:50] How do data analytics impact the LP/AP team's decision-making process?  [14:15] What does the ideal LP/AP team look like today versus what it looked like in the past? [16:05] Is there any particular technology that really could be a game changer for LP/AP space? [19:00] What will LP/AP industry look like in five years?   KEY TAKEAWAYS:    Increasingly, recruiting individuals with diverse backgrounds and capabilities is valuable for growing an effective LP/AP team. As data becomes available and critical, recruiting individuals like statisticians, those with IT capabilities or even legal training can be valuable.  AI has given LP/AP teams better visibility into people who cause malicious loss and exposes more consistently and effectively loss-causing deviated transactions. There is value in collaborating early and often with IT teams and cross-functional groups when it comes to emerging technology deployment plans. This provides an opportunity to learn about these technologies and to earn a seat at the table to debate and voice challenges. As data proliferates, the winners are going to be those who can leverage it into an actionable, proactive response. Just because we have the data does not mean it's valuable.   LINKS MENTIONED    https://www.linkedin.com/in/joetdavis/   https://www.telaid.com/   BIO: Joe Davis   Joe Davis is a loss prevention veteran with over 30 years' experience in the retail industry. Joe started his career as an in-store loss prevention associate and was promoted into a multi-unit role supporting multiple complex markets across the US. Joe has led teams in the corporate, field, technology, investigations and risk management areas with a diverse group of retail organizations during his career. Currently, Joe is building out a new asset protection organization focused on recruiting talent, leveraging technology, improving product availability and driving increased profitability.

Today we're speaking with innovation and continuous improvement leader, Brooks Thompson, who explains the 3 horizons as they relate to the future of retail. We explore the 3 horizons framework and how retailers can successfully implement technologies to combat their business challenges today while being aware of and prepared for emerging technologies that will be critical to their viability in the future.     IN THIS EPISODE:     [1:40] Understand the concept of 3 horizons in retail and how they relate to the future of retail.  [2:58] What is horizon 1? What does it look like and what's driving it?  [6:12] What is a use case for AI/emerging technology around sustainability?   [8:15] What is horizon 2?   [13:02] What does horizon 3 look like?   [14:15] What does it look like when we get into a space where every retailer has a virtual store?    [16:36] – Do you see any major barriers or risks that may keep retail from moving to the virtual world?  [19:10] What groups and resources should companies build to be ready for the next horizons?    KEY TAKEAWAYS:     The 3 horizons method helps guide senior leadership in retail and tactical teams in conceptualizing disruptive technologies – both those that are being deployed today and future technologies.   Horizon 1 is now. This includes technologies that have been tested and validated multiple times. Supply chain disruptions and labor shortages drive horizon 1 in retail today.  Horizon 2 includes the future technologies that are 1 – 2 years out from widescale deployment. Some first movers are experimenting with them but use cases will have to be proven and promoted to put these technologies on the technology agenda for mainstream retailers. These are technologies like VR/AR.  Horizon 3 includes massively disruptive technologies to be deployed in the next 3 – 5 years. There is not enough data yet available to fully understand the implications of these technologies. An example would be retailers shifting away from brick-and-mortar stores to completely virtual stores.  Technologies like computer vision will enormously impact achieving sustainability objectives. ESG goals can be difficult to measure but computer vision can help companies understand how much waste they are producing, for example, and if it's really diverted from the landfill.     LINKS MENTIONED   https://www.linkedin.com/in/brooks-thompson-2b1b457a    BIO: Brooks Thompson    Brooks Thompson is an innovation and continuous improvement leader focused on ideation, prioritization, strategy, and emerging trends. Brooks has worked for leading companies including FedEx, The Giant Company, and Ahold Delhaize, tackling the challenges of today's operations but strategically planning for future technology disruptors. Over the last nine years, he has leveraged technologies like camera vision, robotics, and machine learning to help companies implement their vision and drive positive outcomes, savings and profit growth. 

This week's episode of Telaid Tech Connect features Andi Huels, Head of AI, North America for Lenovo. We explore the AI ecosystem, the different components and stakeholders, and the potential for AI to transform businesses in all segments. Andi outlines insightful use cases and explains how to establish scalable, optimized infrastructure to support AI for applications now and in the future.   IN THIS EPISODE:    [2:58] What is the AI ecosystem? What does it look like and who are the players? [5:08] What are the benefits of working together from an ISV perspective? [7:25] What are some of the top use cases for AI that you are seeing today? [12:06] What should customers be thinking about today to futureproof their AI solution? [14:19] What are some reasons to consider investment in hardware as a service? [16:36] Where is this technology going? What do the next 5 years look like?   KEY TAKEAWAYS:    The AI ecosystem is made up of edge servers loaded with software from an independent software vendor (ISV), which processes the data on site and transmits the relevant processed data to the cloud. GPUs and CPUs power the solution and integrators like Telaid bring all those components together with deployment and ongoing maintenance. A common challenge with AI deployments is a failure to spec the correct hardware. The results can be anything from the system causing a fire hazard to sub-optimal performance or needless expense. It's important to spec the correct hardware to support AI applications.  There are use cases for AI in everything from autonomous checkout to customer experience, safety, inventory management and labor management. Keys to helping future-proof your AI ecosystem include: Think about the different elements of your operation and consider how AI could help you gain better visibility or better manage those elements to identify current and future use cases. Consider physical space needed to accommodate additional hardware. Evaluate the potential to access the latest hardware with an opex investment. Sound and voice AI have the potential to improve security as well as offer all people greater access to retail.    LINKS MENTIONED    https://www.lenovo.com/us/en/servers-storage/solutions/analytics-ai/   https://www.linkedin.com/in/andreahuelsai   BIO: Andi Huels   Andi leads Lenovo's Enterprise AI business in North America. A global go-to-market executive with expertise in artificial intelligence, machine learning, and data analytics, Andrea helps F500 companies drive agility and re-invent their operations with AI. Her passion for evangelizing AI solutions inspires executives in retail, restaurants, CPG, supply chain, and manufacturing think differently about how they can harness the power of artificial intelligence to make smarter decisions, increase operational efficiency, and enhance customer experience. A deep understanding of AI solutions, combined with her ability to cultivate technology ecosystems with software vendors, GPU and CPU manufacturers, system integrators, and channel partners, enables Andrea to become a trusted advisor to CXOs.

