Author: Peggy Smedley
In the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic, the homebuilding industry remained strong, but in the past few months, we have been talking about an impending downturn. Has it happened yet or is it still on the horizon? To identify the state of the homebuilding market, let’s start by looking at one metric and then I will give you my thoughts on what needs to happen next. The monthly BTIG/HomeSphere Homebuilder Survey seeks the perspective of approximately 50-100 small and mid-sized tract homebuilders nationally about sales, customer traffic, and pricing trends. It received 113 responses for the month of July.…
The average cost of a data breach might surprise you. Peggy talks about the cost of a data breach. She gives the hard numbers and identifies which vertical numbers are higher than others. She also discusses: How these breaches are happening. How to mitigate risk of data breaches. Ideas for what companies can do to reduce the cost. peggysmedleyshow.com (8/16/22 – 784) IoT, Internet of Things, Peggy Smedley, artificial intelligence, machine learning, big data, digital transformation, cybersecurity, blockchain, 5G, cloud, sustainability, future of work, podcast This episode is available on all major streaming platforms. If you enjoyed this segment, please…
Peggy and Peter Koerte, chief strategy officer & chief technology officer, Siemens, talk about the IoT (Internet of Things) and digitization and how to enable it. He says many companies don’t know where to start with digitalization, data silos, and more. Enter Siemens Xcelerator, which is going to accelerate digital transformation. They also discuss: How the boundaries between IT and OT are blurring. How intelligent sensors can connect applications in buildings. The opportunities for digital transformation in buildings, construction, energy, and more. siemens.com/Xcelerator (8/16/22 – 784) IoT, Internet of Things, Peggy Smedley, artificial intelligence, machine learning, big data, digital transformation,…
Peggy and Anne Munaretto, partner, sustainability services, Ernst & Young, talk about ESG (environmental, social, and governance) developments. She says more than two-thirds of investors are using information in structured decision making. They also discuss: The importance of science-based targets. The four-part journey and laying the groundwork. The history of sustainability. ey.com (8/16/22 – 784) IoT, Internet of Things, Peggy Smedley, artificial intelligence, machine learning, big data, digital transformation, cybersecurity, blockchain, 5G, cloud, sustainability, future of work, podcast, Anne Munaretto, Ernst & Young This episode is available on all major streaming platforms. If you enjoyed this segment, please consider leaving…
Technology can help corporations improve their ESG (environmental, social, and governance)—but how exactly? We often think of sustainability software solutions as being able to help organizations track and report their ESG performance and provide relevant data to improve their operational performance—and they certainly do. But there is a little bit more to the story than just that. For the past several years, we have been talking about the impact of using software in corporate settings to improve environmental sustainability, but now one new survey suggests software is also needed to monitor social sustainability. In fact, the IDC (Intl. Data Corp.)…
Every couple of years there is a burst of M&A (merger and acquisition) activity among construction technology providers. Companies like Autodesk and Trimble have long had an M&A strategy that we have covered in depth here at Constructech. Now, it seems Bentley Systems is also making many big moves, some of which includes acquisitions. Last week, Cohesive, an independently operated, digital integrator business unit of Bentley Systems, announced the acquisition of MaximoCon, a Brazil-based consultancy specializing in technical services for IBM Maximo, which is IBM’s enterprise asset management solution. This is a big move for the construction industry. MaximoCon has…
Mentorship is important for both personal and employee development, with roughly 97% of people saying a mentor is valuable and 55% believe mentoring can help them succeed. For businesses, 67% report an increase in productivity due to mentoring and 55% of businesses felt mentoring had a positive impact on their profit. So, how then can we give and receive such mentorship in a way that is beneficial to both parties? Let me proclaim the story of a great mentor. Those of you who are regular readers have heard me talk about various family members and I personally enjoy sharing the…
Peggy talks about the traits of a special mentor and mentee, and how we share wisdom and advice with others in a respectful way. She gives the example of her mother-in-law, Rosemarie Smedley, who recently passed away, and how she was a great inspiration to others. She also discusses: The life of Rosemarie Smedley. What characteristics make a great mentor. How to be a good mentee. peggysmedleyshow.com (8/9/22 – 783) IoT, Internet of Things, Peggy Smedley, artificial intelligence, machine learning, big data, digital transformation, cybersecurity, blockchain, 5G, cloud, sustainability, future of work, podcast This episode is available on all major…
Peggy and Mike Specian, research manager, American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy, talk all about energy efficiency. He shares his story and how he has had a sense of sustainability since childhood and how that has evolved in his career. They also discuss: How buildings are responsible for about 75% of all electricity consumption and 39% of all carbon emissions—and what needs to happen next. Utilities, the focus on decarbonization, and how many have a carbon reduction target. Resilience, microgrids, and if buildings are as resilient as they need to be right now. aceee.org (8/9/22 – 783) IoT, Internet of…
Peggy and Dean Amhaus, president & CEO, The Water Council, share about the organization and why it has been engaged in water stewardship. He says it started 15 years ago when there was a high density of water technology companies, which goes back to the brewing industry in Milwaukee. They also discuss: Water stewardship among companies that use a lot of water and how to address water challenges. Why companies need to be focusing on water stewardship. How water stressed areas impact food and other businesses. thewatercouncil.com (8/9/22 – 783) IoT, Internet of Things, Peggy Smedley, artificial intelligence, machine learning,…