Author: Peggy Smedley

Last month, the World Economic Forum predicted the threat of a catastrophic cyberattack. Will we see this come to fruition in the next two years as forecasted? I think the better question perhaps is this: Haven’t we already? I could point to so many cyberattacks that have been catastrophic to the bottomline of a business and to our infrastructure. Perhaps we look no further than to the 2021 attack on Colonial Pipeline, which halted all pipeline operations to contain the attack. I would argue we have seen many catastrophic events already. This past year, the FBI reported ransomware topped the…

Modernizing the electric grid will help modernize the nation’s rural electric grid and improve grid security. We are beginning to see this come to life right here in South Carolina, as the Biden-Harris Admin., has invested $20 million to improve and expand rural electric infrastructure in South Carolina. Digging in a little bit deeper, the USDA (U.S. Dept. of Agriculture) announced the department is investing $2.7 billion to help 64 electric cooperatives and utilities through the Electric Loan Program, which will benefit nearly 2 million rural people and businesses in many different states. USDA’s Electric Loan Program can help finance…

Are partnerships the solution to the construction supply-chain crisis? Is working together in consortiums the solution to climate change? It is a start—but is it enough? The documentary Bare Metal has been shown in a number of film festivals and highlights the point that the firms building the digital infrastructure around the globe and the largest construction materials organizations are working on how to partner to solve climate change. This video hits on an important point that giant companies need to work together—but there is so much more that needs to be done. Coming together is simply the first step.…

This time of year, we are always talking about predictions for the year ahead, with some analysts forecasting up to five years out or sometimes more. The estimates are often grandiose—but do they always pan out? In a word, no. I like to hold the analysts’ feet to the fire, so let’s take a closer look. Let’s start by looking at perhaps one of the biggest predictions in the IoT (Internet of Things) that fell flat. We all remember many tech companies and analysts predicted there would be 50 billion connected devices by 2020. I called that prediction out then,…

Here in South Carolina, we are seeing community development happen in a number of different walks of life. Case in point: fiber optic internet access, which has the capacity for today’s internet needs and anticipates tomorrows. As just one example, Lumos has made a technology infrastructure investment in South Carolina’s Richland and Lexington Counties, bringing internet service across the greater Columbia area. Additionally, this type of technology can help underserved areas and create economic advantages right here in the local communities including Forest Acres and Arcadia Lakes in Richland County, as well as West Columbia, Lexington, Cayce, Irmo, and Springdale…

For several years, I have been talking about the importance of sustainability in our buildings, as we all need low carbon, energy efficient, and resilient buildings and communities. How much progress are we making? Are we seeing new advanced design practices and innovative technologies emerge to reduce those emissions in the built environment? How much more work do we still need to do for progress to be made? As we all know by now, buildings account for roughly 70% of U.S. electricity consumption and are primary drivers of about 80% of peak demand on the grid. New innovations such as…

Equipment and software are a big investment. Should you rent? Should you buy? How do you tap into all that data that exists? Taking a closer look at some of the biggest trends can help businesses make more informed decisions. Recently the ELFA (Equipment Leasing and Finance Assn.) released its list of Top 10 Equipment Acquisition Trends for 2023. These trends were compiled through industry research, industry participants’ expertise, and member input. The objective is to help businesses as they execute their equipment acquisition strategies. Let’s dig into the numbers. Real private investment by U.S. businesses in equipment and software…

During the early days of the pandemic, many people realized they could do their jobs from just about anywhere and moved their families across the state—or in some cases across the country. How long did that trend continue? Pew suggests moves out of the densest parts of big cities, those with more than 10,000 people per square mile, jumped 17% to about 2.9 million during the first year of the pandemic, from March 2020 to February 2021. The number of moves out of those dense areas returned to pre-pandemic levels in the following year, March 2021 to February 2022. Where…

At World of Concrete last week, many were discussing all the new solutions in the construction industry—and how technology and tools can provide opportunities to solve new and long-standing challenges that exist in the construction industry. I had an opportunity to sit down with Mike McGowan, region head and chief executive officer, Hilti North America, to talk about some of the hurdles that exist in the construction industry today. “We are a little bit different in how we go to market,” he says. “We don’t go through distribution channels. We go direct. The reason is we feel it gives us…

The manufacturing industry is in a state of flux, as suppl-chain issues persist, causing sourcing bottlenecks and logistics backlogs. At the same time, we are seeing a rise in cost and cyberattacks and shortage of skilled workers. Looking ahead to 2023, Deloitte projections based on Oxford Economics’ Global Economic Model anticipate 2.5% growth in GDP in manufacturing. The solution is obvious—digital transformation—but the road is bumpy. Part of the challenge is Industry 4.0 and Industry 5.0 mean different things to different people. Let’s break this down. I recently had the opportunity to sit down with Thorsten Wuest, associate professor, West…