Today we're speaking with Atif Kureishy, Founder of Vistry, about practical applications for AI in restaurant automation. We explore computer vision, voice and IoT as sources for AI data and specific applications for improving throughput in the drive-thru, improving order accuracy, reducing abandonment and improving the customer experience. Atif also makes some predictions on what restaurants will look like in 5 – 10 years.   IN THIS EPISODE:    [2:45] What are some specific challenges in the restaurant industry that AI can help address? [4:47] What are three data sources we think about related to AI? [6:27] How can AI help reduce abandonment in the drive-thru? [8:30] What is a specific use case for computer vision, voice and IoT? [14:19] What are some use cases in the kitchen for AI?  [20:21] For restaurateurs who want to leverage AI to gain efficiencies, how long and how much data does it take to begin to achieve those efficiencies?  [24:55] What is the restaurant space going to look like in 5 – 10 years?   KEY TAKEAWAYS:    A few of the major challenges restaurants today face include labor shortages and high turnover, supply chain volatility and food costs due to rising inflation.  Restaurants have introduced technologies that provide diners greater access to convenience and autonomous ordering, but fulfillment of those orders in an expedient and accurate manner has been difficult and is now a focus of attention for restaurant operators.  Predictive analytics uses information collected via cameras at the drive-thru to produce actionable insights. For example, computer vision can use information about the type of cars in the drive-thru in to predict order volume. The system learns that typically a minivan will be associated with larger order volumes than a coupe.  Vistry processes data that is collected from existing hardware in the restaurant, making it a cost effective solution. It is also scalable so that restaurants can begin with a specific use case and add on as their needs evolve.  The future of the restaurant industry may involve the construction of completely autonomous restaurants that have a distinct value proposition of order delivery. But another likely trend is the deployment of AI, computer vision and other technologies in existing kitchens to help them address challenges of their current operation.    LINKS MENTIONED    https://www.vistry.ai/   https://www.linkedin.com/in/atifkureishy    BIO: Atif Kureishy   Atif is the founder and CEO of Vistry. Vistry is focused on AI for Restaurant Automation - which provides restaurateurs insights and automation services needed to address their digital and labor shortage challenges. Vistry's platform leverages vision, voice, and IoT data analytics to help measure and improve speed, production quality, and guest experience.

Today, we're speaking with Craig Cartwright, lead project manager at Darvis. In this episode of the Telaid Tech Connect Podcast, we explore AI, computer vision, and machine learning and how these technologies work together to solve critical business problems. Craig also discusses the industries using AI and some of the critical business applications.   IN THIS EPISODE:    [03:38] What is the definition of AI? What is computer vision and what is machine learning? [09:00] Which industries are ripe for AI applications and what are some of the use cases? [17:40] How does computer vision support visibility and better management of the supply chain? [19:00] In what ways does AI support loss prevention and security? [21:00] How do business and personal begin to blend in the world of AI, virtual reality, the metaverse and augmented reality?  [24:00] What will these technologies look like in five years?     KEY TAKEAWAYS:    AI is the simulation of human intelligence by machines. Whereas traditionally computer algorithms focused on one process at a time, there is now a focus on building computer intelligence that can consider multiple factors simultaneously.  Machine learning is a branch of AI that focuses on using data and algorithms to mimic the way humans learn. It attempts to simulate human behavior and learning for artificial intelligence. Deep learning is a subset of machine learning and artificial intelligence that seeks to mimic the functioning of the human brain based on artificial neural networks. Computer vision is an interdisciplinary scientific field that deals with how computers can gain that high-level understanding from digital images or videos. It seeks to understand and automate tasks like the human visual system can, either through machine learning, deep learning or other artificial intelligence techniques. We have seen how computer vision technologies bring efficiency to processes in healthcare, logistics, and retail. Tracking is vital for them and, through AI and particularly computer vision, they can track information with greater efficiency and accuracy.    LINKS MENTIONED    www.darvis.com/   www.linkedin.com/company/darvisinc/   bbergmann@telaid.com   BIO: Craig Cartwright   Craig Cartwright is a creative with a passion for technology. Craig is always thinking of the next innovation to hit the market and how Darvis can ensure they're ahead of the curve. He believes artificial intelligence is necessary to automate processes that have historically been a major cause of inefficiency within organizations. AI is capable of revolutionizing the way we live, work, and play, so it's important to maintain a sense of wonder and curiosity to discover the next big innovation.    Craig spends most of his free time reading, writing, acting, traveling, and enjoying cigars. He's currently training for a triathlon and attempts to run 30 miles a week. He loves to be on stage, and he thinks the creative spirit and mindset are quintessential for start-up success!

