Author: Peggy Smedley
Even before the COVID-19 pandemic, I have been covering the worker shortage in the construction industry, sharing some strategies for how to address it. For years, labor shortages have undermined the construction industry’s ability to keep up with demand. Throughout the pandemic, we have been talking about the uptick in workers changing jobs and moving industries. Some call it the Great Resignation. But I like to call it the Great Job Hop. Workforce Trends New research from WalletHub suggests millions of Americans are quitting their jobs each month, even in the face of high inflation. The incentives available from changing…
EVs (electric vehicles) are growing in popularity. Sales of electric cars hit 6.6 million in 2021, more than tripling their marketshare from two years earlier, according to IEA. Truth be told, while growth has been impressive during the past three years, overall adoption is still low. In fact, there are just a few states leading the nation with EV adoption. Looking at sales share for Q1 2022, there were a handful of states leading adoption—mostly in the West. Some of these states include California, Nevada, Washington, Oregon, and Colorado, just to name a few. As I explored this further, I…
I have been writing about circularity and the need to move from linear processes to a circular economy for years, but it is always exciting to see it in action. Consider one of the recent examples in the manufacturing space: the disassembly plant. To be clear, a disassembly plant isn’t necessarily new. Recycling plants have been around for a century, with the purpose of reprocessing used or abandoned materials. In fact, the first one opened back in 1904 in my hometown of Chicago, Ill. While that is technically when it started, modern recycling as we know it was truly catapulted…
Peggy Smedley talks about the good, the bad, and the ugly of acquisitions, saying they can cause disruption in the marketplace—and monopolies cause a whole lot more. She talks about the recent Amazon news of its intent to acquire iRobot. She also discusses: This history of antitrust and antimonopoly laws in the United States. Key advocates who are challenging the Amazon acquisition. Two big concerns when a monopoly happens. peggysmedleyshow.com (9/20/22 – 789) IoT, Internet of Things, Peggy Smedley, artificial intelligence, machine learning, big data, digital transformation, cybersecurity, blockchain, 5G, cloud, sustainability, future of work, podcast, Henry Bzeih, Microsoft, automotive,…
Peggy Smedley and Henry Bzeih, CTO/CSO, automotive & transportation, Microsoft, talk about what Microsoft is doing to enable the metaverse. He says its approach to technology has always been an enabling and nurturing approach and that Microsoft is a partner first company. They also discuss: An example of a metaverse solution for configuring the vehicle. Security and the whole notion of zero trust. Opportunities surrounding fully autonomous vehicles and electrification. microsoft.com/industry/automotive (9/20/22 – 789) IoT, Internet of Things, Peggy Smedley, artificial intelligence, machine learning, big data, digital transformation, cybersecurity, blockchain, 5G, cloud, sustainability, future of work, podcast, Henry Bzeih, Microsoft,…
Homeowners can track their actual energy usage. Knowing when, how, and where energy is being consumed can help identify what the largest energy use is, and homeowners can then act with that data in hand. Some call this energy baselining, which is a home’s energy baseline for the current amount of energy that is being used. That baseline can then be adjusted, as needed, helping conserve energy in the home. But how exactly do we master and track energy efficiency? I scoured the resources at the U.S. Dept. of Energy, the U.S. EPA (Environmental Protection Agency), and ENERGY STAR to…
The conversation that has been ongoing for decades on the software side of the construction industry—point solutions versus platform—is the same one that is happening with the connected home. Alongside that discussion is the one of interoperability, and there is much to cover in the home today. Let’s back up for a minute and talk about the smart home in general. Homes are no longer just made of bricks, stone, wood, insulation, plaster, and other construction materials. They are connected intelligently by technologies that provides heightened security, convenience, and comfort for the homebuyer. Homeowners have come to expect this kind…
We have entered a new era of sustainability—one where businesses are creating new products using innovative materials and processes that will ultimately be more sustainable for the environment. We don’t have to look any further than our cars to find such innovation. The first EV (electric vehicle) came onto the scene back in the 1800s, and automotive hybrid technology became more widespread in the late 1990s. Now we are beginning to see a new type of sustainable vehicle emerge onto the scene: the vegan car. Leather-free interiors are here in droves. The BMW Group is one of the latest automakers…
Peggy talks all about digital transformation, software, and automation. She says when times are lean, implement technology to shore up businesses’ processes. But are businesses following through? She cites new research about technology implementation trends in one vertical. She also discusses: How the current economic climate has changed approaches to adopted software. The official definition of a recession and if there is one looming. New research and statistics from one vertical market. peggysmedleyshow.com (9/13/22 – 788) IoT, Internet of Things, Peggy Smedley, artificial intelligence, machine learning, big data, digital transformation, cybersecurity, blockchain, 5G, cloud, sustainability, future of work, podcast This…
Peggy and Ian Riches, VP, global automotive practice, Strategy Analytics, discuss what is driving electrified vehicles. He says in the last few years this electrified vehicle sector has become the defining growth factor, and there will be factory electric vehicle growth rates of more than 25% a year for the next few years on average. They also discuss: The biggest growth regions for these vehicles. Affordability considerations and if prices will keep falling. The race to get cars with long ranges and infrastructure. strategyanalytics.com (9/13/22 – 788) IoT, Internet of Things, Peggy Smedley, artificial intelligence, machine learning, big data, digital…