Author: Peggy Smedley

The pace of change is only going to continue to get faster. Businesses need to prepare for this as best they can. Of course, this is easier said than done. Technology is advancing and IT teams are already short-staffed of the skills they need. What comes next? One new report looks at how we can bridge the skills gap to unlock the potential of cloud technology. The SoftwareOne Cloud Skills Report surveyed the opinions of 500 IT decisionmakers from the United Kingdom, Benelux, North America, and Australia. The objective here is to understand how the cloud skills shortage is impacting…

Some shakeups are happening as it relates to the final rule to modernize the Davis-Bacon and Related Acts. Perhaps this will impact how your construction company conducts business in 2024 and beyond. Let’s take a look at what is currently going down. A little bit of a history lesson here first. In 1931, the Davis-Bacon Act was enacted to prevent nonlocal contractors from invading a region, using cheap labor, and disrupting local wage rates. The Davis-Bacon Act was passed initially to address the issue of unfair competition in the construction industry. Bringing us to almost present day, we see in…

We know energy efficiency is critical in our homes, but often that efficiency needs to start somewhere else—like at the data centers. Here’s a glimpse at how companies are making a big difference at the data center, and what is to come in the days ahead. Last week at Microsoft Ignite, Satya Nadella made several announcements from the stage. Naturally, he talked about the AI (artificial intelligence) infrastructure layer and the approach to Azure, which is redefining everything across the fleet and the data center, but of course that starts with how we power the data center. He explains, as…

Should you measure the maturity and performance of your security program? How often? A survey suggests 60% of CISOs (chief information security officers) measure their security programs at least once a month and 89% measure the maturity and performance of their full security program at least once each quarter. Let’s take a closer look at how they are measuring and evaluating potential threats. The report from Onyxia Cyber surveyed more than 200 CISOs across a wide range of industries in the United States and Canada. Aspects in the survey include evaluating what metrics CISOs are measuring and how they are…

I have long talked about the importance of funding and building infrastructure that is sustainable and safe for everyone. In November 2021, we saw a big move from the Biden administration, with the passing of the IIJA (Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act). The hope here was it would lead to more jobs, more projects, and safer infrastructure. But now we need to take a closer look at what has really transpired in the past two years to see if we are truly making any progress with our infrastructure. As one example, the NUCA (National Utility Contractors Assn.) is concerned the…

We are seeing many states invest in rural development—and we are certainly seeing it right here in South Carolina. In early November, USDA Rural Development South Carolina State Director, Dr. Saundra Glover announced more than $171 million in investments across South Carolina. It’s interesting to look at the projected impact this will make in rural communities. Perhaps the biggest impact it will make is upgrading the infrastructure in these communities including clean water and fuel and reliable electricity, but along with that it will also bring new jobs. USDA Rural Development provides loans and grants to help expand economic opportunities,…

Generative AI (artificial intelligence) brings great benefits to society and industry. We are seeing the rise of such technology in aviation and airlines, power and utilities, and even places like at the dentist. Data is the new oil, and if companies can capture and capitalize on it, then they have a leg up in today’s competitive, labor-constrained market. Still, there are challenges that remain. Perhaps the biggest challenge is the safety of it all. Cybersecurity is a huge concern for many businesses, as they leverage new, emerging technologies, but digging a bit deeper there are other safety concerns to consider…

I recently had the extreme pleasure of joining Don Bent, chief operating officer, Oshkosh Defense, on a tour of a manufacturing facility right here in South Carolina where they are building the future postal truck. “Delivery vehicles are actually the perfect opportunity for battery electrics and the reason is because they drive relatively short distances,” he says. “They start and stop a lot and then they come home every night to the same location so they can recharge them. It is the perfect opportunity for that.” Oshkosh Defense has been in the 900,000-sq.ft. space, which is 20 acres under roof,…

Rapid urbanization worldwide means every five days, the world adds buildings equivalent to the size of Paris. Every five days. Many companies know cutting emissions can provide significant benefits to business and the environment, but that is often easier said than done. Now, the United Nations is providing a blueprint, of sorts, for the construction industry to cut emissions. The built environment is already responsible for 37% of global emissions. A report published by the UNEP (UN Environment Programme) and the Yale CEA (Center for Ecosystems + Architecture), under the GlobalABC (Global Alliance for Buildings and Construction), offers a plan…

AVs (autonomous vehicles) will unlock opportunities for businesses, consumers, and society, but the road to reaching true autonomous driving is a long one—with bumps, pivots, and potholes—and with many challenges and opportunities. So, the question at hand is: what comes next? To answer these questions, we must first unpack where we are right now. We know different levels of autonomy include semi-autonomous that require driver assistance to fully autonomous. And of course, the SAE (Society of Automotive Engineers) has the 6 levels of driving automation, which ranges from fully manual (0) to fully autonomous (5). The reality is right now…