Today, we're speaking with Terry Sullivan, LP/AP industry veteran and president of the Loss Prevention Foundation. In this episode of the Telaid Tech Connect Podcast, we explore the latest technologies in the retail industry and the impacts on loss prevention/asset protection (LP/AP) teams. Terry also discusses the walk-in walk-out experience, RFID technology, acceleration of AI, computer vision, and applications for facial recognition technologies.   IN THIS EPISODE:    [02:10] What has been happening in the retail industry lately, and what is the real impact on loss prevention? [04:30] Are there any vital technologies for loss prevention teams? [06:00] How does the walk-in walk-out experience affect LP professionals, and what are the concerns? [07:20] What is EAS (Electronic Article Surveillance) and will it become obsolete? [09:35] How does the acceleration of AI and computer vision affect the future of RFID (Radio-Frequency Identification) technology? [11:20] What is the current state of facial recognition technology adoption among retailers?  [16:00] What will the loss prevention space look like in the next five years? What significant trends or shifts might be coming next?   KEY TAKEAWAYS:    The focus of LP/AP professionals has changed drastically over the last 30 months. Due to global pandemic, volatile economic conditions and labor shortages, the focus of LP/AP has shifted to pandemic preparedness, inventory accuracy, ORC prevention and employee and customer safety. Technology is evolving fast, and the evolution of CCTV into AI and machine learning has been very beneficial. AI and machine learning will continue to evolve as retailers find new business applications. Inventory accuracy is now more critical than inventory shrink. Retailers continue to pivot and grow in an omnichannel space, and therefore having accurate inventory is vital to the customer experience. Even though there are some privacy concerns, many retailers are reconsidering the use of facial recognition technology, testing and implementing it for theft and loss prevention as well as an enhanced customer experience.  Imagine what CCTV will look like without the wires – when we can power cameras and transmit data efficiently without cable. These types of technology advancements and improvements are coming.   LINKS MENTIONED    www.yourlpf.org/   terry.sullivan@losspreventionfoundation.org   BIO: Terry Sullivan Terry, a veteran of the LP/AP industry, continues to help shape the industry through education and media by overseeing the operations of our two business units: The Loss Prevention Foundation and LP Magazine. Prior to taking on the role of President for the Loss Prevention Foundation, Terry spent 29 years in the retail loss prevention industry, holding various senior leadership roles with Lowe's and with American Stores/Albertsons.

Today we're speaking with Jim Inglis, a 60-year home center industry veteran, executive, and author. In part two of this podcast series, we explore the ten principles of high productivity retailing gleaned from Jim's time with The Home Depot and his tenured career. Jim shares insights about how building brand, customer loyalty, trust and culture is critical for success in retail.   IN THIS EPISODE:    [01:45] What are the 10 principles of high productivity retailing? [09:27] How has the digital revolution impacted brand and customer loyalty and what's that interplay? [12:45] Where do you think the impact of the retail apocalypse is going to be felt? [17:30] What does the “self-service is the best service” principle mean to the retailer? [20:20] Why is the full journey to customer loyalty and trust so critical? [22:57] How does a retailer truly empower their people and drive culture for success? [26:30] What are your last parting words on the 10 principles of high productivity retailing?   KEY TAKEAWAYS:    Embracing change, delighting the customer, right pricing, measuring the success with gross margin return on investment, having low cost and low price, advertising, having self-service, becoming more service-oriented, and paying attention to the company culture bring productivity to retailing. There has been an evolutionary change in the retail business and an absolute revolution in marketing. Technology has become vital to businesses in communicating with customers. Bad malls were being driven out of business by good malls. It was a false premise that there was going to be a physical store apocalypse because of e-commerce. In fact, pure e-commerce players are unlikely to survive in the face of rising costs and online-only service delivery. The value-oriented retailers who design their stores to work well are growing and opening new stores. The “work good” versus “look good” dichotomy is choosing between the ambiance and shopping experience. Value-oriented players' operating models are focusing on designing their stores to work well, achieve efficiency and drive down costs. Culture drives employee performance. Leadership sets values and demonstrates behavior that instills a mission-driven culture with very specific goals and objectives. Bleeding Orange Culture was built on decentralization and delegation that requires the empowerment of associates. The associates take ownership, which means they adopt the culture and understand the mission-driven culture and begin to make the right decisions. Companies must educate and reward their employees for better results.   LINKS MENTIONED    www.breakthroughretailing.com   www.telaid.com/solutions/retail-automation/   BIO: Jim Inglis   Author of How a Bleeding Orange Culture Can Change Everything! Jim Inglis has more than 50 years of experience in the home improvement retail segment. He served in executive positions with The Home Depot for 13 years and has served on the board of several retail-related associations and businesses. Since founding Inglis Retailing in 1998, Jim has advised leading home improvement retailers worldwide. In 2015, he was honored with a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Global Home Improvement Network and the European DIY Retail Association.

Today we're speaking with Jim Inglis, a 60-year home center industry veteran, executive and author. In this episode, we explore the story of how The Home Depot grew from its first few stores in 1979 to become the largest home improvement retailer in the world. Jim shares insights about how the Bleeding Orange Culture practices of empowering teams, delighting customers and embracing change led to The Home Depot's success.   IN THIS EPISODE:    [03:00] What was the market opportunity in the home center space and why was this market ready for The Home Depot?  [05:20] Why were the founders so critical to The Home Depot's success? [09:15] What were the challenges on the cultural and systems integration sides?  [13:15] How did the “everyday low-price” approach work, and why was it not sustainable for competitors? [16:05] How was The Home Depot's merchant team's approach different, and why was it so successful? [18:00] There was a CEO change that brought some major financial and cultural impacts. How was The Home Depot able to handle this? [23:10] What are some other reasons for The Home Depot's success?   KEY TAKEAWAYS:    In 1980, The Home Depot revolutionized the market by opening big box stores, bringing economies of scale and better pricing to the home improvement segment.  The founders created a customer-centric culture and their mantra was, “We will give our customers no reason ever to shop elsewhere.” Although those founders had very different viewpoints on the business, the combination was magic.  Companies should empower their associates so they can take responsibility and ownership. If companies can build a mission-driven culture, associates will take that ownership. Bleeding Orange Culture was built on decentralization and delegation. Company culture determines the response to change, and culture is essential to the success of a business.   LINKS MENTIONED    www.breakthroughretailing.com   BIO: Jim Inglis   Author of How a Bleeding Orange Culture Can Change Everything! Jim Inglis has more than 50 years of experience in the home improvement retail segment. He served in executive positions with The Home Depot for 13 years and has served on the board of several retail-related associations and businesses. Since founding Inglis Retailing in 1998, Jim has advised leading home improvement retailers worldwide. In 2015, he was honored with a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Global Home Improvement Network and the European DIY Retail Association.

Today we're speaking with Steve Latham, Founder and CEO of Banyan Hills Technologies. In this episode, we explore the digital transformation, what it means, how it's occurring, which industries are taking early action and the challenges associated with managing tens of thousands of connected devices. Steve shares insight about Canopy™, an IoT platform that enables the centralized monitoring, management and control of large networks of devices and control systems.   IN THIS EPISODE:    [01:48] When we say “digital transformation,” what are we really talking about? [02:56] Which industries are embracing the shift from analog to digital? [06:10] What are the correlating technologies that are part of this package?  [12:42] What is an example use case and ROI for the use of Banyan Hill Technologies' Canopy solution? [19:05] What will the landscape look like in five years?    KEY TAKEAWAYS:    Every business today has the opportunity to migrate from analog to digital technologies that allow them to reduce costs and achieve greater efficiency. Industries that are ripe for digital transformation include those that are highly regulated, those that depend on extensive human labor to operate, and those where security is table stakes. As companies deploy more technology devices, managing the fleet of devices across those locations becomes extremely complex but also very critical to the business. Often there are challenges of visibility and automation. Canopy is a remote device operations platform that can connect a diverse array of devices and receive and process information at scale and layer in business applications to achieve business results. In one case of thousands of digital monitors deployed worldwide, Canyon was able to improve availability of digital signage from 40 – 45% to 99%. Connected environments are going to fuel AI and machine learning capabilities by providing valuable, quality data for analysis.   LINKS MENTIONED    https://banyanhills.com   info@telaid.com   BIO: Steve Latham Founder and CEO of Banyan Hill Technologies, Steve Latham has been in the technology field for over 20 years and has extensive experience in cloud-based software and the Internet of Things. In 2013, Steve founded Banyan Hills Technologies, an Internet of Things company that provides businesses with end-to-end IoT services and brings to market a cloud-based IoT platform called CanopyTM. The company was named to Connected World IoT Innovations and, in 2018, and ranked number 1,203 on the Inc. 5000 list of fastest-growing private companies in the United States.  Prior to Banyan, Steve served as CTO for the Entertainment division of NCR, and led the planning, architecture, implementation and delivery of NCR's Blockbuster Express kiosk business. 

Today we're speaking with Keith Aubele, founder of Nav1gate Group, about the retail cyclone and how it's driving retailers to massive growth or failure. We explore the unprecedented conditions creating this retail cyclone and how leaders are taking action to reduce the impact and leveraging technology to future-proof their approaches. Keith also outlines the challenges that LP, IT leaders and executives face. Join us as we discuss the conditions retailers face today and, in the future, and the critical technologies that can help them survive and thrive in this challenging environment.   IN THIS EPISODE:    [02:35] What is the retail cyclone?   [04:15] What are the impacts of the retail cyclone? What will it mean to the employee experience, customer experience and retail operations? [11:05] Which technologies should retailers embrace to enhance their performance in difficult times? [15:05] What challenges will asset protection and loss prevention teams face? [17:35] What will retail look like in five years? What are some significant changes that could drive us to the next frontier? [21:05] What advice would you give loss prevention and IT leaders as they face this cyclone head-on?   KEY TAKEAWAYS:    Conditions such as labor shortages, increasing logistical costs, escalating inflation and rising fuel costs have come together at a single point in time. They are creating the retail cyclone, a cataclysmic occurrence that will impact retail today, tomorrow and in the future.  There is excessive cost inflation that retailers will have to pass along to consumers, and executives should prepare for this.  To reduce theft and ORC, retailers must make themselves a hard target through the use of people, technology and analytics.  Completely cashier-less stores are going to be the future. When retailers have fewer employees at the point of purchase, they increase the risk for loss.  Asset protection leaders must begin thinking today about how they will be impacted tomorrow. Within 3 to 5 years, the retailers will have more self-checkout positions than staff positions.  Frail operations today won't be able to withstand that cyclone. However, it will strengthen the steel of the top competitors that are already planning for worst-case scenarios, putting platforms and processes into place, and scaling back on their number one expense: labor costs.    LINKS MENTIONED    k.aubele@nav1gate.com   www.nav1gate.com   info@telaid.com   BIO: Keith Aubele Keith Aubele CPP, LPP is the founder of the Nav1gate Group. He spent 25 years as a retail senior executive serving a long career at Walmart as the Director of Loss Prevention and then as the Senior Vice President of Loss Prevention & Risk for The Home Depot. Keith and his team led the organizations to the lowest shrink in their histories and improved profitability at both companies. Today, he partners with retailers and solution providers to help drive bottom-line profitability throughout the retail vertical.  He is a noted, retail subject matter expert, speaker, author and mentor.

Today we discuss the impacts and importance of sustainable technology purchasing with Annie Bevan, Global Head of Sustainability at Superior Essex Communications.    We explore the importance of sustainability in the built environment and how corporations and leaders are taking action to reduce environmental impact and create more sustainable spaces. Annie also explains how technologies are changing the traditional design of buildings and enabling greater sustainability. Join us as we discuss the importance of sustainable technology purchasing.   IN THIS EPISODE:    [01:50] What are some key factors or changes in the industry that have been driving the shift and focus on sustainability as it relates to technology?  [05:00] When it comes to technology, as we look at the sustainability options, what is available in the marketplace? [06:15] What type of sustainability goals are companies setting for themselves? [09:50] What are some companies that you think are doing a great job when it comes to pursuing sustainability? [12:20] What is a practical and simple first step for business leaders who want to bring a sustainable approach to their companies?   KEY TAKEAWAYS:    There is a significant focus on the products that go into the buildings and the technologies used to reduce the carbon footprint of built environments. 40% of the world's global carbon emissions are due to the built environment. 90% of all human health ailments are due to everyday exposures.  Leaders are trying to advance sustainability with power over ethernet and other smart building technologies. Power over ethernet, communication, cabling, and IoT sensors are changing the way we design buildings. Superior Essex knows the carbon impact of every cable they produce and works to reduce the effects at the product level and provide that lower carbon product to the industry.   LINKS MENTIONED    annie.bevan@spsx.com   blog.telaid.com/blog   BIO: Annie Bevan   Annie Bevan is a sustainability professional with over 17 years of experience working with organizations to develop ESG frameworks, develop company-wide sustainable action plans and achieve various sustainable product certifications. She is widely regarded in the industry as an expert in sustainability program development, environmental, social governance and third-party verification. In her role as the Global Head of Sustainability, she oversees the market-leading Superior Essex sustainability program, working to collaborate and accelerate the company's sustainability platform through engagement with both customers and suppliers. She has been instrumental in developing SPSX's new Mission Next Vision 2030 program. She is driven by a passion for creating positive change through collaboration and is inspired by the interconnectivity of all things in both nature and business.

Today we discuss the use of data analytics and understanding the true omnichannel experience for customers with Tracy Benaman, VP of Retail Sales of Deep North, an expert in retail operations and data analytics. She explains how retailers and QSRs are using video analytics to inform real-time decision making that improves employee efficiency and customer service. Join us as we discuss how AI is transforming retail stores and QSRs and their ability to drive sales in real time, return the greatest ROI and achieve their strategic objectives.    IN THIS EPISODE:  [02:15] How have retail stores and QSRs transformed over the years?  [03:50] Have there been any specific changes to consumer behavior that are driving the need for deeper analytics? [05:00] Now that retailers and QSR operators are armed with extensive data, what are the clear use cases? [11:30] What is Deep North's capability in this space related to the use cases and driving ROI? [13:41] What does the analytics space look like five years from now?  [16:11] What is the advice for IT professionals looking to roll out a deeper level of analytics at their company?   KEY TAKEAWAYS:  QSRs use this solution for three main things: speed, productivity, and service timing. Predictive analytics allow managers to make better real-time decisions to improve performance.  Retailers are becoming more informed with data analytics; they now have information about the customers in their physical stores which they didn't have in the past. Retailers can validate their payroll dollars, associates and manage their store operation teams effectively by using video analytics and monitoring the data behind it. Also, groceries and warehouses use this technology to monitor their operations for safety issues. Deep North works with existing cameras and can use a simple VPN connection to upload video to the cloud. The system can be deployed within a few weeks.  Artificial Intelligence and processed data will enable completely smart stores in a matter of a few years.   LINKS MENTIONED: www.deepnorth.com www.telaid.com bbergmann@telaid.com info@telaid.com   BIO: Tracy Benaman Tracy Benaman has led retail operations for 26 years with 5 different apparel brands including Gap Inc., American Eagle, Polo Ralph Lauren, Ashley Stewart and NY & Company. In addition, Tracy spent two years consulting for Claris Solutions heading up the store operational practice working with a variety of retailers to improve sales, productivity and ultimately profit. Most recently, Tracy led the client engagement team at Alliance Data Card Services, working with over 80 clients to improve customer engagement. Tracy is recognized in the industry as a team leader with the ability to identify key behavioral changes that directly impact sales and profit. Tracy's operational business improvement approach works with all levels of the organization resulting in successful tactical and strategic approaches.  

Today's episode is about UVD sanitation technology, its evolution in various industries, and how it's becoming a part of our daily lives. Owner and Founder of Gallo Medical Company, Christine Gallo joins us to discuss advancements in UVD technology and the factors associated with successful deployment. Christine explores the growing applications of UVD sanitation technology across multiple industries and how businesses are using this technology to protect their employees during the Covid pandemic. Join us as we explore the applications for UVD sanitation technologies in hospitality, dining, education and other environments.   IN THIS EPISODE:  [01:56] How has the UVD industry transformed over the years?  [03:22] What are some emerging UVD technologies and what are the applications for businesses? [05:10] What are some real-life examples of how UV sanitation is being used today? [07:07] What makes UVD different than traditional sanitation methods? [09:10] What are some of the critical success factors associated with successful deployment?  [11:54] What will UVD technologies look like in 5+ years?   KEY TAKEAWAYS:  UV technology took off over the past few decades, primarily in healthcare, but has expanded to other industries during the pandemic. New products have evolved over the past two years to meet changing demand. Gallo Medical Company offers a high-end UV sanitation robot that, when deployed in a room, prevents harmful pathogens from reproducing. UV technology is typically used when there are no people in the room. However, there is a new technology called Far-UV that is safe for use in occupied spaces.  UVD technology offers an additional precaution when used in collaboration with traditional sanitation methods. The use of UVD also demonstrates employers' proactive stance on providing a safer, healthier environment to employees during the Covid. Over the next five years, UV technology will be more entrenched in our daily lives, from sanitizing vehicles to restrooms and elevators.   LINKS MENTIONED: www.gallomedicalcompany.com www.telaid.com bbergmann@telaid.com   BIO: Christine Gallo is the founder of Gallo Medical Company LLC and has been developing emerging technology products for Long Term Care and the Acute market for over a decade. Gallo Medical is a mission-driven company, whose goal is to deliver products and solutions to create safer environments for employees, customers, patients, caregivers and families. 

Today's episode is all about operations technology (OT). Guests James Snook and Doug Sparkes join us to discuss the role operations technology plays in a company's success and advancement. How does IT play a role in the implementation and maintenance of these operations technologies? In this episode, we also talk about five key myths and realities of integrating new operations technologies into a business.  Join us as we discuss how businesses can use OT to achieve critical business, operational, and sustainability objectives.   IN THIS EPISODE:  [03:10] What is OT, how is it different than IT, and how does it play a role in improving operations? [05:30] The key myths and realities of using IoT as it relates to operations technology. [12:47] Goals to consider when proposing a new IoT strategy.   [15:54] What role does NuOz play in IoT and OT systems?   [21:00] What are some key trends in the integration of business, operations, and sustainability?   KEY TAKEAWAYS:  With so many companies deploying IoT devices in their facilities, IT teams are under a lot of pressure to simply add these devices to the network. However, they are also challenged to maintain the security and performance of the network.     Implementing smart technology in a retail setting is not as simple as it sounds.  It requires smart training to complement the smart technology, which should be easy to understand and integrate into the day-to-day operations.   NuOz specializes in infrastructure and security needs from IoT and OT systems. OT systems have unique standards, languages, and protocols. NuOz is focused on implementing and harmonizing these systems in a very secure manner so businesses can connect systems and manage their data.    LINKS MENTIONED: www.nuoz.com www.telaid.com bbergmann@telaid.com info@telaid.com   BIO: James Snook, NuOz Retail Leadership 24 years in retail technology leadership, including 22 years with Starbucks, 10 Years of consulting & investing, serving on boards for social & environmental impact.  Father of 4 sons native in cryptos and blockchains and a professional goat wrangler.   Doug is a retail operations veteran with 37 years of experience in energy management at Costco Wholesale. Doug is an expert at procuring, implementing, and managing equipment related to lighting, HVAC, refrigeration, solar, and Operational Technology networking (OT). Doug is currently on the board of advisors at NuOz.

Anand Muralidaran is the Global Business Development Head for Retail at NVIDIA and today we will be addressing how retailers are working to digitalize the customer experience. Retailers constantly adapt in order to best serve their customers. Available resources such as smart cameras, algorithms, and heat mapping are helping companies like NVIDIA reimagine the traditional retail experience while enhancing customer experience, loyalty, and engagement. Tune into today's episode as we discuss what retail will look like in five years and how companies are experimenting with these possibilities.     IN THIS EPISODE:  [06:02] What does it mean to digitalize the physical customer experience?   [08:46] Why smart cameras are an important tool for retailers to collect real-time data on customers.     [13:18] Anand explains the driving factors behind the autonomous check-out process and experience that many retailers are investing in.   [22:11] Will brick and mortar be relevant in five years?   [30:00] Inception is a Nvidia program that helps startup companies access resources to build their digital platform.     KEY TAKEAWAYS:  Retailers are using technology to craft a customized in-store experience based on customer footprints. In-store services and supportive associates can enhance customer experience, loyalty, and engagement.   In an omniverse world, retailers can experiment in the virtual world at a fraction of the cost before building a massive warehouse.   Nvidia is focused on the holistic transformation of the retail landscape.     LINKS MENTIONED: Anand Muralidaran's Linkedin amuralidaran@nvidia.com   BIO: Anand Muralidaran, Global BD Head - Retail, CPG and QSRs, NVIDIA Anand is the Global Business Development Head for Retail at NVIDIA, brings 25 years of valuable experience consulting, partnering and delivering strategic and transformative value to F1000 Retailers across the globe. He has had the privilege of working across a variety of Retailers including Walmart, Target, Petco, Best Buy, Williams Sonoma, and Sephora. A lifelong learner, he never wastes an opportunity to learn, adapt and shape the trends that are evolving in the Retail industry. 

In this episode, we discuss how companies are transitioning from capex investments in technology to hardware as a service. Today's guest, Paul Metzheiser, is a managing partner at TAMCO where he focuses on revenue generation and business development for the company. Paul has worked closely with security integrator leadership teams for nearly thirty years. Tune in as he shares insights on the speed, flexibility and scalability enabled by hardware as a service.     IN THIS EPISODE: [02:14] Why has the industry bought and sold the same way for so long and is it a good business model? [03:57] COVID has been a catalyst for how businesses have adapted their hybrid work models and technologies. [05:00] Explore the benefits for businesses that adopt a hybrid business model. [07:57] Paul shares advice with IT buyers about how they can deliver the case from shifting from hardware ownership to hardware as a service. [10:02] Moving forward, how will the technology landscape change?   KEY TAKEAWAYS: Consumers are starting to invest in services rather than ownership because the economics of ownership are not in their favor. Hardware as a service gives organizations the ability to scale quicker and to adopt and maximize technologies more quickly, lending more flexibility and more control over solutions. Businesses and customers are really starting to see the benefits of hybrid business models. As-a-service offerings are becoming the new norm for service providers. The future of integrated technology will bring consumers more innovation within the as-a-service offerings that are offered. LINKS MENTIONED: www.tamcocorp.com paul.metzheiser@tamcocorp.com www.telaid.com info@telaid.com   BIO: Paul Metzheiser is a managing partner at TAMCO and focuses on revenue generation and business development for the company. TAMCO specializes in helping integrators make a pivot to successfully selling security as a service. Metzheiser works closely with security integrator leadership teams to make the pivot to a service model and build more RMR. A key component to this pivot is the adoption of TAMCO's security as-a-service subscription consumption offering.

Mark Pilkington is a brand expert, entrepreneur, motivationalist, and thought leader. Today we discuss Mark's recent book, Retail Recovery: How Creative Retailers Are Winning in their Post-Apocalyptic World. Mark's book is a survival guide for brands in the semi-post pandemic age, detailing new forces changing how we buy products, experience brands, and giving insights into how retailers can recover and thrive under new conditions. Tune in as we talk about trends in retail during the pandemic, and we dig into some case studies from leaders in the industry.   IN THIS EPISODE: [01:30] Mark discusses his most recent book, Retail Recovery: How Creative Retailers Are Winning in their Post-Apocalyptic World. [02:30] Why this global pandemic pushed retail over the edge and some emerging trends Mark sees in the industry. [3:30] The severity of the pandemic crisis forced a lot of retailers out of business and cleared the deck for new thinking and new creativity, which is why Retail Recovery is an optimistic book. [06:10] Notable retail trends include: shifting competitiveness, correct channel management, and retail property conversion. [8:22] Mark outlines the reasons why consumers are in control now in a retail setting. [11:59] – In the omniverse, the transaction is no longer the critical thing. It's about experience and how to use technology to improve the customer experience. [18:35] Mark dives into case studies from leaders in retail like Walmart and Target. [23:20] Mark discusses his favorite consumer technologies.   KEY TAKEAWAYS: The pandemic accelerated many trends that have already been present in the retail market. During the pandemic, retailers have been given the opportunity for new thinking and new creativity, which is why retail will still be able to recover in the end. Young consumers are big supporters of major verticals in the retail industry like fashion and beauty but have little wealth to spend.   LINKS MENTIONED: Website http://markpilkington.net/   BIO: Mark Pilkington is a brand expert, entrepreneur, motivationalist and thought leader, with the vision to see what the future looks like and the drive to help brands get there. He has been successful in both worlds – the classical consumer brand/retailing world and the dot.com startup world. His 30 years of experience in brand building includes success across multiple categories and on a global basis. He has authored several books including Retail Recovery: How Creative Retailers Are Winning in their Post-Apocalyptic World.

Nigel Waterton leads the sales and marketing efforts for Arcules as Chief Revenue Officer. First, he discusses the shift to cloud-based security systems and the technology trends driving this transition. Then, we look ahead to the impact of the cloud on the future of security. Tune in as Nigel explores how the cloud-based systems can improve visibility into your business and enhance the customer experience.   IN THIS EPISODE: [02:10] Nigel explains how the security industry has transformed over the years based on the shift to the cloud.  [03:45] Fear, uncertainty, and doubt are some challenges retailers face when it comes to migrating to the cloud. [06:00] Consider ways the transition to cloud-based systems can improve your business and enhance the customer experience.   [10:00] What are some key considerations when making the shift from traditional models to a cloud approach? [16:40] Look ahead to the impact of cloud on future security use cases and innovation.     KEY TAKEAWAYS: Customers are now beginning to see the power of shifting to cloud-based platforms.  The use of cloud-based solutions allows organizations to maximize data for insights across the organization. The ubiquitous nature of the cloud is now becoming so prevalent that the security industry is adapting to that trend.  Technology is more powerful and intuitive than ever.   LINKS MENTIONED: Arcules https://arcules.com/   BIO: Chief Revenue Officer, Arcules Nigel Waterton leads the sales and marketing efforts for Arcules as Chief Revenue Officer, calling on his 22 years of experience building and managing large, high-growth technology organizations. Waterton joined Arcules from Aronson Security Group, an ADT Commercial Company, where he served as Senior Vice President of Corporate Strategy and Development and led a cross-disciplinary team within the company as well as with ASG's strategic partners to identify the key areas of optimization and innovation needed to deliver value to clients. Over the course of his career, he has held a variety of senior-level sales and leadership roles with well-known brands, including Protection One and RFI Security. Waterton is recognized as an industry leader, has been quoted in numerous print and online publications and has sat on multiple industry councils and advisory boards.

Frank Thomas is a security industry veteran with about 25 years of experience in mechanical engineering, operations, application design and sales. Frank kicks off the podcast highlighting retailers' desire to maximize the value of each technology deployment. He discusses retailers' drive to leverage technology to better understand their customers and gain insights that allow them to be smarter about their business. Frank explores the types of data and analytics generated from video and other security technologies and their value to different functional areas across retail. Tune in as we look ahead at potential market changes impacting the security space.   IN THIS EPISODE: [02:05] The most significant challenges retailers face today [3:36] Types of data that are crucial to helping businesses run better [07:00] How retailers are expanding the ROI on technology by combining previously siloed value propositions for technology usage across functional areas [09:10] Critical success factors when deploying technologies [12:05] Bridging knowledge of consumer behaviors online and in the physical store [17:45] Connectivity: Frank's favorite technology that he uses in everyday life    KEY TAKEAWAYS: Video and sensors, traditionally “owned” by loss prevention, can provide powerful information that can be used across multiple functional areas.  The fusion of data reveals insights that are critical to better understanding your customers and the business.  Loss protection leaders need to be engaged with merchandising and operations leaders.  If businesses can get consumers to buy online pick up in-store, they can gain a lot of valuable data from those transactions.    LINKS MENTIONED: Frank on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/frank-thomas-78555720/ Email Frank.Thomas4@US.Bosch.com   BIO: Frank Thomas is a security industry veteran with over 24 years of experience in mechanical engineering, operations, application design and sales. Bosch is at the forefront of IoT design and innovation. From the Building Technologies perspective, the volume of data from a multitude of sensors from visual to audio have created a data rich environment that when combined with semantic artificial intelligence provide the Power to Predict. Bosch is uniquely positioned to provide the Trusted IoT platforms with intelligence from the edge to the center in order to reveal business intelligence to make peoples' lives better.

In this episode, host Beth Bergman interviews Mike Korcuba, vice president of sales and leader of the physical security practice at Telaid. Mike considers emerging loss prevention (LP) and security challenges related to the use of new click and collect solutions. He discusses the most prevalent sources of loss and strategies for preventing losses associated with theft and fraud, in particular. How are LP teams responding to respond to evolving risks and threats due to changes triggered by the pandemic and emerging click and collect solutions? Tune in to explore the latest market trends that could inform your most critical business decisions!  IN THIS EPISODE:   [01:00] Introduction to Mike Korcuba, Vice president of Sales and leader of the physical security practice at Telaid   [2:00] Sources of loss for unattended delivery solutions  [4:00] Considerations for maximizing employee and customers safety with placement of an unattended click and collect solution    [07:00] How audit procedures reduce sweethearting and theft on order items  [9:00] The impacts of COVID-19 on LP teams   [11:00] The evolution of loss prevention   [17:00] Mike gives words of advice, including “approach anything you do like it's an investigation.”  [20:00] Mike discusses drones and using Apple technology. KEY TAKEAWAYS:   COVID-19 was a big driver for the acceleration of click and collect solutions in retail.   How do we ensure both employees as well as customer safety with these unattended delivery solutions?  If you're auditing each and every purchase, you can really cut down on collusion that could take place at the registers or at a self-checkout.   BIO:    With more than 30 years' experience in the loss prevention (LP) sector, Mike has a proven track record of bringing an end user approach to the application of loss prevention technology. Making the transition from LP to technology in the early 2000's, Mike has brought his passion for solving problems to the forefront of design, deployment and the operation of LP solutions. Mike strives to bring innovation and cutting-edge platforms to the loss prevention community with the focus on cost effective and efficient design leading to standardization.

Meelis Anton has helped companies implement technologies that enable smooth and time-saving customer interactions. First, Meelis speaks about how Cleveron came to be and the history of startups in Estonia. He reveals what makes Cleveron's products unique regarding click and collect solutions for retail, grocery, and logistics. Tune in as Meelis dives into the retail and grocery industry's significant challenges, and Meelis gives advice for companies deploying new technologies.   IN THIS EPISODE: [02:40] How Cleveron came to be and the history of startups in Estonia.  [05:35] Changes in consumer behavior are driving the need for expanded click and collect solutions. [07:00] The major challenges that the retail and grocery industry is facing.  [13:00] What makes Cleveron unique from other companies and Cleveron's vision is for the future.  [20:00] Words of wisdom from Meelis Anton when it comes to deploying new technologies.    KEY TAKEAWAYS: People still want to communicate out in the real world. Not everyone wants to shop virtually.  Retail operations need to do something unique to bring the ‘wow' effect to the consumers.  When putting new technology in place, the owners need to track both the consumer experience and the employee experience.  Training your employees to be comfortable with new technology will be critical in making your project a success.      LINKS MENTIONED: Cleveron https://cleveron.com/   BIO: During more than 15 years, Meelis has helped companies implement technologies that enable smooth and time saving customer interactions. He brings in a broad perspective from telecom, utilities and retail sectors. Meelis advocates the importance of user experience for all technologies utilized both for end-customers and associates. Meelis has spearheaded solution designs and operational activities with focus of ease-of-use and constant improvements in mind.

Welcome to the Telaid Tech Connect Podcast. In this podcast, we will deep dive into the transformational changes occurring across multiple industries today. Plus, we chat about how technologies are helping enterprises achieve their aggressive business objectives. Telaid is uniquely qualified to host this podcast because we see the challenges and successes of innovative technology deployments in businesses from our everyday work. Tune in as we talk about what our podcast episodes will be like as we explore what's next in the world of business technology.   IN THIS EPISODE: [00:55] Why Telaid is uniquely qualified to host this podcast.  [02:30] What you can expect from every episode of the Telaid Tech Connect Podcast.   KEY TAKEAWAYS: In each episode, we will dive deep into the issues presenting themselves day by day and enabling technologies to solve business challenges. With every episode, you're investing time to understand marketplace dynamics while collecting ideas about resources available to you. In this podcast, we'll discuss how changes in consumer behaviors are driving innovation in different segments across retail, financial services, logistics, etc.  If you want to explore what's next in the world of business technology, then you've found the right podcast.